HP Stream 11 First Impressions

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The HP Stream 11 is clearly both inexpensive and a great value. At just $200, it's cheap, of course. But it also features a solid-feeling construction, a bright and fun form factor, a surprisingly high-quality typing experience and a wonderful screen. This isn't a bargain bin throwaway. The Stream 11 is something special.

I knew that HP had gotten something right the moment I opened the plain cardboard box and saw the Stream inside It didn't just not scream cheap, but immediately seemed well-made. But the point was really driven home when my wife and daughter—neither of whom really cares about technology per se, both saw the Stream and then started fighting over who could have. This was most unexpected.

Some will describe this device as a modern netbook. I get that. It seems small, with its 11.6-inch screen and a reported 97 percent full-sized keyboard. But the screen is surrounded by a healthy amount of bezel and the keyboard, surprising me, given my large hands, isn't just serviceable, it's great, with a solid feel.

But the HP Stream 11 couldn't be more different than the also-$200 Acer E15 behemoth I recently acquired. It's comparatively tiny, but it's not Ultrabook thin, and sports full-sized USB and HDMI ports with plenty of room to spare. It's also a bit heavy and solid-feeling, but that contributes to the quality of the device. It doesn't seem flimsy at all.

Performance isn't terrible at all. Word runs acceptably fast, as does IE and the bundled Modern apps I've tried—including Xbox Video with HD streaming—all worked well.

I happened to also spend part of yesterday getting that Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro up and running with all my usual apps, and in doing so on the Stream, I didn't see much difference. That might seem like I'm damning the Yoga a bit, but the point here is that while these machines are not comparable price-wise ($1300 vs. $200), or from any other perspective for that matter, the Stream is holding its own well outside its weight class.

Whether the Stream's Celeron process, 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB of eMMC storage will stand the test of time will of course require some, well, time. But I can offer a few quick observations.

First, this configure seems perfectly capable of running Windows 8.1 (and thus Windows 10 as well) and doing well for the types of casual computing tasks one should expect of such a machine. You can run Word and Office 2013. IE. Facebook. That kind of thing. My bloated Chrome configuration, with multiple add-ons, quickly overwhelmed available memory, and while it does run fine, you won't want to run Chrome alongside any other heavy hitters.

I realize the storage might be a concern for some. Out of the box, the available storage was 17.3 GB of 21.5 GB, and Disk Management reports that the recovery partition is about 7.2 GB. I installed Office 2013 through the bundled Office 365 Personal subscription, again, a $69.99 value, and after a few other app installs it's at about 10.3 GB free. Absolutely fine for casual use.

Obviously, I won't be using the HP Stream 11 personally, and certainly not on work trips. But I'll use it around the house this week and install a few Modern games and see how that goes. If it works out as expected, I'll see about dispersing this to the family. I'll let them fight that one out, but so far, so good. The HP Stream 11 is a pleasant surprise.

You can grab the HP Stream 11 right now for $199.99 from Amazon.com.

Motorola Moto G 2014 review: the benchmark budget smartphone gets a 5in screen but loses 4G

No sooner than Motorola updated the original Moto G with 4G and a microSD card, there’s another update: the Moto G. That’s right – a completely new smartphone with the same name. Confusing, much.

The second-generation Moto G, which we predicted would be called the Moto G2, is easier to find online by searching for its part code: XT1068. Visually, though, the 2014 model is easy to tell apart from the original (and revised 4G version) thanks to the prominent front-facing speakers and larger 5in screen.

UPDATE: The new Moto G will officially go on sale on 15th September, and you'll be able to buy it from various places SIM-free, including Amazon, where you can pre-order it now.

See also: Second-generation Moto X review and Moto 360 smartwatch review

Motorola Moto G (2014) review: price

The new Moto G costs £149.99, and that's for the 8GB version, which is all you'll be able to buy in the UK. Motorola is now selling the smartphone directly from its website, and it isn't much more expensive than the revised 4G Moto G, which you can pick up (in 8GB format) for £130. We're sure that discounts will be available soon from other retailers.

Motorola Moto G (2014) review: design and build

The new Moto G addresses feedback Motorola received from the original and has a bigger screen, better speakers and dual SIM card slots. Unfortunately, support for 4G has been dropped, so this phone is limited to 3G.

Design-wise, the new Moto G follows the original almost exactly. There’s no metal and no disguising the plastic finish: it feels cheap compared to the plastic iPhone 5C. However, let’s not forget the massive chasm in price between the two smartphones.

Buttons and ports are in the same places, and the back is removable to reveal both SIM slots and the microSD slot (which will accept cards up to 32GB).

It’s bigger than its predecessor in width and height, but not in depth – it remains the same at roughly 11mm. Weight is practically the same, too, at a shade under 150g. The handset is well balanced and feels lighter than you’d expect.

There are two colours: black and white, and you can buy coloured rear shells for £10.99 in the following colours: Chalk, Black, Violet, Spearmint, Raspberry, Royal Blue, Turquoise and Lemon Lime.

Flip shells have a magnetic front cover  which turns the Moto G on and off when you open and close it. These cost £22.49 and come in Chalk, Black, Royal Blue, Turquoise, Lemon Lime and Cherry.

Motorola Moto G (2014) review: screen

The smartphone isn’t much bigger overall, but the 5in IPS display feels like a nice upgrade over the 4.5in of the original. Even so, it’s a tiny bit disappointing that the resolution is still 1280x720, meaning a drop in density to 294ppi (compared to 329ppi).

It’s still a great screen, though, with vivid colours and great viewing angles. Brightness is decent enough, but not the brightest around.

Motorola Moto G (2014) review: hardware and performance

Oddly, there’s no upgrade in the processor department. The Snapdragon 400 quad-core chip runs at 1.2GHz and has the Adreno 305 graphics processor. That means performance is the same, which is to say it’s very good, especially at this low price.

In Geekbench 3, we saw an average score of 340 (single-core) and 1144 (multi-core). These are practically identical to the original Moto G's scores, which were 334 and 1168 respectively.

In GFXbench 3, the Moto G returned 11 frames per second in the T-rex test, exactly the same as the old model - no surprises there.

Web browsing performance is measured using Sunspider 1.0.2, in which the new Moto G managed an average of 1526ms, marginally slower than the original at 1504ms.

In the UK, the new Moto G will be available in 8GB and 16GB versions, and both will have dual SIM slots. The bad news is that 4G is not supported. If you need faster mobile internet, you'll have to either go for the the revised first-gen Moto G or look elsewhere entirely.

The handset has the basic specs you'd expect elsewhere: 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 and GPS. Note that the Wi-Fi is at least dual-band, so will work with dual-band routers that support 5GHz as well as 2.4GHz.

