Apple iPad mini with Retina Display Shipping Date Moved Up

First, Amazon pushed up the shipping date on the Microsoft Xbox One from next January to the Day One launch of November 22nd. Now Apple has pulled a similar move: it advanced the Apple Pad mini with Retina Display that I ordered from Nov. 26-Dec. 5 to Nov. 21 or Nov. 19 (depending on whether the Apple email or the FedEx tracking site proves correct). This brings the date closer to the shipping date of those who got their orders in early after the new iPad mini suddenly showed up ready for order earlier this week.

Apple didn’t seem to make enough of the Apple iPad mini with Retina Display to handle the early demand when they quietly put it on their website. Most people who ordered on Tuesday morning saw estimated shipping times of two to three weeks out. However, a few days later the shipping dates for some buyers moved up a few days to a week. One person who ordered one about 7:00 a.m. EST received a shipping date of Nov. 20. I got my order in after 8:00 just over an hour later and Apple quoted an estimated shipping date of Nov. 25 to Dec. 2. Yesterday they charged the credit card used to place my order and sent out a shipping notification with FedEx tracking information (see below). When I asked to have FedEx hold the package at the facility, I got a phone call from our local FedEx facility ten minutes after submitting the request saying they’d hold it and it would show up tomorrow after 9:00 a.m.. Hopefully, she’s right, even though tracking info says it is currently in Hong King.

When we learned that Apple suddenly began to offer in-store pickup for orders placed online, I tried to cancel my order and make the 60 minute drive to the Charlotte, NC Apple Store. That’s when it became clear the order was shipping sooner because Apple wouldn’t cancel the order. The order tracking site stated that Apple began to prep the iPad for shipping nearly two weeks ahead of the original earliest estimated deliver date.

Notice in the email above Apple offers two blue buttons, one for tracking the order and the other for pre-signing for the shipment. Here’s a tip for those not able to sit around and wait for the shipment at home. Get the tracking number and once it gets a day or two away, contact the local FedEx shipping location and ask them to put a hold on the iPad. Even easier, click on the Track Shipment button in the Apple notification email and then click on the button on the FedEx site labeled Custom Delivery. The pop up window offers some options like schedule delivery or hold at facility. I choose to hold it at the FedEx facility so I can pick it up when it the FedEx store opens instead of waiting till FedEx gets to my house at some indeterminate time.

Alternatively, choose to sign for the delivery by clicking on Pre-sign for Delivery and then click the button labelled the same on Apple’s site. Follow steps on their site to sign before the delivery date. They will leave it at the door instead of asking the recipient to sign for the package.

Of the two options above, the first offers more security while the second option works for those needing an easy delivery procedure and don’t worry about people stealing their package.

A Second Look at the Adonit Jot Script Stylus: Sometimes You Do Get a Lemon

Last week I reviewed the Adonit Jot Script Stylus (the Evernote edition) designed for Digital Inkers to do some Inking on their iPads. It is designed specifically to work with the Evernote App, Penultimate, but will work with other iOS note taking and drawing Apps. I had no luck with the product whatsoever and demonstrated that in the video accompanying the review. The Adonit Jot Stylus is unique as it has a smaller tip to allow you better control over your Digital Inking than many of the styli that work with the iPad’s capacitive touch screen.

The folks at Evernote and Adonit saw the video and reached out to me. As I mentioned in that review it was possible I got a lemon. They thought so too and sent another stylus along for a second look. I took that second look, and it does indeed look like the original Adonit Jot Script I purchased was faulty.

A second look at the Adonit Jot Script Stylus

This second stylus lays down Digital Ink in the way that the promoters of the product tell us it does. It’s not perfect. The wrist protection built into the software still does fail now and then causing an occasional skip, but it is a far better experience than it was before. Is it perfect? No. Is it the best Digital Inking experience on an iPad? It might be depending on your needs and your style of Inking.

Inking with the second Adonit Jot Script Stylus is improved

Inking with the first Adonit Jot Script Stylus was a mess

The Adonit Jot Script Stylus has several advantages. First, it feels like a real pen in your hand and is comfortably balanced. Second, the fine tip does allow for better accuracy, combined with the engineering behind the scenes. There is still work to be done, however. You’ll notice in the video below that I do get an occasional stutter or skip. Though this second stylus is far better than the first, this tells me that the issue most likely lies within the coding used for palm rejection or wrist protection. One of the reasons Penultimate is my favorite Digital note taking App is that the wrist protection is better than most other similar Apps. Given that there is an SDK available for developers to add the Jot Script to their Apps, I’m hoping we see improvement here in the future, both with Penultimate, and from other App developers.

Video of Digital Inking with the second Adonit Jot Script Stylus

Video of Digital Inking with the first Adonit Jot Script Stylus

I’m also concerned given the user responses to that initial review. I heard from users who had similar experiences to mine and users who had better experiences. The contrast was stark.

Read: Review: Adonit Jot Script Stylus for Digital Inking on the iPad

That tells me I wasn’t the only one to receive a lemon. Curiously, when the second pen arrived the little plastic cover that keeps the battery from making contact had been removed from the barrel. That tells me someone checked out this stylus to make sure it was working before sending it along. If there is a quality control issue, than that needs to be addressed. No one needs to make a $75 purchase and have it not live up to expectations. If users out there who had similar experiences still have their Jot Script Stylus, I’d suggest contacting the Evernote Market or Adonit and asking for a replacement if you’re still interested in trying it out.

A bit of context here. I occasionally receive review units of new products. If I do I’ll mention it in the review. Normally, I purchase a product that I’m reviewing with my own dough. I purchased the original Adonit Jot Stylus through normal channels. That puts me in the same position as any consumer. This especially true when it comes to reviewing the many styli I have taken a look at in the past. With, I believe one exception, I purchased them all.

Also, there is no perfect Digital Inking solution for the iPad. The quest for one continues and I’ll support any developer who works towards a better solution. Some have made great strides so far and we should all encourage their efforts.

Read: GBM Archives on Digital Inking

If you’re into Tablets and looking for a better solution you have two real alternatives. Microsoft still has the best Digital Inking solution. Although I don’t own a Surface Pro 2, I was impressed with the testing I did with one at a Microsoft Store. And Samsung’s Galaxy Note line of Tablets and smartphones have very good, and improving, solutions as well. These Digital Inking solutions usually come at a steeper price for the hardware because of the many moving parts to make Digital Inking come close to that natural feeling of writing with a pen on paper.  That will probably always be the reality.

To conclude this second look at the Adonit Jot Script Stylus, let me say that the folks behind this solution have done hard work and I give them kudos for reaching out and trying to correct negative criticism due to a faulty version of their product. They have an iOS solution that is different than other developers, and, for some, probably an excellent choice for Digital Inking. I’m now going to keep the Adonit Jot Stylus in my bag of tricks and watch for improvement in the software to see how things progress.

iOS 7.0.4 on iPhone 5: Impressions & Performance

Earlier today, Apple released a brand new iOS 7 update for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users dubbed iOS 7.0.4. The update follows in the footsteps of iOS 7, iOS 7.0.1, iOS 7.0.2 and the iOS 7.0.3 update that rolled out at the end of October and it promises to fixes and enhancements for Apple’s iOS 7 users. Here, we take a look at our first impressions of the iOS 7.0.4 update on iPhone 5.

Back in September, Apple rolled out the iOS 7 update, an update that offered some massive changes to Apple’s mobile operating system and, for the first time, delivered a brand new look is and was, vastly different from previous iOS updates. Since then, Apple has delivered several new iOS updates in an attempt to iron out the software and squash any remaining bugs. And as many iPhone and iPad owners have learned, there are bugs lurking inside iOS 7.

Ever since the arrival of iOS 7, we’ve been hearing about issues residing inside of Apple’s new software. Those complaints really started to pick up steam after the iOS 7.0.2 and iOS 7.0.3 updates and culminated in the pleas for an iOS 7.0.4 or iOS 7.1 update from Apple to help alleviate the issues that apparently still plague iOS 7 users around the globe.

In recent days, we saw iOS 7.0.4 and iOS 7.1 make appearances in our server logs, a sign that something was close. However, we didn’t know if the next update would be iOS 7.0.4 or iOS 7.1. As it turns out, it’s iOS 7.0.4, a small, incremental bug fix update that advertises a fix for one specific issues, a problem with calls being made over FaceTime.

Apple says that the update, which landed earlier today, has other enhancements and fixes on board but it provided no specifics. As many iDevice owners know, iOS updates typically bring bug fixes but can also bring bugs of their own. This leads many owners to hold off on installing the software on day one.

