sincity

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Google/gmail_materialdesign_send_icon-470-75.jpgAndroid Lollipop is the biggest Android update in a very long time, and it brings with it a bevy of welcome changes, large and small. But one of the best might be something that Google hasn't even officially mentioned yet: much greater flexibility for Android's native Gmail app. In all versions of Android so far the Gmail app has only handled Gmail emails, which to be fair makes sense. But with Android L it looks like Google is turning the Android Gmail app into a universal email hub where all your accounts will live. Ain't it grandThis video allegedly shows the new Lollipop Gmail app in action, complete with its Material Design makeover. As you can see, switching between email accounts is as easy as swiping to the left or right. The source of the video is unclear, but we'll be damned if it doesn't look official. Android Lollipop, which brings the OS to version 5.0, will roll out first on various Nexus devices first beginning in early November. Gmail iOS update adds iPhone 6 support and a math jokehttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3fa67489/sc/28/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474552670/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3fa67489/sc/28/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474552670/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3fa67489/sc/28/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474552670/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3fa67489/sc/28/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474552670/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3fa67489/sc/28/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/210474552670/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3fa67489/sc/28/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/cZ-I_Z42Ko4

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/headphones/Beats/Studio%20Wireless/beats_headphones-4706-470-75.jpgWe've heard already that Apple wants to slash the price of a Beats Music subscription, but we hadn't heard by how much until now. Apparently the iPhone maker wants to cut Beats Music subscription prices in half, charging $5 a month for streaming music. That's what Re/code is reporting, citing general "industry scuttlebutt" and "people who've heard the pitch secondhand." Golden invitations"The pitch" is Apple's argument to music industry companies who would see less revenue per user in the event of a price cut: that the best iTunes customers spend about $5 a month on iTunes, so lowering Beats subscription prices that far and thereby enticing those users who are still buying digital files actually wouldn't decrease the revenue the industry receives from them. Plus it would obviously increase the potential user base for these services, with the potential to raise revenue in the long run. There's no guarantee that the music labels will see Apple's logic, of course, even they did just let Spotify announce family package discounts. How Spotify, Netflix and Amazon control your online habitshttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3fa5bc5d/sc/28/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474538561/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3fa5bc5d/sc/28/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474538561/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3fa5bc5d/sc/28/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474538561/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3fa5bc5d/sc/28/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474538561/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3fa5bc5d/sc/28/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/210474538561/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3fa5bc5d/sc/28/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/GDdtyQ9I1pU

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/events/Microsoft%20cloud%20Oct2014/04-ceo2-470-75.jpgMicrosoft hit hard at competitors like Amazon and Google with a slew of announcements centered on enterprise and the cloud during an event in San Francisco today. CEO Satya Nadella and Executive VP, Cloud and Enterprise Scott Guthrie were on hand to deliver the news, which focused heavily on Azure and the company's claim it makes the "most complete cloud" of anyone in the game. Microsoft unveiled new Azure G-series virtual machines, the largest VMs available in the public cloud, according to the Surface Pro 3 maker. The machines are powered by Intel Xeon processors and boast the company's new Azure Premium Storage, amounting to up to 32GB of storage for each machine plus 50,000 IOPS per VM. Read latency is less than 1ms, Guthrie said. Guthrie said the G-series offer three times the memory of a Google Compute machine, and backed by 450GB of RAM and 6.5 TB local SSD, the G-series is something for businesses to consider. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/events/Microsoft%20cloud%20Oct2014/20-g-family-420-90.jpg And more may do just that; Microsoft boasted that by the end of the year, Azure will be operational in 19 regions around the globe, making Microsoft the most ubiquitous public cloud provider. To the cloud ... systemAlso on the docket was the new Microsoft Cloud Platform System. Now customers will have Azure, Windows Server and Microsoft System Center brought together in one "Azure-consistent cloud in a box," as described by the firm "Bring Azure to your datacenter, fully integrated hardware and software and adopt the cloud with even greater control," as Guthrie put it. Backed by hardware from Dell, the CPS will deliver Azure learnings through an on-site appliance. It's headed out the door on November 3. Azure MarketplaceGuthrie also introduced the Azure Marketplace, a collection of VMs, apps and services accessible to anyone, using any device, OS or programming language. He was keen to point out the new Azure Marketplace will help accelerate ISVs and startups connecting with enterprises. One theory circulating around why Microsoft returned to San Francisco after its Windows 10 reveal was that it wanted to pitch itself to the area's startup community. It seems there was some validity to the thought after all. Two partners walking through the new Marketplace's doors are Cloudera, an enterprise analytics and data management firm, and CoreOS, a container-based Linux OS. CoreOS will be available to all Azure customers, and Azure customers can deploy CoreOS images starting Monday. Windows 10 - it's the TechRadar hands on!http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3fa5bc5f/sc/21/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474538560/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3fa5bc5f/sc/21/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474538560/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3fa5bc5f/sc/21/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474538560/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3fa5bc5f/sc/21/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474538560/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3fa5bc5f/sc/21/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/210474538560/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3fa5bc5f/sc/21/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/XFF4rwwb8gw

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/AAevents/2014%20Oct%20iPad%20event/04-ios8_1-470-75.jpgiOS 8.1 is available for download now, and it's packed with some buzzworthy features. Chief among those additions to the first major iOS 8 update is Apple Pay, which lets you use your phone to make payments at certain ahead-of-the-curve retailers. Apple Pay has the potential to alter the landscape of physical and online commerce, and it begins today. The service is availably only on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, but thankfully it's not the only positive change coming in iOS 8.1 Squash those bugsiOS 8.1 also includes the public beta of Apple's iCloud photo library, more connectivity features among Apple's numerous platforms, and the return of the Camera Roll. Besides the new features, Apple's aim with iOS 8.1 is twofold: to address the main sources of customer feedback, and to squash many of the bugs found in iOS 8. Go download iOS 8.1 now if you have an iOS 8-compatible device and find out whether Apple succeeded. Apple Pay vs PayPal: the mobile payments sector is at a crossroadshttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3fa5c31b/sc/28/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474564365/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3fa5c31b/sc/28/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474564365/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3fa5c31b/sc/28/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474564365/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3fa5c31b/sc/28/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474564365/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3fa5c31b/sc/28/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/210474564365/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3fa5c31b/sc/28/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/E5_ssgXIiMg

SAP generated $5.43 billion (about £3.36 billion, AU$6.17 billion) in revenue during the third quarter of 2014, a 5% increase compared with the same quarter last year. The German-based software company also increase operating profits 11% to $1.48 billion (about £920 million, AU$1.68 billion). Operating expenses increased slightly to $3.95 billion (about £2.45 billion, AU$4.5 billion), but the company is now positioning itself as “the fastest growing enterprise cloud company” in an earnings statement, after increasing cloud subscriptions and support revenue 41% to $355 million during the quarter (about £219 million, AU$404 million). SAP HANA, the company’s cloud-based analytics engine, has more than 4,100 customers and 41 million users worldwide, the company said. Software and support revenue increased 7% to $4.59 billion (about £2.84 billion, AU$5.22 billion). However, software licenses alone decreased 2% to $1.21 billion (about £740 million, AU$1.37 billion). SAP’s cloud initiativeIn June, SAP created a division focused on industry-specific cloud tools. The goal of the division will be to develop prescriptive, industry-based cloud road maps, SAP said. SAP intends to deliver industry-specific solutions across 25 verticals. A few weeks earlier, SAP launched a set of solutions designed to enable organizations to more quickly adopt cloud computing. The “SAP Rapid Deployment” solutions were built to help streamline the implementation experience with accelerated time to value at reduced costs. Both moves followed SAP’s announced plan to lay off approximately 2,500 workers in software programming units in order to add more cloud computing positions. SAP currently employs 67,000 workers across the world. 10 CRM systems you should knowhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3fa3ee72/sc/46/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474543562/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3fa3ee72/sc/46/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474543562/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3fa3ee72/sc/46/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474543562/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3fa3ee72/sc/46/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474543562/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3fa3ee72/sc/46/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/210474543562/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3fa3ee72/sc/46/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/RJZ_WTiWAes

