How to sync multiple Google Calendars to your iPhone or iPad

iOS Calendar Sync

Here's how to sync multiple Google Calendars with your iPhone and iPad, so they appear in the built-in iPhone or iPad calendar apps. It's not hard, but more difficult than it should be.

So, you have several different Google Calendars, but have only managed to sync the primary one with your iPhone and iPad. Not to worry. Though it’s not the most intuitive system, by following these instructions you’ll be up and running in no time.

Here’s how to get all of your Google calendars working on your iPhone  or iPad:

  1. First, lets make sure your Calendar is properly synced, and the process is the same on both devices.
  2. Go to Settings, then open Mail/Contacts/Calendars.
  3. Next, select Add Account and Gmail.
  4. If however, you have already added your Gmail account, then instead of Add Account, choose Gmail from the account list. From here, toggle the Calendar switch to On.
  5. Otherwise, add your Google account information and a description of the calendar, and ensure that the Calendar option is switched on. Syncing will begin when you next open the Calendar app on your iPhone or iPad.

Next you must choose which calendars to sync:

  1. To do this, you need to visit the following Google website: www.google.com/calendar/iphoneselect
  2. Provided you’re signed into your Google account, on this page you’ll see a list of all your calendars, with a check box against them.
  3. Tick the boxes of the calendars you want to sync with the iPhone and iPad, then click save.

Once again, open the Calendars app and wait for it to sync. That’s it, all your calendars should be ready and waiting for you.


Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Weekend game deals: ME3 $12, Batman AA+AC $10, Darksiders II $25

Assuming you won't be tied up with Borderlands 2, Torchlight II, XCOM: Enemeny Unknown or Dishonored, there are plenty of temptingly-priced timewasters to be found this weekend, including up to 75% off Focus Home Interactive titles at Steam, Batman Arkham and F.E.A.R. bundles for only $9.99 on Amazon, assorted Ubisoft packs at GameStop, steeply discounted EA titles including Mass Effect 3 for $11.98 at GamersGate, 75% off various Grand Theft Auto titles through several dealers, and more.

Steam
80 Wargame: European Escalation $9.99 (75% off)
55 Game of Thrones Bundle $17.49 (75% off)
63 Cities XL 2012 $9.99 (75% off)
74  Cities XL 2011 $6.24 (75% off)
69  Cities XL Limited Edition $3.74 (75% off)
74 Sanctum: Collection $4.74 (75% off)
80 Divinity II: The Dragon Knight Saga $9.99 (75% off)
74 Pendulo Adventure Pack $14.99 (75% off)
78 The Sherlock Holmes Collection $8.74 (75% off)
46 Confrontation $9.99 (75% off)
72 Dracula Origin $2.49 (75% off)
77 Double Fine Bundle $14.99 (50% off)
59  Apox $3.74 (75% off -- today only)
Loki $2.49 (75% off)
More...

Amazon Digital 
90 Batman Arkham Pack $9.99 (80% off)
73 F.E.A.R. Ultimate Pack $9.99 (78% off)
82 Darksiders II $24.99 (50% off)
75 Supreme Commander 2 $4.99 (67% off)
More...

GameStop
80  Sleeping Dogs $29.99 (40% off)
79  R.U.S.E. Bundle $12.49 (50% off)
81  Splinter Cell Bundle $11.49 (75% off)
71  Rainbow Six Bundle $7.49 (50% off)
80  The Settlers Bundle $19.99 (50% off)
93  TES V: Skyrim $35.99 (40% off -- also, Dawnguard for $13.99)
TES IV: Oblivion GotY Deluxe $12.49 (50% off)
TES III: Morrowind GotY $7.99 (60% off)
More...

GamersGate
63 Darkspore $4.99 (75% off)
81 Bulletstorm $4.99 (75% off)
68 Need for Speed: The Run $4.99 (75% off)
89 Mass Effect 3 $11.98 (60% off)
93  Mass Effect 2 $4.99 (75% off)
90  Mass Effect $4.99 (75% off)
74 Syndicate $10.48 (65% off)
88 Sins of a Solar Empire: Trinity $7.98 (60% off)
70 Alice: Madness Returns $4.99 (75% off)
74 Shank 2 $4.98 (50% off)
71 The Saboteur $4.99 (75% off)
79  Mirror's Edge $4.99 (75% off)
Pacific Pack $4.50 (90% off)
Gatling Gears $4.98 (50% off)
Warp $4.98 (50% off)
75% off Grand Theft Auto titles
More...

GameFly
66 Test Drive Unlimited 2 $9.99 (50% off)
78 Blur $4.99 (75% off)
86 Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit $4.99 (75% off)
78 Driver San Francisco $7.49 (75% off)
80 Need for Speed: Ultimate Digital Collection $11.99 (60% off)
87  Dirt 3 $19.99 (60% off)
Dirt Showdown $19.99 (60% off)
Pole Position 2012 $4.99 (75% off)
More...

Get Games
79 Metro 2033 $4.99 (75% off)
75  Warhammer 40K: Space Marine $7.49 (75% off)
74  Ghost Recon: Future Soldier $19.99 (50% off)
88  Deus Ex: Human Revolution $7.49 (75% off)
67  Aliens vs. Predator $4.94 (67% off)
64  Alpha Protocol $4.99 (75% off)
The Trouble With Robots $9.49 (50% off)
Company of Heroes Gold $7.49 (75% off)
Shoot Many Robots $4.99 (50% off)
More...

Green Man Gaming 
20% off downloads via coupon code "GMG20-FXYD1-7WHP1"
75% off select GTA titles

GOG
60% off Ubisoft titles
Pay what you want for the Divinity Anthology


Source : techspot[dot]com

Outdated apps may rain on Windows Phone 8′s parade

windows-8-app-store

Microsoft has yet to release its software development kit for Windows Phone 8 despite the OS's impending launch, raising concerns that developers won't have time to update their apps.

