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http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/Amazon/Amazon%20phone%20official/amazon-fire-phone-scan-470-75.jpgDesign, display, and specsAfter being long rumored to introduce its own smartphone, Amazon has finally unveiled its Fire phone. On Wednesday morning, Amazon announced the Fire featuring a whole new 3D interface that tracks the users' gaze using four cameras. Novelty features for sure but Amazon needs to make its device as unique as possible to stand apart in today's crowded smartphone world. The Amazon Fire phone joins the already frantic fray with the LG G3 and Samsung Galaxy S5 and iPhone 5S. While the Fire isn't equipped with the latest bleeding edge hardware, its offers some uniquely enticing features that may draw users away from the safety of Samsung and Apple. Here's a rundown of the how the Fire compares with the competition. Designhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/mobile_phones/Amazon/Amazon%20phone%20official/amazon-fire-phone-cases-420-90.jpg Amazon hasn't skimped at all on the industrial build quality of its first ever handset. Featuring a rubberized frame, Gorilla Glass on both the front and back, CNC aluminum buttons, polished button chamfers, and injection-molded steel connectors every part of this handset should have a tight and precise fit. The Fire is also smaller than its competitors thanks to having a more conservative 4.7-inch screen. Overall the Amazon smartphone measures 139.2mm x 66.5mm x 8.9 mm in size and weighs 160 grams. Despite having the smallest screen of the bunch the Fire is still heavier than even the LG G3 and it 5.5-inch screen. This is likely because the Fire comes with two panes of Gorilla glass, whereas the LG G3 has a lightweight 149g plastic frame measuring 146.3 x 74.6 x 8.9 mm. The Samsung Galaxy S5 is made of a similarly lightweight 142 x 72.5 x 8.1mm plastic frame weighing only 145g. The Galaxy S5 also has the honor of being the only waterproof handset with a removable back allowing users to replace the battery. Despite its metal body, the iPhone 5S is by far the lightest at 112g but also the smallest at only 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6mm. Displayhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/mobile_phones/Amazon/Amazon%20phone%20official/amazon-fire-phone%20copy-420-90.jpg On paper the weakest part of the Amazon Fire Phone is its lacking 1280 x 720 resolution screen. Although the Fire has a smaller 4.7-inch screen to give the pixels less room to spread out, it still has the lowest ppi density at 315 even when compared to the 326ppi iPhone 5S and its 1136 x 640 pixel display. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the LG G3 comes with one of the mobile industry's first QHD displays at an eye popping 2560 x 1440 resolution and 538ppi. The Galaxy S5 lags behind with a standard full-HD 1920 x 1080 panel and a ppi of 431. Screen resolution is of course only half the story. The Fire still has a leg up thanks to its display being an IPS panel, which should resolve better than average colors. Additionally IPS screens tend to have more generous viewing angles that should help keep the picture clear when users are twisting and tiling the phone to odd angles as they use its 3D interface. SpecsSadly the Fire also comes packing an older generation 2.2GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 800 CPU paired with an Adreno 330 GPU, whereas most of its Android competition – including the Samsung Galaxy S5 and LG G3 – are powered with a 2.5GHz Qualcomm quad-core chip and Adreno 300 GPU. All three handsets, however, come packing the same 2GB amount of RAM, that is, unless users are looking to pick up the 32GB version of the LG G3 with 3GB of RAM onboard. Storage wise users can pick up a 32GB version of the Samsung Galaxy S5 to match the only available tier of the Fir,e but Amazon's handset lacks any mircoSD slot for holding any additional data. The iPhone 5S, meanwhile, is in its own older class of hardware using the Apple developed 1.3GHz dual-core A7 chip with 1GB RAM and a PowerVR G6430 GPU. Cameras, features, price, and our early verdictCamerashttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/mobile_phones/Amazon/Amazon%20phone%20official/amazon-fire-phone-home-screen-420-90.jpg Technically, the Amazon Fire has a total of six cameras but for now we're going to talk about the ones that actually shoot images. The handset is equipped with a 13MP rear-facing camera with an f/2.0 lens. The 13MP sensor might be not be too exciting when the LG G3 has a matching resolution imaging chip. The Galaxy S5, meanwhile, actually beats out the Amazon smartphone with a 16MP camera that can shoot 4K video. That said, the Fire has the widest aperture lens whereas the LG G3 is trapped at f/2.4 and the Galaxy S5 and iPhone both have a f.2.2 lens. This wider lens should allow the Fire to capture more light at night. Amazon thus far has already touted its phone has clearer and sharper low-light capabilities than both Apple and Samsung. Dynamic Perspectivehttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/mobile_phones/Amazon/Amazon%20phone%20official/amazon-fire-phone-mayday-420-90.jpg Moving onto one of the most unique features Fire, Amazon's smartphone has four infrared cameras designed to track the users' face and orientation to the device. It's not 3D nor parallax, instead the Fire's entire interface is designed to present a 3D like experience that shifts to match the user's gaze. Integrated with maps, this added visual layer could allow users to see information "tucked" underneath such as Yelp ratings and reviews. For some more visual flair Lockscreens and wallpapers will have a 3D effect. This perspective skewing experience is only half the formula though users will also be able to navigate on their phone using gesture controls. The Fire Phone has some beefed up accelerometers to take commands like one-hand tilting to scroll through a list of shopping items in the Amazon Shopping app. Elsewhere, Fire users could the tilting controls while listening to music on the Amazon Music app to reveal song lyrics or auto-scroll through an article on the web. FeaturesRight off the bat Amazon is including free unlimited photo storage and a free year of Prime for anyone that picks up its first handset. Along with the free-two day shipping on practically everything Amazon sells, Prime grants users access to unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Prime Instant Video. Amazon boasted that Fire owners will be able to watch over 200,000 videos, including exclusive content. The free streaming also extends to Amazon's music library. Additionally users can borrow an e-book from the Kindle Owners' Lending Library of over 500,000 titles to choose from. Additionally, Amazon hopes its Fire Phone will take off as a media device that can fling video to any Miracast device such as a Fire TV. Apple has a similar AirPlay system set up for connecting users' iDevices to an Apple TV. Android users, meanwhile, can flick their video content from mobile phone to the Chromecast. Although these are both good options that work, Amazon wins out slightly simply because there are more devices that work on the Miracast standard. Amazon unique MayDay, "tell me how to use this device" feature also makes a return on the Fire phone with a dedicated physical button to trigger it no matter if the user is connected by 3G, 4G, or Wi-Fi. Fireflyhttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/mobile_phones/Amazon/Amazon%20phone%20official/Firefly-420-90.jpg The Fire also has yet another physical button and this one is used to trigger the Fire's new Firefly feature. While users have been able to use their smartphone cameras to scan barcodes and QR stamps, Firefly takes image based searching to a new level by identifying physical objects. While using the feature, virtual fireflies will gather around any object captured by the phone's camera to identify and track down the object on Amazon's digital retail space. What's more, the feature can be used to identify songs, TV Shows, and Movies based a small snippet of audio similar to Shazam for X-Ray information or a link to buy it from Amazon. In some non-commercially oriented uses, Firefly could be used to identify paintings. The feature can also extrapolate text from a sign saving users the process of typing in a phone number and other information manually. Price For now the Amazon Fire Phone is only available on AT&T for starting price of $199 (about £120/AU$210) for the 32GB version with a two-year contract. Similarly, the Samsung Galaxy S5 comes at $199 (about £120/AU$210) but the big blue carrier only has a 16GB model available. A similarly specced iPhone 5S can be had for $249.99 (about £147.09/AU$265.71) with a two year contract on AT&T. The LG G3's availability is still questionable except for a rumor it will launch on Verizon come this July 17 for a yet to be announce price. Early Verdicthttp://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/mobile_phones/Amazon/Amazon%20phone%20official/amazon-fire-phone-price-420-90.jpg It's clear Amazon is trying to build on its successful run of tablets by first announcing Fire TV and now a Fire Phone. It's not a truly stand out phone on specs alone but thanks to the company's massive cache of digital content and a few unique features, the Fire is a tantalizing new wrinkle in the mobile space. Much of the talk surrounding the Fire up to its reveal pinned a new 3D interface as being the phone's most stand out feature. But in reality it's not parallax or a true three-dimensional experience, which leaves us a bit disappointed. It's too early to call the Amazon Fire a sure buy handset, we'll wait - and all users should - until we see the interface first hand and run the phone's unique Firefly feature through a ringer of real world objects. Here's 8 things that should excite you about the Amazon Firehttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3ba4f7b6/sc/5/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199107135378/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3ba4f7b6/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199107135378/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3ba4f7b6/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199107135378/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3ba4f7b6/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199107135378/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3ba4f7b6/sc/5/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/199107135378/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3ba4f7b6/sc/5/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/1VFquc2ygII

