Liam Stanway | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Tue, 24 Sep 2013 13:42:20 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-KITGURU-Light-Background-SQUARE2-32x32.png Liam Stanway | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 BlackBerry sold to Fairfax Financial for $4.7 billion https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/blackberry/liam-stanway/blackberry-sold-to-fairfax-financial-for-4-7-billion/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/blackberry/liam-stanway/blackberry-sold-to-fairfax-financial-for-4-7-billion/#respond Tue, 24 Sep 2013 12:34:27 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=154196 The bad news continues to roll in for BlackBerry as the troubled smartphone designer has begun the process of becoming a private company, following its sale of $4.7 billion to Fairfax Financial Holdings. BlackBerry put itself up for sale last month following drops in both revenue and share values, with hopes that making the company …

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The bad news continues to roll in for BlackBerry as the troubled smartphone designer has begun the process of becoming a private company, following its sale of $4.7 billion to Fairfax Financial Holdings.

BlackBerry put itself up for sale last month following drops in both revenue and share values, with hopes that making the company private would allow it to restructure safely and find a new niche in the market that is already dominated by the likes of Apple and Samsung.

Fairfax already owns around 10 per cent of stock in BlackBerry, so this isn't a case of a larger company swooping in to incorporate a struggling firm into its ranks. The firm already has experience and knowledge of BlackBerry's place in the market and any plans that the phone designer might have.

Shareholders will receive $9 per share in cash following the buyout.

sold
And the highest bidder is…Fairfax! Source: PhilWolff

Prem Watsa, chairman and chief executive of Fairfax, has a lot of praises to sing for this sale, as well as hopes for BlackBerry in the market.

“We believe this transaction will open an exciting new private chapter for BlackBerry, its customers, carriers and employees. We can deliver immediate value to shareholders, while we continue the execution of a long-term strategy in a private company with a focus on delivering superior and secure enterprise solutions to BlackBerry customers around the world.”

There is now a six week diligence period ending on the 4th of November in which BlackBerry is free to solicit, evaluate, and enter into negotiations with other offers from alternative companies.

KitGuru Says: Mass lay-offs, and now going private. BlackBerry needs to fix itself up and fast before even more potential customers lose interest in the company.

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Apple win coolest company in Britain award https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/apple/liam-stanway/apple-win-coolest-company-in-britain-award/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/apple/liam-stanway/apple-win-coolest-company-in-britain-award/#respond Tue, 24 Sep 2013 11:52:26 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=154145 The good news just doesn't seem to end for Apple, as the gadget designer has grabbed another title to add to the list: its taken home the Coolest Company in Britain award from Coolbrands for the second year running. Not only that, but it beat off competition from such brands as Google and Spotify to …

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The good news just doesn't seem to end for Apple, as the gadget designer has grabbed another title to add to the list: its taken home the Coolest Company in Britain award from Coolbrands for the second year running. Not only that, but it beat off competition from such brands as Google and Spotify to retain the top place.

This accolade comes straight after the news that the mobile device manufacturer managed to push over nine million units of the new iPhone 5S and 5C models over its launch weekend.

The Coolbrands list of most popular companies this year had some stern competition in the run for pole position. Apple, Twitter, Google and Spotify were all in the top twenty slots. Apple must be feeling rather smug though, as its number one competitor, Samsung, was nowhere to be seen on the list.

Apple

Resistance is futile

The council chairman of Coolbrands, Stephen Cheliotis, doesn't seem to think that Apple will be able to retain the haughty accolade for three years running though. He has doubts that the brand will be able to rally that popularity in the ever changing market, as he said in a statement about the recent survey.

“While Apple remained number one this year, question marks remain as to how long they might hold this position in the face of an increasingly competitive set of rivals.

“Overall the top 20 saw a definite swing back to luxury brands as the affordable everyday brands slipped back. Fashion brands came back to the fore, with sport and music brands becoming more conspicuous.”

KitGuru Says: Two years straight as the most popular company is pretty good for any firm in this market. Even if you're not a fan of Apple, you can't deny the sheer popularity with everybody else.

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China to unblock access to social media sites https://www.kitguru.net/channel/liam-stanway/china-to-unblock-access-to-social-media-sites/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/liam-stanway/china-to-unblock-access-to-social-media-sites/#comments Tue, 24 Sep 2013 11:47:15 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=154180 It would seem that the Chinese government is finally ready to open up access to social media websites such as Facebook and Twitter after years of restricting and blocking access to sites across the country. There is a catch however, as there are only plans to make them publicly accessible in the newly created Shanghai …

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It would seem that the Chinese government is finally ready to open up access to social media websites such as Facebook and Twitter after years of restricting and blocking access to sites across the country. There is a catch however, as there are only plans to make them publicly accessible in the newly created Shanghai Free Trade Zone.

