Solar Plane Completes Historic Round-the-World Flight

Pilot Bertrand Piccard lands the Solar Impulse 2 plane in Abu Dhabi on July 26, 2016, completing the solar-powered aircraft's historic round-the-world journey.

Credit: © Solar Impulse | Revillard | Rezo.ch

A solar plane powered entirely by the sun has completed a journey around the world, making it the first solar-powered aircraft to circumnavigate the globe without using any fuel.
The Solar Impulse 2 plane landed in Abu Dhabi today (July 26), ending a 17-leg journey that crossed Asia, the Pacific Ocean, the United States, the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea and the Middle East. Pilots Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg's ambitious flight began on March 9, 2015, with Borschberg at the controls for the first leg of the expedition. The pilots then took turns in the single-seater cockpit as they traveled around the world, logging a total of 23 days of flight and traveling 26,744 miles (43,041 kilometers).
"This is not only a first in the history of aviation; it's before all a first in the history of energy," Piccard said in a statement. "I'm sure that, within 10 years, we'll see electric airplanes transporting 50 passengers on short- to medium-haul flights. But it's not enough. The same clean technologies used on Solar Impulse could be implemented on the ground in our daily life to divide by two the [carbon dioxide] emissions in a profitable way." [See more photos of the plane's round-the-world flight]

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Solar Impulse 2 was designed to fly day and night without using any fuel. It is powered entirely by 17,000 solar cells and onboard batteries, which charge during the day to power the plane at night and during cloudy weather.
The flight around the world garnered international attention, and a total of 19 world records were set along the way or are still awaiting confirmation by the World Air Sports Federation. Borschberg achieved the longest-duration solo flight when he flew five consecutive days and nights over the Pacific Ocean from Japan to Hawaii. Piccard became the first to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a solar airplane.
After beginning the journey in Abu Dhabi in March 2015, the plane made stops in India, Myanmar, China and Japan before the record-breaking flight across the Pacific Ocean. In Hawaii, the plane was grounded for nearly a year due to overheated batteries, which caused irreversible damage to the plane.
The journey resumed when Solar Impulse 2 flew from Hawaii to California in April 2016. After it crossed the United States — making stops in Arizona, Oklahoma, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York — the plane became the first solar-powered aircraft to cross the Atlantic Ocean, flying from New York to Spain in 71 hours and 8 minutes. Earlier this month, the solar-powered airplane flew over the pyramids in Egypt, offering a striking contrast between ancient and futuristic technology.
Borschberg and Piccard aimed for the historic flight to showcase the power of renewable energy sources and to encourage further development of "green" technologies.
"More than a demonstration, it's the confirmation that these technologies are truly dependable and reliable," Borschberg said. "There is so much potential for the aeronautical world: While 100-percent-solar-powered airplanes might take longer to materialize, electric airplanes will develop in the near future because of their tremendous advantages, such as energy efficiency."

Facebook's Internet-Delivery Drone Completes First Test Flight

Facebook recently completed its first test flight of a solar-powered drone that is designed to beam down internet access to remote areas of the world.
The Aquila drone is being developed to broaden the scope of internet connectivity around the globe. "New technologies like Aquila have the potential to bring access, voice and opportunity to billions of people around the world, and do so faster and more cost-effectively than has ever been possible before," Jay Parikh, global head of engineering and infrastructure at Facebook, wrote in a blog post about the project.
When testing is finished, the autonomous aircraft will be able to circle a region measuring up to 60 miles (96.6 kilometers) in diameter, while using laser communications and millimeter wave systems (extremely high-frequency radio waves) to send connectivity down from an altitude of more than 60,000 feet (18,288 meters). [5 Surprising Ways Drones Could Be Used in the Future]

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The huge unmanned airplane has a wingspan larger than a Boeing 737 airliner, but weighs hundreds of times less (about one-third of an electric car), according to Facebook, because of its carbon-fiber frame. In fact, half of Aquila's mass is made up of batteries, which enable the solar-powered plane to fly during the day and night.
"Aquila is designed to be hyper efficient, so it can fly for up to three months at a time," Parikh wrote. "The aircraft has the wingspan of an airliner, but at cruising speed it will consume only 5,000 watts — the same amount as three hair dryers, or a high-end microwave."
The recent test flight was the first for the full-scale drone, as previous tests used a one-fifth scale version of Aquila, according to the social media giant. Facebook said it plans to push Aquila to the limits in a lengthy series of tests over the coming months and years.

The Aquila drone is designed to beam down internet access to remote areas of the world.

