Review: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon

They haven't yet translated into a huge commercial success, or manifested themselves into the business world, but the allure of the Ultrabook has influenced the design of modern laptops, from budget family machines to high-end business beasts.

Chunky bland laptops are on the way out, and even the most corporate laptops are getting a stylish makeover.

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is the latest incarnation of Lenovo's flagship business laptop, and the classic black chassis has been given an Ultrabook twist. It's super-slim and measures just 19mm (0.75 inches), easing inside the thickness restrictions governed my Intel for what can be dubbed an Ultrabook.

The business laptop market is becoming increasingly competitive, but the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is one of the few dedicated business Ultrabooks to hit the market.

While its competitors, such as the Toshiba Satellite Z930, Sony Vaio T13, HP Folio 13 or even the Apple MacBook Air have delivered long-lasting power and sleek, lightweight builds, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon earns its place at the boardroom table by adding all of the high-end business features you'd expect from a ThinkPad.

Features such as RapidCharge, long battery life, fingerprint readers and data encryption are all typical of business laptops, which is why a consumer-targeted laptop such as the MacBook Air isn't used widely by corporate users.

This goes some way to explaining the colossal price tag commanded by the Lenovo X1 Carbon, and at £1,229.99/AU$1,989/US$1,499 it needs to perform.

So let's invite the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon into the boardroom, and find out if it's hired or fired.

While the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is a rare dedicated business Ultrabook, on the grand scale of modern laptops, it packs a mediocre spec.

Inside you'll find an Intel Core i5 3427U processor clocked at 1.8GHz - one of the low-power Intel chips that is part of the Ultrabook scheme. It's a mid-range chip in the Intel lineup, which is disappointing at this price tag.

However, while the clock speed might sound low, it can turbo to 2.7GHz when under heavy load, so there's plenty of power on hand.

To back that up, there's a whopping 8GB of RAM, which helps to keep programs responsive, and a 256GB SSD drive. This is one of the few components included on the ThinkPad X1 Carbon that could be truly described as a bargain. Not only is there enough space for stacks of files, media and programs, the SSD is the secret behind the lightening-quick boot times and responsive feel when using the system.

Of course, all this is available in any consumer Ultrabook, but the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is built for business, so there are tonnes of specialist features.

The first is the build quality. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon gets its name from the built-in carbon fibre 'roll cage' and lid, which keeps the chassis light, yet extremely resilient. At 1.3kg (2.9lbs) it's up there with the lightest laptops, yet doesn't sacrifice any comfort or usability.

The design is thin and sleek, with a soft textured feel that is luxurious to the touch, which must be a first for a business laptop.

The keyboard is well spaced and makes the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon the most comfortable laptop for long typing sessions since the Apple MacBook Pro.

The only complaint is the position of the PgUp and PgDn keys, which are annoyingly positioned around the tiny arrow buttons, and we often skipped down our document by accident, when trying to make a quick adjustment to the cursor.

The trackpad is huge, accurate, and offers physical buttons above and a touch-sensitive area in the traditional location below, as well as a range of multi-touch options for scrolling and zooming.

The only complaint is that it feels a little loose, and the mouse pointer sometimes jumped as we clicked slightly between the button and trackpad zones by accident.

If there's one black mark in the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon's record it's the screen. The 14-inch display has a resolution of 1600 x 900 with a matt finish that does an excellent job in direct sunlight.

It's also blindingly bright, which again counteracts reflective conditions, but you do run the risk of snow-blindness if you work with it on maximum nit.

However, the high resolution doesn't result in exceptional clarity, and we found the pixels were noticeable, especially at high brightness. This caused a faint shadowing around images and objects, which puts extra strain on the eyes. It doesn't match the likes of the Apple MacBook Air for quality.

Inside there's RapidCharge technology, which meant we could return the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon from dead to 100% in around 45 minutes, which is extremely useful when your only contact with a power socket is while grabbing a coffee in Starbucks.

Being so thin makes connectivity a mixed bag, and for many business users, this could turn out to be a major concern.

There are two USB 3.0 ports - one of which can be used to charge USB devices while powered off - and a DisplayPort, for connecting to external displays using an adaptor. However, noticeable exceptions are Ethernet - again an adaptor has to be purchased - and standard display connections such as HDMI or VGA.

In terms of security, there's a fingerprint reader for accessing accounts and BIOS level and TPM security, for added peace of mind if your machine was stolen.

What's more, there's an excellent three year warranty offered, which makes the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon a long-term business partner.

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Laptop Spying Case Indicates More Aggressive FTC Stance on Privacy

The Federal Trade Commission announced late last month that it had settled a landmark case with seven rent-to-own companies and a software design firm for alleged consumer spying via laptop webcams, screenshots, and keystroke monitoring. This settlement is important because it marks the most expansive use by the FTC of its “unfairness” authority to pursue privacy violations. As privacy legislation has stalled in Congress in the short term, this latest action could signal more aggressive FTC action under its existing authority to reign in dubious privacy practices.

According to the complaint, the software company, DesignerWare, provided software to rent-to-own franchises that rented laptops to consumers. The software was designed to allow franchises to shut off computers remotely if the rental contract had been breached – for example, if customers failed to make timely payments or if they stopped communicating with the franchise.

DesignerWare’s programs, however, were capable of much more than just remotely deactivating computers. Via Detective Mode, a special add-on feature, rent-to-own franchises could track a computer’s physical location, create fake software registration windows to gather information, log keystrokes, take screenshots, and even spy on consumers via the laptop’s webcam. In some instances, Detective Mode-enabled webcams took pictures of children, naked people, and people having sex. As a result, the FTC charged DesignerWare and the rent-to-own companies with violations of the FTC Act.

