sincity

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/televisions/LG/LG_65LA970W_sized-470-75.jpgBack in January 2009, the Palm Pre running the company's intuitive new webOS software won CES, with many attendees convinced the faded smartphone giant was in-line for a major, major comeback. It didn't exactly pan out that way. Limited by poor hardware, lack of developer interest and a disastrous transition to HP's stewardship, the promising webOS software became little more than a punchline. However, five years on, as we look forward to the 2014 extravaganza in the Nevada Desert, LG could be about to offer webOS a lifeline by planting it within a smart television. The Korean company, which bought webOS from HP in February, will introduce the first set running the software at the show, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal, backing up rumours earlier this month. Don't call it a comeback...The Journal's source, one of those folks 'familiar with the matter' said the television will retain the same 'Cards' UI which initially impressed many who tried webOS. It'll also feature a host of applications developed for the HP tablets, the person said. Eventually, LG may plan to insert webOS into its own range of smartphones and tablets, the report claimed. The Korean giant appears to be placing a lot the importance of owning its operating system to battle Samsung's Tizen OS. However, the company's heavy investment in Google TV did it zero favours whatsoever, so it'll be interesting to see how it fairs with an even less promising operating system. CES 2014: What do expect from the year's biggest tech showhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/35590278/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/184842496659/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35590278/sc/21/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842496659/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35590278/sc/21/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842496659/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35590278/sc/21/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842496659/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35590278/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/184842496659/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35590278/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/tw4QDm5rLDA

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/car%20tech/Audi_A6_dashboard-470-75.jpgGoogle and high-end German auto manufacturer Audi are preparing to announce they're working together to produce a new generation of Android-based in-car systems. The partnership, set to be officially confirmed at the CES expo in early January, involves the creation of dedicated, built-in hardware, running on Google's mobile operating system. According to the Wall Street Journal's report, the units will give drivers access to some of the same navigation, entertainment and information tools that they enjoy on their smartphones and tablets. The article says Google and Audi will be joined in the venture by chip manufacturer Nvidia with the parties using CES to announce a timetable for Android-based systems to arrive in cars within 4 to 5 years. iOS vs Android pt. 5,526The news comes as Apple prepares for its own march on in-car connectivity. Earlier this year it announced its own iOS in the Car initiative, which will allow iPhones and iPads to play nice with compatible vehicles. A recent iOS 7.1 beta provided evidence that iOS in the Car will be integrated within the update, which will land at a time yet to be determined. It seems that Apple and Google have found yet another ripe territory to battle over. Who'll come out on top this time? Would you rather have Apple Maps or Google Maps built into your motor? In depth: What does iOS in the Car mean for in-car multimedia?http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/355846ad/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/184842501183/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/355846ad/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842501183/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/355846ad/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842501183/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/355846ad/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842501183/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/355846ad/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/184842501183/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/355846ad/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/6i0QpCfVOmo

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/features/AMD%20vs%20Nvidia%20Optmization%20Software/Anti-Explosive-470-75.jpgOver the last few years PC gaming has become significantly more approachable to the everyday gamer, thanks to a combination of more affordable hardware and the availability of discounted digital game libraries through places like Steam and Green Man Gaming. While the price has gone down for both PC hardware and titles, more recently Nvidia and AMD have tried to alleviate even more gamer headaches with optimization software. To this end, Nvidia opened its GeForce Experience beta to the public in January, and AMD launched its Raptr-powered Gaming Evolved application in September. On the surface, the two applications almost seem cut from the same cloth. Both simplify the process of downloading new graphics card drivers to a one-click software update. Similarly, the software packages also set all your graphics settings following some basic guidelines that prioritize a faster frame rate or greater visual fidelity. Continuing the similarities, the pair of apps were developed with the explicit purpose to help fine tune visual settings for less tech savvy gamers. After all, not everyone knows the difference between tessellation (the splitting of polygons) and ambient occlusion (the way light radiates and reflects) to save their overheating GPU as the FPS craters. While the two apps are much the same in nature and purpose, that's where their commonalities end. We recently spoke with Nvidia and Raptr, the online gaming partner that powers AMD's Gaming Evolved app, to uncover how each are figuring out PC optimization and what they might have in store for the gaming masses in the future. The numbers gameRaptr is a 7-year old game tracking service that helps users keep tabs on how long they've been playing games. Beyond clocking hours it's also an online community site that ties together users' Xbox, PlayStation Network, and PC gaming accounts for those achievement/trophy obsessed. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/AMD%20vs%20Nvidia%20Optmization%20Software/AMD%20Gaming%20Evolved-420-100.JPG Raptr CEO Dennis Fong explained that although the optimization piece is new to his company's offerings, it's not actually that much further than what Raptr was already doing. The company itself tracks over 2,000 computer games with more than 20 million users. It also uses technology that can tell whether gamers were playing a single or multiplayer title, what games they've installed and what hardware makes up their rigs. In a micro-sized version of the Raptr service, AMD's Gaming Evolved pulls crowdsourced data from a user base edging over one million. "The way we designed the system is we actually know what types of [PC hardware] configurations people are using," Fong explained. "We know what frame rates they are actually getting and we capture all that data every single time you play." He continued: "Every single time you play, it records a FPS histogram of your game session. We can tell if you're playing a single player or multiplayer session. When we record these FPS histograms, there's a lot of noise; as an example if you're watching a cut scene that frame rate is capped, so we sort that out." These cleaned-up histograms are then churned into Raptr's machine learning system, which crunches all the data. The system is designed to zone in on PC gaming experts who get the optimal performance while using high-quality visual settings. Using an example of expert users who turned off tessellation Fong explained, "what we're seeing a big boost in performance while the rest of the high quality settings are extremely high. Once our machine learns that, it then rolls that [recommendation] out to everyone else. " "What we're trying to do is find experts," he went on. "The gamers out there that go to all the tech sites and tweak their settings. The beauty of our system is we capture all of that knowledge automatically." The human touchIn a similar approach, Nvidia also leverages the expertise of hardcore PC gamers, except it uses real-life people in its testing labs around the world. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/AMD%20vs%20Nvidia%20Optmization%20Software/Nvidia%20GeForce%20Experience-420-100.JPG James Wang, GeForce Experience product manager, was happy to tell us that Nvidia does its optimization work in-house with labs in Moscow, Santa Clara, Calif. and Shenzhen, China. Each lab employs a team of expert testers to figure out which settings are most important and contribute the greatest to the gameplay experience, all the while leaving out those that simply eat up performance. "We figured it out pretty early that you can't just run scripts and not have anyone look at it because in the end, when you say to people [that] we recommend these settings are the best, that really requires a subjective call," Wang expounded. "For example, if anti-aliasing or texture quality is more important in a game, a computer can't tell you which one is more preferable." To do this, Nvidia uses an optimization that tests different combinations of CPU and GPU hardware. While Nvidia doesn't test every single CPU release, Wang was quick to note that every GPU released by Nvidia is covered. Plus, the team constructs a performance index of all Nvidia's GPUs on the market today. This drawn-up list of recommendations is fed into Nvidia's own algorithm and loaded onto a server of different PC part setups. From there the lab team takes the priority list and figures out how to turn on as many graphics settings as possible. No perfect systemBoth Nvidia and AMD have developed similar systems using two different approaches, but each has its own set of flaws. Wang specifically criticized AMD and Raptr's crowdsourced approach as a privacy risk as well as being ineffective. "If we just did pure data mining from the users, it's a lot of data being mined and not everyone is comfortable with that," Wang broached. "The other thing is that when you mine the common case, the average answer is not necessarily the correct answer." These privacy issues were misconceptions that Fong addressed by explicitly saying, "all of this data is used exclusively for optimization. We don't sell any user data [belonging to] individuals or otherwise, it's just to make the optimizations better." He elaborated that "when a lot of people think about crowd sourcing, then they think whatever is popular, but that does not really work in this particular case because popular is the lowest common denominator of default settings." http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/AMD%20vs%20Nvidia%20Optmization%20Software/Raptr%20Ecosystem-420-100.JPG Nvidia, meanwhile, has a system that arguably cannot account for every possible PC configuration out there. Wang contended that "the dominant performance impacting parts are the GPU, CPU and of course the resolution of the monitor." "The more important number [to gamers] - is their PC covered?" he posed. "We cover pretty much all the CPUs today and all of our GPUs, both desktop and notebook." In the future, Wang and Fong each told us to expect more games to make it under their respective optimization trees. Currently Gaming Evolved serves 65 games with roughly seven being added every week, while GeForce Experience supports 130 games since starting with a meager 30-plus titles. Features on the horizonBeyond optimization Nvidia and AMD have implemented other features for the streaming and YouTube gaming communities. The Nvidia GeForce Experience app brought a built-in game capture tool called ShadowPlay, which allows gamers to record and upload their own gameplay using only their graphics card. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/other/Nvidia%20The%20Way%20It%27s%20Meant%20to%20be%20Played%20event/ShadowPlay-UI-420-100.jpg Gaming Evolved, on the other hand, implements an easy way for users to start streaming their games on Twitch. Nvidia also recently added Twitch integration. Both Wang and Fong agreed that the emergence of YouTube and eSports have taken off as a huge part of the gaming community, but just like optimization, Nvidia and AMD have adopted different approaches to game capture and streaming features. Whereas Nvidia does more work behind the scenes, AMD utilizes an overlay that goes on top of full-screen games to give gamers access to their web browser without having to Alt-Tab. Looking towards the future, Wang teased that Nvidia's ability to stream games through its graphics cards beyond using just the Nvidia Shield. "We haven't talked about that right now, but the core technology of streaming does not require the end point has to be a Shield," Wang said. "It is possible that you can stream to another device but we haven't announced any direction to go there." For AMD, Fong said that Raptr wants to implement more tools into its screen overlay, but we'll hear more about this as we head into January along with more announcements at CES 2014. We uncover the story behind Apple's unofficial mascot John Appleseed.http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/355846b2/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/184842501182/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/355846b2/sc/4/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842501182/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/355846b2/sc/4/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842501182/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/355846b2/sc/4/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842501182/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/355846b2/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/184842501182/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/355846b2/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/VWnWGd6UutA

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Windows/windows_81_rtm/tiles%20to%20download-470-75.jpgAfter a prolonged preview period, Microsoft has finally unleashed its much-anticipated update to the latest version of Windows on the unsuspecting world. Right from the off there were issues with it on Windows RT systems, resulting in the update application being removed from the store on tablets. There are no such problems on the PC, beyond a few hiccups with USB devices slowing down the update process. However, as the update is primarily available from the app store, it does make updating multiple machines a bit of a pain. Plus, as it stands if you want to install Windows 8.1 on a new build, or reinstall Windows from scratch, then you're looking at an overly lengthy process of installing Windows 8 first, patching it and then installing Windows 8.1. When you also consider that people who took part in the Windows 8.1 preview period can't update their machines directly, you start to wonder what Microsoft is really playing at. If you find yourself in such a situation, then you can in theory refresh back to the vanilla version of Windows 8, and then update from there. Alternatively, you can follow this tutorial to create a USB stick that has all your Windows 8.1 update needs answered. Key cutting There's actually a bit of problem here though, and that is in order to download the Windows 8.1 installation, you need a Win8.1 product key, which no one currently has. Luckily there is a solution, but it's a little fiddly: you'll have to start the installation process for Windows 8, close it, and then start the 8.1 install assistant. Once you have updated your machines you shouldn't have any complex tweaking to do; it should just be business as usual. However, we would recommend downloading and updating your graphics drivers, as there have been problems gaming on older drivers. Plus you don't want to just use the Microsoft drivers if you're looking to game. Step-by-step: Update to Win8.1 with ease 1. Find your key http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/magazines/PC%20Format/Issue%20286/PCF286.tut_5.walk_1-420-90.jpg Start by locating your Windows 8 key, as you'll need it as part of the installation. If you've bought a machine that comes pre-installed with Windows 8, then you should find the key on a sticker on your case somewhere. If you're still coming up empty handed, check out your paperwork; sometimes system integrators stick it to a piece of card and hide it with your motherboard manual. 2. Or… plan B http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/magazines/PC%20Format/Issue%20286/PCF286.tut_5.walk_2-420-90.jpg If you're still drawing a blank, then you need to grab a neat little app called Belarc Advisor (you can download it from here). Run this and it will perform a scan of your system before building a local web page that has a rundown of your system, including revealing your Windows 8 product key. Don't worry this isn't uploaded anywhere, it's for your eyes only. 3. False start http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/magazines/PC%20Format/Issue%20286/PCF286.tut_5.walk_3-420-90.jpg With your product key in hand, you can now start the process of grabbing the Windows 8.1 ISO. Point your favourite browser to the Windows download page and click on 'Install Windows 8' (don't click 'Install Windows 8.1'). This will start the installer assistant. Enter your product key and select 'Install by creating media'. Once it starts downloading, immediately close the installer. 4. Back again http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/magazines/PC%20Format/Issue%20286/PCF286.tut_5.walk_4-420-90.jpg You can now go back to the Windows Upgrade website and click the first link - this will be the one labelled 'Install Windows 8.1'. This will launch the newer install assistant, and is the one you actually want to use. Again, click the 'Install by creating media' option, but this time don't cancel it. This option enables you to create an installation using a USB stick or a DVD. 5. Choose wiselyhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/magazines/PC%20Format/Issue%20286/PCF286.tut_5.walk_5-420-90.jpg We'd recommend going for a USB installation here, simply because it gives you the most options (you can upgrade machines that don't have an optical drive), and it's much quicker than installing from spinning media. You'll need a USB stick with at least 3GB of space available. It will take a while to create the image on the drive (depending on your connection), so go read a book or something. 6. Time to twerk http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/magazines/PC%20Format/Issue%20286/PCF286.tut_5.walk_6-420-90.jpg If you need to update a number of machines, it's a good idea to change the way the installer works so that it asks for the product key after installation. To do this, create a new file in the Sources folder called ei.cfg and enter the details as seen in the screenshot above. Save the changes onto your USB stick and you're good to go and start installing the update onto your machines. Now why not read 15 Windows 8.1 annoyances fixedhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3554b34b/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/184842497441/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3554b34b/sc/4/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842497441/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3554b34b/sc/4/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842497441/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3554b34b/sc/4/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842497441/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3554b34b/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/184842497441/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3554b34b/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/OMSfQHHqLBg

