KYC: a financial services business enabler

In the financial services arena, know your customer (KYC) is set to emerge as a key strategic element of organisations’ business models

from ComputerWeekly: Latest IT News http://www.computerweekly.com/opinion/KYC-a-financial-services-business-enabler

Review: Updated: Google Apps for Work 2016

Latest news

[Editor's Note: What immediately follows is a rundown of the latest developments and features Google has added to Apps for Work since this review was first written.]

August 2016

• A new Google Hangouts Chrome extension was pushed out allowing for multiple chat windows to be incorporated into one, and making more chat content readily visible.
• Google introduced a 'Cast…' function in the main menu of Chrome, and this can be used to share the contents of a browser tab – or the whole desktop – into a Hangout session.
• Forms received a new feature which allows the insertion of images into surveys, so you can now do things like have a multiple choice question with pictures for answers.
• The Android apps for Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides were improved to make it easier to create tables and better looking charts.
• A couple of security tweaks were applied to Gmail, the most important of which is that the webmail service will now issue a warning about a link if it leads to a known malware site.
• Inbox got integration with Trello and GitHub, so Trello users will receive a summary of what's new with projects, and GitHub denizens will get a summary of code changes.
• Google Drive's preview feature was improved to make viewing previews of stored files a slicker experience, with a cleaner UI and better zoom functionality.

July 2016

• Google introduced a new scheme to help train employees on its productivity suite, with the system designed to act like a 'virtual coach' to help users learn when IT staff aren't around.
• Google tweaked the Admin app for Android to let delegated admins (and not just super admins) use the software to access functions while out and about.
• Google gave the Admin console some attention in terms of two-step verification, allowing admins to view the real-time status of where each user is in the 2SV enrolment process.
• Apps for Work is apparently being muscled out by Microsoft's Office 365, at least if sentiment from Redmond's Worldwide Partner Conference is on the money.
• Google launched the new Quizzes feature in the Forms app, designed to allow teachers to easily create and mark assessments for students.

June 2016

• Google Springboard was announced, a search tool (currently being tested) that can be used to quickly find things across Google Apps, plus it makes proactive recommendations.
• Google Sites got revamped with a new preview version boasting a simple drag-and-drop design which is more intuitive, and support for real-time collaboration was introduced.
• A 'new and notable' section was introduced to the Google Apps Marketplace, in order to highlight the best third-party apps available to businesses.
• The Android and iOS apps for Google Docs and Sheets gained the ability to edit content in Print layout view, and to edit existing conditional formatting rules in Sheets.
• Google tweaked Docs, Sheets and Slides so notifications of comments made not only arrive via email, but you can also get a notification on your Android device or web browser.

May 2016

• Google announced its new Spaces messaging app designed for small groups – but there's no news as yet on when (or indeed whether) it will come to Apps for Work.
• At Google I/O new APIs were introduced for Sheets, giving developers a "new level of access" to some of the most popular features in the app.
• New APIs were also brought to Slides allowing developers to easily push data from other third-party apps into Slides for maximum convenience.
• Google revealed that Android apps will be available for Chromebooks, and this opens up more productivity possibilities including using the Android version of Microsoft Word.
• Google integrated its BigQuery service with Google Drive, allowing users to query files directly from Drive, and save query results from the BigQuery UI directly to Google Sheets.
• Google Slides benefited from a new Q&A feature that lets audience members submit questions to the speaker directly from their mobile devices during a presentation.
• The Synergyse service was fully integrated with Google Apps, a virtual assistant that helps train users in the various apps and was previously a Chrome extension.
• Google Drive and Evernote were integrated, allowing Evernote users to seamlessly access any file on Drive.

April 2016

• Google Apps for Work received two new certifications: ISO 27017 for cloud security and ISO 27018 for privacy.
• A new 'Find a Time' feature arrived in Google Calendar for Android, allowing mobile users to find convenient times for meetings when they're on the go.
• Google's scheme of providing Apps for free to medium-sized firms who want to migrate over but are locked into an Enterprise Agreement was extended until the end of 2016.
• Reminders pitched up in the web version of Google Calendar, and said reminders will sync across browsers and mobile devices.

March 2016

• The Google Admin app received bolstered mobile device management capabilities, allowing for admins to handle security breaches even when they're out and about.
• Research into the most-used business apps on the web ranked Google Apps for Work in fourth place – behind Office 365, Salesforce.com and Box.
• Google launched its #maketime website, which aims to help you prioritise how you spend time during work hours, and highlight how Google Apps for Work can save you time.
• Google expanded support for its Identity Platform to cover logins for far more third-party apps in the Google Apps Marketplace, including Office 365 and Facebook at Work.
• A whole bunch of new templates were added to Google Docs, Sheets and Slides.

February 2016

• Gmail's existing Data Loss Prevention features got a boost with the addition of OCR for scanning attachments and additional predefined content detectors.
• Google also gave Gmail the ability to flag email accounts that it deems 'insecure'.
• Google Docs was enhanced with voice typing, allowing users to dictate to their word processor, and also access editing and formatting commands.
• Google Forms gained support for add-ons and the ability to edit Apps Scripts, plus work and education-related templates were introduced to the home screen.
• The Gmail for Android app received support for rich text formatting, and an option for one-tap instant RSVPs was introduced.

January 2016

• Instant comments were introduced to Google Docs, allowing users to click a simple icon to add an immediate comment to a document.
• The ability to add comments arrived in the Sheets and Slides apps for both Android and iOS.
• Google further bolstered the Sheets Android app with the ability to open and edit CSV and TSV files, along with additional files supported for import and export.
• Google Calendar for Android and iOS apps was graced with smart suggestions that pop up suggested event titles, places and people.
• Search became more powerful across Google's productivity suite, so when users search from Docs, Sheets, and Slides home screens, they get results from across all three apps.
• Google rejigged device management in the Admin console, categorising the various settings to make everything easier to find.

Now move on to Page 2 for our full review and detailed look at what Google Apps for Work offers, including an evaluation of features, pricing, and ease-of-use.

