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Total 100 articles, created at 2016-08-30 18:00 1 Intel Kaby Lake processors will power a new generation of thinner laptops (6.43/7) Bringing more power for 4K video and gaming 2016-08-30 13:00 2KB feedproxy.google.com 2 Apple's iPhone 7 to be unveiled on 7 September
(3.11/7) Release date, specs, leaked photos - it's all here!,Hardware ,iPhone,Apple,iPhone 7 2016-08-30 15:44 4KB www.computing.co.uk 3 Microsoft made 'em do it: The latest Kaby Lake, Zen chips will support only Windows 10
(1.07/7) Both the latest AMD Zen and Intel Kaby Lake microprocessors won't be officially supported by either Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 -- just Windows 10, Microsoft says. 2016-08-30 06:00 6KB www.itnews.com 4 The best iPhone games 2016 Great additions to your iOS device 2016-08-30 12:22 42KB (1.05/7) feedproxy.google.com
5 LG offering up huge 21:9 curved gaming monitor (1.02/7) And a screen for designers to boot 2016-08-30 09:20 1KB feedproxy.google.com 6 HPE is betting big on A. I. to fuel your apps and analytics
(1.02/7) Hewlett Packard Enterprise has made no secret of its desire to push further into big data, and announced two key new offerings. 2016-08-30 06:47 3KB www.computerworld.com 7 Apple must repay $14.5 billion in underpaid taxes in Ireland
(1.02/7) Apple's tax benefits in Ireland are illegal, and the company will have to pay up to €13 billion ($14.5 billion) in back taxes, plus interest. That's the verdict European Commissioner Margrethe Vestager delivered Tuesday, wrapping up a two-year investigation... 2016-08-30 04:14 3KB www.computerworld.com 8 : When is the new Windows Surface coming out? New hardware coming 'fall 2016' (0.03/7) We investigate the Surface Pro 5 release date. When is a new Windows Surface coming and what are the specs and price? 2016-08-30 13:34 7KB www.pcadvisor.co.uk
9 Nintendo NX release date, news and rumors Nintendo NX is almost upon us. Should we be worried or excited? 2016-08-30 13:30 9KB feedproxy.google.com (0.01/7)
10 | iPhone 7 Pro UK price | iPhone 7 Pro specs | iPhone 7 rumours: iPhone 7 Pro could (0.01/7) be unveiled alongside iPhone 7 on 7 September We've had an iPad Pro, and now it could well be time for an iPhone 7 Pro. A new premium iPhone from Apple due in September, the new iPhone 7 Pro could feature dual cameras and a Smart Connector. We investigate the iPhone 7 Pro... 2016-08-30 11:56 8KB www.pcadvisor.co.uk 11 Top 10 Excel 2016 tips The numbers don't lie, so master your spreadsheets with these (0.01/7) tweaks 2016-08-30 11:30 7KB feedproxy.google.com 12 Up to 22% off Various Microsoft Surface Pro 4 Models - Deal Alert
(0.01/7) Microsoft Surface Pro 4 is the tablet that can replace your laptop. Use the included Surface Pen to mark-up presentations, sign documents, take notes and much more. 2016-08-30 07:07 1KB www.infoworld.com 13 New Surface Pro 3 firmware update should (0.01/7) solve battery woes A 'limited number' of Surface Pro 3s have problems with not charging completely 2016-08-30 03:53 2KB www.infoworld.com 14 What should CROs to do with cost of data breach studies? Last week we wrote about a Deloitte study that estimated the potential hard and soft costs of a data breach to an 2016-08-30 17:44 2KB www.itworldcanada.com 15 Data centre capacity continues to shift to commercial providers Demand for data centre space is growing, but there are actually fewer in Canada, according to a recent IDC report. The State 2016-08-30 16:46 4KB www.itworldcanada.com
16 Why you should care about chatbots There’s a new buzzword in IT this year – chatbots, aka bots. Of course the term isn’t that new or unusual - 2016-08-30 16:46 4KB www.itworldcanada.com 17 VMworld 2016: VMware goes all-in on the cloud LAS VEGAS - As a company that has been boldly trumpeting a “cloud, mobile, and security” mantra, VMware Inc. on Monday revealed more 2016-08-30 16:45 3KB www.itworldcanada.com 18 CloudGenix Aims to Make Deploying Apps From Remote Offices More Secure The company's ION 3000v platform is fueled by its application- defined fabric, which lets enterprises deploy apps anywhere based on SLAs. 2016-08-30 16:43 4KB www.eweek.com 19 Apple ordered to pay back taxes of €13bn European Commission demands that Apple pay back illegal state aid ,Hardware,Strategy ,Apple,tax,tax avoidance 2016-08-30 16:43 2KB www.computing.co.uk 20 Nutanix acquires Calm.io and PernixData in a busy weekend of acquisitions Twin acquisitions the culmination of nine months of planning and talks,Cloud and Infrastructure,Storage,DevOps ,DevOps,Cloud,Cloud and Infrastructure 2016-08-30 16:43 4KB www.computing.co.uk 21 At last! New Macs and MacBooks are coming soon Apple finally gets round to updating its PCs and laptops ,Hardware ,AMD,iPad,Apple,iMac,Nvidia,Apple Mac 2016-08-30 15:44 2KB www.computing.co.uk 22 Government Agencies Using Big Data to Help With IT Security Most federal agencies are using big data analytics for cyber- security in some capacity, but breaches are still occurring, a Cloudera survey finds. 2016-08-30 15:43 3KB www.eweek.com 23 The UK IT Industry Awards 2016 shortlist in full – are you in the running? Every shortlisted entry for every award category,Leadership ,UK IT Awards,UK IT Industry Awards 2016-08-30 14:43 10KB www.computing.co.uk 24 Sony's new macro lens lets you take super up close photos Is this the nifty fifty we've been waiting for? 2016-08-30 13:00 1KB feedproxy.google.com 25 : Which Fitbit is best to buy? Fitbit Charge, HR, Surge, Blaze, Alta, One, Zip or Flex activity tracker Fitbits compared: features, prices, displays, batteries, water resistance and more. We explain everything you need to know about the Fitbit range and explain which is the best activity tracker for you. 2016-08-30 13:00 24KB www.pcadvisor.co.uk 26 Best LEGO toys 2016: The best LEGO sets available in the UK With Christmas only months away, we've decided to round up some of the coolest LEGO themed gifts and gadgets for the LEGO fan in your life. No matter what age they are, there's bound to be something here that'll excite them! 2016-08-30 12:54 5KB www.pcadvisor.co.uk 27 A whole host of new information has emerged about the Nintendo NX's controller Split D-pads 2016-08-30 12:52 2KB feedproxy.google.com 28 Metal Gear Solid 5 to get ‘Definitive Experience’ edition Including Ground Zeroes, The Phantom Pain, and a bunch of DLC. 2016-08-30 12:39 1KB www.pcgamer.com 29 | Nexus 2016 UK price | New Nexus 2016 new feature, specification rumours: When is the new Nexus coming out? What happened to the new Nexus phones? Nexus 2016 pricing leak suggests new Nexus phones ARE coming after all The final version of Android Nougat has been released, but what has happened to the new Nexus phones that were expected to come alongside it? We investigate rumours surrounding the new Nexus phones. Nexus 2016 release date, UK price, new feature and specification rumours. 2016-08-30 12:09 12KB www.pcadvisor.co.uk 30 | LG V20 UK price | LG V20 specifications | LG V20 features | LG V20 rumours: LG V20 confirmed as first phone to run Android Nougat out of the box, launching 6 September with B&O Play earphones, Quad DAC and two screens LG has confirmed its upcoming V20 will be the first phone to run Android Nougat out of the box when it is officially unveiled on 6 September. Here's what you need to know about the V10 successor, including rumours about the LG V20 UK release date,... 2016-08-30 12:02 4KB www.pcadvisor.co.uk
31 | iOS 10 new features | iOS 10 public beta: Here's why you'll want to install it now. iOS 10 is coming this autumn, but the public beta is due today. Here's why you'll want to install iOS 10 now, plus iOS 10 UK release date and new features. iOS 10 rumours. 2016-08-30 11:53 7KB www.pcadvisor.co.uk 32 Starward Rogue devs pull latest game from Steam after just three days In Case of Emergency, Release Raptor will go free-to-play following poor sales. 2016-08-30 11:42 2KB www.pcgamer.com 33 : updated Charge HR adds multi-sports, new display, interchangeable wristbands The Fitbit Charge 2 replaces the popular Charge HR, with interchangeable straps, new sports features, and larger display. 2016-08-30 11:36 8KB www.pcadvisor.co.uk 34 The Xperia X Compact could be Sony's most exciting phone in years Big specs in a small phone 2016-08-30 11:32 2KB feedproxy.google.com 35 This is the clearest look at the Nexus Sailfish yet Three colors and all angles 2016-08-30 11:30 1KB feedproxy.google.com 36 | iPad Pro 2 price | iPad Pro 2 specs rumours: When will Apple launch a new iPad Pro? Faster screen and better Pencil support rumoured Will the iPad Pro 2 simply match the specs of the current 9.7in model or will we get more? We round up the rumours about the iPad Pro 2. 2016-08-30 11:30 6KB www.pcadvisor.co.uk 37 29 best new phones coming in 2016 & 2017 we want - New Product - PC Advisor New phones coming in 2016 and 2017. We look at the best new phones that you must see before you upgrade, including the best new Android phones, best new iPhones, best new Windows phones, best new Samsung phones, best new Sony phones, best... 2016-08-30 11:21 37KB www.pcadvisor.co.uk 38 : What's the best headphones? The 20 best headphones you can buy in the UK today - best headphone reviews We review the top headphones you can buy in the UK in 2016. Get the most for your money with our best headphones for your smartphone or tablet - best in ear, on ear and over ear headphones. Wireless and noise cancelling. 2016-08-30 10:57 3KB www.pcadvisor.co.uk 39 Microsoft says the MacBook Air is as useful as a ‘Hat for Your Cat’ in new video Remember those PC vs Mac advertisements? Apple has stopped making them but Microsoft is putting its own spin on the idea. It has recently released several ad spots in which we can see the company bashing its competitor’s products and the latest it has created says that the... 2016-08-30 10:55 1KB pctechmag.com 40 : Fallout 4's final piece of DLC, Nuka World, is released for PC and consoles Fallout 4 has been out since November 2015, but that doesn't mean the developers are finished with the game. There are three pieces of DLC available to buy right now, and VR support headed to the game in 2017. Here's all we know about... 2016-08-30 10:54 10KB www.pcadvisor.co.uk 41 iPhone 7 headphone jack: the story so far Will it stay or will it go? 2016-08-30 10:43 5KB feedproxy.google.com 42 Fallout 4 Nuka-World dev diary talks gangs, quantum paddle balls Here’s what you can get up to in Fallout 4’s latest expansion. 2016-08-30 10:35 1KB www.pcgamer.com 43 iPhone 7 name revealed and battery boost 'confirmed' Big batteries and better cameras rumored too 2016-08-30 10:20 3KB feedproxy.google.com
44 New Windows 10 notifications to keep you up-to-speed with Microsoft services 'From Microsoft' notifications could deliver info about your Microsoft account 2016-08-30 10:15 2KB feedproxy.google.com 45 VMware to help enterprises manage AWS, Azure and Google cloud deployments Virtualisation giant offers enterprises helping hand with managing multi-cloud environments, spanning AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud Platform 2016-08-30 10:15 3KB www.computerweekly.com 46 Baton Rouge Flood Map: Using IT Know- How In Emergency Situations The Department of Information Services in Baton Rouge used geographic information systems and data from 911 calls, search- and-rescue efforts, and more to create a map visualization of the impact of recent floods in the region. The story is a prime example of how IT professionals... 2016-08-30 10:06 4KB www.informationweek.com 47 Best Fitbit: which is right for you? Which Fitbit meets your fitness needs? 2016-08-30 10:00 8KB feedproxy.google.com 48 Job Opportunity: Systems Officer – Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development The Government of Uganda is implementing the Third Financial Management and Accountability Programme (FINMAP III) with the primary purpose to strengthen Public Financial Management (PFM) at all levels of government and ensure efficient, effective and accountable use of public resources as a basis for improved service delivery... 2016-08-30 09:40 3KB pctechmag.com 49 VMware makes case for IT's involvement in line of business cloud purchases Cloud software company claims IT departments should not fear the shift in technology buying power to line of business units, as their skills and experience will be in high demand 2016-08-30 09:30 3KB www.computerweekly.com 50 Apple could be slapped with hefty tax fine from EU Could be for 'billions' 2016-08-30 09:21 2KB feedproxy.google.com
51 : Smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, TVs and more launching this at IFA 2016 We take a look at what smartphones, tablets, TVs and smartwatches will be announced at this week's IFA 2016 by Samsung, Sony, LG, HTC, Motorola and more. 2016-08-30 09:20 6KB www.pcadvisor.co.uk 52 GeForce 372.70 drivers gear up for Battlefield 1's open beta Nvidia is keeping up its relentless pace of driver updates with version 372.70 of its Game Ready software... 2016-08-30 09:17 1KB techreport.com 53 | Fitbit Charge 2 | Fitbit Flex 2 : When is the new Fitbit coming out? Swim-proof Fitbit announced Fitbit has already announced the Alta and Blaze in 2016, but more new Fitbits are coming in the Fitbit Charge 2 and Fitbit Flex 2. We round up the rumours concerning the new Fitbit UK release date and new features. 2016-08-30 09:15 9KB www.pcadvisor.co.uk 54 Apple faces record multibillion-euro tax penalty After ruling that Apple benefited from an illegal tax deal in Ireland, the European competition authorities are expected to fine the company billions of euros 2016-08-30 09:10 1KB www.computerweekly.com 55 6 Linux Kernel Changes IT Pros Need To Know The 4.7 Linux kernel includes enhancements to security, automated testing prior to release, and an average 7.8 additions per hour over 10 weeks of development. Here is a look at what IT pros need to know about the OS that powers everything from mobile devices... 2016-08-30 09:06 7KB www.informationweek.com 56 Testing in production comes out of the shadows It’s been happening for years, but no one ever really talked about it this loudly 2016-08-30 09:00 18KB sdtimes.com 57 Less than a third of organisations prepare for IoT security risks The security industry needs to address the security basics with the growing number of IoT devices in corporate networks, according to security firm Tripwire 2016-08-30 09:00 3KB www.computerweekly.com
58 14nm PLUS, Six Notebook SKUs, Desktop coming in January When Intel first announced the shift from the dual-stage ‘Tick- Tock’ methodology that had driven their core CPU design teams for over a decade... 2016-08-30 09:00 6KB www.anandtech.com 59 Anthropics Technology LandscapePro review Intelligent retouching software for landscape photographers 2016-08-30 09:00 5KB feedproxy.google.com 60 Samsung Galaxy S8: release date and everything you should know Improving on perfection 2016-08-30 08:57 9KB feedproxy.google.com 61 Microsoft delays Outlook.com upgrade But not until 2017 as a recent error message suggested 2016-08-30 08:53 2KB feedproxy.google.com 62 We're not saying it's aliens, but we've definitely found a signal from space From a star about 95 light years away 2016-08-30 08:37 2KB feedproxy.google.com 63 Executive interview: Expanding banking through APIs Western Union’s head of digital ventures, Khalid Fellahi, discusses how the money transfer service is embracing digitisation. 2016-08-30 08:19 2KB www.computerweekly.com 64 Fulton Works Founder: Making The Switch From Music To IT A computer science degree isn't the only path into software development. Brent Sanders used his musicianship to bring programming skills and team leadership to a development group. Here, he tells InformationWeek about his journey from trombone player to software company founder. 2016-08-30 08:06 5KB www.informationweek.com 65 10 ways to make your crowdfunding campaign a hit Small business owners and online fundraising pros share their top tips on how to make your Kickstarter or Indiegogo project a success. 2016-08-30 07:35 8KB www.itnews.com
66 Laptop speed boost: Blazing-fast SSDs are expected to overtake hard drives by 2018 A report by market research firm DRAMeXchange says that by 2018 half of all notebooks sold could be rocking SSDs instead of hard drives. 2016-08-30 07:19 2KB www.itnews.com 67 New ransomware threat deletes files from Linux web servers Attackers claim the files are first encrypted and uploaded to a server under their control 2016-08-30 07:17 2KB www.infoworld.com 68 6 Reasons Hackathons Are Good For IT Inviting developers to solve technical challenges can open organizations up to new ways of doing things. Here are 6 IT benefits of hosting a hackathon. 2016-08-30 07:06 3KB www.informationweek.com 69 IDF 2016, Alloy, Joule, Broxton, and AMD Zen Today’s podcast covers the show known as the Intel Developer Forum, or IDF for short. IDF is an annual event focusing on new... 2016-08-30 07:00 1KB www.anandtech.com 70 Kwikset's second-gen Kevo touch smart lock makes playing well with others a priority The original Kevo smart lock didn't have cloud connectivity until last year. The new Kevo comes with not only out-of-the-box connectivity, but also plays well with other devices in the smart home ecosystem. 2016-08-30 06:32 1KB www.itnews.com 71 Why your home theater PC still can't stream 4K Ultra HD video Netflix and Amazon offer 4K UHD streaming, but you can't get it on a PC. A noxious stew of hardware, software, and DRM issues are to blame. 2016-08-30 06:00 8KB www.itnews.com 72 Samsung Announces Exynos 7570 14nm Budget SoC Today Samsung LSI launches a new 14nm SoC oriented at the budget and IoT segments. The new Exynos 7570 seems to be a successor... 2016-08-30 06:00 2KB www.anandtech.com 73 Google bakes Chromecast support directly into Chrome Google is finally adding a built-in option to Cast open tabs to your Chromecast-enabled television. The extension will still work, but it's no longer needed. 2016-08-30 05:59 1KB www.itnews.com
74 VMware dresses up Docker for the enterprise VMware reworks Docker to add enterprises conveniences like user accounts managed through Active Directory and role-based access controls for Docker-hosted projects 2016-08-30 05:00 2KB www.infoworld.com 75 10 tech skills that will earn you more money Technology jobs are profitable. But certain skills are growing increasingly in-demand and businesses are will to pay a premium for them as they embrace digital transformation. 2016-08-30 04:59 6KB www.itnews.com 76 Uber, Alphabet autonomous car rivalry heats up The race to develop autonomous cars is making rivals of old friends as is evident from the exit of Alphabet’s senior executive David Drummond from the board of Uber Technologies. 2016-08-30 04:38 2KB www.computerworld.com 77 Silicon Valley rains money on Clinton Is Trump really a total Silicon Valley fundraising disaster? 2016-08-30 04:12 3KB www.infoworld.com 78 Privacy groups complain to FTC about WhatsApp policy changes Privacy groups in the U. S. have complained to the Federal Trade Commission that changes last week in WhatsApp’s terms and privacy policy break its previous promise that user data collected would not be used or disclosed for marketing purposes. 2016-08-30 04:04 4KB www.computerworld.com 79 Laptops are about to get a whole lot faster SSDs will offer as much as 10X the speed of HDDs 2016-08-30 04:01 7KB www.infoworld.com 80 Alcatel Idol 4S review: Just a bit too late to the $400 party The Idol 4S is no slouch, but is no match for the stiff competition at this price point. 2016-08-30 04:00 9KB www.itnews.com 81 What to look for in endpoint detection and response tools and services Today’s cyberattacks are more advanced and aggressive than ever before. Organizations are quickly learning that keeping the bad guys out of an enterprise environment isn’t as simple as deploying firewalls and antivirus. As cybercriminals utilize customized malware and bypass traditional antivirus solutions, it’s become necessary to take... 2016-08-30 03:48 3KB www.itnews.com 82 Hackers had a chance to hamper voting by deleting records A U. S. cybersecurity monitor has uncovered more breaches of election agencies on top of attacks described in an FBI report leaked on Monday. 2016-08-30 03:45 4KB www.computerworld.com 83 How cyber security pros transition to board level decision makers There is no manual on how to get noticed by key executives. Here are some tips for getting on a board of directors as the cybersecurity expert. 2016-08-30 03:37 7KB www.itnews.com 84 Gee, thanks, boss! It's time for the annual organization picnic, and these IT techs are planning to carpool to the site 80 miles away. But just before quitting time, who should come up with an emergency? 2016-08-30 03:00 1KB www.computerworld.com 85 9 things to check after installing wireless access points Whether you’re upgrading equipment or building out a whole new Wi-Fi network, use this handy checklist to make sure everything’s shipshape before you let users connect. 2016-08-30 03:00 2KB www.computerworld.com 86 Hollywood's 5 biggest hacking myths Press Enter and watch the magic happen -- as if! Why does Hollywood's portrayal of hacking have to be so far off the mark? 2016-08-30 03:00 7KB www.infoworld.com 87 Beacons take baby steps into businesses Intriguing notions are emerging on how to use the simple Bluetooth location devices for smarter work processes 2016-08-30 03:00 5KB www.infoworld.com 88 Devops and cloud: Great together, great apart Devops and cloud computing go together like chocolate and peanut butter, but you can have one without the other 2016-08-30 03:00 2KB www.infoworld.com 89 Leaked AMD Deck Shows High Performance Vega GPU Targeted For 1H 2017 Over the past few months, AMD has been preoccupied with shoving its Polaris-based GPUs (GCN 4.0) out the door. Offering a 2x advantage in performance-per-watt compared to its predecessors, the Radeon RX 480, RX 470 and RX 460 offer great... 2016-08-30 00:00 2KB hothardware.com 90 95% Off An Ultimate Computer Security Bundle In the HotHardware Shop If you're looking to bolster your security skillset, we've got a deal running in the HotHardware Shop that will be of interest. An Ultimate Computer Security Bundle with certifications in CISSP, Encryption, Pentesting, and Ethical Hacking -- among others -... 2016-08-30 00:00 1KB hothardware.com 91 Ripper malware robbing ATMs blind in Thailand Read all a-baht it,Security ,Money,Security 2016-08-30 00:00 2KB www.theinquirer.net 92 INQ SPORT: Robot Wars season 8 episode 6 review The fairy tale ending from the entertainment bot,Boffin Watch ,Boffin Watch 2016-08-30 00:00 3KB www.theinquirer.net 93 Mophie shaves prices on new Powerstation chargers, adds portable wireless charging With its new line of universal charging batteries, Mophie's not only serving up more charging solutions but more competitive pricing. 2016-08-30 00:00 2KB www.cnet.com 94 World of Warcraft: Legion is here, and it's just like I remembered Commentary: After twelve years and six expansions, coming back to World of Warcraft is a foregone conclusion. But it's something we do to ourselves. 2016-08-30 00:00 4KB www.cnet.com 95 Used SpaceX rocket to launch SES satellite into orbit Satellite operator SES aims to be the first company to launch a geostationary satellite on a used Falcon 9 orbital rocket booster. 2016-08-30 00:00 668Bytes www.cnet.com 96 Facebook Trending News Algorithm Promotes False Megyn Kelly Story In Absence Of Human Handlers It looks like our would-be robot overlords aren't quite up to the task of running things all by themselves. In what could be considered a test run, Facebook recently announced less human intervention and more reliance on a computer algorithm to its Trending topics feature,... 2016-08-30 00:00 3KB hothardware.com
97 'Stranger Things' Gets Old-School PC Game Treatment The hit Netflix show is now playable online. 2016-08-30 00:00 1KB feedproxy.google.com 98 Excel Auto-Correct Creates Problems With Genomics Research About 20 percent of the files had errors. 2016-08-30 00:00 2KB feedproxy.google.com 99 Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is marred by long load times on PS4 and Xbox One It's been 16 years since the original Deus Ex hit store shelves, but the core concept of a cyberpunk RPG that revolves around player choice is still undeniably strong. Sneaking, shooting, and smooth- talking your way out of a dangerous situation still feels great when... 2016-08-30 00:00 3KB www.extremetech.com 100 Corbyn’s digital manifesto makes high speed broadband a priority Labour leader also promises online passports and a digital rights charter 2016-08-30 00:00 3KB www.itpro.co.uk Articles
Total 100 articles, created at 2016-08-30 18:00
1 Intel Kaby Lake processors will power a new generation of thinner laptops (6.43/7) Intel's 7th generation processors have been officially announced and the chipmaker predicts they could help create even thinner laptops. Skylake CPUs have already led us to ultra-thin machines like the 10.4mm HP Spectre, however, Intel claims with 7th gen (codenamed Kaby Lake) processors, we'll start seeing 10mm thick 2- in-1 laptops and even slimmer traditional clamshell notebooks. This is all possible thanks to an improved 14nm+ architecture with a thinner fin profile and a more robust transistor channels. As a result, we'll see more efficient chips that only use between 4- to 15-watts to start. Beyond helping to produce smaller devices, the improved architecture has also led to a 12% process performance increase and 19% better web performance. The double digit performance increases are impressive, but Kaby Lake processors are also focused on improving 4K video and gaming as well. 7th gen CPUs integrate a new media engine built on a Gen9 graphics architecture, which will allow users to edit 4K video in real time and render an hour of footage in just 12 minutes. Combined with a new VP9 and HEVC 10-bit decode and users should be able to stream 4K video with 'all day battery life' (9.5 hours). On the gaming front, Intel also demonstrated a 15W chip with integrated graphics is capable of playing Overwatch in Full HD 1080p at roughly 32 frames per second. Intel is kicking off its new 7th gen series with a family of six processors. This includes three processors from the U-series destined for Ultrabooks and slim notebooks, while another trio of Y-series chips will power laptops with a convertible or fanless design. In another shake up, the chip maker is phasing out parts of the Core M- series processor tree. Intel Core m5 and m7 processors have been subsumed into the Core I-series family, while Core m3 will remain as one of the company's most power efficient parts. Intel projects we will see more than 100 new laptop models sporting this initial lineup of Kaby Lake processors. But this is only the beginning. In January, Intel will also launch more lines including V-Pro chips to power enterprise and workstation machines, desktop SKUs compatible with the 6th generation socket, Iris graphics-equipped components for gaming, as well as H and HK class parts for enthusiast level rigs. Article continues below
Intel's Kaby Lake CPUs revealed techreport.com
10 key things to know about Intel's Kaby Lake CPUs itnews.com Intel's Kaby Lake chip is a must-have for 4K video fiends itnews.com
Intel Kaby Lake Revealed: Higher Perf-Per-Watt, Enhanced Media Engine hothardware.com
Intel's 7th-Gen Core Kaby Lake chip takes aim at 4K UHD and VR content theinquirer.net 10 Ways Intel's New Kaby Lake Processors Help Partners Build 'The Modern PC' - Page: 1 crn.com
Intel Exec: Seventh-Generation Kaby Lake Processors Usher In The Modern PCs Of 'A New Era' - Page: 1 crn.com Intel's new Kaby Lake chips for PC: Here's the company's vision computerworld.com 2016-08-30 13:00 By Kevin feedproxy.google.com
2 Apple's iPhone 7 to be unveiled on 7 September (3.11/7) The iPhone 7, Apple's next flagship handset, will be unveiled on 7 September at an event in San Francisco, California. Apple has sent out invitations for press to gather at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco. The launch is due to kick off at 10am local time, (6pm BST). We've compiled everything we know so far about the forthcoming iPhone 7 and rumoured iPhone 7 Plus into one handy article. French Apple blog Nowhereelse.fr has obtained an image purporting to show the rear camera module. The new module indicates the presence of OIS which will be a boon to shaky-hands photographers if true. Both handsets will have a newly designed home button that replaces the traditional 'click' with a vibrating sensation that responds to pressure. Sources close to the matter said that the much-rumoured removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack also appears to be going ahead. The new phones will instead use Bluetooth and the charging port for connectivity. The same people reported that the larger iPhone 7 Plus is likely to feature a dual-camera system (similar to that employed on this year's Huawei and LG models). The new dual-camera set-up will produce brighter, more detailed photos. It is said that photos taken in low light will especially reap the rewards of the new technology. Earlier this month, renowned YouTube tipsters Unbox Therapy posted a video showing an iPhone 7 Plus prototype. You can watch it below. Release date Prominent tipster Evleaks believes that pre-orders for the next iPhone will begin on 9 September 2016. Apple is nothing if not predictable when it comes to release dates, and its hardware releases usually fall on a Friday. If this is the case we should be able to get our hands on it on 16 September. Price Apple won't buck the trend and make the next iPhone any cheaper than the last. We expect the iPhone 7 32GB model to cost £539 (in place of the current iPhone 6S), rising to £619 and £699 for the 64GB and 128GB variants. Specs and rumours We can expect two new iPhone models: the 4.7in iPhone 7 and the 5.5in iPhone 7 Plus. Macworld reckons that both handsets will see a substantial redesign after the near identical iPhone 6S Plus. Pokémon Go fans should join the hunt for the elusive black and blue iPhone 7. New pictures have emerged of the iPhone 7 in every colour but the new ones - that means Silver, Space Grey, Gold and Rose Gold. The photo shows dummy units and is believed to have originated from a third-party company that builds iPhone accessories. It has long been assumed that the Apple A10 processor will feature in the upcoming iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. Benchmark scores for the processor have now appeared on Geekbench and show that the new chip will offer a 20 per cent performance boost over the A9. Although impressive, the A9 saw a 50 per cent bump over the A8 so it appears things have been dialled down this time. The resulting scores put it more on a par with the A9X chip in the iPad Pro. Recently-leaked images indicate the addition of a Smart Connector, as well as a new capacitive Home Button. According to supply chain research, analysts believe that Apple will drop the 16GB storage option and instead offer a larger 32GB by default. Analysts from IHS boast a decent track record in terms of accurate Apple rumours, and let's not forget that it was supply chain sources that first hinted at a smaller 4in iPhone. That device would later break ground as the iPhone SE. The base 16GB has endured since the iPhone's inception in 2008. A further leak comes courtesy of the infamous Twitter personality known as The Malignant who reposted an image supposedly from an internal meeting held with Foxconn. If true the next iPhone could very well have an IP68 water and dust resistance rating, as well as support for wireless charging. An image has also appeared on China's Weibo social network purporting to show the new device in Rose Gold. If true it points to the phone lacking the much rumoured dual rear camera.
| iPhone 7 Plus release date | iPhone 7 Plus specs | iPhone 7 Plus new features | iPhone 7 Plus rumours: iPhone 7 Plus launch event confirmed for 7 September pcadvisor.co.uk Apple Confirms iPhone 7 Event Launch for September 7th pctechmag.com
Apple has been sued over unresponsive iPhone 6 touchscreens pctechmag.com
Apple sued over 'Touch disease' with the iPhone 6 theinquirer.net 2016-08-30 15:44 Matt Farrington www.computing.co.uk
3 Microsoft made 'em do it: The latest Kaby Lake, Zen chips will support only Windows 10 (1.07/7) Microsoft is slamming the door on PC builders and upgraders who might have hoped to use the new Intel Kaby Lake or AMD Zen chips for Windows 7 or Windows 8 PCs. Sorry: Both chips are officially supported only by Microsoft’s Windows 10. Microsoft's mandate is discreet rather than secret. In January, the company tried to shorten its support lifecycle for Intel Skylake PCs running Windows 7 and 8, a policy the company subsequently abandoned after much outcry. But Microsoft’s statements have also consistently included a critical caveat: The latest generations of silicon— specifically Intel’s Kaby Lake chip, Qualcomm’s 8996, and AMD’s Bristol Ridge silicon—will all require Windows 10. “As new silicon generations are introduced, they will require the latest Windows platform at that time for support,” a Microsoft spokeswoman replied, when asked to confirm that that position was still in place. The goal appears to be to move forward with new features, even if it means leaving some users behind. “This enables us to focus on deep integration between Windows and the silicon, while maintaining maximum reliability and compatibility with previous generations of platform and silicon.” Intel’s 7th gen Kaby Lake is built on a similar 14nm process as the previous Skylake CPUs. But a change in Microsoft’s support policy means that it will be only be officially supported by Windows 10. AMD and Intel, for their part, appear to have had little choice in Microsoft’s decision essentially to limit the customers they can sell to. “We are committed to working with Microsoft and our ecosystem partners to help ensure a smooth transition given these changes to Microsoft’s Windows support policy,” an Intel spokesman said. An AMD representative was equally neutral. “AMD’s processor roadmap is fully aligned with Microsoft’s software strategy,” AMD chief technical officer Mark Papermaster said, via a company spokeswoman. AMD’s Bristol Ridge chip, the first to be tied to Windows 10, launched in June as its seventh-generation APU. AMD’s first member of its new Zen microprocessor family , dubbed Summit Ridge, will appear in high-end desktop PCs early next year. Neither will be officially supported by the older operating systems. Here's the obvious question: What would happen if a naïve or not-so-naïve user attempted to run Windows 7 or Windows 8 on a Kaby Lake or Zen system? Without actual chips to test, the answer is unknown. One source privately guessed that the processor would boot, though without driver support and security updates the experience would be “a bit glitchy.” Without specific support for a chip’s features—such as the dedicated video processing logic within Kaby Lake, for example—certain apps, if not the OS itself, might crash, another said. AMD’s Summit Ridge SoC (left), running at 3GHz, can run a Blender render just as fast as a Core i7-6900K (right) also running at 3GHz. But only the Core i7 can run Windows 7. However, processor analyst Dean McCarron of Mercury Research didn’t think running Kaby Lake would necessarily generate many problems, as there’s a long history of instruction set compatibility. “My expectation is ...that all the older code will run on it fine,” he said. “Likely...there’d be third party [driver] support that would allow older OSes to run, .inf files, for example. And Intel’s going to make those.” It’s also conceivable that enthusiasts could craft “black box” or modified drivers to help the latest chips run on the older operating systems. But in reality, the scope of the task would require detailed documentation as well as sophisticated testing resources, both of which seem infeasible. What might be an acceptable risk for a consumer, however, might not fly for a business where uptime and total cost of ownership are managed carefully. It’s here, McCarron said, that the transition to Windows 10 will have the most impact. “It’ll turn into [a situation where] ‘if it breaks, it’s not our problem,'’’ he said. “Which is why it’s going to be such a problem for large, multi-thousand-seat deployments” who depend on external support contracts, he said. What’s more likely, McCarron suggested, is that PC makers and customers will commit to buying and stockpiling Skylake components and systems as a hedge against Microsoft’s support gambit. In this way, end customers will know their devices will be supported, he said. The dialog box that Microsoft presented to users during the upgrade to Windows 10, before its Anniversary Update. Microsoft has laid out its rationale for encouraging users to adopt Windows 10: In short, it’s a more manageable, secure operating system with better collaboration across users and devices, the company claims. Nevertheless, a substantial chunk of users can’t see past Microsoft’s attempts to force Windows 10 upon them. Of late, the carrots Microsoft has used to entice Windows 10 adoption—the Insider program , free upgrades from older operating systems, and synergy with Windows phones, the Xbox One, and even iOS and Android phones— have been largely ignored. Instead, Microsoft has come under fire for its ongoing program of forced upgrades , locking down Cortana to exclusively use Bing,and what some users see as a concerted attempt to mine personal data for advertising purposes. We don't know whether terminating support for older operating systems on Kaby Lake and Zen actually means they won’t work. What seems more certain is that Microsoft’s latest strategy will be seen as just another “stick” wielded to force customers to upgrade to Windows 10.
Intel's 7th-Gen Core Kaby Lake chip takes aim at 4K UHD and VR content theinquirer.net 2016-08-30 06:00 Mark Hachman www.itnews.com
4 The best iPhone games 2016 (1.05/7) It would take approximately 34,506,455 years to play through every single iPhone game on the App Store. Well, OK, we might have made that number up, but surely we can't be too far off. The App Store is crammed with gaming goodies to keep thumbs busy, but not all iPhone games are born equal - which is why we've done the difficult job of playing through as many games as humanly possible in order to tell you which are best. After many trials and tribulations, we arrived at the list you're about to dive into: the 50 best games you can enjoy on your iPhone today. Dog Mendonca is a witty and stylistic point and tap adventure that follows the eponymous supernatural detective as he solves a mysterious criminal case. Stunning visuals are sure to draw you into its comic-book world and the impressive writing will have you solving puzzles and chatting it up with shady characters just to find out what happens next. It's like things all went a bit wrong for the Thundercats. When the hero of your platformer is an elastic blob named Goo, the puzzles and interactions you have with your surroundings can get very interesting. Star Knight is a beautiful platformer that follows the journey of a lone knight who must defend his planet and restore its sun. Stylish levels are sure to catch your eye as you solve its puzzles, defeat diverse enemies, and overcome impressive boss battles with an array of cool weapons and abilities. Upgrade and unlock new skills, then put them to the test by taking on waves of enemies in its arena. >> Download: Star Knight Pop balls and save the world in the colorful collection of arcade games in Pang Adventures. Each level has you battling aliens and popping their defenses in various locations all over the world. You can choose to play one location at a time or challenge yourself with just three lives and see how far you can get. The game also features a frantic Panic Mode that'll offer you one go at the whole thing to let your properly test your mettle... it's just like Survival Mode in your favorite fighting title. >> Download: Pang Adventures - DotEmu Fold+ is a smart puzzler that requires you to fold or expand shapes in order to finish each level with just one block of each color. Some shapes will drag others along when you fold them, so you need to plan out each move to ensure your last move gets you the desired result. This puzzler gets bigger and more complicated as you play its 160 levels, so just relax and concentrate. >> Download: Fold+ - Bulkypix Sharpen your white water rafting skills in Yakin , a pixelated racing game where mastering its controls will lead you to victory. Courses challenge you to clear them as fast as you can as your score depends on your time and on how many obstacles you hit on the way to the finish line. Beat each course's ghost to show off your scores online and even unlock new boats. >> Download: Yakin - Two Fish One Chips Limited Inspired by games like Limbo and Badland, Toby: The Secret Mine is a puzzle platformer that lets you explore a dark world with mysteries hidden in its shadows. Levels take you from forests to factories to dangerous caverns, where you need to solve various environmental puzzles to move forward. Levels feature ambient sounds and an eerie soundtrack that are sure to keep you on your toes in this spooky and unknown world. >> Download: Toby: The Secret Mine - Headup Games GmbH & Co KG Orbit's Odyssey is a one button strategy puzzler that requires you to collect coins and gems on 90 challenging planets and avoid getting captured by its enemies. You need to run against the planet's rotation to ensure you don't bump into any zombie-like foes and collect everything you need in the shortest amount of time. Levels get more challenging and introduce new features like teleportation rings and time-based mechanics, so you always have something new to look forward to. Relive the action and excitement of all four of your favorite dinosaur films but with some of that familiar LEGO charm and humor in LEGO Jurassic World . Play through key moments in the films and control your favorite characters, each with their own unique abilities that make them invaluable during certain missions. You can also play as some familiar dinosaurs or make your own by splicing DNA you'll pick up on your adventure. Warbits may look colorful and cute from the surface, but don't be fooled - this strategy game means serious business. Missions require you to control your tanks, infantry, and other units and make the right moves to ensure you have the advantage over your enemies. You need to think carefully where to position your troops, as scenarios get more challenging as you play. It's a game that keeps on giving too, as its smooth multiplayer mode means you have reason to keep playing after your campaign is done. Take a trip back to the '80s in Retro City Rampage DX , a game that gives you an entire 8-bit open-world to discover with various missions to complete. Steal cars, beat up thugs who want your money, or take up some part-time gigs for extra cash. Plenty of arcade challenges, weapons, and customization options give you full control of your experience and its catchy soundtrack will keep you hooked. Cloaked in shadows, Shadow Bug is on a mission to save his forest from evil by doing what he does best – slicing things up. This action platformer lets you unleash your ninja skills and slash your way through enemies as you collect glowing orbs in each level for that perfect score. You'll have to think before you slash sometimes as your only way to get past certain dangers is to use your enemies as platforms - oh, the irony. Zenge is a relaxing puzzler that will draw you in with its thought-provoking soundtrack and calming visuals. Each puzzle simply requires you to move shapes around to form an image that tells the story of a lonely journeyman stuck between worlds. Getting to that solution, however, is a little trickier than it looks and requires careful planning and some brainpower to ensure you make the right moves. Fast and colorful, Chameleon Run is an autorunner that is sure to sharpen your reflexes. You'll need to think fast and tap the screen to swap colors and match that of the platform you're about to jump on or else you're dead. Increasingly difficult levels further challenge you to pick up various collectibles and complete them with certain restrictions. Collect them all and you'll unlock even more hidden trials - and we're really digging the impressive visuals on offer with this one. Colorful and featuring plenty of inventive levels and challenges, Cattch is one of those great mobile platformers that are simply worth downloading. As you travel through the world of Cubika, you'll need to rescue any prisoners needing your help and be wary of traps and evildoers trying to stop you - you know, the standard stuff in fantasy games like this. Levels change, transform, and are sure to keep you on your toes as you attempt to save the day, which really helps with longevity. Pug's Quest is a charming dungeon crawler puzzler that has you guiding a heroic little dawg all over a trap-filled castle to save his kidnapped friends. Each room randomly generates to keep the action flowing and the puzzles puzzling, so you never know what dangers await you each time you start. Press buttons, gather keys, and see how far you can go until you lose your last life and are forced to start over again...such is this dog's life. Love You To Bits tells the adorable story of a boy who goes out into the far reaches of space to find pieces of his beloved robot girlfriend after she gets blown to bits. Each planet you visit is a compact-sized that you must solve it in order to retrieve a missing part of your significant other. Vertical Divide is one to test your division skills. This smart puzzler has you dropping blue numbered tiles on a grid. When you drop a tile on top of another, it'll get divided, and the result will clear the same number of pink tiles below. Any remainders in your calculations will result in even more pink tiles so plan your drops carefully. Assassin's Creed Identity lets you create your own assassin and play missions in sandbox-like worlds of past games. Each mission gives you objectives to complete and employs tried-and-true gameplay like blending into crowds, parkour action, and distractions to ensure you get your mark and make it out alive. Gorgeous visuals, smooth animations, and classic series staples are a joy to see and play on mobile. The Walking Dead: Michonne follows this mysterious and often taciturn character during her absence in the comic books between issues #126 and #139. This episodic game lets you make choices that can impact how Michonne and her newfound companions deal with obstacles, the undead, and the living. The Walking Dead's Michonne's emotional journey comes to a close in Episode 3 of this engrossing episodic adventure that explores the wounds of her past. Your choices carry over from the previous episodes and you'll find out the fate of her newfound friends and what punishment Norma and her people have in store for them. Zombies are the least of your problems in this one. Your finger is your blade in The Swords , a stylistic action game that tells the tale of an old martial arts master and his long-forgotten styles of swordplay. This means you'll be using your finger to swipe at your foes in different ways: trace Chinese calligraphy, slash down incoming blades, and discover new styles as you move through simple yet captivating puzzles. Take a trip back to 1995 with the limbless hero in Rayman Classic , a faithful mobile port of the original Atari Jaguar game. Mobile-friendly controls and some tweaks here and there mean you relive those glory days anywhere you want. Help Rayman save the Electoons and discover new powers - but be careful where you land. Explore the far reaches of space. exploiting its resources or dominating its colonies in Stellar Wanderer. Customize your ship and gameplay style to your liking, upgrading with materials you find along the way. Choose your profession - fighter, trader, tank, engineer - and defeat other space pirates to open up areas for you to mine and discover. A PlayStation masterpiece, Final Fantasy IX is now available on your iOS device, meaning it's the perfect time to relive the adventures of Zidane and his friends in this moving RPG filled with action, love, and some of the most memorable moments from the series. Fully remastered character models bring a welcome update to this classic title. An impressive and polished platformer, Shadow Blade: Reload follows the story of Kuro as he runs, wall-jumps, and slashes enemies on his mission to save the world from darkness. Each gorgeous level will test your ninja and platforming abilities with its traps, and obstacles requiring finesse and timing to overcome. Elegant and relaxing, Prism is a puzzler that captivates you with its hypnotic beauty. Each geometric shape is like a piece of origami, and you'll discover even more puzzles inside with each corner you unfold. Its soft colors and pleasant soundtrack turn this puzzler into an enjoyable meditative experience. A Short Tale is a puzzler that follows Jason as he figures out how to escape his late brother's childhood room - after he magically shrinks to the size of a pencil. Explore and uncover clues to solve each of the brain-busting puzzles and teasers. Collect passwords, uncover hidden messages, and take photos to help you remember the combination to boxes with secret compartments. One to put your logic skills to the test. Abzorb is a tilt-based game that requires you to navigate your way around blue orbs and absorb them - but get too close to the red ones and you'll lose precious time. The game includes 65 levels, with later ones throwing in special power-up orbs. There's plenty going on behind the minimalistic beauty. Unlike that other game about a plumber, Kill the Plumber World lets you play the bad guys and catch the hero before he makes it to the goal. Jump on him, squish him from above, or fling some hammers his way - each level offers up a new challenge in killing him off. Relive a Game Boy classic RPG on your iPhone with Adventures of Mana , a story about friends working together to protect the Tree of Mana from the Dark Lord of Glaive. This remake updates the original and offers wonderful puzzles, mobile-friendly controls, and gorgeous visuals. Enjoy its combat system and stellar soundtrack as you fight to save the world. Tsuro is a beautifully meditative board game that comes to iOS, letting you play with friends or against the computer. You and your opponents will take turns drawing cards and placing them on the board for your playing pieces to follow. The objective of this game of paths is to avoid falling off the board. As ever, it's a mixture of strategy and luck. Sneak through the corridors of an alien space station and take down enemies while picking up helpful power-ups in the rogueish Space Grunts. This turn-based game only gives you three weapons to defend yourself with so you'll need to upgrade and stock up on weaponry to take down all the aliens, robots, and security drones standing in your way. Pull My Tongue is a charming puzzler that requires you to pull a chameleon's tongue and guide it to the elusive popcorn piece in each level. You'll have to pull his tongue in such a way to avoid traps like spikes zappers while pulling switches and collecting optional stars to get that high score. 90 cleverly created levels are sure to challenge your thinking skills and keep you smiling. Each puzzle in this minimalistic game lets you transform into different objects and unravels a story about a mysterious rain that is flooding the world. You need to reach the exit in each puzzle you play, so you may need to time your transformations at just the right time in order to get there. Turn into a bubble, a basketball, and even a spider as you discover and solve the game's mysteries. Help a lovable robot reach the atoms it needs to repair its ship in Atomi , a casual puzzler that is sure to challenge your logic skills. Each level requires you to create a path out of some shapes provided, and the trick lies in figuring out where to place each shape to ensure the path is sturdy enough. With over 200 levels and two difficulty modes, this puzzler is sure to keep you pleasantly occupied. Featuring minimalistic and soothing visuals, Open Bar is a casual puzzler that has you placing tiles on the screen to clear out lines of various colors. Sometimes you may need to swap out tiles to make them all line up, and later levels increase the number of colored lines for added difficulty. Its catchy soundtrack and bite-sized puzzles make it highly addictive. Twofold Inc. may look perplexing at first, but once you get your hands on this curious puzzler, you'll be hooked. Each time you play, you'll be given a grid of colored tiles and a few "requests" you need to complete by matching several tiles of the same color. The idea is to complete as many requests as possible before you run out of moves. Match tiles and keep an eye on your available moves as you put your logic skills to the test. NeoArcade is a collection of four arcade-inspired titles that are sure to take you down memory lane and channel your competitive spirit. Games that put a twist on Brick Breaker, ice hockey, Tanks, and Snake are great to play against the world via online leaderboards, or against a friend on the same device. Aim for a high score and rest assured you won't need quarters to play again. A colorful and upbeat platformer, Super Phantom Cat is sure to put a smile on your face with its retro-inspired levels and unique brand of humor. Jump and make your way through various worlds to collect data and stars, avoiding enemies and uncovering hidden areas and characters. A smooth soundtrack, tricky platforming mechanics, and tons of secrets await you. Leap into concentric circles in Circa Infinity , a platformer that's as dazzling as it is dizzying. Each level requires you to get deeper inside all the spinning circles, but you need to jump at just the right moment to actually reach the next one. On top of that, demonic enemies soon appear within each circle. See if you can complete each level without dying once. An endless runner that's quite easy on the eyes, Infinite Skater is gorgeous to look at an a breeze to play. Your usual runner mechanics come into play here, but its stunning worlds breathe new life into the experience and feature aerial stunts, pastel colors, and spirit animals to find and befriend. Crashlands is an engrossing story-driven RPG that lets you craft and battle your way through a hilarious tale of survival and package delivery. Build weapons and tools out of you the materials you get from your surroundings and complete various side-quests for the creatures you meet along the way. Fresh and addictive, the game is sure to keep you coming back for more crafting and hilarious one-liners that are sure to make you smile. A beautifully pixelated adventure, Sky Chasers requires you to use your fingers to guide your character along side-scrolling paths collecting coins and completing side-quests for his friends. Your cardboard ship has a limited fuel supply, so you'll occasionally have to stop by checkpoints to refuel and avoid any pesky enemies that add an element of danger to your otherwise peaceful trip. Solve simple puzzles and upgrade your ship as you enjoy its rich colorful worlds. Keep your planet alive by tapping out any enemies that approach its orbit in the addictive survival game Playnets. Each planet you save also comes with its own set of abilities you can use when in a pinch that can stun, freeze, or zap incoming baddies. You'll need to have quick fingers to guarantee your planets survive waves of attacks so be sure to upgrade them to make them stronger and take more hits. Tap your way through dozens of dungeons in the roguelike Dungelot: Shattered Lands. Each room you travel to requires you to tap its paths to uncover keys, treasure, or even monsters to battle. The objective is to make it to the exit in one piece but chances are you'll die and try again until you get there. Its addictive format and leveling up features are sure to keep you coming back for more. An elegant blend of colors and sounds, Lost in Harmony is a rhythm runner that follows the intriguing story of two friends and their dream-world adventures. Levels have you dodging enemies that come from behind or in front and tapping on cues in sync with the music. The music, ranging from classical to modern techno, evolves as you progress, and you can even make your own levels to share with the world. Build the restaurant of your dreams and make sure you expand and manage it just right to make it beat the competition in World Chef. This management sim requires you to use your resources well to so your chefs have access to the ingredients they need to cook the foods your customers want. Money and experience will allow you hire more chefs, build new rooms, and turn your restaurant into the go-to spot on the block. Team up with spiritual guardians from the past and harness their abilities as you complete quests and try to save your kingdom in Guardian Stone. Turn- based battles require you to think on your feet and choose the correct attack that ensures you stay standing despite the opposition. Choose from over 69 guardians, evolve them, and create the character you want to play in this robust RPG. Combine cats and explosion and you have yourself a card game that's quite the winner. Based on the physical card game, Exploding Kittens is a local multiplayer title that puts a feline twist on Russian Roulette. This means you don't want to be the player who draws the kitten or else you're done. Draw cards that help you avoid or move any possible explosions and figure out strategies to make sure you don't blow yourself up. The Westport Independent is essentially a censorship simulator that lets you see what the effects your choices in running a newspaper have on society. Will you choose to leave out the less favorable details from your front page story or will you lambast the Loyalist Party in the stories you publish? Your employees will be affected by what you publish and so will your country and its citizens. Simple and yet increasingly difficult, Geometry Lock challenges you to correctly tap the screen at the right time to complete pieces of a geometric pattern. Each level gives you a different shape to reassemble and starts off a timer so the trick is to be quick but accurate when figuring out where a shape should go. Play alone or hook it up to Apple TV for four-player matches. We've been after a decent futuristic racer on the iPhone for some time, but none of them really felt right. AG Drive bucks the trend, echoing Wipeout and F-Zero: breakneck speed is married with pitch-perfect tilt controls and suitably shiny graphics. Also, there's absolutely no IAP, so the only way you're going to win is with mastery and skill. Explore the stylish home of a nefarious spy in Agent A , a snazzy puzzler that is sure to captivate you with its sleek visuals and ingenious puzzles hidden in the environment. Check underneath everything for any hidden trinkets, disable security systems, and keep mental notes of where you think an item is used as you play. Keep your logic skills on point as you enjoy this casual yet engrossing puzzler. Anagrams and crossword puzzles combine in Alpha Omega , a game where you only get the first and last letter of each word which you'll need to unscramble. Perfect for those who crave a challenge, this puzzler offers hundreds of levels that get harder as you progress through the Greek alphabet. Use a hint if you must, but these puzzles are sure to please purists who simply love a good word challenge without any distractions. Bears of all shapes and sizes will make you smile as you spell words with the letters on your screen in Alphabear. Each time you make a word, bears will populate your board and grow in size the more letters you use around them. The bigger the bear at the end of your game, the more points you score. Use helpful bear buddies you unlock to give you bonus points as you play through an endless array of word challenges. We've all played brick-breaking games here and there, but Brickies enhances the familiar concept and takes it to a whole other level. You'll still need to break all the shapes on the screen, but some of them will require multiple hits to break, for example, while others can only be hit from a specific side. Use power-ups to break through multiple blocks, but keep an eye on the timer as you play through its addictive levels. Capitals is a word game that requires both a knack for vocabulary as it does for strategizing your enemy's demise. Each match puts you against an opponent and requires you to spell out words around your enemy's "capital" or yours. Using his letters will diminish his dominance and using yours will expand your realm. If you or your opponent loses his capital, the game is over. Plan ahead and come out victorious. Chaos Rings III is one of those RPGs that will suck you in. Featuring rich colors and 3D worlds to explore, this game takes place on a floating continent and brings together a group of different characters on a pilgrimage to reach the Marble Blue planet and uncover the mysteries it holds. Fight your way through countless battles, complete mobile-friendly missions, and enjoy the gorgeous vistas as you explore its world. RPGs can be complicated affairs with tons of rules to master, but Clicker Heroes simply requires you to tap your screen to defeat thousands of enemies and make your way through its near endless worlds. Hire heroes to do damage for you so you can take a break from tapping and farm coins to power them up or unlock stronger allies. It's a charming quintessential clicker game that is sure to get you hooked in no time. This endless take on Frogger finds your cuboid character confronting countless deadly roads, train lines and rivers, before inevitable squashage. It's the characters that make the game, though – a varied roster of people, animals and 'things' won using a one-armed bandit, fed with coins collected en route (you can just buy stuff, too, but Crossy Road also lets you earn by watching videos and bestows regular coin top-ups anyway, making it the least obnoxious free-to-play game with IAP imaginable). Does Not Commute is a clever game that combines driving and puzzle elements to provide you with a unique and suspenseful experience. Each chapter requires you to drive a number of quirky commuters to their destinations, and once you do, the path you just made is saved and replayed when you control the next vehicle. You don't have much time either, so you'll need to avoid crashing and plan your paths carefully to succeed. Single-screen platformer Drop Wizard is infused with the soul of classics such as Snow Bros. and Bubble Bobble, but it's also part auto-runner. You can only run left or right, and your wizard blasts magic on landing. Strategy, therefore, involves careful timing, to avoid and zap foes, and then kick them into a tumbling combo that will bounce about in a pleasingly destructive manner before turning into fruit. Because that's what vanquished platform- game enemies all did in the 1980s. Fallout Shelter is an addictive resource management game that lets you be the overseer of your very own vault. This means you'll be responsible for its daily operations and need to assign your dwellers with jobs that benefit from their skills. Farm resources like water and electricity and expand your vault with more rooms and residents, but also protect yourself against accidents, raider invasions, and pesky radroach infestations. A game needing no introduction