Windows Phone 8.1 to introduce Cortana digital assistant

Microsoft's next version of it’s Windows Phone Operating system (Windows Phone 8.1) will come with an assistant much like what has been available on iPhone in the form of Siri or on Google Android handsets as Google Now. Microsoft have been working on Cortana the name for the new digital assistant for over a year now and are planning to reveal the feature at the company's upcoming ‘Build’ conference along with a developer preview of Windows 8.1.

Cortana will replace the current built-in Bing search functionality currently found on Windows Phone Operating systems. Whilst the name Cortana comes from a female fictional artificial intelligence character from Halo, it is thought that Cortana will be represented by a circle rather than adopting a female like appearance. Upon interacting with Cortana the circle icon will animate based on whether it’s thinking or speaking.

Although Microsoft have been using the name Cortana internally during the development it is unclear whether it plans to keep the name Cortana or use some other moniker upon launch. Much in the same way that Siri allows you to customize how you want to be addressed you will be able to set how you wish to be addressed by Cortana, and whether by name or a nickname. Cortana will use a notebook feature that allows it to save and store data and access such things as location, personal information, reminders and much more. It has also been announced that Cortana will have some Google Now like features including the ability to track flights.

The Cortana service will be backed by services such as Bing and Foursquare which will enable it to have some of the contextual power similar to that found in Google Now. How it performs in relation to Siri and Google Now remains to be seen but it’s definitely a step in the right direction for the struggling Windows Phone OS.

The Internet is changing - Here’s what you need to know

You may have heard over the last few months that the internet is changing but do you know what it’s all about? If like many the answer is no then hopefully by the time you’ve finished reading this you will have a better understanding of the changes that have already started rolling out.

For the most part we are used to accessing websites via domains such as .com .net .org and so on, although there’s many other country variants available too. In 2011 the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) announced it was going to be opening up the domain system to new gTLDs (generic top level domains). In practice this means domains such as .food .tech .guru and .pizza will become available for private and business customers to register.

These new gTLDs will be rolled out gradually over the next few years and some have already been rolled out and are available to register now. Initially when a new gTLD is released it’s not initially available to the public as it has to be made available to trademark holders first so they can register their trademark domains. After a period of time the domains and then made available for pre-purchase and then finally available to all for public registration. If you are interested in registering one of these new domains there are already some available such as .photography, .clothing, .bike and .graphics to name just a few.

One of the many benefits to the new gTLDs implemented by ICANN is the amount of new possibilities it opens for new registrations. The domain choices that we previously had were becoming very saturated and it was getting harder and harder to find a domain that wasn’t already taken. Now the possibilities and choices for registering a domain are much broader and should allow you to be able to get the domain you want rather than settling for what was left.

The changes are likely to cause some confusion to begin with particularly with the sheer amount of new domains that are being released which is somewhere in the region of 1000 gTLDs. However as ICANN has chosen to roll these out gradually just a few at a time it should make it a bit easier to familiarise yourself with the new domains as and when they become available.

 

ASDA trials 3D Printing in stores

3D printers are all the rage at the moment even if they are still largely out of reach for most consumers due to the high prices of the printers. Whilst they are coming down in price with devices such as the ultimaker 2, for the majority of us a decent 3D printer will be a few years off yet. For those who want to take advantage of 3D printing without having to invest in a printer there are various online services allowing you to submit your designs to be printed and then mailed to you when completed. It seems that supermarkets have also seen the potential and benefits of offering a 3D printing service too.

Asda began trialling a 3D printing service before Christmas after completing a year and a half worth of testing. The service has now gone on tour and is now working its way around stores in Great Britain. Sadly you can't actually book a slot but you can see a schedule for where the printing service will be on a particular date by visiting Asda’s Photo Site. The service is reasonably quick and simple much like the existing photo booths currently available in most stores.

Currently the only service offered is a 3D figurine of yourself or a friend or family member. The process involves one of Asda trained employees walking around you with a handheld scanner in order to generate and stitch together the data for the 3D model. Whilst this is a reasonably quick process you do need to remain reasonably still so this may not be suitable for young children at the moment. After the images have been captured and digitally stitched together to create just one single image file it is then ready to be printed. Currently the printing and painting process is not done in store however you don't have to wait too long as the figurines are ready and delivered within a week.

The service currently starts at a cost of £60 and can be scaled up in size for a higher price, and when compared to the cost of other similar services it's very reasonable though you do have to wonder at the benefits of a 3D printed figurine of yourself. It will be interesting to see how this service progresses and whether it's rolled out across all stores. Considering its a first for a supermarket to offer such a service Asda have done a great job and the months of research have obviously paid off.

 

Blackphone puts you in control of your privacy

Since Edward Snowden released details of the activities of the NSA people have been increasingly concerned with privacy and how their private data is used. The new Blackphone is a device that runs on Android which isn't particularly secure but the developers have made many changes to Android both visible and under the hood and re-labeled it PrivatOS.

