Apple’s innovative use of the touchscreen was one the main reasons why Apple took the mobile world by storm and became the tech goliath we all know and love. But with Apple apparently preparing a new iPhone just four months after the release of the last – has Apple and many other tech giants lost their ability to really innovate in the mobile space, and are they just going through the motions?

The Apple Effect

According to several tipsters the latest iPhone 5S will come in a selection of colours and will offer two different screen versions when it lands in July – hardly a bone-shattering improvement over the last version.

With Apple’s, and many others, constant need to refresh their products every year, it seems that the ever smaller release cycles aren’t allowing the companies to really innovate.

Apple’s doubling down with two handsets each year has been very successful for them  - but is this having an detrimental effect on Apple and in turn the consumer? It seems consumers are caught in a never-ending cycle of new products, never really knowing whether they should buy or wait another six months for the next version.

Is This Lack of Innovation Spreading To The Rest of The Tech World?

Is this lack of innovation spreading across the industry? Well, on the face it – yes. Sony’s last smartphone was the Xperia T and it went on sale last summer. But this week it already been replaced with the slightly bigger, faster and better looking Xperia Z.  Whilst the spec sheet for the Xperia Z does indeed look mighty – a 5-inch 1080p HD display would likely impress anyone – it’s hard not to wonder how Xperia T owners will feel when their handset becomes seemingly obsolete so soon.

The real question lies in whether manufacturers give consumers enough reason to cast a phone aside and dive head-first into a brand’s new flagship handset, especially given the short time between releases.

Huawei Blames The Lack Of Innovation Due To The Death of Steve Jobs

During the Consumer Electronics Show, Huawei consumer CEO Richard Yu blamed the supposed “lack of innovation” in the technology market due to the death of late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.

“Steve Jobs is gone. Now there is a lack of innovation,” he said. Jobs was seen by many as one of the few worthy of being a visionary, with the late Apple co-founder helping the firm become the most valuable company on the planet via the launches of the iPod, iPhone and iPad.

Yu also criticized South Korean technology giant Samsung, stating that it doesn’t utilize high-end materials: “their plastic is cheap”.

“In the past people understood that the best products came from Apple or Samsung. We want to change this so that people understand that the best products come from Huawei. That’s my target.”

Is Apple’s Hyper Growth Beginning To Stall?

Today, Apple is forecast to report the first fall in profits since its financial turnaround a decade ago, as its period of “hyper growth” comes to an end.

Wall Street analysts believe demand for the iPhone 5 has been lower than expected, and are forecasting on average that net income will have slipped 2% to $12.8bn (£8.1bn) during the last quarter compared with the same period last year.

Apple, which reveals its first quarter results, which includes the Christmas period on Wednesday, has a track record of beating forecasts and could prove analysts wrong. It has not seen profits fall since its last loss making spell in 2003, before the company’s success with music players set it on a massive growth trajectory.

The iPad mini could also be taking a bite out of profits. It is selling well but brings in less profit a unit than the larger version of Apple’s tablet device and may be suppressing demand for the original iPad.

Conclusion

As long as tech companies continue to innovate they will be able to transcend any cultural or consumer change – but if they rest on their laurels, simply going through the motions, it’s conceivable that Apple could go the same way as Nokia. Sure, it’s highly unlikely, and that’s probably what the top brass at Nokia thought during the late 90s – but it could happen. The only way to survive is by innovating, and not just making things smaller, and thinner.

Opinion: Has The Mobile Tech World Lost Its Ability To Really Innovate? is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

OLED TVs have been promised for years and each time CES comes around the world’s top TV manufacturers say “they’re coming, no really they’re coming” well apparently this year is different: they’re finally available to buy – if you have very deep pockets, of course.

Apparently LG has begun taking orders for its 55-inch 1080p display this week, but on the face of it you’d be hard pressed to tell the difference between the LED and OLED. So what’s the point? Well, LG has finally managed to navigate the numerous stumbling blocks for the tech, which there have been many; there’s been low yields; a weak global economy; low OLED lifespan; and teething problems with the manufacturing process. But apparently those early problems have finally been ironed out, and it only took 8 years.

Like previous years, CES is packed to the rafters with OLED TVs – but is it too late for 1080p OLED screens? Especially as Ultra HD TVs look like a far more impressive technology and offer far better value for money – well that might be true, but in actual fact almost all UHD TVs at this year’s show are based on OLED tech – so it clear the tech is hear to stay, it just won’t make a massive impact on the saturated 1080p market, especially considering the hefty price tag. LG’s 55EM9700 is set to launch in South Korea in February, with the US launch in March, the asking price? A cool $12,000.

Elsewhere OLED has been making a far bigger splash under the guise of Ultra High Definition TVs (UHD), which if were lucky might find their way to market this year. Sony and Panasonic showcased a couple of OLED Ultra HD TVs with the thickness of your average tablet. Sony’s offering is built on a metal oxide semiconductor technology, which Sony explains gives them a significant manufacturing advantage over its rivals.