Compared to the single rear-facing speaker of the original Moto G, the new front-facing speakers are superb. Just like HTC’s BoomSound, the second-generation Moto G’s sound is excellent. There’s no need to turn up the volume so much – and annoy people sitting opposite you – since the audio is directed straight at your ears.

They’re not great for music, but when playing games and watching videos on YouTube or iPlayer, you’ll really appreciate both the stereo separation and the decent quality.

Motorola Moto G (2014) review: cameras

The good news is that the mediocre cameras have been upgraded, with an 8Mp sensor at the rear, and 2Mp at the front. There’s an LED flash at the back, as before (the old Moto G is on the right with a red rear shell).

The bad news is that video is still shot at only 720p, which is strange as 8Mp is more than enough for 1080p.

You can check out the quality for yourself, but suffice to say, the photos are a lot better than the videos. One slight disappointment is that the images from our test Moto G weren't sharp to the edges of the frame. For the most part, you won't notice this, but when you zoom in on photos, it's easy to spot. We'll test a second phone to see if it's just our sample or not.

Instead of using Google’s own camera app, you get Motorola’s. It’s easy to use and includes panorama and HDR modes. You can tap to focus and tap and hold to take photos in burst mode

The HDR mode can be set to auto, on or off. It makes a huge difference in the right circumstances – it’s easy to see the improvement in the photo on the right below.

It’s worth bearing in mind that the app defaults to 16:9 photos, which crops the top and bottom and uses only 6Mp of the sensor's resolution. If you want the full 8Mp, switch to 4:3 mode which gives you those missing top and bottom sections. You can see the crop in action in the comparison below: you can see the spires on St Pancras in the full-resolution, uncropped photo.

This is 16:9:

And here's the full 8Mp, 4:3 image:

Video, as shown in the clip below, lacks detail even considering the 720p limit. It’s not as jerky as some smartphones we’ve tested recently, but there’s no optical stabilisation either.

Audio is recorded in stereo and is usable enough. If you want to have a bit of fun, there’s a slo-mo video mode which also records in 720p. It’s best to hold the phone still rather than moving it about in this mode, though, as you’ll get jerky footage otherwise.

Here's how the old and new Moto G compare. First the old version (click to enlarge)

And this is the new, second-generation Moto G (note the wider-angle lens as well)

Here's what the original Moto G photo looks like at 100 per cent:

And the new Moto G:

Motorola Moto G (2014) review: software

One of the benefits of buying a Motorola smartphone is that you essentially get plain Android. There’s already a guarantee of an upgrade to Android L when it launches, but it ships with KitKat 4.4.4.

Given the lack of any overlays or customisations, there isn’t too much to talk about. One point worth noting is that there are no hardware or touch-sensitive buttons - the usual Android trio are on screen and you have to swipe to display them in certain apps, such as when using the camera.

You do get Motorola’s useful app Migrate, which helps transfer all your stuff from an old Android smartphone, or an iPhone. Plus, you also get Motorola’s Assist app which can automatically detect when you’re driving and read out incoming text messages. Using Google Now you can even dictate a reply without touching the phone. Assist also has a sleep mode which silences the phone between 'quiet hours' that you set, a Meeting mode which uses your calendar to work out when to keep quiet and a 'Home' mode which will read out text messages so you don't have to pick up the phone. 

If you’re considering the new Moto G for its dual-SIM slots, bear in mind that the old model was also available with two slots – if you can find one.

The benefit of this new version is that it's very easy to switch between SIMs, and an Intelligent Calling feature will learn which numbers you call from each SIM and automatically switch to the appropriate SIM. You can manually select the SIM to use, but pop-ups will offer messages such as "You called this number on the other SIM last time. Do you want to switch?".

Motorola Moto G (2014) review: battery life

We've now had a few days to properly test out the Moto G's battery life. The good news is that it's pretty good. With light use, it lasted exactly two days before demanding a recharge. That light use involved around an hour of watching YouTube, an hour of web browsing, several phone calls and some emails.

Motorola Moto G (2014) review: bottom line

With a bigger screen, much better speakers and improved cameras, the new Moto G is a great budget smartphone. However, the lack of 4G, no processor upgrade nor a boost in screen resolution means it's arguably not as good value as the original Moto G was when it launched. That's also because the new Moto G has considerably tougher competition to deal with. There are cheaper options if your budget won't stretch this far, but if you're specifically looking for a budget dual-SIM Android phone, it's a good choice. If you absolutely need 4G, then the revised first-generation Moto G is still a worthy contender.

Also read: The 17 best budget smartphones of 2014

Motorola Moto G (2014) | FindTheBest

iPhone 5C review: Apple's cheap plastic iPhone now starts at £319 but still isn't worth it

The iPhone 5C is more than a year old now, succeeded in September by the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. The 'C' range of iPhones seems to have been discontinued, but Apple continues to sell the iPhone 5C at a lower price. Take a look at our iPhone 5C review, one year on, to find out what it's like to use and whether the colourful Apple smartphone is a good buy.

iPhone 5C review: Design and build

The iPhone 5C is essentially the iPhone 5 but with a colourful new coat. The five colour options match the theme of iOS 8 and are certainly bright. We like the white and blue models but we're not so keen on the pink, yellow and green. 

Like Microsoft's Lumia range, the phone has a polycarbonate plastic casing and as such is a little bigger and heavier than the iPhone 5, despite having the same innards. It's slightly more than a millimetre thicker and is 20 grams heavier than the iPhone 5 – that's nothing major. A 9mm phone is quite big for today's standard but the 5C doesn't feel thick or chunky in the hand.

The big difference is the case, which is glossy, smooth and feels nice in the hand. It shares the same rounded corners and look of the white MacBook.

Build quality is excellent, as we've come to expect from Apple. There's not an internal rattle or gap in the casing to be found. Despite being predominantly plastic, the iPhone 5C retains that premium Apple feel.

The only caveat is that the buttons do feel a little on the cheap side and have a loud click when pressed, especially (and somewhat ironically) the volume buttons. Over the year we've had the 5C, it's picked up a few small scratches but you have to look hard to find them. We've been using a clear case for the majority of our time spent with the iPhone 5C, which helps protect the device while leaving the colourful back visible. See: Best cases for iPhone 5C

iPhone 5C review: Price

Despite having a nice feel, the problem is that many handsets on the market outclass the 5C, yet cost less. For example, the LG G2 is now £300 and the glass-clad Sony Xperia Z3 Compact is just £360 on Amazon. The Moto G and Lumia 520 are only £100 - £150.

The bottom line is that the iPhone 5C, which starts at £319, is a bit overpriced for what is a two-year-old phone in a plastic case. The iPhone 5S with the double the amount of storage is £140 more than the 5C.

