Review: Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0

What a difference a year makes. Last May we reviewed the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 at a time when the compact tablet market remained in the shadow of the iPad and a legion of 10-inch imitators.

There was no Google Nexus 7, no iPad mini, and no Amazon Kindle Fire HD. In such an environment, the keenly priced if modestly specced Samsung 7-incher was a respectable choice.

Since then the aforementioned devices have sent the compact tablet market into the stratosphere, offering potent combinations of price, performance and unique features. As such, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 needs to do a heck of a lot more to impress us here in 2013.

Samsung has once again hit a pretty sweet sub-$200/£200 price point. At the time of writing you can pick this unassuming 7-inch tablet up for $179.99 (£180) - that's less than the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 hit the market for, and more pertinently it's slightly less than a brand new second generation Google Nexus 7.

The trouble is, when it comes down to it, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 isn't even in the same league as the first generation Google Nexus 7 in terms of specs and performance. But we'll come onto that later.

We'll start with a typical piece of Samsung design. The Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 follows the same visual template as the Samsung Galaxy S3 and, by extension, the Samsung Galaxy S4. This means it's a functional, solid, yet plasticy piece of kit.

It lacks the understated class of the latest Nexus 7 and the sheer premium feel of the iPad mini, with details such as a glossy white plastic back panel and silver plastic rim feeling dated and unappealing.

As ever with Samsung's designs, though, the Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 somehow feels sturdy and well built despite its cheap appearance. You can imagine it surviving a fair few drops with scarcely a scratch to show for it - though we didn't put this to the test.

This 7-inch tablet is clearly intended to be held and used in portrait mode first and foremost. The orientation of the Samsung branding and of its two capacitive hardware buttons tells you as much, as does the way the tablet sits comfortably in a single handed grips when aligned this way.

At 300 grams the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 is 44g lighter than the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0, 8g lighter than the iPad mini and just 10g heavier than the 2013 Nexus 7. It's pretty much average for the modern 7-inch tablet, in other words, and while it doesn't exactly feel light in the hand it was undoubtedly comfortable to hold for extended web browsing and gaming sessions throughout our test period.

As mentioned, the Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 adheres to the established Samsung design manual, which extends to its hardware controls. Whilst other manufacturers are ditching or stripping back this element in keeping with Google's reference Nexus designs, Samsung continues to supply its devices with three core controls.

Central to these is a physical lozenge-shaped home button, which is also used for bringing up the multitasking menu (through a long press) and Samsung's Siri-like S Voice feature (through a double press).

Either side of this you have two capacitive buttons. On the left is a contextual menu button, whilst on the right is a back button. Whether you prefer this approach to the virtual commands included in stock Android is a matter of personal preference, but there's certainly something to be said for the consistency and familiarity of Samsung's approach.

On the right of the device you have some reliably clicky buttons for power and volume, which are ideally placed for that aforementioned single-handed grip, and up top you have a standard 3.5mm headphone port.

Flip over to the bottom of the device and you'll find the expected microUSB slot and two small speaker grilles, emphasizing that this is device that's meant to be operated in portrait. Movie watchers and landscape gamers will need to employ a set of headphones to get proper stereo sound, but we'd always recommend that anyway.

Our issues really begin with the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 when you move beyond its conservative external design, though. Powering the tablet is a dual-core 1.2GHz Marvell Armada PXA986 CPU. Hardly a cutting edge component, and certainly well off the pace of the quad-core chips found in both generations of Nexus 7.

1GB of RAM is respectable, but again half that found in the new Nexus 7 and other modern Android devices.

There's a choice of 8GB or 16GB of internal storage, and once again you can opt to expand this by up to 32GB via a welcome microSD slot, which is readily accessible behind a somewhat flimsy plastic door on the lower left-hand side.

If the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0's internal specs are underwhelming, wait until you lay your eyes on its 7-inch LCD display. Viewing angles are good thanks to IPS technology, but its 1024 x 600 resolution feels woefully out of date next to the 1280 x 800 offered by last year's Nexus 7, let alone the 1920 x 1200 display featured in this year's model.

With a deeply unimpressive pixel density of 169ppi, text and images have that fuzzy non-descript appearance that we thought we'd left behind with the advent of HD displays.

Testing Ubisoft's vibrant Rayman Jungle Run game on the device resulted in decent performance and a clear enough picture, but those luscious 2D worlds that burst with so much color and detail on other modern devices simply felt muted and indistinct.

Frankly, we can't see any meaningful improvement over the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 screen - and even that felt below par more than a year ago.

On the plus side, while we wouldn't call it razor-sharp we didn't notice any of the outstanding responsiveness issues that we found with last year's model, and we had little problem hitting links and other small command prompts on the Galaxy Tab 3 7.0's 7-inch display. Thank goodness for small mercies.

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Review: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite

Ask anyone who's read one of our thirteen page reviews and they'll tell you, staring at a screen can be murder on the eyes. After a while, even a gorgeous, pixel dense HD display can make you want to spray your eyeballs with the garden hose.

That's the beauty of Amazon's Kindle Paperwhite. Its e-ink display is a half step between paper and screen, giving you the convenience of an ebook ecosystem with less wear and tear on the old optic nerve than an iPad 4 or Nexus 7.

It manages to be a more pleasant reading experience than your average display, all while having a subtle backlight and jaw dropping battery life: this new Kindle Paperwhite can go weeks without a charge.

Then again, so could last year's model. This new Kindle Paperwhite is an incremental update, a bit like going from the iPhone 4 to 4S, only without something as fun as talking to Siri.