• Also check out our guide on how to achieve 'Inbox Zero' in Gmail (and Outlook)

Darren Allan contributed to this article

Introduction and pricing

For decades, the gold standard of office productivity software has been Microsoft Office – it inherited IBM's status as the technology nobody got fired for buying. But while Office is undoubtedly powerful, many of its users don't use many of its features. So why pay for things your organisation doesn't use?

That's the rationale behind Google Apps for Work, formerly Google Apps for Business. Where Office tries to do everything imaginable, Google Apps is much more basic. That said, it's much more powerful than it was when the suite debuted in 2006, but the emphasis on simplicity and speed remains.

Apps and pricing

Google Apps for Work is organised into four categories spanning eleven products. Under Communicate you'll find Gmail, Hangouts and Calendar; under Store there's Google Drive; under Collaborate there's Docs, Sheets, Forms, Slides and Sites; and under Manage there's Admin and Vault. That final one is designed to archive corporate email in organisations that have to retain data for regulatory compliance.

And as ever, the pricing is refreshingly simple. The base product is £3.30 ($5.66) per user per month, and the Premium version is £6.60 ($11.32) per user per month. If your organisation is an educational establishment, Google also has a version for you: Google Apps for Education is free.

While we're on the subject of free apps, you can of course get Gmail, Docs, Sheets and other Google apps for free – so why spend money? The short answer is that the paid-for version gives you more storage, management, and the ability to use your own domain – so emails come from @yourcompany.com instead of @gmail.com.

Users on the base version of Google Apps for Work get 30GB of storage, which is twice the amount of the free products, and users on the Premium version get unlimited storage, while you also get improved admin controls and the Vault email archive. Both the base and premium versions come with HD videoconferencing via Hangouts and 24/7 phone, chat and email support.

How does it compare to Office?

Google's main rival here is of course Microsoft, and Redmond's Office 365 comes with a number of price tags attached depending on which version you want and how many users you're planning on giving it to.

Microsoft has cut the price of Office 365 to make it more competitive, and it now comes in four tiers: Office 365 Business Essentials, which is £3.10 per user per month; Office 365 Business, which is £7 per user per month; Office 365 Business Premium, which is £7.80 per user per month; and Office 365 Enterprise E3, which is £14.70 per user per month. The first three plans are limited to a maximum of 300 users per year.

The most basic version of Office 365 offers web-based versions of Office apps, 1TB of storage per user plus a 50GB email inbox, unlimited online meetings and HD videoconferencing, plus business-focused social networking for collaborating across departments.

The next step up, Business, offers full Office apps for desktop, laptop, tablet and smartphone along with 1TB of storage, but not the extra 50GB email inboxes. If you want that and the desktop/mobile apps too, you'll need Office 365 Business Premium. As with Google there's 24-hour web support and phone support for "critical issues".

One deal-breaker here might be compliance: Microsoft's compliance tools are limited to the Enterprise product, which is twice the price of Google Apps for Work Premium.

Setup

Setup

The sign-up process takes mere seconds and once you've created your account you'll be taken to the Admin Console. This has eight key options: users, company profile, billing, reports, apps, device management, security and support.

It's possible to add users in two ways – manually, or by uploading a CSV file containing multiple user details. Once you've done that you can then specify which apps they can use, so for example you might want to let users access email but not Google Hangouts. You can also disable unwanted apps globally.

One of the most interesting sections here is Mobile Device Management, which enables you to mandate passwords and Google Sync on user devices, to encrypt data, configure Wi-Fi and to enable or disable automatic syncing and the device's camera.

You can also remotely wipe devices either manually or automatically if they haven't been synchronised for a specified period.

The Admin Console also contains some additional tools: group creation, third-party apps, domain management and settings for other free Google services such as Google Analytics, AdWords, Google+ and Google App Engine.

The optional Vault, which doubles the per-user price from £3.30 ($5.66) per month to £6.60 ($11.32), is designed for organisations that need to retain email and chat data and other digital information for regulatory compliance.

You can set data retention options globally or based on particular dates, groups or search terms, search the archive using the familiar Google search field, and you can audit the data and export it for further analysis. It doesn't store all communications, however – any chats marked off the record aren't stored.

If you're not sure whether you require Vault or if it isn't currently necessary, it's possible to upgrade to the with-Vault version from within your Google Apps for Work Admin Console.

Tools and features

Create: Docs, Sheets, Slides and Sites

Google's apps come in two forms – cross-platform, browser-based apps and mobile apps for iOS and Android. Microsoft's mobile OS isn't supported beyond Google Sync for mail, contacts and calendars.

It's worth noting that the browser apps only use local storage if you're using the Chrome browser or Chrome OS, although the standalone Google Drive desktop app keeps everything in sync if you prefer a different web browser (and of course Gmail is widely supported by desktop email software and mobile email apps). The features available offline differ from product to product and platform to platform.

Docs, Sheets and Slides are Google's equivalents of Word, Excel and PowerPoint, although a more accurate comparison would be to Apple's most recent iWork apps – the emphasis is on simplicity and ease of use rather than power features.

That's particularly apparent in Slides, which also appears to prize simplicity over making presentations that don't look absolutely awful.

We wouldn't want to craft a massive, complicated manuscript in Docs, but then that isn't what Docs is designed to do. It's a fast and user-friendly way to create everyday documents and to share them with colleagues and clients. The companion Drawing app adds functions such as WordArt-style text effects, simple image creation, diagrams and flow charts.

It's a similar story with Sheets, which covers the most common Excel functions (including pivot tables) but doesn't have the power of Microsoft's offering. It is improving, though, and now that it supports Google's App Script add-ons it's possible to automate workflows and develop custom apps – although it's still way behind Microsoft here.

There are two additional apps for creating content: Forms, which as the name suggests is for creating and completing online forms, and Sites, which can be used to create shared pages on the intranet or public internet. Sites is a template-driven affair and while it won't give professional web designers any nightmares, it's an effective way to publish web content without any knowledge of web content creation.

Collaboration and compatibility

Online collaboration has been baked into Google Apps from the outset, and sharing documents with colleagues or clients is effortless. The Revision History panel tracks changes and there's a separate panel for comments, which can be notified via email as well as in the app.