Currently, iPhone 5S is only, on average, around £7 more on a contract than the 5C. We imagine most people will see the iPhone 5S as the better deal.

See also: iPhone 5c vs HTC One comparison

iPhone 5C review: Hardware and performance

As we've said, the iPhone 5C is an iPhone 5 with a different case. This is because the hardware on offer is almost unchanged. Inside is the same A6 dual-core processor and, according to the Geekbench 3 app, the device has a 1.3 GHz clock speed and 1 GB of RAM – no change there then. See also: iPhone 5C vs iPhone 5 comparison.

iOS 7 running on the iPhone 5C feels smooth and responsive but we'll talk more about the software later. Running Geekbench 3 shows that performance is almost identical to the iPhone 5; the iPhone 5C scores 710 which is only three points less than its predecessor.

The iPhone 5C is only one frame off the result of the iPhone 5 in the GLBenchmark 2.5 Egypt HD test at 37fps. The phone scores an impressively speedy 788ms in the SunSpider 1.0 browser test.

We're in the process of running further tests on the iPhone 5C, iPhone 5S and iPhone 5 running iOS 8.1, so we'll bring you those results soon. We expect them to be largely similar, though.

Apps and web pages load swiftly, and panning around Apple Maps isn't jerky at all. It feels like you're using an up-to-date smartphone despite the two-year-old components.

The iPhone 5C's screen is still the 4in Retina display that was introduced with the iPhone 5. Although the screen looks crisp and colourful, it's no longer class-leading. Full HD is the standard now and, on larger screens, it makes browsing the web, gaming and watching videos easier and more enjoyable.

The iPhone 5C is now only available in one storage option, which we think is its biggest downfall. That one storage option is a measly 8GB, and with no microSD card slot to expand the storage, 8GB really is all you get.

An important difference between the iPhone 5 and the iPhone 5C is that the device has support for more 4G networks. The iPhone 5 was only compatible with EE. The iPhone 5C will supports all of the UK's 4G networks. Our iPhone 5C runs well on Vodafone's 4G network.

Other connectivity remains the same with the 8-pin Lightning connector, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 and GPS. Apple hasn't included features such as NFC or wireless charging.

Something we should point out is that the iPhone 5C doesn't come with the fingerprint scanner and TouchID software found on the 5S and now the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3.

iPhone 5C review: Camera

There's almost no difference between the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5C when it comes to camera equipment. The 5C has the same 8Mp iSight rear camera as the iPhone 5 so you can rest assured that pictures and video will be high quality. Here are some photos we've taken with the iPhone 5C (click to enlarge).

Of course, they're not as impressive as the photos you'll be able to capture with the iPhone 5S, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, which have lots of camera improvements despite still being 8Mp, including larger pixels, a True Tone dual flash, a better aperture and improved image stabilisation.

The front FaceTime HD camera is almost the same as the iPhone 5's but Apple says it has better low-light performance thanks to larger pixels and an improved backside illumination sensor. We haven't noticed any major difference but the camera is good.

Since iOS 8 comes pre-loaded on the 5C, you get the new camera app which has a square photo mode, filters and Time Lapse. You'll miss out on the Slo-Mo and Burst Mode features, though, which are only available on the iPhone 5S and later.

iPhone 5C review: Software

The iPhone 5C comes pre-loaded with Apple's latest mobile operating system, iOS 8. 

iOS 7 was the biggest redesign Apple has done since the original iPhone, and iOS 8 takes that new design even further. In addition to sporting the cleaner, lighter and more colourful design we saw in iOS 7, we also get lots of tweaks and new features including much more flexibility for third-party app developers to bring us new and exciting apps.

Find out more about what's new in iOS 8 in our iOS 8 review.

iPhone 5C review: Battery life

The battery in the iPhone 5C is slightly better than the one in the iPhone 5S. Apple says it provides an extra two hours of talk time and browsing over 4G LTE plus a further 25 hours on standby. See also: How to improve smartphone battery life: 10 tips and tricks.

We've been impressed with the iPhone 5C's battery life. Unless you hammer the device with constant gaming or video playback, it will last a couple of days with regular and varied use. The phone holds its charge incredibly well when not in use - our sample sat on just one per cent for a number of hours.

OnePlus One release date, price, specs UK: Pre-order at 3pm

Chances are you've never heard of OnePlus, but this tech startup could take the smartphone market by storm. Its OnePlus One smartphone has killer features to rival the Samsung Galaxy S5, Sony Xperia Z2, HTC One M8, LG G3 and other flagship Android devices, yet it costs less than half the price at a super-budget $299/€269/£229 (16GB model). The catch? It can be tricky to get hold of, and concerns are mounting that it could be in trouble following "hundreds" of requests for refunds. However, you will be able to pre-order the OnePlus One for a short period today (27 October) between 3pm and 4pm GMT. See also: OnePlus One review and OnePlus One video review

TK Tech News is reporting that it has been made aware of hundreds of people filing PayPal disputes against OnePlus over a yellow band screen issue with some handsets. It claims to have seen a conversation between one customer and PayPal in which PayPal said "We have placed a hold against these funds."

Of course, this doesn't necessarily mean the firm is in trouble, although the number of requests for refunds isn't good news for OnePlus. The yellow band issue is not apparent on our own OnePlus One phone.

We waited for what felt like forever to get our hands on the OnePlus One, and since OnePlus doesn't supply review samples we were in the same boat as all the other hopefuls. When we finally got an invite to buy it, our OnePlus One got delayed by customs, and then we were made to pay import duty (see: Where is the OnePlus One phone? OnePlus One shipments delayed by customs). But we got there in the end, and it is worth the wait. Read more about the possibility of a OnePlus One mini, a OnePlus One tablet, and a OnePlus Two phone.

At first OnePlus was allowing people to purchase the OnePlus One through invitation only, but confusion in how to get a OnePlus One invite has led OnePlus to re-assess the situation. Still wanting to keep a tight control on supply and demand, it is now developing a system through which you can pre-order the OnePlus One. The pre-order system will be trialled for a very short period today (27 October) between 3pm and 4pm GMT. Visit preorder.oneplus.net for full details and to pre-order the OnePlus One. Also see: Inside the OnePlus One phone - what the specs don't tell you.

"One of the major pain points of the system lies in the anxiety of not knowing what needs to be done to obtain an invite, and the idea of spending a lot of time and effort to get one. This was not a planned side effect of the invite system, and we recognize that it is counterproductive to the great user experience of buying a OnePlus smartphone that we’re aiming for.

"We want to find a solution that can both allow us to reward early fans, as well as provide a pain free and time efficient way for busy people to buy our device. Therefore, we’ll launch our devices in multiple stages: invites only with a transition into invites and pre-orders," said OnePlus.