On the outside, the two models are almost identical. Internally, the hardware has been given an uptick, and the uneven backlight, which left dark spots on the bottom of the original model's display, is completely fixed.

This has all been done without any markup in price on the WiFi model. A WiFi version of this new Kindle Paperwhite is still just $119 (£109.00) for a model with "special offers," (aka ads on the lock screen), $139 for the ad-free model. The 3G versions, however, have been bumped up ten dollars each, going for $189 (£169.00) and $209, respectively (last year's models were $179 and $199).

The Kindle Paperwhite is the best ereader on the market, bar none. If you need, or even want, an ereader, this is the one to have. The question is, do you need, or even want, an ereader?

The Paperwhite an admirably focused product. Unlike jack of all trades tablets, which will leave you wanting for a keyboard should you attempt some actual productivity, the Paperwhite does one thing and it does it very well. Reading a book on this device is simply a pleasure; voracious readers willing to forgo the artisanal qualities of a paper text will adore it.

However, for the gadget head who already has a tablet, is it worth dropping more money, and packing yet another device in your bag? The answer lies before you, so read on, and keep some Visine handy.

The overall build of the Kindle Paperwhite has always been quite diminutive, even when compared with little guys like the Nexus 7 or the iPad Mini. It's just 6.7 x 4.6 x 0.36 inches.

Your average tablet customer might feel cheated, since there's only 6-inches of screen real estate. That was our reaction when unboxing the device, but quickly realized that this is actually a fantastic size for an ereader. Even if your grip isn't terribly big, it's easy to hold in one hand for an extended period of time.

At a glance, Amazon's new Kindle Paperwhite is nigh indistinguishable from last year's model. It's built from the same soft touch plastic, comes only in black and bares a Kindle logo below the screen.

However, the new Paperwhite has an improved display with a more even backlight, and better contrasts. Also, if you're looking for a quick way to tell the model years apart, the new one has an Amazon logo on the back, while the old one says Kindle.

The Paperwhite is still very light, weighing just 7.5 ounces (213 grams). You can hold the Paperwhite between your thumb and forefinger with ease. It's even easier to hold in one hand than your average paperback book, since there are no pages or front cover to pin back as you read.

Some might complain that the Paperwhite hasn't dropped any weight since last year's model, but it's something of a moot point in our eyes. If it got any lighter it would be at risk of being swept up by an errant breeze. It's still small enough to toss in a bag on impulse, in hopes of finding some spare time to read.

On the rear of the Paperwhite you have one large Amazon logo. The backing is the same material as the front, with no extra grip. Amazon and other third-parties make a lot of nice cases for the Paperwhite. The device is the tiniest bit slippy, and you might consider picking one up if you're going travel with it or plan to throw it carelessly in a bag. A drop can give the Paperwhite an unsightly scuff.

On the bottom you'll find a charging port and the power/lock button. The Paperwhite charges through microUSB, and while you will find a USB cable in the box, there's no AC adapter or wall plug in the box.

Amazon did the same thing with last year's Paperwhite. It's an odd, kind of cheapskate decision, but at least you can charge it with the plug for the smartphone you more than likely own, or just hook it into your computer. Also, you won't even need to charge the Paperwhite more often than every few weeks. More on that in the Charging and Battery Life section of this review.

The new Kindle Paperwhite is well built. Just like the original model, it feels solid and minimal, with zero fat on its frame. Anyone who's struggled with the bulk of a tome like Gravity's Rainbow, Infinite Jest or a meaty biography will love being able to hold this ereader above them while lying in bed, without fear of having their face smashed should they begin to nod off. Yeah, we've all been there right? Right?

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Hands-on review: Fuji XQ1

Fuji has expanded its range of X-series compact cameras with the addition of the Fujifilm XQ1 which will sit above the Fuji XF1 and below the Fuji X20 in the range.

Although considerably smaller than the X20, this new camera has the same 12MP 2/3-inch X-Trans CMOS II sensor (without an optical low-pass filter) and EXR Processor II so it promises to deliver the same (or very similar) high quality images.

The XQ1 is a compact unit

Enticingly, the new camera's lens has a maximum aperture of f/1.8 at its shortest focal length (equivalent to 25mm) and f/4.9 at it's longest point (100mm). With Fuji's Intelligent Digital Zoom technology this 4x zoom can be extended to 400mm.

The lens has seven glass elements in six groups, with four aspherical and three extra low dispersion elements. It also includes an OIS (Optical Image Stabilisation) group to reduce the impact of camera shake and potentially extend the hand-holdable shutter speed by 3EV.

Fuji has given the lens seven blades to give a rounded aperture shape and promote natural bokeh. In addition, the XQ1 has Fuji's Lens Modulation Optimiser technology, which processes each image to get the best result possible at the selected aperture and focal length, reducing the impact of diffraction.

Further good news is that in macro mode the lens can focus as close as 3cm from its front element.

Like the Fuji X-E2 announced at the same time, and the Fuji X20 and Fuji X100s, the XQ1 has a hybrid focusing system that combines both contrast and phase detection, with the camera choosing which to use depending upon the situation. Fuji claims that the XQ1 has the world's fastest phase detection system in a digital camera with a 2/3-inch sensor and its response time is just 0.06 seconds. The start-up time is also impressive at just 0.99 sec, while the shooting interval is 0.3sec and shutter lag is just 0.015sec.

Meanwhile there are continuous shooting options of 12, nine, six and three frames per second.