Sharing is a one-button affair, with options including public, anyone with the correct link, anyone within the organisation, or sharing only with a specified group of people. These options only apply to unpublished documents, however – anything published via the Publish to the Web option, which makes an online copy of the current document, is publicly available.

In addition to the obligatory Microsoft Office formats, Google Apps also supports documents including Open Document Format, Rich Text Format, PDF, plaintext and zipped HTML. Spreadsheets can be saved as CSV and tab-delimited files, and presentations can be output in SVG and PNG formats.

The big selling point here is importing rather than exporting, however – it's useful to be able to bring non-Google documents into Google Apps for Work and make them editable and collaborative.

Google Apps also includes Google's Hangouts service, which you can make available for text, voice and video calls with anybody or limit conversations to just those people who are members of the same organisation. Hangouts can be shared with up to 15 people and used for video chat, presentation sharing or screen sharing.

Verdict

We liked

Google Apps for Work is very competitively priced and easy to administer. While the various apps aren't quite as fully featured as power users might like, they're more than adequate for most everyday office work.

We disliked

The apps may be too simple for some organisations, and not everybody loves Google's software interface – although it's much better than it used to be. You also might not be comfortable with the thought that your company's communications are being scanned by Google.

Final verdict

Rather than be all things to all men and women, Google Apps for Work is content to cover the basics and to cover them well. It's fast, lightweight and works on a wide range of devices, and it's both easy to use and easy to administer.

If Google's apps cover the features your users will need every day, it's a very compelling product for SMEs – and with 30 days to put it through its paces without providing any billing details, it's a product you can test risk-free.

from Techradar - All the latest technology news http://www.techradar.com/1255762

Updated: Samsung Gear S3: release date and everything you need to know

Samsung Gear S3 price and release date

In a wearable world that's mostly dominated by Apple Watch, the best fitness trackers, and Android Wear devices, the Tizen OS-running Samsung Gear S2 made quite the impression - and the Gear S3 duo offers some big improvements to the wrist-based smart thing.

There are, in fact, two Gear S3 models to choose from: the Samsung Gear S3 Frontier and the Samsung Gear S3 Classic - and they're pretty much identical apart from slight design tweaks and connectivity.

Given Samsung's one of the biggest makers of smartwatches behind Apple, and it's been working hard on its own OS for the platform, any new device from the brand is a big deal. So let's dig in to see what's on offer:

• Fancy something with a little Android flavor? Here are the best Android Wear smartwatches.

Cut to the chase

• What is it? Samsung's refinement of an already-decent smartwatch
• When is it out? Announced August 31, released in the latter half of 2016
• What will it cost? US$250 (about £189, AU$330) depending on the model

Samsung Gear S3 release date and price

Samsung has used its IFA press conference to talk up the new watches - sadly there's no release date nor price available yet.

We're expecting them to emerge by the end of September, but in terms of price the Gear S3 duo would do well to stay at its current entry price of US$299. Of course, we'd love to see a lower price, but that's probably not on the cards.

Like the Gear S2, the Gear S3 has emerged in two different models, and if the same pattern is followed then the Classic will cost US$50 more than that standard model, but offering a more elegant steel build and leather band.

Samsung Gear S3 design and performance

Samsung claims it has spent a lot of time studying watches – both of the smart and classic variety – to come up with the ultimate wearable, and it has produced two distinct models: the Gear S3 Frontier and the Gear S3 Classic.

The Samsung Gear S3 Frontier is aimed at more active wearers, with a rugged design and built-in LTE mobile network connectivity and GPS, which allows it to continue functioning as a smartwatch even when it's not connected to a smartphone.

Meanwhile, the Gear S3 Classic aims for a more iconic appearance, with a size and weight (which is lighter than the Gear S3 Frontier) that aims to replicate the balance found in hand-crafted luxury watches.

Apart from the design, LTE support of the S3 Frontier, and weight, both versions of the Gear S3 are evenly matched in the spec stakes, with a dual core 1.0GHz processor, 4GB internal memory, 380mAh battery and 768MG RAM.

Both smartwatches run the Tizen operating system and are compatible with Android devices running Android 4.4 or later. The two variants of the Samsung Gear S3 will also be highly customizable with support for swappable 22mm straps and interchangeable digital watch faces.

Samsung Gear S3 features

Both Samsung Gear S3 models come with support for IP68 water resistance and mobile payments through Samsung Pay. The Samsung Gear S3's 1.3-inch circular Super AMOLED always-on display has a resolution of 360 x 360 and a pixel density of 278ppi (pixels per inch), and it's protected by extra-tough Corning Gorilla Glass SR+, which is a first for a Samsung Gear wearable.

By having an always-on display, wearers will be able to quickly glance at the watch to tell the time, like a classic timepiece, rather than having to wait for the screen to turn on, as with other smartwatches.

There's also the same Samsung Pay support that's found in the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge models (as well as the recent Note 7) - which means you can pay using any terminal with an NFC or magnetic stripe payment section using the watch.

The Gear S3 Frontier also features an SOS mode that allows users to activate location tracking to alert families, friends and emergency services if the wearer encounters any problems, even when they don't have their smartphone on them.

The Gear S3 battery life looks to be massively extended too: where most Android wear watches are promising a couple of days' use before conking out, the two new Samsung watches are tipped for four days' use between charges.

This is down to a pretty large 380mAh battery as well as a much more efficient platform in Samsung's proprietary Tizen operating system (AKA the Tizen Based Wearable Platform 2.3.2).

GPS and a barometric altimeter are big additions to the mix here: with this on board you'll be able to take these watches out for a run, learn how high you've gone, track your distance and listen to music too. If you're using the Frontier, you'll even be able to get phone calls without needing to staple your phone to your arm or stomach.

And finally: let's not forget that these watches are IP68 water- and dust-resistant rated, which means they can thrive under one meter of water for 30 minutes - just like the S7 pair.

We'll be updating this hub with information as we get it - stay tuned folks!

• Check out all the rumors for the Sony Smartwatch 4

What we want to see

As complete of a device the Samsung Gear S2 is out of the box, there are certainly a few tricks that we'd love to have seen. So, instead of complaining about it, we're looking to the future.