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/LG/LG%20G2/Hands%20on/LG%20G2%20update/LG_G2_Review_3-470-75.JPGLG has decided the popular Knock feature on its LG G2 handset shouldn't be kept from the masses and is rolling out the tool to all current L Series II handsets and including it as standard in all future devices. The neat UI tool (previously known as KnockON) allows users to turn the display on and off simply by double tapping the screen. It made its debut on the G2 as a means of getting around the rear-facing power button, ensuring users wouldn't need to pick up the device every time they wished to wake the display. Knock graduated to the recent LG G Pad 8.3 and is also featured on the new LG G Flex with the curved display. Taking the KnockNow it's coming to all thanks to a software update and inclusion in the company's next wave of devices. "Knock is distinctively an LG UX and a great example of what happens when you marry the latest in mobile technology with consumer-centric insights," said Dr. Jong-seok Park, President and CEO, LG Mobile. "No one ever thought that a power button needed to be improved until our engineers wondered why they couldn't turn the entire screen into a power button." The Knock tech is LG's answer to 'Quick Glance,' which allows the user to see missed calls, notifications, the time and more, simply by waving their hand over the sensor. Did you know the LG G Flex, can actually flex?http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/354e077b/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/184842442599/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/354e077b/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842442599/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/354e077b/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842442599/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/354e077b/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842442599/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/354e077b/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/184842442599/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/354e077b/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/uyBzk_y_yjA

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20312/PCP312.make4.bodyimage3-470-75.jpgNot so long ago, configuring a couple of PCs or Macs so they could talk to each other meant buying expensive hardware and hooking it up to Ethernet. But you couldn't just cable them together, oh no. You needed a router, or was it a hub, or a switch? See what we mean? Those days are long gone, and for that we're all very grateful. That doesn't mean networking is completely free from problems, of course. But at least most of us can set one up and connect to it, and be reasonably confident that it'll still be there in the morning. Why the time for Powerline networking is nowWhile for most of us networking means radio signals rather than cables, there are some occasions when that old Ethernet cable comes in handy; so while the bulk of what we're about to reveal to you will refer to Wi-Fi, we haven't forgotten Ethernet - nor its younger, flashier, sibling, Powerline. These days you're just as likely to want to connect an iPhone, iPad, games console or TV to your network, so we cover that, too. Who knew networking could be so much fun? Faster networking Set up your modem/router and devices for optimal performance http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/magazines/MacFormat/Issue%20265/MAC265.mainfeat.AirPortUtility1-420-100.jpg Most of us only ever give a thought to our Wi-Fi network when something goes wrong. That something might be a sudden drop-off in signal strength, a reduction in speed, or an inability to connect to the network altogether. Each of those problems can either be caused by the device you're using, or by the network itself. You can easily check for the former by testing with different devices. It's worth noting, however, that just because you can connect to your Wi-Fi network with one device and not another, this doesn't mean there's a problem with the device. It could just be that, say, your iPad 4 is more capable than your iPhone 3G when it comes to hooking up to a Wi-Fi network with a less-than-perfect signal. Nevertheless, given that you can't do much about the device's inherent wireless ability, you need to optimise your network… Set-up Most modem/routers consist of a box with one port on the back that connects to your cable or phone line - usually labelled 'WAN' - and around four other ports that look the same, but that are labelled 'LAN' and designed to allow you to connect devices to the router using an Ethernet cable. Some (though not all) routers also have external antennae that give you a bit of flexibility in how they're positioned. The degree to which adjusting the antennae affects the signal's strength depends on the router. If your router has internal antennae, it may use a technology called 'beamforming' that increases the power of the signal in the direction of connected devices. Setting up the modem/router is as simple as plugging it into a mains power outlet and then connecting the supplied cable to your cable or phone line. In most cases, the SSID (Wi-Fi network name) and default password for the router will be on a sticky label on its underside. If not, it should have been supplied to you separately. Once you have the SSID and password, click on the Wi-Fi symbol in your Mac's menu bar and select the SSID from the menu. If it's not there, select Join Other Network and type in the SSID. Type in the default password, and you should be connected in a few seconds. The procedure on an iOS device is similar; just select Wi-Fi from the Settings app. If you don't have an Apple router (which is configured using AirPort Utility) you'll probably have been supplied with an internal IP address for the router, usually in the form 192.168.x.x, along with a username and password. Type that into the address bar in your browser and log in. Settings screens for routers vary, but somewhere there will be a W-Fi network menu. Select it and change the default SSID and password to something that's memorable to you. Also, change the admin username and password for the router settings. It's worth taking time to familiarise yourself with the options available. Router location Whether we have cable broadband or DSL, most of us have one box that doubles as a modem and router. Its location will be dictated by the location of your phone or cable point, and so you'll be limited in how far you can move it. Nevertheless, you should, as far as possible, place it well off the floor - either wall-mounted or on a desk or shelf, and as far from the corner of the room as possible. Wireless routers broadcast omni-directionally, and the closer you place yours to an obstacle like a brick wall, the more you'll restrict its signal. Ideally, you'd have it floating in mid-air just below the ceiling in the room that is closest to the centre of the house! Place it as close to that point as you're able. If your telephone or cable point is in the living room and your study is at the other end of the house, you might have to extend the range of your network or create a new one that has a wired connection to the router - we'll discuss both of these options later. Surroundings As we've said, wireless signals are obstructed by walls and other obstacles. Try and keep the area immediately around the router clear of sofas, bookcases, and anything else that might block the signal. If your telephone or cable point is close to the ground in the corner of a room, buy yourself a longer cable and give yourself more flexibility in where you can position the router. If that's not possible, consider buying a separate wireless router and connecting it to the modem/router with an Ethernet cable. Finally, wireless signals tend to be stronger below the router than above it, so when placing the router, the higher the better. If you plan to use the same one upstairs and downstairs, consider placing the modem/router upstairs, if possible. Check the signal Both Lion and Mountain Lion have tools that allow you to monitor wireless performance, but they're hidden away in the System/Library/CoreServices directory. You'll need to use Go To Folder (Command+Shift+G) in the Finder's Go menu to access the directory. In Lion, the tool is called Wi-Fi Diagnostics; in Mountain Lion, it's Wireless Diagnostics. When you've found it, launch it and select Monitor Performance. In Lion, all you need to do is click Continue. In Mountain Lion, click the Window menu and select Utilities (Command+2). Click the Performance tab. Depending on which version you're using, you'll see one or two graphs; both display the signal-to-noise ratio of the wireless signal. You can monitor the effect of any changes you make to router location. Your aim should be to maximise the difference between signal strength and noise, but focusing on reducing noise. Why? Because most of the time, your wireless network is a direct conduit to your internet connection, and it's the internet connection that acts as a bottleneck, not the signal strength of your wireless network. An unacceptably high level of noise, on the other hand, can lead to dropped packets, poor performance and dropped connections. Using Wireless Diagnostics is useful if you use AirPlay to stream audio and video from your Mac or iOS device to an Apple TV or AirPlay speaker, particularly if you mirror apps from an iOS device. Extending Wi-Fi Increase the effective range of your wireless network with these solutions http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/magazines/MacFormat/Issue%20265/MAC265.mainfeat.tc_front-420-100.jpg There are several ways in which you can extend a wireless network. The simplest - and potentially most effective - is to move your router. If it's positioned in the corner of a room at one end of the house, near the floor, move it higher and towards the middle of the house. If this isn't possible because your router is also your DSL or cable modem and needs to be close to a telephone or cable point, consider buying a separate router, and, ideally, connecting it to the modem/router by Ethernet. Equally, if your modem/router is more than a couple of years old, the chances are that it uses an older Wi-Fi standard than many of your devices. If you have an 802.11b or g router and have Macs and iOS devices that support 802.11g (or even 802.11ac), then upgrading your router, while not extending the range of your network significantly, will give you higher data throughput at the outer limits of the Wi-Fi signal. If you choose this route, you'll need to set your new router to 'bridge mode'. This effectively switches off its DHCP server and stops it handing out IP addresses, turning it into purely a wireless access point. That prevents it from conflicting with the router in your modem/router. Antennae upgrade Another option for extending your network is to upgrade the antennae. If your router has external antennae, you can replace them with high-gain antennae such as those made by Hawking, Edimax and D-Link. Alternatively, you can even create your own parabolic reflector that attaches to the antennae and bounces the signal towards where your devices are located. The final option is a wireless repeater or extender that sits at the outer edge of your Wi-Fi network and re-broadcasts the signal, allowing it to travel further. There are a couple of problems, however. Firstly, Wi-Fi signals are omni-directional, meaning that the re-broadcast signal from the repeater will not only extend your network, but will also be transmitted back towards your router, potentially interfering with the signal and degrading it. This is a particular problem on the 2.4GHz channel. Also, to be effective, a repeater should be situated close to the router, which somewhat defeats the object. Finally, a wireless distribution system (WDS) - used by routers to link to each other wirelessly - doubles the number of 'hops' required to send and receive data and, because the repeater must use half of its data capacity to connect to the router and the other half to connect to devices, its throughput is significantly reduced. If you can't move your modem/router, the best option is a new router set to bridge mode, and connected by Ethernet. Powerline networking Why run extra cabling when you can use what's already in your walls? Powerline networking uses the mains power cables in your house or office to carry data. It's a very effective way of installing a wired network without having to install Cat 5 cable, with all the disruption and expense that entails. At its simplest, a powerline network consists of one adapter plugged into a power socket with an Ethernet cable running from it to a LAN port on your modem/router. Another adapter is plugged in to a power socket close to your computer, printer or other device that needs a wired connection, and an Ethernet cable runs from it to your computer or device. Equipment is usually bought initially in the form of a kit that includes two adapters and two cables, and is then supplemented with the purchase of additional adapters as and when they're needed. While data can be transmitted anywhere within your home or office, it's secure because it's physically prevented from straying next door, in the same way as you can't accidentally use your neighbour's electricity supply to run your kettle. In addition, there are no issues with signal strength falling off the further you move from the router, and noise is minimal (though in older properties with ancient wiring, you might have a problem). Power up Powerline adapters come in various shapes and sizes and are differentiated in two ways. The first is data throughput. Early powerline adapters were limited to data transfer rates measured in mere tens of megabits per second. Nowadays, most adaptors have throughputs of 200Mbits/ sec or 500Mbits/sec. The second way in which powerline adapters differ is in their physical features. One of the biggest limitations of a powerline network is that it occupies one power outlet for every adapter. If you're short of sockets, that can be a problem. Some adapters now have passthrough sockets so that you don't lose the power outlet and can plug a lamp, TV or whatever into the powerline adapter. Most adapters have one Ethernet port, but there are some on the market with up to four sockets, which might be useful if you have, say, a computer and printer close to one another; you can connect both to the same adapter. Finally, most powerline adapters have the plug physically connected to the adapter. But some multi-port adapters take the form of a small box into which you connect a power lead. These are bulkier, but come with the advantage that they won't block a neighbouring plug socket in a power strip (though you shouldn't really plug a powerline adapter into a multi-point strip, since those multiple sockets can introduce noise and degrade the signal). Well-known brands of adapters include Belkin, D-Link, devolo and Netgear. Choosing your router It's worth not just sticking with whatever router your ISP supplied; here's why http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/magazines/MacFormat/Issue%20265/MAC265.mainfeat.WiFi_Explorer-420-100.jpg This is the point in the feature at which we're supposed to take you step-by-step through all the things you should consider when buying a new wireless router. And we will, but before we do that, let's be clear: if you're a Mac user with an iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch and those are the only devices you're going to connect to a wireless router, there's really only one game in town: AirPort Extreme. OK, two games in town: if you want the extra features, consider a Time Capsule too. The reasons are many. Firstly, when hooking up wireless devices, sticking to one vendor is generally a good idea (WDS implementation varies between vendors). And while we can't guarantee that the original manufacturer of the wireless chip inside the latest AirPort Extreme is the same as the one in your Mac or iOS device, we can be pretty damn sure that Apple has tested it exhaustively for compatibility with (at the very least) its current product line-up. Secondly, AirPort Extreme supports the latest 802.11ac standard, meaning that, while you might not have any 802.11ac devices currently, it's future-proofed. 802.11ac has a theoretical maximum throughput of 1,300Mbps, and while you won't get anything like that - particularly if you're connecting g and n devices - its support for 80MHz wideband means that when you do eventually acquire ac devices, they'll have plenty of bandwidth. AirPort Extreme also supports beamforming, the technology that ensures the wireless signal is strongest exactly where you need it. And it looks kinda pretty too. If you can't stretch to an AirPort Extreme, consider AirPort Express. It's 802.11n compliant, and operates on both 5GHz and 2.4GHz. Plug its WAN port into a LAN port on your modem/ router, or connect it using powerline networking, and you can use it to surf the internet from places your modem/router won't reach, or to upgrade an 802.11g router to 802.11n. Outside the Apple universe, there are numerous things to consider. If you want a wireless router purely to connect a laptop and a couple of other devices to the internet, forget about data throughput. As we explain in the WAN section, your internet connection is the bottleneck there, and upgrading your wireless network won't help. What might assist matters is a dual-band router; if you have devices that support 802.11n, look for a router that supports the n standard. Separating 2.4GHz and 5GHz devices reduces interference and improves the performance of your network. But avoid routers that support only 5GHz - unless you know you'll never have to connect a 2.4GHz device. For flexibility, a router with four Ethernet (preferably gigabit rather than 100 Base-T) ports will allow you to connect devices directly with Ethernet cables. This might be more important than you think. If, for example, you have a Virgin Media TiVo box and want to use the Virgin Media Anywhere iOS app to control it, the box must be connected to your network by cable. Similarly, if you have a set-top box, smart TV, or games console that doesn't have built-in wireless capability, or supports only b or g, you may be better off hooking it up to your network directly (assuming it has an Ethernet port) rather than buying a separate Wi-Fi adaptor. Talking of ports, some routers, like AirPort Extreme, have a USB socket. This is good. You can either hook up a printer and make it accessible to Macs and PCs on the network, or attach a hard drive and share its files over the network. We'd recommend a dedicated NAS box, not least for the extra features it offers, if you plan to share files on a network, but a USB hard drive attached to a router is great for occasional use. The ability to create a guest network is a pretty clever feature, too. Did we mention that AirPort Extreme can do that? A guest network allows you to give visitors to your home or office wireless access to the internet, without letting them roam freely over the rest of your network. Support for WPA2 security should be a given, but double-check to make sure. And a decent router should also have a WPS (Wi-Fi protected set-up) button to allow you to connect compatible devices without too much fiddling. Internal or external antennae? Excellent question, glad you asked: most routers now come with the antennae hidden away inside the case. That, of course, makes them more aesthetically appealing - a not-insignificant consideration, given what we've already said about placement. Routers with external antennae, however, do have a couple of advantages. The first is that you can adjust an antenna to improve the signal, though in reality this is likely to make little difference. The second is that you can replace the antennae with third-party versions; these might allow you to place them away from the router, say, higher up, and improve the signal. That's an additional expense, however, and again, not likely to improve matters a great deal, so don't fixate on getting a router with its antennae on the outside. Don't ignore travel routers. If your purpose in buying a router is to create a bridged wireless network or to act as an access point to an internet connection rather than to connect multiple devices using Ethernet, it might be worth considering a travel router. For obvious reasons, these boxes are smaller than regular routers, and typically have fewer Ethernet ports and smaller antennae. But they're very capable and have the advantage that they can be taken with you, so if you find yourself in a hotel room with wired internet access you can create your own in-room wireless network. The need for speed How fast the internet is piped into your home depends on many factors http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/magazines/MacFormat/Issue%20265/MAC265.mainfeat.Simultaneous_dualband-420-100.jpg Every router has a port labelled 'WAN', which stands for Wide Area Network. It's the port used to plug into your phone line or cable socket to connect it to the internet. For all our attempts to maximise the performance of your network, if all you do with it is connect to the internet (rather than, say, stream video around the house or mirror an iPad over AirPlay), it's that connection that will be the bottleneck. While 802.11n has a theoretical maximum throughput of 450Mbps (that's megabits; equivalent to 37.5 megabytes/sec) your internet connection is likely to have a maximum data rate of somewhere between 2Mbps and 120Mbps. Most of us have connections at the bottom end of that range, and like Wi-Fi, the real-world figure is much lower than the theoretical maximum. You can check the actual speed of your internet connection by heading to speedtest.net and running the test there; it's a good way of discovering how close to your ISP's advertised rate you're actually getting. It compiles results from users' tests and from those puts together league tables of ISPs. So if you're not happy with yours, you can look at which ISPs are delivering data throughput that more closely resembles their advertised rate. It's worth doing the test at different times of day to see how the rate varies. Your internet connection is, in reality, 'shared' with your neighbours. That is to say, that if lots of people in your street use, for example, a BT or Virgin Media connection, you'll be effectively sharing bandwidth with them. That's known as contention. Contention ratio - the degree to which bandwidth is shared - varies from ISP to ISP. But it it's likely that your internet connection will slow significantly at peak times, such as the evening, when your neighbours are also online. There's another factor that affects your internet connection speed: traffic shaping or traffic management. Most ISPs use some form of management to limit the effect the most bandwidth-hungry users have on their network. Virgin Media, for example, throttles users' connections at peak times if they exceed a certain figure for downloads during a specified period. It also limits the speed of traffic to and from newsgroups and peer-to-peer networks during peak times, but claims that this only affects five per cent of its customers. Other ISPs place limits on how much you can download in a month (which should be clearly stated in your contract) or, like Virgin, limit speeds for some users during peak times. Now why not read Best router: 10 top wireless routers for every budget