Samsung also have OLEDs on display at CES, but there’s were a little wonkier than the competition, they showed a stunning curved 55-inch OLED display, which is meant give users an immersive “Imax-like”  viewing experience. And interestingly it looks strikingly similar to those Apple TV concepts that did the rounds online last year. There weren’t any details on resolution, how curved the display is, or price. But apparently it’s going on sale in the second half of 2013. We can’t wait.

CES 2013: TVs, TVs and more, you guessed it, TVs is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

CES is in full swing and despite the world’s dire economic outlook you’d be hard pressed to tell considering some of the prices being banded around the Las Vegas convention centre. £20,000 TVs, £2,000 Flash drives and $10,000 fridges are just some of the examples of obscenely expensive tech we’ve laid our eyes on at this year’s CES.

World’s most expensive pen drive.

USB pen drives are an incredibly useful piece of tech, they’re perfect for transporting massive files around in something the size of a small keyring.

Over the years flash drives have been getting quicker and quicker, but capacity has really changed all that much. Well, those days are long gone, as Kingston has introduced what they claim is the world’s first 1TB USD 3.0 flash drive, that most importantly isn’t any bigger that the current crop of flash drives.

The aptly named DataTraveler HyperX Predator 3.0 has impressive read/write speeds of up to 240MB/s and 160MB/s – making it the world’s largest USB 3.0 flash drive.

At the moment the pen drive is only available in 512GB version right now, while its bigger brother, the 1TB version, is expected to hit stores in Q1 2013.

Now comes the shocking part: price. Currently you can buy the 512GB version for a cool $1,750, which will likely make the 1TB version anywhere up to $3,000, which is the price of a small secondhand car. Ouch.

For less demanding users, Kingston has also launched slower and smaller USB drives, with capacities of 32GB and 64GB and read/write speeds of 150MB/s and 70MB/s.

Samsung Unveils Their Scaffold-inspired Ultra HD TV.

4K TVs, or a they should be knowns as Ultra HD (UHD), have been stealing pretty much all the headlines for the first day of CES. But Samsung’s offering has been grabbing those headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Just look at it. It’s pig ugly.

It looks like someone made the world’s largest Ultra HD set and thought “I know, we’ll make the stand out of some old scaffolding I’ve got lying around”. Picture-wise it’s stunning, but you have to wonder who thought it would be a good idea to make it look like a jungle jim? ?And according to our sources the stand cannot be removed.

The set comes will four times the resolution of a normal 1080p set and uses a quad-core processor to upscale 1080p programs into a Ultra HD resolutions. Which is all well and good, but what about actual 4K footage? No-one seems to be talking about the elephant in the room when it comes to UHDs.

Unfortunately for us it’s just too soon for Ultra HD, it might even to be too soon in 5 years time. At the moment 99% of HDTVs see very little 1080p footage due bandwidth limits on services like Sky or Netflix – so why would consumers really consider a Ultra HD screen if we can’t even get 1080p footage at the moment? Until there’s a delivery system and some content, 4K just seems like a pipe dream at the moment.

But, Samsung et al are hoping that impressive upscaling will see earlier adopters jump on the Ultra HD bandwagon sooner rather than later. The biggest barrier to UHD is price and at the moment there is no details on pricing or availability for Samsung’s offering.

Perhaps the most unremarkable feature announced for this product is its ability to link the TV with other Samsung smart home appliances. This feature will allow you to monitor your washing machine from your smart UHD, really?

It’s a highly capable TV with an impressive features list, but what was missing? Perhaps the most important thing: the availability date and a price.

Huawei goes phablet crazy.

Phablet is a new word you should probably get used to, as it a new buzz word to describe a phone/tablet hybrid. Quite frankly it’s a horrible term for a device that no-one really needs. The Galaxy Note was the first phablet, but now there’s a new phablet in town and it comes from the Chinese smartphone maker Huawei.

Measuring 6.1-inches, with the 1280x720p display, the Ascend Mate is the largest smartphone in world, and quite possibly the most ridiculous handset we’ve ever laid hands on.

Specs-wise it’s a mixedbag: there’s a snappy 1.5GHz quad-core processor and surprisingly 768MB of RAM memory, which on the face of it seems a bit on the low-end for a premium handset.

Unfortunately, you can’t take the back off the Ascend Mate as it’s a sealed unit – so there’s no access to the 4,050mAh battery housed inside – the biggest in any smartphone in the world.

Elsewhere there’s a 3.5mm headphone jack, a slot for a microSim and a slot for microSD cards, which you’ll have to use as there’s only a paltry 8GB of onboard storage – which is just a crazy decision to make. On the back there’s an 8-megapixel sensor complete with LED flash and modes such as panorama and HDR.

Due to arrive in China next month, the Ascend Mate will make it to other regions around the world from March.

Lookout for more CES 2013 coverage tomorrow.

CES 2013: Our Top Picks From Day One is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

TVs have always been a the tradtional heartland of CES’ in the past and in 2013 it will be no different. As a host of manufacturers are beginning to show off their latest wares; including new projector technology, Ultra HD TVs, and new Google TV sets. Here’s what we’ll be looking out for at next week’s CES 2013.