On October 29, Microsoft will finally tell us everything there is to know about Windows Phone 8, its new mobile operating system. But surely we know everything already, right? After all, we’ve seen the software and all the major manufacturers have announced their hardware too.

Microsoft says it has kept some facts back about WP8 to help maintain anticipation, and revealing those will be part of the October event. Unfortunately, this secrecy has caused Microsoft to delay the release of its Software Development Kit, or SDK, presumably to help avoid thunder-stealing leaks; but the final version is expected to arrive at the end of this month.

However, the wait has angered many Windows Phone developers, as did a decision to allow certain developers limited access to the SDK in return for signing a non-disclosure agreement.

Angry developers without access to the right software could mean problems in the new Windows Phone Store, which will be a worry for anyone wanting to buy one of the new handsets. Windows Phone already lags behind Android and iPhone when it comes to quality apps. Should we be concerned by this delay?

Will app availability be a problem?

A delayed SDK means developers won’t be able to fine-tune, test, or add in additional features to get their apps ready for Windows Phone 8. They also can’t create new apps that take advantage of the new platform. The good news is Microsoft has said Windows Phone 7 apps will be compatible with Windows Phone 8, so every app that’s already in the store will still be available — they just won’t be optimized.

More good news is that those developers with early access are likely to be the big studios, as Microsoft will want to ensure high profile apps have been enhanced to show off the OS’s abilities. Don’t forget, Windows Phone 8 hardware has faster processors and higher resolution screens, so there’s plenty of scope to improve existing apps.

We asked Microsoft representatives if the lack of an SDK would be a problem. Predictably, we were assured that it’s all part of the plan:

“We’ve been quietly previewing the SDK with hundreds of top developers and on September 5 announced a broader SDK Preview Program for registered developers with apps in Marketplace. As usual we aren’t going to release the SDK to the general public until the full OS is revealed, but we feel this Preview Program delivers on the commitment we made in June and allows developers to test and update their apps for Windows Phone 8.”

Regardless of why Microsoft is being secretive, this delay brings us on to the bad news: older apps may not look all that great until they’ve been updated. It looks like some developers have been given the information needed to update, but not all of them. Remember the switch from a 320 x 480 pixel screen on an iPhone 3G/3GS to the iPhone 4’s Retina Display? While it won’t be quite that pronounced, this situation is very similar. The bottom line here is that yes, there will be apps, but most will not be enhanced for Windows Phone 8 in time for release.

Atic S LaunchThere is one more thing to remember, and that’s the October 29 date isn’t the date Windows Phone 8 hardware goes on sale. Due to Microsoft holding back, manufacturers have stayed quiet on when phones will hit stores, with sometime in November being the only word.

Provided the SDK comes out on October 29, then developers will still have a few weeks to play with their apps before you get your hands on a WP8 phone. Let’s hope they work fast.

Microsoft has upgraded it developer portal, promising improvements in the app certification process and overall site performance. Another 13 countries have been added to this list too, bringing the total to 191, and more developers able to sing up means more apps for us.

Is all this normal?

Apple releases different versions of its iOS SDK between the date of its announcement and the date of final release. Not all the versions have every new feature, but they at least allow developers to start work on new apps, or update existing ones. For example, according to this chart, the first iOS 5 beta appeared on June 6 2011, and four subsequent beta versions were released before the final October street date. iOS 6 was similarly released a few months prior to the iPhone 5 going on sale.

Historically, Google has released its SDK a short while after it announces the new version of Android, with 4.1 Jelly Bean’s SDK coming out in July this year following Jelly Bean’s announcement at Google I/O.

The real star at the moment, surprisingly, is RIM (Research in Motion). Despite BlackBerry 10 not appearing until next year (current guestimates hint at March 2013), Beta versions of its SDK are already available to developers, and this week it began accepting app submissions too. It’s even offering an incentive to early bird devs, promising selected apps a prominent position in BlackBerry App World. It looks like it really is lovin’ its developers.

Microsoft’s approach is unorthodox, and does exactly the opposite of RIM’s, as it alienates developers and could potentially annoy buyers when the app selection is sparse. There’s still time to fix this, but Microsoft needs to start soon.

Will it all be OK come release day?

Maybe. Microsoft has dug itself a hole with the handling of Windows Phone 7. No one running a WP7 device will be able to upgrade to Windows Phone 8, making the old OS and hardware completely obsolete. Developers want to turn their attention to the new version, but are being hampered by Microsoft’s desire to keep things “secret.” RIM is often ridiculed, but it knows how important it is to keep developers working on its platform.

The first thing any new Windows Phone 8 owner will do is check out the available apps in Microsoft’s Windows Phone app store. If the selection is poor, or the version available is for outdated hardware, that negative experience will spread — fast. Worse, experienced smartphone buyers are already used to Google Play and/or the iTunes App Store, which are full of good apps.

Microsoft needs Windows Phone 8 to have a more successful launch that Windows Phone 7, and is playing with fire by denying developers access to the WP8 SDK right now. Or, for all we know, the software has problems and isn’t finished, requiring last minute adjustments. If it’s the former, the reasoning is bizarre but not unforgivable provided the secrets are truly exciting; but if it’s the latter, then Microsoft has got bigger problems to worry about than a software developer kit.


Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Rumor: Samsung working on midrange Galaxy Premier smartphone

Rumor: Samsung working on midrange Galaxy Premier smartphone

The Premiere is said to pack the same display size and resolution as the Galaxy Nexus (credit: unwiredview.com)

While the tech world is still reeling from Samsung's introduction of the Galaxy S3 Mini, reports surfaced on Friday claiming that yet another exciting new Galaxy phone is in the works at the Korean company.

Called the Galaxy Premier, the new device is rumored to lie somewhere between the Galaxy S3 and Samsung's Galaxy Nexus in tech and scope.

