iPad mini 3: What we want to see

Our review of the iPad mini 2, or to stick with Apple's naming strategy, the iPad mini with Retina Display, found it to be a really capable little device.

Somewhat surprisingly it shares most of the cutting edge technology of its bigger brother, the iPad Air, and finally adds the Retina display which it had been lacking so sorely.

But it's not perfect. It's still too expensive, has no Touch ID sensor and the base 16GB capacity is rapidly becoming too small for many users.

So far there's been little in the way of rumors about the iPad mini 3. Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst for KGI claims that the iPad mini 3 will come out towards the end of the third quarter and that disappointingly it will have the same form factor as the iPad mini 2, which is thicker than the original iPad mini (athough only by 0.3mm).

In fact it doesn't sound like Kuo thinks the iPad mini 3 will be a big product for Apple at all, as he reckons it will be sold in limited quantities while the iPad mini 2 will remain on sale at a reduced price. This is one occasion where we hope the rumours are wrong, but thankfully that's all they are.

More positively he predicts that the iPad mini 3 will get upgraded to an A8 chip and come with an 8 megapixel camera (up from 5 megapixels on the iPad Mini 2) and Apple's Touch ID fingerprint scanner.

Adding credence to that last rumor, fragments of code from the Biometric Kit included in iOS 7.1 reference the iPad and there's also a couple of images of what is supposedly the iPad mini 3 doing the rounds.

The first is as blurry as early images often seem to be and it was anonymously sent to Nowhereelse.fr, so it's impossible to say how reliable the source is, but it appears to show a Touch ID fingerprint scanner built into the home button.

Though it's also worth noting that this is apparently a prototype of the device, so even if it is legitimate it's possible that Apple could ditch the scanner before it finalizes the hardware.

But a more recent rumor also mentions that Touch ID will indeed be coming to the iPad mini 3 (as well as the iPad Air 2) and that Apple is currently working hard to make the sensor more durable than it is in the iPhone 5S. But even with these few rumors there's still so much that we've heard nothing about yet.

However we can take an educated guess that it will have the same 7.9 inch 1536 x 2048 display as the iPad mini 2 and that it will run iOS 8 on a new Apple A8 processor.

The second leaked shot is clearer and appeared on the web via AppleClub.tw with the posters claiming it not only shows the iPad Mini 3, but also the upcoming iPhone 6 and iPad Air 2.

The iPad Mini 3, Air 2 and iPhone 6? (credit: AppleClub)

It appears that the trio all have the TouchID ring we're now familiar with thanks to the iPhone 5S.

But with so little set in stone, what do we want to see in the next model?

• Read our in-depth iPad mini 2 review

Touch ID

You end up entering passwords just as much on an iPad as you do on an iPhone, so it's surprising that the newest iPads didn't get the same Touch ID fingerprint sensor as the iPhone 5S got.

We'd really like to see these included in the iPad mini 3, not least because they would allow multiuser interaction - just touch to switch to your personal iPad account. Of course Apple would also have to build multi user support into iOS first, and it's arguable they'd rather sell you two iPads instead but the few rumors that have emerged so far suggest Touch ID may in fact be in the works.

• What is Touch ID?

More storage in the base model

16GB of storage in the cheapest iPad used to sound like a lot but now it's really starting to look a bit stingy, with apps like GarageBand and iMovie going free, some iOS games starting to take up over a gigabyte of space and Retina screens making high resolution movies worth loading onto your iPad.

The steep price jumps for the higher capacity models look cynical, especially when flash memory itself is not expensive and Apple offers no way to add storage via card slots. Starting the new models at 32GB would be more reasonable.

Cheaper cellular option

Adding a cellular option to an iPad mini currently adds £100/$130/AU$150 to the price, and of course you have to pay for data on top of that.

Given that the only difference between the innards of a Wi-Fi only and a cellular iPad is the addition of some mass-produced radio circuitry, it would be nice to bring the additional cost premium down a bit so that more people would opt for the cellular option and be able to use their iPads on the move. This is especially true of the supremely portable mini.

Wireless charging

A bit of a pipe dream perhaps, but wireless charging technology already exists and is used by some phone and tablet manufacturers, such as in the Google Nexus 7.

Being able to place your device on a charging slab rather than having to plug it in might sound like only a small timesaver but just think about how many times over the life of a device you have to recharge it.

It also reduces the possibility of wear and tear or damage resulting from physically plugging cables in over and over again.

• iPad mini vs iPad mini 2

Pressure sensitive screen

The addition of the M7 motion co-processor to the iPad mini 2 was somewhat unexpected but will be handy as more apps start to make use of it.

