sincity

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/Apps/WhatsApp/Whatsapp_FB-470-75.jpgUPDATE: According to WhatsApp, normal service has been resumed. The company tweeted: "WhatsApp service has been restored. We are so sorry for the downtime..." Original report continues below... $19 billion can buy you a lot of things, but it can't buy you a messaging application that's completely immune to ocassional server issues. Just days after being snapped up by Facebook, WhatsApp fell over on Saturday and, at the time of writing (10pm UK time, 5pm EST, 9am ACT) has been out of commission for over two hours. The company took to Twitter to confirm the service-wide outage, which is its first major issue since December 2013. It wrote: "Sorry [we're] currently experiencing server issues. We hope to be back up and recovered shortly." Not what Facebook had in mindWhile it's likely the service will be up and running again before too much longer, it's probably not what Facebook envisioned when it announced one of the largest acquisitions in tech history on Wednesday. As a result of the WhatsApp outage, rival service Telegram Messenger is reporting record registrations and has been unable to cope with the demand. "This is crazy. We're getting 100 new registrations every second. Trying hard to prevent connection issues in Europe," the company tweeted. Analysis: Why did Facebook splash out on WhatsApp?http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/376baa12/sc/21/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530969801/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/376baa12/sc/21/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530969801/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/376baa12/sc/21/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530969801/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/376baa12/sc/21/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530969801/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/376baa12/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186530969801/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/376baa12/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/4b503KUF-tY

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/Android/KitKat/KitKat%20plain-470-75.jpgA leaked memo suggests that Google may be about to make a very smart move that could bring some order to the chaos of the Android operating system. The memo was reportedly sent out to several of the Android world's leading 'original equipment manufacturers' (OEMs) - in other words the people who actually make the smartphones and tablets that run versions of Google's mobile OS. In it, according to Mobile Bloom, Google gently suggested that unless new Android devices were released with the most current version of the OS then it might withhold access to certain key Google services like Maps or the Play store, collectively known as Google Mobile Services or GMS. Approval windowUnder Google's new regime, each major Android OS release would have a GMS 'approval window' that closes roughly nine months after the next OS release. If a vendor tries to launch a new device with an older version of Android after its approval window has closed then Google will simply bar that device from using Play, Maps, Gmail and all the other GMS goodies. The reason for this rule change is fragmentation. Google's most recent figures show that around 60% of Android devices are running some flavour of Jelly Bean while the latest release, KitKat, is on under 2% of systems. Perhaps more worryingly, Honeycomb (Android 2.3.x) is still on 20% of devices and there are untold numbers running versions older than 2.2 as that's the point where Google's census cuts off. By way of contrast, Apple recently crowed that in the magical land of iOS more than 80% of devices are now running the latest version of the OS, iOS 7. One of Android's strengths is that it is easily modifiable to run on different hardware and that OEMs can build cheap, low-end phones and tablets as well as premium devices. The downside to this freedom is that there has been nothing to stop vendors cooking up their own custom builds of Android and then dragging their feet over updates. Until now. CrackdowntimeThere are arguments against this kind of crackdown, however. A deep re-skinning of the Android OS is one of the few tools at the OEM's disposal that can help carve out a real brand identity for a new device. The basic template for the generic smartphone is well established and without the ability to 'add value' in software, the argument goes, then the new phone will be a generic slab with only the number and placement of hardware buttons and quality of its camera to tell it apart from all the other glass oblongs. The reason that existing smartphones can take a long time to receive OS updates - often many months after the official release from Google hits the current flagship Nexus handset - is that OEMs feel the need to make their mark on the new code, adding interface tweaks and changes to core OS functions to make their devices more distinct and support their value-added services. The counter-argument is that I can count on one hand the number of OEM 'enhancements' to the basic Android OS that have actually made it better for the people who use the phones day-in, day-out and still have enough fingers left to do a decent multi-touch gesture. The recent Android releases have solved most of the interface niggles that resulted in heavy-handed skin jobs like HTC Sense and while a complete look 'n' feel change may help boost the brand it does little to make the phone or tablet any simpler or more pleasant to use. The F wordOS fragmentation might seem like the kind of problem that is only obsessed over by phone nerds and people already in the industry - after all, many consumers don't see their phone as an 'Android' device at all but rather a Samsung or a Sony or whatever. It does give the Android OS a disadvantage however and a good case could be made that it is the stability and uniformity of iOS that attracts developers. More developers means better apps, means happier users. Android has done remarkably well considering it has to support a huge range of hardware and the wide spread of OS versions has still, somehow, given rise to a healthy app ecosystem that is finally starting to reach parity with iOS. Imagine how much more could be done if OEMs could be persuaded to add their personal touch in other ways - through better hardware, bundled services, better launchers, bespoke apps - if all this exists outside the main OS it can be kept up to date and bug-free without having to match pace with the rest of the OS. If Google can use its muscle to get all new Android devices on the same page it must be good for developers and, ultimately, better for you. More Fighting Talk: Let's get lairy about techhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3767dcb4/sc/15/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530961224/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3767dcb4/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530961224/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3767dcb4/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530961224/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3767dcb4/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530961224/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3767dcb4/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186530961224/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3767dcb4/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/hIGP_ChJ3ME

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Nokia/nokia_here_maps_windows81-470-75.jpgNokia's Here Maps app will soon become available as a free download on every Windows 8.1 device, including tablets, laptops and desktops in both Pro and RT configurations. The Here app for Windows 8.1 has so far been exclusive to Nokia's Lumia 2520, but it will become available as a free download in the Windows Store app marketplace "in the coming days," says a post on Nokia's Here blog. The app will roll out beginning in North America and Europe, presumably continuing in other, undisclosed countries later. Here Maps is already widely available on Windows Phone 8 smartphones, where it serves the same purpose that Google Maps does on iOS and Android: being the "all-in-one mapping solution," as Nokia puts it. Faster maps and moreNokia promises improvements in this newly updated version of the Here Maps app for Windows 8.1. City pages will load as much as four times faster, among other improvements to overall speed, the company said. Being that it's soon to become available for desktop and laptop users, they've also added mouse and keyboard controls. The app's satellite image resolution has been increased as well, making satellite view easier to read even as you zoom in. And Here Maps keeps a record of your searches and routes. We've asked Nokia to clarify where and when the Here Maps app will launch outside the US and Europe, and we'll update this article when we hear back. The gorgeous new Google Maps will soon be available to allhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/37638aa6/sc/5/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530946448/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37638aa6/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530946448/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37638aa6/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530946448/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37638aa6/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530946448/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37638aa6/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186530946448/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37638aa6/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/onquCYyAR9E

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Google/meetthenew_google_maps-470-75.jpgThe new look for Google Maps that Google unveiled during its IO keynote in May 2013 is finally beginning to roll out to all users. The new Google Maps will replace the old version in desktop browsers "around the world," arriving "in the coming weeks," Vice President of Google Maps Brian McClendon wrote in a blog post. "It's now even easier to plan your next trip, check live traffic conditions, discover what's happening around town, and learn about a new area," McClendon wrote, linking to the Google+ page documenting the return of Pegman. He said the new Google Maps enables users to "make smarter decisions," "get where you're going faster," and "see the world from every angle." The eye of the beholderMcClendon outlined some specific new Google Maps features. For one thing, searching for specific types of businesses, like cafes, shows results right on the map. Clicking on one suggests related results. The new Google Maps also displays multiple routes for cars, bikes, and public transportation, integrating real-time traffic reports and Street View previews on the map as well. And "rich imagery" like Street View and destination previews is now easier to access from a new "carousel" feature at the bottom of the map. "With any product redesign, there may be bumps along the road," McClendon wrote. "We're hoping that you're as excited as we are to navigate uncharted territory in pursuit of the perfect map." Finally he encouraged users to send feedback via Google's support site. The new Google Maps is here, and it could kill off the competitionhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/374e838a/sc/21/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530788101/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/374e838a/sc/21/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530788101/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/374e838a/sc/21/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530788101/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/374e838a/sc/21/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530788101/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/374e838a/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186530788101/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/374e838a/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/fi7Fux5ndaw