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/car%20tech/Apple%20CarPlay/16x9/CarPlay%20maps-470-75.jpgGoogle is about to catch a ride in your car with a new dashboard OS tentatively called Google Auto Link, according to one report. The system will rival Apple CarPlay and debut at the Google IO developer conference on June 25, three separate sources told Auto News. Google Auto Link is reportedly "projected" from Android smartphones, not "embedded" in cars themselves, so users will control their phones from their dashboards. Like CarPlay, the Google system will likely let users play music, answer calls, navigate, and do more without needing to take their eyes from the road for too long. Safety firstGoogle Auto Link, which may ultimately emerge with a different name, is no doubt a product of Google's Open Automotive Alliance, announced earlier this year. The alliance includes Audi, General Motors, Honda., Hyundai, and even Nvidia, which is making chips for in-car systems. Audi has already begun embedding Google Earth in its vehicles, and some Hyundai cars let users search for destinations with voice commands, but Android has yet to be fully integrated with any cars. Google said previously, though, that it wants to get Android into cars in 2014, and that it's "developing new Android platform features that will enable the car itself to become a connected Android device." Watch out for more news about Google's in-car efforts as IO approaches in the next week. Apple CarPlay to stake out aftermarket cars thanks to Pioneerhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3ba434d2/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199119448816/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3ba434d2/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199119448816/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3ba434d2/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199119448816/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3ba434d2/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199119448816/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3ba434d2/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/199119448816/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3ba434d2/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/YZVZPJTD6dQ

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Apple/Spotsetter_Apple_acquisition-470-75.jpgApple has reportedly dipped into its rather deep pockets once again, this time to by the map-based social reviews app Spotsetter. TechCrunch claims Cupertino has agreed a deal to acquire the firm and its founders, former Google Maps engineer Stephen Tse and Johnny Lee, who announced it was shutting down the Spotsetter app last week. The app had aimed to being users recommendations by highlighting places people in their circle had visited on a map. In that way, it was rather similar to the likes of Foursquare. It also brought in reviews from services like Yelp, Trip Advisor, Michelin and more and had racked up more than five million users. Boosting MapsFor Apple, the firm is likely to plug the technology into its Maps app, which despite improving dramatically since its unpopular displacing of Google Maps, still carries the legacy of its early stutters. Neither firm has officially announced the acquisition, but TechCrunch, which broke the story points, out that both founders LinkedIn profiles now reveal they work at Apple. It isn't the first time Apple has dipped into the market to boost Maps. In recent times it has snapped up companies like Locationary, WiFiSlam, Broadmap, HotStop and Embark. Add Spotsetter to that list. Hands on: Apple CarPlay reviewhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3b447350/sc/5/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199108173736/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b447350/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199108173736/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b447350/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199108173736/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b447350/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199108173736/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b447350/sc/5/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/199108173736/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b447350/sc/5/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/fidH5kn0Hwo