See: OnePlus Two release date rumours

OnePlus One: Getting an invite

OnePlus One is using competitions and promotional events to hand out invites to buy its OnePlus One. Right now you can enter its Storm of Invites competition, in which you need supply only your Facebook login or email address. Previous competitions have been more demanding, such as Smash the Past. In this competition, which ended on 2 May, OnePlus asked OnePlus One smartphone hopefuls to apply to be one of the first 100 owners of the handset. The chosen ones had to smash their existing smartphone, film it, then stick it on YouTube. The winners were rewarded with an invite to purchase the OnePlus One for just $1, plus three invites for their friends. See also: Best OnePlus One Phone Smash videos so far

Would I smash my Samsung Galaxy S4 to get my hands on the OnePlus One phone? You're joking, right? But I'd probably get enough for it secondhand on eBay to pay the tiny $299/€269 OnePlus is asking for the 16GB One - and, given its very decent spec, the OnePlus One is an incredibly tempting proposition.  See also: The 24 best smartphones: the best phone you can buy in 2014.

"By paying attention to the smallest details, taking a holistic approach to product design, and working with the best partners such as Cyanogen and Qualcomm, we have been able to create the greatest day-to-day user experience in a smartphone without compromise," said Pete Lau, CEO of OnePlus. See also: Best Android phones of 2014.

OnePlus One: Pre-order system

OnePlus is now also working on a pre-order system for buying the OnePlus One, without needing an invite. It says you'll be able to cancel your order at any time up until the order is processed. The pre-order system is set to go live late October and information will be available one week ahead of it so stay tuned.

"During a limited time window, you will be able to place an order for the OnePlus One. If we have the items in stock, we’ll ship immediately. If we don’t, it will automatically become a pre-order. No matter what, we’ll always tell you our best approximation for when it will ship before you submit the payment authorization (we’ll reserve the payment and charge you when we ship)," the firm said in a blog post.

It also added that while there's a time limit, any amount of orders can be made. The orders which are received, the longer a shipping estimation will be. Customers will be able to choose things like accessories days before placing a pre-order so when the system is live, it will be a simple click of a button.

During a limited time window, you will be able to place an order for the OnePlus One. If we have the items in stock, we’ll ship immediately. If we don’t, it will automatically become a pre-order. No matter what, we’ll always tell you our best approximation for when it will ship before you submit the payment authorization (we’ll reserve the payment and charge you when we ship). - See more at: http://oneplus.net/blog/2014/09/the-oneplus-pre-order-system/#sthash.3Oiw9p46.dpuf

OnePlus One: Release date

Previously expected to go on sale in June, OnePlus now offers only a Q3 estimation for the OnePlus One's launch date.

We were hoping for some more information on 22 July with the firm's 'Knock On Wood' teaser but a new Bamboo StyleSwap Cover was announced. It will cost £32.

OnePlus One: Can I buy the OnePlus One from Oppomart?

Oppomart is indeed listing the 16GB Silk White OnePlus One as available for sale at $399 on its site. However, Oppomart is not affiliated with OnePlus, and the version it is offering customers runs Color OS, not CyanogenMod 11S. It claims all other features and specifications are the same.  

OnePlus One: Price

The OnePlus One comes in 16GB Silk White and 64GB Sandstone Black varieties. The 16GB model costs $299/£229, while the 64GB OnePlus One is only slightly more expensive at $349/£269. See all smartphone reviews.

OnePlus One: Specs

The OnePlus One phone runs a modified version of Android KitKat known as CyanogenMod 11S, which will instantly appeal to enthusiasts and tinkerers with its unlimited scope for customisation. OnePlus has now confirmed that the OnePlus One will get Android L, which will arrive within three months of Google releasing the final build. It also features advanced Camera and Gallery apps, letting you make the most of the OnePlus One's 4k video-recording capability, plus improved privacy-protection features that include SMS encryption and PrivacyGuard. See also: Samsung Galaxy S5 vs Sony Xperia Z2 vs HTC One comparison review. 

And then there's the hardware: OnePlus' motto is 'Never settle', and it's easy to see why. The OnePlus One phone bests the Samsung Galaxy S4, Sony Xperia Z2 and HTC One, running a 2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor with Adreno 330 graphics and 3GB of RAM. It also features a higher-capacity - if non-removable - 3100mAh battery (beaten only by the Sony Xperia Z2's 3200mAh), a larger 5.5in full-HD touchscreen, and a 13Mp Sony Exmor IMX214 13Mp camera with f/2.0 aperture and dual-LED flash. The front camera is primed for selfies at 5Mp, while video recording stretches to 4k with 120fps slow-motion available at 720p. 

The OnePlus One phone, which weighs 162g and measures 152.9x75.9x8.9mm, supports dual-band Wi-Fi, including the very latest 802.11ac standard, Bluetooth 4, NFC, GPS and 4G LTE. There are built-in stereo speakers and a tri-microphone with noise cancellation.  

We can look past the OnePlus One phone's lack of a memory card slot for storage expansion, given that the 64GB model is around half the price of Apple's £709 64GB iPhone 5s - the only other flagship smartphone you'll find with 64GB of storage as standard. 

OnePlus claims its One smartphone boasts industry-leading design and superior build quality, with "subtle curves, sleek lines and a slightly raised jet-black display". It looks great in the pictures, but we won't make any judgements until we've held the OnePlus One in our hands - keep an eye out for our full OnePlus One phone review.

OnePlus One: How to buy OnePlus One phone

To get hold of a OnePlus One phone right now you either need to get an invite to purchase one from someone who already has the OnePlus One or enter contests and promotional events hosted on the OnePlus One forums or social media channels. OnePlus says it's so confident about its product that it's cut out the middlemen - distributors, retailers and advertisers - to let its fans do the talking. It's also developing a pre-order system, hopefully available in Q3.

We want one, but we sure are getting bored of waiting - the OnePlus One's killer specs might not be so attractive by the time this phone finally becomes available to buy. (See also: Buy OnePlus One phone with or without an invite.)

Follow Marie Brewis on Twitter.

WinZip for Windows 8 review: Windows 8 app offers powerful zipping and file sharing

Metro, or Modern, or whatever you'd like to call the new style of applications that debuted with Windows 8, is problematic. It's problematic because it's built for touch, but forces itself on your non-touch computer, too. And because of its expanse of white (or blank, for it's often in some intense shade of colour) space and very low information density. And because it relies on hidden gestures you somehow have to guess would bring up toolbars you never knew were there to begin with. See all Windows app reviews.