to console players, Final Fantasy VII lets you dive into the city of Midgar and join Cloud, Tifa, and a whole party of classic heroes on a fight to save the planet from a villain named Sephiroth. This timeless JRPG now comes with mobile-friendly controls and even some nifty cheats for those who might have beaten the game a few times before and simply want to relive the moments everyone is still talking about. If you're looking for a hidden gem of a game, Framed has your name written all over it. It's a unique puzzle game that makes good and novel use of the touchscreen. Each scene looks like a page ripped out of a comic book and it's up to you to guide the character through it. Starting from left to right, you have to organize each panel so that you can run through and avoid harm. The fate of House Forrester rests in your hands in this Game of Thrones episodic series. Enjoy a gripping storyline with plot twists around every corner as you play as characters trying to keep their family strong and united. The choices you make will have lasting consequences and repercussions, so be sure to play your cards right. But as it is with any Game of Thrones episode, tragedy is inevitably followed by more tragedy. Tap into your inner rock star as you tap your screen to the music in Guitar Hero Live , the mobile version of the console game that comes free with two songs to try. Crowds will cheer you on if you're performance is solid, but miss too many notes and your bandmates will be seen shaking their heads and the audience will let you have it. The full game can also be played with a separate guitar controller and comes with over 40 songs and even more you can stream online. Yes, the insanely popular online card game Hearthstone has been squashed down to fit your iPhone screen - and it works surprisingly well. With less space to play with, the creators have rejigged the deisign slightly; it's still the same game, just a bit more considerate to your thumbs. It's also still compatible with the tablet and desktop versions so you'll be able to play against your friends on the move. Requires at least an iPhone 4S or 5th generation iPod Touch. An intriguing little game that lets you play detective, Her Story has received rave reviews for its incredibly engrossing gameplay. As a British woman is interviewed about her missing husband, it's up to you to search through the clues and discover what happened. An impressive achievement. Charming, colorful, and lots of fun, Heroki follows the adventures of its eponymous hero tasked with saving his cloudy village from doom. Boasting over 10 hours of gaming, this side scroller features gorgeous worlds with secrets to uncover and menacing foes to defeat. Find collectibles, go on quests, and upgrade Heroki's abilities to last through some impressive boss battles in this engrossing adventure. Square Enix would have been on a hiding to nothing converting its free- roaming 3D game to touchscreens, and so it's great to see the company do something entirely different with Hitman GO. Although still echoing the original series, this touchscreen title is presented as a board game of sorts, with turn-based actions against clockwork opposition. You must figure out your way to the prize, without getting knocked off (the board). It's an oddly adorable take on assassination, and one of the best iOS puzzlers. If you've ever been mesmerized by impossible shapes and perspective illusion puzzles, hocus. is sure to take you for a spin. Each puzzle requires you to move a small red cube to reach a hole on a shape by guiding it down its sides. These kinds of geometric shapes can be deceiving so you'll need to figure out which sides will lead to where as you solve its 50 relaxing yet tricky conundrums. Time was racing games were all about ludicrous speed, gorgeous graphics, and the sheer rush of weaving through a sea of cars to the finish line. Horizon Chase briefly reverses back to such halcyon days, grabs the best bits from the likes of Lotus and Top Gear, before zooming back to the present as a thoroughly modern arcade racer. It looks gorgeous, with some stunning weather effects, and an odd but pleasing low-poly roadside-object style; it sounds great with veteran games musician Barry Leitch on soundtrack duties; but most importantly, it handles perfectly, and is a joy until the very last track. Loaf lovers and gluten gourmands are in luck - I Am Bread will fulfill your lifelong wish to become a piece of bread and navigate your way through rooms to become toast…actual toast. Each time you begin a level, you'll need to keep your eyes sharp and locate anything that can help you get crisp and then tread across dangerous territory to get there. Don't get too dirty, though. No one likes a dirty piece of bread. Humans are again getting a kicking at the hands of nasty aliens and it's up to you to stop them. Cliches aside, Implosion offers a stompy slash-and- shoot experience that feels entirely at home on the iPhone but scratches that itch when you fancy playing something that resembles what you'd find on a 'proper' games console. Anagrams are one thing, but Jollygrams are another form of word scrambles that don't make sense at first but say them over enough times or rearrange their syllables and you'll get a phrase that does. Words like Plouse Hant and Band Socks will try to stump you, but think it over a bit and you'll earn some coins and move on to the next puzzle. Use a hint if you must, but soon you'll find it's all a "keys of pake. " Following in the footsteps of Hitman GO, which astonishingly managed to transform that series into an adorable board game, Lara Croft GO reworks the adventures of the world's most famous tomb raider. It's another turn- based affair, with lashings of atmosphere, finding Lara carefully working her way past traps crafted by an ancient civilisation with a penchant for blocky design and elaborate moving parts. There are also lots of snakes and deadly lizards about, which she's quite keen on shooting in the head. The five chapters are quite brief, but savour the game rather than blazing through, and you'll find something that merges early Tomb Raider's sense of adventure and solitude, Monument Valley- level beauty, and bite-sized touchscreen gaming that's perfect for iPhone. Leo's Fortune finds gruff hairball Leo in search of his gold, which has been dropped in a suspiciously trail-like manner across typically platform-game environments. As he scoops up coins, he finds himself whizzing round Sonic-style loops, solving puzzles by manipulating the environment, and negotiating increasingly complex and deadly pathways. It's a beautiful game, full of character, and well-suited to quick bursts on your iPhone. Beautiful to look at and even more amazing to play, Lumino City is a puzzler that's also an adventure into a world of magic and color. Play as a Lumi, who ventures into the puzzling city following her grandpa's kidnapping and discovers people in need of her help. Featuring paper-like visuals, the city is filled with unique puzzles for you to find and solve and is sure to charm and invite you in every step of the way. In Monument Valley , you journey through delightful Escher-like landscapes, manipulating the very architecture to build impossible paths along which to explore. It's not the most challenging of games (nor one with the most coherent of storylines), but each scene is a gorgeous and mesmerising bite-sized experience that showcases how important great craft is in the best iOS titles. Play as a dad and a husband in Octodad , a hilarious game that tasks you with accomplishing basic daily tasks as best as you can so that your family doesn't get suspicious that you're, in fact, an octopus. Moving around in a man's world is harder than it sounds and you'll need to get used to your cephalopodan limbs as you pick things up, move around, and interact with people without accidentally outing yourself. Bullet-hell meets blood-thirsty vampires in Operation Dracula , a shoot 'em up that boasts some great top-down action, a catchy soundtrack, and a difficulty curve that makes you feel like you're back in the 80s. Missions have you maneuvering your craft through levels that continuously assault you with enemies, bullets, and some relentless bosses so you need to keep your cool amid the frenetic violence happening all around you. Get lost in the amazing worlds of Order & Chaos 2: Redemption , Gameloft's follow-up MMORPG that comes with even more quests to sink your teeth into. Optimized for mobile, this game features a new race to choose from as well as a new story that follows your character as he or she tries to restore peace to the world of Haradon. Plenty of exploration, characters, and dangers await you in this massive adventure. Pac-Man 256 is a twist on the classic pellet-eating formula and has you racing for your life as the menacing Level 256 glitch from the original game tries to devour you. But it wouldn't be a Pac-Man game without those pesky ghosts to avoid and power pellets and fruit to collect. Use power-ups like lasers, tornados, and even a "giant" mode to survive when things get rough, but don't accidentally run into a dead end or it's over. Save the world as you hop through the galaxy in Path to Luma , a gorgeous adventure puzzler that lets you harness the power of clean energy and explore planets to find the switches they need to power back up. As you play through the game's 20 levels, you will have to recharge batteries, turn on windmills, or rotate planets to create new routes to explore. You'll soon discover puzzles within puzzles that are a joy to solve. You're in store for a gallery of pixelated masterpieces in Pixel 8 , a charming puzzler that tasks you with recreating paintings pixel-by-pixel before time runs out. Paintings start off simple and small, but you'll soon be working on large works of art that span several themes and categories. Completing each one in the fastest time earns you a spot on the leaderboards as well as coins to unlock more puzzling galleries. With its pixelated visuals and a soundtrack that is sure to make you feel nostalgic, you'd swear PixWing came out for Sega Genesis decades ago. This colorful flyer brings things into the modern age with its optional gyro controls that let you use your body to navigate your plane and it will even track how many calories you burn as you play. Gorgeous levels, collectibles, and timed challenges are sure to keep you busy in a good way. Power Hover is an impressive action game that takes you through a beautiful world to recover a village's stolen power. Hover through deserts, oceans, and highways, and grind on rails as you make your way to the finish line, chase down baddies, or play through arcade-style boss runs and challenge your friends for the best score. Collect dropped batteries to unlock even more gorgeous and thrilling levels. Progress to 100 is more than just a puzzle - it's a cleverly unique experience that will engage all aspects of your iPhone as you figure out what you have to do to move on. As its name states, each of the 100 puzzles you'll play gets you one step closer to finishing it, but each one also comes with a hint as to how to solve it. Repeatedly tap your screen, put your nose on your device, or move your head to solve its silly and satisfying riddles. Prune is a meditative experience more akin to the art of bonsai than your usual puzzle game, but its relaxing levels and soothing sounds will captivate you nonetheless. Each level lets you grow a tree with a swipe of a finger and then prune enough of it branches so its buds can flower in the sunlight. As you progress, shadows and red orbs will pose obstacles for your tree as they'll block it from the sunlight and even poison its branches. The setting of the sun signifies your doom in Race the Sun , a tense and riveting endless racer that gracefully challenges you to prolong the inevitable and keep flying. Each time you start a race, you need to be mindful of both incoming obstacles that can destroy your aircraft and power-ups that can extend your flight. The world you fly through changes every day so you are always on your toes wondering what lies ahead. Join Rayman and friends as they journey through colorful worlds retrieving lost eggs and helping a sacred tree flourish. Levels in Rayman Adventures can involve searching for hidden Teensies, beating up enemies on your path, or solving puzzles before making it to the goal. Take care of the creatures you hatch by feeding and playing with them and then take them on your adventures for a helpful boost. A game of exploration, mystery, and puzzles, Spider: Rite of the Shrouded Moon once again stars an intrepid eight-legged protagonist and lets you unravel a subtle story with each clue you find. Trap insects in your web as you explore the enormous Blackbird Estate, and solve some puzzles along the way too. What's more, the game uses your location, time, and local weather to add dynamic features to your experience each time you play. Strategy is a big part of your success in this colorful roguelike, so you'll need to plan your steps accordingly or else enemies will ambush you when you least expect it. Use your items wisely or purchase equipment to permanently own them and give your characters a fighting chance when up against some tough bosses. Just don't be fooled by Sproggiwood 's whimsical music or deceptive cutesy design - this is one tough game. Super Dangerous Dungeons is sure to bring you back to a time when 16-bit platformers ruled the world. Its 48 colorful levels feature classic traps and enemies that will keep you engaged as you turn on switches, find keys, and avoid dangerous terrain on your way to the exit. Jump your way through bottomless pits and beat giant bosses that require some finesse and careful timing to defeat. Ah, Super Hexagon. We remember that punishing first game, which must have lasted all of three seconds. Much like the next - and the next. But then we recognised patterns in the walls that closed in on our tiny ship, and learned to react and dodge. Then you threw increasingly tough difficulty levels at us, and we've been smitten ever since. Follow a group of unlikely friends on their quest for greatness in this episodic series set in Pandora following the events of Borderlands 2. You'll travel to familiar locations and interact with pivotal characters from the action games, but your choices are what matter most as they can come back to haunt you later on. Clever writing and a talented cast are sure to keep your laughing through each hilarious episode. Featuring more than just boxes to examine, The Room Three expands the format of the original just enough to create a uniquely tactile experience that definitely pulls you into the many nooks and crannies you'll be entering to solve. Gorgeous box puzzles still play an important role in the game, but many other clever logic games are sure to tickle your brain and condition you to look closely at everything that could turn out to be a puzzle. Three's a charm indeed. There are two sides to TouchTone. The foundation is a topical story about intercepting communications, ostensibly to make the world safer. The game itself involves reflecting signals to receivers, using a tiled grid where every item on a row or column moves as one. The story gives you added impetus to keep going, even when you've been racking your brains for days to come up with a solution to a particular puzzle. It's always great when a savvy developer rethinks a genre and comes up with something that feels fresh. EightyEight Games welds auto-running to match-three in You Must Build A Boat. Deft fingerwork must be married with careful timing, matching keys as the hero approaches locked chests, or swords at the moment an incoming enemy prepares to get all stabby. Get shoved off of the left-hand side of the screen and you're told YOU WIN!, because every step potentially adds to your coffers. There are missions to complete, abilities to power-up, and a cheeky sense of humour that sets the title apart from its frequently comparatively po-faced contemporaries. An immersive story, stellar soundtrack, and a fluid turn-based combat system are just a few delights that await you as you journey to the world of Orcanon and uncover the first installment of Zodiac: Orcanon Odyssey. Gorgeous cutscenes accompany your characters as they travel throughout a kingdom filled with dangers and secrets. Customize your experience by crafting your own weapons and bring your friends with you into battle as you fight to save the world.
The best free iPhone games on the planet feedproxy.google.com Best Android Wear smartwatches 2016 feedproxy.google.com
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5 LG offering up huge 21:9 curved gaming monitor (1.02/7) LG has announced two new 21:9 monitors, including a 34-inch curved 144 Hz gaming monitor and a 38- inch behemoth built for designers. On the gaming front, the LG 34UC79G has what LG describes as a 'blindingly fast' refresh rate alongside one millisecond motion blur reduction. There's AMD's FreeSync functionality, while Black Stabilizer is designed to let you see darker objects in hard to see areas and Dynamic Action Sync reduces input lag. The 38UC99 boasts a color gamut that covers 99% of the sRGB spectrum, a USB Type-C port and two 10W speakers. And, in what some would term as 'a bit cheating' there's a function to add a fixed target to the center of your screen. The second offering, the LG 38UC99, is built for designers or those who are looking for accuracy in the way colors are shown on their screens. The 38UC99 boasts a color gamut that covers 99% of the sRGB spectrum, a USB Type-C port and two 10W speakers. "With tablets and smartphones at their disposal, consumers today don't feel shackled to their desks anymore so it's more important than ever that their monitors offer additional user benefits and conveniences," said Brian Kwon, president of LG Home Entertainment Company. "LG is the number one brand in the 21:9 monitor space because we were first to recognize that consumers are adopting a new way of working and playing that put them ahead of the competition whether that's working or playing. " Article continues below LG Announces 38-inch Curved UltraWide Monitor With Built-in Chromecast And USB-C hothardware.com 2016-08-30 09:20 By Patrick feedproxy.google.com
6 HPE is betting big on A. I. to fuel your apps and analytics (1.02/7) Hewlett Packard Enterprise has made no secret of its desire to push further into big data, and on Tuesday it announced two key new offerings: HPE Haven OnDemand Combinations, an extension of the "machine learning as a service" platform it released earlier this year, and Vertica 8, a major new update to its analytics software. Launched in March, HPE's Haven OnDemand cloud platform offers machine learning APIs (application programming interfaces) and services designed to help developers and businesses build data-rich applications. The platform now has 70 artificial intelligence APIs and more than 18,000 users, and HPE is extending it to make development easier. Haven OnDemand Combinations, a cloud service built on top of OnDemand, provides a catalog of pre-built and customizable machine learning APIs and a drag-and-drop interface for mixing and matching them. Developers can string together APIs and copy and paste the code directly into their development projects, HPE said. Among the benefits is that complex API combinations can be reduced to a single API call, thereby improving data throughput. Now available as a preview by request in the Haven OnDemand Marketplace, the software is delivered globally on Microsoft Azure. A developer version includes free preview and prototyping, while the commercial release also includes capabilities such as enterprise-grade service level assurance. Also on Tuesday, HPE announced the next release of its Vertica analytics software. Code-named "Frontloader," Vertica 8 introduces a unified architecture and new in-database analytics capabilities. Companies can use HPE Vertica 8 on data residing on premises, in private and public clouds, and in Hadoop data lakes. With its in-database machine learning capabilities, they can natively create and deploy R-based machine learning models directly within the software. Improvements to data movement and orchestration let users load data as much as 700 percent faster than before, HPE said. Those gains are possible for hundreds of thousands of columns. Vertica 8 also makes it easier to load data from Amazon S3 and includes comprehensive visual monitoring of Apache Kafka data streams. Vertica 8 is now optimized for Microsoft Azure and AWS. Support for Amazon's cloud has been expanded with AWS CloudWatch integration, tighter security, and more. Both Haven OnDemand Combinations and Vertica 8 will be generally available during the fourth quarter of HPE’s fiscal 2016, which ends Oct. 31. Earlier this month, HPE announced that it's buying SGI in a $275 million deal that it hopes will propel its big-data analytics efforts further. HPE is betting big on AI to fuel your apps and analytics itworld.com 2016-08-30 06:47 Katherine Noyes www.computerworld.com
7 Apple must repay $14.5 billion in underpaid taxes in Ireland (1.02/7) Apple's tax benefits in Ireland are illegal, and the company will have to pay up to €13 billion ($14.5 billion) in back taxes, plus interest. That's the verdict European Commissioner Margrethe Vestager delivered Tuesday, wrapping up a two-year investigation of the company's tax affairs stretching back to 2003. The investigation found that Apple's effective tax rate on profit reported in Ireland was just €500 per million euros in profit, falling to €50 per million in 2014. "I would have a feeling if my effective tax rate were 0.05 percent, falling to 0.005 percent. I would feel that maybe I should have another look at my tax bill," she said. The Commission looked into tax rulings granted by the Irish government to two Apple subsidiaries, Apple Operations Europe, which makes some Apple computers, and Apple Sales International, which resells the company's products throughout Europe, the Middle East, Africa and India. The latter accounts for almost all the unpaid taxes Ireland now needs to recover, Vestager said. Vestager said that the Irish tax authorities had allowed Apple to split profit from the two companies, which were subject to normal taxes, with "head office" companies that were subject to no taxes, either in Ireland or elsewhere. "Splitting the profits did not have any factual or economic justification. The so-called head office had no employees, no premises, no real activities," she said. Those head-office companies were allocated almost all the profits. This selective tax treatment in Ireland is illegal under European Union state aid rules, she said, and distorts competition. To restore fair competition, Ireland must recover up to €13 billion in back taxes from Apple for the period from 2003 to 2014. "It is for the Irish authorities to determine the exact amount and the modalities of payment," she said. Apple will have to pay up even if the ruling is appealed, with the money going into an escrow account, she said. Should the U. S. government decide to change its tax rules so that Apple owes more tax in the U. S. on its EU profits, then the sum to be repaid in Ireland could be reduced by a corresponding amount, she said. Apple is not the only company in the Commission's sights: It has also issued tax rulings against Starbucks and Fiat, and is still investigating Amazon.com and McDonalds in Luxembourg, Vestager said. "All companies, big or small, should pay taxes where they make their profits. We need changes in corporate philosophies, and we need changes in legislation to address loopholes and to ensure transparency," she concluded. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
EU: Ireland Gave Apple $14.5B in Illegal Tax Benefits feedproxy.google.com 2016-08-30 04:14 Peter Sayer www.computerworld.com
8 : When is the new Windows Surface coming out? New hardware coming 'fall 2016' (0.03/7) We were impressed with the Surface Pro 4, reviewed and shown above, which is easily the most desirable of all of Microsoft's Windows tablets. Whether or not we'll see a fifth-generation Surface Pro 5 is pure speculation at this point in time, but the rumour mill is already rumbling into motion. We investigate the Surface Pro 5 release date, price and specs rumours plus our expert predictions. Find out when the new Windows Surface will launch. See also: Best convertible laptops and tablets 2016. The Windows 10 Anniversary Update is now available, the Surface Pro 4 gets a price cut in the US and read about the Surface as a Service Program . It still looks like the Surface Pro 5 will arrive in 2017 but it appears that Microsoft has more than one new Windows Surface in store. The photo below from a developer shows a wall in Microsoft's building 88 during a recent visit. You can see placeholders for what looks like a Surface device with '2016' and 'coming soon'. There's also three devices which say '2017' on them. Read our Surface Book review . Microsoft launched the Pro 4 in October 2015, so it's very unlikely it will launch an updated model before 12 months has passed. So while some rumours are claiming a Surface Pro 5 will be announced in May and go on sale in June 2016, we think all bets are off for this (it seems we were right). Chances are that we'll see an announcement in October 2016 which is in- line with ZDnet which says at least one new Surface device will come before the end of 2016. The question is what will is be? It could include a Surface 4, Surface Book 2 or a Surface All-in-One iMac rival (don't hold your breath for the Surface Phone). The 'Fall 2016 Microsoft hardware event' might not be for Surface devices at all and might be for OEMs but the above photo suggest one Surface for 2016. It seems likely there will be something new on the Surface front in 2016 but the Surface Pro 5 specifically could be in Spring 2017. The reason for that is due to more rumours that Microsoft is delaying the second part of the big Windows 10 update until early next year. This update is known as Redstone - or RS2 because it's the second part of it - and Microsoft is supposedly hanging on until the new Surface devices are ready so it can showcase the software features on them. While October this year is the next period with a good possibility, it perfectly feasible that Microsoft could wait until 2017, with some touting March. As well as Redstone 2, it would give the firm more time to get the product ready (the Pro 4 launched with a number of issues including battery drain) and ensure the device comes with Intel Kaby Lake processors which are now shipping to manufacturers, Intel announced at IDF 2016. This means devices with the chips can be expected this autumn. This is all backed up by a report by Kitguru which says the Surface Pro 5 will arrive in early 2017 mainly due to the Kaby Lake processor. Of course, both could be correct, just for different models going by the photo above. It's slightly tenuous but Microsoft ending production of the Surface 3 by the end of 2016, via ZDNet , means it would create space for a new model - potentially before the end of the year. This could simply be the Surface 4 but we could also see the Surface Pro 5, too as Microsoft would likely launch them together. One other option for a Surface Pro 5 announcement cum launch is 2 August which is the release date for the Windows 10 Anniversary Update , although this is probably unlikely. Update - this date has now passed with no Surface Pro 5 announcement. Also see: Best Windows tablets 2016 Although it's early days, there are a few rumours circulating. One is that the Surface Pen - the stylus bundled with Surface Pro tablets - will be updated so that it contains a rechargeable battery that charges wirelessly when magnetically attached to the tablet. The current Surface Pen attaches magnetically but is not rechargeable as it takes an alkaline AAAA battery: Another more obvious update is that the Pro 5 will have the latest generation of Intel processor. Some say it will be the sixth-generation Skylake chip, but other rumours suggest it will be the following generation, codenamed Kaby Lake. The report mentioned above, which cites manufacturing sources in China, suggests the Surface Pro 5 will come with a 2K screen but there will also be a 4K model for those willing to splash the cash. It also touts an upgrade to 16GB of RAM, presumably for cheaper models as the Pro 4 is currently available with this capacity. One other candidate for an upgrade is the USB port. The Surface Pro 5 could be the first in the range to get a USB-C port rather than the USB 3.0 port on the Pro 4. This could also be used for charging: the proprietary charging connector is an annoyance that could quite easily be solved by USB-C. Cameras are the other likely components to see upgrades, along with the latest versions of Wi-Fi (hopefully with MU-MIMO support) and Bluetooth. Now we're really into wild speculation territory, but experience tells us that Microsoft will charge similar price for each version of the Pro 5. There's no reason to suspect there won't be a similar range of models, from an entry- level Core i3, up to a wallet-bashing Core i7 with plenty of RAM and internal storage. The Surface Pro 4 starts at £749 and we don't expect this to change much. In the US, the Surface Pro 4 has had a second discount of $150. A price cut can often hint at a new model coming soon but this is another limited time offer which ends on 27 August. Strangely the offer is not available in the UK store. See also: How to get a cheap Windows tablet that looks like a Surface . When more rumours - or hard facts - emerge, we'll update this article, so keep it bookmarked if you're excited about the Surface Pro 5. "The digital revolution is changing the traditional workplace environment, making us more reliant on our peers to share knowledge and work together; while more people are working remotely and need to be productive from anywhere. And, the workforce demographic is shifting towards millennials who are more collaborative, multi-task more, and use multiple devices," said Microsoft in a blog post. The Surface as a Service Program means that authorised distributors can offer Surface devices with a subscription model. This will help customers get the latest devices without large upgrade costs. It has started with ALSO, a leading Cloud Solution Provider in Europe.
| iPhone 7 Plus release date | iPhone 7 Plus specs | iPhone 7 Plus new features | iPhone 7 Plus rumours: iPhone 7 Plus launch event confirmed for 7 September pcadvisor.co.uk 2016-08-30 13:34 Chris Martin www.pcadvisor.co.uk
9 Nintendo NX release date, news and rumors (0.01/7) The Nintendo NX is going to be a very strange system, if you believe any number of the dozen or so patents Nintendo has filed in the last few months. We now know the release date of the console, and even a few of its new features, but there's still an air of mystery about Nintendo's next piece of hardware. We're not totally in the dark, however. A report published by Eurogamer has given us our most detailed look yet at Nintendo's new system. Mostly the report confirms much of what we knew previously. The console looks set to run its game off cartridges (a feature not seen in a Nintendo console since the Nintendo 64), and appears to be something of a console-handheld hybrid. Users will be able to carry the console with them while they're out and about, but will be able to dock it when at home in order to play games on a big screen. Also interestingly, the report claims that the console will come with detachable controllers which will clip onto either side of the device's screen and use a modular system to swap out control components. While we're on the topic of controllers, another source has claimed that the Nintendo NX's will deliver a couple of Nintendo firsts, a split D-pad and a 'share' button , similar to those seen on Sony's PS4 . It was reassuring to read the report, after the console's completely absence from E3 2016 , where Nintendo didn't share a peep about its new console. Currently Nintendo is targeting a March 2017 release date, according to a recent earnings call . The Wii U was first teased ahead of E3 2011 and debuted in 2012. The 3DS was first announced in early 2010, a year before it came out. The DS was teased in 2003 and revealed in 2004. The Wii is the rare exception because it was teased at E3 2004, shown for the first time a year later, and released over a year after that. We're hoping for a big reveal later this year if Nintendo wants to build up a good amount of steam for the console's launch next year. The only other option would be to pull an Apple-style announcement on the day of release, but we don't think Nintendo has quite the same abilities as Apple in that regard. The continually-shrinking portable landscape has led to Nintendo's first major third-party game development, and the Wii U's poor sales performance has likely sped up the NX's timeline. See the best PRODUCT NAME deals Nintendo hasn't revealed much about the Nintendo NX, but a recent interview with Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime might give us all the information we need to know. "One of the things that we have to do better when we launch the NX – we have to do a better job communicating the positioning for the product. We have to do a better job helping people to understand its uniqueness and what that means for the game playing experience. And we have to do a better job from a software planning standpoint to have that continuous beat of great new games that are motivating more and more people to pick up the hardware and more and more people to pick up the software," Fils- Aime told Eurogamer. The company has hinted at a dramatically different system in the NX, and that will mean it will take extra effort on Nintendo's part to sell it to the already-leery gaming public. Another interesting fact that came out of the last few months is that Nintendo might have its eye set on making the NX the company's first VR console. In a shareholders meeting the company admitted it was "researching" VR technology, according to someone who was present. Twitter's NStyles attended the meeting in Kyoto and claims Nintendo's Shigeru Minamoto said Nintendo was researching VR but has concerns about users playing for long periods of time. He also added that Nintendo wants to release a device that carries value, is affordable, and wants parents to "feel at ease". Typical Nintendo to care about our eye health while the rest of the market charges forward haphazardly. Further, the Nintendo NX may support some form of heart rate-monitoring hardware. According to Commercial Times , a Chinese integrated circuit design company called Pixart has been ramping up production of itsCMOS- based hear-rate monitoring sensor that will go into several next-gen VR headsets and – more interestingly – Nintendo's next home console. The Nintendo NX will be unlike any console the company has on the market, according to new Nintendo President Tatsumi Kmishima. In one of his first major public interviews since transitioning to President of Nintendo, Kimishima opened up about the Nintendo NX to Time's Matt Peckham. "As far as NX goes, I've said it's different and obviously a new experience," Kimishima said. "That being said, I can assure you we're not building the next version of Wii or Wii U. It's something unique and different. It's something where we have to move away from those platforms in order to make it something that will appeal to our consumer base. " There's good reason for the expediency: while Sony (and to a lesser extent, Microsoft) can potentially match their earlier successes with their latest batch of consoles, the Wii U will almost definitely go down in history as Nintendo's worst-selling console. Just how dire is Nintendo's need to jump ship on the Wii U? It's currently sitting at around 10 million units sold, and even a new Legend of Zelda game won't likely double system sales to the point where it can match the GameCube's near 22-million sales mark, let alone the Wii's 100 million unit high-bar. Nintendo's greatest successes were due to the company taking its biggest risks. Its top-selling portable was the Nintendo DS , a portable console with a second, touch-enabled screen that many scoffed at before it revolutionized handheld gaming. Likewise, the original Wii far outpaced every previous TV-tethered system, and it did so by treading its own path, eschewing the standard controls with a revolutionary motion-controlled setup that some competitors are still attempting to mimic. If Nintendo wants to see the NX succeed it'll need to etch these lessons into memory. Should it follow in the footsteps of the 3DS or Wii U, however, all hope may be lost. The Nintendo 3DS originally stumbled, and Wii U has outright failed is truly differentiating themselves from their direct predecessors. Both assumed that the previous generation's record-breaking install base wanted more of the same, so they both came with extensive backwards compatibility and names that recalled the previous generation. The 3DS only broke out of its funk after drastically dropping its price while also debuting a new Zelda and 3D Mario game. The same might be in- store for the Wii U, though the reveal of the NX means its clock is ticking. For the NX, a new control method is in the works after the Wii U's controller/touch-screen hybrid failed to inspire widespread developer support. Nintendo President Satoru Iwata even said as much when first announcing the console, saying it will incorporate a "brand-new concept. " When you take into account the other major change Nintendo revealed during that same event (a commitment to develop smartphone games), Nintendo's 25- year-old dual-pronged strategy of leaning on both a portable and home console could come to a close this decade. Even though the 3DS is currently Nintendo's saving grace, developing a games-only portable device is becoming more and more of a risk in this day and age. Ever since the release of the GameCube Nintendo has consistently had the least-powerful system on the market. Given how much stock Sony and Microsoft put into creating cutting-edge tech, that's not likely to change. They've done touchscreens, they've done motion-controls... heck, Nintendo was doing VR two decades ago, so what's the next possible realm to tackle? With the NX, currently rumors are suggesting that Nintendo will create a console-portable hybrid. The Wii U dipped its toe in letting users take their games on the go by letting them play on a Gamepad as long as they were in proximity to a Wii U console. But if Nintendo creates an Xbox One / PS4 - level system that you can take on the go, then you're playing with power. Without an official announcement from Nintendo, it's hard to say exactly how powerful the Nintendo NX will be, but we can make some assumptions based around the reports that are available. According to the Eurogamer report , the NX is set to contain a version of Nvidia's Tegra chip which was last seen in the company's Nvidia Shield. Unfortunately the nature of this chip means that it's not possible to draw direct comparisons between it and the competition from Sony and Microsoft. The Tegra X1 (which reports suggest is currently running inside NX dev kits) might be the most powerful mobile chip currently on the market, but at the end of the day it's a mobile rather than a desktop chip, and this means that it's unlikely that the console will match the power of the PS4 or Xbox One . However, we should stress that we currently don't have any more specific information on the exact specifics of the Tegra chip that will make it into the final console, and as such all of this information is subject to change. See the best PRODUCT NAME deals
PS4 Slim release date, news and rumors feedproxy.google.com 2016-08-30 13:30 By Dave feedproxy.google.com
10 10 | iPhone 7 Pro UK price | iPhone 7 Pro specs | iPhone 7 rumours: iPhone 7 Pro could be unveiled alongside iPhone 7 on 7 September (0.01/7) It's no secret that Apple will unveil the new iPhone 7 in September, but less clear is what will come alongside it: the iPhone 7 Plus , this iPhone 7 Pro, or both? An iPhone 7 Pro is looking increasingly likely but might not be called by that name. Here's what we know about the iPhone 7 Pro UK release date, iPhone 7 Pro UK price and iPhone 7 Pro spec rumours. When is the iPhone 7 Pro coming out? See also: Best phones 2016 & What to expect from iPhone 8. Latest Update: Apple has sent out invitations to an iPhone 7 launch event on 7 September. While Apple has long been tipped to unveil three iPhone models in September 2016 - the standard 4.7in version and two 5.5in versions known as the Plus and the Pro - one of these larger models is alledged to have now been killed off. Sources say it is the single-lens camera model that will be removed from the line-up, which we believe to be the iPhone 7 Plus. This latest rumour comes from Nikkei , which heard from a source that: "The competition is so fierce that Apple killed off a premium iPhone 7 model in the second quarter, less than six months before its official launch in September... Initially, Apple had planned two versions of iPhone 7 Plus, one with a single lens and one with a dual lens. The single lens edition has since been ditched. " There's more evidence to confirm this as Mac Otakara reports that the names are confirmed as the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. It adds that the larger model with a single lens was a backup option if the dual lens technology didn't work out. Apple is now expected to focus all its efforts on next year's iPhone 8 - if that's even what it will be named. Update: Apple has now confirmed a 7 September launch event for the iPhone 7. The invites are not Apple's usual style, but the light circles on a dark background lead us to suspect the new iPhone will have a new camera that's more effective at night. (And that's exactly what the rumours would have us believe.) The iPhone launch event will take place on Wednesday 7 September at 10am (6pm in the UK) at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco. If Apple does indeed launch the iPhone 7 Pro, which is by no means a certainty, it will do so in September. However, we've since seen reports that the actual on sale date could be as late as 23 September. A leaked AT&T retail schedule (via 9to5Mac ) detailing merchandising reset hours calls out 9 September and 23 September as significant dates, suggesting they might want to stick up some fancy new iPhone 7 graphics. In the above tweet you'll notice that @evleaks avoids calling the new iPhone the 'iPhone 7', instead calling it the 'iPhone 2016'. He has also tweeted: "Can we please stop calling the 2016 Apple handsets 'iPhone 7'? I think it's highly unlikely they will be named thusly," adding that Apple may "go with another riff on iPhone 6". Apfel Site suggests the iPhone 7 line will in fact be called 'iPhone 6SE'. There's no mention of a Pro version, but it does menion a 5.5in Plus model, citing a Chinese manufacturer as the source. The iPhone 7 Pro is expected to come with 32-, 128- or 256GB of storage, with the 32GB model starting at £699, the 128GB model at £779, and the 256GB model at £859. We're basing those UK prices on estimations by PocketNow (via Weibo ) that the entry model will cost ¥7088, with jumps of ¥1000 between each model. That's exactly ¥1000 more than the middle-model iPhone 6s (¥6088). Those jumps are usually £80 in the UK, which suggests the entry- level iPhone 7 Pro will be £80 more expensive than the 64GB iPhone 6s (£619). PocketNow says the 32GB iPhone 7 Pro might in the US be set at around $849. With rumours of the iPhone 7 Pro there seems to be two possibilities for the 2016 line-up, if you ask us. The first is that the iPhone 7 Pro will simply launch alongside the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus as a third and more premium choice. The other is that is actually replaces the Plus model. The latter sounds more plausible as it will be difficult for Apple to differentiate between three new devices. This theory ties up with recent rumours that Apple has in fact killed off one of its upcoming premium iPhones - the one with the single-lens camera to be exact (aka the iPhone 7 Plus). This latest rumour comes from Nikkei , which heard from a source that: "The competition is so fierce that Apple killed off a premium iPhone 7 model in the second quarter, less than six months before its official launch in September... Initially, Apple had planned two versions of iPhone 7 Plus, one with a single lens and one with a dual lens. The single lens edition has since been ditched. " Update 9 August: There have now been a couple of rumours talking about the home button on the iPhone 7, suggesting that it will no longer be a physical push button. Instead, the rumours state that Apple will use a pressure-sensitive button instead which will employ haptic feedback – supposedly similar to the latest MacBook trackpads. The first came from Mobipicker a while ago but now with Bloomberg reporting the same thing, it has a lot more weight to it now. Update 19 July: It looks like we might finally have some clarification on the iPhone 7 models thanks to the below photo from NowhereElse - which, as usual, we're taking with a pinch of salt but the site does have a good reputation for leaks. As you can see, it appears that the iPhone 7 Pro is the only model of the three which features the dual-camera module and the Smart Connector. On the back of the phones it says 'iPhone S'. Update 12 July: There are new rumours which suggest the iPhone 7 Plus will be both waterproof and feature wireless charging. A slide on My Drivers shown by Apple's manufacturer, Foxconn, supposedly reveals this and we assume that if there is a Pro model then it too will have these features. As mentioned, it's claimed that the iPhone 7 Pro will come in the same size as the iPhone 6S Plus - 158.2x77.9x7.3mm. This is via Japanese magazine, Mac Fan (via Macotakara ), which has published a detailed schematic of the device. The dimensions mean, if correct, mean that the iPhone 7 Pro will feature a 5.5in screen also. What doesn't add up so much is that the phone won't come with a headphone jack despite being the same thickness – which you'd think Apple would remove in order to make the phone thinner. Other spec rumours include a dual iSight camera setup on the back. It's unclear what the dual camera will offer with so many possibilities. It could, for example, mimic the LG G5 with a regular lens and a wider angle option, or perhaps the Huawei P9 with a monochrome sensor alongside a colour one. It's anyone's guess at the moment but we're certainly interested. The other interesting rumour about the iPhone 7 Pro is that it will have the Smart Connector found on the iPad Pro tablets. This matches up with a leaked image showing the small round metal contacts. What the Smart Connector will be used for on the iPhone 7 pro is up for debate but it seems unlikely to be for a keyboard like the iPad Pros, especially with the rumoured positioning. Far more likely, in our opinion, is that it will be used for easier charging via a stand/dock. Logitech has recently launched one for the iPad Pro. There are new rumours suggesting that the iPhone 7 range will come in new colours including dark blue and space black. The concept below from Martin Hajek makes the new iPhone look rather smart. As more rumours about the iPhone 7 Pro emerge we'll update this article. For now, let us know what you make of the iPhone 7 Pro in our poll below.
| iPhone 7 UK price | iPhone 7 specs | iPhone 7 features | iPhone 7 rumours: iPhone 7 launch confirmed for 7 September pcadvisor.co.uk 2016-08-30 11:56 Chris Martin www.pcadvisor.co.uk
11 Top 10 Excel 2016 tips (0.01/7) Many of us spend a vast portion of our time banging our heads against Excel. Unfortunately we can't help you make those specific figures line up in Office 2016's spreadsheet app – that one's on you – but we can show you a few things which will make your life easier. We're looking at tricks you can pull off inside the cells and out, improving Excel's interface while making your calculations more powerful and versatile. You'll be able to speed up data entry, change values worksheet- wide, and much more. These tips are geared towards Excel 2016 users, and we've used Windows to pull them off, but they should all work on versions of Excel from 2010 onwards and, with the appropriate shortcut substitutions, will do the job on the Mac as well. If you're preparing a spreadsheet but don't yet know what's going to go into it, you can populate its fields with random sample data before the fact to make sure your formulas are all working correctly. Click in the top left cell of the area you'd like to fill and enter the formula =RANDBETWEEN(50,100) to generate a number between 50 and 100. Change the values to suit the kind of data you'll be working with. Now just drag the fill handle of the cell over the area you want to fill with data – it'll generate a new random number for each cell. Writing your own formulas can be an arduous task, but modern versions of Excel make it far easier than it once was. Head to the Formulas tab to find the Function Library, a vast collection of all of Excel's formulas. Click the cell in which you'd like to insert your formula, then dive in – they're all categorised, each includes a description of its function if you hover over it, and a straightforward interface in which to enter the values you want calculated. The AutoSum function, in the same place, is a quick way to tot up figures without any typing. Certain formulas, like the random number generator described in our first tip, will tend to make your numbers jump around somewhat. If you'd rather keep them static, you can copy the data and, using the right click menu, paste only the generated values without the formulas. This is also a good way to distribute spreadsheets for reading without revealing your workings. Explore the Paste Special menu to see what other kinds of paste operations you can perform: try using Paste Link to quickly create linked cells between sheets, or Transpose to paste a grid of data with the columns and rows swapped around. Clicking through a sheet full of numbers to find out how they've come to be is not a task many would relish. It's slow and laborious, and easy to lose track. Better, then, to use the shortcut [Ctrl]+[ ] (that's the key at the top-left of your keyboard – just below the Escape key) to show all of the formulas on your sheet instead of their result. Hit the shortcut again to switch them back. If, for some reason, you want the sheet to show the text of a formula rather than the result of it – perhaps you're creating a demonstration sheet to show how things are meant to work – just right click the cell it's in and select Format Cells > Text. Drag to select a group of data, and look out for an icon appearing at the bottom-right hand corner of your selection area. This could be Excel's coolest feature: the quick analysis tool. It gives you instant access to a bunch of useful formatting features, all the way from colouring up your cells based on their range to implementing sparklines, sums and charts. Hover over each option to see a preview and click it to lock it down. Use the same tool to clear formatting if it gets too much – you'll find the clear option listed under the Formatting heading. If you're a heavy Excel user, it's likely that you're running with the same figures a lot of the time. Defining a constant – representing a complex number with a short word – can speed up formula creation greatly. Head to the Formulas tab and click Define Name. Pop the word or code you'd like to use in the uppermost box ('speedlightvacuum', for example) and the value you'd like it to represent in the bottom box (say '299792458'). Now you can just type the constant name in place of the number, preventing mistakes later on. If the speed of light in a vacuum happens to change, as it so often does, hop into the Name Manager and tweak the number – it'll change that value wherever you've used it in your workbook. A good workbook is one that others can read and work with, without the help of the creator. Presenting someone with a complex web of numbers and expecting them to get results is just unfair. Right click a cell you'd like to explain and select Insert Comment to attach a note to that cell; you can resize and reposition the comment box if required. A cell with a comment is marked with a red flash in its top-right corner, and hovering over the cell will display that comment. It's a good idea to add comments to column or row headers, and use the spacing tools to move them around so they're not overlapping. The Show All Comments button in the Review tab will bring them all up at once. A worksheet full of formulas is a beautiful thing, but making small tweaks or running large datasets can have a big impact on the performance of your computer as a whole. To reduce the impact, you can ask Excel to use less of your processor – this will make complex formulas take longer to update, but leave the rest of your CPU open for other tasks. Head to File > Options > Advanced and scroll down to the Formulas section. You can either disable multi-threaded calculation altogether, or use the Manual radio button to select just how many threads you want to dedicate to running your calculations. We've got a few handy shortcuts to get you working faster, now, starting with [Ctrl]+[Shift]+[$], which will automatically convert a range of numbers into whatever your default currency is. [Ctrl]+[Shift]+[#], on the other hand, converts a range of numbers into your default date format. Holding [Ctrl] and hitting the arrow keys will jump to the end of the current row or column; hold [Shift] as well to select those cells. [Ctrl]+[Pg Up] or [Pg Down] jumps between the sheets in your current workbook. There are loads more – search 'shortcuts' in the search box to find them – but sadly there's no way to create your own custom shortcuts in the same way as Word 2016. Excel now includes forecasting tools which will analyse historical data and predict future trends based on them. You'll need to begin with a key column either sorted with consecutive indices or dates so that the tool knows what order your data is in. Then select all relevant data and head to Data > Forecast sheet. Either hit Create or expand the Options menu to tweak the output. You'll be given a line graph with Excel's average projection, and its thoughts on the potential upper or lower bounds of future figures. We wouldn't take it as gospel, but it's a useful tool to potentially extrapolate information from otherwise baffling figures.
Top 5 tips when buying business laptops feedproxy.google.com 2016-08-30 11:30 By Alex feedproxy.google.com
12 Up to 22% off Various Microsoft Surface Pro 4 Models - Deal Alert (0.01/7) Surface Pro 4 powers through everything you need to do, while being lighter than ever before. Go from ultraportable tablet to a complete laptop in a snap wherever you are. The Pro 4 has the Windows you know plus lots of new features you'll love. Various models are now discounted on Amazon: No matter what you're doing, feel like an expert from the get-go. Use the included Surface Pen to mark-up presentations, sign documents, take notes and much more. Performance and versatility for professionals, creatives, and more.
Microsoft finally fixes Surface Pro 3 battery woes infoworld.com 2016-08-30 07:07 DealPost Team www.infoworld.com
13 New Surface Pro 3 firmware update should solve battery woes (0.01/7) Surface Pro 3 owners who have had problems getting reasonable battery life from their tablets have relief coming their way. Microsoft pushed out a firmware update to Surface Pro 3 devices on Monday that's supposed to fix a problem that keeps the battery from charging all the way. An error in a limited number of devices causes the system to get the wrong charge capacity for the Surface Pro 3's battery, the company said. As a result, the battery isn't charged all the way, even though the system thinks it reached capacity. "Think of this like a fuel gauge in a car, where the car looks to the fuel gauge to determine how much to fill the tank," Microsoft said in a support document accompanying the update. "In this case, if the fuel gauge isn’t working right, the car would also not be able to fill the tank -- even though the tank is fine. " The fix will show up in Windows Update as "Surface Firmware Update 8/29. " When users install the update, they should make sure that their Surface Pro 3's battery is above 40 percent of capacity and that it's plugged into the AC adapter. People who use the Surface Docking Station should take the tablet out of it and connect it to power directly. While the update is installing, it's important that the tablet remains connected to power. Then, after the update is installed, users should restart the Surface Pro 3 again. Once all of that is done, the battery fix should be applied. Microsoft is still exploring what to do for people who replaced their Surface Pro 3s outside of warranty as a result of the issue.
Microsoft finally fixes Surface Pro 3 battery woes infoworld.com 2016-08-30 03:53 Blair Hanley www.infoworld.com
14 What should CROs to do with cost of data breach studies? Last week we wrote about a Deloitte study that estimated the potential hard and soft costs of a data breach to an organization over several years. The point was to show that less visible costs — loss of customer confidence and brand reputation — could have a long-lasting impact on an organization. But what should chief risk officers do with these and other reports? Think carefully, according to an article today on Security Week . For one thing, it notes there’s no consistency in cost of breach reports. In fact the European Union Agency for Network and Information Security (ENISA) released a report earlier this month that reviewed studies that try to do a calculate the costs for critical infrastructure organizations and concluded its damn hard. On the one hand it found evidence that the finance, ICT and energy sectors would suffer the highest costs, it also admits there’s no common approach or criteria to cost of breach estimates. Any calculations use “rarely comparable” approaches that are often only relevant to a specific context. So can cost estimates be used in a risk mitigation policy? The Security Week story suggests they have limited value to CROs. The chief security officer at Samsung Research America is quoted as saying such calculations are always subjective. In his firm’s case the big assets are intellectual property, whose loss isn’t easy to put a price on. His goal is to mitigate the effects of a breach, he points out. So he works on that, rather than the cost of a breach. That is echoed by another expert, who says CISOs need to look at the value of assets in their own organizations to make a risk assessment, rather than use third-party averaged estimates. The article also usefully points out there’s a difference between the estimated cost of a breach and the risk of a breach. But it also quotes an expert saying that cost calculations are “good instruments for practitioners to raise awareness and kick off an internal discussion to move from a compliance, check-box mentality to a more pro-active, risk- and business- driven approach to security.” And talking about security across the entire enterprise is always a good thing.
2016-08-30 17:44 Howard Solomon www.itworldcanada.com
15 Data centre capacity continues to shift to commercial providers Demand for data centre space is growing, but there are actually fewer in Canada, according to a recent IDC report. The State of the Canadian Data Centres, 2016 found that leading companies in the banking, transportation and retail sectors on holding back on new data centre construction. Last year, approximately 150 new data centres were built while 250 were shut down for a net reduction of facilities and a decrease in usable square footage of 7.5 per cent. But none of this is a surprise to Mark Schrutt, IDC Canada’s research vice president, services and enterprise applications and author of the report. In fact, the Canadian findings are consistent with overall market trends. Globally, IDC is forecasting that new builds will decrease annually by 1.4 per cent and new raised floors will drop by 8.5 per cent through 2019. And it’s not that demand has dropped. What’s happened over the past five years is that workloads are being shifted to third-party facilities as corporate data centres have aged. Schrutt said large organizations to refreshing technology internally are deciding it makes more sense to outsource to a third-party as well as embrace cloud services, rather than building and operating their data centres. IDC’s research found that the average Canadian data centre in 2016 is 7.2 years old, up from an even seven years in 2014. Many of the facilities developed at that time were modular in design and architected to be very power efficient and capable of supporting leading-edge technologies. The issue, though, is that over half of the data centres in operation are older than seven years, and more than 40 per cent of the data centres were built more than a decade ago. Many of these data centres are limited in their ability to expand and support today’s digital technologies, and there are other options to building new data centres that may be more financially attractive. Schrutt said it comes to down to having the power available to support the capacity needed. Commercial data centres are still being built. “We’re still developing space in Canada.” And while there are acquisitions of commercial data centres taking place, said Schrutt, “every time I see an acquisition, I see a new hosting firm pop up.” It’s not that there won’t some companies that will buck the trend by building their own corporate data centre. “There’s always a pendulum or some examples of firms that are going to go the opposite way,” he said. There are more 175 commercial data centres operating in Canada, according to the IDC report, which collectively, have enough square footage to house more than 500 hockey rinks and utilize enough power to supply 600,000 homes annually. More than 25 new data centres have come online just in the past two years. The majority of these sites are designed for colocation workloads, with a secondary focus on wholesale hosting services. One trend Schrutt sees continuing is that commercial providers will look to be more rounded to offer additional services and geographic footprint, sometimes through partnerships. Q9 Networks, for example, with leverage Bell’s presence in Quebec and Atlantic Canada. It recently announced a partnership with Nutanix to launch its dedicated private cloud service. Late last year, Rogers bolstered its presence in Atlantic Canada with the acquisition of Internetworking Atlantic Inc. , including the company’s Halifax- based data centre. In the past year, there has been a great deal of activity in the commercial data centre segment across the country, with large, global cloud players such as Amazon, Microsoft , Oracle and IBM expanding their footprint in Canada and meeting data residency concerns in the process. Cologix recently announced it had completed expansion of its downtown Vancouver data centre. The company also operates facilities in Montreal and Toronto. Not quite a year ago, CentriLogic unveiled a new data centre in the Greater Toronto Area to provide enterprise-grade services and build on the company’s experience serving U. S. Fortune 500 companies with a 28,000 square foot facility in Mississauga.