Credit: Facebook

During the low-altitude test flight, Aquila flew for more than 90 minutes, which was three times longer than Facebook had planned. The flight's success included performance verifications of the drone's aerodynamics, batteries, control systems and crew training.
"In our next tests, we will fly Aquila faster, higher and longer, eventually taking it above 60,000 feet," Parikh wrote. "Each test will help us learn and move faster toward our goal."
There is still a long road ahead as the social media company continues to test its internet-delivery drone.
The current world record for solar-powered unmanned flight stands at two weeks, set by by defense technology company Qinetiq's Zephyr plane in 2010, according to the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI). To reach Aquila's goal of delivering internet connectivity for up to three months at a time, Facebook said it will require significant advancements in science and engineering.
"It will also require us to work closely with operators, governments and other partners to deploy these aircraft in the regions where they'll be most effective," Parikh said.

Floating Underwater Tunnels Planned for Norway

Credit: The Norwegian Public Roads Administration

Geographically speaking, Norway is an especially tricky place for motorists. With more than 1,100 fjords — the deep glacial water inlets that divide land masses — driving from point A to point B typically requires points C through Z, several bridges, and a couple of ferry rides.
To remedy the problem, Norway is undertaking an ambitious project to build a fully submerged floating traffic tunnel beneath the waves of the Sognefjord, a troublesome body of water that runs 3,000 feet wide and 4,000 feet deep.
RELATED: World's Longest Rail Tunnel Opens

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According to planners, the tunnel would be attached to massive pontoons floating on the surface of the water, and further stabilized by trusses connecting dual tubes. The side-by-side cylinders would enable uninterrupted traffic in both directions, and would hang around 70 to 100 feet under the surface of the water.

The tunnel would be the first of its kind in the world, and it solves a number of problems that have otherwise stymied public planners. For one thing, certain geographical features around the Sognefjord make suspension bridges or even traditional floating bridges impractical. Bridges are also subject to damage from Norway's famously rough weather.
Underwater tunnels also have the distinct advantage of keeping the waterway clear for commercial ships and — particularly important on the Sognefjord — Navy vessels. The depth of the fjord prohibits conventional tunnels, but a suspended underwater passageway would split the difference nicely.
RELATED: World-Record Bridges, Tunnels Defy All Logic
This is no pipe dream, either. (Well, it is.) Norway has already committed $25 billion in funds toward the project. If all goes according to plan, the Sognefjord tunnels will be completed by 2035.

Then, depending on the success of the initial structure, additional floating tunnels will be considered for other problem areas within Norway's unique road grid. Planners say that if the long-term models and computer simulations hold up, underwater floating tunnels could cut north-south cross-country drive time in half, from 22 hours to 11 hours.

Local Robotics startup to adopt and train 70 slum children

A local engineer who came up with a robotics training start-up last year, announced on Saturday he would adopt 70 slum children to sharpen their start-up culture.
A initiative was launched by young entrepreneur Akshay Ahuja under which these children will be trained on a fortnightly basis.
“Seventy slum children will be trained on a fortnightly basis at the co-working space, which has a number of start-ups working from its premises now,” Ahuja told IANS.
He said the participating children were brought in a radio cab to give the feel of an entrepreneur and were even trained how to use the mobile application to promote Digital India.
They were explained the basics of robotics on the first day. They were also given away certificates to acknowledge their participation in the workshop, Ahuja said.
Trained by the Chandigarh-based RoboChamps, Tushar Sarin, a class VIII student of Vivek High School here, would be part of the training module.
RoboChamps is a sister concern of Robotics Education World being run by Ahuja and is engaged in providing robotics- and technology-based education to the young minds through schooling education in India.
Ahuja said this initiative would bring a smile on the faces of the slum children.
“I have always felt education is for everyone irrespective of the social status. I felt these underprivileged kids who are otherwise deprived of quality education must be trained. Who knows some of them turns out to be an entrepreneur one day,” he said.
Former Indian Administrative Service officer Vivek Atray, who attended the training programme, said: “It’s highly important for the society at large to encourage children from underprivileged background to shine and realise their potential.”

In a step forward for robotics design, humanoid robot DURUS uses heel-to-toe walking.