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/events/google/Google%20IO%202012/GOOGLE%20I-O%20DAY%20ONE/P6271394-470-75.JPGGoogle has asked a court in California to rule on a patent issue that was first raised by Rockstar Consortium in Texas in October. Rockstar, a patent firm backed by Microsoft, Apple, BlackBerry, Ericsson and Sony, outbid Google to acquire a pack of patents for $4.5 billion in 2011. Then in October this year Rockstar proceeded to sue Samsung, HTC and five other Google partners in a Texas court for allegedly infringing on seven of those patents. Now Google has reached out to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California to ask the court to rule that its Nexus devices and the Android devices produced by its partners do not in fact infringe on Rockstar's patents. They're certainly not making Grand Theft AutoFrom the outside looking in it would appear that Rockstar Consortium is nothing more than a patent troll looking to dampen Android's dominance. Google certainly things so at least. In its filing with the California court, the search company said Rockstar "produces no products and practices no patents." "Instead," the filing reads, "Rockstar employs a staff of engineers in Ontario, Canada, who examine other companies' successful products to find anything that Rockstar might use to demand and extract licenses to its patents under threat of litigation." Google believes the California court has jurisdiction because Rockstar shareholders (like Apple, for one) and companies Rockstar litigates against are located in the Golden State. Everything's biggerTexas courts are notorious for being lenient toward patent claims, even when said cases appear to be obvious instances of patent trolling. In a separate but related case Rockstar and subsidiary NetStar Technologies have sued Google in Texas over another seven patents concerning search queries and related ads, an important part of Google's business. Google has asked for a 30-day extension to issue a response in that case. 10 worst enemies of tech: who's holding us back?http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/353be616/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/184842301020/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/353be616/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842301020/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/353be616/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842301020/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/353be616/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842301020/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/353be616/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/184842301020/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/353be616/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/K1uiHhOOA6k

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Android/android_htc_update_anatomy-470-75.jpgAndroid fragmentation is one of the operating system's main problems, but HTC has launched a new page that aims to explain the process of getting a new update out to handsets. The site demystifies the Android update process by outlining the steps an OS update has to go through before it reaches various devices. It also shows the Android 4.4: KitKat upgrade status for various editions of the HTC One (some are up to date, while carrier versions are still waiting), as well as the latest software version for other HTC devices. Plus it features a lengthy and detailed infographic with the 12 steps an update takes between leaving Google and reaching your device. An effort at transparency"HTC is focused on providing timely software updates for both HTC Sense innovation and major Google Android releases," the site reads. "In an effort to bring transparency to this process, we will be marking the steps of preparation and our progress, by device and carrier." It describes the numerous steps an Android update takes before reaching handsets, including evaluation, development, integration, certification, and push to customer. In addition the process is different for unlocked devices, carrier-specific devices, and Google Play editions. It begins with Google releasing the platform development kit to the phone maker (in this case HTC), which happens even before the new OS version is publicly announced. Plenty happens in between that and an update finally reaching users' phones and tablets. Head to HTC.com to check out the full infographic (click the icon after "to see a diagram of the full process" at the top of the page). Android 4.4 KitKat: when can I get it?http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/353b7c7a/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/184842299261/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/353b7c7a/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842299261/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/353b7c7a/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842299261/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/353b7c7a/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842299261/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/353b7c7a/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/184842299261/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/353b7c7a/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/TXQpMuLUUKU

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/iPhone/Siri/Siri-01-470-75.jpgApple is planning to widen the scope of its hit-and-miss personal voice assistant Siri, in order to include iPhone owners' photo libraries, judging by a newly published patent application. The filing, spotted by AppleInsider, speaks of "a method for tagging or searching images using a voice-based digital assistant." Users would be able to tag the photos as they take them, with one example quoting a user saying "This is me at the beach" with other photos in the same geographic location tagged accordingly. According to the application, the tech would also recognise faces, buildings and landscapes to apply tags to photos in the iOS Camera Roll. Call 'em upNaturally, users would then be able to call up those photos at will by using Siri to say "show pictures of me at the beach." The company is already grouping like minded photos together within the iOS 7 Photos app, so adding Siri to this wouldn't be too much of a stretch. The application itself was published in March 2013, so if Apple plans to follow through on the feature, it's somewhat surprising the functionality wasn't built into iOS 7. Siri hasn't reached its potential yet, but here are 10 ways Apple could make Siri brilliant.http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/353ad62c/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/184842284473/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/353ad62c/sc/21/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842284473/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/353ad62c/sc/21/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842284473/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/353ad62c/sc/21/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842284473/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/353ad62c/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/184842284473/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/353ad62c/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/FuKrh1Xz560

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/other/fridge_insult-470-75.jpgLG is building a messaging service into its new range of connected smart home appliances, allowing users to control them remotely from a mobile device. The new HomeChat feature, which will use the cross-platform Line messaging app, will be built into the company's new washing machines, refrigerators, ovens and robotic vacuum cleaners. To that end, users will be able to send the refrigerator a text to enter power saving mode, if they go on holiday or set the vacuum cleaner off around the house. Users will also be able to text the cleaner to ask when it last made a lap around the house. Remote laundryHomeChat could also be used to remotely start a load of laundry on compatible machines, receive notifications when it's completed and also download the latest wash cycles. For the company's newest smart ovens, owners will be able to use HomeChat to set the cooking mode depending on the recipe. The range of appliances, which have yet to be named, will be revealed at CES 2014 in Las Vegas, which kicks off in less than two weeks time. LG set to enter the wearables arena with two wrest accessories at MWC?http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/353a884b/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/184842297778/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/353a884b/sc/21/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842297778/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/353a884b/sc/21/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842297778/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/353a884b/sc/21/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842297778/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/353a884b/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/184842297778/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/353a884b/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/BchjwItKbK8

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/Nokia/Nokia_Normandy_colours_leak-470-75.jpgFirst it was on, then it was off, now we just don't know. The rumoured Nokia smartphone running Android has reportedly appeared online again, with its launch status still anyone's guess. The handset - codenamed Normandy - was may have become the first Nokia handset to adopt Google's operating system, word would have it, but Microsoft's purchase of Nokia appeared to kill the prospects. Regardless of whether it's coming or not, it hasn't stopped that prolific Twitter leak artist @evleaks from giving the world another look at what the handset might look like, if it ever graced us with its presence. The purported press render is much like previous leaks, only this time it appears in a range of colours including lime green, while, yellow, red, blue and black. What might have beenJust last week reports claimed the handset had been shelved, largely due to Microsoft's recently announced stewardship of its big Windows Phone manufacturing partner. According to the report from Chinese blog CTech, the team experimenting with Android is now working on wireless charging tech instead; suggesting that might just be that. With a launch now somewhat of a long shot, the Nokia Normandy might just end up being one of those tech 'what might have been' stories. If Nokia had embraced Android three years ago then, most observers would say, it wouldn't have had to sell out to Microsoft in the first place, but sadly we'll never know. http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/35275d0d/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/184842140312/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35275d0d/sc/21/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842140312/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35275d0d/sc/21/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842140312/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35275d0d/sc/21/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842140312/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35275d0d/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/184842140312/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35275d0d/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/020i52Hd7i8

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/iPhone/iOS%20history/iOS6_AppleMaps-470-75.jpgApple CEO Tim Cook has said the company acquired 15 companies in 2013, but only 10 have been revealed. Now it seems two more may have been uncovered. The Apple fan site 9to5Mac has unearthed a pile of evidence that suggests that Apple bought the mapping data company BroadMap and the location-based Evernote competitor Catch. BroadMap specialized in map data processing, which Apple could conceivably use to improve its own Apple Maps app. Catch, meanwhile, was a note-taking app that could use location data to conveniently sort text and multimedia notes. But it appeared to shut its doors in August for mysterious reasons. Catch thisAccording to a source 9to5Mac spoke with, Apple acquired BroadMap in the first half of 2013 so that Apple could mine the company for talent, not necessarily technology. And according to the LinkedIn profile of BroadMap CEO Daniel Perrone BroadMap was acquired by a "Fortune 5" company. None of the top five Fortune 500 companies in 2013 have a use for mapping tech, but Apple sits near the top of the list at number six. And several former BroadMap executives list Apple as their current employer on LinkedIn, though Perrone does not. That all points to one thing: Apple having bought BroadMap. But the case for Apple having similarly acquired Catch, on the other hand, is slightly more tenuous. Catch shut down in August after its executives decided "to take the company in a different direction." They had just launched an enterprise service called Catch Team. But Catch was promoted heavily in Apple Store locations, on Apple's website, and at Apple events. And sources reportedly told 9to5Mac that many former Catch employees, including the company's co-founder, are now at Apple working on iOS software. That's not confirmed, but it's not implausible that Apple would buy the company out apparently growing so fond of it. So what?What might Apple do with these technologies? The former BroadMap executives' LinkedIn profiles claim they're now on Apple's maps team, so it seems their talents are being used to improve the company's oft-maligned Apple Maps. Catch might be used to improve iOS and OS X's native note-taking apps, though the location capabilities could also factor into anything from Apple Maps to Siri. What's certain is that as always, 2014 is going to be an interesting year for Apple. Need to do any last-minute shopping? Refer to TechRadar's holiday gift guide for all your tech- and game-gifting needs!http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/35261dc3/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/184842118640/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35261dc3/sc/21/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842118640/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35261dc3/sc/21/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842118640/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35261dc3/sc/21/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842118640/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35261dc3/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/184842118640/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35261dc3/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/HN2_bVLKMds

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/Sony/XperiaZ/HandsOn/XperiaZ-HandsOn-01-470-75.JPGWhile there's little sign of any action on the Android KitKat front, some Sony Xperia handset owners can at least comfort themselves with a little 4.3 Jelly Bean over the festive season. On Monday, the Japanese giant rolled out the second newest version of Android for the Sony Xperia Z, Xperia ZR, Xperia ZL and the Xperia Tablet Z. However, it's not just some sweet Jelly Beans sitting within this update, set to hit unlocked handsets before those tethered to networks, Sony is also bundling in some of its own goodies. The Smart Social Camera suite of apps, which arrived on the Xperia Z1, is also included along with improved Battery Stamina and Walkman apps. Let us know if you can grab it... More blips!You don't need to wait for an OTA update for these rapid fire blips... 'Go Away Cameron' Chrome extension nullifies PM's porn blockadeStar Wars' social (imperial) march continues, gives Tumblr a Force infusionMotorola cries 'Timber!,' launches wood-backed Moto Xhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/35261dc6/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/184842118639/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35261dc6/sc/21/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842118639/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35261dc6/sc/21/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842118639/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35261dc6/sc/21/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842118639/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35261dc6/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/184842118639/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35261dc6/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/QPnXKisCkSU

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/Apps/AllCast_Android_app-470-75.jpgA powerful app which allows Android device owners to stream photos and videos to a host of connected devices is now available on the Google Play store. A full version of the AllCast app has landed within Google's download portal, following a brief period in beta, bringing streaming power to compatible devices like the Apple TV and Roku set-top boxes. The app, which plays nice with devices on the same Wi-Fi network will also beam content to the Xbox One and Xbox 360 consoles, as well as Samsung and Panasonic Smart TVs. At the moment the app streams photos and videos, stored both locally and in the cloud, but creator ClockworkMod's Koushik Dutta has promised support for music will be coming soon. CastableAs for Google's own streaming device, the Chromecast dongle, well AllCast doesn't support it yet and won't until Google relaxes the rules in the new year. Most Chromecast compatible apps are landing as the weeks go by, but it is thought Google is preparing to facilitate compatibility with all Android apps, with hundreds of developers expressing interest in embracing the platform. "Our broader goal is for Google Cast to be established as a standard," Google VP of Product Management Mario Queiroz said recently. "There will be an expectation from consumers that any and every app will be 'castable.'" In the meantime, you can see what AllCast is all about in the video below. " width="420">YouTube : Apple TV vs Chromecast: Which is better?http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/35251cf5/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/184842095414/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35251cf5/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842095414/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35251cf5/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842095414/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35251cf5/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842095414/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35251cf5/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/184842095414/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35251cf5/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/WgCQp7WEhPs

