Big Tech tests the waters of the music stream

Technology giants Apple, Google and Amazon are furiously maneuvering for position in the online music business and looking at ways to make streaming profitable, despite the fact that pioneer Pandora has never made a profit.

It has been more than a decade since the iPod heralded the revival of Apple and presaged the smartphone revolution, even as music-sharing site Napster was showing the disruptive power of the Internet in the music business.

Now Google , Amazon.com Inc and Apple are among the Silicon Valley powerhouses sounding out top recording industry executives, according to sources with knowledge of talks and media reports. Streaming service Pandora 

is spending freely and racking up losses to expand globally. Even social media stalwarts Facebook and Twitter are jumping on the bandwagon.

All of them see a viable music streaming and subscription service as crucial to growing their presence in an exploding mobile environment. For Google and Apple, it is critical in ensuring users remain loyal to their mobile products.

Music has been integral to the mobile experience since the early days of iTunes, which upended the old models with its 99-cent per song buying approach. Now, as smartphones and tablets supplant PCs and virtual storage replaces songs on devices, mobile players from handset makers to social networks realize they must stake out a place or risk ceding control of one of the largest components of mobile device usage.

About 48 percent of smartphone users listen to music on their device, making it the fourth most popular media-related activity after social networking, games and news, according to a ComScore survey of mobile behavior released in February. Users ranked a phone's music and video capability at 7.4 on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being most important purchase consideration factor, according to the study.

"Music is very strategic for the various electronic devices Samsung manufactures," said Daren Tsui, CEO and co-founder of streaming music service mSpot, which Samsung bought last year to create the Music Hub service now available on Galaxy smartphones in the United States and Europe.

"By owning it, we can absolutely customize the music experience and leverage the fact that it's not just a service but there's also a hardware component."

In January, Beats Electronics, the startup co-founded by recording supremo Jimmy Iovine and hip-hop performer-producer Dr. Dre, and backed by Universal and Warner Music, announced a new streaming-subscription service dubbed "Daisy" to take on Pandora and Spotify starting this summer.

Now, industry insiders expect Apple, Google and other technology titans to jump into the fray. Apple is talking with music labels about tacking a subscription service option onto iTunes, sources have said, while Google is said to be planning a YouTube subscription music service, according to media reports.

"There are some content creators that think they would benefit from a subscription revenue stream in addition to ads, so we're looking at that," a YouTube spokesperson said, but declined to comment on any specific negotiations.

Apple declined to comment.

Microsoft is already promoting its Xbox Music service. Their entry promises to catalyze an industry shake-up and propel music streaming further into the mainstream.

"ITunes was great but it needs a step forward," Iovine, chairman of Universal Music's Interscope-Geffen-A&M Records, told the AllThingsD conference in February. "There is an ocean of music out there that people want."

The £1000 iPod-style music player

There’s something big happening in digital music in 2013 - downloaded music that actually sounds better than CD.

Most digital music is stored in formats such as MP3 which compress music - making it sound worse.

Music bought from stores such as Apple's iTunes is compressed - but a new movement aims to improve digital sound quality, in some cases beyond what is offered by CDs.

'HD' music has been around for years, but this year has seen the launch of portable players capable of playing music that sounds better than compact discs.

The music is not stored on disc - instead, it's downloaded via the net, and often stored in the same quality as the 'studio master' recordings used to create CDs.

The AK100 player is capable of playing digital files that sound beter than CDs.Neil Young appeared on the David Letterman show last year to promote his Toblerone shaped Pono player, a high quality iPod style system due for release later this year.

Warner Music and Sony Music are interested in the technology.

Already on sale in the UK, the AK100 portable music player looks like a fusion of a BlackBerry and an iPod.

The £569 player can handle ‘24-bit 96Ghz FLAC’ files - sounding better than CD - which the iPhone 5 can’t handle.

There’s hi-fi tech inside which converts the digital files into high quality analogue audio in a superior way to Apple products too.

Naturally, you’ll need a decent pair of headphones to make the most of the AK100.

Both Sony and Sennheiser have recently released £500 plus in-ear headphones designed for high definition players like the AK100.

We’ve tested he AK100 with several headphones and the difference compared to standard iPhone audio is huge. All tracks from Miles Davis to Paramore sound fresh, involving and really have a more detailed feel, closer to the original quality of high-end turntables.

There’s 32GB of storage inside the AK100, though you can add two 64GB MicroSD cards (around £60 each), meaning a total storage capacity of 160GB, over double the amount that the largest capacity £699 64GB iPhone 5 can manage.

An average album from iTunes is around 80MB while a high resolution FLAC file is around 10-12 times bigger, so there’s room for 32 albums off the shelf and 160 albums if you buy extra memory cards. You can also import your ripped CDs from iTunes or similar programs.

Hi-fi companies such as Naim and Linn have launched HD music download services. Naimlabel.com offers jazz, classical and ‘new’tracks under their Edge category, showcasing new bands and musicans as opposed to classic remasters and new mainstream artists.

Linn offer class albums as HD downloads for £18 per album via Linn Records.

Mark Knopfler is currently number 1 on the store. Island Records are ranked alongside independent musician Dawn Langstroth and videogame company Ubisoft who sell classical scores to their big budget adventure games such as Assassin’s Creed.

UK speaker specialists Bowers and Wilkins run Society of Sound, a HD music store which offers annual subscriptions for £33.95.

Best apps for students

You have survived freshers, worked out where your lectures are and found a cheap pub or two, but now it's time to hand in your first assignment. These five apps won't write your essays for you, but they will make the whole process a little more enjoyable. 


Dropbox
What does it do?
Dropbox synchronises your files between devices. Begin your assignment in the library and drop the file into your Dropbox account. Download the mobile app and check it on the bus home. Get back to your laptop and open the same file from your Dropbox folder. 

Why is it good?
If you're anything like me your university account will be full of old assignments, journals and notes. With Dropbox all these are accessible from your home computer, providing you drop it into your account first.

Any drawbacks?
Dropbox's slogan is 'simplify your life', staying true to this mantra the app is a little featureless. There is no editing features or ability to preview documents from the website. 