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/TRBC/Software/findmyshift-470-75.jpg Introduction and ShiftPlanning'Time is money' as the old adage states, and in business, nothing could be truer. A business is run by its staff and it's important to make the most of each person-hour that is available. Wasted time is, essentially, wasted money, so efficiency and productivity are key. In order for organisations to be both efficient and productive, it's necessary for them to manage their staff time well. This can be done using employee scheduling software. Employee scheduling software provides organisations with an overview of how many staff-hours are available, and the hours that different tasks need assigning. But its role extends beyond just assigning shifts and tasks to staff members. It can allow organisations to find staff members who are actually available to work based on skills and availability, move shifts around, calculate pay and overtime, and plan annual leave. Scheduling software might also flag up when there is a time resource conflict or problem, and will provide a means of delivering different reports on business hours and costs. As with any business software, there are a variety of different employee scheduling software options from which to choose. Different platforms are built to suit different types of business and it's important for any organisation to know what it requires from its scheduling software. This article provides an overview of some of the most popular pieces of employee scheduling software available, providing a description of each. ShiftPlanningWeb: http://www.shiftplanning.com Price: From US$33 (around £20, AU$38) per month Shift planning was set up in 2009 and has since become a leading name in the employee scheduling software market. Indeed, T-Mobile, Hulu, Pizza Hut and AirBNB are counted amongst its clients. The company says it was founded on the premise that online scheduling would reduce the time it took to schedule via other methods by 80%, affording managers and entrepreneurs more time to focus on other areas of their businesses. It also claims to boast the highest customer retention figures in the industry, which it puts down to taking on board customer feedback. ShiftPlanning touts its service as being very easy-to-use with an intuitive interface. The platform provides scheduling, time clock, payroll and human resources features. Employees are able to set their availability and conflict-free schedules can be automatically created. Schedules update in real-time to ensure that everyone is always looking at the most recent version, and a user's schedule can be synced with third-party calendar applications such as Google Calendar, iCal, and Outlook. Time clock software allows employees to clock in and log time online from wherever they are. Managers can limit where employees can clock in from, though, if needs be. Facial recognition can be used to verify users logging in, whilst managers can view who is logged in at any given time and can track lateness and absences. ShiftPlanning integrates with a host of third-party payroll packages, ensuring that clocked time can be directly processed for wages. Overtime rules can be set up and managers can view detailed reporting. HR departments, meanwhile, are able to manage annual leave and absences, keep HR documentation in order and view or compare employee performance. Users can access ShiftPlanning via desktop computer or via mobile apps for iOS, Android and Blackberry. New users can dip their toe in the water with a free 30-day trial, whilst free training and 24/7/365 support are provided for existing users. NimbleSchedule, When I Work, FindMyShift, TimeForge NimbleScheduleWeb: http://www.nimbleschedule.com Price: From US$35 per month (around £22, AU$40) NimbleSchedule was launched in 2011, apparently after a lengthy Thanksgiving Day phone call during which co-founder Peter Swaniker's sister was trying to facilitate what should have been a simple schedule change. Despite being a relatively young outfit, NimbleSchedule, like ShiftPlanning, is well regarded and boasts a number of high profile clients, including Burger King, Chipotle and Hampton Hotels. As with other platforms for employee scheduling, NimbleSoftware promises to minimise the amount of time spent on the process. It claims to save businesses an average of 260 hours and US$5,000 (around £3,100, AU$5,700) per workforce task, per person, per year. Amongst NimbleSchedule's features are a real-time schedule viewer with drag-and-drop functionality and the ability to view schedules for different locations or departments. The platform offers a lot of self-service functionality so that employees can take control of their own scheduling, such as for picking up shifts that are openly offered, dropping shifts, requesting time off or swapping shifts amongst themselves. The platform also provides a means of communication with single employees or groups of employees, and provides notifications to keep employees up-to-date, such as for newly offered open shifts, approved schedule changes and newly published schedules. Employees can set how, for what and when they would like to receive reminder notifications as well. NimbleSchedule allows employees to clock in and out via the web, text message, mobile app or phone. Restrictions can be placed on locations or devices from which employees can clock in and out. When clocking in from a mobile device, GPS data is provided, whilst remote monitoring is also possible via the web. Managers can view a variety of reports to track costs and time metrics. System usage itself can be tracked, as can absences, lateness, early leaving and overtime. It is possible to see which staff members are the most valuable and the most costly. When I WorkWeb: http://wheniwork.com Price: From US$19 per month (around £12, AU$22) When I Work is an employee communication and scheduling platform that focuses on simplicity and mobile working. The company claims to have over over 5,000 customers worldwide, serving nearly half a million people in over 50 countries. Amongst its clients are Virgin America, Ben & Jerry's and Ticketmaster. When I Work allows managers to coordinate multiple locations, sharing staff across them. Off-site shifts can be set up with specific addresses and additional shift notes can be added. The platform also identifies staff members that are qualified and available when a shift needs to be filled. The platform uses the web, mobile apps, text messaging and social media to keep employees connected and up-to-date. Employees can input their availability, make requests for time off, and trade shifts via When I Work, and work schedules can be synced with Outlook, Google Calendar or iCal (or even viewed via Facebook). As with other scheduling platforms, When I Work also provides time clock functionality. Employees can clock in and out from a mobile phone or an on-site terminal such as an iPad. Notifications are provided to both the employee or manager if the employee clocks in late or at the wrong job site. Employee time can also be reviewed and approved prior to processing for payroll. FindMyShiftWeb: https://www.findmyshift.com Price: From £16 per month (US$26, AU$29) FindMyShift was set up in 2004 and is used by organisations including the NHS, St John's Ambulance and Specsavers. It is entirely web-based and so can be viewed in any browser so long as there is an internet connection. The FindMyShift platform is pretty straightforward. Employee hours worked can be input and compared to scheduled hours, and timesheet data can be fed into payroll reports, budget reports and cost forecasts. Shift reminder notifications are automatically sent to employees via email, text message or push notification, and a host of tips and shortcuts are provided to make the platform as easy as possible to use. TimeForge SchedulingWeb: http://www.timeforge.com Price: From free One final piece of well-regarded scheduling software is Timeforge Scheduling. The company itself was set up in 2004 and Scheduling was its first product. It was aimed at the retail and food service industries. Amongst the features of TimeForge Scheduling are the ability to automatically create schedules, email notifications of new schedules for employees, text message reminders for shifts, cost monitoring and notifications of any schedule conflicts. Mobile banking: why it matters for businesshttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3fa3ee75/sc/36/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474543561/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3fa3ee75/sc/36/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474543561/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3fa3ee75/sc/36/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474543561/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3fa3ee75/sc/36/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474543561/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3fa3ee75/sc/36/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/210474543561/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3fa3ee75/sc/36/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/FjqS4CFDz_k

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/TRBC/Generic/BYOD-470-75.JPGThe BYOD or Bring Your Own Device phenomenon has been gaining pace, especially after Apple's iPad was released. As a small business owner BYOD can be something of a double-edged sword in that the benefits can be great, but security concerns can be worrying. According to Ovum, BYOD is being used by all businesses, but often without any clear security policy in place. Adrian Drury, consulting director at Ovum, said: "The big consumerisation challenge for IT is that you are in a competitive market now; people had to use what you gave them because there wasn't any other choice. That, of course, has all changed. If you're not being given the tools you need to get your job done, you'll go and find a way around that." What's more, research from TrackVia reveals that the millennial generation that make up a large proportion of small business employees have little regard for business security, with 70 per cent of those polled admitting they brought applications that were not authorised by their employers into the business to help with their work. And half use their own apps because those supplied by their businesses don't meet their needs. Changing attitudesThere is, however, a change in attitude towards the use of BYOD that IDC has identified. Research director Chris Chute said: "Small businesses have seen the most growth in BYOD device uptake and have responded by implementing policies that govern how those devices are used. This is a marked change from only a year ago when close to half of small firms cited having a zero-access BYOD stance. Now, with the availability of hosted software and easy-to-implement mobile solutions, SMB IT managers feel much more comfortable allowing personal devices access to internal IT resources." Clearly few small businesses can avoid using BYOD across their organisations, as their employees may already be adopting a BYOD approach to their work. Your business can't ignore BYOD. Taking the time to develop a detailed implementation plan that includes how security will be managed is how small business owners can fully leverage what BYOD has to offer. BYOD managementIntegrating BYOD into your business will require a clear understanding of what you want BYOD to bring to your enterprise. Follow these steps to develop your business' BYOD policy and securely integrate BYOD across your company: Take a BYOD audit Before any integration or policy making can take place, your business needs to know how widespread BYOD already is. Assess which devices are in use, and which apps. More importantly, ask what motivates your employees to use BYOD over business-supplied devices. Data storage and access Your business already knows its responsibilities to comply with the Data Protection Act (DPA). BYOD also needs to be considered in this context. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has published guidance that your business should follow to ensure it fully complies with the Act when rolling out BYOD policies. The core advice from the ICO is: "BYOD raises a number of data protection concerns due to the fact that the device is owned by the user rather than the data controller. However, it is crucial that as data controller you ensure that all processing for personal data which is under your control remains in compliance with the DPA. Particularly in the event of a security breach, you must be able to demonstrate that you have secured, controlled or deleted all personal data on a particular device." Risk assessment Just as your business carries out risk assessments for health and safety reasons, a risk assessment for BYOD is vital before these devices are integrated into your enterprise. Inside and out BYOD blurs the lines between the use of business technology and the personal devices that employees own. It is critical to assess where personal and business operations lie to develop a BYOD policy that will be accepted by all. Assess the data silos your business uses, and ask how much access a BYOD device should have? Making connections The power of mobile digital technologies is their ability to connect to data sources at any time. As part of your business' BYOD integration, it is vital to assess how these connections are made. Using VPN (Virtual Private Network) and encryption is important when implementing a BYOD policy. Controlling BYOD Because BYOD will include a mixture of personal and business information, who in your business has control of these devices needs to be considered. Devices are easily lost or stolen, so some form of remote data wiping will be needed if your business is allowing sensitive information to be stored on the devices used within your BYOD network. http://cdn2.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net//art/TRBC/Abstract/Apps%20on%20tablet/iStock_000019925348Small-scanrail-420-100.jpg Installing apps The average smartphone user will have dozens of apps on their phones, which they are constantly updating. Integrating BYOD into your business will require a policy that governs which apps are allowed and which are not. Security is paramount here, as consumer apps won't have the robust security protocols that your business needs to ensure each device can be used securely. A BYOD futureSuccessful BYOD integration is founded on a deep understanding of what motivates a workforce to use their own devices, and how this drive can be supported and leveraged with user and security policies. It is a fine balance to allow BYOD to be used across your enterprise, yet have the security safeguards in place that protect the data being manipulated. There is little doubt that the use of mobile digital devices will continue to proliferate across the small business environment. The gains and benefits that BYOD brings are manifold, but small business owners should take the time to understand how BYOD can be integrated into their business, and ensure all stakeholders are supported with a detailed BYOD policy. http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3fa1ae65/sc/46/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474522341/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3fa1ae65/sc/46/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474522341/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3fa1ae65/sc/46/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474522341/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3fa1ae65/sc/46/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474522341/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3fa1ae65/sc/46/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/210474522341/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3fa1ae65/sc/46/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/ZI6yVgZWlGE