Visually the Blackphone looks like a fairly standard Android Handset featuring a 4.7-inch HD screen, 2GHz quad-core processor, 16GB onboard storage and an 8-Megapixel camera. The device is produced by Silent Circle, a company that is renowned for it's portfolio of security and encryption software along with a Spanish hardware startup called Geeksphone.

Blackphone claims to be a pioneer in placing 'privacy' and 'control' in the hands of it's users. This is achieved using a combination of secure applications and modifications to the underlying Android operating systems that gives users a clear insight and control over what third-party applications are requesting to do with their data.

The Blackphone consists of a suite of apps developed by Silent Circle such as Silent Phone which features peer-to-peer encrypted VoIP calls, Silent Text which also uses the same level of encryption and Silent Contacts which replaces the stock contacts app usually found in Android which safeguards your contact list from apps that might try to gain access to your contacts list for nefarious reasons. If you have an iPhone you can already take advantage of these apps by way of a subscription services and the Blackphone comes with two years of service included in the price of the handset.

Whilst the Blackphone is great for those worried about their privacy and security there is a bit of work to be done as the device is only secure when using peer-to-peer encryption and for this to work you need to be calling someone else with a Blackphone in order for this to work. It seems that Silent Circle are aware that this might be a deal breaker for some so they have taken some steps in order to make it a little bit easier. Everyone that purchases a Blackphone will also receive an extra three one-year subscriptions in addition to their own to allow users to hand one to friends, family and colleagues. Once the free subscription runs out you can either pay $10 a month for continued service or purchase a Blackphone.

It's clear that Silent Circle is hoping that free subscriptions for friends and family will convert to paying customers at the end of the free period but I feel that it's going to take some convincing for users to get their friends to signup for yet another monthly subscription. The Blackphone is an interesting device and it will be interesting to see how this takes off. It is however important to remember that there is no such thing as a NSA proof smartphone and no matter what security you have in place there will also be someone smart enough to crack it. That being said I feel the Blackphone is definitely a step in the right direction when it comes to tightening the security of our smartphones. I will certainly be watching this with great interest.

 Images courtesty of PressPack from BlackPhone.ch

Mobile World Congress (MWC) Day One

Mobile World Congress is now in it’s second day so we thought we would bring you a roundup of what happened on day one. The announcements of new smartphones, feature phones, tablets and accessories was pretty overwhelming so we are going to try and break it down for you.

Samsung Galaxy S5

Samsung says that they are going back to giving us features that matter and that’s largely what the Samsung Galaxy S5 is all about. Powered by the Snapdragon 805 quad core processor which runs at a whopping 2.5GHz coupled with 2GB ram means this smartphone really packs a punch and should glide through even the most intense tasks. As expected the S5 is running the latest Android 4.4 kitkat and a new version of Samsung's own Touchwiz. In terms of battery we have a 2800mAh battery that Samsung claims will provide 21 hours of talktime and should be more than enough to get you through the day.

Nokia X

We had heard rumors of Nokia launching a smartphone running Android but many were dubious of such a device. So it may have come as a surprise to some that Nokia announced the ‘X’ which does run Android albeit a very heavily skinned Windows Phone style version of Android. It comes pre-loaded with Skype, Outlook, OneDrive and Nokia’s ‘Here’ maps service. The handset will run apps from the Google Play Store though you will have to sideload the apps manually. The Nokia ‘X’ is definitely more of a mid-range smartphone than high-end device. However it’s still an interesting idea and it will be interesting to see how this pans out for Nokia/Microsoft.

Nokia 220

For those looking for a bargain basement handset that still has internet capabilities for using Facebook and Twitter then look no further than the very colourful Nokia 220. It’s priced at around £25 and is aimed at developing markets and those who don’t need the power of the latest and greatest smartphones. The Nokia 220 comes with Facebook and Twitter preloaded.

Sony Z2

Sony announced two Z2 devices today, a tablet and a smartphone with the Smartphone claiming to be the first to feature Digital Noise Cancellation for much clearer calls. The Z2 smartphone has a 5.2 inch display and 4K video recording capabilities. Both devices are dustproof and water resistant. The Z2 tablet has a 10.1 inch screen and runs Android 4.4 kitkat and 2.3GHz processor and 3GB of ram making it more than capable of anything you're likely to throw at it.

Intel Processor

Whilst not a tablet or a smartphone Intel launched a new processor at MWC designed for smartphones and tablets which is a 64bit Atom Processor designed to give a much greater battery life to the devices it powers.

Conclusion

We have had some very interesting announcements in the first day of MWC and there is no doubt even more to come. Whilst we have not covered everything that was announced so far we have talked about the most significant announcements and we will continue to follow up as MWC progresses.