What's now being called the Galaxy Premier appears to have surfaced for the first time in late September, when a photo taken by an unknown device with the model number GT-i9260 appeared online.

At the time, the unknown device was assumed to be Samsung's Galaxy Nexus 2, but the Galaxy Premiere is more than a simple Nexus successor.

Origins of a rumor

The rumor about the Samsung Galaxy Premiere first appeared on German site Mobile Geeks, which may have caught wind of the device at the same event at which the S3 Mini was unveiled.

The exact origin of the Galaxy Premier rumor is unclear, though, and TechRadar reached out to Samsung for clarification, though the company hasn't yet responded.

Either way, the information that's currently available suggests that the Galaxy Premier may only be planned for European markets at this time.

Samsung Galaxy Premiere specs

The Galaxy Premier carries specs that place it in the middle territory somewhere between the Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Nexus, with Android 4.1: Jelly Bean and a 1.5GHz dual core processor.

The Premier is said to pack the same display size and resolution as the Galaxy Nexus, with a 4.6-inch 1280x720 Super AMOLED screen.

According to the reports, the Premier also features a 8-megapixel camera, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC capabilities, and DLNA.

Hopefully, more concrete information about the Galaxy Premier appears soon.


Source : techradar[dot]com

Retailer: Rayman Origins 2 is on the way in 2013. Ubisoft: “No comment.”

Rayman Legends

Rayman fans were burned in 2012 when it was announced that Rayman Legends would be a Wii U exclusive and doubly burned when Ubisoft confirmed that the game wouldn't make its November release date. A European retailer has goods news though: Rayman Origins 2 is coming next year.

Rayman Legends for Wii U has ruffled more than a few feathers. Fans of last year’s Rayman Origins balked because Ubisoft was making the sequel an exclusive for Nintendo’s expensive new console. Wii U fans on the other hand were irked when they found out that Legends wouldn’t offer a proper single-player mode a la Origins, with solo players being forced to play escort using the touch pad rather than platforming through the stages. Then came news that Legends wouldn’t even make it out in time for Wii U’s November release. What’s a fan of Franco platformers to do?

Take heart. Looks like Ubisoft may have more in mind for Rayman than just a Wii U game. PlayStation blog The Sixth Axis spotted a listing at European retailer World of Games for a Rayman Origins 2.

When contacted for comment on whether or not the listing was legitimate, Ubisoft unsurprisingly said, “No comment.” A lack of comment in this case, however, is more revealing than usual. If Ubisoft didn’t have plans to continue the Rayman Origins series under that branding, the typical line to follow from markeing would be, “The only Rayman products announced at the moment are Rayman Legends for Wii U, Rayman Origins for Nintendo 3DS, and Rayman Jungle Run for iOS devices.”

A likely scenario: Rayman Legends 2 will be a multiplatform title built from the assets of Rayman Legends and released alongside that game in 2013. As affordable as the company’s Ubiart framework makes the development of HD two-dimensional games, Ubisoft would be foolish not to milk its retail releases for as much revenue as possible.

Ubisoft also hasn’t been particularly good at keeping its Rayman releases secret before an official announcement. Rayman Legends’ trailer leaked in April.

There was some worry in November of 2011 that the original Rayman Origins wasn’t enough of a sales success to warrant continuing the series, but Ubisoft said that the game did well enough to make another. Ubisoft CFO Alain Martinez said in February, “We believe Rayman Origins, which is rated 89 percent on Metacritic with enthusiast reviews and is already profitable, has the capacity to become a long-term seller for the company.”

The market will support Rayman Origins 2. That fact alone lends the listing credibility.


Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Microsoft signs off on Release To Manufacturing build of Office 2013

Microsoft Office 2013 has graduated to Release to Manufacturing which means the coding and testing phase of the project is complete. The engineering team at Redmond recently signed off on the productivity suite, leaving Microsoft to focus on releasing the new version of Office to consumer and business customers through multiple distribution channels.

The most ambitious release of Office yet will first roll out to enterprise customers in November. Additionally, volume licensing customers with software assurance will be able to download the new Office application by mid-November. Related Office products including SharePoint 2013, Lync 2013 and Exchange 2013 will be accessible for volume licensing customers as well. TechNet and MSDN subscribers will also have access to the final version around the same time.

General availability is slated for the first quarter of 2013. Microsoft also points out that customers purchasing Office 2010 from local retailers or resellers starting October 19 will receive the new Office for free once it is available. If you’re in the market to pick up Office 2010, it’d be best to wait until next Friday to do so.

Those interested in trying before buying are invited to download the pre-release version which is available now. Furthermore, a preview version of Office will be available on Windows RT devices once the OS is launched on October 26.

Microsoft promises to release more specifics on general availability dates and other Office-related news in the near future. The next few months are certainly shaping up to be extremely busy for Microsoft.


Source : techspot[dot]com

Mass Effect 3: Omega will be BioWare’s longest, most expensive expansion yet

Mass Effect 3: Omega, the latest downloadable expansion for BioWare's successful science fiction epic, will be out at the end of November alongside the Trilogy and Wii U editions of the game. It will be the longest DLC yet, but it will also be the most expensive.

Mass Effect 3 is getting no shortage of promotion more than six months after its release. The game will get a second run at the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 when EA releases the Mass Effect Trilogy Edition in November, not to mention the release of the Wii U version of the game later that month. People still playing the original release, however, still have more to look forward to as EA detailed the next downloadable campaign to continue Commander Shepard’s adventure. Mass Effect 3: Omega will be out on November. It’s pegged to be bigger than previous entries like Leviathan and From Ashes but it will also be more expensive at $15.

Omega actually ties in with the Dark Horse-published Mass Effect 3: Invasion comic books written by BioWare’s Mac Walters. Shep and the crew team up with crime lord Aria T’loak, the former chief of the Omega space station, as they try to wrestle control of the station back from Cerberus forces.