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/iPhone/FingerScanner/tap-470-75.jpgApple delighted iOS developers this week with the announcement of more than 4,000 new APIs, one of which enables apps to take advantage of the fingerprint sensor built into the latest iPhone. Business Insider reported Thursday that PayPal engineers were indeed in the audience for Apple's annual Worldwide Developer Conference in San Francisco this week, and one upcoming iOS 8 feature in particular has piqued the interest of the mobile payment service. PayPal Senior Director of Global Initiatives Anuj Nayar confirmed company developers were on hand for a WWDC session detailing forthcoming changes to Touch ID, which could, for example, be used to log into the mobile app to send payments. "It seems to be a fairly easy API to use, but we're still kicking the tires," an unnamed PayPal insider elaborated. Thumbs (and fingers) upWhen Cupertino's latest mobile operating system lands this fall, the fingerprint sensor built into the iPhone 5S will no longer be limited to just unlocking the device or authorizing iTunes Store purchases. Thanks to a new API, Touch ID can now be integrated into third-party apps, such as the official PayPal solution that currently allows customers to send and receive payments using a password or PIN code. While many pundits believe Touch ID is only the opening salvo in an all-out assault by Apple on a mobile payment system, existing services such as PayPal have been dabbling with similar efforts on finger-friendly smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S5. Presumably, owners of Touch ID-enabled iOS devices would be able to log into their PayPal account to transfer funds or manage settings without the need for a password or even cell phone login credentials, which currently are secured by a four-digit PIN code. For more Apple love, check out our full review of the latest MacBook Air!http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3b3eb6da/sc/5/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199119429282/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b3eb6da/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199119429282/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b3eb6da/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199119429282/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b3eb6da/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199119429282/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b3eb6da/sc/5/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/199119429282/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b3eb6da/sc/5/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/cD9CM0LY0WY

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Apple/iOS%208/apple_ios_8_quick_access_apps-470-75.jpgApple detailed many of the new features for the forthcoming iOS 8 update at WWDC on Monday, but here's one neat little tool the firm left out of its keynote address. Judging by the iOS 8 beta, now in the hands of the Apple's army of app developers, users will be able to access relevant applications from the lock screen, depending on their geographical location. According to those testing the software, apps like the Apple Store and Starbucks are appearing in the bottom left corner when users enter the vicinity of a store, allowing them to open with a simple upward swipe. Other users tell MacRumors they've seen apps for train stations and even icons for apps they haven't yet installed appear. Swiping on those will take users to the location's App Store page. Easier purchasingThe functionality appears to be designed to make it easier to access applications that allow them to make purchases or access prevalent information on their surroundings, but many other potential uses spring to mind. Those who utilise the Passbook feature for digital store cards will notice location-based notifications will pop up on the lock screen when in the vicinity so this feature appears to be a useful, non-intrusive extension of that. Current iOS 7 users also are able to make use of the quick access feature to open the device's camera. Here's everything else you need to know about iOS 8http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3b2107e3/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199106600389/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b2107e3/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199106600389/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b2107e3/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199106600389/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b2107e3/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199106600389/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b2107e3/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/199106600389/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b2107e3/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/kenqrut2GOY

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/events/wwdc/2014/Inside-PressConf-470-75.JPGIt seems a bit obvious to say that the Worldwide Developers Conference should be primarily about developers, but today Apple gave the thousands of expectant attendees more than they bargained for. The theme at WWDC might have seemed fragmented as it unfolded - lots of different new services on offer, and many different paths being walked down - but when you step back and put it all together you realize: Apple wants your iPhone to be the absolute center of your home and family life. Imagine Apple's ideal house next year: a home that's got digital locks, garage doors and thermostat all connected into the iOS system using HomeKit. An iPhone 6 for either parent with the TouchID sensor that's now been opened up to a range of new applications. Kids with their iPads, iPods and iPhones all linked to one central Family Share account. Suddenly you've got not just one, but six people locked into the Apple ecosystem. Want to get into your house? Better have an iPhone, or you're going to be throwing a Galaxy phone through the window to break in. Fewer broken piecesOf course, the trick here is getting enough people to fork out the cash needed to create this kind of house, and it's not going to be cheap. Apple doesn't quite have the market share it needs to achieve this kind of dominance easily (although it's not far off) which helps explain why Tim Cook was so keen to play up the fragmented nature of Apple's competitors. He highlighted how many more users had upgraded to the new version of iOS or OS X, with 40 million upgrades to Mavericks and 90% of iOS users on the new version of the platform. In comparison, Microsoft has only 14% of users on Windows 8, and Android 9% on KitKat. It's telling that numbers weren't involved in the presentation - it's reported that 200 million copies of Windows 8 have been sold already, so Apple was really highlighting the potential Microsoft needs to exploit. Perhaps it's a different story with Android, and that's why Google is working so hard to unify the variety of operators using its platform. You'll see 'Powered by Android' on start up screens for new devices from now on, and if Android Silver comes to pass, we'll have a range of high-end phones which will be as next-gen ready as Apple's iPhone range is. But Apple did have one little extra treat that might help its cause in persuading whole families to switch to its new integrated home vision, and it came towards the end of the conference. The biggest cheer of the keynote was reserved for the announcement of Swift, Apple's own programming language, to make it easier and quicker to create high-quality apps for its platform. This means fewer mistakes, more creativity and a greater number of developers sticking around who might have been swayed by the larger number of Android devices to cater for. And the addition of Metal, Apple's new layer between games and iPhone/iPad hardware that will allow near-console quality gaming on these portable devices, also got a massive whoop as it was announced - developers were genuinely enthusiastic about having these new tools to play with. A couple of guys behind me were seemingly dazed by what they'd seen, claiming this was a big (and useful) to the process … admittedly, they were in a room full of Apple fans, but there was a sense that Cook's team had created something that would again push mobile device performance forward. The Apple home of the future might not be something that appears in many houses for the foreseeable future, as it will require a lot of investment in a new ecosystem. But if you're a developer, suddenly the locked-down iOS system seems wide open: cameras, TouchID, gaming, health and keyboards have suddenly become fair game, and in doing so Apple has done enough to mirror the popular features of Android and gives it a great platform to launch the iPhone 6 on. What are iOS 8's top features? Read here to find out!http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3b179b25/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199119047766/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b179b25/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199119047766/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b179b25/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199119047766/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b179b25/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199119047766/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b179b25/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/199119047766/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b179b25/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/RZ6Tb4yYWM4