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/TRBC/Software/abby-finereader-pro-470-75.jpgIntroduction, Nuance OmniPage and ABBYY FineReader Optical character recognition (OCR) uses digital imaging devices and software to read text on hard-copy documents or in digital files that are rendered as images. The functionality can then be used to create digital, editable files. The process can be used for a variety of purposes, such as scanning hard-copy forms or making PDFs editable, but it is perhaps most useful for businesses that use a lot of paper documentation or have a lot of historical documentation that needs digitising. Without OCR, digitising hard-copy documents would be a manual process, with businesses employing individuals to input hard-copy data into a system. Not only is this time consuming and expensive, it has the potential for human error. OCR reduces the amount of human work required and therefore helps to minimise the cost of digitising documents. Over time, it has also become increasingly accurate and capable, meaning that errors are also minimised. There are a variety of OCR packages available and they are pitched at different levels, and have different purposes. It's important, therefore, that businesses have a good idea of what they require from an OCR package before making any decision. This article provides an overview of some of the most popular packages on the market. It gives a description of each and should provide a good starting point for businesses looking to purchase an OCR package. Nuance OmniPage UltimateWeb: http://www.nuance.co.uk/for-business/by-product/omnipage/ultimate/index.htm Price: £169.99 (around US$270, AU$310) Nuance is a provider of voice and language solutions for businesses and consumers. The firm is based in Massachusetts, US, and employs around 12,000 people in over 35 offices across the world. Its Dragon voice recognition software is regarded as the industry leader, and the company also produces voice-based documentation software solutions for the healthcare industry. Nuance also produces the OmniPage suite. OmniPage Ultimate is a document scanning and conversion package. It is aimed at business professionals, small businesses and workgroups that process, distribute and store paper or PDF documents. The package provides a means of employing a number of different devices on a network to scan documents to a local computer or central server. It allows users to scan high volumes of documents and turn hard-copy forms, images and PDFs into editable digital files. Amongst the benefits OmniPage Ultimate offers are a high level of character recognition accuracy, the ability to keep documents formatted exactly as they were, the option to capture text with a digital camera or smartphone camera, recognition of over 120 different languages, and support for a wide range of formats and applications including HTML, Corel, WordPerfect and Microsoft Office. ABBYY FineReader ProfessionalWeb: http://finereader.abbyy.com/professional Price: £99 (around US$160, AU$180) ABBYY was founded in 1989 as BIT Software, and renamed in 1997. The company creates artificial intelligence technologies, products and services to extract information from sources in which it would be otherwise digitally inaccessible. Amongst its products and services are dictionary tools, translation and business card reading. ABBYY FineReader Professional converts paper and image documents into editable digital formats, such as DOC and PDF files. The software uses what ABBYY calls Advanced Adaptive Document Recognition Technology to accurately translate a document's formatting and page structure. It is able to pick out text from digital photographs and it also supports the recognition of over 190 different languages, which ABBYY says is more than any other OCR package on the market. FineReader has built-in text verification and editing tools that are aimed at reducing the amount of editing and number of corrections required after documents have been processed. It is also able to create mobile-friendly versions of documents for use with e-book readers, tablets and smartphones. FineReader has been updated to fit the Windows 8 look and feel, and allows users to easily save output files to cloud services such as Dropbox and Google Drive. It is available for both Windows and Mac. IRIS Readiris, Creaceed Prizmo and CVision Maestro IRIS Readiris ProWeb: http://www.irislink.com/c2-2808-189/Readiris-14---OCR-Software---Scan--convert---manage-documents.aspx Price: US$129 (around £80, AU$145) IRIS seeks to help its customers better manage their documents, data and information. The company is owned by Canon and works with a number of technologies, including intelligent document recognition, document, content and process management, and optimised IT infrastructure. IRIS and its products have won a variety of awards and media recommendations. Readiris Pro is more basic than some of the other OCR packages on the market, aimed simply at providing users with the ability to convert image, paper and PDF files into editable and searchable files. It is designed to work with normal scanners and will output a variety of digital files including DOC, XLS, PDF and HTML. It also provides a simple function that re-renders locked PDFs to be more searchable whilst looking exactly the same, and it boasts the ability to compress document sizes by up to 50 times without reducing their visual quality. The Readiris Cloud Connector allows users to store and manage their documents in the cloud. Supported services are Evernote, Dropbox, Box and Google Drive. Documents can be automatically exported and then accessed from any device wherever the user is. In addition to these features, Readiris is capable of processing multi-page documents and supports the recognition of over 130 languages. Creaceed PrizmoWeb: http://www.creaceed.com/prizmo Price: From $49.95 (around £30, AU$57) Creaceed is a Belgian company that was founded in 2008. It has a small team of four people and produces a variety of different apps for iOS and Mac. Its iOS apps include a video stabiliser and voice control tool. For Mac the company produces HDR imaging, image and video morphing and video toolbox apps. It also produces Prizmo. Prizmo aims to provide a universal scanning experience for Mac owners. Users can use scanners, digital cameras or smartphones to take images of the document they need to digitise. If a picture is taken with a device connected to the user's computer, it will be automatically imported into Prizmo. Prizmo then allows users to extract text from hard-copy documents and extract information from business cards. Users can edit outputs to make sure the results are fully accurate. As well as the multi-page processing, perspective correction, page-curvature correction and text-to-speech features provided by Prizmo, the software also offers additional functionality via its Pro-Pack add-on. The Pro-Pack offers batch processing, automated actions and custom export scripts. Prizmo comes with support for 10 built-in languages, which are English, French, German, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Swedish, Danish and Norwegian. It also offers support for a further 30 languages that are available to download for free. CVision MaestroWeb: http://www.cvisiontech.com/products/general/maestro-recognition-server.html Price: N/A CVision Technologies is a provider of document automation solutions. Amongst the software it deals in are file compression, recognition technology, PDF workflow applications, and document automation technology tools. CVision's Maestro provides batch automated OCR with what the company claims are the most accurate results available. CVision says Maestro offers a number of advanced OCR functionalities, including the ability to identify text within low resolution captured documents, to process documents containing multi-directional text, and documents containing low-contrast colour text. According to CVision, Maestro can be integrated into existing document and imaging workflows. It can process up to 20 pages per second, supports inputs in 11 different formats and can generate outputs in 10 different formats. Maestro is used by a number of major organisations including Barclays, RBS and Xerox. http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3f9c0a4f/sc/4/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474474166/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f9c0a4f/sc/4/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474474166/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f9c0a4f/sc/4/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474474166/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f9c0a4f/sc/4/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474474166/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f9c0a4f/sc/4/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/210474474166/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f9c0a4f/sc/4/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/n8oFbif_Rqo

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/TRBC/email%20on%20blackberry-470-75.jpgIntroduction, iContact and Constant ContactEmail marketing gives companies a chance to communicate directly to their customers or stakeholders, but lots of companies don't do it well, or in some cases at all. Alongside social media, email provides an opportunity for organisations to market their products and services to an audience that has already expressed their interest by opting in to communications. As such, it should be one of the first marketing channels added into an organisation's marketing mix. Sending emails in bulk, however, can't just be done from a work email address. In addition to limits on the number of recipients to which emails can be sent, there is no sender authentication and it's possible that any email will end up in a spam folder. As well as avoiding these issues, email marketing services provide a number of additional benefits. Emails can be designed with HTML layouts, and they can be personalised and tracked for response analytics. Recipients are also provided with a means of unsubscribing, which is a legal necessity, and the recipient database can be kept clean. There are a large number of email marketing services available from which to choose. Most offer much of the same functionality, but there are some differences in approach, and different services are better suited to different organisations. Factors such as usability, size of recipient database, price and security might all play a part in an organisation's choice of provider. This article looks at some of the most popular email marketing services, providing an overview of each. iContactWeb: http://www.icontact.com Price: From £10 (around US$16, AU$18) per month iContact is widely regarded as the best in the business where email marketing services are concerned. Whether or not that's the case, it's certainly one of the best. The firm has been providing email marketing services since 2003 and is aimed primarily at small and medium-sized businesses. iContact's email marketing platform provides a drag-and-drop email builder that allows users to build HTML emails without requiring any HTML coding knowledge. For those who are au fait with HTML, it's still possible to build emails by code or to import and edit existing templates. iContact also offers a variety of existing templates that users can select if they don't want to go through the process of creating their own design. In order to ensure emails reach the intended recipients, iContact offers a spam checking service that tells a sender if they need to address any potential issues with their email before sending, and this minimises the chance of emails being caught in an ISP's spam filter. The company has a dedicated team monitoring and working on the delivery of emails from its servers, and the measures taken by the company help to keep it whitelisted amongst ISPs. In addition to its strong feature set, iContact is reasonably priced, starting at £10 a month for small numbers of email send-outs. Tailored provisions can also be made for organisations with recipient databases of more than 15,000, or those that need advanced features. Discounted prices are offered for non-profit organisations. Constant ContactWeb: http://www.constantcontact.com Price: From £15 (around US$24, AU$27) per month Constant Contact was founded in 1995 and today boasts over 600,000 small organisations amongst its clients. Like iContact, it provides users with a means of creating, sending and tracking the responses to bulk emails. Ready-made templates and a drag-and-drop editor make creating emails straightforward and it's also possible to create landing pages for email campaigns. This year, though, Constant Contact rolled out what it calls its Toolkit, of which its email services are a part. The Toolkit is aimed at providing users with an integrated all-in-one marketing solution. Users are able to manage email campaigns, social media campaigns, plan events, run promotions, collect donations and carry out surveys all from one place. Single campaigns can be coordinated across multiple marketing channels. The Constant Contact Toolkit starts at £15 a month with more fully loaded plans available. It's possible to have a personal marketing coach to provide guidance on using the Toolkit to greatest effect, and there are discounts for non-profit and pre-pay customers. Constant Contact also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee in case users aren't satisfied with the service. Benchmark, GetResponse and AWeber CommunicationsBenchmarkWeb: http://www.benchmarkemail.com Price: From US$9.95 (around £6, AU$11) per month Benchmark was set up in 2004 and aims to ensure sender deliverability and reputation. The company says it is "committed to bringing users the most up-to-date marketing trends and methods." Amongst its main features, says Benchmark, are list management, campaign creation, AB split testing and inbox checker tools. Users can build recipient lists using existing contact data and web forms that can be created using Benchmark. Lists can be updated manually and kept clean by automatically removing email addresses that result in bounce-backs, duplicated addresses and dead email addresses. It's also possible to segment contacts into different targeted lists for different campaigns, using both preset and custom fields. As with other platforms, Benchmark provides users with a variety of email templates from which to choose, a drag-and-drop email editor and the ability to schedule send-outs for certain dates and times. Images can be hosted on the company's servers and it's also possible to drop videos into emails. An organisation's send-out archive can be stored online for future viewing. Benchmark's AB split testing tool allows users to send two different variants of an email to different segments of a list to see which will work better. In this way, it's possible to improve the design of emails over time. Variations might be as small as using a different subject line to see what sort of style gets the highest open-rate. Benchmark's inbox checking tool allows users to see what an email will look like rendered by different email providers and on different devices. It is possible to see how an email will appear to various recipients, and to check for example if there are differences between Gmail and Outlook or laptops and tablets. Users of Benchmark can benefit from unlimited sending, dedicated IP addresses and a 25% discount for non-profit organisations. GetResponseWeb: http://www.getresponse.co.uk Price: From £12 (around US$19, AU$22) per month The GetResponse email marketing platform was set up by Implix in 1999. The site now offers a variety of services and has over 350,000 customers. It aims to provide "affordable, feature-rich self-service solutions." Features include a landing page builder, responsive email design and AB split testing functionality. GetResponse says that landing pages can be put together within just 10 minutes. It offers over 100 templates and provides a drag-and-drop editor. The platform's email builder also provides a selection of templates users can choose from, and the option to edit using a drag-and-drop approach. The company says that it automatically makes all emails look good regardless of what device or size screen they are being viewed on. Like Benchmark, it's also possible to use AB split testing to see what variations within an email will produce a better response. Users can import email contacts from a variety of different services, including Gmail, Magento, Salesforce and Highrise. It's also possible to design new subscriber sign-up forms to suit the destination in which they'll be embedded. Inbox previewing allows users to see what their mail-outs will look like as presented by different email providers and on different devices. Prices start from £12 per month with discounts for annual payments and non-profit organisations. Special provisions can be made for enterprise and/or high volume senders. AWeber CommunicationsWeb: http://www.aweber.com Price: From US$19 (around £12, AU$22) per month AWeber was established in 1998 and operates with six core values: to create remarkable experiences, to execute with passion, to foster respect and cooperation, to invite feedback and listen to what people say, to learn, educate and innovate, and to not take themselves too seriously. In addition to boasting many of the same features offered by other email marketing providers, it also offers some more unique features. Users can input an RSS from their website or blog for new articles to be sent out to subscribers as emails, and online versions of emails can be shared automatically with social media followers. 5 tech tips every email marketer should knowhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3f952517/sc/4/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474470195/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f952517/sc/4/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474470195/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f952517/sc/4/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474470195/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f952517/sc/4/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474470195/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f952517/sc/4/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/210474470195/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f952517/sc/4/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/1Fs7bmI_jmA