Foursquare
What does it do? Time for a study break? Check In on Foursquare and see who else is in the library. Foursquare uses your phone's location data to suggest nearby places for you to Check In to. Each Check In rewards you with points and achievements. Check In a couple of times and you can become mayor of a location. 

Why is it good?
Foursquare Check Ins also have real world rewards. Check Ins can earn you money off at House of Fraser, Banana Republic, Carphone Warehouse and Pizza Hut. 

Any drawbacks?
Foursquare's default settings will bombard you and your Facebook friends with notifications so remember to change them before going on a Check In spree. 

Evernote
What does it do? Evernote is the perfect companion to a messy student. Everything from notes, web clips, audio snippets and business cards can be organised in Evernote. Take a photo of some class notes and Evernote will digitise them, allowing you to search for specific words later on. Very handy close to a deadline. 

Why is it good?
Evernote works across devices and syncs all your data to your online account. Its add-ons allow you to sync sketches, recipes and directions. All of which can be annotated later from any device. 

Any drawbacks?
Evernote has expanded quickly over the last few years, assimilating a host of other apps. As a result its interface is somewhat complex. 

Just Eat
 
What does it do?
With looming deadlines, early lectures and all-nighters, cooking is never a priority. Just Eat should be a staple app for all students. With Just Eat you can order takeaway online without having to call the restaurant. 

Why is it good?
Just Eat compares nearby restaurants and shows the highest rated. Just Eat digitises menus allowing you to compare dishes and pick bargains. Ordering through Just Eat is simpler than using the phone. 

Any drawbacks?
Ordering online can be a bit of a lucky dip. Without physically seeing the takeaway it can be hard to judge the quality. Android users will be disappointed as this app is online available on Apple products. 

The Trainline
 
What does it do?
So you have used all of these apps to make your assignment flow smoothly, now it's is time for some hard earned rest back home. The Trainline app is the simplest way to look up travel information from your mobile.

Why is it good?
The Trainline app remembers your journeys and preferences. It is easy to buy tickets within the app. The app even uses your location data to suggest the next train home. 

Any drawbacks?
The only way this little app could be improved would be if it incorporated Tube and bus times into its service.

Apps to help your children enjoy iPad safely

Many parents rely on iPad as a helping hand with children - whether to pass the time in a car, as an educational tool to support school work or just to deliver an episode of CBeebies on a Sunday morning.

But with over 300,000 iPad apps in the Apple App Store, finding good apps can be overwhelming - our list below highlights some fun, educational choices.

If you're shopping, it's worth checking age ratings - but any parent of young children should try apps themselves first.

The suitability of tablets for children has become a hot topic lately following news that 5-year old Danny Kitchen from Bristol ran up a bill for £1700 on in-app purchases while playing a free app.

If you are a parent with young children who share an iPad it’s worth heeding the experience of the Kitchen family.

Many apps don’t cost anything to download, but developers make money from extra in-app purchases like coins, lives and accessories, which can be bought with a couple of taps.

Apple recommends not divulging your Apple ID password to your child and instead entering your password each time it’s needed. Children over 13 are advised to create their own Apple ID, to which you can add iTunes gift certificates.

Apple includes safeguards on the iPad to help prevent unwanted in-app purchases. Go to the Settings menu and select General - Restrictions - Enable Restrictions. Pick a password and there’s an option to turn off In-App Purchases.

Alternatively Require Password  lets you determine whether a password for app purchases is needed instantly or within 15 minutes. Selecting the former means there’s no chance of your children buying anything in the immediate time period after you’ve entered your password.

The Restrictions menu also lets you temporarily remove selected features altogether such as Safari, Camera, iTunes, Facetime and (crucially) Installing Apps. To restore the iPad to normal settings head to Settings - General - Enable Restrictions and enter your password again.

Fix-it Felix Jr.
Free
Thanks to its 8-bit graphics this game will evoke feelings of nostalgia in old-time gamers and recognition in young children who’ve seen Wreck it Ralph. There’s very little educational value here - as Fix-it Felix Jr use your magical hammer to fix what Ralph destroys. But it’s great fun for big and small kids
 
Itsy Bitsy Spider HD
£1.49
This colourful app brings the classic children’s nursery rhyme alive with a spider that moves around interacting with the environment as your child taps the screen and learns about the environment. Studio Duck Duck Moose creates some of the most innovative apps for young children, so it’s well-working checking out its other apps.

Magic Piano
Free
An app for budding musicians, your child plays along to tunes by tapping the notes as they fall using one, two, three or four fingers. Songs span all genres from Twinkle Twinkle too Gangham Style, some are free, some cost points and others are unlocked. Budding composers can even try some freestyling.

Magic Town
Free
Magic Town is a beautifully animated world packed with interactive stories and games. There are 80 stories, from classics like Rumpelstiltskin to Aliens Love Underpants, while Watch, Play, Learn and Read modes cater for different ages and reading abilities. Magic Town is free to join, with a free download every day or £2.49 a month.

Pocket Phonics
£1.99
Pocket Phonics aims to teach preschoolers how to read and write using phonics. Letters appear on screen as the sound is read out, encouraging children to say the letter before writing it. Designed and tested by teachers, if you’ve got children aged between 3-6 it’s well checking out and there’s a free Lite version.
 
Toca Train
£1.99
If your son (or daughter) is train fanatic they’ll love train-simulator Toca Train. They can drive the train around the track, tapping interactive levers and controls stopping at stations to load and unload passengers, sounding the siren and changing the camera angle.

Toy Story Read-Along
Free
Toy Story comes to iPad in this interactive book. Following the adventures of Woody and Buzz children can flick through the pages, listening to the story or recording their own voice. Extra activities such as finger painting, music, videos and games help bring the reading experience alive.
 
Tozzle HD
£1.49
Tozzle comprises of 39 puzzles, which your child solves by dragging and dropping pieces onto the screen. Designed to improve shape recognition and motor activity, on completion some of the puzzles come to life with sound effects and motion. A free Lite version is also available.

Canon EOS 100D launches as smallest and lightest DLSR

Canon has announced a new, smaller, DSLR camera in its EOS line, the Canon EOS 100D.

It is Canon's smallest and lightest APS-C digital SLR yet, with the company looking to compete with smaller and lighter models from rival interchangeable lens systems.

