Samsung Smart Dock shows what it’s capable of with a Galaxy Note II in the front seat

A short while after the launch of the Galaxy Note II, Samsung launched a special dock for the phablet.

Sammy is calling it the Smart Dock and its chock-full of features, which AndroidNZ has shown in a lengthy video.

The Smart Dock features three USB ports, HDMI port with stereo out as well as a 3.5mm audio jack. The phone is docked via its microUSB port, which also charges it.

A trio of USB ports means that you can hook up the Note II to a mouse, keyboard and external storage simultaneously. Obviously, the HDMI is there to connect with an HDTV or a monitor.

And as AndroidNZ has demonstrated the options are limitless. Check out what the Smart Dock is capable of in the video below.

In the US, the Smart Dock is priced at $99.99. EU pricing is not yet detailed.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Google Maps + Google Earth = Google iOS 6 app

Google will reportedly combine Google Maps and Google Earth in its forthcoming app for Apple iPhones and iPads -- but you may have to wait a while to get it.

Apple iPhone users, rejoice! Google is building a new Google Maps app for iOS 6 that will reportedly combine the features of the old app with the whiz-bangery of Google Earth, according to a report from The New York Times. The only downside: It’s still a long way off.

Apparently, Apple blind-sided Google when it decided to drop Google Maps from iOS 6. The Verge and The New York Times report that, according to anonymous sources, Apple’s contract to use Google’s navigation app still had a year of life left when Cupertino told Mountain View that it would no longer need its mapping services. Because of this, Google had not yet begun to build out a new version of Google Maps — which is the reason the company does not have a new Google Maps pending with Apple now.

Apple’s reported decision to drop Google Maps is said to have come before Apple’s 2012 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 11, when the company unveiled iOS 6 and its new Maps App. Google responded by holding its own Google Maps event ahead of WWDC, on June 6, which showcased some of its new 3D mapping technology — a feature that is expected to make its way into the new Google Maps.

The reason everyone cares so much about a new Google Maps is, of course, because Apple’s new Maps app is packed full of inaccuracies, strangely distorted landscapes, and lacks public transit information. Apple has already corrected some of these failings, and promises that it will get better over time.

In the end, this will all work itself out. And even now, it’s not that bad. Apple Maps, sub-par in some respects though it may be, works perfectly well for many users. In China, at least, it’s apparently far better than Google Maps ever was. The turn-by-turn navigation is quite useful. And 3D view — while entirely impractical for finding where you need to go — is at least fun to look at while bored. That’s something, right?

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Daniel Craig signs on for two more James Bond movies

Hopefully you're a fan of the latest iteration of super spy James Bond, because Daniel Craig is going to be occupying the role for a while.

Come October 26, James Bond hits the silver screen for the 23rd (official) time in Skyfall. Daniel Craig, who has been portraying the character since 2006, has proven a very competent James Bond, and many fans rank him just below Sean Connery as the best Bond of all time. Hopefully that contingent of Craig fans includes you, otherwise today’s news that Craig has signed on to star in the 24th and 25th James Bond films will probably not come as a positive.

Though Bond fansite MI6 offers no substantial information on the next two Bond movies, it does assure us that Craig has made some sort of official agreement with EON Productions to reprise his role two more times. Additionally, the MI6 piece claims that EON, Sony and MGM (who currently have a very circuitous agreement over the distribution and promotion of the James Bond films) have been hinting at a return to the days when new James Bond movies would enter production on a tight schedule and appear in theaters every two years or so. There’s no official confirmation that the studios will go in this route, but if true that would mean that Daniel Craig is our James Bond until at least 2016.

That said, MI6 also worries that this rapid production schedule might infringe on EON’s ability to create genuinely good Bond films. Skyfall, for instance, is reportedly excellent due specifically to the extended break the production company was given between this film and its last Bond flick. Likewise, Daniel Craig has made public his desire to take a bit of a break from the Bond character following the debut of Skyfall. Not a huge break, mind you — Craig’s stated many, many times that he absolutely loves the James Bond mythos and will play the lead role until EON opts to replace him — but enough to recharge himself mentally in preparation for whatever James Bond 24 might require of him as an actor.

