Best of TechRadar: April 26
Apple v Samsung: 10 secrets the court battle has revealed
Holy wars and some seriously suss sales figures
Apple and Samsung are scrapping in the courts again, and you know what that means: top-secret stuff gets thrown about with gay abandon, providing us with an insight into the tech giants' most jealously guarded plans, predictions and peeves. So what can we discover from the latest battle in Apple's Android war?
Sony Xperia Z Tablet
Sony has kept up the high standards it set with last year's Sony Xperia Tablet Z with a number of fairly minor improvements. The Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet is even slimmer and lighter, while it retains the original's distinctive looks and adds an eye-scorching Live Colour display. Meanwhile an improved processor and more RAM ensure that the tablet is right near the top of the performance tree. However, with the iPad Air and a whole range of improved Samsung tablets arriving in the interim, the Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet simply doesn't impress as much as its predecessor did - but that's not to say it isn't one of, if not the, best Android tablet on the market right now if you're a fan of specs and design married together in an interesting and unique way. Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet review
How gadgets are set to change air travel forever
Where we're going, we won't need flight mode
The phrase that brings dread at the start of a flight: "Please turn off all electronic devices during take-off and landing. Limited use is allowed during the flight." That wasn't so bad when all you had to do was switch off your Gameboy for a bit (although the lack of saving RUINEDSuper Mario Land) but nowadays, in our smartphone-addicted times, it's akin to being imprisoned in the 1980s for umpteen hours. It means flights are dead time, with no communication with the outside world, limited ability to work or play and during take-off and landing you were all but forced to read the in-flight magazine, which is a fate we wouldn't wish on anyone. There were reasons for this, beyond perhaps the hope that passengers might resort to overpriced alcohol in desperation. Continue reading...
Why NBA 2K14 is the PS4 RPg to beat
Slam dunks over Dark Souls
Flick open the gaming section of Writing for Film and TV for Lazy Hacks, and find the chapter on RPGs. You'll recognise the description instantly: man in late twenties sits in mother's basement, his face illuminated in an otherwise pitch-black room by the glow of his LED gaming keyboard. He's either painfully thin or morbidly obese, and his on-screen character is a grubby, throbbing mess of manliness in ebony armour carrying a sword bigger than Peter Crouch (the book recommends making the most of this reality-game disparity for maximum lols). He clatters at his keyboard and mouse like a concert pianist while a dragon gets hosed by magical abilities in a forest. Just before the mighty beast's health bar is fully depleted, in comes the guy's mum to tell him dinner's ready. The dozy cow! Doesn't she realise the whole realm's at stake? And scene. Continue reading...
Oppo PM-1
There's really no other way of saying it: these headphones cost £1,099. Yes, one thousand and ninety nine British pounds. The equivalent of US$1,838 and AU$1,957. It's a truly staggering amount of money, enough to buy you 92 pairs of Apple EarPods; 33 iPod shuffles; Or, the metaphysical concept of shame. But suspend your disbelief for just a few minutes and come with us on a journey through the PM-1's credentials and maybe, just maybe, you'll get to the end of this review in the belief that they're worth the cash. Oppo PM-1 review
Nintendo Game Boy turns 25
How one gadget changed gaming on the go
Today, Nintendo's pride and joy, the Game Boy, turns 25 years old. It's a day to not only celebrate the release with a game of Tetris (do we really need to give you a reason to play Tetris?), but to fondly remember one of Gunpei Yokoi's greatest inventions. Before we look at how and why Nintendo's handheld impacted gamers' lives, we need to understand a bit about Gunpei Yokoi, the maestro behind the technology. Continue reading...
Which smartphones would survive in space?
Well, Samsung DID call it the Galaxy...
It's an age old question, one which has troubled scholars almost as much as the issue of whether cats can count. But it's a question which we finally aim to answer: can a smartphone survive a trip into orbit? Firstly, let's get the obvious out of the way: no, a smartphone can't make or receive calls in space, as it's reliant on ground based antennas. So you can't use it as a phone, but what we want to know is whether a smartphone would still work after being left floating in space or whether that harsh, alien environment would prove too much for a device which in many cases can't survive a little water or a fall off a table. Continue reading...