The Canon EOS 100D positions itself between Canon's smallest EOS model, the EOS M and looks like it upgrades the Japanese company's entry-level DLSR, the EOS 1100D, pulling some of the EOS M characteristics into a more conventional DSLR design.

More conventional it might be, but the EOS 100D does carry that badge of being the smallest and lightest camera in its class. Canon isn't highlighting this by accident, it's fully aware of the fierce competition from the likes of Sony NEX line, Samsung NX and Panasonic and Olympus's Micro-Four Thirds systems.

The EOS 100D measures 116.8 x 90.7 x 69.4mm and it weighs 407g, but of course you have to add the size and weight of the lens to these figures, which might be about 200g.

However, unlike the slimmer and lighter EOS M, it sticks to Canon's existing EOS lens mounting system, meaning it's compatible with the EF or EF-S lenses both new and old.

Sitting at the heart of the camera is an 18-megapixel sensor backed by the DIGIC 5 processor. It offers manually selectable sensitivity up to ISO 12,800, with a 25,600 if you really need that picture in low light, and a capture speed of 4fps.

Like the EOS M, the EOS 100D has a 3-inch touchscreen on the back, expanding your control options over those on the body itself. But not only do you get that display, but there's a conventional optical viewfinder in place too, giving you 95 per cent field of view, typical of an entry-level DSLR.

The controls on the body look pretty conventional too, with a top-mounted mode dial giving you quick access to the major shooting modes, and the body buttons letting you access the most pertinent shooting settings.

You'll get creative functions with a range of filters, an in-camera guide to help budding photographers start, as well as Full HD video capture, all bundled together in a package that will cost you £569.99 (body only) or £699 with EF-S 18-55mm IS STM lens.

We'll bring you more on the Canon EOS 100D when we get our hands on the new compact DSLR model.

How to shoot better films using your phone

As smartphone features and capabilities have improved, one function that has enjoyed a boon in quality and upgrades is the camera. But while many concentrate on the still image aspect, video camera quality has also improved remarkably – to the point where shooting decent quality films on your phone is now entirely achievable.

Alongside ever increasing megapixel ratings, most smartphone cameras like the Samsung Galaxy S3 and Apple iPhone 5 can now shoot Full HD 1080p moving images (as well as the lesser HD quality 720p and standard definition) good enough to make home movies look almost professional.

It’s also much easier nowadays to share and show off your filmic masterpiece. As well as hugely popular and free to use online resources like YouTube and Vimeo, phone specific features like the iPhone ’s AirPlay, which lets you stream your phone content to your TV via Apple TV, make it quick and easy to review and showcase your films on the big (ish) screen.

Then there are the apps. From Twitter’s blisteringly simple  app, that let’s you create and quickly upload six-second looping videos of whatever you shoot, to the Instagram-style Viddy that extends the time frame to 15 seconds and introduces en vogue retro filters to the videos you share online, there are myriad ways of getting your films out there.

Simple tips for better results

Whether you’re shooting on your phone or a high-end video camera, there are some basics any would-be filmmaker should begin with.

If you’re making a ‘proper’ staged film, plan and storyboard what you want to shoot, and research locations and the best times to film there. Research successful examples of smartphone films – some classics to look at are the stop-motion masterpiece Dot shot on a Nokia N8, and Apple of My Eye shot on the Apple iPhone 4. 

Before you start, make sure your phone’s lens is spotlessly clean (sounds simple, but imagine reviewing your footage on the big screen only to find a fingerprint or blob of dust ruining every shot) and the battery charged. A good idea is to turn on Airplane mode (or even remove your SIM) so you aren’t rudely interrupted in a crucial shot by your mum calling to ask how filming is coming along.

Always film in landscape mode by holding your phone horizontally – it’s easier to hold and aligns your footage orientation for viewing on a TV or cinema screen (if you’re thinking really big).

A critical part of any film is lighting. Where possible, always shoot in bright natural light with the sun behind you so your subject is clear. If you have to shoot into the light, film from above with the sky out of shot to lessen the contrast between high and low light – which your phone will inevitably struggle with and which can cast your subject into shadow. Use simple tools like white sheets to mask glare and reflections or to bounce light into darker areas. Shooting indoors can be tough, as phones still struggle with quick effective transitions between high and low light. You can get around this with artificial spotlighting, but remember that this can often affect colour reproduction and make your movie look inconsistent if you’re shooting indoors and out.

Some phone cameras like the Nokia Lumia 920 will have an optical image stabiliser to reduce camera shake, but where possible use a tripod or shoot from a solid surface (we’re fans of the particularly versatile Joby Gorilla tripods). Yes, the shaky camera classic has been popular in films over recent years, but it’s almost always more distracting than complementary. Along the same steady shot theme, avoid unnecessary zooms and pans, as these inevitably add shake and wobble to your shots. That handy image stabilisation technology is not yet effective when zooming and panning, so instead try moving the camera closer to the action, albeit nice and slowly.

Being close to the action is no bad thing either, as it will help with your framing (which can be tricky on a small screen), and also benefits the sound quality, which is a weak point when filming on a phone. Without a directional microphone, your footage can be compromised by background noise and strong wind so try to shade your phone from unwanted sounds.

Other things to consider

Think about where and how you’re going to show your film. If you’re hoping for online infamy, shorter is sweeter. Try to keep videos less than three minutes in length, as they’re more likely to be watched by online browsers with a few moments to spare at work.

If you’re shooting simply to share on social feeds, Full HD 1080p may be a little over the top and will use more phone memory and take longer to upload. If you do go all out High Definition, make sure there’s enough memory on your phone to hold what you shoot – running out of storage space halfway through a shot is not conducive to a good day’s filming.

Finally, if you’re intending to really get into shooting films on your phone, there’s a huge accessories market offering everything from add-on lenses like the Photojojo series to clip on microphones like the weatherproof i-Microphone. And once in the editing room, apps like Apple’s iMovie (£2.99) and the free multi-platform Magisto let you splice, trim frames, alternate transitions, stabilise images and add music and titles to your cinematic epic.

Britons watching TV in the toilet

Nearly one in five people uses a smartphone to watch television in the toilet, a report has revealed.

The study found Britons spend more than one day a week enjoying programmes and movies. They factor around 24.3 hours of viewing into their weekly routines, increasingly watching programmes on the go, the study showed.