In an effort to provide feedback, we wanted to share our own impressions of the performance of the iOS 7.0.4 update for the iPhone 5 and offer advice on how iPhone owners might want to proceed.

One thing that always concerns people about iOS updates, likely thanks to past horror stories in iOS release days, is whether the installation process is a smooth one. For the most part, incremental iOS updates have been relatively painless and I can’t remember the last time that Apple’s servers were slammed on a non-major iOS release.

iOS 7.0.4 does not break this pattern. Instead of a chaotic release, the download and installation process here was extremely painless. The update appeared ready to download in the device’s settings and I was able to get the 17MB file downloaded and installed in about 10 minutes or so. I didn’t have any issues OTA but for those that do encounter any, iTunes is also an option and one that typically works.

The other thing that I typically get asked about when it comes to incremental iOS updates is about performance. These smaller iOS updates usually don’t bring any surprises or big time features, iCloud Keychain in iOS 7.0.3 was an exception, so it’s more about how the software handles with the hardware. So let’s take a look at how the iOS 7.0.4 experience has been thus far.

I’ve mentioned, numerous times, that I’ve been dealing with UI lag with iOS 7 on my iPad 3. I haven’t, however, seen any UI issues, lag or otherwise, with my iPhone 5. Of course, I’ve heard about a number of them, including missing text, multitasking not showing cards and more, but I guess I’ve been lucky.

In iOS 7.0.4, my luck hasn’t changed. I haven’t run into any lag issues with the software and things appear to be opening up and closing like they normally do. Scrolling and touch gestures are working properly as well.

So far, so good when it comes to iOS 7.0.4 battery life. While I can’t speak to whether it has improved or gotten slightly worse, I can say that over the past few hours, I haven’t experienced any abnormal battery train that tanks my battery when I browse the web, talk on the phone or check my email. Everything appears to be stable, at least thus far.

These types of issues typically manifest themselves in the days after a release, not on the day of a release, so I could run into some problems over the next week or so. I wouldn’t count on it though. I’ve had pretty good luck with battery life on my iPhone 5 and I get the feeling that iOS 7.0.4 doesn’t have a widespread battery drain bug on board.

And yes, I have been switching back and forth between Wi-Fi and 4G LTE for the past few hours in an attempt to gauge whether one is acting abnormally or not. So far, it has been business as usual.

As we’ve pointed out, numerous numerous times, iPhone owners have been experiencing bugs in iOS 7.0.3, iOS 7.0.2, and iOS 7. There’s no getting around it, there are issues. I’ve been sent hundreds of screenshots and unless these iPhone owners have a hidden agenda or a ton of time on their hands, I sincerely doubt that they are lying.

That doesn’t mean that I am experiencing the same bugs though. In fact, my experience with iOS 7 has been relatively stress free. I did run into the iMessage issue after installing iOS 7.0.2, but that bug hasn’t returned since the arrival of iOS 7.0.3 last month.

Thus far, nothing is jumping out at me in iOS 7.0.3. That’s not to say that iOS 7.0.4 doesn’t have bugs, it is to say that I am not seeing any on my iPhone 5. Bugs often don’t show themselves until a few days after a release, I didn’t notice the iMessage issue on day one, so I could potentially run into some problems later on. However, it seems like iOS 7.0.4 is pretty stable.

I still am having issues with FaceTime Audio wherein sound is choppy when on Wi-Fi. At this point though, it may just be my router rather than a problem on Apple’s end. I never experienced the dropped calls that iOS 7.0.4 supposedly fixed.

I’ve been using Wi-Fi and 4G LTE all day and I can say that my connections on a Belkin router and AT&T’s 4G LTE network are as good as they were inside iOS 7.0.3. Nothing has changed and both connections still provide me with a solid data speeds. Keep in mind, I’ve never seen the grayed out Wi-Fi issue that iOS users have been seeing since the introduction of iOS 6.

I won’t bore you with all of the applications on my phone but I will say this. I haven’t run into any major issues with any of the applications on my device. I’ve literally gone into each app, one by one, to test it too. Troublemakers like Chrome and Facebook are functioning fine, as are Twitter, Instagram and Spotify. Apple’s stock applications seem to be functioning well too.

I’ve only been using iOS 7.0.4 for a few hours but during those few hours, I haven’t run into anything catastrophic. Everything, including battery life, appears to be stable. So at this point, it’s hard for me not to recommend installing this, considering it has the potential to fix some of the issues that users have been experiencing. with iOS.

One group that may want to hold off on upgrading are those that are looking to jailbreak. The developers behind the jailbreak have told users to exercise caution and patience but from here, it doesn’t appear as though upgrading to iOS 7.0.4 is going to kill off the ability to jailbreak iOS 7. In fact, the coast looks clear.

Those that are skeptical, hold off for a few days. We’ll keep you posted on any issues that we might run into between now and the next iOS 7 update, an update that should be iOS 7.1.

Budget tablet head-to-head: Tesco Hudl vs Google Nexus 7 vs Amazon Kindle Fire HD

A few years back buying a budget Android tablet meant seriously compromising on every aspect of the hardware and software. 

Going for a low price tag meant you could expect to get something with a slow CPU, tiny helping of memory and very limited storage. Not to mention there was every chance that whatever ancient version of the Android OS it was using suffered numerous bugs, and you could usually forget about after-sales support.

But now that the price and performance of components has reached a pleasing balance, and Android's performance and user experience on big-screen devices is vastly improved, there's a new wave of affordable Android slates which offer top specs at knock-down prices that seriously undercut even the cheapest Apple iPad. 

The original Google Nexus 7 was the first to really show that it was possible to make a really great device without an outrageous RRP. Since then many others have entered the fray, and the most recent pretender to the throne is grocery giant Tesco with its oddly monikered 'Hudl'. 

Tesco's gigantic retail presence and formidable buying power make it a serious threat to more established names, but it's not going to be an easy ride. Google has released a brand new edition of the Nexus 7 and Amazon recently cut the price of its Kindle Fire HD.

That's great news for prospective tablet buyers who now have more choice than ever, but how do these low-cost tablets stand up against each other, and which one you should buy?

7", IPS LCD, 1440 x 900, 242 ppi7", IPS LCD, 1920 x 1080, 323 ppi7", IPS LCD, 1280 x 800, 216 ppiGPS, light, accelerometer, gyro, compassAccelerometer, gyroscope, light3.5mm audio, slimport HDMI (adapter)Polycarbonate, Corning Gorilla Glass Polycarbonate, Corning Gorilla Glass£199 (16GB) / £239 (32GB) / £299 (32GB w/ 3G & LTE)

Unsurprisingly, the most expensive of these three has the biggest advantage in terms of raw horsepower: the latest Nexus 7 is packing a very fast quad core chipset and a hefty 2GB RAM.

This doesn't mean the Hudl and Kindle are slouches, though. The Kindle may only have a dual core CPU, but benchmarks indicate that it's marginally quicker than the older Kindle Fire and around the same speed as the original Nexus 7. 

The Tesco Hudl has been clocked at 5443 on the Quadrant benchmark and 18,456 on the Antutu test. In comparison, the Nexus 7 scored 5475 and 20011. 

Benchmarks only tell part of the story of course, but it's good to see that even these very cheap tablets offer reasonable performance. In real world use you aren't likely to notice much difference unless you really push their capabilities with some demanding apps and games.

The Nexus 7 has a spectacular 1080p screen that's vastly improved over the original model, good enough to justify an upgrade in our opinion. 

But then it does cost almost £100 more than the Hudl and Kindle Fire HD. These two are fairly evenly matched - the Hudl does have a slight advantage in resolution and pixel depth, however the Kindle Fire HD has been praised for its sharpness and bold colours, and it's certainly better than the disappointing display on the first Nexus 7. Crucially, both are capable of displaying 720p video natively. 

If screen quality is a prime consideration in your buying decision then the Nexus 7 is the clear winner, but the Hudl and Kindle both provide very good screens for the price.

All three tablets offer at least 16GB internal storage, with 32GB options available for the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HD. But Tesco provides something neither of the others do: a microSD slot. This allows you to expand the storage by up to 32GB, providing far more flexibility. That's a big plus in our book, and it's disappointing to find the Nexus still missing expandable memory.

One of the major complaints from last year's Nexus 7 was its lack of a HDMI port. These are extremely useful on tablets as it allows you to throw the display up on a TV - brilliant for turning your tablet into a portable media centre or games machine (Android natively supports Bluetooth game controllers, including Playstation 3 pads). 

For some reason Asus and/or Google have chosen not to include HDMI once again, which is a big black mark. All is not lost though: it does now support slimport HDMI though this involves having to buy an additional adapter at a cost of about £20-£30.