2016-08-30 16:46 Gary Hilson www.itworldcanada.com
16 Why you should care about chatbots There’s a new buzzword in IT this year – chatbots, aka bots. Of course the term isn’t that new or unusual – IT terms seem to appear and become trendy almost as fast as Pokémon characters. And a “bot” isn’t just a misspelling of bought, boot or boat. In Internet-speak, chatbots are conversational interfaces for messaging platforms. Other names include virtual agents, virtual assistants, messenger bots, voice-controlled assistance, and no doubt others. Chatbots must be important – I discovered there’s a magazine dedicated to them. The beginners guide , which provides examples of why chatbots are emerging as a new “ecosystem,” is worth reading. There are also various informative websites, such as chatbots.org which claims to list all existing bots. A chatbot, according to Wikipedia , is “a computer program that converses in natural language.” The newest twist on the technology, however, is to combine a chatbot with a text messaging platform to form a new business to consumer (B2C) channel. If text messaging has become a primary user interface for smartphone users, then why not adapt it for commerce as well? At least this is what I understand to be the perceived new opportunity. Without a doubt, the definition and scope for chatbots will evolve over time as the technology moves forward. Perhaps chatbots could even be viewed as “human APIs.” Chatbots are not really that new – for example, the telephone IVR (interactive voice response) systems that we all love to hate can interact with people in a limited way. A strawman for a chatbot maturity model could be: Level 1 – Initial – Basic text and/or voice response; little or no conversation (e.g., Telephone IVR); Level 2 – Repeatable – Voice and/or text recognition and response; rules- based interaction (e.g., Google Voice Search, Siri); Level 3 – Defined – Basic topic-oriented conversations; may include multimedia inputs and responses; basic intelligence and agility; Level 4 – Managed – AI-based natural language conversations; multimedia responses; context and basic learning including access to related information; Level 5 – Optimizing – Omnichannel AI-based conversational interactions with learning. One example of an advanced chatbot system may be VIV , although its capabilities are yet to be seen. While text messaging will not be the only delivery channel for chatbot applications, it could be an important area of early development. A chatbot architecture and ecosystem needs to be defined! Perhaps an even more challenging question is not what they are but what they can do. The promise is that chatbots will be able to substitute for human interaction in a wide variety of situations, from games to purchases to simple social conversations. Here are some examples, taken from the beginner’s guide referenced earlier: Facebook recently provided developer interfaces to use Messenger for 3 rd party chatbots. They claim there are over 11,000 bots have become available in less than 6 months. So the answer to the question is that the sky is pretty much the limit and chatbot innovation reigns supreme at the moment. The underlying caveat, of course, is that different messaging platforms don’t (and probably won’t) be interpretable across providers. I think we’re just seeing the beginning of an era in which chatbots become an important part of the consumer computing ecosystem. Some use cases would include: The million-dollar question is, what would you pay for chatbot services? What I think is that I’m not sure what I think about paying for chatbots, especially if they are coupled with advertising. Where will chatbots fit into your life?
2016-08-30 16:46 Don Sheppard www.itworldcanada.com
17 VMworld 2016: VMware goes all-in on the cloud LAS VEGAS – As a company that has been boldly trumpeting a “cloud, mobile, and security” mantra, VMware Inc. on Monday revealed more details around its company’s cross- cloud architecture strategy and its goal of transforming organizations into becoming “digital businesses.” Onstage, CEO Pat Gelsinger noted its “cross-cloud” framework targets enterprises looking at becoming a “digital business” by giving customers the ability to manage, govern and secure applications running across public clouds, including Amazon’s AWS, Microsoft Azure and IBM Cloud. Building on its vCloud Air platform, the new VMware Cloud Foundation offering is essentially a unified software-defined data centre (SDDC) platform that integrates the vSphere and NSX network virtualization and management frameworks to help users run and connect computing workloads regardless of the cloud service employed; according to VMware this enables organizations to quickly and seamlessly migrate business applications from on-premises data servers to a public cloud environment. Pricing was not disclosed at press time. VMware’s legacy virtualization solutions have traditionally been about extending a computer to simultaneously manage multiple operating systems. According to Gelsinger, it’s no longer about distinguishing between a traditional business versus a digital one. It’s an “all-digital” world and VMware’s approach lies around making it easier to manage, deploy, and secure applications in this environment. When it comes to the public cloud, Gelsinger conceded that cloud adoption has some ways to go in terms of attaining critical mass but offered that by 2030, public cloud should represent 50 per cent of computing workloads. Dell CEO Michael Dell joined Gelsinger on stage to outline how the Round Rock, Tex-based company’s US$67-billion-dollar purchase of EMC — parent of VMware — will play out once the expected deal closes. As the chief executive of the newly rebranded Dell Technologies, he noted that under the merger — pending regulatory approval from China — VMware will continue on its track that combines compute, networking and storage under a converged infrastructure framework. VMware also announced a partnership with IBM Corp. that simplifies and speeds the process around implementing and deploying a VMware SDDC infrastructure. Working with more than 500 customers, VMware and IBM said they are presently working together to help users extend VMware workloads from on-premises environments to the cloud without incurring the cost and risk associated with retooling operations, re-architecting applications and re- designing security policies. According to IDC research analyst Melanie Posey, IBM and VMware working together bodes well for users seeking to extend and migrate existing workloads to the cloud without having to revamp their existing IT infrastructure. The VMware Cloud Foundation platform, which integrates VMware vSphere, VMware Virtual SAN, VMware NSX and VMware SDDC Manager, enables customers to quickly provision pre-configured VMware SDDC environments on IBM Cloud.
2016-08-30 16:45 Ryan Patrick www.itworldcanada.com
18 CloudGenix Aims to Make Deploying Apps From Remote Offices More Secure The company's new ION 3000v platform is driven by its application-defined fabric, which enables enterprises to deploy apps anywhere based on the apps' SLAs. CloudGenix officials want to make it easier and more secure for enterprises' remote offices to directly access applications from the cloud and to enforce the security, performance and compliance requirements of those applications. The company on Aug. 30 introduced the Instant On (ION) 3000v, which officials said is a software-defined WAN (SD-WAN) platform that virtualizes the remote office, reducing the need for complex legacy hardware and improving the security and performance of the application. A key piece of the platform, which is available immediately, is the company's ION 3000v application-defined fabric, which enables enterprises to deploy workloads anywhere they want based on the service-level agreements (SLAs) for the applications. "Enterprises face multiple issues with legacy hardware models for the remote office," CloudGenix founder and CEO Kumar Ramachandran said in a statement. "Innovation is held hostage to depreciation cycles—multiple pieces of hardware to maintain, complex routing protocols to manage, and inability to deploy best-of-breed solutions. " The vendor's application-defined fabric means that "enterprises are no longer hostage to their hardware vendors, and have the freedom to deploy their applications anywhere," Rmachandran said. CloudGenix is among a growing number of companies expanding an SD- WAN market that IDC analysts expect to grow to more than $6 billion by 2020 from less than $225 million last year. Fueling the growth are enterprises needing to reduce the complexity and cost of connectivity for their branch and remote offices while improving security. Gartner analysts are forecasting the number of enterprises currently using SD-WAN technologies will increase to about 30 percent by the end of 2019 from 1 percent currently. Trends such as the internet of things (IoT), data analytics, the cloud, mobility and the proliferation of connected devices are driving demand for greater programmability, agility, scalability and affordability in enterprise networks. Modern workloads including 4K video and collaboration applications are increasing the need for more network capacity and for new ways for remote and branch offices to access applications and workloads beyond such traditional modes as the costly multiprotocal label switching (MPLS). CloudGenix officials pointed to guidelines for Microsoft's Office 365, which recommends enterprises plan for a four-fold increase in WAN bandwidth and direct-to-cloud access for remote offices to ensure high-performance and security for applications. Enabling direct access to the cloud from the remote office via CloudGenix's application-defined fabric brings with it greater security capabilities as well, ensuring that only "whitelisted" applications can leave the branch office directly and that suspicious traffic is barred from entering the remote office, officials said. The SD-WAN space is becoming increasingly competitive as established vendors including Cisco Systems and Riverbed Technology build out their portfolios and smaller startups, including Talari Networks, Viptela and VeloCloud, run out new offerings. CloudGenix most recently launched its partner program , which is designed to grow the ecosystem around its ION SD-WAN product lineup and accelerate the adoption of the company's technologies. The ION offerings are built to transform legacy WANs into unified hybrid environments that are easier to manage and design and offer twice the performance of traditional WANs at half the cost, officials said.
2016-08-30 16:43 Jeffrey Burt www.eweek.com
19 Apple ordered to pay back taxes of €13bn Apple has been order to pay back €13bn in illegal state aid it was given by the Irish government as an inducement to establish its head office in Ireland. The state aid was given in the form of a tax deal, which the company used to funnel its revenues and profits through Ireland and, thereby, to avoid tax. The declaration was made by Margrethe Vestager, the European Commissioner for Competition, in a 130-page ruling, following an investigation started in June 2014. Vestager claims that Apple attributed almost all profits made in the European Union to a head office based in Ireland, which only existed on paper and which could, therefore, not have generated such profits. "Member states cannot give tax benefits to selected companies - this is illegal under EU state aid rules. The Commission's investigation concluded that Ireland granted illegal tax benefits to Apple, which enabled it to pay substantially less tax than other businesses over many years," said Vestager. She continued: "In fact, this selective treatment allowed Apple to pay an effective corporate tax rate of one per cent on its European profits in 2003 down to 0.005 per cent in 2014. " While the company established its tax-efficient structure in Ireland in 1991, under EU rules only 10 years of illegal state aid can be ordered to be repaid. "The commission can order recovery of illegal state aid for a 10-year period preceding the commission's first request for information in 2013. Ireland must now recover the unpaid taxes in Ireland from Apple for the years 2003 to 2014 of up to €13bn, plus interest," claimed the Commission. It continued: "The tax treatment in Ireland enabled Apple to avoid taxation on almost all profits generated by sales of Apple products in the entire EU Single Market. This is due to Apple's decision to record all sales in Ireland rather than in the countries where the products were sold. "This structure is however outside the remit of EU state aid control. If other countries were to require Apple to pay more tax on profits of the two companies over the same period under their national taxation rules, this would reduce the amount to be recovered by Ireland. "
2016-08-30 16:43 Graeme Burton www.computing.co.uk
20 Nutanix acquires Calm.io and PernixData in a busy weekend of acquisitions Nutanix has announced the acquisition of two companies over the weekend as it bids to flesh out its cloud platform. The company has taken over PernixData and Calm.io as as it seeks to deliver its "vision for the enterprise cloud". "These additions will enable Nutanix to pioneer new software stacks for storage- class memory systems, enhance its application mobility fabric (AMF) with cross-cloud workload migration and bring rich, cloud-inspired orchestration and workflow automation to its Prism management software," the company claimed in its announcement. PernixData was only founded in February 2012. It specialises in storage virtualisation software enabling organisations to scale storage performance independent of capacity, along with associated analytics. The company's software is used in the building and management of virtualised data centres. Calm.io, meanwhile, is the developer of a DevOps automation platform, and will add application and service orchestration technology to the company's offerings, as well as runtime lifecycle management and policy-based governance across environments. Both PernixData and Calm.io offered technology that Nutanix needed, but didn't have. "PernixData and Calm.io both have exceptional technology, solid engineering teams, and visionary leaders with the ‘Founder's Mentality'; they have dreamt big and persevered against great odds to build phenomenal products," said Nutanix founder, CEO and chairman Dheeraj Pandey. The aim of the two acquisitions is to enable Nutanix to flesh out its offerings to better enable it to offer the ‘hyper-convergence' of cloud and on-premise software. The acquisitions of the two companies indicates Nutanix's ambitions to become a major player in cloud, rather than primping itself for an acquisition, either by private equity or by one of the giants of cloud computing. Nutanix competes with a range of companies, including Cisco, EMC and HPE. Engineering teams will be combined, which should be relatively straightforward with both Nutanix and PernixData based in San Jose, California. "PernixData and Nutanix share the architectural design philosophy that next- generation data centre fabrics must keep data and applications close in order to drive the fastest possible performance and to deliver flexible, cost- effective infrastructure scaling," said Sunil Potti, chief product and development officer at Nutanix in a blog posted as the news was announced. He continued: "Server-side storage technologies are going to become 100- times faster with Intel's push towards NVMe [Non-Volatile Memory express device interface specification] and storage-class memory. While we bring applications and data together in the same servers, we have to hustle hard to get even closer to the CPU, provide a path for workload mobility across multiple cloud computing environments, and yet remain hypervisor-agnostic. " Although executed at the beginning of the month, the acquisitions were only announced over the weekend, and were the culmination of some nine months of talks. Investors in PernixData include Marc Benioff, the chairman and CEO of Salesforce.com, as well as Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, and Steve Luczo, chairman and CEO of Seagate Technology. Computing's Cloud & Infrastructure Summit returns this autumn on 22 September. Hear from cloud architects, IT and IS directors and CIOs at major organisations about how they are doing cloud and re-organising their infrastructure accordingly. Attendance is FREE to qualifying IT professionals, so register now before all places are gone.
2016-08-30 16:43 Graeme Burton www.computing.co.uk
21 At last! New Macs and MacBooks are coming soon Apple is finally set for a major refresh of its Mac and MacBook computers - but the new devices won't be coming until October at the earliest. The updates come at a time when the company has been increasingly criticised for failing to keep its PCs and laptops up-to-date , with one of the models in the MacBook range more than four years old - an unforgivably long period of time for a computing device to go without an update. In the meantime, virtual reality and the launch of new 14- and 16-nanometre graphics processing units (GPUs) from AMD and, in particular, NVIDIA has made the PC the platform of choice for developers of virtual reality games and applications, which current Macs are unable to match. However, it also looks likely that the company will continue to make its computing hardware difficult to directly upgrade. According to Bloomberg , the company is planning all-new versions of the iMac desktop, a new MacBook Air laptop and a 5K monitor developed with LG. The new iMac will include graphics cards based on AMD's latest graphics chips, enabling iMacs to run the same virtual reality apps that have been available on PC since the beginning of the year. The MacBook Pro, meanwhile, which has been a particular target of criticism, having been on the market since June 2012, will be replaced with a new, thinner version, with a flatter keyboard and a ‘dynamic function row' that will be programmable to enable common tasks to be completed at the press of a button. Connectivity will also be upgraded to USB-C. However, unlike the current version it may not be easily upgradable. MacOS will also be refreshed, with MacOs Sierra on schedule to be ready for release by the end of September, according to Bloomberg, while the new models are expected to be available by the end of the year. At the same time, the company is planning to refresh its high-end iPad tablet computers in a bid to attract more professional users. This will include broader support for the Apple Pencil stylus across the range, as well as improvements in hardware performance, including uprated microprocessors. The company is targeting the professional sector as, while sales of the iPad have fallen for nine successive quarters, the average selling price is up as the new iPad Pro models win over buyers.
2016-08-30 15:44 Graeme Burton www.computing.co.uk
22 Government Agencies Using Big Data to Help With IT Security The Cloudera survey found that 81 percent of federal employees say their agency is using big data analytics for cyber security in some capacity. Federal cyber-security is drowning in data, but big data analytics may be the key to unlocking data and charting a more secure future, according to a report conducted by MeriTalk and sponsored by Cloudera. The survey found that 81 percent of federal employees say their agency is using big data analytics for cyber-security in some capacity. However, breaches continue to afflict agencies, with 59 percent of respondents noting their agency deals with a cyber-security compromise at least once a month due to its inability to fully analyze data. "The survey indicated an enormous increase in usage of big data analytics for cyber-security from 2013 to present day," Rocky DeStefano, subject matter expert at Cloudera, told eWEEK. "This was a big surprise, since a huge change in adoption over a relatively short period of time indicates real-life production success of these programs. This fact is further validated by the participants indicating that 90 percent had seen a reduction in breaches and 84 percent were able to thwart an attack using these cyber- security analytic tools. To me, this shows that these organizations are finding value even at the earliest stages of deployment. " However, 88 percent of respondents face challenges drawing cyber- security intelligence from data, with the top challenge being the sheer volume of cyber-security data—respondents estimate more than 40 percent of their data goes unanalyzed. "One of the most longstanding obstacles when it comes to cyber-security risks in federal agencies is the siloed nature of information in and across federal agencies," DeStefano said. "These organizations must continue to work to unbind all of their information so that it can be processed, analyzed and prioritized holistically in a meaningful time frame. " The survey indicated that 33 percent of those organizations still don’t have the systems in place to gather the cyber-security information they need, and almost half still think the sheer volume of cyber-security data is overwhelming. These are two specific problems that are technically very solvable with a big data approach to cyber-security, he noted. "Finding new ways to analyze untapped data is a natural evolution of security analysis," DeStafano said. "Continued focus and adoption of big data analytic strategies are necessary to gain control of data and ultimately realize the power contained in data that already exists within organizations. " It will be necessary to continue to increase investments in big data cyber- security analysis technology, training and the associated processes that enable security analysis at scale, he said. "While these solutions are showing value already, they still have significant upside to teams that continue to mature their programs to leverage more and more data using more advanced analysis techniques," DeStefano said.
2016-08-30 15:43 Nathan Eddy www.eweek.com
23 The UK IT Industry Awards 2016 shortlist in full – are you in the running? The shortlisting process is complete, and we're happy to reveal the contenders in every category for the 2016 UK IT Industry Awards in full. The highlight of the industry's social calendar, we can't wait to see you all on 16 November at Battersea Park Events Arena for another glittering evening. Book your tables now! UK IT Industry Awards 2016 shortlist Personal Excellence Business Analyst of the Year • Adam Blair, National Grid • Donna Carey, Telefónica • Simon Hancock, Nationwide Building Society • Ian Head, Nationwide Building Society • Harish Krishnan, Heathrow Airport • Ben Murray, Nationwide Building Society • Vimla Narain , UK Power Networks • David Ovien, Financial Conduct Authority • Shane Pillay, Lloyds Banking Group • Riturak Saikia, Wipro CIO of the Year • Debra Bailey, Nationwide Building Society • Alison FitzGerald, London City Airport • Sean Harley, Ascential • David Henderson, Global Radio • Jody Kennedy, Olive Communications • Mayank Prakash, Department for Work and Pensions • Andrew Quail, SGN • Dave Roberts, Radius Payment Solutions • Steve Townsend, Transport for London • Neil Williams, University of Derby IT Apprentice of the Year • Arif Ahmed, BigHand • Winifred Bullock, Barclays • Emily Carr, Accenture • Zachary Clifford, Royal Exchange Manchester • Amy Hart, HMRC • Luke Hebditch , John Lewis Partnership • Aaron Kinchen, IBM • William Murphy, IBM • Bobby Southern, Barclays • Alex Watling, Accenture IT Manager of the Year • Katy Axtell, SGN • Matthew Birkin, University of Derby • Darren Blumenthal, Accenture • Peter Booth, Lloyds Banking Group • Kelly Francis, Belron International • Anuj Goel, Wipro • Elena Kvochko, Barclays • Emma MacPherson, The Danwood Group • Marta Muszynska, AECOM • Hiran Pattani, Ascential IT Service & Support Professional of the Year • Nazir Anwar, Lloyds Banking Group • Mandy Brooker, AXA PPP healthcare • Karen Crowley, Wipro • Mark Gilbert, Ascential • Sheeju, Jeyalin, Allianz Insurance • Anthony Marriner, Northumbrian Water Group • Matthew Oldroyd, Lloyds Banking Group • Tomas Satala, University of Derby • Jessica Wesley, Datto EMEA • David Wheeler, Nationwide Building Society Security Professional of the Year • David Emm, Kaspersky Lab • Anthony Smith , Northumbrian Water • Edward Tucker, HMRC • Rajinder Tumber, BAE Systems Applied Intelligence • Binraj Xavier, Allianz Insurance Young IT Professional of the Year • Jozef Dobos, 3D Repo • Josh Hart, Epos Now • Graham Newton, National Grid • Joanne, Powell, O2 Telefónica • Byrion Smith, Global Radio • Srinivas Sunkari, LateRooms.com • Liam Sutcliffe, Content Guru • Gary Vermeulen, British Gas • Laura Whelton, Specsavers • Lianlong Wu, NYSE Euronext Organisation Excellence Best place to work in IT 2016 • Anaplan • Company85 • EACS • Fujitsu Services • Kainos • LateRooms.com • Memset • Salesforce • University of Derby • Zen Internet IT Project Team of the Year • British Gas • BT • Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs • Heathrow Airport • HMRC • Lloyds Banking Group • NI Direct Digital Transformation Service • Virgin Media • Vodafone and Centrica • Wesleyan Assurance Society IT Team of the Year • Barclays • Certas Energy UK • Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs • Lloyds Banking Group • North of England Commissioning Support • SGN • Specsavers • Superfast Essex - Essex County Council • University of Derby • Yodel Delivery Network Services Company of the Year • Ancoris • Company85 • ECS Security • Littlefish • Masergy Communications • Metronet UK • NG Bailey • risual • RockIT • Zen Internet Small Supplier or VAR of the Year • Cisilion • DTP Solutionpath • House Builder XL • hSo • Memset • Panintelligence • Sumerian • Turnkey Consulting • Vivantio • Vizual Management Solutions Project Excellence Best IoT Project of the Year • BT & Dartt, IoT-enabled Hypercat Logistics Support Services • Fujitsu, APU Energy Usage Monitor • Hitachi Consulting and Pentaho, VIRDICT • Nutanix • Radius Payment Solutions, Kinesis Telematics • Rentokil Initial, Cloud Connect: The next-generation Internet of Things platform for Pest Control • UK Power Networks, OHL Fault Location Concept and Directional Earth Fault Passage Indication Best Not for Profit IT project • Action for Children/Mendix Technology, Safe Service Application • BBC Learning, BBC micro:bit • Fairtrade Foundation, Replacement of Main Line of Business Application. named ICC • HMRC, Digital Mail Service • IndigoBlue, Office of National Statistics & IndigoBlue: Elecronic Data Collection • National Centre for Universities and Business and Tessella, Konfer.online • NaviSite, Safeline with SRD and NaviSite's cloud solutions • Qualifications Wales, The QiW Project • The Digital Transformation Service Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Digital Transactional Toolkit • The Office of the Committee for Home Affairs, States of Guernsey, AMIS (Amalgamated Management Information Systems) Best Use of Cloud Services • Advanced, Thames Tideway Tunnel • British American Tobacco, Enhanced Productivity in the Cloud (EPIC) • Conosco, Anya Hindmarch - hybrid cloud and on-premise server • Content Guru • FinancialForce, Crunch implementation of FinancialForce Accounting • Heathrow Airport, Integrated Talent Suite • HMRC • Kainos, Kainos and The Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) • SapientNitro, RBS DigiDocs • Zadara Storage, BASE Media Cloud Big Data/Analytics Project of the Year • AkzoNobel and Tessella, Intertrac Vision • Auto Windscreens, The Big Data MI Project • Belfast Metropolitan College, Management Information Project • British Gas, Technical Revenue Assurance Project • Centrica (with Hortonworks as technology partner) • JLL, RED • Project EU, Big Data Project • University of Derby, University of Derby Big Data Project • Virgin Media, Beyond DNA • Yodel Delivery Network, MI Programme Cybersecurity Project of the Year • HMRC, Cyber Security Command Centres • Nationwide Building Society, Security Operations Centre (SOC) Project • University of Derby, University of Derby Information and Cyber Security Enhancement Project Digital Project of the Year • Financial Times, FT Digital Entitlements Platform • HMRC,Personal Tax Account • Lloyds Banking Group, Project Halogen (Apple Pay) • LV=, Innovate - Digital Project of the Year • Nationwide Building Society, Digital Originations Tactical Transformation (DOTT) • Northumbrian Water Group, We Live Water Website • Specsavers, Digital Precision Eyecare • UK Power Networks, Multi-channel proactive customer messaging for power cuts • Virgin Trains, Automatic Delay Repay (ADR) • Virgin Trains, Digital Ease of Boarding Systems (DEBS) Workplace Transformation Project of the Year • Allstate Northern Ireland, CompoZed • BT Lancashire Services, BT Lancashire Service's Modernisation and Digitisation of Lancashire Constabulary's Case and Custody systems • Heathrow Airport & CapGemini, Heathrow Operation Transformation (APOC - Airport Operations Centre) Project • HMRC • Lloyds Banking Group, Lloyds Banking Group Hive - an implementation of Jive • Melin Homes, Digital Transformation • Virgin Media, JABBER • Virgin Media, JIVE at Virgin Media • Virgin Media, Mobility and PDA Replacement • VMware AirWatch, VMware AirWatch helps Arriva UK trains empower its workforce with mobility Technology Excellence Business IT Innovation of the Year • British Gas, Pulse Multi-channel Service Platform • BT Lancashire Services, ICT System Integration of the Criminal Justice System and National Interface • JLL, bRIGHT • NetSupport • Northumbrian Water Group, Transferred Drains & Sewers (TDS) inferred mapping of the network • Scale Computing • Show My Homework, Show My Homework • The Double Barrel Steakhouse (Gala Tent), SOTpay • Weaveability • Zizo Software, Zizo Data Platform Cloud Innovation Provider of the Year • Alfresco • Ancoris, Ancoris Maps for Housing • BlackLine, BlackLine's Enhanced Finance Controls and Automation Platform • BT, BT Secure Cloud • Egress Software Technologies, Egress Switch • entrustIT, 3D Desktop • Fairsail • OCSL and Luton & Dunstable Hospital, Cloud Route & CloudControl Portal Drive Efficiencies of 40% in the NHS • Skyscape Cloud Services • Vivantio Infrastructure Innovation of the Year • Agilitas, Inventory-as-a-service • Future Facilities, 6SigmaDCX 10 • HM Land Registry, Land Registry's Common Technology platform • Memset • Nutanix • SSE Enterprise Telecoms, connectivity underpinning growing demand in the City of London's highly competitive investment banking sector • Tegile Systems • UK Power Networks, Kent Active Systems Management (KASM) • VMTurbo • Yodel Delivery Network, Halo Strategic Cloud Platform Mobile App of the Year • Accenture, Fiat Pocket Showroom App • Allianz Insurance, Claims First Notice of Loss App • Allstate Northern Ireland, MyECC • GForces Web Management, NetDirector® 360 • JLL, Inspection Tool • MindLink Software • National Grid, Maintaining Customer Service During a Gas Supply Failure • SapientNitro, SpeakEmoji • Specsavers, Specsavers Home Hearing Screener • Specsavers, Digital Precision Eyecare - a game-changer for optics! Security Innovation of the Year • BT, Security Analytics Suite • Databarracks • Glasswall Solutions, Glasswall Enterprise Security Platform • HMRC, Phema • Huntsman Security, Huntsman Analyst Portal TM Part of the Huntsman Security cyber security suite • Infosec Cloud, End User Security Awareness Training and Testing Service • LogRhythm, LogRhythm Security Intelligence Platform • Metronet UK • Pirean • Surevine, Threatvine UK Innovation and Entrepreneurship Award • Bighand • British Gas, Local Heroes • Darktrace, Enterprise Immune System • Digital Courtrooms • Donorfy, "Doing good just got better. " • My Wealth Cloud • Ormsby Street • Ravelin • Smartology, SmartMatch TM • Zynstra
2016-08-30 14:43 Peter Gothard www.computing.co.uk
24 Sony's new macro lens lets you take super up close photos Between the Zeiss 50mm f1.8 and Sony's recently introduced G-Master set of glass, the FE lens family is finally getting some well- deserved attention, and now the company is announcing a new macro lens. Although Sony users already have the choice of three other 50mm normal lens, the new Sony FE 50mm f2.8 Macro is designed to take especially close up shots. Shooters will be able to capture subjects 1:1 as close as 6.3 inches (16cm). 50mm is a bit uncommon for a macro lens; typically, we're used to seeing 60mm or 100mm serve this photography niche. However, Sony argues the shorter focal length offers a wider field of view for capturing more of the background in the shot. The lens also features extra-low dispersion elements to help compensate for axial chromatic aberrations when shooting subjects at close range. The end result should be a consistently sharp and high-quality image. Beyond macro shooting, the FE 50mm f2.8 is also relatively light weighing only 0.5 pounds (0.2kg) while being dust and moisture resistant. All together it's a portable and rugged enough lens for everyday shooting. The Sony FE 50mm f2.8 Macro will be available this September for $499 (about £380, AU$660). Article continues below
2016-08-30 13:00 By Kevin feedproxy.google.com
25 : Which Fitbit is best to buy? Fitbit Charge, HR, Surge, Blaze, Alta, One, Zip or Flex activity tracker Fitbit currently sells five activity tracker wristbands – the Fitbit Flex 2, Alta, Charge 2, Surge, and Blaze – and two clip-on activity trackers: Fitbit Zip and One. Which Fitbit is best for you? Which Fitbit should you get? We explain all in the buying guide to the Fitbit activity trackers. Fitbit trackers compared and features in detail. Also see: Best tech to take on holiday 2016. There are other activity trackers, of course, so be sure to read the best activity trackers currently available to buy too. This feature has been updated to include the new Fitbit trackers: the Flex 2 and Charge 2, announced in August 2016. At the time of writing Fitbit is still selling the Fitbit Charge HR, but this will be replaced by the Charge 2. The Flex 2 replaces both the Flex and the non-HR Charge tracker, which we have removed from this round up. Bookmark now: Black Friday deals 2016 Choosing the best Fitbit for you will come down to features and price, but you should also consider size, battery life and of course looks. For more detailed reviews of each Fitbit activity tracker go to our dedicated review pages, listed below. Fitbit One review Fitbit Zip review Fitbit Flex 2 review Fitbit Alta review Fitbit Charge 2 review Fitbit Charge HR review Fitbit Blaze Review Fitbit Surge review Recently discontinued, but you might find still on sale online: Fitbit Charge review Fitbit Flex review See also : Fitbit vs Apple watch Let's start with a key factor: cost. None of the Fitbits are pocket change but none are horrendously over-priced either. You'll find cheaper variations online and in supermarkets but there are several advantages to buying a quality tracker. And if you start walking more you can make the money back quite quickly by not taking the bus, tube or train. I saved £100 in around two months, and got fitter into the bargain. Click on these links below for the latest, best prices from Amazon. The latest Flex 2 and Charge 2 trackers are not yet available via Amazon, and must be ordered or pre-ordered via the Fitbit Store. Fitbit Flex - £79.99 / US$99.95 - click here to view today's best prices on Amazon . Fitbit Charge - £99.99 / US$129.95 - view today’s best prices on Amazon . Fitbit Alta - £99.99 / US$129.95 - view today’s best prices on Amazon . Fitbit Charge HR - £119 / US$149.95 - view today’s best prices on Amazon . Fitbit Blaze - £159 / US$199.95 - view today’s best prices on Amazon . Fitbit Surge - £199 / US$249.95. - view today’s best prices on Amazon . If price is important you may be better off trying the clip-on Fitbit Zip or Fitbit One instead. The One costs the same as the Flex, but, as we’ll see, offers more features. Fitbit One - £79.99 / US$99.95 - view today’s best prices on Amazon . Fitbit Zip - £49.99 / US$59.95 - view today’s best prices on Amazon . The cheapest Fitbit wristband tracker is the Flex 2 , but this lacks some of the features of the more expensive Fitbits, such as an altimeter to measure "floors climbed", multi-port functions, heart rate, Caller ID and Text Notifications and GPS tracking. But casual users don't really need the heart- rate monitor or sports capabilities, and only the top-end Surge actually boasts a built-in GPS anyway. The Flex 2 is also the only waterproof, swim- ready Fitbit tracker. The Alta is one step up from the Flex 2, but quite a jump in terms of price. For the extra money you gain Caller ID and Text Notifications, which many will find very useful. If your phone is a short distance froim you but not in your pocket or in Silent mode then that little vibration alert that a call is incoming can be super handy. If you do jog, run or exercise in any way as well as walking we think that it might be worth paying for the extra heart-rate-monitoring functionality you get with the Charge 2, Blaze and Surge. But if you're just interested in everyday exercise the Fitbit Flex 2 or Alta will suffice, and are excellent trackers. We also prefer the watch-buckle strap found on the Charge 2, Blaze and Surge. It feels more secure, and again is worth the paying extra for. Remember to factor in the cost of the straps and accessories to the price of the wristband trackers if you fancy something different to the included Classic bands. Having a choice of straps is appreciated, but it does make the pricing harder to compare. You should find cheaper prices at the usual online retailers. Check each individual Fitbit review at the links above for the latest, best prices. Fitbit also sells the Fitbit Aria smart scales, which sync with the trackers to add measurements of your weight, BMi and Body Fat Percentage. Read our Fitbit Aria review and also our Best Smart Digital Scales review. The charts below shows all Fitbit features by device model, plus prices. Click on the image to make it bigger. The cheaper clip-on Fitbit Zip doesn’t offer all the features found on the One, Flex 2, Charge 2, Alta, Charge HR, Blaze or Surge. For example it lacks the Sleep Tracking and Silent Wake Alarm found on the otehr clip-on tracker, the Fitbit One. Neither clip-on tracker features a heart-rate monitor, or the sports functions and notification alerts. All Fitbits have a MEMS 3-axis accelerometer that measures motion patterns to determine your calories burned, distance traveled, and steps taken. All but the Zip also monitor sleep quality. The One, Flex 2, Charge 2, Alta, Blaze and Surge also contain a vibration motor, which allows it to vibrate when alarms are set to go off. The soon-to- be discontinued Fitbit Charge HR offers the same functions as the Charge 2, except for multi-sports and GPS connectivity with a smartphone. The One, Charge 2, Charge HR, Blaze and Surge boast an altimeter that measures stairs (or height) climbed. Despite its name the Alta does not include an altimeter. The Fitbit Surge boasts eight sensors: 3 axis accelerometers, gyroscope, compass, ambient light sensor, GPS and heart rate. The Fitbit Blaze lacks the GPS, but does boast a smart colour touchscreen. The Fitbits track seven days of detailed motion data – minute by minute, and daily totals for past 30 days. They store heart rate data at 1-second intervals during exercise tracking and at 5-second intervals all other times. The Sample rate for GPS is 1Hz. The Charge 2, Charge HR, Blaze and Surge monitor your heart rate , and without having to lash sensors to your chest like some HR trackers demand. It's all done on the wrist. They use Fitbit's PurePulse heart rate technology that gives continuous, automatic, wrist-based heart rate, plus simplified heart-rate zones. The Charge 2, Alta, Charge HR, Blaze and Surge will all show Caller ID when linked to a smartphone. All the wristbands also display Text Notifications on its display, and the Blaze and Surge allow you to control your music from the touchscreen display. We found call notifications very useful. You can rely on the wriststrap buzz more than your phone's vibration, and even see who's calling right there on your wrist, which is more polite than and easier than pulling our your phone when chatting to someone else. It's expecially handy when you're at home and your phone is in a different room where you might not hear it. The top Fitbit wristbands (Alta, Charge 2, Blaze and Surge) feature multi- sport exercise tracking to easily record workouts and see real-time exercise stats and summaries. A recent software update means the Charge HR and Surge can now automatically detect which activity you're doing – and this functionality is also present on the Alta and Blaze. This means these trackers will know when you're cycling, running, hiking or playing sports including football, tennis and basketball. They will also recognise aerobic workouts such as Zumba, cardio-kickboxing and dance workouts. They will record the excercise in the Fitbit app along with an excercise summary. All the Fitbit wristbands now boast a neat new feature borrowed from the Apple Watch. Using short exercise prompts the Fitbit encourages you to meet a mini-step goal of 250 steps each hour (approximately 2-3 minutes of walking). These prompts can be personalised to your schedule; for example they can be put on “Do Not Disturb” during long meetings or appointments. We love this feature, and hope Fitbit adds it to the other trackers soon. Fitbit has added Hourly Activity and Stationary Time in the Fitbit app, when paired with Surge, Blaze, Charge HR, Charge 2, Alta, or Flex 2. All the Fitbits, except the Zip, check your sleep , too. They measure the time you spend asleep and check the quality of sleep – noting when you are restless or wake up during the night. Increasingly sleep is regarded as a vital health factor. Runing around and eating well won't help you as much if you're sleep patterns are too short or restless. Poor quality sleep is also seen as a factor in heart disease, colds and infections, depression and lack of sex drive. If losing weight is one of your aims then you should consider the Fitbit Aria , digital scales that wirelessly sync with your account and measure your weight, body fat percentage and BMI. But don't try wearing it on your wrist! On top of all this the super-fitness-stats Fitbit Surge features GPS tracking, without the need for a smartphone to be linked. Users can see distance, pace and elevation climbed, and review routes and split times. This beats the Apple Watch, which relies on the GPS in your iPhone. The Blaze and Charge 2, like the Apple Watch, require a connected smartphone, but works not just with the iPhone but Android and Windows Phone too. While built-in GPS is great, most of us exercise with our smartphone on us for music and calls – so connecting to your phone's GPS isn't that much of a nuisance, and saves your trackers' battery. See New Fitbit trackers rumours and release date. Here's how Fitbit lists each of the trackers' special features, starting with the Flex: The new Fitbit Alta features: Now, the Charge features: Next, the Charge HR features: Then, Fitbit Blaze features: And finally the Surge features: Top 10 tips for hitting your Fitbit step goals Fitbit was bitten hard when it had to withdraw and recall its Force wristband when some owners reported developing a skin rash as a result of metal allergies. The company now says that it has employed scientific experts Dr Peter Schalock, an Assistant Professor of Dermatology at Harvard Medical School, and Dr Patricia Norris, Assistant Professor of Dermatology at Oregon Health & Science University, to make every effort to reduce the chances of Fitbit users having reactions from parts of their wristbands. Fitbit still warns that “if you have eczema, allergies, or asthma you may be more likely to experience a skin irritation or allergy from a wearable device.” It also advices that “if you sweat for more than two hours while wearing your Fitbit band, be sure to wash your band and your wrist using the directions above to avoid skin irritation.” Each new wristband (except the Alta and Blaze's leather and stainless steel wristbands) is made of a flexible, durable elastomer material similar to that used in many sports watches. Another problem that beset Force owners was the wristband's weak clasp, which lead to many – me among them – losing their treasured tracker. Now take a look at the back of the Charge HR, and you'll see a surgical-grade stainless steel buckle that's much more like a standard watch. The new buckle is found on the Charge HR, Blaze and Surge, but not the Flex, Alta or Charge. Fitbit has improved the Charge's strap, but it can still come undone and Fitbit acknowledges that it's a problem. It's one of the reasons we recommend the Charge HR instead. Plus the buckle isn't uncomfortable when worn in bed. The Zip display has five modes: Steps; Distance; Calories burned; Fitbit Smiley (highlights your recent activity level); and Clock. The One’s display has six modes: Steps; Distance; Calories burned; Floors climbed; Flower (grows and shrinks based on your recent activity); and Clock. The Flex’s display is the most minimal, consisting of a series of flashing dots that show you how your day is stacking up against your goals. Each light represents 20 percent of your goal. You just tap the display twice to see your progress against your daily goal. This is very easy to get used to but isn’t as informative as the other Fitbits. Of course you can see all your stats via the Fitbit iPhone or Android smartphone app. The Fitbit Alta takes a longer, vertical view of its displays. The Charge's OLED display (below) shows Time; Steps; Distance; Calories burned; Floors climbed; Very active minutes; Caller ID; and Alarm. The Charge HR's OLED display is much like the Charge but includes extra features. It shows Heart Rate; Exercise Tracking; Time; Steps; Distance; Calories burned; Floors climbed; Very active minutes; Caller ID; and Alarm. The Blaze's colourful display wins hands down, although you won't see it if you put your hands down… The Surge's larger display (below) shows even more data to fitness and sports nuts. Its display is a touch screen monochrome LCD with backlight (for low light visibility). While the Fitbit One and Zip are small and can clip onto clothing or sit in your pocket they’re in some ways less flexible than the wristbands. You’re also less prone to forget a fitness wristband than you are a tiny clip-on gadget which inevitably gets left behind when you change your clothes, and we've put several through the washing machine (amazingly, they mostly survived). The Flex and Alta are thinner and slightly lighter than the Charge. The Flex is 13.99mm wide and the Alta 15mm, compared to the Charge's 21.1mm girth. As the Charge/HR/Surge also include a watch function they might actually save you wrist space as you can ditch your watch. The Zip is the smallest of the Fitbits – it’s shorter than the One but podgier. When you buy a Flex you get both a large (161-209mm) and small (140- 176mm) wristband, but with the Charge, Charge HR and Surge you need to specify whether you want Small, Large or X-Large, as the tracker itself is built into the band. You choose a S, L or XL tracker for the Alta and Blaze, and can also choose an extra, different strap separately. You can check with Fitbit’s online wristband sizing tool. Fitbit Zip size and weight: H: 48mm; W: 19.3mm; D: 9.65mm; Weight: 8g. Fitbit One size and weight: H: 35.5mm; W: 28mm; D: 9.65mm; Weight: 8g. Fitbit Flex size and weight: W: 13.99mm; Weight: 29g. Fitbit Alta size and weight: W: 15mm. Weight dependent on strap choice. Fitbit Charge size and weight: W: 21.1mm; Weight: 24g. Fitbit Charge HR size and weight: W: 21.1mm; Weight: 26g. Fitbit Blaze size and weight: W: 42.1mm. Weight dependent on strap choice, but 43g with Classic Strap. Fitbit Surge size and weight: W: 34mm; Weight: 52g. Remembering to keep your Fitbit charged is important if you wish to keep your activity tracked. The longer the battery life in between charges the better, then. The Zip is easily the best for battery life but you will need to buy a new battery two or three times a year. The 3V coin (CR 2025) battery is cheap, though – you can buy a pack of five for under £2.50 (US$3). The other Fitbits feature rechargeable batteries. Remember that accessing the display on any of the Fitbits will drain the battery faster. Fitbit One battery life: 5-7 days Fitbit Zip battery life: 4-6 months Fitbit Flex battery life: 5 days Fitbit Charge battery life: 7-10 days Fitbit Alta battery life: up to 5 days Fitbit Charge HR battery life: 5+ days Fitbit Blaze battery life: up to 5 days Fitbit Surge battery life: Up to 5 days Sadly none of the Fitbit activity trackers can monitor your swimming. But you can at least wear your Flex in the shower, unlike the other Fitbits that are less happy getting wet. See: Is the Fitbit waterproof? I did wear my Flex while swimming and after a few months the rubber wristband did begin to perish a little, and my wife claims that it started to smell – so best taken off for long periods of liquid submersion. The Fitbit One, Zip and Force are splash proof, but should not be submerged more than one metre. The Flex, Charge, Charge HR and Blaze are water resistant to 1 ATM (Atmosphere), so theoretically can be submerged up to 10 metres (33ft). However, watch specialists advice that a device with this resistance level is protected against accidental exposure to water; for example, splashes, perspiration or accidental immersion; and state that it should not be exposed to any water pressure. I did once jump in a swimming pool with my Charge HR and it survived, but it's not recommended! The Fitbit Surge is water resistant to 5 ATM, which means it is wearable around household sinks, while playing sports and while swimming in shallow water. Experts recommend that you don't wear it while bathing, snorkeling or scuba diving. What's the best activity fitness tracker for swimmers ? The Fitbit One is available in either Burgundy or Black. The Fitbit Zip is more colourful, available in either Blue, Magenta, White, Charcoal or Lime. The Flex wristband is available in ten colours: Black, Slate, Tangerine, Teal, Navy, Violet, Blue, Lime, Pink and Red. You can buy extra bands (without the tracker) for £12.99. The Fitbit Charge is available in Black, Slate, Blue and Burgundy. The Fitbit Alta is available in a classic strap (extra £19.99 or US$29.95) in Black, Blue, Plum or Teal; in leather (extra £49.99/£99.95) in Graphite or Blush Pink); or in Stainless Steel Links (extra £79.99/$129.95). The Fitbit Charge HR is available in Black, Plum, Blue, Tangerine, Teal and Pink. The Fitbit Blaze is available in a classic strap (extra £19.99 or US$29.95) in Black, Blue or Plum; in leather (extra £59.99/£99.95) in Black, Camel or Mist Grey); or in Stainless Steel Links (extra £89.99/$129.95). The Fitbit Surge is available in three colours: Black, Blue and Tangerine. The Fitbit Zip ships with tracker, silicone and metal clip, wireless sync dongle, replaceable battery and battery door tool. The Fitbit One comes with tracker, silicone and metal clip, wireless sync dongle, charging cord and sleep wristband. The Fitbit Flex includes tracker within wristband (small and large), wireless sync dongle, and charging cable. The Fitbit Charge and Charge HR come with tracker within wristband (either small, large or x-large), wireless sync dongle, and charging cable. For some unknown reason the Charge and Charge HR have different charging cables. The Fitbit Blaze and Alta ship with a charging cable. You need to specify the type of band (Classic, Leather or Stainless Steel) you require. The Alta also comes with a wireless dongle, although strangely the Blaze does not – it conects via Bluetooth alone. The Fitbit Surge ships with a wireless sync dongle and charging cable. All the trackers work with the excellent Fitbit desktop dashboard and iPhone, Android and Windows Phone apps. The apps look wonderful, and display all your daily and historical stats in beautiful graphs that expand in landscape orientation as well as display in portrait view. The desktop dashboard is another visually atrractive and informative place to monitor your factivity and fitness statistics. And as added incentive you can link with friends, family and colleagues to compete against each other on the leaderboard, get involved in daily or weekly Challenges, and win badges determined by passing goals, and historical milestones. These aspects of the Fitbit system really set it apart from the other trackers. Some Fitbits are easier to lose than others. Obviously if you are the sort of person who puts things down and then forgets where they put them, then you'll expect to lose your possessions every now and again. But with Fitbits some are risker than others. The Zip and One clip to your clothing or can be carried in a pocket, and so could be easier to mislay than something attached to your wrist. The wristbands are certainly less easy to lose, but we recommend you go for one with the watch-like buckle (Charge HR, Blaze, Surge) as these are much more secure than the pop-in clasp (Flex, Alta, Charge). Fitbit Flex - £79.99 / US$99.95 - click here to view on Amazon. Fitbit Charge - £99.99 / US$129.95 - view on Amazon. Fitbit Alta - £99.99 / US$129.95 - view on Amazon. Fitbit Charge HR - £119 / US$149.95 - view on Amazon. Fitbit Blaze - £159 / US$199.95 - view on Amazon. Fitbit Surge - £199 / US$249.95. - view on Amazon. Fitbit One - £79.99 / US$99.95 - view on Amazon. Fitbit Zip - £49.99 / US$59.95 - view on Amazon . It’s possible to look at the Fitbit activity trackers in two groups. The clip-on One and Charge, Charge HR and Surge wristbands boast the most features, including Floors Climbed via the altimeter. They also show more right there on their displays. The Charge, Charge HR, Blaze and Surge also show Call Notifications from your phone, including Caller ID. The Zip and Flex are cheaper but don’t include the altimeter so climbing lots of stairs will count only as Steps and not as the harder climb. Of course floors climbed counts as Steps on the other trackers, too. The Zip doesn’t vibrate when you reach your targets. And it doesn’t monitor your sleep efficiency. The Zip is the cheapest Fitbit, and if you can live without the altimeter and sleep tracking then this is a great entry point. Sleep tracking is fun but not at the top of most people's fitness lists, but the buzz is a great way to know you’ve reached your key target. Is that worth an extra £30 for the One or Flex? That’s really up to you. Fitbit Flex vs Fitbit Alta vs Charge vs Charge HR vs Blaze vs Surge : When it comes to choosing between the five Fitbit wristbands we love the Flex’s minimalism but think the Charge's better display and altimeter make it worth the extra £20, depending on where you buy it. The new Fitbit Alta combines the slender design of the Flex with a more detailed display, but is quite a step up in price from the Flex. The Flex is a great activity tracker in its own right, and syncs well with your smartphone and computer. It's also available in more colours. If you're a keen gym goer or jogger the heart-rate-monitoring Charge HR is just £20 more than the Fitbit Charge. You also get the better strap (buckle) with the HR, and even if you're not a fitness nut the heart-rate monitor is a fun addition, so there's another £20 that could be worth investing. From someone who has lost a wristband I'd go with the most secure strap, and that means either the Charge HR, Blaze or Surge. The GPS-packing Surge has so much more than the other Fitbits and costs quite a bit more, so is maybe an unfair comparison. It's for real gym fanatics and at least the semi-serious runner. Or you can wear one, and pretend to be a performance fitness nut, and just use it to count your steps and tell you the time. The Fitbit Blaze is similar to the other Fitbits but comes with a flashier colour display. Its lack of built-in GPS might disappoint some, but most runners take their smartphone with them for music or call, so its wireless connection to the phone's GPS does the same trick. It will apeal to those people who want an activity tracker but also a watch-like timepiece. Its colourful displays are also going to attract attention. There's a Fitbit tracker for everyone. If you're unsure you can always later sell up and upgrade to a higher-spec Fitbit tracker. Getting fitter now is the main thing, so get started soon.