It found 16% of consumers use their smartphones in the bathroom and 10% of people watch shows on a tablet in the toilet.

The study of global viewing habits across 17 countries showed the average viewer watches 19 hours of television and six hours of film content a week.

These figures are highest in the US - where consumers spend about 29 hours watching programmes and movies - and lowest in Sweden and Japan, with around 17 hours on average.

Further findings suggest almost a third (29%) of weekly TV viewing is recorded content. However, almost a third of recorded content is never watched.

Live viewing still dominates, particularly when it comes to news programmes, the study showed. Some 73% of people watch shows as they air, the report found.

The study - which questioned 9,500 people in December - also pointed towards a shift in household viewing habits. It found more consumers watch content on their smartphones or tablets than on a television in their bedrooms while 79% of consumers are frustrated with a lack of storage space on their devices, according to the report.

John Burke, of Motorola Mobility which conducted the study, said: "This year's study shows us that consumers take their viewing experiences very seriously.

"They want to be firmly in control of the way they experience their videos but they're frustrated. Increasingly, they're using tablets and smartphones to view their content, and they expect this experience to transition seamlessly across their favourite programmes, whenever and wherever they like."

Cyber-bullying: Six out of ten people bullied online

 

Six out of 10 people who experience online bullying or trolling never report it to the social network involved, new research reveals.

More than a third said they did not report the behaviour because they felt no action would be taken.

The 'Trolled Nation' study also found trolling is now more prevalent than real-life bullying with 49% of teens experiencing bullying offline, compared with the 65% online. A third reported their experiences of it lasted more than a month.

Emma-Jane Cross, founder of charity BeatBullying, said: "We work with hundreds of young people being cyberbullied or trolled so badly that it can lead to depression, truancy, self-harm, or even force them to contemplate or attempt suicide. What's also concerning is that many young people could be suffering in silence.

"The most important thing for young people to remember is not to ignore it. If you see cyberbullying going on, report it to the site concerned. If you're being cyberbullied, always save any bullying messages, posts, pictures or videos you receive or see. Never respond or retaliate, as this can just make things worse, and block any users that send you nasty messages."

Just one in five of those questioned for the research carried out by knowthenet.org.uk said they would go straight to a parent or guardian when confronted by internet bullies with a paltry 1% admitting they'd trust a teacher enough to tell them first.

The Trolled Nation study also revealed older teens are more likely to be affected than younger ones with 19-year-old men the most likely to fall victim – with one in five teens saying they've either experienced or witnessed offensive comments online.

But while a whopping 9 in 10 admitted experiencing problems on Facebook, other sites and apps involved included Twitter (19%) and BlackBerry Messenger (13%) along with Ask.fm, Bebo and WhatsApp

A Facebook spokesman said: "We have a real name policy and provide our users with industry leading tools to block people or report content which they find threatening so that we can remove it quickly."

Various reporting tools are available on the site next to different pieces of content and anything breaching its rules - shown at facebook.com/policies – is removed. Users can find all of Facebook's Safety information here [www.facebook.com/safety]

Both Twitter and BlackBerry declined to make an official comment but the micro-blogging network pointed to the following pages showing its rules [https://support.twitter.com/groups/33-report-abuse-or-policy-violations/topics/121-guidelines-best-practices/articles/18311-the-twitter-rules] and reporting process [https://support.twitter.com/groups/33-report-abuse-or-policy-violations].

Online advice for users of BlackBerry Messenger suggest not to publicly reveal a BBM PIN on social networks as this could allow anyone to add you as a 'Friend'. BBM pictures could also be copied and used elsewhere. However, users of the service can be blocked by selecting "Ignore future invitations' when deleting a BBM contact.

Phil Kingsland, of knowthenet.org.uk, said parents must take an interest in what their children are doing online in order to help in the battle.

He said: "Parents may find it frustrating that children spend so much time absorbed with their smartphone or on social networks. It's precisely because of the importance of these networks to youngsters that they can also cause great distress.

Samsung Galaxy S4: It's innovative

Samsung has finally unveiled its Galaxy S4 smartphone - packed with a host of new features it hopes will keep it one step ahead of the iPhone.

The company showed off the 4G Android-based device at its 'Unpacked' event in New York late last night. But the fourth generation of the handset, due out on April 26, is already dividing opinion among technology experts.

Many believe it is Samsung's best chance to steer people away from Apple's iOS operating system but some fear its new wave of features - some of which verge on the gimmicky - will be overlooked or unused by many general users.

Among the features announced was the expected motion-tracking called Smart Pause, which lets owners control the screen using their eyes. For example, when you are watching a video, it pauses when you look away, then starts again when you look back. The technology also means you can scroll the browser or your emails up and down with your eyes.

Air Gesture allows a wave of the hand to select items such as music tracks and Air View gives the ability to see what's in an email or folder just by hovering your finger over it.

With Dual Camera you can take simultaneous photos and videos using both the 13 megapixel rear camera and lesser two megapixel front snapper. These can then be blended together to make a digital collage. Both can also be used for group video calling and can capture sound attached to still images.

Simon Stanford, of Samsung Electronics UK & Ireland, said many of the adaptations came from customer suggestions. He said: "We are restless about innovation, and are constantly striving to create unique experiences for our customers that will transform their lives. The Galaxy S4 does just that.

"We have listened to what consumers around the world want and taken the intuitive technology from the Galaxy SIII a step further."
 

He said: "The improvements to eye tracking and the additions of S Translator and the hover feature and so on are good steps in this direction, but they can be seen as gimmicks rather than game changers.

"Samsung appears to be trying to kill the competition with sheer volume of new features – there should be something here for everyone, even if most of these new features won't be used by most users.

"There are lots of features, but based on past experience most people will never even find them on the device."

Yan added: "Having innovated rapidly over the last several years to vaunt itself into top spot in the world smartphone rankings, Samsung now faces essentially the same challenge as Apple: how to continue to improve its devices year on year when existing phones are already top of their class, and there aren't obvious shortcomings?

"As rivals such as HTC and Sony up the specs of their devices and provide ever better hardware, it becomes more and more important for Samsung to differentiate on software and services."