Nearly every other developed country has instituted robust privacy protections that follows the Fair Information Practice Principles (FIPPs). In the US, by contrast, the FTC can only use the FTC Act of 1914, which established the agency and gave it the power to regulate unfair and deceptive acts or practices in commerce. In recent years, the FTC has relied upon its “deceptiveness” authority more than “unfairness” in order to pursue privacy violations, as in the recent MySpace case. In that case, Myspace claimed in its privacy policy that it would not share users' personally identifiable information (PII) without first requiring notice and consent from users. However, the FTC alleged that Myspace gave third-party advertisers access to Friend IDs, which allowed advertisers at a minimum to learn the full names of individual users, which violated the terms of the privacy policy.

Most privacy cases rely on these types of “gotcha” scenarios, where a company mistakenly represents some aspect of their practices and then can be charged with acting deceptively. Structurally problematic website practices are less frequently the subject of FTC Act enforcement cases, in part because they are harder to discover. In addition, institutionalized practices might not necessarily be deceptive, but rather confusing or obscure to users. At first glance, unfairness seems a stronger fit for privacy cases in which users may not be aware of undisclosed practices that collect and use their data. However, the unfairness enforcement power requires a three-part analysis as set out by the FTC Act. Unfair acts or practices must cause (or be likely to cause) (1) substantial injury to consumers (2) that cannot be reasonably avoidable, (3) and are not offset by benefits to consumers. While public policy considerations can play a role in this analysis, they cannot be the primary justification for an unfairness claim.

However, the unfairness prong has been applied in data security cases. Several high profile actions, including those against Reed Elsevier, BJ’s Wholesale Club, and Wyndham Hotels, have alleged weak or ineffective security systems protecting user data. In these cases, companies were responsible for user PII, including names, credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, addresses, purchase histories, and dates of birth. But these companies failed to enact adequate security methods, including anonymization, encryption, and user verification. As a result of these lax security procedures, consumers were exposed to the possibility of identity theft or other fraudulent activities – a very real injury that could not be offset by any possible benefit.

Privacy practices, unlike security measures, are more difficult to evaluate under the unfairness test. Under the third prong of the unfairness balancing test, companies that engage in bad privacy practices can point to a corresponding consumer benefit, making an unfairness claim unsuitable. If a company has a policy that might expose a consumer to harm, that company can often assert that there are countervailing benefits that point against an unfairness claim. For example, targeting users with ads based on their preferences and personal characteristics might implicate the unfairness prong, but a company could assert that targeted ads are actually beneficial to users, because they provide information about products that are particularly appealing to individual users. Because the unfairness test has a built in escape hatch for defendants, it can be a challenge for the FTC to successfully litigate unfairness claims.

It can also be difficult to determine what kind of harm is sufficient for the unfairness standard. CDT has suggested that the types of harm that result from privacy violations should be interpreted broadly, including data breaches, obstacles to innovation, dangers from government access, and encroachments upon individual liberty. In our prior commentary, we have argued for the FTC’s adoption of FIPPs in its understanding of consumer harm under the unfairness prong.

The Commission has recently indicated that it might expand its conception of what constitutes unfairness in the privacy context. For example, its high profile settlement with Facebook included unfairness claims in addition to deception claims. But, as the first major case relying upon unfairness concerning the dissemination of consumer PII, the settlement indicates a major step forward in ensuring that the government protects user privacy.

In its complaint against Designware, the Commission made its strongest statement that poor privacy practices are governed by its unfairness authority, indicating that it considers harm to be sufficiently likely as a result of disclosing personal, financial, and confidential information to third parties. In its complaint, the Commission confidently alleged that DesignerWare’s software caused substantial harm:

Because of DesignerWare’s intrusions, consumers are at risk of harm from the exposure of personal, financial account access, and medical information to strangers. Consumers are harmed by DesignerWare’s unwarranted invasion into their homes and lives and its capture of the private details of individual and family life, including, for example, images of visitors, children, family interactions, partially undressed individuals, and couples engaged in intimate activities. Sharing these images with third parties can cause consumers financial and physical injury and impair their peaceful enjoyment of their homes. Consumers cannot reasonably avoid these injuries because PC Rental Agent is invisible to them. The harm caused by respondents’ unauthorized collection and disclosure of confidential consumer information is not outweighed by countervailing benefits to consumers or to competition.

However, the drawbacks of unfairness – its multifaceted balancing test and lack of clarity over what is fair and what isn’t – demonstrates why CDT has long argued for a substantive baseline consumer privacy law protecting users and encouraging new innovations. A baseline consumer privacy law would provide clear guidance to companies and define acceptable practices, as well as clearly and forcefully demonstrate to consumers that regulators are committed to protecting user privacy and promoting fair practices. In the interim, however, the FTC’s renewed commitment to using unfairness to protect consumers is welcome.

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Review: iPod nano 7th Generation

BluetoothMulti-touchNike+ Fitness built-inFM Radio built-inChoice of coloursNo cameraNo 3rd party appsNo clip Old-style earphones

Apple seems to completely reinvent its small, slim-line iPod nano with each iteration, and 2012 has been no exception.

The 2010 model, for example, (there were no new iPods in 2011) was square and had a clip, so you could wear it like an iPod shuffle. This latest 2012 version, launching alongside the iPod touch 5th Generation, has a completely different design again; it loses the clip and returns to your pocket.

This time around it looks more like a minaturised iPod touch, complete with a little Home button and multi-touch display.

This release also sees the return of video playback, a feature removed, and greatly missed from the last nano, but it hasn't regained its ability to shoot video, which the 2009 model was notable for.

The iPod nano now comes in nine different colours – white, grey, black, green, blue, purple, pink, yellow and Product Red.

It's got Apple's new Lightning connector, which replaces the rather large 30-pin Dock connector and as well as a Lightning to USB cable you also get Apple's new improved EarPods earphones in the box.

The new iPod nano runs apps, but it doesn't run a full-fat version of iOS, so you've only got a few basic Apple apps to play with – there's no App Store, and no iTunes Store either. So, what you're looking at here is Music, Videos, Fitness, Podcasts, Photos, Radio, Clock and Voice Memos. We'll go over them all in detail here, and see how they performed in our tests, so read on to find out more.