Given Craig’s success with the character we fully support both his new agreement to continue working with EON and his desire to take some time off. Anyone who has seen any of Craig’s Bond films will recognize how physically and mentally demanding the role must be, and yet we don’t want to see Craig abandon his iteration of the super spy. Though we all had doubts as to how he’d turn out prior to his work in 2006′s Casino Royale, Craig has done an admirable job of silencing detractors. He’s not the suave, ladykilling, international man of mystery that Sean Connery portrayed, nor the bizarrely silly spy of the Roger Moore era; instead, Craig depicts a brutish, conflicted version of James Bond that is simultaneously more “realistic” and offers a more visceral, thrilling viewing experience. If it were up to us Craig would be James Bond until he’s physically incapable of lifting a Walther PPK.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Luggage lawsuit blocks Avengers box set release

A luxury luggage company is suing Marvel Studios over its upcoming Avengers Blu-ray collection that comes packaged inside a knock-off briefcase.

We’ve known for quite a while that Marvel Studios, had planned to release The Avengers on Blu-ray later this month. Specifically, September 25, for those of you saving every penny in anticipation of finally being able to fire up the blockbuster film on whatever conglomeration of technologies you refer to as your “home theater.”

Alongside the relatively standard two- and four-disc Blu-ray releases, the company had also planned to release a special, limited edition 10-disc collection (see above) that includes The Avengers, all of the extra content found in the aforementioned two- and four-disc releases, as well as all of the Marvel superhero movies released prior to The Avengers that help set up that film’s background story. This means that prospective buyers would own Captain America, both Iron Man films, Thor and 2008′s The Incredible Hulk (which is not to be confused with Ang Lee’s 2003 cinematic exploration of Marvel’s giant green rage monster). That’s quite an impressive set, even at its proposed $220 price point, but thanks to a new lawsuit it seems that Marvel Studios may have to go back to the drawing board on this collection.

Rimowa GmbH, a German luggage firm, claims that Marvel’s use of a faux briefcase in the 10-disc collection directly damages one of the firm’s key trademarks. The Marvel briefcase, Rimowa believes, is based wholly on the design of its “Topas Attache” briefcase, a sharp-looking aluminum number that suggests both excellent, subtle taste and the idea that its holder is someone of great importance. It also features a $750 price tag, so as long as you’re among the set that prizes conspicuous consumption above all things the case also suggests that you’ve got tons of cash — a crucial feature when one is shopping for the adult world’s answer to the Trapper Keeper.

Those of you who clicked through that last link may recognize the Topas as the briefcase used by Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury character throughout the past decade of Marvel Studios films. Rimowa has no problem with the Topas being used in the films, and even provided each movie with a set of cases to use. The problem, according to the German firm, is that Marvel Studios never received permission to recreate the suitcase for its big 10-disc collection. The idea was that the whole bundle would come packed inside a case that looks identical to the one Fury uses in the collection’s films, though obviously Marvel didn’t see the wisdom in massively jacking up the price of its collection purely so it could include a genuine Topas therein. Rimowa, in turn, believes that by creating an aesthetic replica of the Topas, Marvel Studios has directly violated the company’s trademark on the design.

Rimowa’s lawsuit alleges “trademark infringement, trademark dilution and unfair competition,” and, according to The Hollywood Reporter, seeks “all profits from allegedly unlawful conduct and an award of three times plaintiff’s actual damages to be proved.” Given how massively successful Marvel’s superhero films have been, particularly The Avengers, the actual figure Rimowa is hoping to be granted could be quite large.