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/other/fingerprintscan-470-75.jpgPieces of the Windows Phone 8.1 puzzle continue to fall into place with reports claiming the big mobile OS update will bring fingerprint scanning technology into play. WindowsPhoneLovers has been trawling through the latest Windows Phone 8.1 SDK and found evidence that Microsoft plans to match the iPhone 5S in the security stakes. Within the code, the site spotted a line reading: "To allow the app to access your private key, scan an enrolled finger on the fingerprint scanner." Whether that means an onscreen reading or, a la Apple's solution, a physical fingerprint scanner remains to be seen, but we're likely to find out for sure at Build 2014 in April when Microsoft unveils the new OS. Make or breakThe code also suggests there'll be better customisation options when it comes to start screen themes and improved messaging options for dual screen phones. Today's report is the latest in a long line of feature leaks, for the new OS, which is increasingly becoming make or break for Microsoft. We've already heard plenty about the Cortana personal voice assistant tech, as well as the new Action Centre, which promises to bring users more control over their notifications. Speaking of Action Centre, here it is ... erm ... in action, courtesy of UnleashThePhones.com. With the Centre, it appears customizing app interaction and choosing what goes in the toggles and notifications are the name of the game. " width="420">YouTube : Did you know Windows Phone may be MIA at MWC?http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/374de487/sc/5/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530723741/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/374de487/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530723741/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/374de487/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530723741/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/374de487/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530723741/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/374de487/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186530723741/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/374de487/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/S8adanh4qD8

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/Huawei/Ascend%20P7/Huawei-Ascend-P7-2014-470-75.jpgWhat shines in gold, pink, white or black and looks ready to make a splash at Mobile World Congress next week? A pretty little Android smartphone that goes by the code name "Sophia," that's who. CNET reported that the persistent rumors of Huawei's latest Ascend P7 smartphone appear to have finally hit pay dirt, thanks to a leaked image that just popped up on Chinese social network Weibo. Nowhereelse.fr turned up the above image of Huawei's successor to the Ascend P6 that will presumably be offered in black, white, gold and pink - which makes perfect sense for a smartphone whose code name is supposedly "Sophia." Huawei is expected to formally announce the Ascend P7 in Barcelona next week at the Mobile World Congress conference, although little else is known about the Chinese manufacturer's latest smartphone. Dazed and amazedThe rumor mill has been checking off all the requisite list of features in recent weeks, with the Ascend P7 expected to storm onto the scene with a display somewhere between five and 5.5 inches at 1080p HD resolution. Power users are also anticipating a 1.6GHz quad-core processor with Android 4.4 KitKat in tow as well as the now-standard 2GB RAM and 16GB of onboard storage. Last but not least, Huawei will reportedly infuse the handset with camera superpowers, including 13-megapixel rear and eight-megapixel front-facing optics. Over the weekend, Huawei threw down the gauntlet against rivals Apple and Samsung with a cheeky YouTube video touting an "amazing" front camera for its upcoming smartphone, while throwing in a peek at a new tablet for good measure. Turn to TechRadar for all the latest on the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S5!http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/374c625f/sc/15/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530846332/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/374c625f/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530846332/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/374c625f/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530846332/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/374c625f/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530846332/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/374c625f/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186530846332/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/374c625f/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/wLeTmq5j0No

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/magazines/Linux/Issue%20176/LXF176.feat_uphone.ubuntuphone1calendar-470-75.jpgCanonical has picked up its first pair of manufacturing partners keeping to its schedule to roll out the first Ubuntu phones this year. The Linux-based OS company announced it is partnering with the Meizu and BQ Readers to release its first Ubuntu Touch OS handsets. Although neither of these manufacturers carries a large presence in the US, Canonical Founder and CEO Mark Shuttleworth explained during a that these will be key partnerships to reach underserved markets.Specficially, the Spain-based BQ Readers will help Ubuntu broach the European market. Meanwhile, Meizu's reputation in China will open up a pool of Linux phone users in the East. "The mobile industry has long been looking for a viable alternative to those that reign today," Shuttleworth boasted in a release. "Ubuntu puts the control back into the hands of our partners and presents an exciting platform for consumers, delivering an experience which departs from the tired app icon grid of Android and iOS and provides a fluid, content-rich experience for all." Ubuntu Touch OS needs apps firstDetails about the actual smartphones and supporting carriers still remain a mystery, but Shuttleworth teased that two more manufacturers with "household names" should be coming on board in 2015. The fledgling mobile OS company said its next challenge will be to bring app developers aboard their ecosystem. Shuttleworth aims to have the "top 50 mobile apps" on Ubuntu Touch OS by the end of the year. Although the company has attracted major name stays including Evernote, LastPass, and Grooveshark, there's still a lot of work to do. Still getting thereUbuntu put forth some big, ambitious goals today but there's only a slim chance we will see a major Ubuntu phone released on one of the big four carriers here in the states any time soon. Still, Canonical strategy is right on track as its Community Manager Jono Bacon previously stated in a Reddit AMA. Earlier this year the open-source OS company laid out its plans to team up with smaller OEMs, which it's doing right now. Bacon also noted that we may not see Ubuntu phones from major manufacturers or carriers until 2015. Canonical has had a long journey to get to Ubuntu phones, find out how it all startedhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/374c6263/sc/21/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530846331/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/374c6263/sc/21/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530846331/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/374c6263/sc/21/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530846331/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/374c6263/sc/21/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530846331/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/374c6263/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186530846331/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/374c6263/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/iKgs52yRZWQ

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/other/Generics/Lock%20image-470-75.jpgMcAfee has announced the Threat Intelligence Exchange, a local and global threat intelligence sharing system designed to offer real-time protection from advanced threats. The Intel-owned firm has expanded its Security Connected Platform, which launched in 2011, to include new ways to detect and protect against rising security threats. The result is a reduction in response times from days or even months to just milliseconds. McAfee highlighted the fact that many businesses fail to identify breaches for days or weeks, and said that there is a need for what the company's CTO, Mike Fey, called "adaptive threat prevention." The Threat Intelligence Exchange is designed to seek out security risk patterns, protect against newly-identified malware, and prevent data theft, all in real-time. Adaptive threat intelligenceSome of the features of the Exchange include increased visibility of vulnerabilities, enhanced protection through collective threat identification, and sharing of contextual intelligence, such as certificate and reputation information, for better understanding of environmental threat context. It also provides cost-savings from replacing manual tasks with automated sharing of security intelligence, and the potential for additional savings thanks to simple implementation and integration. The Threat Intelligence Exchange will launch in the second quarter of 2014. The 14 best antivirus softwarehttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/374889fb/sc/46/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530827767/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/374889fb/sc/46/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530827767/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/374889fb/sc/46/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530827767/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/374889fb/sc/46/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530827767/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/374889fb/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186530827767/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/374889fb/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/ZwjrpZcsuVA