Haptic or pressure sensitive screens already exist, and make for more accurate and flexible interaction with your device, especially for games, music or art apps where you want your finger to do more than just register a touch.

Apple might not think the technology is up to it yet, but this could be one to watch for the future. Current rumors have pointed more overtly to Apple picking up the technology with the view to doing a lot more with it, and, like the iPad Air 2, would allow for better reception of prods from your digits and even that much-fabled iStylus that could do everything but make the tea for you.

Android 5 release date, news and rumors

Android 5 is going to be exciting, there's no doubt about that. Google saves the change to a new number for the big things, with both Honeycomb and Ice Cream Sandwich making big alterations to the way we use our Android phones.

We thought it would have been Key Lime Pie that showed off the next level, but on 31 October 2013, Google officially revealed its next minor update, Android 4.4 KitKat, which now clears the road for Android 5.

The dessert-themed code name that we assume will begin with L is anyone's guess at this stage. Android 5.0 Lemon Cheesecake or Android 5.0 Lemon Meringue Pie, anyone? Though there's talk that it might be called Android Lollipop or even Android Moonshine, as it's apparently internally known. While the latest leaks point simply to Android L.

It may not be called Android 5 though, with some rumors suggesting the next major iteration from Google's wheel house could arrive as Android 4.5. That would make sense as we've had 4.0, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 and 4.4 in recent years.

That said, it appears Google may have just dropped a hint as to the version number of the next iteration of Android. 5.0 is currently looking favorable after the time of "5.00" appeared on screenshots posted on Twitter by the search giant - a signal Google has used before.

Is Android 5.0 next in line? (credit: @Google)

As we wait on official news of that name, we're constantly combing the web to see what's going to be happening with this L-powered update, so check back to see what we've uncovered and the level of likelihood each rumor brings.

Cut to the chase

• What is it? The next major upgrade for Android, to follow on from Android 4.4
• When is it out? We're thinking mid-2014
• What will it cost? Nothing, it'll be a free upgrade

Android 5.0 release date

Until Android 4.4 was announced we had expected the Android 5.0 release date to be some time in October 2013. We instead saw Android 4.4 KitKat launch on 31 October, so now we're expecting to see Android 5.0 shown off in mid-2014, quite possibly at Google IO, Google's annual two-day developer conference in San Francisco.

That's a year on from when we had originally expected to see Android 5.0, which was at Google IO 2013, which took place from May 15 to May 17 2013.

Sundar Pichai, Google's new head of Android told Wired that 2013's IO was "not a time when we have much in the way of launches of new products or a new operating system"," which makes us wonder when the new software will be coming.

Our take: Android updates are still coming too slowly for our liking, as while each 0.1-numbered upgrade is good, it's not enough to make us want the native experience.

We're expecting Google to make Android 5 rather special indeed, which means it can only wait a maximum of 6-7 months after KitKat was announced to show it off - so mid-2014 has to happen, in our opinion.

More recent reports of Android 4.5 being next in line may put a spanner in the major overhaul thinking, so we're not getting too carried away just yet. In any case Google I/O is set for June 25-26, so with any luck we should know just what Android Lollipop will be bringing to the table soon.

Android 5.0 phones

The first handset to run Android 5 will either be a Nexus phone or tablet, and given the timing of the announcement we think it might be the latter. The Google Nexus 5 launched Android 4.4 at the tail end of next year, and we reckon the Nexus 10 (2014) will appear soon - meaning a tablet launch for the new OS.

HTC looks like the front runner to bring this tablet to the market, so we're thinking that this could happen mid-2014, which puts it firmly on course to be made soon.

We're also hearing a lot of rumblings about a Nexus 8, a slate which will supposedly launch with Android 4.5, so maybe that's the device that Android Lollipop will make its debut on.

Will it be known as a Nexus though? The scheme is under threat from Android Silver, but it doesn't look like that's launching yet, so we reckon the Nexus name will be kept for at least the next round of devices.

Androids out in force at Google IO 2012

Samsung's Android 5.0 upgrades

Although Samsung is yet to officially confirm its Android 5.0 schedule, a SamMobile source is claiming to know which phones and tablets will be getting the upgrade. According to the source, the devices set to receive the upgrade are the Galaxy S4, Galaxy S3, Galaxy Note 2, Galaxy Note 8.0 and Galaxy Note 10.1. Do note that this claim was made before Google announced Android 4.4, so if it was ever correct, it's probably a lot less correct now.

As you'd expect, the S4 will be getting an Android update, but to which version?