Jason Jenkins, editor of CNET UK, said: "Quite a few new features are pointless - who wants to wave at their phone to control it, for example? Regardless, there is no doubt in my mind that the Galaxy S4 will sell incredibly well. The S4 will wipe the floor with the Android competition, just as the last one did."

Ernest Doku, telecoms expert at uSwitch.com, said while the device does have its merits, it could be set for a battle for smartphone supremacy. He explained: "Samsung's latest effort looks set to be the biggest handset of the year – and that's in spite of an inevitable iPhone sequel. However, several manufacturers are trying to fan the flames of a revival, and a string of strong recent launches from BlackBerry, Sony, and HTC will give Samsung some stiff competition."

But according to Scott Hooton, chief commercial officer at Phones 4u, recent YouGov research showing 46% of smartphone owners are considering getting a Samsung model next. It backs up what his company has seen with pre-registrations already much higher against those for the last Galaxy SIII model.

The Galaxy S4 will also be a key test for the new 4G superfast mobile phone networks coming to the UK this summer. It could boost take-up of 4G subscriptions but with Vodafone, O2 and 3 not yet having their service up and running, EE will be the first to launch the Galaxy S4 on a 4G platform.

Fred Huet, of analysts Greenwich Consulting, believes the differences between the latest Samsung and Apple's iPhone are now extremely telling, but he does not rule out the US electronics giant pulling a rabbit from its hat later this year.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Launched In New York

 

Technology giant Samsung has unveiled its new Galaxy S4 smartphone, a handset which allows users to control the screen using their eyes.

The range of new features were revealed at the global launch in New York, including a dual camera function that can take two pictures at once and "smart pause", which lets users pause a video by looking away from the screen.

"We have taken technology and innovation forward to help us get closer to what matters in life, to help us live a richer, simpler and more full life," said JK Shin, president and head of IT and mobile communications at Samsung.

The highly-anticipated smartphone is predicted to pose a major threat to Apple and its dominance of the US market.

But investors have largely shrugged off the launch. Shares in Samsung were 2.3% lower in Seoul on Friday.
The device will be on sale in the UK from April 26, and will be available through 327 mobile operators in 155 countries, including Orange, EE and Vodafone.

Samsung is said to be expecting sales of its new handsets to be as high as 10 million per month, largely driven by its new features, which were demonstrated in a theatrical launch event at the Radio City music hall and Times Square.

A heavily emphasised feature was the Galaxy S4's remote technology which allows users to control functions without touching the 5in (12.7cm) screen.

As well as "smart pause", "smart scroll" lets users browse through emails without touching the screen, the S4 detecting the movements of the eyes and wrist.

Users can also change music tracks or accept a call with a wave of a hand.

Performers on the Radio City stage acted out role-plays to demonstrate other features.

A 'doting father' took photos of his tap-dancing son to show off the dual camera function, which means you can take photos or video using a 13 megapixel rear camera and a two megapixel front camera at the same time and blend the images together, even recording voice tags with them

The phone also has an in-built translator, which can translate voice or text, can measure temperature and humidity, allows users to activate commands via voice control when driving and even monitors your health.
The S4 also automatically creates "story albums" of photos and videos, which can be synchronised with devices at home, while a "group play" function lets people enjoy music, photos and games with people around them.

Marketed as "slimmer and stronger", the S4 weighs 130g and is 7.9mm thick, while its AMOLED technology means the screen has a resolution of 441 pixels per inch.

But technology critics have been divided in their opinions, with some saying the phone was just an update that did not feel "revolutionary".

Web magazine Engadget said it felt the new product "fell flat next to the competition" and that it had an "unabashed focus on features over designs".

But Ernest Doku, telecoms expert at uSwitch, said the handset "more than" lived up to its hype.
"With brains as well as beauty, Samsung's latest effort looks set to be the biggest handset of the year - and that's in spite of an inevitable iPhone sequel.

"However, several manufacturers are trying to fan the flames of a revival, and a string of strong recent launches from BlackBerry, Sony, and HTC will give Samsung some stiff competition."

Technology website The Verge said: "There's a baffling collection of new software here."
Paul Thompson, managing director of mobile advertising company BlisMedia, said the S4 "set" the benchmark on how a mobile device can be integrated into daily life.

He praised the eye-controlled features as "ground-breaking innovation that could change the face of how we use technology", saying "there is certainly enough to set the Galaxy S4 apart from the iPhone 5 by some distance".

Samsung Galaxy S4 Smartphone Set For Launch

Technology fans are gearing up for one of the biggest product launches so far in 2013 - Samsung's Galaxy S4 smartphone.

The unveiling will take place later in New York, with the South Korean firm hoping to set a new benchmark for its rivals.

Rumours circulating on the internet suggest the handset will have a high definition five-inch screen, a 13-megapixel camera and a powerful eight-core processor.

There is also speculation that users may be able to scroll the screen using just their eye movements.
The handset's predecessor, the Galaxy S3, was a massive success for Samsung following its release last year.
It quickly became the standard bearer for Android phones and, combined with the firm's other devices, helped the company overtake Apple as the world's biggest-selling smartphone maker.

However, the iPhone is still the most popular smartphone globally and Apple also has a slightly larger market share in the US.

The stateside launch is therefore being seen as a bold move by Samsung to try to tip that balance.
Samsung has teased the S4 with YouTube videos and, in recent days, a shadowy picture of the phone.
Greg Isbister, the CEO of mobile advertising company BlisMedia, said if the rumours are true then the new device has great potential and the "ability to disrupt the mobile market".

He pointed out that data from any eye tracking technology could also prove useful to advertisers.
"(It could) determine the effectiveness of advertising campaigns and generally give us a feel for what content - format, colour and position on the screen - holds our attention the most."

But Mr Isbister is also hoping that Samsung will improve the usefulness of the Near Field Communication (NFC) technology that featured in the S3.

"Currently the feature is completely useless," he told Sky News. "There should be payment integration and the ability to integrate travel such as oyster systems."

Recent months have also seen Samsung's rivals launching flagship products, keen to steal customers from the big two.

Taiwanese firm HTC is looking to turn around a big drop in profits with the HTC One handset - which has been widely praised by technology sites.