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/features/3D%20printing%20explained/print-470-75.jpg3D printing technology is becoming more ubiquitous by the day thanks to regular releases of new, cheaper and simpler printers. What was once a novel market is beginning to poke out of its niche, though the tech certainly hasn't gained widespread adoption. Still, is 3D printing becoming a buyers market? The short answer is yes. Throughout 2013 we saw an explosion of new 3D printers, some of which reached their lowest price points yet, such as the $199 (about £121/AU$217) QU-BD OneUp 3D. Admittedly, some assembly is required, but at a budget offering is certainly a sign of growing choice (and broader market reach) for the machinery. With a sizeable contingent of more affordable next-gen printers launching with the help of resources like Kickstarter, 3D printing is beginning to take a plunge in the mainstream consumer market. There's still a long way to go before we're all printing whatever item we need from the comfort of home, but the groundwork is certainly lain for next year and beyond to see a boom in 3D printing. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/3D%20Printing%202014/QU-BD%20OneUp%203D%20printer-420-100.jpg In stores nowIn the last year alone, MakerBot Replicator 2 machines found themselves on sale in Microsoft retail stores with Windows 8.1 support to boot. Staples, meanwhile, started carrying 3D Systems' Cube 3D printers in May. One of the latest printers to join the big box store circuit was the Solidoodle 4, which is one of the few fully assembled 3D printers available for $999 (about £607/AU$1,092) at Micro Centers around the US. To help get a sense of the challenges of bringing 3D printers to retail, we spoke with Solidoodle's CEO and Founder Sam Cervantes. Cervantes said the Solidoodle 4 was made to be a retail evolution of the company's last printer, which produced 8-inch-squared parts with the same 0.1mm resolution as the MakerBot Replicator 2. What has changed is the outer casing - now it has it's finished with a plastic exterior. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/3D%20Printing%202014/Solidoodle%204-420-100.jpg It's a small difference, but it makes the printer look more like a mini refrigerator that belong in the home than an out-of-place steel cube. "We want to make a machine with a clean, finished appearance and an easy-to-use product," Cervantes explained. Beyond looks, the Solidoodle 4 is also more user friendly. "The Solidoodle 4 is usable with no tools required. Previously, you had to use a screwdriver to set the first layer height [the starting layer of the print], but now we've included a thumbwheel that's accessible from the outside. You don't have to open the machine and use a tool." Easy on the eyes and not a lot of brainsBeyond the availability of affordable, accessible and user-friendly machines, one of the largest barriers to 3D printing has always been the steep learning curve of sending designs to the printer. Cervantes said that the hardware is just one component; he and this team at Solidoodle have worked hard to create a series of one-click software for Macs, Windows and Linux to get its printers up and running within a few hours. "After you install the software you open the STL file and slice it just a couple of clicks and warm up your printer," Cervantes explained. "Once you're familiar with the whole process to go from turning on your printer and warming it up, it usually takes about five minutes, and most of that is warm up time." "It's easier than ever before to purchase a printer and start creating right away - your own 3D designs or the ones you find online," he continued. 3D printing is actually a decades old technology that's existed since the 1980s but primarily was only accessible to the manufacturing sector and community of tinkerers, such as the RepRap project. Along with the development of consumer priced printers that can sit on top of someone's desk, manufactuerers have strived to simplify the entire 3D model design process. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/3D%20Printing%202014/MakerBot%20Digitizer-420-100.jpg For those without AutoCad knowhow or expertise in creating their own STL files (the 3D blueprint used by 3D printers), there are cloud services such as MakerBot's Thingiverse and 3D System's Cubify to let you pick out designs by other makers. Object replication is also quickly becoming a simple matter thanks to consumer targeted 3D scanners like the Digitizer and Sense. Catching fire at CESAt CES 2014 in early next month, 3D printing could see another injection of innovation - this will be the first year with a TechZone devoted entirely to the technology. According to the Consumer Electronics Association, which runs the show, there will be no less than 28 manufacturers displaying their 3D wares. There will be a number of big name printer makers like higher resolution firm FormLabs, the paper printing Mcor Technologies, and MakerBot, which is also host a keynote. "There's all the top names from this nascent industry at this TechZone and giving demos on a variety of applications from general use products, but also showing prototypes for medical use, engineering [and] automotive," CEA's Director of Industry Analysis Steve Koenig told us. "It's going to be a pretty hot area for this coming show." Just like nearly every bit of tech before it, Koenig said the key to 3D printing finding its way into consumers' homes is its price. In order for cheaper printers to happen there has to be competition, which is exactly what CEA expects to see at CES and beyond. "Within a couple of years 3D printers will be well under $1,000 (about £612/AU$1,112) and that will enable people to create a variety of things from Christmas ornaments to cell phone cases, or missing furniture pieces," Koenig theorized. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/3D%20Printing%202014/Solid-Concepts-3D-Printed-Metal-Gun-420-100.jpg Koenig noted that consumer awareness of the technology is still budding. As of late, 3D printing is getting more play in the news whether it be the controversy of 3D printed hand guns, plans for 3D printed phones, or HP joining the fray. "I think we're only now just seeing the tip of the iceberg in terms of the applications of this technology, and once it really gets out there into the consumer space, which is beginning to happen, that's where the real innovation is going to come from." A burgeoning marketKoenig also dropped a number of figures numbers from CEA's various forecasts that support the growing trend of consumer 3D printing. The CEA accounts that there were 63,000 consumer-use 3D printers sold in the last year, grossing an estimated $87 million (about £52.9m/AU$95.1m) worldwide. In 2014 the association expects 3D printer sales to increase by 44% to 91,000 units, amassing a 41% revenue spike for a total year's earnings of $123 million (about £74.8m/AU$134.5m). http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/printer_servers/robox-1-420-100.JPG The US holds the lion's share of the 3D printing market with 41,000 printers. That number is expected to increase to 60,000 next year. US revenues for 3D printers meanwhile were estimated around $52 million (about £31.6m/AU$56.8m) with an expected rise to $74 million (about £45m/AU$80.9m). The CEA also gave us records for 2012 that places 38,000 3D printers sold worldwide, 25,000 in the US alone, and $54 million (about £32.8m/AU$59m) grossed worldwide with $32 million (about £19.4m/AU$35m) in the US. After 2014, things are only looking up for the advanced fabrication world when it's predicted the market will skyrocket to 250,000 units and $330 million (about £200.7m/AU$361m) in revenue worldwide. Koenig was sure to note that these numbers only account for the consumer, home, and small business-use market. "Down the line I can envision more models being wrapped around this technology," Koenig continued. "We already have kiosks at the pet store that laser engrave dog tags, so why not put a 3D printing kiosk at wireless retailers that will while you're filling out paper work for your new two-year agreement? "There are a lot of interesting possibilities with this technology and a lot of things you could use it for that have benefit in our daily lives." Technology still in its infancyDespite the advances in 3D printing and explosion of new machines, the technology is only starting to hit its stride. Makers, start-ups, and major manufacturers have barely scratched the surface of where 3D printing can go. Case in point: It was only a few weeks ago that 3D Systems announced the first full-tone 3D printer, letting users create rainbow-colored objects. While 3D System's 600-pound ProJet 4500 is simply too masive for the average consumer, it's machinery that will likely be employed by 3D printing services such as ShapeWays and iMaterialise. In a few years this color printing technology could be optimized and commercialized in the same way fused deposition modeling (or FDM, the current and popular method of 3D printing with hot extruded plastic) is being adapted for home use. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/3D%20Printing%202014/Emerging%20Objects-420-100.jpg Beyond the tools, new materials are also being researched. Oakland, Calif.-based Emerging Objects is experimenting with stronger, alternative materials for architectural builds using salt and a fibrous concrete that can withstand 4,500 pounds of pressure. And looking abroad, Europe is becoming the world's leader in producing new materials. One German 3D printing materials inventor alone has created two revolutionary materials; , a composite wood and plastic filament, and , a strong enough for architectural builds. Scanning through the 3D hype machine Hyperbole is contagious on the web, so it's important to look at the promise of 3D printing with some skepticism. For one thing, it's far from perfect, and botched prints are a dime a dozen. That's not to mention the price or size restrictions we've already run through. Still, it's impossible to ignore the enthusiasm of current buyers and future 3D printing developments. Commercial FDM or extruded plastic printers have come a long way from one MakerBot Cupcake CNC machine and a handful of homemades. Today there are many more affordable printers in the market. At the same time, the industry continues to expand and simplify a database of 3D models for users to fabricate. Beyond FDM, the world may start moving to other types of technology such as stereolithography, which can create higher-resolution (or thinner layer) objects with light-sensitive liquid resin, or truly self-built circuit boards through laser sintering that melts fine metal powders into solid shapes. The stage is set for 3D printers to start sitting side-by-side with their inkjet brethren at office supply stores and occupying a coveted spot in our home offices. With the New Year, look for the new-ish tech to take hold. Get caught up on all the latest news and rumors for CES 2014 right here!

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/logos/nsa_seal_2-470-75.jpgThe US National Security Agency (NSA) arranged a secret $10 million (£6.1 million, AU$11.2 million) contract with security company RSA to embed flaws in its encryption software. It is not clear at this stage whether the deal with RSA was a singular one or if other security firms may have been approached. Documents leaked by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden show that the NSA created and promulgated a flawed formula for generating random numbers. This was used to create a 'back door' in security products. Reuters reported that the RSA became the most important distributor of that formula. The firm is reportedly implementing it in a software tool used to enhance security in personal computers and other products. It has now been disclosed that the company received substantial payment for this. RSA, now a subsidiary company of storage giant EMC, has a long history of championing privacy and security. It played a major role in blocking the NSA's effort in 1990s to enable spying on a wide range of computers and products. DenialThe firm urged people to stop using the NSA formula after the Snowden disclosures revealed its weakness. A statement from the company said "RSA always acts in the best interest of its customers and under no circumstances does RSA design or enable any back doors in our products. Decisions about the features and functionality of RSA products are our own." NSA documents released in recent months have called for 'commercial relationships' to advance their security goals, but did not name any specific firms as collaborators. The agency came under attack this week in a report from a White House panel. The panel noted that "encryption is an essential basis for trust on the internet," and called for a halt to NSA efforts to undermine in. Beat the NSA and GCHQ at their own gamehttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/35234f55/sc/1/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/184842099525/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35234f55/sc/1/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842099525/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35234f55/sc/1/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842099525/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35234f55/sc/1/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842099525/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35234f55/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/184842099525/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35234f55/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/OcpZuHtYbqA

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/internet/ecommerce/Bitcoin-470-75.jpgA security research team has revealed that Cryptolocker, a new form of ransomware, may have managed to infect anywhere between 200,000 to 250,000 devices and could have collected over $980,000 (£600,000, AU$1,000,000) in Bitcoins. Dell SecureWork's counter-threat unit has examined the infection rates of the Cryptolocker malware and claims that it has been developed in either Russia or Eastern Europe. The earliest infection this year would have happened around September 5 this year. How the malware is distributed is still not clear. Ransomware is a successful new breed of malware and virus that finds and locks away essential files on a victim's computer. The encrypted files are held locked away until the user meets the demands of payment within 72 hours – displayed ominously in the form of an on-screen timer. It targets mapped drives, Dropbox files, and all locally connected, network attached or cloud-based storage. "Difficult to circumvent"Unlike traditional malware and viruses, which can be removed via the use of antivirus programs, Cryptolocker cannot be removed. If a user does attempt to root out the virus there is still no way to access the files it encrypts. All decryption keys are located on one of Cryptolocker servers. Only if the user pays the ransom are the files released again. "By using a sound implementation and following best practices, the authors of Cryptolocker have created a robust program that is difficult to circumvent," SecureWorks notes in a blog post. "Instead of using a custom, cryptographic implementation like many other malware families, Cryptolocker uses strong third-party certified cryptography offered by Microsoft's CryptoAPI." Strangely Cryptolocker also has its own dedicated support system for people who pay their ransom but miss the deadline. There have been reports of the author of the program actively answering help question on online forums, including this thread. SecureWorks estimates that the ransomware has infected 250,000 systems in the first 100 days of its life. Cyber-thieves thriving on ransomware kithttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/35380444/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.pnghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/4niSNxJolho

