Apple iPad Air 3: What’s the story so far?

Apple offers three iPad ranges comprising the Mini, Air, and Pro, with five iPads available in total – the iPad Mini 2, iPad Mini 4, iPad Air, iPad Air 2, and iPad Pro. The iPad Air 2, which was unveiled in late 2014 alongside the iPad Mini 3, is well overdue for an update. Apple typically updates its devices annually, but for whatever reason, no new iPad Air was launched in 2015.

Although the iPad Air 2 is the same height and screen size as its predecessor, the iPad Air, it’s thinner and faster and features Touch ID. It is thought the new 9.7-inch iPad, which we are calling the iPad Air 3 for the sake of this feature, will be faster than its predecessor when it launches, but that’s just speculation for now and there is plenty more where that came from.

This is Pocket-lint’s guide to the rumours surrounding the iPad Air 3, or smaller iPad Pro as it is also being called. We have laid out all the latest gossip, hints and leaks about the next 9.7-inch iPad so you can see what might be coming in one place. Keep checking back for more information as we will be updating this feature as more leaks and rumours appear.

Apple iPad Air 3: Release date

Chinese technology site MyDrivers claims Apple is looking to release the next 9.7-inch iPad tablet around March 2016. This has since been supported by 9to5Mac, who says sources claim an event will be taking place on Tuesday 15 March. This site also claims the device will be branded under the iPad Pro name, rather than the iPad Air family.

March events are becoming a pattern for Apple so it isn’t a completely unreasonable suggestion that the iPad Air 3, or a smaller iPad Pro will appear within this first quarter. The company is also rumoured to be prepping the Apple Watch 2 and the Apple iPhone 5SE for the same timeframe, so with all that in mind, we could very well see the new 9.7-inch iPad debut alongside a new watch this spring.

If the iPad Air 3, or smaller iPad Pro does debut alongside the iPhone 5SE, 9to5Mac has claimed they will be put for sale online and in retail stores by 18 March – just three days later. With such a short window before launch, Apple will probably skip offering pre-orders for the new devices altogether, which is something very atypical.

Apple usually releases new iPhone models about two weeks after they’ve been unveiled and given an online pre-order period, though the iPad Pro took a whopping two months before it released. 9to5Mac said manufacturing of the new iPhone was ramped up in January. If that’s true, Apple likely has a healthy enough stock to begin selling the handset straightaway.

Nowhereelse

Apple iPad Air 3: Design

Alleged design sketches give a purported first look at what the upcoming tablet might look like and feature. According to the drawings, the iPad Air 3 could sport a four-speaker design (at the top and bottom edges), as found in the iPad Pro for boosted stereo sound, making the idea of the new iPad falling in the iPad Pro line more feasible. The new tablet is also said to be coming with a rear LED flash, making it the first iPad to include flash capabilities. 

These two features may require a slight redesign of the iPad Air’s body, but it will likely continue to be ultra thin. If the iPad Air 3 gets a rear-camera flash, this could mean it will also come with camera improvements, such as an updated 12-megapixel camera found on the iPhone 6S, which would be an upgrade over the iPad Air 2’s 8-megapixel camera.

Supporting the claims of a rear camera flash and four-speaker design is a leaked third-party case, found by Macotakara and republished by Apple Insider. The apparent iPad Air 3 case also indicates the Smart Connector found on the iPad Pro will be coming to the new 9.7-inch model. It has also been suggested the new 9.7-inch device will be compatible with Apple Pencil, which if true, is another good reason for the iPad Air 3 coming in under the iPad Pro name instead.

Further design sketches released by Engadget – from a “reliable source” – also support the quad speakers, flash and Smart Connector, so there is certainly increasing gravitas about the existence of those features. The Engadget drawings also sport measurements and, if true, suggest that the iPad Air 3 will actually be fractionally thicker than its predecessor, by 0.05mm, and slightly wider, by 0.1mm.

In terms of colours, 9to5Mac has said there are rumours to suggest the iPad Air 3 might be coming in the same colour options as the iPhone 6S. If this is the case, we can expect silver, space grey and gold like the iPad Air 2, but also perhaps a rose gold model.

Of course, the design sketches have not been officially confirmed and third-party cases certainly aren’t gospel, so take everything you see here with a grain of salt for now.

Engadget

Apple iPad Air 3: Specs

Despite the lack of rumours surrounding the iPad Air 3, it is possible to predict a number of possible specs based on what Apple has done in the past.