Canada's BlackBerry is also hoping to boost its flagging fortunes with the BlackBerry 10, while China's Huawei last month unveiled what it claims is the fastest phone yet - the Ascend P2.

Apple's next shot in the smartphone arms race is expected this summer with an update to the iPhone 5.

Facebook 'Likes' can reveal secrets

 

Your Facebook page could reveal more about you than you realise - including your sexuality, your IQ and even whether you abuse drugs.

Simply looking at all of a person's Facebook 'Likes' can reveal everything from a person's race to a person's political views - with up to 95% accuracy.

Distinctive patterns of 'Likes' correspond very strongly to different personality traits, say researchers at the University of Cambridge who studies the patterns of 58,000 volunteers' 'likes'.

Facebook users were warned that this information could be visible even on accounts with high privacy settings - possibly alerting employers to details users might wish to be private.

Users were more likely to have a higher IQ if they liked 'Mozart', 'The Godfather' and 'To Kill a Mockingbird'.

People who liked 'I Like Being a Mom' and 'Harley Davidson' were more likely to have a lower IQ, the research found.

People in a relationship liked pages including 'Weight Watchers' and 'Scrapbooking' while singletons followed sports stars such as Usain Bolt and Maria Sharapova.

Heavy drinkers tend to like pages such as 'Tattoo Lovers' and 'Getting A Text That Says I Love You'.

The statistical research method proved 88 per cent accurate for determining male sexuality.

It was 95 per cent accurate for distinguishing race and 85 per cent accurate in determining political views.

Christians and Muslims were correctly identified in 82 per cent of cases, and accurate predictions were also achieved for relationship status and substance abuse.

Even personal details such as whether users’ parents separated before that person reached the age of 21 were accurately predicted to 60%.

The researchers were able to work out their conclusions without relying on obvious 'Likes'- for example only five per cent of gay men and women liked a Gay Marriage page.

The researchers said the observation of 'likes' alone was now believed to be as informative as a personality test.

But worryingly they warned all of the information needed for the telling analysis is readily available to the public - even if your profile adopts the highest privacy setting.

Michal Kosinski, Operations Director at Cambridge University's Psychometric Centre, said: "Given the variety of digital traces people leave behind, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for individuals to control.

"I am a great fan and active user of new amazing technologies, including Facebook.

"I appreciate automated book recommendations, or Facebook selecting the most relevant stories for my newsfeed. However, I can imagine situations in which the same data and technology is used to predict political views or sexual orientation, posing threats to freedom or even life.

"Just the possibility of this happening could deter people from using digital technologies and diminish trust between individuals and institutions - hampering technological and economic progress.

"Users need to be provided with transparency and control over their information."

David Stillwell from Cambridge University added: "I have used Facebook since 2005, and I will continue to do so. But I might be more careful to use the privacy settings that Facebook provides."

The research was carried out at Cambridge’s Psychometrics Centre in collaboration with Microsoft Research Cambridge and published yesterday (Mon) in the journal PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences).

Researchers said their findings could signal the beginning of a revolutionary method of psychological assessment.

Thore Graepel from Microsoft Research said he hoped the research would contribute to the on-going discussions about user privacy.

How to keep your smartphone safe from thieves and hackers

The data stored in your smartphone is probably more valuable than the device itself - but very few of us take basic steps to keep it safe.

Smartphones often contain your personal details (phone number, address etc), passwords for everything from app stores to social network sites and banks - along with personal photos and the contact details of everyone in your address book.

Leaving apps open can put this data in the hands of thieves - as can failure to observe simple security precautions.

It's not just thieves who want it, either - viruses and other unscrupulous apps have begun to target smartphones, usually with the goal of serving adverts direct to people's phones.

Thankfully, a few basic security steps can help to keep your phone safe.

General security tips
There are some simple steps you can take to beef up your security considerably.

Make sure you have your password lock enabled, and more importantly that it’s set to engage soon after any period of inactivity. Set a pin code too on your voicemail so only you can access your messages.

Set up a tracker app like Find my iPhone or LocateMyDroid so that if your phone is lost or stolen you can track, remote lock and if necessary remote wipe it. And if any of your apps or security settings are hacked or breached, remember to change your passwords straight away.

Your security may still be at risk after you’ve sold on your smartphone. Before you sell, back up all your data and then do a full phone factory reset. How to do this differs for each phone so check online for your model.

Make sure too that when you finish using an app – especially those containing sensitive information like banking apps – you close it completely rather than just exiting it. If it's open, and your phone is stolen, it can mean thieves have access to sensitive information.

In iOS this is a simple case of exiting the app, double pressing the home button and doing a long press on the icon in the apps that show in the bottom menu until the ‘close’ x appears before tapping on it.

Android is a little trickier, as you have to navigate the Applications tab, then settings and applications menus and then tap Manage applications. Here you can select an app and tap 'Force stop.'
 
App security 
Apps  represent the biggest vulnerability to your security on your phone. Free apps in particular often share your data with advertising firms - meaning unwanted 'targeted' adverts that pop up on your phone.

A recent study by Appthority shows that free apps for iPhone pose a greater privacy risk than free apps from Google Play, with 60% of the former and 50% of the latter’s top-10 selling apps sharing data with advertising networks.

Be extra vigilant about what apps you download and from where. Check out the app’s privacy policy and terms and conditions to see what data it will mine and share and what permissions it requests, if you’ve already downloaded it you can still check in the app settings menu or website.

A simple rule of thumb here is that if there is no privacy policy, give the app a miss and if it’s free, the chances are the creator is looking to recoup its costs and make money by passing on your information to third parties.

Make sure to always download the latest software updates for your apps as they become available. Many of these updates contain bug fixes and security upgrades that help protect you from the latest malware, although in some cases it may also mean an update to the privacy policy and T&Cs. To be on the safe side, always read what the new update delivers.
 
Staying safe from 'fake apps
Fake apps are also rife on marketplaces such as Google's Play Store.
'Clones' of popular apps such as Angry Birds instead infect your phone with malicious software.

The only defence is to be wary about downloading apps - particularly free ones - from the store.

Some simply serve you annoying adverts. Others, though are far more sinister - adding huge amounts to your bill by dialing foreign numbers or using premium SMS services.