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/features/car%20tech/LA%20Auto%20Show%20top%20tech/Chevy%20MyLink%20Siri-470-75.jpgThere are only two weeks left to submit an entry in Ford's OpenXC Traffic Tamer App Challenge, a competition to build an app that can help alleviate traffic congestion. To be considered for the prize, each entry must feature a working open source app that addresses the problem of bumper-to-bumper traffic. The app must be safe and non-distracting to drivers. A demonstration video and an explanation of how the app helps road users is also required. Apps can be for Android, iOS, Windows Phone, BlackBerry OS, Windows, or Mac OS. Everyone from college students to big business teams can enter. Traffic costWhile most drivers are well aware of the frustration of traffic congestion, the problem can also have a huge impact on the economy. A whopping £4.3 billion was lost to congestion in the UK in 2012, with the average car commuting household taking a £491 hit, according to INRIX. Transport for London predicts that there will be six million more journeys per day in London by 2031, making the need for a solution to congestion a big priority. Prize moneyThe grand prize is $10,000 (£6,000, AU$11,000). Second and third place prizes are $7,500 (£4,500, AU$8,300) and $5,000 (£3,000, AU$5,500) respectively. Judges will also award a $1,500 (£900, AU$1,650) prize for the app that best integrates with OpenXC, and another $1,000 (£600, AU$1,100) for the popular choice app. A final recognition award, with no cash prize, will be awarded to a large organisation. Judges include K. Venkatesh Prasad, senior technical leader of Open Innovation at Ford, and Andreas W. Schäfer, Professor of Energy and Transport at University College London, among others. Our very own Désiré Athow, editor of TechRadar Pro, is also on the judging panel. The deadline for submissions is March 4 2014. Winners will be announced on 25 March. Click here to enter. The 9 oddest apps in the worldhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/374889ff/sc/15/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530827766/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/374889ff/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530827766/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/374889ff/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530827766/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/374889ff/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530827766/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/374889ff/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186530827766/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/374889ff/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/LwJFfDltg7o

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/TRBC/Software/Microsoft/Office%20365/office%20365%20interface-470-75.jpgMicrosoft has teamed up with DocuSign to launch eSignature apps for Office 365, allowing users to digitally sign their documents without leaving Microsoft's applications. The partnership will mean streamlined administration for adding DocuSign apps for all users from an admin console, a single sign-on via Windows Azure Active Directory, automatic storage in Microsoft OneDrive for Business, and self-service access to the Office Store. Users will also get access to upcoming additional features from Microsoft and DocuSign. The integration of eSignature will apply to Outlook, Word, SharePoint Online and SharePoint Server 2013. Cloud momentum"We're excited about the momentum behind Office 365 and customers making the transition from their traditional Office applications to all-new scenarios enabled by cloud services," said Keith Krach, chairman and CEO of DocuSign. "We believe Office 365 customers of all sizes will appreciate the seamless availability of DocuSign integrated into the applications they use every day. The combination of Microsoft and DocuSign further helps organizations keep business digital, and leverages the power of the cloud to help them focus on business results." DocuSign will be demonstrating the new features at Microsoft's SharePoint 2014 Conference in Las Vegas, which runs from March 3-6, as well as the DocuSign Momentum event on March 4-6 in San Francisco. eSignature for Office 365 will be available in March. How to move to Office 365http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/37488a03/sc/15/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.pnghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/TI8KyBYBuyk

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/Android/KitKat/Android_KitKat-470-75.jpgAndroid device manufacturers could soon be banned from launching their handsets on older versions of the operating system, Google has decreed in a purported leaked internal memo. The memo, obtained by MobileBurn, expresses that all new handsets must run Android 4.4 KitKat if they want access to the Google Play Store and other Google Mobile Services like Gmail and YouTube. "Starting February 2014, Google will no longer approve GMS distribution on new Android products that ship older platform releases," the memo states. "Each platform release will have a 'GMS approval window' that typically closes nine months after the next Android platform release is publicly available." Ever-present fragmentationThe reported move comes as the company looks to solve the ever-present problem of Android fragmentation, which has left the vast majority of users perennially stuck on older versions. KitKat was designed especially to befit lower-end smartphones as well as those packing the latest and greatest spec sheets, but uptake remains slow. According to stats released by Google earlier this month, KitKat has only made it onto 1.8 per cent of devices since its launch in November 2013, struggling to graduate beyond Google's own devcies. Enforcing KitKat - and ensuing versions - is a must on new devices would certainly assist in the process as smartphone users grow tired of companies launching phones on older versions, promising updates that take eons to arrive. Well, the Moto G has Android 4.4. Is it the best smartphone bargain ever?http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/373460e1/sc/15/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/187557892807/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/373460e1/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/187557892807/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/373460e1/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/187557892807/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/373460e1/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/187557892807/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/373460e1/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/187557892807/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/373460e1/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/tcatK4g5hxA

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Windows/windows_logo-470-75.jpgIt seems that Windows 7 will remain on sale to business users until at least early 2015, if not longer, following a change to Microsoft's Windows lifecycle. As spotted by ZDNet, the updated lifecycle indicates that Microsoft has not yet decided on an end-date for the OS and could be a long way off yet. Microsoft has promised to give businesses at least a year's warning before it kills off Windows 7 Professional. Doing a 180In 2013, the company announced that it was forbidding new PCs to be preinstalled with Windows 7 Home Basic, Home Premium and Ultimate after October 31 2014. This would mean that any new hardware customers would be pushed onto Windows 8. Microsoft hinted that end-of-sale date was the same for Windows 7 Professional. Later it backtracked when business customers threw up their hands in horror. According to ZDNet, Microsoft has now said that anyone buying a PC with Windows 7 Professional installed would receive extended support via the OEM to cover any gap after the end of mainstream support, which is due to come to an end on January 13 2015. Extra timeIt is possible that Microsoft could end mainstream support for Windows 7 Professional on that date even if it was allowing OEMs to sell the operating system on new machines. A Microsoft spokesperson told ZDNet that OEMs offer free warranty support for usually a year. This usually means that there is a small difference between mainstream support and extended support that Redmond would give anyway. This does mean, however that consumers will have had to have bitten the bullet and gone to Windows 8.1 by then. Of course they could just move to Linux. Now might be the time to read our Windows 8.1 reviewhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3733c937/sc/15/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530745621/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3733c937/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530745621/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3733c937/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530745621/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3733c937/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530745621/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3733c937/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186530745621/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3733c937/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/oa0wOx97FHc

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/internet/Piracy/Anonymous_Flag.svg%20copy-470-75.jpgThe dramatic increase in the number of security attacks and the sophistication of the cyber criminals masterminding them means there is a critical need for businesses to take a more radical approach to their information security. 2013 saw a surge in high-profile security attacks and data breaches – with the likes of Facebook, Twitter, Microsoft and Apple all suffering at the hands of cyber criminals. Indeed, research commissioned by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills last year found that 93 per cent of large businesses in the UK suffered a computer security breach in the previous 12 months, while 87 per cent of small businesses also suffered attacks. This should be a massive cause for concern for any security professional, but the more worrying problem is that 70 per cent of these security breaches often go undetected for between two and 12 months. Furthermore, attackers typically sit in a network for three to four months before they extract data – by which time, they may know the systems better than even the company itself. Raising awarenessWith this in mind, it is absolutely vital that companies rigorously test their systems and closely monitor their networks. A large percentage of data breaches can be avoided through improved education of employees, users and customers yet less than one per cent of security budgets goes on education. Using ethical hackers and network testing experts will help companies to discover existing flaws within their systems, while also detecting human-made errors. Ethical hackingThis ethical hacking approach helps businesses gain invaluable insight into security holes that may exist in their defences today. Penetration tests and network security testing can simulate threats from both internal and external sources to identify flaws exposed through internet gateways, servers and firewalls, and evaluate the security behaviour of interactive websites and web applications. Many businesses may look at the names involved in high-profile attacks and the staggering stats surrounding the growing rate of cybercrime and think 'if those guys are getting hacked, then it's inevitable that we will too.' But the good news is that this doesn't have to be the case. To get a head start in minimising the impact of cybercrime it is imperative that businesses test their systems from the perspective of the hacker. With the number of threats increasing by the day and the sophistication of hacker's methods, it is more critical than ever that organisations take a different approach to protecting their users, their systems and their data. Simon Godfrey is Sales Director, Security Practice at MTI with over 15 years experience in the EMEA security market helping organisations implement effective information security, risk and compliance programmes.http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/37335284/sc/46/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530681769/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37335284/sc/46/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530681769/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37335284/sc/46/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530681769/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37335284/sc/46/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530681769/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37335284/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186530681769/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37335284/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/BJdbM5TjrGo