The exposure mode dial

In a move designed to appeal to experienced photographers, the XQ1 has an exposure mode dial that allows aperture priority, shutter priority and manual modes to be selected in addition to a collection of automatic and scene options as well as the popular Advanced Filter modes. It's also possible to shoot both raw and JPEG files when using the advanced exposure modes.

There's no viewfinder built-in, but there is a three-inch LCD screen with 920,000 dots for composing and reviewing images.

As with the X-E2, Fuji has included Wi-Fi connectivity in the QX1, and after the initial pairing images can be transferred to a smartphone or tablet with a single press of a button.

Although small, the XQ1 feels like a fully paid-up member of the Fuji X-series. It's light enough to be used one-handed, but feels solid and nicely made. A small rubber pad on the thumb-rest also gives good grip in combination with the textured surface of the front of the camera.

The controls all feel well made and responsive. They are also nicely spaced, so although the camera is small it doesn't feel cramped.

A place for the thumb

Learning earlier lessons, Fuji has given the XQ1 a power switch as well as a control dial around the lens. This dial has just the right tension so it feels responsive, well made and not sloppy. In its default mode the dial changes function depending upon the exposure mode, but if you prefer you can set it to control one aspect such as focal length or exposure compensation. It's easy to set the option you want just by pressing the E-Fn button on the back of the camera and then rotating the ring to the find the desired features.

Pressing that E-Fn button activates a type of quick menu display that mimics a camera's controls. It gives quick access to the drive mode, sensitivity, focus point selection, white balance and Film Simulation modes.

So far we have only been able to handle a pre-production sample of the XQ1, but our first impressions are favourable.

We found that the screen is nice and sharp and gives a detailed view, and although we will have to assess it properly in bright light at a later date, it doesn't seem to suffer adversely from reflections.

The screen is big and sharp

The camera also appears to focus pretty quickly even in quite low light, but we'll have to use a full production sample in a range of conditions before we pass final judgement.

As we have tested the X20 and know it to be a good performer, we're looking forward to getting a full production sample of the XQ1 to test the new lens. Will the images be as sharp as from the X20 despite the downsized camera body?

When we tested the X20 we found that it controls noise well up to around ISO 3200, when (unsurprisingly) it becomes more of an issue, so naturally we'll look at this with the XQ1.

In the past we have found that Fuji's automatic white balance and multi-purpose metering systems give good accounts of themselves, delivering correctly exposed images with pleasant tones in most conditions. As a rule the metering only struggles occasionally in very high contrast conditions. While we anticipate similar performance from the XQ1, we will investigate it fully when we get a sample in for review.

With a list price of around £349 the XQ1 is set to offer some serious competition to the likes of the Canon S120 and Nikon P7800. It has a larger sensor (2/3-inch vs 1/1.7-inch) in a similarly sized body and offers a similar level of control with beautiful build quality.

The XQ1 feels lovely in the hand and the fact that it has the same sensor and processing engine as the popular Fuji X20 suggests that it should produce good images. The control ring around the lens also has a high quality feel and is responsive with well though out functionality.

It's a shame that the XQ1 doesn't have a touch-sensitive screen, as this would combine well with its E-Function display and allow the focus point to be set quickly and easily.

We're pretty excited about the Fuji XQ1, it's small enough to be fitted into a jeans pocket yet allows control over all the features that enthusiasts want and has a pedigree that indicates it will produce high quality images.

We'll be reviewing a full production sample in the near future, so watch this space.

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Review: Panasonic TX-L47ET60B

Passive 3DMy Home ScreenBuild quality and designTrue CinemaUpscalingOnly two pairs of 3D glassesHigh priceBlack levelsMiddling contrastPoor sound

Panasonic isn't the only major TV manufacturer to almost completely forget about 3D TV this year. Despite having 3D gubbins inside, there's barely a mention of it in the specs for the Panasonic TX-L47ET60B. Instead, Panasonic's lineup for 2013 is all about big screens and smart TV, and this 47-inch TV is a great example of both.

If 2012 was the year this plasma-obsessed manufacturer embraced LED backlighting, this year its new love is passive 3D, which now completely dominates its LCD TVs.

As well as the 'easy' 3D system and a Full HD IPS panel, the Panasonic TX-L47ET60B features new smart TV features, notably a My Home Screen function that's home to apps, browser shortcuts and other widgets, and customisable to multiple users.

Most viewers will have a tablet or at least a smartphone, Panasonic reckons, which explains its new Apple AirPlay-esque idea Swipe & Share 2.0, an app-based feature that sees two-way file exchanges between the TV and your smart devices.

The slim silver bezel and transpatent lip give an effect of lightness

Looks-wise the Panasonic TX-L47ET60B is on the money. A silver bezel that's barely 8mm slim (plus another 2mm gap between it and the screen) is impressive, as is its overall depth of just 35mm.

From being a manufacturer that was regularly a year behind the zeitgeist in design terms, the Panasonic TX-L47ET60B now represents one of the best-looking mid-range TVs around. A transparent lip at the bottom of the screen adds a further touch of lightness, though the squared-off corners could be judged a little harsh.

However, the build quality is excellent - peerless, even, in this commodity market - and far above average for the £1,100 (around US$1,662 / AU$1,596) price. We don't suppose gloss black will become particularly hard to find in 2013, but it's good to see it taking a back seat on this, one of the first of Panasonic's new flatscreen TVs for spring.

The TX-L47ET60B shows Panasonic catching up in design terms

The ET60 Series, of which the Panasonic TX-L47ET60B is a member, constitutes the third rung of the Japanese manufacturer's lineup for 2013. As well as the Panasonic TX-L47ET60B, it comes in three other guises, the 42-inch Panasonic TX-L42ET60B, 50-inch Panasonic TX-L50ET60B and 55-inch Panasonic TX-L55ET60B.