I could keep counting the ways, but the point is that it's very difficult to make a Modern app that actually feels "right" on a modern desktop computer. That's the context in which I tested WinZip for Windows 8, and it proves designing a decent Modern app is a serious challenge even for a software company as established as Corel, and for a brand as iconic as WinZip.

When you first launch WinZip for Windows 8, it takes over your entire screen, of course. But it presents no buttons or menus: Only the cryptic line, "Use the app bar to start adding files/folders to a new Zip file or to Open an existing Zip file," and a vast, soothing expanse of colour. That's great, if you happen to know what the "app bar" is. If you dontt, you may find yourself randomly clicking around until you happen to right-click anywhere on the screen. This is what you need to do to pop open a toolbar that's hidden at the bottom of the screen--and that's the toolbar you need to get anything done with WinZip for Windows 8. Hiding the toolbar like this is a standard Modern UI convention, and it's just as terrible on WinZip for Windows 8 as it is in other applications.

WinZip for Windows 8: six-button toolbar

The toolbar has six buttons: Add Files, Add a Folder, New Zip, Open Zip, and all the way to the far right, ZipSend and ZipShare. You can add files and folders locally, but WinZip for Windows 8 can also plug into Dropbox, Google Drive, and SkyDrive, letting you pull files from those cloud services into your archive. Once you tell it where you want to look for files, a file browser fills the screen. Everything is enormous and touch-optimized, but the interface works. It's not without its Modern quirks, though: If you add a folder and regret it, you need to right-click the folder's name at the bottom of the screen to remove it. There's no indication that's what you're supposed to do (I just had to figure it out by trying), and I have no idea what you'd do if you had a touchscreen with no way to right-click anything. Such perplexing moments are par for the course in most Modern apps, though.

Once you add files and folders, WinZip crunches some numbers and shows the archive's vital statistics in the right sidebar. You can see its name, how many folders and files it contains, and how big it is. You can also opt to encrypt the files, and finally, you can save the file or send it to others using WinZip's ZipSend and ZipShare services. Feeling particularly savvy, I brought up the Windows 8 Charms bar and clicked Share, only to find out that I "don't have any apps that can share this content." So, instead of using the much-vaunted sharing built into Windows 8, you have to use WinZip's own solution.

If you own a conventional desktop or laptop computer, there is absolutely no reason to use WinZip for Windows 8. It's not because Corel didn't create a good product -- it's because Modern is basically unusable for any sort of real work, and archive management counts as "real work" in my book. I can hope WinZip for Windows 8 works better on a tablet with a touch interface, but as long as I have a plain old desktop, I remain grateful for the desktop version of WinZip.

See also: Best Windows 8 apps: Windows 8 app group test

Skitch Touch for Windows 8 review - the easy way to annotate images

Evernote-owned free Windows 8 app Skitch is a great way to annotate images and screenshots. It comes in both Windows and Mac OS X editions, and mobile versions for iOS and Android are available, too. And somewhere between the mobile and desktop versions comes Skitch Touch, the version built for Windows 8's Modern Interface. It has the same simple and pretty annotation tools as the other versions, but being a Modern app, offers less power and features than the traditional Windows version. See also: Best Windows apps: Windows 8 app group test.

Like many other Modern apps, Skitch Touch seems to be designed for screen in the 11- to 13-inch range. On a 24-inch monitor, it ends up displaying vast expanses of white, unused space. As you launch it, Skitch Touch shows a beautiful Create New area on the left side of the screen, letting you create a pull in material to visually annotate from a camera (presumably a tablet's built-in camera, but this feature also works with a regular webcam connected to a computer), a map, a photo or screenshot you've previously taken, an image saved into the clipboard, or a blank canvas.

Skitch review - where's the screenshot option?

Notably missing is the option to capture a new screenshot. You'll have to use a third-party tool for this, such as Screenshot Captor or ZScreen.

Once you have an image open for editing, annotating it is just as easy as on other Skitch versions. Part of what makes Skitch fun to use is that it doesn't overwhelm the user with numerous tools: There are just seven of them to master. You can draw arrows on your image, enter text, demarcate areas with rectangles, and squiggle with a marker. Other tools let you style your annotations (pick a color and stroke width), pixelate areas of the image, and crop the image. That's basically it--but really, that's all you need to get your point across when annotating an image.

When you're ready to share your work with others, click the Export button, and you can save the image as a JPG or PNG file. This isn't as convenient as being able to drag the image off the window to save it (a feature Skitch for Windows offers), but it works. To save your work as a Skitch document for editing later, click the checkmark on the top-right corner of the screen. Saving files for editing later is another area where Skitch Touch could do better: Unless you log into your Evernote account using Skitch, you only have access your most recently edited file. Once you log into Evernote from Skitch, the main part of the window shows previous files, and you can easily click through to edit them.

Skitch is a fundamentally simple tool, and it already offers mobile versions for iOS and Android, something that helps when designing a Modern app. It's also visual, which is a great quality for a Modern app to have. Thanks to these advantages, Skitch Touch offers a better Modern experience than most apps I've seen so far, and should work especially well on a touch-enabled tablet screen.

See also: Best Windows apps: Windows 8 app group test.

Honor 6 hands-on review: Specs rival Apple and Samsung at half the price

The Honor smartphone brand has launched in Europe and we've take a look at the first smartphone to come harbouring the new logo which is made by Huawei. Here's our Honor 6 hands-on review. Also see: Best smartphones 2014 and Best Android phones 2014.

Launched today in Berlin, the Honor 6 will go on sale tomorrow (29 October) at Amazon with a price of £249..

On the design side the device is 7.5 mm and 130 g which nicely thin and light for a 5in phone and not far off the impressive Huawei Ascend P7. Honor says "The dazzling 3D diamond-style texture back cover is inspired by nature. A 6-layer high-complex surface treatment is made with special composite materials."

That may be a bunch of marketing speak, but the Honor 6 does look and feel quite nice. It would feel more expensive than the price tag suggests if it wasn't for the fake metal sides which look like they've been spray painted by hand.

Like its cousin, the Honor 6 uses a 5in IPS LCD display with a Full HD resolution meaning a pixel density of 441ppi – and that's more than fine with us for a mid-range phone. It looks great and has decent brightness which is often the downfall of a cheaper handset.

Under that 'dazzling' exterior is a Kirin920 processor which is an octa-core chip – another surprise for a device with this price tag. It uses four 1.7 GHz A15 cores and four 1.3 GHz A7 processors for a combination of power and efficiency.

The phone also has a Mali-T628 GPU, 3 GB of RAM and a built-in co-processor i3 which can manage external sensors when the phone is in standby mode. Our first impression is that the Honor 6 is nicely smooth and responsive but we'll update this soon after further testing.