The iPad Air 3 will certainly feature a newer, faster processor than its predecessor. The iPad Air 2 has an A8X chip, and the iPad Pro has the A9X, so we’d expect the A9X or possibly even an A10 chip. Bloomberg is reporting that the iPad Air 3 will come with Apple’s A9X processor, along with support for the Apple Pencil an Smart Connector for keyboards and other peripherals. Supporting this is 9to5Mac who suggests Apple is working on a 9.7-inch panel that will work with Apple Pencil, which also explains the theory of a smaller iPad Pro rather than an iPad Air 3.

Chances are the RAM will also increase for the new model too. The iPad Air 2 has 2GB of RAM and the iPad Pro comes with 4GB. It is rumoured the new 9.7-inch iPad will come with the same processor and RAM as the iPad Pro, meaning the A9X and 4GB.

In terms of display, it’s more than likely you will see the same 9.7-inch size make another appearance along with Touch ID. Rumored specs from site MyDrivers suggested a resolution of 2334 x 3112, which would make it Ultra HD. The iPad Air 2 has a 1536 x 2048 screen resolution so if the rumours are true, you can expect a sharper images on the new model.

Apple is also said to be working on the next-generation of pressure-sensing display technology that will work on screen sizes as large as the iPad Pro, according to AppleInsider, but it might not be ready for the iPad Air 3.

Apple iPad Air 3: Software

If the tablet arrives in March, it will likely run iOS 9. If it comes later in the year, expect it to launch with iOS 10. Apple’s iOS 9 introduced improvements to Siri and Apple Maps, multitasking for iPads, a new keyboard, and more so the iPad Air 3 should get all that at least.

It has also been said that Apple is also testing a new version of iOS that incorporates a Classroom application. Apparently a preview of the software will come with the upcoming iOS 9.3 update.

Want to know more?

Check out Pocket-lint’s Apple and Apple iPad Air 3 hubs for all the latest news.

Next Nexus (2016): Release date, rumours and everything you need to know

Google’s Nexus programme gives birth to a pure Android smartphone every year, sometimes two, or perhaps a tablet. The idea behind the Nexus is to showcase Android in its purest form, away from the poking and prodding of manufacturer skins.

It’s given rise to some great device over the past years, but in recent times, has seen some of the most competitive Android handsets offered up. Where manufacturer flagships are often fighting to be king of the spec sheet, Nexus doesn’t always go toe-to-toe. There has often been compromises and we’ve see the exclusion of some features, like microSD card slots.

Importantly, the Nexus is the chance for Google to say “this is what Android is”. With 2016 well under way, we’re looking forward to the next Nexus, in a year that’s rumoured to be bringing some big changes.

Next Nexus (2016): Release date

It’s no secret that Google’s Nexus devices arrive in line with the latest version of Android and the likelihood of that changing is slim to nothing.

With that in mind, don’t expect a new Nexus anytime before the end of September. The Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P were both announced on 29 September 2015, hitting the shelves in October so expect a similar timeframe for 2016’s Nexus device or devices.

We’d expect Android N to make its appearance around this time and the next Nexus will be the showcase device for it.

Next Nexus (2016): Manufacturer

There are currently two Nexus smartphone models. The Nexus 5X is the cheaper and smaller of the two available, manufactured by LG. The Nexus 6P is the larger and more premium device made by Huawei.

Both showcase the manufacturers’ skills bringing with them character from the company who created them. The older Nexus 6 was distinctly Motorola and similar to the Moto X family, while the more recent Nexus 6P is clearly a Huawei device, similar to the P series.

Rumour has it this might not be the case for Nexus devices going forward. Sources talking to The Information claimed that Google is looking to play a much greater role in the hardware design, as well as software, which would make the smartphone manufacturer more of a contractor than a partner. As The Information rightly points out, some larger brands might not be completely au fait with this idea as they already get very little from the Nexus partnership.

There are separate reports that suggest that HTC might be lined up to produce the next Nexus. Whether this is with design control, or in more of an OEM role, we simply don’t know. One thing we do know however, is that LG won’t be manufacturing the next Nexus after it told Cnet it will be putting its resources into the recently launched LG G5.

Next Nexus (2016): Design

Whether Google will update both devices to continue offering two Nexus models is a question that remains unanswered. It has been claimed that it will be offering two, and HTC will be making both. We’d take this with a pinch of salt for now but with LG pulling away from the programme, it could be a plausible suggestion.

We currently have no idea what the next Nexus will look like, but if HTC were to take on the task, it would be reasonable to suggest its next flagship may have a big part to play. From that you can expect premium manufacture and design, and probably in metal. An educated guess would be to look towards the quietly launched A9 for an insight in to HTC’s future handsets, perhaps with the Nexus falling into line here.

Some reports have suggested the next Nexus devices will be smaller than the current offering – with 5-inch and 5.5-inch models claimed compared to the 5.2-inch and 5.7-inch devices available now, reportedly they are going by the model numbers T50 and T55. Whether Google’s alleged bid for more control results in only Google branding is another suggestion.