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/magazines/Linux/Issue%20178/LXF178.feat_crowd.crowdfunding-470-75.jpg What's the common link between a customisable smartwatch, an Android-based gaming console and an open source blogging platform and an open world survival videogame? Besides all them being hugely popular in their respective genres, these compelling hardware and software projects all saw the light of day only thanks to small monetary contributions supplied by complete strangers. The idea of crowdfunding or reaching out to individual people to raise money isn't new. What is new is the way the money is being raised. Thanks to the internet and social media, it's easier to find and connect with people who share your passions. This leads to more effective and efficient ways of reaching the right people who are willing to open their wallets to fund your projects. Crowdfunding is nothing short of an economic revolution. According to research firm Massolution, in 2012 individuals on crowdfunding platforms raised $2.7 billion and successfully funded more than 1 million campaigns. By the end of 2013, the firm expects the average Joe investor to take this figure to a whopping $5.1 billion. Best free video editing software: 9 top programs you should downloadBut while crowdfunding allows you to swim in money, you shouldn't just dive right in. Don't let the super successful campaigns fool you. Harnessing the power of the crowd is an involved process. There's more to raising money than just putting up your story, offering freebies and waiting for the money to roll into your bank account. Before you launch a crowdfunding campaign, there are a lot of things you should know. A successful crowdfunding project requires all the attributes of a social and a business campaign. You have to supplement your big idea with research and marketing strategies. In this feature we'll give you the ins and outs of crowdfunding and highlight its advantages over traditional avenues of raising funds. We'll also share advice from people who have been there and done it to help you plan your project; all the way through launch to successful funding and delivery, while avoiding the potential pitfalls. You'll also learn about the various crowdfunding platforms out there, so that you can make an informed decision when you are selecting the one best suited for your campaign. Crowd sourcing 101 A crash course in cashing in. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/magazines/Linux/Issue%20178/LXF178.feat_crowd.kickstarter-420-90.jpg While contributing to someone's crowdsourcing campaign doesn't require much more than a mouse click, setting up your own is a lot more work. Keep these statistics in mind if you're thinking of launching a campaign without doing your homework: only under 50% of all projects on Kickstarter have been successful and 10% of projects that are launched have never received a single pledge! But once you get the hang of crowdfunding, you can turn those stats on their head. As you'll see it's the best methodology for raising capital and finding a marketplace, whether you are trying to mass produce an innovative hardware device or hack together a piece of software. What is crowdfunding? Crowdfunding is a subset of the much broader concept of crowdsourcing, which has come to mean a lot of things, but is the process of connecting with a large group of people via the internet to tap their knowledge, expertise, time or other resources. Crowdfunding is specifically about raising the cold cash; it's the collective cooperation of people who network and pool their money together to form the financial backing for a project. The crowdfund is an individual or a group that comes forward with a plan for a project they wish to fund, and then look to a group of people coming together to actually provide the money to support the development and actual delivery of the project. Essentially, crowdfunding is using the internet's access to the masses to raise capital by connecting people who have the talent and ideas with people that would be interested in those ideas and have the funds to invest. There are some key characteristics unique to crowdfunding projects that help distinguish it from other avenues of raising funds and collaborating on projects. For starters, crowdfunding projects involve microfinance. By inviting small contributions, crowdfunding lowers the barrier for people to participate. People who perhaps never thought of themselves as investors before can do so now. Crowdfunding projects must also offer some kind of reward even if it is something intangible like the mere association with the project or a feel good factor. Rewards make the project attractive and having a diverse range of rewards, often based on the amount that an individual pledges, makes it attractive to a larger group of people. Also, all projects must have well-defined targets, which is usually a sum that you want to raise within a stipulated time. Another key aspect of crowdfunding projects is promotion and marketing. The traditional routes for raising money have been through venture capitalists and angel investors that offer private equity or through plain-old monetary loans from your local bank. An eager entrepreneur approaches these entities with a business plan and has to hope that the person scrutinising every detail of their plan can see that there will be a good financial return for any initial investment. This is in stark contrast to crowdfunding where, using online social media, the entrepreneur can access hundreds of potential investors through crowdfunding websites, who aren't necessarily interested in making a buck off the back of someone else's talent. This is what makes it one of the most popular non-traditional methods of acquiring funds. The barriers are down http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/magazines/Linux/Issue%20178/LXF178.feat_crowd.gunio-420-90.jpg Unlike the usual funding methods, where the funds come from a single entity or a tightly knit group, a crowdfunding campaign leverages social media to pitch the project to the mass-market for achieving its financial goal. Here modest cash contributions from a lot of people add up to a substantial amount of money. The most exciting thing about crowdfunding is seeing it in action: "The thing about crowdfunding is that it totally removes all the barriers between the person with an idea and their customer," believes James Carey, designer at Big Robot, developers of Sir, You Are Being Hunted which was funded using a Kickstarter campaign. "You don't have to convince anyone other than the end user that this thing is worth having. No banks, no focus groups, no grants councils. Because of that, ideas that would never have been seen as viable by 'experts' in a given industry get the chance to exist. In my opinion that's the best thing the internet has done in years," says Carey. Depending on the type of campaign you are running, people that contribute to a crowdfunding project don't expect a monetary return, shares or even their money back. Instead of treating it as a traditional form of investment, they invest to support a cause or venture they believe in, with the hopes that it will succeed. Carey is of the opinion that one should look at crowdfunding as purchasing, not investment: "People are speculatively shopping. Buying in advance. Pre-ordering." Another factor that sets crowdfunding apart from the traditional sources for securing funds is the passion of everyone involved. You are pooling funds from people who are passionate about a project or an idea and want to help bring those ideas to life. In a webinar, one of the oldest crowdfunding platforms, Indiegogo (www.indiegogo.com) advises people to think of crowdfunding as shared enthusiasm and not pan-handling. The whole idea of a successful crowdfunding campaign should be to share the passion that you have for a specific project in order to get the audience excited about it. You are allowing them to look behind-the-scenes and understand why you are so passionate about the project in order to get them onboard and contribute. No matter how much funds they may or may not have. If they don't share your enthusiasm, they won't contribute. The side perks http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/magazines/Linux/Issue%20178/LXF178.feat_crowd.catincan-420-90.jpg Although raising capital is the most obvious reason for crowdfunding, there are several other ancillary benefits to following this route with your project. Running a successful crowdfunding campaign can give you a fantastic opportunity to gain visibility and build interest in your project. You not only get to gauge the demand for your project, you do so with minimal financial risk in a very short span of time as compared with taking onboard venture capital by offering stakes in your startup. The Ubuntu Edge campaign on Indiegogo is a classic example of this. Canonical didn't reach its hefty target of $32m (and by reaching over $12.8m the campaign broke crowdfunding records) but that didn't stop the mainstream press covering the fact that an Ubuntu OS was coming to smartphones in 2014. In essence, running a crowdfunding campaign will let you know if you have a good idea and if there's a demand for it in the marketplace. It isn't surprising then that many successful campaign managers have gone back to the venture capitalists that had initially turned them down to show that there's a demand for their project and that people are willing to pay the price they had set. Crowdfunding models http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/magazines/Linux/Issue%20178/LXF178.feat_crowd.indiegogo-420-90.jpg What you've read up to now is a very broad view of crowdfunding. In practice crowdfunding encompasses several different fundraising models. To begin with you have the donation model that has been around for years. People donate money to a project or cause they believe has moral and ethical value and is good for the community. They don't expect any return for their financial contribution besides the satisfaction of having made a difference. Then there's the rewards-based model. This is the model which comes to mind when most people think about crowdfunding. In this model people who are making a financial contribution can pre-buy a product or are rewarded in some way. So the crowd makes a monetary pledge to the project and the project offers them something in return. This model is further subdivided into two models. The first is the 'all or nothing' model where a project has a specific financial target that it sets and intends to reach. If the campaign doesn't reach that target the project initiators do not receive the funding, and the lenders don't receive their rewards. The other model is the 'keep it all' model where whatever money is raised in the crowdfunding campaign is retained by the project initiators irrespective of whether they reach the set target or not. Many consider the 'all or nothing' model to be a more compelling choice. There's also a lesser-known "bounty" model where the accumulative funds collected for a particular task are given to anyone who completes the project. Another less high profile, yet revolutionary, model is the 'equity-based' model which allows people to invest small amounts towards funding startups. In exchange they can expect to receive dividends based on the profits of the business. This is more popular in the UK and Europe because of there are less legislative hurdles, (see Crowdfunding rules and regs in the UK) but the model may soon be legalised in the US as well. Running a successful campaign There are quite a few differences that separate successful campaigns from others that fail to reach their target. Before you launch, prepare every aspect of the campaign in as much detail as you can. You can't fly by the seat of your pants. You need to make sure you have a plan for every week of the campaign. James Carey says that your preparation also shows that you have already invested some of your own time and money on a project: "We didn't want to go to Kickstarter until we already had a solid prototype, based on around six months of work and the considerable investment of cash that that implies. If you aren't prepared to risk it for your project, why should your backers?" One of the first things you should work on is your campaign pitch. Browse successful campaigns and check out why they are compelling. Most pitches are very personal and clearly specify who is behind the project and what problems they hope to solve with their project. They also tell backers how they can get involved. "Pitches succeed if people judge they are going to succeed," says Carey. "Something that looks like it will get its money generally does. It's a perception game." A good engaging pitch introduces the campaign both in writing and in the form of a video. According to stats shared by Indiegogo on its blog, campaigns with pitch videos raise over double the amount of those without one. Also keep in mind that the average campaign video length for successful campaigns is roughly 3 minutes. It's also imperative that you set an attainable goal. Don't just set an arbitrary figure. Do some serious number crunching and set a conservative goal that'll help you move your project forward and also fulfil the promised rewards. On Indiegogo, 87 per cent of campaigns that reach their goal exceed it by an average of 32 per cent. While advising projects to have reasonable targets, Carey notes there seems to be a pattern: "An interesting rule of thumb, actually, is that successful Kickstarter projects get 150 per cent of their target, generally. This suggests that if your target is £60k, you should ask for £40k, and be more likely to get it all." You should also carefully devise your rewards. Make the rewards unique enough to get people excited about them and want to tell their friends, while not breaking the bank. Again, it's best to learn from some of the successful campaigns of the past, many of which offer between five and eight rewards. It's also best to have a wide range of rewards. Instead of unveiling them all at the same time you can update them during your campaign. Again it's best to browse campaigns and look for perks that have been claimed a lot. John Nolan, who successfully funded the open source blogging platform Ghost, shares his recipe for success: "A compelling idea, value for money on rewards, and a clear indication that the project creator is able to deliver." Foster a community http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/magazines/Linux/Issue%20178/LXF178.feat_crowd.bountyoss-420-90.jpg Once you've worked on these crucial elements also spend time working on your communication plan. Successful campaigners are proactive communicators throughout the life of their campaign and keep their investors engaged and excited. While some treat the crowdfunding platforms as a blog, most have 1 to 2 updates a week. They'll discuss updates, milestones and new rewards as they are unveiled. James Carey believes that updates are key to the success of a campaign and adds "You've got to foster a good relationship with your backers by letting them know what you're up to behind the scenes. Crowdfunding is patronage, but there's a certain sense of ownership that comes with that patronage. You're in this together with your backers, let them know it." Finally and most importantly, don't forget to hone your social media skills. What you are looking to achieve is a large number of small donations which are aggregated together to produce a significant sum. To do this you need to be able to reach and pitch your project to a large audience, and social media is the perfect tool for extending the reach of your campaign. Using social media and the idea of six degrees of separation, you can rely on members of your initial core community to reach out to their respective communities and ultimately create a viral distribution campaign. Also remember that the initial days of the campaign are very crucial. You are solely responsible for generating the initial momentum. This is why it's important to identify your initial target audience; the ones that will jumpstart your campaign and become early contributors and promoters. Crowdfunding comes with some potential pitfalls. So before you launch your campaign you will want to learn from the mistakes of crowdfunding failures to avoid turning off investors and customers. According to Tony França, creator of FreedomSponsors, there are two factors for success on a crowdfunding campaign: "Some projects fail basically because they have no market, and many fail because their marketing is not good enough. Your idea must actually be something that people need or want. Otherwise you have no market and your project will fail. Period. And even if you do have a market, you really need to work on the marketing. The world needs to know about your campaign. This is the hard part. I believe the most successful campaigns are the ones who market their product so well that it makes people want to tell others about it, and then they go viral." Warren Konkel, CEO of Bountysource, points to another reason for unsuccessful campaigns that haven't done any background work and research: "Generally speaking, fundraisers fail to meet their goal for one of two reasons: people don't want it or people don't understand it." The bigger problem, however, is projects failing to map their financial strategies. If you haven't done the initial research, don't be surprised if the total cost of the project and rewards end up exceeding the amount you raised. One of the key factors for faltering campaigns, according to Nolan, is pointless rewards that have excessive fulfilment criteria: "You're going to personally sign 10,000 postcards? Really?" Launching a campaign and setting a goal thinking that you can 'figure out the tax stuff later' is another pitfall that he highlights. Carey agrees that some projects promise too much without properly costing their physical rewards: "I think delivery costs have bankrupted a couple of projects because they didn't put a cap on how many branded mugs they had to deliver." The Hanfree iPad Accessory is a prime example. The project creator underestimated the real cost of bringing his idea to market and mass produce a product. After successfully meeting the $35,000 goal, he couldn't deliver the product nor the rewards. Eventually one frustrated backer sued the project creator who then declared personal bankruptcy. Ready to roll? http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/magazines/Linux/Issue%20178/LXF178.feat_crowd.selfstarter-420-90.jpg By now you must be itching to get started on your precious project. But before you do, here's a quick summary of what's involved in launching and running a good crowdfunding campaign. There are a bunch of things you must decide before you can even begin looking for a platform to run your campaign on. First, decide the target you want to achieve while keeping in mind the nature, number and diversity of the rewards. Also, spend time researching what duration to give your campaign by looking at similar successful projects. Picking a long duration may seem like the simple answer, but remember you will have to keep the momentum going for its entire duration (See Ideal Timeframe for a Campaign, p39). When you've worked out these bits, start looking around for a platform. In the last couple of pages of the feature we look at some of the best crowdfunding platforms and tools. Decide on which funding model is ideal for you and your project. Promotion planning While you're at it, also think about the different social media tools you'll be using to promote your campaign. Using a wide range of social media tools might seem like a good idea, but only do it if you can manage to keep track of all of them. For instance, an unanswered query from a potential investor can do a lot of harm. Also make a list of your initial target group. Besides contacts in your network, remember to reach out to the mainstream media and blogs that have audiences with a similar interest. It's also a good idea to inform them a couple of days before you actually launch your campaign, and hit them again once your campaign is live. Don't forget to keep exploring different avenues for promoting your campaign even after you've launched it. A crowdfunding platform is not eBay. Your campaign won't sell itself. Also remember that you aren't only looking for people who'll back your project monetarily; you are also looking for co-promoters that will introduce your project to their network. Keep your investors updated during the duration of your campaign. Share your excitement, new ideas, new rewards and even ask for their opinion or advice if there's scope for it. Whatever you do just make sure you keep them involved. When you are funded make sure you inform your backers about the status of their rewards, and get cracking to bring your project to life. Crowdfunding open source software Thanks to the nature of free and open source software, most of the software development is crowdsourced, but will it become crowdfunded too? As it turns out, the most popular crowdsourcing models offer a unique challenge to open source software. Although you can find successful campaigns for open source software on popular crowdfunding platforms such as Kickstarters, they aren't a natural fit. In an interview with opensource.com, Warren Konkel, CEO of Bountysource, a crowdfunding platform designed specifically for financing open source software, says that free and open source software needs a different treatment than the usual wares on offer at other popular platforms. "Those other platforms work well as a pre-sales model for physical consumer goods and technologies, but we believe open source software needs a better funding model that's more aligned with how software is built." Talking to LXF, Konkel explains this further by saying that one of the reasons that sets software development apart from hardware is that software development is notoriously hard to estimate. "The Bountysource platform solves this problem by associating fundraisers directly with existing bugs and feature requests." Another challenge for crowdfunding open source software that decides to use platforms with a reward-based model is selecting the right kind of rewards to tempt pledgers in. A typical proprietary software campaign can offer various versions of the software as a reward. In contrast, simply because of its open nature, open source software cannot offer product versions with special functions available only to funders. What they can offer are mainly ancillary services like personal support. Some give backers credit on the project's website, some provide exclusive content such as a regular funders-only newsletters, and even physical products, such as exclusive campaign T-shirts. As always, looking at what other open source software campaigns are offering will give you an idea of what to offer. The Ghost blogging platform offered free accounts on its hosted service, promised backers early access to the platform and offered them a chance to reserve their username on the community website, which was displayed with an emblem to acknowledge their support. Many also see crowdfunding in open source software development as part of a long-term process rather than a one-off investment. Konkel says that at Bountysource its looking to create long-term relationships between developers and backers: "When somebody backs a fundraiser, chances are they'll back a subsequent fundraiser or create a bounty." Philip Horger who is an active fundraiser at FreedomSponsors, another crowdfunding platform for open source software, shares an interesting experience of this developer-donor engagement. Horger put up a sponsorship to improve the user interface of LibreOffice. A member of the actual development team for LibreOffice showed up and advised that sponsoring such a wide-scope issue was, while an encouraging sign for the developers, not a realistically useful way of making UI improvements. The developer, instead, advised Horger to sponsor more specific improvements, such as the colour picker, etc. "So I broke up my offer among more specific sponsorships. The total sponsorship was the same in the end, but more usefully distributed." Better than donation http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/magazines/Linux/Issue%20178/LXF178.feat_crowd.gittip-420-90.jpg Monetary contributions from users for supporting open source development isn't something new. But crowdfunding is much more gratifying than a simple donation. Horger says that sponsoring on FreedomSponsors is inherently more fine-grained and personal than donations since an offer is tied to a specific and achievable outcome: "You feel that you have stake and a responsibility in that sponsorship's success. It is more gratifying and tangible to be able to point to some distinct feature of some popular program, and say to the person next to you, 'I helped make that happen.'" Another advantage of platforms, such as FreedomSponsors, according to Horger, that doesn't really make sense for traditional donation is the ability to sponsor one's own projects. It might seem strange at first but as Horger puts it, "there's a method to my madness." "Sponsorships are my way of motivating/rewarding external development, and that includes starting with small stuff. That way, I can foster an active and healthy community of contributors, which not only will take programming and maintenance load off of me in the long run, but also means that my projects can easily live on if I get hit by a bus." The future of crowdfunding Like his peers, Tony França of FreedomSponsors is very gungho about the future of crowdfunding and how it will help developers generate funds: "We are witnessing the birth of new businesses powered entirely by the crowd. I believe Crowdfunding will become more and more prevalent as a way to gain access to capital." Konkel also acknowledges the power of the fundraiser model especially for projects that require upfront capital to achieve economies of scale and where rewards are effectively pre-sales. But he believes that it won't work well for everyone. "We think the future of crowdfunding in open source is a bounty-based model: placing individual bounties on existing bugs and feature requests. Issue trackers can quickly become overwhelming and bounties allow backers to focus development efforts on the issues that matter to them." Popular crowdfunding platforms So you've done all the legwork and are ready to approach people for funds. Where do you do it? Do you put up a website and set up the complex infrastructure to process credit cards or Paypal? You could surely do that (see the list of DIY Crowdfunding Platforms), but it's much easier to set up your campaign on an existing platform. Using a platform offers several advantages. For one, they have the necessary functionality to carry through your campaign. They'll host all your media and give you the right tools to engage with your audience. You'll also have access to various social media tools to help promote your project. Also a crowdfunding platform puts your project in front of a crowd that's looking to put up money. Bear in mind that they will all also charge you a different fee for using their service, and some might also ask you to pay the processing fee for the mechanism you use to withdraw the money you've raised. Here's our pick of the current crop. Kickstarter http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/magazines/Linux/Issue%20178/LXF178.feat_crowd.kickstarter-420-90.jpg Web: www.kickstarter.com Funding model: All or Nothing Fees: 5% if you meet your goal, plus payment processing fee. Payments: Amazon Payments The 800-pound gorilla in crowdfunding. Only hosts campaigns in particular categories and has an approval process. Also has lots of information to create and run a successful campaign. IndieGogo http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/magazines/Linux/Issue%20178/LXF178.feat_crowd.indiegogo-420-90.jpg Web: www.indiegogo.com Funding model: Keep it All or All or Nothing Fees: 4% if goal met, 9% if you don't, plus processing fee. Payments: Paypal, ACH, Wire Transfer, or FirstGiving Hosts campaigns worldwide across all categories. It's more expensive if you don't reach your goal. Also has lots of documentation. Fundable http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/magazines/Linux/Issue%20178/LXF178.feat_crowd.fundable-420-90.jpg Web: www.fundable.com Funding model: All or Nothing Fees: $99 per month during active campaigns plus payment processing fees. Payments: WePay A platform especially designed for funding startups that can offer rewards or equity in exchange for funding. According to the website, startups that offer equity typically raise up to $10 million. BountySource http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/magazines/Linux/Issue%20178/LXF178.feat_crowd.bountysource-420-90.jpg Web: www.bountysource.com Funding model: Bounty or All or Nothing Fees: 10% non-refundable fee for placing bounties Payments: Paypal, cheque, Google Wallet, wire transfer Designed for crowdfunding open source software. Hosts individual bounties to resolve open issues and feature requests, and also used to raise money for big updates or new projects. Freedom Sponsors http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/magazines/Linux/Issue%20178/LXF178.feat_crowd.freedomsponsors-420-90.jpg Web: http://freedomsponsors.org Funding model: Bounty Fees: 3% + payment processing fees Payments: Paypal and Bitcoin Enables many users to chip in to a bounty. Bounties are post-paid only after the sponsors have verified the work. Uses Paypal's parallel payment type to split bounties between devs. Catincan http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/magazines/Linux/Issue%20178/LXF178.feat_crowd.catincan-420-90.jpg Web: www.catincan.com Funding model: All or Nothing Fees: 10% after funding amount has been reached. Payments: Paypal, Bitcoin, wire transfer Only allows developers on existing open-source projects to create campaigns. Features are screened and developers have 60 days to reach the funding goal else the backers aren't charged. BountyOSS http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/magazines/Linux/Issue%20178/LXF178.feat_crowd.bountyoss-420-90.jpg Web: https://bountyoss.com Funding model: Bounty Fees: 5% + payment processing fees Payments: Credit Card or bank account Designed to attract funding from businesses and other for-profit entities that use open source software. Only allows developers attached with an open source to create campaigns.. DIY crowdfunding platforms There are plenty of reasons for projects to not use an existing crowdfunding platform and rather roll out their own. For some it's purely ideological. Can you imagine the FSF running a crowdfunding campaign on a closed-source proprietary platform? But there are some pragmatic reasons as well. As larger platforms become more crowded with projects, it negatively impacts their visibility and discoverability. As crowdfunding gains acceptance as a legitimate mechanism for raising money, if you can bring your own crowd you can raise money without relying on a well established platform. One of the most successful examples of a DIY platform campaign is that of Lockitron. The project was rejected by Kickstarter so they set up their own crowdfunding infrastructure and raised over $2 million. They then released their platform as open source software for others to use. SelfStarter http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/magazines/Linux/Issue%20178/LXF178.feat_crowd.selfstarter-420-90.jpg Web: http://selfstarter.us/ Licence: MIT License Fees: Free to use Payments: Amazon Payments, Stripe, WePay Developed using Ruby on Rails, the platform can be extended with custom authentication, administration and product management code. The developers suggest deploying it on Heroko application platform. Catarse http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/magazines/Linux/Issue%20178/LXF178.feat_crowd.catarse-420-90.jpg Web: https://github.com/catarse Licence: MIT License Fees: Free to use Payments: MoIP, Paypal Another software built on Ruby on Rails. You can use it to create your own crowdfunding platform to host several campaigns. Powers the Brazailian platform http://catarse.me/en. Has minimal documentation but an active mailing list. Goteo http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/magazines/Linux/Issue%20178/LXF178.feat_crowd.goteo-420-90.jpg Web: https://github.com/Goteo License: GNU AGPL v3 Fees: Free to use Payments: Paypal The software is written in PHP and facilitates communication between users and campaign managers as well as the creation of blogs, and static pages. Besides the English installation guide, the other developer docs are in Spanish. GitTip http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/magazines/Linux/Issue%20178/LXF178.feat_crowd.gittip-420-90.jpg Web: www.gittip.com License: CC license Fees: Free to use Payments: Bitcoin, credit cards Gittip is a crowdfunding platform to support people by giving donations weekly. You can use the software to setup your own weekly gift exchange for the various individuals involved in your project or community. Spot.Us http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/magazines/Linux/Issue%20178/LXF178.feat_crowd.spotus-420-90.jpg Web: https://github.com/spot-us License: GNU GPL Fees: Free to use Payments: Paypal This Ruby on Rails project lets you setup a crowdfunding website to enable individuals or a group to solicit funds for commissioning freelance journalists. The project has minimal document but you can see it in action on www.spot.us. CrowdHoster http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/magazines/Linux/Issue%20178/LXF178.feat_crowd.crowdhoster-420-90.jpg Web: www.crowdhoster.com License: MIT License Fees: Free to use Payments: Credit cards, Bitcoin About: Proudly calls itself the "Wordpress for crowdfunding", the hosted project is currently invite-only. It's free and pretty straightforward to setup and administer since there's nothing to install. Also includes tools to manage contributors. Ignition Deck http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/magazines/Linux/Issue%20178/LXF178.feat_crowd.ignitiondeck-420-90.jpg Web: http://ignitiondeck.com/id/ License: Proprietary Fees: Starts at $79 (£49) Payments: Paypal, Stripe, WePay This tool is in fact a Wordpress plugin. It's available in several version starting $79 (£49). You can install the plugin on multiple WordPress installations and buy additional themes and features such as payment gateways and an analytics panel. Now why not check out 20 great new crowdfunded gameshttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/35188c21/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/184842020492/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35188c21/sc/4/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842020492/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35188c21/sc/4/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842020492/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35188c21/sc/4/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184842020492/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35188c21/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/184842020492/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/35188c21/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/Opf13arPXS0

