Channel 4 has updated its 4oD app for Android to offer programme streaming over 3G and 4G mobile networks.
The update comes precisely two weeks after the broadcaster finally updated its PGEgaHJlZj0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy5ob3N0aW5na2l0YS5jb20NIiB0YXJnZXQ9Il9ibGFuayIgcmVsPSJub2ZvbGxvdyI+aU9TIDwvYT4=app to accommodate mobile data streaming of live and on demand content.
Until very recently users of the application on both platforms were limited to streaming programming over Wi-Fi.
Users were, and still are, available to download programmes from the last 30 days for offline viewing, but the addition of mobile data streaming will enable those spur-of-the-moment viewing decisions.
Parity
The feature now gives 4oD parity with the BBC iPlayer and ITV player apps which also have the ability to stream over 3G and 4G
The updated app, which can now be downloaded from the PGEgaHJlZj0iaHR0cDovL2hvc3RpbmdraXRhLmNvbQ0iIHRhcmdldD0iX2JsYW5rIiByZWw9Im5vZm9sbG93Ij5Hb29nbGUgPC9hPg==Play store, also brings access to 4Shorts, offering hundreds of classic clips from the archives along with a host of original shorts.
Users are, of course, advised to use Wi-Fi whenever possible so as not to drain their data allowance.
Streaming on the go? Perhaps it's time for a Netflix subscription
With anticipation running high for this week's rumored Amazon smartphone unveiling, interest in all things Amazon is at its peak, making this a perfect time to see what's coming next.
BloombergBusinessweek has offered a glimpse into the top-secret lair where Amazon does most of the R&D work for new hardware such as Fire TV, not to mention a smartphone expected to be announced at a media event on Wednesday.
Known as "Lab126," the facilities are home to more than 1,600 employees, many who have been working there since Amazon founder Jeff Bezos set up the division to create the first Kindle e-book reader back in 2004.
Amazon's hardware gurus will reportedly return to the Kindle well for a new "remarkably thin" version of the Kindle Paperwhite codenamed "Ice Wine," with insiders also dishing on a Square-style credit card reader Amazon may use to shore up its payment business.
Science projects
The report from "The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon" author Brad Stone doesn't offer details as to how Amazon plans to slim down the Kindle, instead offering a tantalizing peek into other devices spearheaded by the billionaire CEO.
According to loose-lipped employees, Amazon's rumored smartphone has been in gestation at Lab126 since 2009, along with other so-called "science projects" that include a device capable of projecting computer images onto any surface.
Said to be powered by a forked version of PGEgaHJlZj0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy5ob3N0aW5na2l0YS5jb20NIiB0YXJnZXQ9Il9ibGFuayIgcmVsPSJub2ZvbGxvdyI+QW5kcm9pZCA8L2E+similar to the company's Kindle Fire tablets, Amazon's smartphone will reportedly offer a 3D user interface that uses four infrared cameras to track the user's face and pupils as they're looking at the display.
Known internally as "Duke," the Amazon handset may wind up an AT&T exclusive at launch thanks to the carrier's Sponsored Data program, capable of offloading some or all mobile data expenses to a user's annual Amazon Prime subscription.
Bask in the warm glow of our latest MacBook Air review!
The iPad Air 2, the obvious follow up to the iPad Air, is set to be an iterative update to the current best PGEgaHJlZj0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy5ob3N0aW5na2l0YS5jb20NIiB0YXJnZXQ9Il9ibGFuayIgcmVsPSJub2ZvbGxvdyI+dGFibGV0IDwvYT5vbiB0aGUgbWFya2V0IHJpZ2h0IG5vdy48L3A+PHA+V2hpbGUgaXRzIG5hbWUgaXMgbGlrZWx5IHRvIGJlIGluIHRoZSBpUGFkIEFpciAyIHJlZ2lvbiwgdGhpcyB3aWxsIGFjdHVhbGx5IGJlIEFwcGxlJ3Mgc2l4dGggZ2VuZXJhdGlvbiBmdWxsIHNpemUgKDkuNy1pbmNoKSA8YSBocmVmPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3Lmhvc3RpbmdraXRhLmNvbQ0iIHRhcmdldD0iX2JsYW5rIiByZWw9Im5vZm9sbG93Ij50YWJsZXQgPC9hPg==- and the Cupertino based firm will be looking to continue its domination at the top end of the market.
Many rival manufacturers have attempted to ape the iPad's success, but numerous PGEgaHJlZj0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy5ob3N0aW5na2l0YS5jb20NIiB0YXJnZXQ9Il9ibGFuayIgcmVsPSJub2ZvbGxvdyI+QW5kcm9pZCA8L2E+and PGEgaHJlZj0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy5ob3N0aW5na2l0YS5jb20NIiB0YXJnZXQ9Il9ibGFuayIgcmVsPSJub2ZvbGxvdyI+V2luZG93cyA8L2E+devices have tried and failed to match the premium build quality, consumer lust and ultimately the sales figures that 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 processor, as well as sporting an 8MP rear camera and inheriting Touch ID from the 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5S.
Kuo's theories are looking increasingly believable, as according to sources speaking to ETNews the iPad Air 2 will have an A8 chip, which is expected to improve efficiency and increase battery life, and its main camera will be boosted from 5 to 8MP, while the front-facing snapper will be increased to 1.5MP.
However they went on to say that the design is going to be similar to that of the original iPad Air and its screen will stick at a resolution of 2048 x 1536.