Speaking at the New York Comic Con (via Eurogamer), producer Mike Gamble said Omega “double the size” of Mass Effect 3’s largest expansion, placing it in the 8-hour range when compared to August’s Leviathan which lasted for around 4 hours. It’s positively massive when compared to From Ashes, which really only added a brief mission to the game, though the additional character and his influence on the story itself was expansive beyond the content itself.

Omega is one more example of how Electronic Arts is using Mass Effect 3 as a test bed for downloadable content scheduling and pricing. EA released the game charging for downloadable content on day one—From Ashes was only included with the limited edition of the retail game—and its supported it with regular multiplayer expansions like Resurgence, Rebellion, and Earth since. It’s difficult to know how EA’s plans for Leviathan and Omega changed in the wake of the company’s decision to release the Extended Cut content for free in May. That content was given away to ameliorate fans’ opinion of the Mass Effect 3’s ending, which proved so divisive that fans actually started charity fundraising events to have it altered.

40 percent of players paid for From Ashes. With another major retail push for the game in the same month, EA will likely find a comparable audience for Omega, despite the higher price tag.


Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Microsoft, partners now accepting pre-orders for Windows 8

Microsoft has started accepting pre-orders for multiple versions of Windows 8. Boxed retail products, OEM copies and even product key cards are starting to appear online at various retailers in the US including Amazon, Best Buy, the Microsoft Store, Office Depot and Staples.

Pricing starts at $69.99 for Microsoft’s Windows 8 professional upgrade and the pro pack product key card. Users can elect to pick up the full OEM version of Windows 8 in 32- or 64-bit flavors for $99.99. Those after the professional edition can expect to pay $139.99.

If a boxed retail version isn’t for you, Microsoft suggests waiting until October 26 to upgrade online. Using the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant, consumers will pay just $39.99 for the update. Online upgrading to Windows 8 Pro will be supported in 140 countries, 37 languages and 23 currencies worldwide.

Finally, Microsoft reminds us that consumers who purchased (or will purchase) an eligible Windows 7 computer between June 2, 2012 and January 31, 2013 will be able to take advantage of discounted upgrade pricing. Expect to pay just $14.99 for an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro starting October 26. Details on how to redeem this offer can be found here.

Microsoft spokesperson Brandon LeBlanc was quick to highlight the packaging used for retail DVDs in a blog post earlier today. The rep said boxes consist of one of five vibrant illustrations and is constructed completely from paper, a move that allowed Microsoft to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent. The new material also cut packaging weight by 41 percent compared to Windows 7 retail offerings.

LeBlanc also pointed out that consumers will be able to pre-order Windows 8 PCs and devices from OEM partners starting today. Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Samsung and Sony have all announced new fall lineups featuring Microsoft’s new operating system.


Source : techspot[dot]com

UK government also probing Huawei, says it currently has no security concerns

Huawei Show Photograph: Reuters

Following the House of Representatives damaging report, the UK has revealed it has also been examining Huawei amid security concerns.

The story following the House of Representatives report that Huawei and ZTE pose a security threat to US national security continues, as international governments examine their involvement with the Chinese companies and look for their own evidence of security risks.

In the UK, it has been revealed that a parliamentary committee has also been examining Huawei’s presence in the country for a while, as it’s a major supplier of network equipment to British Telecom, Vodafone, O2 and most other network providers, plus it’s responsible for much of the infrastructure behind EE’s 4G network.

Should any discrepancies be identified, the continued rollout of both fiber and 4G broadband could be slowed or halted. Both projects, and the relationship with Huawei, are well established, and disruption would be costly. The report is due to be published at the end of the year.

Quite apart from the network disruptions, there’s a political aspect at work too, as Prime Minister David Cameron had a meeting with Huawei’s CEO Ren Zhengfei last month, where a £1.3 billion deal was reached. One of the first stages is for Huawei to move its UK workforce into a new 140,000 square foot office building in April next year.

A Cabinet Office spokesperson, Derek Smith, has been talking to the UK press about the government’s view on both Huawei and ZTE ahead of the final report, which is notably different to that of the US House of Representatives.

Cyber Security Evaluation Centre

Smith told TechRadar.com that “the Cabinet Office is confident that there are no security concerns,” and “comparisons with the US don’t hold up with what we’re doing here. We have a very strict evaluation process for products from any country, not just China, coming into the UK.”

He then referred to Huawei’s Cyber Security Evaluation Centre, which opened in 2010, where hardware and software are tested to, according to Huawei “ensure its ability to withstand growing cyber security threats.” The closest the blurb gets to admitting the centre is more about checking Huawei’s equipment is the admission that it’s there to “build mutual trust in the area of cyber security.”

A 2011 report covering the center’s opening from notorious scare-mongers The Daily Mail is far less subtle, starting with the headline “New cyber attack fears over the Chinese ‘Red Army Lab’ being used for BT tests.” The piece goes on to quote numerous security experts who warn against using Huawei’s services, plus it reveals that Huawei has an identical copy of BT’s computers and telecoms system back in its Shenzhen head office, so it can evaluate new hardware. Thankfully, the system isn’t connected to the UK network.

For now, it seems Huawei’s operations in the UK are safe, but things will take a turn for the serious — not to mention politically embarrassing — should the forthcoming report not back up the Cabinet Office’s statements, as Huawei is already sitting at the table with its slippers on in the UK, instead of only knocking on the door in the US.


Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Google expands Street View coverage with largest update ever

Google has added 250,000 miles worth of Street View coverage to Google Maps as part of what is being called the largest update since it was introduced seven years ago. The search giant has also doubled the number of special photo collections that give users a 360-degree view of various attractions like international landmarks and parks. Street View now has more than 20 petabytes of data collected from nearly 50 countries across the globe.

Specifically, Google points out that Street View has been expanded in a number of countries including Canada, Denmark, Great Britain, Italy, Macau, Norway, Singapore, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand and the US. The feature also includes new special collections in Brazil, France, Japan, Mexico, South Africa and Spain, just to name a few.