According to anonymous sources in the Chinese government for The South China Morning Post, certain senior leaders in Beijing have decided to relent on their stance concerning social media outlets. Plans are now in motion to allow foreign telecoms services to run in competition with the three state run Chinese companies in order to supply internet services within the boundaries of the new trade zone.

The social media websites have been inoperable within China for many years at the behest of the Chinese government. Since 2009 it has been nigh-on impossible to get your Facebook fix within the communist country.

Facebook China

The logo looks better in red anyway

Why the sudden change of mind, though? Well, the Shanghai Free Trade Zone will welcome foreign trade, and with that will come a number of people that will want access to their social media outlets for both personal and business use. If they are to make outsiders feel welcome, then there needs to be access to the basic comforts that those people are used to in their home countries. One of the sources for The South China Morning Post described the situation thusly:

“In order to welcome foreign companies to invest and to let foreigners live and work happily in the free-trade zone, we must think about how we can make them feel like at home. If they can’t get onto Facebook or read The New York Times, they may naturally wonder how special the free-trade zone is compared with the rest of China.”

KitGuru Says: Hopefully this relaxing of the strict rules will see further development for China, as well as far more foreign interest for more than just trading purposes.

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Apple sells over nine million iPhones in one weekend https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/iphone/liam-stanway/apple-sells-over-nine-million-iphones-in-one-weekend/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/iphone/liam-stanway/apple-sells-over-nine-million-iphones-in-one-weekend/#respond Mon, 23 Sep 2013 20:25:18 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=153999 Over the last few days we've seen the launch of the new iPhone 5S and 5C smartphones, as well as the iOS 7 software for Apple devices. With that, there has been a rush of sales for the new products and of upgrades for devices already owned. Ultimately, this led to Apple selling almost ten …

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Over the last few days we've seen the launch of the new iPhone 5S and 5C smartphones, as well as the iOS 7 software for Apple devices. With that, there has been a rush of sales for the new products and of upgrades for devices already owned. Ultimately, this led to Apple selling almost ten million new phones in just a couple of days.

According Apple's CEO, Tim Cook, more than nine million new iPhones were sold in total, and that's just the word on the new models. These astonishingly high numbers set a new record in first weekend sales for the popular smartphone designer. The hardware is already close to being completely sold out, meaning that people hoping to pick up an iPhone 5S or 5C after the rush might be in for a bit of a disappointment.

Not only were the new devices so popular, but iOS 7 was downloaded and installed onto 200 million devices on top of the nine million sales. This is yet another record for Apple.

iPhone 5S

I find it hard to ‘think different' when I have the same phone as nine million other people

When the iPhone 5 launched last year only five million units were shifted in the opening weekend. Whether the large increase in sales for this weekend is due to multiple models being released, or the fact that one of them is a budget model remains to be seen.

You can still grab an iPhone 5C, but the 5S model is sold out nearly everywhere due to a lack of stock. If you're lucky you might find one though, so perhaps it's worth shopping around.

KitGuru Says: Don't particularly see the appeal myself, but it certainly seems to be the popular choice right now. Which of the big camps do you guys lie in? Android or Apple? 

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LinkedIn denies accusations of hacking user accounts https://www.kitguru.net/channel/liam-stanway/linkedin-denies-accusations-of-hacking-user-accounts/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/liam-stanway/linkedin-denies-accusations-of-hacking-user-accounts/#respond Mon, 23 Sep 2013 12:08:11 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=153923 Responding to a class action lawsuit, the business oriented networking site LinkedIn, has denied a number of claims that it hacked email accounts belonging to system users, declaring the accusations as baseless. According to a blogpost by Blake Lawit, senior director of litigation at LinkedIn, the accusations being levied against the firm are simply “not …

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Responding to a class action lawsuit, the business oriented networking site LinkedIn, has denied a number of claims that it hacked email accounts belonging to system users, declaring the accusations as baseless.

According to a blogpost by Blake Lawit, senior director of litigation at LinkedIn, the accusations being levied against the firm are simply “not true”.