LG Google TVs

LG has all but confirmed two new Google sets for next week’s CES. Both of which will feature LG’s latest LED display technology and LG’s Cinema 3D tech. But the main headlines should, of course, be the inclusion of Google’s software that will add an all-new layer of functionality from catchup TV to big screen apps. So far smart TVs that have added Google functionality haven’t exactly set the AV world alight – but we think 2013 could be the year when they finally become a proper unique selling point, rather than a tacked-on after thought, though it might take Apple to get consumers to realise this fact.

Each model will include LG’s new Magic Remote which delivers a full QWERTY keyboard, which will be at the heart of Google TV functionality. Each TV is expected to have a dual-core processors to ensure its Smart credentials are smooth and speedy. There’s also the inclusion of Cloud gaming service OnLive – which is welcomed inclusion, if you’re a big gamer.

LG 4K UHD TVs

Ultra HD is going to be big new buzzword in 2013 – and LG has announced they’ll show off a couple of more consumer friendly sets measuring 55 and 65-inches.

The main benefit that 4K brings is its resolution, the sets offer four times as many pixels as standard HD sets – but where it will really come into its own is: 3D. The set will be able to produce two full 1080p pictures, one for each eye, meaning a much smoother, more convincing 3D image, which many experts expect will really show off 3D’s real home potential.

LG Smart LED TVs with NFC

This is probably the first time we’ve heard of NFC on a TV, but LG’s LED TVs will come with the new fangled wireless communication technology, meaning you can share video from TV to smartphone or tablet just by tapping the two devices.

LG also boasts that its new line-up of TVs will come substantially uprated CPUs that they reckon run 120 per cent faster than in previous models, while the graphics processors run 300 per cent faster – meaning apps, games and streaming should be flawless.

Samsung 85-inch 4K UHD TV

Samsung is expected to unveil their first effort at a Ultra HD TV at this year’s CES. It’s thought to be a gargantuan 85-inch display and will come with Smart functionality as well as clever pixel technology to give class-leading blacks and contrast levels. Worryingly, no-one is mentioning content – there isn’t any. Well, there is. But there’s no way to deliver it. Could we see Blu-Ray 2.0 in 2013? – maybe, just maybe.

LG Hecto Laser TV Projector

Elsewhere, it’s thought LG will show an all-new project technology, the Laser TV, which isn’t a TV, but instead a projector. Where it get interesting is this new tech can paint 100-inch picture from a distance of 22-inches. The Lazer TV comes with Smart TV and Digital capabilities and on the specs, it offers 1,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and comes with a digital tuner and 2x10W built-in speakers embedded in the projector to support virtual surround sound.

CES 2013: TV & Home Cinema Predictions is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

Microsoft has announced that their all-singing-all-dancing Xbox 360 console will have 43 new media apps by end of the year, as the tech giant tries to consolidate its position as the go-to device for the living room.

When Microsoft’s console was first release 7 years ago, few would have predicted quite how much it has changed. Over the last 24 months Microsoft has been aggressively trying to make sure the Xbox is the number 1 choice for consumers who want to add smart apps functionality to their lounges, but who don’t have a fancy Smart TV or set top box.

Music and video apps, clearly, have become a major unique selling point for Microsoft’s console, with the likes of Youtube, Vevo, Netflix, Lovefilm and Sky Player all now available on the console in the UK.

Microsoft has even launched some of its own apps, such as the recently launched Xbox Music service that hopes to rival the likes of Spotify and Pandora.

Microsoft’s own Major Nelson proudly announced the new additions via his blog, and the list is certainly impressive. However, not all 40 apps will be coming to every country; due to licensing limitations. Here’s the list for the UK.

• Indieflix
• Livesport.tv
• Napster
• Sainsburys
• Gametrailers
• Fightbox
• All3M

Other apps are listed as coming to the “majority of LIVE regions” and may well come to the UK, including popular YouTube gaming channel Machinima, Crunchyroll and the music streaming service Deezer. The latter is an interesting choice, as you’d would have thought that Microsoft would want to prevent a competing music streaming service from making its way onto the Xbox 360.

Elsewhere Microsoft will also be launching a Karaoke app, the app gives you access to 8,000 songs to sing to your heart’s content, in most LIVE regions. In the game, your avatar takes to the stage on screen to rock out as you sing, while the Xbox SmartGlass app can be used to control the music playback, browse for songs and even view lyrics. This is bound to be a hit over the festive season with families.

To view the full list of apps coming to Xbox LIVE, hit up Major Nelson’s blog here.

It’s thought that 2013 Microsoft release two new consoles; first will be the set top box, tentatively named Xbox TV, which is expected to be released in time for Christmas 2013. And it will launch alongside a next-generation Xbox hardware, with the cheaper model focussing of casual games and the all-important media streaming.

Apple Eyeing-up The Living Room, too.

It’s clear that the living room is there for the picking, and this leads us on to Apple and its plans to try and grab some of the market with their much mooted Apple TV. While it hasn’t really been mentioned that much in 2012 – a new report suggest that Apple has begun early testing of their TV.