Google doesn’t have a huge wealth of industrial design experience, although it does offer an interesting device in the Pixel C tablet. If the software giant applies the same principals of Pixel to the next Nexus devices, we could be in for some great handsets.

Next Nexus (2016): Hardware

Aside from the display sizes, there haven’t been any suggestions as to what hardware we may see on the next Nexus. We’d expect Google to continue with the precedent it has already set – offering powerful devices at a reasonable price.

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 will probably make an appearance in at least one of the devices and we would also expect an identification sensor of some description, as well as USB Type-C and a good performing camera.

In the past, Nexus devices fell down when it came to the camera. This was rectified for the latest devices though so we would expect Google to continue to invest an interest in a good camera performance.

Next Nexus (2016): Software

The next Nexus will come with the next version of Android. That’s also no a secret. What features will come with Android N, as it is currently being called, are not yet known but multi-window mode has cropped up. It is also being rumoured that Android N will drop the apps tray.

What we do know at the moment is Google’s annual developer conference – Google I/O – will run from 18 May to 20 May, during which the company will undoubtedly preview Android N and some of the new features coming to the software.

As usual, some kind of sweet treat will be used for the name. It was suggested that Google might consider an online poll to decide what the official name will be, but whether that will happen or not is yet to be seen. Obviously Android Nutella would be a massive win for humankind, but we suspect it will fall to something like Android Nougat.

Next Nexus (2016): Conclusion

At the moment there isn’t a great deal to conclude about the next Nexus but that will change over the next few months. The Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P were both heavily leaked previous to their official unveiling so we wouldn’t be surprised if the same happened for the 2016 devices.

All we know for sure is that the next Nexus device, or devices, will arrive with Android 7.0 and this is more than likely to happen to in Q4. We will be updating this feature as more leaks and rumours appear so keep checking back.

Best TV and movies to watch this weekend on Amazon, Netflix, Now TV and more: Spectre, Vikings…

The weekend is upon us again and although we’ve been extremely busy in Barcelona, seeing the latest phones and smart devices debut at Mobile World Congress, that hasn’t stopped us trawling through the TV shows and movies available on catch-up and on demand services to bring you our highlights.

Each week we propose five programmes or films we think you’d like to watch, all of which available on a streaming service, either paid, subscription or completely free.

You can also watch them all on a streaming device, such as those available from Roku, including the Roku 3 and Streaming Stick.

So have a look at the following and if you like our choices, make such you make a mental note to watch one or more of them this weekend. After all, you don’t need to hit record or mark the listing in the Radio Times. All of the shows or movies on offer can be viewed when you want.

The History Channel

Vikings

(Amazon Video)

The fourth season of Vikings is now two episodes in and if you haven’t caught up with the show yet, what the heck are you doing?

It is, quite simply, the best show about Vikings ever made – being executive produced by a historian who knows a thing or two about the subject matter. And it’s proved so popular, its lead, Travis Fimmel, is also the star of the forthcoming World of Warcraft movie.

Danjaq, MGM

Spectre

(Sky Store, Google Play, Amazon Video, Sainsburys Entertainment on Demand)

Bond is back and now available to rent or buy across a number of the main screening services.

Finally, after many teasers over the last three films, James Bond is confronted with the evil organisation known as SPECTRE, with Christoph Waltz playing the lead bad guy. Ex-WWE star Batista (listed in the credits as Dave Bautista) is great as henchman Mr Hinx. And there’s a return for gadgtery at last.

Sky

Alan Partridge’s Mid Morning Matters

(Now TV)

Aha! Alan Partridge is back and all six episodes of series 2 of Mid Morning Matters are available to view on Now TV.

Each episode is 30 minutes long and the format feels less forced this time around, with the previous series originally made for Fosters and first screened on the internet. The TV Alan is a better Alan, and we’re sure you’ll laugh as much as we did to every darn minute of it.

Columbia Pictures

Django Unchained

(Netflix)

Quentin Tarantino’s first western is arguably better than his most recent – The Hateful Eight. It’s certainly got more heart as it follows the story of a free slave turned bounty hunter and his quest for vengeance.

Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz and Leo DiCaprio are superb in their roles, but it is the return of Miami Vice’s Don Johnson to the big screen that delights most.

20th Century Fox

The People vs OJ Simpson: American Crime Story

(BBC iPlayer)

An all-star cast line-up for this real-life biopic detailing one of the most shocking cases of the 90s. Oscar-winner Cuba Gooding Junior slips on the leather glove of former TV, movie and American football star Simpson, while John Travolta and David Schwimmer play his lawyers – both turning into celebrities themselves in the process.