Thankfully the Hudl and Kindle Fire HD both provide micro-HDMI as so you can enjoy some big screen action with the minimum of hassle.

All three include standard microUSB sockets for charging and data transfer. 

On the wireless side we get the usual Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support across the board. Only the Nexus 7 has NFC but, erm, is anyone actually using that?

The sensor suites are fairly standard throughout with the typical gyroscopes and accelerometers that enable motion sensing functionality. The only notable omission is the Kindle Fire's lack of GPS, but we don't see this as a big downside on a tablet unless you planned to use it for something like an in-car entertainment system.

If mobile broadband is important the Nexus 7 is the only one at this time to offer a model with built-in 3G and 4G capabilities, however this will set you back £299. Consider purchasing a Wi-Fi hotspot dongle instead.

You may not consider this side of things too much, after all Android is Android, right? But in fact it can be a crucial point of difference. 

One of the most appealing aspects of the Nexus 7 is its stock Android OS installation. You'll get new system updates as soon as Google deploys them, benefiting from bug fixes and new features much sooner than tablets with customised software. The newest Android 4.3 release is really quite nice, too.

The Tesco Hudl is largely unmodified. It looks and works pretty much like stock Android 4.2, however there are some bundled Tesco apps, and a persistent Tesco shortcut button in the lower left of the screen. We'll leave you to decide how annoying this might be. 

More concerning is how often - or even if - Tesco will issue OS updates. Some manufacturers have a very poor track record, but Tesco is a complete unknown on this front.

The Kindle Fire HD is an entirely different beast altogether. While it is powered by Android it's a heavily modified version created by Amazon and dubbed 'Fire OS'. 

The system is built around Amazon services such as Lovefilm and Kindle ebooks and the most important thing to keep in mind is that out of the box the Kindle does not support Google Play, only Amazon's own far more limited App Store, so you may lose access to favourite apps. While there are warranty-voiding workarounds it's an unusually restricted system that could prove a headache for unsuspecting Android fans with a large library of content.

Google Nexus 7

Fast hardware, brilliant display, solid build quality, stock Android OS, mobile broadband option.

No microSD slot, HDMI requires adapter, expensive compared to budget rivals.

Get the Google Nexus 7 if: you want a powerful full HD tablet at an affordable price.

Tesco Hudl

Low price tag for reasonably powerful device, HD display, microSD slot and HDMI port.

Tesco branded OS, future software updates are an unknown quantity

Get the Tesco Hudl if: you want the full Android experience for less, or a tablet for the family.

Amazon Kindle Fire HD

User friendly OS with easy access to Amazon services, recent price drop is attractive.

Locked-down and heavily customised OS, no access to Google Play.

Get the Amazon Kindle if: you're heavily invested in the Amazon ecosystem.

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Zoho adds sophisticated management, customization features

Summary: The small-business apps provider thinks enterprise with enhancements for managing territories, integrating deeper with social media and adding custom modules.

Customization modules allow for additional features or workflows without coding.

Strictly speaking, the latest enhancements to Zoho CRM aren't really being pitched at super small companies.

But any team that wants to get more granular about managing sales territories or adding custom modules to their customer relationship management application will appreciate the changes all the same.

Here's a high-level recap of what's been changed:

A new territory management option lets your company organize customers and prospects according to geographies, industry types, product lines, anticipated sales or divisions. This lets you change how you manage forecasts.A new social interaction tab allows salespeople to watch "conversations" on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn profiles from within the Zoho CRM applications.The updates allow for creation of custom workflow features, so that when certain activities happen, the CRM record is automatically updated. And, there are custom modules that allow users to export or import relevant data as necessary.Also, users can check out Zoho Campaigns results from within the CRM application.

Raju Vegesna, Zoho evangelist, said all Zoho users will automatically receive the social media updates. If you want to use the territory management or customization capabilities, you'll need to invest in the Enterprise plan, which is priced at $35 per user, per month.

Heather Clancy is an award-winning business journalist specializing in transformative technology and innovation

Amazon Selling PS4 and Kindle Fire HDX Bundle for $599

To celebrate the launch of the PS4 (as well as giving its own products a bit of a promotional boost), Amazon is selling a PS4 bundle that includes a 7-inch Kindle Fire HDX tablet for $599. This means that you’ll essentially get the Kindle Fire HDX for just $200, which is $30 off the normal price.

It’s certainly not a huge discount, but if you’ve been thinking about getting a PS4 and a Kindle Fire HDX, you might as well kill two birds with one stone and get the upcoming bundle. Sadly, it’s currently shown “unavailable” due to the PS4 itself being sold out, but it will hopefully be brought back in the near future. The bundle initially went on sale at midnight earlier this morning.

The pairing of the a PS4 and a Kindle Fire HDX might seem a bit odd, but Amazon assures us that the two work together nicely, saying that ”while the PS4 heralds in the next generation of consoles, Kindle Fire HDX does the same for tablets with improved visuals, a faster processor, and the revolutionary ‘Mayday’ button…Partner these together with the interactive Second Screen feature for a completely immersive entertainment experience.”

If you’re not familiar with the PS4's second screen capabilities, it’s exactly what it sounds like; you’ll be able to fling videos to your TV, send and receive PSN messages, manage your game invites and even purchase games using the PlayStation app that Sony released a few days ago.

Of course, Amazon also has regular bundles of the PS4, as well as the Launch Edition, but those seem to all be sold out as well, since the listing says “unavailable.” However, if you want to save $30 on a Kindle Fire HDX, there’s no harm in waiting for that bundle to come back, although $599 is a hard pill to swallow, especially considering how you can simply just get the console itself for $399.

The PS4 officially launched today, marking the beginning of the next-gen console era. The Xbox One will be launching next week, and that’s when the war will officially begin. This holiday season should be a good one, and we’ll see who becomes the ultimate victor after the Christmas trees and lights have been taken down.

PS4 Gets Teardown Treatment, Is Not an iPad

As expected, the PS4 is now in the hands of the folks at iFixit, and they took the brand-new gaming console and did what anyone would love to do: tear it down to it’s very last component. We’ve been hearing a lot from iFixit lately — mainly because there’s been a lot of new Apple products lately. This time, though, it’s a gaming console, and unlike the new iPads, the PS4 scores high in repairability.

iFixit gave the PS4 a repairability score of 8/10, which makes the console really easy to take apart and repair things on the inside. There’s no adhesive on any components, which makes disassembly and reassembly really easy, and you can quickly access the hard drive bay and replace it with your own hard drive if you want to (even a solid-state drive will work).

Of course, there are some downsides, though. Sony is discouraging users from opening up the console to play around with things, so there are a few security screws and “tamper-evident” seals that make the teardown process a bit cumbersome. Plus, in order to clean out the fans from dust buildup, you’ll have to take apart the console quite a bit just to get to the fans in the first place.

iFixit also noted an important issue with the HDMI port. Apparently, there’s a small metal obstruction in front of the HDMI port on some PS4 units, and this could potentially create some problems if you’re not careful when you first plug in an HDMI cable, like accidentally bending the pins, but iFixit says that bending back the pins does the trick.

Teardowns are nothing new, and it’s pretty much tradition with every new gadget that gets released, but gaming consoles are a different story in a way. Essentially, with this PS4 teardown, this is hardware that will be staying the same for at least five years, which is eons longer than the life cycle of a smartphone or tablet. The PS4 comes with an 8-core AMD “Jaguar” CPU, 8GB of RAM, a 500GB hard drive, 802.11n, Bluetooth 2.1, Ethernet and USB 3.0. Is the PS4 future-proof enough to last a solid five years at least? Probably not, but it’s certainly more powerful than its predecessor.

Xbox One vs. PS4: Entertainment Apps Compared

One thing that usually gets lost when discussing consoles is the things they do besides just letting users play video games. If the market  stayed true to its original roots, that wouldn’t be a problem. Today, gamers and console buyers come in all different sizes and with all different expectations. Take Microsoft’s Xbox One and the Sony PS4 consoles for example.

Ever since Microsoft added Netflix and Hulu Plus to its portfolio of applications on the Xbox 360, it, Sony and Nintendo have been in an arms race to add access to as many services as possible. That’s great for end users, Microsoft’s own research shows that 50% of all Xbox LIVE activity is actually users powering up their console to listen to music, watch a television shows or browse the web in Internet Explorer.  Today Xbox 360 and PS3 users have more content than ever. However, the Xbox One and PS4 aren’t exactly in danger of eclipsing their earlier counterparts at launch. So how does each measure up content wise?