Coming back to efficiency, Honortouts a whopping battery life of 2.7 days for the Honor 6 from its 3100 mAh battery. It also has the ultra battery saving mode seen on the P7 which will give 24 hours use from 10 percent charge.

Storage is set at either 16- or 32 GB and there's a microSD card for adding up to 64 GB memory cards.

On the wireless side the big feature here is Cat 6 4G LTE which provides up to 300Mbps (although remember that is just a theoretical speed and you probably won't see any difference to Cat 4 at the moment). The Honor 6 also has dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS and NFC.

Despite that affordable price tag, the Honor 6 offers flagship specs in the photography department. At the back is a 13 Mp rear camera which uses a fourth-generation Sony sensor, has a dual-LED flash and supports HDR (high dynamic range).

The firm claims it's the fastest at taking photos at just 0.6 seconds. You can handily take photos without needing to switch the screen on by double tapping the volume down – you just need to be good (or lucky) and framing the picture.

The camera seems pretty decent after a quick go and although the speed shooting doesn't hit 0.6 seconds most of the time, we did get it to manage it once.

Following on from the HTC One M8's lead, the Honor 6 offers a focus mode which lets you select the area of focus in a photo after you've taken it. For selfie fans, there is a 5 Mp camera with a wide angle lens and 1.4um pixel size. Honor touts the camera as the fastest possible snapshot around at 0.6 seconds.

The Honor 6 comes pre-loaded with Android 4.4 KitKat and Huawei's Emotion UI 2.3. The firm has promised periodical software upgrades which will be based on consumer feedback via its website or social media channels. We assume it will get Android 5.0 Lollipop.

Microsoft Band UK release date and price rumours, features and specs: Microsoft smartwatch unveiled

It's been rumoured for a while now, but on 30 October Microsoft officially unveiled its first foray into the wearable tech market: the Microsoft Band. It's a fitness band that rivals the Samsung Gear Fit and others. Here's everything you need to know about the Microsoft Band release date, UK price and specs. Read: The best smartwatches 2014: list of the best smartwatches you can buy right now.

The Microsoft Band has launched into a very competitive market, already populated by the likes of Google's Android Wear system which is now available on the LG G Watch and others, plus the hotly anticipated Apple Watch that was recently unveiled by Apple.

But, while the Microsoft Band can help with productivity by displaying email, calendar and message notifications, it's really indented to be a fitness band rather than a smartwatch, which is probably why it's called the Microsoft Band rather than the rumoured Surface Smartwatch.

Interestingly, though, Microsoft hasn't limited the Band to just work with Windows devices: it also works with Android and iOS.

Microsoft Band: Release date

Microsoft has made the Microsoft Band available to order today in the US, but there's no word yet on when, or in fact if, it's coming to the UK.

In a statement, Microsoft said: "This is just the beginning of a multi-year vision for Microsoft in the health & fitness and wearables category. We want to enter this space in a deliberate and measured fashion and as such we are launching first in the United States."

We'll update this article with UK specific release date information as soon as we uncover it. 

Microsoft Band: Price

As it's currently only available in the US, Microsoft's Band is priced at $199 and there is no UK price yet. That's £125, which seems like a reasonable guess to us. The Samsung Gear Fit is priced at £180.

Microsoft Band: Features

The Microsoft Band is powered by Microsoft's new Health platform, which Windows Phone, Android and iOS users will be able to use even if they don't own a Microsoft Band. Like Apple's Health app, it collects and stores data from fitness devices (whether that's the Microsoft Band or a third-party fitness tracker like the FitBit) to offer up insights to help you live a healthier life.

The Microsoft Band tracks your heart rate, steps, calories and sleep, and feeds all of that information into the Health app. You can set goals, use the Microsoft Band to complete guided workouts, map the routes you've run, cycled or hiked using GPS, and more.

In addition to the fitness features, you'll also be able to connect your Microsoft Band to your smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth to get notifications such as emails, calendar alerts and text messages, which you'll be able to preview. It'll also let you know when you've got an incoming phone call, if you've got a notification from Twitter or Facebook, for example.

There's a built-in timer and alarm app on the Microsoft Band, too.

For Windows Phone 8.1 users, the Microsoft Band gives you access to Cortana from your wrist. You can ask Cortana to take a note for you, or set a reminder, for example.

Microsoft has also partnered up with third-parties to bring more compatible apps to the Microsoft Band, including Starbucks, MyfFitnesspPal, RunKeeper and more.

Microsoft Band: Design, specs and hardware

The Microsoft Band's strap is made with plastic and fastened with an adjustable clasp. At present, there's just the black/grey design, though.

The 1.4in TFT full colour display is 320 x 106 pixels, at 11mm x 33mm.

Microsoft claims that the Microsoft Band will last for 48 hours of normal use, but if suggests that the extended use of GPS could make battery life suffer. However, it'll only take 1.5 hours to recharge the Microsoft Band, which charges using a USB magnetic connector cable.

As you might expect, the Microsoft Band features lots of sensors, as listed below:

• Optical heart rate sensor
• 3-axis accelerometer/gyro
• Gyrometer
• GPS
• Ambient light sensor
• Skin temperature sensor
• UV sensor
• Capacitive sensor
• Galvanic skin response
• Microphone

The Microsoft Band isn't waterproof, but is dust and splash-resistant so should be ok to wear in the rain and will resist sweat.

22 best laptops 2014: What's the best laptop you can buy in the UK?

'What is the best laptop?' is a question we get asked all the time, so in an attempt to answer that question, here is our list of the best laptops avaialble to buy in 2014. (Read more laptops buying advice here - you may also want to read our piece about the most reliable laptop makers). 

Buying a laptop is a personal decision. Although we've ranked our list of the best laptops available to buy in 2014 below, the best laptop for you will depend on your priorities: there is no one-size-fits-all. See also: Best budget laptops 2014

Some people want a large screen, other people want the ultimate portability, while performance is the key ingredient for yet others.

There's even the choice of operating system. Windows 8 is now the default OS on new laptops (you can use it just like Windows 7, so don't let the new interface put you off ' see our guide on making Windows 8 work for you).

If money is no object, you'll also have the choice of Mac OS on an Apple MacBook. Some say MacBooks aren't laptops, but that's nonsense. You'll pay a lot less for the equivalent Windows laptop, but you won't get a stylish and sturdy aluminium body, nor the great-quality screen ' few Windows laptops use top-quality IPS displays, instead saving money by compromising on TN-based screens, which have narrower viewing angles and, in general, poorer colour accuracy.

The 22 best laptops 2014: Screen

Screen sizes range from around 11 inches up to 17 inches. If you're replacing an older PC with a laptop to use at home, you might benefit from the bigger screen, keyboard and trackpad.