As much as we usually despise the overly litigious nature of modern America, one can’t help but notice that the Topas Attache does look very, very similar to the knock-off case in Marvel’s collection. Anyone with eyes can see that. However, the design is exceedingly simple, and we could certainly see a judge going along with the idea that Rimowa can’t really have a trademark on what is effectively a matte aluminum hexahedron. On the other hand, we could just as easily imagine a judge slapping down Marvel’s design and forcing the company to pay whatever figure Rimowa eventually comes up with. We’ll keep you updated as new information is available.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Acer to favor Android over Windows Phone 8 in its 2013 smartphone push

Acer plans to launch six Android smartphones in 2013, and one running Windows Phone 8, but not until the second half of the year.

Acer has been selling smartphones for a while, however it has never made much of a splash in the market, especially compared to HTC, its fellow Taiwanese mobile manufacturer.

It’s hoping to change this in 2013 though, and a report by Digitimes says the company has at least seven new mobile devices on the release schedule for the coming year.

These will be split into six Android smartphones and one running Windows Phone 8. The continued backing of Android isn’t a surprise, but what about the appearance of a single Windows Phone 8 phone?

Acer wasn’t one of the four hardware partners named at Microsoft’s Windows Phone 8 announcement back in June, but it was one of those who joined up with Microsoft for Windows Phone 7.

Before now, the company admitted it was put off Windows Phone due to its hardware and software limitations, and although devices were rumored, none appeared. Finally, a solitary Acer Windows Phone 7 device was launched with 7.5 Mango — the Allegro, or W4 — in late 2011, but it didn’t set pulses racing.

Therefore, the admission it’ll be concentrating on Android for 2013, with the exception of one possible Windows Phone, sounds like business as usual.

Acer’s ongoing spat with Microsoft

The news comes soon after Acer’s CEO very publicly voiced his displeasure over Microsoft’s decision to produce its own Windows 8 tablets. “Think twice” JT Wang told the company, warning them that the Surface tablets would “create a huge negative impact” on the industry.

Wang’s sentiments weren’t shared by Chen Guowei, Acer’s global smartphone group manager, when he spoke to the press in July. He’s quoted as saying that with the release of Windows Phone 8, “the time is ripe for investment in the platform,” but as its first smartphone to use the OS won’t be out until the second half of 2013; it’s obviously not that ripe.

With nearly a year to go before then, it doesn’t sound like Acer is straying too far away from what it knows. Plus, by this time next year, we’d have expected Windows Phone 8 to have either had, or be expecting, its first major software update too.

Windows Phone 8’s official release can’t be that far away, and with just one Windows Phone 8 handset from Samsung announced, and now one promised from Acer in 12 months time; Microsoft had best hope Nokia and HTC has something special to reveal this month, as the initial hardware line-up appears to need a boost — and soon.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Nokia 808 PureView used to replace a professional cinema camera, does an amazing job

We already know the Nokia 808 PureView has an amazing camera. It even managed to beat a micro four-thirds camera in our blind test from a while ago. We are still blown by the result of the experiment by the Swedish video professional Christopher Westerholm, who gave the cameraphone a even more advanced task – replacing a cinematic camera.

He ended up with an impressive 120-second video showcasing what the Nokia 808 PureView is capable of when in the hands of a someone who knows what he’s doing.

Check the test footage Christopher made for an upcoming project of his. Make sure you watch it in full HD.

Here’s how the Swede got these amazing shots.

I did a “Flat picture” profile in the phone by dialing down contrast, saturation and sharpness and underexposed some of the scenes to protect highlights. I also used a mattebox, and 4’4 polarizing, and for some of the brighter scenes a 4’4 ND filter 0.9. I later upscaled the footage in premiere pro to later crop it for 1:2.35 aspect ratio. I color-corrected quite heavily, because I think I pushed the contrast a little bit to much so it all looked very flat.

Impressive indeed and I can’t wait for him to publish the full video of his project once it’s ready.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Google Nexus 7 gets overclocked to the screaming 2.0GHz, the build not available to the public yet

The Nexus 7 proved that it’s great for overclocking a while ago when the quad-core Tegra 3 inside it got pushed to 1.6GHz. However, now thanks to yet another enthusiastic XDA Developer, the Nexus 7 has reached the screaming 2.0GHz.