Above it in Panasonic's LED-backlit LCD TV sector are the 55-inch Panasonic TX-L55DT65 and 60-inch Panasonic TX-L60DT65, which add voice interaction and recognition - each time you switch on the TV, no less - plus a dual-core Hexa Processing Engine.

Also higher up the range is the flagship 47-inch Panasonic TX-L47WT65 and the 55-inch Panasonic TX-L55WT65, which boast Clear Panel Pro, voice interaction and so-called 'Infinite Contrast'.

Panasonic's new plasmas for 2013 - the VT65 Series and 'reference level' ZT65 Series - are also worth bearing in mind.

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Review: Canon EOS 70D

The announcement of any Canon DSLR usually creates a lot of excitement, but when that camera launches a new sensor with a new pixel count (for the manufacturer) and is aimed at enthusiast photographers, it ups the ante considerably. So naturally there's been quite a buzz surrounding the new Canon EOS 70D, which has a 20.2 million-pixel CMOS sensor coupled with a Digic 5 processor.

As well as having a higher pixel count than Canon's other recent APS-C format sensors, the EOS 70D's sensor is a Dual Pixel CMOS device, which enables faster focusing during Live View and video mode. There are two photo diodes for every pixel site (strictly speaking pixels don't exist until an image is created) on the sensor, and each of them can read light independently to enable a form of phase detection autofocusing to be used to focus the lens.

While the diodes are read separately for autofocusing, they are read together to form the image, and this means the Canon 70D creates 20.2 million pixel images.

Although every 'pixel' is a dual diode device, only the central 80% are used for auto focusing, because using the outer edges makes the system more prone to errors.

The Canon 70D also has a dedicated phase detection sensor for use when images are composed in the viewfinder. This has 19 AF points, all of which are cross-type, just like the Canon 7D's AF system. However, the two cameras' AF systems aren't identical, since the Canon 70D only has three AF point selection modes: Single point AF, Zone AF and 19-point Area AF.

While the 60D has a maximum continuous shooting speed of 5.3fps, the 70D can shoot at up to 7fps at full resolution for up to 65 JPEGs or 16 raw files, which is useful when shooting sport and using the 60D's continuous focusing capability.

Sensitivity may be set in the native range of ISO 100-12,800 with an expansion setting allowing the equivalent of ISO 25,600. The top native setting, ISO 12,800 is an expansion setting on Canon's other enthusiast SLRs.

Canon was the first manufacturer to give a DSLR a touchscreen, and the 70D has a 3-inch 1,040,000 dot LCD that can be used to make settings adjustments and scroll through images. As with the Canon 700D, the manufacturer hasn't added the touchscreen functionality at the expense of buttons or dial controls, since the Canon 70D has all the physical controls that you'd hope for.

Further good news with the Canon 70D is that the LCD screen is on an articulating joint, and this makes it easy to view from a range of angles, whether shooting in landscape or portrait format.

Wi-Fi connectivity is fast becoming one of the must-have features for cameras, and the Canon 70D does not disappoint in this respect.

While the ability to download images wirelessly may not be all that enticing, the possibility of controlling the camera remotely using Canon's free EOS remote app for Android and iOS smartphones and tablets is a real bonus for wildlife photographers.

Canon has also included a few features to enable more creative images to be captured with a Canon 70D - there's a built-in Speedlite transmitter, for example, which gives wireless control over multiple Canon Speedlite EX flashguns, a multi-exposure mode and an HDR mode that combines three images to create one with a greater range of tones.

There's also a collection of Creative Filters (Grainy B/W, Soft Focus, Fish-Eye effect, Art Bold effect, Water Painting effect, Toy Camera effect or Miniature effect) that can be used to give JPEGs a particular distinctive look when shooting in Live View mode.

While it's disappointing that these can't be used when shooting raw files simultaneously, or when using the viewfinder, they can be applied post-capture in review mode, so it's possible to retain a 'clean' image as well as one with the filter effect.

The Canon EOS 70D has a full price of £1,089 / US$1,199 / AU$1,499 body only, putting it well above the Canon 700D but at the same price point as the Nikon D7100.

Some photographers get a bit worked up about Canon's choice to use polycarbonate rather than metal for some of its camera bodies - including the Canon 70D' - but the new camera feels nice and solid and seals ensure that it should survive some exposure to the weather.

Not surprisingly there are no major changes to the overall shape and feel of the replacement to the Canon 60D. The buttons and dials are sensibly arranged and the deep grip has a textured coating that makes it feel secure in your hand.

As with the Canon 700D and Canon 100D, the brand has opted to use capacitive technology for the Canon 70D's touchscreen, and this ensures that it's very responsive. We suspect that even those who don't intend to use the touchscreen will find that they do gradually, starting with swiping from image to image in review mode, perhaps progressing to pinch-zooming to check images' sharpness, and then eventually progressing to taking more control over the camera via the screen.

One downside to a touchscreen is that the screen inevitably gets covered in fingerprints, and this makes the image harder to see, especially in bright light. Nevertheless we found that the Canon 70D's screen provides a pretty decent view in most lighting conditions. Although they are often present when shooting outside, it doesn't suffer too much from reflections.

The touchscreen is particularly useful for quickly setting the AF point in Live View and Movie mode, It can also be used to set the AF point when shooting with the camera held to the eye, just press the AF point selection button and then tap the desire point on the screen (or use the navigation keys). However, you need to be careful that your nose doesn't pres the screen when the AF point options are displayed otherwise there's a good chance that you'll select the wrong AF point.