Users picking up the PS4 on launch day can expect Amazon Prime Video, Crackle, Crunchyroll, Epix, Hulu Plus, NBA GameTime, Sony Video Unlimited, Netflix, NHL GameCenter, Redbox Instant by Verizon, VUDU and Yupp TV. That’s a fairly robust line-up that doesn’t quite meet the expectations set by the PS3. For example, Sony’s launch app lineup lacks a single music service outside of Sony’s own Sony Music Unlimited.

Read: PS4 Apps Revealed: Sony Shares Video Apps and Services

The Xbox One suffers from the same issue as well. Users can expect it to have Xbox Fitness, Xbox Video, Xbox Music, Skype, SkyDrive, Amazon Instant Video, Crackle, CW TV, Fox Now, FX Now, Hulu Plus, Machinima, MUZU TV, Netflix, Target Ticket, TED, The NFL on Xbox One, Univision Deportes, Verizon Fios TV and VUDU. When compared to the Xbox 360, there’s a big deficit here. Music apps like Rhapsody are missing and so are big players like the Comcast Cable and Time Warner apps that users enjoy today.

Read: Microsoft Shares Info About Apps Xbox One Users Can Expect

Luckily, Microsoft is supplementing the giant hole in its app line up with hardware and console features that users can’t get on the PS4. Xbox One’s OneGuide will use the console’s HDMI pass through to allow users to watch live television being broadcast to it by the user’s cable box. That functionality comes complete with an infrared remote blaster too. This way users can control their television set with just their voice.

Xbox One users will also can stream content from their Windows PC or tablet directly to the console using DLNA technology. And there’s still DVD, Blu-Ray and CD playback too.

Of all those features, Sony’s PS4 offers just Blu-Ray and DVD playback.

Unlike with the first first-party games, and other technology, the comparison between the entertainment features of these two consoles isn’t even close – but that isn’t a surprise. Sony told users that it would make the greatest gaming console it could. The PS4 is a great gaming console and that is the problem. While the Xbox One is gearing up for a fight against entertainment consoles like the Apple TV, Sony is busy fighting last generation of gaming’s war. Don’t get me wrong, Microsoft’s sacrifices aren’t lost on me. The Xbox One’s price tag isn’t cheap by a long shot. However, users really get more features for the extra $100 that separates the Xbox One from the PS4.

Users who want a gaming console can’t go wrong with the PS4. Users who want an entertainment console for the entire family should clearly get an Xbox One.

The PS4 launches tomorrow, November 15th for $399, while the Xbox One launches November 22nd for $499. Unfortunately, pre-orders for both consoles are sold out.

The new Apple iPad 5 and iPad Mini 2: rumour round-up

Apple is all set to reveal the next generation of its world-conquering tablets at an event tomorrow, but the rumours have been flying all year and thanks to a series of leaks we now have a fairly good idea of what to expect from the new models…

The iPad 5 has apparently been redesigned to match the styling of the iPad Mini. It’s claimed that the new iPad will retain its 9.7-inch Retina Display, yet has been trimmed around the middle so will be around the same thickness as its Mini brethren - an impressive feat if true.

It also seems that the iPad 5 will get a gold casing option just like the recent iPhone 5S, as shown in the below picture from CTechCN. Handy if you like colour-coordinated gadgets.

In terms of specifications we’re not expecting a huge boost in power for the iPad 5, the iPad 4 is already very fast so this is likely to be a small bump rather than a major leap ahead.

Most likely the iPad 5 will be using a variation of the A7 chip found in the iPhone 5S (dubbed the A7X, if previous naming conventions are anything to go by) and offer a slight improvement in graphics processing power to drive the higher resolution display.

There are also rumours of an improvement in the camera, probably along the lines of an upgraded lens and sensor like that found on the iPhone 5S, which helped with low-light photography.

One thing that’s not likely to change is the screen. Apple’s Retina Display already provides an immense 2048 x 1536 resolution and holds its own as one of the best tablet screens out there.

The iPad Mini has proven a tremendous success so there’s every reason to believe that Apple will be unveiling a sequel with improved specs to continue the momentum.

The headliner here is going to be the inclusion of a Retina Display. With 7-inch Android tablets like the new Google Nexus 7 boasting high resolutions screens Apple will have to upgrade to stay ahead of the game and equipping the Mini with the same resolution as its bigger brother gives it an instant advantage.

The Mini will almost certainly get a power boost to go along with this, though probably move to an A6 chipset (like the iPhone 5) rather than the 64-bit A7 of the iPhone 5S. It’s also rumoured that the iPad Mini 2 will receive an Apple Touch ID fingerprint sensor, as shown in this image from DoNews.

Externally, the iPad Mini 2 does not appear to be changing much. Leaked images show the design is all but identical, except it will come in a choice of colours including gold and silver.

If Apple does indeed unveil these devices tomorrow then they should go on sale very shortly afterwards, perhaps in as little as a week or two. The one hitch may be a supply of Retina Displays for the iPad Mini, which commentators have suggested could be in short supply until next year.

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Galaxy S3 Android 4.3 Update Release: 5 Key Details

The Samsung Galaxy S3 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update has been rolling out for the past few weeks, however, the roll out hasn’t exactly been pretty. The Galaxy S3 Android 4.3 update has run into some problems overseas and we still haven’t seen the software roll out in the United States. Here, with anticipation running high, we take a look at five key details that Galaxy S3 owners in the United States, and abroad, should know about.

For much of 2013, Samsung Galaxy S3 users have been looking for their next big Android update. Since the arrival of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean last year, the only real big update came in the form of the Premium Suite Android 4.1.2 upgrade that arrived earlier this year for carriers in the United States and elsewhere. And while rumors suggested that the next big update would arrive in the summer in the form of Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, that update never arrived.

Instead, Samsung skipped over Android 4.2 Jelly Bean for an Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update that the company announced in September, confirmed for arrival in October, detailed in October, and rolled out just a few short days ago inside of November. Anticipation, then, like it is now, was running high, especially because the Galaxy S3 Android 4.3 update was supposed to hit the United States in a timely manner. Unfortunately, that still hasn’t happened.

As we’ve pointed out, that may be for the best as Galaxy S3 owners who have received the Galaxy S3 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update are saying that the software is a complete and utter nightmare. That said, interest in this Android 4.3 update is extremely high at this point and here, we take a look at five of the latest developments that Galaxy S3 owners in the United States, and elsewhere, need to know about.

Maybe the most important thing that Samsung Galaxy S3 users around the world should know is that the update is moving out very, very slowly and it will likely continue to do so. The first roll out took place on November 4th, just a few short days after the Galaxy S4 Android 4.3 update started to roll out. Since then, the update has only been deployed in a few places around the world.

For those that are complaining or worried, keep in mind that this is how a Samsung Android update roll out typically works. We see the software roll out to a couple of smaller regions then we start seeing the company push out the update a little bit faster before the software arrives for every single model in every single region in the world.

Samsung has hundreds of regions and hundreds of different variants to take care of. This is a lengthy process and one that simply does not happen overnight. It’s going to keep moving out slowly, particularly if the company needs time to work on the Android 4.3 issues that are apparently plaguing the Galaxy S3 in the United Kingdom.

Over the past few days, we’ve heard from a number of Galaxy S3 Android 4.3 users in the United Kingdom who say that the software is plagued by an obscene amount of issues. One Galaxy S3 owner in the UK told us that his device is currently afflicted by no less than seven issues including:

Phone restarting itself.When phone is locked and asleep, press either home key or lock key and nothing works. Battery must be removed.During some incoming calls the screen doesn’t display caller and the ringtone is “spluttery”.Alarm works only sometimes.Heavy battery drain during a ten minute call. It dropped by 12%.Notification bar shows apps that have already been downloaded. Clear them and they reappear again.

That’s just one person. We’ve heard about these issues from others as well so it’s pretty clear that these are more widespread than this one Galaxy S3 owner running Android 4.3. Need proof? Look no further than SamsungUK’s Twitter account which is under fire from Galaxy S3 users experiencing these issues.

@Andre_Daniels At the moment we simply don’t have any more info that what we’ve stated I’m afraid. When we know more we’ll announce it.

— Samsung Mobile UK (@SamsungMobileUK) November 15, 2013

Thus far, the company has only offered a generic response in regard to the update, saying that it’s currently investigating the issues and that they will have an update on them soon. Whether that’s an upcoming bug fix or an update roll out that gets halted remains to be seen. There is speculation that the roll out has indeed been halted but Samsung, thus far, refuses to confirm anything.