1. Built-in GPS

The more expensive 3G/4G model of the Samsung Gear S2 contains built-in GPS, which is an awesome feature that benefits joggers, walkers, and those who just want to know where they're going block-by-block.

We'd love to see this feature trickle down to the basic edition of the Gear S3, which would put it above several smartwatches that lack it. Frustratingly, there are several devices that do have it, like the Sony Smartwatch 3, Moto 360 Sport, and most recently, even Samsung's own Gear Fit 2. So, why not the Gear S3?

2. Android Wear 2.0 edition

In our exclusive video showing off the Samsung Galaxy S8 of our dreams, we bet that Samsung will release a stock Android option. It seems crazy, we know, but crazy enough to (hopefully) be true. Not that TouchWiz is all bad–it's gotten much better in recent years–but stock Android is pure, clutter-free bliss.

While the same can't be said about Google's wearable platform, it'd nevertheless be a gutsy move by Samsung to introduce an Android Wear 2.0-ready version of the Gear S3.

The Gear S2's Tizen OS is slick, refined, and in some ways, better than Android Wear. Even so, some smartwatch users might count Samsung out of their purchase decision by not adopting it, despite it being cross-platform.

3. iOS compatibility

One feature that Android Wear has up on Tizen, at least on a limited level, is iOS compatibility. Certain models, like the Moto 360 2015, Huawei Watch, LG Watch Urbane, Fossil Q Founder and a few others, can work on both Android and iOS.

Sure, iOS functionality with an Android Wear device is nothing to get too excited about, but giving iOS users more options to choose from than just the Apple Watch is a plus.

We'd love to see Samsung open its doors on the next wearable to work with iPhones. Samsung and Apple have a pretty bitter rivalry, so this might be wishful thinking, but it seems like an oddly good fit.

4. More bands to choose from

The bands of the Samsung Gear S2 can be switched out rather easily for any band that will fit its sizing. The only downside to this is that, other than its leather bands, Samsung doesn't offer any other bands of its own to trick the device out with.

Compare that to Apple expansive selection of bands to choose from, as well as Google's eclectic Android Wear Mode band collection, and Samsung's efforts so far seem utterly basic.

A small of a factor it might seem, being able to customize the bands of a smartwatch really makes it feel like your own.

5. A faster processor

As noted in the performance section, the Gear S2 and Samsung Gear Fit 2 share the same processor. Not that it's particularly bad, but if the Gear S3 is the step-up in design, build quality and features that we hope it is, it should have an impressive chipset to add onto that.

It's especially important considering that the Apple Watch 2 is incoming and Android Wear is set to upgrade its chipset standard to Snapdragon Wear 2100, which will yield much slimmer devices in the near future.

from Techradar - All the latest technology news http://www.techradar.com/1325711

Buying Guide: 10 best gaming laptops 2016: top gaming notebooks reviewed

Gaming laptops we recommend

Update: The new Asus ROG Strix GL502 has made it onto our list, usurping Gigabyte's mighty P55W v5. See just why in spot #4 below.

Don't even bother telling your friends you want to buy a gaming laptop. "Just build a desktop," they'll suggest. But you know better. You have the money to spare and putting hours into building your own desktop is more trouble than it's worth. You want to get to the fun part: playing games. A warranty that covers the entire product rather than a small set of parts is simply an added bonus.

Being able to take your rig on the go, complete with a built-in monitor and keyboard, however, isn't cheap. A decent gaming laptop starts at about $1,400 (about £900). That's on the low end. If you want to play 4K games at a consistent frame rate, you can expect to pay over $3,000 (around £1,900, AU$4,000) for qualifying hardware. Fortunately, this could soon change thanks to AMD's low-cost Polaris GPUs and Nvidia's insanely powerful-for-the-price Pascal cards.

Factor in the cost of your monitor, keyboard, mouse and potential hazards, and a gaming laptop might be more suited to your needs. We know you eat, sleep and breathe gaming, but fiddling with cables and being tied down to a desk sporting an encumbering brute of a machine can be intimidating.

Gaming laptops are sleeker and more powerful than ever, with many of them featuring full-fledged desktop GPUs. What's more, some of them even have the battery lives to support the massive workload. Here you'll find the gaming laptop that's best for you, from the ever-evolving Razer Blade to the ostensibly immortal Alienware 17.

1. Origin EON15-X

A desktop-grade CPU in an unbeatable gaming laptop

CPU: Intel Core i5 - i7 | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 - 1070 | RAM: 8GB - 64GB | Screen: 15.6-inch, FHD (1,920 x 1,080) - UHD (3840 x 2160) LED Backlit Matte Display | Storage: 120GB - 1TB SSD; 500GB - 2TB HDD; 1TB SSHD

Great value

Desktop-grade performance

Razor thin viewing angles

The Origin EON15-X is a real head turner. Packing a desktop Skylake processor into a fairly compact 15.6-inch notebook that, Origin's greatest offers even more performance than some full-size gaming rigs.

This extra CPU power is handy for users who need to edit video and other processor intensive tasks that a mobile chip can't handle. You'll also get an extra kick of performance no matter what game you're running. Combined with a powerful GPU and a not-so-shabby battery life, the Origin EON15-X is definitely worth consideration over all others.

Read the full review: Origin EON15-X

2. Gigabyte P35X v5

Underneath the plain exterior lies a 4K gaming beast

CPU: Intel Core i7 | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 980M 8GB GDDR5 | RAM: 8GB - 16GB | Screen: 15.6-inch, FHD (1,920 x 1,080) - UHD (3840 x 2160), IPS LCD | Storage: 256GB SSD, 1TB HDD

See more Gigabyte P35X v5 deals

Splendid performance at 4K

Surprisingly decent battery life

Poor ergonomics

Pointless optical drive

The Gigabyte P35X v5 is a monumentally capable, 4K gaming laptop equipped with specs nearly high enough to support it. While even most desktops lack the strength to pull off 4K gaming, this 15-inch rig is as close as you'll get with a laptop. Upgradeable to an Intel i7 processor and 8GB Nvidia GTX 980M, the P35X v5 may sound like a workout technique, but it can actually handle 4K gaming if you're willing to tone down the graphics settings. Plus, it even packs a battery life longer than the considerably less powerful Ghost Pro and Acer Predator 17. If Ultra HD gaming without being tied to a desk is your goal, look no further.