Because the Canon 70D has a new, faster AF system in Live View mode, we think that users are far more likely to compose images on the LCD screen than they may have been in the past. But it's quite bulky compared with a compact system camera (CSC), and it doesn't feel totally natural to hold it away from your face to compose images on the screen.

However, it's very useful when shooting with the camera on a tripod or composing images at awkward angles - it's here that Touch-shutter mode comes into its own, since it enables you to set the AF point, focus the lens and trigger the shutter with a single touch on the screen.

No matter how good the LCD screen may be, there are times when it just seems more natural to compose an image in the viewfinder. It's much easier to follow a moving subject with the camera held to your eye, for example, than when it's held in front of you. Because it's a DSLR, the Canon EOS 70D has an optical viewfinder, and it's a nice bright unit. However, since it 'only' covers 98% of the frame (the 60D's covers 96%), you may still find the odd surprise around the edges of your images.

One advantage that electronic viewfinders offer is the ability to display the image as it will be captured. Naturally as an optical finder the Canon 70D's viewfinder can't do this, but it does have an electronic overlay that displays key settings.

There are also three new icons at the top of the viewfinder that indicate the AF point selection mode. In the past we have found some of Canon's icons difficult to interpret, but these three make it clear which option has been selected.

It's also easy to change the mode, because Canon has introduced a new button just to the side of the shutter release. A single press activates the system, and subsequent presses toggle through the selection mode options. Alternatively, a single press of the new button followed by presses of the navigation keys selects the AF point to use. It's a great system.

The viewfinder can also display an electronic level to indicate whether the camera is on an even keel or not. In the past, Canon has used the AF point display for its electronic level, but this has the disadvantage of switching off the minute the shutter release button is pressed.

While this level is still available, Canon has also given the 70D the option to display a new icon at the bottom of the viewfinder, and this remains visible even when the shutter release is pressed. It's a much better system, but it takes a little while to get used to how sensitive the level is. Because the level icon isn't illuminated, it's also quite hard to see when shooting dark subjects, or when shooting at night-time.

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Review: Windows 8.1

From Facebook to the full-featured Mail app and modern Outlook to a "peek" bar in the modern version of Internet Explorer 11 to the new Windows Scan app to the new Bing logo, you now get nearly all of the promised Windows 8.1 extras.

We are still waiting for the touch versions of the Office apps and the web playlist tool in the Music app, but that's the way things work in Microsoft's new "continuous development" world. And of course you get the interface changes and SkyDrive integration we saw in the Windows 8.1 Preview.

The Start button is back, you can boot to the desktop and use the same image for your Start screen as your desktop background.

SkyDrive is built in to sync files - on both Windows 8.1 and Windows 8.1 RT - as well as settings and the layout for your Start screen and desktop taskbar.

But Microsoft's second bite at the convergence of PCs and tablets doesn't back away from what we still want to call Metro; in fact there are more built in modern apps than in Windows 8, more settings you can change without jumping to the desktop and more options for how you place modern apps on screen.

The question is how well these two worlds sit together, and how much of an improvement Microsoft has been able to deliver in a year.

If you already have Windows 8, upgrading to Windows 8.1 is very simple. It will be the first app you see every time you open the Windows Store and the installation happens very quickly.

You don't have to reinstall your desktop applications or your Windows Store apps, and all your files are still there (as are libraries and the icons pinned to your taskbar.

Update Windows 8.1 Preview to RTM and you get your Start screen layout but you have to click the tiles to install apps

If you sign in with a Microsoft account you haven't used before, you might have to use a code that Microsoft emails or texts to you (if you've set that up in the past) to confirm it's you; that works like trusting a PC in Windows 8 but you don't have to do it as a separate step.

If you have Windows 7 (or earlier versions), you have to install Windows 8 (the same process as when Windows 8 first came out) and then upgrade to Windows 8.1.

If you've been trying the Windows 8.1 Preview, you can't upgrade directly to the RTM version (which Microsoft warned people about all along).

If you can't revert to Windows 8, you still do the update from the Windows Store and your files will stay on the system, but you'll have to reinstall your desktop programs.

If you've already upgraded another PC using the same Microsoft account you'll see tiles for the Windows Store apps you have installed on that other PC (marked with a little download icon) and you can tap on the tiles to install them.

Once you've got into the Windows 8 and 8.1 world, upgrades become almost seamless (previews aside). You just have to get there.

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Review: Samsung UE55F8000

Stunning designOutstanding picture qualitySophisticated online featuresExcellent touchpad remote controlSmart interface can confusePoor picture presetsGesture/voice controls are unconvincingVery wide stand design

Samsung has an uncanny knack of kicking the new TV season off each year by unleashing its all-singing, all-dancing flagship TVs ahead of the competition, setting a high bar right away for rivals to aim for, and establishing a positive buzz around the brand that seems to carry it throughout the year.

It's no surprise, then, to find 2013's new television season being introduced by Samsung's latest flagship 55-inch LED TV, the Samsung UE55F8000, priced at £2,500 (around US$3,782/ AU$3,635).

And it's also no surprise to find this set packing an almighty punch on all three key fronts of design, performance and features.

The design boasts what appears to be the trimmest bezel ever - under half a centimetre across - as well as a gorgeously finished and robust rear that makes last year's ES8000 flagship TVs such as the Samsung UE55ES8000 and Samsung UE46ES8000 look flimsy by comparison. Underneath the TV is an arch design desktop stand that pokes out at each corner while curving around the back of the TV.