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Panama Pressing Harsh New Copyright Law

How would you feel if the fines for speeding went directly into the pockets of the police officers issuing speeding tickets?  What if the fines were thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars?  And what if, when you went to dispute a ticket, the police officers pocketing the money were the ones deciding your case?

Seems a sure-fire recipe for abuse and conflict-of-interest. Yet according to published reports, Panama’s Congress voted to pass a new copyright law yesterday that follows just this model. Under Bill 510, the nation's copyright agency will have the authority to accuse individuals of copyright infringement, conduct hearings itself, impose fines of up to US $100,000 and keep the money for its own use and for bonuses to its employees. Artists and civil society groups in Panama are urging President Ricardo Martinelli not to sign the bill into law.

CDT has warned repeatedly that U.S. trade policy - by demanding that other countries adopt strong copyright enforcement provisions and saying little if anything about the laws and policies that moderate copyright or limit its reach - effectively invites U.S. trade partners to adopt unbalanced, one-sided copyright regimes.  Panama appears poised to become a prime example: Its new law is being adopted in an effort to implement its obligations under the U.S.-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement.

Indeed, according to Sean Flynn at infojustice.org, the legislation features one of the precise problems CDT has warned about in our writing about the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade negotiations: It extends the reproduction right to cover temporary copies, such that even ephemeral buffer copies, ubiquitous in the digital world, become potential fodder for additional copyright lawsuits.  (For a full discussion of why this makes zero policy sense, see this law professors' brief from the 2007 Cablevision DVR case here in the United States.) In addition, Flynn and others caution that the legislation may significantly narrow fair use-like policy for Panama.

The bottom line is, there appear to be real problems with this legislation, and ultimately with the U.S. using trade agreements to export incomplete and one-sided versions of copyright law.

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Apple iOS 6 and Privacy

When iOS 6 was released last week, the "big news" was Apple's decision to drop Google Maps. In the uproar that followed, iOS 6's privacy features received little fanfare, despite undergoing a major overhaul. Many changes CDT has advocated for—including giving users more control over tracking and increasing the visibility of and options in the privacy settings—have been adopted in the new version.

In Settings, Apple has created a new Privacy tab (see the images below). It contains the familiar Location Services tab, allowing users to determine which apps have access to the device’s location. The Privacy tab also lists a number of other types of data that will now require explicit requests to the user for data sharing, including Contacts, Calendars, Reminders, Photos, and Bluetooth. (Android, by contrast, lists all information and services that an app can access during installation, although they can't be changed later without a manual app update and a permissions notice to the user.)

Apple has also allowed users to limit advertising tracking, via Settings > General > About > Advertising > Limit Ad Tracking. When users enable this setting, they are setting a “flag” that tells apps they don't want to be tracked, much in the same spirit of the W3C’s Do Not Track efforts. It’s unclear why this setting is located outside of the Privacy settings and deep in the General settings, but its existence and functionality are welcome.

Apple has incorporated three new identifiers to take the place of the much-maligned and unchangeable UDID: iOS 6 now makes available a vendor-specific identifier, identifierForVendor, that can be used by app developers to recognize a device across their apps; a second identifier for advertising purposes, advertisingIdentifier, that can be used by third-party ad networks to identify a device for advertising purposes; and a third application identifier, UUID, that is a more accessible way for applications to create identifiers specific to that application. These three IDs may sound similar but the details are quite different: The vendor identifier is cleared when the user uninstalls the last app on their phone by a given vendor; the advertising identifier persists until the device is completely reset; the application identifier persists only if the application saves it, and then only until that application is uninstalled. Each of these new identifiers is preferable to the UDID, which cannot be modified.

How could these identifiers be used by apps? If a single app needs to store a lightweight device-specific identifier, they would choose the UUID (the UUID is quite different from the UDID; the UUID has a time-based element which means that two UUIDs created at different times will be completely different). If an app provider needs an identifier that persists across each of their apps, they would choose the identifierForVendor, which can be used across all the apps for a given vendor; for example, allowing a family of privacy-sensitive apps like Blendr/Grindr to offer “no personal information required” logins across each app where account information is tied to a device instead of personal information like an email account and name. Finally, for advertising purposes the advertisingIdentifier can be used to deliver, measure, and target advertisements to users. With the advertisingIdentifier, Ad networks installed in apps from different vendors will be able to track users across all the apps on which they are installed on the device - for example, a user’s love of wine in a wine cellar app could be leveraged to offer a discount on wine paraphernalia in a shopping app. This identifier is universal, making it easier for ad networks to trade and sell information about users (compared to the cookie-based model on the web, where each ad network has a different identifier for a user that only it can read). Arguably, Apple should have tried to replicate an advertiser-specific identifier for mobile, or at least made the identifier easier to reset.

However, the “Limit Ad Tracking” setting ameliorates the persistence of the advertisingIdentifier as app developers will have to check if the user has enabled the preference before they read or use the advertisingIdentifier in their code. If “Limit Ad Tracking” is set, advertisers and ad networks are only allowed to use the identifier for a limited set of exempted uses: “frequency capping, conversion events, estimating the number of unique users, security and fraud detection, and debugging.” CDT has long advocated for exactly this balance between user preferences and limited operational uses. This is an important and subtle balance. In negotiating the meaning of “Do Not Track” in the World Wide Web Consortium, we have argued that other uses like “market research” and “product improvement” could tip the scales too far; while these uses don’t directly impact the user’s experience, they wouldn’t be expected by users who enable the Limit Ad Tracking preference and these uses allow data collection of indeterminate scope and extent, potentially acting as exceptions that swallow the rule. The balance struck by Apple here in terms of permitted uses is a careful and appropriate one between honoring users’ desires to limit advertising tracking and ensuring a baseline level of accepted uses that promote a healthy app ecosystem. Furthermore, because Apple must approve iOS apps, they must respect the user’s choice for Limited Ad Tracking or face rejection or removal. This is in sharp contrast to Do Not Track, which requires affirmative representations and agreement from advertising networks to have any weight.