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/TRBC/Abstract/cloud%20arrow-470-75.jpgUK accountants are turning to cloud technology in their droves. According to a recent Censuswide poll, the biggest motivating factors include the opportunity to cut internal overheads such as travel and data input costs, improve service and increase client satisfaction. Rather than charging by the hour, these results show that accountants believe clients will judge their investment and allocate future budget for accounting services based on the actual value that's delivered. Equally, business owners will demand new ways of working – using Skype, virtual CFOs, monthly reports, rolling forecasts and more. For the UK's vast small business community, this shift of emphasis in the critical areas of finance and value-driven advisory services can only be good news. Rather than waiting for year end, cloud software empowers even the smallest microbusiness to exercise greater financial control and stay up-to-date with their accounts. Meanwhile, adopting a single ledger model, accountants and their clients no longer have to transfer client data into desktop software systems, but will benefit from shared access to up-to-date finance data in the cloud. Already, this shared platform approach, or 'single ledger,' has proven itself, especially in terms of efficiency gains and overtaking the static desktop business model of old. A backdrop to this shift is bigger changes across small business and consumer technologies. We're all familiar with the consumer-visible cloud services from Facebook to Google Docs to Expedia. Now all sorts of services are moving to the cloud, or already using it extensively. New services and features are also being invented that unlock the power of the internet for the small business user. As such, businesses based on or using the cloud are avoiding major IT integration costs and proving nimble, disruptive and highly scalable. Cloud FinanceSo what's next? In the online accounting space, current trends suggest that the future of cloud finance will be all about going beyond accounting software and the rigid parameters dictated by the old desktop paradigm. The next impending development will be to enable businesses to make direct payments to bank accounts from within the accounting software. And there's a whole lot more that the techies are working on behind the scenes. However, these changes are about so much more than technology: in the small business community, the fundamental shift towards value-driven service will, without doubt, continue to transform the way accountants operate, significantly benefiting the business community they serve. Gary Turner is a 20-year veteran of the UK's accounting software industry joining Xero from Microsoft where he was Product Group Director for Microsoft Dynamics.He has sat on the IT Faculty Technical Committee of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales since 2005.http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3728c819/sc/21/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530697554/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3728c819/sc/21/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530697554/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3728c819/sc/21/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530697554/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3728c819/sc/21/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530697554/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3728c819/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186530697554/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3728c819/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/xg4hB2tLIuw

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/features/Android%20apps%20iOS%20should%20have/KitKat_landscape-470-75.jpgWe know. We know. You went for iOS because of its superior ease of use, because of its it-just-works reputation and lack of device fragmentation, because of the iOS-exclusive apps and because the hardware's pretty tasty. And that's great, but let's be honest: Apple's "It's Apple's way or the highway" approach sometimes means that the things that delight users of other platforms don't always make it onto iOS. Why can't we change our keyboards, count our Bitcoins or install from our iMacs? These are the Android apps and app features we'd love to see on our Apple devices. What about you? 1. Swypehttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/Android%20apps%20iOS%20should%20have/swype_tasker_blockchain-420-90.jpg Don't like Apple's on-screen keyboard? Tough: you can't change it, and that means you're excluded from the many joys of Swype. Swype's scribbly-input is close to magic, and once you've got the hang of it it's incredibly fast. Things are improving in iOS input land - the excellent SwiftKey is now available on iOS as a stand-alone app - but we'd love to be able to swap out the default keyboard altogether. 2. TaskerTasker could well be the poster child for Android apps: it's a little intimidating at first, but the things it can do are incredible. It takes the same "If This, Then That" approach as the IFTTT web service, but it applies it to your device - so you might say "if I plug in the headphones start playing music", or "if it's 3pm on Friday I'll be in a meeting so silence the ringer and text anyone who calls to say I'll get back to them afterwards". It's like the Automator app you'll find in OS X, and like Automator it's really a programming language masquerading as an app. 3. BitcoinThis month Apple upset a whole bunch of Bitcoin miners by booting Bitcoin apps such as Blockchain from the App Store. The move demonstrates a strength and a weakness of Apple's app curation: on the one hand Apple's policing does remove malware, rip-offs and the very worst apps, but on the other it can mean Apple deciding to block legitimate apps that it doesn't approve of. 4. NFChttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/Android%20apps%20iOS%20should%20have/locale_golauncher_cover-420-90.jpg Apple's ongoing dismissal of NFC in favour of its own alternatives (AirDrop and iBeacons) means that NFC apps on iOS aren't looking very likely, and that means iOS users are missing out on fun tag-related tomfoolery such as automatically switching to car mode when getting in the car, sharing contact information or triggering Tasker scripts. 5. LocaleLocale goes way beyond Apple's "remind me to get milk when I'm near Tesco" location awareness and its Do Not Disturb mode. Locale can turn off battery-hogging features when the battery is low or remind you to find a charger, it can change display settings - including wallpaper - according to where you are, and you can use it to create profiles that disable the ringer or turn off Bluetooth or anything else you fancy. 6. Go Launcher EXAs the outcry over iOS 7 demonstrated, not everybody agrees with Apple's design choices - and on Android, they can make their devices look and work however they want. There are stacks of Android customisation applications to choose from, including Go Launcher EX, although fans of irony may enjoy the news that Google briefly pulled one of them, Themer, because it made Android look too much like iOS. 7. Coverhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/Android%20apps%20iOS%20should%20have/flash_timely_applock-420-90.jpg The Lock Screen is another bit of iOS many people would like to customise, and once again on Android there are all kinds of apps that Apple owners can only envy. One of the most interesting is Cover, which learns the apps you use in particular places and customises the Lock Screen accordingly - so it displays your entertainment apps at home, your working apps at work and your travel apps when you're on the move. 8. FlashYeah, we know, over Apple's dead body - and even Adobe's lost interest in making Flash for mobile devices. But there are times that Flash is still useful, such as when you're trying to read a restaurant's menu (why are they always in Flash? Why?) or play a Flash game. 9. TimelyTimely is an alarm clock, but it's not just a pretty clock face. If you're a little too handy with the snooze button you can get it to set you challenges before it'll switch off the alarm, and cloud sync means you can share settings and alarms across all of your devices. It's a superb little app. 10. App Lock (Smart App Protector)The Play Store reviews suggest that it's a little buggy on some devices, but the idea behind App Lock is excellent: it offers locking not just of key phone features but individual applications (with individual passwords, if you want to keep things complicated), and if someone gets the login wrong it'll take a photo that you can use to identify and/or shame the culprit. The gesture lock is a particularly nice touch. Other App Lock apps go even further, with geofencing that works out where you are and enables or disables phone features and apps accordingly. http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/372869d8/sc/15/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530574967/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/372869d8/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530574967/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/372869d8/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530574967/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/372869d8/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530574967/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/372869d8/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186530574967/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/372869d8/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/QUxmjFyWK80

