sincity

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/iPhone/AppleStoreiPhone-470-75.jpgThe iBeacon, Apple's tool for tracking users in stores to personalise their shopping experience, is no longer the only such solution on the market. Semiconductor giant Qualcomm has released a new rival sensor called Gimbal Proximity. At a price of $5 (£3, AU$5), the concept of the sensor is similar to the iBeacon in that it tracks the in-store location of customers accurately. Use of the platform promises to allow brands to increase sales and drive loyalty by delivering relevant and targeted messages while their consumers are physically in the store. "With the availability of Gimbal proximity beacons, we are empowering brands to take mobile engagement with their customers to a whole new level through micro-location," said Rocco Fabiano, president of Qualcomm Retail Solutions. Using the sensor, retailers would know what area of the store customers are in, and can then tailor adverts, information and special offers towards those people. Two Gimbal sensors are available, the Series 10 and the larger Series 20, both of which use low-energy Bluetooth Smart technology, which is said to be accurate to within a foot. These can be be placed throughout any brick-and-mortar store without loss of connectivity. VersatilityQualcomm's Gimbal combines "physical location, activity, time and personal interests" and is available for iOS devices with support for Android coming later. It is versatile enough to be used in many other ways. Interaction for marketing purposes, as an early demo of the Gimbal showed with the Star Trek film franchise, is also a possibility. They would allow consumers to complete actions and tasks to reward them with special offers and increase their loyalty to the brand. Using Bluetooth Smart technology gives the Gimbal an easier mode of connection, with GPS and NFC both having drawbacks in usability. Rather than using the cloud, the Gimbal Beacon processes the data received within its device, making the interface and interaction at a customer level, far faster. Qualcomm has also announced a new 64-bit mobile processorhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/34b3dfec/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/180266057213/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34b3dfec/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180266057213/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34b3dfec/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180266057213/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34b3dfec/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180266057213/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34b3dfec/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/180266057213/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34b3dfec/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/GjdalEOolVM

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Windows/windows_logo-470-75.jpgMicrosoft's Windows 8 operating system has had a difficult journey since its launch. Steve Sinofsky predicted that the new OS would have a rocky start before consumers ultimately embraced it, but a year on from its release, it still pales in comparison to its far more popular predecessor, Windows 7. Now a chart from Statista (based on data from Net Applications) draws some stark writing on the wall for Windows 8, which was supposed to be the future of Microsoft's platform strategy. The new operating system is being used by only 9.3% of the computing market. In comparison, Windows 7, which launched in October 2009, was twice as popular 12 months after launch. Worrying for MicrosoftWindows 7 took only a few months to surpass 10% market share and reach 20% at the close of its first year. In comparison, Windows 8 has started slowly and continued to grow slowly, and, despite a small increase in sales over the summer, appears to have plateaued in recent months. It took the new platform more than half a year to reach just 5% adoption. Perhaps more worrying for Microsoft, however, is another report from Net Applications which gave Windows 8 a market growth of 0.05% while Windows 7's growth was a far bigger at 0.22%. Essentially, Windows 8 is actually being outsold by its 4-year old predecessor, despite Microsoft actively spreading the OS's 'look and feel' to other platforms such as the Xbox and Windows Phone. Of course, the numbers don't necessarily foretell the doom of Windows 8. Microsoft will be hoping that Christmas and holiday sales of devices supporting that platform will drive its market share up into more healthy figures. It seems, however, that Microsoft's user base overwhelmingly shown its preference for Windows 7, the company's tried-and-trusted stalwart. Find out what TechRadar thought about Windows 8http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/34b2994d/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/180266178983/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34b2994d/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180266178983/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34b2994d/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180266178983/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34b2994d/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180266178983/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34b2994d/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/180266178983/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34b2994d/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/ucRaJSsGlBw