Read the full review: Gigabyte P35X v5

3. Lenovo Ideapad Y700 15-inch

An attractive and long lasting 15-inch gaming laptop

CPU: Intel Core i5 - i7 | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 960M 2GB - 4GB DDR5 VRAM | RAM: 8GB - 16GB DDR4 (2,133MHz) | Screen: 15.6-inch FHD LED AntiGlare Backlit Multitouch (1,920 x 1,080) | Storage: 128GB - 512GB SSD, 1TB HDD (5,400 RPM)

See more Lenovo Ideapad Y700 15-inch deals

Stylish look

Ample battery life

Gets hot

Terrible trackpad buttons

Entry-level gaming laptops are a great introduction into the glorious world of PC gaming, and from performance to looks, it's hard to beat the Lenovo Ideapad Y700. It's an inexpensive machine that stands out amongst other budget gaming machines with its all metal chassis and included SSD. It also comes packed with enough power to run modern games at decent settings.

Read the full review: Lenovo Ideapad Y700 15-inch

4. Asus ROG Strix GL502

It's hard not to love a gaming laptop this good

CPU: Intel Core i7 | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 970M - 980M | RAM: 16GB DDR4 | Screen: 15.6-inch full HD 1,920 x 1,080 IPS | Storage: 128GB - 256GB SSD, 1TB HDD

See more Asus ROG Strix GL502 deals

Rocks Full HD gaming

Deliciously vibrant screen

Middling battery life

The Asus Strix GL502 may not boast the most innovative design, swapping out the usual black and red color scheme for a Halloween-ish black and orange. But, it's undoubtedly one of the best when it comes to gaming in 1080p. In fact, we were able to crank the settings all the way up in Overwatch without taking a hit below 60fps.

A game like Overwatch, however, is nothing without its bright, flashy color scheme and we have to say, the ROG Strix GL502 bolsters this well thanks to an impressively vibrant screen saturated with color and complete with deep blacks. And that goes without mentioning its onboard sound system, which makes demonstrates gaming at its most immersive. Sure, the battery life pales in comparison to the Razer Blade, but with performance like this it might not matter.

Read the full review: Asus ROG Strix GL502

5. MSI GS60 Ghost Pro

The best thin-and-light gaming laptop

CPU: Intel Core i7 | Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M 3GB - 6GB GDDR5 VRAM, Intel HD Graphics 530 | RAM: 16GB DDR4 | Screen: 15.6-inch, FHD (1,920 x 1,080) - UHD (3840 x 2160) eDP Wide View Angle | Storage: 128GB - 256GB SSD; 1TB HDD

See more MSI GS60 Ghost Pro deals

Performance pusher

Stupendous keyboard

Fleeting battery life

A bit expensive

High on mature styling and light on weight, the MSI GS60 Ghost Pro is one of the thinnest gaming laptops you can buy. Don't think this svelte machine has sacrificed performance for the sake of cutting weight. It still comes packed with a high-end Intel Skylake processor and graphics card to make it a one of the strongest platforms we've ever tested. Just make sure to stick with a 1080p resolution and medium to high visual settings.

Read the full review: MSI GS60 Ghost Pro

6. Asus ROG G752

This mobile PC gaming powerhouse throws a hefty punch

CPU: Intel Core i7 | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 970M - 980M | RAM: 16GB - 64GB DDR4 | Screen: 17.3-inch, full HD 1,920 x 1,080, IPS LCD | Storage: 128GB - 512GB SSD; 1TB HDD (7,200rpm)

See more Asus ROG G752 deals

Distinguished design

Top-end specs and performance

No 4K screen

Poor battery life

The Asus ROG G752 has an aggressive design that sets it apart from many of the world's sedate gaming laptops. Instead of donning the typical appearance of black plastic, the ROG G752 sports a shell with brushed aluminium panels, angular lines and the glowing red segments. On top of its in-your-face styling this 17-inch gaming laptop delivers a hefty performance and it can play modern games at a smooth clip even if you put the graphical setting to max. The only thing the Asus ROG G752 is missing is the option of a high-res 4K display.

Read the full review: Asus ROG G752

7. Razer Blade

A gaming-ready MacBook Pro rival

CPU: 2.6GHz Intel Core i7-6700HQ | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 970M (6GB GDDR5 VRAM) | RAM: 16GB | Screen: 14-inch QHD+ (3,200 x 1,800) IGZO (LED backlit, multi-touch) | Storage: 256GB – 512GB PCIe SSD

See more Razer Blade deals

Hugely improved battery life

Thunderbolt 3 a smart add

Minor graphical upgrades

Limited part options

For many gamers, Ultrabook is a four-letter word. But, it doesn't have to be, and this is evident the first time you get your hands on a Razer Blade. Equipped with high-end, albeit Maxwell, graphics, you might expect the battery to die out in under two hours. Luckily, this isn't the case, as the Razer Blade managed nearly 6 hours in our video test, or an estimated 3 hours and 35 minutes while gaming.

Moreover, if the onboard graphics aren't enough, the Blade is compatible with virtually any desktop-class graphics card by way of the optional Razer Core attachment. So strap a GTX 1070 on there and watch it fly!

Read the full review: Razer Blade

8. Origin EON17-SLX

The ultimate gaming laptop built with desktop-grade power

CPU: Intel Core i5 - i7 | Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 - 1080 | RAM: 8GB - 64GB | Screen: 17.3-inch, FHD (1,920 x 1,080) - UHD (3840 x 2160) IPS Matte Display with G-SYNC | Storage: 120GB - 4TB SSD, 500GB - 1TB HDD, 1TB SSHD

See more Origin EON17-SLX deals

Nearly unrivaled performance

Sharp, aggressive styling

Awful battery life

Astonishingly heavy

The Origin EON17-SLX takes gaming laptops to their ultimate conclusion of being portable desktops. This 17-inch notebook comes packed with a desktop-grade Intel processor and Nvidia GPU chip, making it one of history's most powerful mobile machines. Of course, it comes with the sacrifice of portability in both weight and battery life. If these are worthy trade-offs for greater performance, you won't find a better machine whether you're a hardcore gamer to in the media creation business.