The Wall Street Journal says that its manufacturing partner Sharp and Hon Hai, knows as Foxconn, are working with the American tech giant to test out designs for a large-screen, high resolution smart TV.

It’s been rumoured that Apple has been testing early prototypes internally for years before they even begin to send the product to external manufacturers. Apple, of course, already has its own media set top box, but it’s clear they want to take that one step further with a full-blown TV – but will their brand-name alone be enough for consumers?

It’s unclear quite how much impact Apple could have in the television and media industry, due to the entwined, long-standing broadcasting contracts and the popularity of many “smart TVs” which are available to consumers now. Interestingly a survey from Morgan Stanley suggested that the brand alone name may be enough - and consumers would be willing to pay a 20 percent premium for an Apple-branded set.

The idea of Apple producing a television set was brought back to the stage this month by Apple CEO Tim Cook, who hinted in an interview with NBC that a new product offering may be on the horizon. “When I go into my living room and turn on the TV, I feel like I have gone backwards in time by 20 to 30 years,” Cook said. “It’s an area of intense interest. I can’t say more than that.”

Microsoft Adding 43 New Apps To Xbox, As Apple Begins Testing of Apple TV – Who Will Conquer The Living Room In 2013? is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

Just as we’re getting used to the term 4K, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) has decided to rebrand all new 4K Home Cinema displays as “Ultra High Definition” or “Ultra HD”.

The CEA’s board of industry experts voted unanimously to change the name and all subsequent branding to “Ultra High-Definition”, which will now be on all displays that meet new stringent minimum specifications.

The CEA was created in 2012 as a way to inform and educate consumers on the new screen technology, and decide on a way forward for the new tech.

Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of CEA, said the new technology is a “natural” step forward for consumers as it provides “outstanding levels of picture quality”.

The main objective for the group is to agree on a minimum spec for displays to be labeled as “Ultra HD”. They have decided for a screen to quality it must have at least 8 million pixels at a resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 in a 16:9 aspect.

Products will require at least one digital input capable of carrying and presenting native 4K format video from this input at full 3,840 X 2,160 resolution without relying solely upon up-scaling. So if you don’t see the label, you’ll know it won’t meet the new minimum standards.

The requirements were the result of extensive consumer research conducted by CEA’s market research group. The research found that the term “Ultra-HD” was the best performer in terms of helping consumers understand the technology compared to current 1080p HDTVs.

CEA Ultra HD Working Group chairman Gary Yacoubian said: “We discussed and debated two important steps, the name and recommended attributes, in a forum that allowed a variety of key stakeholders, manufacturers, retailers, broadcasters and Hollywood professionals to lend their voices.

“TVs remain highly sought after and were the second most frequently mentioned device on consumer wish lists this holiday season, behind only tablets,” he added.

“There has never been a greater time to be a consumer of televisions and displays. You can select from a wide array of choices offering outstanding high-definition picture quality, an amazing 3D experience, and interconnectivity within and outside of the home. And now we are proud to present Ultra HD for those consumers who want tomorrow’s next-generation of displays and televisions, today.”

While Avatar is still the top grossing film in history it hasn’t propelled 3D & 3D TVs to the level many had expected – so major TV manufacturers have begun to set their sights on Ultra High Definition TVs, and this should mean 3D will finally realise its potential for home cinema users.

Mito Securities analyst Keita Wakabayashi reckons 3D hasn’t caught on as much as some would have hoped because: “TV makers weren’t able to use 3D to boost the prices of their sets, so it has just become a drag on profits.”

The lack of success of 3D isn’t down to the TV manufacturers, as 3D today is at a affordable price point and the technology has come along way in short space of time, but it’s the lack of bespoke 3D content that’s to blame for its lack of success in the home.

For the average home user with a 47-inch screen, sat 10 feet away, they would struggle to tell the difference between a 1080p HD screen and a Ultra HD screen, but crucially when viewing 3D content, the new resolution will to be able produce two 1080p pictures for each eye, which will make a significant difference to the illusion of 3D, eye-strain and significantly improved the glasses.

There are, of course, pros and cons for Ultra High Definition TVs, but it seems as if this new technology has already begun to overshadow 3D in recent months.

Almost all of the major manufacturers have begun to shift their focus to Ultra High Definition with Sony and LG showing of 84-inch TVs at this year’s CEDIA, and many of them will be in consumers homes by the end of the year. More recently, Toshiba, LG and Panasonic have begun showing off prototypes in Japan that will likely be full-blown products by the time the Consumer Electronics Show comes around next year in Las Vegas.

Panasonic so far has shown of a massive 152-inch plasma, which is a world first for an Ultra HD screen. So far most of the Ultra HD TVs that have been publicly shown have been 84-inch LED-based LCD systems.

But that doesn’t necessarily mean that Ultra HD TVs have no place at the moment. Most TVs today are 1080p, but spend comparatively little time actually outputting 1080p content.