Finally, iOS 6 fixes some 200 critical vulnerabilities across the entire operating system. Some of these vulnerabilities are serious: from allowing bypass of the PIN-enabled lock screen to viewing pictures taken on the device without entering a PIN to running arbitrary code on the device by loading a malicious image file. Unfortunately, iOS 6 is only available for iPhone 3GS and later, iPod Touch 4 or later and iPad 2 or later, meaning the large quantity of older devices will still be subject to many of these potential problems.

CDT applauds Apple’s decision to incorporate these substantial pro-privacy elements into iOS 6, allowing users to finely control how their data gets shared with specific apps, and to more easily express a desire not to be tracked by marketers. We hope that this effort encourages mobile OS vendors to continue to iterate and compete on built-in privacy controls. For years, CDT has periodically published a report comparing the privacy settings for the major browser vendors. We are now in the process of evaluating the major mobile OS platforms in terms of comparative privacy features. Stay tuned!

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Review: HTC Desire X

You may have been mistaken for thinking that there wasn't really a gap between the HTC One V and the HTC Desire C, but you'd be wrong, as the HTC Desire X forces its way between the two handsets.

On paper there's very little to separate the Desire X from the One V, as this new smartphone appears to be an almost carbon copy of its One series brother.

You can pick up the Desire X for around £215 SIM-free, while it's also available for free on contracts starting from £20.50 per month.

This isn't too similar to the One V, which is actually available of cheaper monthly contracts (starting at £15.50), while SIM-free it's a little dearer at £230.

As well as the in-fighting with the One V, the HTC Desire X also has the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S Advance, Galaxy Ace 2, Sony Xperia P and Orange San Diego to contend with in the now crowded middle market of the smartphone world.

The main difference from the One V it seems is the design, with the HTC Desire X sporting a look and feel which owners of the flagship HTC One X will be familiar with, however the polycarbonate unibody is out, in favour of a rubberised plastic back which you can peel off.

On the front of the Desire X you find the 4-inch, Super LCD display with three touch buttons below it, back, home and multi-tasking, which tells you this handset is packing Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich – but you won't find a front-facing camera here.

The case slightly juts out below the capacitive buttons, and while not as obvious as the "chin" on the One V and the old school HTC Hero, the lip is noticeable when you run your finger down the phone.

The diminutive size of the Desire X - it measures 118.5 x 62.3 x 9.3 mm - means it fits comfortably in the hand, with the rubber coated rear providing a high level of grip, allowing you to keep hold of the phone.

Build quality appears solid, but the Desire X weighs just 114g, meaning it's deceptively light, which certainly isn't a bad thing and means you can slip it into a pocket without issue.

There's not many physical buttons on the Desire X, with a volume rocker switch located towards the top of the right side and a power/lock setting in a central position on top of the phone.

The centralised position of the lock button means reaching it with your thumb is out of the question - your index finger is the digit required to manipulate this key.

While easy to hit, those who may be switching from a Samsung device, which have the power/lock key located on the right side for easy thumbing (when held in the right hand), may find this new movement a little alien at first – but you'll quickly get used to it.

Also up top is a 3.5mm audio jack, while on the left hand side is a microUSB port for charging and connecting the Desire X to other devices.

On the back the 5MP camera and single LED flash are housed in their own oval zone, which evokes the Evo 3D language from a year ago, but fits more slickly into the architecture of the HTC Desire X.

Underneath the back cover there's a relatively average 1,650mAh battery, standard size SIM card slot and a microSD slot which supports cards up to 32GB in size, allowing you to build on the 4GB of internal storage.

Getting the rear cover off however is a little challenging, as there's no obvious indentation which encourages you to slip a finger nail in and peel it off.

Instead you're left trying to prise your nail between the front and back of the Desire X, and we found the best place is you work your way in at the top.

Once you're in you can pull the wafer thin cover off, be careful as it hugs the chin at the bottom of the Desire X, and you'll notice that it feels slightly flimsy.

The power/lock button and volume rocker are attached to the rear case and the construction doesn't fill you with confidence once you've taken the cover off, as the thin plastic feels like it could break very easily.

We'd advise against taking the back cover off the HTC Desire X too much, but apart from that it's a smart, if uninspired handset which should be able to stand up for itself in the middle of the mobile market.

Thanks to Unlocked-Mobiles.com for getting the HTC Desire X to us in super quick time!

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Review: Creative Sound Blaster Axx SBX20

Unique designTouch controls goodGreat microphoneFree app for iOS and AndroidUSB poweredDesign won't be to everyone's tastesSound quality isn't the bestAwkward placement of the Bluetooth button

The monolithic Creative Sound Blaster Axx SBX 20 certainly has a unique look. The idea behind it - apart from making it stand out in your living room - is that the two speakers inside the Creative Sound Blaster Axx SBX 20 are stacked on top of each other but pointing towards opposite sides in a bid to improve stereo coverage.

While the single tower does a good job of filling a medium-sized room with sound, it doesn't perform as well as two separate stereo speakers spaced apart.

Of course, the Creative Sound Blaster Axx SBX 20 is designed to be compact and attractive, so some compromises have had to be made regarding stereo coverage. The sound quality itself is good, though not great, and a lack of bass leaves some music feeling a little flat.

While it doesn't excel in the sound department - somewhat disappointing, considering it's a speaker, and considering Creative's pedigree - we can't fault it for the wealth of features it packs.

It features Bluetooth connectivity for phones, and the results were very good.

Our test iPhone 4S found and connected to the Creative Sound Blaster Axx SBX 20 quickly, though it required pressing and holding the small Bluetooth button that's located at the back of the speakers at the bottom.

This could prove a little fiddly, depending on where you position the speaker. The touch interface on the top of the speaker, on the other hand, is elegant and responsive.