Apps to help your children enjoy iPad safely

Many parents rely on iPad as a helping hand with children - whether to pass the time in a car, as an educational tool to support school work or just to deliver an episode of CBeebies on a Sunday morning.

But with over 300,000 iPad apps in the Apple App Store, finding good apps can be overwhelming - our list below highlights some fun, educational choices.

If you're shopping, it's worth checking age ratings - but any parent of young children should try apps themselves first. 

The suitability of tablets for children has become a hot topic lately following news that 5-year old Danny Kitchen from Bristol ran up a bill for £1700 on in-app purchases while playing a free app.

If you are a parent with young children who share an iPad it’s worth heeding the experience of the Kitchen family.

Many apps don’t cost anything to download, but developers make money from extra in-app purchases like coins, lives and accessories, which can be bought with a couple of taps.

Apple recommends not divulging your Apple ID password to your child and instead entering your password each time it’s needed. Children over 13 are advised to create their own Apple ID, to which you can add iTunes gift certificates.

Apple includes safeguards on the iPad to help prevent unwanted in-app purchases. Go to the Settings menu and select General - Restrictions - Enable Restrictions. Pick a password and there’s an option to turn off In-App Purchases.

Alternatively Require Password  lets you determine whether a password for app purchases is needed instantly or within 15 minutes. Selecting the former means there’s no chance of your children buying anything in the immediate time period after you’ve entered your password.

The Restrictions menu also lets you temporarily remove selected features altogether such as Safari, Camera, iTunes, Facetime and (crucially) Installing Apps. To restore the iPad to normal settings head to Settings - General - Enable Restrictions and enter your password again.

Fix-it Felix Jr.
Free
Thanks to its 8-bit graphics this game will evoke feelings of nostalgia in old-time gamers and recognition in young children who’ve seen Wreck it Ralph. There’s very little educational value here - as Fix-it Felix Jr use your magical hammer to fix what Ralph destroys. But it’s great fun for big and small kids

Itsy Bitsy Spider HD
£1.49
This colourful app brings the classic children’s nursery rhyme alive with a spider that moves around interacting with the environment as your child taps the screen and learns about the environment. Studio Duck Duck Moose creates some of the most innovative apps for young children, so it’s well-working checking out its other apps.

Magic Piano
Free
An app for budding musicians, your child plays along to tunes by tapping the notes as they fall using one, two, three or four fingers. Songs span all genres from Twinkle Twinkle too Gangham Style, some are free, some cost points and others are unlocked. Budding composers can even try some freestyling.

Magic Town
Free
Magic Town is a beautifully animated world packed with interactive stories and games. There are 80 stories, from classics like Rumpelstiltskin to Aliens Love Underpants, while Watch, Play, Learn and Read modes cater for different ages and reading abilities. Magic Town is free to join, with a free download every day or £2.49 a month.

Pocket Phonics
£1.99
Pocket Phonics aims to teach preschoolers how to read and write using phonics. Letters appear on screen as the sound is read out, encouraging children to say the letter before writing it. Designed and tested by teachers, if you’ve got children aged between 3-6 it’s well checking out and there’s a free Lite version.
 
Toca Train
£1.99
If your son (or daughter) is train fanatic they’ll love train-simulator Toca Train. They can drive the train around the track, tapping interactive levers and controls stopping at stations to load and unload passengers, sounding the siren and changing the camera angle.

Toy Story Read-Along
Free
Toy Story comes to iPad in this interactive book. Following the adventures of Woody and Buzz children can flick through the pages, listening to the story or recording their own voice. Extra activities such as finger painting, music, videos and games help bring the reading experience alive.
 
Tozzle HD
£1.49
Tozzle comprises of 39 puzzles, which your child solves by dragging and dropping pieces onto the screen. Designed to improve shape recognition and motor activity, on completion some of the puzzles come to life with sound effects and motion. A free Lite version is also available.

New 'smart' walking stick has sat-nav to guide people home

A 'smart' walking stick designed in Japan has built in GPS navigation to help guide old people home.

The stick has an easy-to-read LED screen which shows arrows in the direction the user needs to walk.

It also features a heart rate monitor - in a thumb reader on top - and transmits heart rate data to health workers and relatives remotely.

A working version of the stick was shown off by maker Fujitsu at this week's Mobile World Congress show in Barcelona.

No price was confirmed, but the device could be a hit in Fujitsu's native Japan, which has a large population of older people.

Rik Henderson of gadget site Pocket-Lint said, "Fujitsu dedicated part of its Mobile World Congress 2013 stand in Barcelona to future technologies. Clearly, it is still some way off release, but we were assured that it would be a full consumer product eventually. It will also be able to read temperature and humidity."
"Naturally, it's far too early in the development life to mull over price, but if the company manages to keep it reasonably affordable, we could see the GPS walking stick becoming a very useful form of technology in years to come."

The stick works by 'learning' a set route determined by a computer, and directs its owner home accordingly.

It can also transmit the location of its owner to relatives and health workers.

10 things you didn't know your smartphone could do

From tracking your heart rate to starting your car and recording voice messages, your handset can do far more than you realise.

From creating a wi-fi hotspot anywhere to paying for things without a credit card, the average smartphone has a few unexpected tricks up its sleeve.

We’ve selected 10 things you may not know your your smartphone can do - some require an app download, but all are free.

WiFi Hotspot

If your phone runs Android Gingerbread, Windows Phone, BBOS or iOS, you can use it as WiFi hotspot to get online using devices (such as a tablet or laptop) that don’t have a cellular data connection. This is called tethering.

Turn on the hotspot function on your phone, search for it using the second device, enter the password and start browsing.

Tethering uses data, so to avoid hefty charges make sure you’ve got an unlimited data allowance. Some networks don’t allow it either, so check first.

Google search the real world

Google Goggles (free, Android) lets you identify products, places and logos using the camera on your Android phone. Use the app to take a picture and it then analysis writing or imagery and matches it with a database.

Google Goggles can be employed in a myriad of ways - use it on holiday to discover more about landmarks, scan business cards to your contacts, scan barcodes, translate foreign languages and even solve Sudoku.

Google Goggles needs an active data connection, so if you use it abroad stick to WiFi to avoid charges.

