Technology
The new Office app: Perfect for business on the go
While many apps are definitely just for fun, the latest one from Microsoft is one of the most practical on the market. Ideal for businesspeople on the go, it is a new Microsoft Office app that will allow users to edit Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents on iOS. Microsoft’s new app is being made available free of charge for users who subscribe to Office 365, a web-based platform which allows people to access Office through the cloud. The app has just been launched in America, but will be rolled out [...]
Design awards: Apple’s best apps of 2013
As Apple says, there’s an app for everything. So, it can be difficult to choose from the sheer wealth of apps available from the Apple store. But, the Californian tech giant has stepped in to help by showcasing the best of the best in its Worldwide Developers Conference 2013 Apple Design Awards. And, clearly unable to choose a round number like a top 10, Apple has come up with a top 11 apps it says “raise the bar in design, technology, and innovation.” WWF Together This interactive app lets you [...]
Samsung officially announces the Galaxy S4 zoom
One of the frustrating things about smartphone cameras can be the fixed focal point. But Samsung is promising to change that with the new Galaxy S4 zoom. Catering to those who’d like a point-and-shoot compact camera to be built into their mobile, Samsung’s new gizmo combines an Android smartphone with a 16-megapixel camera, complete with 10x zoom lens. On the smartphone side, the Galaxy S4 Zoom comes complete with a 4.3-inch display, a 1.5GHz dual processor, 1.5GB of RAM, 8GB of inbuilt storage, which you can expand via a microSD [...]
Apple innovations: new iOS, new MacBooks and music streaming service
In a move that Apple’s chief executive Tim Cook described as “the biggest change to iOS since the iPhone,” the firm has unveiled a brand new look for its user interface. iOS 7 iOS 7 is set to feature a “flatter” design which marks a move away from skeuomorphism, where real-world inspired textures and objects are used in design. So rather than seeing a snooker table for its games centre, iPhone and iPad users will see an interface which is fresher and more modern in appearance. It’s the first time [...]
Worldwide Developers Conference: What to expect from Apple
Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco is always one of the most eagerly anticipated tech events in the calendar. While it’s an event predominantly meant for software designers, so they can see what’s coming next and start working on apps for the upcoming platforms, it means us mere mortals will also be afforded a glimpse of what Apple has up its sleeve. So, just what can we expect from the Californian tech giant? iO7 New software for the iPhone is widely expected to be the biggest talking point at [...]
Xbox One: Microsoft clarify pre-owned games rules
Following the confusion after Microsoft suggested that gamers might be charged a fee to play pre-owned games on its new Xbox One console, the company has released a further statement in an effort to clarify its position. In an original post, the official Xbox support account on Twitter had informed followers that there would be no charge to gamers for playing with used games, but then a later statement caused confusion. Microsoft’s director of programming, Larry Hryb, wrote on his blog: “While there have been many potential scenarios discussed, today [...]
Sony Vaio Pro 11 and 13 – Could Sony’s new ultrabook take on the MacBook Air?
Designed to balance performance and portability, Apple’s MacBook Air has widely been described as one of the world’s best notebooks since its first-generation launch back in 2008. But, Sony could prove a real contender to Californian tech giant Apple, with its new line of ultrabooks – the Sony Vaio Pro, which comes in either 11 or 13-inch models. And Sony certainly isn’t pulling any punches when it comes to its goal. As product manager for Vaio Travis Furst, said: “We’re going to war with the MacBook Air.” Vaio Pro Prices [...]
The Last of Us: The game that has critics all aflutter
With stunning graphics, a compelling narrative and tense action, The Last of Us is winning five-star reviews from critics across the globe. Due for release on June 14, The Last of Us is, rather alarmingly based on a non-fictional virus, called cordyceps, killer fungi that invades the body of an insect to grow and diminish the insect population. Affecting the host’s behaviour in order to spread the virus, The Last of Us poses the question: What if it could spread to humans. The answer, it seems, is humanity brought to [...]
Microsoft to bring back the start button on new Windows 8.1
Reports suggest that Microsoft are intending to bring back the start button, after consumer complaints caused a massive backlash against the Windows 8 start-up page. The start button was the most complained about missing feature for Windows 8 users, with many describing the start page as confusing and unnecessarily complicated. The complaints have caused a significant move away from desktop computers as people are tending to now buy iPads, tablets and smartphones. This is thought to be because the swipe touchscreen is much more user-friendly on iPads and tablets, but [...]
Computers & Tablets set to be replaced by ’2 in 1′ Laptops
The standard computer and tablet are said to be under threat from another device – the ‘two in one’ laptop. Already, the way people access the internet for work or pleasure has changed remarkably, with many leaving behind the standard desk-top for a more modern device such as a tablet or a lap-top, but the rise of new ‘two-in-one’ devices have meant that there is a new generation of people who now prefer devices that combine tablets with laptop computers. Intel’s Executive Vice President Tom Kilroy claimed: “The two-in-one concept [...]