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/events/wwdc/2014/screengrabs/enterprise-470-75.jpgCraig Federighi, Senior Vice President of Software Engineering at Apple, unveiled iOS 8 with new features designed specifically for enterprise developers. Upgrades include automatic device enrollment and enhanced data protection. iOS 8's Device Enrollment program automatically configures devices for the enterprise. Devices purchased by enterprises will arrive to the user fully loaded with relevant mail, apps and calendar installations. To provide more enhanced security for mobile enterprises, iOS 8 features expanded data protection that will cover third party apps. Enterprise support has also been updated to include per message S/MIME, managed books and PDFs. iOS 8 for the enterprise will include VIP threads that allow users to generate notifications on a per-email-thread basis. Users can also enable automatic replies for out-of-office messages. Ninety-eight percent of the Fortune 500 uses iOS, Federighi said. http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3b163b80/sc/15/mf.gifhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/YDmY4hZ9CFw

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/events/wwdc/2014/screengrabs/icloud-drive-470-75.jpgApple kicked off its 2014 Worldwide Developers Conference with a confusing video in which app developers wondered what they looked like, followed by the announcement of Mac OS X Yosemite. Apple Senior Vice President of Software Engineering Craig Federighi then took the stage from Apple CEO Tim Cook to describe some of the new additions in the OS X update, including important new Mail and iCloud features. These features are known as iCloud Drive and Mail Drop, and they're Apple's answers to services like Dropbox and Google Drive. iCloud breaks down barriers"We all know that documents in the cloud provide a really convenient way for working with an app that works across all platforms," Federighi said. But iCloud has some limitations in that area, right? Not anymore, it seems. With iCloud Drive users can work right in Finder with files and documents from OS X, iOS apps and even Windows. Users can organize files in iCloud Drive using folders and tags that will be synchronized across all their devices. Drop it like it's MailFederighi said Apple "focused on the basics" for the Yosemite Mail app, including "reliable syncing, fast switching between mailboxes, [and] quick fetches of your new mail." But they also "wanted to address a fundamental problem with email;" that is, limits on attachment size. So Mail Drop lets users choose to send large attachments through iCloud instead of through their recipients' email servers. The feature apparently strips the attachment from the message and sends it through iCloud, while the message goes through the email servers as usual, and they're joined up again as they hit the recipient's inbox. Developing… Check in with our WWDC 2014 liveblog!http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3b15a395/sc/5/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199118825988/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b15a395/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199118825988/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b15a395/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199118825988/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b15a395/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199118825988/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b15a395/sc/5/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/199118825988/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b15a395/sc/5/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/XgQuO-Ovef0

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/events/wwdc/2014/screengrabs/yosemite-full-470-75.jpgCraig Federighi, Senior Vice President of Software Engineering at Apple, unveiled the new version of Mac OS X v10.10 at WWDC 2014. The new operating system has been named "Yosemite" and is available for developers and will be available generally for free this fall. The Yosemite operating system upgrade will enable users to deliver files on AirDrop from Apple mobile devices to Mac desktop and laptops and vice versa. A new feature called Handoff will allow users to send files between devices via a swipe. For example: as users working on an Apple device approach a second Apple device, they will be asked if they would like to transition files to the second device. Yosemite's display will feature "translucency" that enables live windows to take on the personality of the user's desktop, including adaption to the user's desktop color scheme. The translucent display will also appear on the application dock, including an updated translucent trashcan. Today viewThe Notification Center will now feature a "Today View" that provides an at-a-glance look at apps like iCalendar, Weather, and apps downloaded from the App Store along the right rail of a user's desktop. Yosemite will also feature a new "Dark Mode," which is designed to provide a more organic visual transition between apps and windows. Dark Mode allows users to turn Apple's bright gray menu bars to a darker gray. The feature extends through to apps like iCalendar and Apple Maps. Yosemite's desktop will now feature "Spotlight" functionality that enables users to active a large search bar display in the middle of the computer's screen. The functionality is similar to swipe-down search on iOS. Spotlight will include an internet search feed that can retrieve search results from the Web. MailDrop and MarkUpApple's Mail tool has been updated with a feature called "MailDrop" that enables users to independently host up to 5 gigabytes of data that can be remotely accessed by all mail users. Yosemite's "MarkUp" update gives users the ability to draw notes and make edits to all attachments included in emails. Apple CEO Tim Cook said 40 million Mavericks operating systems have been installed on roughly 80 million Macs. He also said Windows 8 adoption is only at 14% on PCs. http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3b15a397/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199118825987/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b15a397/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199118825987/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b15a397/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199118825987/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b15a397/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/199118825987/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b15a397/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/199118825987/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3b15a397/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/ipVYorhWL48

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/TRBC/oleg%20pliss-470-75.jpgApple issued a statement in the wake of growing concerns surrounding a series of hacking attacks, apparently commited by someone called Oleg Pliss. A number of iPhone customers reported that they were locked out of their devices - via iCloud - with a message requesting money to be sent to an email address. Apple's short notice says that it "iCloud was not compromised during this incident. Impacted users should change their Apple ID password as soon as possible and avoid Apple device users from as far as Canada, Australia and the US took to Apple's support communities website and claimed to have been targeted by the attacks. Going around the worldThere are are also unconfirmed reports that the ransomware scheme has hit the UK shores as well according to the thread, which has been read nearly 40,000 times. "Impacted users should change their Apple ID password as soon as possible and avoid using the same user name and password for multiple services," Apple said in a statement. "Any users who need additional help can contact AppleCare or visit their local Apple Retail Store." The only Oleg Pliss we could find currently works for Oracle as a senior software engineer and computer scientist, working primarily on Java, but it is unlikely that it was him. Have you been affected by this ransomware scheme? Get in touch with us.Via: Apple, ZDnet, Linkedin http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3af9c53c/sc/5/mf.gifhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/-jnLLSTxW3M