The experimental kernel comes courtesy of Clemsyn, who has managed to get the quad-core Tegra 3 to its limit. The kernel isn’t yet available for the general public, as its quite unstable and causes some issues.

Still, 8082 points in Quadrant benchmarks sounds unbelievably good. Amd, yes, benchmark results don’t necessarily mean smoother user experience in everyday tasks, you can be sure the overlocked 2.0GHz quad-core Tegra 3 will make a difference.

By the way, the same developer has a pretty stable Nexus 7 1.8GHz kernel, which is enthusiast owners can try for themselves.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Apple television is still a long way off, says analyst

The release of an Apple television in the new future is "extremely unlikely," says Pacific Crest analyst Andy Hargreaves.

It’s been a while since we’ve heard anything about an Apple television — a mythical device that has repeatedly flooded the blogosphere over the past year. And now it seems as though we’re going to have to wait a bit longer before any concrete information comes out of Cupertino.

Fortune’s Apple editor Philip Elmer-DeWitt reports that Pacific Crest market analyst Andy Hargreaves released a “company update” memo today regarding Apple’s television plans. The memo was written after a meeting between Hargreaves, Apple CFO Peter Oppenheimer, and Eddy Cue, Senior Vice President of of Internet Software and Services. In short, Hargreaves estimates that the Apple television problem is far from cracked thanks to Hollywood’s lock on content distribution.

Here is the portion of the memo published by Elmer-DeWitt:

An Apple Television Appears Extremely Unlikely in the Near-term

Relative to the television market, Eddy Cue, Apple SVP of Internet Software and Services, reiterated the company’s mantra that it will enter markets where it feels it can create great customer experiences and address key problems. The key problems in the television market are the poor quality of the user interface and the forced bundling of pay TV content, in our view. While Apple could almost certainly create a better user interface, Mr. Cue’s commentary suggested that this would be an incomplete solution from Apple’s perspective unless it could deliver content in a way that is different from the current multichannel pay TV model.

Unfortunately for Apple and for consumers, acquiring rights for traditional broadcast and cable network content outside of the current bundled model is virtually impossible because the content is owned by a relatively small group of companies that have little interest in alternative models for their most valuable content. The differences in regional broadcast content and the lack of scale internationally also create significant hurdles that do not seem possible to cross at this point.

We have reached out to Hargreaves for further comment, but have not yet received a response.

Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal reported that Apple is currently in talks with major cable service providers about the development of an Apple set-top box that would have live TV capabilities, as well as DVR functionality. Similar to Hargreaves’s assessment, WSJ indicated that Apple has not yet reached a deal with any of the cable operators, and that may be because of “the reluctance of operators to let Apple establish a foothold in the television business.”

Talk of an Apple-branded television hit a fevered pitch last October after the release of Walter Isaacson’s biography of late Apple co-founder and CEO Steve Jobs, who is quoted in the book as saying he had “finally cracked” the problem of producing a television that lives up to Apple’s user experience standards.

Piper Jaffray’s Apple analyst, Gene Munster, is one of the people most responsible for spreading Apple “iTV”rumors. Back in March, Munster said that the Apple television “is real.” He also proclaimed that it would be “the biggest thing in consumer electronics since the smartphone came out.”

In May, Apple iTV rumors heated up once again after an anonymous source claimed to have seen an Apple television set prototype, and claimed that it had both Siri voice control, and FaceTime video chat functionality.

Well, for now at least, it seems as though we’re all going to have to hold off on our Apple iTV purchasing plans. Which is probably a good thing — more time to save up for what will surely be one of the most expensive televisions on the market, if it ever gets there.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

2013 Lexus GS 350 review

It’s been a while since Lexus turned many heads. But the new design language from the luxury Japanese automaker is nothing short of spectacular and has allowed the sleepy “L” to leap back into the same league as the  many breath-taking designs coming out Germany.