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/internet/VOD/Lovefilm%20vs%20Netflix/netflix%20vs%20lovefilm-470-75.jpgThis month's big console launches means yet more eyeballs watching streaming video: both Netflix and Amazon's LoveFilm Instant will be available on both the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4. Between the two streaming services, pretty much every device you can imagine is able to receive films and TV series. But which one deserves your dosh? Is it time to anoint a new streaming king? Let's find out. LoveFilm Instant vs Netflix: priceBoth services are £5.99 per month and offer 30-day free trials. LoveFilm also offers DVD and Blu-Ray rental, which - if you want rentals as well as streaming - costs £9.99 to £13.27 per month depending on how many simultaneous disc rentals you want to have (the maximum is three). Get your LoveFilm 1-month free trialGet your Netflix 1-month free trialLoveFilm Instant vs Netflix: devicesWhile both services support the big hitters - iOS, PlayStations and Xboxes, PCs and Macs - Netflix supports many more devices than LoveFilm. Netflix streams to the PS3, PS4, Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360 and Xbox One, compatible LG, Panasonic, Philips, Samsung and Sony Blu-Ray players and Smart TVs, Apple TV and set-top boxes from Philips, Roku, WD and Virgin Media, LG home theatre kit, Android (including Kindle Fire and Chromecast), iPhone, iPad and Windows Phone. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/Netflix%20vs%20Lovefilm%20update/lovefilmmain-420-100.jpg By comparison LoveFilm's selection looks a little sparse. The Android app doesn't stream, and the support for other kinds of devices is less impressive than Netflix's: compatible TVs and Blu-ray players include Sony, Samsung and LG but not Panasonic or Philips, and the home cinema and set-top box support is limited to Sony kit. You do get apps for Kindle Fire, Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, Wii U, Xbox One and PS4, though. It's worth pointing out the Microsoft tax on the Xbox apps: if you want to stream Netflix or LoveFilm content on an Xbox 360 or Xbox One, you'll need a gold Xbox Live subscription. LoveFilm Instant vs Netflix: TVNetflix's purchase of Breaking Bad was a smart move, and it's made some more: it's commissioned two new series so far, with Kevin Spacey chewing the scenery in the superb House of Cards and Taylor Schilling attracting rave reviews in Orange Is The New Black. Netflix has also saved Arrested Development from oblivion. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/Netflix%20vs%20Lovefilm%20update/netflixhouseofcards-420-100.jpg Netflix is particularly good for US TV programmes, although HBO titles such as Six Feet Under and The Sopranos are absent, and it has a useful kids mode that gives the kids Spongebob Squarepants instead of Walter White (you can also have multiple users, with Netflix asking you who you are when you login). Stand-up comedy is well represented too. If you're looking for Breaking Bad on LoveFilm you'll need to be a DVD or Blu-Ray subscriber, but LoveFilm redeems itself with a pretty good collection of BBC programmes, especially children's programmes, and a great selection of cartoons. Some big hitters are here too - you can stream Dexter, the first two seasons of The Walking Dead and Battlestar Galactica - but the TV selection is rather limited. All too often clicking on programmes in the web version took us to LoveFilm's DVD listings because the service didn't have the streaming rights. LoveFilm Instant vs Netflix: moviesBoth services have a good selection of children's films including Disney and Pixar classics, but when it comes to the grown-up stuff LoveFilm has more recent blockbusters. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/Netflix%20vs%20Lovefilm%20update/lovefilmmovies-420-100.jpg However, "recent" is relative, as both firms generally have to wait until films have dropped out of the DVD/Blu-Ray charts before the studios make them available for streaming. A quick search for high-profile films demonstrates the differences: LoveFilm has Looper, Bridesmaids, Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2, Rio and the recent Alice In Wonderland remake, and Netflix doesn't. LoveFilm Instant vs Netflix: qualityWith both services the quality you get depends on the device you have, so for example Netflix delivers 480p to a Kindle Fire, 720p to a Kindle Fire HD and 1080p to an iPad running iOS 7. It's also worth noting that what you get is only as good as the source material. Some content, such as old cartoons, looks and/or sounds pretty awful. Don't expect to be oohing and aahing at Inspector Gadget in 1080p HD. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/Netflix%20vs%20Lovefilm%20update/netflixkids-420-100.jpg Your quality also depends on your internet connection: if you want 1080p streaming, which Netflix calls Super HD, you'll need a connection delivering real-world speeds of around 7Mbps (LoveFilm recommends 12Mbps). if chucking HD video around is likely to hit your ISP's bandwidth cap, Netflix enables you to manage your video settings downwards to reduce bandwidth bills. The nice people at Wikipedia have put together a list of which devices get which resolutions from Netflix, and you'll see that PCs and the most recent consoles and mobile devices can get 1080p but older kit (such as the second-gen Apple TV and the Xbox 360) and Windows Phone devices get 720p. LoveFilm can stream 1080p to PCs and Macs, but other devices are mainly 720p. There are two notable exceptions: Samsung and LG Smart TVs and Blu-Rays, which can get 1080p, and the iPad, which can't get HD at all. Both services use adaptive streaming, which changes the streaming bitrate upwards and downwards to deal with network congestion. For now all streaming content is 2D, but Netflix's US customers can stream some 3D titles. The service is also trialling 4K streaming for an expected US launch later this year. LoveFilm Instant vs Netflix: VerdictThe winner here depends on what you want to watch, and what you want to watch it on. Netflix works on many more devices and is much better for TV programmes than its rival; now that it's making its own programming based on viewing data - and basing its buying decisions in part on the basis of what's popular among the pirates - it's, ahem, one to watch. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/features/Netflix%20vs%20Lovefilm%20update/netflixvictory-420-100.jpg LoveFilm's device support is narrower and in some cases inferior - for example, iPads don't get HD and some trailers don't work - but you're more likely to find fairly recent blockbusters on LoveFilm Instant than on Netflix. If you're looking for a quick answer then we reckon Netflix is better for TV programming and LoveFilm Instant is better for blockbusters, especially if you don't mind paying a bit more to get disc rentals too. However, they're both good services and good value. We'd suggest signing up for both lots of free trials to see which one suits you best. Which console will you watch Netflix or LoveFilm on? See our PlayStation 4 and Xbox One reviews

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/tablets/Google/Nexus%207/ubuntu-on-nexus7/ubuntu.touch.1-470-75.jpgRemember the Ubuntu Edge, the Canonical creation that set out to earn $32 million (about £20.8m, AU$34.5m) on Indiegogo but fell very short? Well, the company is back at it again, though this time it's maneuvering a slightly different route to deliver the Ubuntu mobile platform to the public at large. "We have concluded our first set of agreements to ship Ubuntu on mobile phones," Canonical founder Mark Shuttleworth told CNET. "We've shifted gears from 'making a concept' to 'it's going to ship.' That has a big impact on the team." Shuttleworth stayed quiet on who its initial phone partner is, but said that Canonical is on board to deliver its Ubuntu Touch OS to a handset. High-end devices running the Linux-based operating system should be available next year. Ooo-ooo-UbuntuThe good news for Ubuntu supporters doesn't stop there. Shuttleworth said several board-level discussions are underway at other hardware makers. And not just Joe Smartphones; Canonical is chatting with "four household brands" that "sell a lot of phones all over the world" to both businesses and consumers. Ubuntu Touch has been available for install on Nexus devices, but 2014 would mark its arrival on a native machine. The OS is essentially a mobile-ized version of Ubuntu for desktop. When docked to a desktop monitor, Ubuntu Touch can launch as the full-fat desktop system. Get to know Mark Shuttleworth a bit in this in-depth interview.http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/34abc970/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/180265999032/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34abc970/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180265999032/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34abc970/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180265999032/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34abc970/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180265999032/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34abc970/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/180265999032/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34abc970/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/hJZb_LytgUE

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/other/Onetimers/Twitter%20photos%20DM-470-75.jpgMere days before an event where Instagram may unveil its own messaging service, Twitter is out with an update to its own. As of today, its mobile apps will let users send photos in direct messages. It's a feature that some would say should have been available long ago, but better late than never, right? Photos in direct messages will be viewable through Twitter's website, too. The newly public social network has also added a tab navigation bar to make DMs more prominent. With the update, wherever you are in Twitter, direct messages are never more than a tap away. Swipe, swipe, swipeToday's Twitter news doesn't stop there; the company outed new swipe controls so users can jump between their Home, Discover and Activity timelines with a brush of the finger. It's a small gesture, as it t'were, but one that should lead to easier navigation and discovery - and more time spent - inside Twitter. What's more, the iOS version of the Twitter app now has new in-app notifications to inform users when they've been DMed, favorited, retweeted or someone has replied to one of their tweest. On Twitter for Android, tapping a star on other users' profiles will turn on mobile notifications for that person. Where or where could that standalone direct message app be?http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/34ab9c3d/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/180265946112/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34ab9c3d/sc/21/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180265946112/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34ab9c3d/sc/21/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180265946112/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34ab9c3d/sc/21/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180265946112/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34ab9c3d/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/180265946112/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34ab9c3d/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/fUGvL2OT1ww