The built-in microphone provides excellent sound quality, and with some fancy Creative technology it does a good job of eliminating background noise. So you can talk into the Creative Sound Blaster Axx SBX 20 in a busy room, and your contact will have no trouble hearing what you're saying.

The Creative Sound Blaster Axx SBX 20 is powered entirely via USB, which is hugely impressive in itself, so it can be used as a PC speaker and even an external sound card.

An adaptor is also included that enables you to plug it into a power socket as well, if you want to use it as a standalone speaker. A free app can be downloaded for smartphones and tablets to enable you to tweak the sound quality, which is a nice touch.

The Creative Sound Blaster Axx SBX 20 is a striking looking speaker that has a lot of features, though we'd have liked a bit more attention spent on sound quality as well.

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Our guide to the best new computing gear:

Plus

All Windows 8 coverageOS X 10.8 compatibilityWindows 8 vs Windows RTMore reviews

Updated A history of Microsoft's OS in card and plastic

In Depth Ditching expensive failures before they can reach the market

In Depth The alternatives to Outlook on Windows RT

In Depth Emerging trends that could kill the social network

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Review: iPod touch 5th Generation

Better screenFive colour optionsiOS 6 improvementsVery thin and lightBetter earphonesApple Maps!Lightning port is a resetYou still need iTunes

In an age where your phone can hold all the music you own you may be wondering why you might still need an iPod touch 5th Generation.

The answer is that the iPod touch is not just an iPod anymore. While Apple still sells the old fashioned iPod Classic and has just rebooted with the iPod nano 7th Generation, the iPod touch has taken over as the champion of the iPod brand – it's essentially a media player par excellence that has morphed into a handheld gaming console thanks to the sheer number of excellent, and very cheap, games available via the App Store.

It's this gaming and app angle that really gives the touch its raison d'être. If you can't afford the premium tariffs that the iPhone attracts and you still want to take advantage of the thousands apps that Apple's App Store holds then the iPod touch is your cheapest route to entry.

The latest iPod touch 5th Generation takes the best features of the iPhone 5, like the taller 640x1136 pixel, 4-inch screen and the iOS 6 software update with Siri, and adds a few little quirks of its own, like a choice of coloured backs (black, grey, pink, yellow, blue and a sixth Product Red) and a new strap called an 'iPod touch loop'.

Along the way the camera has been upgraded to an iSight camera with a built-in flash that's capable of 1080p video recording and the processor has been upped to a duel-core A5 chip, giving it twice the processing power of the previous single-core A4 chip. Both the screen size and the faster processor are important for gaming, but more of that later.

Memory configurations have been simplified. The new 5th gen is available only in 32GB and 64GB flavours.

Finally, the new iPod touch runs iOS 6, the latest version of Apple's mobile operating system in all its glory, which means that both Panorama – a new mode for taking panoramic photos, and Siri, Apple's intelligent voice-activated personal assistant, are available here.

Note: neither of these two features work on a iPod touch 4th Generation running iOS 6.

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Review: LG Optimus G (Sprint)

The good ship LG has long navigated the world of electronics, making everything from televisions to air conditioners. Its strategy on the smartphone battlefield mainly had it providing reasonably priced handsets or more niche devices.

On November 2 the LG Optimus G will arrive on American shores. A 4G capable phone, it has a 1.5GHz quad-core processor, Android 4.0: Ice Cream Sandwich, 32GB of storage, a high-resolution display and enough memory to choke a mid-range handset (a whopping 2GB, to be exact). Additionally, a prompt upgrade to Android 4.1: Jelly Bean awaits it in December.

Sprint version on the left, ATT on the right

While the essential specs will remain the same, the two U.S. carriers for the LG Optimus G are getting slightly different models. AT&T's version has removable SIM and microSD support, and a slew of carrier apps, while Sprint's has a completely sealed design (no swapping SIMs or storage here) and a grandiose 13-megapixel camera. A tweaked bezel gives the two phones a marginally different appearance.

This review will focus on the Optimus G for Sprint. We've tested both phones, for information on the other version, read our LG Optimus G (AT&T) review.

Past LG phones have undercut the competition on price, devices like the 4G-ready LG Spectrum, the stylish LG Prada world phone, or the the LG Intuition, one of the lamentably named "phablets." However, it was always the Optimus line that had the power. The Optimus 4X HD was the company's first quad-core phone, but it lacked 4G network speed.

With the Optimus G, LG has truly entered the 4G competition. Beefy hardware and a large, sharp display make it a real showpiece, but as a carrier Sprint's stable is growing crowded with impressive devices. At $200 with two-year contract, the Optimus G is racing alongside some of the best phones out there, the iPhone 5, Samsung Galaxy S3 and HTC Evo 4G LTE.

On paper, Sprint and LG seem like perfect allies. Both companies are looking to grow in the U.S. smartphone market, but have the two come up with a compelling deal for consumers? Is it even the right time to buy a 4G phone with Sprint, whose 4G network is still "coming soon" in most US cities, including our own San Francisco Bay area?

And is the Optimus G really the best LG has to offer? How long will we be waiting for the Nexus 4 by LG? The device is rumored to be a collaboration between LG and Google that may bring about the next version of the Android OS, Key Lime Pie. Should buyers just be waiting for that? These are the questions to be asked as we review the LG Optimus G for Sprint.

The LG Optimus G for Sprint (model number LG-LS970) is big and rectangular, to the point where it feels like a tablet that was shrunk down to fit in your pocket. Other than the fact that it doesn't come in white, it bears a heavy resemblance to the LG Optimus 4X HD. It's a slab of black plastic with rounded edges and a spacious 4.7-inch screen, measuring 5.19" x 2.71" x 0.33" (131.9 x 68.9 x 8.5 mm) in total.

The overall body of the LG Optimus G may be Gorilla Glass but it sure feels like plastic. Smooth, durable, seamless plastic, but plastic nonetheless. Running a finger across the screen to the the edge of the bezel, you can hardly feel any gap between the two. It has a slick feel in the hand that helps to offset the inherent awkwardness of a such a large handset. The Sprint version has a thinner bezel, with a line of metal running around the side, making it a look a bit like an overgrown iPhone 4.