Of course, dominating any market is never an easy endeavor, yet Lexus managed to do so for years. What’s more, they did it with seeming effortlessness that one can only imagine irritated its clear-cut rivals. But like its parent company, Toyota, Lexus has suffered as of late. In 2011, we saw the brand suffer and slip down the pecking order, with many of the German luxury brands, such as BMW and Audi, compelling customers to jump ship.

After having taken a break in the U.S. market for the 2012 model year, the Lexus GS 350 is back for 2013. Has the Japanese luxury marquee finally decided to show up to the dance and appeal to the more visceral sensibilities of its customers — or will it continue to play it safe and forgo what has driven customers to its rivals?

Building bold and stylish momentum

People don’t often like to admit it, but looks matter — especially with an automobile. Even if they can go fast, handle like a dream, and sport some insane sound system that reverberates throughout every inch of your body, that “dream car” needs to be easy on the eyes, or nobody is going to think twice when something prettier comes along. We’re superficial creatures in a lot of ways – and that’s OK.

For the 2013 GS 350, it seems like Lexus is finally hip to this harsh truth; the GS 350 is a beautiful creature, one that immediately grabs your attention and refuses to let go. A lot of that credit has to go toward what Lexus is calling its new spindle grille.

Like BMW’s iconic double kidney, Audi’s interlocking rings, and Mercedes three-pointed star, the new up-front design element Lexus has added instills a flair and character we assumed was long forgotten at the company — though we have seen glimpses of life over at Lexus recently, in the form of the LFA supercar and IS sport sedan.

For the better part of a decade, however, Lexus has been operating on cruise control. Lexus has always built quality, reliable cars. But for the price, people want more than just that. They want fun. They want passion. And they want something that’s going to turn heads. Honestly, when was the last time you were truly impressed by how great a Lexus looks…that far back, huh? Yeah, that’s what we thought. Thankfully, the invigorated style of the GS has breathed new life into a brand that seemed content to wallow in exceptional mediocrity.

In addition to its mean mug, the GS 350 features a host of styling refinements that we truly appreciate. Our undying love for smartly lined LED lights has not gone unanswered, with the GS 350 featuring an integrated strip just below the headlamps. The dimensions up front have been widened by a couple of inches, which helps give the car a more aggressive look head-on, while to the side and rear designs offer more subdued styling. Some might argue that the design isn’t bold enough, but we disagree. Come off too harsh and Lexus would miss its mark. And, like it or not, that spindle-grille has been described by the company as “the new face of Lexus,” so expect to see it on many more upcoming models.

In the end, the exterior design of the 2013 GS 350 manages to be a lot of things: aggressive, elegant, athletic, and subdued. There really is something here to satiate a wide array of tastes. But more than anything else, it’s fun and fierce — and those are two adjectives we haven’t used to describe a Lexus in way too long.

The momentum continues…

We’ve grown accustomed to compromise while reviewing cars. As with most things, there are aspects we enjoy and others we don’t. This is typically dealt with a modicum of civility on our part because, after all, nobody is perfect. This unfortunate reality is often most prevalent when examining the exterior and interior of a vehicle. Thankfully, this isn’t an issue in the 2013 Lexus GS 350.

The styling momentum carries over from the exterior into the cabin of the GS 350. Lexus has long been known for its quality cabins. And while traditional styling sensibilities can be witnessed throughout, there is a far greater degree of modernity as well. Whether it’s the soft and contemporary hue of the ambient LED lighting throughout the cabin, the electro-luminescent gauge cluster, or the 8-inch LCD control display with touchpad interface (more on than in a bit), the cabin is as smartly dressed as it is comfortable.

Adjustable 10-way power seats come standard on the 2013 Lexus GS 350, but our loaner upped the ante to 18 courtesy of its Luxury Package ($6,530). And while that might seem like overkill, the GS 350’s firm seats up front manage to cradle both driver and passenger making it the most comfortable cabins we’ve sat in to date, with the BMW 335i coming in at a close second and the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque awarded the bronze.