Credit: Christian Hubicki / Georgia Tech

A bipedal robot can now put its best foot forward, stepping with a heel-toe motion that copies human locomotion more closely than flat-footed robot walkers can.
By rocking its "feet" forward from the heel and pushing off at the toe, the DURUS robot closely imitates the walking motion of people, making it more energy-efficient and better at navigating uneven terrain, according to Christian Hubicki, a postdoctoral fellow in robotics at the Georgia Institute of Technology and one of the researchers who helped DURUS find its footing.
Enhanced walking capabilities could help robots navigate environments that people move around in, and could improve the performance of bots created for disaster response, Hubicki told Live Science. [Robots on the Run! 5 Bots That Can Really Move]

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The humanoid robot DURUS was designed collaboratively by the research nonprofit SRI International and Georgia Tech's Advanced Mechanical Bipedal Experimental Robotics (AMBER) Lab. An earlier DURUS design was modified to accommodate the new manner of walking, enabled by a novel mathematical algorithm that adjusts the robot's momentum and balance, one step at a time.

Well-heeled

Robots that walk on two legs typically have "feet" that are large and flat, to provide a more stable platform, Hubicki told Live Science.

Heel-to-toe walking makes DURUS more energy-efficient and more stable than flat-footed walkers.

Credit: Christian Hubicki / Georgia Tech

"Bigger feet mean a bigger polygon of support, and the harder it is to fall," Hubicki said.
The algorithms that dictate a robot's forward momentum typically keep those big feet flat on the ground when pushing off, to minimize the risk that the bot will tip over.
"As soon as you lean on an edge, you're like a pendulum — on a pivot point that can fall forward or backward," Hubicki said.
But while a flat-footed walker might perform well on a treadmill, uneven terrain in the real world that doesn't accommodate a flat foot could confound the algorithm and stop a robot in its tracks.
Enter the AMBER Lab researchers, who designed a new algorithm that works to keep a robot upright and moving forward even if only parts of the foot are engaged. Hubicki and his colleagues tested DURUS using a modified foot with an arch; every step began with the heel making contact — the "heel strike," according to Hubicki — and then rolling to the ball of the foot to push off from the ground. Springs installed by the robot's ankles act like tendons, storing the heel strike's energy to be released later, as lift.

 

Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge Help Samsung Extend Lead Over Apple: IDC, Strategy Analytics

Highlights

• Samsung got a lift from the March launch of its Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge
• 77 million Samsung smartphones were sold in the quarter: IDC
• According to Strategy Analytics, Samsung had 22.8 percent marketshare

Samsung extended its lead in the global smartphone market over Apple in the second quarter, gaining from the launch of its updated flagship handsets, surveys showed Thursday.
The South Korean giant delivered 77 million smartphones in the quarter, up 5.5 percent from a year ago, for a market share of 22.4 percent, research firm IDC said.
That compared with a 15 percent drop in sales for Apple's iPhones, which accounted for 11.8 percent, IDC said.
Samsung got a lift from the March launch of its Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge flagship models, with an upgraded processor, waterproofing and other features, IDC noted.
Apple, despite the launch of its more affordable iPhone SE, failed to keep pace and reported weaker sales compared to a year ago.
A separate survey by Strategy Analytics had a similar estimate, with Samsung at 22.8 percent to 11.9 percent for Apple.
Neil Mawston, executive director at Strategy Analytics, said he sees Samsung making further gains this year.
"With a new Galaxy Note 7 flagship model rumored to be on the way, Samsung will be able to strengthen its smartphone leadership into the second half of the year," Mawston said.
"Apple continues to face iPhone fatigue among consumers and the new iPhone SE model has not been able to stem that trend."
IDC's Ryan Reith said the saturation of many markets has forced makers to rethink their strategy. "Apple is beginning to put more emphasis on 'device as a service' to try to prevent lengthening replacement cycles," he said.
"This is a growing theme we have heard more about from PCs to smartphones. Additionally, the overall China market slowdown continues to ramp up competition in other high growth markets like India, Indonesia, and Middle East."
Both surveys showed China's Huawei the number three vendor with a 9.4 percent market share.
Other Chinese vendors were in the top five.
According to IDC, Oppo and Vivo were fourth and fifth with 6.6 and 4.8 percent respectively.
The Strategy Analytics report showed Oppo with 5.3 percent and Xiaomi fifth with 4.3 percent.
IDC said overall smartphone sales rose 0.3 percent to 343.3 million units, while the second survey showed a one percent rise to 340 million.