The phone is big, but surprisingly skinny. Being only 0.33 inches thick adds to the overall slickness of the handset. The relatively thin body is owed to a completely sealed design. While neither carrier's Optimus G has a removeable battery, the AT&T version has a removable SIM card and microSD slot. The Sprint version does not, so the onboard 32GB of storage is all you're getting. This is one of only a few major discrepancies between the two versions, in addition to the different bezel and higher megapixel camera on the Sprint handset.

The sides of the Optimus G are rounded, but the backside is flat, unlike the Samsung Galaxy S3 or HTC One X, which have slightly bubbled rears. This makes the G feel even more like a slab of technology. The lense for the 13-megapixel camera is pronounced, preventing it from having completely flat clearance, like the AT&T model.

Holding the phone, it feels slick but not slippery. Thankfully, the polycarbonate body is just grippy enough that it won't fly out of your palm. While we generally prefer phones with aluminum bodies, like the Droid Razr M or the iPhone 5, the Optimus G is not unappealing to the touch. It's a nice combination of smooth but easy to hold on to.

The LG Optimus G's power button is located on the upper right side, with the volume rocker set slightly lower on the left side. On the AT&T version of the phone, the power button glows, serving as a notification light. The Sprint handset lacks this feature, and simply shows alerts on the lock screen.

ATT left, Sprint right

Physically, the two carrier versions of the LG Optimus G are just different enough to be worth noting. As we mentioned, the LG Optimus G for Sprint measures 5.19" x 2.71" x 0.33" (131.9 x 68.9 x 8.5 mm). The AT&T version (model number LG-E970) is 5.15" x 2.82" x 0.33" (130.8 x 71.6 x 8.4 mm). The essential specs like processor and memory are the same, though. The primary differences are the lack of removable storage and SIM on Sprint and discrepancies between the cameras. We'll address differences between data service and carrier apps later in this review.

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Review: Sony Vaio Duo 11

The release of Windows 8 has heralded a host of new stylish tablets that make a pleasant change from the bland anonymous slates which have come to represent the Android market.

Almost daily there's a new innovative tablet-laptop hybrid device, designed to suit every user need and bag size, and this strange looking Sony Vaio Duo 11 offers more than meets the eye.

The 11.6-inch Sony Vaio Duo 11 embodies a sliding tablet design not unlike the Asus Eee Pad Slider of 2011.

It's a departure from the majority of manufacturers who have opted for docking 'transformer' style devices, such as the Samsung Ativ Smart PC and Asus Vivo Tab. Both of these have detachable keyboards so you can choose whether you want to travel light with a tablet, or increase the bulk (traditionally around 1.3kg/2.9lbs) to have the keyboard as well.

The Sony Vaio Duo 11 is different. Instead of the ARM-based processors you'll find in the iPad, Android tablets such as the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 or Windows RT tablets such as the Microsoft Surface, this runs a full Intel Core processor.

This means you can run full Windows programs as well as apps such as Angry Birds and TV catchup apps from the Windows Store.

It's not just the processor that's different. Instead of being a bland black slate, the screen lifts and slides back to reveal a keyboard. It's held together by a weighty hinge, meaning that wherever you go, the keyboard comes with it.

The lack of detachability indicates that Sony is aiming at the more professional end of the market. Being able to lose the keyboard means that people are more likely to use their device for playing games and browsing the web.

The Sony Vaio Duo 11, on the other hand, is built for 'doing', and the inclusion of a stylus pen puts creative types and business users in its sights. But, with a full price of £999/AU$1,499/US$1,199.99, how does it rate?

The main difference between the Sony Vaio Duo 11 and the rest of the tablet market is that x86 processor. It's an Intel Core i5 3317U chip clocked at 1.7GHz - the same low power variety found in Ultrabooks. While 1.7GHz may seem low, it can Turbo Boost itself to a whopping 2.7GHz under heavy strain, which means it's no slouch.

The Sony Vaio Duo 11 packs the power of a leading laptop into the body of a tablet. This means that advanced photo and video editing are more than within its capabilities, and you can multitask apps to your heart's content.

Windows 8 positively flies, and you can zip around the operating system using swipe gestures that never leave you waiting.

Unfortunately, all that power comes at a cost, and the Sony Vaio Duo 11's pay off is a noticeable increase in bulk and weight. The super svelte iPad or Samsung Ativ Smart PC it is not, and the Sony weighs a muscle-testing 1.3kg (2.9lbs), the same as a modern ultra-portable laptop.

To make it easier to hold and use away from a flat surface, Sony has tapered the edges, which does make a difference, but we still feel that the Sony Vaio Duo 11 is destined for use at a desk or on the sofa.

While it may lack the portability and sleekness of its rivals, it's not just power that makes the Sony unique.

The Sony Vaio Duo 11 packs an 11.6-inch 1920 x 1080 IPS panel, which looks glorious. Not only is Windows 8's new interface sumptuously represented, but also apps, games and movies too.

And it's touchscreen, which negates any need for a mouse. That's a good job, since there's no trackpad included, so you have the option of using Windows 8's touchscreen interface, the awful optical 'nipple' on the keypad that harks back to a 1990s ThinkPad, or a USB rodent.

The screen is an IPS panel that provides generous viewing angles, should you have people congregating around your screen.

The only downside is the extremely reflective coating, and like all tablets, the Duo is a magnet for fingerprints. This combination meant we were regularly reaching for a cleaning cloth.

Of course, the added bulk makes way for plenty of storage space. While a tablet may come with 16GB space and in the case of the iPad no room for expansion, the Sony is a completely different beast.

There's a 128GB SSD drive supplied as standard, as well as an SD card slot, which can offer up to 64GB more. On top of this you'll find two USB 3.0 slots, which can be used for portable hard drives that could offer 10x the capacity - and at lightning speeds, too.