Indeed, Schwimmer plays Robert Kardashian, father of Kim and her sisters, so even if you don’t give two hoots about the murder case, his story in itself is fascinating to watch.

With a Roku streaming player you can turn any TV into a Smart TV. Stream your favourite TV show or movie from one of the 1,700+ channels including Netflix, NOW TV, Sky Store, Google Play, BBC iPlayer, ITV Player, All 4, Demand 5 and many more. With a ton of great movies and TV shows available, you can find the perfect title to match your mood. Enjoy hundreds of free channels, your favourite subscription-based services, rent or buy. You choose what to watch, where to watch it, and how much to pay for it!

Don’t have a Roku streaming player yet? Shop now at Argos!

Sony Xperia X Performance vs Xperia Z5: What’s the difference?

Sony announced the X series at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, comprising three new smartphones. The company also confirmed the Z series will end with the Xperia Z5, leaving the new X range to take over. 

The Xperia X Performance sits at the top of the X series, although sadly it won’t be making its way across to Europe or the US, stopping its journey in Asia. That’s not to say it isn’t important though, because in actual fact, the X Performance could very easily have been the Xperia Z5’s successor.

With that in mind, we have decided to compare the two devices to see where the difference and similarities are. How does the Xperia X Performance stack up against the Xperia Z5 and would it be worth the upgrade if it ended up in our waters?

Xperia X Performance vs Xperia Z5 design

The Xperia X Performance measures 143.7 x 70.4 x 8.7mm and it weighs 165g. It trades the frosted finish that comes with the Xperia Z5 for an aluminium finish on the rear and adds a glass overlay to the front.

The same OmniBalance design is still present, along with the signature side power button that incorporates the built-in fingerprint sensor that Sony introduced on the Z5. In fact, aside from the materials and the rounder edges of the Xperia X Performance, these two smartphones look very similar. They both offer the capless Micro-USB and waterproof and dustproof ratings of IP68 and IP65.

The Xperia Z5 is a little larger than the X Performance, but it is also slimmer and quite a bit lighter. The Z5 measures 146 x 72 x 7.3mm and hits the scales at 154g.

Xperia X Performance vs Xperia Z5 display

The Xperia X Performance comes with a 5-inch display, which is a little smaller than the 5.2-inch display found on the Xperia Z5. Both have Full HD resolutions, which means the X Performance is ever so slightly sharper at 441ppi in comparison to the Z5’s 424ppi. This will not be noticeable to the human eye at this size however.

Both devices have the same Sony technologies on board, including Triluminos and X-Reality. Despite being only 0.2-inches smaller than the Z5, it is worth mentioning the X Performance is a little easier to manage and the display size seems to suit the design of the device a little better. 

Aside from that however, you would get a very similar experience on the Xperia Z5 and X Performance when it comes to display.

Xperia X Performance vs Xperia Z5 camera

The Xperia X Performance features a 23-megapixel rear sensor with 24mm wide-angle G lens. It offers sensitivity up to ISO 12800 and it comes complete with HDR and Superior Auto+, as well as a new software feature called Predictive Hybrid Autofocus. This latter feature allows the camera to track and predict movement, with the idea being that you never miss a moment because the camera has already shot it.

In terms of rear camera, the Xperia Z5 is the same. It also offers a 23-megapixel sensor, 24mm wide-angle G lens and sensitivity up to ISO 12800. It doesn’t offer the Predictive Hybrid Auto Focus feature however. 

The front cameras are different. The X Performance comes with a 13-megapxiel front snapper offering an aperture of f/2.0 and sensitivity up to ISO 6400. The Z5 on the other hand has a 5-megapixel front camera with a narrower f/2.4 aperture. This should mean the X Performance would be better at capturing low light selfies but in terms of the main camera, you should get a similar camera experience as the Z5 aside from having to keep a closer eye out for those special moments.

Xperia X Performance vs Xperia Z5 hardware

The Xperia X Performance comes with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, supported by 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. There is a microSD slot for storage expansion and a 2700mAh battery powering everything. 

The Xperia Z5 features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of internal memory and microSD support so the same as the Xperia Z5, aside from the newer and faster processor in the X Performance.

There is also a slightly larger battery at 2900mAh in the Z5 but considering the new processor, we suspect there won’t be much difference in actually battery life, with both devices claiming to offer up to two days.

Xperia X Performance vs Xperia Z5 software

The Xperia X Performance will launch with Android Marshmallow from the box. There should also be a few software changes but it is unclear what these will be at the moment as the devices at MWC were not final software. 

The Xperia Z5 is currently on Android Lollipop but it will eventually get an upgrade to Marshmallow, and more than likely any of Sony’s own software updates. This should result in a very familiar experience between the two devices.