The future of TV
Social networks, recommendations and Chromecast
It used to be that the television was the centre piece of your living room. An influx of smaller screens in the home, though, has meant that the TV has had to fight a lot harder in recent years for your attention. One way it has done this is with new technology. While 3D fell by the wayside, due to gimmickry, smart TV functionality has finally started to shine through and then there is 4K - a technology that has quickly changed from an out-of-reach luxury to a near affordable one. Continue reading...
Land Rover reveals vision for super-smart robo-SUVs within 10 years
Land Rover's hot new Discovery Vision isn't just a concept. It's the launch vehicle for Land Rover's plans to bring self-driving, gesture-controlled, augmented-reality, cloud-connected and generally super-smart SUVs to market inside 10 years. As it happens, it wasn't the only launch vehicle on display during a stunning event aboard the USS Intrepid aircraft carrier on the New York water front. Virgin Galactic's Space Ship One made an appearance, too. For Land Rover, though, the Vision concept is a tour-de-force of technology that comprehensively blows apart conventional notions of SUVs as big, dumb, lumbering beasts. Continue reading...
OnePlus One
Checking out the world's first CyanogenMod smartphone
It has impressive top end specs, a fluid Android interface and a price tag which quite simply blows the competition out of the water. So to find there isn't any obvious flaws with One makes it a mind boggling feat of power and price. We've only had a brief time with the handset, so issues may arise during our in-depth review, but for now the OnePlus One looks set to seriously shake up the mobile market and the likes of Sony, Samsung and HTC will need to sit up and take note.It's time for 4K to look beyond pushing pixels. OnePlus One review
The future of 4K is in the detail
The next big thing in Ultra HD will be HDR (High Dynamic Range) imaging. 4K may well offer up the picture detail that filmmakers finally agree is a decent representation of their movies, but if you really want to impress a cinematographer then you have to hit them with a much more appetising colour palette. This is what HDR offers and, according to the chatter at broadcast trade show NAB, it's the key ingredient to making 4K work in the home. Essentially, if the general public aren't that picky about pixels, HDR's vibrant colour reproduction will get them to part with their cash. There is a problem, though: currently there's no HDR specification.
Your house is getting smarter - and your phone is the brain
The tech of today and the promise of tomorrow
Smartphones are nice and feature-stocked these days, but we know what the phone buying hoardes are like: everyone wishes they did more. Sure, you can tweet from them, but we want them to be able to cook us dinner and take the robot vacuum for a walk. The good news is that's a future which may be closer than you think.
Just how next-gen is Watch Dogs?
Watch Dogs is looking to be the ultimate next-gen game of the year and despite the delay and seeing its share of controversy, it might actually pull it off. With a year of hype under its belt, you probably already know that you'll be playing in third-person as Aiden Pearce, genius hacker and vigilante out for revenge. The game was originally set with a near-future timeline during the early stages of development, but the story has caught up over time and actually begins in 2012. Continue reading...
Samsung UE46H7000
Samsung's flagship flatscreen has enhanced smart features
Flying the flag for premium Full HD flatscreens is a thankless task in the face of curved and 4K models, and models such as the UE46H7000 are in danger of being tarred with the outdated brush. It doesn't exactly push the envelope of Full HD, but putting aside comparisons with these nascent technologies for a second, the UE46H7000 features a slew of innovations designed to enhance the user experience. These include a point-and-click remote, streamlined Smart TV interface, dual picture display and a faster processor. In terms of picture and sound processing it doesn't offer anything beyond previous generations but is more of a consolidation of existing technologies. Samsung UE46H7000 review
What's going on with Apple and Nike?