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/TRBC/oleg%20pliss-470-75.jpgApple issued a statement in the wake of growing concerns surrounding a series of hacking attacks, apparently commited by someone called Oleg Pliss. A number of iPhone customers reported that they were locked out of their devices - via iCloud - with a message requesting money to be sent to an email address. Apple's short notice says that it "iCloud was not compromised during this incident. Impacted users should change their Apple ID password as soon as possible and avoid Apple device users from as far as Canada and the US took to Apple's support communities website and claimed to have been targeted by the attacks. Already in the UK?There are are also unconfirmed reports that the ransomware scheme has hit the UK shores as well according to the thread which has been read nearly 40,000 times. using the same user name and password for multiple services. Any users who need additional help can contact AppleCare or visit their local Apple Retail Store." The only Oleg Pliss we could find currently works for Oracle as a senior software engineer and computer scientist, working primarily on Java but it is unlikely that it was him. Have you been affected by this ransomware scheme? Get in touch with us.Via: Apple, ZDnet, Linkedin http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3af1a320/sc/4/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195506584316/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3af1a320/sc/4/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195506584316/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3af1a320/sc/4/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195506584316/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3af1a320/sc/4/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195506584316/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3af1a320/sc/4/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/195506584316/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3af1a320/sc/4/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/HCzGzoHahcY

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/logos/Beats%20Music-470-75.jpgNow that it's confirmed that Beats belongs to Apple, Telstra customers may be wondering just what will happen to music streaming service MOG? Telstra's partnership with MOG allowed the telco's customers to have unmetered access to the streaming music service. MOG was later bought up by Beats, and while Telstra customers were concerned what would happen to service, the telco confirmed that MOG would be replaced by Beats Music streaming service later this year. But with another acquisition, questions have again arisen over the future of the unmetered music streaming service for Telstra customers. ApplefiedWhile rumours began swirling about a possible acquisition of Beats by Apple last week, the deal was confirmed overnight. In a statement to TechRadar, Telstra said that for now, MOG will continue to run as usual. "We're looking forward to understanding the detail in due course and will work with Beats on this," the telco said of the deal between Apple and Beats. "Of course we will let our customers know more information when we know more." Previously, Telstra had confirmed that MOG would migrate to Beats in Australia by the end of June on its CrowdSupport community site, although whether that is still the case is still to be determined. Here's another 10 things you need to know about Apple buying Beatshttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3af009f2/sc/21/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195506472863/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3af009f2/sc/21/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195506472863/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3af009f2/sc/21/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195506472863/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3af009f2/sc/21/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195506472863/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3af009f2/sc/21/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/195506472863/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3af009f2/sc/21/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/2YwZQX-ltcQ

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/features/connectedhome/WeMo%20Light%20Switch%20lifestyle-470-75.jpgApple's invasion of our homes might not stop at iPads and Apple TVs, according to a new report. The company is reportedly prepping a new "software platform" that will let iOS devices control every aspect of smart homes, including lighting, temperature, security, and more. This rumor comes from a report found on The Financial Times, which claimed to have spoken with sources who knew what they were talking about. The site expects Apple to unveil the new iOS-compatible smart home platform at the company's Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC 2014) in San Francisco on June 2. Get smartThe software platform will reportedly be similar to Apple's Made For iPhone (MFI) program, in that it will be built into iOS devices but open to development by third parties. Like how any hardware maker can create an official MFI controller - as long as it's up to Apple's standards - so too will any smart device maker be able to craft appliances and other systems that can interact with iOS devices. And the controls may not be limited to manually flicking the lights or adjusting the air conditioning. Location-activated features could also, for example, automatically light up a room when a person enters with an iPhone that's paired with the system. Apple could be trying to get ahead of Google on this one. The search company bought smart thermostat company Nest this year, and a recent proposal from Google suggested the company could hypothetically plaster ads all over your smart home. Smart homes have yet to catch on in a really big way, but Apple's involvement may push your average consumer into adopting smart thermostats, light fixtures, appliances, and more. Read TechRadar's MacBook Air reviewhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3ad8d2dc/sc/21/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195506469934/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3ad8d2dc/sc/21/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195506469934/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3ad8d2dc/sc/21/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195506469934/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3ad8d2dc/sc/21/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195506469934/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3ad8d2dc/sc/21/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/195506469934/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3ad8d2dc/sc/21/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/djToWhu-HtQ

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/tablets/iPad/iPadAir/Press/iPadAir-Press-09-470-75.jpgApple has confirmed its iPad trade-in program has opened its doors UK, allowing users to trade in their old tablets in exchange for credit towards a new iOS device. The scheme, which began in the US and Canada on Earth Day last month, has been advertised on Apple's retail websites in the UK, Spain, Germany and France offering folks the chance to "get a discount to buy a new one." The trade in program will allow owners of the original iPad, iPad 2, iPad 3, iPad 4 and original iPad mini to receive credit towards a new iPad or iPhone. The new iPad mini 2 or iPad Air cannot be traded in, but users can upgrade to them by cashing in their older tech. Is it in good nick?The amount they receive for their existing device will depend on the age, model and condition, although Apple hasn't revealed any information on what it's offering for particular iPads. However, it goes without saying that if the device is a 64GB Wi-Fi + 3G iPad 4 in good nick it'll obviously will be worth more than a battered old 16GB iPad 2 with Wi-Fi. Is this the opportunity you've been waiting for, or do you think you'll get more bang for your buck by flogging the older device on eBay? Let us know in the comments box. iPad Pro: Release date, news and rumourshttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3aa2fafd/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195506231800/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3aa2fafd/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195506231800/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3aa2fafd/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195506231800/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3aa2fafd/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195506231800/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3aa2fafd/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/195506231800/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3aa2fafd/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/Q2TTy1-e9EY

