Gadget Digest: iPad 4G, the world’s smartest smart TV and the Sony PS3 returns

It’s been another busy week in gadget gossip. We’ve seen all sorts of new gizmos roll off the factory line and onto our wishlists – so many, we wouldn’t blame you if you struggled to keep count. Luckily, we’re here to break them down for you into easy to swallow tech titbits: read on for this week’s Gadget Digest.

Android happenings

The iPhone 5 is out and clearing house, but the Google Android-powered rivals keep coming through thick and fast still. The rumours of an LG Nexus 4 super phone are reaching a crescendo, and there’s even talk of a release date this month. Meanwhile, Samsung outed the Galaxy S3 Mini, a smaller version of its Android phone, while HTC’s mid-range rival, the Desire X, hit shops shelves.

Smart TVs get smarter

Smart TVs got a few more IQ points this week courtesy of a couple of new launches. Spotify’s unlimited music streaming service arrived on Samsung TVs, complete with a free month’s trial worth a tenner, while Bang & Olufsen hit back once more with the world’s slickest, and perhaps also priciest, internet telly.

Tablet attack

Lots of tasty tablet gossip hit this week too. While the iPad Mini failed to show, we did get word that the next iPad will work on UK 4G super speed networks, while on the Android side of things, a new report suggested a £60 Google Nexus tablet is on the way.

Sony strikes back

We’re still waiting on that elusive PlayStation 4, but in the meantime, Sony’s seen fit to bless us with a newer, slimmer PS3, and this week, we set loose our full review of the console. Be sure to check it out if you’re still sitting on the console fence: while the software is ace, it’s not quite the cost cutting exercise we were hoping for.

Behind the scenes with Prometheus

Last but not least, the biggest film of the year for gadget fiends, Prometheus, hit Blu-ray. We went behind the scenes to find out more about the making of it: does the plot make any more sense now?

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Samsung Galaxy Note 2 tipped for October release, iPhone in its sights

 

The Samsung Galaxy S3 may have already hit the stores as competition to the iPhone, but don’t think Samsung is stopping there. Another stab at the iPhone will see Samsung launch a second Galaxy Note, with a flexible display, thinner design, quad-core processor, and a 12-megapixel camera to coincide with the launch of the iPhone 5, says a report.



And forget Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. The new Samsung Galaxy Note successor will instead run the new Android Jelly Bean operating system, says an MK Business News report. 
 Samsung is already enjoying huge success with its Samsung Galaxy S3 smartphone – the most -pre-ordered phone so far this year is being tipped as many peoples phone of the year.

Wanting to build on that, it appears Samsung is hoping to spoil Apple’s party by launching the new Galaxy Note in October – around the same Apple is believed to be launching its new iPhone.

So what can we expect from a Samsung Galaxy Note 2? Rumoured specs include an ‘unbreakable plane display,’ said to be a flexible display, thinner in design to make room for a better processor inside.

The report also mentions a display said to exceed the 5.3-inches of the current Galaxy Note, burring the line between tablet and smartphone, a longer battery life, and a quad-core processor just like the Samsung Galaxy S3. And of course that new Jelly Bean operating system from launch.

Samsung has yet to confirm the above, but would it be fair to call a device exceeding 5.3-inches competition to an iPhone 5? It sounds more like a mini tablet to us.

A (rumoured) leaked iPhone 5 blueprint recently hinted that Apple will go with a 4-inch display for its new smartphone. That’s still over an inch less than the Samsung Galaxy Note, and nearly an inch smaller than the Samsung Galaxy S3’s 4.8-inch Super AMOLED screen.

Isn’t 5.3-inches plus just too big for a smartphone? What do you think?

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iPhone 5: suspected blueprint appears online, reveals larger screen

 

As Apple iPhone 5 rumours continue to fly in, a blueprint said to be that of the iPhone 5 has appeared online hinting at some of the design changes we can expect to see on Apple’s newest iPhone. If authentic, the iPhone 5 will feature a larger screen, and a few more aesthetic and functional tweaks to improve on the existing design.

One of the more regular rumours is that the iPhone 5 will have a larger 4-inch screen, adding an extra half inch to the current size. The blueprints would appear to support such claims, with measurements going just over 4-inches.

Apple iPhone 5: 4-inch rumours gather pace

The most current iPhones have a 3.5-inch display. Apple has in the past suggested its size is a perfect combination of portability, while offering enough room to enjoy watching movies and playing games.

However, as streaming video content such as movies and TV shows to multiple devices becomes more popular, the iPhone is in danger of being left behind in the entertainment stakes by phones with larger screens, such as the Samsung Galaxy S3, which has a 4.8-inch screen. Previous reports from the Wall Street Journal have also indicated that Apple is fixed on the idea of a 4-inch screen.

The suspected iPhone 5 blueprints are also said to suggest redesigned speaker grills, earphone jack and FaceTime camera. Whether the above turns out to be true or not, it’s likely we’ll see any design changes to the next iPhone, as Apple looks to react to the increasing popularity of Android smartphones, and the threat of Windows Phone.