Android 5.0 features

Android Geeks reported that Google Babble would debut on Android 5.0. Babble was the code name for Google's cross-platform service and app with the aim of unifying its various chat services which include Talk, Hangout, Voice, Messenger, Chat for Google Drive and Chat on Google+.

A screenshot that we were sent from a Google employee on 8 April confirmed that not only was this unified chat service on the way, but that it was called Google Babel not Babble. On 10 May, we discovered that Babel would launch as Google Hangouts, and on 15 May we saw it come to life for devices running Android 2.3 and up. So much for it debuting on Android 5.

We've been fishing for info on Babel

A more recent idea is that Google's next version of Android will have more fitness smarts built in - and this is an idea we think has legs, if you'll pardon the sort-of pun.

Apple is set to go big in this area with the iWatch and iOS 8, and other brands, such as Samsung and LG, are making strides too.

The idea is future versions of Android will allow the software to harness "fitness data from sensors on your Android device."

These could be built into future Android phones and tablets, but it's also likely that the API will play nicely with Android-based smartwatches and even Google Glass.

It also looks like Android 5 may add support for 64-bit processors, as the Nexus 8 is rumored to have one and to be running the new version of Android. That in turn would allow for more than 4GB of RAM in devices, opening the floodgates to enormous increases in power.

Some have speculated that Android 5.0 will be actually Chrome OS, Google's high power operating system for its Chromebooks - that it would use Android for low- to mid-level handsets and put Chrome on the high end.

However, this makes little sense given the effort that would be needed for app integration, so like Microsoft and Windows Phone the mobile OS will very likely continue as is.

A recent image of 'Android L' (which is presumably Android 4.5 / 5) appears to show the browser floating in the middle of the screen, which may mean we'll be getting split screen apps. That would certainly be a useful feature, particularly on larger devices. Samsung and Sony already do this but if the functionality is baked into Android then all devices potentially could.

Android 5.0 interface

While little is known about the potential interface changes for the next iteration of Google's mobile platform, be it Android 5.0 or Android 4.5, a screenshot has appeared online claiming to reveal the upcoming version.

The screenshot shows new icons apparently destined for Android 4.5

There's a clear visual overhaul present in the screenshot, and according to the leak the new design is being referred to as "Moonshine" internally at Google.

We've also caught a glimpse of how the dialer might look in Android 4.5 / Android 5, courtesy of an image leaked by Google itself. It's not in for a radical redesign but if the image is to be believed then it will be going blue, rather than sticking with the current light gray colour.

The next version of Android will be revealed Wednesday

Google IO 2014 kicks off tomorrow and we can expect some exciting announcements from the company's annual developer conference. How big are we talking here? Try the next version of Android big.

In a long form Bloomberg Businessweek profile on Sundar Pichai, the Android chief said he plans to preview the "L" release of Android during the conference's opening day Wednesday.

The move would be a significant shift towards greater transparency; the search giant has classically withheld its annual operating system updates until fall.

In the interview, Pichai said he wants, "the world to understand what [Google is] doing sooner." More importantly, he remarked that manufactures have complained the latest versions of Android have always been revealed too late for device makers to implement.

Up until now, Nexus phones were often the only handsets to get the latest software first. With this year's early preview, we could see the latest versions of Android land on all devices sooner.

Goodbye, Google TV

Alongside an early look at Android "L," Google IO may include an introduction to Android TV. Leaked on April 6, the new entertainment platform will purportedly include Netflix, YouTube, and other video streaming service apps arranged in easy-to-navigate cards similar to the PGEgaHJlZj0iaHR0cDovL2hvc3RpbmdraXRhLmNvbQ0iIHRhcmdldD0iX2JsYW5rIiByZWw9Im5vZm9sbG93Ij5BcHBsZSA8L2E+TV set-top box.

To help prevent repeating the same mistakes that plagued Google TV into obsolescence, Pichai has supposedly brought everyone working on the TV software into one team to create a single, consistent experience.

Given the company's recent success with Chromecast, Google should have an easier time attracting content providers. Additionally, it should have a cache of streaming apps that already work with the new entertainment platform.

Don't forget Android Wear

In a brief mention, Pichai said he would announce new manufacturing partners and devices utilizing Google's wearable platform, Android Wear.

Health tracking was on the Android point man's tongue, which means we will likely see fitness trackers and biosensor-equipped wearable computers.

• Google's wearable line up could include the Motorola Moto 360 and LG G Watch

Mozilla may be working on a Chromecast-style streaming stick

Mozilla is reportedly plotting a Firefox OS-based streaming stick to rival the PGEgaHJlZj0iaHR0cDovL2hvc3RpbmdraXRhLmNvbQ0iIHRhcmdldD0iX2JsYW5rIiByZWw9Im5vZm9sbG93Ij5Hb29nbGUgPC9hPg==Chromecast device.