Altogether, there is cabin space aplenty, both up front and in the rear. For the 2013 model year, rear passengers have been afforded nearly three more inches of hip room, and leg room is hardly an issue, measuring at 36.8-inches. While cargo space has been an issue in past iterations, Lexus has managed to address that thanks to the new redesign, which now allows for 14.3 cubic feet that should fit a set of golf clubs or a decent amount of luggage.

We wouldn’t expect a Lexus cabin to look cheap, and this one doesn’t. The mix of leather and real wood enhances the cabin a great deal, and breaks up the endless sea of leather found on the seats and wrapped around almost the entirety of the dash.

The price is wrong… for navigation

There isn’t exactly a tech drought when it comes to mid-size luxury sedans. And considering our review car hovers north of $60,000, we assumed our loaner would naturally fall into that category. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case here. While our review unit features some bedazzling tech of its own, curiously absent was the optional navigation system, upgraded 12.3-inch wide LCD display, and Lexus’s Enform system, which is similar to BMW’s iDrive.

This, more than anything, has us rather miffed. The 2013 GS is a strong showing from Lexus. But overlooking one of the most quintessential technology features found in even the most pedestrian of vehicles nowadays is unacceptable. Apparently 60 grand will get you a lot, but it won’t get you a navigation system. Rubbish, Lexus, simply rubbish.

That gigantic misstep aside, the GS 350 does manager to muster an impressive showing in the tech department. While Lexus Enform offers its own apps suite with Pandora, Yelp, and a host of other integrated apps, moderately savvy owners can work around this by utilizing the vehicles simple Bluetooth connectivity feature to connect a smartphone or tablet.

On top of effortless voice commands to make hands-free phone calls, you can also stream music apps like Pandora and Spotify with ease. The GS 350 features a USB port housed in the middle console, so charging your smart device is easy. But be warned: operating apps like Spotify, or even connecting your iPod in order to listen to your library of music, doesn’t always work as smoothly as it should. Lexus’s system has a hard time keeping pace with track changes, and will often display the wrong track altogether. Often we were told to wait while the system accessed our iPod’s library. It’s annoying. This type of problem isn’t just confined to Lexus vehicles. However, given the vehicle’s price, it’s much less easy to overlook or forgive.

The GS 350 also features Lexus’s handy Remote Touch interface. This square-shaped controller sits in front of an elevated wrist pad, and makes navigating the vehicle’s menus a breeze. While it’s not quite as accurate as a mouse, which is the closest comparison we can think of, it does offer an unprecedented level of control and accuracy for an in-car computer system. There is a corresponding icon that shows up on the display, and selecting various functions is as simple as clicking down on the button. This is, by far, the best system we have had the pleasure of operating, and we hope more automakers follow suit.

Soft-spoken performer

The 2013 Lexus GS 350 is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 306 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. Transmission options are limited to a six-speed automatic with manual shift paddle controls, but customers can opt for either a rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive system. EPA rating for the rear-wheel-drive version is 19 mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the highway, and 23 mpg combined. Our all-wheel drive review unit earns a little less at 19 mpg in the city, 26 on the highway, and 21 combined. For comparison, the BMW 535i xDrive with 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder and the Audi A6 with Quattro all-wheel drive and a 3.0-liter V6 earn comparable returns with 21/30/24 and 19/28/22, respectively.

We were pleased to discover that the GS 350 isn’t hindered by the ghost of its subdued forbearers. The engine is exquisitely vocal, and the rumble and growl crept ever so blissfully into our aural canals at every push of the ignition or spool of torque being blasted through. However, it never manages to match the sound sensation emanating from some of its German rivals — namely, BMW’s 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder — but is a raucous step in the right direction for Lexus.