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/Apps/Snapchat_screen-470-75.jpgMessaging and photo-sharing app Snapchat made its name by facilitating the sharing of saucy shots that could be viewed once for a few seconds before, supposedly, disappearing into cyberspace forever. Now the $3.5 billion-valued company has somewhat undermined that premise somewhat by introducing a new Replay feature, allowing users to call up one photo or video a second time, before it self destructs. For some Snapchatters, who've used the application to send intimate messages (hey, don't look at us!), the new feature dramatically increases the risk of their photo or video reaching a larger audience. For example, the ability to call up the message for a second time, allows boastful (or mock-ful) girls or boys to show it off to their mates in the pub at a time of their convenience. Filters? Quelle Surprise!Beyond the controversial, audience threatening new Replay addition, Snapchat has also added filter options to photos. No surprise there. These so-called smart filters add information like temperature, time and, somewhat strangely, the speed at which the device was moving when the photo was snapped. Three more conventional filters have also been added. Users can now save their 7 'best friends' using Snapchat, allowing easier access to those conversations with greater haste, while a front-facing flash has already been added to aid those night time shots. Will the new Replay feature affect how you use the Snapchat app? Is the company ruining a good thing by compromising one-look-only part of the app? Let us know your thoughts below. Why do all apps have to be all things to all people? Stuart Houghton begs Instagram, Snapchat and co to leave our apps alone.http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3514e2d6/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/184841982975/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3514e2d6/sc/21/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841982975/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3514e2d6/sc/21/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841982975/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3514e2d6/sc/21/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841982975/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3514e2d6/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/184841982975/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3514e2d6/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/p5gIUOxhmXw

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/Apps/PlayMusic_iOS_feeling_lucky-470-75.jpgGoogle's perennial attempts to turn Google Play Music into a force against iTunes have been boosted by the arrival of 'I'm Feeling Lucky Radio' within the company's iOS app. The random radio feature comes to iPhone, iPad and iPod touch two months after it was rolled into the Android version, while an iOS 7-inspired UI has also been introduced. The feature, like its search engine forebear, allows users to access a selection of music the app thinks they will like, auto-generating a radio station based on previous listening habits. The app will automatically bring tunes from the users most listened-to genre. Big Thumbs Up!The revamped iOS app also offers access to auto-generated playlists (such as Thumbs Up) for the first time and All Access subscribers will also have the opportunity to search genres within the app. The new Google Play Music features come into competition with Apple's own iTunes Radio platform, which is yet to launch outside the United States. It's a streaming throwdown: Google Play Music vs Spotify http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3514cc63/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/184841990989/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3514cc63/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841990989/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3514cc63/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841990989/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3514cc63/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841990989/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3514cc63/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/184841990989/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3514cc63/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/oCyeuPVRtiA

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/events/WINDOWS%20PHONE%208/Microsoft%20Office%20Announcement/Microsoft-365-SkyDrive-Demo-470-75.jpgMicrosoft has offered a little festive treat for Windows Phone users by offering 20GB of bonus SkyDrive storage for an entire year. The offer, which runs until the end of January, was publicised to Windows Phone owners via email this weekend. Users can follow the link within the email to sign up. This adds to the 7GB of free storage Microsoft already gifts those using its mobile operating system, allowing them to safeguard files and photos on the cloud. Microsoft hasn't made clear what will happen at the end of that one year, but it's possible that the company will start asking you to pay for that 20GB once the promotion is over. More blips!These blips will always be free because we love you guys... Motorola cries Timber! as it launches wood-backed Moto XBeyonce's secret album puts other iTunes sales records to shameBreaking Bad spin-off Better Call Saul heading to Netflixhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3514cc66/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/184841990988/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3514cc66/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841990988/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3514cc66/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841990988/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3514cc66/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841990988/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3514cc66/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/184841990988/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3514cc66/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/VdmzAz0pfHA

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Twitter/Vine/vine_windowsphone_official-470-75.jpgVine has announced it is graduating from the mobile-only appverse, with web profiles coming soon for all users. Previously the six-second video montages could only be viewed through the mobile app, through permalinks posted on Facebook and Twitter or shared via email. The Twitter-owned service is now inviting users to sign up for their personalised vanity URLs at the Vine.co website, which has, until now, been holding page for the iOS, Android and Windows Phone apps. The announcement follows Instagram's launch of web profiles last year, which allowed users to browse the full image and video libraries of folks they follow, just as they could on the mobile app. Uploads unlikelyThe Vine roll out is likely to follow a similar format with no capacity for users to upload their videos through the web portal itself. No word yet on when Vine will roll out the web profiles, but sometime early in the new year seems probable. Vine beats Instagram to Windows Phonehttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3514c072/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/184841988610/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3514c072/sc/21/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841988610/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3514c072/sc/21/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841988610/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3514c072/sc/21/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841988610/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3514c072/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/184841988610/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3514c072/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/snU9kgYvVDM