GigaOm brings a hands-on PGEgaHJlZj0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy5ob3N0aW5na2l0YS5jb20NIiB0YXJnZXQ9Il9ibGFuayIgcmVsPSJub2ZvbGxvdyI+dmlkZW8gPC9hPg==showing the as-yet-unannounced device in action. According to report the stick has no name, no release date and it's unclear which markets it will launch in.

According to the report, the streaming stick, in its current form, is capable of running PGEgaHJlZj0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy5ob3N0aW5na2l0YS5jb20NIiB0YXJnZXQ9Il9ibGFuayIgcmVsPSJub2ZvbGxvdyI+QW5kcm9pZCA8L2E+and PGEgaHJlZj0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy5ob3N0aW5na2l0YS5jb20NIiB0YXJnZXQ9Il9ibGFuayIgcmVsPSJub2ZvbGxvdyI+aU9TIDwvYT4=apps will also allow developers to create apps that play nice with Windows Phone, the Amazon Fire platform.

As always with Mozilla, the focus will be on openness, the reporter who has been 'tracking the device' with Mozilla insiders for months said.

No restrictions

In response to the report a Mozilla spokesperson suggested the hardware may not be the company's doing, but that of a third-party using the open source software.

"Firefox OS is an open platform freely available for any company to build on top of without restriction. This means companies can experiment with different form factors that run Firefox OS," a spokesperson said.

Could Mozilla compete with the almighty Chromecast? Let us know your thoughts below.

• Amazon Fire Phone: 8 things you need to know

Via The Verge

4oD's Android app is no longer an Inbetweener with 3G/4G streaming

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

Via Engadget

After smartphones, Amazon's next trick could be slimmer Kindles

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!