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/features/iOS%20apps%20Android%20should%20have/ios7_main-470-75.jpgWe know. We know. You went for Android because it offered superior customisation, because it didn't patronise you, because it delivered more bang for your buck. And that's great, but let's be honest: sometimes you'll see an iOS app and the word WANT flashes through your brain in 50-foot letters of fire. These are the iOS apps we'd really like to see on Android. Is there anything great we haven't included, or do you use excellent alternatives? We'd love to know your thoughts. iA Writerhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/iOS%20apps%20Android%20should%20have/writer_fantastical_tweetbot-420-90.jpg The iOS App Store is packed with writing apps, and one of the most popular is the simple and superb iA Writer: it's designed to help you concentrate on what you're writing and nothing else, and as a result it's deliberately stripped down so that you can't procrastinate by messing around with fonts or formatting. You can sync via iCloud or Dropbox, and on iPads there's a nifty focus mode that only displays three lines at a time. FantasticalAndroid isn't short of calendar apps either, but - wait for it - Fantastical is different. It looks good and its natural language input means you can enter things such as "London Grammar 7pm tuesday calendar gigs" or "todo buy dog food at 5pm". It's good with repeating events too. Tweetbot 3http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/iOS%20apps%20Android%20should%20have/paper_iftt_fuelband-420-90.jpg Tweetbot is the Twitter power user's app of choice: it's fast, friendly and it boasts lots of features for taming the Twitter firehose. There are mute filters that enable you to block users without unfollowing them - brilliant for sporting, news or entertainment events you don't give a toss about - and support for multiple services including Instapaper and Pocket, and it's as happy handing multiple accounts and lists as it is running a single account while you swear at Question Time. Facebook PaperAndroid users aren't the only ones excluded from the Facebook Paper party: for now it's US-only too, although both international and Android versions are incoming. Paper may well be the future of Facebook: it delivers a much more beautiful version of your News Feed with an emphasis on video and photography. IFTTTAmazingly, the excellent If This Then That trigger-action service hasn't made its way to Android yet: the best you can hope for is third-party apps such as LIFTTT. The app is coming, but in the meantime Android users can only drool over the iOS app's ability to automate services such as Facebook, Gmail and Twitter, and devices such as Belkin's WeMo switches and Philips' Hue bulbs. Nike+ Fuelbandhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/iOS%20apps%20Android%20should%20have/mailbox_reeder_clear-420-90.jpg This is an odd one: you'd think a firm with the global reach and deep pockets of Nike would ensure its Fuelband fitness kit worked as well with Android as it does with iOS. Nope. Nike says that the problem is reliability: it can't guarantee that any Fuelband app would work consistently well across several hundred handsets. "We have nothing against Android," Nike VP Stefan Olander told The Next Web in late 2013. "We just want to make sure that when we do it, it works well." Mailbox Email can be pretty horrendous sometimes, but Mailbox makes it much more pleasant: it's designed to clear your inbox quickly, archiving stuff you don't need to bother with and scheduling stuff you do. It's currently iOS-only with support for just Gmail and iCloud email, but its recent purchase by cross-platform sharing kings Dropbox suggests a brighter future. Reeder 2Silvio Rizzi's RSS reader is an absolute joy for news fiends: Reeder connects to the major RSS and sharing services (Feedbin, Feedly, Feed Wrangler, Fever and Readability plus the usual Send To services), it's lovely to look at and it's very fast. Where apps such as Flipboard try to make the news look pretty, Reeder concentrates on delivering the information you need as quickly as possible. Clearhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/iOS%20apps%20Android%20should%20have/nosycrow-420-90.jpg When the developer's called Realmac Software the likelihood of an Android version is pretty remote - and the lack of an official Android version might explain why there's an almost identically named Android app with an almost identical interface and an almost identical icon in the Play store; no, we're not linking to it. It's a shame the real one hasn't made it across, though. Clear's clever, intuitive interface couldn't be simpler, and that makes it a very fast and useful way to record anything you need to remember: notes, to-do lists, shopping lists… Nosy Crow appshttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/iOS%20apps%20Android%20should%20have/infinityblade-420-90.jpg Nosy Crow's interactive picture books have won shelves full of awards, and with good reason: they're absolutely delightful apps for younger children. The firm did dip its toes into the Android market back in 2012 with some releases for the Barnes & Noble Nook, but since then it appears to have retreated again and its latest apps are iOS-only. Shame. Infinity Blade 3http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/iOS%20apps%20Android%20should%20have/iwork-420-90.jpg Android gamers can usually count on the big names releasing games for their platform - *cough* Flappy Bird! *cough* - but Epic's famous hack-and-slash epics remain iOS-exclusive. While Epic Citadel delivers the same world, exploring streets isn't quite as entertaining as getting all stabby. iWorkhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/iOS%20apps%20Android%20should%20have/garageband-420-90.jpg No, we're not being funny. Apple's iWork suite is great, and while both Google and Microsoft offer perfectly good mobile office suites in the form of Office 365 and Google Docs they aren't as nice as Apple's apps. Keynote in particular is fantastic. GaragebandApple's iLife apps - iMovie, iPhoto - are pretty good, but Garageband is stunning: it's a really useful music creation app, and its synchronisation with the desktop version (whose files can in turn be read by the pro music app Logic Pro) means it's a great mobile tool for dabblers and professional musicians alike. Check out the 90 best iPhone apps in the world right nowhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/37220519/sc/5/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530611144/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37220519/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530611144/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37220519/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530611144/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37220519/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530611144/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37220519/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186530611144/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/37220519/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/SULYFTp2m8A