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Foxtel%20Play/Foxtel-Play-review8-470-75.jpgFoxtel has announced that its Foxtel Play service will now be available on a number of 2013 LG smart TV models. Foxtel Play doesn't require a lock-in contract or the need for a set-top box, as long as your compatible smart LG TV is hooked up to broadband internet. You can download the app starting today via LG's SmartWorld app store, and you can also check out if your LG TV model will be able to run the Foxtel Play app over on Foxtel's website. Play gets more playAlready available on Windows PCs, Macs, Samsung smart TVs and the Xbox 360, and now on close to 20 LG smart TVs, Foxtel Play is becoming much more accessible. It allows your subscription to span across a number of devices, while you also get access to the Foxtel Go app on iOS and Android. And as Foxtel Play launched less than 6 months ago, we strongly suspect it will slowly make its way onto other TVs, as well as potentially next-gen consoles – it's only a matter of time before it pops up on the Xbox One. But while it's cheaper than a straight Foxtel subscription, it's still pricey. The lowest spend per month would be $25, while a subscription to all available packages will cost $100 per month - on top of your regular internet bill. Check out our Foxtel Play review to see if it is a real IPTV contender.http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/34a2510e/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/180265931736/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34a2510e/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180265931736/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34a2510e/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180265931736/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34a2510e/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180265931736/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34a2510e/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/180265931736/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34a2510e/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/93Hcyd_eXnk

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/Android/KitKat/Android%20Kitkat%204_4%20Walkthrough%20RGTST-470-75.JPGSome poor folks have to wait years for an Android update to hit their devices, but owners of Google's Nexus phones and tablets have now been gifted two in a week. Just days after the Android 4.4.1 update landed on the company's own-branded phones, version 4.4.2 version of KitKat is reportedly landing on devices like the Nexus 5 and Nexus 7. However, all is not as it seems. Judging by early reports, it appears that the 4.4.2 update maybe a replacement for Android 4.4.1, which may not have been entirely stable. The change log for the update is identical to 4.4.1 in that it promises improvements to the Nexus 5 camera, with faster shooting, less motion blur and shutter lag, along with some general bug fixes. Replacement?According to the official forums of US network Sprint, it appears that Google may have pulled the previous update, fixed some of the bugs and relaunched it under the moniker 4.4.2. So far, Android Police reports, the update is showing up on the Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7, Nexus 10. Have you seen the update his your Nexus device yet? Have you spotted anything new? How's that camera working on the Nexus 5 now? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below. http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/349f975d/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/180266036818/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/349f975d/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180266036818/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/349f975d/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180266036818/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/349f975d/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180266036818/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/349f975d/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/180266036818/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/349f975d/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/pAnqDfrCalw

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/televisions/Google/Chromecast/chromecast-470-75.jpgGoogle's HDMI Chromecast dongle is great for streaming content from an Android device directly to a television set, but falls short of the Apple TV platform when it comes to full-on display mirroring. However, that could soon be about to change, judging by code spotted within the Android 4.4.1 update which is currently rolling out to Nexus smartphones and tablets. Cyanogen co-founder Koushik Dutta, whose company creates software to help users modify and extend the functionality of their mobile devices, thinks the screen mirroring roll out will be coming soon. However, he believes the API will only be available to Google and the device manufacturers rather than becoming a tool that all developers are able to use for different purposes. Kinda bullpoopHe said, judging by the code that the possibility of sending Android displays to hardware other than the Chromecast, such as Apple TV or Roku set-top boxes will likely be out of the question. On his Google+ page, Dutta wrote: "From the patches I see in 4.4.1, they'll be adding Android mirroring to Chromecast very soon." "Unfortunately that API is not available to anyone but Google and the OEM. Similar solutions to different hardware can't be built (Apple TV, etc). Kinda bull***t." In the Android 4.4.1 software patches, the code for 'Capture_Screen_Video_Output' allows "an application to capture secure video output," but adds that it is "not for use within third-party applications." Another hint is a change within Android 4.4.1 itself within Display settings. Instead of the 'Wireless Display' option, the setting now reads 'Cast Screen.' Interesting. Google has been bigging up its Chromecast-compatible apps by giving them a section of their own within the Google Play store, but could things be able to get a lot more interesting for the little dongle? http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/34929bb6/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/180265847477/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34929bb6/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180265847477/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34929bb6/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180265847477/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34929bb6/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180265847477/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34929bb6/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/180265847477/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34929bb6/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/nHehxkEiR68