Features of the new Samsung UE55F8000 are dominated by a revamped smart TV system, complete with a brand new multiple home screen interface and the facility to 'learn' what you like to watch.

Meanwhile, a quad-core processor is there to enable some seriously smart antics, making the TV about 3.5 times faster than previous incarnations, and more capable of multitasking.

As for performance, for now let's just say that Samsung has finally solved its old problem with backlight inconsistency, instantly shifting its picture quality to a whole new level. More on all this later in the review, of course.

The Samsung UE55F8000's £2,500 (around US$3,782/ AU$3,635) asking price isn't cheap, it has to be said.

Its smaller brother, the 40-inch UE40F8000, sells for £1,450 (around US$2,194/ AU$2,108), and the mid-range 46-inch UE46F8000 costs £1,900 (around US$2,875/ AU$2,762), but of course these offer less screen real estate to enjoy.

So if the price of the UE55F800 is a bit high for you, but you want a big screen, you can step down to Samsung's F7000 models. These still offer more or less the same level of feature functionality, but save you a couple of hundred quid by not using such a high-grade panel/microdimming combination.

In terms of rival models, it's tricky right now given that no other brands have yet brought out their 2013 flagship TVs. Looking at 2012 models still on sale, though, easily the most persuasive competitor would be the Sony KDL-55HX853, which lacks the design prowess of the Samsung and boasts a less sophisticated smart services engine, but uses local dimming in its edge LED array to deliver exceptionally punchy pictures.

Otherwise the most intriguing model to put up against the Samsung UE55F8000 would be a plasma model: the Panasonic TX-P55VT50. This lacks the design finesse and aggressive brightness and colours of the Samsung model, but it delivers peerless contrast and exceptionally natural motion handling.

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Hands-on review: New Nexus 7

While everyone waited on an iPad mini with retina, Google and Asus went ahead and did one better. Presenting the new Nexus 7, an affordable 7-inch tablet with beefy specs and more pixels per inch than you can shake a 1080p jpeg at.

Whether you call it the Nexus 7 2 or just the Nexus 7, it hurdles right over the iPad mini in both parts and price. For just a little more money, it offers greater functionality than a Kindle Fire HD. It so surpasses theoriginal Nexus 7 that Google has swept last year's tablet under the rug; it seems to be retired from the Play Store altogether.

Internally, the new Nexus 7 packs a 1.5Ghz quad core processor, 2GB of RAM and comes with either 16GB or 32GB of storage. Those models go for $229/£200 and $269/£240, and there's also an LTE version selling for $300/£299. Sadly, we don't yet have official word on Australian pricing.

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While microSD slots now feel like a relic of a bygone era, since neither Nexus nor Apple devices offer them, we have to bemoan storage space a bit here. The Android 4.3 OS found on the Nexus 7 takes up a whopping 6GB. Our 32GB tablet came out of the box with 26GB available. Those planning to go for the 16GB model need to brace for having only 10GB to play with.

Still, no matter how you slice it, the Nexus 7 is a lot of great tablet hardware for the money, all packed in an unassuming, plastic package. That pockmarked rubber backing from the first Nexus 7 has been ditched, replaced with an all plastic black backing. It doesn't feel as slick or look as premium as the metal backing of an iPad, but it'll surely hold up against scratches better than Apple's tablet.

The new Nexus 7 is poised to change the tablet game. It has a display and a price tag that puts the iPad mini to shame, and makes us wonder what's in store for the redesigned Nexus 10.

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This isn't an open and shut case though. Right off the bat, if we had to register a few complaints about the Nexus 7's build, we have bring up all that bezel. Also, the industry standard of advertising the unformatted storage on a device instead of the available space needs to change, as the 16GB Nexus 7 is really a 10GB tablet.

Affordable price tags have bought the Nexus 7 some leeway, but it's no longer the dirt cheap option. Between Apple's premium iPads and Amazon's rock bottom Kindle Fire HD, is there room in the middle for a new Nexus 7?

Start rooting for the little guy; the Nexus 7 is small, even alongside other 7-inch tablets. At 7.87 x 4.49 x 0.34-inches, it's slightly slimmer than the original Nexus 7, which measured 7.81 x 4.72 x 0.41-inches. So it's a tad a thinner, and therefore even easier to hold in one hand, something we've never felt entirely comfortable doing with the wider iPad mini.

It's not too small, but we wouldn't want it any smaller. As it is now, it's the perfect size to toss in a bag or even a coat pocket. We've always considered 7-inchers to be travel tablets and 10-inch ones to be couch companions, and the new Nexus 7 fills this role perfectly, a featherweight at just 0.64lbs (290g).

Alas, the amount of storage on the device is also lightweight. Our 32GB Nexus 7 came with 6GB already occupied by onboard software. That left us with just 26GB to play with. That's not too bad, but those eyeing up the 16GB model should be warned that they'll have just 10GB available. That, compounded with the lack of microSD slot and 64GB option, may disappoint media hounds looking to carry a large collection of movies at all times.

On the outside, the Nexus 7 has a durable, unassuming design; a bit dull if you want to be harsh about it. Apple fans will likely miss the premium feel of brushed aluminium, but anyone who's winced at the sight of a horribly scuffed iPad will understand opting for a tougher plastic exterior.

The Nexus 7's display is coated in standard issue Corning glass, and the rear is firm black plastic. The rubbery pockmarked backing of the original Nexus 7 has been ditched, and we're fine with that. It was a divisive design; some liked it, others didn't, and we found that the white version discolored over time.