While on the subject of connectivity, there's also Ethernet, HDMI and VGA ports. This gives the Sony Vaio Duo 11 an advantage over the likes of the Samsung Series 9 and the MacBook Air, where the decision to relegate Ethernet to a USB or Thunderbolt dongle has frustrated thousands of people who have had the displeasure of walking into a meeting only to find a wired connection.

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Hands-on review: Nikon 1 V2

Those expecting the Nikon V2 to be a light refresh of the Nikon 1 V1 in the same way that the Nikon 1 J2 is a minor upgrade of the Nikon J1 will be surprised to learn that there's quite a lot different about Nikon's latest compact system camera (CSC).

Whereas the J2 uses the same 10.1-million-pixel sensor as the J1 and V1, for example, the V2 has a new 14.2MP CX format (1-inch or 13.2x8.8mm) CMOS device. This is accompanied by a new processing engine dubbed EXPEED 3A.

This sensor and processor combination has allowed Nikon to push the sensitivity range of the V2 a stop higher than before, extending from ISO 160 to ISO 6400 instead of ISO 100-3200, which should prove useful in low light.

Nikon has further extended the V2's low-light capability by giving it a pop-up flash unit as well as a hotshoe (compatible with the new Speedlight SB-N7 and existing SB-N5 flashguns). In comparison, the V1 only has a hotshoe, whereas the J1 and J2, which are below it in the line-up, both have a pop-up flash but no hotshoe.

As before, this hotshoe is an accessory port and can accept devices such as the GP-N100 GPS unit for tagging images with location data as they are captured.

Thanks to the Expeed 3a engine the V2 can shoot continuously for up to 45 full-resolution images at up to 15fps in continuous autofocus mode and for 40 images at 60fps when the focus mode is set to single AF and the focus point and exposure are fixed from the first frame onwards. Good news for those wanting to capture brief bursts of action.

In many other respects the specification of the V2 is the same as that of the V1, and the new camera has the same fixed 3-inch 921,000-dot LCD and 0.47-inch 1,440,000-dot electronic viewfinder (EVF) for composing and reviewing images. The EVF is a key distinguishing feature between the V2 and the J1 and J2 below it in the range and it makes it considerably easier to compose images in bright sunlight.

The hybrid AF system is also unchanged, with the camera switching between using the 73 phase-detection points and the 135 contrast detection points as it deems necessary.

One of the biggest differences between the Nikon 1 V2 and the V1 is the addition of a mode dial on the top of the new camera. This allows quick changes between the cameras various exposure modes and is preferable to having to use on screen controls. It's a distinct signal to enthusiasts that the V2 is of more interest to them than the V1 or the J1 or J2.

The dial feels well made and turns with just enough resistance before clicking into place. In addition to the program, aperture priority, shutter priority and manual mode loved by experienced photographers there's the novice-friendly Auto Scene Selection mode that identifies the appropriate settings to use to capture the scene and a couple of innovative shooting modes including Best Moment Capture and Motion Snapshot.

When the dial is set to Best Moment Capture pressing the Fn button allows a choice between two options, Smart Photo Selector and the new Slow View.

Slow View is particularly interesting and although it takes a minute or two to get your head around it, it could prove very useful in a range of situations. In essence, the camera records 40 full-resolution images at 15fps from the moment that the shutter release is half pressed. While the release remains half-pressed the camera plays back these 40 images in slow succession so that you can decide which is the one you want to keep. When you reach that image, pressing the shutter fully-home records it to the SD card.

It's a fun feature and one that could prove very handy for capturing holiday activities or school sports days, but it might take a bit of practice to get the results you want. It's no good starting to shoot before the action has started for instance, because the shoots will be taken before the subject has got going.

We've seen Smart Photo Selector before and it works pretty well, but it's now possible to specify whether the 20 images should be captured immediately before or after the shutter button is pressed home. The camera then identifies the best five images from which you can choose your preferred shot.

Nikon has also improved its Motion Snapshot mode for the V2. This captures video for one second at a high frame rate for slow motion replay ending on a still. The video can now be saved as a Mov file so that it can be shared more widely than before.

Another significant change brought by the V2 is the addition of a relatively large grip that has a well-textured coating. This is extremely comfortable in the hand and because the camera is very light it is easy to hold and use one-handed.

Nikon has rearranged the buttons on the back of the V2 in comparison with the V1, making some of them a little larger and making them easier to operate. All fall conveniently within reach of your right thumb or left index finger as the camera is held.

Although we only had access to a pre-production sample of the V2 for an hour or so we found it very easy to get to grips with the basic settings and controls. The menu is sensibly arranged and the mode dial makes it easy for novices and enthusiasts to pick up the camera and start shooting straight away.

The more fun and exotic modes take a few more minutes to understand, but there's no need to spend ages hunting around in the menu, the options are easy to find and adjust.

As yet we haven't been able to examine any images that we've shot on the Nikon V2 as there are only pre-production samples available at the moment. But we know Nikon's pedigree and the company leads the way when it comes to noise control, so we have high expectations of the camera.

However, we found that the V1's JPEG images tend to have fairly sharp edges with softer detail between so we will be examining the results from the higher-resolution V2 very closely when we get a final sample.

The AF system hasn't changed since the V1 so its no surprise to find that our experience of the V2's autofocus system is largely positive. It manages to lock onto its target even in fairly low contrast situations and only seems to struggle when light-levels drop to 'atmospheric' indoor conditions - candle light and the like.

Face detection focusing can be very useful for photographing social events and the V2 highlights faces within a scene very quickly. A V2 is a much more discreet camera to carry around to get candid portraits at parties, so this is a very useful feature.

We found that the J2's Matrix metering system does a good job in most situations and we anticipate that the same will be true of the V2. It certain performed satisfactorily when we were testing the early samples at Nikon's press event.