2016-08-30 13:00 Simon Jary www.pcadvisor.co.uk
26 Best LEGO toys 2016: The best LEGO sets available in the UK LEGO and Minecraft are arguably similar concepts, and these collaborations are great. This set allows you to build your very own Minecraft Tree House, including minifigures of popular characters Steve and Alex. You have to build the treehouse to keep the skeleton at bay, with a fully working trapdoor to build. The set is flexible enoygh to be rebuild in several different ways, so it's a great way to get inventive. Pieces: 706 You'll also like: Best Minecraft gifts Read on for more brilliant Lego gifts. This would be the Lego-themed trophy sat on any Jurassic Park/World fans desk, young or old. The Indominus Rex from the latest Jurassic World film has been immortalised in LEGO form along with its impound, and a handful of other characters. The impound itself features a research lab complete with the infamous dino-DNA amber, syringes and other decorations, as well as a dino pen with feeding crane and pallet, and even a breakout function to recreate the action from the film. The set not only features the impound, but also a Gyrosphere that can be launched from the enclosure, a helicopter and four minifigures compete with various weapons and accessories. Pieces: 1156 The remote controlled Volvo digger is the stuff of LEGO enthusiasts’ dreams – a LEGO set that you can build then drive and operate using a remote control. Developed in partnership with Volvo Construction Equipment, the fully remote controlled model boasts the same features as its larger real-life brother. You can see the the fully functioning, detailed six- cylinder engine pistons and fan move as you drive along, as well as being able to operate the arm and tilt the bucket remotely. The best part is that once you’re done with the digger, it can be rebuilt to create the Volvo wheel loader – also controlled via remote. Cool stuff, eh? Pieces: 1636 Lego Dimensions is a hybrid between a digital game and physical LEGO that we all know and love. Players can buy the Lego Dimensions starter set for either the PlayStation, Xbox or Wii and expect to get three hundred LEGO pieces used to create a controller and three characters; Batman, Gandalf from Lord of the Rings and Wyldstyle from The Lego Movie. There are also additional kits available boasting characters from Scooby Doo, Simpsons and even Doctor Who, just to name a few. The game works by recognizing the characters and vehicles that are placed on the controller, and make them part of the on-screen action. There are 14 levels initially, with more levels and vehicles available from additional sets. It includes the typical LEGO creativity, including the ability to rebuild each vehicle in three different ways and offers a fascinating blend of physical and digital enjoyment. Originally made famous in the original Star Wars trilogy, the X-Wing made a triumphant return to already iconic scenes in JJ Abrams The Force Awakens. This LEGO set reflects the changes in the craft, with blue details like in the recent film, based 30 years after The Return of the Jedi. You get a little figure of Poe, the resistance fighter, plus a mini BB-8 droid. Like the beginning of the film, you must protect Lor San Tekka and his home from the advanced First Order Flametroopers. Intense stuff, naturally. Pieces: 740 If you love Star Wars (or know someone else that does) then you might enjoy our best Star Wars gifts and gadgets article . This is a great little LEGO set based on Disney's insanely popular Frozen film. You (and your kids) can relive the magic with Olaf and Princess Anna in Elsa's Ice Castle. The set comes with a little sleigh as well as skis, an ice cream bar and a secret staircase built into the castle. Pieces: 292 For the classic car enthusiast in your life, we present the LEGO Creator Mini Cooper Car, a replica of the classic Mini Cooper Mk VII. It’s filled with authentic details, including the classic green and white colour scheme with white wing mirrors and racing stripes and matching tan coloured interior. You can open the hood to examine the detailed LEGO engine, open the doors and even open the trunk and separate spare tire compartment. The roof of the Mini Cooper can be removed to access its interiors, featuring a veneer-style dashboard and turning steering wheel as well as a moving gearbox and break. It even features working headlights and has a mini-picnic basket and blanket for those quaint British summer days. Pieces: 1077 For the more hardcore LEGO fans that require a challenge, we present London’s Tower Bridge in LEGO form. Part of the ‘LEGO world buildings’ collection, Tower Bridge comes complete with a working drawbridge and pieces exclusive to this set, thanks to the complexity of the structure. It has a whopping 4287 pieces to it, measures in at over 1m long and comes with four miniature iconic London vehicles; a black London taxi, a yellow truck, a green automobile and even a double-decker bus. It includes five blue base plates, and over 80 windows – this one might take you a while. Pieces: 4287
2016-08-30 12:54 Lewis Painter www.pcadvisor.co.uk
27 A whole host of new information has emerged about the Nintendo NX's controller New details have emerged concerning the forthcoming Nintendo NX 's controller and it looks like big changes are on the way for the new console. The first rumored change is with its D-pad, which will reportedly now be a split D- pad (like those used by Sony on all four PlayStations) rather than the traditional solid D-pad that Nintendo has been using since the original Nintendo Entertainment System released in 1985. According to reports, the new controller's D-pad will be more similar to the PS4 (left) than the Wii U (right) For years this original design was exclusive to Nintendo, forcing competitors such as Sony to introduce the split D-pad design. However now that Nintendo's D-pad patent has expired, others, such as Microsoft with the Xbox One, have now been free to imitate the design. However the more significant change is the addition of a 'share' button, which will allow images and video to be uploaded to Miiverse, Twitter, Facebook or YouTube. A share button has been present on the PS4 since its launch, but Nintendo has historically been much more protective of footage of its games being shared online. In 2013, Nintendo attempted to shut down a Super Smash Bros tournament at Evo 2013 which would have been streamed online, and until last year would take 100% of the revenue generated by the streaming of Nintendo games on YouTube. However, even when Nintendo attempted to amend its policy on Let's Plays, it still ended up with guidelines that were far more restrictive than those other publishers allow under fair-use. The presence of a share button on the NX would appear to indicate that Nintendo is about to embrace the world of streaming in a way that it hasn't done previously. The news of a split D-pad and share button follows the less surprising news last week that the console's controllers would feature force feedback and motion sensing . From the descriptions circulating online, it appears as though these controllers will offer similar functionality to the company's existing WiiMotes, which reports indicate the new controllers will gradually replace over time. From the rumors we've continued to hear about the NX, it sounds like the console is shaping up to be an interesting mix of Nintendo's traditional strengths and current game trends. Source: LetsPlayVideoGames.com Article continues below
2016-08-30 12:52 By Jon feedproxy.google.com
28 Metal Gear Solid 5 to get ‘Definitive Experience’ edition Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain was our game of the year in 2015 , however the foundations for it were laid by standalone introductory chapter Ground Zeroes. Today, Konami has announced Metal Gear Solid V: The Definitive Experience which gathers both games and a bunch of DLC under one banner. Due to launch via Steam on October 13, players can expect “additional Mother Base currency”, as well as a slew of items , including Rasp Short- Barrelled Shotguns, the Adam-ska Special handgun, a range of Personal Ballistic Shields, and a number of costumes for The Phantom Pain. Previously console-exclusive Ground Zeroes missions—Déjà Vu and Jamais Vu—are also included, as are a number of DLC packs and weapons for Metal Gear Online. “Metal Gear Solid V has received collectively over 60 industry accolades and awards thus far,” says Konami president Tomotada Tashiro in a statement. “The Definitive Experience will give players an opportunity to play the complete MGSV experience, without interruption. Additionally, with Metal Gear Online, players also get access to a completely unique multi- player setting that is designed for a truly engrossing gaming experience as well.” Metal Gear Solid V: The Definitive Experience is due October 13. Console versions will cost £34.99/$39.99, however Steam pricing is yet to be confirmed. Read Sam’s review of The Phantom Pain over here.
2016-08-30 12:39 By www.pcgamer.com
29 29 | Nexus 2016 UK price | New Nexus 2016 new feature, specification rumours: When is the new Nexus coming out? What happened to the new Nexus phones? Nexus 2016 pricing leak suggests new Nexus phones ARE coming after all We investigate rumours surrounding the new Nexus phones. Nexus 2016 release date, UK price, new feature and specification rumours. Codenamed Sailfish and Marlin, and made by HTC, these were thought to be the launch devices for Android 7.0 Nougat. Also see: Nexus 5X review and Nexus 6P review. Update 30/08/2016: Pricing has leaked for the new Nexus phones , which are set to be more expensive than their predecessors. As we expected, the final version of Android Nougat was released on 22 August, but in a surprise move Google didn't announce new Nexus phones alongside it. Its official Android blog pointed merely to the now-confirmed LG V20, which will be the first device to ship with Nougat out of the box. So what happened to the new Nexus phones we've been hearing rumours about for months? (Also see: LG V20 UK release date, price, specification and feature rumours.) There are two possible scenarios here. One, they never existed in the first place, and could in fact be other non-Nexus devices HTC is working on. We've heard rumours about multiple HTC Desires (the HTC Desire Pro and HTC Desire Lifestyle) tipping up at IFA, so could Marlin and Sailfish actually be HTC Desires rather than Nexus phones? (We think not, if only because the leaked renders look so different.) And two, perhaps they just weren't ready yet. Maybe Google is holding them back for a proper launch in the coming weeks. The fact is only tight-lipped Google employees, mobile operators and accessories dealers know the truth right now, and although it seems strange that Google would launch a new mobile OS without its Nexus phones, we could still see a surprise launch perfectly timed to steal Apple's iPhone 7 thunder in early September. Since the launch of Android Nougat we have heard new rumours about the Nexus Sailfish and Marlin, including their pricing, which suggests to us that they are still on the cards. You'll also be interested in: Google I/O 2016 as it happened | Android Nougat (& how to get Android Nougat now ) | Android VR | Nexus 7 (2016) | Android Pay UK | Google Home Note: According to The Telegraph , Google will be making its own phone this year. This means that, in common with Apple, it will have complete control over hardware and software and not have need to depend on a hardware partner. It followed this approach with the 2015 Pixel C, so it sounds plausible that it could try this with phones next. However, we do not believe this new Google phone is a Nexus phone, and it won't be the device on which Google unveils the final version of Android Nougat. Read on for rumours concerning the new Nexus. Nexus 2016 release date: Early September 2016 (TBC). Google unveils a new Nexus smartphone every year (in 2015 it announced two), which it traditionally uses as the launch vehicle for its annual Android update. Yesterday (22 August) we saw the release of the final version of Android Nougat. What we didn't see was any new Nexus phones, though Google did confirm that the LG V20 would be the first phone to run N out of the box. Perhaps we shouldn't have been surprised. Tradition sees the new operating system Developer Preview announced at Google I/O in early summer, and then released on the new Nexus 5 and/or new Nexus 6 phone around October time. (The Nexus 5X and 6P were announced at the end of September 2015, and the Nexus 6 before it in October 2014.) However, the Android Nougat Developer Preview was released a couple of months early this year, ahead of Google I/O. In July we saw the release of the final Developer Preview, which means we were expecting to see an earlier Android OS launch than in previous years. Also see: When will my phone get Android Marshmallow? The rumours backed it up, too. According to respected tipster Evan Blass the final version of Android Nougat would be rolled out in August and would include the August security update. His tweet caused speculation that the phones could launch this week, but Blass has since confirmed that he meant only that the security update will be included in Nougat and not that Nougat would be rolled out with the patch on 5 August. We're now left with two options. Either the new Nexus phones aren't coming, or Google is for some reason holding them back. If it is the latter, our estimated release date would be the same week as the iPhone 7 launch, which puts the new Nexus release date at early September 2016. The Nexus 5X now costs from at £299 and the Nexus 6P from £449, and we would be surprised if Google was to take their pricing higher. However, that's exactly what it's about to do if rumours are to be believed. The Nexus Blog reports that "T he 32GB version of Nexus Marlin will be priced at $599 while the same storage option for the Sailfish will be priced at $449. " If true, that's an extra $70 over the 5X, and $100 over the 6P. As we've said, nothing is concrete right now, but we will continue to update this article over the coming year as and when we hear new snippets of Nexus 5 or Nexus 6 2016 information. Also see: Best phones 2016 and Best Android phones 2016. Rumours that HTC is working on two new Nexus phones for 2016 went into overdrive at the end of April 2016 following a tip from serial leaker @evleaks on Twitter. However, Huawei has since allegedly confirmed that it is responsible for at least one of the new Nexus devices for 2016 (which could very well be a new Nexus 7 rather than a new phone). Huawei general manager for consumer business in South Africa said: "We’re doing the Nexus again this year, by the way. " Huawei was already tipped to be making the updated Nexus 6P by Chinese electronics industry analyst Pan Jiutang, via Weibo.com , yet others have claimed HTC is responsible for both. Since we updated this article Huawei's PR has been in touch with the company's official comment on the subject: “We don’t comment on future products, as a matter of policy. Huawei is committed to creating the world’s most compelling and innovative devices, offering an exceptional performance and outstanding user experience. "We are proud to have worked with Google, which is strong in innovation, on the Nexus 6P and will continue to collaborate in the future, such as our support for Daydream, the recently-announced platform for high performance mobile VR.” Again, we have to make it clear that everything you read here is merely rumours and speculation. As we've learned in the past, however, there is usually some truth behind the leaks. Here's what we've heard on the rumour mill so far: • Google has confirmed that it will not be building the new Nexus phones itself, but Google CEO Sundar Pichai says it will be more opinionated in the design. That's not as extreme as the rumour earlier reported by Droid Life , which suggested that Google intended to apply "Apple-like control" over its new Nexus devices for 2016, and would be involved at every step of the design and manufacturing process, no longer requiring a second manufacturer such as LG, Huawei or HTC to build the device for it, nor add its name to it. • Pan Jiutang has suggested that the new Nexus 6 2016 will be a high- performance handset running the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor. This seems like a logical move, given that the Nexus 6P runs 2015's top Snapdragon chip, the 810. The Snapdragon 820 has an Adreno 530 GPU (with 40 percent better performance and efficiency than previous chips), the X12 LTE modem (which provides 33 percent better performance and 15 percent better power efficiency), the Hexagon 680 DPS (digital signal processor) and a quad-core Kryo CPU that will bring up to double the performance and power efficiency when compared to previous generations. • The specs of the Sailfish Nexus phone have leaked via the GFXBench graphics testing benchmark database. It's expected to feature a 5in full-HD screen, a 2.1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 quad-core processor, Adreno 530 graphics, 4GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, and 12- rear and 8Mp front cameras with support for 4K video. An AnTuTu listing also reportedly showing the Nexus Sailfish confirms the Snapdragon 820 processor, Adreno 530 graphics and full-HD screen, but suggests it will have 13Mp- and 8Mp cameras. • The Nexus Marlin has now appeared on AnTuTu as well, and has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, Adreno 530 graphics, 8Mp and 13Mp cameras, plus a Quad-HD screen. • The HTC-made Nexus 2016 phone codenamed Marlin has been spotted in the Geekbench database. It is shown to be running Android 7.0, with a quad-core processor (which could be the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 821) and 4GB of RAM. It scored 4969 points multi-core, making it faster that the iPhone 6s Plus but a little behind the Samsung Galaxy S7 and OnePlus 3 - you can see how this compares to other flagships in our article What's the fastest smartphone 2016? • Previously, the number in each phone's name has been related to its screen size, with the Nexus 5 a standard smartphone and the Nexus 6 a phablet. According to Mocha RQ , HTC will build smaller Nexus phones, with 5- and 5.5in screens rather than the 5.2- and 5.7in displays we saw in 2015. The current 6P has a 5.7in Quad-HD display, and it's likely we'll see this again given that Sony has failed to wow critics with its first 4K smartphone screen. The new Nexus 5 may stick with a full-HD screen. • Twitter tipster LlabTooFeR claims the codenames for the new Nexus 5 2016 and new Nexus 6 2016 are T50 and T55 - both of which hint towards the rumoured 5- and 5.5in screen sizes. They've also become known via codenames Sailfish (despite the existing mobile OS of the same name) and Marlin, with the latter recently been spotted on Google's Source site in a list that mentions three major devices. The other two are Angler and Bullhead. • Regardless of the internal storage capacities, the new Nexus phones are expected to receive unlimited online photo- and video storage via Google Photos without having to reduce their file sizes. According to Android Police t he latest Photos update includes text that describes a specific benefit for Nexus customers: "free unlimited storage for original quality photos and videos uploaded from their Nexus devices". • Marlin is expected to be a metal device, while Sailfish will be built from plastic. • We also know the new Nexus 5 and Nexus 6 2016 will be running a brand- new operating system, Android 7.0 Nougat. However, a ccording to Android Police , the Home screens will be updated to feature a new app drawer, Now pane and Search widget. • With Android Marshmallow building in support for USB-C, it's a given that the new Nexus 2016 phones will feature USB-C for data transfer and charging. The Snapdragon 820 also supports Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0, for super-fast charging with a compatible mains adaptor. • Android Police has published renders of the new Nexus 2016, although it acknowledges they are not final and the official press renders may differ. A supposed picture has emerged, via Tech Droider, of the screen of the so called HTC-made Marlin Nexus phone. Here's the screenshot, covered by a case, presumably to avoid any further design leaks. You can clearly see the 'Model number' listed as 'marlin' - though as with every leak we aren't sure if this is totally genuine. However, the device seems to be running Android Nougat, hinting at an upcoming model. Based on the render and leaked information, Tech Configurations has made a 3D video rendering of what the phone might look like. Android Police has leaked images of what is said to be the Nexus Sailfish, a metal and glass device with a very 'HTC' look abut it. The Marlin is expected to be the same, but larger. (We've cleaned up the edges a little, but have not otherwise tampered with the image.) We'll be updating this article with new rumours all year, so bookmark us and return another day for the latest new Nexus 5 and new Nexus 6 2016 leaks. Read next: Best new phones coming in 2016 . Follow Marie Brewis on Twitter .
2016-08-30 12:09 Marie Brewis www.pcadvisor.co.uk
30 | LG V20 UK price | LG V20 specifications | LG V20 features | LG V20 rumours: LG V20 confirmed as first phone to run Android Nougat out of the box, launching 6 September with B&O Play earphones, Quad DAC and two screens LG has confirmed its upcoming V20, which will be the first non-Nexus smartphone to run Android Nougat out of the box. Here's what you need to know about the V10 successor, including the LG V20 UK release date, LG V20 UK price, and LG V20 specifications and features. Also see: What to expect from IFA 2016. Update 30/08/16: What is said to be a real, albeit grainy, photograph of the LG V20 has leaked via Reddit . LG has confirmed via a teaser image that it will unveil the LG V20 in the US on 6 September and in Seoul the following day. It will go on sale by the end of September as the first phone to run Android Nougat out of the box. (Interestingly, that means it will launch before Google’s Nexus Sailfish and Marlin , which may not even launch at all following last night's release of Android N with no accompanying devices.) On Reddit a user who claims to have inside info has stated that pre-orders in the US will begin on 14 September (through T-Mobile), with the V20 going on sale 23 September. That matches the most recent rumours for the iPhone 7 on sale date. However, the date on the phone renders (often a giveaway of the on sale date) is actually 1 October 2016. It’s important to note that the LG V10 was not officially sold in the UK, and LG has not confirmed that its successor will make it over here either. Also see: Best smartphones 2016 and Best Android phones 2016 . It’s difficult to speculate on the V20’s price when the V10 never officially came to the UK, but the V10 in the US cost $700 SIM-free. This put it directly in line with other flagships, so in the UK it likely would have met a circa-£600 price point. The aforementioned Reddit user suggests the V20 will go on sale at $650, so in the UK we could see a lower price point of £500- to £550. We’ll update this article when we know more. One of the most interesting things we know about the V20 is that it will be the first phone to launch with Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box. LG has also confirmed that it will be the world's first smartphone with 32-bit Hi-Fi Quad DAC for best-in-class audio, and it will ship with B&O Play earphones in the box. LG is keeping tight-lipped about the rest of the V20's specification and features prior to the launch, though we have heard a few things on the web... In common with LG’s other flagship phone of 2016, the LG G5 , the V20 could feature a modular design. And the renders recently released by Android Authority (in collaboration with @OnLeaks and scattered throughout this article) certainly do appear to feature what could be a module release button and a removable bottom. On Reddit we’ve also heard that accessories will include an extra battery and an enhanced hand grip. Whereas the V10 had a large 5.7in Quad-HD screen, we’ve heard whispers that this could be downgraded from 5.7in to 5.5in in order to better accommodate the secondary screen. This sits above the main display providing an always-on screen for at-a-glance access to your notifications and the time. This second screen is clearly visible in an image tweeted by @evLeaks (shown below). The V20 should be something of a beast, with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of RAM and 32- or 64GB of internal storage (plus support for microSD). A 4,000mAh battery, which charges over USB-C, will keep it all going. Other tips point to a 21Mp rear camera and dual-8Mp cameras at the front. Looking at those renders, the protrusion at the rear would suggest there’s something powerful inside, but it would appear that the dual-camera is actually at the rear. The V20 reportedly measures 7.7mm thick, but 8.8mm over the camera. The V20 is said to be narrower than its predecessor, though, at 159.5x78.1mm. As before, there’s a power button and fingerprint sensor on the rear, but the volume button sits on the phone’s edge. Read next: Best new phones coming in 2016 & 2017 . Follow Marie Brewis on Twitter.
2016-08-30 12:02 Marie Brewis www.pcadvisor.co.uk
31 | iOS 10 new features | iOS 10 public beta: Here's why you'll want to install it now. iOS 10 is coming this autumn, but the public beta is now available. Here's why you'll want to install iOS 10 now, plus iOS 10 UK release date and new features. iOS 10 rumours. Also see: iPhone 7 release date rumours and How to get iOS 10 now. Expected iOS 10 release date: 30 September 2016 The iOS 10 Developer beta 7 is out, and the public beta (which was released on 7 July) is now in its sixth version and is coming along very nicely. Here's how to install the public beta of iOS 10. The final version of iOS 10 is coming this September on the iPhone 7 , iPhone 7 Plus and, potentially, iPhone 7 Pro . Update 30 August: Interestingly, the latest rumour suggests there will be a significant update to iOS 10 in 2017 when Apple launches the next iPads. Apparently, the update will introduce much broader support for the Apple Pencil - the stylus that works with iPad Pro models - so that you'll be able to use it in more apps, such as making annotations in Mail, Safari and Messages. We've been testing the beta on an iPhone 5C, 5S, iPad Air 2 and iPhone 6S Plus. So far we're impressed with its stability. Although there are a few bugs still - as you can expect with any beta software - it is perfectly possible to use it on your main phone. However, we don't recommend doing this unless you have a backup phone just in case. iOS 10 will be a free update for the following devices: The following devices are not compatible with iOS 10: Original iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, original iPod touch, iPod touch 2nd-gen, iPod touch 3rd-gen, iPod touch 4th-gen, iPodf touch 5th- gen, original iPad. iPad 2, iPad 3. On the surface, iOS 10 may look like previous versions, but a whole load of apps have had major updates, and there are new apps too. Plus, there's a whole raft of interface tweaks that makes iOS even better to use. Another big reason to update when the final version comes out is that Siri has been opened up to third-party apps. Who knows, your favourite app might get Siri support soon. Click or tap the links to jump straight to the app or feature in which you're interested: Although it won't be news to emoji enthusiasts, iOS 10 will (as iOS 9 did) include lots of new emoji. Many have been added to be more 'gender diverse' as Apple puts it in a press release. It means there will be female athletes, and other changes include replacing the gun with a water pistol (there has been pressure for a long while from anti-gun protesters to ditch it). However, the middle finger icon remains. Read more: How to use emoji on iPhone & iPad | What is emoji? In the Developer beta, one of the new features is moisture detection for the Lightning port. If any water is detected then a message will appear prompting the user to disconnect the cable to avoid damage. There's a redesigned lockscreen with rich notifications that also respond to Force Touch * Raise to wake feature so you can see notifications, plus the date and time without pressing any buttons (only on iPhone 6S, 6S Plus and iPhone SE or newer) * New 'Clear all notifications' command * New-look Control Centre and widgets. Control Centre now split over multiple screens, with music and video control on the second screen and shortcuts for HomeKit devices on the third * QuickType brings Siri intelligence to the iOS keyboard with improved predictive text and suggestions to add relevant pictures and files * The keyboard also has a new click sound. The alphanumeric keys have a higher pitch click than the control keys such as Delete, Backspace and the Spacebar so it's easier to hear if you mistype. * There's new face recognition for photos , plus object- and scene- recognition * Memories is a new tab in iOS 10 Photos, and works just like the similar Google feature by bringing together from a specific time or place in an intelligent way. It will also automatically create editable videos of events. * New support for taking RAW photos with the rear camera (iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus, iPhone SE, and the 9.7-inch iPad Pro or newer). * Redesigned Maps app , with easy-access controls by swiping up from the bottom of the screen (will also remember where you parked your car) * Redesigned Navigation UI, which includes traffic en-route. This will also be opened up to developers * Apple Music is now simpler, bolder and emphasises the features you use every day. There are onscreen lyrics, too * News has also been redesigned and is now broken into sections to make it easier to browse and has new Subscriptions * Home for iOS is a new app that will allow you to control your HomeKit- compatible smart devices * The Phone app has had an upgrade, and you'll now be able to read transcripts of voicemail messages * Messages gets a big redesign in iOS 10, with automatic emoji insertion, message bubble effects, rich links and more, and it will also be opened to developers so you can use apps within iMessages In July, Apple released new sticker packs in the App Store for iMessage in iOS 10. They're only available to those running the iOS 10 beta right now of course. The iMessage App Store is also now live. Previously you had to search the main App Store to find the sticker packs. * There's a new ' Wake alarm ' which attemps to help you go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. It's much like the system that Jawbone uses, and will give you a bedtime reminder if you want one. * You can now delete most of the default apps , such as Stocks, Mail, Maps, Calendar etc. (You can reinstall them from the App Store.) * There's a new Unsubscribe button in Mail that lets you quickly stop marketing emails. * On devices with a 3D Touch screen, you can hard press on the shortcut icons in Control Centre . * There's a new option for managing storage : you can tell your iPhone to delete music that you haven't played for a while. * When exiting an app back to the home screen, the app's icon animates slower into position so you can see where it is on your home screen. * The 'Back to..' message has been redesigned slightly, and you'll sometimes see an option on the right-hand side to go 'forward' to a different app: Read next: WWDC 2016 as it happened Follow Marie Brewis on Twitter
2016-08-30 11:53 Marie Brewis www.pcadvisor.co.uk
32 Starward Rogue devs pull latest game from Steam after just three days Back in January, strategy specialists Arcen Games announced its then newest game—the roguelike bullet hell Starward Rogue—had been received well critically, but had flopped financially. This in turn forced mass layoffs at the studio, its founder and CEO Chris Park wrote in a blog post , therefore much rested on the shoulders of its latest game In Case of Emergency, Release Raptor. After just three days on sale via Steam’s Early Access programme, it’s been pulled, refunds have been offered, and will now be given away free-of- charge. “I'm going to give all the customers of In Case of Emergency, Release Raptor a full refund and let them keep the game, then take the game off sale,” explained Park in an update post on Saturday—just three days after the game’s Wednesday launch. “The game is selling extremely poorly, even below what happened with Starward Rogue.” Park then explored the reasons why such a seemingly drastic decision was made after such as short period of time, which he said was mainly down to past experiences and his regret for failing to act quickly enough in steadying the boat. In a new update posted today, Park explains he and Arcen’s plans moving forward and how to initiate refunds. “Finally today I was able to have full conversations with Valve and Humble, we got things taken down, and I finally have some concrete answers for you on exactly what is planned next,” says Park. “Valve had some great suggestions based around the multitude of various requests that people have had during this period. I wasn't sure exactly what to do, so I was very glad for the guidance there.” Ultimately, Park hopes In Case of Emergency, Release Raptor will eventually catch on in its free-to-play state, something which will make him consider a fully-realised follow up. Otherwise, Arcen will work on AI War 2: Rise from Ashes—a follow up to the original game which made the company’s name. Although stated in the posts linked above, there doesn’t appear to be any way to download or install In Case of Emergency, Release Raptor—for free or otherwise—at the time of writing.
2016-08-30 11:42 By www.pcgamer.com
33 : updated Charge HR adds multi-sports, new display, interchangeable wristbands By Simon Jary | 66 mins ago £129.99 Price comparision from , and manufacturers Fitbit has replaced both the Fitbit Charge and Fitbit Charge HR with its new Fitbit Charge 2 activity tracker. Here's what we know right now, and we will update this review as soon as we have more hand-on time with the new tracker. The Fitbit Charge 2 is similar to the older Charge HR in features and looks, but with some significant enhancements. Most noticeably these are updated alerts such as Reminders to Move, multi-sport tracking, and smartphone GPS syncing. The new interchangeable wristbands are also a major advance, seen recently with the Fitbit Alta tracker, and a real advance in how users interact with their tracker. Accessories are clearly a big part of the Fitbit product strategy, first seen with the Alta and Blaze trackers. See Which Fitbit is Best for more details on the whole Fitbit range. Owing to the basic similarities we can be confident that the new Charge 2 looks a worthy replacement for the HR. The old non-HR Charge won't be missed as it's ably covered by both the Alta and the new Flex 2 wristband. See Fitbit Alta review. As of August 30 Fitbit is allowing customers to buy the Charge 2 with an expected delivery date of 2-3 weeks, so we expect the release date to be mid September 2016. The Special Edition is expected to be released soon after the Classic Band Charge 2. The Luxe Leather Charge 2 will go on sale in October 2016. The Fitbit Charge 2 price starts at £129.99 (US$149.95) for the entry-level Classic Band edition, available in Black, Blue, Plum and Teal colours. A Lavender wristband is expected in November 2016. You can change the wristbands for new Classic straps, coisting £19.99 (US$29.95) each. A Special Edition Fitbit Charge 2 will cost £149.99 (US$179.95), available in Lavender and Rose Gold colours. The Special Edition wristband features the same Classic Band material but "reimagined" with a beveled diamond texture. A Luxe Leather edition of the Fitbit Charge 2 will be avilable, but we have no pricing yet. This edition will be available in Brown, Indigo and Blush Pink. Each Luxe Leather band costs £59.99 (US$69.95) on the Fitbit Store. Using its MEMS 3-axis accelerometer the Fitbit Charge 2 continues to track steps, distance, calories burned, floors climbed, active minutes and hourly activity, plus sleep duration and quality. The Charge 2 retains the HR's PurePulse Heart Rate monitor , which allows users to track workout intensity and calorie burn with algorithms that provide insight through interactive charts and graphs on the app and Fitbit dashboard. The heart-rate icon on the Charge HR display tells you if you're in one of three heart-rate zones: low- to medium-intensity Fat Burn zone , measured at 50-69 percent of maximum heart rate; the optimum Cardio zone is at 70- 84 percent of maximum heart rate, and is the medium- to high-intensity exercise zone; and the Peak heart-rate zone is the high-intensity exercise zone for short intense sessions that improve performance and speed – it is greater than 85 percent of your maximum heart rate. Fitbit has upgraded the HR's call, text and calendar alerts, utilising the Vibration motor – adding Reminders to Move , which alerts you if you aren't moving enough during the day. Fitbit encourages you to take at least 250 steps an hour dueing the day. The Charge 2 expands on the HR's multi-sport tracking capabilities, with a connection to the user's smartphone GPS for data on pace and distance. Users can t rack specific exercises such as running, weights or yoga to see their workout stats on the tracker's display. SmartTrack automatically recognizes select fitness activities and records them in the Exercise section of the Fitbit mobile app. The Charge 2 automatically records select exercises such as hiking and cycling, so users get credit even if they forget to log a workout. Like the Old Charge HR, Blaze and Surge trackers features an altimeter (unlike the Apple Watch) that measures floors climbed, to push you to climb those stairs instead of taking the lift, or to take the uphill route to work rather than the easier flat way. Fitbit has also introduced a new Fitbit Cardio Fitness Level that allows the user to see a snapshot of their fitness level using a personalized Cardio Fitness Score. Viewable in the heart rate section of the Fitbit app, the score is an estimation of your VO2 Max (the maximum amount of oxygen your body can use when you’re working out at your hardest). Fitbit has also introduced Guided Breathing , which is meant to help users f ind "moments of calm" throughout the day with personalized breathing sessions based on their heart rate. The Fitbit Charge 2 features a lovely new and larger interactive OLED display, which shows off more fitness data right on your wrist. This type of display was first seen on the Fitbit Alta, with customisable watch faces. You can wear the Charge 2 as your main timepiece or double up with your favourite standard watch if you prefer. With the call, text and calendar notifications (plus the fitness tracking features!) the Charge 2 will certainly offer you more than a normal wristwatch! You can either push the side button of the tracker or tap the screen to view tracked data. The display is still monochrome, which is fine for most of us. If you want a colour display you need to look at the Fitbit Blaze sports watch. One of the complaints about the older Charge HR was that you couldn't replace the wristband, so if it was damaged you had to buy a whole new tracker. Fitbit has fixed this by giving the Charge 2 interchanceable straps, so you can fit the tracker into different colours and versions of wristband, from the Classic through Special Edition beveled-dimaond designs, to luxury leather straps. The Charge 2 retains the HR's stainless steel watch-buckle, which is much more secure than the pop-in strap connectors of the Alta and new Flex 2. Fitbit looks like it is continuing its annoying habit of designing a new charging cable for every single one of its trackers, with the Charge 2 requiring a different cable (above) to the old Charge HR and Charge 1. It odes, however, look similar to the Alta's charging cable. These cost £16.99 (US$19.95) if bought separately. Each Charge 2 will ship with a charging cable but Fitbit users will be used to the idea that having at least one more (say, at work) is essential to ensure your tracker doesn't lose you steps when it eventually runs out of juice. Fitbit claims that the new Charge 2 has a battery life of up to five days, a little less than the 5+ days promised by the older Charge HR. This slight reduction is probably due to the larger display screen, and is the same claimed for the Alta. The battery is lithium-polymer, with a charge time of between one and two hours. Fitbit's new Flex 2 tracker is waterproof and ready to track swimming stats, but the Charge 2 remains water resistant only, so good against rain, sweat and splashes but not up to a dive in the sea or your local swimming pool. The Fitbit Charge 2 is a worthy upgrade to the extremely popular Charge HR. Users will love the larger display and interchangeable wristbands, plus the updated fitness features. Samsung Galaxy Note 7 review: An almost flawless smartphone, almost 1995-2015: How technology has changed the world in 20 years Apple's new MacBook Pro 'coming in October' iPhone 7 release date UK, iPhone 7 new features, iPhone 7 price, iPhone 7 specs, iPhone 7 rumours:…
2016-08-30 11:36 Simon Jary www.pcadvisor.co.uk
34 The Xperia X Compact could be Sony's most exciting phone in years We've always been fans of Sony's Compact range, as the phones rank among a tiny number that combine small screens with flagship specs, and it looks like the upcoming Sony Xperia X Compact will be no exception. A GFXBench listing for the phone, spotted by telefoonabonnement.nl , reveals that the Xperia X Compact has a Snapdragon 820 processor and 4GB of RAM, which is the same spec as flagships like the HTC 10 and LG G5. Yet unlike those phones the X Compact apparently has a small 4.6-inch 1080 x 1920 screen. The listing also states that the Xperia X Compact will have 53GB of storage, though this is likely a mistake, with 32GB being more likely, and that it will have a 15MP (though likely actually 16MP) rear camera and a 7MP (which will probably be 8MP) front-facing one. We've heard some of these specs rumored before and they point to a phone which could be the most exciting entry in the X range, given that it's rare to find a smaller Android handset with such a strong offering. The Sony Xperia Z5 Compact from 2015 was arguably the last true small screen Android flagship and if these specs are accurate then the Xperia X Compact will be a significant upgrade, as the Z5 Compact has just a 720p screen, 2GB of RAM, an older Snapdragon 810 processor and a 5.1MP front-facing camera. The rear camera on the Z5 Compact was 23MP, but as Samsung has proved so well with the 12MP Galaxy S7 , megapixels aren't everything. In fact, while impressive, the Z5 Compact was still a step down from the normal Sony Xperia Z5 , but the Xperia X Compact looks to be a no- compromise handset. So if you've been waiting for a small phone with big specs this could be it, and it's likely almost here, as we're expecting to see the Xperia X Compact at IFA 2016 , which starts in just a few days. Article continues below
2016-08-30 11:32 By James feedproxy.google.com
35 This is the clearest look at the Nexus Sailfish yet There still aren't many images of the new Nexus handsets, but a batch of leaked renders have just given us a much clearer look at one of them, showing the Nexus Sailfish off at a variety of angles. The Sailfish, which is expected to be smaller and cheaper than the Nexus Marlin, looks fairly plain from the front, with large black bezels above and below the screen, but it's slightly more interesting from the back, with a black panel at the top, housing the camera and fingerprint scanner, while the bottom half comes in a metallic silver, black or gold. Other details from the images include a 3.5mm headphone jack on the top edge, while speakers and a USB Type-C port are found on the bottom edge. The overall design is a lot like we've seen in an earlier render , but there are some differences on-screen. These new renders show a 'G' tab on the top left, in place of the Google search widget seen in the older render. But that older render has solid white navigation buttons, while the new one just has outlines, as you'll find on current phones. Those differences don't necessarily mean that either leak is fake though, as they could just be based on different versions of Android Nougat . On the whole this latest leak, which was spotted on Weibo by Android Pure , lines up with what we've seen and heard previously, so it could well be accurate, but we'd still take it with a pinch of salt. All will be confirmed soon, as the Nexus Sailfish and Nexus Marlin are both likely to launch in early October . Article continues below
2016-08-30 11:30 By James feedproxy.google.com
36 | iPad Pro 2 price | iPad Pro 2 specs rumours: When will Apple launch a new iPad Pro? Faster screen and better Pencil support rumoured There are plenty of rumours that there will be a sucessor to the 12.9in iPad Pro, but when will it happen? Apple launched the iPad Pro 9.7in when few people were expecting a new tablet. It's too soon to have an update to the 9.7in model, but Apple has traditionally refreshed its iPhones and iPads annually, so there's every reason to expect an upgraded 12.9in iPad Pro later this year, or early in 2017. We fully expect the tablet to get improved cameras and True Tone screen which the smaller iPad Pro currently lauds over its bigger brother. The tablet might not be called the iPad Pro 2, though. It could be simply the 'new iPad Pro' - Apple has used that naming convention in the past for the iPad. Here we take a look at the rumoured iPad Pro 2 release date and specs. See: Best new tablets coming 2016. Update 30 August: Following on from the prediction of three new iPads next year (see below), the latest rumour says Apple is working on adding better support into iOS for the Apple Pencil, the optional stylus which works with only select apps on the iPad Pro models. The unnamed sources say that Apple might add the enhanced support when it launches the new iPads in 2017 as an update to iOS 10. However, it may wait and introduce them in iOS 11. The improvments are unclear, but it could be possible to use the Pencil to annotate in many more stock apps including Mail, Messages, Safari and others. The Pencil should work with the upcoming 10.5in iPad Pro, and this would leave only the iPad mini with no stylus support. The report also says that the iPad Pro 2 " will include faster display technology that allows for smoother zooming, panning and scrolling". Reported by MacRumours , well-known industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has predicted there will be three new iPads launching in 2017. He says there will be a new 12.9in iPad Pro - the iPad Pro 2 - and also a new model with a 10.5in screen, which should appeal to businesses and schools as well as consumers. The new tablets (as you'd expect) will have a faster processor, probably called the A10X. The report also talks about "revolutionary" changes to the iPad range in 2018, which some are taking to mean radical changes such as a flexible AMOLED display. iPad Pro 2 expected release date: March 2017 There are two main release date rumours for the iPad Pro 2. Apple unveiled the next version of the mobile operating system , iOS 10 , back in June. It's possible - but increasingly unlikely - that Apple will announce a new iPad when iOS 10 is released in September. Even if it does, it may not be the iPad Pro 2. It could be a new iPad mini or even an iPad Air 3. The original iPad Pro , reviewed, launched in September 2015 and the 9.7in arrived in March 2016. That's why September is the earliest we'd expect for an iPad Pro 2 reveal, but the latest rumours and predictions all seem to be pointing to a 2017 launch. In fact, Apple may have to wait until early 2017 before it can release an iPad Pro 2 with any screen size. The current A9X chip - which is used by both iPad Pro models - is based on the 16nm FinFET process, the same used by the new generation of graphics cards from nVidia and AMD. In order to produce a chip with significantly faster performance without high power consumption, Apple will have to wait until chip manufacturers are ready to move down to 10nm, which is rumoured to be late in 2016. When it launched, the original iPad Pro didn't come in a 256GB storage capacity but Apple add it to the line-up at the same time as the introduction of the iPad Pro 9.7. We expect the iPad Pro 2 to come in the same storage options which are currently available. The iPad Pro 2 is sure to come in Rose Gold which is now available in most of Apple's other products including the iPhone and MacBook. It's fairly easy to predict that Apple will bring the specs of the iPad Pro 2 to at least match the 9.7in model. That means adding the True Tone display which automatically adjusts the white balance for a more realistic experience, the 12Mp iSight camera with Live Photos and 4K video recording and the 5Mp front FaceTime HD camera with a Retina Flash. Those changes would make the iPad Pro 2 level with the current 2016 iPad Pro but it wouldn't be Apple if there weren't some features not seen before on an iPad. This could simply come in the form of a new processor but we hope for more since the current A9X is more than dependable. We expect that Apple will keep prices the same as for the current iPad Pro 12.9: If you're after Wi-Fi + Cellular prices, the current prices are as follows: It would be nice, though, if the base model came with 64GB rather than 32GB. This is all speculation on our part, but as rumours emerge we'll add them here. We are perhaps a little too far away from the launch for anything juicy so check back soon. For those sick of seeing the same iPhone 7 leaks over and over again, AppleInsider has posted something different - a leaked image of a prototype of the upcoming iPad Pro 2. The "prototype" status of the device suggests that we won't see a reveal alongside the iPhone 7 in September, but we could see something slightly later on - possibly alongside a new 9.7in iPad Pro in Q1 2017? Anyway, the Settings app is open on both iPads, which reveals the model number of the device - " MH1C2CD/F ". This doesn't fit any existing models of iPad and, although it follows Apple's numbering covention, it is fairly easy to spoof this information. It's also interesting to note that both iPads apparently have only 12GB of storage - this could be due to the prototype status, as Apple may not want to use 128GB of storage for a prototype. Either way, these iPads are definitely not existing iPad Pro units. However with that being said, it's not confirmation that these are photos of prototype second-generation iPad Pros, as the images could still have been doctored. Unfortunately, there are no images of the sides or rear of the device so there's no hint at what hardware the iPad Pro 2 could feature, but we imagine the iPad Pro 2 leaks will become more common as time goes on, as with the iPhone 7.