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/TRBC/Generic/Stress/PCA176.hd_extra.istkcrsh-470-75.jpgApplication Administrators aren't developers and they're not users, but they are critical to keeping the applications your organization relies on running. They install, update, tune, diagnose, and babysit both internal and third-party applications. The applications they support can include ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), CRM (Customer Relationship Management), POS (Point of Sale), BPM (Business Process Management), budgeting and forecasting, HR (Human Resources), legal matter management, AP (Accounts Payable)/ AR (Accounts Receivable), payroll, general ledger, SOX (Sarbanes Oxley) compliance tracking, training, time tracking, supply chain, database engines, and messaging, i.e., e-mail. While software can be readily licensed from a vendor, it still requires a significant amount of effort on the part of the acquiring organization. Someone has to prepare the servers that it will run on. Then someone has to install it, configure it, load data into it, tune it, upgrade it, and generally keep the package up and running. If errors occur, someone has to report them to the vendor and work with vendor technicians to correct the prob- lems. These are all tasks that an Application Administrator handles. In many cases, corporations are absolutely dependent that these applications be kept running. What would be the response of employees if the payroll application broke down? What would happen to the organization's financial situation if invoices weren't sent out to customers? What if new employees couldn't be added to the HR system? The importance of Application Administrators and their level of expertise shouldn't be over- looked. Since the trend of relying upon third-party software isn't going to decrease in the foreseeable future, the role of Application Administrator won't be going away either. Every company employs them even if their official job title doesn't sound at all like "Application Administrator." A job title of "system application administrator" might be for a position that covers both application administration and systems administration. Since there is a significant degree of overlap between these two positions, this isn't uncommon. Any software the organization relies upon is almost certain to have an Application Administrator supporting it. This includes software acquired from a third-party vendor or from an internal development team. Development teams typically develop the application and then hand support responsibilities off to another group within the organization. For better or for worse, they don't tend to stick around indefinitely to provide ongoing production support. Application administrator backgroundsThe background of IT professionals working as Application Administrators varies widely. Some have a back- ground in software development. Others became Application Administrators because an administrator was needed and they were in the right place at the right time. Individuals without formal education or training in IT will benefit the most from this book. It will provide hands on advice on how to administer applications, troubleshoot them, and establish best practices for keeping applications running smoothly. But even the most experienced Application Administrator has weak areas that this book can help shore up. Potential skillsetThe list of potential skills that an Application Administrator might be required to have can be long and diverse. The skills that are being sought range from very specific technical skills to skills that are considered "softer." Virtually every posting requires some variation of excellent communication skills, troubleshooting ability, problem solving and/or analytical skills, flexibility, and understanding business needs. Some examples of requested skills are: Expertise and experience in XYZ application is a must.Strong experience on failover, high availability, disaster recovery, business continuance.Strong experience in XYZ version control tool.Good knowledge and demonstrated troubleshooting abilities on connectivity issues due to firewall, load balancer, proxy, and others.Experience with SOX compliance and methodologies.Hands on experience in process automation, best practice approach, technology efficiency, and effectiveness.Knowledge of Web Services and Services Oriented Architecture is desirable.Requires extensive knowledge of Windows 2000/2003 Server.Should be experienced with SQL Query Development as it relates to XYZ databases.Must demonstrate strong experience in designing, implementing, and maintaining current Windows server products including Microsoft SQL 2005, IIS, Windows Clustering, Network Load Balance, Net Environments, and ISA.Strong Linux experience including shell and Perl scripting for administration tasks.Experience with monitoring tools is a plus.Knowledge of Oracle Application Server, Apache Tomcat, and Microsoft IIS a plus.Excels at the highest technical level of all phases of applications systems analysis and programming activities.Understands software and hardware requirements of varied departmental systems.Understands the workflow and process requirements of complex application systems.Demonstrated ability to be the subject matter expert in supporting, maintaining, and administering complex applications.Excellent problem solving/analytical skills and knowledge of analytical tools.Display and execute logical and complex troubleshooting methods.Excellent verbal, written communication, and negotiations skills.Demonstrated soft skills required such as presentation of ideas and clearly articulate the concepts to senior management.Ability to effectively interface with technical and nontechnical staff at all organizational levels.Strong customer services and problem solving skills.Ability to provide outstanding customer service, be a good listener and work well with others.Self-motivated, able to work independently, and takes initiative.Ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment.Outstanding attention to detail with superior time and project management skills.Demonstrated ability to work successfully with a diverse group of customers.Ability to learn new content areas and new skills quickly and well required.Professional attitude and work habits.Understands business function related to the application.Ability to work through ambiguous work situations.Duties and responsibilitiesThe list of duties and responsibilities described in some job postings is as broad and diverse as the technical skills that are required of prospective job applicants. It wouldn't be realistic to expect a single candidate to be responsible for this entire list of duties, but don't be surprised if your initial job description gets widened to include more and more responsibilities as time goes by. Some of the duties and responsibilities that an Appli- cation Administrator might be given include:The candidate shall monitor the XYZ software application, document and analyze problems, and publish maintenance scheduleSets up administrator and service accountsMaintains system documentationInteracts with users and evaluates vendor productsMay program in an administrative languageProvides advice and training to end-usersMaintains current knowledge of relevant technologies as assignedThe candidate shall serve as part of a team responsible to maintain an XYZ system availability rate of 99%Troubleshoot, and resolve any reported problemsProvide application performance tuningThe candidate shall review the governing regulations to ensure proper program supportThe candidate shall monitor, update, and maintain existing legacy environment software systems interfaces to ensure that the interfaces exchange data properly and to support the current legacy environmentThis is a hands on senior technical position with Subject Matter Expertise (SME) on XYZ appEnable best practicesProcess automationMaintain SLA, System Availability, Capacity management, and Performance KPICollaborate with hardware, OS, DBA technical teams to ensure proper integration of the environmentWork closely with application development teams and vendors to tune and troubleshoot applicationsPlan and coordinate testing changes, upgrades, and new services, ensuring systems will operate correctly in current and future environmentsProvides second level of technical support for all corporate systems and software componentsProvide Level 3 support for the application. Must be able to support 24 x 7. Also enable production support team to tackle Level 2 support and issuesLeads and participates in efforts to develop and implement processes for application and system monitoringLeads and participates in efforts to implement application updates to include upgrades, patches, and new releasesTests, debugs, implements, and documents programs. Assists in the modification of company products and/or customer/internal systems to meet the needs of the client and/or end-userDevelops test plans to verify logic of new or modified programsDevelop and maintain the reporting and dashboard infrastructure for the organizationDevelop work plans and track/report status of assigned projects/tasksLiaise with vendor support on all issuesFully responsible for problem management activities such as issue resolution and root cause analysisDaily monitoring and maintenance activitiesAssist in the day-to-day operations of Operations departmentThis is an edited extract from Application Administrators Handbook: Installing, Updating and Troubleshooting Software by Kelly Bourne, published by Morgan Kaufmann Publishers (RRP £33.99)http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/371a0208/sc/4/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530582360/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/371a0208/sc/4/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530582360/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/371a0208/sc/4/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530582360/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/371a0208/sc/4/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530582360/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/371a0208/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186530582360/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/371a0208/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/i1oNYEP72xw

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/other/Onetimers/Sochi/sochi%20credit%20to%20ATOS-470-75.jpgIf this week has taught us anything, it's that tech's biggest firms have are determined to make 2014 the year that wearable tech goes mainstream. HTC's competing, with promises of a wearable device this side of Christmas. Apple's at it, with rumours suggesting that sleep monitoring will be part of the functionality of its much-hyped iWatch. And of course Google's at it, with ever more uses for Google Glass. Google's next customer could well be Robocop: this week we discovered that the NYPD is experimenting with Google Glass in a move Chris Smith describes as "the Five-O going AR." Don't get too excited, though: the number of headsets the NYPD has ordered currently stands at a massive, er, two. The NYPD wants to see if Google Glass can make its people more efficient, and so does Virgin Atlantic: this week the airline announced a trial of Google Glass for its Upper Class customers, and Virgin hopes that the technology will speed checkin, deliver more personalised service and generally make its customers feel more pampered. Working wearablesThere may be a downside to that, though: as Gary Marshall imagined the various real-world things Google Glass would be brilliant for - engineers looking at blueprints, mechanics looking up manufacturers' tolerances, drivers checking itineraries and so on - a worrying thought occurred to him. "Such uses will make wearables like the Windows PCs of yore: the kit you associate with boring stuff you do in your day job. If we're strutting around wearing Glass all day, will we still want to wear it when we get home?" The answer might be yes if your day job is being an athlete: It turns out that one of the most important training regimes an Olympian can do involves, er, staring at a screen. While all kinds of firms have been trying to take the gold in gadget garb, the world has been cheering on the athletes at the Winter Olympics and we've been discovering the apps that help to give them the edge. As Hugh Langley explains, "if the US bobsled and skeleton team win big at this year's Winter Olympics, they'll have more than their coaches to thank… [they] have been perfecting their technique using free video analysis app Ubersense Coach on the iPad." That isn't the only app helping to shape the Olympics, either: Coach's Eye is helping freestyle skiers, and can be used for all kinds of sports - especially ones involving swinging things at other things. We'll find out the results in just a few days time. A cold climate for 4KThe Sochi Olympics are being filmed in Ultra HD, aka 4K, but it isn't being broadcast to ordinary sports fans using the technology. Kevin Lee uncovers a complex tale of new technologies and private viewing parties, and notes that the "elephant in the room slowing Ultra HD 4K TV's growth and its support" is good old HD with its ever-bigger screens and ever-smaller price tags. 4K sales have been fairly small so far, but "there is a fighting chance 4K coverage may be available by the time the next Olympics rolls." As Steve May suggests, manufacturers waiting for 4K to save their businesses may have to wait for a rather long time, because another sales boom probably isn't coming. "The hard truth is that TV has turned int a penguin business," he says. "It's unlikely to fly again, despite huge technology leaps." Ultra HD and 4K: everything you need to knowhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/371a0218/sc/5/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530582359/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/371a0218/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530582359/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/371a0218/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530582359/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/371a0218/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530582359/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/371a0218/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186530582359/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/371a0218/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/V4ygYYY5-FI