“As you may have read recently, a class action lawsuit was filed against LinkedIn last week. The lawsuit alleges that we ‘break into' the email accounts of our members who choose to upload their email address books to Linkedin.”

“Quite simply, this is not true, and with so much misinformation out there, we wanted to clear up a few things for our members.”

LinkedIn

Trustworthy or not?

A report that surfaced on Bloomberg brought the allegations to light, citing users that complained the company sent in the region of 200 messages to people through the website. The situation then went on to be come a class action lawsuit as more people filed against LinkedIn, although Lawit tried to assuage people's fears in his blogpost.

“We do not access your email account without your permission. Claims that we ‘hack' or ‘break into' members' accounts are false,” he said.

“We never deceive you by ‘pretending to be you' in order to access your email account. We never send messages or invitations to join Linkedin on your behalf to anyone unless you have given us permission to do so.”

Lawit has also brushed off many press reports on the matter as misleading, promising LinkedIn members that the company has the best interests for both the website and the users in mind.

KitGuru Says: Something smells a bit fishy about this, but I'm not sure what.

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LG announces Vu 3 smartphone https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/liam-stanway/lg-announces-vu-3-smartphone/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/liam-stanway/lg-announces-vu-3-smartphone/#respond Mon, 23 Sep 2013 11:08:53 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=153894 The new Vu 3 smartphone was announced today by Seoul based smartphone developer LG from their South Korean headquarters. The new mobile device comes equipped with a 5.2 inch 4:3 aspect ratio display, continuing the theme of the Vu series phones. Like the preceding models in the series, the Vu 3 has a bit of …

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The new Vu 3 smartphone was announced today by Seoul based smartphone developer LG from their South Korean headquarters. The new mobile device comes equipped with a 5.2 inch 4:3 aspect ratio display, continuing the theme of the Vu series phones.

Like the preceding models in the series, the Vu 3 has a bit of an odd look to it with the unusual display. The 5.2in screen creates a 1280×960 resolution, and the 4:3 aspect ratio gives the device a very wide image. It has been designed for “optimum readability”, bringing this mobile device more in line with tablets rather than phones.

LG also claims that this handset has a “superior battery life” but hasn't specified how long the device can last.

lg vu 3

Is it just me, or does that second one remind you of Metro: Last Light?

Apart from the somewhat square screen, this smartphone still packs a bit of a punch. A quad-core 2.2GHz CPU gives life it life and when coupled with 2GB of RAM you should have a handset that can really get the job done. It even runs on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, so the software should be familiar.

There's a 13MP rear-facing camera, twinned with a 2.1MP front-facing camera for all your picture taking needs. The rear-facing one is even capable of taking HD 1080p video footage.

LG had only announced plans to launch the Vu 3 in Korea later this month but is yet to announce any plans to make this a worldwide release.

KitGuru Says: It certainly looks funky, but the whole concept seems a bit strange to me. I really don't see the need for the chunkier aspect ratio. What about you guys?

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Final Fantasy V getting official Android release next week https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/liam-stanway/final-fantasy-v-getting-official-android-release-next-week/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/liam-stanway/final-fantasy-v-getting-official-android-release-next-week/#respond Fri, 20 Sep 2013 19:32:34 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=153629 Japanese game publisher Square Enix is set to release the Android version of the hit game Final Fantasy V, originally released just short of 21 years ago on the Super Famicom/SNES. The wonderful little RPG will re-debut on Android devices next week on the 26th of September, following the release on iOS a couple of months …

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Japanese game publisher Square Enix is set to release the Android version of the hit game Final Fantasy V, originally released just short of 21 years ago on the Super Famicom/SNES. The wonderful little RPG will re-debut on Android devices next week on the 26th of September, following the release on iOS a couple of months ago.

The firm revealed the news over Twitter, where the simple message “Final Fantasy V will be coming to Android devices on Thursday September 26, 2013!” was posted yesterday on the official Square Enix Europe account. Other than that small announcement, we don't know much else about the release. Considering the news was broken on the European account, I would imagine that we will be seeing a release in European territories.

If the announcement has you craving a bit of that classic JRPG action, then there is also a sale on Final Fantasy IV currently, where you can buy it from the Play Store for £7.49, which is around about 30 per cent off.

Final Fantasy V

This box art takes me back

Final Fantasy V has already been ported to a variety of different consoles throughout the years, so it is no surprise to see mobile versions cropping up as well. It has seen a release in just about every generation of gaming ever since it launched all the way back in 1992, and has proven wildly popular with fans the world over.