We’ve heard from numerous Samsung Galaxy S3 users in the United States who are aware of the issues in the United Kingdom and are now wondering not only when, but if the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update will roll out in the U.S. Many users are specifically wondering if Samsung will skip Android 4.3 Jelly Bean on the Galaxy S3 and move to Android 4.4 KitKat.

At this point, we consider this to be highly unlikely, based on the fact that that change would likely push an update deep into the holiday shopping season or more likely, into 2014. Samsung’s big Android 4.3 push is predicated on the Galaxy Gear support, support that it hopes will spawn sales during the holidays. Carriers are also looking to get these upgrades out as soon as possible so that they can sell the $299 accessory.

Of course, they don’t want to release an extremely buggy piece of software and signs point to carriers going back to the drawing board, not with Android 4.4 KitKat, but with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean.

A tipster pointed us to a new Galaxy S3 Android 4.3 build that appeared on Sprint’s website earlier this week, a sign that the company is currently in the process of testing another version. So while nothing is confirmed, we highly doubt that these issues are going to cause the Galaxy S3 to skip yet another major Android update.

Already, the Galaxy S3 Android 4.3 roll out has been thrown into disarray, thanks to two Galaxy S3 Android 4.3 updates that missed their rumored schedules. A leaked Android 4.3 road map, which has been dead on with Galaxy S4 Android 4.3 updates, pointed to a Sprint Galaxy S3 update on November 6th and an AT&T Galaxy S3 update earlier this week. Neither rolled out and it could, again, be because these carriers don’t want a repeat of what’s going on in the UK.

What this also means is that the rumored dates for carriers T-Mobile and Verizon could be out the window. The Verizon Galaxy S3 update is rumored for November 22nd while the T-Mobile Galaxy S3 update is rumored for November 25th. Neither is set in stone at this point and given the misses that we’ve seen thus far, we wouldn’t be surprised to see the Galaxy S3 update delayed into December in the United States.

Speaking of December, there is one carrier that claims that it will be upgrading the Galaxy S3 with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean in December. French carrier SFR released its updated roll out calendar earlier this week and the carrier says that the Galaxy S3 Android 4.3 update will be rolling out sometime next month. It did not provide a specific date but it’s a sign that some carriers won’t dish the update out in November.

At this point, the Galaxy S3 Android 4.3 update is extremely hard to predict given the roll out issues in the UK, but the key points that Galaxy S3 users in the U.S. elsewhere should hone in on are these:

Slow roll out will continue.Bugs could slow things down even more.It likely won’t be skipped for Android 4.4.U.S. carriers won’t announce anything and release dates are up in the air.Start looking at December.

Review: Google Nexus 7 (2013)

The first Nexus 7 proved to be a big hit for Google and manufacturer Asus. Unsurprisingly, a high-spec tablet for under £200 turned out to be quite popular.

Now there’s a new 2013 edition of the N7. A follow-up was always on the cards, it was just a question of whether Google could fix the flaws of the original and improve the specification while retaining that attractive price tag.

The original Nexus 7 was - to some fanfare - powered by an NVIDIA Tegra3 chipset. This much-hyped hardware was supposed to provide outstanding performance, particularly for gaming, but in honesty we’ve never been that impressed by NVIDIA’s mobile chips so it was a relief to see that this time Asus opted for a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon SoC which offers bags of processing grunt.

Alongside 2GB RAM this processor flies, enabling the system to quickly load apps and largely avoid that irritating lag which blights so many Android devices. Alongside an older but supposedly high-end Asus Transformer running Tegra 3 the performance difference is jarring. The Nexus 7 is so slick and enjoyable it’s embarrassing that the other tablet cost twice as much.

In the Antutu benchmark the Nexus scored a very respectable 20,615, placing it above the Nexus 10 and around the same speed as the Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One smartphones.

The new Nexus also benefits from the addition of Qi wireless charging support (third party charger pads are widely available and not too expensive) and a 5-megapixel rear facing camera in addition to the front sensor.

The 2013 N7 has a had minor redesign which involved slimming down the casing on its side, giving the impression of a thicker bezel at the top and bottom even though it’s the same dimensions. This initially looks odd but means the tablet is easier to hold with one hand in portrait while in landscape orientation you’ve got something to grip without touching the display

The tablet body feels better this time round, too. There were complaints about the first model’s screen coming unstuck from the casing and of unsightly gaps at the edges, but there’s no indication so far of a repeat performance here. It feels solid with a reassuring amount of heft, and the soft rubberised back panel is comfortable. As with other Nexus devices it gives a strong impression of quality at odds with its relatively low price tag.

Most striking is the new display. It’s the same size - 7-inches, 16:9 aspect ratio - but with a vastly improved resolution of 1920 x 1200 which enables playback of 1080p Full HD video with no downsizing. The IPS LCD is pin-sharp with a 323 ppi pixel depth, and provides outstanding colour reproduction. It’s easily one of the best screens on any sub-10” tablet, including the iPad Mini. The original N7 display, with its muted colours and low brightness, was perhaps its weakest feature so this is a huge step forward and may be enough to justify an upgrade all by itself.

There’s little in the way of physical controls or ports to spoil the N7’s smooth lines. The only buttons are the power/lock key and volume rocker, and there’s just a lonely microUSB port. If we’re quibbling the volume key is a little too flush with the casing making it tricky to locate by touch alone, but that’s a minor complaint.

Once again the Nexus is missing a HDMI port, but you can now add this functionality with a slimport HDMI adapter, adding around £20-30 to the cost. Annoying, but at least video out is now an option. It’s also lacking a memory card slot though this may not be a huge issue if you take advantage of streaming media and cloud storage to save space.

The 2013 Nexus 7 is a little marvel. It’s fast, has a gorgeous screen, top specs and solid build quality. The price tag is higher this time round, starting at £199 for the 16GB model, but still represents excellent value for money. Wisely, Google has eliminated the restrictive 8GB option. 

Overall, the N7 is one of the best tablets available right now. It’s perhaps not an essential purchase if you’ve already got the original as the differences between the two are relatively minor, though that new HD display is very tempting.

Budget tablet head-to-head: Tesco Hudl vs Google Nexus 7 vs Amazon Kindle Fire HD

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The tablet user experience: Apple vs Android vs Windows

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How to install Plex on your Sky NOW TV box

Last month, Sky unveiled a surprising new addition to its entertainment line up with the announcement of the NOW TV box.

This compact little device allows you to stream content from the likes of iPlayer and Five On Demand, and Sky’s own NOW TV service, onto the big screen. If you usually watch streaming TV via a laptop or tablet you’ll find the box’s interface and remote a far more comfortable option. 

And as it costs just £9.99 the box sits comfortably in impulse buy territory.

This gadget is actually a rebranded Roku LT (we reviewed the similar Roku 2 XS recently), however the NOW TV box is a little more restrictive than an original Roku as it does not allow you to install the same selection of channels and apps. While it’s understandable that Sky wouldn’t want you accessing Netflix and Lovefilm, it’s also missing the essential Plex.

Plex is a media streamer tool which allows you to access your own music, film and TV collection over a network. With the Plex server installed on a computer content can be streamed to mobile devices, the web, or a compatible player can display it on your television.

It’s a shame the NOW TV box doesn’t offer this as standard, but it is still possible to install Plex using this guide.

Download Plex 2.6.6 - http://stored.webspace.virginmedia.com/plex/Plex2.6.6NOWTV.zip. Don't open the ZIP file, just save it to your computer.Using your Now TV remote, press the following buttons on quick concession – Home x3, Up x2, Right, Left, Right, Left, Right. This does need to be done quickly so it may take a few tries.If successful the screen will display the Developer Settings dialogue. Take note of the IP address shown, then select 'Enable Installer'. Follow the process until your device reboots.Go to your computer and open a web browser, then type in the IP address you wrote down from the previous step. This should take you to the development application installer.Click ‘choose file’ and select the Plex ZIP file you downloaded in step 1. Click on install. If all goes well you should see the message "Install Success" appear.A Plex icon should now be available on your NOW TV box menu.

In order to use this you will need to download and install the Plex server software to a computer. It’s fairly straightforward, but if you get stuck Plex has a good support forum and a comprehensive Wiki. In particular you should read the sections on network configuration and media naming conventions. We’ll be doing a more in-depth look at Plex shortly. 

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iOS 7.0.4 Is Safe for Jailbreaking, but It’s Good to Resist

Apple released a very minor update to iOS 7 yesterday, seeding out iOS 7.0.4 to iPhone and iPad users that fixes a bug with FaceTime. Obviously, potential jailbreakers were worried about the minor update breaking any kind of future promise for an iOS 7 jailbreak method, but it was confirmed shortly after the release that there are no problems with the new update as far as jailbreaking is concerned.