iPad Air 2 release date, news and rumors

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 PGEgaHJlZj0iaHR0cDovL2hvc3RpbmdraXRhLmNvbQ0iIHRhcmdldD0iX2JsYW5rIiByZWw9Im5vZm9sbG93Ij5BcHBsZSA8L2E+aGFzIGVuam95ZWQuPC9wPjxwPjxhIGhyZWY9Imh0dHA6Ly9ob3N0aW5na2l0YS5jb20NIiB0YXJnZXQ9Il9ibGFuayIgcmVsPSJub2ZvbGxvdyI+QXBwbGUgPC9hPmlzIGdvaW5nIHRvIGhhdmUgYSB0b3VnaCBqb2IgdG9wcGluZyB0aGUgaVBhZCBBaXIsIGFmdGVyIGl0IGdhaW5lZCBhIGNvdmV0ZWQgNSBzdGFyIFRlY2hSYWRhciByZXZpZXcgYW5kIGl0IGN1cnJlbnRseSBzaXRzIHByb3VkbHkgYXQgbnVtYmVyIDEgaW4gb3VyICJCZXN0IFRhYmxldHMgaW4gdGhlIFdvcmxkIiB0b3AgMTAuPC9wPjx1bD48bGk+UmVhZCBvdXIgaW4tZGVwdGggaVBhZCBBaXIgcmV2aWV3PC9saT48L3VsPjxwPlRoZXJlJ3MgdmVyeSBsaXR0bGUgb24gdGhlIG5ldyBpUGFkIHRvIHRlbGwgeW91IGFib3V0IHJpZ2h0IG5vdywgYnV0IHRoYXQgZG9lc24ndCBtZWFuIHdlIGNhbid0IHRha2UgYW4gZWR1Y2F0ZWQgZ3Vlc3MgYXQgd2hlbiB0aGUgbmV3IG1vZGVsIGlzIGNvbWluZyBhbmQgd2l0aCB0aGUgaGVscCBvZiB0aGUgcnVtb3VycyB3aGljaCBhcmUgc3RhcnRpbmcgdG8gY2lyY3VsYXRlIHdlIGNhbiBhbHNvIGV4cGxvcmUgd2hhdCBpdCBtYXkgb2ZmZXIuPC9wPjxwPlRoZSBsYXVuY2ggb2YgaU9TIDcuMSBjb250YWluZWQgc29tZSBtZW50aW9ucyBvZiB0d28gbmV3ZXIgbW9kZWxzIG9mIGlQYWRzLCBhY2NvcmRpbmcgdG8gOXRvNU1hYywgbm90aW5nIGlQYWQgNC4zIGFuZCA0LjYgbW9kZWxzLCB3aGljaCBjb3VsZCByZWZlcmVuY2UgdGhlIG5ldyBpUGFkIEFpciBhbmQgUEdFZ2FISmxaajBpYUhSMGNEb3ZMMmh2YzNScGJtZHJhWFJoTG1OdmJRMGlJSFJoY21kbGREMGlYMkpzWVc1cklpQnlaV3c5SW01dlptOXNiRzkzSWo1cFVHRmtJRTFwYm1rZ1BDOWhQZz09My48L3A+PGgzPkN1dCB0byB0aGUgY2hhc2U8L2gzPjx1bD48bGk+PHN0cm9uZz5XaGF0IGlzIGl0Pzwvc3Ryb25nPiBUaGUgc2VxdWVsIHRvIHRoZSBpUGFkIEFpcjwvbGk+PGxpPjxzdHJvbmc+V2hlbiBpcyBpdCBvdXQ/PC9zdHJvbmc+IFRoZSBjdXJyZW50IGJlc3QgZ3Vlc3MgaXMgYSBOb3ZlbWJlciAyMDE0IGxhdW5jaDwvbGk+PGxpPjxzdHJvbmc+V2hhdCB3aWxsIGl0IGNvc3Q/PC9zdHJvbmc+IFRoZSBpUGFkIEFpciAyIHdpbGwgbGlrZWx5IHN0YXJ0IGF0ICZwb3VuZDs0NzkgLyAkNTAwIC8gQVUkNjAwPC9saT48L3VsPjxoMz5pUGFkIEFpciAyIHJlbGVhc2UgZGF0ZTwvaDM+PHA+VGhlIGlQYWQgQWlyIDIgcmVsZWFzZSBkYXRlIGlzIGxpa2VseSB0byBiZSB0aGUgYmVnaW5uaW5nIG9mIE5vdmVtYmVyLCB3aXRoIHRoZSBsYXVuY2ggaGFwcGVuaW5nIGF0IHRoZSBzdGFydCBvZiB0aGUgbW9udGggb3IgdGhlIHdlZWsgYWZ0ZXIuPC9wPjxwPldoeSBOb3ZlbWJlcj8gV2VsbCB0aGF0J3Mgd2hlbiB0aGUgaVBhZCBBaXIgbWFkZSBhbiBhcHBlYXJhbmNlIGxhc3QgeWVhciwgYW5kIDxhIGhyZWY9Imh0dHA6Ly9ob3N0aW5na2l0YS5jb20NIiB0YXJnZXQ9Il9ibGFuayIgcmVsPSJub2ZvbGxvdyI+QXBwbGUgPC9hPmRvZXMgbGlrZSB0byBzdGljayB0byBpdHMgYW5udWFsIHByb2R1Y2UgY3ljbGUgLSBpZiB5b3Ugb3Zlcmxvb2sgdGhlIHdob2xlIFBHRWdhSEpsWmowaWFIUjBjRG92TDJodmMzUnBibWRyYVhSaExtTnZiUTBpSUhSaGNtZGxkRDBpWDJKc1lXNXJJaUJ5Wld3OUltNXZabTlzYkc5M0lqNXBVR0ZrSURRZ1BDOWhQZz09dGhpbmcuPC9wPjxoMz5pUGFkIEFpciAyIHJ1bW9yczwvaDM+PHA+VGhlIGlQYWQgQWlyIDIgaXMgbm90IGdvaW5nIHRvIGRyb3AgaW4gY29zdCBpZiBBcHBsZSdzIHBhc3QgcGVyZm9ybWFuY2UgaXMgYW55dGhpbmcgdG8gZ28gYnksIGFuZCB3ZSBjYW4ndCBzZWUgdGhlIGRlc2lnbiBjaGFuZ2luZyB0aGF0IG11Y2ggZWl0aGVyIGdpdmVuIHRoZSByZWNlbnQgY2hhbmdlIGluIHRoZSBsYXJnZXIgaVBhZCdzIGNoYXNzaXMgbGFzdCB5ZWFyLjwvcD48cD5UaGVyZSBhcmUgc29tZSBhbmFseXN0IHJ1bW9ycyBidXp6aW5nIGFyb3VuZCBhbmQgS0dJIGFuYWx5c3QgTWluZy1DaGkgS3VvIGJlbGlldmVzIHRoYXQgdGhlIGlQYWQgQWlyIDIgd2lsbCBjb21lIHdpdGggYW4gPGEgaHJlZj0iaHR0cDovL2hvc3RpbmdraXRhLmNvbQ0iIHRhcmdldD0iX2JsYW5rIiByZWw9Im5vZm9sbG93Ij5BcHBsZSA8L2E+A8 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.

Microsoft Surface Pro 3 review

Scores in depth

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.