Right now it's likely this JRPG will set you back around £10.99 on release, as that is how much the App Store version cost when the title was released on iOS back in June.

KitGuru Says: One of my favourite games in the Final Fantasy series readily available on my phone? Yes, please.

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Activation problems with new iPhone devices, and iOS 7 https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/iphone/liam-stanway/activation-problems-with-new-iphone-devices-and-ios-7/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/iphone/liam-stanway/activation-problems-with-new-iphone-devices-and-ios-7/#comments Fri, 20 Sep 2013 15:26:10 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=153619 Apple has put warnings to early adopters of the new iPhone 5S and 5C devices, as it seems that much like the iOS 7 roll out from yesterday; something just hasn't gone quite right. Users of the new smartphone models should expect to run into activation problems, as well as anybody upgrading to iOS 7 …

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Apple has put warnings to early adopters of the new iPhone 5S and 5C devices, as it seems that much like the iOS 7 roll out from yesterday; something just hasn't gone quite right. Users of the new smartphone models should expect to run into activation problems, as well as anybody upgrading to iOS 7 this weekend.

A report on Apple Insider reveals that the hardware manufacturer has issued an internal high priority alert, warning staff that the activation servers for the latest mobile devices have been experiencing issues. Those server problems will reflect back at the users attempting to activate their devices for the first time, resulting in unwanted errors.

The plague of issues isn't exclusive to just the iPhone 5S and 5C though, the entire iOS 7 launch has caused a slough of problems for users everywhere as they try to install the latest software on their iPhones and other Apple devices.

iPhone 5S iOS 7

Now with added uselessness

Activation problems galore, it would seem. Considering the rush of customers who want to get their hands on the latest iPhone models, and the stampede of users who just want to downlaod iOS 7, you'd think that Apple would prepare for this kind of traffic. The new mobile devices aren't exactly cheap, and I know that I wouldn't want to purchase one only to have it be as much use as a paperweight for whatever length of time. The firm was expected to shift “five or six million” units this weekend, so why would the hardware manufacturer not prepare for that?

The situation isn't much better when you look at the company's online store, where all iPhone 5S models are on hold until next month due to selling out completely. Retailers everywhere are also facing a shortage of stock, suggesting that Apple doesn't want too much of the product on the market for whatever mysterious reason it might have.

KitGuru Says: Apple is completely aware of how popular the brand name is, and should have a much better idea of what kind of traffic to expect for events such as these. If anything, this is a sloppy and lazy release that I wouldn't expect of a globally recognised brand.

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Microsoft has plans for hundreds more Xbox One TV shows https://www.kitguru.net/channel/liam-stanway/microsoft-has-plans-for-hundreds-more-xbox-one-tv-shows/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/liam-stanway/microsoft-has-plans-for-hundreds-more-xbox-one-tv-shows/#respond Fri, 20 Sep 2013 15:08:04 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=153611 It seems that Microsoft really wants to make use of its next flagship console as a media hub, since it has plans in place for hundreds of Xbox One exclusive shows and series over the coming years. We've already seen the likes of Halo: Forward Unto Dawn and heard a few scant details about the upcoming Halo series directed …

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It seems that Microsoft really wants to make use of its next flagship console as a media hub, since it has plans in place for hundreds of Xbox One exclusive shows and series over the coming years. We've already seen the likes of Halo: Forward Unto Dawn and heard a few scant details about the upcoming Halo series directed by Spielberg, but what else does the console developer have to offer us?

At the Tokyo Game Show 2013, Phill Spencer from Microsoft gave us just a hint of what's to come. Whilst speaking with Bloomberg and Reuters about the LA based production studio that Microsoft has been working with, he said that it has, “literally hundreds of ideas that it is incubating right now”. With former CBS president Nancy Tellem heading up the studio, the team has been working on all sorts of “interactive and linear content for Xbox” exclusively for Microsoft, and we should start expecting more news on them pretty soon.

If Microsoft is actually working on hundreds of TV projects, then just what does it have in mind for gamers and how they access their media?

06b0e335c1ba2c15650d8b740c174556

Well, it's not like this wasn't popular. Why not try with even more games or series?

What was most interesting was when Spencer confirmed that the content would have a “certain level of interactivity”, suggesting that player input might still be a part of how these series will work. If so, that's a pretty cool idea, giving the audience a small modicum of control over what goes on in the series. With enough effort and filming, you could realistically create a Choose Your Own Adventure style show which just throws options at the viewer every now and then.