2016-08-30 11:30 Chris Martin www.pcadvisor.co.uk
37 29 best new phones coming in 2016 & 2017 we want - New Product - PC Advisor New phones coming in 2016 and 2017. We look at the best new phones that you must see before you upgrade, including the best new Android phones, best new iPhones, best new Windows phones, best new Samsung phones, best new Sony phones, best new HTC phones, best new LG phones and more. We'll also look at the highlights from last year with the best phones of 2015. Also see: The best new tablets you can't afford to miss in 2016. The iPhone 7 will be Apple's brand-new flagship phone for 2016, and following tradition will be announced on 7 September. We've seen rumours that the new iPhone will feature big design changes, with an all-new D-jack headphone jack, waterproofing protection and an eSIM. Loads of rumours are circulating about the screen too - will it get bigger? Will it feature a curved edge? Will it have a Touch ID display, or edge-to-edge glass? One things for sure, the new iPhone will be faster than ever, with an A10 processor and embedded M10 motion co-processor, plus 2GB of RAM. We round up all the iPhone 7 rumours here . If you were looking forward to a new iPhone launch in 2016, prepare to hyperventilate: there will not be one new iPhone but three, and that's in addition to the iPhone SE we saw in March. (Also see iPhone 7 on the previous slide and iPhone 7 Pro on the next slide.) Apple's upcoming iPhone 7 Plus will be the best iPhone to date, with an array of spec improvements that include a bump up to the A10 chip and M10 motion co-processor with 2GB of RAM. It's been suggested that the iPhone 7 Plus' screen size will increase to 5.7in, but without increasing the overall size of the iPhone 7 Plus - this could be achieved with an edge-to-edge screen or sidewall display. We just hope it'll improve the resolution as well. In common with the smaller iPhone we could see a new D-jack headphone connector, and waterproofing protection as standard. We'll find out for sure in September 2016. There's loads more gossip floating around - check out the latest iPhone 7 Plus rumours here . The iPad has gone Pro, so why not the iPhone? One of three new iPhone models expected to launch in September 2016, the iPhone 7 Pro will be an even more premium version of the iPhone 7 Plus. So, it'll be even betterer than better, or some other combination of words Apple will make up nearer the time. In common with the iPhone 7 Plus the Pro should have a 5.5in screen with dimensions of 158.2x77.9x7.3mm, perhaps with a dual-iSight camera setup on the back. Also expect to see the Smart Connector found on the iPad Pro, allowing it to be hooked up to a charging dock or keyboard. That's just what the rumours say, and we could find the iPhone Pro actually replaces the iPhone Plus. Check out more iPhone 7 Pro rumours here. Apple is set to go big on the iPhone's 10th anniversary, which could go some way to make up for what's expected to be a fairly minor upgrade in 2016. A combination of design and hardware changes should make the iPhone 8 the most radical new iPhone to date. The iPhone 8 could be the iPhone with which Jony Ive finally gets his own way: an iPhone that resembles a single sheet of glass with an edge-to-edge OLED screen. According to an Apple supplier, at least one of the company's new iPhones for 2017 will have a glass body. The TouchID scanner is thought to be hidden within the glass, while the physical Home button will be gone. Other rumours suggest the iPhone 8 will feature wireless charging for the first time, and possible biometric features such as facial recognition or iris scanning. It'll run the Apple A11 processor and motion co-processor, and be devilishly fast. Click here for more iPhone 8 rumours. (Image via ConceptsiPhone .) Announced at June's Lenovo Tech World, the Phab2 Pro won't hit the UK until September (at $500 in the US, with UK pricing TBC). But when it does, it should be the first Project Tango phone. Project Tango is, in essence, a Google project that allows a smartphone to detect, map and learn its position relative to the room/world around it without the use of external signals such as Wi-Fi or GPS. It can also detect surfaces and obstacles within your environment, and can recognise known environments. This means it opens a whole new world of possibilities: developers could create apps and experiences previously impossible on a smartphone, including real-time 3D mapping, measurement of physical spaces and augmented-reality gaming. There's a 6.4in Quad-HD screen, an octa-core 1.8GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 processor along with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage (plus microSD support). The battery is huge at 4050mAh, but probably also necessary given the large screen. Oh, and there are four cameras on this beast of a phone. Read more about the Lenovo Phab2 Pro here. Successor to the LG V10 (which never actually made it to the UK), the V20 is set to be LG's second flagship of the year. More importantly, it will be the first phone to run Android Nougat out of the box. Another Quad-HD phablet, the LG V20 is rumoured to be slightly narrower than the bulky V10, and also to feature a shorter 5.5in screen. This could allow it to better accommodate the the secondary screen that sits above the main display to provide at-a-glance access to the time and notifications. Other rumoured specs include the Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of RAM, 32GB of storage (with microSD), a 4,000mAh battery with USB-C, and dual-rear cameras and an 8Mp selfie camera. The V20 is thought to follow in the G5's footsteps with a modular design. LG has itself confirmed the V20 will have a 32-bit Quad Hi-Fi DAC. Read more LG V20 rumours here. It came as no surprise when Motorola announced two new phones at the Lenovo Tech World Show in early June, and it was even less surprising that they were called Moto Z rather than Moto X (although Motorola insists this is a new- rather than replacement line). But while we were expecting a new Moto Z Play and Moto Z Style, we actually got a new Moto Z and Moto Z Force. These are indeed the modular phones the rumours were referring to, with new 'Moto Mods'. These snap on to the back of the phone like a rear cover, attaching themselves using high-powered magnets. Moto Mods will be compatible with future Moto Z phones, too. The first Moto Mod is the JBL SoundBoost, which turns the Moto Z into a tiny boombox. There's also the Moto Insta-Share Projector, which can create a screen of 70in, a Power Pack and Moto Shells. The Moto Z is claimed to be the world's thinnest phone at 5.2mm, and has a metal aluminium and steel body with a 5.5in Quad-HD AMOLED screen. There's a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of RAM and 32- or 64GB of storage. There are lots of other features too but, interestingly, no headphone jack - you'll need to use an included adaptor with the USB-C port. The Moto Z Force is a tougher version of the same phone with a second- generation shatterproof screen, which makes it slightly thicker at 7mm. Plus there's a higher-capacity battery and a higher-specified 21Mp rear camera with laser- and phase-detection autofocus. The phones will be available in the US in the summer (known as the Moto Z and Moto Z Force Droid), but won't hit the UK until September. Prices are still to be confirmed. Read more about the new Moto Z and Moto Z Force here. We were expecting two new HTC-built Nexus phones (codenamed Marlin and Sailfish) to arrive alongside the final version of Android N. However, Google has now released Nougat to existing Nexus users, and there is no sign of new Nexus phones. It has pointed to the LG V20 as the first phone to run Android N out of the box. So, either the new Nexus phones are nothing more than rumours, or Google is for some reason holding them back. Our guess is that if they do indeed exist they will appear around the same time as the iPhone 7 in early September. HTC is expected to be the manufacturer behind 2016's new Nexus phones. Huawei is also on the scene, having trademarked the name Huawei 7P, although many believe it will instead be responsible for production of the successor to the Nexus 7 tablet. Many of the rumours we've seen so far focus on the new Nexus 6, which is likely to feature a Snapdragon 820 chip. This is more powerful and energy efficient, and builds in support for Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0. Expect both phones to come with support for USB-C. Read more new Nexus 5 & Nexus 6 2016 rumours here. Surface Phone rumours have been few and far between, leading some to think it's nothing more than a myth. But it was recently revealed by Wired that Microsoft Corporate VP Panos Panay has been working on a prototype of a new phone. Should it truly exist, the Surface Phone is expected to arrive in 2016, with a 5.5in Quad-HD AMOLED display, 4GB of RAM, 64- and 128GB storage options (with microSD support), a 64-bit Intel processor and 21Mp rear- and 8Mp front cameras. The Surface Phone could also get a Surface Pen and a USB-C port. Samsung confirmed its Galaxy Note 7 phablet at an Unpacked launch event at the beginning of August. The specification didn't come as a great surprise, and this 5.7in Quad-HD SuperAMOLED display smartphone has a dual-edge screen. There's also an enhanced S Pen, a new iris scanner, IP68 waterproofing, a 12Mp Dual Pixel camera and the return of microSD support. Not that you will necessarily need it, with 64GB of storage onboard. We can't wait to get the Note 7 into our lab for performance benchmarking, since it should show a marked improvement over the Note 5. Samsung says its 64-bit octa-core processor is 31 percent faster, while the GPU is 58 percent more powerful. With 4GB of RAM onboard this is expected to be one capable phone indeed. Read more about the new Note 7 here and check out our Note 7 hands-on review . Samsung traditionally holds an Unpacked event in which it unveils its new S- series flagship the day before MWC. In 2017 this tradeshow runs from 27 February to 2 March, so we expect to see a new Galaxy S8 on Sunday 26 February 2017. Expect it to go on sale in early March 2017. For its Galaxy Note 7 Samsung is rumoured to be merging its 'Edge' and standard models, so perhaps we'll see the same with the merging of the Galaxy S8 and S8 Edge. In any case you should expect more of the same metal and glass front/back design it introduced last year in the S6 and in 2016 has extended to the A-series. When it arrives, you can expect the S8 to be the fastest phone money can buy, with a top-of-the-range processor and 6GB of RAM. There will more than likely be a super-high-resolution 5.1in screen - Samsung may even move up from Quad-HD to Ultra-HD, which is all the more likely given the importance being placed on VR in the next Android OS - Android N - which this phone will run. Read more rumours on the Galaxy S8 here. Sony is tipped to be unveiling a new model in its X-series at September's IFA tradeshow. It's holding a press conference at 1pm CET on 1 September, so we should find out more details then. Photos (including that shown here) were leaked to GSM Arena last month, showing a smartphone undoubtedly akin to the Xperia range, but with the curved edges introduced on the new Xperia X and Xperia XA. The screen looks a shade bigger than that on the 5in Xperia X, but details are unconfirmed. According to the person who sent in the photos the X2 (also known as the XR) has a 1080p screen and supports 4K video capture on both front- and back cameras, with a dual-LED flash at the rear. There's a USB-C port, but few other specs are known. Read more Sony Xperia X2 rumours here. Sony neglected to announce the Sony Xperia Z6 at MWC 2016, instead revealing a new Xperia X family comprising the Sony Xperia X and Sony Xperia XA. But this doesn't mean the Sony Xperia Z6 is dead: never say never, says the company, which has since clarified that it isn't ruling out the possibility at some point in the future. Could that some point in the future be September's IFA 2016? The Xperia X and Xperia XA boast next-generation camera technology, battery and design. They take Sony in a whole new direction , and the company says that the new series “embodies Sony Mobile's new brand vision.” You can read the latest rumours on the Sony Xperia Z6 here . Now we'll take a look at some of the best phones that have already gone on sale in 2016. Apple confirmed its iPhone SE during a special event on 21 March. The phone went on sale on 31 March at £359 (16GB). The rumours turned out to be true, and while the iPhone SE looks vey much like an iPhone 5s, but with matt chamfered edges and a shiny stainless steel Apple logo, on the inside it's very much iPhone 6s. Headline features include the Apple A9 processor and M9 motion co- processor, plus a 12Mp iSight camera that can also capture 4K video. Read our iPhone SE review here. HTC on 12 April unveiled its HTC 10, successor to the HTC One M9. It continues to major on sound, but the BoomSound stereo speaker setup looks a little different at the front, with the tweeter at the top and woofer on the bottom edge of the phone. In common with the LG G5 it's a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820-powered smartphone with 4GB of RAM, but it's slightly faster-clocked at 2.2GHz. HTC has also upgraded the screen to a 5.2in Quad-HD Super LCD 5 screen, and implemented a fingerprint scanner. The HTC 10 is priced in line with the Galaxy S7 at £569, and available to buy now. Read our HTC 10 review here. On 6 April Huawei unveiled its new flagship P9 alongside a P9 Plus. You can re-live the launch event in our Huawei P9 launch live blog. The rumours were very much on the money, save for the naming scheme - there's no P9 Lite or P9 Max in sight. As expected, there's a new dual- camera system produced in collaboration with Leica. Unlike other dual-lens cameras, one sensor is RGB and the other monochrome. This and the new super-accurate fingerprint scanner found in the Mate 8 are highlights. Performance is excellent with the octa-core Kirin 955 processor inside, alongside 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage (that's in the standard P9 - the P9 Plus has 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage). The Huawei P9 and P9 Plus are aluminium unibody handsets with full-HD displays - the P9 has a 5.2in IPS panel, while the Plus is fitted with a 5.5in Super AMOLED screen. The Huawei P9 is now available to buy in the UK, while we hope the P9 Plus will be coming soon. Read our Huawei P9 review and Huawei P9 Plus review here. It's not long since we welcomed the LG G4 , but the LG G5 was announced by the company on 21 February. It's the company's first modular-design smartphone, which can be transformed into a digital camera or Hi-Fi player. It features a sleek aluminium unibody with a slide-out battery. In common with the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge the LG G5 has an always-on screen (here 5.3in), which makes it easier to check the time or notifications at a glance. Another innovative feature is the two cameras on the rear - one with an extra-wide 135-degree lens. Key specs include the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of RAM, 32GB of storage (with MicroSD up to 200GB), a 2800mAh removable battery and Android Marshmallow. The G5 comes in Silver, Titan, Gold or Pink, and will be available to pre-order in March for an April release. The LG G5 costs £529 and went on sale on 8 April 2016. Read our LG G5 review here. The Moto G is hardly a flagship phone, but it stands out as one of the best budget options with a good all round spec, design and performance. As expected, Motorola unveiled a new version of the Moto G (the Moto G4) and Moto G Plus on 17 May. Those names might lead you to believe the new Moto G4 Plus is a larger version of the Moto G; actually it's just a premium version, with a 16Mp (rather than 13Mp camera), a fingerprint scanner and potentially more RAM, depending on which storage model you purchase. Both phones feature a 5.5in full-HD screen, a Snapdragon 617 chip, Adreno 405 graphics and a 3,000mAh battery. The Moto G4 went on sale in early June at £169 via Amazon, Argos and Tesco Mobile, while the G4 Plus was an Amazon exclusive at £199 from mid-June. Read more about the Moto G4 and Moto G4 Plus here. Things on Kickstarter are often a complete load of rubbish but the Nextbit Robin is a success story which we're looking forward to seeing in the flesh. The firm was founded in 2012 and its key staff have been involved with Android since the beginning. Collectively, they've worked on launching phones including the G1, Nexus and HTC One M8 and M8. The phone arrived in February 2016 with a price tag of $399, the 'cloud-first' smartphone has a different approach to most other Android devices on the market. There is on-board storage but the phone will automatically optimise by doing things like moving unused apps and photos to the cloud. Read our Nextbit Robin review here. The OnePlus 3 was unveiled on 14 June 2016, and for the first time is available to buy without an invite immediately after the launch. Prices start at £309. The OnePlus 3 features a new metal design - albeit with the same Alert Slider key on the side - in which it houses a 5.5in full-HD AMOLED screen. There's a whopping 6GB of RAM that works with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chip to make this a very powerful phone indeed. There's no microSD slot, but plenty of storage with 64GB onboard. The fingerprint scanner remains, and NFC returns - woohoo! 16Mp rear and 8Mp front cameras are just two more of the OnePlus 3's impressive specifications given that low, low price. For more details read our OnePlus 3 review or see our OnePlus 3 UK release date, price, new features and specification article. Samsung has officially unveiled its Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge. Samsung fans will be pleased to know the handsets see the return of both a MicroSD slot and waterproofing, and although it's not removable the battery has been bumped up to 3000mAh in the S7 and 3600mAh in the S7 Edge. Also see: Samsung Galaxy S7 review. Both phones feature a Quad-HD SuperAMOLED screen - the S7 at 5.1in and the Edge at 5.5in - and these feature new always-on (except when it's in your pocket or at night) technology, making it easier to check the time or read notifications at a glance. Inside these Android Marshmallow phones you'll find either the Exynos 8890 or Qualcomm Snapdragon 820, depending on the market. You'll also get 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. Also see: Samsung Galaxy S7 vs Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge. The camera has been downgraded to 12Mp, but larger pixels and a f/1.7 aperture will allow it to receive 95 percent more light. This is also seen at the front for the 5Mp selfie camera, and Samsung says the S7 is the first phone with a Dual Pixel sensor. The Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge are available to buy at £569 and £639 respectively from Samsung, and are also available from UK mobile operators. See best Galaxy S7 deals. Read our Samsung Galaxy S7 review and Samsung Galaxy S7 edge review here. In mid-May Sony announced the Sony Xperia XA Ultra, a new model in the X family with a 6in edge-to-edge screen. It's set to be the mother of all selfie phones, with a 16Mp front-facing camera that has both an LED flash and optical image stabilisation. In other respects the XA Ultra has a largely mid-range spec, with an octa- core MediaTek MT6755 processor, 3GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, and a 2700mAh battery with Quick Charge support. It will be available in Graphite Black, White and Lime Gold. Pre-orders have not yet begun for the new Sony Xperia XA Ultra, though Mobile Fun has set up a page on which you can register your interest for the upcoming XA Ultra . Learn more about the Sony Xperia XA Ultra here. Xiaomi chose MWC 2016 as the platform to unveil its new flagship, the Mi 5. It's a beast of a smartphone, which Xiaomi claims achieved a staggering 142,084-point score in AnTuTu. That score was made possible by a combination of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor (with Adreno 530 graphics and Quick Charge 3.0 support) and up to 4GB of RAM. Other specifications of interest include a 5.15in full-HD IPS screen, a 16Mp camera with optical image stabilisation and support for 4K video, a 3000mAh battery, a fingerprint scanner and the MIUI 7 operating system, which is based on Android Marshmallow. Xiaomi phones aren't officially available in the UK, but they are obtainable from suppliers such as Geekbuying , which lists the 32GB/3GB, 64GB/3GB and 128GB/4GB models for sale at £294.58, £334.81 and £387.98 respectively. The Mi 5 went on sale on 1 March 2016. Read our Xiaomi Mi 5 review here. Xiaomi Mi Max UK release date: Summer 2016 In common with the Moto G and Moto X phones covered earlier in this round-up, the new Xiaomi Mi Max isn't a flagship. However, it is exciting for the fact it will be the first phone to run MIUI 8.9 (which we have a hunch will be released on 13 August), and the fact it is an absolute beast with a 6.44in screen. Xiaomi phones aren't sold in the UK, but Gear Best has already confirmed it will ship the Mi Max to the UK for £355.10. That's for the top-end model, with the Snapdragon 652 chip, 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The Mi Max can also support up to 128GB of additional storage via microSD, but it does so at the expense of its dual-SIM dual-standby functionality - both cards require the same slot. Read more about the Xiaomi Mi Max and MIUI 8.0 new features here. Plus keep an eye out for our Mi Max review coming in the next couple of weeks. We've just looked at some of the best new phones still to come in 2016, but some great phones were released in 2015. You can check out some of 2015's best flagships on the following pages. Also check out the best smartphones of 2016 , best Android phones of 2016 , best Windows Phones of 2016 , best budget phones of 2016 , best cheap 4G phones of 2016 , best phablets of 2016 and best selfie smartphones of 2016 . Apple's iPhone 6s went on sale in the UK on 25 September. (See also: best smartphones for business .) There are some key changes in the new iPhone 6s, with a new Rose Gold colour option and a 12Mp iSight camera with support for 4K video recording. Live Photo is a fun new feature, with the iPhone recording a second and a half of video either side of the still image to help it come to life. iOS 9 comes preinstalled on the new iPhone, and there's a new 3D Touch screen that can differentiate between a light and hard tap, allowing you to 'peek' and 'pop' into content. The screen is otherwise the same, a 4.7in Retina HD screen with 326ppi. Also new is a second-gen Touch ID fingerprint scanner that's reportedly twice as fast, and an Apple A9 processor, now with the M9 motion coprocessor built-in and always-on. Apple says it's 80 percent faster for CPU tasks and 90 percent for GPU tasks. As well as the iPhone 6s (previous slide), Apple has made available the new iPhone 6s Plus, on sale in the UK from 25 September. As with the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, the key differences between these two phones are in their screen size and overall dimensions and weight. With a higher-resolution 5.5- rather than 4.7in screen, the iPhone 6s Plus is necessarily larger and heavier, at 158.2x77.9x7.3mm and 192g. It also has a larger-capacity battery. The 6s Plus gets the same new features as the iPhone 6s, which means the A9 processor, 12Mp iSight camera with Live Photo, the 3D Touch screen (which can also go up to three times brighter to serve as a Retina Flash for the 5Mp selfie camera), and new Touch ID fingerprint scanner. We've yet to get our hands on an Asus Zenfone 2 , but the top-end model (ZE551ML) is now available at Amazon for £309.99 ( Buy the Asus Zenfone 2 here ). This powerful phone has a staggering 4GB of RAM and a 2.3GHz 64-bit Intel Atom Z3580 quad-core processor. For storage 32GB is fitted, and you can get more through microSD. There's 4G LTE support (dual-SIM, dual active), a 5.5in full-HD IPS screen, and 13Mp rear- and 5Mp front cameras. The stylish brushed-metal case is just 3.9mm thick at the edges. Running the fully customisable ZenUI software, the Zenfone 2 also has Trend Micro security preinstalled. The Asus Zenfone 2 is well worth a look. Google's Nexus phones have always been popular, but the 2014 Nexus 6 didn't go down quite so well. Was it too expensive? Was it too big? Google is now hedging its bets with not only a new Nexus 5X but also a Nexus 6P - so, there is something for everyone. The new Nexus 5 is made by LG and comes with a 5.2in full-HD screen, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 CPU, a rear fingerprint scanner, a USB Type- C charging port, 12.3- and 5Mp cameras, 2GB of RAM and 16- or 32GB of storage, plus a front-facing speaker. It also runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow . The new Nexus 5X is available to buy now . This new Google phone is the more capable of the two new Nexus phones, with a 5.7in Quad HD display, a metal unibody chassis, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 v2 processor, 3GB of RAM, a fingerprint scanner, a 12.3Mp rear camera and 8Mp at the front. As with the Nexus 5X, the new Nexus 6P runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow. It is available to buy now and will ship in October. HTC's One A9 is the much talked about iPhone 'copycat', but as HTC points out it has been making metal unibody phones for several years now. HTC says it is 'simple, robust and without too many frills'. There's a 5in full-HD screen, a Snapdragon 617 processor, 2GB of RAM, microSD support, a fingerprint scanner and a 13Mp camera. The HTC One A9 costs £469.99 SIM-free ( Carphone Warehouse ) and should ship by 12 November. We are massive fans of the HTC One M8 , and the HTC One M9 is even better ( Buy HTC One M9 here ). Although HTC has kept the full-HD screen rather than the quad-HD screens seen in the new Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, the HTC One M9 is a very attractive phone with some impressive performance. You can check out our HTC One M9 review here, and learn more about the HTC One M9 release date, price and specs here. The phone went on sale in the UK on 31 March from £569 SIM-free, making it £30 cheaper than its rival the Samsung Galaxy S6. A 5.5in-screen phablet version of the HTC One M9 is the HTC One M9+ - and this is the one we were waiting for, with a Quad-HD screen and a fingerprint scanner. It's been announced only in China at 4,299 Yuan (£522), and although HTC's PR team got in touch to tell us that the M9+ will never officially make it to the UK, rumours are spreading that it is coming to Europe after all. For now, though, if you want one you'll have to buy it online from a grey-market importer. Huawei's latest flagship has a gorgeous unibody metal design that's stylish enough to rival HTC and Apple, yet it undercuts the price of those smartphones with a starting price of 499 Euro, or £357. There is a standard 5.2in Huawei P8 , or a huge 6.8in Huawei P8 max. The phone and phablet should have gone on sale in the UK in April, with a worldwide launch following 15 May. We're unable to find the Max version for sale right now (check out our Huawei P8 and P8 max UK release date, price and specs ), but keep your eyes peeled - it's worth hunting down. LG is calling the LG G4 the 'most ambitious smartphone yet', which is focused on delivering 'comfortable elegance, a great visual experience and a human-centric user experience'. ( Buy the LG G4 here .) We stand by our statement that the LG G3 was the very best phone you could buy in 2014, and things just get better with the LG G4 - although opinion is divided on that leather case (also available in ceramic versions). Key specifications include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor, a 5.5in Quad HD IPS Quantum display, 32GB of storage (with microSD support) and a 3000mAh removable battery. The LG G4 was unveiled at a press event on 28 April, and went on sale on 28 May from £500 SIM-free. The G4 and G4 Note aren't LG's only exciting new smartphones for 2015. At CES 2015 it unveiled the LG G Flex 2 , a curved-screen handset. ( Buy LG G Flex 2 here .) The G Flex 2 is a 5.5in-screen smartphone with a 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 octa-core chip, and it features self-healing technology. Part of the reason we're so excited about the upcoming Microsoft Lumia 950 and 950 XL is that they are among the first handsets to run full Windows 10 - Microsoft is to finally tackle the Windows Phone apps problem by running one OS across phones, tablets, PCs and laptops. The Lumia 950 has the beefiest spec of any Windows Phone we've seen too, and the XL is a larger version with a 5.7in Quad HD screen and a faster Snapdragon 810 processor. You can pre-order them now, and both new phones will go on sale in November, priced at £450 for the 950 and £530 for the XL. The Moto X Force is the UK version of the Motorola Droid Turbo 2, and will go on sale in the UK in mid-November from £499 (32GB). The waterproof Moto X Force features a shatterproof 5.43in Quad-HD (1440x2560 pixels) display, a 2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, 3GB of RAM, a 21Mp rear camera and 5Mp at the front. There are 32- and 64GB storage options, plus microSD support, and a high- capacity battery for up to 48 hours battery life. The OnePlus One is an amazing phone that was for a long time virtually impossible to get hold of. Priced from £229 it has the spec to match a £600 smartphone, hence OnePlus marketing it as a flagship killer. The OnePlus 2 is so much better, with improved specs and just £239. It was unveiled on 27 July in a unique virtual-reality product launch, and went on sale on 11 August (find out how to get a OnePlus 2 invite here). Highlights among the spec list include a second-gen Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, 4GB of RAM, USB Type-C and a fingerprint scanner. Check out our full OnePlus 2 review. The OnePlus X is a smaller, cheaper version of the OnePlus 2, and was unveiled at a London launch event on 29 October. It costs from £199 for the Onyx glass version, although a limited-edition Ceramic model will also ship. It's lost the fingerprint scanner and USB-C port of the OnePlus 2, but features a smaller 5in 1080p display and now features microSD support. Performance won't be as strong with a Snapdragon 801 under the hood, but that price tag is appealing. Samsung has confirmed its Samsung Galaxy A7 , a gorgeous phablet with a 6.3mm unibody metal chassis, a 5.5in Super AMOLED screen and a 64- bit octa-core processor. The Samsung Galaxy A7 is not yet on sale on the UK, but will come in both single- and dual-SIM variants. Everyone always bangs on about Samsung's Galaxy S line-up, but it's the Note series that really impresses. The Note 4 was unveiled at a Samsung Unpacked event prior to September's IFA tradeshow (3 September 2014), and right now sits at the top of our fastest smartphone and best phablet charts. Traditionally Samsung's Note launches are held at IFA in September, but the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 was this year unveiled several weeks early in August to give it a headstart on the new iPhones. But in the US only, for now - the Note 5 is rumoured to come to Europe in January. If you're a Samsung fan but would rather stick to a phone than a phablet then the Samsung Galaxy S6 is just what you're looking for. ( Buy the Samsung Galaxy S6 here .) With Samsung finally answering build-quality criticisms, it follows in the trend of the Galaxy Alpha and Galaxy Note 4 with a metal and glass body. There's also a quad-HD screen, plus plenty of other radical new features, including a super-fast Samsung Exynos processor (paired with 3GB of RAM), and a redesigned fingerprint scanner that works a lot more like Apple's Touch ID and, you know, actually works. The Samsung Galaxy S6 was unveiled at a Samsung Unpacked event on 1 March 2015, and went on sale on 10 April 2015. Prices start at £599 SIM-free. The Samsung Galaxy S6 Active has now been confirmed by the company, although unfortunately for UK customers it's exclusive to the US. If you really want one keep your eyes peeled on the likes of eBay and Amazon. The Samsung Galaxy S6 Active is a rugged version of the Samsung Galaxy S6 with IP68 waterproofing protection and three physical buttons below the touchscreen. Many of the remaining specs are the same as that of the S6 itself, although the Active also features an Activity Zone, allowing you to quickly launch a compass, torch or stopwatch. A second version of the Samsung Galaxy S6 launched alongside the standard S6 at MWC. ( Buy the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge here .) It follows the trend set by the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge , but with two curved screen edges rather than one and a marginally higher- capacity battery than is found in the S6. In other respects the specs are in line with the standard S6, but expect to pay a premium for that fancy screen. The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge went on sale in the UK on 10 April 2015. Prices start at £760 SIM-free for the 64GB version. A larger version of the Galaxy S6 Edge has recently been announced as the S6 Edge+. It's in essence a larger version of the S6 Edge with a 5.7in screen. You can check out our hands-on review of the Galaxy S6 Edge+ here. After all the rumours that the Sony Xperia Z4 would be delayed until September, the Z4 was recently unveiled in Japan. The Z4 won't come to the UK, but in late May Sony announced its Sony Xperia Z3+ over here. ( Buy the Sony Xperia Z3+ here .) The UK version of the Z4, the Z3+ is almost identical - read our Z3 vs Z3+ comparison to see exactly how it differs to both Z3 and Z4. In essence, the Sony Xperia Z3+ is a slightly slimmed down and much faster version of the Z3, with performance we expect to fall in line with the HTC One M9. The Z3+ went on sale in the UK in June. The new Sony Xperia Z5 is the flagship we were hoping for from Sony when we got the Sony Xperia Z3+. It's caught up with its rivals with the Snapdragon 810 processor and 3GB of RAM inside, and gets one over on them with waterproofing protection, a brilliant 23Mp camera, and microSD support up to a whopping 200GB. The Sony Xperia Z5 also comes in Premium and Compact versions and went on sale in the UK in October. For more details see our Sony Xperia Z5 hands-on review and Sony Xperia Z5 UK release date, price and specifications articles. We've had mummy and dady, now here comes baby. The Sony Xperia Z5 mini (better known as the Z5 Compact) is a great follow-up to the Z3 Compact, smaller in size and likely to be around £100 cheaper in price, yet with few sacrifices in the specification. In common with the Z5 and Z5 Premium the Z5 Compact offers the Snapdragon 810 processor, along with microSD support up to 200GB, the new fingerprint scanner and 23- and 5Mp cameras. It has a smaller (4.6in) and lower-resolution (720p HD) screen, and has a lower-capacity 2700mAh battery, but remember that there will be less drain from the screen. One other difference is that you get 2- rather than 3GB of RAM. The Sony Xperia Z5 Compact went on sale in October. For more details on the mini Z5 see our Sony Xperia Z5 Compact hands-on review and Sony Xperia Z5 Compact UK release date, price and specifications articles. The Sony Xperia Z5 Premium is the first 4K phone to market, with a 5.5in 2160x3840-pixel display that has a crazy-high pixel density of 806ppi. The Premium is necessarily larger and heavier than the standard Z5, and has a slighly larger-capacity battery. In other respects it's the same phone, which means you get a Qualcomm Snapdagon 810 processor, 3GB of RAM, microSD support up to 200GB, 23- and 5Mp cameras and a brand- new fingerprint scanner. The Sony Xperia Z5 Premium will go on sale in November. Read more about the Z5 Premium in our Sony Xperia Z5 Premium hands-on review and Sony Xperia Z5 Premium UK release date, price and specifications articles. Xiaomi has officially unveiled its Xiaomi Mi Note and Mi Note Pro , with the latter hailed as the most powerful phone in the world. Both offer staggering value at £244 and £350 respectively, given their amazing specs. These two Chinese phones are fitted with 5.7in curved screens - the Mi Note full-HD and the Note Pro Quad HD. The Mi Note Pro in particular should offer unrivalled performance, thanks to a 2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 64- bit octa-core chip, a massive 4GB of RAM and Adreno 430 graphics. And still it's thinner than the iPhone 6 Plus. There's loads more to drool over in Xiaomi's juicy spec sheet too. The Mi Note went on sale in China on 27 January and sold out within minutes, while the Mi Note Pro went on sale on 6 May. These phones won't officially go on sale in the UK, but it's probable that you'll be able to get them on grey-market or auction sites (see How to buy Xiaomi phones in the UK ). Follow Marie Brewis on Twitter .
2016-08-30 11:21 Marie Brewis www.pcadvisor.co.uk
38 : What's the best headphones? The 20 best headphones you can buy in the UK today - best headphone reviews We review the best headphones you can buy in the UK in 2016. Get the most for your money with our top headphones for your smartphone or tablet, including best in-ear headphones, best on-ear headphones and best over- ear headphones. See also: Best headphones for kids. Walk the streets of any town or city and you will see myriad people locked in to their own world, listening intently to headphones plugged in to smartphone, tablet or even - surely not - an MP3 player. The digital audio revolution has happened, and I can't be the only person who travels to work in a train carriage silent to the outside world as my fellow travellers concentrate on music, podcasts, audiobooks and video to make the commute more fun (endurable). Also read: How to stop earphone cables getting tangled or twisted Headphones are more than just a functional device. Like the display on your PC they are the crucial part in the link between you and your favourite portable device. As such it is worth investing in a good set of headphones. Moreover not all headphones are made equal: you can spend a lot of money on something that looks - rather than sounds - good. And for some people that is the key thing. Even within the realm of good audio fidelity there is choice. We may wrinkle our noses at the bassy stylings of Beats by Dre Studio headphones, but we know plenty of DJs who swear by them. And that's before you get into questions of on-ear, in-ear or over ear. Which type of headphones you prefer will depend on your physical shape, your needs, your musical taste, and the size of your wallet. If you really are strapped for cash, check out our best budget headphones group test where all entries are under £50. The types of headphones on offer are fairly self-explanatorybut in-ears are small earbuds which you put into your ear canal, on-ear headphones have a headband but the cup sits on your ear while over-ear have larger cups so encompass your ear. Most headphones are wired but you can also get ones with Bluetooth to get a wire-free experience. Regardless, here are the pick of all the headphones we have reviewed that are on the market right now. Best headphones for value, best headphones for audio, best headphones for exercise, best Bluetooth wireless headphones, and so on. We've got a wide range of headphones covering a broad set of prices so we hope you find something that fits your needs. There are so many pairs of headphones on the market that we'd need to spend all our collective time, and then some, to review them all. So do bear in mind that these are the best of what we've had through the lab, not every pair ever made! We will be regularly updating this article as we review more headphones, so stay tuned. Bookmark now: Black Friday 2016 deals
2016-08-30 10:57 Chris Martin www.pcadvisor.co.uk
39 Microsoft says the MacBook Air is as useful as a ‘Hat for Your Cat’ in new video Remember those PC vs Mac advertisements? Apple has stopped making them but Microsoft is putting its own spin on the idea. It has recently released several ad spots in which we can see the company bashing its competitor’s products and the latest it has created says that the MacBook Air is about just as useful as a hat for your cat when you compare it against the Surface Pro 4. The latest ad has been created in the style of a musical which lists down all of the features of the Surface Pro 4 such as its touchscreen, stylus support and the lack of these features on the MacBook Air. It also points out that the Surface Pro 4 is lighter and more powerful than its rival. It’s clear why Microsoft is picking up the pace with these ads which take a swing at Apple’s products. The back to school season is here and with the holidays approaching fast, the company will certainly be interested in increasing its sales at Apple’s expense. Apple has so far not responded to these ads with some of its own that take the fight to Microsoft’s products. So far, Redmond appears to have a clear playing field, and from the looks of it the company might not give up on its Apple-bashing strategy anytime soon. [ UberGizmo ]
2016-08-30 10:55 Staff Writer pctechmag.com
40 : Fallout 4's final piece of DLC, Nuka World, is released for PC and consoles Fallout 4 was released in November 2015, and while the game offers hundreds of hours of gameplay with no level cap, people are starting to get a little bored. After all, murdering everything that moves in the Commonwealth and collecting scrap can become a little stagnant without the injection of an interesting storyline once you've finished it. But not for long, because Bethesda has announced a flurry of exciting DLC releases - all of which are out now, with VR support for the HTC Vive being added in 2017. Find out everything we know so far about the Fallout 4 DLC including its UK release date, price and features. Want more game news? Find out about some of the best upcoming games of 2016. Updated 30 August 2016 with news that Fallout 4's Nuka World DLC is now ready to download Bethesda recently took to the stage at E3 2016 and showcased a range of news in the form of existing game updates, as well as showing off footage from upcoming blockbuster games. The company showcased new Dishonored 2 gameplay, announced the Prey reboot and even a remastered Elder Scrolls game due out later this year. However, for fans of Fallout 4 - and those with a HTC Vive in particular - the biggest news of the night was the announcement of Bethesda VR. More specifically, Bethesda announced that Fallout 4 would gain VR support in 2017 with the SteamVR-enabled HTC Vive. No more details were given beyond that, leaving VR gamers with a flurry of questions - will it use the Vive controllers? How will you traverse the map? How will the developers deal with motion sickness when being knocked to the ground, etc? While we don't have many answers for you at this time, we'll update this section with more information as soon as we see it. Read next: Best upcoming VR games and experiences of 2016 Bethesda announced that it would release three DLC add-ons in the months following the release of Fallout 4, with the first launching back in March. The first is called Automatron , which was released on 22 March 2016 on all platforms and costs £7.99. It adds robots into the open world that'll drop parts when defeated, and the Wanderer can use these parts to build a completely new companion. "The mysterious Mechanist has unleashed a horde of evil robots into the Commonwealth, including the devious Robobrain," reads Bethesda's website. "Hunt them down and harvest their parts to build and mod your own custom robot companions. Choose from hundreds of mods; mixing limbs, armor, abilities and weapons like the all-new lightning chain gun. Even customise their paint schemes and choose their voices! " You can find a trailer for the Automatron DLC here: The second DLC add-on, which arrived one month later on 12 April , is called Wasteland Workshop. This is a slightly smaller add-on that'll cost £3.99 if you buy it individually, and will introduce a way for players to design and set cages to capture live creatures. "Tame them or have them face off in battle, even against your fellow settlers," says Bethesda. "The Wasteland Workshop also includes a suite of new design options for your settlements like nixie cube lighting, letter kits, taxidermy and more. " The biggest update, which will cost £19.99, is called Far Harbor and launched on 19 May. Its description reads: " In Far Harbor, a new case from Valentine’s Detective Agency leads you on a search for a young woman and a secret colony of synths. Travel off the coast of Maine to the mysterious island of Far Harbor, where higher levels of radiation have created a more feral world. Navigate through the growing conflict between the synths, the Children of Atom, and the local townspeople. Will you work towards bringing peace to Far Harbor, and at what cost? " Watch the official Far Harbor trailer below. "A new case from Valentine's Detective Agency leads you on a search for a young woman and a secret colony of synths," says Bethesda. "Travel off the coast of Maine to the mysterious island of Far Harbor, where higher levels of radiation have created a more feral world. Navigate through the growing conflict between the synths, the Children of Atom, and the local townspeople. Will you work towards bringing peace to Far Harbor, and at what cost? " According to Bethesda, Far Harbor features the biggest DLC landmass it's ever created, and it will come complete with new faction quests, settlements, lethal creatures and dungeons. There is also new, higher-level armor and weapons. The relatively small piece of DLC that launched on 21 June 2016 is called Contraptions Workshop , and enables Fallout 4 gamers to build complex machines for their properties. The creativity of the gamer is their limit, as the DLC allows users to create converyer belts, scaffolding kits, track kits and even logic gates. It also offers the ability to build elivators, create weapon racks and even build a greenhouse - all for the small price of £3.99. The results of the Contraptions Workshop are interesting to say the least. In the video below you can see characters getting put into stocks and having endless amounts of teddy bears pelted at them from machines. Also check out this hilarious contraption which is a massively elaborate setup to fire paintballs somewhere you don't want to be shot at with paintballs. The DLC is focused around players creating their very own underground nuclear bunker. The expansion will also enable you to customise and even train your own inhabitants. The DLC will be coming out in July 2016 and will cost £3.99. The final DLC in the Fallout 4 line is called Nuka World and is finally available to buy following a recent announcement from Bethesda, and will set prospective gamers back £14.99 - Steam users can buy the DLC right here , and those with the season pass will of course receive the update free of charge. The new expansion adds a new part of the story mode which introduces new quests, weapons, characters and new raider enemies - all set in an amusement park. It boasts a selection of theme park games, and even full- on rollercoasters that you can ride - and with the ability to become a raider, this final piece of DLC may be Fallout 4's biggest and most impressive to date. Bethesda recently released a trailer for the upcoming Nuka World DLC, which can be seen below: If you've yet to buy Fallout 4, you'll find it available for PS4, Xbox One and PC. GAME is currently selling it for £29.99 on PS4 and Xbox One , and £24.99 on PC . Those prices above are for the standard edition of Fallout 4 but there was also a collector's edition. The 'Pip-Boy Edition' cost £100 and includes an actual Pip-Boy replica. It's designed to replicate the in-game device and comes with a RobCo Industries stand, custom-printed capsule, adjustable foam cuff, and rotating knobs and lights. So eager were fans to get their hands on Pip-Boy it sold out, and Bethesda can't make any more copies. The company's marketing VP Pete Hines told Gamespot that its not because Bethesda is being tight with Pip-Boy editions, but because the factories physically can't make any more copies. You can still find the Pip-Boy edition from the likes of Amazon and eBay , but you'll pay above the original price for those. There also seems to be some left from GAME for £99.99 . You can even put your smartphone inside the Pip-Boy use it with the Pip- Boy mobile app to manage your in-game inventory, perks and holotapes. The Pip-Boy Edition also comes with a physical Pip-Boy Pocket Guide, a Vault-Tec Perk poster and the game comes in a Power Armour Collectible metal case. Update 15 June 2016 : At E3 2016 Bethesda announced that the Xbox One and PlayStation versions of the game will soon benefit from being able to play with mods. The same way that PC gamers can play the game with mods enabled. Let's talk gameplay. As seen in the below trailers, Fallout 4 is completely open world, allowing you and your doggy sidekick to roam and scavage the wastelands that surround you. The best part of Fallout 4 is that pretty much everything you come across can be used to build or modify either weaponry or your base, which you have to protect from other survivors. For many Fallout fans, the downfall of both Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas was that once the game was over, it really was over, and you weren't able to head back into the wastelands and continue with your exploration. However Bethesda confirmed in a tweet (see below) that that isn't the case with Fallout 4. "To our fans who’ve asked: Fallout 4 doesn’t end when the main story is over and there is no level cap. You can keep playing and leveling. " The concept of an open-ended game like Grand Theft Auto or Saints Row is always great, as you can carry on having your own fun way after the official storyline has ended. However having no level cap is a bit of a strange move, especially for Bethesda. The company had a level cap of 20 in Fallout 3, which was boosted to 30 with the Broken Steel expansion pack, and up to 50 in New Vegas, after buying four sets of DLC. The fact that there's no level limit may open the door to some issues, namely with enemy balancing. What happens when you're level 1000 and you meet (for example) a pigeon? That pigeon would be scaled up to be a good enough enemy for you, but a pigeon with super-human strength might seem a bit... weird. But hey, who know's what's out there in that nuclear wasteland! Several trophies explore social aspects of the game, such as allying settlements, recruiting companions and reaching the maximum relationship level. The final trophy, 'Prepared for the Future' asks you to 'Decide the fate of the Commonwealth'. Follow Lewis Painter and @PCAdvisor on Twitter.
2016-08-30 10:54 Lewis Painter www.pcadvisor.co.uk
41 iPhone 7 headphone jack: the story so far From bendgate to bugs Apple is no stranger to criticism and controversy, but the iPhone 7 could be one of its most controversial handsets yet, all thanks to one small feature, or, as is looking likely, the absence of it. We're talking of course about the 3.5mm headphone jack, which it's rumored Apple is ditching, possibly to thin the phone down even more. But while it's a potential source of controversy it's also one of the biggest questions surrounding the iPhone 7, as not all sources agree that it's gone. Here then, in words and pictures, is the story so far. The death of the headphone jack was first rumored back in September 2015, with a patent showing a new way to connect headphones. More evidence appeared in November 2015, with a report stating that Apple would remove the port to make the iPhone 7 "more than 1mm thinner," though rather than a new port it was said to be relying on the Lightning port and Bluetooth earbuds. With the iPhone 6S being just 7.1mm thick anyway that doesn't seem very necessary, but there are potential advantages, from better audio quality to even, ultimately, greater convenience. Not convinced? Check out our opinion piece on why Apple removing the headphone jack is a good thing and you might change your mind. Whether good or bad the initial rumors didn't seem entirely convincing, but evidence for its removal has grown. In January reports from China backed up the rumors, claiming Apple expected people to primarily rely on wireless headphones going forward. Then later that month source code found in the iOS 9.3 beta reading "Headphones.have.%sinput. NO" further hinted at their removal. But the first really compelling evidence came in March, with a leaked image of a set of Apple earpods. They look a lot like the ones you'd get in the box with an iPhone 6S, except rather than a 3.5mm connector they have a Lightning one. Of course the image could be fake and even if it's real it's possible Apple will start pushing Lightning headphones but not yet remove the 3.5mm jack. Still, it doesn't bode well for the port's future. Following that a patent for a type of headphones that could work both wirelessly and via the Lightning port emerged in April . At this point evidence was really mounting against the 3.5mm port, but just when everyone seemed to be agreeing an image of some circuitry supposedly taken from the iPhone 7 was revealed and it included the headphone jack. We wanted to believe the leak, but in May a set of blueprints leaked and these again lacked the connector. By this point we were also starting to see photos that were supposedly of the iPhone 7 itself, or at least the chassis and dummy units. Most of these didn't give us a good look at the ports, but one leaked by Nowhereelse.fr in late June did and unsurprisingly there was no 3.5mm headphone port. Yet around the same time another image supposedly showing internal iPhone 7 parts popped up, showing among other things a headphone port. More recently though we've seen a couple of leaked shots showing Lightning headphones, first at the end of June and again in mid-July, as picked up by Apple Insider . They don't all share an identical design, but they do all share a common connector and it's not a 3.5mm one. There's also strong evidence that Apple is going to launch wireless 'AirPod' headphones with the iPhone 7, as something fitting that exact description has been certified in Russia. Wireless headphones would serve a purpose even if the 3.5mm port was intact, but as they don't require the port they're further evidence that it won't be. Which brings us to now. Taking a close chronological look at the evidence it's clear that it's overwhelmingly in favor of no headphone port in the iPhone 7. The only evidence for one comes from circuitry, while the evidence against comes from patents, diagrams, certification bodies, pictures of Lightning headphones and even a shot of the chassis. It seems like a rushed change from Apple if the company really is removing them. Easing the transition this year with optional Lightning buds before ditching the headphone port in 2017 would seem more sensible and it's still possible that's happening, but it's looking unlikely, especially with the Moto Z already making the move. We'll keep you updated with all the latest headphone happenings (and everything else iPhone 7 related) in the run up to its likely September launch and if you're holding out for a headphone port there's still a chance Apple will surprise us, but in the meantime you might want to check out our guide to using your existing headphones with the Lightning port . Loading iPhone 7 pre-order deals... Article continues below
2016-08-30 10:43 By James feedproxy.google.com
42 Fallout 4 Nuka-World dev diary talks gangs, quantum paddle balls Fallout 4’s decrepit amusement park DLC, Nuka-World, is out now packing new enemies, weird weapons and the chance to finally become a raider. Besides being a little frustrated with its convoluted opening, Chris seemed to mostly enjoy his time milling around in the game’s sixth and final add-on, and the latest developer diary offers a sneak peek of what you can get up to. “Your first 10 hours in Nuka-World will be spent endlessly shooting and little else, as each threat must be 100 percent neutralized before the surprisingly cautious raiders will move in,” says Chris in his review. Doing so while skooshing explosive Quantum Nuka Cola from a water gun, or melting Gatorclaws (alligator-like Deathclaws) with the Acid Soaker looks like particularly good fun. Nuka-World’s creators discuss the different raider factions you’ll be up against/be able to side with, and the various locations the new theme park area offers. Still, the inventive weaponry at your disposal sounds the most appealing aspect of the DLC to me. “The Thirst Zapper, which is the weapon that you saw in the Nuka Girls pin- up posters, you get early on in the add-on,” explains the expansion’s lead artist Mark Teare up there. “You can mod that as you discover the secrets of how they’ve weaponised Nuka Cola, and turn that into a really devastating weapon.” Which looks pretty awesome in motion. Fallout 4’s Nuka-World DLC is out now and costs £14.99/$19.99. If you’d like to see more, an hour-long dev stream can be viewed here , while James’ ideas on where the series should go next can be read in this direction.
2016-08-30 10:35 By www.pcgamer.com
43 iPhone 7 name revealed and battery boost 'confirmed' There's no shortage of new iPhone 7 rumors today, but let's start with a key part of any discussion about the phone: its name. There was some suggestion that Apple's new handset might be called the iPhone 6 SE, to mark it out as a minor upgrade, but the latest leak strongly suggests the phone will actually be called the iPhone 7, as was originally expected. That theory is based on a placeholder page for the new iPhone, which briefly appeared on Vodafone's Dutch website and was spotted by TechTastic . At this point major mobile networks are very likely to know the name of the phone and last year the same site revealed the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus names. So if there was ever much doubt that Apple's new handset was called the iPhone 7 there isn't anymore. Loading iPhone 7 pre-order deals... In other iPhone 7 news the new handset appears to have been certified, alongside the iPhone 7 Plus , by the Eurasian Economic Commission in Russia. As spotted by Phone Arena , Mobiltelefon.ru notes that two unrecognised ID numbers for devices described as "smartphones with the Apple trademark and iOS 10" have popped up. These are almost certainly the new iPhone handsets and as there's only two of them this is one more piece of evidence against the existence of the iPhone 7 Pro. The Commission has also listed ten ID numbers for "mobile electronic devices with the Apple trademark and watchOS 2", which are likely Apple Watch 2 models. Finally, there's a mention of wireless Apple AirPod headphones, which it would make sense for Apple to launch if it's removing the headphone port from the iPhone 7 as expected. It's not clear whether these will come in the box or be sold separately though. If that wasn't enough iPhone news for one day some new spec details, spotted by Redmond Pie , have been shared on Weibo , complete with battery sizes. The iPhone 7 will apparently have a 1960mAh juice pack, up from 1715mAh on the iPhone 6S, while the iPhone 7 Plus will supposedly have a 2910mAh battery, up from 2750mAh on the iPhone 6S Plus. The leaker also states that both handsets will have an f/1.9 aperture camera, which would allow them to capture more light than the f/2.2 aperture camera on last year's models, but that the iPhone 7 will have an 1/2.6-inch sensor, while the iPhone 7 Plus will have a smaller 1/3-inch one. Given that the iPhone 7 Plus is expected to have a dual-lens camera it's not surprising that the sensors would be smaller, but it would mean each individual sensor can take in less information than the iPhone 7 - it'll be up to the software processing to make sure the images look great. Other aspects of this specs leak echo things we've heard before, like a 12MP camera on both phones, an unimproved 4.7-inch 750 x 1334 screen and 2GB of RAM for the iPhone 7. The iPhone 7 Plus will have the same 5.5-inch 1080 x 1920 display too, but with an improved 3GB of RAM. Oddly the iPhone 7 is listed as having IPX7 water resistance (allowing it to be submerged one meter deep for up to 30 minutes), but the iPhone 7 Plus isn't. As ever we'd take these leaks for what they are: rumors rather than facts, but everything will be known soon enough, as Apple is holding a launch event on September 7 . Article continues below
2016-08-30 10:20 By James feedproxy.google.com
44 New Windows 10 notifications to keep you up- to-speed with Microsoft services When it comes to notifications in Windows 10, there's a new type which has recently become available to some users – a direct 'From Microsoft' notification which could be used to deliver details pertaining to a Microsoft account and related services. This development was spotted by Windows Supersite , which was sent notifications regarding Microsoft Rewards (which incidentally is the new name for Bing Rewards), and found that under Settings there was a new From Microsoft category of notifications which can be turned on or off. Most users don't have this option – at least we're presuming most folks don't, and it's certainly not present on our PC – and the tech website postulates that this could be the initial testing of a new channel to highlight information regarding the user's Microsoft account. That could include notifications of things like expiring subscriptions, device limits, security alerts and parental control (family safety) options. And this seems a likely prospect – although it could merely be a conduit for Microsoft Rewards notifications, that would seem a rather limited remit (and if this was the case, you'd expect the category would be labelled Microsoft Rewards rather than From Microsoft, the latter of which suggests a broad range of topics). One comment on the original report suggests that these notifications have been appearing for a few weeks now, although of course, that's just one user. Are any of our readers running Windows 10 seeing this? As ever, let us know in the comments section below. As you probably haven't failed to notice, Windows 10 has been having something of a bumpy ride since the Anniversary Update rolled out, with the latter causing a number of issues such as freezing PCs and broken webcams . Article continues below
2016-08-30 10:15 By Darren feedproxy.google.com
45 VMware to help enterprises manage AWS, Azure and Google cloud deployments VMware has set its sights on helping enterprises monitor and control their use of its Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure and Google’s public cloud services, as firms move to pursue a hybrid and multi- cloud approach to IT consumption. The virtualisation giant plans to achieve this through the roll-out of its Cross- Cloud Services initiative, which it announced the preview release of at its VMworld US conference in Las Vegas . The software-as-a-service (SaaS) offering gives enterprises access to a central, web-based console that allows them to track the consumption, cost and security posture of workloads running in Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure and on the Google Cloud Platform. The service can also be used to automate, deploy and manage the migration of applications between private and public clouds, regardless of whether or not they are built on the VMware software stack. During a question and answer session with the press at VMworld US, VMware CEO Pat Gelsinger said the service uses the public cloud providers’ open application programming interfaces (APIs) and interfaces to operate. “The story we’re delivering with Cross-Cloud Services is that customers are taking advantage of clouds, and sometimes they are built on us and sometimes they are not,” he said. “Cross-Cloud Services is allowing those capabilities to be better managed, better secured and better connected across whatever cloud they need and give [enterprises] more freedom of choice.” The company said it expects the role-call of public cloud providers covered by the initiative to increase in time to include those that only operate in certain geographies or offer more specialised services. For the time being, VMware is focused on aligning itself with the services most commonly used by VMware’s existing customer base, who are increasingly widening the pool of public cloud providers they use for business agility, cost-savings and other practical purposes. “There are a lot more cloud providers than the big four. Geographic cloud, different providers in different markets and a lot of those are service providers and many of those are built on VMware technologies,” said Gelsinger. Guido Appenzeller, chief technology strategy officer working in VMware’s network and security business unit, said very few enterprises are choosing to go all-in with a single public cloud provider when deciding where to run their applications and workloads. “For us it’s just a question of priorities. We want to support as many clouds as we can. We researched our customer base and Amazon and Azure are obviously leading, but for our customers vSphere-based clouds are number three and then there is Google. So we will focus there first,” he said. “Going into this, my assumption was an enterprise will choose one cloud, choose one strategic partnership and move there. But I haven’t talked to an enterprise that thinks about the cloud that way.”
2016-08-30 10:15 Datacentre Editor www.computerweekly.com
46 Baton Rouge Flood Map: Using IT Know-How In Emergency Situations Anyone looking for a view of the historic flooding in Baton Rouge, La. , probably has seen the map created by Warren Kron and his team. Kron is GIS Manager in the IT department of the City of Baton Rouge and the Parish of East Baton Rouge. He's charged with working with geographic information systems (GIS) within the greater framework of IT. The goal? To help government services such as law enforcement and emergency personnel function effectively and to provide more comprehensive visual information services to residents. For example, Kron's GIS work as part of the government of Baton Rouge includes creating applications to help people identify their council district based on the street address of their house. [Looking for more government-created GIS data-driven maps? Read Government Data + Maps = 10 Great Examples .] Kron's highest profile project to date has been the map he created using a variety of GIS data, along with tools from geographic information system vendor ESRI, to simulate a view of the disastrous flooding that took place earlier this month in Baton Rouge and other Louisiana cities and towns. Connecting data from multiple sources, including 911 calls, search-and- rescue data from the fire department, 311 non-emergency calls to the government, and other information, Kron and his team were able to use ESRI software and cloud-based ArcGIS software to create a multiple-layer map that visually simulates areas worst hit by flooding. Creating the map was a multi-day process that started on August 14. At that point, Kron only had data from a few hundred 911 calls. "We used these few hundred data points to see if there was a trend," he told InformationWeek in an interview. "If there was an obvious clustering of points, we shaded that area and assumed that this area was flooded. The only problem was that this first version of the map grossly underestimated how much of our parish had flooded. " A few days later, Kron received access to addtional geographic data that helped improve the accuracy of his maps. For instance, Kron received all search-and-rescue data to plot on the map. Then he received access to the 311 data -- non-emergency calls to the government to report problems such as sewer backups. His team also layered on information from FEMA about special flood hazard zones. "We assumed those areas were flooded," he said. The map evolved as Kron layered each of these new sources of GIS data to create an accurate picture. Then his department did something else. It released the map to the public via the city government's website and used the government's Facebook and Twitter feeds to promote it. The postings asked the public to provide feedback -- and to let government officials know if anything was missing. "My phone has turned into a hotline," Kron said. "And we have a generic email address where people are sending us information. Over Monday and Tuesday [Aug. 22-23], we reached over 100,000 people through Facebook. It went crazy. " Local newspaper The Advocate included an embedded version of the map as part of its online coverage of the flood. A week after its August 18 debut, Kron's map, called Estimated Flood Inundation Map, had already received 60,000 page views on the government's website. "I didn't know the map would be so popular," Kron said. He soon received word about an ESRI user in Australia who was trying to view the map and said it wasn't loading properly. "I realized that my GIS server was not going to be able to handle the number of requests. We decided to move it to the ArcGIS Server online. " ArcGIS, an online map platform from ESRI, was designed and equipped to handle spikes in traffic. Kron's map now compiles mulitple streams of data, including: Plus, the map now includes comments from the general public via social media and email to provide clarification when needed.
2016-08-30 10:06 Jessica Davis www.informationweek.com
47 Best Fitbit: which is right for you? Fitbit is now a household name when it comes to fitness tracking technology and it offers options for running experts as well as the everyman who just wants something to track how far they walk each day. Products such as the Alta , Blaze and Surge sit at the top end of the Fitbit product range to keep those who are into their exercise happy, while there are also choices like the Zip , Charge and Flex for those who need something a little simpler. Fitbit is also rumored to be updating its line of fitness trackers in the near future as well, so it may be worth holding off buying one just now. We expect both a Fitbit Charge 2 and a Fitbit Flex 2 before the year is over and it may be as early as September. If you're planning to buy a Fitbit though, it'd be worth checking out our tips and tricks on how to make the most out of using your fitness band effectively . Here we've put together a list of all the best Fitbit products you can buy right now to help you make a decision on what suits your needs. Fitbit's best-looking wearable to date is limited in scope See more Fitbit Alta deals The Alta is the latest product from Fitbit and has a big focus on the design rather than its fitness features. The style is customizable with various straps so you can switch them out for whatever you feel like that day - you aren't limited to just one choice, like you are on some Fitbit devices. In our review, we found it also had a week-long battery life. That's even more than the 5 days Fitbit claims for the Alta. It's not all great though as the Alta's screen isn't very sensitive and it's not waterproof either. But if you're looking for an all-rounder fitness tracker, the Alta may be a good choice for you. A solid wearable, but it won't set the world alight See more Fitbit Blaze deals The Blaze is the dark horse of the Fitbit family. This is one of the stranger devices on the roster as it looks like it's trying to be the first smartwatch from Fitbit, but it's not. Despite the design, the Fitbit Blaze is still a fitness tracker at heart. The design is a little quirky, but that may be something you want to go for in a fitness tracker. The display also offers up notifications for your text messages, but not for any other apps you may want to see. The Blaze does offer up a variety of new fitness features - such as SmartTrack, which will track your exercise even if you haven't told the wearable what you're going to be doing - allowing you to burn through those calories quickly and easily. Fitbit's GPS-touting 'superwatch' See more Fitbit Surge deals Here's the most expensive and arguably most exciting device Fitbit has ever released. It's especially going to get your blood pumping if you're a runner as the Surge comes with GPS technology built-in. That means you can take your Fitbit out and about without having to keep your phone in your pocket while you're jogging. It comes with a heart rate monitor and a classic watch-like design that some of the other Fitbit products don't offer. There's a slightly weaker battery life on this Fitbit and the design isn't to everyone's taste, but if you like to run this is probably the best choice of Fitbit for you. Great for motivation, even if it's hardly the most scientific device See more Fitbit Charge HR deals Heard of the Fitbit Charge before? This is a slightly newer edition called the Charge HR that looks exactly the same but comes with a heart rate tracker for the very first time. You can still buy the Charge - look down below - but it doesn't cost much extra to go for the Charge HR and you get the added benefit of knowing how much your blood is pumping. The Charge HR is possibly the most stylish out of all the Fitbit products included on this list but it's not always the most accurate at tracking your steps. If you're looking to do more rigorous exercise go for the devices above such as the Surge or the Blaze. But the Charge HR is still a good choice if you're looking for the odd update on how far you've walked. Before you buy a Charge HR, it may be worth waiting for the brand new Charge 2 which will be released soon and features a brand new design with new heart-rate tracking tech. A fitness tracker that misses out on the heart rate hype See more Fitbit Charge deals Don't need the heart rate tracker in the Fitbit Charge HR? Why not go for the Fitbit Charge instead? You'll save a little bit of money and get the stylish design as well as all the activity tracking features you'll need. Sleep features automatically kick off when your head hits the pillow on the Fitbit Charge, but the problem is it's not particularly accurate. Still, if you're looking for it to track your daily exercise rather than how well you sleep, this is a good choice and isn't as expensive as some of the other Fitbit's you can buy right now. No such thing as wrist aversion See more Fitbit Flex deals After something a little bit cheaper than the devices just above? If you can sacrifice the screen, the Fitbit Flex may be the best choice for your tracking needs. It does include a screen, but it won't give you numbers on how well you're doing. Instead it includes dots - when the dots are full you've achieved your daily steps. It's not the most useful device for when you go running, but it will make sure you reach your minimum step goals in a day and sometimes that's all you really need. If you like the design of the Fitbit Flex and don't need much in the way of run tracking skills it's a strong choice. If you can wait to buy a Fitbit, the Flex 2 may be worth waiting for when it launches in late September 2016 with a waterproof design and all-day tracking. Once the ultimate fitness gadget, now not so much See more Fitbit One deals We're down to the more basic fitness trackers that Fitbit produces. The Fitbit One is a couple of years old now, but if you don't want something strapped around your wrist it may be a good choice for you. The Fitbit One is a clip on tracker that will monitor your steps and fitness activities without having to sit on your wrist. The technology is a little old now, but it may be a good choice for you if you're just looking for something to take a good look at your steps. Plus remember it's one of the cheaper Fitbit options, so if you're here to save money this could be the best choice. Counting the steps to fitness See more Fitbit Zip deals This is the cheapest of the cheap in the world of Fitbit. If you want a cheap and cheerful tracker that will just monitor how far you walk each day, go for the Zip. Again, it's a clip you can put onto your clothing and from there you can just look at how far you've walked each day. Essentially it's a glorified pedometer and won't be able to track your running anywhere near as accurately as you could on devices like the Surge or the Blaze. But if you're here to keep a track on how far you've been walking, the Fitbit Zip isn't a bad choice for you. You don't have to go for a fitness tracker from Fitbit. There are lots of other choices out there and you'll find a full selection in our best fitness trackers ranking. Admittedly, this list does feature a lot of Fitbit products with the Charge HR sitting in first place. But we also include choices such as the Microsoft Band 2 , which is the perfect choice for anyone with a Windows Phone and also includes a stylish design and a full color screen. There's the Jawbone UP3 that pairs with an impressive app, is good at tracking sleep and will also offer you around a week of battery life. Or maybe you're looking for something like the Withings Go. This doesn't need to connect to a phone and offers up a huge eight weeks battery life with an e-ink screen and a super low price. Article continues below
2016-08-30 10:00 By James feedproxy.google.com
48 Job Opportunity: Systems Officer – Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development The Government of Uganda is implementing the Third Financial Management and Accountability Programme (FINMAP III) with the primary purpose to strengthen Public Financial Management (PFM) at all levels of government and ensure efficient, effective and accountable use of public resources as a basis for improved service delivery. The overall objective of FINMAP is derived from the GoU PFM reform strategy for the period from July 2014 to June 2018, launched in August 2014. In line with the strategy, FINMAP aims to encourage effective service delivery through reinforcing mechanisms for budget credibility, compliance and control; and to improve financial management practices through implementation of automated financial management systems. FINMAP interventions are implemented at both central and local government levels through a number of components. The programme also has several stakeholders, including Development Partners. The implementation of FINMAP III entails a significant amount of coordination effort at all levels. This coordination requirement is met through the contracting of Staff to support specific Programme areas. The programme is funded by the Government of Uganda as well as a number of development partners including the Department for International Development of the United Kingdom, European Union, Norway, Denmark, Germany (KFW), Sweden. There is also cooperation at various levels with the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Irish Aid. Project Name: The Third Financial Management and AccountabilityProgramme (FINMAP III) Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda Reports to: Local Government Public Financial Management (PFM) Systems manager Key Duties and Responsibilities: Key Performance Indicators: Qualifications, Skills and Experience: How to Apply : All candidates should send their applications, updated CVs and copies of academic certificates should be addressed and submitted to the address below. Envelopes should have clear reference to the job applied for. Send to: The Programme Coordinator, The Third Financial Management and Accountability Programme (FINMAP III),Ministry of Finance, Planning & Economic Development Finance Building; 3rd Floor, Room 3.4 Plot 2/12 Apollo Kaggwa Road P 0 Box 8147, Kampala. Uganda. Email to : [email protected] Application Deadline is Friday, 9 th September 2016 by 1700hrs
2016-08-30 09:40 Staff Writer pctechmag.com
49 VMware makes case for IT's involvement in line of business cloud purchases As line of business units increasingly assume responsibility for cloud-related purchases, IT departments should not be fooled into thinking their days are numbed. That’s according to VMware CEO Pat Gelsinger, who used his opening keynote at VMworld US in Las Vegas to explain why the skills and experience of IT professionals are becoming increasingly sought after by all areas of the business, as cloud use spreads inside enterprises. “It’s not just that every industry is embracing cloud, every function in every industry is embracing cloud,” he said. “For us IT professionals, this could be a little scary. All these other portions of the business are now becoming their own IT department, but it’s good news for you as individuals. “Every skill you have developed, every portion of the business wants you. Every skill you have mastered over the past decade or two is becoming mission-critical to every part of the business,” he added. Guido Appenzeller, chief technology strategy officer working in VMware’s network and security business unit, said there is no question that enterprises will need an IT department when moving to the public cloud . “There is a narrative in the press where people are saying, in the age of mega-clouds, you don’t need IT anymore. It’s now the business unit that’s [driving things]. The CIO is dead – long live the chief development officer,” he said. “This idea that IT is no longer necessary is completely crazy. Taking an application from on-premise and moving it out to the cloud, you still have to work on security. What about compliance and cost management? You’re spending millions of dollars on these clouds, but someone still needs to control costs.” Gelsinger also used the keynote to share details of the number-crunching the virtualisation giant’s in-house research team have done – using a mix of its own and analyst data – to predict how long it will take the cloud to overtake on-premise environments as the enterprise’s preferred place to deploy workloads. Its findings suggest by 2021, 50% of enterprise workloads will run in the cloud and 50% on legacy, on-premise IT equipment. However, by 2030, it predicts more than half of enterprise workloads will run in the public cloud. “Now conventional wisdom has said [this] could lead to a shrinking IT market. That overall the market, as we move from private to public, will shrink,” he said. “We believe that is fundamentally not the case. As cloud takes root, IT becomes more cost effective and accessible, and it expands the investment in IT as we look to the future.”