On the walls of Elsinore Castle, nestled on the northeastern coast Helsingør in Denmark, Bernardo and Francisco uttered the opening words to William Shakespeare’s most famous tragedy. The castle known locally as Kronborg and immortalized by Hamlet, provided the setting for the Prince of Denmark to play out his personal battle with madness, grief and searing rage. Today we’re also launching images from inside Kronborg and its surroundings, so you can discover for yourself the inspiration behind Shakespeare’s masterpiece.

The updates come just weeks after Apple decided to drop Google Maps from devices running iOS 6 in favor of their own maps application. Cupertino moved to an in-house solution because Google doesn’t support voice-guided, turn-by-turn directions.

Apple Maps garnered numerous complaints from consumers and a wealth of attention from media. Apple CEO Tim Cook personally addressed the issue by apologizing for shortcomings and promising to work overtime on Apple Maps until it lives up to the standards that people expect from Apple products.

For what it's worth, Street View was recently made available via web browser which means iOS 6 users can once again enjoy the service through Safari or another browser of their choice.


Source : techspot[dot]com

Dell now taking pre-orders on Windows 8 PCs

Dell is now taking pre-orders on Dell Inspirion and XPS products loaded with Microsoft Windows 8, including the screen-flipping XPS 12.

Dell has opened up pre-orders on three previously announced machines in its XPS product line. These are the new XPS 12 laptop and the updated XPS One 27 and Inspiron One 23 all-in-ones PCs.

The XPS 12, the only all-new product, is a 12-inch convertible tablet. It uses a flip-hinge design that makes it possible to rotate the entire display 180 degrees while the display’s frame remains static. It will be shipping with a 1080p display in spite of its small size, resulting in excellent pixel density. The laptop’s other specifications are standard for the Ultrabook space. Prices start at $1,199.

Consumers buying the updated XPS One 27, an all-in-one we’ve previously reviewed with Windows 7, will be able to order an optional touch-screen display and enjoy a standard reclining mount that can tilt up to 60 degrees. Pricing for the touch-enabled model starts at $1,599.99.

Those looking for a more affordable Windows 8 option should instead check out the Inspiron One 23. This PC has a 23-inch 1080p display and is also available with an optional touchscreen, but prices start at a more modest $779.99.

While these three systems have been announced or revised for the Windows 8 launch they are not the only ones that can now be pre-ordered with Microsoft’s latest OS. Dell will now allow customers to choose Windows 8 when pre-ordering all Inspirion and XPS systems as well as select Latitude and OptiPlex models.

Dell also snuck in an update of the XPS 13 Ultrabook. It was an excellent option when it arrived earlier this year, but it was not updated to use third-generation Intel processors. This oversight has finally been fixed.


Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

T5 sues Gaikai: Is a patent war brewing among cloud gaming outfits?

With a cutthroat tech industry that loves playing fast and loose with the patent-legal system, we're surprised there haven't been more suits among emerging game streaming outfits, but there's at least one on record now as T5 Labs has sued Gaikai for alleged patent infringement.

In its Delaware district court filing, T5 claims that Gaikai has and continues to knowingly infringe on the patent in question (US Patent No: 8,203,568 -- sharing a graphical processing unit between the plurality of programs), which offers the following broadly-painted description:

A centralised server in a bank (50) of servers runs a program for use by a user at a remote terminal (52, 56, 58). In the server, a plurality of programs share a GPU and instructions are used to cause the GPU to store the frames representing graphics of different programs at different memory locations. The frames are compressed and transmitted to remote terminals. Optionally the invention also allows for GPU time slice allocation, such that the GPU completes rendering the frame of one program before it renders the frame of another program. Optionally the invention also allows delivering false information about the capabilities of the GPU to the programs.

Although London-based T5 has been in the streaming business since 2007 and holds patents dating back about a decade, the patent above was only filed last November and issued this June, so it seems the company isn't wasting any time leveraging its intellectual holdings.

This isn't T5's first attempt at strong-arming one of its rivals. In early 2011, the company used a different but similar patent (7,916,147) to threaten OnLive, but that didn't result in a suit and given the fact that OnLive recently buckled under debt, it's probably not the best target.

Gaikai, however, seems like a fine candidate, having been bought by Sony for $380 million in July. Interestingly, OnLive reportedly wants a piece of Gaikai too. Before his company folded, former CEO Steve Perlman planned to sue Gaikai, according to a former OnLive employee.

Perlman allegedly said that he wouldn't "let some two-bit company ride [OnLive's] coattails." Although Perlman stepped down as CEO in August and his company was purchased for $4.8 million this week, its new owner, Lauder Partners, wants to monetize OnLive's patents.

Perhaps T5 has a legitimate complaint against Gaikai and we'll learn more if it goes to trial. Whatever the outcome, the case may set the stage for an appearance from OnLive and perhaps other players. Gaikai and Sony haven't responded to the filing or requests for comment.


Source : techspot[dot]com

Motorola Droid Razr HD and HD Maxx Hit Verizon on October 18th

The Droid RAZR HD and Maxx HD are finally on their way to Verizon. The new devices are expected to arrive on the 18th of October. The Razr HD and Maxx HD both have crazy long battery operation, with the Maxx model promising 32 hours of normal use.

The sizes of the phones are quite similar, the only real spec differences being 32GB of storage and a bigger battery in the Maxx. Both the HD and Maxx have a 1.5GHz dual-core processor with 1GB of RAM, an 8MP camera, NFC and 4G LTE, and a 4.7-inch 720p display.

How much will they set you back? $199 for the Razr HD and $299 for the Razr HD Maxx. If you are into phones that have long battery life and like larger screen sizes, there is tons to be excited about for the new flagship Droid RAZR line.
Looking for something a bit smaller that also performs quite well? The 4.3-inch Motorola Droid RAZR M recently came to Verizon and is also certainly worth your time and consideration.