Other series such as Defiance or Quantum Break are going to, or have had, a direct effect on the games that they are linked to. EVE Online is getting similar treatment with a series that will be showing off a number of the playerbase's more exotic exploits. There's a lot of potential for linking games with regularly broadcast shows and it opens up all new options for developers and storywriters.

We don't know much more about the supposed hundreds of projects, just that we “will have some new announcement for TV shows coming pretty soon”. Hopefully we can expect to hear more news on how Microsoft is tackling regular media on the Xbox One soon.

KitGuru Says: I'm really interested in what Microsoft has to show us. I'd love more series that have impact on particular games, possibly involving player actions as news or events in the series. Games and TV are two very similar kinds of media and there's a lot of scope for experimentation between the two.

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Kogan announces cheap quad-core smartphone https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/media-phone/liam-stanway/kogan-announces-cheap-quad-core-smartphone/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/media-phone/liam-stanway/kogan-announces-cheap-quad-core-smartphone/#comments Thu, 19 Sep 2013 18:16:52 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=153504 The relatively unknown hardware developer Kogan has just announced a new quad-core smartphone for the mobile device market. Hopefully the new Agora 5.0 will be able to compete with all the bigger contenders such as Samsung, and HTC, but it should be able to keep pace with the lower price point and advanced hardware that …

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The relatively unknown hardware developer Kogan has just announced a new quad-core smartphone for the mobile device market. Hopefully the new Agora 5.0 will be able to compete with all the bigger contenders such as Samsung, and HTC, but it should be able to keep pace with the lower price point and advanced hardware that its boasting.

The Agora 5.0 Quad-core Smartphone doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, nor does it even speak of a brand when you consider that the predecessor was called the Agora 5.0 Dual-core Smartphone. Something about it just doesn't gel with more traditional conventions on the smartphone market right now, and that's a good thing. The name and brand are relatively unknown, so if you saw it in a store you could be forgiven for thinking that it was some cheap knock-off device. At £150 the phone doesn't scream “cutting edge technology”, but you'd be wrong if you thought that.

c076e59815858b457dcac4ad62abd219-540x360

This small phone packs as much punch as most tablets

I'd be hard pressed to think this was worth £150 at first glance, but I was taken aback when I first saw the technical specs for the price they're offering: 1.2GHz quad-core CPU, 1GB of RAM and a 1280×720 resolution on a 5in IPS screen. Those are all quite good specs, and the device even runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, meaning that most users will already be comfortable with using the operating system. Those are just the specs inside the smartphone though. It also boasts a pair of cameras (2MP for front facing, 8MP for rear facing), 3G and WiFi connectivity, dual SIM slots, and a 2,000mAh battery.

The new Agora seems to lack on the internal storage side of things. It struggles with just 4GB of internal memory, and is probably going to rely on the microSD slot it comes with for increased space.

Kogan Agora 5.0 Quad-core Smartphone

It's also a reasonable size from all angles

When you stop to look at it, perhaps missing out on the Kogan Agora just because of the more obscure brand is a mistake. This genuinely has the potential to compete with Samsung and the like. Maybe it will even convince them to incur some price drops in the near future.

KitGuru Says: That name is the only bit making me ponder a sale instead of it being a certainty. What do you guys think they should call it? 

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iOS 7 already running into problems https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/apple/liam-stanway/ios-7-already-running-into-problems/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/apple/liam-stanway/ios-7-already-running-into-problems/#comments Thu, 19 Sep 2013 17:22:02 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=153501 The long awaited iOS 7 from Apple was finally released to the masses yesterday, and it has already been installed on hundreds of thousands of devices all over the world. Unfortunately, download problems have left thousands without the ability to upgrade to the latest software. The software designer officially unveiled the new operating system less …

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The long awaited iOS 7 from Apple was finally released to the masses yesterday, and it has already been installed on hundreds of thousands of devices all over the world. Unfortunately, download problems have left thousands without the ability to upgrade to the latest software.

The software designer officially unveiled the new operating system less than 24 hours ago, where it was met with much enthusiasm from fans of Apple and their products the world over. The issues that have cropped up are rather typical of major software releases though, because nothing ever seems to go right at the start. In this case users have run into a variety of issues when they tried to download or install the software, and those same users have taken to social media to bemoan the problems. Confirmed problems include being inundated with error messages when trying to install the software, and failing to download the operating system either due to flooded servers or general download problems.