While the Nikon 1 J1 sold in large numbers, the V1 has not featured so prominently in the sales league tables. We suspect that its comparatively high price meant it failed to find favour with novices while enthusiasts were put off by the simplified handling, lack of direct access to the exposure modes and the smaller (1-inch) sensor size.

While the V2 doesn't address any concerns about the size of the sensor, a pixel count of 14.2 million is relatively conservative by today's standards - especially for Nikon with its 36MP D800 and 24.2MP D3200 - and this should bode well from image quality from the new compact system camera.

Keeping the sensor size down also enables Nikon to keep the size of the V2's body down and despite the addition of a chunky grip, it doesn't take up much room in your bag. It's also light enough to carry around all day without experiencing any discomfort.

We think the V2's controls are much more enthusiast-friendly than the V1's. This plus the fact that there are now six compatible 1 Nikkor lenses with three more in the pipeline is likely to make the camera much more attractive to keen photographers looking for a smaller, lighter alternative to an SLR.

We will be review a full-production sample of the Nikon 1 V2 in the near future, so make sure you keep an on TechRadar.com/cameras.

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Review: TomTom for Android review

For several years you had a choice when it came to in-car navigation. Factory-fit or dedicated device.

But now there's a third option: Full-function, turn-by-turn sat nav apps for smartphones. TomTom's just added to the party with its somewhat belated app for Android.

In theory you get all the advantages of a dedicated nav device, but without the need to buy an extra device or pay for an additional data plan and all that jazz that comes with a high end sat nav device. It's got to be a win, surely?

The proposition only gets stronger when you consider that TomTom is one of the very best nav specialists and Android the most popular smartphone platform. And with the app you get free map updates... for life. What's not to like?

For one thing, there are plenty of alternative navigation apps for the Android platform. Oh, yeah, and lest you have forgotten, Google Maps for Android does the turn-by-turn thing for free. So TomTom for Android needs to be a bit special.

Indeed, this app could be important as the nav industry is in a critical transitional phase. Dedicated devices, otherwise known as personal navigation devices or PNDs look like an endangered species. So it's quality of mapping and associated services that really matter.

TomTom knows this and is very progressive. But partnership with Apple with iOS has hardly started how they hoped. Anyway, interesting times. let's have a look at what tomtom's new app for android actually delivers. First the theoreticals.

Available to buy now from Google Play (Android App Store on devices with older versions of Android), a wide range of map packs are available. We tested the pan-European map pack.

Yours for £30.99 it's a big old download, clocking in over 3GB, so you'll need plenty of available storage on your device. Note also we couldn't find any options for choosing the storage location, which could be a problem if you've maxed out your internal memory and we're hoping to stick TomTom onto a storage card.

That said, the download is a one-time hit and critically means you have those maps stored locally. You're not dependent on an internet connection for basic navigation, in other words, though you'll need one for some of the live services, including HD Traffic.

Also, for the record the UK-only map is under 400MB in size, so if you're not planning on a Euro tour, storage needs are far from excessive, and it's cheaper to buy that option compared to the full UK & Europe version.

As it happens, it's at this installation stage that the TomTom app's biggest problem appears. At launch it only works with 800 x 480 and 854 x 540 screen resolutions. So the latest generation of 720p HD handsets with 1,280 x 720 screens are totally incompatible.

That rules out pretty much all of the hot handsets out there at the moment. Hmmm.

Anyway, beyond simple mapping, the app delivers TomTom's funky connected features. For starters, this means HD Traffic that's miles better than the RDS-TMC data that most built-in navigation devices rely on.

Then there's TomTom IQ routes, which takes into account things like historical data for traffic flows to work out the best possible routes, rather than just relying of theoretical information like posted speed limits and simple distances.

Rounding the feature set out are usual TomTom suspects like Google-powered Local Search, an offline POI database and of course seven-digit postcode support. The latter is something you may be surprised to learn still isn't supported by some factory-fit navigation systems.

First up, the TomTom app benefits from smartphone installation straight away thanks to the capacitive touch screens and responsive interfaces on Android devices. It makes for a much slicker, less frustrating experience than the resistive screens users of TomTom's own devices know all too well.

As for the actual graphics and mapping quality, that's never been a TomTom strength if you're looking for Hollywood style 3D visuals. But what matters here is clarity and legibility and just like TomTom's dedicated devices, the app absolutely delivers.

It's not absolutely identical to TomTom's own devices. But where it differs, it's usually better, with a drop shadow here or a transparency there giving the app a slightly more contemporary feel.

Critically, however, the stuff you really need, things like time to destination, distance to destination, your speed and the local speed limit remain available to be overlaid on the map.

TomTom's familiar prompts and cues for upcoming exits and junctions, too. They're probably the best in the business. Certainly, you're much less likely to misinterpret and TomTom guidance cue than that of most built-in navigation solutions.

As with TomTom devices, the POI and Local Search setup is a bit confusing. It's not immediately obvious to new users why you'd use one over the other and can be tricky to use to find things that ought to be easy, like train stations and major airports.

We'd like to see all this unified in a much cleverer single context-aware search function. Elsewhere, extras like the speed camera database and HD Traffic work just like they do on TomTom devices, which is to say pretty well.

Problem is, you have to pay extra for both. HD Traffic is £3.99 a month or £26.99. The numbers for the camera database are £1.49 and £16.99 respectively.

That said, we're happy to report it runs pretty smoothly on a rather stately, two-year old Samsung Galaxy S. In fact, even on such an ancient handset it calculate routes pretty niftily.

Exactly how it runs on the latest HD uber phones, we'll have to wait and see. As we mentioned, that's because the app is not currently compatible with 720p HD screens. When it is, it'll be a much more popular option and we'll take another look at it.

We can imagine the route calculation tearing along at quite a lick on the latest dual and quad-core CPUs. Still, it's a very odd oversight from TomTom to launch without HD handset support.

Oh, and don't forget you'll need some kind of cradle and charger to use the app properly, which will add to the cost. But assuming your handset is compatible, you can now have the full TomTom experience without a standalone device.

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