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/laptops/Chromebook/chromebook_detail-470-75.jpgIn 2013 Google put Sundar Pichai in charge of Android, and he brought his prior experience with Chrome to bear on the mobile OS. Now Chrome OS and Android are getting even closer together on Google's internal food chain, according to sources who confided in The Wall Street Journal. According to these people Google's Vice President of Chrome Engineering Linus Upson has stepped down and been replaced by Vice President of Android Engineering Hiroshi Lockheimer. Lockheimer will reportedly serve in both roles simultaneously. Hopefully he's getting a pay bump to make up for all that extra work. With great powerGoogle began porting Android apps over to Chrome OS this year, and the Chromium team has even experimented with Material Design-like UI elements for Chrome OS, mimicking the latest versions of Android. There's been plenty of speculation that the two operating systems might converge some day, fueled largely by comments Google co-founder Sergey Brin made way back in 2009. With Lockheimer reportedly heading both systems' engineering divisions and reporting directly to Pichai, that day might be getting closer. We've asked Google to confirm or deny these details, and we'll update here if we hear back. Nexus Player: everything you need to know about the Android TV boxhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3f9309a7/sc/28/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474478141/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f9309a7/sc/28/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474478141/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f9309a7/sc/28/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474478141/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f9309a7/sc/28/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474478141/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f9309a7/sc/28/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/210474478141/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f9309a7/sc/28/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/xFJACowTNCc

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/features/best%20Android%20apps%202014/new%20images/snapchat-470-75.jpgRecent security hiccups aside, Snapchat is almost universally well-liked by its users. So will they tolerate a few ads here and there? Beginning this weekend, a single video ad will appear in the Snapchat app's "recent updates" section. "It's going to feel a little weird at first, but we're taking the plunge," reads a Snapchat blog post about the move. The ads won't be tailored to individuals, but users will be able to choose whether or not to watch them. They'll disappear once viewed, or within 24 hours if they're simply ignored. Not to be rude…This move only applies to the US for now, but if users don't complain too much it Snapchat will no doubt expand its ads to other countries. Given the fleeting messaging app's popularity worldwide, they'd have to be crazy not to. However ads won't appear in your snaps or your chats, because "that would be totally rude," the blog post reads. "We want to see if we can deliver an experience that's fun and informative, the way ads used to be, before they got creepy and targeted," it says. They certainly have a point, so let's hope this works out. The source of the Snapchat leak has fessed uphttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3f92fbc0/sc/21/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474476657/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f92fbc0/sc/21/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474476657/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f92fbc0/sc/21/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474476657/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f92fbc0/sc/21/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474476657/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f92fbc0/sc/21/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/210474476657/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f92fbc0/sc/21/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/32j7uDPg0Rs

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/Watches/Motorola/Moto%20360/moto-360-waterproof-470-75.jpgIf you're of the opinion that smartwatches don't have any practical use in the workplace, this nifty development in wearables just may change your mind. Virtualization company Citrix has modified its GoToMeeting app to run on Google's Android Wear smartwatch OS, allowing you to present while you preen, market while you move, and up-sell while you, er, undress. Oh - and you can join and host conference calls and meetings too. What's the best smartwatch?According to the app's page on the Google Play Store, that's only scratching the surface of what it can do. In addition to attending GoToMeeting sessions, Citrix says that the app can generate alerts for upcoming meetings, view presentations, mockups and reports, conduct VoIP calls, view attendee webcams and more. While that sounds impressive, don't forget that you'll need your Android 4.0 (or higher) smartphone on your person to use the Android Wear app, and we'll reserve judgement of how handy those features are while running on a tiny smartwatch screen until we've seen it in action. http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3f906815/sc/28/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474452524/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f906815/sc/28/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474452524/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f906815/sc/28/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474452524/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f906815/sc/28/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474452524/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f906815/sc/28/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/210474452524/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f906815/sc/28/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/4qRHaW3ZjAs

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/other/Week%20in%20tech/New%20Week%20In%20Tech/week_in_tech_October_17-470-75.jpgIf this week were a pop song it'd be a Taylor Swift one: a star at the top of their game delivering something amazing that makes the world a more cheerful place. It's a week of new iPads and new Nexuses, of mad things from Will.i.am and new ways for players who want to play, play, play, play, play, play. It's a particularly packed week in tech! Google goes bigThe new Nexus 6 is the biggest smartphone Google has ever made, with a huge 5.96-inch screen. It's no slouch in the rest of the specs department either: there's a quad-core Snapdragon clocked at 2.7GHz and it comes in a choice of 32GB and 64GB models. That's the good news, but the bad news is the price: unlike previous Nexuses, which have been bargains, the starting price for the Nexus 6 is a whopping US$649. Google goes smallWhile Nexus smartphones are getting bigger, Nexus smartphones are getting smaller: the replacement for the Nexus 10 is the Nexus 9, and we reckon you can guess just how big its screen will be. The 9 refers to the rounded-up 8.9-inch screen, and inside you'll find a 64-bit Nvidia Tegra K1, 2GB of RAM and either 16GB or 32GB of internal storage. It's a clear rival to the iPad Air, and the cheapest one will be $399 USD. Google announces Android 5.0Reports that Android 5.0 would be called Licorice proved to be red herrings: the L in Android 5.0 L stands for Lollipop, which is what we figured already. The name is ready but the OS isn't: while the new Nexuses will both run Android 5.0, they won't be doing it until November. Google goes after your living room, againGoogle really wants to be in your living room, and it's made all kinds of devices for it including the Nexus Q, the original Google TV, Google Chromecast, the new Google TV and now, the Nexus Player. It's an Android TV device with a quad-core Intel atom chip, and it's designed for both media streaming and gaming. It's a rival to Apple TV, the Amazon Fire TV and all the other TV streamers out there, and it probably rings the death knell for the Android-powered Ouya gaming box. Apple: we've made some iPadsIt's October, and that means it's time for some new iPads. Apple has not one but two new tablets to sell you: the iPad Air 2 and the iPad Mini 3. If you were expecting radical new tablet tech you'll be disappointed, but the improvements keep what The Register likes to call Apple's "fondleslabs" current. Apple didn't just have new tablets to show off. It's updated the Mac Mini, and it's brought its retina display to the 27-inch iMac. Never mind 4K: Apple's desktop delivers 5K. Just don't look at the price tag. They wear it wellWe've seen two very different wearables this week: we've been wandering around with the Moto 360 on our wrist, and we've seen the latest w.at.ch from will.i.am. The latter is called the Puls, and apparently it's a "smartcuff", which is a category we've just made up. It delivers "fashionology", which is a portmanteau will.i.am just made up, and is designed for people who don't care about looking "ridicularse", which… OK, we'll stop now. As for the 360, after a month of constant use we're a bit disappointed. An update has improved battery life a bit but it's still pretty bad, and while there's lots to like we just don't think it's a five-star device. Here comes the droppeningIt looks like the latest high profile hacking victim is Dropbox. The firm says it hasn't been hacked but hundreds of user names and passwords have been posted to Reddit, with the perpetrators promising to post millions more. Dropbox says that, as with a similar Snapchat breach, the login details come from somebody else's compromised service. If you're a Dropbox user you might want to enable two-factor authentication (2FA). Come to think of it, if you use any cloud service you should be thinking about 2FA. Fitbit: HealthKit? Shove it!Bad news for Fitbit fans who expect to use their trackers with Apple's Health app and HealthKit framework: it isn't happening. The firm has confirmed that it doesn't have any plans to integrate with HealthKit, which seems an odd decision. We wonder, will Fitbit skip Google Fit too? http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3f8e321f/sc/28/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474459504/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f8e321f/sc/28/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474459504/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f8e321f/sc/28/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474459504/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f8e321f/sc/28/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474459504/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f8e321f/sc/28/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/210474459504/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f8e321f/sc/28/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/sFzJx-qaQIU