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/magazines/Linux/Issue%20175/LXF175.rev_fedvskor.korora19-470-75.jpgAlthough Fedora 19 and Korora 19 are genetically identical, we admit it's a little unfair to pit these distros against each other. Fedora is more than an OS: it's an ecosystem and caters to a wide spectrum of users. On the other hand, Korora is just one branch of that ecosystem that has been pruned and cultivated to serve one section of Fedora users: the everyday desktop user. Fedora has always pitched itself to power users and developers who would appreciate the many enterprise-centric features in the distro that eventually make their way into the commercial Red Hat Enterprise Linux distro. This release is no different. One of Fedora 19's aims is to facilitate creation of cloud infrastructures. For this purpose it includes the latest release of OpenStack, codenamed 'Grizzly' that lets users set up their own cloud infrastructure, similar to public clouds like Amazon EC2 as well as OpenShift Origin, Red Hat's own Platform-as-a- Service (PaaS) solution. Fedora's focus These and several other OS management tools are available only on the Fedora 19 DVD and not on the live editions. You will, however, find the qemu-based Boxes emulator in the Gnome Live CD. Although the tool works pretty much like VirtualBox it lacks some of the flexibility of the latter, yet offers advanced features, such as the ability to connect to a virtual machine via the Internet. Another key focus area of Fedora 19 is 3D printing. It includes software for creating 3D models and tools for generating and sending code to 3D printers. To assist software developers the distro includes a tool that provides language-specific templates and can even publish projects directly to GitHub. The redesigned Anaconda installer is Fedora's Achilles heel and, by extension, Korora's. The installer is a work in progress, and we weren't impressed by it. For starters, the interface has been tweaked but still lacks the consistency you'll find in other mainstream distribution installers. Also while Anaconda successfully picks up the other OSes and distros, it refuses to identify them. Furthermore, users can't install the bootloader to any location other than the Master Boot Record. On the upside, disks are now identified by their mount points. You can also create a user in the installer itself, and inexperienced users will appreciate the simplified procedure for creating a LVM-based filesystem. All said and done, the new Anaconda installer works best only for simple partition layouts, and isn't intuitive enough for more complex setups. If you are an existing Fedora user, you're better off using the new FedUp upgrade tool that was introduced with Fedora 18. FedUp is a dracut and systemd process that is simple to use. In a couple of commands, it will update the repositories to point to the new release, download all the packages required and reboot to install them. On the desktop both Fedora 19 and Korora 19 use Gnome 3.8, which has a new privacy settings option and a new Clock app. After installation, you can opt to use Classic mode for a Gnome 2-style experience which is built with a collection of Gnome Shell extensions. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/magazines/Linux/Issue%20175/LXF175.rev_fedvskor.classic_gnome-420-90.jpg The release also features three major changes in the Activities overview. First, the overview is tabbed and by default opens the new frequently used tab. Second, it lists Utilities and Sundry with a darker background than the other apps. These aren't apps and instead launch sub-menus that list the apps in their respective groups. Finally, the search in the overview has been overhauled. In addition to matching the search string with installed apps, it now also displays results from individual Gnome apps. When you first log into your account, you get to choose your locale and configure the Wi-Fi connection and set up any online accounts. You're then shown a full-screen video to help you get started with Gnome. When it ends you are dropped to the desktop with the Gnome Help open which besides the textual help also has three additional videos that show you how to launch apps, switch tasks, and respond to messages using the Message Tray. The Gnome Online Accounts app can now connect to your Google, Facebook, Windows Live, Microsoft Exchange account as well as an ownCloud server. In addition to Gnome Online Accounts, Korora 19 also includes the ownCloud desktop client. While Fedora 19, like always, has opted to implement a stock Gnome Shell, Korora 19 has tweaked it somewhat to make it more user friendly. So unlike Fedora 19 which has a very bland desktop with no icons, you get the ability to place icons on the desktop in Korora 19. Then there's Gnome's Nautilus file manager, now known as Files. Under Fedora, it uses the Sushi file pre-viewer and has a very limited right-click context menu. However, in Korora 19 Files uses the gloobus-preview which renders previews faster than Sushi and features a meatier context menu that's hooked up to Deja Dup backup tool. Also, the user menu in Korora 19 displays the Suspend option along with the Power Off option and ships with the Gnome Tweak Tool for modifying the advanced settings in Gnome 3. Due to these tweaks, Korora 19 presents a more usable desktop than Fedora 19. If you're looking for drivers for your fancy graphics card or codecs to play patent-encumbered files in Fedora 19, you're barking up the wrong tree. Fedora by design avoids bundling any proprietary or non-FOSS component. So along with LibreOffice, Firefox, Shotwell, Rhythmbox, and Totem video player you get the satisfaction of running a libre desktop. But if you lack the morals of a free software purist, that is to say you are a regular desktop user, Korora 19 is designed for you. It has full multimedia support which includes equipping Firefox with plugins to play Flash and Java content along with the VLC media player, and the Jockey device manager to handle proprietary drivers. The applications http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/magazines/Linux/Issue%20175/LXF175.rev_fedvskor.fedora19-420-90.jpg Unlike Fedora 19's live ISO for the Gnome desktop which weighs in at 919MB, Korora 19 Gnome ISO is 1.8GB. The distro uses the extra space to pack in popular apps for every desktop task imaginable. Firefox has the Adblock plugin and the DownloadThemAll download manager. There's also Audacity audio editor, OpenShot video editor, Handbrake video transcoder, GIMP image editor, RawTherapee for processing RAW images, Gwibber microblogging client, Liferea news aggregator and more. Now remember that all this software can be installed on a stock Fedora release as well, by installing repositories, such as RPMFusion. But you get them pre-installed with Korora along with custom repositories, such as Chrome, Adobe, and VirtualBox. Another key difference between Fedora 19 and Korora 19 are their package managers. Fedora 19 includes the software front-end to PackageKit, which lacks the functionality of Yum Extender that's in Korora 19. There's nothing stellar in the KDE version on Fedora 19 as well. You get the Konqueror browser instead of Firefox, Calligra Office instead of LibreOffice, and multimedia duties are handed to Amarok and Dragon Player. Korora's KDE edition also trumps Fedora's in terms of apps. Along with the Gnome editions ability to handle proprietary codecs and driver, it's got several KDE-specific apps, such as Dolphin and Krusader file managers, Choqok microblogging client, Kdenlive video editor and Kamoso webcam app. In the grand scheme of things, Fedora 19 is best suited as an Enterprise desktop, which doesn't care much for the proprietary codecs and the latest hardware drivers. If you've a fast Internet connection and the knowhow you can take a stock Fedora 19 release and turn it into Korora 19 in a couple of hours. Or you can save yourself the trouble and just download Korora 19. http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3491d921/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/180265816126/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3491d921/sc/4/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180265816126/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3491d921/sc/4/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180265816126/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3491d921/sc/4/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180265816126/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3491d921/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/180265816126/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3491d921/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/RFa5mlXf1so

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/HTC/HTC%20Droid%20DNA/IMG_9207-470-75.jpgDroid DNA users are about to get an early holiday present: the Android 4.2.2: Jelly Bean update with the Sense 5 UI overlay arrives today, according to HTC and Verizon. A Verizon spokesperson confirmed with TechRadar that the update "is being pused out in phases starting today." "Customers will get a notification on their device when the update is available for download/install," the spokesperson said. That statement arrived after a tweet from an HTC executive confirmed that the "should" arrive today. shoulda, coulda, wouldaHTC's executive director of product management, who goes by @moversi on Twitter, tweeted initial confirmation on December 5 that the update was coming. "DNA Owners! We have received technical approval from Verizon on OS 4.2.2 + Sense 5!! Thank you for your patience, the OTA will go out soon!!" he said. In a subsequent tweet, he added that while Verizon is in charge of pushing the update out, it "should" arrive today. Don't blink - BlinkfeedThe update will put a new spin on the Droid DNA's People, Calendar, Dialer, and Gallery apps, and will add Video Highlights and the HTC BlinkFeed home screen that the HTC One launched with. BlinkFeed displays social network updates and other customizable information on the phone's homescreen. The update is expected to fix nearly 20 bugs as well, according to a change log published by Verizon. In another tweet the HTC exec confirmed that the Droid DNA is scheduled to receive the Android 4.4: KitKat update in Q1 2014, and that "this will be with the latest Sense update as well." Android 4.4 KitKat release date: when can I get it?http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3486ebfc/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/180265856179/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3486ebfc/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180265856179/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3486ebfc/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180265856179/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3486ebfc/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180265856179/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3486ebfc/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/180265856179/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3486ebfc/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/kTyLs7d91EI