The place where Google and Asus have really outdone Apple is in the resolution and pixel density of the screen. The Nexus 7 packs a 7-inch IPS display with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 display with 323 ppi. Compare that to the 264 ppi on a full size Retina iPad, and you can see the winner, at least on paper.

In actual real life, using fallible human eyes, you'd be hard pressed to spot a pixel on either display. They're both extremely dense, high quality displays. Compare the Nexus 7 to an iPad mini though, and it's a different story.

Apple's 7-inch offering is a mere 1024 × 768 with 163 ppi. That's by no means insulting, until you start comparing prices. With the Nexus 7 starting about $100 lower than a comparable iPad mini, it feels like high time for Apple to slap a Retina display on that thing.

The Nexus 7 has a 16:9 aspect ratio, while the iPad mini is 4:3. That gives Apple's tablet wider screen space, which is handy for the web, but films and some TV are produced in 16:9. That extra space ends up filled with black bars, like letterboxing on an old television.

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The one disadvantage of 16:9 is that it gives the Nexus 7 a ton of bezel -- unused space between the screen and the actual edge of the tablet. Because of the aspect ratio, the Nexus would need to get wider before it could get taller. That's not something we'd want, since we love how one-hand friendly this device is. It's a catch 22, and we think Google and Asus ultimately made the right call here.

The new Nexus 7 also has a very bright display display, with auto-brightness doing a perfect job of adapting to your environment. Like any tablet, it's at its best in moderate indoor light. It does washout in bright direct sunlight, but no more than the best displays out there.

It's not the best we've seen at handling colors though. They're not true to life, generally erring on the side of being slightly faded. It's really only something you can pick up on with a direct one to one comparison though.

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Compare a digital comic on the Nexus 7 to its print counterpart, or to a movie on quality HDTV and you can see the difference. Skin tones were a bit too light, including the Hulk from The Avengers, whose signature green pigment was shade lighter than Stan Lee would sign off on. Also, some sky blues were actually darker on the tablet than on the page.

Basically, the color accuracy is all over the map, but you'd have to be Rembrandt to really be bothered by it. For the sake of thoroughness though, it does merit a mention.

It still does fine work with video, streaming or locally stored. That 16:9 aspect is perfect for Netflix, and it's diminutive size makes it very easy to hold with one hand or two. And all that bezel space actually gives you somewhere to grip it without obscuring the screen.

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It's a good movie watching device, but we were actually most impressed with the reading on the Nexus 7. That high resolution, pixel dense display is the best tablet reading experience we've had on a backlit screen.

A device without a backlight, like a Kindle Paperwhite, will always be less trying on the eyes longterm, but as far as devices without e-ink go, the new Nexus 7 is king. Text is newspaper crisp, so much so that you may end up giving yourself an accidental eye exam. On a non-mobile site, it's tempting to read tiny shrunken print rather than zoom in. Don't strain your eyes though, no matter how impressive you might find this display.

The speakers have been given an upgrade from the original Nexus 7. The tablet now sports stereo sound, thanks dual speaker grills on the rear. The grills are large, and well-placed, so they're difficult to cover with your digits when holding the tablet. We actually had trouble trying to muffle them on purpose when testing.

The surround sound effect is surprising for tablet speakers, and sounds don't crackle and distort when the volume is cranked all the way. Overall, the sound is a big step up from the original Nexus 7, but the speakers still aren't terribly loud. It's fine for sharing a video in a quiet or moderately noisy space, but in a crowded and loud public space, the audio will drown out. We'd recommend some headphones.

Speaking of headphones, the audio jack is found on the top right of the tablet. It's well placed by default, since you can rotate the tablet any way you like and the image will reorient itself. Therefore, if you want your cord plugging in at the top, or trailing down from the bottom, iPhone 5 style, it's your prerogative.

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Review: MINI REVIEW: NEC MultiSync EA294WMi

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Nice wide displayGood connectivityIffy sensor technologyReally rather expensiveBy Dan Grabham from MacFormat Issue 264  5th Aug 2013 | 14:00

The NEC MultiSync EA294WMi 29-inch display comes equipped with a 21:9 aspect ratio, which is designed for you to fit more on screen width-wise, such as two documents side by side.

Our preferred method of connectivity was via a Thunderbolt to HDMI adapter, but numerous display options are available - DisplayPort, HDMI, two DVI-D and two VGA. There are integrated speakers too, plus a headphone jack and USB hub.

The display also supports the MHL display standard for connecting up phones and tablets to the HDMI socket. However, the connectivity options are situated in a recess that faces downwards, so it's not so easy to swap out connections in situ.

NEC is generous with the cables, with DVI and VGA cords included, but sadly there's no HDMI lead.

The monitor casing is available in black and white, and there's 130mm of height adjustment to play with.

The ambient light and human sensors do take things over and above a standard display, but we didn't find the sensor technology particularly effective and preferred to turn it off - the display configures itself to be too dim. And the menu system is like stepping back in time.

The Philips Brilliance 298X4QJAB also has a 21:9 aspect ratio and is £100 cheaper than this; you'd be silly to ignore its appeal in comparison.