2016-08-30 09:30 Datacentre Editor www.computerweekly.com
50 50 Apple could be slapped with hefty tax fine from EU Apple has been accused of sheltering profits through its Irish base for years, culminating in a three-year probe to decide whether this was illegal, and now looks set to be hit with a large fine. Both Reuters and the Financial Times are claiming that a press conference, held later today by EU competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager, will call for a fine of 'billions' of euros. However, other outlets are disputing that number, claiming it could only run to the hundreds of millions, and one minister claiming it could be as low as €100 million (around £85m / $110m / AU$147m). Apple has previously been accused by a Senate committee of using Ireland to avoid paying tax on its US income, something the company has denied. The issue here is not whether Apple's practices in Ireland have been illegal, but whether Ireland has offered specific companies favourable tax deals, which would be considered 'state aid' and is unlawful. All sources quoted in this case are clear that Apple and the Irish Government will appeal the ruling, believing that the arrangement between the companies is lawful and adheres to the correct tax laws. "Ireland is confident that there is no breach of state aid rules in this case and has already issued a formal response to the commission earlier this month," the department of finance in Dublin told the Guardian in 2015. What this means for the consumer is unclear, but if the worst case scenario happens and Apple is forced to pay €19 billion (around £16bn / $21bn / AU$28bn), the largest number predicted by analysts), this could impact the cost of iPhones, iPads and other services as the brand looks to make up the profit margins elsewhere. However, even if a ruling does appear today requiring a large fine from the EU, that will only be a recommendation as the Irish authorities will be tasked with calculating the exact number. The appeals process will also drag the whole process out, so the final figure Apple could be hit with is a long way from set. Article continues below
2016-08-30 09:21 By Gareth feedproxy.google.com
51 : Smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, TVs and more launching this at IFA 2016 We're now a matter of days away from not only Apple's usual autumn launch event for the new iPhone 7 but Berlin's IFA 2016, where loads of new tech will be announced. Here's what to expect from this IFA 2016 including smartphones , tablets , smartwatches , TVs and more from the likes of Samsung, Sony, LG, Motorola and more. See also : Best new phones 2016. IFA 2016 is one of the big technology trade shows on the calendar, alongside CES in January (Las Vegas) and MWC in March (Barcelona). It falls in September and this year the dates are 2-7 (although press conferences take place prior to the show opening at Messe Berlin). As usual, we'll have a team of PC Advisor reporters over in Germany to bring you all the news and hands-on reviews of the new products but we before we pack our bags and jump on an early morning flight, we like to take a look at what might be unveiled. IFA used to be the place where Samsung would launch a new Galaxy Note smartphone but we've already seen the Galaxy Note7, although it does have a 2 September release date which coincides with the show. The new GearVR was also unveiled alongside the Note7 and both will be on display in Berlin. So what will Samsung launch at IFA 2016? Well the main new device it has in store looks to be the Gear S3 smartwatch, its third-generation wearable which will arrive a year after the Gear S2. As you can see from the below tweet, 'Talk About 3' with a clock animation is a big hint for the event on 31 August in Berlin promising 'timely innovation'. While the Gear S3 seems very likely, it's not such a sure bet that Samsung will launch a Galaxy Tab S3 tablet with the market tailing off over the past year or two. That said, it has released the Galaxy TabPro S so it's not forgotten about tablets entirely – we just want a new Android slate. Update: Ahead of the show, Samsung has announced new Quantum Dot curved monitors which come in 24- and 27in sizes and are aimed at gamers. What Sony will announce at IFA 2016 is a lot less certain with few rumours around to go on. As usual, the invite shows a range of devices including headphones, a smartphone, a TV, plus audio and photography devices. Expect updates on all the above. The one device which has been leaked is the Xperia XR or Xperia X2 (name to be confirmed) which will be the new part of the Xperia X range. There are also rumours of an Xperia X Compact. It's possible that Sony has killed the flagship Xperia Z line of phones but we hope that isn't the case and it's just managed to keep the Xperia Z6 a very good secret. What we'd also like is a new Xperia Z Tablet and for Sony to launch two different sizes at the same time, but that might be just a pipedream. IFA is an important tech show for LG and we expect it to update product ranges across various categories just like Sony – including TVs and audio. Rumour has it that LG will launch a new G Flex 3 smartphone to add to its curved-screen range. Those looking forward to the LG V20 will have to wait until 6 September where it will be launched at a separate event (also see LG V20 UK release date, price, specification and feature rumours ). As for new tablets or smartwatches, it's anyone's guess but we'd certainly like to see some new hardware on those fronts so fingers crossed. Update: Like Samsung, LG has got a monitor announcement out of the way before IFA starts. It has unveiled a range of ultra-wide monitors with Google Cast built-in. The two models (above) have an aspect ratio of 21:9 and a 4K resolution. Now owned by Lenovo, Motorola has launched quite a few new devices this year including the Moto G4 , Moto G4 Plus and Moto Z phones. New devices in the smartphone category seem unlikely, then. The firm's other popular area is wearables and we're hoping to see a new Moto 360 (which would be the third-generation), ideally with the 'flat-tyre' effect of the screen gone. There haven't been any leaks for the watch so we're not holding our collective breath too much. It's been a quiet year for HTC with just the HTC 10 phone launch (which didn't go as well as the firm hoped) so what it will do at IFA 2016 could be very important for its future. Don't expect a new flagship phone but mid-range and budget devices are possible. What we'd really like to see is a long-rumoured HTC smartwatch so we hope It has something juicy and exciting for us in Berlin. Update: Matching up with our thoughts, Evan Blass has revealed that HTC will launch the One A9s smartphone at IFA 2016. Not only is the device an iPhone lookalike, it appears HTC is also following the 's' model sequence. There's not much to go on when it comes to Huawei at IFA 2016 but we're expecting new smartphones and tablets at the least. Last year the firm announced the Mate 8 phone so your money wouldn't be unwisely bet on a successor – a Huawei Mate 9 seems a likely launch this year. It also launched (for the second time) the Huawei Watch last year so a successor to the Android Wear device is possible. Update: Via the ever reliable Evan Blass , it looks like Huawei will have new phones and tablets at IFA as we suspected. He says the firm is launching the Huawei Nova, Huawei Nova Plus and MediaPad M3. The teaser images above hint at two different phones.
2016-08-30 09:20 Chris Martin www.pcadvisor.co.uk
52 GeForce 372.70 drivers gear up for Battlefield 1's open beta Nvidia is keeping up its relentless pace of driver updates with version 372.70 of its Game Ready software. This new release is tuned for the Battlefield 1 open beta, World of Warcraft: Legion , and the Steam release of Quantum Break. This update also includes a fix for the DPC latency issue plaguing some Pascal graphics cards in multi-GPU setups. That move follows the inclusion of a similar fix for single- GPU systems in the last Game Ready driver update. This update also enables Nvidia's Fast Sync feature for Maxwell graphics cards. As a refresher, Fast Sync lets games render at high frame rates without tearing while avoiding the input lag inherent to vsync. The 372.70 driver is available now through GeForce Experience or through Nvidia's download page .
2016-08-30 09:17 by Jeff techreport.com
53 | Fitbit Charge 2 | Fitbit Flex 2 : When is the new Fitbit coming out? Swim-proof Fitbit announced Fitbit is expected to release at least two new activity tracker s in late 2016, and is now the clear market leader in the fitness wearable device sector. We've had the Alta and the Blaze, now make way for the Fitbit Charge 2 and Fitbit Flex 2. Fitbit is dropping the Charge from its lineup and introducing the Charge 2. Fitbit is still selling the popular Fitbit Charge HR, despite the new device's similarities. The Charge 2 retains the HR's PurePulse Heart Rate monitor, plus call, text and calendar alerts. It expands its multi-sport tracking capabilities, with a connection to the user's smartphone GPS for data on pace and distance. Users can t rack specific exercises such as running, weights or yoga to see their workout stats on the tracker's display. Charge 2 automatically records select exercises such as hiking and cycling, so users get credit even if they forget to log a workout. The display has been enlarged to give more information, a bit like the company's Alta tracker. Also like the Alta the Charge 2 sends Reminders to Move that encourage users to take at least 250 steps every hour. Users will be happy that they can now switch wristbands, as the Charge 2 features interchangeable accessory bands (classic edition available in Black, Blue, Plum and Teal, lus Lavender at a later date), including Luxe Leather bands and Special Edition Charge 2 models featuring a beveled diamond texture. The Charge 2 continues to track steps, distance, calories burned, floors climbed, active minutes & hourly activity, plus sleep quality. The Fitbit Charge 2 will cost £129.99 (US$149.95). In the US you can add $34.99 for a two-year protection plan with accidental damage cover. The older Charger HR costs £119.99 (US$129.95). Fitbit is also selling a new Fitbit Flex 2 activity tracker, which it calls its slimmest wristband tracker ever. A first for Fitbit, the Flex 2 is waterproof and can track swimming. You can remove the tracker to fit in other bands, bangles and pendants, and features a range of interchangeable accessories. The Flex 2 tracks your steps, distance, calories burned, active minutes, hourly activity and stationary time, plus sleep quality. It can automatically track activities such as running, sports and aerobic workouts. Also new to the Flex 2 are call and text notifications, and Reminders To Move. During its second quarter earnings call Fitbit CEO James Park announced that the company would introduce "more new products for this holiday season than we've ever had before". (For more on Fitbit’s current line up read our Which Fitbit is Best? round up.) Fitbit has already launched two new fitness trackers in 2016, the Fitbit Alta and Fitbit Blaze. These two new Fitbits accounted for over half (54 percent) of the company's Q2 revenues. In 2015 it released three new trackers: see Fitbit Charge review , Fitbit Charge HR review , and Fitbit Surge review. The Charge HR remains Fitbit’s bestselling tracker ever, so the Charge 2 refresh of that device is welcome. Both be released in time for the Christmas buying season, although after Black Friday 2016 on November 25. Bookmark now: Black Friday deals 2016 We expected new product realignment in the mid-section of Fitbit’s product range. With the release of the Alta the Charge device looked weak compared to the dominance of the £20-extra Charge HR with its superior strap and heart-rate functionality. The top-end Surge is also overdue an update, as it has been over a year since it was released. The Fitbit Flex hadn’t been updated since May 2013. This tracker has now seen a significant update to the Flex 2. Fitbit announced the Blaze at CES in January 2016. In March it announced the Alta. Both feature detachable wristbands, which has led to Fitbit expanding into the lucrative fashion accessory market. On top of announcing new products Park admitted that every Fitbit product was in a programme of “substantial R&D”, which suggests a series of tracker refreshes in the run (or walk) up to Christmas 2016. Fitbit’s Research & Development headcount grew to 863 in Q216, comprising 59 percent of the company’s headcount. In May Fitbit announced that it acquired Coin, a startup that specialised in financial technology and electronics. New Fitbit features based around wearable payments are therefore likely at some stage. Customers have been requesting waterproof Fitbits, and a move in this direction with the Flex 2 will be a popular one. (Read: Is the Fitbit waterproof? ) All Fitbits released so far are only water resistant, despite decent ATM waterproof ratings, and so aren't suitable for swimmers. If you're interested in a swimming tracker read our round up of the best swimming trackers. Rival iHealth recently announced a new waterproof swimming and activity tracker, the Wave. Read our iHealth Wave review. Aside from swimmers Fitbit is aiming at other sports enthusiasts, with more features for runners and cyclists. Smart alerts, such as the Alta’s activity reminder, will also be rolled out across the Fitbit range. Longer battery life would also be at the top of a customer wish list, although yet more proprietary charging cables would not. Click on these links below for the latest, best prices from Amazon . Fitbit Flex - £79.99 / US$99.95 - click here to view today's best prices on Amazon . Fitbit Charge - £99.99 / US$129.95 - view today’s best prices on Amazon . Fitbit Alta - £99.99 / US$129.95 - view today’s best prices on Amazon . Fitbit Charge HR - £119 / US$149.95 - view today’s best prices on Amazon . Fitbit Blaze - £159 / US$199.95 - view today’s best prices on Amazon . Fitbit Surge - £199 / US$249.95. - view today’s best prices on Amazon . Fitbit One - £79.99 / US$99.95 - view today’s best prices on Amazon . Fitbit Zip - £49.99 / US$59.95 - view today’s best prices on Amazon . Fitbit beat Wall Street's estimates for second-quarter (April to June 2016) sales, reporting $587 million in revenue, compared with $400.4 million for the same quarter 2015. Unit sales were up 27 percent, with 5.7 million devices sold in Q2 2016 compared with 4.5 million from Q2 2015. “Second quarter results reflect accelerated unit and revenue growth in the U. S. and EMEA, our two largest markets, despite an unusually strong Q215 with the full availability of Fitbit Charge HR fulfilling built-up demand in that quarter,” said Park. The US comprised 76 percent of Q216 revenue; EMEA 17%, APAC 2%, and Other Americas 5%. Of all the activations of Alta and Blaze in the second quarter, approximately two-thirds were by new customers, and the other third were by people who own, or previously owned, another Fitbit device. Canalys' research of the wearable technology market shows that Fitbit dominated the basic fitness tracker sector in Q2 2016, with 3.7 million shipments. Total shipments of basic fitness bands exceeded 9 million units. Xiaomi followed in second place, shipping nearly 3 million Mi bands, while Garmin finished off the top three with over 700,000 units. “Fitbit’s remarkable growth story has continued,” said Canalys Analyst Jason Low. “It has managed to do this primarily by driving its main competitors out of business. “Jawbone’s shipments, for example, will soon come to an end. Pressure on Fitbit’s business from smart watch vendors is mounting, though, especially if they can achieve lower price points and improve battery life to take a bite out of the basic band market.” Read our Fitbit Aria review and also our Best Smart Digital Scales review. While fitness trackers continued their strong growth streak, Q2 saw a drop in the market for smart watches. Apple shipped just 3 million Watches during the first six months of 2016, although its shipments are poised to triple in the remainder of the year thanks to a new Apple Watch. Canalys also forecasts that 7.5 million smart watches with cellular connectivity will ship in 2016. Also: Fitbit vs Apple watch Android Wear shipments are declining in 2016: “Android Wear 2.0 is a major improvement for the platform, but for it to make maximum impact Google must become more directly involved with driving compelling Android Wear products,” said Analyst Daniel Matte.
2016-08-30 09:15 Simon Jary www.pcadvisor.co.uk
54 Apple faces record multibillion-euro tax penalty Apple is facing a record tax penalty running into billions of euros after European competition authorities ruled that the US company has benefited from illegal tax deals with the Irish government. The ruling concludes a three-year investigation as part of a wider crackdown by the European Commission (EC) into multinational tax avoidance. The EC has powers to recover illegal state aid to companies for up to 10 years. In 2015, the EC ruled that the Nethelands should recover as much as €30m from Starbucks, and Luxembourg was ordered to recover a similar amount from Fiat. The current record stands at €1.4bn, which French energy group EDF was ordered to pay in July 2015 after the EC found the company had benefited from illegal tax benefits from the French government. Apple could be hit with a penalty running into several billion euros as early as 30 August 2016 after EU competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager distributed the final ruling to the EC, which is the EU’s executive branch, on 29 August 2016, according to the Financial Times .
2016-08-30 09:10 Security Editor www.computerweekly.com
55 6 Linux Kernel Changes IT Pros Need To Know Linux is everywhere -- from Android smartphones and tablets to corporate servers and supercomputers. Most, if not all, IT professionals touch Linux, which turned 25 this month, in one way or another. And the reach of the open source OS is expanding. According to a statement from the Linux Foundation , 13,500 developers from more than 1,300 companies have contributed to the Linux kernel since 2005. Even better, according to the statement, a growing number of developers are being paid for their work because Linux kernel development has proven to be an increasingly valuable skill sought by employers, "ensuring experienced kernel developers do not stay unpaid for long. " In fact, the foundation's 2016 Open Source Jobs Report finds 87% of hiring managers say it's difficult to find open source talent, and 79% have even increased incentives to hold onto their current open source professionals. The report, conducted in partnership with job- search site Dice, surveyed 400 hiring managers who said they have hired at least one open source professional in the last year or have plans to hire open source professionals in 2016. The report also includes survey responses from 4,500 open source professionals. For IT professionals, it makes sense to stay up to date on the operating system for day-to-day work as well as for future career development. According to a Linux kernel report , Linux Kernel Development: How Fast It Is Going, Who Is Doing It, What They Are Doing And Who Is Sponsoring The Work , published earlier this month, more than 3 million lines of code have been added to the Linux kernel in the last 15 months. Here are six things IT pros need to know about the modern Linux kernel and how it's keeping Linux applications stable and protected: There were nine releases of the Linux kernel between Feb. 8, 2015 and July 24, 2016. During this period, the changes to the kernel, as executed by the Linux Kernel Development process, averaged 7.8 patches per hour over the nine- to 10-week period required for each release. That means Linux, for its current stability and usefulness, remains a system undergoing constant change. It is the largest software project of its kind to sustain this rate of change over the course of 25 years. It keeps adapting to the times in which it finds itself, adding features, shoring up security, and connecting to new devices. One of the new features is the ability to patch the kernel while the system is running. There's an art to maintaining the stability of the kernel in the face of such massive and constant change, and the Linux Kernel Process has perfected it. Despite best efforts, a kernel release will have additional bugs disclosed in it and will need updates before the next release is ready. Thus, through a nine- or 10-week period following the release of a new kernel, an update is added at the rate of one per week. The process stops when the next release is made public and the update process shifts its attention to that release. [See how IBM tried to make an affordable mainframe. Read IBM's LinuxOne Mainframe: What's Old Is New Again.] The updates, when they occur, are done in such a fashion that both the mainline kernel -- the one being worked on by the Linux community -- and the releases of the kernel are fixed at the same time. The SUSE, Ubuntu, CentOS, Red Hat, and other distributions are drawn from either the mainline kernel or one of its releases, and these kernels are kept in synch through the simultaneous nature of the update process. Every 12 to 20 months or so, a release is chosen to stay plugged into the update process for a period longer than nine to 10 weeks. Knowing which release is so chosen will give an IT manager an opportunity to adopt a version of Linux that will be updated over a period of two years. The 3.14 release was one such kernel, released on March 30, 2014. The next was 4.4, released on Jan. 10, 2016. The kernel is currently on release 4.7. The next two-year update release will be 4.9. On April 12, 2015, the kernel moved from 3.19 to 4.0. What was the significant change leading to the renumbering of the kernel? How will you know when another such change is in the offing? The answer is, there was little significance to the move to the 4.0 version over and above any other release. Linus Torvalds, still the head of the kernel development process, said a long time ago that he wished to avoid another 2.6.39 type of release nomenclature, because the number can't be assimilated at a quick glance and might lead to errors. As 3.19 rolled around, he tested the water on the acceptance at the time of a move to 4.0 and received positive feedback. Besides, he said in a Feb. 12, 2015, blog post , he was "once more close to running out of fingers and toes. " The designation 4.0 "was not indicative of anything in particular, beyond the fact that the minor numbers were getting large," said the 2016 Linux Kernel report . Security has come back into focus as a priority. Intel has built memory protection extensions into its latest x86 chips and they're now supported by the kernel. With them, the hardware blocks the execution of outside code in certain memory spaces. Among other things, it prevents many buffer overflow attacks from being able to succeed. The ARM chip has a "privileged execute-never" mechanism, which performs a similar function in that architecture. "There is also renewed interest in hardening the kernel to prevent attackers from taking over the system even when an exploitable vulnerability is present," the 2016 Linux Kernel report noted. The foundation's Core Infrastructure Initiative, intended to support vulnerable parts of the internet and widely used open source code, is funding work such as the grsecurity project , which includes making the kernel more secure. The project includes enhanced auditing of kernel functions, more process control, and more scrutiny of remote, untrusted connections. Managers of the kernel development process have instituted more automated testing of the code before it gets released. For example, from its initial build and boot, an automated system scrutinized the potential release and, over the 10 weeks of 4.7 development, found 400 bugs, all of which were fixed prior to final release. "There is a developing self-test framework in the kernel that is continually growing in range and capability," said the 2016 Linux Kernel report.
2016-08-30 09:06 Charles Babcock www.informationweek.com
56 Testing in production comes out of the shadows For enterprise testing organizations, the world of software development is somewhat similar to the world of legalized marijuana. There’s a saying in the legal pot world: “Out of the shadows and into the light.” This is used to describe the way users of illegal weed are now able to come out of hiding and talk about their usage in public without fear of reprisal. So, too, is it with testing in production. It’s been happening for years, decades even. And yet the idea of talking about testing in production in front of the businesspeople, the operations team, and the CIO seemed like madness. (Related: Don’t let testing stop your agility ) Testing in production, the traditional wisdom went, meant that the QA team had failed in its goals before shipping. If the tests were run in production, why weren’t they run before production? Why didn’t this get done during development? In truth, however, it’s extremely difficult to test every scenario, every idea, every possible area of code brittleness when you’re under a deadline. Even large enterprises often struggle to get all their tests done before shipping. And yet, this is not the real thrust of the testing in production movement. Frankly, it’s more about extending the testing beyond development, rather than about grabbing more time for tests that weren’t already run. Testing in production is more about the current landscape of software development than it is about covering one’s rear, or about hiding things from those higher up. Instead, it’s endemic to the rise of services, APIs and never-ending development efforts. In a world of microservices, cloud-based applications and the Internet of Things, testing in production isn’t just a good idea—it’s the only way you can get things done. Testing environments will drift from the production environment, users will encounter unforeseen behaviors, and clouds that are not under your direct control will experience outages and service degradation. Without testing in place, these types of problems will run rampant. Even worse, they won’t pass critical information back to the development team, removing the all-important feedback loop between QA and development. John Jeremiah, technology evangelist and lead of the HPE Digital Research Team, said that he’s relieved testing in production is finally being talked about in the open. “I don’t think it’s a new concept by any stretch of the imagination. Calling it ‘testing in production’ is just being more honest about what happens in reality. My background is as an application developer and project leader. Almost every time I’ve gone live with a system, I’ve never been able to complete all the testing we wanted to do. We reached a milestone where we had to ship, and we were at a level of acceptable risk, so we went live,” he said. “We may not have said we were testing in production because that was unacceptable, but the reality is we were paying very close attention to the system where we thought we had risk,” said Jeremiah. He added that testing in production often brings performance and load testing into the forefront. “Our load and performance testing are the foundations of our approach to how we help people with DevOps. What we refer to as continuous assessment is about understanding how an application is delivering business value to users,” he said. “It’s about having insight into what’s happening to users, and giving that info back to the product team so they can respond. This is the fundamental principle in DevOps. It’s about fast, high-fidelity feedback to the development team so they can iterate and react. “This is not new to what we do,” said Jeremiah. “The challenge people struggle with is the idea that you’re going to allow something that is other than perfect to reach the end users. But it’s about being honest. The other thing that’s happened is we started to realize there’s an amazing amount of things we can learn by listening to users. Web teams have done this for years with A/B testing. We are all unwitting participants in an experiments every time we log into Facebook.” What is ‘testing in production’? What, then, does testing in production really mean? Does it entail any significant divergence from traditional testing of the functional, acceptance, smoke, load and performance requirements? Or does this new world of microservices and APIs require that everything is tested in both development and production? Does testing ever stop? It’s a confusing world out here in the sunlight. Tom Lounibos, CEO of SOASTA, discovered testing in production years ago, almost by accident. “We were running a test for TurboTax eight or nine years ago. When we run these tests, it doesn’t matter where the test is running. They basically gave us the target to test and we were testing it, ramping up to 200,000 virtual concurrent users on this application. Then we hear the voice of God over the phone in this conference room say, ‘Are you running a performance test on the production site?’ We had five guys around the table and we all backed away from the table and said ‘Oh my God! We’re testing a production server,” he recalled. “We realized that testing in a lab behind a firewall is kind of ridiculous in the web era. You can’t replicate the Internet behind the firewall. Add in dependencies on third-party services and it’s impossible. The only real true way of testing today is in production. Seventy percent of our load testing is done in production right now.” Testing. Testing everywhere Things have definitely changed in the world of testing. Antony Edwards, CTO of TestPlant, said, “Three years ago no one ran test scripts against production systems, but now we have many customers ‘testing in production.’ I remember the first time someone came to us with a ‘testing in production’ requirement (though they didn’t call it that). It started as a really awkward call with us not understanding each other because operations guys and test guys use different terminology. Finally I asked them to draw a diagram for us on the whiteboard and suddenly it all became clear. We’re much better talking to operations teams now.” Those initial communications difficulties are not quite gone, either. “But ‘testing in production’ means different things to different people,” Edwards said. “For some people it means running your test scripts continually against the live system as a more sophisticated form of monitoring; but these people are still testing pre-production as well. For other people it means only testing in production, i.e. not really testing, just deploying changes straight after coding (maybe to only a small percentage of users) and seeing if they complain. It’s interesting that the same term is being used to describe what I’d consider to be very mature, and very immature, testing.” Tim Pettersen, senior developer at Atlassian, said that communication issues can be alleviated through the use of proper life-cycle tools. “Testing and version control are tightly intertwined. The best practice is to build and test your code as soon as it’s pushed by a developer,” he said. Ian Buchanan, developer advocate at Atlassian, said, “This is a place where ecosystem stuff helps. Directly, neither Bamboo nor Bitbucket Pipelines are themselves test tools: You run tests from them. You can kick off the builds in a test grid with something like Sauce OnDemand for Bamboo, then outsource to a test service that can test across browsers or across multiple mobile devices.” Adrian Cockroft, technology fellow at Battery Ventures and former cloud architect at Netflix, is partly responsible for popularizing the modern approach to application design. Under his watch at Netflix, the company deployed Chaos Monkey, a tool that randomly destroys online servers, ensuring systems are resilient enough to deal with such a scenario. “I think what’s really happening most recently is the growth of microservices as an architectural pattern. All the monitoring vendors are now booth display-compliant: They all have microservices support on their client. Microservices break the app into small pieces. You need to have a map of those pieces. You need to do end-to-end tracing, like the OpenTracing Project,” said Cockroft. He went on to state that “On top of that, the pieces are changing continuously. You don’t have one version of the system; it’s changing daily, or many times a day in the extreme cases. When you’re trying to figure out what broke in the system, the important part is to have a fine line to the code to figure out what broke.” Risky business Bryce Day, CEO of Catch Software, said that getting to testing in production requires an approach based on risk assessment. “Testing always gets squeezed. It’s always that ambulance at the bottom of the pile. You may start with a month to do testing, and it always gets squeezed down to two weeks. It’s hard to go to management to say ‘We’ve got 1,000 tests, we need time to do them all,’” he said. Day said that management doesn’t understand some arbitrary number of tests. Rather, it understands risk. “To change the conversation, say ‘What’s the risk profile you’re happy to have?’ If it’s a prototype, maybe I’m happy with 50% risk. Then you can put quality assurance guidelines across that project. For a hugely risky project, you might have only a 5% tolerance. In agile, knowing where to allocate resources early is a key component,” he said. Risk can be effectively taken into account if it is considered early. “The other side is people are assigning risk to the requirements and stories, and they’re putting little to no emphasis on the frequency of the processes going through,” said Day. “So risk is the impact times, the probability of occurrence. If you look at HP, you have risk assigned to the impact side. If you’ve done all your test cases, your risk is mitigated. We take a more holistic view. For a rare occurrence test case, why would we test that earlier than a frequent test case for a medium risk?” Wayne Ariola, chief strategy officer of Parasoft, also feels that a risk-based approach to testing can help with testing in production. “Due to agile and more iterative development styles, people have focused from a bottom-up perspective: ‘Are we closing out our user stories associated with testing?’ What they’re asking is, ‘Are you done with a task?’ We have to ask a different question: ‘Is the risk associated with the release candidate acceptable?’” he said. “It’s a massive transformation. They have to understand what this application impacts. If it’s down, if it’s breached, what is the true impact to the business? Most organizations moving toward Continuous Delivery are beginning to realize this is quite interesting. Across the board, we’re seeing the biggest complaint is that the monolithic infrastructure and overhead associated with managing IBM or HP test suites are not allowing them to achieve their agile or Continuous Delivery objectives.” But HPE’s Jeremiah doesn’t think that adding numeric risk tracking to a testing platform is terribly helpful. He said that it’s difficult to get users to input the required information. Rather, he said, building in predictive analytics is the secret to becoming more agile. “People have been trying to do risk-based testing for 20 years,” said Jeremiah. He’s long heard of “the idea of prioritizing requirements with the business, and the impact if it doesn’t work, and [this can be used to figure out risk]. “In my experience, it’s incredibly hard to get people to go through the process of assessing the risk and giving really good input into it. Often, you end up without a good spread. It ends up being very labor-intensive, and a lot of times it never is successful, and they struggle with doing it.” Jeremiah advocated for an automated approach using machine learning to understand risks and issues before they happen. He said HPE is “providing algorithm insight to know what we can know about the data in the system. It’s going to help teams make better decisions. It’s trying to take the unreliable risk assessment scenario, take that out of the equation, and give people the insight they need so they can make better decisions.” At the end of the day, bringing testing in production out of the shadows and into the light is all about establishing methods and a formal approach, instead of just better ways to hide those tests running during open hours. This is becoming par for the course as more and more applications rely on third-party APIs for important functionality. This problem becomes even more difficult when your users are adding their own content to your site at a steady pace. Lubos Parobek, vice president of products at Sauce Labs, said that dynamic websites make for a more complicated testing sequence. “Another thing we’ve seen is some customers have very dynamic websites where users themselves might be adding content or making modifications,” he said. “In some ways all the changes aren’t in the control of whoever is coding the website. In those instances we want to make it so no one can break it, but we want to continually run tests so when there are changes,” problems are caught early, said Parobek. Just how does that get done? He said developers shouldn’t duplicate tests for production use. He said that he “would definitely look through your set of functional test cases and determine which of those are the critical ones: The ones you want to take time to check regularly. Next is how often do you want check that? It could be you don’t push changes often, so you just check when you deploy. Or it could be lots of changes happen all the time. Maybe it makes sense to run those every five minutes.” IBM’s best practices Glyn Rhodes, product manager of IBM Cloud, said that best practices for testing in production are a new way to ensure stability, but he also stated that not every company is ready for it. “It’s important to recognize that only certain testing disciplines are generally suitable for execution in production,” he said in an e-mail to SD Times. “One would seldom execute integration testing in production, for example, as a stable foundation that faithfully represents the technology stack is a prerequisite for production testing. “As ever, it all comes down to risk. Risk in this case can mean a few different things: An IBM customer that creates safety-critical software is very unlikely to risk it; there are laws and regulations to be mindful of. The approach is also best served by a production environment that be controlled, segregated and manipulated at the touch of a button. Cloud and automated deployment play a key part in helping testing to ‘shift right.’ Traditional production environments significantly increase the risk associated with testing in production. “For example, performance testing is a suitable discipline—assuming the right risk profile. In the recent past, this meant baselining, then testing outside of business hours and subsequently manually resetting your environments after every run. Painful stuff. Cloud management and automated deployment tools will help speed up this process, but they don’t fundamentally change the risk profile.” Rhodes has a more creative approach to testing in production, however. “A more creative approach comes in the form of the Dark Launch. Using this method, an IBM customer launches new functionality across a subset of customers/infrastructure,” he said. “This enables them to not only control the risk profile of testing in production, but it extends the types of testing that may be executed. A/B testing provides feedback on preferred functionality, and one can even expect a degree of acceptance testing to be executed in these circumstances. Once confidence has been established, the changes are rolled out further.” So while many organizations may already be testing in production, the movement currently gaining ground in the market isn’t about just blindly doing so. Rather, it’s about adding testing in production to the standard toolbox and treating it like a professional job, instead of a sneaky thing you’re only able to do when the office is empty. Rules of thumb for testing in production According to TestPlant’s Edwards, “The great thing about testing in production is that it’s easy to add and it’s hard to go too wrong. Key things to keep in mind: Consider the load you are putting on your servers. If your servers can handle 1,000 concurrent users and run close to capacity at peak times, don’t run 200 tests at the same time. It may sound unlikely that you’d run 200 tests at the same time, but testing in production is often worried about compatibility (e.g. making sure your website is working on all versions of Firefox, Chrome, etc.), and so it’s actually quite easy to start hitting this number of concurrent tests. Consider the variants you need to test. Once people are able to easily run tests in production against different client variants (e.g. Windows 8.1 with Chrome 51.0), they can go a bit overboard. You probably don’t need to test 10 different versions of Chrome. I’d typically recommend that people look at their audience and test the environments that cover 95% of their users. Similarly, consider the tests you need. It would seem intuitive that more is better, but I’ve seen companies drown themselves in test results so that when a key user flow isn’t working, it gets lost in the noise. In a microservices/cloud architecture, you need to: • Have well-defined APIs on your services. Not just the syntax but the semantics. • Test these APIs. A lot. Happy path, sad path, and not-sure path. • Load test your services. Know when they’ll break, because every service will eventually break. • Test end to end, i.e. from the client application. I think too many people are skipping the last step these days. There seems to be an attitude that by testing each individual component you no longer need to test the system. I sometimes use the analogy of a car: It’s like testing the engine, the brakes, the wheels, and so on separately, but never actually testing if the car can drive.”
2016-08-30 09:00 Alex Handy sdtimes.com
57 Less than a third of organisations prepare for IoT security risks Less than a third of organisations are prepared for security risks associated with devices making up the internet of things (IoT), a survey has revealed. Only 34% of the respondents believe their organisations accurately track the number of IoT devices on their networks, according to the survey by security firm Tripwire that polled more than 220 information security professionals at Black Hat USA 2016 . According to Cisco , the number of connected devices is projected to increase to more than 50 billion by 2020 but, despite their popularity, IoT devices present significant and unique security risks to consumers and businesses. In January 2016, Chema Alonso , global head of security at Telefónica, told Computer Weekly that shadow IT is a big problem in the enterprise, and he predicts that “ shadow IoT ” will become a big problem if enterprises do not build or buy in the capacity to monitor and analyse all devices and services connecting to the corporate network. Arbor Networks reported in June 2016 that distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks have grown both in size and frequency, due in part to the rising number of connected devices . The survey revealed 47% of respondents expect the number of IoT devices on their networks to increase by at least 30% in 2017, while 78% respondents are concerned about the weaponisation of IoT devices in the use of DDoS attacks. However, only 11% of respondents ranked DDoS attacks as being one of the top two security threats being faced by their organisation. The highest proportion of votes went to phishing (22%), followed by cyber espionage (20%) and ransomware (19%). “The internet of things presents a clear weak spot for an increasing number of information security organisations,” said Tim Erlin, senior director of IT security and risk strategy for Tripwire. “As an industry, we need to address the security basics with the growing number of IoT devices in corporate networks. By ensuring these devices are securely configured, patched for vulnerabilities and being monitored consistently, we will go a long way in limiting the risks introduced,” he said. “It wasn’t so long ago that home computer ‘zombie armies’ were the weapon of choice for a lot of cyber attacks and denial of service attacks,” said Dwayne Melancon, chief technology officer and vice-president of research and development for Tripwire. “It seems that security professionals see IoT devices as a sort of ‘zombie appliance army’ that’s worthy of great concern. That makes sense, since many of the current crop of IoT devices were created with low cost as a priority over security, making them easy targets,” he said. The large number of easily compromised devices, said Melancon, will require a new approach if the most critical networks are to be secured. “Organisations must respond with low-cost, automated and highly resilient methods to manage the security risk of these devices successfully at scale,” he said.
2016-08-30 09:00 Security Editor www.computerweekly.com
58 14nm PLUS, Six Notebook SKUs, Desktop coming in January When Intel first announced the shift from the dual-stage ‘Tick-Tock’ methodology that had driven their core CPU design teams for over a decade into the three-way ‘Process, Architecture, Optimization’ paradigm, there were questions as to how much of the final stage, the Optimization, would actually change the way CPUs were presented or offer upgrades in performance. At the time, ‘Kaby Lake’ as the name for Intel’s third crack at their 14nm process was well known, but users wondered if it was just another Devil’s Canyon (better overclocking) or a full on CPU launch. Well the answer is the latter, and the launch is staggered between today and January. Roll on Kaby Lake. Is that Kah-bee Lake, or Kay-bee Lake? Intel’s two year processor cadence of Tick-Tock allowed the company to alternate reducing the lithography node (a tick) with an upgraded microarchitecture (a tock) with modest gains of performance. Each stage of the Tick-Tock would take 12- 15 months, with new lithography nodes taking longer and longer to reach maturity. Eventually it has gotten to a point where 14nm took too long to become pervasive in Intel’s product stack. For a manufacturing company and a CPU company, slowly rolling out Broadwell notebook and low power parts and then gutting the mid-range desktop was the result of the troubles of bringing 14nm to the prime time. Now in 2016 we have the launch of full-sized Broadwell-EP server parts running up to 22 cores in a 145W envelope, but the low power parts are a couple of microarchitectures ahead. We have this strange situation of a stretched landscape, partially driven by markets but also for manufacturing. The move from Intel’s 14nm process to 10nm is a long, slow burn, taking much longer to develop than any process previous. We first saw 14nm in Broadwell mobile CPUs in Q3 of 2014, almost two years ago, and 10nm still isn’t on any public roadmap for early 2017. With the tick-tock strategy, and the launch of Skylake in mid-2015, this would leave Intel without a new CPU launch for almost two years, which is unheard of from Intel. Also, Intel’s partners rely on product cycles to announce and launch new products to generate revenue. To fill the gap, plus with a few other techniques, Intel moved to Process-Architecture-Optimization, or PAO for short. This means three bites of the cherry for 14nm before we see 10nm in prime time. First it was Broadwell, then Skylake, and today Intel is announcing Kaby Lake. As part of the release, Intel has mentioned that a number of key benefits for Kaby Lake will be based on an optimized 14nm process, called 14PLUS (or 14nm+, 14FF+). This process as a quick summary has a higher fin height and larger pitch, essentially giving a less-dense set of transistors that have more room to breathe. Normally a larger pitch means more voltage required, but this is offset by the fin height and Intel says is good for another few hundred MHz for performance. The less-dense design, in theory, may also help in overclocking, however we will have to wait until January to see those results. The reveal today covers several aspects of Kaby Lake. First is the actual SKUs that will be launched, which consist of three Kaby Lake-Y parts around 4.5W aimed at high-end tablets and 2-in-1 devices and three Kaby Lake-U parts at 15W for notebooks. Both sets of KBL-Y and KBL-U CPUs will feature in mini-PCs as well, so we expect to see the usual array of Zotac and ECS announcements in due course. We have details on all six CPUs to give you, including the new Core M branding regime for the 4.5W family of parts. The pre-briefings we have had go into some detail regarding changes in the processor, particularly regarding the new enhanced media blocks inside the GPU to support new encode/decode features. The graphics power, in terms of EUs or the microarchitecture, hasn’t changed but the fixed function hardware has some nice upgrades for an updated version of Gen 9 graphics aimed at the upcoming era of 4K support. Ganesh has gone into detail for us over what that means, especially where power and battery life is concerned for anyone creating/consuming 4K content. Kaby Lake also has an updated Speed Shift package, to accelerate the work already done with Skylake in boosting the performance of the CPU quicker to save power. Intel call it a refinement in the mechanism of handing frequency control back from the OS to the CPU, however ‘Speed Shift v2’ is an adequate moniker to show the upgraded difference. Intel hasn’t gone into much detail regarding the new 14nm+ process itself in terms of specifics, but has listed a number of performance gains that come out of the new CPU. The fundamental microarchitecture between Skylake and the new Kaby Lake parts is practically unchanged (DMI 3.0 now allows PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe drives from the integrated PCH), but the updated fin profile and reduced ‘strain’ by the larger fin pitch is being quoted as giving a 12% performance increase due to process alone, typically through additional frequency for the same power. The main benefits to KBL will be in that frequency due to the 14nm+ process as well as the new media capabilities. As always, Intel consistently emphasizes the difference between a new notebook/2-in-1 based on a 15W Kaby Lake processor compared to a 5- year old device, such one based on a mobile Sandy Bridge ULV part. Intel continually sees its market revolving around new experiences created by new form factors, and to generate revenue requires people to upgrade and decide how these new experiences can influence an upgrade. Intel expects to have over 100 Kaby Lake system designs in the consumer channel by Q4, including 120+ using Thunderbolt 3, 100+ using Windows Hello (either via a Real Sense camera or a fingerprint sensor), 50+ designs with 4K UHD as a primary feature and 25+ designs with contact enabled pens. Kaby Lake should be pin compatible with Skylake based designs, meaning that for a number of cases we will simply see a drop in, but others will have new design IDs on show.
2016-08-30 09:00 Ian Cutress www.anandtech.com
59 Anthropics Technology LandscapePro review For many photographers, spending as much time as possible out in the field shooting is preferable to spending hours sitting in front of a computer editing their images. Powerful but easy-to-use software packages are always an attractive option when it comes to speeding up your workflow, and this is exactly what Anthropics Technology aims to offer with LandscapePro. LandscapePro is designed to be used by beginners and experienced photographers alike, and its makers claim that no previous experience of image editing is required in order to achieve great results in seconds. The software aims to cover all the key areas of landscape image processing. You can replace skies using a number of preset options, or load your own images for a custom result. Then there's landscape relighting, 3D depth estimation, distance controls and a depth-of-field simulator, which enables you to control the depth of field in images. Most of these adjustments can be targeted to specific parts of images, with one-click presets and manual control. Two versions of LandscapePro are available for Mac and PC: Standard (£29.95/$39.95) and Studio (£49.95/$59.95). The main differences between them are that the Studio version can read Raw and DNG files, can read and write 16-Bit TIFFs, and works as a plug-in for Photoshop, Elements and Lightroom among others. Deciding which version will be best for you really comes down to whether you need these key features or not. At the time of writing both versions are available for half price. The welcome screen is simply laid out, with options to open one of your own images, open an example image, view tutorial videos online, or get help and feedback. Clicking 'Open image' takes you to the File Explorer, where you can select you image. The interface as a whole is well laid out and generally intuitive, although beginners may be just as daunted looking at all the controls on offer as they would with other programmes when they reach the adjustments. But five minutes of experimentation will familiarise you with what's on offer. With an image selected you then need to label the elements of the image – and this is where editing with LandscapePro quickly becomes different to editing in other software. You have to drag labels from the main panel onto the different elements of your image, such as the sky, grass, ground, object, rocks, person and sand. At first this feels rather odd, but once you click 'Continue' everything becomes clear. The on-screen hints at each step guide you through the editing process. The reason for the labelling is so that masks can be applied to specific parts of the image, enabling localised adjustments to be made. For the most part, adjusting masks requires nothing more than a left mouse-click and drag, but there are times where a little more care and attention is necessary. There are two tools to aid with complex objects that overlap into the sky: Object In Sky and Tree & Sky. These brushes enable you to brush over the object to separate the two masks. These are both very effective – on very close inspection you may find small discrepancies, but overall they're very impressive. There are a number of other tools that also aid with masking to help you achieve the best result possible. While the process of creating masks is simple – you just click and drag and the software intelligently identifies objects, and it's certainly much quicker that performing a similar task in Photoshop – it can still be frustrating and time-consuming. It's worth spending time refining a mask, because if your image has complex overlapping areas a poor selection will ruin some of the effects that can be applied. With the masks in place it's then possible to apply global and localised adjustments to the different zones you've created within the image. This is where masking problems will reveal themselves, and if necessary you can go back to make adjustments to the mask. Each area of the image will display a dropdown panel with a range of adjustments available; among other things you can replace the sky, relight the image, change the time of day, alter the depth of field and even add fog. And it's so easy to do all of these things and more. The most important thing is to not overcook your images – it's all too easy to get carried away. While this software won't appeal to everyone, Anthropics Technology has done an impressive job. Its masking features are intelligent and powerful, and arguably the most effective semi-automated solution around. For the most part the masks are fairly reliable, but problems can occur when you're working with images featuring complex areas of overlapping elements; the software can struggle to make accurate masks, and the process of refining them can be fiddly. For beginners and enthusiasts, LandscapePro provides the power and confidence to make dramatic adjustments to landscape shots with ease. Overall it's a powerful piece of software, and one that we hope will be improved over time to make the masking process easier and more effective. LandscapePro certainly won't break the bank – and you can always download the trial version before taking the plunge. Do take a look, because this may be the missing link in your landscape photography editing workflow – or the link you never even knew was missing.
2016-08-30 09:00 By James feedproxy.google.com
60 Samsung Galaxy S8: release date and everything you should know The Samsung Galaxy S7 was almost everything we hoped for, with improvements throughout leading it to be one of the most powerful, stylish and all round accomplished smartphones on the market. But there's still room for improvement and it's low on innovation, so we have a wish list for what we want to see from the Samsung Galaxy S8. We'd also love to hear what you think, so let us know in the comments below and we'll furiously email them to Samsung. The phone won't be launching for a long time yet, but that just means Samsung should have time to implement some of our suggestions. Here's hoping it listens. We're also collecting all the rumors and news about the phone, along with our own educated guesses, so read on for all the latest on Samsung's upcoming flagship. It's too early to get too specific about release dates, but the Samsung Galaxy S8 is certain to launch in early 2017, since the beginning of the year is typically when Samsung rolls out its new flagships. The last couple of years the brand has shown off the phone the day before Mobile World Congress starts, with MWC 2017 set to kick off on 27 February... meaning a Galaxy S8 release date of February 26. In terms of when you'll be able to fondle it for the first time, expect a two week wait - so March 13 is our best guess there. The trickle of information on the Samsung Galaxy S8 is slowly growing into a stream, but we're still waiting for strong rumors on what actual components and design we might see - but we're able to take a very good guess. We've divided our thoughts up into sections below, but likely highlights include a 4K screen, a Snapdragon 830 processor, 6GB of RAM and a massively improved camera. There's even a chance that the Samsung Galaxy S8 will have an iris scanner or a foldable screen, though the latter is somewhat less likely. Samsung is making a big push into VR with its Gear VR headset and one thing it really needs to make the most of that is sharp screens on its phones. QHD, as we have on the Samsung Galaxy S7, is more than sharp enough for using it as a phone but it's not quite up to scratch for VR, so it's likely Samsung will push the resolution up for the Samsung Galaxy S8, perhaps as high as 4K. Even without the lure of VR a sharper screen wouldn't be surprising, as a couple of generations of Galaxy devices have now had QHD ones, so Samsung is likely to want to push the resolution up further for the Galaxy S8 - and show it's MUCH more sharp than the 720p iPhone 7 . Credit: UploadVR In fact, the company has already shown off a 5.5-inch 2160 x 3840 screen, which comes in at a pin sharp 806 pixels per inch. There's no guarantee the Samsung Galaxy S8 will get this screen, but it's clearly been designed for premium mobile devices and phones don't get much more premium than the S8. Not only has Samsung developed such a screen, but according to Chinese sources speaking to WCCF Tech , the company specifically plans to equip the Galaxy S8 with a UHD display. They don't specify who the source is though, so take this with a pinch of salt. Samsung is also putting a lot of work into curved screens, and a recent comment from Samsung Mobile President Dong-jin Koh claimed: "Samsung has considered that it would make the edge display the identity of the Galaxy S smartphone lineup. " So that sound like we might not actually get the Samsung Galaxy S8 Edge at all, and the Galaxy S8 will be a single curved variant only. But it might go one further and give us a foldable phone, especially as prototypes and patents for such a device already exist. In fact, it's rumored that the company will launch a folding phone in 2017, but it's unlikely to risk attaching the untested tech to its flagship - unless that's what the new S8 Edge becomes. The screen size could also change. While Samsung won't want to encroach on its Galaxy Note phablet range the 5.1-inch Galaxy S7 is one of the smaller flagships around right now and significantly smaller than even the 5.5-inch Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge which launched alongside it. Given that it recently showed off a 5.5-inch 4K display that could be the size the S8 comes in. There's also the Always On Display (AOD), a feature that debuted with the Galaxy Note 7. This feature has been hugely improved on the new Note, with more pictures added to the mix and a richer display hanging about on the phone when it's turned off. Future updates to the AOD mean that it should become even richer for the Galaxy S8, with third parties able to add their own widgets to the screen. Samsung recently added a music player onto this area, so it's highly likely third parties like Spotify will be able to do the same thing by February next year. Also, if you look at what's been offered on the Galaxy Note 7 , with the icons pictured above, you'll realize there's more to come from the AOD from Samsung. Samsung is on to something with the design of the Galaxy S6 and now the Galaxy S7. Its melding of metal and glass has led to one of the most attractive handsets around, so we don't expect huge changes there. On the other hand, people like to see changes, so at the very least the design will probably be refined. Samsung slightly curved the back edge of the Galaxy S7, so perhaps it will make the Galaxy S8 even more curved, so it sits even more comfortably in the hand, like the HTC One M9. Or maybe it will focus on making the phone thinner. And a completely new design is always possible, but if it does have one it could take almost any form. Well, any form that's basically a rectangle anyway. Samsung is said to be working on a new camera , which will be between 18 and 24MP and have a wide f/1.4 aperture, where the Samsung Galaxy S7 has a narrower f/1.7 one. That extra width could allow more light in and the jump in megapixel count could allow for more detailed images, though while Samsung is apparently working on this camera it hasn't been specifically linked to the Galaxy S8 yet. Another rumor, this time from Chinese sources speaking to WCCF Tech , points to a dual-lens camera. It's not clear what role the second lens would play, but the sources claim it's being built by Samsung Motors (Semco). It's too early to say how accurate this rumor is, but with the Huawei P9 , LG G5 and possibly the iPhone 7 Plus packing dual cameras it's seemingly the latest trend, so wouldn't be surprising. There's no word on what size battery the Samsung Galaxy S8 will have, but hopefully the company won't reverse the good work it's done on the S7, which has better life than the S6 before it. The Galaxy S7 has a 3000mAh juice pack and with any luck the battery in the S8 will be even larger, or at least more efficient. It might need to be if Samsung pushes the screen resolution up. Samsung is also apparently working on a 'Smart Glow' feature , which would take the form of a ring of LEDs around the rear camera, which can flash in different colors for different types of notifications and even light up when they detect your face, so you can more easily take a selfie with the main camera. The Snapdragon 830 isn't official yet, but it has been rumored and is the likely name for the next major flagship smartphone chip from Qualcomm. It's likely to be faster, smaller and more efficient than the Snapdragon 820 – or at least those are all areas Qualcomm is likely to try and improve. That said, Samsung also makes its own Exynos chips and with the Galaxy S7 some regions got those and others got the Snapdragon 820, so the same may happen with the Galaxy S8, but whatever chip it comes with you can be sure it will be cutting edge, as the company usually puts the best tech in its flagships. That extra power will really come in handy if Samsung plans to put a 4K screen on the Galaxy S8 or use it for high-end VR content - our betting is that both Samsung's and Qualcomm's chips will be heavily focused around making VR the best experience it can possibly be, which will be a boon for Gear VR wearers. If we take the Galaxy Note 7 as an example, we'll certainly be seeing 4GB of RAM in there - although whether or not the 6GB variant lands in China could influence whether the Samsung Galaxy S8 will have mega amounts of RAM too. We could also see an iris scanner in the phone, as Samsung has been spotted importing iris scanning modules and has registered trademarks for "Samsung Iris" and "Samsung Eyeprint". And now that feature has landed on the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 - the question is whether this will appear on the Galaxy S8, as it doesn't really add a lot beyond a 'hyper' level of security that some people would need on the Note 7, given it's part enterprise device. Will that make it to the S8? It seems possible, but it'll be a less useful feature if it does. That 'Smart Glow' feature has popped up again and been outlined in more detail, with additional functions such as heart rate readings and lighting up in different colors to represent different weather conditions apparently likely to be added to later versions of it. Other than those features, a reversible USB Type-C connector is likely now it's appeared in the Galaxy Note 7, and Samsung is likely to continue offering the features its flagships are known for, like a fingerprint scanner, an always-on screen (with enhancements), a microSD card slot and a waterproof body.