It's a partnership like no other
Apple's partnership with Nike is like no other. Sure, Apple teams up with manufacturers, retailers and mobile networks all the time. Willing firms like Yahoo and even rivals like Google supply core services, auto manufacturers are baying to integrate CarPlay and accessory makers clamour for that 'Made for iPhone' certification. But with Nike it's different. It's just… tighter. The two American powerhouses are the Brangelina of the tech and business world: made to bask in each other's respective glories. Continue reading...
Sex is better than fiction in Dragon Age: Inquisition
Why role playing is just the thing for relationships
Lock up your sons and daughters - Bioware is adding more dynamic, complex relationships to Dragon Age: Inquisition, the third entry to the DA franchise, due in October this year. As well as simply showing romantic affection for another character, you'll be able to have a passionate, hate-filled tryst with a rival, or fool around with a mate. No word yet on whether drunken one-night stands will be a viable option, but we live in hope. Bioware has gotten a lot of flack in the past for the romance sub-plots in its games, despite its fairly tame depiction of love and sex compared to The Witcher series, where if characters aren't doing it, they're talking about doing it, usually when you're right in the middle of slaying a monster or traipsing through a dungeon knee-deep in troll dung. Continue reading...
Best of TechRadar: April 12
Game of Phones
Which handsets would the heroes and killers of Westeros use?
The new series of Game of Thrones is back! The first episode aired in the US yesterday and will hit the airwaves in the UK and Australia this evening. But what would the great and good of Westeros use to stay connected if they had a few more cell towers at their disposal rather than just the old stone kind? The enslaved population of ravens currently used for intercity communications would certainly benefit from an advance in Westeros Telecommunications. So we think it would be something like this... for science, of course!
10 ways tech would change the Game of Thrones universe
Technology is coming
While Game of Thrones might be set in pseudo-medieval times we think it would benefit from some tech. After all, they spent thousands of years building a giant wall to keep themselves safe, so you'd think they'd perhaps at least consider also spending some time, you know, inventing stuff. We've already covered what phones we think the characters would have, so here's a list of what technology they need and how it would help the world of Westeros and beyond.
Samsung Galaxy S5
The most anticipated phone of the year is here
The Samsung Galaxy S5 can be defined by one word: evolution. The camera has evolved to give clearer, faster snaps. The fitness-tracking abilities of the S5 are enhanced over the Galaxy S4 by packing in a more powerful S Health app and a dedicated heart rate monitor on the rear. A fingerprint scanner adds to the most secure Galaxy phone ever made. The battery is larger, the screen bigger and brighter, the processor quicker and the design altered. So is the Galaxy S5 a winner or loser? Samsung Galaxy S5 review
What happened to the internet's greatest hits?
When online fame fades
In the real world, neglected buildings don't stay intact for long: the windows get broken, the walls get tagged and Mother Nature slowly begins to show them who's boss. Does the same thing happen online? It certainly seemed to in the case of the Million Dollar Homepage, the 2005 hit that made a student a millionaire. Nine years on and link rot means that 22% of its links go nowhere, and many of the links that do work are domain squatters rather than active websites. That got us wondering. What happened to the sites and sights that delighted or frightened us way back when? Are the former viral smashes and hate figures still thriving online, or are they only stars in their own minds? Are people still leaving jokey comments about the Three Wolf Moon t-shirt? There's only one way to find out: fire up the Netscape!
Netflix in Ultra HD will ruin TV forever
Once you've experienced native 4K, there's no going back
Netflix has ruined television forever. Speaking as an unashamed hi-def snob who'd rather miss out on a show than have to watch it in grotty standard def, I've been champing at the bit to devour native 4K. Unfortunately, having now been one of the first to watch Ultra HD streamed live from Netflix servers, my beloved Full HD just doesn't look that great any more. Continue reading...