Don't overlook resolution. Most laptops have a screen with 1366x768 pixels, with only a few offering Full HD 1920x1080, or higher resolutions. More pixels is almost always better, but on smaller screen sizes, more pixels means everything looks smaller, including Windows text and icons.

The 22 best laptops 2014: Storage

It's easy to confuse memory with the hard drive. Documents, programs and other files are stored on the hard drive (or SSD), so look for at least 500GB if you want to carry around with you your photos, music and video libraries.

Memory is where programs and files are stored only while you're using them, and more is better. Consider 3GB an absolute minimum.
SSDs are solid-state drives. They're faster than hard drives and make any laptop feel a lot faster. The bad news is that they're much more expensive, so you'll typically find 128GB or 256GB instead of 500GB or 1TB (1,000GB). Most laptops don't have space for both an SSD and hard drive, so you'll have to choose between the two types. A compromise is a small amount of on-board solid-state storage and large hard drive, but we've found you need at least a 32GB SSD to make a difference in Windows.

The 22 best laptops 2014: Processor

Unless you're planning to run very demanding software, you won't need the latest and greatest processor. It is wise, however, to shop around and get good value. We recommend an Intel Core i5 as the best compromise between cost and performance. Some may find a Core i3 too slow, but a Core i7 is usually overkill.

AMD processors tend to be found on budget laptops and are fine as long as you're not expecting earth-shattering speed.
If you want to play 3D games, look for a laptop with an Nvidia or AMD graphics card. You will have to pay extra, and don't expect a budget laptop (anything under '500-600) to be able to run the latest 3D games.

The good news is that all the laptops here are models we recommend: there isn't a duff one among them. It's important to read through the full review before spending your hard-earned cash, too, because no laptop is perfect in every respect. Whether any flaws are acceptable compromises or not will depend on your priorities. Our reviews detail the quality of each laptop's screen, keyboard and touchpad as well as listing the specifications.

Finally, don't forget about battery life and warranty cover: they do vary from model to model and manufacturer to manufacturer. Some retailers provide extra warranty cover, so it might be worth shopping at, say, John Lewis, rather than saving a few quid buy choosing the cheapest price you can find online.

It's also worth considering whether a laptop is indeed what you want. You can get some great bargains on desktop PCs these days, and some tablets offer similar functionality to basic laptops. See our piece about choosing between a laptop and an iPad, for instance.

The 22 best laptops 2014

MacBook Pro vs. Air | FindTheBest

Samsung pushing out Windows Phone 8.1 Update for more ATIV S users

Last week, we reported how Samsung was slowly trickling out the Windows Phone 8.1 Update (GDR1) for ATIV S users. However, the rollout at the time was limited to just phones with Austrian region branding. Users in our forums detailed how you could do it yourself, however the method was complicated by the sheer amount of ATIV S versions out on the market.

The update bumps the OS to version 14157 with the 2424.14.9.3 firmware, bringing ATIV S users all the way up to Windows Phone 8.1 Update. Those on Preview for Developers are also likely to get this update too without the need to 'rollback' to an earlier 8.0 Update 2.

Interestingly, Samsung appears to have taken so long so as to rollout Windows Phone 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1 Update all into a single over-the-air OS refresh. As a result, ATIV S users had to wait longer than those on Lumia phones did, but at the end of the day, they get Update 1 seemingly earlier with corresponding firmware.

Not sure. The ATIV S came out in 2012 and now it jumps from GDR3 up to Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1, beating out older Lumia devices.

On windows phone 8.1 for my 925 , Xbox music seems a lot slower and laggish. I also miss the old way to turn off notification sounds and ringtone sound

Because that's what it's called, the Windows Phone 8.1 Update or WP8.1.1 ;-)

I feel like Windows phone 8.1 updates took long to reach so many phones. This is frankly very annoying. I released all updates to all phones universally...

Viber for Windows 8

The version for Windows 8.1 of the popular messaging application Viber lets you chat, make calls, send images, and share funny stickers with your contacts. This way you can have it both on your phone and on your home PC.

Chatting and calls, at home and on the go

The first thing you need to know when you download Viber for Windows 8.1 is that you must have it installed on your Android, iPhone, BlackBerry or Windows Phone. During the registration process, you'll be prompted to enter your phone number, to which you'll receive a code to activate the app on Windows 8.1.

At that time, Viber imports your Viber contact list and integrates them into the application. This way you'll be able to see all your friends who use Viber and be able to start communicating with them.

Viber for Windows 8.1 allows you to chat and make voice calls (no video) with your contacts, as well as send funny stickers and smileys, incorporated into the latest versions for mobile phones.

In text chat, Viber lets you create chat groups of up to 40 contacts. Unfortunately, this version of Viber doesn't support group calls, so you need to do these one by one.

Viber knows how to take advantage of the features of Windows 8.1 on the level of notifications, dynamic icons and the Dock function.

The notifications work well and can be displayed on the lock screen of your device. The dynamic icon shows you details of your last conversation or call, and if you want you can anchor any contact to Home to have more direct access. And the best part: the Dock feature lets you leave a Viber conversation in a corner of the screen while you use other apps. Nice.

Clean and clear interface, if a little...empty

This version of Viber is very "Windows 8 style," very Modern. It's characterized by a very clean interface, on a white background with purple details. The buttons and elements are large and designed to be used with a touch device. The only thing we would say is that the interface is so clean, it gives the impression of being somewhat souless, almost empty. 

The call quality is striking: in our tests the clarity was excellent. 

But without a doubt the best of Viber from a user perspective is being able to have it both on the phone and the PC. It's really convenient as it means you can chat with a friend while you're walking home and then continue the conversation in front of your laptop or desktop PC.

Very good, yes, but the same as all the others

Viber for Windows 8.1 is a comprehensive messaging application, there's no doubt. It's lightweight, pleasing to the eye and works perfectly on all calls. It does the same as all its rivals...which effectively means it's the same as all its rivals. 

Viber doesn't do anything that Skype or LINE doesn't do. In fact, seeing as it doesn't share videos or files and you can't do video calls, then it actually does less than its rivals. Therefore, if you don't use Viber regularly on your phone then there really aren't many reasons to change messaging application.

Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro First Impressions

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When I reviewed the stylish and innovative Yoga 2 Pro in the spring, I described it as the best transforming PC available, and a versatile companion for those on the go. And now its successor, the Yoga 3 Pro is available, offering a fanless and silent Ultrabook experience with some interesting if controversial styling touches.

It will be some weeks before I know for sure whether the Yoga 3 Pro surpasses its vaunted predecessor which, alongside the ThinkPad X1 Carbon, provided Lenovo with an unbeatable 1-2 punch in premium portable PCs. But it's a new season, and there are new competitors like the Surface Pro 3 to consider. So the task before us now is to determine how well the Yoga 3 Pro compares with both the present and the past.