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/Google/nexus5/Nexus%205%20Review/nexus-5-review-25-470-75.jpgThe Nexus 5 is a great smartphone in many ways except for its camera. After languishing with a rather lagging snapper, the Nexus 5 is finally getting a camera boost with the Android 4.4.1 KitKat update. Due to come as an over-the-air update in the next few days, the latest Android update is geared towards fixing and enhancing the Nexus 5's picture taking capabilities. Google's Director of Engineering for Android David Burke told The Verge in an interview that the Nexus 5 shutterbugs should expect a faster camera overall. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/mobile_phones/Google/nexus5/4.4.1%20Camera%20Update/Nexus%205%20Camera%20Android%204.4.1%20Flower-420-90.jpg Burke explained that the camera before the update tended to create images focused on better quality over speed. 4.4.1 makes it so the camera fires frames at faster shutter speeds while not relying on optical image stabilization as it does now. "There's a tendency to say, 'oh, we have this cool thing that stabilizes, so lets make the shutter time longer, reduce the gain even longer, and get better shots," Burke told The Verge. "But while the Nexus 5's optical image stabilization allowed it to get better-than-average shots in low light, in good lighting it just made for frustratingly slow shooting speeds." http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/mobile_phones/Google/nexus5/4.4.1%20Camera%20Update/Nexus%205%20Camera%20Android%204.4.1%20napkin-420-90.jpg Post-update, the Nexus 5 camera will shoot images at faster shutter speeds producing pictures with less motion blur. This comes with the tradeoff of more pixel noise because the camera is probably bumping up the ISO sensitivity to do this. Burke says his team has also improved the camera's autofocus, the exposure, and the white balance. Snappierhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/mobile_phones/Google/nexus5/4.4.1%20Camera%20Update/Nexus%205%20Camera%20Android%204.4.1%20comparison-420-90.jpg On top of improving image quality, the camera app reportedly launches a full second faster. Default Camera app users will also notice a new progress indicator for HDR+ mode to indicate how far photo processing is progressing. One extra non-camera related thing the 4.4.1 update fixes on the Nexus 5 is the face unlock bug. Currently facial recognition sometimes causes a bug that locks the camera app with a blank white screen, which requires a full device reboot to fix. 9to5google also spotted the Android 4.4.1 KitKat update will be arriving to the Nexus 4 and Nexus 7-inch 2 as well. http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/347aa5c8/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/180265608803/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/347aa5c8/sc/21/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180265608803/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/347aa5c8/sc/21/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180265608803/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/347aa5c8/sc/21/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180265608803/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/347aa5c8/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/180265608803/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/347aa5c8/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/HXEqnfbu-CU

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/Apps/bluetooth-pics/bluetooth-2-470-75.jpgBluetooth peripherals are getting a slight bump in capabilities that will allow them to connect a web of there own and thus create a true Internet of Things. The Bluetooth Special Interest Group published a new 4.1 update that will be pushed as an over-the-air update to upgrade all Bluetooth radios currently in market. With Bluetooth 4.1, devices like fitness trackers will be able to collate data from separate sensors like heart monitors and temperature gauges and then report the findings back to a smartphone. Flip it, and the Bluetooth device can utilize the phone's gyroscopes and other sensors to pull data. Bluetooth 4.1 also supports bulk data transfers, so information from a multitude of sensors can be communicated at once to cater to more information coming in a single burst, which could be utilized to create a more accurate snapshot of data. And for the less fitness orientedThe Bluetooth 4.1 updates aren't just targeted at the fitness focused, of course. The 4.1 release improves the cooperation between LTE radios and Bluetooth devices to avoid interference. It also extends the timeout period between devices, so that users won't have to re-pair their smartphone with the car radio every couple of minutes. In a move to lay down groundwork for a more connected future, Bluetooth SIG implemented a dedicated channel that would connect all 4.1 devices together. It works in a similar fashion to how wireless routers are able to connect everything from TVs, game consoles, tablets and phones through IP-based connections. "It's not a mesh network scenario, but rather the beginning groundwork to make it possible for Bluetooth enabled devices to speak directly to the internet," a SIG spokeswoman told PC World. The new Bluetooth spec specifically adds a standardized way to create a dedicated channel which could be used for IPv6 communications. Bluetooth SIG said this new channel would support up to "340 trillion trillion trillion addresses." With that many available channels, we doubt you wouldn't be able to wirelessly control every Christmas light hanging on your house, and your neighbor's, and their neighbors, and…you get the idea. Just after the new year, Beats will launch a whole new streaming music service.

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/Apps/WhatsApp/WhatsApp_Logo_Sketches-470-75.jpgFacebook has lost its mobile messaging lead to the upstart WhatsApp platform, according to new research published this weekend.. OnDevice surveyed almost 4,000 smartphone users in five countries and found that a whopping 44 per cent of them were using WhatsApp to stay in touch with friends. 35 per cent of those folks - in US, Brazil, South Africa, Indonesia and China - were using Facebook Messenger in November. Despite eliminating BlackBerry users, the reborn BBM platform was down in 5th place with a respectable 15 per cent of those surveyed using the service, behind WeChat (28 per cent) and Twitter (16 per cent). The rise of BBM?BlackBerry's platform does seem to be doing exceedingly well in South Africa, according to the study, will 34 per cent of surveyed users frequenting the app in November. Another takeaway from the research was the popularity of social messaging apps compared with traditional SMS messaging. OnDevice found the 85 per cent of its sample used the likes of WhatsApp and Facebook last month, while 75 per cent used text messages. As is often the case with these surveys, it's by no means conclusive. There was no mention of the $3 billion-valued Snapchat, while the influential European mobile market was ignored entirely. http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/344c089e/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/180265284895/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/344c089e/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180265284895/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/344c089e/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180265284895/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/344c089e/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180265284895/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/344c089e/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/180265284895/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/344c089e/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/_G56FYxZuJg

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/tablets/iPad/apps/FIFA_for_iPad-470-75.jpgUntil now FIFA's presence in the mobile app stores has been dominated by the EA Sports video game that borrows its name. Now the world football governing body has launched its own official application for iPhone, iPad and Android promising 'unrivalled coverage' from 197 leagues around the world. Users will get live scores, league tables and statistics, while users can also personalise their World Match Centre, so they never miss kick off. However, probably the most alluring feature is the ability to live stream the draw for this summer's World Cup in Brazil. Path to gloryThe 32 national teams that have made the finals - including England, Australia and the United States - will learn their fate on Friday December 6, when the draw takes place in the Costa do Sauipe in the Brazilian state of Bahia. Once the draw is complete, fans will be able to plot their nation's 'path to glory' using the FIFA app. For some reason, however, it won't let England plot past the quarter-finals. Speaking of FIFA, read why FIFA 14 gives the Xbox One the gaming kick it needs.http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/34470f58/sc/13/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/180265318606/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34470f58/sc/13/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180265318606/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34470f58/sc/13/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180265318606/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34470f58/sc/13/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180265318606/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34470f58/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/180265318606/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34470f58/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/NWLB0qaVM-g