Google Moto X: A bargain smartphone
Announcements made at a conference in America this week herald a brand new smartphone but at a budget price. Google’s new Moto X will cost significantly less than an iPhone, Motorola has claimed, but will change the way people use their mobiles. The new phone is said to use advanced sensors to anticipate the behaviour of the user, and Motorola’s Dennis Woodside said that the Moto X would change the way users “engage with how the devices are designed”, and that the “broadly distributed” phone would provide “experiences [that] are [...]
Is Google Glass dangerous?
Billed as “one of the best inventions of the year” by Time magazine, Google Glass is one of the world’s most innovative and eagerly anticipated pieces of technology. An attempt to free data from your desktop computers and portable devices and place it right in front of your eyes, Google Glass is camera, touchpad, display and microphone in one – all built into a pair of spectacle frames so you can see everything within your field of vision. Currently on release to 2,000 people Google are calling Glass Explorers, Google [...]
New App CrashAlert warns mobile phone users of approaching obstacles
It’s the latest social phenomenon born out of new technology – that moment when you are walking down the street and your mobile beeps, indicating a new text message, and as you go to fire off a witty retort, you bash straight into someone who you have not noticed, who has strayed into your path. Thankfully, texting or speaking on your mobiles whilst driving is now illegal, but as walking and texting has become the new social norm, so apparently has a rise of collision-related injuries. A new app called [...]
The Xbox ONE: Specs, Criticism and Pricing
The latest Xbox has been one of the most hotly anticipated gadgets in the gaming world for months and, now, it’s finally been unveiled. It’s the third generation console from Microsoft, but it’s being called the Xbox One because of its multi-functionality. Microsoft’s president of interactive entertainment, Don Mattrick, described the new Xbox One as not simply a games console but: “The ultimate all-in-one home entertainment system.” The official unveiling, at Microsoft HQ in Redmond, Washington, came after four years of development work and many months of speculation. Microsoft is [...]
Shazam redesigns iPad app with new auto-tagging feature for TV
There is no question that Shazam designs some of the world’s most popular apps, with an estimated 300 million people using them across all platforms, since the service launched in 2002. And according to Shazam’s executive vice president of marketing, David Jones, around 200 million of those having used it in the last year. Now Shazam are set to wow app audiences with their new and revamped iPad app, that includes a brand new feature that can automatically identify TV shows, advertisements and music, instead of their usual practice of [...]
Tim-E: New bedside alarm robot
If, like me, you find it difficult to drag yourself out of bed in the morning no matter how loudly your alarm clock buzzes, then this new gizmo could be for you. The snappily-titled Californian company Nuts and Voltz has come with a new robot-style alarm clock for your iPhone or iPod that it is trying to get funding for through Kickstarter. Called tim-E, the alarm clock talks and dances in a bid to wake you up. Your little bedside companion will chat to you about weather and traffic updates [...]
Flypast: Have you got what it takes to take on the Dambusters mission?
It’s a problem that’s been around since the onset of technology – how to interest youngsters in their school work when there are so many modern-day distractions. But one games developer may just have come up with the solution, at least for children who are busy learning about the Second World War. Games designer Bruce Steele has come up with a new iPad game- Flypast, that shows just how hard it was for the Allied bombers to complete the infamous Dam Busters mission in 1943. Released to coincide with the 70th [...]
UK launch date to be revealed for new Nokia?
The Nokia Lumia 928 could see a UK launch at an event held in London next week, providing those interested in 4G phones with yet another option to choose from. The company has already unveiled the device in the US and chosen to show off the impressive capabilities of its video recording in comparison to a couple of major competitors. If you enjoy making your own videos then it could prove to be the decisive factor in persuading you to choose the handset. In a post to the Nokia US [...]
The ChefPad: The tablet designed especially for cooking
Our recipe books may be taking up lots of space on our kitchen counters, but they’ve become somewhat obsolete. We tend to turn to food sites and blogs for inspiration these days. And, the good thing about searching online is we can simply tap all the ingredients we have in the fridge in and see what suggestions come up. But our expensive tablets are at risk of kitchen mishaps. Ours has already escaped all sorts of spillages from flour to lemon juice, soup to melted butter. So, having a budget-friendly [...]
Can Sony Cement Itself To 3rd Place In The Indian Mobile Market?
The Indian mobile market has seen an incredible growth over the last few years, with a host of international brands establishing their base here and making their wares available to Indian consumers. As such, this has led to an intense rivalry in all segments of the market between manufacturers, as all of them are vying to outsell one another. Micromax and Samsung are leading others as they look to build on what they have achieved over the last few years. Manufacturers like Sony and LG are also looking to join [...]