A refined road warrior

The 2013 Lexus GS 350 features some truly impressive driving dynamics, and in many ways keeps pace with the German performance-based luxury sedans. Its uncanny ability to grip the road, even when power is being sent viciously to the wheels, is admirable and offers a truly engaging ride for those that seek it out. When not stopping the accelerator, the GS 350 provides a supple and composed ride. And although we expected as much, the ability to weave in and out of each driving scenario was a feat, and sensation, that instilled in us even more confidence that Lexus has the potential to rival the best of what Germany has to offer.

That said, we still have a minor qualm: The GS 350 has a tendency to release its revs too early in the powerband, even when in manual shifting mode. This becomes more of a nuisance for enthusiasts that want to push their vehicle harder than most are likely to do — but it’s something Lexus should better tune for upcoming variations.

Speaking of upcoming variations, while we thoroughly enjoyed Lexus’s finely-tuned 3.5-liter V6, the fact that it is only available as a six-speed automatic reeks of a rush job. So many of its competitors are swapping in seven- and eight-speed transmissions, and the GS 350 should be no different.

Finish Line

At the risk of sounding cheesy, the 2013 GS 350 is not just a new model — it’s a statement. As with its remarkable LFA concept, Lexus is looking to show the world what it can do. We might be able to accuse the luxury automaker of many things, but it finally seems we can no longer criticize it for resting on its laurels and being smacked around by rivals it managed to best with relative ease for so many years.

In the 2013 GS 350, we have a real contender in the mid-size luxury segment. It features bold styling, a finely-crafted interior, and a satisfying mill that has left us incredibly impressed — even if it does need some further refinement to truly content with those pesky Germans and their proverbial symphony on wheels.

And yet, for all its quality, the GS 305 can do more. Mileage and powertrain efficiency needs to be ironed out. And while we are smitten with its design, we can’t help but think Lexus has a greater degree of room with which to explore.

Suffice to say, Lexus has our attention once again and rightfully so — now that it does it must hold onto it. That may prove easier said than done. But if the GS 350 is anything to go off of, that goal appears well within Lexus’s reach. For those seeking out a solid performer across the board, we recommend the 2013 Lexus GS 350. For those of us seeking out an edgier, more raw experience, however, it might serve us well to hold off on emigrating from the Rhineland for a while longer.

Highs

• Style — yes, a modern Lexus with style and flair!

• Solid performer across the board

• Excellent interface controls

• Comfortable and stylish cabin

• Exceptional road manners

Lows

• Lack of navigation system despite luxury package add-on

• Somewhat recycled powertrain

• Unimpressive fuel economy

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

EA’s Peter Moore says game discs aren’t going anywhere soon

EA's chief operating officer says that packaged goods are going to be part of the games business for a while to come.

EA may see its future in free-to-play PC games but it doesn’t foresee the end of physical games in the immediate future. In fact, despite years of decline in video game retail, EA expects that the impending release of the Xbox 720, PlayStation 4, and even Wii U will revitalize the ailing business of selling games in a store.

The company’s digital revenues grew to $1 billion last fiscal year and it expects that to increase to nearly $2 billion before this year ends. Physical disc sales are still going to pull in the bulk of its revenue though.

“The tipping point will come,” EA chief operating officer Peter Moore told MCV, “But it’s not that packaged is going away, it’s that digital is going up. Let’s not misunderstand this. Our forecast the year is to also do $2.6 billion in packaged goods. So there will be a £40 console game (the UK equivalent of a $60 game in the US), but there will be an iPhone experience and a PC experience too. There is always an opportunity for a Battlefield or a FIFA.”

He’s right. After all, people are actually still buying music CDs and DVDs. The all-digital future is coming, but it won’t be here even in the next five years. What Moore doesn’t address though is how there will be fewer and fewer retail games. Battlefield and FIFA, games that will sell millions of copies, will be available as discs, but will Persona 4 Arena, something that will only sell in the hundred of thousands? Not a chance.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Flickr app for Android gets a major update

The Flickr app for Android has been around for a while now but thanks to its lackluster nature and the growing disinterest in the service itself means not a lot of people know or care about it.