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/ApplevSamsung/iphone_galaxyS3-470-75.jpgApple and Google have agreed to cease all patent lawsuits pursued against each other. The rival firms have set aside their legal differences in a landmark agreement, that represents a major step towards ending the intellectual property suits that have dominated the tech headlines in recent years. The iPhone vs Android battle had seen both firms issue countless writs around the world, but now the Silicon Valley giants have vowed "to work together on some areas of patent reform." The agreement also settles the Apple vs Motorola lawsuits Google inherited when it purchased Moto back in 2011. Moto is now in the hands of Lenovo, save those disputed mobile patents. Sorry, Samsung...The twenty ditched lawsuits do not include Apple's continuing claims against Samsung over allegations the Korean firm copied innovations patented in Cupertino. Earlier this month, in the second patent trial between Apple and Samsung, a California judge imposed a $119.6m (£71m, AU$127m) fine on the latter for violation two of the former's patents. That comes after the billion dollar fine levied against Samsung in the first trial. While the Apple and Google peace accord does little to settle the beef with Samsung, it may represent the beginning of the end for the tiresome patent suits which many observers suggest have led to a downturn in tech innovation. The 10 best health and fitness accessories for your smartphoneVia Wall Street Journal http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3a866ac7/sc/21/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195506105909/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3a866ac7/sc/21/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195506105909/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3a866ac7/sc/21/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195506105909/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3a866ac7/sc/21/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195506105909/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3a866ac7/sc/21/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/195506105909/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3a866ac7/sc/21/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/_7V2JybZ5ts

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Apple/iOS%208/iOS_8_transit_Maps-470-75.jpgCan something be delayed when it hasn't even been released, yet alone announced? Apparently anything is possible for Apple's upcoming mobile operating system, which may now launch without one or more rumored new features. 9to5Mac has been aggressively leaking what Apple might be cooking up for this year's iOS 8 software, but Thursday found the website backpedaling just a bit on what might be included with the initial release. Apple is expected to introduce iOS 8 at its Worldwide Developer Conference in San Francisco next month, with a release to the public likely arriving later in the year alongside new hardware. The latest scuttlebutt from inside Apple HQ, however, is that some of the recently rumored new features might actually be delayed until the first major update, which will presumably be iOS 8.1. Moving targetThe report claims that Apple may be allocating additional resources from its iOS engineering team to the next big OS X release, which is expected to be a complete visual overhaul of the venerable Mac operating system. Among the potential new additions to iOS 8 are Healthbook, TextEdit and Preview apps as well as a dedicated iTunes Radio app, the reintroduction of public transit directions to the built-in Maps app and Voice over LTE support. Transit routing is cited as one potential feature that could be pushed back to iOS 8.1, instead paving the way for backend enhancements to iCloud and a rumored Shazam partnership, which would allow device owners to identify songs via Apple's Siri voice assistant. Also said to be complicated matters is rumored new "multi-resolution support," which could pave the way for App Store titles to work across a variety of different screen sizes, including a larger iPhone 6 and a rumored Apple TV refresh with Siri voice control. Don't forget about our exhaustive review of Apple's iPad Air!http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/39f80f35/sc/5/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505477914/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f80f35/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505477914/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f80f35/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505477914/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f80f35/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505477914/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f80f35/sc/5/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/195505477914/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39f80f35/sc/5/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/WdelkzLgHfY

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/internet/Amazon/comixology1-470-75.jpgWell it was probably only a matter of time, but Amazon has dropped in-app purchase functionality for the Comixology iOS app and halted purchases through Google Play within the Android app. The wildly popular digital comics app was snapped up by Amazon for an undisclosed fee earlier this month and the firm has wasted no effort in giving the app the Kindle treatment. The app updates, released this weekend, are designed to ensure Amazon will not have to fork over 30 per cent of every purchase made through the apps to Apple and Google. However the move makes things less convenient for iOS users, who will now need to buy Comixology.com website before downloading to mobile devices. Android users must sign up to the new PayPal or credit card payment system, as opposed to Google Play, before they can continue purchasing from within the Comixology app. Striking a balanceAs if to compensate, the app update also offers a $5 (around £3, AU$5.40) credit for all existing users. In a statement Comixology's VP of Communications and Marketing Chip Mosher told Engadget: "As we move to complete the acquisition with Amazon, we are shifting to the web-based purchasing model they've successfully used with the Kindle, which we expect will allow us to strike the best balance between prices, selection and customer experience." Mosher pointed out that iOS users can easily add the web store to their device's homescreen, while claimed purchasing through the site would offer additional benefits such as access to web-only bundles. http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/39cfc410/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505290641/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39cfc410/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505290641/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39cfc410/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505290641/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39cfc410/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195505290641/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39cfc410/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/195505290641/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39cfc410/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/zXtd8A3aIas

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/logos/Beats%20Music-470-75.jpgFledgling streaming service Beats Music has issued an update to its iPhone app, allowing prospective users to subscribe through the iTunes ecosystem. With Beats struggling somewhat to establish itself among the streaming elite, the firm has made the decision to sacrifice 30 per cent of the subscription fee on those coming through iTunes. As a rule, Apple requires that cut for all in-app purchases and Beats seems to have admitted defeat in the uphill struggle to grow significantly without the ease offered through iTunes. The company's CEO Ian Rogers told Recode that working within iTunes is simply "what you have to do if you want subscribers." He added: "If you don't care if people subscribe or not, and you've got a free product, maybe then you wouldn't do it." Can Beats compete?The move will raise doubts over the initial uptake of the Beats service and its ability to compete with the likes of Spotify, Rdio and Pandora. Rogers said plenty of people are "trying it" and is claiming conversion rate wins from a promotion through the AT&T network in the United States, but it appears there is plenty of hard work ahead. He added: "We've had far more people try the product than projected. Clearly the marketing works. The conversion rate on the AT&T plan is off the charts. It's safe to say the biggest problem is coveting iOS users, and we've just fixed that." Beats Music vs Spotifyhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/398954b1/sc/15/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195504992903/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/398954b1/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195504992903/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/398954b1/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195504992903/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/398954b1/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195504992903/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/398954b1/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/195504992903/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/398954b1/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/ilST8r8Lex4