Motorola might not be the ‘leading brand’ in the smartphone world, but the new Droid RAZR line shows they certainly can compete with stylish and capable devices. What do you think? Excited by any of the recent Motorola offerings or not?



Source : mobilemag[dot]com

Has the first BB10 L-Series handset been leaked?

Has the first BB10 L-Series handset been leaked?

Is this the first, fully touchscreen BB10 device?

The first, fully touch-screen BlackBerry 10 device may just have been caught in the wild thanks to a cheeky Mexican video.

Spotted by the guys over at SlashGear, the video comes courtesy of holatelcel, and features a well suited chap running through some of the key features we witnessed in our recent hands on BlackBerry 10 review.

The handset itself, thought to belong to the new "L-Series" range, looks similar to the Dev Alpha B device we got our mitts on earlier this week, however the corners are more rounded, and the bezel above and below the screen may have shrunk a little.

It also seems to follow the design of the handset which we saw in a video a few weeks ago, which claimed to be an internal promo video for RIM.

Little is known

RIM has stayed pretty quiet on details of its BlackBerry 10 devices, telling us that it plans to launch two BB10 handsets in the first quarter of 2013.

The first will be a fully touchscreen device, which is expected fall into the "L-Series" category, and the second, sporting the firm's well known QWERTY keyboard, could be the first in a range called the "N-series".

We've contacted RIM about this video and we'll update this article once we hear back.

YouTube : http://player.vimeo.com/video/51254456
Source : techradar[dot]com

Apple's Newsstand is one year old. Does it deserve a cake?

Apple's Newsstand is one year old. Does it deserve a cake?

Newsstand is home to some interesting and exciting new titles.

Electronic books, magazines and newspapers have been the next big thing for as long as I can remember: I've squinted at them on Palms and Psions, PCs and Pocket PCs, and in every case the experience was pretty horrible.

E-reading couldn't even put words on screen in a nice way, let alone display something as complicated and wonderful as a magazine.

It turns out that to deliver a decent electronic reading experience, you need two things: a decent screen, and an easy way to get the content.

The Amazon Kindle cracked that, but while newspapers and magazines are available for Amazon's e-reader they're pale imitations of the real things; publishers have tried various other platforms from PDFs to enormous executable applications, but nothing really stuck.

Part of the problem, I'm sure, is that desktop computers, keyboards and mice don't lend themselves to magazine reading: you need something that enables you to swoop and swipe at the pages. You really need a tablet - and that tablet really needs to be part of an e-reading ecosystem that makes it really easy to find, buy and update your publications.

That's what Apple's tried with Newsstand. One year on, is it working?

I read the news today, oh joy

Like a whole heap of Newsstand magazines, TechRadar is published by a company called Future. As Future's Mike Goldsmith told InPublishing, there are two kinds of Newsstand magazines: there are digital replicas, which are essentially the printed title repackaged in a tappable, swipeable tablet format, and there are interactive editions, which can add panoramas, videos and other goodies. Which is better? Goldsmith asks. "the only logical response is 'both'."

I think he's right, for the time being at least. A lot of Newsstand magazines are digital replicas, and that's fine: the format works really well on a tablet, and I'd happily read my favourite mags that way. However in the longer term I think interactive editions are the way forward for many kinds of titles.

I'm old enough to remember the dark days of interactive CD-ROM magazines, and I'm in no hurry to resurrect those horrors, but when interactive elements are used wisely it breathes new life into magazines.

The digital editions of T3, Tap!* and new title Photography Week make great use of interactivity - they're somewhere between magazines and apps, taking the best bits of both to create something genuinely useful and exciting.

Titles don't need to be about tech to benefit, either. I love Car magazine for its great writing and extraordinary photography, but wouldn't it be great if I could look more closely at those landscapes, spin the cars around and hear those engines roar?

The technology isn't quite there yet - tablets are still awfully thick and heavy, although of course that'll change, and if you aren't on an iOS device you're locked out of the Newsstand party - but it's pretty close, and at last electronic magazines are genuinely desirable things in their own right rather than clunky imitations of their printed counterparts.

The most exciting thing of all, I think, is that Newsstand isn't just preaching to the converted: it's bringing in new readers. At a time when print publications are finding it harder and harder - supermarkets are taking over from newsagents in many areas, and they can't and won't stock everything - that's a rare bit of good news.

As Goldsmith says: "Future's research shows that 90% of its readers on Newsstand are new readers, whether it's digital replica or interactive edition, with only 20% being based in the UK. These are new audiences in new lands and with new needs."

* I write for Tap!, but that's not why I think it's great.


Source : techradar[dot]com

No, really this time, the iPad Mini is coming on October 23

This week, the iPad Mini is rumored to be launching on October 23, just a few days before Microsoft will fully reveal its Surface tablets.

Now it’s October 12, and no iPad Mini invitations have fallen on to expectant doormats, it’s safe to say the Bigfoot of the tech world still isn’t quite ready to make its debut, despite the last rumor on the subject. If indeed, it ever was.

Since then, there has been talk of the tablet entering production, experiencing problems, and of Apple ordering 10 million units. All this without anyone setting eyes on the thing.

Not to worry though, you can leave the disappointment of October 10 behind and concentrate instead on October 23, as according to AllThingsD’s sources — unnamed, naturally — that’s the real date for the iPad Mini’s unveiling. Apple usually likes to distribute invitations to events a week or so before they take place, so they could begin to appear next Tuesday, October 16.

As the world has done a solid job of promoting the iPad Mini for Apple over the last months (and no, the irony of this statement hasn’t been lost on me), the company will save its money and won’t be inviting the Foo Fighters to return, or even bothering to pop down to the Yerba Buena Center, as the event will be “an intimate affair held close to home.”