 

Google Chromecast to support more apps ahead of UK release

 

The Chromecast, Google’s media streaming dongle device, is expected to launch in the UK next month. It could be hitting our shelves as early as 1stMarch, with major electronics retailer Currys noting the date for provisional release.

Users can access apps and internet videos on their TVs by plugging the dongle into the HDMI port on DVD players or cable boxes. The device then connects to a WiFi network to allow the users to interact with their TV by using their Android smartphone like a TV remote control.

When the user presses the ‘Cast’ button on a compatible app, it will be reformatted and sent to the TV. Not only will this mean the content can be viewed on a larger screen, but all the clutter that comes with an internet app will be removed.

The dongle was made available in the US market last summer and now, ahead of the UK launch, Google are planning to offer a wider selection of apps.

The company placed the main focus of the Chromecast on streaming apps;working with popular video titles such as Netflix and music apps such as Rdio and Beats Music. Google also aims to use the dongle to present its video siteYoutube as a platform for viewing mainstream TV and film releases, in addition to short user uploaded content.

However, Google has recently opened up the Chromecast to third-party developers, launching an official Google Cast SDK to app makers and broadening its potential. In a blog post, the company stated: “That means even more of our favourite movies, TV shows and music will become available on the Chromecast as developers work with the SDK”. The device wasautomatically updated for users in the US market to take advantage of the Google Cast SDK.

As well as encouraging a wider range of audio and visual content from various sources, the new open platform could result in a new gaming experience. With the mobile gaming market booming, resulting in game apps outselling handheld consoles for the first time,  developers are likely to show an interest in this new form of interaction.

Devices are already available that allow mobile game play on TV screens, but Google’s extensive app store could easily give them the edge on the market.With casual and casino games now becoming as popular as PC and console games, many major gaming brands like butlersbingo.com could soon make their titles compatible with the Chromecast.

With a whole host of compatible apps expected to launch over the coming months, the Chromecast could prove very popular come its UK launch. Details on the UK price have yet to be released but retail estimates value the device at between £30-£40.

Amazon Prime Instant Video Coming to UK

On Friday Geekanoids brought you the news that Amazon is possibly working on a Set-Top box to rival devices such as Roku and Apple TV. Today we want to talk about another recent change that’s happening at Amazon in a few days time and that is the launch of Amazon Prime’s unlimited streaming service. Whilst those of you who are in the United States will have had the Prime streaming service for quite sometime, it’s only now being released in the United Kingdom. The Amazon Prime streaming service for the UK is basically a rebrand of it’s LoveFilm service which Amazon bought in 2011 and would bring it inline with the Amazon Prime streaming service that’s been in the US for a while now.

If you already an Amazon Prime customer and signed up to take advantage of their free one day delivery service then you will already be signed up to take advantage of the new streaming service when it launches on Wednesday. If you're not already an Amazon Prime customer then you will need to signup for the service in order to get access to the new service which although it costs just £49 per year at present it’s about to jump to £79 a year. If you're looking to get in on the cheaper price you better be quick.

Unlike other streaming services this one is going to remained tied to the Amazon Prime delivery service so you can’t currently signup for just the streaming service or just the delivery service for a cheaper premium, sadly it’s all or nothing. Having said that it’s actually only a £7 per year increase for those who were already had a yearly streaming plan with LoveFilm’s instant streaming service also you get the benefit of access to over Amazon’s vast library of 500,000 kindle titles to choose from.


 

The evolution of the iPhone

The iPhone has been a staple in the smartphone market since Steve Jobs announced the arrival of the first incarnation back in January of 2007. Revolutionising the mobile platform from that point forward, the iPhone has generated huge interest across the world and has become the poster boy of the smartphone industry.

Here’s a little look back on the past, present and future of this iconic device.

iPhone 1 – Nov 2007

Merging the popular iPod with a revolutionary touchscreen phone and mobile web browser, the first generation iPhone unleashed a world of potential. Creating the mould for all smartphones to follow, the iPhone 1 featured a 2MP in-built camera, up to 8GB of storage and a 3.5-inch, 320 x 480 pixel resolution screen, making it the best display of its generation.

iPhone 3G – July 2008

While its predecessor didn’t support third-party apps, the iPhone 3G saw the birth of the App Store. Building the model for true multi-functionality in a slimmed-down design, the App Store helped the iPhone breed to begin gaining traction amongst consumers. Along with this exciting update, the iPhone 3G also allowed users to make use of new high-speed connectivity,allowing a smooth connection to online sites such as Facebook and Platinum Play for the first time.

iPhone 3GS – June 2009


 

The iPhone 3GS failed to bring major changes to the table, but succeeded in giving the 3G a satisfactory reboot. Although no changes were made to the screen or general appearance, this model delivered faster performances as well as an improved 3.2MP camera, an increased storage capacity and new voice control features that would pave the way for Siri.