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/TRBC/Software/Dragon%20NaturallySpeaking%20Premium%2013/dragon-email-470-75.jpgIntroduction, Dragon NaturallySpeaking and TalkTyper For a long time, speech recognition was going to be the next big thing. People would dictate documents naturally and flawlessly in half the time that they could type them, freeing up time for other activities. Eventually, however, people became tired of waiting for speech recognition to reach an adequate standard for regular use, and the concept became derided as a novelty and unusable for day-to-day work. Now, however, speech recognition has come of age and it's sneaked back into people's lives via a side entrance. Google, Apple and Microsoft all have speech recognition functionality built into their mobile operating systems, and you don't have to go out and buy a CD from which to install it as was the case during the first wave of interest. Speech recognition software has followed the classic Hype Cycle: an initial burst of inflated expectations followed by a trough of disillusionment, a gradual enlightenment about the technology's actual usefulness, and an eventual levelling out of productivity. There is logic to using speech recognition software on mobile devices, because often it can be quicker and easier than fiddling around with an on-screen keyboard. Mainstream adoption of speech recognition software on desktop PCs, however, has never happened. That may be partly due to people recognising some of its limitations, its perceived lack of suitability for an office environment, or simply because people moved on and just forgot about it. Whatever the reason, speech recognition software is now at the level for which people had initially hoped. It is accurate, useful and gradually beginning to bleed into our lives. There are a variety of different speech recognition tools and software packages, each offering specific functionality. Some are more fully loaded and advanced than others, but generally, they can be used for controlling a user's computer and dictating to a document. This article provides an overview of some of the most popular speech recognition tools and software packages available. Dragon NaturallySpeakingWeb: http://www.nuance.co.uk/dragon/index.htm Nuance's Dragon NaturallySpeaking software is regarded as the market leader where speech recognition is concerned. NaturallySpeaking was launched in 1997 and is now up to its thirteenth iteration. There are a host of versions available depending on the user's requirements and the software offers a huge amount of functionality. According to Nuance, NaturallySpeaking is the world's best-selling speech recognition software for the PC. NaturallySpeaking Professional Edition aims to provide business users with a means of controlling their computers and dictating documents, and Nuance claims it is three times faster than typing. As a result, it says, productivity can be improved and cost savings made. Amongst the functionalities provided are the capabilities to manage email, search the web and automate business processes. NaturallySpeaking allows users to dictate into Microsoft Office applications and OpenOffice, create emails, tasks and meetings in Microsoft Outlook, search the web using any major browser, and post to social media services such as Facebook and Twitter. The software recognises a number of standard commands, such as creating files, scheduling calendar entries and searching a user's computer. It's also possible to set up custom commands. Beyond its desktop functionality, Nuance can automatically transcribe user dictations into approved voice recorders, and mobile apps are available for iOS or Android. iOS users can record audio files whilst Android devices can be used as a wireless microphone. NaturallySpeaking Professional Edition costs £549. Prices vary for other editions, depending on the functionality. For more information on the package, check out our full Dragon NaturallySpeaking Premium 13 review. TalkTyperWeb: https://talktyper.com If you only need basic speech-to-text dictation functionality, then TalkTyper may well be adequate. TalkTyper is a simple, free-to-use website that captures user speech and renders it in plain text ready for being copied and then pasted elsewhere. It's not possible to sign up for an account, meaning that the website is designed simply for immediate and straightforward use. TalkTyper was created with the aim of making voice dictation freely available to anyone who needed it. According to TalkTyper, it first became possible when Google added speech input functionality to its Chrome browser. Once a user has loaded the TalkTyper website, they can click the microphone button and begin dictating. In addition to basic dictation, users can add basic punctuation by using commands like "period", "question mark" and "new paragraph". If they are happy with the resulting text, they can add it to their saved text pad. Having finished their dictation, the user is able to add symbols, copy the text, print it, send it to Twitter, send it via an email or translate it into a different language. Windows, Google, Compadre Interact, Sonic Extractor Microsoft Windows Speech RecognitionWeb: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/what-can-do-speech-recognition Many people won't realise this, but Microsoft has been building native speech recognition software into Windows for some time. Although the functionality existed previously, it has been more fully integrated since Vista under the guise of Windows Speech Recognition. Windows Speech Recognition can be used to both control a computer with voice commands and dictate text. A short setup process is required in order to calibrate the user's microphone, and the software can be trained to better understand a user's speech by creating a voice profile that it uses to recognise the individual. Windows Speech Recognition can be used to give a number of common commands such as opening specific applications, scrolling in any direction and switching between open programs. The software can be used in conjunction with programs such as browsers. Its dictation functionality can be used with word processing applications or, for example, when filling out forms online. The software is compatible with English, French, Spanish, German, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese. Google Voice SearchWeb: https://www.google.com/insidesearch/features/voicesearch/index-chrome.html As well as being available on its Android mobile devices, Google's Voice Search functionality can now also be used direct from its Chrome browser and as a Windows 8 application. Users may find it quicker or just preferential to use voice commands when searching, or it may be necessary for accessibility. Most Google Voice Search requests will simply take you to a list of results, but certain requests will have Google speak back a direct answer to you. Examples include, "What's the weather like?" and "What is $100 in pounds?" In addition to Voice Search, it has also been reported that Google will be bringing voice input to Google Docs. There's no word on whether it will allow users to give commands or just dictate, but the additional functionality will mean that an increasing number of Google tools can be controlled with speech input. SpeechGear Compadre InteractWeb: http://www.speechgear.info/products/interact SpeechGear was founded in 2001 and focuses on translating languages instantly for what people say, hear, read, write or type. Its Compadre product suite has a variety of uses, including translating documents. Compadre Interact, however, is used for providing instant translation of spoken conversations. Interact allows users to say something out loud and have it spoken back in another language. Likewise, something spoken in a foreign language can be translated and spoken back in English. SpeechGear says that translation is instant, so there is no need to wait in order to hear something repeated back. The software also transcribes conversations automatically. Digital Syphon Sonic ExtractorWeb: http://www.digitalsyphon.com/technologies_sonicextract.asp Digital Syphon's Sonic Extractor allows users to make automated transcriptions from any audio source. Users can simply input source content, such as a YouTube video link, and the software will analyse and transcribe the content. According to Digital Syphon, the software can be configured to work with most European and Asian languages, and up to 16 hours of content can be transcribed in an hour. Why voice recognition is no longer just a gimmickhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3f8e3226/sc/4/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474459502/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f8e3226/sc/4/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474459502/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f8e3226/sc/4/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474459502/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f8e3226/sc/4/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474459502/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f8e3226/sc/4/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/210474459502/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f8e3226/sc/4/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/kgdNkxJSsYM

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/desktop_pcs_and_macs/Mac/Mac%20mini%202014/Mac%20mini-03-470-75.jpgThe headlines at yesterday's Apple event were largely dominated by the new gorgeous 5K Retina Display iMac as well as new Apple iPad tablets. However, you'll have to refer to the company's press release and website to discover that it also released a new version of OS X server (version 4) and quietly retired the Apple Mac mini with OS X server. Google still shows the search result for "apple mac mini server" but the page has disappeared from Apple's website. The new OS X Server 4.0 requires Yosemite - which means that it is likely to be a "superset" of features rather than an OS on its own - and is available from Mac App Store for £13.99 ($19.99, AU$21.99). Check our our hands-on of the new Apple Mac miniApple has also rolled out an up-to-date program for OS X server which allows qualifying Mac mini purchasers to get the server OS for free. Will Apple eventually "kill" OS X Server by offering it as a free add-on in the near future? As the French say - c'est possible. As for the Mac mini, its future might follow two distinct paths; either Apple kills it like it did for the Xserve several years ago or it will be the next one to be switched from Intel to ARM (like the Apple TV). As it stands right now, the fact that it has cut the price of the Mac Mini and is positioning it as a stand alone desktop (rather than a server), leaves us to believe that that an ARM transition is imminent. The new model supports up to 1TB of storage rather than 2TB, and It's also worth noting that while Apple has unveiled a 5K Retina Display iMac (essentially an all-in-one PC), it didn't announce a stand alone monitor with similar capabilities. Source: LSAhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3f8cd8a9/sc/5/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474418429/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f8cd8a9/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474418429/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f8cd8a9/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474418429/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f8cd8a9/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474418429/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f8cd8a9/sc/5/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/210474418429/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f8cd8a9/sc/5/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/RDpX8X793A0

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/Android/android_silver-470-75.jpgWhat we want to see from Android M: 1-5Google's Android Lollipop is just around the corner and we already know all about it. But while Big G's mobile OS has come a long way recently, there are still improvements to be made. So here's our take on what Google Android M should offer. 1. Release dateIt's hard to have a definitive release date in mind for Android M, but history says we can probably expect to see it either at Google I/O next summer or towards the end of September. The last three versions of the OS have been announced in September (KitKat) June (Jelly Bean) and October (Ice Cream Sandwich) respectively. Not to mention the June 2014 reveal for Lollipop. Either way, we'll probably get a decent amount of lead time following the announcement as Google makes it available to developers first. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/mobile_phones/Google/Nexus6/Press/Nexus6-Press-02-420-90.jpg It's also unlikely that Google will want to leave it longer than a year before it updates Android. Even though uptake among the myriad of devices around the world is notably slower than arch-rival iOS. 2. A newer, better Google WalletAndroid phones have been incorporating NFC for ages now, but it took Apple's iPhone 6 and Apple Pay combo to really highlight a future of mobile payments. Google, by contrast, attempted to launch Google Wallet three years ago but Android fragmentation means it hasn't been able to gain a foothold. Now certain Android handsets like the Samsung Galaxy Alpha and Huawei Ascend Mate 7 offer fingerprint scanners which could be used for secure payment. Once the security is in place, Google could approach credit card companies in the hope of rebooting Google Wallet for Android M. 3. Google Health and Google Now integrationOur phones are currently occupied with trying to make us fitter, stronger and all around healthier human beings. Google Fit is Google's platform for this purpose and it will be bringing life-tracking goodness to Android L later this year. As per Android's usual approach there will be a single set of APIs, letting manufacturers hook their devices up with the operating system via their own apps. But a greater use of these metrics in real time, through Google Now, would be a massive plus for Android. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/mobile_phones/Google/ANDROID%204.1%20JELLY%20BEAN/google-now-landing_616-420-90.jpg A single swipe up into Google's digital assistant could deliver you a smorgasbord of fitness notifications based on your goals for that day. Additionally, it would be a simpler way of delivering prompts to achieve your various goals. 4. Messaging hubBlackBerry came back to the fore recently with the BlackBerry Passport. The square phone had among its features the BlackBerry Hub, a centralised service collecting all your messages into one place. Android's pull-down notifications panel accomplishes this to an extent but a unified messaging hub would be an attractive feature for multiple email and messaging accounts with different services. Built-in filtering would allow you to choose to only view certain accounts if needed and to quickly dispatch or delete emails, texts or whatsapp messages. To be fair, Google has given the notifications panel an overhaul for Android 5.0 Lollipop. The result lets you check the panel without unlocking the device as well as respond in kind. 5. Synced notificationsWhile we're on the subject of notifications, the next generation of Google's OS could benefit from better syncing when it comes to app notifications for multiple devices. If you've already dismissed a tweet or reminder on your smartphone, it's irritating to have to do it again on your tablet. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/events/Google%20IO%202014/Googe-Drive-for-Work-420-90.jpg Google sync already establishes this connection, but only in relation to Google apps like Gmail, Calendar and Chrome. We'd like this not just taken account of not just for phones, tablets and Chromebooks but also newer devices like wearables. What we want to see from Android M: 6-10.6. Guest accounts and parental controlsSome third-party manufacturers have added guest mode ability to their own devices – the LG G3 for example – but native Android still lacks the feature. The closest you can get at the moment is the guest mode via Google's downloadable Android Device Manager app. The advantages of having a locked-down guest mode will be clear to anyone that's handed their phone to a friend or child to use for a while. You don't necessarily want them browsing through your personal data or having access to your credit card account. By extension, parental controls could be tightened up with said guest (or child) mode as in-app payments or separate Google Play purchases can be disabled. Going beyond that – having an easily accessible mode switch in the notifications menu allowing you to toggle between night and day or business and pleasure would be a nice touch. 7. More home and car support By the time Android M rolls around we won't just be using the OS to control our smartphones and tablets but our homes, cars and wearables as well. Google has already pioneered the Open Automotive Alliance and signed up the likes of Audi, Ford, Honda and Volvo. It's highly likely you'll be using Android M to pick your GPS route and music for the road before you've even got into the car. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/events/Google%20IO%202014/android-auto-420-90.jpg On the home front, Google's acquisition of Nest could lead to some interesting developments by the time Android M comes along. Nest-rival Honeywell already supports voice commands, so there's potential for Google Now to be put to work again, this time controlling your home. 8. More tablet-centric appsCompared to Apple's iPad selection, the quality of tablet-specific Android apps can be an issue – simply because of the huge amount of Android differentiation that's out there. While the big-name apps are written to scale proportionally to different tablets, there's still a discrepancy between smartphone and tablet output. Part of the reason this can be addressed with a newer version of Android is that we'll have 64-bit chips as standard by the time Android M is ready to roll. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/tablets/Google/newNexus10/Leaks/NewNexus10-Leak-02-420-90.jpg With even mid-range devices packing the architecture - and ever more APIs - being released to developers, we're hoping for quality tablet apps once Android M hits. 9. Ultra power saving mode as standardFaster processing, higher resolution screens and better multitasking all take their toll on battery life. Manufacturers like Samsung and HTC build-in power saving modes to their flagship models, but it's a feature we'd like to see Google incorporate into native Android. Historically, the OS has been very good at showing you exactly where your usage is going but we have yet to see a single mode that limits all non-essential functions and severs data in order to preserve power. It's a relatively simple extra that could build on Android Lollypop's battery saving function that, Google says, will give you an additional 90 minutes of usage. 10. Better native keyboardIt's been a long time since we've used the native Android keyboard because third-party options like SwiftKey are superior. Adding the option to set a third-party keyboard as default when setting up from scratch would be a useful shortcut. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/mobile_phones/SwiftKey/SwiftKey-420-90.jpg While Google's keyboard gets the basics, like autocorrect and predictive texting right, there's more that can be added to improve the experience. Themes, scaling and different key positions could all be employed for a more personalised experience. Android M might be a long way off, but Android Lollipop is here, read up on everything we know about it here.http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3f8cd8ac/sc/28/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474418428/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f8cd8ac/sc/28/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474418428/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f8cd8ac/sc/28/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474418428/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f8cd8ac/sc/28/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474418428/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f8cd8ac/sc/28/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/210474418428/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f8cd8ac/sc/28/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/i4EA8evzAu4