This is mainly because our time is spent watching cable, satellite or basic streaming (such as Netflix or Amazon). That’s all medium-high definition at resolutions of 1080i or 720p. Then our TVs upscale that video to 1080p, and if they do it well, the results are great.

For the first crop of Ultra HD TVs to succeed they need to be fantastic at upscaling or they’ll be probably be failures with home cinema enthusiasts and early adopters. Several of the manufacturers at CEATEC seem to have recognise this, and are touting their products’ video processing prowess as key factor to their early success.

The most important reason Ultra HD TVs will be more significant than 3D is because they will have a greater potential to impact upon image quality. 3D isn’t out of the picture by any means, but it will take Ultra HD TVs for 3D to truly realise its potential.

4K To Now Be Known As ‘Ultra High Definition’ & Why It’s Good News For 3D is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

Asus ROG TYTAN CG8890

Clearly Asus have been hanging around with the guys over at Alienware as the their latest gaming goliath shares the same design cues of Alienware’s futuristic case designs. Not only does it looks like something you’d find a Star Wars droid factory, but its got the specs to match its sci-fi roots. It’s powered by a future-proof Intel i7 running a mammoth 6 cores, to keep it cool there’s liquid cooling, for super-fast gaming they’ve included dual 128GB solid state drives and Nvidia’s GTX 690. If there’s a gaming PC on the market that can match the unbridled power of Alienware then this is it. This gaming rig will run circles around almost all of its competitors and will cost you a cool £1,949.95.

Sony 4K KD-84X9005

Forget 1080p, it’s all about 4K. For those of you who don’t know some of top tech companies are already planning what will replace HDTV – and so far 4K and 8K is where we are at – that’s 16 times as many pixels you’d find in your shiny new 1080p TV. Sony’s new 84-inch 4K set was unveiled to the public for the first time and shows what you can expect from the next generation of HDTVs.

According the Kaz Hirai it will be able to convert existing movies, TV shows and photos into a 4K resolution – which is a mammoth 3840 x 2160. Although there’s no footage on sale at that resolution it’s thought that the next version of Blu-Ray will be 4K compatible. Not only do you get 9 million pixels their engineers have squeezed in 10 separate speakers into the set to create virtual 5.1 surround sound.

There’s no word on pricing yet, but Sony says the KD-84X9005 will be out by the year’s end and will no doubt cost a small fortune – still, its nice to dream.

Sony Xperia T

The Xperia T is Sony’s latest flagship handset and because of that label it’s packing some serious specs; there’s a 4.6-inch HD Reality display powered once again by their mobile Bravia engine, it has an impressive 1280×720 screen and comes with special shatterproof glass.

Somehow Sony has managed to cram in a 13 megapixel rear camera that goes from sleep to snap in under a second. You’ll be able to shoot in 1080p on the rear camera and take video calls in 720p via the front facing camera.

The new handset comes with a host of clever technologies including an NFC chip, which alongside Sony’s ‘One-Touch’ software will allow you share photos, videos and just about anything you can think of just by touching handsets.

Other juicy specs include Playstation certification, a 1.5 Ghz processor, Android 4.0.4 (Ice Cream) and the handset comes in black, silver and white.

Dell All-in-one XPS

Dell is gearing up for the launch of Windows 8 in a couple of months and their new all-in-one Windows 8 computer is aimed squarely at early adopters. While Dell actually launched its 27-inch all-in-one XPS early this year their latest version comes with a few new party pieces; a touchscreen and a new tilt stand meaning it can be used at varying angles from upright to almost flat.

Dell has gone to great lengths to make sure their new all-in-one is a powerhouse. It features an as yet unspecified Intel i7 processor, 2TB of storage, Nvidia GeForce GT 640M and 8GB of RAM.

As well as a killer specs list the new XPS all-in-one comes with an impressive screen boasting 2560 x 1,4440 resolution – while it’s still a way off Apple’s latest Retina displays, it is on par with its main rival the iMac. The screen comes with touch capabilities and is able to recognise 10 individual fingers.

The Dell XPS One 27 Touch UK and US release date is set for late October to coincide with the launch of Windows 8.

Samsung Galaxy Note 2

Samsung has unveiled their latest Android-based smartphone at this yesterday’s IFA and as many had expected it’s the sequel to the Galaxy Note. The Note was originally launched at last year’s show and its only fitting that IFA got the sequel.

The Note 2 comes with a 5.5-inch Super AMOLED HD screen (0.2-inches bigger than the last) and has a mammoth specs list which means this is easily the most powerful phone on the market. Throw in a stylus pen, which has been given a bevy of fancy new tricks, and you’ve got a phone that has almost every base covered when it comes to functionality.

On the inside there’s a quad-core Exynos processor that has been clocked at an eye-watering 1.6GHz and is flanked by a healthy 2GB of RAM to keep things ticking along nicely. It’s so fast it runs rings around almost every Android phone available and even makes the S3 look positively lumbering.