2016-08-30 08:57 By James feedproxy.google.com
61 Microsoft delays Outlook.com upgrade For a long while now, Microsoft has slowly been rolling out the revamped version of Outlook.com, and some consternation was recently caused when an error message suggested some users might not get the overhauled version of the webmail service until next year – although Microsoft has clarified that this isn't the case. This was all prompted by an error that popped up when some users tried to share their Outlook calendar with others, which talked about the upgrade of Outlook.com accounts and said the process wouldn't be finished until the "first half of 2017". Microsoft was quick to point out that this error message's assertion is, in fact, a mistake. The company told the Register : "The error message incorrectly stated the date as the first half of 2017; we're updating this message to reflect the latest migration schedule. We are in the final stages of the Outlook.com migration, with nearly 90% of our active users already migrated. " So no one will have to wait until next year, apparently – but that final 10% of users will have to hold on for some time longer, with Redmond not clarifying exactly how long. Microsoft had previously promised that everyone would be migrated over to the new Outlook.com by the end of summer at the latest, so that clearly isn't going to happen. In its most recent statement, Redmond explained that a small percentage of users would take longer to receive the upgrade due to some of the features they're using, such as shared calendars. The new Outlook.com boasts a redesigned interface, and introduces a number of features from Office 365 , such as the ability to take flight confirmation emails and add the relevant travel plans to your calendar automatically. There are certainly some neat and clever touches with the revamp, although adjusting to the new UI may take a little time. Article continues below
2016-08-30 08:53 By Darren feedproxy.google.com
62 We're not saying it's aliens, but we've definitely found a signal from space It has emerged that last year, at the RATAN-600 radio telescope in the far south of Russia, astronomers received a strange signal. It came from the direction of HD164595 - a star about 95 light years away from Earth in the constellation of Hercules. The star is almost exactly the same size as our Sun and we know it has at least one planet, possibly more. The signal itself was strong - strong enough that if it has been broadcast in all directions then it must have come from a Kardashev Type II civilisation. That number refers to the Kardashev scale - a method for measuring a civilisation's level of technological advancement. A type-II civilisation is far more advanced than ours. Alternatively, if the signal had been carefully aimed at Earth, then it isn't unrealistic it could have come from a type I civilisation - roughly equivalent to our own. News of the signal came through the Centauri Dreams website , which covers peer-reviewed research related to deep space exploration. "No one is claiming that this is the work of an extraterrestrial civilization, but it is certainly worth further study," wrote Paul Gilster, who runs the site. "But the signal is provocative enough that the RATAN-600 researchers are calling for permanent monitoring of this target. " Alternative explanations include light from a bright stellar object being squeezed by a quirk of gravity as it passes another object in space, or testing by the Russian military. The noise was heard in a part of the spectrum known to be used by the military. The SETI foundation, meanwhile, has turned its own telescope to the same source - though hasn't yet been able to find it. The search will, no doubt, continue. Article continues below
2016-08-30 08:37 By Duncan feedproxy.google.com
63 Executive interview: Expanding banking through APIs Western Union is in the business of moving money for people. It runs a cash network across 500,000 locations around the world. Khalid Fellahi, general manager of Western Union Digital Ventures, says the business is aimed at migrants and global citizens, helping them to move money across country borders. It operates a network of high-street outlets for currency transactions and, according to Fellahi, has gained brand awareness around the world. “Traditionally, the customer was a migrant who moved abroad and would send money back home,” he says. This is Western Union’s cash-to-cash business. People go to a Western Union outlet either to receive funds in local currency or to send cash abroad, enabling the recipient, such as a relative, to collect the money in their local currency. Fellahi says Western Union uses retail-oriented technology to collect and disperse funds and make money settlements across borders and currencies. His ambition is to enable customers to do business with Western Union across any channel. For example, more affluent customers, along with the need to move money across borders, also wanted to move money into a foreign bank account, he says. Typically, such customers are more tech savvy and want to interact with Western Union via their smartphones and laptops. Messaging services represent another customer touchpoint, says Fellahi, with many Western Union customers using messaging platforms such as Viber. “We built a pilot with Viber,” he says. “When a customer sends a message, our services are built in, enabling them to send money via the messaging service. It is about being everywhere in the cash world.”
2016-08-30 08:19 Managing Editor www.computerweekly.com
64 Fulton Works Founder: Making The Switch From Music To IT A few years ago, Brent Sanders was a professional trombone player. He was getting regular gigs in Chicago and playing frequently with well-known jam band Umphrey's McGee. There was only one real problem. He was working hard, looking at an arduous career path, and seeing over the horizon a group of choices, none of which left him feeling particuarly happy. Then he found coding. In a telephone interview, Sanders -- who ended up founding the software development company that became Fulton Works -- told InformationWeek, "I went into my undergrad studies fully intending to be a musician or work at a label. Then Napster flattened the labels and practicing was hard to stay diligent about. " For professional musicians, the general rule of thumb is to practice your craft for two- to three-hours hours a day to avoid losing skill. If you want to improve, you plan on spending four or more hours every day in the practice room. [ If your projects include IoT, do you know how to build a framework for success? Read 10 Tips For Successful IoT Projects . ] Looking for a way to make his local profile more prominent, Sanders began working on a website. He said he soon "...found myself coding more and more and finally found myself coding more than practicing. " Around the time that coding took over his working hours, he made another discovery. "I found out you could make money at it. Around 2002, I was charging beer money to build websites," he said. "It was a time in our society when people were beginning to adopt the web, and it was then I found I could earn a living at it. " Sanders decided making a career in development meant committing to the work, so he left Chicago and moved to New York City, where 10 years ago he founded the company now known as Fulton Works. "I was there for a couple of years and found that I couldn't scale the business because it was just too expensive," he said. So, he moved back to Chicago and hired the first programmers for his burgeoning firm. He also began to move his company toward the specialty for which it would become known. "At first we would do anything in web or mobile that people would pay us for," Sanders said. "Now we're focusing on new initiatives -- we don't want to take on anything old. " Along the way, Sanders found many of the lessons he had learned working in a band were transferrable to his work as a programmer and manager. "Be on time. Work on your reputation," he said. "If you're not a good hang, a good player, or just don't get along with the group, you won't get the call back. " The bottom line for both careers is the same. Sander said. "I treated coding as a reputation business, just like being a musician is. " As for the hands-on skills needed in the company, Sanders again falls back on his music experience as guidance for himself and his team. "Number one is that you have to practice. Even if you know your stuff you have to be practicing," he said. "We look for people who are practicing on the weekends or at night -- not working, but progressing, not leaning on the same old licks again and again. " When it comes to the team, Sanders also looks for the magic of chemistry. For him, being a good team member isn't optional. It's a critical ingredient for success. "Working in a group is another thing. I'm not the best manager in the world, but I've gotten better at pulling a team together and shipping a product," he said. The need for improvement, he said, is simple. "You're not going to stop halfway through and not ship the product: The show must go on. " The "show" Fulton Works specializes in tends to be high speed and high pressure. Sanders said the development discipline used by the group has been adapted to fit that environment. "We call it 'scrum-fall,'" he said. "We work for clients and we need approvals, so it's hard to go fully agile. " The modifications to agile aren't because Sanders doesn't trust the methodology. It's a question of customer comfort level. "We do have some clients that let us do that, and we get good results," he said. The specific methodology chosen for a particular project is a result of experience with development and the client, said Sanders. Fulton Works spends time working on the methodology from the beginning of a client engagement. He likened it to a musician's ongoing practice, even when days are filled with performance. You must, he said, have faith the time invested will pay off in improved performance. As for the tools Sanders' firm uses, he said they reflect the nature of the work to be done. "We work in dynamic situations. There's almost [always] some complexity around what we're doing that helps make it interesting," he said. "We're a big open source shop. We like Python, Ruby. We're getting into React. It expresses things in a really clean and beautiful way. We also do a lot of iOS development in Swift and Object C. We're also getting into Go for simple, repeatable tasks. " As with the methodology, Fulton Works' choice of tools is project-based. "Our projects don't really require high speed, high scale right off the bat," he said, "That's our sweet spot. We're the people you bring in when you want to get something up in three weeks, not when you want to re-platform a 4-year- old product. "
2016-08-30 08:06 Curtis Franklin www.informationweek.com
65 10 ways to make your crowdfunding campaign a hit Crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo have been a boon to startups and business owners looking to raise money, and interest, for new products. Kickstarter alone has raised over $2.5 billion for more than 110,000 projects from over 11.3 million backers – and Indiegogo isn’t far behind. But as anyone who has tried crowdfunding will tell you, for every successful campaign there are many that miss the mark. So what steps can you take to help insure your Kickstarter or Indiegogo project is a success, even after the campaign ends? Following are 10 tips from crowdfunding experts. “Before you launch your [project] page, do some research to find what audiences will be most receptive to your category,” says David M. Burrows, cofounder, Martin+Michael Agency. “Are they gamers? Developers? Tiny house fanatics? Stay at home moms? Find out who your project's audience and users will be and target them in advance via bloggers, social media and [media outreach].” “Make a really fantastic Kickstarter [or Indiegogo] video that distills down your core message – why should your audience care about your Kickstarter?” says Lindsey Handley, COO, ThoughtSTEM , whose most recent, most successful Kickstarter campaign , for an educational video game, CodeSpells, raised $164,000. “People like to invest in stories,” says Heather McCarthy of Someone Special Uniquely Personalized Books , which ran a Kickstarter campaign with a goal of $15,000 and raised $18,785. So don’t make a boring product video. Instead, tell a story, and have the founder or creator appear in the video, to give it a more personal or authentic feel. Also, “keep videos short and to the point. Videos that are too long should be broken into multiple videos,” she says. “We spent a great amount of time putting a video together: story boarding, working with a director and filming a full day with professional cameramen and equipment,” says Garrett Gustafson, founder, edlee , which makes bamboo and wood sunglasses. “We were able to call in a lot of favors to get it done for a relatively inexpensive price,” and it was well worth it, he reports. The project raised $50,000 in just five weeks. “The most successful campaigns all have one thing in common: a professional, well thought-out profile page outlining specifically what they are attempting to accomplish, why they need help and why it's going to be hit,” says Burrows. “The elements include a brief but compelling pitch video, pictures and or drawings of the thing you're crowdfunding [and] good copy that tells a story.” “People are wary of … paying in advance for a product that isn't even in production yet,” says Avi Goldstein, CEO, StatGear , which sells rescue and survival gear. “Provide as many close-up and lifestyle images as possible so people will really understand what you've made and include drawings identifying the exact specs and details.” “If you think your product will take four months to produce and ship to your backers, then leave room for the unexpected and put five months down as the expected ship date,” Goldstein says. “No one enjoys getting a reward shipped late, but they'll love receiving one early.” “So many funded projects come unstuck when problems with shipping or manufacturing delay the process,” says David Kiriakidis, digital marketing executive, Fleximize , which provides flexible business loans. By ensuring that your fulfillment process is nailed down before launch, “you’ll be rewarded with an engaged customer base, and, even better, [happy customers and] referrals.” “Crowdfunding promotion is the catalyst that [can] make the difference between success and failure,” says Howard Sherman, managing member, CrowdFundBuzz . “You can get everything right – the perfect product at the perfect price coupled with a Hollywood-quality pitch video and all kinds of guarantees of delivering on time – but all of that is irrelevant if nobody knows your campaign exists. “Crowdfunders need to ditch the ‘build it and they will come’ mentality,” he says. “Nobody can come to your Kickstarter or Indiegogo if they have no way of knowing it exists.” “It’s imperative to have a strategy that can activate as many networks as possible prior to the campaign’s launch to help drive sales,” says Neil D’Souza, CEO, Mass Fidelity , which raised over $1.5 million during its crowdfunding campaign for its wireless speaker, The Core . “Ask friends and family to commit to purchase the product on Day 1; showcase the product to the media under embargo so their articles drive traffic to the campaign in the first week; and tease the launch [on your] social networks in order to excite your following.” “Crowdfunding success on day 1 largely depends on building a robust email list,” says Gabe Grifoni, cofounder & CEO, Rufus Labs , whose Rufus Cuff, a hands-free, wearable device, raised nearly half a million dollars through Indiegogo. “Drive your target consumer to a simple product landing page using Facebook, Instagram and Google Ads to educate your audience and encourage them to sign up for news about your campaign. Email lists statistically have the highest conversion rates, 3 to 5 percent, so the bigger the list, the bigger the launch day contributions.” “From answering questions to replying to comments to posting updates and adding additional content (media, stretch goals, etc.), serious crowdfunders cultivate their crowdfunding campaign every single day in the same way and for the same reason a farmer works his land,” says Sherman. “Since many hardware crowdfunding projects in the past few years turned into vaporware, turning off backers, we wanted to be very transparent about the risks and our progress,” says Anthony Pu, founding partner & CRO, Mighty , a music streaming device. “Backers appreciate transparency. We were also extremely responsive to comments and messages, which backers also appreciate. Even to the rude, negative comments, we remained professional and positive in our responses. After the campaign ended, we've continued to update our backers at least once a month to keep them excited and in the loop on our progress.” “Because Kickstarter projects don’t just stop when they hit their goal, it is vital to prepare for your goal being exceeded,” says Kiriakidis. “Create [or at least think about] stretch goals beforehand, which will enable you to keep your existing backers (and potential backers) interested once your target has been reached.” “A big mistake we saw in the past were projects hitting goals and offering unattainable stretch goals,” says Pu. “While we wanted to do really cool stuff, we were realistic and made sure the stretch goal we announced was possible and cost effective. Instead of adding crazy features, we added a second color wave, which people had been requesting and was not a huge cost for us,” he adds. “Our backers were happy with the announcement and we hit our stretch goal and will be able to fulfill it.” “We decided to extend our campaign via Indiegogo InDemand to satiate the appetite of early adopters who loved our product, but didn’t have a chance to back Bagel Labs during our Kickstarter initiative,” said Soohong Park, CEO of Bagel Labs . “Prior to launching on Indiegogo InDemand, we received several messages from customers asking where they could buy a Bagel [billed as ‘the world’s smartest tape measure’] since they missed the chance to donate on Kickstarter. We wanted to leverage Indiegogo’s community pool to meet the needs of as many consumers as possible in a short period of time.”
2016-08-30 07:35 Jennifer Lonoff www.itnews.com
66 Laptop speed boost: Blazing-fast SSDs are expected to overtake hard drives by 2018 Everybody figures that SSD drives are the future for internal PC storage, but that future might be coming faster than you realize. The TrendForce-owned market research firm DRAMeXchange says SSD adoption by laptop makers is set to surpass 33 percent—a full third of the market—by the end of the year. The firm also predicts that SSDs in new notebook models could reach 50 percent or higher in 2018. That’s a big jump considering SSDs only accounted for 25 percent of the global notebook market in 2015. DRAMeXchange credits better sales in the second quarter of 2016 for the increase in SSD notebook market adoption. For one thing, hard drives are noticeably slower than SSD drives. SSDs are also lighter and thinner than hard drives—especially in M.2 form factors. Hard drives still have their place, however. Spinning drives can offer more storage at a dramatically cheaper price. That’s a great advantage for anyone who needs a lot of storage space, from major data centers to home users with a NAS drive. There’s also an argument that hard drives are more resilient than SSDs, but informal tests in recent years suggest there is more myth than reality to that claim. Plus, as any longtime PC user will tell you, all drives fail—including hard drives. That’s not to say SSDs don’t have their problems. We’ve talked about a variety of them, including TLC’s write performance , quirky environmental issues , and the reality of SSD and data retention. Even with its various problems, SSDs are still the best way to breathe new life into an aging PC , and should be at the top of the must-have list for anyone buying a new laptop. 2016-08-30 07:19 Ian Paul www.itnews.com
67 New ransomware threat deletes files from Linux web servers A destructive ransomware program deletes files from web servers and asks administrators for money to return them, though it's not clear if attackers can actually deliver on this promise. Dubbed FairWare, the malicious program is not the first ransomware threat to target Linux-based web servers but is the first to delete files. Another program called Linux. Encoder first appeared in November and encrypted files, but did so poorly, allowing researchers to create recovery tools. After attackers hack a web server and deploy FairWare, the ransomware deletes the entire web folder and then asks for two bitcoins (around $1,150) to restore them, Lawrence Abrams, the founder of tech support forum BleepingComputer.com, said in a blog post . In the ransom note left on the server, attackers claim that before being deleted from the targeted server, the files were first encrypted and uploaded to another server under their control. "We are the only ones in the world that can provide your files for you! " the ransom note reads. The payment must be made within two weeks, the note says. There is no evidence yet that attackers actually have copies of the deleted files, so users should think twice before paying. The ransom note includes a contact email address but says questions like "can I see files first? " will be ignored. Many server operators may decide not to pay because websites typically have backup routines in place. Many web hosting providers also include daily or weekly backups as part of their service. Webmasters who run their own web servers should keep in mind that backups must be saved to an offsite location, not on the production server where they can be affected by a potential server compromise. Even with backups available, a ransomware infection should be cause for concern and should prompt the server administrator to investigate the weakness that allowed the server incident to occur in the first place. Possible causes include vulnerabilities in the website or stolen administrative credentials.
2016-08-30 07:17 Lucian Constantin www.infoworld.com
68 6 Reasons Hackathons Are Good For IT Companies have a variety of options for building camaraderie. And while lavish parties or paintball outings may suit some organizations, IT groups should give serious consideration to holding a hackathon. IT workers have some affinity for machines, after all. That's why they got into the business. Some IT pros may be garrulous extroverts who shine in social situations, but others may be just as happy to write Smalltalk as to make small talk, even if today they're probably more conversant in modern languages like JavaScript or Python. Hackathons make geeks happy, and IT managers could do worse than to put a smile on the face of their employees. But more to the point, those in IT can help their organization do better through hackathons. For example, to help encourage developers to use its payment APIs and to engage the developer community, MasterCard last year held its Masters of Code hackathon , a series of 13 regional hacking events that took place in various cities around the globe. Sebastien Taveau, chief developer evangelist for MasterCard's Open API group, told InformationWeek at the time, "When you make yourself available to entrepreneurs, you make yourself available to innovation. " In two months, Capital One Canada is holding its Gift the Code hackathon to create software projects that help charities. In a blog post , Gabriel Couture, manager at hackathon events firm Hackworks, explains how hackathons have become more relevant to a broader set of organizations in recent years. "For most its two decade long history, hackathons were understood as the domain of hackers, bro-coders, techies and startups," he said. "Over the last five or so years, this has changed rather dramatically, but the present-day popular understanding of the term still belies its broad potential as a tool for promoting creativity, community development, and problem solving. " Other upcoming hackathons include the U. S. Bank Small Business Hackathon , Women in Tech Demo Day , and many others. Events like these go beyond strengthening group cohesion. They open organizations to new possibilities and new ways of thinking. [See 5 IT Talent, Staffing Fails To Avoid .] Nausheen Ali, VP of marketing and communications at AngelHack, another hackathon hosting organization, recommends holding hacking events in frontier markets. "Coding has given the global community a way to connect beyond the physicality of political and economic walls and nowhere is the power of code more tangible than in the occupied territories of Gaza and Ramallah," she said in a blog post. "For a real-life primer on how to hack your way out of every possible life limitation go to Gaza and Ramallah and I promise you will leave with much more than with what you entered. " What might that be? Here are a few of the possible benefits of hackathons for companies and IT organizations.
2016-08-30 07:06 Thomas Claburn www.informationweek.com
69 IDF 2016, Alloy, Joule, Broxton, and AMD Zen Today’s podcast covers the show known as the Intel Developer Forum, or IDF for short. IDF is an annual event focusing on new Intel technologies and product visions, showcasing what is new from small maker-like ‘Internet of Things’ devices all the way up to server platforms and everything in- between. Ian and Ryan were at the show, with plenty of meetings on tap. We found some time to put our thoughts on the announcements in a microphone. iTunes RSS - mp3 , m4a Direct Links - mp3 , m4a Total Time: 47 minutes 57 seconds Outline mm:ss 00:00 - Start 01:20 - Intel IDF Keynote 01:40 - Project Alloy, Untethered VR 08:13 - Intel Joule IoT Platform 15:35 - Intel Broxton SoC 20:50 - Knights Landing 22:15 - Knights Mill 25:20 - AMD Zen 37:40 - AMD Naples 47:57 - FIN IDF 2016 Keynote Live Blog Intel Announces Project Alloy: Untethered Augmented Reality in a VR Headset Intel Unveils Joule: A High- Performance Atom-Powered IOT Module and Maker Kit More Details on Broxton: Quad Core, ECC, Up to 18 EUs of Gen 9 Intel Announces Knights Mill: A Xeon Phi for Deep Learning AMD Zen Microarchitecture Part 1: Micro-op Cache, Schedulers and Memory Hierarchy AMD Zen Microarchitecture Part 2: Extracting ILP, More Juicy Details AMD Zen Server CPU and Motherboard Breakdown: 2P for Q2 2017 Unpacking AMD's Zen Benchmark: Is Zen actually 2% Faster than Broadwell?
2016-08-30 07:00 Ian Cutress www.anandtech.com
70 Kwikset's second-gen Kevo touch smart lock makes playing well with others a priority It looks like Kwikset isn’t about to make the same mistake twice. On Tuesday, the company released the second generation of its innovative Kevo lock, this time making Internet and smart home connectivity a top priority. The original Kevo lock dazzled with its ”touch to open” functionality when it debuted in 2013, which worked through a Bluetooth connection to your phone and tech from Unikey Technologies. There was one big problem, though: it was worthless without your phone nearby, or unless the visitor at your door had the associated app installed.
2016-08-30 06:32 Ed Oswald www.itnews.com
71 Why your home theater PC still can't stream 4K Ultra HD video Let’s say you’ve connected both a high- end gaming PC and an inexpensive streaming video-streaming box to your 4K television. Which one do you think would be capable of streaming 4K video from sources like Netflix? If you guessed the PC, you’d be wrong. Although several online video services now support 4K Ultra HD playback, including Netflix, Amazon, and Vudu, they’ve yet to extend 4K streaming to the PC. That means home theater PC owners are stuck with inferior movie and TV show quality compared to much cheaper streaming boxes such as the Amazon Fire TV , Roku 4 , and Nvidia Shield Android TV. The reasons why streaming services like Netflix and Amazon support 4K (and the emerging HDR format) on PC are complicated; but in large part, they trace back to copy protection and Hollywood’s desire to keep 4K locked down at all costs. And while premium 4K content is coming to the PC soon, you’ll probably need new hardware to see it. Hollywood studios have always worried about digital piracy, but they’re especially skittish about 4K. The fear is that pirates could simply hook up the playback source to a video capture device, and help themselves to DRM-free copies of high-resolution content. “If you were able to analog-capture the 4K content, you could very easily create very high quality HD streams, and now the Internet bandwidth is high enough is that you could abundantly stream that stuff,” says Avni Rambhia, an analyst with Frost and Sullivan. “What you don’t want is for 4K to become an easy source of leaked content.” Streaming services such as Netflix aren’t supporting 4K on PCs just yet. In an attempt to keep their 4K content locked down, the studios demand all sorts of security measures that didn’t apply to lower-resolution formats. To play 4K content on a TV or an external monitor, for instance, both the playback device and the display must support HDCP 2.2 , a form of copy protection for HDMI video output. Compared to game consoles and other streaming boxes, general computing devices (such as Windows PCs) have even more stringent requirements, including hardware-based decryption for protected content. In essence, the hardware must create a secure environment for the entire video pipeline—from decryption to decoding to screen composition—to protect the content from software ripping. “General purpose computing devices can have all kinds of software running on them, and these other devices can’t run all kinds of software on them. And so the security expectations around those devices are naturally different,” says Gabe Frost, the executive director of Alliance for Open Media, a group that’s working on new royalty-free video formats. (His day job is principal engineering manager of the Media Platform for Microsoft’s Windows and Devices Group.) That’s not to say the PC is inherently less secure than other devices. But setting up a secure environment requires a lot of pieces to fall into place. Even with the right hardware support, the operating system must know how to manage those resources, and it must convey to the streaming service that the environment is secure. This is accomplished through a DRM license, which tends to be offered by the device or operating system. In Windows, for instance, Microsoft has a system called PlayReady 3.0 that meets all of the studios’ requirements for 4K UHD playback. This system looks at the hardware to make sure all the necessary measures are in place, and it then gives the thumbs-up to the streaming app. Streaming services like Netflix just won't bother sending down 4K content without that go-ahead, according to Rambhia. The service provider is ultimately responsible for upholding the studios’ security requirements when offering 4K playback; failure to do so can result in fines and other penalties. “If they [the service provider] can’t be sure that there’s a protected hardware path, or they can’t be sure that X-Y-Z will happen, typically they’re allowed to send SD content or 720p HD, but not 1080p HD, and certainly not 4K,” Rambhia says. A lot of these moving parts are only now starting to come together. Microsoft, for instance, just enabled PlayReady 3.0 with the Windows 10 Anniversary Update. Nvidia’s Pascal-series GPUs (video cards in Nvidia's GTX 10-series and its Titan X) support hardware decryption of protected 4K video along with HDCP 2.2 across the entire line. Intel already supports hardware decryption in its 6th-generation Core processors (Skylake), and is building on that support in its upcoming 7th-generation processors (Kaby Lake), which will support 10-bit HEVC, a leading 4K video codec. Nvidia Pascal-based GPUs, such as the GeForce GTX 1070, support protected 4K content. “Over the next 12 months is when you’re going to start to see new PCs on the market that are capable of playing this content, because everything’s aligned—the software and the hardware” Frost says. Still, a handful of hurdles remain before 4K playback becomes commonplace. Intel, for instance, notes that some streaming providers are requiring support for 10-bit HEVC, which isn’t supported in 6th-generation processors. Also, Intel still isn’t supporting native HDCP 2.2 over HDMI, which means it’s up to PC builders to add this capability through other means. Intel is touting Ultra HD as a key feature in its 7th-generation Core processors. And even with the hardware and software in place, content is still lagging behind. Intel says 4K streaming from Sony and FandangoNow is on coming, but none of our sources would provide dates or even soft targets when this might happen. Netflix and Amazon, meanwhile, wouldn’t comment at all for this story. And this statement from Vudu’s head of marketing and merchandising, Amit Balan, isn’t exactly encouraging: "4K and HDR on PCs is not out of the question—it just depends on when streaming services, the studios, and the device manufacturers can work out all the kinks, from the technical to legal to the experiential. Also, the best experience for 4K and HDR (especially Dolby’s HDR, ‘Dolby Vision’) is with specialized TVs, and there is still a lot of work to be done on that front to expand access to more TVs and set-top boxes, not to mention getting more content available. In short, it’s quite early in the game and HTPCs are not the first devices that the parties are targeting. " The harsh reality for home theater PC owners is that if you want Ultra HD in your living room, you’re going to need new hardware. But at least it’s now possible to upgrade with confidence that your machine is future-proof. Nvidia GPUs, for instance, should support the full range of protected 4K and HDR content, whenever it arrives, including output to 4K televisions. Intel’s upcoming 7th Generation Core processors should also support all 4K streaming services, though you’ll have to be mindful that whatever device you get supports HDCP 2.2 over HDMI. (Intel’s Skull Canyon NUC mini-PC , which has a 6th Generation Core processor, supports HDCP 2.2, so there’s a decent chance that we’ll see it in future NUCs as well.) Intel NUC mini-PCs would be great for 4K, provided they support HDCP 2.2. As for software, you’re going to need Windows 10, which means you can’t take Windows Media Center with you ( not legitimately , at least). Frustrating as this may be, it’ll hardly be the first time that anti-piracy measures have left early adopters stranded. Those who bought the first wave of 4K televisions, for instance, are now feeling the pain as many of those devices don’t support HDCP 2.2, rendering them incompatible with 4K UHD playback from game consoles and set-top boxes. The industry has been aware of this potential pain point for a while , as Microsoft worked to fulfill studios’ wishes through new DRM schemes. It’s only now, with 4K and HDR content popping up for smart TVs and set-top boxes, that PC owners are realizing they’ve been left behind.
2016-08-30 06:00 Jared Newman www.itnews.com
72 Samsung Announces Exynos 7570 14nm Budget SoC Today Samsung LSI launches a new 14nm SoC oriented at the budget and IoT segments. The new Exynos 7570 seems to be a a successor to the Exynos 3470 and Exynos 3475 found in a few of Samsung's budget lineups such as the Galaxy S5 Mini. The chip is a quad-core A53 setup which is said to improve performance by 70% and power efficiency by 30% over its predecessor, although exact clocks weren't publicized. Equally not specified was the GPU, although because of the advertised maximum 1280x800 resolution capabilities of the display pipeline, I wouldn't expect anything more than a very small implementation of a low-end Mali series. The more interesting aspects of this new SoC is its connectivity features as not only does it feature an integrated UE Category 4 modem with 2x carrier aggregation capabilities, but it also as far as I know for the first time for S. LSI integrates WiFi, Bluetooth, FM and GNSS capabilities, features that have traditionally been left in the charge of dedicated solutions such as Broadcom WiFi SoCs (Which following the acquisition by Avago have exited that business segment). Earlier this year we were surprised to see Samsung announce a 14nm mid- range product as we weren't expecting the economics of the new FinFET manufacturing processes to work out for anything other than flagships SoCs, but soon after Qualcomm followed suit with their own 14nm mid- range SoC. Today's announcement seems to further dispell the doom & gloom over FinFET manufacturing cost as the Exynos 7570's stictly low-end and IoT orientation makes it the first budget SoC on the new process and something as I see as a positive development as the industry continues to shift to full FinFET lineups.
2016-08-30 06:00 Andrei Frumusanu www.anandtech.com
73 Google bakes Chromecast support directly into Chrome Google’s Chromecast is almost three years years old, but the company’s only now getting around to building Cast support directly into Chrome for PCs and Macs. Google recently updated a help page for Chrome that says users on Chrome 51 will soon see a Cast option in their menu options. In addition, Google’s adding the ability show the contents of a Chrome tab in a Google Hangout. The change means you no longer need to have the Cast extension installed to send open tabs from the browser to a television. However, the extension will still work if you want to use it as a quick access option instead of digging around in the menu. The Cast option in Chrome 51 for Mac. Google's Play Store website directly integrates Cast functionality. Sharing a tab in Hangouts works the same way with the built-in Cast feature. Google has a rundown of how to Cast to a Hangout on its help pages.
2016-08-30 05:59 Ian Paul www.itnews.com
74 VMware dresses up Docker for the enterprise VMware's ongoing embrace of containers has expanded with the release of Harbor , an open source project that adds enterprise-level features to Docker. It could prove enticing to smaller outfits wary of the costs associated with the full enterprise-level Docker. Harbor is a reworking of the existing Docker distribution with enterprise-specific features rolled in. Users can be authenticated and managed through Active Directory/LDAP, and they can have role-based access controls and permissions assigned to them for specific tasks. Repositories, and users working on then, can be grouped together as projects and have permissions associated with them. Thus, project leads can have greater control over the codebase than mere contributors. (Auditing user behavior is also built in.) Harbor provides enterprise extensions to Docker, including the ability to assign RBACs or behavioral policies to objects, or to users manageable through Active Directory or LDAP. Harbor also provides degrees of convenience and automation for Docker that aren't available out of the box. If you have multiple Docker Registry instances, for instance, Harbor can automatically replicate images between them. Most of Harbor's functions are available through a web-based user portal, but they're also exposed via a RESTful API for automation's sake. Many of Harbor's features so far are not very flexible. With RBACs, for instance, users can't add custom roles (unless they want to modify the source code). Only four built-in roles are provided -- Guest, Developer, Project Admin, and Sysadmin -- although they should cover the majority of use cases for the time being. Docker Enterprise also appeals to enterprises with included for-pay support. But Harbor's roster of features is useful enough to outfits of most any size that its best attributes seem likely to become part of the default open source Docker distribution.
2016-08-30 05:00 Serdar Yegulalp www.infoworld.com
75 10 tech skills that will earn you more money It's a great time to be in tech. According to data from Dice , technology salaries in the U. S. rose to an average of $96,370 per year. That's a 7.7 percent increase and the biggest year-over-year jump in average tech salaries since Dice began tracking this data over 10 years ago. In addition, Dice also reports a jump in salaried positions, contract rates and bonuses from 2014. In seven major- metro areas, tech salaries averaged in the six-figure range for the first time in the past decade. As of August, these are the top 10 highest paying and fastest growing IT skills, according to research and data from Dice. Businesses are collecting more data than ever before, but with all that data comes a need for someone to manage it and maintain the systems used to store it all. Spark is one of the more commonly used tools to process petabytes of data, which is especially useful for companies that offer streaming services and need to manage heavy traffic. If you have Spark skills on your resume, you'll be happy to hear that this skill is up 85 percent in market value year over year; the average salary for a tech worker with Spark skills is $113,214 as of August 2016. Microsoft Azure is a cloud computing platform that helps businesses build, deploy and manage apps and software hosted on Microsoft's data centers. The software also comes with a suite of built-in tools that make it easier for businesses to manage everything from mobile devices to the internet of things. As technology becomes more complex for nearly every business, workers with Azure skills are in high demand. According to Dice's data, the value of Azure skills has jumped 79 percent over the last year; workers with this skill report an average salary of $110,707 per year. Businesses are embracing the cloud, but that means they need more qualified workers to help manage those cloud services. Salaries for this generalized-skill are up 35 percent, slightly lower than other skills on this list, but it makes sense since it's been a hot skill for quite a few years now. Still, workers with cloud skills report an average yearly salary of $112,972, making it a valuable skill for tech employees to add to their resume. JIRA is a productivity tracking software for developers that helps track bugs, issues and manage projects through each phase of development. It's part of an agile teams toolbox, keeping projects on track and on time for delivery. Since most businesses have adopted this agile-style of project management, Jira skills are highly coveted when hiring new tech workers. And the average salary for those with Jira skills certainly reflects that demand -- the market value for this skill rose 26 percent, with workers reporting an average salary of $111,103 per year. Security is on the mind of every IT leader, especially as high-profile data breaches have become the norm. Therefore, specialized skills in this area are becoming increasingly important to companies hiring tech workers. Of course, security skills can run the gamut, but having a background in enterprise security can go along way for businesses scrambling to protect their customer and corporate data. If you have security engineering skills on your resume, you'll be happy to hear the market value for this skill has increased 24-percent, with an average reported salary of $107,479 per year. Cassandra is an open-source database management system aimed at helping businesses manage the massive amounts of data stored across multiple servers. It's a product from Apache, but found it origins at Facebook, where it was built on Amazon's Dynamo and Google's BigTable -- both cloud database services. As big data becomes more important to companies, Dice reports that Cassandra skills grew 23 percent in market value over the last year, and workers with this skill report an average yearly salary of $147,811. Salesforce is commonplace in the corporate world, and it's grown to become a powerful CRM tool for sales, marketing, analytics, team collaboration, customer service and more. Since it's ubiquitous in the enterprise, workers with Salesforce expertise are certainly in-demand. With businesses relying on one piece of software for multiple departments, objectives and projects, business leaders are looking to get qualified tech workers in the door. As a result, the market value of Salesforce skills increased 21 percent, and the average salary for those with Salesforce skills comes in at $107,810 per year. With desktops, tablets, smartphones and notebooks -- most likely all running on different platforms -- comes the need for complex networks in the enterprise. Network administrators are responsible for keeping networks running smoothly, secure and up to date with the latest software. And, as with all things tech, your networks are only as good as the people maintaining them, which makes it a profitable skill to have in your proverbial toolbox. According to Dice, network administrator skills have increased 18 percent, with workers reporting an average salary of $87,897 per year. Electrical engineers are responsible for testing, developing, designing and supervising electronic equipment, whether it's the latest smartphone or GPS system. And it's become a vital role for any business trying to produce electronics, especially as the breadth of hardware grows. Most people no longer just have a desktop, they have notebooks, tablets, smartphones, mp3 players and smartwatches among other devices. And at the heart of all those devices are electrical engineers, a skill that has increased 18 percent in market value, according to Dice. The data shows that the average yearly salary for those with electrical engineering on their resume earn an average salary of $109,507 per year. Data is king -- nearly every business either collects, tracks or manages some type of data, whether it's consumer or corporate. But collecting, housing and maintaining all the systems that go along with big data is no easy task. So it's no wonder skills in this area have increased in market value -- going up 16 percent since last year. In fact, Dice reports that the average salary for workers with big data skills is a whopping $121,328 per year -- a 16 percent year over year increase.
2016-08-30 04:59 Sarah K www.itnews.com
76 Uber, Alphabet autonomous car rivalry heats up The race by companies to develop autonomous cars is making rivals out of old friends as is evident from the exit of Alphabet’s senior executive David Drummond from the board of Uber Technologies. Alphabet is an investor in Uber through its venture capital arm GV, and from all appearances will continue to stay so. But it had become increasingly evident that the ride-hailing company’s efforts to build self-driving cars would put it in conflict with the aims of the Google Self-Driving Car Project, which has been one of the pioneers in the development of these autonomous vehicles. On Monday, Alphabet said Drummond, its senior vice president for corporate development, had recently quit the board of Uber. GV will continue to be an investor in the ride-hailing company. "I recently stepped down from Uber's board given the overlap between the two companies,” Drummond said in a statement issued on Monday. “GV remains an enthusiastic investor and Google will continue to partner with Uber,” Drummond added. He wished Uber CEO Travis Kalanick all the best for the future. The development comes ahead of tests of self-driving cars carrying ride- hailing passengers, planned by Uber later this month on the streets of Pittsburgh in the U. S. A number of car and component makers are developing technology for self-driving cars that they are targeting at ride- hailing companies, and there have been rumors that Google may also target this market. Ford said this month that it intends to have a high-volume, fully autonomous vehicle in commercial operation in a ride hailing or sharing service by 2021. General Motors has also invested $500 million in ride-hailing company Lyft in a deal that could see them jointly developing a network of on-demand autonomous cars. Earlier on Monday, The Information reported that Uber had shut out Drummond from attending board meetings, quoting three people briefed about the arrangement. Google cars have self-driven over 1.5 million miles and are on the streets of cities like Mountain View, Calif. and Austin, Texas.
2016-08-30 04:38 John Ribeiro www.computerworld.com
77 Silicon Valley rains money on Clinton People living in Silicon Valley, including San Francisco and Oakland, have contributed some $31.2 million to Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. Donald Trump, in contrast, is getting pocket change. Trump has raised just over $3 million from all of California, according to campaign finance data analyzed by the Center for Responsive Politics. The totals are based on contributions of more than $200 from individuals. Trump's lag in California is striking in comparison to the 2012 presidential contest. Then the Republican nominee, Mitt Romney, raised $41.3 million overall in California, versus President Barack Obama's $62.8 million. Clinton has raised $76.4 million so far in California. It is not surprising that Trump is doing poorly in Silicon Valley. In July, 150 Silicon Valley notables , including Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and Vint Cerf, vice president and chief Internet evangelist at Google, called Trump a "disaster for innovation. " Hewlett Packard Enterprise CEO Meg Whitman, who backed Romney in 2012, now backs Clinton. She accused Trump of exploiting "xenophobia and racial division. " Trump's stances on immigration and trade have alienated him from many in tech, although there have been some exceptions. Peter Thiel, the co- founder of PayPal, spoke at the recent Republican national convention, and is backing Trump. "It's time to end the era of stupid wars and rebuild our country," he said. . Clinton has pitched a $275 billion infrastructure spending plan to upgrade roads, rails, airports -- U. S. infrastructure generally. Trump says his infrastructure spending plan will reach about $500 billion. Regardless of who wins the presidential race, if Congress approves an infrastructure spending plan of any significant amount, that may send a lot of money to Silicon Valley. Infrastructure today now involves networking, sensor deployment, data analysis and analytics to monitor, predict and schedule. It would be a massive Internet of Things deployment. Shawn McCarthy, an analyst at IDC, said generally -- not specific to any candidate -- that a boost in national infrastructure spending would have a "significant" impact from an IoT perspective. "These sensors can measure things like traffic flow, temperature, vibration, movement of bridge parts and more. This collected information can be very valuable to government," said McCarthy. "Not every piece of new infrastructure will be built with sensors and IoT in mind," said McCarthy. "But it's more likely that IoT will be part of the planning with new construction. Thus it's very likely that infrastructure spending will have an impact on government technology spending," he said.
2016-08-30 04:12 Patrick Thibodeau www.infoworld.com
78 Privacy groups complain to FTC about WhatsApp policy changes Privacy groups in the U. S. have complained to the Federal Trade Commission that changes last week in WhatsApp’s terms and privacy policy break its previous promise that user data collected would not be used or disclosed for marketing purposes. The Electronic Privacy Information Center and the Center for Digital Democracy have described the changes as an unfair and deceptive trade practice, subject to an investigation and injunction by the FTC, in their complaint Monday . WhatsApp said last week it will be sharing some account information of users with Facebook and its companies, including the mobile phone numbers they verified when they registered with WhatsApp. The sharing of information will enable users to see better friend suggestions and more relevant ads on Facebook, it added. Messages, photos, and account information shared on the messaging app would not be shared on Facebook or any of the Facebook family of apps for others to see, WhatsApp said. For Facebook, which paid $22 billion for WhatsApp , the changes are an attempt by the social networking company to earn revenue from the platform. The U. K. Information Commissioner’s Office on Friday also quoted the new commissioner Elizabeth Denham as saying that the changes WhatsApp and Facebook are making will affect a lot of people , and “our role is to pull back the curtain on things like this, ensuring that companies are being transparent with the public about how their personal data is being shared, and protecting consumers by making sure the law is being followed.” Article 29 Working Party, a European Union body that represents 28 national data protection authorities, told The Wall Street Journal Monday that it was looking into the policy changes by WhatsApp “with great vigilance.” “WhatsApp complies with applicable laws. As always, we consider our obligations when designing updates like this,” a WhatsApp spokesman said in an emailed statement. The company that Facebook acquired some two years ago is likely to claim that it is not in violation of any promise made previously as it is giving users the choice to opt out of the new program. Users are being prompted to tap to “Agree” to the updated terms of service and privacy policies. They can also opt out within 30 days on the account settings by unchecking the relevant box or toggling the control regarding sharing of account information. If users opt out, “the Facebook family of companies will still receive and use this information for other purposes such as improving infrastructure and delivery systems, understanding how our services or theirs are used, securing systems, and fighting spam, abuse, or infringement activities,” the company said. The privacy groups cite a promise by WhatsApp founder Jan Koum in a blog post in which he said that users of the messenger app could “still count on absolutely no ads” interrupting their communications after the Facebook acquisition. The complaint also cites a remark in 2014 by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg in a news report , in which he stated that “we are absolutely not going to change plans around WhatsApp and the way it uses user data. WhatsApp is going to operate completely autonomously.” The groups have also pointed out that following a complaint in March 2014 on the consumer privacy implications of Facebook’s acquisition of WhatsApp, the FTC sent a letter in this regard to both companies that “WhatsApp’s privacy policy clearly states, among other things, that users’ information will not be used for advertising purposes or sold to a third party for commercial or marketing use without the users’ consent.” The letter further stated that “Facebook has recently promised consumers that it would not change the way WhatsApp uses customer information.” FTC press releases and blog posts also require that WhatsApp and Facebook must obtain an opt-in consent from users prior to the proposed data transfer, according to the complaint. It states that an FTC release about the agreement had stated that the companies would have to obtain affirmative consent from consumers before making changes to how they use the data they have already collected.
2016-08-30 04:04 John Ribeiro www.computerworld.com
79 Laptops are about to get a whole lot faster SSD prices have dropped so precipitously that as many as half of all laptops sold worldwide in 2018 are expected to have the non- volatile memory in them, according to a new report. DRAMeXchange, a division of TrendForce, said today that prices stabilized for the first time in a year for mainstream client-grade SSDs in the PC-maker market during the current third quarter. Though there are signs of tightening inventories in the SSD supply chain during the second half of this year, DRAMeXchange maintained that the adoption rate in the notebook market will exceed 30 percent in 2016 and may reach 50 percent in 2018. "The second quarter had an increase in work days and this allowed branded notebook vendors and their channels to significantly reduce their excess inventories," said Alan Chen, senior manager of DRAMeXchange. "Furthermore, notebook demand was stimulated by new model releases. Global notebook shipments in the second quarter posted an 8.2 percent sequential increase, while global shipments of SSDs for notebooks also grew 24 percent over the prior quarter. " As SSD makers have transitioned from two-bit per cell MLC (multi-level cell) NAND flash to three-bit per cell TLC (triple level cell) NAND flash, they've been able to cram more capacity into a smaller space, reducing production costs. The greater densities have led to lower SSD prices for computer manufacturers. The prices of mainstream consumer SSDs have fallen dramatically every year over the past four, and by 2017 they are expected to be within 11 cents of the per-gigabyte price of hard disk drives (HDDs). While SSD pricing has dropped dramatically, HDD pricing hasn't. From 2012 to 2015, per-gigabyte pricing for HDDs dropped one cent per year from 9 cents in 2012 to 6 cents last year. However, through 2017, the per- gigabyte price of HDDs is expected to remain flat at 6 cents per gigabyte. That means a 1TB hard drive will continue to retail for an average of about $60, though they can be found for under $45 on many online retail sites. By comparison, consumer SSDs were selling for 99 cents a gigabyte in 2012. From 2013 to 2015, the price dropped from 68 cents to 39 cents per gigabyte. This year, SSD prices declined to 24 cents per gigabyte and in 2017, they're expected to drop another 7 cents. That means a 1TB SSD, on average, would retail for $170. Along with TLC NAND flash, one of the technologies driving down the cost to produce SSDs is 3D NAND flash , which stacks flash cells like tiny skyscrapers up to 48-layers high. The ability to move from planar, or flat, NAND flash to vertically-oriented architectures has greatly increased the density of the medium, meaning more capacity can be created in a vastly smaller space. Along with its manufacturing partner Toshiba, Western Digital announced its latest generation of BiCS technology stacks 64 layers of microscopic NAND layers atop one another, vastly increasing memory density. In fact, for the first time in history, SSD densities surpassed those of HDDs earlier this year. Both Samsung and Micron demonstrated areal densities in their laboratories that far outstripped HDDs. Micron revealed a density of up to 2.77Tbpsi (terabits per square inch) for its 3D NAND. That compares with the densest HDDs of about 1.3Tbpsi. "Though there was a supply shortage and a sharp price hike for TLC flash memory during May and June, SSD shipments to the worldwide channel market registered a 12 percent sequential increase in the second quarter. Increase in work days and manufacturers having sufficient inventories resulted in the above-expected quarterly shipment result," Chen said. "On the other hand, 3D NAND flash based on the MLC architecture is not as competitive in terms of production cost, so its market share in the overall 3D-NAND Flash market will be small," he continued. "Its application will also be limited to high-end storage products. " DRAMeXchange's data shows the SSD adoption rate in the notebook market for the second quarter was 32 percent to 33 percent. Total shipments of client-grade SSDs for the period hit 28.3 million units, translating to a quarterly growth of 15 percent to 20 percent. Intel and Micron's new 3D NAND flash will enable 3.5TB of capacity in an M.2 expansion stick. For the current third quarter, NAND flash will be in short supply and TLC Flash memory prices will remain high, so increasing SSD shipments to PC OEMs will come at the expense of shipments to the channel market and vice versa. DRAMeXchange projects that the total client-grade SSD shipments for the period will increase by just 2 percent to 3 percent. TLC SSDs are expected to become the mainstream memory architecture for 3D NAND SSDs, further increasing bit density and lowering costs to produce the memory. PCIe-attached SSDs are expected to show marginal growth this year, according to DRAMeXchange. Another technology driving SSD use in notebooks is the PCIe, or peripheral component interconnect express, interface. PCIe is a high-speed serial expansion card format that uses a point-to-point architecture, meaning it offers vastly better performance over typical SATA-connected SSDs because of the direct connection to a computer's motherboard. There's no translation layer required. Not only does placing the NAND flash on the memory board make for a faster I/O interface, but it also reduces the size of the medium from 2.5-in hard drive form factor to a flat board no bigger than a couple of postage stamps. In 2013, Apple announced it would offer a Macbook Pro with a PCIe SSD that had astoundingly fast 1.25GBps read and 1.0GBps write speeds. By comparison, a top-rated laptop SSD using a SATA II interface tops out at about 550MBps, about half that of the PCIe flash Apple was using. When it comes to hard drives that are pervasive today in laptops, there's no comparison. SSDs are up to 10 times faster. In 2015, Apple launched the new Macbook Pro with a PCIe SSD in it and it proved twice as fast as the previous model. Toshiba and SanDisk's Bit Cost Scaling (BiCS) 3D vertical NAND design stacks 48 NAND cells one atop another like a tiny skyscraper. Other laptop makers have followed Apple's example and have begun to make thinner, faster machines using PCIe SSDs. In the SSD interface market, major PC-OEMs have just started to adopt PCIe in the second half of this year, Chen said. Meanwhile, most of the demand in the channel market is still for SATA III. DRAMeXchange expects SATA III to remain the popular interface type for client-grade SSDs in 2016. In contrast, PCIe is projected to account only for 20 percent of the client-grade SSD market this year, showing a slight increase from 2015.