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/other/Onetimers/cyanogenmod_googleplay-470-75.jpgCyanogenMod's brief stint in the official Google Play store ended November 27, when Google forced the company to remove its newly minted app. The unofficial Android installer debuted in the app marketplace with its first ever official release on November 12. It was rather a surprise that Google approved it in the first place, considering the very nature of CyanogenMod. With the app's removal it seems CyanogenMod is destined to remain underground for now. Outside the boxThere may be hope for the future of CyanogenMod, though. In a blog post announcing that the app had been pulled from the Google Play store the company said it was installed hundreds of thousands of times in the two weeks or so it was officially available. CyanogenMod is an alternate Android installation tool whose makers aren't afraid to push Android hardware in new and sometimes unexpected directions. It's a versatile tool, but Google reportedly forced the company to take down its official app because it "encourages users to void their warranty." And sure enough, the app's Google Play page is no longer available. Android, huh? So much for open source. Maybe Firefox OS has a chance after all. CyanogenMod is of course still available through cyanogenmod.org, which promises that despite this setback "installing CyanogenMod has never been easier." KitKat's 'Project Svelte' could signal the end of Android fragmentationhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3437ba36/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/183025177669/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3437ba36/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/183025177669/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3437ba36/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/183025177669/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3437ba36/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/183025177669/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3437ba36/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/183025177669/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3437ba36/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/P4Z46-ejjas

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/ISPs/Virgin%20Media/Virgin_Media_TV_Anywhere_Android-470-75.jpgVirgin Media customers with Android phones are finally getting a little love from their television supplier, with the roll out of the TV Anywhere app commencing on Thursday. The app, which is free to all Virgin Media TiVo customers, brings access to a whopping 67 channels over Wi-Fi, which crushes the selection available to Sky Go customers on iOS and Android. However, despite waiting over a year for an launch following the iOS release in 2012, not all Android owners can jump on board today. The staggered roll out only supports a pre-selected number of devices, including the HTC One, Google Nexus 7, 10 and some of the more recent Samsung Galaxy and Sony Xperia phones and tablets. Not universalIn a Q&A on its website, Virgin said it is committed to optimising the experience for a launch on more Android devices, but admitted access will not be universal across the operating system due to device limitations. "It's important for us to protect our content owners' rights and also to provide an excellent quality service. Some older Android devices will not allow us to this, and we prevent the device being installed or used on those devices. We do make changes to the list of supported devices regularly, so check back again if your device is not supported," the company wrote. "If your Android mobile or tablet is fairly new, and is set to be a popular model in the UK, then there is a good chance that it will be added to our list of supported devices very soon. However, many older Android devices are not capable of providing a reasonable quality of streaming, and we will not be able to support these devices." The company said phones on Android 4.4 KitKat may experience a few problems initially, but you can see the list of supported devices here. http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3437ba38/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/183025177668/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3437ba38/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/183025177668/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3437ba38/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/183025177668/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3437ba38/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/183025177668/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3437ba38/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/183025177668/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3437ba38/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/OVSmZI_12-4

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/games_consoles/PlayStation%204/iPlayer_on_PS4-470-75.jpgWhile most new Sony PS4 buyers will be pre-occupied with games, rather than watching on-demand telly this weekend, the company has moved to confirm the official list of apps available on day one. Ahead of the console's European release date on Friday, Sony has published a full list of UK-available apps, led by the BBC iPlayer and the two instant-streaming giants Lovefilm and Netflix. The presence of the iPlayer is particularly significant given the BBC and Microsoft are seemingly struggling to come to terms on how it'll be integrated behind the Xbox Live paywall on the new Xbox One console. Confirmation that Netflix is on board will also please PS4 fanciers as up until very recently, reports had suggested it wouldn't be up for grabs on day one. Free to airThere will be 10 UK applications in total, with Demand 5, BBC News, BBC Sport, IGN and Vidzone joining the Sony Music Unlimited and Video Unlimited portals. Contrary to the Xbox One's Xbox Live paywall, all of the PS4 apps available on launch day will be accessible without subscribing to PlayStation Plus. As yet, there's no sign of staple apps like Sky Go, Now TV, 4oD and ITV Player, but Sony says more apps are coming next spring, including TuneIn Radio, Game One and MUBI. Opinion: The Xbox One and PS4 are both amazing consoles but Brits has no reason to buy them... yet.http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3427e196/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/180265161874/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3427e196/sc/21/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180265161874/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3427e196/sc/21/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180265161874/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3427e196/sc/21/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180265161874/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3427e196/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/180265161874/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3427e196/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/D3wTV82LFyE