We've also caught a glimpse of what might be the iPad Air 2's front panel and it appears that the display is integrated into the panel, which would allow it to be slimmer than the iPad Air, which has a separate display and panel.
A more comprehensive leak claiming to show off a prototype iPad Air 2 in pretty much all its glory has also hit the web, revealing subtle design changes rather than a total overhaul.
(credit: nowhereelse)
Something worth noting in this series of images is the fact the TouchID button from the iPhone 5S appears to be on the iPad Air 2, backing up Kuo's claim that the biometric tech will land on the slate.
A new button design may be on the cards (credit: nowhereelse)
Will the camera get a boost? (credit: nowhereelse)
A slim profile is pretty much nailed on (credit: nowhereelse)
That's all we have so far, but given there's a while until the launch of the new device, it makes sense there's very little information around right now - we'd recommend keeping an eye on the current model if you're after a new tablet.
That said, while we loved the new model, there's always room for improvement. Head over to page two to see what we'd love to see on the iPad Air 2.
Update: We've updated our Microsoft Surface Pro 3 review with a video overview hosted by none other than TechRadar US editor-in-chief Wil O'Neal. Check it out below!
Knock it for the Windows 8 launch. Lay into it for how it debuted the Xbox One. But, when it comes to its latest product, the Surface Pro 3, don't pull out the torches and pitchforks just yet – Microsoft is onto something here.
Over the past few years, the Redmond, Wash. Windows maker has proved to be one of the bolder technology companies, for better or worse. Microsoft clearly isn't afraid to fall on its face in the hope of landing on what in the world tech users want next in this turbulent market, and the Surface Pro 3 is – well, it just might be an exception.
The company has been hammering away at what it considers is a problem with tablets for years. Since the launch of the Surface Pro, Microsoft has sought after the ultimate mobile computing device, one that could replace the laptop with a tablet-first approach.
The Surface Pro 3 is closer than Microsoft has ever been to making good on that vision. After over a week with the slate, I'd go so far as to say that the Pro 3 is closer than any laptop-tablet hybrid released yet.
Microsoft was so sure of itself that not only did it directly compare the Pro 3 to Apple's iPad Air and 13-inch MacBook Air, it gave members of the press pre-release Surface Pro 3 units during an announcement event in New York. Sure, the units have bugs as of this review, but who cares? They'll be fixed in time for the June 20 launch.
"I forced the giving away of the device, just so you're aware," Surface team lead Panos Panay told me just after the reveal. "I said, 'You know what? I want the product in people's hands.' 'But the bugs are still there. They're not all done until June 20, until it's on market.' I don't care. The purity of the device is still true, and on June 20 there will be more drops."
One look at the thing might explain Panay's eagerness to get the Surface Pro 3. It's no iPad Air, that's for sure, but the iPad Air isn't packing a 12-inch display.
Design
Yes, Microsoft bumped the Surface Pro touchscreen from a tiny 10.6 inches to a far roomier 12 inches. In the process, the pixel count has been upped from 1920 x 1080 to 2160 x 1440 The result is a modest boost in pixels per inch – 207 ppi to 216 ppi – given the increase in screen real estate.
More important is Microsoft's interesting choice in aspect ratio. Rather than sticking with the Pro 2's 16:9 or glomming onto the iPad's 4:3, the firm went with a 3:2 aspect ratio. The company claims that, with this aspect ratio, this 12-inch screen can actually display more content than the MacBook Air's 13.3-inch panel at 16:10. The move was also made to make the tablet feel more like your average notepad when held in portrait orientation.
Wrapped in a bright, silver-colored magnesium shell that's cool and smooth to the touch, the Surface Pro 3 feels premium in every regard. The tablet keeps the trapezoidal shape of its predecessors, but manages to come in both thinner and lighter than before. Plus, the tablet's upper half is beset by vents on its edges to better dissipate heat pushed out by its fan.
Microsoft also moved the Windows home button to the device's left side of its silky smooth – though, rather thick – glass bezel. This way, it appears on the bottom of the slate while held upright, calling out, 'Hey, hold it this way now.' While it's no doubt the lightest Surface Pro yet, I'm not sure whether I could hold onto it for an entire subway ride home.
Adorning both sides of the Pro 3 are 5MP cameras capable of 1080p video recording. While stills on either shooter won't blow you away, the front-facing lens should do just fine for Skype and the weekly video meeting over VPN.
This Surface isn't without its sidekick(s)
A tablet wouldn't be much of a laptop replacement without a keyboard, and the Surface Pro keyboard was in desperate need of a boost. Luckily, Microsoft sent the Type Cover back to the drawing board, and what came back is the best version yet. From keys with deeper travel and stronger feedback to a wider glass trackpad that actually clicks, nothing was off the table.
But the most important improvement is the brand new double hinge. Equipped with a strong magnet that latches onto the Pro 3's lower bezel, the Type Cover can now rest with just a portion of it touching your lap or desk. This proved to make writing on my lap much more stable than with previous Surface devices. (Plus, the plush cover comes in five colors: red, blue, cyan, black and purple.)
Tucked beside the Type Cover is also the newly improved Surface Pen. Microsoft made a point of calling its stylus that, because the firm wants it to be seen as and feel like the writing instrument we've all grown up with. With an aluminum finish and a useful clicker up top, the Surface Pen is weighted to better feel like a pen. Using Bluetooth and powered by N-trig, the stylus tracks closer to its physical position than ever before, thanks to some major improvements to the Surface screen.
The new Surface Pro 3 inarguably has the look and feel of a premium product, so it only deserves to be stacked up against the most luxuriously built tablet and laptop around.