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/software/Apple/iOS%208/iOS_8_Watch_Utiility_screenshot-470-75.jpgWith Apple's annual developer conference quickly approaching, we have little doubt that somewhere in Cupertino there are devices already running iOS 8 - and a new report could very well offer our first glimpse at one of them. PhoneArena today turned up a handful of images allegedly from Apple's forthcoming iOS 8, which will presumably be unleashed in just over six weeks during the iPhone maker's Worldwide Developer Conference in San Francisco. One low-resolution image (shown below) appears to show iOS 8 running on a current iPhone 5S passed along by a generous reader using the screen name "Omar Sharif," which we're pretty sure is not the star of stage and screen who shares the same moniker. The tipster followed up with a trio of screenshots - two from iPhone and one from iPad - which reveal a bevy of icons for new apps that have been widely rumored to be included with the mobile OS release this year. http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/art/software/Apple/iOS%208/iOS_8_on_iPhone_5S_rumor-420-90.jpg Eight is greatAlthough the four images don't immediately stand out as obvious fakes, the inclusion of a so called "Watch Utility" app is likely to raise eyebrows, although others for Healthbook, Preview, TextEdit and Tips fall in line with recent rumors. Also clearly on display is an icon for iTunes Radio, which Apple is reportedly toying with the possibility of turning into a standalone app, rather than part of the existing built-in Music app. Assuming iOS 8 breaks cover at this year's WWDC which kicks off June 2, it's not surprising to see leaked screenshots making the rounds a month and a half early, even at the same time Apple is said to be readying an iOS 7.1.1 bug fix update. Meanwhile, iPhone, iPod touch and iPad users still lingering on iOS 6 have apparently found themselves in the midst of an extended FaceTime outage since yesterday, and the only resolution for now appears to be upgrading to iOS 7.1. Oh, and don't forget to follow the latest on iPhone 6 as well!http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/39846996/sc/5/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195296641285/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39846996/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195296641285/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39846996/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195296641285/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39846996/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/195296641285/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39846996/sc/5/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/195296641285/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/39846996/sc/5/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/g_rRnHaTFSU

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/features/complete%20guide%20to%20itunes%2011/MAC256.cover.main-470-75.jpgApple's iAd man in the UK has been briefing advertising agencies on the inner workings of the iTunes Radio platform suggesting a launch on these shores may finally be on the horizon. According to a tweet sent by Hannah Allen, the head of marketing at OMD UK, her firm was paid a visit by Paul Wright who manages Apple's advertising platform from a London base. She tweeted: "Great to see @paulwright66 back at @OMD_UK to take us through Apple's iAd and iTunes Radio - can't wait for that to hit UK!" Despite calls from fellow Twitter users for her to reveal the precise launch date, Miss Allen is yet to follow up the tweet. The wait goes onThe iTunes Radio launch in the UK has been awaited since Apple rolled out the free, ad-supported streaming platform to US users alongside iOS 7 in September 2013. Apple had pledged an early 2014 launch across the pond, but aside from the occasional appearance on random devices in the UK, it is yet to make it's official bow. Surely now we can't be far away. What price the announcement of a UK roll-out at WWDC in June? Is Apple planning a radical iTunes overhaul?http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/396aa28e/sc/5/mf.gifhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/SVSicKZi5H0

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/mobile_phones/ApplevSamsung/appleiphone_samsungs3-470-75.jpgGoogle has done its best to stay out of Apple and Samsung's legal squabbles, but came to the aid of its Android partner in the second patent trial between the rivals, on Friday. The company's VP of Android Engineering Hiroshi Lockheimer took the stand in California to defend copycat allegations from Apple, which claims Samsung stole its ideas. The thrust of the argument is that Google used specific features - like universal search - on devices like the Galaxy Nexus before Apple patented them. "We liked to have our own identity, we liked to have our own ideas," Lockheimer told the court. "We were very passionate about what we were doing, and it was important that we have our own ideas." 'Doing our own thing'"People tend to think of Google as a big company, but we were a small team," he added. "We were autonomous, and the company let us do our own thing." Apple rested its case earlier on Friday. The company is seeking $2.91 billion (£1.73, AU$3.07) in damages from Samsung relating to five patents it claims the Korean firm infringed. Samsung will continue its defence against the allegations on Monday. The case is follows a length battle in front of the same judge in 2012, which saw Apple awards a billion dollars. Samsung Galaxy S5: Read our full reviewhttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/3947f65a/sc/5/mf.gif http://da.feedsportal.com/r/194480059983/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3947f65a/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/194480059983/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3947f65a/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/194480059983/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3947f65a/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/194480059983/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3947f65a/sc/5/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/194480059983/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/3947f65a/sc/5/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/9Ur5aUsWXio