Xiaomi Redmi Pro With Deca-Core Helio X25 SoC, Dual Rear Cameras Launched

Highlights

• Xiaomi Redmi Pro sports 13-megapixel and 5-megapixel rear cameras
• It is available in three processor, memory, and storage variants
• The smartphone sports a fingerprint sensor on the home button

Xiaomi on Wednesday launched the Redmi Pro smartphone. The smartphone will be available in three variants - Helio X20 (3GB RAM + 32GB storage) at CNY 1,499 (roughly Rs. 15,100), Helio X25 (3GB + 64GB) at CNY 1,699 (roughly Rs. 17,100), and Helio X25 (4GB + 128GB) at CNY 1,999 (roughly Rs. 20,200). It will be available in Gold, Silver, and Dark Grey variants.

The highlight feature of the Xiaomi Redmi Pro is its dual rear camera setup, with a 13-megapixel Sony IMX258 sensor with a 5-lens module, an f/2.0 aperture and PDAF autofocus, coupled with a 5-megapixel Samsung (unspecified) sensor for the secondary depth-sensing camera. The dual-tone flash module sits between the two lenses. On the front, it bears a 5-megapixel camera with an 85-degree wide-angle lens and an f/2.0 aperture.

The other highlight of the Xiaomi Redmi Pro is the 2.5GHz deca-core MediaTek Helio X25 SoC, coupled with a Mali-T880 GPU, that's available on the 4GB RAM + 128GB storage variant, while the 3GB RAM + 64GB storage variant has the same processor clocked at 2.3GHz. Xiaomi says this makes the smartphone its 'most powerful Redmi ever'. As we mentioned, there is a variant powered by a 2.1GHz deca-core MediaTek Helio X20 SoC as well.

The Xiaomi Redmi Pro sports a fingerprint sensor on the ceramic home button, and a 5.5-inch full-HD Oled display with a pixel density of 342ppi, a 100 percent NTSC colour gamut, and 2.5D curved glass. The smartphone bears a brushed aluminium body, with CNC-chamfered edges, and a USB Type-C port.

The smartphone bears a hybrid dual SIM (Nano-SIM + Micro-SIM) slot, with support for a microSD card (up to 128GB) in place of the second SIM card. Connectivity options on the Xiaomi Redmi Pro include 4G LTE - as well as VoLTE support - Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n with Direct functionality, GPS/ A-GPS, Bluetooth v4.2, It bears a 4050mAh battery, measures 151.5x76.2x8.15mm, and weighs 174 grams.

Google Beefs Up Phone App's Spam-Fighting Skills

Google on Tuesday released an updated version of its Phone app for Android with a new spam protection feature that warns users when an incoming call is likely to be spam. It also lets them block numbers and report spam.

The app is available on Google Play.
The spam warning feature works on Nexus and AndroidOne devices on the T-Mobile USA, Project Fi and Orange France networks.
"For me, mobile spam calls are a nightmare," remarked Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group.
"I get calls throughout the day now, and it's incredibly annoying," he told LinuxInsider.
Mobile call spam is a growing problem, said Michael Jude, a program manager at Stratecast/Frost & Sullivan.
"Most mobile numbers aren't listed anywhere, and so spamming has been [difficult] -- but automation is rapidly eroding the protection of anonymity," he told LinuxInsider. "It's possible for call systems to quickly scan down a block of numbers, identify the ones that get answered, and compile lists of active numbers."

Spam Suspects ID'd

The Google Phone app already offered Caller ID and call blocking, and Caller ID displayed known businesses, but the older call blocking feature "was just blocking an individual contact," Google said in comments provided to LinuxInsider by spokesperson Crystal Dahlen. "This update includes the ability to report spam and show alerts for suspected spam callers."
Previously the Caller ID showed known businesses through Google My Businesses, and "nothing about this feature is changing," the company noted.
Users already could place calls from Google Maps, but with the update, "a user doesn't need to open another app," Google said. "Just type 'locksmith' in the Phone app and the three nearest results will appear."

Early Reactions

There already are a number of complaints on the Phone app's Google Play page.
"Visual Voicemail is broken with latest update. Nothing is currently displayed in the tab even though the settings look fine. Rolling back to the previous version solves that issue," wrote Salim Ahmed.
"I can't be notified when I receive a text message when I'm on a call," posted Axel.
Overall, the app is "pretty good," wrote Andy Baughman, who uses a Nexus 6P. However, "it takes a long time to open, no customization available, and the favorites page is very ugly for an official Google app. "
The app is "straight forward, effective," wrote Chris Matta. "The only thing that could use a change at this point is that I would like to be able to set a default feature on launch."
The comments have not gone unnoticed.
Google is "looking at the feedback on an ongoing basis," noted spokesperson Dahlen.