One user even complained that whilst installing the update (a two hour long affair), their phone crashed and restoring it lost all of their media files.

ios-7-flat-homescreen

It's difficult to enjoy something when you can't access it

There are plenty of download issues that are stemming from the sheer amount of people who are trying to get access to the overhauled software too. The servers can only handle so many requests at once, and being hammered by people trying to get through the rabble is crashing many of them. There's so many people hitting them that some WiFi servers at a number of colleges have crashed trying to handle the outgoing requests.

Apple is yet to comment on these issues, which is strange considering the download errors are definitely something that need to be addressed ASAP. Whether the iPhone maker is keeping tight lipped is because the staff are all working on the problem already, or if the hope is that ignoring the problem will make it go away, remains to be seen. The installation errors are still unexplained though, and word from Apple about what to do would be much appreciated.

KitGuru Says: Stuff like this is why I rarely adopt software or hardware until a few weeks after launch. Having the absolute latest system is good, but I'd rather wait until all the little issues have been dealt with.

Via The Inquirer

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BlackBerry cutting 40 per cent of staff before the year is out https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/blackberry/liam-stanway/blackberry-cutting-40-per-cent-of-staff-before-the-year-is-out/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/blackberry/liam-stanway/blackberry-cutting-40-per-cent-of-staff-before-the-year-is-out/#respond Thu, 19 Sep 2013 17:16:45 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=153493 It seems that the situation at BlackBerry is a lot worse than was originally predicted, as new reports that the mobile device producer will be reducing its staff size by 40 per cent before the end of 2013. It's no secret that they've been struggling to compete with the likes of Apple on the smartphone …

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It seems that the situation at BlackBerry is a lot worse than was originally predicted, as new reports that the mobile device producer will be reducing its staff size by 40 per cent before the end of 2013. It's no secret that they've been struggling to compete with the likes of Apple on the smartphone market, but is it time to pull the plug?

The harrowing news was revealed in a report published on The Wall Street Journal earlier today. It is expected that they will be cutting staff in “waves”, and it will not be limited to any particular set of departments, leaving nobody safe from the oncoming dismissals. The smartphone designer reportedly had around 12,700 employees back in March which was the last time it disclosed information about its staff, and if they still have that kind of a workforce then we're looking at around 4-5,000 people out of a job in the next three months.

This isn't the first time BlackBerry have downsized in such numbers. Back in 2011 the company had more than 17,000 employees, but cut 5,000 jobs last year.

Z30

Could the Z30 be the saving grace that BlackBerry is looking for?

Considering that more than half of the sales division was cut last week, and smaller waves of dismissals over the Summer, it doesn't look like there is a lot of hope for employees at BlackBerry. Over the past two years alone there have been downsizings that now will have put more than 10,000 people out of a job. Both the Z10 and Q10 were flops commercially, and it seems that the Z30 is expected to keep up the slack. The company has also reported losses of $84 million in the quarter ending 1st of June.

Obviously these cuts are how the company is dealing with poor sales and failings on the market in recent months, but if these trends continue then losing so many employees in a short space of time could hit it even harder.

KitGuru Says: I don't think this works as a long term solution to anything. It's hard to build up a decent reputation on the current market when everybody is going to remember you for firing so many people.

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Blackberry Z30 pre-orders already available at Selfridges https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/blackberry/liam-stanway/blackberry-z30-pre-orders-already-available-at-selfridges/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/blackberry/liam-stanway/blackberry-z30-pre-orders-already-available-at-selfridges/#respond Wed, 18 Sep 2013 17:42:22 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=153166 BlackBerry announced the latest model in the BlackBerry 10 range today, and despite it being mere hours since the new Z30 model smartphone was unveiled to the world, we're already seeing pre-orders go up online. With the likes of the iPhone 5S also launching in a similar timeframe, can Blackberry compete? The upmarket retailer Selfridges …

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BlackBerry announced the latest model in the BlackBerry 10 range today, and despite it being mere hours since the new Z30 model smartphone was unveiled to the world, we're already seeing pre-orders go up online. With the likes of the iPhone 5S also launching in a similar timeframe, can Blackberry compete?

The upmarket retailer Selfridges has begun to take advance orders of stock for the new handset, with availability beginning in eight days on 26th September. The Z30 is the latest version of the Blackberry 10 range and represents the most cutting edge hardware and features available, but the price reflects it. Currently a Selfridges pre-order will set you back a whopping £600.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQVKISYQ31s']

The official reveal trailer will give you an idea of what the smartphone is capable of

If you're interested in picking up a Z30, then it's worth noting that you can't yet get it on any pay monthly tariffs, limiting access to those who can afford the high asking price all at once. It is thought that more options will be made available not long after the official launch next week however.