Let’s take a moment and say that the iPad Mini is real, and that it will be unveiled on October 23. This is about as close as Apple would dare get to Microsoft’s Windows 8 event, stopping short of erecting a marquee outside Pier 57 on the big day and launching it there.

Microsoft’s Surface tablets are expected to be one of the day’s major subjects, where we’ll finally get to know how much they’ll cost, all ready for a midnight launch. The furore caused by an iPad Mini announcement certainly wouldn’t assist in Microsoft’s quest for column inches or tablet sales.

Right, now you can go back to the iPad Mini being just a rumor. Until October 23. Possibly.


Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Apple's Newstand is one year old. Does it deserve a cake?

Apple's Newstand is one year old. Does it deserve a cake?

Newsstand is home to some interesting and exciting new titles.

Electronic books, magazines and newspapers have been the next big thing for as long as I can remember: I've squinted at them on Palms and Psions, PCs and Pocket PCs, and in every case the experience was pretty horrible.

E-reading couldn't even put words on screen in a nice way, let alone display something as complicated and wonderful as a magazine.

It turns out that to deliver a decent electronic reading experience, you need two things: a decent screen, and an easy way to get the content.

The Amazon Kindle cracked that, but while newspapers and magazines are available for Amazon's e-reader they're pale imitations of the real things; publishers have tried various other platforms from PDFs to enormous executable applications, but nothing really stuck.

Part of the problem, I'm sure, is that desktop computers, keyboards and mice don't lend themselves to magazine reading: you need something that enables you to swoop and swipe at the pages. You really need a tablet - and that tablet really needs to be part of an e-reading ecosystem that makes it really easy to find, buy and update your publications.

That's what Apple's tried with Newsstand. One year on, is it working?

I read the news today, oh joy

As Future Publishing's Mike Goldsmith told InPublishing, there are two kinds of Newsstand magazines: there are digital replicas, which are essentially the printed title repackaged in a tappable, swipeable tablet format, and there are interactive editions, which can add panoramas, videos and other goodies. Which is better? Goldsmith asks. "the only logical response is 'both'."

I think he's right, for the time being at least. A lot of Newsstand magazines are digital replicas, and that's fine: the format works really well on a tablet, and I'd happily read my favourite mags that way. However in the longer term I think interactive editions are the way forward for many kinds of titles.

I'm old enough to remember the dark days of interactive CD-ROM magazines, and I'm in no hurry to resurrect those horrors, but when interactive elements are used wisely it breathes new life into magazines.

The digital editions of T3, Tap!* and new title Photography Week make great use of interactivity - they're somewhere between magazines and apps, taking the best bits of both to create something genuinely useful and exciting.

Titles don't need to be about tech to benefit, either. I love Car magazine for its great writing and extraordinary photography, but wouldn't it be great if I could look more closely at those landscapes, spin the cars around and hear those engines roar?

The technology isn't quite there yet - tablets are still awfully thick and heavy, although of course that'll change, and if you aren't on an iOS device you're locked out of the Newsstand party - but it's pretty close, and at last electronic magazines are genuinely desirable things in their own right rather than clunky imitations of their printed counterparts.

The most exciting thing of all, I think, is that Newsstand isn't just preaching to the converted: it's bringing in new readers. At a time when print publications are finding it harder and harder - supermarkets are taking over from newsagents in many areas, and they can't and won't stock everything - that's a rare bit of good news.

As Goldsmith says: "Future's research shows that 90% of its readers on Newsstand are new readers, whether it's digital replica or interactive edition, with only 20% being based in the UK. These are new audiences in new lands and with new needs."

* I write for Tap!, but that's not why I think it's great.


Source : techradar[dot]com

The Txtr Beagle e-reader will cost just $13, but there’s a catch

Txtr Beagle

A German startup named Txtr has announced the Beagle, an e-reader that will cost 10 euros, but as always, there's a catch.

Berlin-based startup Txtr has announced the Beagle, a brand-new e-reader that could cause a shake up in its market to rival that of the Amazon Kindle Fire’s effect on cheap tablets.

The headline is its projected cost, just 9.90 euros, or about $13. It’s difficult to imagine any piece of consumer electronics — decent consumer electronics — costing so little, and to bring the Beagle in at this price has indeed meant some compromises.

Txtr says the Beagle is the world’s smallest e-reader, measuring 5mm thick at its slimmest point — it has a Galaxy S2-style bump, which we’ll come back to in a moment — and it weighs 128 grams. The screen is a 5-inch E Ink display with an 800 x 600 pixel resolution, and there is 4GB of internal memory. So far, so good. It gets better too, as it supports both .pdf and .epub book formats, along with all others normally supported by a smartphone, according to Txtr’s website.

Here’s where things change, as the Beagle doesn’t have Wi-Fi, and instead uses Bluetooth to transfer books from a smartphone or Txtr’s own Android app. Because the Beagle doesn’t have an operating system of its own, it will rely on the accompanying smartphone app to do everything except turn the pages, right down to altering the font size. There’s also no built-in battery either, and that lump at the bottom of the device is for two AAA batteries.

Companion reader

At first this sounds like a big problem, but Txtr says that two decent cells will provide a year’s worth of reading time, based on the average person reading 12 to 15 books. This also means there’s no charger unit or cables needed, and fewer components inside the device too.

But does abandoning a rechargeable battery, Wi-Fi and ignoring new technology really mean an e-reader can be sold for so little? Sadly, the answer is no, as according to a report in De Spiegel, the Beagle is going to be something called a “companion reader,” and will be sold as an add-on with a new smartphone contract. This subsidized pricing model means the price shortfall will probably find its way into your monthly payments.

The device is still a prototype, and isn’t likely to launch anywhere except Germany this side of Christmas, plus Txtr doesn’t have the best track record with e-readers either, as a previous Kindle challenger failed to catch on. However, the Beagle’s bare minimum approach and stupidly low price are suitably different to anything else on the market, and the world does love a bargain. Are we looking at a future hit?


Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini release date: when will you get it?

Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini release date: when will you get it?

Who wants a Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini?

The Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini flaunts itself as the little brother of the big, powerful Galaxy S3 - which took the mobile market by storm this year.

Samsung is yet to give us an official Galaxy S3 Mini release date, but according to the Phones4U website, it will start shipping the smartphone from November 2.

The Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini offers up a 4-inch, 480 x 800 Super AMOLED display, 1GHz dual-core processor, 8GB of internal storage, 5MP rear camera with flash, micro SD card slot and comes running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

We've been hunting down the UK networks and retailers to find out who's offering it, and at what price.

Phones4U - the high street retailer has got ahead of the pack and already has its pre-order page up for the Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini, with a range of tariffs from O2, Orange and Vodafone for you to select.

You can pick up a free Galaxy S3 Mini on contracts starting at £25 per month, and the first 350 customers to pre-order will also get a free Samsung S Pebble – a mini MP3 player which pairs with the phone.

Carphone Warehouse – there's nothing currently on the Carphone website, so we contacted the retailer to find out its plans, and a spokesperson has confirmed it will be stocking the Galaxy S3 Mini.

Vodafonetook to Twitter soon after Samsung's announcement to declare that it will indeed be selling the Galaxy S3 Mini – however all it said was that it's "coming soon", with no word on price.

O2 – while various O2 tariffs are listed on the Phones4U pre-order page, the bubbly network is yet to confirm whether if will be offering the Galaxy S3 Mini directly.

Orange – we've contacted Orange and asked if the Galaxy S3 Mini would be gracing its line-up, but we're still waiting on a response.

However thanks to Phones4U, we can be pretty sure the colour- or fruit-inspired network will offer the Galaxy S3 Mini to its customers.

T-Mobile – we're also waiting to hear back from T-Mobile on whether it will be stocking the Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini.

Three – the data-friendly network will probably complete the network line up and stock the Galaxy S3 Mini, although we're yet to hear anything official.

SIM-free – if you hate being tied down to a contact or forcibly linked with a network, then you may want to pick up the Galaxy S3 Mini SIM-free.

Online retailer Clove already has its pre-order page up, but it's asking for £298.60 for the handset, which seems a little on the steep side to us.


Source : techradar[dot]com

Tech's top table is getting bigger all the time

Tech's top table is getting bigger all the time

It's been a busy few weeks for Jeff Bezos

The world of tech is hugely competitive and ridiculously fast-moving, and that's why we like it so much: today's hero can quickly become tomorrow's zero as something more interesting, elegant or exciting comes along.

That's definitely the case in the ultra-competitive smartphone market, where we've discovered the very best thing money can buy: it has "every kind of feature we could ask for and more, and [it] raises the bar once again in terms of what consumers should be expecting in terms of battery life, processor speed and media management." We'd recommend you buy one "without hesitation".

Is it the iPhone 5? Nope! It's the Samsung Galaxy S3, which we've spent some more time living with to see how it compares to Apple's latest. As nice as the iPhone is, we still think the S3 is better - even though it "doesn't have the same wow factor" as its predecessor.

Something musical

There's a new king of the MP3 player market too, although it looks rather like the old king: yep, it's the new iPod touch, which started shipping this week.

As we explained in our hands on review, "the fifth-gen iPod touch is a big step forward. Its battery life and low cost of ownership (since it has no cellular contract) beat the iPhone, and it can do just as much, in a thinner, lighter package."

The late Steve Jobs was seen by many as the king of the technology industry, and our Gary Marshall makes a strong argument that Amazon's Jeff Bezos is his successor: "In a world of dull tech CEOs – ten points for anyone who can say three interesting things about Samsung's CEO; hell, ten points for anyone who knows his name without Googling it – Jeff Bezos stands out," he writes, arguing that "like Jobs, Bezos thinks big and plays for keeps."

Something bad

According to the US House Intelligence Committee, the Chinese mobile makers Huawei and ZTE are kings too: kings of EVIL! After an 11-month investigation, the Committee said that the companies are an espionage threat to western firms and governments, and accused them of bribery, corruption, discriminatory behaviour and copyright infringement.

As you might expect, the companies angrily denied the allegations - in Huawei's case, over 81 no doubt riveting pages - but the news sparked "dozens and dozens" of fresh complaints to the Committee, so the story isn't going away any time soon; meanwhile the Committee is urging US firms to buy kit from other companies and TechRadar news writer Matt Swider's pun generator is set to max: he describes the growing international consensus against Huawei as "The Coalition of the Un-Huaweilling." Zing!

Could we have a new king of small tablets this time next week? It's certainly looking that way as the world greets the imminent arrival of a new Apple product with the traditional rumour-mongering, leaked product images and wish lists. You know it's coming. We know it's coming.

Something small

Pretty much the only thing we don't know is whether it'll be called the iPad mini, iPad Air, or Sharon - although it's unclear whether we'll see a 3G/4G version or, as The Guardian reports, just a Wi-Fi one to keep the small iPad distinct from its bigger sibling. Yet more allegedly leaked pictures are doing the rounds, showing the expected Lightning connector and a more squared-off case. Unless Apple really messes up or charges too much, it's clearly going to sell squillions.

Something bright

Are you planning to buy an iPad mini or similar device for your kids? Some experts say you shouldn't, and that "your gadgets will eat your children's brains and turn them into something even more horrible than George Osborne," Gary Marshall warns, agreeing that too much screen time and not enough exercise is unlikely to have a happy ending.

"As a geek parent I'm a paid-up member of the Gadgets Are Great club, and I think tech can be great for teenagers and tots alike," he says. "The trick, as with most things, is to get the balance right. If your kids are trying to pinch and zoom their picture books, you should probably give the screens a break."


Source : techradar[dot]com

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