More Robust Approach

The new spam-blocking feature goes further than some other solutions.
Caller ID can be misleading, and call blocking "isn't very effective, given [spam callers] can use a variety of trunk lines, each of which has to be blocked to work," noted Enderle. The new app "would seem to be far more proactive and work more like email spam filters."
There are services users can subscribe to, such as YouMail, that will intercept calls automatically, Enderle said, noting that YouMail "provides this as a free service to get you interested in their other calling features."

Listen to an Ad and Make Free Calls With This App

Highlights

• Nanu lets you make free calls to landlines and mobiles
• You earn free credits every day to pay for calls
• You can get more credits by downloading other apps

There is no shortage of apps you can use to call other people in order to cut down on your phone bill, but most of them have a simple problem - they require both users to have the same app installed.
There are also a number of good apps that allow you to make voice calls for a fee, but these also come with some problems that can be solved, and if you're calling a telephone number, you're usually still paying some amount for the privilege.
Enter Nanu, a voice calling app that claims to use much less bandwidth than competing products, and comes with a feature that makes calls completely free.
The way it works is simple - Nanu gives you a few free credits every day, and you can use these to pay for phone calls. The credit it gives you is not very high, but you can also perform actions like downloading other apps to 'earn' more free credits. In practice, it's similar to apps that give you free recharges to pay for mobile data, but obviously in this case the credit can only be used with Nanu.
Thankfully, the Nanu app itself is nicely laid out, easy to use, and the call quality is good too, so it isn't a big issue. Users can call any landline or mobile number using the free credits provided by the app.
The catch is that the free credits don't carry forward from one day to the next - so, for example, you can't build a stockpile of free credits over the week to blow up in an hours-long call to the US on the weekend.
(Also see: 5 Net Neutral Apps That Give You Free Mobile Internet Data)
The interface of the app is pretty simple - when you launch the app, you'll see recent calls, and you can enter Nanu's dialer to call anyone. You'll see the credit balance and how many minutes of talktime this works out to, directly from the dialer.
Through the menu, you can see the free credit, and you can go to the Free Credits menu to earn more credits. For example, downloading the Amazon app got us five free credits, while playing a Web game was worth 49 free credits.
Testing the app across 2G, 3G, and 4G networks, the call quality remained extremely clear. Even on 2G connections, you could hear the other person very clearly. Nanu claims that it uses 80 percent less data than other VoIP platforms such as Skype and Viber.
The company states that Nanu uses 105kb of data per minute, and when you call someone, you'll also listen to an ad while waiting for the other person to pick up the call. Calling within India costs you 2 credits per minute, and you can look up the rates for other numbers.
Thanks to ad-supported calls and daily credits, Nanu offers actual free calling around the world. That's not a bad deal, and it works on both iOS and Android, so it may be worth your while to check out the free app. The worst thing you'll have to deal with is a few ads.

Tech Stocks’ New Attraction: Dividends

Cash pouring into older technology stocks reflects investors’ willingness to pay up for investments that provide steady income 

 

An IBM mainframe. “If there’s excess capital, we’re committed to returning that to investors,” an IBM

 spokesman says. Photo: Getty Images

Technology stocks that predate the internet bubble of the late 1990s are hot again, thanks to a feature that many tech firms deliberately avoided in those days: hefty dividends.
International Business Machines Corp. , which pays an annual dividend of $5.60 a share, has been one of the biggest contributors to the Dow Jones Industrial Average’s gain this year. Cisco Systems Inc., which didn’t pay a dividend during its 1990s heyday but now pays $1.04 annually, in the last week of July closed at its highest level since before the financial crisis.
The wave of cash pouring into older tech stocks reflects investors’ willingness to pay up for investments that provide steady income. Government-bond prices are near all-time highs, sharply depressing yields, and dividend-paying utility and telecommunications stocks are up more than 20% this year, far outpacing the Dow industrials and the S&P 500.
Some investors fear that the gains in shares of Cisco, IBM and other income generators are a sign that the embrace of dividend stocks has gone too far. IBM and HP Inc. have increased their dividend in recent years and now yield more than 3%, reflecting the annual dividend payment as a share of the current stock price—even as sales and profitability slipped at both companies. Yields on utility and telecom shares were lower in late July than in the past eight years of annual yields, according to S&P Dow Jones Indices, as share prices in the industries have been bid up.

On Thursday, Vanguard Group said it was no longer accepting new accounts to its Dividend Growth Fund, which has nearly doubled in size in the past three years, citing strong cash flows.