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/techradar/BOT/best_of_2013-470-75.pngAs the year comes to a close and we all panic-buy last minute Christmas presents, take a few minutes to have a cup of tea and take a tour through our best words from the last year. We've loved writing these articles, so thanks a lot for reading, commenting and sharing! How the Internet of Things will change all of our liveshttp://cdn1.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net//art/internet/IOT_generic_pg-200-100.jpg An Orwellian nightmare or Utopian future? The chances are you've already heard someone mention the Internet of Things, and it's certainly a phrase that you are going to hear more and more in the coming years, so what exactly is it? At its most basic, the Internet of Things is the, frankly horrible, term used to describe the millions of devices that are now connected together and to the internet but that do not require humans to tell them what data to share. Everything from fitness bands to internet connected fridges, smart thermostats to microchipped street lights can all feed data back to the net with or without our behest, and that's potentially a hugely powerful shift in the way that we live our lives. Continue reading... LG vs Samsung: the story behind the biggest rivalry in techhttp://cdn1.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net//art/other/LG%20Seoul%20trip/P4172404-200-100.JPG A tale of espionage, in-fighting and... restaurants? The rivalry between Korean tech giants LG and Samsung is well known, but it took a visit to LG's headquarters in South Korea this week for the true nature of the conflict to become clear to us. The upshot of the situation is that passing through buildings owned by these companies is like getting through security at an airport. Bags are scanned. Cameras are confiscated. Lenses on phones are taped over. USB storage devices are not allowed. Security cameras are everywhere. Continue reading... 7 breakthroughs in physics that unlocked the modern agehttp://cdn4.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net//art/other/Physics/New/Newton_16by9-200-100.jpg Science is interesting, and if you don't agree you can... Before the likes of Galileo and Newton began to unlock the secrets of the universe, our understanding of everything in it was almost entirely absent. There was no scientifically plausible explanation for any of the phenomena in the night sky and no real understanding of any force of nature. In short, we were the people in Game of Thrones but without the dragons and magic and zombies. However, instead of spending thousands of years building large walls instead of inventing things, we have used the discipline of physics to provide answers to many of the mysteries of existence, and with that knowledge the human race has achieved incredible things. From powering the industrial revolution to sparking the electrical era and unlocking the secrets of the stars, physics has underpinned our technological adventure into the 21st Century. Continue reading... PS4 vs Xbox One graphics: what are the differences and do they matter?http://cdn2.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net//art/games/Next%20gen%20grabs/cODG2-200-100.jpg Just how much better will PS4 games look and why? What was once a rumour is now confirmed. At least some cross-platform games will run at a higher resolution on the Sony PlayStation 4 than on Microsoft's Xbox One. But why is this happening and should it influence your decision over which of the next-gen game boxes to buy? Continue reading... 11 reasons why your next TV has to be 4Khttp://cdn4.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net//art/televisions/10%20reasons%20for%204K%20Ultra%20HD/4K%20Sports%20trials-200-100.jpg Unconvinced by 4K? We're not and here's why... Ultra High Definition 4K TV technology is the hottest topic in tellydom right now. Major manufacturers are fast-tracking large screen 4K TVs able to display four times the resolution of current HD sets, while broadcasters conduct widespread technical trials behind the scenes. The nascent format dominated this summer's IFA tech fest and it looks certain to do the same at the 2014 International CES in January. Even pro-broadcast bash IBC was 4K obsessed this year. But for normal folks, it may be tempting to cock a snoot when it comes to shortlisting that next TV. However that could prove a costly mistake if you're planning to buy a well-heeled Full HD flatscreen. Need convincing? Here are eleven reasons why we think your next TV needs to be 4K… Meet Pacific Rim's giant monstershttp://cdn4.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net//art/broadcast/Movies/Pacific-Rim4-200-100.jpg And the man who brought the Kaiju and Jaegers to life A creature towers above a miniature landscape, its upper body stretching beyond wispy clouds. There is commotion underneath, created by the threat of being trampled, but the creature is oblivious. Its eyes trained on something else in the distance, its arms up ready for battle. This could describe any of the many fantastic battle scenes in Pacific Rim, director Guillermo del Toro's monster bash which heads to Blu-ray in the UK November 11, but it's actually a description of The Colossus, a 19th Century painting by Goya. Continue reading... http://cdn3.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net//art/broadcast/Movies/Gravity/Gravity%20-%20Still%202-580-100.jpg How Dolby Atmos brought gravitas to Gravity"This film is basically silent, right? Because there's nothing in it." That might seem like a strange thing for a sound designer to say. It might seem like a strange thing for the sound designer of runaway action hit, Gravity, to say. It definitely seems a strange thing for a sound designer to say about a film that is pretty much made for Dolby Atmos. But sound doesn't travel in space so how do you handle space-sound in an action film that sells itself on its intergalactic realism? Continue reading... Panasonic's plasma TV exit is the end of a brilliant erahttp://cdn2.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net//art/televisions/Panasonic/Amagasaki%20Plant-200-100.jpg Plasma tech has run its course - the futire is 4K and OLED It's been, in all honesty, the most protracted screen demise since Julius Caesar exited Carry on Cleo protesting "Infamy, infamy, they've all got it in for me." But now Panasonic has finally, officially, unequivocally announced it's getting out of the plasma game for good. The Corporation will shutter its only operational facility, the Amagasaki P4 factory in Osaka, in March 2014. Sibling facilities in Amagasaki and Ibaraki have already been mothballed. Unsustainable losses are the simple reason for the brand's decision.Continue reading... Xbox One and PS4: the verdicthttp://cdn1.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net//art/games/Next%20gen%20grabs/BF4-200-100.jpg Two amazing console, no reasons to buy either of them How is it possible for two competing products to be so similar and yet so different? Both the PS4 and Xbox One run the same AMD CPU and very similar graphics hardware. They've both moved over to x86, they both rock the same half-matte, half-gloss finish. Neither are good looking, though the Xbox One is particularly ugly. They both run FIFA 14 and Call of Doody, both respond to voice commands and they even smell similarly musky out of the box. And yet, they're so different it's almost unreal. So should you go out and buy one, and if so, which one should you go for? Continue reading... Oculus Rift creator: Xbox One and PS4 are far too limitedhttp://cdn0.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net//art/gaming_accessories/Oculus%20Rift/OculusRift_side-200-100.jpg Motion man planning for much bigger things We're sat opposite Palmer Luckey, 21-year-old inventor of the Oculus Rift. There's so much we want to ask him but right now he's too busy explaining his plans to build the ultimate Pokemon team. "Charizard's actually competitive again now that you have mega Charizard Y because his ability brings the sun out, so he's a great sweeper." Seeing him geek out with so much passion, we've never been more glad that this is the person who controls the fate of Oculus Rift. Continue reading... Is the internet bringing us together or keeping us apart?http://cdn4.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net//art/internet/Facebook/Beckham/DavidBeckham_facebook2-200-100.jpg Is there any satisfaction to be had from a digital book signing? If ever there were a phrase that summed up the point to which the internet has brought us, it is "digital book signing". "It's a world first and I always like to try new things," says David Beckham awkwardly at his digital signing which has been set up through his Facebook page. He mentions the technology amid compliments on his hair, invitations to Brazil, discussion of his favourite goals, his family, his tattoos and the photos that make up his book.Continue reading... http://cdn3.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net///art/car%20tech/Features/Batmobile/P1000402-580-100.JPG How Britain made the Dark Knight mobile"The brief we got [to create the Batmobile Tumbler] was for a vehicle that could do 60mph; we thought we'd give them a little bit more than that so we boosted it to 100mph, as we obviously wanted it to do some amazing things." There's very little that doesn't sound incredible when talking to John Holmes, senior special effects technician on the team involved in creating the most recent iteration of the Batmobile. The Tumbler is one of the most iconic designs in cinematic history – no mean feat when it was replacing the original 'kitsch' Batmobile. Continue reading... 10 mindblowing uses for the world-changing substance that never washttp://cdn1.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net///art/other/Starlite/starlite-200-100.jpg Starlite has baffled scientific minds for 23 years Starlite could be the most valuable man-made substance ever created. It has the potential to revolutionise industries, save lives and change the course of human history. The applications for it are near infinite, no scientific mind has ever been able to work out how it works – and yet it has never actually been used for anything. So what does it do, and why have you never heard of it? Starlite was invented during the 1980s by the unlikely Maurice Ward, a ladies' hairdresser from Yorkshire. It's a plastic that's able to withstand heat to an almost unimaginable degree. Ward never revealed how it was made, saying merely that it contained 'up to 21 organic polymers and copolymers, and small quantities of ceramics'. Continue reading... Exposed: The invisible conflict being waged by the world's superpowershttp://cdn0.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net//art/features/cold%20cyberwar/cyberwar-200-100.jpg The next world war will be online, and the consequences will be very real In the long Cold War between NATO and the Warsaw Pact, espionage was rife. Security services placed secret agents in sensitive positions, spy planes photographed strategic locations and information was smuggled through borders. The reasons were simple: each side believed that they would eventually end up at war with the other - and when conflict began, knowing your enemy's secrets could make a crucial difference to the outcome. There was only one rule: don't get caught. Getting caught could spark an international incident and bring the world one step closer to war. Is something similar happening online? Apple rumours: How to tell fact from fictionhttp://cdn1.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net///art/other/Apples/apples-200-100.jpgSeparate the iWheat from the iChaff with our handy iHelper The Apple rumour mill never sleeps! While we were oohing and aahing at the iPhone 5S and 5C, rumourmongers had already turned their attention to the next event in the middle of October. iPad 5s! Apple TVs! Fuel-cell powered sexbots! Maybe even an iWatch! Many and perhaps even most of the predictions will turn out to be bobbins, but how can you tell which bits of smoke have fire? Allow us to help... How Nvidia Grid is set to revolutionise cloud gaminghttp://cdn3.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net///art/internet/Nvidia/Grid/gridmain2-200-100.jpg Providing the backend technology for the cloud Like music and movies, gaming is also on an irreversible move into the cloud. Thanks to OnLive, the concept of cloud gaming isn't alien, but widespread cloud gaming has bumped up against technology problems – latency, plus the need to make games available across a plethora of devices. Nvidia thinks it has the answer with Nvidia Grid, cloud gaming technology that works behind the scenes of subscription-based games services. Continue reading... Dyson: 'We spend a lot of money fighting to protect our ideas'http://cdn0.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net///art/gadgets/dyson-050213/P2056106-200-100.JPG We quiz Dyson's Airblade chief over product design, IP theft and more Chris Osborn is clearly very proud of what his team has achieved. Based at Dyson's HQ in Malmesbury, UK, he talks candidly about the experimental nature of the company's product development as well as its no-nonsense attitude to theft of the company's intellectual property. Continue reading... http://cdn3.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net//art/other/Global%20catastrophes/disaster-580-100.png 6 catastrophes that would kill your gadgets foreverSince the Sony Walkman crashed onto the shelves worldwide in 1980, consumer technology has slowly been taking over our lives. From washing machines to digital watches and from electronic word processors to modern tablet computers, the march of technology has been unstoppable. It now sits at the heart of everything we do, as we manage our schedules with Google Calendar, keep in touch via Facebook and mobile phones and entertain ourselves with games consoles and Netflix. But it could all change in an instant. The (atrocious) NBC drama series Revolution explores what the world would be like if all technology were to suddenly stop working. An appalling prospect, but could it actually happen? Here are six scenarios for the death of tech. Continue reading... Before iWatch: the timely history of the smartwatchhttp://cdn4.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net//art/features/smart-uc2000-200-100.jpg The long and winding road to the iWatch and Galaxy Gear Smart watches have been the next big thing since 1982. But this year was different: Samsung's Galaxy Gear dropped on the 4th of September and started a whole new wave of wearable tech. We've got smart watches to look forward to from pretty much everyone. So what's different this time, and why haven't smart watches taken off before now? Let's look at some of the major milestones - and mistakes. Continue reading... Plus points: why Google+ is now everywhere you look onlinehttp://cdn1.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net//art/internet/Google/google_plus_3D-200-100.jpg It's the social network you may not want but it's here to stay Web giant Google launched Google+ on 28 June 2011 as an invite-only "field test", with golden tickets sent to a few early adopters and journalists. The proposition was attractive: a Facebook-rivalling social network, integrated into all of the web services you already use, backed by Google's raw energy and innovation. Up front were Circles - a way to organise everyone you know, and share content only with those who would be interested in it. The photos of your new-born baby could be shared with your "Family" circle, while you type out a filthy joke for your "Friends" circle and then pen a paradigm-busting blog post for your "Work" circle. Continue reading... Flight club: how drones can save lives and deliver our mailhttp://cdn0.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net//art/features/drone%20feature/drone-aerosight1-200-100.jpg Amazon's Air Prime scheme changes the conversation Up until a couple of weeks ago, if you asked the Average Joe about drones, he may have offered a description of clandestine, pilotless US military planes, flying over the Middle East, dropping their destructive payloads on suspected terrorists. However, just recently, on a quiet Sunday night, the conversation changed thanks to Amazon and its imagination-capturing CEO Jeff Bezos. Continue reading... Beyond Google Glass: the future of wearable techhttp://cdn1.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net///art/features/beyondgoogleglass/airwavespolution-mask-200-100.jpg We talk to some of the major players involved in the most exciting new sector in tech What if we told you that Google Glass and Galaxy Gear were just the beginning? That the impending arrival of Google's super-futuristic wearable computer and Samsung's wrist-based wonder were simply the commencement of our ascent into the realms of science-fiction cyborg-dom? Beyond the AR specs spearheaded by Google and the smartwatches in the works from Apple, Samsung and others, there are countless minds creating wearable solutions that will revolutionise health and fitness, the workplace and everything in between - from our socks to our sex lives. Continue reading... The evolution of Shazam: from music maestro to TV tagginghttp://cdn2.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net//art/mobile_phones/Apps/Shazam-200-100.JPG Can Shazam become the only app you need for TV? What is that song? It's a simple question but one Shazam has built an audio-recognition empire on, having answered it billions of times through its app. It was first answered on 19 April 2002. T Rex's Jeepster was the very first tag, when the service was then called 2580. Skip to 2013 and the 10 billionth answer was given this month as Lady Gaga's Applause. Continue reading... 10 things you didn't know your smartphone could dohttp://cdn2.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net//art/mobile_phones/Carphone%20Warehouse/10%20things%20you%20didn't%20know%20your%20smartphone%20could%20do/WatchON-100-100.jpg Supercharge your phone in ten easy steps Smartphones are great, they're basically a computer in your pocket packed full of features to make your life easier. But some of those features are less obvious than others, so to help you get the most out of your phone here are 10 things that you might not have known it could do. Continue reading... http://cdn3.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net///art/other/Sony%20Pictures%20Tour/P4232465-580-100.JPG Six marvels of the 4K revolutionTo say Sony is serious about 4K is a bit like saying Canon seems to kinda like making cameras. 4K is at the heart of Sony's entire operation, and that's not surprising given the fact that it's the only company that can tell an on-brand end-to-end 4K story. It makes the movies and TV shows, it produces the cameras to shoot the content, it makes the projectors to display it in cinemas, it publishes the movies on disc, and it delivers 4K it to the home in the form of TVs, games consoles and media servers. Sony has already shipped over 15,000 4K projectors worldwide. To mark the forthcoming launch of Sony's new 4K TV range, Sony invited us to Sony Pictures Studios in LA to take a closer look at its 4K ecosystem. We've seen 4K movie sets, we've seen Breaking Bad being remastered in 4K and we've compared Sony's 4K TVs against every other brand. Here are the six coolest techno-marvels we saw in LA How the PS3 won the console warhttp://cdn3.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net//art/games_consoles/PS3%20vs%20Xbox%20360/ps3_love-200-100.jpg Despite its shaky start, Sony's seventh-gen powerhouse played a blinder In part one of our console retrospective series, we have a true underdog story. PlayStation 3 launched in Europe some 14 months after Xbox 360 in March 2007, delayed by a shortage of diodes used in its Blu-Ray drive, of all things. When it finally did arrive, it came with a considerably bigger price tag than Microsoft's offering, and was plagued by second-rate versions of cross-platform releases. The writing, it appeared, was on the wall: Xbox 360 was going to win this generation's console war. But incredibly, Sony turned that less-than-desirable start to its advantage, and as we stand on the precipice between seventh and eighth generation consoles and take stock of the last six years, any fool can see PlayStation 3 ends the era victorious! Continue reading... How the Xbox 360 won the console warhttp://cdn0.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net//art/games_consoles/PS3%20vs%20Xbox%20360/xbox_360_love-200-100.jpg Ignore the red ring of death, the Xbox is the real winner here In part two, not so fast! In looking for proof of the Xbox 360's position as the defining console of the age, you can refer to no less an authority than President Barack Obama. It was he who criticised Republican behaviour over the recent US government shutdown by saying "You don't get a chance to call your bank and say, 'I'm not going to pay my mortgage this month unless you throw in a new car and an Xbox.'" This bit of partisan point-scoring represents the zenith of Microsoft's incredible success in the seventh console generation - the point at which even the President admitted that "Xbox" had became interchangeable with "games console"in the way that "Playstation" had at the turn of the century. It was, and is, the device on which most self-described gamers play games.Continue reading... How the Nintendo Wii won the console warhttp://cdn4.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net//art/games_consoles/PS3%20vs%20Xbox%20360/wii2-200-100.jpg With 100m+ sales, the Will is obviously the clear winner! Part 3 - stop right there, clearly the Nintendo Wii was actually the triumphant console this generation! Did it have the graphical might to stand shoulder to shoulder with the PS3 and Xbox 360? Hell no. Did it have the hardcore library of the GameCube? Nope. Did it have a stupid name? Yeah, we sniggered. And guys, it couldn't even play DVDs. But the Wii won this generation by doing something much, much bigger: it got the whole world playing videogames. Continue reading... From Apple to appliances: how Nest is making everyday items relevent againhttp://cdn1.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net//art/features/nest/protect-black-pathlight-200-100.jpg "The Internet of Things? I hate that phrase. It is horrible." You would think that the creator of a smart smoke alarm and connected thermostat would be the poster boy for the so-called Internet of Things but Tony Faddell, the CEO of Nest, wants nothing to do with the surge in everyday objects connecting to the internet. "Just because you can connect something doesn't mean that you should," he tells TechRadar when we met up with him in London. "Connection is another technology that can dramatically change a product and an experience but people are just connecting anything. Why are there fridges with tablets on the front of them? They just bashed two things together without really understanding." It is this understanding that seemingly permeates through Nest's product lineup, which have been met with huge popularity in the US and are now heading to the UK with the imminent launch of Nest Protect. Continue reading... Uncovered: the technology behind the impossibly light football boothttp://cdn2.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net//art/Fitness_tech/Adidas/Adidas%20F50%20boot/P1000195-200-100.JPG Do you want to feel like you're floating on the pitch? A bar of soap. The iPhone 5. A pear. An empty wallet. These are all things that weigh more than Adidas' new F50 99g football boot. When you first hold it in your hand, it's hard to believe that this is really something that a professional sportsperson could wear. It's so light that it has more in common with a ballet slipper than a protective layer worn by those earning £200,000 per week. Continue reading... Windows RT: time's up for Microsoft's dying OShttp://cdn3.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net///art/tablets/Microsoft/Surface/Press/Surface-Press-01-200-100.jpg Asus the latest name to pull out – and pretty much the last Microsoft didn't have a clue what it was doing with Windows RT. And if it did, its strategy was a total fiasco and it spent an awful lot of money believing its own hype. Now Asus is pulling back from the beleaguered ARM-only OS, explaining that "the result is not very promising." It joins an elite band of traditional PC vendors who, having pledged support for RT, eventually decided that Microsoft's Windows touch dream was better off running on an Intel processor. You know, one with the ability to use legacy apps and the Desktop just as everybody has done since Windows 95. Continue reading... Movie piracy in the UK: what's the film industry doing?http://cdn1.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net//art/broadcast/Movies/epic-movie-200-100.jpg Online piracy is rife but education may be the key TechRadar spoke to Twentieth Century Fox's Keith Feldman recently about this situation and he is hoping the movie industry's backing of Digital HD – a hi-definition download that can be downloaded and streamed from the cloud – will make everything a lot easier. Continue reading... Merry Christmas from TechRadar!