And it has some big shoes to fill. That it is doing so with what appears to be the tech equivalent of Cinderella's glass slipper—a very odd watchband-like hinge that actually glitters under light—is both controversial and exhilarating. I'll see whether this design grows on me—right now, I wish you could get the Yoga 3 Pro without it—but kudos to the normally staid Lenovo for even taking this chance. It's a bold design choice no matter how you feel about it.

Getting past the exterior—and don't worry, the Yoga 3 Pro is indeed available in that same vibrant tangerine as its predecessor, though the review unit is a more pedestrian gray (that, frankly, looks more natural with that hinge)—we should spend some time on what I think is the most important part of this story: The processor. The Yoga 3 Pro is my very first experience with an Intel Core M processor, and yes, while I want this to be special, don't be surprised if it's ultimately disappointing.

Here's the story.

The Core M processor is a Broadwell-class chip that differs from its stable mates in important ways. It's built on a 14 nm process, and aimed at mobile devices. This means it's more efficient, from battery life, power management and heat perspectives, enabling—in theory—PCs that are fanless and silent, and thinner and lighter than ever. The worry of course is that this kind of chip—which is thematically but not technically like using a hybrid engine in a car—will sacrifice performance for this efficiency and the nicety of silence.

Early reviews of the Yoga 3 Pro—most of which were, of course, superficial overviews conducted with virtually no real-world usage—suggest that it's even worse than that, however, that the device is gutless from a performance perspective and gets terrible battery life. This would be inexcusable if true, so I'll be looking out for that. At the premium price points the Yoga 3 Pro commands, no regression in performance or battery life is acceptable.

So that's what we have. A continuation of the versatile Yoga design—remember, this is basically a "4-in-1" PC with laptop, tent, tablet and stand form factor choices—with a controversial watchband-like hinge design and what is apparently now an equally controversial Core M processor. Sounds like I have some fun ahead of me then. I'll start using it immediately.

In the meantime, here are some observations about the review unit specs.

Processor. 1.10GHz Intel Core M 5Y70 with Intel HD Graphics 5300

RAM. 8 GB

Storage. 512 GB SSD, which seems like overkill. There are 256 GB versions of course.

Display. 13.3-inch QHD+ (3200 x 1800) LED glossy multi-touch with 10 touch points. This resolution means you can effectively achieve 1600 x 900 via scaling, which should be rock solid. (For some reason the display scaling was set to 250 percent, however. I changed it to a more acceptable 200 percent.) I will note that the bezel on the screen is enormous, especially on the bottom: Lenovo could easily fit at 14-inch screen in there. And should.

Keyboard. The backlit keyboard initially seemed small to me, so I checked it against a few other portable keyboards. It's the same width as the Surface Pro 3 Type Cover keyboard, which I find a bit cramped. But it's almost exactly the same size as the MacBook Air 13 keyboard, which is wonderful. So it must just be the very wide deck—which is nicely dimped and grippy—that makes it look small. I will test that, of course. There's a mid-sized trackpad but no nubbin (which I'd prefer).

Size/weight. The Yoga 3 is 13 x 9 x 0.5 inches, which is quite svelte, but the important bit is the weight, 2.6 pounds, which is quite a bit lower than the 3 pounds of its predecessor. This is one light machine.

Battery. Lenovo rates the Yoga 3 Pro at 7.2 hours of battery life and, again, I'll test that. But you'd think a Core M could do better than that.

Expansion. Two USB 3.0, one combo DC-in/USB 2.0 (interesting, that), a 4-in-1 card reader (SD, MMC, SDXC, SDHC), micro-HDMI out, and audio in/out combo jack.

Connectivity. Wi-Fi A/C, Bluetooth 4.0

More soon. I'm still in the market for a new daily driver, and while I'm worried about the low clock speed of the Core M processor and the early reviews, I'll be sure to get to the heart of the matter. This looks like it could be a contender.

Hands-On with the Xbox One Controller + Cable for Windows

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Back in June, Microsoft announced that it would bring its stellar Xbox One wireless controller to Windows, just as it did previously with the Xbox 360 controller. Good news, game fans: That controller is now available, and I spent some time playing PC games last night to see how well it works.

I know, it's a tough job. But someone has to do it.

The Xbox One Controller + Cable for Windows costs $59.95, which is exactly the same price as a standard Xbox One Wireless Controller. And since the Xbox One Controller + Cable for Windows comes with both a standard Xbox One wireless controller and a USB cable, you are naturally thinking, what the heck, I can just grab the Windows version and get a free USB cable. (And it's a crazy-long 9-foot cable, at that.)

But don't do that, at least if you intend to use this controller with an Xbox One: What's missing is the controller battery. When you buy the standard controller, you get a battery (but no cable). But when you buy the Windows controller, you get the USB cable, but no battery.

Why Microsoft doesn't just sell a single controller package that includes both was initially unclear to me, but it's important to understand what you're getting here. The Windows "version" of the Xbox One controller—and, again, it's really just a standard Xbox One wireless controller sans the battery—is aimed at Windows users, where you will leave the USB cable connected, not for charging—again, no battery—but rather for general use.

I feel like I need to be even clearer. Yes, you can buy a battery, or get one as part of the $25 Xbox One Play and Charge Kit (which also includes a USB cable). But the battery is superfluous to Windows, since Windows cannot work with a wireless Xbox One controller; it has to be plugged in via USB. Which of course explains why Microsoft doesn't just sell a single controller package that includes both the battery and the cable. Windows users can't use the battery.

OK.

Fortunately, using the Xbox One Controller + Cable for Windows is a lot simpler than explaining how it differs from a standard Xbox One wireless controller. So hold on to your hats, this is how it works.

You plug it in. And it just works.

You won't even see this window normally

I know, that sounds a bit superficial. But the drivers for the Xbox One Controller + Cable for Windows are on Windows Update and will download and install automatically the first time you plug in the controller. (I did this in Windows 8.1, but it also works with Windows 7.) You can "configure" the controller via the normal—and delightfully old-school—Game Controllers control panel if you want. But there's not much to do. Again, it just works.

To test the controller, I fired up Halo: Spartan Assault on my Surface Pro 3 since I'm familiar with the game and had previously played it with an Xbox 360 controller.

No surprises here: After configuring it to work with the controller instead of touch or keyboard/mouse, I jumped right in and started destroying the Covenant. Works great.

The Xbox One Controller + Cable for Windows is available on Amazon.com and from the Microsoft Store and other retail locations online and in the real world, though "available" may not be the right term as its currently out of stock in many places. I assume that supplies will be replenished soon.

Recommended.