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/internet/Microsoft/webapps/excel2-470-75.jpgOffice hasn't been just Word and Excel and PowerPoint for a long time. It's Exchange and SharePoint and Lync and Project and Dynamics, all now available as services in the cloud, as well as mobile apps that give you at least some of the features of desktop software. There's an iPad version of Office in development, once Surface gets a touch version of Office next year. Plus there are new services like Power BI, with its impressive natural language interface for digging into your company information. The way you get to all of that is Office 365, the subscription service, that so far, Microsoft is delighted with the popularity of the service with both businesses and consumers. "There are not a lot of examples of paid consumer subscriptions that have taken off really fast," points out Julia White. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/internet/Microsoft/Skydrive/microsoft%20skydrive-420-90.jpg Office 365 Home and Premium has 2 million subscribers already – and they're using the cloud features rather than just treating it as a way to get the desktop Office software. "People are getting the differences," White told us. "They're using the Skype minutes, they're taking advantage of the service parts of it." Business subscriptions got a boost from the end of the fiscal year, a time when many enterprises buy IT services, which helped Office 365 be the fastest Microsoft business so far to reach its $1.5 billion run rate. Read our Office 2013 reviewAnd that's not just the government wins she was expecting (she mentions the State of New York and the city of San Jose, noting it's "right in the heart of silicon valley" and so a prime target for Google Apps), but British Airways and "a really healthy number" of financial services companies; a much harder target to win over. "You'd think those would be the last people to go because they have a lot of money, and they're very constrained by security and privacy. Government [sites] are so cash strapped I thought they have to [go cloud] but seeing so many financial services go to Office 365, I think that's a good indicator of general cloud adoption." New features, more oftenOffice 365 adoption is also helping to sell subscriptions to the Office 2013 desktop software, as Office 365 Pro Pus. "They realize that if I don't have a client that's also staying current, then I'm not going to realize the benefits of having the latest server versions in Office 365. Before, we were lucky if people were on the latest version of the on-premise products. Now, it's all deployed it was meant to be. We used to ship people the pieces of the car and they had to build it themselves. Now we just give them the car." Getting the latest version of Office 365 was a more drawn-out process than some users expected this year, because of the major architectural differences between Office 2010 and Office 2013. White says that kind of delay is "a thing of the past" and new features will arrive more quickly. For example, it will only take a month to make Yammer integration in the Office 365 admin portal available to all Office 365 users. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/internet/Microsoft/webapps/powerpoint-420-100.jpg "Up to this release, we were still on a path where the engineering team was planning and building an on premise release and then we would deploy that to cloud infrastructure. Now we have redone the way we organize our engineering team and also the cadence of engineering release cycles. We have blown up the old planning and engineering release cycle, the three year thing making big monolithic changes. "There will never be any big platform level upgrade where it takes 18 months before people get the new stuff. For the cloud model that doesn't' work, now it's a constant steady cadence of stuff coming out. It's going to be more bite size chunks that come out, there's no big mega-release; everything from the new dirsync tools to the SkyDrive Pro storage increase to new Office mobile apps." All these new features can't come at the expense of quality, but you have to think about that differently for a service. "In the old days, the on premise design principle of engineering and the measure of quality was mean time to failure; how long could your code run until it failed. "The longer your code could run, the higher the quality. With a service it's very much about mean time to recovery. It's not about if something fails every year. It's if it takes you down for three days, it's a huge deal but if it if it fails every year and auto recovers in a nanosecond… that is a very different way to think about it, to engineer it, to measure your success. It's not so much about it never failing but that it has to be self-healing. That's been a big mental model change for the engineering team." One Office 365Office 365 has done its own mini version of the 'one Microsoft' reorg. "No longer is there a standalone Exchange, a standalone SharePoint and a standalone Lync team," White explains; "they are all integrated into an Office 365 team. So, there is a team focused exclusively on security, compliance, privacy across all things Office 365, thinking about it across the board instead of being very workload oriented." Previous tools in Exchange couldn't assume you had SharePoint and Lync as well, let alone the latest versions, correctly deployed. That made it hard to create integrated experiences. "Now we can think about security compliance as a holistic thing and solve it in a unified way," White suggests. One area the team is tackling; groups. Getting to grips with Microsoft Office 365"There are so many different ways we have tried to solve the groups problem. In email we have distribution groups and public folders, in SharePoint we have SharePoint groups, in Yammer we have Yammer groups, in Lync I can create my buddy list. They're all about having a set of people that you're doing work with and if you look across each individual product we have a half dozen ways we've solved that problem. "But now with Office 365 and developing all together and knowing that they will all be deployed together and in the right way, you can say gosh, why isn't there a concept of just a group in office 365 and it can propagate anywhere and you don't have to recreate it." http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/internet/Microsoft/webapps/word-420-100.jpg Yammer is going to be much more integrated, not just in the Office 365 portal – which is happening already – but, in the longer term, into the way you work in Office tools. "Today, I have to go somewhere and go do social things. Moving forward it's going to be a horizontal technology that lights up in a bunch of different ways." Forget the Facebook-style updates we're used to. "It's not about news feeds; it's about information being open and discoverable and accessible and that creates instant collaboration and discovery." Take something we all know, like email. "There's so much info in my inbox that's probably incredibly useful to my coworkers across the globe but they will never find it because it's locked to my inbox. There are some things that do not belong in the public forum but this could be useful for someone else to find. We're thinking about how do we unlock more and more of that. "Even simple things like; Why can't I like my email? Why can't I bring useful concepts between what are today different siloes of information in a more fluid approach? Now why not read How easy is it to migrate to Office 365?http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/34152150/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/180264932624/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34152150/sc/4/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180264932624/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34152150/sc/4/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180264932624/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34152150/sc/4/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180264932624/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34152150/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/180264932624/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34152150/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/hG7n89Vs2Nc

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/internet/Google/Eric%20Schmidt%20Google-470-75.jpgGoogle's executive chairman Eric Schmidt kindly gave up his weekend to write a lengthy step-by-step guide for iPhone users who are thinking of switching to Android. Big Eric says loads of his friends are making the transition from iOS and enjoying better, larger displays and a 'much more intuitive interface.' In the post on his personal Google+ page, Schmidt said that an Android phone would be "a great Christmas present to an iPhone user!" He said: "Like the people who moved from PCs to Macs and never switched back, you will switch from iPhone to Android and never switch back as everything will be in the cloud, backed up, and there are so many choices for you. 80% of the world, in the latest surveys, agrees on Android." You got me, what?!The series of Schmidt tips advises new Android phone owners on how they can make use of iCloud and Gmail to get iPhone contacts onto the new phone. It also explains how users can get iTunes music onto the Android phone, by using Google Music Manager and syncing to the company's cloud locker. Are you an iPhone user? Would you welcome an Android phone in your stocking this Christmas? Or would be aghast that a loved would even consider it? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section. Find out why everyone on the internet is turning into Eric Schmidt?http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/340ed6f1/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/180264973817/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/340ed6f1/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180264973817/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/340ed6f1/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180264973817/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/340ed6f1/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180264973817/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/340ed6f1/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/180264973817/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/340ed6f1/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/wcCo6wooXOU

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/internet/Twitter/Twitter_signup_page-470-75.jpgTwitter has joined the likes of Google and Facebook, by implementing "forward secrecy," a security tool that will aid the effort to keep out government agencies like the NSA and and GCHQ. The social network says the added layer of security will prevent data intercepted by what it calls 'adversaries' (i.e. the governments) being decrypted. Previously, unwanted parties who intercepted this user data could interpret it if they were also able to get hold of the master key a website uses to decrypt the data. Forward Secrecy isn't a new tech, but has been rarely implemented until recently. It gives that master key a huge security boost by creating random session keys that don't travel across the network. Protecting voicesTwitter's use of Forward Secrecy comes after Google's implementation in 2011 and Facebook's in June of this year, following the Edward Snowden revelations. "Security is an ever-changing world. Our work on deploying forward secrecy is just the latest way in which Twitter is trying to defend and protect the user's voice in that world," the company wrote on its official blog. The guys that have your back in the fight against government snooping: TechRadar profiles the Electronic Frontier Foundationhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/34053c98/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/180264814709/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34053c98/sc/21/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180264814709/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34053c98/sc/21/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180264814709/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34053c98/sc/21/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180264814709/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34053c98/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/180264814709/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/34053c98/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/kKKe9ulGgLk