Inside the device you'll find a dual-core 1.7GHz CPU, which isn't anything to write home about. The 1280×720 display on the 5in screen is pretty good for anyone who wants a decent resolution for video playback. There's also 2GB of RAM which is quite handy. Dual cameras, one 2MP and the other 8MP, mean that you'll be able to take some high quality pictures, but it only seems to be keeping pace with other devices on the market.

Some of these specs make it seem like the Z30 is going to struggle to contend with a number of other smartphones entering the market in the coming months.

Blackberry Z30

KitGuru Says: This seems to be a big investment for something that's going to get outpaced quickly by other mobile hardware. Hopefully there'll be a price cut, or a decent monthly tariff, coming in the next few months.

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Firefox 24 comes bundled with 17 security fixes https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/security-software/liam-stanway/firefox-24-comes-bundled-with-17-security-fixes/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/security-software/liam-stanway/firefox-24-comes-bundled-with-17-security-fixes/#comments Wed, 18 Sep 2013 17:18:51 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=153224 The popular open source software company, Mozilla, has officially released the latest version of its well-known internet browser Firefox, bundling the program with 17 fixes to the original security system. Firefox 24 was released to the public earlier today and is downloadable from the Mozilla website now. This version of the software introduces a host …

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The popular open source software company, Mozilla, has officially released the latest version of its well-known internet browser Firefox, bundling the program with 17 fixes to the original security system.

Firefox 24 was released to the public earlier today and is downloadable from the Mozilla website now. This version of the software introduces a host of security fixes that shore up the program against threats of varying degrees. Many of the issues that have been targeted by this iteration are classified by Mozilla as Critical. According to the software outfit, a Critical threat is a “Vulnerability [that] can be used to run attacker code and install software, requiring no user interaction beyond normal browsing”.

10 of the 17 fixes are classified as High or Moderate, and those require at least some human interaction in order to be a danger.

Data

You never know what precious data a malicious hacker might be after

A number of the patches that have helped to make this update as secure as it can be have been attributed to one of the security researchers who work for Mozilla, by name of Nils.

“Security researcher Nils reported two potentially exploitable memory corruption bugs involving scrolling. The first was a use-after-free condition due to scrolling an image document,” Mozilla reported in the security advisory that accompanied this update.

KitGuru Says: Hopefully this latest version of Firefox will put even more people off of creating malicious programs, and even if it doesn't then at least a number of other more dastardly security threats have been dealt with. Does this added security give the browser any major advantage over Chrome or Opera though? Which browser do you guys think is the best?

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Short supplies of iPhone 5S before official launch https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/iphone/liam-stanway/short-supplies-of-iphone-5s-before-official-launch/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/iphone/liam-stanway/short-supplies-of-iphone-5s-before-official-launch/#respond Wed, 18 Sep 2013 15:52:58 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=153148 The next iteration of the iPhone from Apple has been predicted to shift huge numbers at the official launch this weekend, but some reports have been coming in that paint a very different picture for the hardware company. Various mobile operators in the US have reportedly spoken with Allthingsd about the new handset, noting that …

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The next iteration of the iPhone from Apple has been predicted to shift huge numbers at the official launch this weekend, but some reports have been coming in that paint a very different picture for the hardware company.

Various mobile operators in the US have reportedly spoken with Allthingsd about the new handset, noting that there is a shortage of stock of the new iPhone 5S, putting unexpected limits on sales across the nation. This ties in with the strange news that the iPhone 5S wasn't available for pre-order, unlike the lower costing 5C model that is being launched alongside the 5S.

One of the mobile networks that spoke up, went as far as to say “We will have grotesquely unavailable inventory,”

iPhone 5S

Red and orange and green and blue [Sing a rainbow, sing a rainbow too. Ed]

Apple has yet to comment on the situation, leaving us with only more questions about the limited product. If it has intentionally crippled the supply in order to increase demand, then why do that now?

Coincidentally, retailers have reported that the iPhone 5S interest seems to be lower than was initially expected. The brand has proven wildly popular, and it was expected that orders of the new smartphone would be rather high. It seems that people are more invested in the budget model iPhone 5C though, and 5S sales are going to be affected by that interest.