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/events/wwdc/2014/screengrabs/OS%20X%20Yosemite-470-75.jpgApple's SVP of Software Engineering, Craig Federighi, has confirmed that OS X Yosemite will be available to download from today from the Mac App Store. At the time of writing, Apple's page hadn't been updated to confirm this and still says "coming this fall". The operating system, which replaces Mavericks, will be free to download and features a completely redesigned user interface as well as some nifty cross-platform functionality - Continuity - that allows you to seamlessly transition between your iPad, your iPhone and your Mac. Apple's iWork has also been updated and will be available for free with the new OS. A new version of Safari is also expected to boost battery life significantly as well when used in conjunction with the new OS. The Apple event, which is taking place in Berlin, saw the launch of a new iPad Air 2 as well as a new version of its mobile OS dubbed iOS 8.1 which will be compulsory should you want to use Continuity features. Yosemite is compatible with all Macs produced over the past five years and some select models from 2007 and 2008. Note that OS X Server 4.0, which requires Yosemite, is also available from Mac App Store for £13.99 ($19.99, AU$ 21.99) Check out our hands-on review of Yosemite here.http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3f875ca2/sc/5/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474432530/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f875ca2/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474432530/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f875ca2/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474432530/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f875ca2/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474432530/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f875ca2/sc/5/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/210474432530/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f875ca2/sc/5/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/8evc-iAUklo

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/AAevents/2014%20Oct%20iPad%20event/04-ios8_1-470-75.jpgAfter a quick update on iOS 8 at Apple's iPad event this morning, Apple Senior Vice President of Software Engineering Craig Federighi revealed some of the features coming in iOS 8.1. He also dropped the iOS 8.1 release date: October 20. Apple Pay support for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus is, of course, one of the headline features of the new iOS update, but there are other additions coming as well. iOS 8.1 also includes the public beta of Apple's iCloud photo library, not to mention the return of Camera Roll. That's not allFederighi said one of Apple's major goals with the first update to iOS 8 was to address the top customer feedback requests, so no doubt there are more new features that Apple hasn't mentioned yet. Apple CEO Tim Cook opened the event by revealing that the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are Apple's fastest-selling smartphones yet, and that they sold the most in the first 30 days of any iPhones. The presentation went on to cover everything from the Apple Watch's SDK, Applekit, to OS X Yosemite. Developing... Make sure you're keeping up with the new on our Apple event live bloghttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3f875ca4/sc/5/mf.gifhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/bUzzgvhqQcY

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/televisions/Google/Nexus%20Player/Nexus%20Player%20-%20crops/16x9/Google%20Nexus%20Player-470-75.jpgNexus PlayerAnnounced at the end of yesterday's big Nexus 6 launch, the Nexus Player is Google's new living room media box - it's answer to the Apple TV and other set-tops like the Roku 3. The tech giants have long been battling for control of our living rooms, and it's surprising to some extent that one product has not yet emerged with a significant share of the market. In the Nexus Player, then, Google thinks it's finally found a product in which it can smuggle itself into your living room, supplying Netflix streams to your TV along with Android games and more. It's a busy market place that Google is tackling here, and recent history is littered with failed attempts from all kinds of companies. Media boxes were once the obsession of hard drive manufacturers like WD, now it's tech giants like Google and Apple. Google, you'll remember, has already launched the Chromecast in this area, and has in the past failed in its attempts with Google TV. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/televisions/Google/Nexus%20Player/Nexus%20Player%20-%20crops/Not%2016x9/16-580-100.jpg What is the Nexus Player?Have you heard? The DVD player is dead. The Blu-ray player is dead too. Physical media in the living room is dead.... more or less. The Nexus Player is the latest candidate to stake a claim on this post-disc world. It's a puck-shaped device that plugs into your TV via HDMI and it's small - measuring just 120x120x 20mm, it's dinkier than a DVD, though substantially thicker. Forgoing any kind of physical media playback, it's designed exclusively to stream and download video and music from both the internet and your own home network. So it's a Netflix player then - right? Right, but it's so much more than that. Nexus Player runs a brand new TV-optimised version of Android 5.0 (Lollipop) which means it'll eventually be compatible with a huge assortment of Android apps in the Google Play store. So once developers have gotten to grips with it, it could yield some very interesting applications. The key uses to start with, though, aside from streaming music and movies, is gaming. The box is manufactured for Google by Asus, which is also making an optional gamepad. And with 8GB of internal storage, there's space to download games for playing on your TV. Google says that when it's time to hop on the bus to work, you'll be able to continue your game where you left off on your smartphone. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/televisions/Google/Nexus%20Player/Nexus%20Player%20-%20crops/Not%2016x9/1-240-100.jpg Nexus Player specsAsus has built the 235g Nexus Player on top of a 1.8GHz quad core Intel Atom chip so it's got plenty of grunt for a hockey puck, and there's a separate graphics chip to power games and HD video in the shape of an Imagination PowerVR Series 6 GPU. A total of 8GB flash storage is supplied for downloading apps and games, while 1GB of memory should be plenty to keep the Android 5.0 OS ticking over smoothly. Internet connection comes at top speed by virtue of an 802.11ac 2x2 (MIMO) chip so a robust connection to your router should be no issue at all, and it'll be able to make best use of any superfast broadband pipes you may or may not have access to. The box ships with a remote control with a built-in microphone for voice search. Voice search was one of the only genuinely useful features in the few Google TV products that made it to market, and allows you to search the internet, the Play Store or anything else simply by talking into the remote. Two AA batteries are supplied to juice up said remote, which connects to the Nexus Player itself using a direct Bluetooth connection. The Nexus Player itself is fully versed in Bluetooth 4.1 You'll also be supplied with a quick start guide and a power adapter. Note, that means no HDMI cable so you'll need to use one of your existing ones or pick up a new one from elsewhere. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/televisions/Google/Nexus%20Player/Nexus%20Player%20-%20crops/Not%2016x9/Android%20TV-300-100.jpg What else can the Nexus Player do?While the Nexus Player runs on Lollipop, the Android TV skin is designed especially for use on a big screen and to be explored using the remote control. On the homescreen you'll have instant access to all of the Google Play content you may have purchased, as well as any apps and games you've downloaded. Google will supply you with a mix of personalised recommendations - movies to download, apps to try, games to play - and place them as icons on your homescreen. Google knows you better than you know yourself, after all. And as you might expect, the Nexus Player also has all the functionality of Google's other media streamer, the Chromecast. That means any content you have on your phone can be instantly beamed in the direction of the Nexus Player and subsequently your TV using the familiar cast button. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/televisions/Google/Nexus%20Player/Nexus%20Player%20-%20crops/Not%2016x9/Connect-200-100.jpg This feature will be particulalrly useful for anyone who doesn't have a smart TV with MirrorCast features, and will allow you to use your phone as a remote control when watching with compatible apps like YouTube and Netflix. The Nexus Player experience doesn't stop when you switch your TV off, either. The box requires you to be signed in to your Google Account, and that means that your stuff will be automatically synced between the Nexus Player and your other Android devices. The upshot being that if you start a movie on the player, you can pick up where you left off on your phone, tablet or browser and visa versa. The voice control is probably worth another mention, too. Because it not only allows you to search as you normally would with Google but it's also contextually aware - which means you can say simply 'Netflix' and the box will launch the Netflix app. You could also say "The Big Lebowski" and The Dude will be on your screen faster than Jackie Treehorn can fix one hell of a Caucasian. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/televisions/Google/Nexus%20Player/Nexus%20Player%20-%20crops/Not%2016x9/multiplayer2-580-100.jpg Is the Nexus Player a games console?The Nexus Player is and isn't a console, depending on how you look at it and a number of other factors. Certainly, the Nexus Player doesn't have the chops to run 3D games on the same scale as the PS4 or Xbox One. But it can certainly handle any game currently on the Play Store and likely anything that'll come out in the next few years. What's more, it'll make use of your TV's big screen so your games will look more visually impressive straight away. There's also the possibility that the Nexus Player could stream games over the web like OnLive or PlayStation Now - but if that ever happens it won't be any time soon. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/televisions/Google/Nexus%20Player/Nexus%20Player%20-%20crops/Not%2016x9/17-180-100.jpg 1. Gamepad sold separatelyThe device isn't a console, but you will be able to buy the aforementioned gamepad separately if you so wish. If you do, you'll be able to play games with full HD graphics, and even play multiplayer online. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/televisions/Google/Nexus%20Player/Nexus%20Player%20-%20crops/Not%2016x9/18-180-100.jpg 2. Games will sync between devicesGames will all sync up between your devices too, so any progress you make on any of your Android devices will be registered on any other. So no replaying levels or losing save games - that's the theory anyway. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/televisions/Google/Nexus%20Player/Nexus%20Player%20-%20crops/Not%2016x9/19-180-100.jpg 3. The ecosystem needs timeHow successful it becomes as a gaming entity will depend on how many people use it for this purpose. The more gamepads Google sells, the more devs will to focus on Android TV as a viable gaming platform. Can I play my own content on Nexus Player?You sure can. With apps such as the fantastic Plex, you'll be able to stream music, videos and images from your home computer or any of your others compatible devices to your Nexus Player over your home network. What is the Nexus Player release date?http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/televisions/Google/Nexus%20Player/Nexus%20Player%20-%20crops/Not%2016x9/11-200-100.jpg The device is available to pre-order in North America from October 17th but the exact Nexus Player release date is currently unknown. Other territories will have to wait a little while for news, but as with most Google products, it shouldn't be too long. We'd imagine it would be available in all major territories before Christmas. How much does the Nexus Player cost?Google didn't announced the Nexus Player price but the internet's best guess puts it at $99 - the same price as an Apple TV. We'll bring you the confirmed price as soon as we have it.