2016-08-30 04:01 Lucas Mearian www.infoworld.com
80 Alcatel Idol 4S review: Just a bit too late to the $400 party Use commas to separate multiple email addresses Your message has been sent. There was an error emailing this page. By Jason Cipriani Greenbot | Aug 30, 2016 4:00 AM PT Alcatel has made a name for itself selling phones that won’t drain your wallet, while at the same time walking the ultra-fine line between affordability and providing a valuable experience. With the Idol 4S, Alcatel has priced itself alongside other "premium-but- affordable" phones, competing with the likes of ZTE’s Axon 7 and the OnePlus 3. Both are really good phones, easily capable of challenging flagship caliber phones. The Idol 4S is no slouch, but amid stiff competition at the $400 mark, does it bring enough to the table to keep pace? Let’s take a look. Alcatel wants you to bring the Boom with its programable shortcut button on the Idol 4S. Sandwiched between two slabs of glass, the Idol 4S boasts a 5.5-inch quad HD AMOLED display. Alcatel is pushing the Idol 4S as a phone first, VR device second, meaning the display quality is naturally one of the more important aspects of the phone. It’s easily viewable in direct sunlight (a feature on any phone I truly love), with bright and vivid colors throughout. Powering the Idol 4S is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 652 processor, 3 GB of memory, and 32 GB of storage. You can add up 200 GB of additional storage through the microSD card slot, which pulls double duty as a second SIM card slot for globetrotters. The Idol 4S easily handled any task I threw at it. Whether I was playing Asphalt 8 or jumping between Slack and Twitter, the device never showed any true signs of slowdown or performance issues. Battery life was more than enough to get through a full day — free of any VR sessions, of course. The microUSB port on the bottom of the device adds support for Quick Charge, should you need to top off after a long day of work. On the right side of the phone you’ll find the volume keys and a small, round button Alcatel is calling the Boom key. You can assign various shortcuts or tasks to the Boom key, such as automatically snapping a photo when your phone is locked. On the left side is the SIM card and microSD card holder, along with the power button. The fingerprint sensor on the Idol 4S needs a more distinctive feel to it, right now it just blends in. Because nearly the entire housing of the phone is made of glass, it’s one slippery device. The kind of slippery that when placed on the arm of your couch, it will slowly (and creepily) slide down until it lands in your lap or hits the floor. Slipperiness aside, my biggest complaint about the overall design has to do with the fingerprint reader on the back of the phone. Its circular housing sits below the camera, with a small ring surrounding the reader. I cannot, for the life of me, consistently find the fingerprint reader as I pick the phone up off my desk or remove it from my pocket. Often I would have to first find the protruding camera lens, and then begin moving my finger down slightly until the phone unlocked. Whereas on other devices with similar placement of the fingerprint reader, such as the Nexus 6P or Nexus 5X, I was able to find the fingerprint sensor with little effort thanks to a very distinct ring around it. Adding to my frustration, the fingerprint reader had a hard time recognizing my fingerprint. Part of the blame could easily go to misplacing my finger on the reader due to discoverability issues, but the problem was remedied after registering each index finger twice. Quick, customizable app shortcuts on the lock screen of the Idol 4S are convenient. My review device had Android 6.0.1 with the August security patch installed out of the box. Alcatel doesn’t take a heavy hand in terms of customizing Android with its own skin, but there are noticeable tweaks here and there. The lock screen, for example, has four customizable app shortcut icons. Double-tap on an icon and you can begin navigation home, turn the flashlight on or off, or open an app of your choice. Also, folders have this amusing unfolding animation when you open them. Because the phone is sold unlocked and free of carrier interaction, it’s free of carrier bloatware and unnecessary apps. Well, for the most part. Alcatel does preload a few apps. Fyuse and Littlstar are front and center on the main home screen. The former is a name I have no idea how to pronounce, but offers a fun and interactive way to view a specialized photo you can take within the camera app. I had a lot of fun playing with Fyuse (Is it fuse? Maybe.), using it to create 3D scans of objects. Once the scan is complete, you can swipe or tilt the phone to rotate the photo’s viewing angle. The Fyuse app provides a means for sharing said photos. Littlstar is a full of VR and 360-degree videos you can watch using Alcatel’s headset. Overall, any changes Alcatel made to the core Android experience were beneficial. In what should have been a beautiful shot of a rose on an early summer morning, the Idol 4S blew it. With a 16-megapixel camera on the back, and an eight-megapixel selfie- loving camera on the front, the Idol 4S is a well-equipped shooter. In ideal lighting, that is. From what I experienced, and as you can see above, the Idol 4S has a tendency to blow out exposure and oversaturate colors in strong lighting conditions. Look at the rose towards the bottom of the photo, and can see how it’s covered in just a tiny bit of shade and yet the colors and exposure look slightly better. When lighting conditions were just right, the camera on the Idol 4S does not disappoint. However, when you capture a shot on normal lighting conditions, the Idol 4S captures good enough photos for Facebook or Instagram. I mean, just look at my dog. Doesn’t he look amazing!? Frustrations about inconsistent photo quality aside, the camera app is fast to focus and the shutter doesn’t have a delay as is often the case with mid- range phones. And as I just discussed, the Fyuse integration is a ton of fun to use and experiment with. Think Alcatel’s VR headset as a more robust version of Google’s Cardboard headset. It’s clear from the moment you remove the Idol 4S from the box, in which a VR headset is tucked directly behind it, Alcatel really wants you to use the phone to experience virtual reality. Then you power up the phone and there’s a smattering of VR apps and games already installed, reinforcing the message. The headset itself vaguely resembles Samsung’s Gear VR, only it lacks any sort of electronic components inside. Essentially, Alcatel’s VR headset is a plastic, more reliable version of Google’s Cardboard headset. There’s a back and a select button on the bottom of the headset for interacting with what’s on screen, and that’s it. The VR experience wasn’t something I could test for long stretches before nausea took hold. But I did ask my kids to take it for a spin on a few occasions, which resulted in a lot of oohs and ahhs on their part. For the short durations I did use it, the tracking seemed to do a fair job of keeping up with where I was looking and the overall experience was smooth enough. Not as smooth as Samsung’s Gear VR (which also makes me sick, by the way) but that’s to be expected. Alcatel preinstalls a few VR apps, including its own launcher for the headset to get you started. This is a tough one. Alcatel put out a device that’s reasonably fast, has a strong battery, and offers a fun VR experience out of the box. Had this device been released a year ago at this price point, it would be a no brainer, and I would say the Idol 4S is a device worth spending $400 on. But it wasn't, and in the last year, there have been some truly excellent phones released around this price. Neither the OnePlus 3 or the Axon 7 include a VR headset, but both are more powerful on the spec sheet and in the hand. Not to mention the Axon 7 is Daydream-ready , or will be, whenever Google gets around to launching its VR platform and the phone gets its update to Android 7.0 Nougat. If the Idol 4S would have stayed at its $350 pre-order price, this would be a lot easier to recommend. That extra $50 makes a big difference, though, and right now there are better devices for the same amount of cash. This story, "Alcatel Idol 4S review: Just a bit too late to the $400 party" was originally published by Greenbot . Jason Cipriani — Contributor Where can I find Pikachu? More than one Pokémon Go map promises to help you find rare Pokémon—and they... Locate your Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office product keys with this simple guide. Windows 10 is chock-full of handy, hidden new features worth exploring, especially after the massive... Apple's tax benefits in Ireland are illegal, and the company will have to pay up to €13 billion... Today’s cyberattacks are more advanced and aggressive than ever before. Organizations are quickly... There is no manual on how to get noticed by key executives. Here are some tips for getting on a board...
2016-08-30 04:00 Jason Cipriani www.itnews.com
81 What to look for in endpoint detection and response tools and services Organizations are quickly learning that keeping the bad guys out of an enterprise environment isn’t as simple as deploying firewalls and antivirus. As cybercriminals utilize customized malware and bypass traditional antivirus solutions, it’s become necessary to take a broader and more proactive approach to protect the endpoint. This means real- time monitoring, detection and advanced threat analysis coupled with response technology. A multitude of EDR tools on the market, accompanied by short-staffed IT teams, can create confusion for organizations making it not so simple to implement. CounterTack ’s CTO Mike Davis and Trustwave ’s Director Product Management, Charles Arnett, CISSP, break down what IT professionals need to know about EDR technology as well as best practices when considering and implementing an EDR platform. Companies are now required to pay closer attention to their endpoints including the attackers’ activity once in and how employees are behaving on their devices. Organizations have found that prevention-only measures won’t do the trick, as they do not provide the level of context needed for addressing and managing the aftermath of an attack. EDR technology offers a number of benefits including: Endpoint protection solutions differ substantially, ranging from the classic signature-based antivirus software, to more mature solutions with capabilities that can scale via Big Data technologies, including deep security monitoring, threat detection and incident response capabilities. Before you can evaluate an EDR solution, first determine the level of susceptibility and ask questions such as: It’s critical to have a firm grasp on the types of attacks that can impact your organization. Ask yourselves these questions: Once you create a checklist and begin evaluating your organization, you may find that taking advantage of the various endpoint technologies available, and integrating them with other security offerings, can be expensive and difficult to manage. Across the board, shortages in skilled IT staff are also creating difficulties when it comes to integrating new technologies. Simply purchasing the latest and greatest piece of technology is not enough today. An organization needs full-time employees to manage the technology they purchased to ensure it’s operating effectively and to get the most value. On the other hand, finding the talent to manage EDR and other technologies in-house can be extremely difficult as the industry is facing a shortage of skilled workers with more than a million jobs in the cybersecurity industry vacant around the world. As a remedy, businesses are turning to managed security services providers (MSSPs) to manage the technology for them. Many organizations have minimal visibility into threat intelligence without expensive threat intel teams. Partnering with a trusted adviser gives access to global threat intelligence that can be leveraged in proactively using EDR solutions to look for indicators of compromise in the client environment. Working with a MSSP provides both management of these capabilities and a wide set of crucial global threat intelligence.
2016-08-30 03:48 Ryan Francis www.itnews.com
82 Hackers had a chance to hamper voting by deleting records A U. S. cybersecurity monitor on Monday described another breach of a voter election system just after a leaked FBI report revealed two similar attacks. In June, anonymous hackers stole administrative login credentials in an unnamed county that would have let them delete voter registration records and prevent citizens from casting ballots. The information comes from the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC), which monitors cyber attacks against state and local governments and shares information with the FBI. MS-ISAC is supported by the Department of Homeland Security. The attack in June targeted a county election official through a phishing email, according to Brian Calkin, vice president of operations for the Center of Internet Security, which runs MS-ISAC. In an interview, Calkin said the phishing email contained a malicious keylogger that stole the official’s login credentials. This gave the hackers administrative privileges to modify voter registration records in the county. If the records had been deleted, the affected citizens wouldn’t have been able to vote, Calkin said on Monday. Fortunately, the attack was detected and no records had been found altered. On Monday, Arizona's state government said that its voting system had briefly been taken offline in June due to an attack similar to what MS-ISAC found. "A credential used by a county user to access the Arizona Statewide Voter Registration System was compromised by malware," said Matt Roberts, spokesman for the Arizona secretary of state's office, in an email. "This credential was leaked by a hacker. " Also on Monday, a leaked FBI bulletin revealed that hackers had recently targeted two unnamed state election systems. The FBI said one of the hacking attempts involved a SQL injection vulnerability, a common attack point in websites, and allowed hackers to steal voter registration records. The FBI bulletin cites data pulled from MS-ISAC and warns election officials to be on guard against hacking attempts. Calkin said MS-ISAC has detected a total of three states targeted in recent voting-related cyber attacks, but he declined to say which. However, he noted that the SQL injection hack described by the FBI probably wasn’t severe. Voter registration records are available to the public on request, so there’s little need to steal them, he said. “The more concerning part is the potential to possibly modify someone’s voter records or delete them,” he said. Calkin couldn’t say how often state election databases are targeted in cyber attacks. He also couldn't recall how hackers attempted to penetrate the election database in the third state. "We see attacks literally every day, but it's not necessarily against voter registration information," he said. The report of the intrusions comes as the FBI has been investigating hacking attempts into government groups. A high-profile data breach of the Democratic National Committee last month stoked fears that hackers may be trying to interfere with the U. S. presidential election. Some cybersecurity experts have blamed that attack on Russian state-sponsored hackers. The FBI declined to comment on the breaches against the state election databases mentioned in its bulletin. However, in addition to Arizona, Illinois is another state that has reported a recent hack of its election system. A data breach detected in July stole voter registration records for 200,000 people, said Ken Menzel, the general counsel of the state's board of elections. Some of that stolen data includes driver license numbers and the last four digits of voters' Social Security numbers, he said. Most of the rest of the stolen data could be bought by a political committee for a small fee, Menzel said.
2016-08-30 03:45 Michael Kan www.computerworld.com
83 How cyber security pros transition to board level decision makers Like most good planners, Jasper Ossentjuk is beginning to ponder how he’ll transition into retirement – even though it’s more than a dozen years away. “When I’m 60, do I still want to be coming into the office Monday through Friday from 9 to 5 and taking the pager home?” he wonders. In his current role as senior vice president and CISO of TransUnion, and with almost a decade of similar roles under his belt, Ossentjuk has certainly cultivated cybersecurity skills and expertise. He hopes to share his knowledge on a board of directors or on an advisory role. There’s just one thing standing in Ossentjuk's way. He needs to get on the radar of those key executives who are often asked to recommend someone for those rare and highly sought- after seats. So far “nobody is coming forward and saying, ‘here is the manual on how this works,’” he says. Scott Goldman is also looking to get noticed by a board. He is CEO and co-founder of TextPower, which provides secure text messaging for mission-critical applications, and he holds patents in identity access management and two-factor authentication. Goldman already sits on the board of copper products maker Mueller Industries, but he’s looking to expand his board presence. “For people seeking board positions, it’s all about networking and raising awareness,” he says. So how do real cybersecurity pros like these get on the radar of board decision-makers? “It’s kind of a wild west environment,” since board-level cybersecurity searches began popping up in the last two years, says Stephen Spagnuolo, managing director at ZRG Partners, a cybersecurity talent acquisition and advisory firm. “There’s no one right answer. It ranges from knocking on the door directly, to networking your way internally through the organization, to identifying a couple of headhunters or other leaders who can make a targeted introduction.” Many cybersecurity pros, sensing a hot trend, think they’re board material, but “not many of them are qualified,” says Matt Comyns, co-global cybersecurity practice leader at executive search firm Russell Reynolds Associates. The firm has identified four common backgrounds for cybersecurity board members, based on the board selections that publicly traded companies have already made. Many successful candidates were CISOs or CSOs with a cyber or IT background and a deep understanding of cybersecurity issues from a more technical point of view, he says. Another popular candidate pool came out of government where they held cyber positions in the military or intelligence community. Candidates from the consulting or legal world who focused on cybersecurity were also successful in getting board positions, Comyns says. CEOs of cybersecurity companies who have moved on from those roles after acquisitions or IPOs have also become very interesting to boards, he adds. “These candidates also shared a strong business acumen that adds value to the board beyond the cyber topic. That’s always the tricky part,” Comyns says. “Finding a true, deep cyber-level expert and somebody who is a broad business leader and can communicate at that level with the board on other topics beside cybersecurity – that would always be first choice.” Those who still think they’ve got what it takes to be on the board need to look at industries with the greatest need, Comyns says. “The experience needed really depends on the makeup of the existing board – where they need to add complimentary skills and backgrounds.” Energy companies and those industries deemed critical infrastructure have been highly focused on cybersecurity, and some have been adding cyber experts to their boards. “The industry has not had well-established or mature information security programs – so that in-house expertise is lacking,” Comyns says. “They have tended to lean toward more technical or CISO- type backgrounds” for board experts. Other industries that are behind the cyber curve, like industrial manufacturing and some healthcare segments, may opt for a deeper, cyber and technical expertise to really help vet whether they have the proper solutions and if they’re benchmarking appropriately, he adds. Early movers into cybersecurity, such as financial services, technology and telecom industries, may already have deeper expertise in cybersecurity in- house – so rather than a technical expert on the board, they might need a consulting, legal or government background that will expand on their in- house expertise. Board hopefuls should also make themselves visible to connectors, like recruiting firms and board influencers. Suzanne Vautrinot, a retired major general in the U. S. Air Force who sits on the boards of Wells Fargo, Parsons Corp., Ecolab, Symantec and Battelle Memorial Institute, often fields calls from executive search firms and fellow board members asking for references for board-worthy cybersecurity experts. She knows plenty of well-qualified people who are “just not well known by boards or executive search firms.” She considers herself a connector in these cases. “You just have to help them meet each other,” she adds. Several recruiting firms also have board practices that focus on cybersecurity talent, including Russell Reynolds, Spencer Stuart and Korn Ferry – to name a few. Public speaking and publishing articles or blogs on the web also puts prospective cyber board members on the radar. Goldman regularly writes online columns on cybersecurity issues. He also hosts and moderates a cybersecurity forum on the website Boardprospects.com. Ossentjuk speaks at CISO executive summits four to five times a year. If your resume looks a tad light on business skills and capabilities – would an executive MBA improve your chances? “Probably,” Comyns says, “not that an MBA alone would qualify you – but that helps make your resume stand out.” The same goes for a CISSP certifications. It may set you apart, but it’s not always required, Spagnuolo says. Cyber pros could also look to cybersecurity startups to gain board experience, Comyns says. “It might be a little easier to get on to than a Fortune 500 board,” he says. “That would give you board experience and make you look like you’re on the cutting edge of new developments and new technologies.” CISOs should also emphasize their experience with their own company’s board. Articulate on your resume and in interviews how often you talk to your board or an audit committee, how many times a year, and what you cover, he adds. One bright spot for board-level cybersecurity hopefuls – first-time directors are at an all-time high. While previous board experience was once a prerequisite for many boards, the novelty of cybersecurity and other technical expertise has allowed younger candidates to make the cut. Of the 376 new directors added to S&P boards in 2015, 26 percent were serving on a board for the first time, Daniels says. “The year before it was at 39 percent -- way higher than it has been in the last 30 years.”
2016-08-30 03:37 Stacy Collett www.itnews.com
84 Gee, thanks, boss! It's the end of summer, and this organization's annual picnic is scheduled to begin at quitting time, reports a pilot fish there. "The location was 80 miles away," fish says. "To accommodate this, we were allowed to leave early. Several of us were planning on carpooling together, and I was driving. "Just before the early dismissal time, I received a panic call from the boss. Seems his PC would not bring up a particular website, and it was essential that I fix it right now! "He was also in a meeting in the office with the PC. I began troubleshooting, and the job ran past the time I was to be driving the 80 miles to the picnic. But the PC needed to be fixed. "The fix was completed, and I left it with the website he wanted on the screen. "Next day, the boss was not in the office -- but his PC still showed the same website page that was absolutely essential to be available the day before. "
2016-08-30 03:00 Sharky www.computerworld.com
85 9 things to check after installing wireless access points After all the work of performing a Wi-Fi site survey, running cable to key locations in the building and hooking up your access points, you might be eager to quickly fill the airwaves. However, there are some things you should check just after powering on those new or upgraded APs and before letting users connect to them. You can never be too careful when it comes to Wi-Fi security and performance, and you don't want to start off by ignoring them. That said, you can follow these tips at any time. This may seem like a no-brainer, but when installing many APs you can easily overlook issues with individual devices. There is always the possibility of a wiring or configuration mistake that could prevent an AP from working correctly. These single-AP problems may not be so noticeable during general use of the network later on or even during a quick network check after you've installed all the APs, but they might come back to bite you much later, when it will be harder to diagnose the problem. To avoid this, after plugging in each AP at its mounting location, make sure it powers up, its status lights indicate normal operation, and you get network and Internet connectivity through each individual one you install. Remember to look at the signal level of the AP on the device you're using to test the APs; ensure that you're connected to the correct AP, which should show perfect signal levels. If a network is configured with multiple virtual LANs and SSIDs , it is possible to misconfigure a setting on the router, switch or AP. For instance, even if you assign each SSID to a single VLAN, the VLAN tagging could be misconfigured, accidentally opening up private VLANs to a guest VLAN. Thus, while you're testing each AP to ensure that it's operational, consider going a step further by verifying that the VLANs are properly configured. To continue reading this article register now Learn More Existing Users Sign In
2016-08-30 03:00 Eric Geier www.computerworld.com
86 Hollywood's 5 biggest hacking myths If you’ve ever hacked for a living -- wearing a white hat, I hope -- you probably can’t stand the unrealistic light most shows and movies shine on hacking and hackers. On the big and small screens, supergenius hackers enjoy instantaneous success and always manage to stay one step ahead of the law. Typically they’re portrayed in one of two views: Either they dress like refugees from a cyberpunk fashion show and have hot model girlfriends, or they’re solitary fat guys juiced up on energy drinks hacking away in their trashed bedrooms. The dirty secret is that hacking tends to be tedious work -- not exactly Hollywood fare. Yet Hollywood has worked its magic on the minds of the masses. Many times I’ve had friends get upset that I couldn’t instantly crack their wireless network or Facebook account when they forgot their passwords. I’ve even seen newbies on a penetration testing team surprised that we don’t immediately break into every server we come across without a little research first. In real life, hacking is 95 percent monotony and 5 percent excitement, where focused dedication is more than a virtue. It’s almost the only trait that matters. So much for the reality-based community. Courtesy of Hollywood, here are the hacking misfires that bug me most. Many if not most movies with hacking scenes show the protagonist under lethal pressure to crack the master password in less than a minute. A perfect example is 2001’s " Swordfish ," in which the evil character played by John Travolta holds a gun to the head of the hacker leader, Stanley, played by Hugh Jackman. Stanley sweats bullets under threat, typing different passwords so fast it’s obvious he can’t be typing anything coherent at all. At the last second, after trying hundreds of different passwords, he pulls the right one out of thin air. Has any computer system in any movie ever locked out an attacker after a certain number of password tries? In other hacker movies, the protagonist seems to guess the correct password right off the bat. The hacker looks around the office, sees a picture of the CEO playing golf, and seems to know that “Titleist” is the right password. While trying words associated with the victim’s hobby is a well- known guessing technique, I’ve never seen anyone get it right on the first pass. Real password guessing usually takes hundreds (if not hundreds of thousands) of attempts. If account lockout isn’t enabled, hackers can use automated dictionary-hybrid programs to do all the guessing. Today, because most passwords are complex and run eight characters or more in length, manual guessing isn’t very fruitful. In fact, today, most password “guessing” is really password cracking. Cracking starts by capturing the password hashes first (which takes superadmin access), then using a brute-force or dictionary automation program to convert the hashes into their plaintext equivalents. Or to be truly modern about it, the passwords aren’t guessed or cracked at all. Instead, the attackers use the captured hashes, with no conversion necessary, to authenticate to other computers. One the most cringe-inducing moments of all time appeared in 1996’s “ Independence Day ," when Jeff Goldblum’s character writes and inserts a computer virus into the mothership’s computers, which then brings down the shields and leads to the aliens' downfall. When I first saw that scene, I wondered: "Gee, did he use Cobol or C++? " It’s ridiculous to think an alien race would use computer systems that could run our programs. Their systems wouldn’t use the same character sets, language conversion tables, or built-in instructions on their CPUs. In real life, most malware programs have a hard time running on different versions of the same operating system, much less on different operating systems or platforms. I’ve seen movies in which a hacker on a Unix computer writes code for a Microsoft Windows victim. While that could actually be done, it would be 99 percent wasted effort. Real malware writer codes their creations on the same platform as the target system. Another incredibly unrealistic portrayal: One malware program or command manipulates dozens of disparate systems all at once. Sandra Bullock’s nemesis in 1995’s “ The Net ” provides a case in point. After spurning a would-be paramour turned murderer, Bullock’s character suffers an attack that erases her online life (no mortgage record, no driver’s license, no credit cards, no paycheck). The best part? Her antagonist does it with a couple of commands! He even erases all paper trails and backups, not to mention everyone’s memory of her. In real life it takes months for a company to erase the trail of a single entity, and that’s when they own the systems, have the passwords, and know what they’re doing. If the bad guy really could do what he seems to be doing in “The Net,” he could earn millions working for corporations. He would be a data god! When any information is requested, the “computer nerd” types in a single command, and the answer comes back in seconds. This seems to happen several times a week on crime shows. The protagonist will ask something like, “Where is the bad guy using his ATM card right now?” Ta-da, the screen immediately returns the exact address. Or “How many murders were committed in the upper boroughs by a guy using a knife and wearing pink shorts?” Voila, the answer is 12. Contrast this with asking your own log management system how many logons Roger had today. You can easily wait two to three minutes for the answer -- with no guarantee the answer will be accurate. Almost every hacker movie shows s great, custom-made program with an incredible graphical UI perfect for whatever the hacker is doing. In real life, almost all the programs used by hackers are created by someone else, used by millions of other hackers, and have a horrible UI. You get a CLI and a set of commands that demand an unnatural amount of human memory to recall. The commands often wrap around from one line to the next. Fact is, you don’t even need the most up-to-date program. Most successful hacks target vulnerabilities and exploits many years old. When I was a full- time penetration tester, rarely did I break in using a brand-new vulnerability. It was far more common to find a flaw from five to 10 years ago that had never been patched. You can always tell when a show cares about how it portrays hacking, but there’s nothing quite like the USA Network’s " Mr. Robot. " Although the protagonist is a supergenius -- who, yes, frequently enjoys instantaneous success -- every typed command or program is a real typed command or program. What he does could really happen, albeit with the normal Hollywood hyperbole. I remember when I saw the first few episodes. I was filled with glee to see all the realness. It proved that Hollywood could produce a hacker-driven drama using actual hacker commands and tools. Not only that, but the show is a wild success. I hope others follow the path blazed by "Mr. Robot. " Think of those hardcore contingents of loyal, upscale fans! I’m not holding my breath, though. Reality always demands more tedious work than most people want to watch.
2016-08-30 03:00 Roger A www.infoworld.com
87 Beacons take baby steps into businesses When Apple debuted the iBeacon technology three years ago in iOS, Bluetooth beacons showed a lot of potential. Today, little of that potential seems to have become reality, despite all the tests by retailers and Google's entry into beacons with its Eddystone technology (for both iOS and Android). But there's much more to both life and business than shopping, as some early beacons concepts showed. Unfortunately, beacon usage has progressed even more slowly in nonretail scenarios than in retail situations. Still, it's too soon to give up on beacons' promise -- and in fact, enterprise uses in particular are starting to emerge. The devices are deceptively simple: They transmit unique IDs to smartphones. Then an app can look up the ID over the internet to determine the beacon's location and, thus, provide relevant information for that location. Some can also detect smartphones' Bluetooth signals and anonymously count people nearby. The hard part is actually making beacons work at scale. The obvious usage for beacons is retail, so shoppers in, say, the shoe department can get immediate help on shoe availability when there and not have to navigate through the store's app. It also lets stores track where individual customers spend their time, to build up profiles of interests for upselling and cross-selling, even in real time -- doing in a physical location what e-commerce providers like Amazon.com do with their online tracking. So what can enterprises do with beacons? Several possible uses treat the beacon as a sort of smarter card reader: A more conventional beacon use is as a wayfinder, where beacons work like internal GPS so that you can check your position against a map and even get directions to where you want to go in a campus, airport, hospital, museum, theme park, or office building. There were dozens of such wayfinding pilot projects in 2013 and 2014, though there's little evidence of them today. One reason may be that you need an app to interact with the beacons, and people will install and run only so many apps before resorting to good old maps, signage, and asking people for directions. That explains why airlines and airports have pivoted from using beacons for passenger directions to testing them for employee use, such as to count passengers (anonymously) in a waiting area to identify where staff might need to be routed, then match staff location (also via beacons) to redeploy them as needed. One challenge for enterprise adoption of beacons is that they require a smartphone and usually an app. Some courts have ruled that if you require people to carry a smartphone for business use, you need to pay for part of the monthly costs of the smartphone plan. That can get expensive fast. Or maybe not. You don't need a data plan to use a beacon -- Wi-Fi does the trick of connecting the required apps to the internet. And it's free (for the user) at an office, notes Tony Kush, vice president of R&D for mobile technologies at VMware. With most working adults now carrying a smartphone, it may be reasonable to expect all employees to have one, even if only for use as essentially an employee badge. You could thus restrict data-plan reimbursement to employees who need to use the smartphones outside the office, he suggests. That's an interesting idea, though it probably should be explained delicately to your workforce. Still, you need to have the apps installed and running on all users' devices, which requires a distribution method of some sort, whether an enterprise app store or essentially harnessing embarrassment and peer pressure to motivate people into downloading them from a public app store. But you could flip the deployment around, suggests Tim Myers, product manager at ReadyTalk. Beacons could be embedded in employee badges or carried around as badges; a tablet in a room would detect which beacons have entered and thus know who has come in. (Computers don't currently support the iBeacons or Eddystone technologies, so they can't be that intelligent hub device. Only mobile devices can do that today.) As a result, employees no longer need to have specific apps running on their smartphones. And you don't have to worry about people who still have flip phones or whose Bluetooth is off or not working right. Although the typical model is for the beacon to be fixed and the intelligence (the network- connected app) to be portable, that doesn't have to be the case. Perhaps over times beacons will not be so tied to smartphones or tablets but can instead communicate to the network directly. Oh, wait -- that's the internet of things, where intelligent sensors can do exactly that. There's an intriguing possibility that beacons will evolve to handle both people-oriented and IoT interactions and not be so single-purpose as current iOT devices -- rather than stick with Apple's original "dumb device, smartphone" vision. After all, why not have that kind of flexibility in the sensor and control networks you have to deploy and manage? That would be the best of both worlds. If it happens, enterprise use cases will likely show the way.
2016-08-30 03:00 Galen Gruman www.infoworld.com
88 Devops and cloud: Great together, great apart Devops strongly benefits many enterprises by encouraging more continuous development and deployment by bringing some operations capabilities to in-house programmers. The business case for continuous everything is easy to make, although these benefits vary from organization to organization. It's easy to attribute the rise of devops directly to the rise of cloud computing. After all, cloud computing also assumes continuously updated applications and infrastructure. Thus, many enterprises are looking at devops as the path to their cloud strategy. But that may not be the right approach. Most enterprises still use laborious processes for design, development, testing, and deployment of new and incremental software releases. And many claim they use those complex approaches because they are not yet ready to move to the cloud, which would be a catalyst for adopting devops. Yes, there's a synergy between devops and cloud computing. But one does not require the other. Devops is useful for any software development, not cloud deployments alone. Similarly, you can use different development models for the cloud, such as agile -- not only devops. Devops and cloud computing should be independent but complementary concepts. If you remember the old Reese's peanut butter cup commercials, devops and cloud computing go together like peanut butter and chocolate. But you don't need peanut butter to enjoy chocolate, and you don't need chocolate to enjoy peanut butter -- both ingredients go well with many other ingredients. In fact, it would be better if enterprises decoupled devops and cloud computing, because that coupling too often delays their adoption. They both are valuable concepts, but they stand on their own.
2016-08-30 03:00 David Linthicum www.infoworld.com
89 Leaked AMD Deck Shows High Performance Vega GPU Targeted For 1H 2017 Over the past few months, AMD has been preoccupied with shoving its Polaris -based GPUs (GCN 4.0) out the door. Offering a 2x advantage in performance-per-watt compared to its predecessors, the Radeon RX 480 , RX 470 and RX 460 offer great performance at reasonable prices. But what about the follow-up to Polaris? Well, according to a leaked AMD slide deck, Vega GPU architecture (GCN 5.0) is due out during the first half of 2017. The parts will still be manufactured on a 14nm process tech, however, whereas Polaris is aimed at the low-end to mainstream sector of the graphics market, Vega is aimed squarely at enthusiasts. AMD was the first to introduce us to High Bandwidth Memory ( HBM ) with its lineup of Fiji -based graphics cards last year, and Vega will bring with it next generation HBM2. HBM2 offers twice the bandwidth of its predecessor and reached commercially availability earlier this summer with the launch of NVIDIA’s Tesla P100 accelerator. We also know that Vega cards will have 4096 stream processors, up from 2304 on the RX 480, and matching that of the Fiji-based Radeon R9 Fury X (which is appropriate given its flagship aspirations). But given the efficiency improvements from the 14nm process coupled with HBM2, we should see some pretty dramatic improvements in performance-per-watt compared to both Fiji, and even Polaris. The first half of 2017 should be an exciting time for hardware enthusiasts. Not only will Vega be making its appearance as AMD’s next generation graphics flagship, but AMD’s Zen CPU architecture should also be trickling out onto the consumer market during the first quarter of 2017.
2016-08-30 00:00 Brandon Hill hothardware.com
90 95% Off An Ultimate Computer Security Bundle In the HotHardware Shop If you're looking to bolster your security skillset, we've got a deal running in the HotHardware Shop that will be of interest. An Ultimate Computer Security Bundle with certifications in CISSP, Encryption, Pentesting, and Ethical Hacking -- among others -- is currently discounted by over 95% and available for under $30. Security is everything in this networked world of computers and mobile devices. Corporate environments have as much, if not more, of a vested interest in their computer security than individuals, and are willing to pay a premium for competent people who can help secure their systems. This 7- course bundle will give you a comprehensive background - and certifications - in IT security, ethical hacking, Voice over IP security, data security, and more. Soon enough, you'll be fully certified and ready to enter the computer security job market with a complete arsenal. You can take advantage of this awesome deal right here
2016-08-30 00:00 Hh Editor hothardware.com
91 Ripper malware robbing ATMs blind in Thailand THREAT WRANGLER FireEye has turned its attentions to Thailand and a particularly capable and virulent malware attack on ATMs. The firm has called the malware Ripper and warned that it could affect cash machines on a global basis. Ripper gets its name from the sample code dissected by FireEye which contains the project name ATMripper. It is apposite because the thing has done what it was designed to do and ripped cash out of banks in Thailand. "In August 2016, FireEye detected a potentially new ATM malware sample that used some interesting techniques not seen before," FireEye said in a security blog post . "To add more fuel to an existing fire, the sample was uploaded to VirusTotal from an IP address in Thailand a couple of minutes before the Bangkok Post newspaper reported the theft of 12 million baht from ATMs at banks in Thailand. " Some of the techniques have not been seen before, but Ripper does bear the hallmarks of earlier attacks. FireEye explained that the malware targets the same make of ATM as in previous assaults, and has similarities in the way that it takes control of a card reader and dictates its actions. FireEye said that the attack allows the stealing of cash up to the daily withdrawal amount, and uses an ‘sdelete' secure deletion tool to cover its tracks forensically. The code shares features with the Padpin, Suceful and GreenDispenser ATM attacks , explained the firm. The attack requires a specially made ATM card, probably not much of a challenge for the modern criminal, and can be used against "three of the main ATM vendors worldwide". FireEye does not name the affected hardware companies or the Thai banks left wondering where the hell all that money went. "We've identified a family of malware that may have been used in recent ATM robberies and which bears some similarities to known families of malware. This malware family can be used to compromise multiple vendor platforms, and leverages uncommon technology to access physical devices," added FireEye. "In addition to requiring technical sophistication, attacks such as that affecting the ATMs in Thailand require coordination of the virtual and the physical. This speaks to the formidable nature of the thieves. " µ
2016-08-30 00:00 www.theinquirer.net
92 INQ SPORT: Robot Wars season 8 episode 6 review AFTER TAKING more flack that Harry Styles last week we'd probably better just clear the air with the fighting robot community before we get on with reviewing the final. Some people seemed to think we had suggested that there was some sort of deliberate 'boys club' going on and that girls weren't allowed in the treehouse. Nothing could be further from our minds. In fact, as the events of the final unfolded, it became obvious that with the passion and verve, not to mention a bit of skill, anyone can be a roboteer. It just happens that most of them are male, and our appeal was simply a call to arms to the girls to get involved. In the event, it wasn't a team of engineers or a father and son that won, and in fact the final had an almost fairy tale quality about it that gave us the final we wanted, but hadn't dared hope for. One-man army Team Thor was brought back as a wildcard to fill the coveted sixth slot and covered itself in a certain amount of glory, seeing off many heat-winning rivals. But the night seemingly belonged to Carbide. Its devastating front spinner, which actually took out a side wall of the arena at one point - something that simply isn't meant to happen - meant that robot after robot fell before it. But cometh the hour, cometh Apollo, shooting for the Moon. Apollo is built and operated by the most unlikely of roboteers, and the machine's flipper, which had seen off several house robots during its heat, was doing what it did best. Flipping stuff. The final of the final was predictably a mile off. But battle-scarred Carbide just wasn't able to give it all the welly it was capable of and, despite Apollo's flipper getting jammed at one point, it was able to do enough flipping damage to secure the series win. And so it came to pass that the first winner of the newly revived Robot Wars was a team of three former Pontins Bluecoats. Who saw that one coming? What have we learned, then? Robot building is for everyone. Anyone can win. We've also learned that roboteers are dedicated and passionate and we should avoid annoying them. But most of all, we've seen the show, cleverly edited week by week to build into its new format, works - even at peak time which, let's face it, was a bit of a surprise all on its own. There's no official word on series two at the time of writing, but many of the teams referred to it, suggesting there are high hopes at the very least. And if for any reason the BBC does decide that one series is enough, apart from a massive outcry on social media, where the show always trends for hours after broadcast, it doesn't mean the end of robot fighting, which never went away, and continues with events at least once a month around the country. So now it's your turn. Go out, build a robot to challenge Apollo and make us proud. Or if you just want to watch other people doing it, don't worry about waiting because US version Battlebots comes to the UK next week in the same Sunday night slot on Spike, with repeats at a later date on Channel 5. µ
2016-08-30 00:00 www.theinquirer.net
93 Mophie shaves prices on new Powerstation chargers, adds portable wireless charging Mophie makes some nice external batteries for charging devices, with sleek aluminum housings, but the knock against them has been that they're expensive. To trim prices, Mophie's designers had to reduce production costs, which meant modifying the designs of the battery casings (they aren't made of one single seamless piece of aluminum, for example). But the new products are still quite attractive -- for external batteries anyway. Powerstation (Starts at $30): Comes in a range of colors and capacities (3,000 mAh, 6,000 mAh, 10,000 mAh, and 20,000 mAh) and has a top and bottom aluminum plate design. With no integrated cable these are just charging bricks. The $30 Powerstation Mini (3,000 mAh) is the smallest and the Powerstation XXL (20,000 mAh) is the largest capacity universal battery from Mophie to date, and and has three USB charging ports. Powerstation Plus (starts at $60): The redesigned Powerstation Plus line has a switch-tip version of its built-in cable for charging both iOS and Android devices. It comes in three color options (space gray, gold, rose gold) and three capacities: Powerstation Mini at 4,000 mAh, Powerstation Plus at 6,000 mAh and Powerstation Plus XL at 12,000 mAh. Charge Force Powerstation ($100): More than five times extra battery life for most phones (10,000 mAh), this portable wireless charging battery is compatible with all Charge Force Juice Pack Cases for the iPhone and Samsung Galaxy S series, as well as other Qi wireless charging-enabled devices. A built-in USB port allows for charging a second device simultaneously. Powerstation USB-C ($100): This high-capacity (10,000 mAh) aluminum charger features USB-C and USB-A charge ports, with USB-A and USB-C charging cables included.
2016-08-30 00:00 David Carnoy www.cnet.com
94 World of Warcraft: Legion is here, and it's just like I remembered I've been playing World of Warcraft -- Blizzard's all-powerful, all-conquering massively multiplayer online roleplaying game -- off and on for more than a decade. I could tell you exactly how much time I'd spent playing, but for my sanity I'd rather not know. But I remember so much about playing this game. I remember being stuck with terribly mismatched armour on my hunter because anything better refused to drop. I remember discovering, after knowing his digital self for a year, that my raid leader and I went to the same university. I remember one player- versus-player arena match that turned into a game of peekaboo that went for half an hour. It's just a game, one I've played a whole lot of. But really, it's more than that. It's a place I've shared with friends I know in real life, and friends I've only met through the game. The sheer mass of content, of players, of time spent, means the memories aren't really something I can easily shake. Looking at what developer Blizzard has planned for its new expansion, Legion, it is putting our fond memories front and centre to win its own quest for more subscribers. Legion is roping in Azerothian all-stars, bringing back old-school enemies and iconic locations, building up player classes into the ideal versions of what they should be. It's trading on those old memories with every quality of life update added to the game since launch. My latest WoW relapse was just over a month ago, when the first touches of the upcoming Legion expansion were added to the game. Though I was logging into characters I'd invested (or should I say "invested") hundreds of hours into, Legion's completely redesigned skill trees and abilities meant that I was at a bit of a loss. In the time-honoured tradition of Warcraft, I went and killed boars with my mage until I sorted everything out. Somewhere around boar number 12, when I was the embodiment of living flame and calling down meteors with a button press, the feeling started to come back. It wasn't because I'd remembered how to play, because I never really forgot the basics. It was because right then, I got a message from a friend, asking if I wanted to go and run through some old dungeons. That's what my friends and I have been doing this past month. All of us long- term, all of us having quit and un-quit more times than we should have. With our characters at maximum level, we've been running through what would have been the hardest content in the game five, six, seven years ago. Instead of a group of 25 hardcore raiders, it was the three of us casually destroying what was only accessible to the most elite of players once upon a time. On this latest trip to Sunwell Plateau, one of the dungeons released in 2008, a friend was inspecting the spoils of victory from an enormous demon we'd killed in embarrassingly short order. "I remember all this armour," he said. "I was just never good enough to get it at the time. " That's why we were there, after all. To see the old content and acquire that gear, now for purely cosmetic purposes. But it was more than that. I remembered how that armour looked too, adorning players well beyond our level as we loitered around capital cities in the game. Back then there was a lot of loitering. I'm sure people are still coming to World of Warcraft fresh, discovering a universe decades in the making for the first time. But everyone I know is coming back to rediscover the familiar. It's day one of Legion as I write this, and as it normally goes on expansion day one, I'm queued and waiting to get into the server. When (or if, judging by the time) I finally get in, I'll have new worlds to explore. But it's the one I already know that I'll be looking for.
2016-08-30 00:00 Luke Lancaster www.cnet.com
95 Used SpaceX rocket to launch SES satellite into orbit Luxembourg-based SES said it will be the first company to ever launch a geostationary satellite on a used rocket. The launch is slated for sometime in the fourth quarter.
2016-08-30 00:00 Megan Wollerton www.cnet.com
96 96 Facebook Trending News Algorithm Promotes False Megyn Kelly Story In Absence Of Human Handlers
It looks like our would-be robot overlords aren't quite up to the task of running things all by themselves. In what could be considered a test run, Facebook recently announced less human intervention and more reliance on a computer algorithm to its Trending topics feature, a decision it made following a report alleging that its team of news editors had been suppressing stories that would be of interest to a conservative audience. That's fine and dandy, except the algorithm used its newfound power to promote a fake news store about Well, less than a week after slapping the algorithm on the backside and letting it run free, it promoted a false story about Megyn Kelly, a high profile journalist atThe topic "Megyn Kelly" was trending on Facebook from Sunday evening to Monday morning based on a fake news headline that read, "Fox News Exposes Traitor Megyn Kelly, Kicks Her Out For Backing Hillary. " To be clear, the news outlet hasn't booted Megyn Kelly. This is a lesson learned for Facebook. The social network was in a bit of a tough spot amid allegations that its news editors routinely suppressed conservative stories. Whether or not that was happening, the very appearance of bias can damage an organization's credibility, especially one that has much social influence as Facebook. Facebook responded by tweaking things so that its Trending topics feature would be more algorithmically driven. Humans weren't removed from the equation altogether, but the news team was no longer tasked with writing summaries of articles. "Instead of seeing a story description in Trending, you’ll now see a simplified topic—for example, #PhelpsFace or NASA—as well as the number of people talking about that particular topic on Facebook. This is based on the number of original posts that mention the topic and shares of posts about the topic," Facebook said of the change. So how did this happen? There was a recentarticle about Kelly's contract expiring next year, as will Bill O'Reilly, another high-profile personality at. It cited an anonymous "rival news executive" as saying the news outlet might only be able to keep one of them. Several aggregated stories cited the article, while the inaccurate headline in question contained a link to one of the aggregated news articles. There's your loose connection. Facebook will undoubtedly tweak is algorithm to prevent this sort of thing from happening again, but without more human intervention, it may suffer more embarrassing moments before finding a groove.
2016-08-30 00:00 Paul Lilly hothardware.com
97 'Stranger Things' Gets Old-School PC Game Treatment If you can't get enough of the Netflix series Stranger Things , listen up. Infamous Quests has developed a game based on the popular series, with the unimaginative (and legally questionable?) name Stranger Things. The game—which works on Windows, Mac, and Linux—places gamers in a single room, where they point and click their way around Hawkins, Indiana, where the show is set. "The disappearance of Will Byers has the town of Hawkins, Indiana—and Chief Jim Hopper—on edge," the game's description reads. "Based on the Netflix series created by the Duffer Brothers, this is a one-room, point-and- click adventure game, done in tribute to the series. " Stranger Things launched on Netflix on July 15 and immediately became a sensation. The 80s-inspired supernatural horror show—starring Winona Ryder, David Harbour, and Finn Wolfhard—centers on the disappearance of a young boy and a government force trying to cover it up. According to Infamous Quests, the game was created by Steven Alexander, James Mulvale, and Jon Taylor-Stoll. While they acknowledge the game is rather simple in its functionality and design, they called it a "small labor of love. " Based on the comments posted to the site offering downloads to the game, it's a most welcome labor of love for those who like the series. The game is available as a free, 15MB download. For more, check out an episode-by-episode breakdown of all the 80s references in Stranger Things from our sister site Geek.com.
2016-08-30 00:00 By feedproxy.google.com
98 Excel Auto-Correct Creates Problems With Genomics Research Microsoft Excel could be to blame for errors in genomics research. In a paper published last week in the Genome Biology journal, researchers Mark Ziemann, Yotam Eren, and Assal El-Osta reveal that an auto-correct feature built into Microsoft Excel caused errors in approximately 20 percent of all genomics research papers. As Quartz reports , the findings were discovered after the Australian scientists analyzed more than 7,500 Excel files in more than 3,600 papers across 18 journals, all of which were published in the last 10 years. The issue, according to the researchers, is that Excel has a problem understanding certain gene symbols and automatically corrects them to dates or "gloating-point numbers. " For instance, the researchers say that gene symbols like Sept2 or March1, which refer to genes and not dates, are automatically converted to dates. In other cases, gene identifiers can be converted to massive numbers like "2310009E13. " "The spreadsheet software Microsoft Excel, when used with default settings, is known to convert gene names to dates and floating-point numbers," the researchers say. "A programmatic scan of leading genomics journals reveals that approximately one-fifth of papers with supplementary Excel gene lists contain erroneous gene name conversions. " While the issue only affects a couple dozen genes out of approximately 30,000 in the human genome, data from other scientists is often used as a jumping-off point for other research. If 24 genes aren't included in that follow-up data, inaccuracies and inconsistencies could be profound. What's worse, the scientists say the problems were first reported in 2004. Since then, massive amounts of research has been done to on genomics. "This suggests that gene name errors continue to be a problem in supplementary files accompanying articles," the researchers write. "Inadvertent gene symbol conversion is problematic because these supplementary files are an important resource in the genomics community that are frequently reused. Our aim here is to raise awareness of the problem. " Luckily, the feature can be temporarily turned off in Excel and scripts can be run for scientists to determine whether they've fallen victim to the auto- correct features. They also note that Google Sheets doesn't convert the data automatically, making the search giant's alternative spreadsheet tool a potentially appealing option for scientists.
2016-08-30 00:00 By feedproxy.google.com
99 Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is marred by long load times on PS4 and Xbox One It’s been 16 years since the original Deus Ex hit store shelves, but the core concept of a cyberpunk RPG that revolves around player choice is still undeniably strong. Sneaking, shooting, and smooth-talking your way out of a dangerous situation still feels great when you pull it off the first time, but the lengthy load times add a heavy penalty for experimentation in Eidos Montreal’s latest release. Deus Ex: Mankind Divided takes place two years after Deus Ex: Human Revolution (2011), and Adam Jensen returns as the game’s protagonist. Set mostly in the Czech Republic, the player is tasked with tracking down the Illuminati, and thwarting terrorism that is driving a wedge between traditional and augmented humans. On our sister site IGN, the game received an “Amazing” score of 9.2/10 on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. The review is somewhat critical of the story and its execution, but IGN’s Vince Ingenito practically gushes about the variety and flexibility of the game’s systems. Over at Metacritic, it has an aggregated score ranging between an 82 and 84/100 depending on the platform. The overall critical reception isn’t quite as enthusiastic about the game as IGN is, but we’re still seeing mostly positive reviews from gaming outlets. Steam, on the other hand, has amassed over 6,000 user reviews, and the current mood is “mixed.” For the most part, the crowd seems disappointed by the lackluster story and the introduction of real-money purchases, but the moment-to-moment gameplay is still well-liked. On the technical end, Digital Foundry’s analysis finds impressive visuals with a handful of annoying performance issues. Unsurprisingly, the PS4 version runs at 1080p while the Xbox One is limited to 900p. 30fps is the target here, and both consoles hit that for the most part, but the Xbox One tends to drop frames more frequently. Similarly, your budget gaming PC probably won’t deliver a perfectly smooth experience either. I’ve put around eight hours into the game so far, and I’m left feeling very frustrated on the PS4. With so many options available, my instinct is to experiment in every new area. Sadly, whenever the scenario doesn’t go as planned, reloading the last save becomes irksome. In Eurogamer’s testing, the PS4 version loads in about 28 seconds in the hub area, and the Xbox One in roughly 42. Even with my 1TB 7200RPM hard drive installed, my latest save takes 33 seconds to load in RVAC Row. After dying two or three times at a single point, the load times break my resolve. I end up solving the problem in the most straight-forward way possible just to progress the game, and that sidesteps all of the interesting possibilities that Mankind Divided has to offer. The PC version is your best bet to avoid long loads, but it seems that some PC players are having a rough time as well. Let’s cross our fingers for an optimization patch.
2016-08-30 00:00 By Grant www.extremetech.com
100 Corbyn’s digital manifesto makes high speed broadband a priority Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn today outlined proposals to deliver high speed broadband to every household in the UK and to draw up a digital bill of rights. Launching his Digital Democracy Manifesto in Shoreditch this morning, Corbyn also spelled out plans to issue people with digital passports and open sourcing publicly-funded software projects if Labour wins the next general election under his leadership. However, the politician’s speech on technology suffered some technical problems in its Facebook livestream, with the video and audio occasionally cutting out. Corbyn, who is vying for the Labour leadership with rival Owen Smith, said: “I don’t think it’s fair that people living in London can get 4G connections wherever they go [while] other parts of the UK they can’t even get a single bar of reception. People are struggling with slow or no internet. “We want to see a Universal Service Network (USN) that will deliver high quality broadband to all households.” Funding to the value of £25 billion would come from a proposed National Investment Bank, and regional investment banks would be responsible for supporting local access co-operatives for rural areas. BT is currently responsible for rolling out broadband across the UK, with an aim of reaching 95% coverage by 2020. It has come under scrutiny for missing targets in the past, but in May pledged to pump £6 billion into Britain’s superfast and ultrafast broadband infrastructure. Corbyn’s proposed Digital Citizen Passports will give people secure identities when they use online public services like health, welfare, education and housing. The manifesto reads: “The individual holders of a Digital Citizen Passport will be able to control who has access to their personal data and for what purposes. We will encourage people to share anonymised information for medical, government and academic research.” The concept is similar to the government’s Gov.uk Verify scheme, an online identity assurance programme for people accessing online public services, that may yet be widened out to other public bodies like the NHS . Corbyn’s manifesto did not outline how these passports would be protected from hacking except by introducing “strict laws” to make doing so illegal. Such passports would automatically register people as voters in any new constituency they move to. Corbyn would also ask the public’s opinion to help draw up a People’s Charter of Digital Liberties. The Charter would “reaffirm the continued importance of long-held and hard- won individual and collective freedoms within the new information society”, and would outlaw “unwarranted” spying by the security services – something the Investigatory Powers Bill would sanction . In a bid to encourage more people to learn coding, Corbyn’s Labour government would urge people to make public software projects open source, while the National Education Service would encourage children and adults to learn how to write software and build hardware. Additionally, an Open Knowledge Library would be established to act as an online repository of “lessons, lectures, curricula and student work from Britain’s nurseries, schools, colleges and universities”. Telecoms regulator Ofcom would also be charged with protecting network neutrality from anyone manipulating software algorithms “for private gain”, while Labour’s National Investment Bank would finance social enterprises whose websites and apps focus on innovation in sectors such as transport, accommodation, cultural, catering.
2016-08-30 00:00 Joe Curtis www.itpro.co.uk
Total 100 articles. Created at 2016-08-30 18:00