However, iOS hacker MuscleNerd confused a lot of people, saying that users should treat iOS 7.0.4 as an “exercise in restraint” and “test your ability to avoid it.” He also said in his next tweet that users should “avoid 7.0.4,” but this isn’t exactly what he meant.

MuscleNerd first tweeted out that those on iOS 7 waiting for a jailbreak should simply get into the habit of not updating to the latest iOS version right away, since these incremental updates can break your jailbreak (if it’s already jailbroken, that is). He says that iOS 7.0.4 won’t affect a future jailbreak if you “slip up,” but he is saying that it’s a good idea to get yourself accustomed to rejecting iOS updates when they release.

In a later tweet, MuscleNerd simply tells iOS 6 users to avoid iOS 7.0.4 if they’re jailbroken on iOS 6, since “there’s no going back.” This is obvious for those who are jailbreaking veterans, but it’s always good to send out warnings to those who are new to the scene.

To be absolutely clear, iOS 7.0.4 is safe to download and install if you plan on jailbreaking the device in the future when a jailbreak method eventually releases. MuscleNerd is simply reiterating that if you plan on jailbreaking your device, it’s good to get in the habit of not installing iOS updates when Apple releases them, since they’ll ruin your jailbreak and you’ll be screwed. It’s especially a good thing to start doing with iOS 7.0.4, since the only fix is for FaceTime, so if you don’t use FaceTime, you really don’t need to install iOS 7.0.4.

iOS 7.1 will most likely be a huge update for jailbreakers, since that will be an update that will most likely consist of a lot of security fixes that could block exploits that jailbreak hackers were hoping to use. Of course, it’s too early to tell at this point, but all four incremental updates from Apple so far have been safe for jailbreaking; we wouldn’t be surprised if the same couldn’t be said for iOS 7.1.

FCC: Wireless carriers must agree on phone unlocking rules

Summary: Unless U.S. wireless carriers voluntarily agree on the rights of consumers to unlock their phones, the FCC has stipulated it will make rules to enforce a general policy.

The FCC has told carriers that they must voluntarily agree on what rights consumers have in relation to unlocking their mobile devices, or the agency will make a ruling dictating policy instead.

According to Reuters, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has made the demand based on how carriers conduct their business around contracts. When a consumer signs up for a long-term contract in order to receive a mobile device for subsidized prices or for free, the phones are generally locked to a specific carrier -- and this is the issue at heart for the U.S. regulator.

It's easy enough to pop into a shop and have your phone unlocked for a price -- although thanks to a new law that came into effect in January, this is also now illegal in the United States -- but should it be a carrier's responsibility to automatically unlock the phone once a contract has expired -- or at least notify a consumer when the phone can be unlocked and used with other wireless providers?

A petition sent to the White House this year gathered over 100,000 signatures to change the law and make unlocking legal. At the time, senior advisor for Internet, Innovation, & Privacy R. David Edelman stated that the White House's stance is that "neither criminal law nor technological locks should prevent consumers from switching carriers when they are no longer bound by a service agreement or other obligation."

For the last eight months, the FCC and wireless trade group CTIA have been working on policies to address these issues. On Thursday, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler wrote to CTIA President Steve Largent, urging the industry to adopt new unlocking policies before the Christmas shopping season starts, saying:

"Enough time has passed, and it is now time for the industry to act voluntarily or for the FCC to regulate. Absent the consumer's right to be informed about eligibility, any voluntary program would be a hollow shell."

Wheeler says that carriers agree that consumers hold the right to unlock their devices once a contract ends, but do not notify their customers when their mobile device is eligible to be unlocked -- or do it automatically for them.

Speaking to the publication, CTIA's vice president for regulatory affairs, Scott Bergmann said the association would continue discussions with the FCC.

Topics: Mobility, Smartphones, Wi-Fi

London-based medical anthropologist Charlie Osborne is a journalist, freelance photographer and former teacher.

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Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat Update: early look at what to expect

The Samsung Galaxy S3 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update is rolling out, right now, in several regions around the world. In the next few weeks, we expect it to be delivered to other Galaxy S3 variants, including devices here in the United States. And while many owners have their eyes on Android 4.3, others, are likely curious about a Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update. Here, we take an early look at what to expect.

Earlier this year, it looked like the Samsung Galaxy S3 Android 4.2 Jelly Bean update would be the one coming to replace the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update that rolled out all those months ago. Rumors suggested that the software would be rolling out alongside the Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.2 Jelly Bean update in the summertime. Unfortunately, things didn’t turn out that way.

Instead of Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, Galaxy S3 users are now in the midst of an Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update roll out. Android 4.3 is a piece of software that will not only deliver Galaxy Gear support to Galaxy S3 owners but also offer up a number of different features and enhancements, including some of the software features of the Galaxy S4.

It’s a big update and one that, we, and Galaxy S3 owners are monitoring given that it hasn’t touched down in the United States and given the issues that have apparently sprang up in the update process. Of course, the Galaxy S3 Android 4.3 roll out is conflicting with another massive Android roll out, one from Google itself.

In October, Google announced Android 4.4 KitKat, its latest Android update and one that will be adding to the foundation that was laid by Android Jelly Bean. The update is rolling out to Nexus devices right now and we’ve seen Android manufacturers confirm updates for many devices from the the Moto X to the HTC One.

Samsung, however, has remained silent, possibly because it’s laser-focused on getting Android 4.3 Jelly Bean deployed. Its silence, however, has likely made users even more curious about its upgrade plans.

While we certainly don’t have all of the answers, we do have some ideas about what Samsung Galaxy S3 users can expect from the Android 4.4 KitKat update and its release.

First things first. Samsung Galaxy S3 owners should expect an Android 4.4 KitKat update at some point in the future. Awhile back, we reported on a rumor that suggested that a Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update was in the works though since then, things have been silent from both an official standpoint and a rumored one.

That said, we would be shocked if Samsung decided to kill support for one of the most popular phones in its arsenal. The Galaxy S3 is approaching its two year birthday this coming year and that means that many users will be coming off contract. Releasing Android 4.4 KitKat for the Galaxy S3 will ensure that these owners keep a Samsung device around. It will also go a long way with consumers looking to upgrade knowing Samsung is committed to a device for just about two years.

Samsung likely won’t announce anything until it gets extremely close to the actual roll out which means that users will likely have to depend on leaks for information. If there is a Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update planned, look for information to leak out soon.

Don’t expect the Samsung Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update to roll out this year. We come to this conclusion based on what we are seeing right now with the Samsung Galaxy S3 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update roll out.

It’s clear that the Galaxy S3 Android 4.3 update is buggy. Users are complaining about a ton of issues on board the Galaxy S3 update, issues that include battery drain, lag and more, and it looks like Samsung has its work cut out for it in the weeks ahead.

In addition, we’ve already seen two Galaxy S3 updates in the U.S., the updates for AT&T and Sprint, miss their target release dates. Not a good sign for Galaxy S3 owners on other carriers.

Considering that it’s now mid-November and we haven’t seen the Android 4.3 roll out reach a widespread level, we are pretty confident that the Android 4.4 KitKat deployment won’t start until next year. Assuming that there is one. These issues are not a good sign but again, we believe that Samsung will decide to upgrade it.

Samsung has a habit of releasing its flagship devices with the latest Android software. We don’t see that changing next year with the rumored Samsung Galaxy S5. It also has a habit of waiting until its new flagship is out to release the new software for its older devices. For example, the Galaxy S4 arrived with Android 4.2 on board and the original plan was to get Android 4.2 out to other Galaxy devices in June or July, right after the release.

Galaxy S3 owners should expect the same from the Android 4.4 KitKat update. Rumors suggest that the Galaxy S5 could launch in January with a release in February. If that holds, we’re potentially looking at a March or April roll out. Android 4.4 KitKat is a smaller update but that doesn’t mean that Samsung is going to change its ways. In fact, we don’t think that it will.

One of the nice things that we’ve seen with the Android 4.3 deployment in the United States is a much shorter gap between the international roll out and the U.S. roll out. We saw it with the Galaxy S4 update and we anticipate seeing it with the Galaxy S3 update if Samsung can get its act together and iron out these bugs.

We’ve speculated that the reason why Samsung and these carriers are pushing these updates out this fast is because they want to get Galaxy Gear support to as many owners as possible. The Galaxy Gear is the company’s $299 smartwatch accessory and it’s one that is being sold at the largest carriers in the U.S. The device will likely figure heavily into Black Friday plans and without support on the Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2, it’s not as appealing.