Read the full review: Origin EON17-SLX

9. MSI GT80 Titan

An outrageously sized and powerful gaming laptop

CPU: 5th gen Intel Core i7 | Graphics: 2 x Nvidia GTX 980M SLI (16 GB GDDR5); Intel HD Graphics 4600 | RAM: 16GB - 24GB | Screen: 18.4-inch WLED FHD (1920 x 1080) Anti-Glare Display | Storage: 256GB SSD; 1TB HDD (7,200 RPM)

See more MSI GT80 Titan deals

Authentic mechanical keyboard

Easily upgraded

H-E-A-V-Y

Impossible to use on your lap

The MSI GT80 Titan goes above and beyond to give gamers a desktop experience in a notebook with a complement of high-performance parts to a built-in mechanical keyboard. However, weighing in at nearly 10 pounds and measuring roughly two-inches thick, this laptop is seriously pushing the limits of what you can call portable. For all the strain it'll put on your back and wallet, though, this 18.4-inch gaming laptop absolutely plow through almost any graphically intense game you try to run. This gaming behemoth proved to be a monster with the best in class mobile GPUs so we can't even fathom what it could do with a Nvidia GTX 980.

Read the full review: MSI GT80 Titan

10. Alienware 17 (2015)

The Alienware 17 is an impressive refinement for this series of gaming laptops

CPU: Intel Core i7 | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 - 980M | RAM: 8GB - 32GB | Screen: 17.3 inch, FHD (1,920 x 1,080) - UHD (3840 x 2160) IPS anti-glare display | Storage: 128GB - 512GB PCIe SSD + 1TB HDD (7,200 rpm)

See more Alienware 17 (2015) deals

Flexible desktop mode

Excellent large screen

Still quite expensive

Slightly bottlenecked Amplifier performance

The Alienware 17 is one of those few outrageously priced gaming laptops that's actually worth it. The notebook is a fully capable gaming machine on its own, but with the added power of desktop graphics through the GPU Amplifier it can play almost any game on Ultra settings.If you're looking for something smaller, the Alienware 13 also works with the optional GPU box.

Read the full review: Alienware 17 (2015)

Gabe Carey has also contributed to this article

• Windows 10 works well with games, too

from Techradar - All the latest technology news http://www.techradar.com/1258471

Hands-on review: IFA 2016: Samsung Gear S3 Frontier

The Samsung Gear S3 Frontier is a rugged smartwatch with LTE connectivity, allowing you to leave your phone at home as you venture out into the world.

Samsung launched two new smartwatches at IFA 2016, but rather confusingly both sport the "Gear S3" name and have almost identical specs. There are a few key differences from the Gear S3 Classic, however, with the Gear S3 Frontier aimed firmly at those who spend most of their time outdoors.

While the Gear S3 Frontier has the same dimensions as the 57g S3 Classic at 46 x 49 x 12.9mm, it's slightly heavier at 62g. That also makes it quite a bit heavier than the standard Apple Watch and the Apple Watch Sport.

Just chock full of features

On-screen, you'll see the Frontier runs Samsung's own Tizen operating system (version 2.3.2), rather than Android Wear, which means applications will be limited in comparison to Google's platform - although Samsung is fully behind its wearable offering.

The good news is that you don't have to own a Samsung phone to use the Gear S3 Frontier, as it will work with any handset running Android 4.4 and above with at least 1.5GB of RAM. To use the Samsung Pay contactless payment technology, though, you will need one of the South Korean's compatible handsets, and for the service to be available in your country.

Always-on means a 'never dumb' smartwatch

Samsung has equipped the Gear S3 Frontier with the same 360 x 360-pixel resolution, Super AMOLED display as its sibling and the previous generation, but increased the display size to 1.3 inches. While it makes for a roomier interface and easier navigation, it also makes for a simply bigger watch, which you may or may not appreciate.

That screen also sports always-on technology, using a sliver of the smartwatch's 768MB of RAM to allow the screen to display the time, in real time, in up to 16 million colors when it's "off". This handily solves the problem of a smartwatch going "dumb" whenever the screen isn't active.

More capability calls for a bigger battery

Samsung also brought two all-new sensors to its wearable array on top of what was already there in the S2 series: an altimeter and a speedometer. Naturally, this couple with the LTE radio make for an appealing option for hikers and the like.

Of course, all of these new features called for more power, and Samsung seems to have delivered on that in spades. The Gear S3 Frontier houses a 380mAh battery, a huge improvement over the Gear S2's 250mAh one.

This is the easiest culprit for the devices very noticeable increased weight, but the trade-off is three to four days of battery life, Samsung claims. That's a huge leap over the previous generation's two-to-three-day figure.

The best of the rest

Powering the whole experience here is a dual-core, 1GHz processor which Samsung has yet to specify the make of, supported by that 768MB of RAM and 4GB of flash storage. In addition to LTE, the Gear S3 Frontier features 3G, Bluetooth 4.2, Wi-Fi b/g/n, NFC and GPS connectivity.

As for sensors, the new altimeter and speedometer join the standard array of an accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer, heart rate monitor and ambient light sensor. And, to give an idea of just how rugged this smartwatch is, the Gear S3 Frontier passes an IP68 specification for dust, water and extreme temperature resistance.

As for customization options, you can slap any old 22mm watch band onto the Gear S3 Frontier, though Samsung has several available to purchase, thanks to designer Arik Levy.

Finally, as of this writing, Samsung has yet to issue neither pricing nor availability details.

Early verdict

The Gear S3 Frontier is an impressive evolution of its wearable offerings for the active crowd, bringing the capability they need in a design you wouldn't be surprised to find in, say, a Fossil store. It's increased size and heft from the Gear S2 generation allows for increased capability and longevity, but stands to diminish its appeal as a active wear accessory.