Xperia X Performance vs Xperia Z5 conclusion

The Xperia X Performance is the smaller and faster of these two devices, but it is a little heavier and thicker than the Xperia Z5 and it offers a smaller battery capacity. The X Performance does have a more streamlined and exciting design with the metal finish however.

You would probably also get better selfies with the X Performance over the Z5 but the main camera performance should be pretty similar, as well as the software experience and display.

Would the X Performance be worth the upgrade? If you were moving from the Xperia Z3+ then absolutely. If you were moving from the Z5 and wanted a nicer design and the latest processor, as well as camera improvements then probably. The X Performance makes the updates in the places that matter but the Z5 is a good device in its own right. Lucky that seeing as unless you live in Asia, you can’t upgrade anyway.

Apple and FBI to testify at Congressional encryption hearing

As the battle between Apple and the FBI over unlocking a terrorist’s iPhone rages on, the US House Judiciary committee will discuss encryption next week. The committee scheduled a hearing for next Tuesday (March 1st) where FBI director James Comey will testify alongside Apple SVP and general counsel Bruce Sewell. This isn’t the first time the Judiciary committee has met on the subject of encryption, including briefings from both the government and representatives from tech companies.

Next week’s hearing follow the recent back and forth between Apple CEO Tim Cook and the US Justice Department over unlocking the cellphone of the terrorist responsible for the attack in San Bernardino, California last December. In an interview last night on ABC News, Cook reiterated that helping authorities unlock the device would be “bad for America.” However, the US Department of Justice is trying to force Apple to comply with the FBI request by offering “reasonable technical assistance” to access stored data.

“Americans have a right to strong privacy protections and Congress should fully examine the issue to be sure those are in place while finding ways to help law enforcement fight crime and keep us safe,” said committee chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and ranking member John Conyers (D-MI) in a statement.

Many folks in the tech industry have been calling for a discussion on encryption and security between companies and the government, so you can bet we’ll tune in next week as the hearing begins. You can stream it from the Judiciary committee’s website right here when the time comes.

Source: House Judiciary Committee

Razer’s Blade Stealth gaming ultraportable is all work and no play

At some point, every laptop-owning PC gamer asks the question, “Can I hook a desktop graphics card up to my notebook?” Until recently, the answer was no, but times are changing. In the past year Alienware, MSI and ASUS have all announced laptops with external GPU accessories, promising a workhorse on the go and a gaming behemoth at home. Razer’s take on this trend took CES by storm, running away from the electronics show with Best of CES awards for both People’s Choice and Best PC. And why not? The Razer Blade Stealth is sleek with impressive specs and has a strong pedigree. Still, there’s a problem: This ultraportable laptop ships without the GPU dock it needs to actually play games. Whoops.

Hardware

At a glance, the Razer Blade Stealth looks exactly like the company’s last two gaming laptops, just smaller. It has the same matte-black aluminum chassis, the same ridged accents on its lid and the same MacBook-esque unibody design. Don’t let the familiar design language fool you, though: Despite the Stealth’s aggressive exterior, this is actually a lightweight productivity machine.

At 2.75 pounds and measuring barely more than half an inch thick, the Stealth is wonderfully light. More than once over the course of my testing I tossed it in my bag and forgot it was there for the lack of added weight. Razer is quick to point out that the new Blade’s 0.52-inch chassis is both thinner and lighter than the 13-inch MacBook Air, but those bragging rights come with a price. The Stealth may best Apple’s kit on dimensions, but it loses a bit of connectivity in the process.

The thickest point of the Stealth’s frame is home to two USB 3.0 connections (one on each side), a multipurpose audio jack, an HDMI socket and a Thunderbolt 3 port. That’s not bad — two standard USB ports and a video output are nothing to complain about in an Ultrabook — but if you’re a shutterbug like me, you’ll miss having a memory card reader.

It’s great to see Razer adopt Thunderbolt 3, at least: The USB-C port is not only extremely versatile (with ridiculously fast 40Gbps data-transfer speeds and the ability to pull double duty as a DisplayPort output) but is also the connector through which you’ll hook up Razer’s Core GPU docking station. Better still: Razer says it’s not doing anything to limit the Core to just the Blade. That means any Thunderbolt 3 laptop that supports Intel’s detachable graphics standard will work with the Razer Core. Until then, though, the poor Thunderbolt 3 port is little more than a place to plug in your charging adapter.

Keyboard and trackpad

Before Razer made a name for itself with thin gaming laptops, oddball Windows tablets and modular PCs, it was primarily known for its peripherals: mice, keyboards and gamepads, all tricked out with a distinctive Razer style. They were so distinctive, in fact, that something about the Blade Stealth’s keyboard looks, well, wrong. It looks too normal.