So, in other words, there is incentive to get these software updates out. With Android 4.4 KitKat, we aren’t likely to see the same thing. Instead, we expect a much larger gap between the international and the U.S. roll outs.

That said, should the Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update arrive, and we think it will, it will almost certainly be deployed to AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular and Verizon customers. If one gets it, they all will. Of course, we also expect staggered release dates so while one carrier could get it early, Sprint is a likely candidate, others could potentially see it roll out much later in the year.

Finally, Samsung Galaxy S3 users should expect there to be Android 4.4 KitKat issues. What those issue are, we can’t say right now as we’re likely months away from a release, but we would be floored if a flawless update rolled out.

Our basis? Simple. Samsung clearly had problems with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and from the looks of things, Android 4.3 Jelly Bean isn’t playing nicely with the Galaxy S3 either. We should see fixes emerge in the weeks ahead but don’t be surprised when Android 4.4 KitKat delivers some issues of its own. Major software updates typically bring bugs with them and Android 4.4 KitKat should be no different.

Competition: complete our visitor survey and win a Google Nexus 7 tablet!

We recently reviewed the 2013 Google Nexus 7 tablet and discovered it's one of the finest slates money can buy. Well built and kitted out with some powerful specifications, it also boasts a gorgeous HD display which shames pricier rivals. Best of all, it costs less than £200. That's a lot of tablet for the money. 

In fact we were so impressed with the Nexus 7 we've decided to give away our review tablet to one lucky Broadband Genie visitor.

But for this giveaway we're doing something a little different. We'd like to know a bit more about you, and so to this end we're asking everyone to complete a short survey about your broadband, mobile broadband and smartphone habits. Complete these questions and you'll be entered in the Nexus 7 prize draw.

You can also get a second entry by filling out your Twitter username and then following us on Twitter and tweeting or retweeting a link to this page.

By entering this competition you agree to the following terms and conditions:

Competition opens 29th October 2013. Closing date is 5pm on the 12th November 2013.Winner will be selected and notified by the 14th November 2013.Winner will be notified via Twitter or email, and their name published on this page.Open to residents of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland aged 18 or over.Entrants must have completed the Broadband Genie visitor survey to be eligible for the prize draw.Entrants may receive an additional entry by following Broadband Genie on Twitter and tweeting or retweeting a link to this page.No cash alternative.Not open to employees of Genie Ventures Ltd.This promotion is operated by Genie Ventures, Unit 9 & 10 Millers Yard, Mill Lane, Cambridge, CB2 1RQ. Add your comment now See all >

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Nexus 7 (Cellular) Android 4.4 KitKat Update: What Users Can Expect

The Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 Android 4.4 KitKat update roll outs have begun, though, Google still has work left before all of its Nexus devices are upgraded with Android 4.4 KitKat. Ahead of the final Nexus 7 Android 4.4 KitKat updates, we take a look at what owners of the cellular versions of the Nexus 7 2012 and Nexus 7 2013 should expect.

In October, Google finally debuted the Android 4.4 KitKat update, an update that it first announced in early September ahead of the iPhone 5s launch and the arrival of iOS 7. The company though waited two whole months before it decided to finally confirm all of the Android 4.4 KitKat details to its Android users base. As expected, the Android 4.4 KitKat update not only boasts a ton of things to like but it’s also going to be coming for a host of devices in the future.

At the time, Google announced that it would be rolling out the software to the Nexus 4, Nexus 7 and the Nexus 10. It decided against updating the Galaxy Nexus with Android 4.4, something that peeved its owners and caused thousands to sign a petition demanding an update. We don’t expect Google to change its mind as far as the Galaxy Nexus is concerned.

It also hasn’t changed its mind in regard to the Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 roll outs either. Earlier this week, Google announced that the Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 Android 4.4 updates roll outs and said that they would be hitting specific devices. In the case of the Nexus 10, it’s everyone. In the case of the Nexus 7, it’s the Wi-Fi only versions of the 7-inch slate.

Indeed, Google has neglected owners of the cellular versions of the Nexus 7 for the time being, though, it has said that those updates will be coming soon. With Nexus 7 owners likely looking for answers, here, we take a look at what Nexus 7 HSPA+ and Nexus 7 LTE owners should expect from their Android 4.4 KitKat update release date.

Earlier this week, Google took to its @Android account and announced that the cellular Nexus 7 models would, along with the Nexus 4, be getting their upgrade to Android 4.4 KitKat in the near future. The company did not elaborate on the exact timing of these updates but as we’ve pointed out, we don’t expect them to be very far off at all.

There are a few reasons why these two Nexus 7 updates, the updates for the Nexus 7 HSPA+ (2012) and Nexus 7 LTE (2013) aren’t far off in the distance. One, Google needs every advantage it can get in its battle against the iPad mini with Retina Display. While Android 4.4 may not be a huge Android update, it’s still a marketing tool and one that it can use to promote the Nexus 7 this holiday season. With Black Friday coming up, now is the time to unleash the update.

Stay tuned, Nexus 4 and Nexus 7 versions with mobile data will be getting the update soon! http://t.co/TTRzORl4js

— Android (@Android) November 13, 2013

And two, one of the reasons that people buy Nexus device is to get early access to Android software upgrades. When people buy Nexus devices, they don’t buy in thinking that it’s going to take more than a month to see an update roll out. Google should realize that this perk is one that people really do count on and thus, we don’t see it waiting until December or 2014 to upgrade the cellular models.

Instead, look for the updates to arrive within the next two weeks. We wouldn’t be shocked to see them roll out after Google has completed the roll outs for the Nexus 10 and Wi-Fi Nexus 7. Those roll outs should take about a week.

We figured that the Nexus Android update roll out announcement would come out of the blue and sure enough, Google used its social media accounts to announce the update without any kind of a warning. This is to be expected from the upcoming Nexus 7 Android 4.4 KitKat update roll outs as well. We have no doubt that Google will do one of two things.

Use social media to draw attention to roll outs.Roll them out without any sort of publicity. It has done this before.

Point is, don’t expect any leaked dates to emerge. We fully expect that the roll outs will come out of the blue with either a quick announcement from Google or no word at all.

While Nexus 7 users with cellular data got the short end of the stick in terms of timing, they do get the benefit of knowing how their upgrade process is likely going to play out. When the Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 updates first arrived, we saw the updates discovered lurking on Google’s servers, something that allows users to bypass the OTA update and install the software manually. It took a little longer than we expected but the updates were discovered within hours of the updates arriving on the scene.

We fully expect there to be manual upgrades for owners of the Nexus 7 HSPA+ and Nexus 7 LTE and we expect that those manual upgrades will be possible within a few short hours of the initial deployment. Again, when the time comes, we recommend that novice users skip the upgrade process and wait for the OTA. There is always a possibility that something could go wrong.

What would a Google Nexus Android update be if it wasn’t slow moving? The Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 OTA updates are pushing out but they are moving out slowly to users. We expect the exact same thing to happen when the Nexus 7 cellular data updates deploy. Users should expect the updates to roll out over the course of a few days, possibly up to a week.

Again, the slow roll outs make the manual upgrade process extremely appealing but we only recommend updating early if sideloading is something that you are familiar with.

Nokia Lumia 2520 RT tablet is available in United States for $400 November 22

Summary: Nokia has announced its tablet Windows 8.1 RT at the Nokia World, and the coming week will be able to pick up one under AT & T contract.

(Image: Nokia)

Nokia announced the Nokia World Lumia 2520 tablet in October. Nokia has announced that this device Windows 8.1 RT will launch in the United States next week.

The Lumia 2520 Nokia launch the AT & T in black November 22 399,99 $ with a two year contract. AT & T is also offering a deal where you can buy a 925 Lumia, 1020, or new 1520 and hit 200 dollars the price of the 2520, making only $199,99 with one of these phones.

One aspect of this tablet which differentiates it from the Microsoft Surface 2 is the integration of wireless cell. I have my third generation iPad LTE and it is much more comfortable and functional than having to tie to a phone and kill two batteries.

Only for AT & T data plans tablets range from $14.99 (250MB) and $50 (5GB). People does not seem to be fans of tablet of contracts in the past so we'll have to see if this price plan works for AT & T and Nokia.

I personally prefer the option of purchasing a month of data when I need it, but then the initial price of the device would go up also. I'm not sure if you can buy it without a contact and what is cost, but it will try to find out. I have just learned that the contract was the price is $584,99. It seems an incredible piece of hardware, but it can be difficult to sell tablets/computers Windows Pro available for much less.