Amazon Fire TV
Amazon's sleek, powerful set-top box is a strong offering, but not perfect
This device is simple to use and works well. If you are significantly bought in to Amazon's services, it's hard to go wrong with this box. However, if you are not an Amazon customer or even an Amazon customer who doesn't have or want Amazon Prime, then you might think twice. The device is clearly tilted toward Amazon customers, and nothing short of a full UI overhaul is going to change that. We'd like to at least see Amazon allow some kind of user customization in the interface. Until then, we're calling this device great, but not perfect. Amazon Fire TV review
Don't blame the HTC One M8's camera
The problem is... you
Cameras are one of the first things we look at when judging a new smartphone, and the HTC One M8 wasn't spared our criticism. While we applaud HTC's brave move toward bigger-but-fewer pixel strategy, some find that the lack of resolution leaves the images wanting more. However, the bashing of the camera that we've read in other reviews and over social media is surprising. The camera on the HTC One M8 isn't that bad. I'd even say it isn't bad at all. It's easy to get tired of people saying, "Wow, that's an awesome photo! What camera did you use?" Or, "My camera sucks. It takes bad pictures." No. You take bad pictures
Spotify
The best music streaming service keeps getting better
Spotify is still the undisputed king of streaming, and its reign doesn't look like ending soon with these recent updates. The new look and the new features take what was already a brilliant service and add the level of polish and comprehensiveness to make it a five-star product. Your Music is the feature Spotify had been missing, and its flawless implementation and integration into the general experience has made things a lot better. Its fantastic catalogue, ability to use its brand to win major exclusives and superb (and unrivaled) social features make it the obvious choice for anyone looking to take the plunge with streaming. Spotify review
Is Sony's Driveclub PS4 delay the death knell for a genre?
Time for driving games to take a pitstop
What was the last great driving game you played? For me, it was Driver: San Francisco. Its driving model rocked and swayed with tremendous poise, Frisco itself was a curated vision of seventies movie car chases – oh, and it let you, a comatose cop, travel between people's minds like a cosmic parasite. A coma chameleon, if you will. Ubisoft Reflections got all the fundamentals right, andbonded them to a unique concept. And it still didn't get the sales that a passable shooter might expect. So where does that leave Driveclub, a meticulously detailed driving game, but seemingly also one with traditional race/checkpoint dash core content? Are pretty graphics really all it needs to cut it on PS4? PlayStation Gamer
The Double's special effects are the antidote Hollywood needs
Double trouble
In Richard Ayoade's new film, The Double, an over-looked and under-appreciated Simon James is usurped by his exact double, the confident and charismatic James Simon. There's more diplopia to The Double than its doppleganger storyline though. The film is full of reflections and shadows that echo the narrative, as well as hints of the past that make up a vision of an alternative future. It's a future that might have happened had technology not panned out the way it did - computers are the size of rooms, photocopiers are operated by specialist staff in dedicated offices, mobile phones do not exist. Continue reading...
Google's controversial little secrets
Hubspot and Retailmenot, but what are they?
Unbeknown to many Google has an investment arm called Google Ventures which provides funding to a number of startup companies. Latest figures indicates that it has total assets of around $1.5 billion (around £900 million) and nearly 60 startups have been funded to date. Some of them, like Nest, which has been acquired by Google itself, are in the public eye, but most remain in the shadows until they launch an IPO or get acquired. Two of them however caught our attention because they operate very close to Google's core and one of them has started to attract the attention of the SEO community given its proximity to the search business of Google. Read all about it
The car that thinks it's a smartphone
The new Vauxhall Adam White
Smartphone on wheels. That's the sales pitch for the new limited edition Vauxhall Adam White. Does it deliver or even make any sense? Here's one way to look at it. The idea that there are no bad cars any longer is a familiar refrain that reflects the increasing dynamic similarity between modern cars. Nobody really makes sheddy cars these days. But one area where there is plenty to choose from is in-car technology. There are some hugely dramatic contrasts in quality between the various multimedia systems – much more so than in engines or handling. What's more, car-buying punters have ever higher expectations of technology in general. Everyone's a smartphone expert nowadays. Continue reading...
from Techradar - All the latest technology news http://ift.tt/1pANFBv
沒有留言:
張貼留言