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/other/Onetimers/Novauris%20works%20on%20Siri-470-75.jpgApple must be feeling some pressure from Cortana's big reveal at Microsoft Build as it has now bought Novauris Technologies to help improve it improve Siri. Apple quietly acquired Novauris Technologies, a company specializing in the automatic speech recognition field, which originally spun off from the team that developed Nuance's Dragon naturally speaking software. TechCrunch reported that the Cupertino company actually bought up Novauris last year but the purchase was not publicly announced until now. Since last fall the team has been working to improve Siri, Apple's speech-based personal assistant. Before being acquired the Novauris team was already working on its own large-vocabulary, automatic speech recognition technology to access information stored on mobile devices themselves or remote servers. This same system is likely being integrated into Siri for an improved version we might see come with iOS 8 at WWDC 2014 this June 2. The best virtual secretaryApple later confirmed that it did purchase Novauris with TechCrunch. However, the iPhone maker also noted that it buys smaller technology companies from time to time but it had no interest in discussing the purpose or plans behind the acquisition. What comes out of Apple bulking up its team of voice recognition experts remains uncertain, but it's becoming clear that Apple's virtual assistant is lagging behind the competition. With Google Now on Android, and now Cortana, it's becoming plainly obvious a digital assistant needs to do more than understand a users voice command and reply with punchy one-liners. The software also needs to learn to adapt to your schedule and life style. Google Now cards already predict information you need ahead of time such as commuting times and spotting restaurants around the corner. Cortana, meanwhile, made its debut overshadowing Windows Phone 8.1 with its ability to plug into third-party apps – an ability Siri does not have. What's more the "UNSC battle AI" from Halo will check back with your calendar and note any scheduling conflicts rather than listening and marking down every appointment without another thought. Cortana also let users set people reminders such as a note to ask about their sister's dog the next time she calls. Meet the Nokia Lumia 930, one of the very first Windows Phone 8.1 deviceshttp://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/38f67753/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/193360852326/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/38f67753/sc/5/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/193360852326/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/38f67753/sc/5/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/193360852326/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/38f67753/sc/5/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/193360852326/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/38f67753/sc/5/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/193360852326/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/38f67753/sc/5/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/bE_pOyeqG24

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/events/Microsoft%20Build%202014/Cortana1-470-75.jpgMicrosoft began its Build 2014 conference with an announcement that we've been expecting for a while: there's a Siri rival built into Windows Phone 8.1, and its name is Cortana. Cortana is also the name of the artificial intelligence character in the Halo video game series, of course, and Microsoft is taking full advantage of that fact. Corporate Vice President of Operating Systems Group Joe Belfiore introduced the virtual personal assistant, asking her whether she likes her name and her appearance, to which she replied that she resembles, among other things, "a halo." Good one, Microsoft. Cortana gets her own live tile in Windows Phone 8.1., but that's only one way to access her - she also replaces the search function in the mobile OS. A leg upUsers interact with Cortana with natural voice commands and requests, Belfiore demonstrated. You can also type complex requests directly to her. "Like a real personal assistant, she's good at handling your communications and your calendar," he said. "She's also good at helping you learn things." He asked her about calendar entries and added items to his to-do list, and she informed him about a conflict in his calendar. Cortana even asks your permission to read your email, Belfiore said - unlike the NSA. More importantly, Cortana can also be "extended" by third-party apps - unlike Siri. Belfiore asked Cortana about Mexican restaurants, to which she replied using data from Yelp. He also showed off "people reminders," by which the virtual assistant can identify certain people and perform contextual functions. For example Belfiore asked her to remind him of something whenever he talks to "my sister," and said Cortana would then pipe up if he texted, emailed, called, or otherwise interacted with the person she identifies as his sister. Beta bluesBelfiore revealed that Cortana will launch as a beta - there were a few hiccups during the demo, when she misinterpreted or misheard some of Belfiore's commands. So maybe she's not all that different from Siri after all. Developing… http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/38e892d9/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/193360860940/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/38e892d9/sc/4/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/193360860940/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/38e892d9/sc/4/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/193360860940/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/38e892d9/sc/4/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/193360860940/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/38e892d9/sc/4/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/193360860940/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/38e892d9/sc/4/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/VMtSNggUYXQ

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/other/Onetimers/App%20Store%20apps-470-75.jpgiPad Air and iPhone 5S owners, you might want to go and binge at the app store today. Apple has sent an email to developers that it is increasing the pricing tiers for apps in several countries, including Australia. The increases, according to Apple, are to account for changes in foreign exchange rates, and will also hit the Indian Rupee, Indonesian Rupiah, Turkish Lira and South African Rand. On the upside, Israeli Shekels and some price tiers in New Zealand dollars will actually see a price drop. 24 hours to bingeApple has stated that the changes would happen within 24 hours, meaning there isn't a huge amount of time for iOS users to save money at the current rate. It's the first change we've seen in Australia since 2011, when the price of apps dropped due to the strong Australian dollar. While there's no indication of exactly how much of a price increase we can expect to see, it's unlikely to be a substantial shift given the relative value of the Australian dollar at the moment. Via: MacRumors http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/38d663e8/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/193359644316/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/38d663e8/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/193359644316/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/38d663e8/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/193359644316/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/38d663e8/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/193359644316/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/38d663e8/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/193359644316/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/38d663e8/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/d18MbJbQHjs

http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/art/tablets/iPad/Accessories/iPad_Smart_Keyboard_Patent-470-75.jpgApple may be planning to launch a new version of its Smart Cover for iPad tablets, which for the first time will include a physical keyboard, judging by a recently revealed patent application. Uncovered by the fine-toothed-comb-wielding enthusiasts at AppleInsider, the patent, blandly entitled "Cover for electronic device," showcases a multi-touch, razor thin typing surface. The presence of multi-touch sensors, which would seemingly be activated by lightly swiping across keys, would negate the need for a touchpad on the keyboard, which could be detached from the cover and used wirelessly Currently, the company sells an external, iPad-compatible Bluetooth keyboard, but the launch of an integrated solution would give Apple tablet owners something resembling the Microsoft Surface Touch Cover. Word up!The timing of the patent revelation is coincidental given it comes on the same day that Microsoft outed its Office for iPad suite, following years of speculation. Given there are few users who enjoy lengthy periods of typing on a touchscreen, the introduction of Microsoft Word, combined with a svelte new keyboard case could open the door for a new era of productivity for Apple's tablet. What price this being introduced alongside the rumoured iPad Pro tablet for business bods?http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/415085/s/38b2bab4/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/193359490260/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/38b2bab4/sc/15/rc/1/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/193359490260/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/38b2bab4/sc/15/rc/2/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/193359490260/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/38b2bab4/sc/15/rc/3/rc.img http://da.feedsportal.com/r/193359490260/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/38b2bab4/sc/15/a2.imghttp://pi.feedsportal.com/r/193359490260/u/49/f/415085/c/669/s/38b2bab4/sc/15/a2t.imghttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/UOIF5XsbFWs