It's been almost four years since Apple's iPhone 4 delighted us with crisp, "Retina" sharpness, and shortly after that, the iPad 3 did the same for the company's famed tablet. Then, the MacBook Pro with Retina display manifested back in 2012, and we all thought that the rest of the Mac range would naturally follow suit thereafter. It didn't happen, though, and with new reports suggesting that the iMac will be getting a refresh next week, it looks like we're still going to be left waiting for that elusive resolution bump.
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Amid a considerable amount of fanfare, Samsung took the wraps off the Galaxy S5 back in February at the Mobile World Congress, but even though the wave of rumors and speculation regarding the flagship handset could finally be put to bed, we knew even then that the device's showcasing would only be the first part of the story. We've already caught sporadic rumors and leaks relating to the Galaxy S5 mini, which we expect to pack a smaller form factor and slightly lower-end hardware than the main attraction, and now we've what looks to be a very legitimate photo of the device, accompanied by those all-important specs.
As ever, we're back with a fistful of great apps just gone free on the App Store, and if your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch is notably bereft just now, then this would be an ideal moment to stock up. There are three in total, and given that they would ordinarily set you back a total of $9, this is definitely a freebie bundle you won't want to be missing out on!
Although, as a male, I don't frequently encounter the issue of missing an important call because my phone is lost inside my handbag or purse, I do know that this is an issue affecting a large portion of the female population. To combat this, start-up Ringly has developed a nifty smart ring that offers customizable Bluetooth notifications, flashing different color LED lights and vibration patterns dependent on the nature of the alert. Not only is it highly functional, but it's a very stylish, inconspicuous gadget, and with a flexible, color-coded notification system, it looks a very well thought-out product.
For all of the great strengths associated with the Apple iPhone - from the seamless operating system to the regularly solid camera - the Cupertino's most prized asset does have its fair share of faults. The battery, for one, is regularly highlighted as a weakness, and of all the features that users would like to see greatly improved, the battery retention tends to be right up there. Although we expect the next batch of iOS devices to offer larger battery capacity from a hardware standpoint, software optimization also plays a pivotal role, and as per new findings from one iOS 8 beta user, Apple will be introducing a multitude of new features to help users conserve those precious droplets of juice.
The world of wearables is currently amid something of a boom. Google is hard at work with Project Glass, and the search giant is also in the process of developing Android Wear, opening the door for a number of vendors looking to get into the smartwatch game. But while many companies seem to be following the crowd with head-mounted face computers and watches that do more than tell the time, Japanese mobile carrier Docomo has thrown together an interesting wearable SIM concept.
With E3 commencing today, it's all about the games, and with Microsoft having spilled the details on a bunch of eagerly-anticipated titles including Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare and Halo 5, it's almost Sony's turn to take center stage and unleash some announcements of its own. If you're a PlayStation fan and have been eagerly awaiting news, you'll be pleased to learn that Battlefield Hardline has just arrived as a beta to the PlayStation Store, and with a simultaneous beta also rolling out for PC, fans of the immensely-popular franchise will be able to aid the process of creating yet another great installment.
Apple's iOS 8 keynote at WWDC last Monday told only a portion of the story regarding the upcoming software, and as we've been learning ever since that showcasing and subsequent roll-out of the first beta, Apple has packed a lot of less obvious features into the mix. Split-screen multitasking for iPad was one of a number of pre-WWDC rumors that, we thought, had failed to materialize, but hidden deep inside the iOS 8 code is evidence that, in fact, such a feature could well be on its way.
Apple prides itself on its relatively good record of preserving security, but despite ongoing efforts to ensure that public releases of iOS and OS X are as stable and water-tight as possible, we're often reminded that software, inherently, is not infallible and that inevitable, faults will arise. The headlines have, for the past week, been largely dominated by talk of the upcoming iOS 8, but as Apple looks to pipe on the improvements, a new flaw within the current iOS 7 has just been unearthed.
Today, the Electronic Entertainment Expo, better known as E3, has just kicked off, and Microsoft has gotten us under way by announcing the release dates of some big titles headed to the Xbox later on this year. The keynote confirmed the retail market date of Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare and Forza Horizon 2 1080p, as well as demoing the likes of Evolve, Assassin's Creed Unity, Dragon Age: Inquisition, Sunset Overdrive, and of course, Halo 5, so if you've been waiting for any of these epic titles to land, check the low-down after the jump!