The note comes with some great hardware too as the smartphone will sport an 8-megapixel back camera with an LED flash plus a decent 1.9-megapixel camera on the front for video calls. The Note 2 also has many of the great features from its slimmer brother the Samsung Galaxy S3 with camera features such as Best Photo, Best Faces and Low-light Shot all on the Note 2, plus video playback formatting for MKV and 1080p movies plus most other video and image formats.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 will also come with NFC connectivity and 4G connection functionality (currently not known if this is for the UK or not!) plus standard features such as Bluetooth 4.0, USB 2.0 and Wi-Fi. The phone measures 80.5 x 151.1 x 9.4mm and weighs just 180g with a large 3,100mAh standard li-ion battery.

HP SprectreXT Touchsmart Ultrabook

Windows 8 has been designed to be a touchy, feely operating system – so over the next 6 months you should expect to see a shed load of new laptops which combine touchscreens with Windows 8.

Well, that’s exactly what HP has planned with it’s bizarrely named SprectreXT Touchsmart Ultrabook, which combines a multi-touch display, massive processing power, and a suite of software to keep you busy.

The SpectreXT comes with a 15.6-inch touch screen housed in a smooth, all metal design which sees the screen go edge-to-edge with a sloping design on the bottom of the chasis. The lower chassis has a tapered design, reminiscent of a MacBook Air. At its thinnest it measures 17.9 mm, with the entire laptop weighing in at just 4.77 pounds.

The SpectreXT is HP’s first Ultrabook that comes with Intel’s Thunderbolt port, it can be used for super-fast file transfers and can even be used to connect a second monitor. Elsewhere you’ll get a Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.0 and HDMI ports and the processor is a 3rd-generation Intel i5 Core.

To sweaten the deal, HP is a throwing in a raft of essential pieces of software and support packages. You’ll get a full version of Adboe Photoshop, Premiere Elements 10 and a year of Absolute Data Protect. There’s a years worth of Norton Internet Security and the HP SpectreXT TouchSmart Ultrabook also includes 90 days of complimentary HP SmartFriend Setup Service to help you get setup.

The HP SpectreXT TouchSmart Ultrabook is set to ship this December, with models starting at $1,399.

Samsung Galaxy Camera

Clearly Samsung thinks it’s onto a winner with their Galaxy range of products, so much so they’ve basically bolted their Galaxy S3 onto a digital camera – it might sound like a rather strange collaboration, but when you lay eyes on the Samsung Galaxy Camera it becomes apparent it’s a marriage made in digital heaven.

The resulting combo boasts a 16 million CMOS sensor, 4.1-86.1 mm f/2.8-5.9 lens – on the front there’s a stunning buttonless 4.8-inch touchscreen, boasting a resolution of 1280 x 720.

Most of the camera’s clever controls are accessed through a user interface baked into Android 2.3. And thanks to its phone heritage, the Galaxy Camera includes 3G and Wi-Fi, so you can snap and share images.

This year’s IFA show was a cacophony of tablets that want to be latops and laptops that want to be tablets. Toshiba’s slide ‘n fold Satellite U920t one of the many that caught our eye.

The U920t comes with a 12.5-inch TruBrite IPS HD touchscreen display, capable of recognising 5 fingers. There’s up to 256GB hard disk, 8GB of RAM and the usual bevy of expansions and ports including: a HDMI, SD slot, 2 x USB 3.0 ports as well as Intel’s Wireless Display (WiDi) capability. The device measures 326.5mm x 213mm by 19.9mm thick and weight starts from 1.45kg.

The Satellite U920T also features two integrated cameras: a 1MP front-facing camera with an Ambient Light Sensor, and a 3MP rear-facing camera with Auto Focus. In addition to the scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla glass, the U920t also includes Intel Sensor Solution, allowing users to take advantage of games and applications by making use of a 3D acceleration sensor, magnetometer, gyroscope and ambient light sensor.

The Satellite U920T will be available in Q4 2012.

IFA 2012: Our Top Tech Picks From The Show is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

IFA is Europe’s largest consumer electronics show and today’s opening has given us a bevy of shiny new piece of tech to salivate over –  Sony was first to take the stage at the Berlin Messe to showcase their latest tablets, smartphones and TVs – here are the highlights.

Sony has had a rough year, but today marked a line in the sand as Kaz Hurai, the new CEO of Sony, made a surprise visit to Sony’s key note to tell the world’s tech media that Sony is going to bounce back strong.

“Sony is an extraordinary company going through extraordinary times,” said Hirai.

“We must look at ourselves honestly and I am determined to make changes and do this with laser-like focus and speed.”

“This company drives innovation, rather than reacting to it,” said Hirai in his impassioned keynote. “Now is the time for Sony to change.”

They hope to start this sea change with its latest tablet offering: the Xperia Tablet S. The new Android-based tablet is a slimmed down version of last year’s rather lacklustre S Tablet – but this time its had a facelift and some much needed botox.

Housed in a slim aluminium body, the splash-proof design is certainly less flamboyant than last year’s attempt, the new tablet is the second attempt by Sony to try and make an impact in the fast-paced tablet market. The tablet is no slouch, with a quad-core Nvidia Tegra processor and Android 4.0, rather than the latest Jelly bean.