Samsung has made a huge leap in its wearable offerings for active folks with the Gear S3 Frontier, both literally and figuratively. However, its size and weight is sure to be divisive, perhaps enough to push would-be buyers away despite its gorgeous design. (Trust us, you can feel those extra 5 grams next to the Gear S3 Classic.)

Regardless, what's clear here is that Samsung has finally found its center in creating smartwatches. What you see here is probably what you'll see next year, only further improved.

But, without getting ahead of ourselves, the Samsung Gear S3 Frontier is one of the most capable and attractive active-focused wearables we've seen yet. Stay tuned for our full review.

John McCann also contributed to this hands on review

from Techradar - All the latest technology news http://www.techradar.com/1327526

Hands-on review: IFA 2016: Samsung Gear S3 Classic

Samsung Gear S3 Classic

Samsung has iterated on its impressive Gear S2 smartwatch in some huge ways – both literally and figuratively. The Gear S3 – in both its Frontier and Classic varieties – comes packing a larger display, a bigger battery and more features than ever before.

Here, we're talking specifically about the Classic model, but the differences between it and the Frontier version are all but nil save for their aesthetic, weight and an LTE radio for the latter.

Despite their sameness, both versions stand to bring Samsung's smartwatch to the next level, perhaps beyond even that of some certain rivals.

Homing in on the design and display

The Gear S3 Classic, at first glance, simply looks like a much bigger version of the previous, and that largely checks out upon closer inspection. Samsung has increased its display size to 1.3 inches around from 1.2 inches, using the same Super AMOLED technology.

The screen even maintains its 360 x 360-pixel resolution, but surely loses a few pixels per inch due to its increased size, though the exact figure hasn't been provided. Regardless, the screen looks gorgeous, and we're thankful for having to touch it less in order to navigate unlike so many other smartwatches.

Speaking of which, we're told that Samsung has improved the magnetism within the returning rotary hinge for a better feel. Between that and its increased size, it certainly feels easier to manage.

The watch generally keeps the same design as before, but has swapped out the black metal frame for a more traditional silver one. However, where there were two buttons are now two crowns – only they don't rotate, just depress.

So, how much bigger is this version than the last? With dimensions of 46 x 49 x 12.9mm, that's around three millimeters bigger on its sides and more than a millimeter thicker. And, coming from just 42g to now 57g, you can absolutely feel the difference.

The way Samsung sees it, since the Gear S2 models aren't being discontinued but rather getting price cuts, there are smaller options available for customers. If you ask this editor in particular, he might opt for the older version on account of size and weight alone.

However, there's one feature about the Gear S3 that might entice you to go big or go home: its always-on display (AOD). This AOD isn't like the ones you've seen thus far.

We're told that Samsung has dedicated a sliver of the device's 768MB of RAM to push information to the AOD. This allows the AOD to not only display color – 16 million color options, to be exact – but also display the time in, well, real time.

Seeing it in action, we hope that Samsung's rivals catch on, and fast, as this handily solves the problem of smartwatches going "dumb" when the screen is off.

Overall, the design is definitely a bit more unwieldy than before in terms of weight and size – it looks a bit silly on this editor's wrist. But, those increases only net you a bigger and better screen, plus easier navigation with the rotary bezel and more battery capacity.

A bigger feature set means a bigger battery

Naturally, all of these fancy new screen features requires extra power, and Samsung has delivered in spades. Both versions of the Gear S3 house a 380mAh juice pack that's said to last for three to four days of regular use – a leap over the previous generation's two to three day figure.

What does that extra battery life get you beyond that brilliant display? Well, this time around, Samsung's smartwatches pack an altimeter and a speedometer in addition to last year's standard array of sensors, making this an even better fitness device than before. (The watch even tracks your personal use trends related to those sensors, now – including sleep!)

On top of that, the Gear S3 can now operate as a phone speaker when paired with a smartphone, with the ability to answer the call from the watch. Furthermore, the Gear S3 can play back streaming music over Wi-Fi (or LTE in the Frontier's case) through a custom Spotify app for its Tizen 2.3.2 operating system.

Finally, we're told that Samsung is testing the Gear S3's ability to control navigation and interaction when using a Gear VR headset. Specifically, the firm is looking at the bezel as a navigation tool, and tapping the screen for basic interactions – but, again, it's in alpha testing.

The best of the rest

Powering the Gear S3 Classic is a 1GHz, dual-core processor that Samsung hasn't specified yet, supported by 768MB of RAM and 4GB of flash storage. Also behind the Corning Gorilla Glass, you'll find Bluetooth 4.2, Wi-Fi b/g/n, NFC and GPS for connectivity.

On the sensor front, the new altimeter and speedometer are joined again by the accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer, heart rate monitor and ambient light sensor. Finally, the Gear S3 achieves IP68 specification once again for dust, water and extreme temperature resistance, and is compatible with Android phones running 4.4 KitKat or better with at least 1.5GB of RAM.

Just as before, the Gear S3 is compatible with any 22mm watch strap, of which Samsung already has several available, thanks to designer Arik Levy. As of this writing, Samsung has yet to reveal neither pricing nor availability details.

Early verdict

The Gear S3 Classic is a logical evolution for Samsung's flagship smartwatch in that its increased size allows for increased capability and longevity. But, that increased size stands to diminish its appeal as a fashion accessory. If SNL's Sprockets taught us anything, it's that smaller is always better.

Jokes aside, the Gear S3 Classic straddles the line between function and form, but ends up further on the side of function despite its ever-more-stylish design. Whether that's a step in the right direction depends almost entirely on your preference.

What's for sure is that Samsung has finally found its center in creating smartwatches. What you see here is likely what you'll see next September, only refined even further.

But, without getting too far ahead of ourselves, the Gear S3 Classic is one of the most attractive, capable smartwatches we've seen yet. We can't wait to strap it on our wrists for longer than 10 minutes in a full review.

from Techradar - All the latest technology news http://www.techradar.com/1327531

Editor's pick: Beat procrastination with free website blocker Cold Turkey

Beat procrastination with Cold Turkey

Beat procrastination with Cold Turkey

Tabbed browsers are both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, you can keep multiple sources open simultaneously for cross-referencing, and on the other, you can easily keep your social media feeds alongside your work, with numbers in the tab titles steadily climbing as fresh content appears in your feed.