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Review: Gigabyte U2412

Good conceptGood as a laptop, Robust buildPoor screen qualityWeightyPerformance issuesAn Ultrabook and a tablet. Two devices for the price of one. That's the Gigabyte U2412's primary sales pitch. But does it add up?
Not all that long ago, it wouldn't have had a hope. There simply wasn't an operating system fit for dual-role duties. But now there's Windows 8, built from the ground up for precisely this bi-polar portable proposition.
OK, Windows 8 is far from perfect. In fact, it's shot through with niggles and annoyances. But it's still the best full-power, dual-mode OS for laptops and tablets yet. And it is usable.
Whatever, it would be unfair to hold Gigabyte to account for Windows 8 deficiencies. But what we can do is assess it as both a laptop and a tablet machine. Does it truly deliver, or is it a bit pants at both?

We can also size it up against the competition. That's probably the trickiest task, both in terms of picking the Gigabyte U2412's adversaries and for the Gigabyte itself. The competition is getting tougher by the moment.
First up, the tablet-convertible market is a bit of a minefield of form factors, shapes, sizes and swivelling screens. There are systems where the screen and keyboard segments entirely separate, like the HP Envy x2.
Then there's the solution Gigabyte has gone for, which involves a central swivelling hinge that allows the screen to rotate through a 180 degress and then fold back flat on top of the keyboard. Lenovo's Thinkpad Twist uses a similar swivel solution.

You'd probably have to the likes of Dell's XPS 12 that achieves essentially the same result courtesy of a screen that rotates around hinges half way up the bezel.
You could also argue that more straightfowardly pure tablet devices like Microsoft's Surface Pro should also be on your shortlist. Yup, it's pretty complicated.
The next problem involves changing technology. The Gigabyte U2412's Intel Core i5 processor is based on the Ivy Bridge CPU architecture. And that's just been replaced by a whole new family of Haswell chips.
This isn't an absolute deal breaker. Ivy Bridge CPUs still have plenty to offer. Until a few weeks ago, it was the prevailing latest and greatest mobile PC technology available to mankind. But it certainly needs to be factored into your buying decision.
No, if the Gigabyte U2412 does have weaknesses, they're elsewhere, including the modest 1,366 by 768 resolution of its 11.6-inch LCD display. With 1,080p panels becoming the norm on smartphones much less laptops and tablet convertibles, is that good enough? Time to find out.

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Review: Nikon Coolpix L820

Good valueBig zoom optionSharp results usuallyEasy to usePlastic appearanceNo optical viewfinder or EVFNo raw shootingIf you're going to bother bringing out a non-interchangeable lens compact camera these days, you'd better provide ample reasons for someone to buy it instead of simply relying on their smartphone as a one-size-fits-all solution. Big zoom compacts also known as bridge cameras, superzooms or ultra zooms, are currently where it's at - in that these are cameras that are actually still selling in significant numbers.
With our review sample fashioned in a high gloss maroon finish, Nikon's budget superzoom Coolpix L820 certainly attempts to stand out from the handset-wielding hordes.
And that's before we've even taken into account the fact that this relatively compact, mini DSLR-styled model finds room to squeeze in an impressive 30x optical reach, supported by lens-shift image stabilisation. This is a step up from the 26x reach of the Nikon L810.
check updated price on amazon OK so next to the 42x optical zoom of Nikon's P520, which was launched at the same time earlier this year and sits above it in the range, the whopping 50x zoom of Sony's HX300, and other bridge models, the focal range equivalent to 22.5-675mm in 35mm terms appears almost modest. A maximum lens aperture of f/3 also reads as nothing particularly special.
And yet, despite the fact that it shoehorns four AA batteries into its innards to provide power instead of a lithium ion rechargeable cell - lasting up to 320 shots according to CIPA standards - this Nikon doesn't immediately seem the cheap and cheerful product that a budget price tag of £220 / AU$275 / US$280 might suggest. Current online prices shave a good chunk off that full asking price too, making the Nikon L820 seem even more of a bargain for the specification on offer.
The headline features of the Nikon L820, while not earth-shattering, aren't too shabby either: a 16-megapixel effective resolution from a back-illuminated 16.79 million pixel CMOS sensor, 8fps continuous shooting, 3-inch fixed LCD offering an impressive 920k dots resolution plus 97% frame coverage in lieu of any alternative optical or electronic viewfinder.
Added to this, the optical zoom is supported by lens-shift vibration reduction, and the Nikon L820's macro option can get as close as 1cm from your subject. Full HD 1920 x 1080 pixels video recording at a frame rate of 30fps is included as standard.
There's stereo audio too, courtesy of twin microphones situated either side of the hump housing the pop-up flash. An HDMI output port nestles alongside a USB port, under a side flap. Though a USB cable is provided in the box, the HDMI lead is an extra expense.
This camera also misses out on latest must-have features such as integrated Wi-Fi - though it is compatible with Eye-Fi X2 variety cards - and it omits touchscreen control, too.
check updated price on amazon Likewise there's no raw file format shooting option, no location mapping GPS, no tilting LCD monitor and no hotshoe-come-accessory port. Still, there is a Smarties-like range of body colours to distract us, since the Nikon L820 comes in blue, maroon, plum or the far more sensible black.
JPEG still images and MPEG4 video clips are written to all varieties of SD media, or there's a small 65MB internal memory capacity to fall back on straight out of the box.
Coupled with that backlit sensor, the Nikon L820's low light capabilities are enhanced by a light sensitivity range that is extendable from the core ISO 125-1600 to ISO 3200 when using Auto mode.
This feels like very much a beginner's bridge camera, in that it's basically pick it up, point and shoot, eyes fixed on the rear LCD panel. But luckily that is reflected in the price and the pitch. It may look like a DSLR at first glance, but the control layout is much closer to that of your compact pocket camera, even if the shape suggests otherwise. This isn't about manual control, but rather the camera giving your photography a (modest) helping hand.

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