It comes with the usual storage options (16GB, 32GB and 64GB), there’s Bluetooth 3.0, Wi-Fi connectivity, and an 8 megapixel camera on the back and just a 1 megapixel HD camera on the front.

Like its predecessor, the Sony Tablet S, the Xperia Tablet S has been preloaded with a stellar lineup of media apps. You’ll find Walkman, Music Unlimited and Sony’s Movie app – which will appear on all future Sony mobile devices, whether it be smartphones or tablets.

Thankfully Sony hasn’t skimped on the battery as it comes with a 6000mAh battery – which is good for 10 hours web surfing and apparently 12 hours of video playback from a single charge.

Sony also unveiled their latest Android smartphones, the Xperia T, V and J. The T is Sony’s new fagship handset and follows on from the good work they did with Xperia Arc.

The Xperia T packs a 4.6-inch HD Reality display powered once again by their mobile Bravia engine, it has an impressive 1280×720 screen and comes with special shatterproof glass.

Not only is the screen fantastic, but somehow Sony has managed to cram in a 13 megapixel rear camera that goes from sleep to snap in under a second. You’ll be able to shoot in 1080p on the rear camera and take video calls in 720p via the front facing camera.

The new handset comes with a host of clever technologies including an NFC chip, which alongside Sony’s ‘One-Touch’ software will allow you share photos, videos and just about anything you can think of just by touching handsets.

Other juicy specs include Playstation certification, a 1.5 Ghz processor, Android 4.0.4 (Ice Cream) and the handset comes in black, silver and white.

As well as a new flagship there are two new handsets for those who don’t have such deep pockets. The Xperia V has the same 1.5GHz dual-core processor, a smaller 4.3-inch display; it will also have the same 13 megapixel camera too. Interestingly it comes with a water-resistant skin which is good enough to save the phone from dying if submerged in water.

The Xperia J is the bottom of the range and has a 4-inch screen, 5 megapixel camera and just a single core processor – worryingly there’s no mention of what version of Android it comes with, but were betting it’s probably Ice Cream Sandwich.

Sony finished its Keynote with a glimpse of what its under-fire TV departmet has been working on, and it’s one of the most stunning TVs in existence. Their new 84-inch 4K set was unveiled to the public for the first time and shows what you can expect from the next generation of HDTVs.

According the Kaz Hirai it will be able to convert existing movies, TV shows and photos into a 4K resolution – which is a mammoth 3840 x 2160. Although there’s no footage on sale at that resolution it’s thought that the next version of Blu-Ray will be 4K compatible. Not only do you get 9 million pixels their engineers have squeezed in 10 separate speakers into the set to create virtual 5.1 surround sound.

There’s no word on pricing yet, but Sony says the KD-84X9005 will be out by the year’s end and will no doubt cost a small fortune – still, its nice to dream.

IFA 2012: Sony Shows Off Xperia T Smartphone, Xperia S Tablet And 80-inch 4K Smart TV is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

With Europe’s largest consumer electronics show IFA just around the corner, we’re going to continue our run through of what is going to be hot at this year’s show which takes place in Berlin’s Messe.

In the second part of our IFA preview we’re looking at what pieces of shiny new tech will be coming from Panasonic, Acer, Asus and Lenovo – including everything from TV’s, touchscreen laptops, smartphones and tablets.

Panasonic at IFA 2012

Panasonic is still reeling from the Japanese earthquake and has struggled for profitability from their Blu-Ray players and TVs this year. It’s almost a certainty that Panasonic will have bevy of new Smart TVs on show at IFA. But there’s also the possibility of a new Android handset following on from Eluga, which was shown off at CES earlier this year.

Panasonic also recently announced it was strengthening its ties with 20th Century Fox and will be bundling the Titanic 3D Blu-ray in with a number of its Blu-ray players, so expect this to be a focal point of its conference.

Acer at IFA 2012

New kids on the block Acer always use IFA to show off their best bits of new kit for the year, and 2012 will be no different.

First up, is new Acer Ultrabook the Aspire S7, its been penciled in for a September release date and will cost £1,149.99. It will come with Windows 7, the S7 should get a Windows 8 reboot after the OS hits the public market October 26.

Specs-wise the Aspire S7 Ultrabook is no slouch, by default sports an Intel Core i5 Ivy Bridge processor, 128GB of SSD storage, 4GB RAM, and HDMI, USB and SD card reader ports. There’s a hefty 12-hour battery life and backlit keyboard which makes the Aspire S7 a compelling alternative to a MacBook.

The Aspire A7 comes in both 11.6- and 13.3-inch flavours, but the thin machine can be beefed up significantly with a number of upgrades, including more RAM and SSD space and the option for a Core i7 chip.

And as one final sweatener there are rumours that a touchscreen could be an optional add-on, though, there’s no word on when and how much it would cost.