What would you most like to see Apple do different with the iPhone 5?


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Best Apple iPad yet: Everything you need to know

 

Apple has unveiled the next generation of iPad. It’s more powerful, has a better screen and an improved camera. But is it the upgrade Apple fans were dreaming of? Read on and we’ll tell you everything you need to know about the new iPad.

It really is called the new iPad

During Apple’s presentation we were waiting on tenterhooks to hear the name of the new iPad. As it turns out that is exactly what it’s called. Not the iPad HD, or iPad 3. Say hello to the new iPad.

High resolution Retina Display

The new iPad boasts a 9.7-inch 2048×1536 pixel Retina Display that Apple claims makes text look sharper than it does on a newspaper. Gaming should look a treat on it.

A powerful new chip and processor

To cope with the demands you’re going to push on your new iPad, Apple has developed a new AX5 dual-core CPU. With the Retina Display graphics power is key and to keep things nice and smooth an on-board quad-core GPU has been fitted. Overall, you’ll find a 4x speed boost over that of the iPad 2.

A better camera

The new iPad has a 5-megapixel camera featuring auto exposure, auto-focus and auto-face detection. The new iPad now also records video in full HD (1080p), and uses video stabilisation and noise reduction tech to deliver top-notch high quality video.

Battery life

Battery life will remain as impressive as ever. Apple promises a 10-hour battery life and nine hours while powering away over 3G.

4G LTE

The new iPad will be 4G LTE compatible in the US, and 3G ready world-wide. We don’t have 4G in the UK just yet, but trials are already taking place that could see 4G connectivity trickle throughout the UK later this year.

New iPad UK release date

It will go on sale in the UK from 16 March 2012, so there’s not long to wait. Those wanting a piece of the action can pre-order one from the Apple Store website right now. Prices start from £399.

What do you think? Are you impressed by the new iPad? Are there enough changes to warrant an upgrade? Let us know on the comments

Archos Child Pad: £99 Android tablet for kids

To a child a tablet looks like a fascinating little plaything. But with the cost of such devices going into the £££ we know that’s far from the case. Archos has gone some way to resolving that little dilemma by announcing a £99 Android tablet called the Child Pad. It even has the latest Android 4.0 operating system. What else? Read on…

At £99, the Archos Child Pad is definitely one of the cheapest tablets we’ve seen. Even so, the specs, for such a cheap tablet are rather impressive. The Child Pad features a 7-inch screen, a 1GHz processor and 1GB of RAM. So performance should be pretty quick – an essential if it is to be used by impatient youngsters.

 

We’re also impressed to discover that the Archos Child Pad will feature Android 4.0 – the latest update to the Android operating system built-in from day one. Albeit a more child-friendly version of the OS.

Custom skins and pre-loaded games such as Angry Birds provide the fun. And parental controls. Those are there too. Very important, those. The Archos Child Pad will begin shipping at the end of March.

It may not be the most advanced or desirable tablet around, but for £99, it sounds like a bargain. It’s not just for kids, right?

Then again, wait one month and you may be able to pick up a brand new iPad for just £100 more, following rumours that Apple is to release a 7.85-inch iPad.

Gadget Digest: Nokia 808 PureView 41-megapixel smartphone, iPad 3 next week, Assassin’s Creed 3 and more

 

With the MWC 2012 mobile convention having taken place, this week has been one of 2012’s most exciting gadget fans. Lots of new phones and tablets have been the order of the last seven days. Away from MWC 2012, things were just as exciting. Here’s one clue: iPad 3. Read on for a catchup of five stories that made this week.

 

Nokia began the week by unveiling the Nokia 808 PureView – a phone with a massive 41-megapixel sensor. Incredible.

 

Assassin’s Creed 3 American setting confirmed

Assassin’s Creed 3 is coming on October 30th. Before this week we knew little about. We can now confirm that it’ll be set during the American revolution. Excited yet?

 

Apple invites confirm new iPad launch

Ahead of a new product launch Apple loves sending out invites. Its latest is the biggest clue yet that next week we will see a new iPad. The invite reads: The invite reads “We have something you really have to see. And touch.”

 

Budget Apple iPad 2 set to launch

As well as the anticipated launch of the iPad 3 comes word that Apple may also launch a smaller, cheaper iPad. If true, Apple could have the tablet market sewn up, we reckon.

 

MWC 2012 story roundup

Don’t head out just yet. Here’s a roundup of all the MWC 2012 stories we covered this week. Hit the link for the low down on all the most important mobile announcements that took place this week.

Apple iPad 3 spied, bigger camera sensor, smoother design

By now there have been enough Apple iPad 3 rumours to pretty confirm that we will see the iPad 2 successor launched very soon. In fact, we could see the iPad 3 launched next month. What you are looking at is one of the first alleged photos of the iPad 3, with a rumoured 8-megapixel rear-facing camera and a cleaner-looking design.