With stock levels being low across most retailers, it would seem that people are going to have to start queuing up early if they want to make sure that they get their hands on one of the devices. Just, maybe not as early as this guy.

KitGuru Says: This isn't the strangest of scenarios, but I'd still like to hear what Apple has to say. Perhaps there is a justifiable reason for the lack of stock.

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Google Nexus 5 leaked in a bar https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/liam-stanway/google-nexus-5-leaked-in-a-bar/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/liam-stanway/google-nexus-5-leaked-in-a-bar/#respond Wed, 18 Sep 2013 09:49:21 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=152963 Rumours of the next potential handset from Google, the Nexus 5, have been going strong for some time now despite the company remaining tight lipped about the unconfirmed project. Those same rumours may have come to fruition, as the smartphone seems to have been leaked last night in a bar. The situation is comparable to …

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Rumours of the next potential handset from Google, the Nexus 5, have been going strong for some time now despite the company remaining tight lipped about the unconfirmed project. Those same rumours may have come to fruition, as the smartphone seems to have been leaked last night in a bar.

The situation is comparable to how we first saw Apple's iPhone 4 when the product was accidentally left in a bar in Redwood City and was disassembled by some very lucky, tech savvy people. In this case, someone has managed to get their hands on the Nexus 5 for long enough to upload some photos and a short video to the internet.

This follows the news that the current flagship device from the Android developer, the Nexus 4, has sold out online with no current prospects of new stock any time soon.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPYVbaF1Jmg']

I wish I was this lucky.

The images that accompany this video on 9to5Google revealed a few things about the device. We now know that it was built by LG and bears some similarities to LG's G2 such as the edge to edge display. The device shown definitely matches up with the images seen in the FCC filings made earlier in this month, and from those we know quite a few of those specs. Expect to see 2GB of RAM in the Nexus 5, as well as a quad-core 2.3GHz CPU.

The smartphone wound up in the hands of the public when a Google employee apparently left the mobile device charging at a bar, leaving the bartender free to check out the item firsthand.

Google is reportedly set to officially reveal the Nexus 5 on October 14, however this news still remains unconfirmed.

Nexus 5

Ooooh, shiny

KitGuru Says: This “leak” smacks of a planned publicity stunt, but however Google and LG want to conduct this is their business. The device still looks fantastic, and hopefully we can look forward to some official news next month.

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The Alternative Limb Project adds an artistic flair to body prosthetics https://www.kitguru.net/channel/liam-stanway/the-alternative-limb-project-adds-an-artistic-flair-to-body-prosthetics/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/liam-stanway/the-alternative-limb-project-adds-an-artistic-flair-to-body-prosthetics/#comments Tue, 17 Sep 2013 17:59:47 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=152944 The world of prosthetic body parts can be a strange one for people outside of that particular circle. Advances in technology have made it so that losing a limb isn't as bad as it could have been even just a few years ago, and now we're seeing more and more realistic prosthetic body parts being …

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The world of prosthetic body parts can be a strange one for people outside of that particular circle. Advances in technology have made it so that losing a limb isn't as bad as it could have been even just a few years ago, and now we're seeing more and more realistic prosthetic body parts being made available every day. One such project is the Alternative Limb Project, which offers people highly realistic artificial replacements that are made personally for you. From casting your sound limbs in order to make a mirrored option, to letting you help with the design process; you can have a replacement crafted that will look every bit as real as you could want.

Aside from the realistic limbs, the company also produces more exotic prosthesis for their customers which stray quite far from the realistic look, but they certainly have their own appeal.

Alternative Limb Project

This fetching chainmail-esque design means you'll always seem to be ready for battle.

True to their name, these alternative limbs offer a very striking look for the wearer. Various different models have already been designed and produced, from a floral motif on porcelain, to snakes crawling literally through the limb itself.

Whilst the need for prosthetic limbs isn't one that could be called conventional,  there are still many people that do need them. This artistic option allows those people to express themselves however they might feel without losing the option to have a realistic limb produced instead. Body mods have been increasing in popularity in recent years and these alternative prosthetic could be considered an extension of that, allowing those people to pursue completely unique options with their personal modifications.

CaptureModel

Wearing an imitation limb can also be fashionable

KitGuru Says: I've needed a prosthetic finger for a couple of years now, and if I do get a replacement digit then I'd love to have something like this as a semi-permanent prosthetic. Realism is all well and good, but when there are options like this available it can't hurt to try them out and see what works for yourself.

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