The Stealth is the first Razer Blade laptop to do away with the company’s signature font — a blocky typeface composed of mixed capital and lowercase letters. It’s such a small change that I almost didn’t notice it. No, I’m not overreacting: This change was likely a conscious move on Razer’s part to present the Blade Stealth as a little more professional than the other machines in its lineup. One less reason for the other folks in the conference room to question your work computer. OK, maybe I am overreacting, but it’s still a noteworthy change.

How’s the keyboard for actual typing? It’s good, but there are some compromises. The Stealth’s keycaps are full size and well spaced, but they have notably less travel compared to Razer’s other Blade laptops. There’s more than enough give for comfortable typing, but I found the keyboard a little stiff when playing games — an odd sensation considering Razer’s deep experience with keyboards.

Speaking of departures from the norm, the Blade Stealth also has a buttonless trackpad — a first for the company. I typically prefer separate, distinct mouse buttons, but in Razer’s case this is an improvement: The company’s previous laptops all featured excellent trackpads with somewhat mushy mouse buttons. Now all that’s left is a great trackpad. That’s one less negative, and it’s better suited to the Stealth’s Ultrabook form factor. I can’t complain.

Display and sound

When it comes to laptop screens, Razer’s offerings run the gamut from unremarkable to absolutely stunning. The Stealth, it turns out, falls into the latter camp. It’s almost as if the 12.5-inch 3,840 x 2,160 IGZO touchscreen was created with the sole purpose of exhausting my go-to adjectives for display technology: It’s gorgeous, striking, breathtaking and stunning. This panel has everything you could possibly want in a laptop display: wide viewing angles; lush, beautiful color reproduction; and deep blacks. It is, objectively, an excellent screen. It also might be overkill.

Don’t get me wrong: Ultra-high-resolution displays are the way of the future, but they tend to put a dent in the portable, all-day productivity that consumers are looking for when they buy an ultraportable. The Stealth’s 4K display, brilliant as it is, means you aren’t going anywhere without a power adapter for very long (more on that later). It could just be that I’m getting old, but I also found the pixel density on the notebook’s 12.5-inch screen a little straining. Sure, I loved having that real estate, but I found myself squinting and leaning closer to my monitor than I would have liked, even with Windows 10’s scaling dialed up to 250 percent. As much as I love the display for its 100 percent Adobe RGB color space, I eventually found that a little odd, too. Here we have an ultraportable with the perfect display for editing high-resolution digital photos but no built-in card reader with which to access them. Again, weird.

By and large, overkill is the name of the game when it comes to Razer’s laptops — unless you’re talking about the speakers. Those are, and always have been, merely average. Every Blade I’ve tested has offered clear, well-separated stereo sound with enough oomph to fill a small room. They never sound tinny, and they don’t crackle or pop at loud volumes. The Stealth follows suit with a pair of nice, well-balanced speakers. They’re hardly exceptional, but you’ll never hear them crack or distort either.

Performance and battery life

Let’s be real: Without the Core GPU docking station, the Stealth isn’t much of a gaming laptop. It is, however, one hell of a workhorse. Between the Intel Core i7-6500U pulsing inside and the 8GB of RAM, there was nothing in my normal workload that the machine couldn’t handle. A disorganized mess of social media, video, Google Docs and music streaming tabs? Sure. A cavalcade of messaging and VoIP apps? No problem. The Razer Blade Stealth could shrug off anything I threw at it. It just couldn’t do it all day long.

The Stealth survived Engadget’s standard battery test (where we loop an HD video at a fixed brightness until exhaustion) for a little over five and a half hours. If we were looking at any of Razer’s previous Blade laptops, I’d consider this pretty decent — but it’s disappointing for a machine billing itself as the “ultimate Ultrabook.” That said, it seems to be a trade Razer made intentionally: The whitesheet the company sent over with my review unit specifically calls out the 4K-version laptop as having up to six hours of battery life, as opposed to the eight promised on the lower-resolution QHD model. Buyers should choose their configuration wisely (more on that in a moment) and pack their AC adapter: Neither build is likely to make it a full workday without a recharge.