It is interesting that Nokia is bringing some of its technologies advanced on a tablet with the 6.7 camera megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss Optics. I've seen a lot of people using your iPad to take pictures and video and I wonder if this new Lumia now also appears on the road while I'm trying to watch sports.

2520 Lumia seems a piece of sweet hardware and I hope to try it soon. Personally meeting the hardware of Microsoft Surface is also fantastic, so it's great to see another provider, releasing a device Windows high quality premium.

ZDNet related reading

Matthew Miller began using a pilot 1000 in 1997 and has been writing news, reviews and opinion pieces since then.

Facebook Messenger Redesigned for Mobile

Nearly two years after first launch, Facebook just recently begun issuing some small updates to its popular Messenger application for Android and iOS, but this week they’ve announced and started rolling out a brand new redesigned app.

A few weeks ago they announced the new system would arrive, and now it’s finally here. Bringing a brand new faster, smoother, lightweight application for Android and iOS. Over the past 24 hours Facebook finally launched the new version in the Play Store and it’s now rolling out to all users. Promising a faster and overall better messaging service on mobile devices, allowing users to connect to friends and family with ease.

Detailed this afternoon in a blog post, Facebook also confirmed the update should be arriving for iOS, although we’re expecting the redesign to differ from what you see above on Android. The messenger can now sync to your contacts like never before, and even let mobile users message people from their phone contact list, even if you aren’t friends on Facebook.

The new Blue messenger icon will let you know when friends and family are online, and when using the app, so you’ll be able to connect faster than ever before for a quick conversation. Overall the new design is quite smooth, although the sound effects may irritate some and can be easily disabled in the settings menu.

Read: How to Enable Social Integration in iOS 7

Finally following the Holo design UI guidelines by Google, the Android application has a sleek new look and feel. Allowing users to tap the columns up top, or a simple swipe between messages, contacts, and settings. Then of course we still have Chat Heads, which can be enabled or disabled, as well as controlled so they won’t cover current applications on your device.

This is definetaly the best Facebook Messenger yet, and hopefully similar changes arrive for the regular Facebook app too. Get it now from the Play Store.

Microsoft: October Patch Tuesday vulnerability patched in November

Summary: [Correction: ] One of the October Internet Explorer vulnerabilities wasn't patched until November

[CORRECTION: My first take on this was just plain wrong. The update I read in the security bulletin was in the October Patch Tuesday bulletin, not the November bulletin. I was partly confused because it's unusual for Microsoft to have Cumulative Updates for Internet Explorer two months in a row, as they did in October and November. My apologies to you and to Microsoft, but what happened is still interesting, so here goes:]

Two days after the October Patch Tuesday updates, Microsoft corrected one of the security bulletins for that month to indicate that they had not in fact patched one of the vulnerabilities listed in it. That vulnerability — CVE-2013-3871 — was, in fact, patched in the November updates, specifically as part of MS13-088: Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer.

The initial bulletin was MS13-080: Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer — note that both are Cumulative Updates. It originally listed 10 vulnerabilities, one of them CVE-2013-3871. The vulnerability was credited to Simon Zuckerbraun working with HP's Zero Day Initiative.

Microsoft gave essentially no description of the vulnerability, either in October or November, beyond the title: Internet Explorer Memory Corruption Vulnerability.

Symantec has a little more explanation in their description of the bug, although this text is also boilerplate for such a vulnerability:

Microsoft Internet Explorer is prone to a memory-corruption vulnerability. Attackers can exploit this issue to execute arbitrary code in the context of the currently logged-in user. Failed attacks will cause denial-of-service conditions. Microsoft Internet Explorer 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 are affected.

Topics: Security, Windows

Larry Seltzer has long been a recognized expert in technology, with a focus on mobile technology and security in recent years

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STEM education, business schools need to be joined at hip

Summary: Universities need to get this business alignment thing down too and break down silos between their business schools and STEM programs if they are going to develop the next crop of CXOs.

STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) education is en vogue as the U.S. government and plenty of executives are bemoaning the lack of talent and worrying about this country's competitive edge. Meanwhile, business schools continue to churn out those students who become auditors, accountants and investment bankers.

The Battle for the Soul of IT

It's no secret that the CIO is losing influence in today's corporate world as other executives gain more control over technology decision-making. Can CIOs transform themselves from infrastructure jockeys into digital symphony conductors, or will other executives become the most influential voices in tech?

These two educational institutions---found at most universities---have existed as silos for decades. But that education as usual practice needs to end in a hurry. As most ZDNet readers know, today's enterprise tech leaders need to know business as well as computer science. In reality, the computer science major won't become CIO often because of a lack of people skills and business literacy.

If STEM programs and business schools don't at least find a way to collaborate and build bridges they're doing a disservice to industry and their customers---the students. That message was delivered via a panel this week at the AACSB International (The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) conference this week in Phoenix.

I sat in on a panel that included Brad Jensen, CIO of U.S. Airways; Munir Mandviwalla, Chair and Executive Director, Institute for Business and Information Technology, The Fox School of Business, Temple University; and Michael Goul, Professor and Chair, Information Systems, W. P. Carey School of Business, Arizona State University.

The aim of our talk was to outline how business schools should get STEM designations. After all, educational institutions need to get this business alignment thing down too. The logistics are a bit unclear, but there are some natural overlaps in enterprise IT and business. For instance, IT auditors and accountants go together well. Analytics will combine computer science types with business people too.

This slide via Goul and Mandviwalla tells the tale:

For universities, there are some real returns by bridging business schools and STEM programs. STEM has some government funding behind it. Business schools have a bigger megaphone and can promote STEM better in the field.

How this STEM-meets-business collaboration works out at universities remains to be seen. Some universities were already started and others were interested. For now, here's a look at the key takeaways:

Jensen said that one easy fix for STEM and business school collaboration revolved around joint degrees. For instance, you can't get enough auditors with cybersecurity knowhow. A harder task would be having faculty taking turns at STEM and business schools. The hardest would be reorganizing structures to combine STEM and business.Storytelling is key. A few administrators noted that STEM students are increasingly speaking English as a second language. As a result, communication is difficult. Nuances of English, emotional intelligence, people skills and basic story telling are required for any potential C-level exec. The challenge is efficiently providing STEM students with these skills via liberal arts classes as well as the business literacy they need. After all, the debt load with triple majors (communication, computer science and business) would be a tad ridiculous.Specialization is important, but can go too far. STEM/business students need to know a lot, but they can't overspecialize. Why? They'll be automated at some point. Universities have to walk a line with their curriculum.Immigration matters. A STEM designated student can stay in the U.S. longer under current law. Jensen said the visa situation has forced him to lose talent as students are forced to go home.

More reading:

Topics: CXO, Education

Larry Dignan is Editor in Chief of ZDNet and SmartPlanet as well as Editorial Director of ZDNet's sister site TechRepublic.

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Google Search Update Brings a Smarter Google Now

Last week reports suggested Google was preparing to update the Search and Google Now app for Android with a serious overhaul and additional features. Today this update arrived right on schedule, rolling out late last night to Android devices, and users can now expect a smarter and more chatty experience.

Google Now is already one of the most powerful and best features of Android, and today’s update detailed by Google is making it even smarter. All the usual goods will now include a conversational experience similar to Siri, bringing one more feature to the digital assistant. On top of that the Google Now Cards have been added to with “What to watch,” News topic,” and “Website update” joining the growing list.

Website cards will share the latest post from blogs and sites you frequent, all automatically before you even ask, if you’d like. The What to watch will give you movie and TV recommendations based on previous history, searches, and more. Last, news topic cards will give you the latest and breaking news from around the web. I’m already automatically getting sports and NFL news delivered right to Google Now on the Nexus 5. It’s quite powerful and accurate.

The chatty experience mentioned last week also arrived, and now when users tell Google Now to “Call Chris” or send a message, Google Now will give you an audio response when needed, asking “which Chris” then re-enables the microphone to listed to a more detailed request. Below you’ll see a simple search to text Chris turned up multiple suggestions, and asked who I’d like to send a message to.

This latest update adds one more hidden feature. The Google Experience Launcher exclusive to the Nexus 5 can be added to your Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and above smartphone after this update to Google Search. The launcher still isn’t available from Google, even though reports suggest it’s headed to the Play Store, but read on below to get it yourself.

Read: How to Get Android 4.4 KitKat Nexus 5 Launcher

Last but not least, the “Ok Google” voice commands from the Moto X and Nexus 5 are now available for all Jelly Bean devices with the new Google Search app. You’ll have to be on the homescreen or in Google Now, as it isn’t completely a hands-free always listening mode, but should help users ask Google Now questions and commands with ease, more hands-free than before. Get it today from the Play Store.