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/magazines/PC%20Format/Issue%20283/PCF283.w_rev4.gigabyte_minipc-470-75.jpgThe PC industry has been in decline for a while now, but certain parts of the market are on the up as consumers change how and where they using PCs. Times have changed, with computers breaking out of the office and study to invade our living spaces. Media streaming boxes have become incredibly popular by filling the gap for users wanting that Smart-TV experience. But plenty of people are still looking for a more multi-talented home media solution for the living room. Ideally, it would give them unlimited access to full PC functionality, including media playback or streaming and perhaps even high-end gaming. For this, old tower PCs are often recycled, but they can be space-hogging eyesores, especially next to the svelte HD TVs that have become the focal point of home entertainment. Enter, the barebones PC. What to look out forIf you're thinking of using a mini barebones PC for full HD video, then a powerful processor such as one based on i7 architecture is highly desirable. If you want the full high-definition PC gaming experience available from the comfort of your sofa, then look at one of the slightly larger models that have space to accommodate a good graphics card. Just remember it's probably going to be in your front room so you don't want it sounding like a mini vacuum. Forget next-gen consoles: build a power PC for lessMost barebones PCs will need a hard- or solid-state drive. We recommend a HDD for media streamers and/or an SSD for gaming rigs. You'll also need to add some memory - 4GB being the suggested minimum, while gamers should bump things up to at least 8GB. Some models will also need a new processor, but don't fear - we've made some component recommendations for each of the PCs below. Think about connectivity. What sound system (if any) do you have? Do you need optical audio output? How will you connect the PC to your TV or monitor? You might also want to think about a wireless keyboard with integrated touchpad, as well as either a media remote or a wireless gaming controller. Finally, don't forget you'll need to decide on an operating system – Windows is the standard go-to option, or you could consider a Linux distribution such as Ubuntu. 1. The budget bareboneRaspberry Pi - from £31 (around USD $50, AUD $56) - Farnell Raspberry Pi accessories Read TechRadar's full review of the Raspberry Pi http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/desktop_pcs_and_macs/Raspberry%20Pi%20512MB/sony-rasp-pi-420-90.jpg The Raspberry Pi, or RasPi (as it has become affectionately named) has become quite a sensation for hackers, makers and educators everywhere, selling well over one million units to date. It's a low-powered PC on a single tiny board, which means it can be used for everything from turning your TV smart with the help of XBMC, to being the centre of a retro gaming revival by emulating classic consoles. Despite its diminutive size, the model-B Pi has plenty of ports: 2 USB, Network, HDMI & Composite video and Micro-USB power. There's a huge community behind the Raspi, with clubs popping up around the country. Raspberry 'Jams' are held around the world and have fuelled their introduction into schools, thanks in part to Google's gift of 15,000 of them to lucky British classrooms. What to add on To get you're Pi on, choose from Raspian, RaspBMC or RetroPie operating systems, then consider the following crucial extras: 8GB SDHC card (class 6 or higher).Wired or wireless keyboard.Network cable or USB Wi-Fi adaptor.USB Power cable, HDMI cable.2. The 'just enough' PCGigabyte Brix 1037 - from £129 (around USD $210, AUD $232) - Ebuyer Read TechRadar's full Gigabit Brix review http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/magazines/PC%20Format/Issue%20283/PCF283.w_rev4.gigabyte_minipc-420-90.jpg The Gigabyte Brix is an ultra compact, yet fully fledged PC that comes in a variety of forms, starting with a dual-core 1.8GHz Intel Celeron, with a capacity for up to 16GB of RAM and an mSATA SSD slot for up to 480GB of internal storage. In the box is a VESA adaptor, so if your TV or monitor isn't wall-bound you can mount it right on the back. For Connectivity it offers a combination of HDMI, mini DisplayPort for secondary screens, two USB 3.0 ports and an inbuilt Wi-Fi card. If you need a VGA output then you can get a mini DisplayPort adaptor, but you'll be left without sound as there's no analogue audio output - sound can only be outputted via HDMI. The base model Brix doesn't set the world on fire with its performance, but will still happily cope with office productivity and any kind of media playback, including on-demand TV. What to add on The Brix comes with an embedded processor, but you still need to add on some laptop-type SODIMM memory and an mSATA hard-drive to get things going. As with the rest of the PCs here, your choice of OS comes down to Windows (7 or 8) or a variety of Linux distributions depending on what you're doing. A minimum of 2GB of 204-pin SODIMM memory.We recommend a 60GB or higher mSATA SSD.Wired or wireless keyboard.Network cable or HDMI cable.3. The full HD media playerZotac ZBox Blu-Ray - from £210 (around USD $343, AUD $379) - Ebuyer http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/desktop_pcs_and_macs/Zotac%20zbox/zbox-ad03br-plus_image2_2-420-90.jpg The Blu-Ray AD03 from Zotac is one of the few barebones PCs out there with an optical drive, but Zotac clearly know their market for this kind of form-factor and have included a Blu-ray drive, making this little PC the perfect HD Media centre. To ensure smooth 1080p playback, the 1.8GHz AME E-350 APU includes AMD6310 graphics, giving about as much graphic grunt as you'll get without a separate graphics card in a PC of this size. There are also more ports to go around, including DVI as well as HDMI, analogue audio output, full-sized SATA for 2.5" HDD or SSDs, an E-SATA for fast external storage, a 6-in-1 card reader, wired and wireless connections (up to 300Mbps) and 4 USB ports - two of which are USB 3.0. At lower resolutions the AD03 will even double as a casual gaming PC. There are plenty of Indie games on Steam, browser-based games on the Chrome Store and of course, there's nothing wrong with retro! What to add on With a processor already onboard, you'll just need some SODIMM memory and a 2.5" SATA hard-drive or SSD to finish it off. A minimum of 4GB of 204-pin SODIMM memory.We recommend a 500GB HDD or an SSD.Wired or wireless keyboard.Network cable or HDMI cable.4. The pint-sized serverShuttle SH67H3 - from £219 (around USD $358, AUD $393) - EbuyerRead TechRadar's full review of the Shuttle SH67H3 http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Format/PCF%20254/PCF254.w_rev3.shuttle_sh67h3pc_2_1-420-90.jpg Shuttle have been in the barebones business since the start, being a pioneering driving force behind the mini-ITX form factor since the days of socket-A. These days they're very much viewed as the standard in building a small (but powerful) desktop or media PC. Thanks to the extra space afforded from a full ITX chassis, you can fit in any 5.25" optical drive and two 3.5" drives for plenty of storage, plus there's space for dual-height graphics cards. Despite the small form factor, you're not hugely limited as to your choice of components. The Shuttle supports an Intel Core i3, Core i5, Core i7 Sandy Bridge CPU, up to 32GB of RAM, and has all the connectivity you'd expect to find in a full tower PC including four SATA interfaces, S/PDIF optical out, eight USB ports including four USB 3.0 and a whole lot more. Shuttles are really nicely made and look the part thanks to a sleek brushed aluminium exterior. They offer all the flexibility you could want for a home media server, gaming machine or anything else you'd expect a full-sized PC to do. What to add onThis barebones comes with a motherboard, heat-pipe CPU fan and PSU, but you'll need to add a socket 1155 processor, DDR3 memory and at least one 3.5" SATA hard-drive or SSD to boot. A Socket 1155 Core i3, i5 or i7 processorA minimum of 4GB of 204-pin SODIMM memory.We recommend a 2TB HDD and / or an SSD.Wired or wireless keyboard and other peripherals.A network or HDMI cable.5. The console beaterASRock M8 - Dabs The new-generation consoles are thoroughly at war, but there's a third option that, despite being a little more pricey, can afford you with graphical quality that's even higher than either Sony or Microsoft's offerings. The offspring of a design co-operative between ASRock and BMW, The M8 verges on mini-pc erotica. Not only can it compete amongst the best in CPUs and GPUs thanks to a Haswell-compatible Z87-M8 motherboard, but the M8 has some interesting design features outside as well as in. Firstly, there's the 'A-Command' OLED display on the front of the case. This display can adjust its orientation depending on whether you have the M8 horizontal or vertical, and displays a whole host of information including CPU speed, time and date, volume and also lighting controls for the inside of the case. Other highlights of this little beast include space for up to five 2.5" drives, or else one 3.5" and one 2.5" drive, excellent onboard sound from Creative, space for two SODIMM memory modules, and just about enough space to cram in a double-height graphics card such as a NVIDIA 760. Though the M8 doesn't come with an included CPU cooler, it can take most heatsinks up to about 90mm tall, which is pretty good for a Mini-ITX case. What to add on This barebones PC comes with a motherboard, heat-pipe CPU fan and PSU, but you'll need to add on a socket 1155 processor, DDR3 memory and at least one 3.5" SATA hard-drive or SSD to boot. An LGA1155 Core i3, i5 or i7 processor.An appropriate Cooler (such as the ThermalRight AXP100)A minimum of 8GB of 204-pin SODIMM memory.A beefy graphics card such as the Asus GTX 760 DCU II.We recommend a 1TB HDD and / or 2.5" SSD (or 5!).Wired or wireless keyboard and a gamepad.Additional cabling such as network or HDMI.Now why not read TechRadar's guide to the best free video editing software?

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/CyanogenMod/CyanogenMod%20Oppa%20N1/CyanogenMod%20Oppa%20N1-470-75.jpgIn a Christmas Eve miracle, Cyanogen has announced it will ship the first Google-approved phone running a third-party version of Android. The Oppo N1 claims to be the world's first Google compatibility test suite-certified CyanogenMod handset, and it plans to launch on December 24. The plucky smartphone comes running a rooted version of Android 4.2 called CyanogenMod 10.2. Google gave the third-party phone its blessing to access the Play Store and take its apps out for a date. This means users will be able to download apps from the Store directly instead of having to sneak around and sideload the software. Cyanogen, Cyanogen's parent company, said getting its version of the Oppo N1 through the certification process was an arduous task, but that's really not surprising. Previously, Google pulled Cyanogen's unofficial Android installer app after being on the Play Store for just 15 days. Dare to rootOther then the hacked software, the Oppo N1 is equipped with some fairly decent internals including a 1.7 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 quad-core processor, Adreno 320 GPU and 2GB of RAM. The device is also fairly hefty with a 5.9-inch 1920 x 1080 resolution screen and a large 3,610 mAh battery. One of the phone's more unique characteristics is its rotating 13MP camera, which can be flipped around as the device's back and front-facing snapper. Storage-wise the Oppo N1 will come in 16GB and 32GB varieties. Oppo also seems to have made its handset ready to take on the mobile world circuit with GSM as well as WCDMA antennas that cover a wide range of cellular frequencies. Cyanogen announced the CM-equipped handset will be available starting on December 24. There isn't any word of availability outside the US or how much it will cost, but a standard 16GB Oppo N1 model without the special software floats around the $599 (or £366/about AU$671) price range. For T-Mobile's next Uncarrier magic trick, it could make termination fees disappear.http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3510b289/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/184841987029/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3510b289/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841987029/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3510b289/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841987029/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3510b289/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/184841987029/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3510b289/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/184841987029/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3510b289/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/kPewnKu2tTs