Battery life

Razer Blade Stealth
5:48
Surface Book (Core i5, integrated graphics)
13:54 / 3:20 (tablet only)
MacBook Air (13-inch, 2013)
12:51
HP Spectre x360
11:34
Surface Book (Core i7, discrete graphics)
11:31 / 3:02 (tablet only)
Apple MacBook Pro with Retina display (13-inch, 2015)
11:23
iPad Pro
10:47
Chromebook Pixel (2015)
10:01
Lenovo Yoga 900
9:36
Microsoft Surface 3
9:11
Apple MacBook (2015)
7:47
Dell XPS 13 (2015)
7:36
Microsoft Surface Pro 4
7:15
Microsoft Surface Pro 3
7:08
HP Spectre x2
6:43
Toshiba Radius 12
5:12

What about gaming? Without the Stealth’s GPU dock, your options are limited. Integrated graphics have come a long way in the past decade, but Intel’s HD 520 chipset simply won’t cut it for modern PC games. Rise of the Tomb Raider, for instance, barely manages to eke out 15 frames per second on its lowest available graphics and resolution settings, while Fallout 4 won’t even run for a lack of more-advanced DirectX features. Persistent users can find the occasional diamond in the rough — Star Wars: Battlefront is surprisingly playable on low graphics settings at 720p — but without Razer’s desktop GPU accessory, the Stealth won’t be able to replace your gaming rig.

Still, that doesn’t mean you can’t have some fun: The machine is more than capable of handling games like Fallout: New Vegas, World of Warcraft, Portal 2 and League of Legends, as long as you dial the resolution down to 1080p. That 4K screen is beautiful, but don’t expect to use it for gaming without the help of a discrete GPU.

For now the Blade Stealth is best suited to light entertainment and creative productivity, and Razer knows it — which is probably why each machine comes with a full license for the FL Studio 12 Producer Edition. The free music production suite is a nice addition, but you know what’s nicer? It’s not pre-installed. Like all of Razer’s laptops, the Stealth comes with virtually no bloatware.

Configuration options and the competition

There aren’t a lot of configuration options to pick from here. Each SKU features the same basic specs: a 2.5GHz Intel Core i7-6500U processor (3.1GHz with Turbo Boost), integrated Intel HD 520 graphics and 8GB of RAM. The only real differences come down to the display and storage capacity. For $999 and $1,199, you can buy a 128GB or 256GB Stealth with a QHD 2,560 x 1,440 display. This will eke out a little more battery life than our review unit, but the color reproduction will be a little less accurate, with a 70 percent Adobe RGB gamut as opposed to the 4K model’s 100 percent Adobe RGB color space. If you’re willing to drop $1,399 or $1,599, you can get a 4K rig with 256GB or 512GB of storage, but then you’re giving up two hours of battery life. Choose wisely.

Need an ultraportable with longer battery life? There are thankfully plenty of options. Dell’s XPS 13 is rated for almost two more hours than the Stealth and can be had for as low as $800 (make that $1,300 if you’re dead set on having an ultra-high-resolution screen). The $1,200 Lenovo Yoga 900 is a compelling option too, scoring almost 10 hours of battery life with the same processor, RAM and storage space as the Stealth (albeit with a slightly less impressive 3,200 x 1,800 display). If you can do without Windows, check out the MacBook Air: Its 1,440 x 900 screen may be low-res by comparison, but it’s hard to argue with 12 hours of runtime.

Oh, but you’re looking at the Blade Stealth for ultraportable hybrid gaming and can’t wait for that graphics adapter? That’s different. As of this writing, there are precious few machines on the market with external desktop GPU docks. MSI’s GS30 Shadow pulls off the external-graphics-dock trick but costs as much as a fully loaded Stealth and dies even faster, barely making it to two hours on battery, according to most reviews. If you must have a laptop with a GPU dock and need it now, check out Dell’s Alienware 13. It still won’t last long without an AC adapter, but at least it has a GeForce GTX 860M to game on when you’re rocking just the laptop. If you can wait, however, sit tight: Engadget will be putting the Stealth’s own Core dock through its paces once it’s available. Then we’ll know how the Stealth really stacks up against the competition.

Wrap-up

The Stealth reminds me of Razer’s first gaming laptop. It’s well designed and competitively priced but maybe a little too ambitious for its own good. By shooting for the moon to create the “ultimate Ultrabook,” Razer kitted out the Stealth with best-in-class components that ironically keep it from competing with the longest-lasting laptops in this category. Portability and longevity are two of the key components that make an ultraportable, well, ultra portable. Six hours of battery life isn’t abysmal, but the Stealth’s best competition can last twice as long. That’s a problem.

The laptop’s saving grace lies in the same ambition that makes it a bit of a misfit in the world of Ultrabooks. When the Razer Core launches, the Stealth will have the potential to pull double duty as an ultra-powerful PC gaming desktop. If that trick works, it will more than make up for the middling battery life for some gamers. The potential is exciting, and we can’t wait to see if the Stealth lives up to it.

Microsoft has Apple’s back in FBI iPhone dispute

The tech industry support is beginning to coalesse around Apple in its fight with the FBI. Microsoft’s President and Chief Legal Officer, Brad Smith, announced on Thursday that his company would file an amicus brief to support its longtime rival. Smith also renewed calls for congressional hearings to form new legislation that would better balance user privacy concerns with law enforcement and national security needs.