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/Google/Lollipop/Lollipop%20Forest-470-75.jpgInterface, design and notificationsThere was plenty of debate over what the new version of Android would be called, with "Lemon Meringue" and even the controversial "Licorice" said to have been in the running at various points. Thankfully the lovable "Lollipop" won out, as Google revealed when it unveiled the new Android update today, but the name is hardly all that's been improved since the last version. Here's exactly how Android 5.0 stacks up to Android KitKat. Material worldAndroid Lollipop is the biggest change to Android in some time, finally bumping Google's OS up a full integer to version 5.0. It's packed with changes, but the most obvious improvements are visual. Google's been working on getting its new "Material Design" aesthetic out in the world for months, and Lollipop is its culmination. One of Android's biggest failings up to date - including with KitKat - has been that its design language never felt unified, and with Material Design Google hopes to fix that. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/mobile_phones/Android/AndroidL/Android%20L%202/2-420-90.jpg The aesthetic is meant to look both flat and 3D, as if you're starting at animated paper that exists on a z-axis as well as the x and y. Material Design reflects this with clean, bold lines and colors that transform and alter with fun animations. At its best it lets you sense the depth behind the interface, even when it's at rest and appears flat. This extends from app icons, fonts and interfaces to simple elements like the new navigation buttons and notification bar icons, and once you get past the changes you'll likely agree that most things look better now. The changes to Android's interface with Lollipop aren't all visual, either - voice commands with "OK Google" are more prominent now as well, and can even be used when the screen is locked and off on some devices, and there are massive improvements to notifications. NotificationsNotifications are one of the most prominent ways we interact with our devices, and they've been significantly overhauled in Android Lollipop. The OS's lockscreen is no longer a static barrier you have to get through before you can reach the meat of your phone's functionality, but instead now has many elements of KitKat's notification panel, plus more interactivity. In Lollipop you can see what notifications you've received and what's going on with your apps and contacts as soon as you pick it up, before you even unlock your device - and you can even respond to messages from the lockscreen. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/mobile_phones/Android/AndroidL/Android%20L%202/3-420-90.jpg The way you see notifications is changing as well - now rich, descriptive, and interactive notifiers will pop up on top of what you're doing without interrupting, so you can reject a call or read a message without quitting that game or whatever. Some of this functionality was present in KitKat, but it was half-baked and inconsistent. Android Lollipop is also getting a "do not disturb" mode a la iOS, which Android KitKat and previous versions sorely lacked. You can use it to silence your ever-buzzing phone during specific hours or, more importantly, to only let notifications from specific sources come through. That's extremely useful if you don't want to be bothered by spam emails all night, but do want to be able to be woken in an emergency. Lollipop's quick settings bar also has new options that KitKat desperately needed, like easy buttons for flashlight, hotspots, and screencasting. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and location options have been expanded here as well. Connectivity, security and performanceConnectivity and APIsWith Android Lollipop Google is making connectivity a big focus - not just between different handsets, but among different classes of device as well. For example Android TV is now built right into Android Lollipop, helping you easily navigate big screens with smartwatch voice commands, phone gestures, and more. That's just scratching the surface, but it means your Android experience will be consistent across smartphones, tablets, TVs, smartwatches, and more. At least, that's Google's hope. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/Watches/Samsung/GearLive/Review/fitness-apps-420-90.jpg Google also wants Lollipop's apps to communicate with one another more than KitKat's do. Examples are simple, like tapping links in Chrome and having them open in specific apps instead of taking you to mobile websites. The OS already does it sometimes, but Google wants it to be more consistent. This depends quite a bit on app developers taking advantage of Lollipop's 5,000 new APIs. These will make the new Android OS more versatile over time, though their presence might not be noticeable for end users at first. Google says Lollipop is also better at connecting with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. For example Lollipop devices won't connect to a Wi-Fi network unless they can verify there's an actual connection there - so unlike with KitKat, you won't be stumped wondering why you suddenly have no data because your gadget decided to connect to a turd of a network. Safe and soundAndroid Lollipop has some new security features as well, like the ability to set geographical "safe zones" where your device won't require a PIN to unlock. You can do the same with specific Bluetooth devices, like Android Wear smartwatches, which your phone or tablet will sense automatically and turn off its security barriers. And despite all the changes to notifications that let you see and interact with them without unlocking your phone, Android 5.0 also has new settings that let you hide sensitive information anywhere it might appear. Lollipop also has better protection against vulnerabilities and malware thanks to SELinux enforcing for all applications, and encryption is turned on by default on all Lollipop devices. And multiple user profiles on a single device, including temporary guest profiles, makes it easier to share your phone with others while still maintaining control over your own stuff. PerformanceGoogle has reportedly also put a lot of work into making Android Lollipop run better under the hood. KitKat's optional runtime ART is now the standard for Android Lollipop, and Google says it will help make Lollipop run faster, more efficiently and with less hiccups. That won't harm existing Android apps' compatibility, but it has let Google future-proof Android further against the inevitable onslaught of 64-bit smartphones coming in the near future. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/mobile_phones/Android/AndroidL/Android%20L%202/9-420-90.jpg These phones will have more RAM than existing phones with KitKat and other operating systems are capable of packing, which is a huge benefit that only future generations of Lollipop handsets will be able to take advantage of. For now, though, Google says Android 5.0 is way more power-efficient over its predecessors, with the same phones getting significantly more battery juice out of Lollipop than they did with KitKat. Multitasking has also been updated with the ability to have multiple cards for the same apps open at a time, letting you have more than one document or website next to one another, for example. It's also easier to switch keyboards now too, and Android Lollipop even supports RAW images. AvailabilityAndroid Lollipop has countless other small improvements over KitKat and other past Android versions, from greater accessibility options and easier set-up to improved graphics capabilities. Many of these changes won't be noticeable until phone and tablet hardware improves, but that doesn't mean you want to wait until then before you upgrade. Luckily Android 5.0 Lollipop begins rolling out to devices in late October and early November. Specifics are currently scarce, but keep an eye on TechRadar's Android Lollipop hub for every new update as it happens. Google also announced the Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 todayhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3f7fb979/sc/4/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474387992/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f7fb979/sc/4/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474387992/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f7fb979/sc/4/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474387992/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f7fb979/sc/4/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474387992/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f7fb979/sc/4/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/210474387992/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f7fb979/sc/4/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/MHs6XNvW-VY