It's the same with emails; if you're honest with yourself, how many of the messages you receive throughout the day truly require an immediate response? And how often do you check your inbox?

When you have to knuckle down to some serious work, it can take real grit to resist the lure of those little numbers. That's when you need Cold Turkey – a superb free app for Windows that acts as a high-dose willpower supplement.

Cold Turkey is the most effective distraction-blocker around, working as a firewall to deny access to specific websites in all browsers. It comes equipped with a preset list of notorious time-thieves, including Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and BuzzFeed, which you can customize with your personal procrastination destinations. Cold Turkey also lets you create new blocklists, which can be activated individually.

To start blocking, just select 'Timer', enter a time and date for the block to end, and switch it on. Forking out US$19 (about £15, AU$25) for the premium edition lets you block sites on a schedule and add break periods, but the free version of Cold Turkey (as its name implies) is a cruel all-or-nothing affair.

Once you've set the blocker, it's very hard to get around it. You can't uninstall Cold Turkey when you've frozen yourself out, or sidestep it using desktop clients or Windows apps.

The only way we've found to thaw the Turkey is to access the forbidden sites via a proxy server - but forget we told you that. Provided you can find the self-discipline to avoid pretending you're accessing Facebook from Greenland, you won't find a more effective procrastination-blocker.

from Techradar - All the latest technology news http://www.techradar.com/1327541

IFA 2016: Bang & Olufsen's new TV brings its room-sensing tech into a much cheaper package

Hot on the heels of the release of the BeoVision 14, Bang and Olufsen have announced another 4K TV, the BeoVision Horizon.

This new television carries over many features from the BeoVision 14 including sound and images that adapt to the TV's environment and the content being watched.

For example, in a dark room the set will automatically dim its light output so that you aren't blinded by an incredibly bright screen.

Similar tech in a cheaper package

Impressively, it brings this technology in a package which is much cheaper than it's older brother. With prices starting at £2495 (around $3300, AU$4355) the TV is almost half the price of the BeoVision 14.

Less impressive is the continued absence of HDR from the range, as well as the two stand options which Bang and Olufsen are calling 'minimalistic', but which we think would look more at home in a conference center than a living room.

At least you have the option of wall-mounting the television if you're not a fan of the stand.

The new TV is available in 40-inch and 48-inch versions. We have contacted B&O to ask when the new television is expected to be available and for exact international pricing.

• They might look like patio heaters - but B&O's new speakers pack a serious punch

from Techradar - All the latest technology news http://www.techradar.com/1327545

6 brilliant computing devices on show IFA 2016

Introduction

September is just around the corner and that means that an army of slick electronic devices are being shown off at the rabbit's warren of tech that is Berlin's IFA expo.

We're only on day one, and IFA has already played host to a number of computing launches - from a powerful gaming laptop the size of toolbox to impossibly thin ultraportables.

There's quite a few launches yet to take place, but click (or tap) on ahead to check out the computing excellence that has already caught our eye.

• Here's everything we expect to see at IFA 2016

1. Acer Predator 21 X

There are so many downright unbelievable facts about the Acer Predator 21 X that it's difficult to know where to begin. It's an incredibly powerful laptop with a curved G-Sync display sporting a 21:9 aspect ratio.

Its keyboard is mechanical, so you get clicky bliss with each keystroke, and there's a window that you can peer through to see the Predator's fans doing their thing. Oh, and its numberpad is reversible allowing you to use it as a trackpad too.

2. Asus ZenBook 3

We move on to a laptop that's just about as far away from the Predator 21 X as possible - and that's the souped-up Asus ZenBook 3. It isn't a new device, but it's now available with Intel's 7th-generation Kaby Lake processor under the hood, which brings performance and battery life-related improvements over the company's sixth-generation Skylake chips.

Intel even claims that it's powerful enough to run Overwatch with decent frame rates. In a device as stunning as the black-and-gold version of the ZenBook 3 that's on show at IFA, that's a tempting little package indeed.

3. Asus ZenScreen

Asus has already launched one portable monitor this year in the form of the impressive MB169C+, which has low latency and is a great, if expensive, way to get hold of more screen real estate on the go. The ZenScreen is the company's largest portable monitor yet (upping the screen size to 15 inches), while remaining thin.

It keeps things sensible by sticking to 1080p, which will no doubt help your laptop's battery life while providing another screen for browsing a webpage, watching a video or editing images.

4. Acer Swift 7

The Acer Swift 7 strongly resembles a MacBook Air, but at under a centimetre thick it's even thinner at the rear end. It has a roomy trackpad, a great display that's packed with color and serves up some fantastic viewing angles thanks to its IPS panel.

Intel's 7th-generation Kaby Lake processor is under the hood to provide the computing muscle, and with two USB-C ports along the edges you could hook up anything from an external battery pack to Asus' new 15-inch portable monitor.

5. LG UC97G

LG is showing off this 21:9 monitor at IFA, which is enough to make gamers salivate at the chops. It has what the company describes as a 'blindingly fast' refresh rate of 1ms. Twinned with motion blur reduction, it promises to let you see your enemies before they see you.

It's aided by AMD's FreeSync functionality, which eliminates screen tearing by syncing your monitor's refresh rate with your graphics card, so you'll need a meaty rig to make the most of it, then. Additionally, the 38UC99 boasts a color gamut that covers 99% of the sRGB spectrum, a USB Type-C port and two 10W speakers.

6. Acer Chromebook R13

At last! If you've been looking for a 13-inch convertible Chromebook, this model from Acer is it. It comes with a 1080p IPS panel with 10-point touch, and it'll work with Android Apps too, making it one versatile and interesting laptop.

It's available with 16GB, 32GB or 64GB of storage, and there's 4GB of RAM under the hood to keep things ticking over. Bluetooth 4.0 lets you connect your favorite peripherals, while a 720p camera is onboard for all of those Google Hangout work meetings you love taking part in.

from Techradar - All the latest technology news http://www.techradar.com/1327535