That should change a bit with the release of the new version 1.5 app, which brings some new features along with an updated UI design, which should hopefully make people excited about using Flickr once again.

If you’ve used the older version of the app, you’ll notice that the update brings a new design. Although it’s not particularly great and Flickr seems to have missed the keynote where Google announced Ice Cream Sandwich and the new Holo UI, it still looks decent.

Upon launching the app you’ll be greeted with the usual Flickr way of wishing you in various languages, and after that you’ll land in your user stream where you’ll see your and your friends’ recent activity. The second tab on the bottom shows you your photostream and contacts. Tap a photo and you’ll see its details, tap it again and you’ll see it full screen. You can swipe horizontally to move between images and double tap to zoom.

The Flickr app also lets you take photos and there is a new camera mode for that. Once you take a photo, you can edit it using the built-in filters, which have become all too common these days and then upload them. Flickr lets you upload images in their original resolution without any compression. You can also upload images that are already present in your phone’s gallery.

The fourth tab at the bottom shows you your friends’ uploads and the fifth one shows interesting images on Flickr by all the users. You can also swipe left to see nearby images from people who are in your city.

Overall, the new update seems nice and should hopefully make mobile users who have migrated to services like Instagram give Flickr another chance. Flickr does need to keep updating this app regularly, however, and especially keep up with new design changes that happen in the Android world.

You can download the Flickr app for Android from here.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Twitter reforms API rules, makes it more difficult to be a third party client developer

It has been rumored for a while that Twitter may be looking to shut down third party Twitter clients completely and only allow the use of its own official clients, available on nearly every platform right now. And while that hasn’t happened yet, the latest announcement from the company’s developers blog does make it more difficult to be a third party Twitter client developer.

Twitter announced that it will be releasing v1.1 of its API, which is what applications that access Twitter have to use. This new API comes with a ton of new changes and restrictions, which further drives home the point that Twitter does not like third-party clients that mimics the site’s functionality.

For starters, Twitter clients that accesses basic Twitter features such as home timeline, account settings or direct messaging (which is almost all of them) will have a limit of 100,000 user tokens. If an application requires more tokens, the developer will have to take permission from Twitter, at which point it will be at Twitter’s discretion if they would allow more user tokens or cap them at 100,000.

Apps that are already using more than 100,000 user tokens can continue doing so until they reach double the tokens of what they are using right now, regardless of the number, but once they reach that point they will have to ask for Twitter’s permission.

Twitter is also going to crack down harder on apps that don’t meet Twitter’s design guidelines. Also, what were originally guidelines are now requirements and any app not meeting them could have its application key revoked.

There is a new API call limit as well. Initially, applications could make 350 API calls per minute regardless of its functionality, which was primarily responsible for spam on Twitter. The new API will introduce per-endpoint rate limiting, so now you have various API call limits depending upon the function the client is requesting. Most individual API endpoints will be limited to 60 per minute but some apps could request high-volume endpoints to get up to 720 API calls per minute.

Finally, each and every application that uses the Twitter API v1.1 will need to be authenticated, which includes applications provided built-into devices. If an application using the API is not authenticated, Twitter will revoke its application key.

The new API will be released soon and developers will have six months to migrate from 1.0 to 1.1.

Some of the aforementioned changes are definitely going to make it difficult to be a third party Twitter client developer. The drop in user tokens, the limited API call limit and the requirement to strictly adhere to design guidelines means fewer people will want to create an app. Existing developers will also have to talk with Twitter at some point as they hit one of the new limits, at which point there is no guarantee that Twitter will comply with them.

It’s sad to see Twitter restrict third party clients so severely, many of which provide a better experience than any of Twitter’s official apps ever did. This is mostly being done to limit users to Twitter’s own apps, which lets Twitter show ads in the form of promoted tweets. It will only push users towards upcoming competing services such as App.net, which are already promising a better experience. Hopefully, Twitter will see the light and be more open towards applications that only aim to enhance the experience that they created.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com