Asus at IFA 2012

Although Windows 8 Devices are undoubtedly going to be at the top of everyone’s must-see list at IFA 2012, we’re really hoping that the long-overdue, Android-powered, Asus PadFone makes an appearance. We love this ingenious smartphone-tablet hybrid device and a release date and price would be most welcome. It’s a smartphone, and a tablet and even a laptop if you want.

Back on Planet Earth, there is also the less out-there Asus ZenBook Prime Touchscreen – a touchscreen Ultrabook – and the Asus Transformer Book, which also comes with a detachable screen.

Lenovo at IFA 2012

Lenovo grabbed the headline at CES with their take on the laptop, with their IdeaPad Yoga – it not seen a release yet – so expect to see in the flesh at IFA, hopefully with a price tag and release date.

Don’t be surprised if Lenovo come out with a rival to Samsung’s Galaxy Note, in the form of the Lenovo IdeaTab A2150. There are also rumours of a 7-inch tablet as well as a 9-inch tablets under the IdeaTab name.

We are also expecting another Galaxy Note rival, in the form of the Lenovo IdeaTab A2105. This is according to Android Authority, which reckons there will also be the IdeaTab A2107, a 7-inch tablet and the IdeaTab A2109, a 9-inch tablet.

IFA 2012 Preview Part 2: Panasonic, Acer, Asus and Lenovo is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com

When former Apple CEO Steve Jobs told his autobiographer that he’d “finally cracked it” when talking about an Apple TV – the entire tech world took notice.

Everyone imagined a TV that would revolutionized the medium for the 21^st century. Like many products before it Apple might not have invented the TV, but from what Jobs said he’d come up with a recipe that would secure the future of the TV in a age where more and more people watch content on their laptops, PC’s and phones.

Since Jobs’ eureka moment, its been our job to try and work out what Apple might have planned. A Stunning design, iOS, Siri voice assistant, iSight cameras – have all been mentioned. And while all the above features seem likely to find their way into the TV’s what else has Apple got planned? And most importantly when will we see the sets?

Foxconn Gearing Up For Production

The latest rumours from Apple’s Asian manufacturing partner Foxconn, is that they have already begun gearing up to start making the TVs. Foxconn’s new Chief Terry Gou said during a recent news conference in Shanghai that his company has been making preparations to start producing Apple TV. He did concede, however, that production and development of the device has not begun.

Not only has Foxconn been given the nod to start laying tentative plans for the sets. Cult of Mac this week claimed to have actually seen a working prototype of the forthcoming TV.

According to Cult of Mac, an unnamed source said the prototype closely resembles the currently flagship Apple display the Cinema Display. According to the source the only difference between the two was the size, and that the prototype had Siri functionality and a built-in iSight camera for video calls.

It might be the case that the set was actually a new Cinema Display and not an Apple TV – but it’s good to hear that Apple has already begun testing what features and sizes will be most suitable when the sets eventually do launch.

According to Cult Of Mac the iSight camera isn’t just your normal snapper; it comes with facial recognition technology and has the ability to zoom in on a user’s face and even follow them around the room a la Kinect. This could mean users will be able to make call from across the room, instead of having to sit directly in front of the TV and would be able to initiate calls via voice using Siri.

Apple To Buy German TV maker Loewes?

Last week German luxury TV maker Loewe’s share price jumped to a 10-month high on Monday as rumours begun to circulate that Apple was a considering making an offer for the TV maker.

The news came from Appleinsider, who quoted the usual source familiar with the matter, stating Apple was willing to pay 87.3 million euros or a 48 per cent on Loewe’s closing price on Friday.

A spokesman from Loewe said that management were not aware of Apple’s proposed bid and, of course, Apple declined to comment. It would make perfect sense for Apple, Loewe have built quite a cult following with their stylish TV’s that often include remotes that can act as a home phone and the TV’s tend to come with space-aged stands that can turn to face the viewer remotely.

What else can we expect

Some of the big Hollywood Studios have created a movie-streaming service called Epix – it’s a joint venture between Viacom’s Paramount Pictures, MGM, and Lions Gate Entertainment. While the service hasn’t actually launched – they are in talks with Apple about future device support, which could include Apple’s TV.

The news comes as the Netflix reported less than stellar profits after its UK launch last week at the same time as Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman said Epix would be available to rival streaming providers. Coincidence? Possibly, but also possibly not.

Hold your iHorses


The timeframe is the biggest unknown at the moment. With no-one really knowing when we might see the second coming of the TV. JPMorgan Chase’s Mark Moskowitz thinks we won’t see the sets in shops until 2014 – and he also reckons the selling point won’t be any ”game-changing, content-related deals.” He thinks the hardware and software integration, industrial design, and ease of use will be the real selling points.

On the other hand, NPD DisplaySearch director Paul Gagnon expects Apple’s foray to be introduced later this year, but they won’t ship until 2013, although he concedes that he doesn’t have any specific evidence. Gagnon does point out that Apple’s manufacturing partner Foxconn has invested $1.6 billion in Sharp’s TV business, which can manufacture displays up to 60 inches.

Rumour Mill: Apple TV is a post from: UK Gadget and Tech News, Reviews and Shopping Site - Gaj-It.com