The FBI is currently relying on the All Writs Act of 1789 to compel Apple into action, though the tech giant has refused (or at least is unable) to build a backdoor into its operating system for the federal law enforcement agency. Apple CEO Tim Cook has vowed to fight the order all the way to the Supreme Court and has classified the directive as “chilling” and “dangerous”. The FBI, for its part, claims that it is “not trying to set a precedent” — even though that is precisely what it will do.

Microsoft is also battling the US government over a similar situation. The government has ordered Microsoft to hand over a suspected drug trafficker’s emails, which reside on one of the company’s servers. Apple has thrown its support behind Microsoft in that case, which is awaiting a ruling by an appellate court judge.

Source: Bloomberg

On the Brink of Greatness, episode two: Uber

Love it or hate it, Uber has become an integral part of the daily commute and nowhere is that more true than on the streets of San Francisco. Sometimes we forget that the people charged with shuttling riders about town are people themselves — people with hopes and dreams, fears and foibles. This week, Steve Goldbloom examines the trials and tribulations that these unsung urban drivers experience every day.

Apple tells court FBI’s request is ‘unconstitutional’

The legal and PR battle between Apple and the FBI carries on with the company filing a motion to stop it from being forced to help unlock an encrypted iPhone. In the motion it states that complying with the FBI and DOJ will “undermine the basic security and privacy interests of hundreds of millions of individuals around the globe,” and that “the Constitution forbids it.”

During a conference call, an Apple executive said that that what the government is asking violates the company’s constitutional rights. In the brief Apple argues that DOJ’s demand violates the company’s first amendment right against compelled speech and view point discrimination.

The company is also noted that in order to comply it would have to build what it calls a “GovtOS” and an FBI forensics lab at the Apple campus to handle the potentially hundreds of devices that are currently held by law enforcement. It states that this would violate its first and fifth amendment rights.

The motion also takes the government to task for its use of the All Writs Act stating: “no court has ever authorized what the government now seeks, no law supports such unlimited and sweeping use of the judicial process, and the Constitution forbids it.”

The motion to vacate also notes that earlier proposals by the Department of Justice to expand the reach of the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA) were shot down. This included mandating that companies install backdoors to devices. Both the White House and Congress left the current act untouched.

With that in mind, Apple argues that the the government is asking it do is something that Congress has not authorized.

If compelled to comply, Apple states that it would take two to four weeks for six to ten engineers to create the GovtOS. That doesn’t include the extensive testing on multiple devices and within the iOS ecosystem needed to make sure the operating system works with the phone and doesn’t destroy the data it holds. A burden it doesn’t want.

A House Judiciary Committee meeting has been set for March 1 to discuss encryption and the current legal fight between Apple the FBI. It will include testimony by FBI Director James Comey and Apple general counsel Bruce Sewel.

During an interview with ABC World News Tonight, Apple CEO Tim Cook was optimistic that all those involved in the situation would be able to come together to figure out a way to move forward on the issue of encryption. But he also said that the FBI’s request is “what we view as sort of the software equivalent of cancer.”

In testimony to Congress this morning, director Comey said that what happens in this case would set a precedent on how law enforcement handles locked and encrypted devices. This is a departure from earlier statements that the order was narrowly focused on a single phone.

Mercedes replaces robots with people on its assembly line

We’ve all heard stories about how the robots are taking our jobs. While that may be true, Mercedes-Benz is replacing some of its high-tech workers with real live humans. As it turns out, robots can’t keep up with the degree of customization that the automaker offers on its S-Class sedans. To be fair, there are four different types of caps for the tires alone, not to mention options for carbon fiber trim and temperature-controlled cup holders.

“Robots can’t deal with the degree of individualization and the many variants that we have today,” said the company’s head of production Markus Schaefer. “We’re saving money and safeguarding our future by employing more people.”

The change comes at a time when a number of companies are replacing people with robotic devices. International Federation of Robotics (IFR) released a survey today stating that 1.3 million of the industrial robots will be in use by 2018. In fact, the number of those machines rose 43 percent in a year between 2013 and 2014. However, as Mercedes continues to expand the options available on its vehicles, the robots aren’t able to adapt to new tasks. They’re better suited for doing the same jobs repeatedly.

“The variety is too much to take on for the machines,” Schaefer explained. “They can’t work with all the different options and keep pace with changes.”

Robots aren’t getting the boot from Mercedes-Benz Sindelfingen factory entirely, though. The machines will work alongside humans instead of being confined behind glass. Mercedes, BMW and Audi are all working on sensor-packed robots that can operate safely alongside their living breathing colleagues.

Source: Bloomberg