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/tablets/Microsoft/Surface2/surface2review/prod_surf2d_Print-470-75.jpgMicrosoft may have a solution in the works for its Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 app deficit, but some inside the company reportedly aren't on board yet. It's simple: Microsoft's desktop, tablet and smartphone operating systems lack the bustling app ecosystem of a platform like, say, Android - so why not enable Android apps to run on Windows and Windows Phone devices? That's exactly what the company is considering, according to The Verge, which supposedly spoke with "sources familiar with Microsoft's plans." But these sources report that Microsoft executives are torn, with some of the mindset that the long-term risks might outweigh the benefits. Besides, as The Verge points out, this has been tried before - by BlackBerry - and it didn't work then. Why would it now? Forking Android overOf course, Microsoft is not BlackBerry. That much is obvious. And if Microsoft is really letting Nokia, which it bought in 2013, go ahead with the Finnish phone maker's "Normandy" Android device, then the Windows company is clearly not totally repulsed by the idea of using Android for its own means. Of course, the most recent report suggests that the Nokia Android phone will ship without many of the Google apps and services typically found on Android devices - including the Google Play store itself - in favor of Nokia- and Microsoft-built alternatives. But The Verge's sources say Microsoft doesn't want to deal with the hassle of creating its own "fork" of Android, and that simply enabling Android apps to run on Windows might be an easier solution in the short term. To that end the site suggests Microsoft might work with BlueStacks, a company that for years has been enable Android apps to run on Windows devices. Whatever happens, it seems Microsoft is at least considering taking drastic measures to solve its app deficit, which may be a sign of just how desperate things have become for Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8. Here's what TechRadar thought of Microsoft's latest OS update, Windows 8.1http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3707e759/sc/15/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530567931/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3707e759/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530567931/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3707e759/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530567931/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3707e759/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530567931/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3707e759/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186530567931/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3707e759/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/pIH-SoF4K44

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/printers_and_scanners/Toshiba/toshibaerasableprinter/scanning%20and%20erasing-470-75.jpgDell has revealed that it will be offering a new piece of software along with its imaging portfolio, PaperCut print management. The new software promises to help business of all sizes manage their printing environment, use their resources and improve security. PaperCut can be used as a monitoring service to track, control and record printing tasks. New "Pull Printing" options can be used to hold a printing task in a server and release it on any device that supports Dell's software. The feature hopes to attract businesses with large buildings and staff worried about leaving valuable documents on display. Sharp securityDell has also geared PaperCut towards the education sector, implementing features such as top-up cards and scripting capabilities like free printing during class times. An audit trail, according to Dell, is also recorded onto the software, enabling customers to check whether guidelines in their businesses have been adhered to. Dave McNally, marketing director for Dell Imaging, said that the solution gives businesses increased control over printing policies and capabilities including security, cost and waste. PaperCut software has full support for Macs, Windows, Linux and Novell network environments ands available complete with support via Dell in the UK. Best business printerhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/370112a9/sc/4/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530538327/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/370112a9/sc/4/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530538327/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/370112a9/sc/4/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530538327/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/370112a9/sc/4/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530538327/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/370112a9/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186530538327/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/370112a9/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/3JNqj54fg_0

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/internet/Amazon/Amazon%20Prime/delivery-470-75.jpgRetail giant Amazon recently attracted attention for its plans to ship goods to customers using bird-like robotic drones. Collective brows raised even higher when a patent revealed plans for an "anticipatory shipping" service, designed to send customers shipments of items based on the time they'd spent browsing products, their visits to a listing, previous purchase habits and other metrics. Paul Gibson, Regional Director EMEA at marketing and analytics software company AgilOne, talks to TRPro about the technology that Amazon might use to achieve this seemingly psychic feat. TechRadar Pro: What do you make of Amazon's recent patent announcement? Paul Gibson: Amazon is one of the best users of predictive marketing, and utilise their vast resources and budgets to achieve a great understanding of their customers behaviour, and therefore deliver relevant, effective messaging. This patent is yet another example of the impressive way they utilise this powerful medium, and would certainly overcome the often criticized delay between ordering and receiving goods. However, it could open the door for abuse, if people realize they can get free product just by browsing on the site. TRP: Why is Amazon always leading the way on predictive marketing? PG: Having vast budgets and resources has enabled Amazon to fully harness all the elements of predictive marketing, and has lead to them becoming experts in customer retention. They have built systems, and algorithms that are able to collect data at every instance, from every touch-point, using a variety of campaigns logging your actions when you: search for something, purchase something, abandon your cart, send something back and even unsubscribe from their emails. Amazon are then able to understand your preferences, behaviour and likely next steps and then turn all this information into personal messages tailored to your responses. This gives them a unique place in the market, as traditionally this has been out of the reach of smaller businesses. TRP: Can other companies use predictive analytics to do this? PG: Right now, yes, and this is really exciting! Few companies have the budget and resources of Amazon, so this capability has traditionally been out of reach for all but the largest enterprises. However, due to the recent advancements in SaaS Predictive Marketing technologies, it is now possible for any-sized retail organisation - including those with a mix of on-line and traditional bricks and mortar operations - to harness this level of sophistication. This helps them to gain a consolidated 360-degree view of the multiple customer touch-points and delivering unrivalled data science, which in turn leads to more effective marketing, loyal repeat buyers and ultimately improved bottom line. TRP: Is software-as-a-service (SaaS) predictive marketing technology expensive to run? PG: On the contrary, Cloud technology is helping to bring predictive marketing within reach of most businesses. Companies do not need to have vast data centres, nor do they need to spend years developing new technology, and adoption of true customer insight and relevance now takes weeks, rather than months or years. Historically, combining multiple data sources, and adding the required science was a time consuming, manually intensive and costly exercise, but SaaS predictive marketing solutions do all the heavy lifting, allowing marketers to concentrate on marketing. TRP: How useful do you think the technology being used by Amazon will be to consumers? PG: Of course, the actual idea behind delivering something someone has not yet purchased could confuse, and maybe even scare off a potential buyer who may simply be comparing and having already purchased the goods elsewhere. But, in terms of receiving products which someone might need, for example if a retailer knew your printer cartridge needs replacing, this technology could prove to be very useful to consumers. It would mean you would never run out of a product which needs regular replacement. TRP: What is the difference between SaaS predictive marketing and product recommendations? PG: Many smaller retailers have taken the first step, which is great, by adopting product to product recommendations (such as, you purchased those red shoes, so if I give you 20% discount, you might buy this red belt). But this is really scratching the surface of what is possible. True predictive marketing looks beyond what product someone is interested in, and understands the customer themselves, their behavior, and based on this understand things like their propensity to buy, driving more effective messaging. For instance, if you know the person buying the red shoes has a propensity to buy additional products anyway, you don't need to offer a discount, just tell them about the product, saving 20% margin on that sale. By combining data from every touch-point (email, web, transactions, POS, call centre, etc) you gain true customer insight and understanding and go far beyond simply reacting to what product they browse or buy. TRP: Do you think more retailers will use predictive models to send customers freebies? PG: Although this is very much a possibility, the suggestion that if a customer has not bought, they will get the product free of charge seems a dangerous precedent, as this may train a consumer to browse and not buy, thinking they will get a freebie….and indeed if one doesn't then arrive, may feel the retailer doesn't appreciate them. TRP: Do you think potential buyers will be scared off by the thought that they might have products turning up at their front door if they view a certain page? PG: I think it could have an impact on some consumers, such as those already concerned with "big brother" watching their every move, and it would definitely make you consider where you click. However when the technology is used at the point just before you make the decision to buy, such as recommending you buy something when you need or want it, it should be very positive both for the consumer and for the retailer. http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/370112b1/sc/4/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530538326/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/370112b1/sc/4/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530538326/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/370112b1/sc/4/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530538326/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/370112b1/sc/4/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530538326/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/370112b1/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186530538326/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/370112b1/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/668Ay1-XE6o