If rumours are to be believed (they are certainly hotting up) we will see Apple unveil the iPad 3 at a San Francisco event next month. In the run up to March many have speculated what form the next iPad will take. Design-wise, the iPad 3 won’t look very different at all.

One website claims to have received a photo of the tablet via its own, unnamed sources. (see above). The shot only shows the back, but it does reveal some information about the tablet. For one, the camera sensor looks to be larger than it is on the iPad 2. A larger sensor would appear to fit in with rumours of an 8-megapixel camera.

We can also see that the iPad 3 may have a cleaner design around the back. More tapered edges and just an Apple logo on the back are the most noticeable changes here. Should the photos hold true, this may be the first glimpse of the iPad 3
.
Apple has of course yet to confirm anything, and is typically keeping everything close to its chest until any official unveil takes place. Rumoured tweaks and additions include a HD Retina Display to rival IPS displays such as that on the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime, a quad-core processor and voice assistant Siri to enable tablet-based voice commands.

What do you think? Is the above shot a fake? It won’t be long now till we find out if so.

Apple iPad 3 is coming: Here's what you might be getting

Apple’s iPad 2 was revealed on March 2 2011, so if the company follows suit with the follow-up we should be seeing the iPad 3 very soon indeed. With that in mind, what are we hoping to see from the next slab of Apple loveliness?

The iPad 2 has sold like the proverbial hotcakes over the past year, even though (as seems to have been forgotten) it was seen by many as a bit of a modest overhaul of the original device. We’ve been told that the iPad 3 could be the one to watch. Here’s what we might be getting…

HD screen
The main reason some people were a bit miffed with the iPad 2 (though we love ours to bits) isn’t because of a misplaced sense of entitlement or the curious need to diss Apple at every turn. Oh no. It was because the screen was absolutely identical to the original iPad’s.

That won’t cut the mustard for a third year running, which is why we’re expecting Apple to provide a major screen overhaul. We’re talking an HD display with double the resolution of the previous models, which should provide a picture that’s almost as sharp as the iPhone 4S.

Quad-core processor
Dual-core mobile processors are so 2011, darling. This year will see the emergence of quad-core smartphones and tablets, and the iPad 3 will almost definitely be at the forefront of that progression.
All reports are suggesting that the next Apple tablet will feature a new A6 chip with double the processor cores of the iPad 2. Considering how powerful last year’s model is, that’s quite a prospect – we’re approaching laptop speeds here.

Slightly bulkier body
For all its internal changes and that shiny new screen, we’re not actually expecting the iPad 3 to change all the much on the outside. Indeed, there have been rumours that a real working iPad 3 was out on the floor of CES last month, but that no one noticed because it was so similar to the iPad 2.
Regardless of the truth of that tantalising claim, it has been suggested that the only difference in the iPad 3’s design will be a slightly thicker body. Well, with a high def screen and a souped up camera to squeeze in, what did you expect?

iPhone 4S-standard camera
The iPad 2 introduced a camera to the Apple tablet range, but in truth it was only really any good at shooting videos – and even then it wasn’t the sort of thing that could replace your camcorder. The iPad 3 should change all that.

We’re expecting the iPad 3 camera to be very similar to the iPhone 4S’s – which means it’ll be one of the best 8-megapixel smart device cameras around. We could also get an HD front-facing camera in a bid to sharpen up FaceTime performance.

Siri
Apple’s voice-operated assistant, Siri, was the star of the iPhone 4S show. For the first time, voice recognition actually seems to have a practical use on a mobile device, such is Siri’s knack for understanding what you want and offering a shortcut to it.

Not only would it be logical for Apple to include its smart new tool with the iPad 3, there have also been mentions of Siri on iPad spotted in a beta version of the next iOS, 5.1.

iPhone 5 and iPad 3 tipped to jump on board 4G LTE express

For all its many strengths, one thing that is lacking on the Apple iPhone 4S is 4G networking speeds. But if the latest reports are to be believed, both the iPhone 5 and the next-generation iPad 3 will come with high-speed LTE networking smarts built in.

That’s the gist of reports emanating from Japan’s Nikkei Business publication this week, which claim Apple CEO Tim Cook himself has sat down with leading Japanese network NTT DoCoMo at Apple’s Cupertino HQ to discuss the plans.

The network infrastructure required to handle 4G data speeds is already well established in the Far East, and the iPhone 4S’ lack of 4G connectivity has been probably the number one criticism of the Apple handset in those markets.
However, Nikkei Business claims Apple’s next generation of iDevices will have 4G LTE networking on board – the iPad 3 in the first half of next year, and the iPhone 5 in the autumn.
But while that’s definitely good news for the Far East and the US, the continued delay in getting 4G networks up and running here in the UK means it’s unlikely we’ll be able to take full advantage. High-speed networks continue to be tested on a trial basis, but real progress is only likely to happen on the other side of the planned 4G spectrum auction next year.