Car keys

Ever have that fleeting moment when you wonder ‘did I lock my car?’   Mercedes-Benz mbrace (iOS) and My BMW Remote (iOS) are free apps that let car owners lock their vehicles remotely by sending a signal to the car.

Before you download the apps check the running requirements - BMW requires BMW Assist and a bluetooth-enabled navigation system.

Mobile wallet

Use your smartphone to pay for goods without opening your wallet. 

Many smartphones include NFC chips, which work with services like Orange QuickTap to pay for small-value items using a special reader found in shops such as M&S and Subway.

Even if your phone doesn’t have an NFC chip, the Starbucks app (free iOS and Android) lets you buy coffee using your phone. Simply load money on and pay by scanning the on-screen barcode - useful for those days when you don’t have any change, but need a caffeine fix.
 
Heart Rate monitor

We certainly don’t advise self diagnosis, but Instant Heart Rate (free Android, iOS, Windows Phone) is a quick way of measuring your pulse. Hold your finger over the lens for about 10 seconds and the camera tracks colour changes, with every heartbeat visible on a real-time graph.

See instantly see how your heart rate compares to average and store up to five measurements. With built-in heart rate zones, Instant Heart Rate Monitor is a useful tool for exercise.

Spirit Level

Planning some DIY this weekend? Thanks to a built in gyroscope, there are many apps that turn your smartphones into a spirit level.

Some like Spirit Level Plus (free, Android) replicate simple spirit levels, while others like Spirit Level (free iOS) can also display the angle and lock accuracy values. Upgrade to Spirit Level Pro (69p) to measure angles of elevation, slope and incline and align pictures.

Voice Memos

Forgot your mothers birthday card? With the help of your
smartphone quickly send a personal voice message instead. Select Soun Recorder on an Android device or Voice Memo on an Apple phone (each with
a funky old-fashioned microphone interface), tap to record,
say/sing/shout your message and share your recording via email or
message. 

The recipient can then download the file to their smartphone
or computer and you’ll be off the hook!

Track your family

Find My iPhone is a free app that lets you pinpoint the location of your phone should you lose it, but for parents it’s a great way of keeping track of your childs location. Install the app and log onto www.iCloud.com, enter their  Apple ID password (if they’ll give it to you!) and as long as the phone is turned on, you’ll see the location on a map.

Android users can use Life360 Family Locator (free Android, iOS) to locate family members,  receive alerts when they reach destinations and even send messages.

Speed Cameras

Expensive speed camera fines are a source of frustration for motorists, TomTom Speed Cameras (currently free if you subscribe via the app) and Trapster (Android and iOS) warn you of forthcoming speed cameras to help you avoid fines and drive more safely. 

TomTom Speed Cameras also warns of red lights, average speed checks and mobile hotspots.

Watch live TV

TVCatchup (free, Android and iOS) lets you watch live Freeview television on your smartphone, it’s totally free and although there’s no record function, you can pause it.

Streaming video uses a lot of data so make sure you’re connected to a WiFi hotspot and activate ‘Use WiFi Only’ to avoid

New Merc S-Class coming this May

The next generation Mercedes-Benz S-class will be revealed in Hamburg on 15 May, Daimler chief Dieter Zetsche has revealed.

"The S-class is the most important car of all to us," said Zetsche. "Its success makes us stronger going forward."

 

Extra importance has been placed on the S-class following the failure of Maybach. Zetsche said that Mercedes would "broaden the portfolio of the S-class" to make more luxurious versions aimed at the Rolls-Royce Ghost.

 

Zetsche believes that the S-class should have more success in the super-luxury market than the Maybach as it is a brand with "a stronger foundation".

 

"We can sell more cars at better prices with the S-class," he said. "Pushing the S-class upmarket will also further strengthen and balance the Mercedes brand at the top end just as we are going smaller with the A-class range of cars."

 

He also confirmed the next generation C-class would be revealed next year. The new model, along with the recently revised E-class, are crucial for Mercedes in China if it is to close the gap on Audi and BMW, according to Zetsche.

 

The new C-class and S-class are new Mercedes not included in Mercedes' plan to launch 13 new models without a predecessor by 2020, but three of the five models - CLA, CLA Shooting Brake and GLA SUV - to be spun off the A-class platform were.

Facebook hit with fresh IPO-related lawsuit

A Facebook Inc shareholder has sued the social networking company's Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg and others over its troubled IPO, potentially reviving legal claims that a different court dismissed in February.

The lawsuit by Gaye Jones alleges that the company's directors and officers knew that Facebook did not disclose weaker revenue trends as more users accessed the website through mobile devices. The complaint alleges that information had been selectively shared with the company's IPO underwriters and key investors.

Unlike similar lawsuits that were dismissed last month partly because the shareholders did not own the stock when the alleged misconduct took place prior to Facebook's May IPO, Jones has owned Facebook stock since February 2012.

The lawsuit seeks to force the directors and other defendants to disgorge the money they made from selling stock through the IPO which they allegedly knew was overpriced.

"The defendants were unjustly enriched because they realized enormous profits and financial benefits from the IPO, despite knowing that reduced revenue and earnings forecasts for the company had not been publicly disclosed to investors," said the complaint.

Facebook said in a statement that "we believe this lawsuit is without merit and will defend ourselves vigorously."

Shares in Facebook's highly anticipated IPO fell from the initial price of $38 to about $25 within a month. The stock closed on Monday at $27.72 on Nasdaq, down 6 cents.

Soon after the IPO, which was also marked by technical glitches on the Nasdaq exchange, more than 50 investor lawsuits were filed. A proposed class action is being heard in federal court in Manhattan.

Jones' lawsuit is a derivative case, meaning the investor seeks to step into the shoes of the company and any money recovered from Zuckerberg and others through a settlement or judgment would be paid to Facebook, not shareholders.

Four previous and very similar derivative cases were dismissed last month by U.S. District Court Judge Robert Sweet in Manhattan.

In addition to noting that shareholders did not own stock prior to the IPO, Sweet said that although plaintiffs had claimed that Facebook hid facts from investors, the company had "repeatedly made express and extensive" warnings about the increased use of mobile applications.

The lawsuit was filed in the Court of Chancery in Delaware, where Facebook is incorporated, and also named as defendants the IPO underwriters - units of JPMorgan Chase & Co, Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs Group Inc.