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/internet/Twitter/Twitter_redesign1-470-75.jpgThere's been a lot written about how Facebook has continued to adopt Twitter-like features such as hashtags and trending topics, but now it appears the latter is taking a page from the former's playbook. Judging by an experimental version of its profile page, currently being tested on a small sample of users, Twitter seems to have taken a shine to the love-it-or-hate-it Facebook Timeline and wants it for its own. First noted by a Mashable staffer (pictured), the redesigned profile page appears to take on many aspects of Zuckerberg's biggest revamp of recent times. From its non-linear layout and to focus on content cards rather than a list of text-based tweets, to the positioning of the profile photo, background photo and toolbar, the similarities are quite startling. It's all about 'Me'While it's not certain whether Twitter ever plans to roll this version of the 'Me' page to all users, beyond this experimental stage, its appearance comes shortly after a tweaked page rollout out to all users. That particular update, which brought a cleaner, clearer and whiter look, was tested for months, so don't expect Twitter to roll-out this Timeline-like update any time soon. So far the company has refused to respond to requests for comment. Facebook adds Trending to News Feed, Twitter rip-off comments ensuehttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/36fe0fc3/sc/21/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530410404/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36fe0fc3/sc/21/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530410404/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36fe0fc3/sc/21/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530410404/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36fe0fc3/sc/21/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530410404/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36fe0fc3/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186530410404/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36fe0fc3/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/z3VXqTld0Mw

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/Motorola/Moto%20X/Review/moto-x-review-2-470-75.jpgThe Moto X is about to get a deliciously sweet boost. T-Mobile variants of the Motorola handset will get an Android 4.4 upgrade starting today. The jump from Android Jelly Bean to KitKat isn't mind blowing, but still remains exciting since many bugs will be squashed. Other changes are also include support for printing documents and photos, improved battery life - an issue which a few people had after the 4.4 upgrade - and fixed email syncing delays. To begin the download process, keep an eye out for a notification that should appear soon; however, you can also manually install it by going to your system updates which can be found in your phone settings. Check out the Moto G - the little budget brother of the Moto X is just as brilliant.http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/36fc6cfa/sc/15/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/187557677443/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36fc6cfa/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/187557677443/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36fc6cfa/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/187557677443/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36fc6cfa/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/187557677443/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36fc6cfa/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/187557677443/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36fc6cfa/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/OX1dttWjKSQ

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/gadgets/QualcommToq/HandsOn/Toq-HandsOn-10-470-75.JPGIf you're hoping to justify splashing out a considerable chunk of change on the Qualcomm Toq smartwatch, there are now a couple more reasons to side with the fun 'pros' over the spoilsport 'cons.' An update to the $349 (around £215, AU$386) wearable's Android app brings a new activity tracker tool (albeit in beta), which will track the user's movement over the course of a 24-hour period and award points. The update, which can be downloaded from Google Play, also brings a new watchface that shows the current points tally alongside the time. Beyond that, there's also a world clock and the opportunity to switch the temperature from Fahrenheit to Celsius. Neither of which are exactly worth writing home about, but there you go. Wireless chargingWhile the Toq does do a little extra damage to the bank balance, it does promise 'days' of battery life and the option of wireless charging. Powering the watch is a modest 200MHz Cortex M3 processor. There's a 1.6-inch always-on 'Mirasol' display, which harnesses ambient light in the natural environment rather than utilising a battery-sapping backlight. The display will show text messages, calendar events, call notifications, weather, stocks, shares and more. It's also got a music player which links up to the Bluetooth earphones bundled in the box. Is this update enough to push you into the 'buy' column? Would it tempt you away from dedicated wellness solutions like the Nike FuelBand SE? Let us know below. It's a battle of the smartwatches: Samsung Galaxy Gear vs Pebble smartwatch vs Qualcomm Toqhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/36fbfade/sc/15/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530458486/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36fbfade/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530458486/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36fbfade/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530458486/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36fbfade/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/186530458486/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36fbfade/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/186530458486/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36fbfade/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/3G8Ww2z3t5s

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/ApplevSamsung/iPhone5GalaxyS3/iPhone5GalaxyS3-03-470-75.JPGA new year, another set of flagship handsets from the twin titans of smartphones, Apple and Samsung -- but will this finally be the year such devices can shake off the bezel in an effort to slim down even further? The Korea Herald reported Tuesday that Samsung and Apple may face another rivalry in 2014 as speculation runs rampant the Galaxy S5 and iPhone 6 may each feature bezel-free, edge-to-edge displays. Korean mobile giant Samsung Electronics appears likely to launch the initial offensive later this month when the manufacturer is expected to announce the Galaxy S5, which unnamed industry sources claim will be the model to finally ditch a hardware-based home button. Samsung is also rumored to be following Apple into the fingerprint scanner market, which will reportedly be offered on the bottom left and right sides of the bezel-free screen. Begone, home buttonApple is also said to be testing a prototype of this year's iPhone 6 with a larger, bezel-free display that could also move the Touch ID fingerprint scanner found on the iPhone 5S onto the actual display itself. The eventual goal of both companies appears to be an edge-to-edge screen offering button-free fingerprint scanning from anywhere on the display, but "technological hurdles" remain that could delay such a feature until the second half of the year. Now that Apple has staked out the early fall season for its smartphone launches, that could give the iPhone maker an edge over Samsung, who is expected to begin selling the allegedly slimmer Galaxy S5 much earlier in the year. Samsung is also reportedly hard at work on touch panels that would allow its Galaxy devices to be used even while wearing gloves, part of a bezel-free initiative launched in 2012 under the code names "Project B" and "Galaxy B." It may have a bezel, but our Samsung Galaxy S4 review shows it's still a fine handset!http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/36fb1d3b/sc/5/mf.gifhttp://res3.feedsportal.com/social/twitter.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/facebook.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/linkedin.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/googleplus.png http://res3.feedsportal.com/social/email.png http://da.feedsportal.com/r/187557674758/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36fb1d3b/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/187557674758/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36fb1d3b/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/187557674758/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36fb1d3b/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/187557674758/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36fb1d3b/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/187557674758/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/36fb1d3b/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/IwqH5pPJSbw