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/tablets/Google/Nexus%209/Nexus%207%20vs%20Nexus%209%20vs%20Nexus%2010%20header%20v2-470-75.jpgThe rumors are true: Google and HTC have teamed up for the next generation of Nexus tablet, which falls conveniently between the sizes of earlier models, adopting the familiar 8.9-inch form factor that's been a staple of Apple's product line since 2010. While it may be unfair to compare the Nexus 9 to an iPad Air, that's exactly what Google and HTC will be doing when the new tablet starts racking up pre-orders this Friday - but they'll also have a legion of mobile fans eager to get their hands on the sweet new flavor of Android 5.0 Lollipop as well. To get a sense of how the forthcoming model fares against Google's earlier tablet offerings, we sat down and compared the Nexus 9 with last year's new Nexus 7 and the search giant's earlier attempt at a big-screen slate, the Nexus 10. Here's what we discovered. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/tablets/Google/Nexus%209/Press/nexus-9-release-date-420-90.jpg ScreenThe big news for Nexus 9 buyers is that Google has adopted the more squarish form factor made popular by Apple's iPad, featuring an 8.9-inch QXGA IPS LCD display that packs 2048 x 1536 pixels into a 4:3 aspect ratio. That's a distinct departure from the 7.02-inch, 1920 x 1200 IPS display found on the 2013 Nexus 7 manufactured by Asus, which made watching 1080p HD movies and TV shows a real pleasure thanks to its taller 16:9 aspect ratio and 323 ppi resolution. The Nexus 9 also falls short of Samsung's big-screen Nexus 10, which featured a 10.055-inch diagonal WQXGA screen with a lower 300 ppi, despite the increased 2560 x 1600 pixel resolution. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/tablets/Google/Nexus%209/Press/nexus-9-colors-420-90.jpg DesignThere aren't a whole lot of ways tablet devices can differentiate themselves from one another, but HTC has come up with a few interesting design choices for the Nexus 9, including a thin bezel with brushed metal sides and a soft grip back offered in a trio of eye-pleasing colors (Indigo Black, Lunar White and Sand). Last year's Nexus 7 looks quite modest by comparison, with a nearly pocketable 114 x 200 x 8.65 mm frame weighing only 290 grams in black or white; both models feature a thicker bezel at the top and bottom, although the Nexus 7 remains the more unsightly of the duo. Speaking of bezel, there's plenty to be found on the Nexus 10, a somewhat unsightly beast of a tablet with its 263.9 x 177.6 x 8.9 mm frame that tips the scales at 603 grams versus the Nexus 9's positively svelte 153.68 x 228.25 x 7.95 mm, which weighs a mere 425 grams with Wi-Fi only or 436 grams with LTE cellular radios added. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/tablets/Google/Nexus%207%202/Press%20shots/New%20Nexus%207%20Google%20Play-420-90.jpg ProcessorNexus 9 isn't just making headlines for its good looks: HTC also plans to make a splash with the first 64-bit processor to be found inside a Nexus-branded device (take that, Nexus 6), courtesy of a Nvidia Tegra K1 Dual Denver processor clocked at 2.3GHz with a 192-core Kepler GPU thrown in for good measure. That kind of onboard power is likely to run circles around last year's Nexus 7, whose quad-core, 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro and 400MHz Adreno 320 GPU seem downright quaint by today's standards. There's also CPU power to spare when compared to the dual-core ARM Cortex-A15 Exynos 5 Dual that keeps the Nexus 10 humming - which is no match for the raw 64-bit power of the Nexus 9, especially with a decidedly meager Mali-T604 GPU on the larger device. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/tablets/Google/Nexus%2010/HandsOn/Nexus10-HandsOn-09-420-90.jpg BatteryBy sheer size alone, the Nexus 10 (shown above) trumps all contenders with an absolutely mammoth 9000 mAh Lithium polymer battery, although the 6700 mAh pack powering the Nexus 9 rises to the challenge anyway. Google and HTC are touting up to 30 days of Wi-Fi or LTE standby time with the Nexus 9, and up to 9.5 hours of video playback or Wi-Fi web browsing (shave off an hour for browsing over LTE, however). Still, the Nexus 7 2013 also boasted up to 9 hours of "active use" from a mere 3950 mAh battery, and even managed to include Qi-compatible wireless charging for good measure - a feature neither the 9 or 10 can muster. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/tablets/Google/Nexus%209/Press/nexus-9-camera-420-90.jpg CamerasNexus-branded hardware has rarely been known for impressive optical prowess when it comes to taking pictures or shooting video - after all, the Nexus 10 and last year's Nexus 7 featured a marginal 5MP rear-facing camera, with 1.9MP on the former and 1.2MP on the latter around front. HTC and Google appear committed to ditching that reputation with the Nexus 9, however, courtesy of an 8MP rear camera with auto-focus and LED flash plus a 1.6MP front camera, both capable of f/2.4; we'll remain skeptics until our review goes live, but for now it's a step in the right direction. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/tablets/Google/Nexus%209/Press/nexus-9-keyboard-420-90.jpg FeaturesAs one might imagine, the Nexus 9 comes packing the latest and greatest technology, including a Gorilla Glass 3 display with a unique double tap to wake feature plus quad-band GSM and CDMA, penta-band HSPA and LTE and 802.11ac 2x2 (MIMO), all of which should produce faster wireless connectivity than earlier Nexus tablets. By comparison, the dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi found on the Nexus 7 2013 looks positively poky, while the Nexus 10 at least improved things slightly with the addition of MIMO+HT40 wireless; both models feature older variations of Corning's Gorilla Glass, however. HTC has also infused the Nexus 9 with dual front-facing BoomSound speakers, dual microphones, NFC Bluetooth 4.1 and a magnetometer, all of which make Android 5.0 Lollipop a much tastier treat than older models; Google will also be offering a magnetically attached keyboard case for the Nexus 9. Some things never change, however: All three Nexus tablets feature 2GB of RAM, with either 16GB or 32GB of internal storage with no opportunity to add more, which seems like a lost opportunity in this era of the 128GB iPad. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/tablets/Google/Nexus%209/Press/Nexus9-Press-02-420-90.jpg Early verdictWe're pretty much declaring the Nexus 9 a winner based on specs alone, although there's one downside for Nexus 7 fans: A larger price to match the bigger display, putting the 9 on equal footing with the Nexus 10 at $399 (about £250, AU$455) for the base model compared to a wallet-friendly $229 (UK£200, AU$299) for the smaller model. Potential buyers will have to wait about two and half weeks for the Nexus 9 to land in stores starting Monday, November 3, but early adopters can stand in virtual line to pre-order one this Friday, October 17 from the Google Play Store. http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3f7f1cfb/sc/28/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474401295/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f7f1cfb/sc/28/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474401295/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f7f1cfb/sc/28/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474401295/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f7f1cfb/sc/28/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474401295/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f7f1cfb/sc/28/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/210474401295/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f7f1cfb/sc/28/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/oMUGQCNC_Ys

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/iPhone/iPhone%206%20Plus/HandsOn3/6Plus-HandsOn-17-470-75.JPGApp development can be slow going sometimes, which might explain why goliaths like Twitter, Facebook and Microsoft are only now getting their iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus updates pushed out. In any case the Facebook, Twitter and Skype iOS apps are now equipped to deal with these handsets' larger screens. The updates bring Facebook up to version 16 and Twitter up to version 6.15.1, and these apps' descriptions now note that they're "optimized" for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. Skype, too, now lists iPhone 6 optimization with version 5.6. Naturally these updates are available free in the App Store. New resolutionsThe Skype app's "what's new" section now notes a number of minor changes to how things are displayed, as well as improvements to "do not disturb" mode and the ability to mark conversations as "read" or "unread." Skype Product Marketing Manager Lara Kingwell also wrote in a Skype blog post that the new app's iPhone 6-optimized resolutions display more recent chats and more messages in conversation view as well. Google updated its own Chrome and Gmail apps for the bigger iPhone 6 screens earlier this month. Are there any apps left that still look wonky on the new iPhones' screens? Hopefully they'll be addressed soon too. Google's Nexus 6 pictured next to iPhone 6 Plushttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3f7f1d01/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474401292/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f7f1d01/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474401292/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f7f1d01/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474401292/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f7f1d01/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474401292/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f7f1d01/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/210474401292/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f7f1d01/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/PZxHGq3xLh4

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/televisions/Google/Nexus%20Player/press/nexus-player-hero-470-75.jpgGoogle just staked its – third, fourth? – claim for the living room with the Nexus Player. The search giant announced seemingly out of the blue on October 15 that its Android TV-based set-top box will be available for pre-order starting October 17. Despite previous leaks of what was then known as Android TV (that's just the name of the platform), the now-confirmed Asus-built box is actually more like a round puck. The all-black, matte plastic device is a 120 x 120 x 20 mm (W x D x H) cylinder powered by a 1.8GHz, quad-core Intel Atom chip supported by and Imagination PowerVR Series 6 GPU. That said, of course the Nexus Player is designed for both media streaming and gaming. Hooked up to the Google Play Store, you can download all manner of movies, streaming apps and games to the Nexus Player's tiny 8GB of storage. Plus, the Nexus Player is 100% Google Cast ready: beam content from almost any device right to the console, just like the Chromecast. Other specs include HDMI-out (up to 1080p at 60Hz refresh rate), one microUSB 2.0 port, 802.11ac Wi-Fi (with 2x2 MIMO) and Bluetooth 4.0. The latter is how the included Bluetooth Smart remote – with voice control, mind you – connects to the device. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/televisions/Google/Nexus%20Player/press/nexus-player-01-420-90.jpg Ouchies for Ouya (and everyone else?)Sadly, Google likely just rung the death knells for the crowd-funded Android gaming box with one simple announcement. Google will sell the already-leaked Nexus Player game controller, also made by Asus, separately for a currently undisclosed price. This move also puts extra pressure on the likes of Amazon; it's Amazon Fire TV is capable of playing any Android game released through its proprietary app store, which is decidedly smaller than Google Play. Apple, with only its AirPlay technology via its Apple TV puck, seems to also be square in Google and Asus's sights with this feature. Google hasn't said a peep about how much the Nexus Player – and the sold-separately controller – will cost. This is particularly interesting, given that pre-orders start October 17, and the device hits major retailers come November 3. Stay tuned, as they. What about that PlayStation TV?

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/Google/Lollipop/Lollipop%20Forest-470-75.jpgWhat's in a name? Well, when it comes to Google's Android 5.0 "L" mobile OS upgrade, quite a lot. We've had licorice, lemonade and lemon meringue pie as possibilities, but the company has now confirmed it's going with the long-rumoured Lollipop moniker. Calling it "our largest, most ambitious release on Android," Google detailed much of the Android 5.0 Lollipop's features this summer at Google I/O. The name was released today alongside the Nexus 6 smartphone and Nexus 9 tablet, both of which will launch with the new software. Material worldHeadlining the new OS is Google's Material Design UI - what the company calls, "a consistent design across devices". It's a friendly and colourful new look with a range of new transitions and features. Other improvements include adjustable settings that can be tailored so that only certain notifications or people appear. Additionally, Google has thrown in a battery saver feature that, it says, will extend the life of the device by an extra 90 minutes. Although Lollipop will launch first with the two new Nexus devices, Google has confirmed it will be available on the Nexus 5, 7, 10 and Google Play edition devices in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, have a look at our Apple iOS 8 review. http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3f7d2cd6/sc/5/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474393783/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f7d2cd6/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474393783/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f7d2cd6/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474393783/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f7d2cd6/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/210474393783/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f7d2cd6/sc/5/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/210474393783/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3f7d2cd6/sc/5/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/IcGvKg5429Y

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/televisions/Google/Chromecast/hbogo-470-75.JPGWe never thought it would happen but HBO has announced it will let viewers stream its shows over the web without a cable subscription at some point in 2015. HBO CEO Richard Plepler announced the entertainment world shifting decision at a Time Warner Investor Meeting today. Plepler cited that the current 10-million broadband-only homes is a massive market HBO can't afford to ignore especially when it's projected to grow in the future. "That is a large and growing opportunity that should no longer be left untapped," Plepler said. "It is time to remove all barriers to those who want HBO." The plan is still being finalized but HBO said it would launch a stand-alone streaming service in the United States in 2015. The Verge also reported there are also plans to bring web-only streaming overseas as well. "All in, there are 80 million homes that do not have HBO and we will use all means at our disposal to go after them," Plepler continued. Cord cuttingIf HBO follows though with the plan it will be a transformative change for the company. In the past HBO's executives have been staunchly against leaving its television roots, requiring users to maintain a cable subscription to watch shows over its HBO Go online service. The big question is how expensive will this standalone streaming service cost when HBO has always been a premium cable channel. Stick around for our upcoming Sony PlayStation TV review