iPhone 4 – June 2010

Apple’s flagship device was given a major transformation for the release of the iPhone 4. While its competitors had started catching up to the 3G, Apple left them in the dust when the new flat design hit the shelves in 2010. The screenwas swapped for a high-resolution Retina display along with a top-of-the-class 5MP camera and HD video recording capabilities, as well as with other internal improvements that showed why Apple still held the crown in the world of smartphones.

iPhone 4S – Oct 2011

Following in the footsteps of the 3GS, the 4S gave the fourth generation model a minor upgrade to bring it up to scratch. While the shell stayed unaltered, the inside came with a new A5 processor, 8MP camera and 1080p video recording, as well as improved graphic capabilities and the debut of Sirias an exclusive feature.

iPhone 5 – Sept 2012

Following a number of internal revamps from the 4S, the iPhone 5 focused more on reshaping the phone’s architecture. The handset became 20% lighter than its predecessor, sporting a 4-inch screen and a 640 x 1136 pixel ratio. The iPhone had never looked better.

iPhone 5S/5C – Sept 2013

Locking horns with major competitor Android, the iPhone 5C was more or less a carbon copy of the iPhone 5, but with a plastic-back, longer battery life and a more reasonable price tag.

As for the 5C, this handset made further improvements under the hood, adding a better camera feature and a fingerprint reader located under the home button.

The launch of the iOS 7 updates also bought about the most radical shake-up the operating system had seen in recent years

iPhone 6 - ?

Rumours are currently circulating over the iPhone 6, with speculation on the price, specs and release date running wild. Credible sources are predicting that the model will feature a bigger display, measuring in at a 4.8-inch form factor. Some are also stating that Apple could offer a range of smartphone devices, including a 4.7-inch and 5.6-inch model as well as their branded smart watch.

Following a $578 million deal between Apple and GT Advanced Technologies, the eighth generation iPhone will most likely contain a Sapphire glass screen. Upgraded from the current Gorilla Glass, this scratch-resistant material is almost unbreakable, second only to diamond in terms of hardness, and would increase screen clarity.

Other, less plausible rumours point to a curved design and wraparound display. While the appearance of these features in concept images have gotten the media and consumers excited, the designers themselves are admitting that they stretch the realms of possibility.

“Such a design may appear on the iPhone 6 or 7, or maybe never,” said designer Nickolay Lamm.”It’s a cool design, but one which is unlikely to give Apple a sustainable competitive advantage.”

Credit: Nickolay Lamm iPhone 6 concept design

 

Apple issues iPhone and Apple TV updates

It's update time again as Apple has today released another minor update to iOS 7 that provides a fix to the SSL connection verification issues that people have been experiencing. The 7.0.6 update comes less than a month after Apple released the 7.0.5 update for iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C users that fixed network issues affecting people in china. To update your devices open the settings app and navigate to the 'software update' option. If you prefer to update your device via iTunes you can connect your device to your Mac or PC and update there too. 

Apple have also been releasing beta versions of iOS 7.1 to developers over the last few months and is currently at 7.1.4 as of last week. Unlike today's minor update iOS 7.1 is a more feature rich release with major improvements to Mobile Device Management mass deployment system and possibly a new 'volume services' web client. It is expected that iOS 7.1 will be out of beta and available to the public towards the end of March. 

Alongside the iOS 7.1.6 update Apple also released an update for older devices by way of a 6.1.6 release which is available for iPhone 3GS and iPod Touch fourth generation which are unable to run iOS 7. 

Update:

Alongside today's updates for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, Apple also released an update for Apple TV. The 6.0.2 update has been classed a stability and performance updates and can be downloaded via the devices settings menu. 

Is Amazon working on a Set-Top Box?

For about a year now there have been rumors of Amazon releasing a Set-Top box that would allow you to easily watch content from Amazon Instant Video. We first heard the rumors last April that Amazon was working on something like this but it was later revealed in October that the project has been met with delays and that was the last we heard of it.

According to ReCode author Peter Kafka Amazon could be ready to launch their Set-Top box as early as March. If these rumors are true then it definitely poses a threat to devices such as the ROKU and Apple Tv. Amazon have recently been heavily investing in it’s web video lineup and are now producing their own shows much like Netflix have done. We recently heard that Apple has taken it’s Apple Tv from a ‘hobby project’ to a fully fledged product line so maybe they know something about Amazon’s plans?

Amazons Set-Top box is expected to run on a forked version of Android much like the Kindle Fire series of tablets does. It has also been noted that Amazon have been on a hiring spree for game developers and that they plan to release a gaming console running on Android based hardware. It will be interesting to see if these are two separate devices or are part of the rumored Set-Top box.