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/other/Onetimers/Waze%20on%20Windows%20Phone-470-75.jpgInstagram on Windows Phone may have stolen the app show, but Microsoft's mobile platform welcomed one more member today. Waze, the crowd-sourced traffic and navigation app, is now part of the Windows Phone family. However, only users of Windows Phone 8 will have access to road info culled from Waze's 60 million members. Community-contributed alerts for things like police activity and accidents, hazards, weather and even directions to the cheapest gas stations on your route are part of the Waze package. Google, which owns Waze, and Microsoft are on far from friendly terms, but it looks like Mountain View is willing to share at least one of its properties, which is only good news for Windows Phone users. Windows Phone statsAlong with its announcements around Instagram and Waze, Microsoft also revealed a number of stats related to Windows Phone apps. The figures show growth, but also demonstrate the OS has a long way to go before it can catch iOS and Android. According to Microsoft (by way of TechCrunch), Windows Phone has seen three billion app downloads. iOS, by comparison, has had over 60 billion apps downloaded in all. Microsoft claimed that everyday, 10 million app transactions take place on the platform, or about 300 million a month. In September, the Windows Phone counted 9 million transactions per day, while in June daily transactions totaled 6.66 million. In the time since Windows Phone 8's launch, monthly paid app revenue has gone up 181%, and total app downloads have risen 290%. Clearly, the updated OS is having an impact in the right direction. The figures are still not high for Windows Phone usage (particularly in the US), but Windows Phone handset sales have grown. Numbers-wise, Windows Phone may be far from its competitors, but it does appear to be on an upswing, especially when it comes to apps. Microsoft said there are 500 million new Windows Phone apps uploaded every day, and today the company could count two name-worthy ones in that figure. Check out the only hands on Xbox One review you need to read. http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/33ec23f3/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/180264716632/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/33ec23f3/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180264716632/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/33ec23f3/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180264716632/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/33ec23f3/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180264716632/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/33ec23f3/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/180264716632/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/33ec23f3/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/hKNLWi6bjKI

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/logos/instagram_windows_8-470-75.jpgInstagram is finally arriving on Windows Phone, filling a major hole in the Microsoft OS' app ecosystem. Users won't find it yet in the Windows Phone Store, and will have to wait until 11 a.m. PST/7 p.m. GMT to download it to their devices. More to follow... http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/33e908f3/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/180264741788/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/33e908f3/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180264741788/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/33e908f3/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180264741788/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/33e908f3/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180264741788/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/33e908f3/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/180264741788/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/33e908f3/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/6jJUB212D3U

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/gadgets/Galaxy_Gear_Notifications_Update-470-75.jpgThe Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch has endured a rough time of it since its launch this autumn, after failing to sell smartphone users, or anyone else for that matter, on the real benefits of strapping one on. Now there is hope, as an update to the Gear Manager app gives the device a shot making some headway by bringing real notifications from any Android app, directly to the screen. Prior to the update, users would only see they had a notification so would have to whip out their phone anyway, but now they'll see the full content of Facebook alerts, WhatsApp messages and everything else. Thanks to v1.5.111304 of the Gear Manager app owners will handily be able to select which apps send notifications to the watch and which don't. Progress. More appealing or less appalling? To grab the update, Gear users should head to the Gear Manager app on their compatible Samsung smartphone and download the latest version from the Samsung App Store. Does this, all of a sudden, make the Galaxy Gear a more appealing prospect for you? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below. Maybe now people will stop returning them to the stores in droves?http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/33c12403/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/180264409005/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/33c12403/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180264409005/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/33c12403/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180264409005/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/33c12403/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180264409005/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/33c12403/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/180264409005/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/33c12403/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/jfNO2IWs1sA

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Microsoft/Windows81/Microsoft_3D_Builder_app-470-75.jpgMicrosoft has released a new app for Windows 8.1 machines, allowing users to create 3D-printable items. The free 3D Builder app comes with a host of pre-conceived templates, including everything one could need to create their own 3D printed model train set, with their Windows 8.1 compatible 3D printer. As well as host of other templates like lego-style bricks, money clips, cookie cutters, snowflakes, pendants and the rest of it, users can also build their own items from scratch. Microsoft is also enabling users (albeit a very small number of users with Windows 8.1 and a 3D printer at this stage) to combine presets into one larger object. Ornaments, toys and more.."3D Builder has a catalog of objects you can create from ornaments to toys and more. The clean, simple user interface lets you scale, rotate and adjust what you want to print," wrote Microsoft's Kristina Libby on the official Windows blog. "Add multiple objects to a single print – even stack or push objects into one another to create new ones. Printing 3D objects created in other applications or ones that are downloaded from the Internet is really easy with the 3D Builder app and touch as well. The app is available to download from the Windows Store now and, if you're in the market for a 3D printer, Microsoft is also keep to point out it is now selling the MarkerBot Replicator 2. If that's not enough to convince you to upgrade to Windows 8.1, here are 10 really good reasons.http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/33c1240e/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/180264409004/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/33c1240e/sc/4/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180264409004/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/33c1240e/sc/4/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180264409004/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/33c1240e/sc/4/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180264409004/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/33c1240e/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/180264409004/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/33c1240e/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/fKnhtL1hlOw

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/internet/Google/apps/Google_Play_Movies_Cards-470-75.jpgGoogle has rolled out an update for its UK Play Movies app for Android, introducing the handy information cards that rolled out in the US earlier this year. The feature allows users to pause the video and view information about the actors currently on screen, the related movies and TV shows and information about the soundtrack. Users can tap on the lovely actors faces to see their filmographies, age and the other associated items available from the Google Play store. The feature is similar to the Amazon X-Ray for the Kindle Fire and saves a trip to IMDb when trying to answer the age old 'what else has she been in?' question. More Jack Black information"Next time you're watching a movie on Google Play you can find out that it's Jack Black, who was born in Hermosa Beach, California and is 44 years old," the company wrote on the Google UK Google+ page. "In the UK, we've added info cards to the Google Play Movies & TV app so you can easily learn more about the actors, related films and even what song is playing in many of your favourite movies." http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/33c12419/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/180264409003/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/33c12419/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180264409003/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/33c12419/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180264409003/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/33c12419/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/180264409003/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/33c12419/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/180264409003/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/33c12419/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/EjXzZTe1mAI