ENLARGE
 ENLARGE
“Companies with no growth or negative growth are compensating by growing their dividends instead,” said Dan Morgan, senior portfolio manager at Synovus Trust Co.AdvertisementThe sight of big-name technology companies paying large dividends is causing some double takes. Executives and analysts often contended during the technology boom of the 1990s that a company that paid a dividend was implicitly acknowledging limitations on its growth potential.Companies such as Facebook, Amazon.com, Netflix and Alphabet, which pay no dividends, have been favored by investors in recent years for their growth, with annual sales often increasing by double digits. Shares of Facebook reached all-time highs last week after the company reported strong sales growth for the second quarter. Year to date, Google Inc. parent Alphabet’s Class A shares are up 1.7% and Amazon.com’s are up about 12%, while Netflix’s have fallen 20%.But the days of fast growth are far behind many others, which helps explain why shareholder payouts are rising. A decade ago, the tech sector contributed about 5.6% of the S&P 500’s dividends, according to S&P Dow Jones Indices. In 2015, it contributed 15%.“First and foremost, we use capital to invest in our business,” IBM spokesman Ian Colley said. “We’re growing a great deal in cloud computing and other high-growth areas. If there’s excess capital, we’re committed to returning that to investors.”RelatedCisco started paying a dividend in 2011, and since then its dividend yield has grown from 1.4% to 3.4%, according to S&P Dow Jones Indices. From 2011 through the end of 2015, its sales have increased an annualized 4.2%—a fraction of the growth of newer tech companies, according to WSJ Market Data Group.Since the start of 2011, Cisco’s share price has risen about 50% and is now above $30 for the first time since 2007. The stock traded at 15.3 times its past 12 months’ earnings in late July, below its 10-year average of 17.5 times earnings, according to FactSet. The S&P 500, in contrast, traded at 18.2 times earnings, above its 10-year average of 14.9 times earnings.Cisco declined to comment, citing the company’s quiet period ahead of its earnings release.The tech sector doesn't have to be about chasing unicorns,” said Mike LaBella, portfolio manager at $23.6 billion QS Investors, who invests in companies that provide dividend income. Unicorns typically refer to startups valued at more than $1 billion. Mr. LaBella’s income strategy has a 10% allocation to the tech sector. His holdings include Cisco and IBM.Tech companies in the S&P 500 that pay a dividend are up about 11% this year, compared with a 4.6% gain for tech companies that don’t pay a dividend.Some investors and analysts say the U.S. stock market will have trouble sustaining its record highs if companies with more growth potential lag behind steady, dividend-paying companies.And a market pullback can quickly wipe out an entire year of income for these stocks. Since the start of 2013, IBM’s stock has fallen by at least 10% on four separate occasions. Its stock is down about 16% in that period.

 

Google is already fighting hackers from the future with post-quantum cryptography

For years, experts have warned users to use secure browser communications whenever possible. If you visit a site and the URL in your browser's address bar starts with "https://", you know the communication between your computer and the server is encrypted.

But that encryption, according to Google, has a potential weakness. If quantum computers  get sufficiently powerful in the future, they could be used to break TLS, the cryptographic protocol that's one of the foundations of HTTPS.

Worse, a future quantum computer might be able to retroactively decrypt today's internet communications. So Google is addressing the problem today by testing a post-quantum key exchange algorithm in Chrome, which should ideally protect from such future attempts.

Confused? Yes, quantum computing is a tough concept to get your head around (check the video below for a solid explanation). The simplified version is that quantum computers use the principles of quantum physics, which governs the behavior of subatomic particles, to perform tasks faster than a transistor-based computer.

So what is this post-quantum cryptography Google is talking about? In this context, "post-quantum" simply means secure against attacks by a quantum computer.


Specifically, Google is using a promising post-quantum algorithm called New Hope (a technical explanation is here, in case you're one of the nine people in the world who can understand it). Google is using it on top of the existing crypto algorithm, in case New Hope turns out to be breakable with today's computers.

You read that right: The post-quantum algorithm protects you from hackers from the future, but it might be vulnerable against today's machines. Conversely, the elliptic-curve algorithm Google is normally using might be worthless against future's quantum computers, but it's the best option against the computers of today.

"We're announcing an experiment in Chrome where a small fraction of connections between desktop Chrome and Google's servers will use a post-quantum key-exchange algorithm in addition to the elliptic-curve key-exchange algorithm that would typically be used," Google Software Engineer Matt Braithwaite wrote in a blog post Thursday, pointing out that Google plans to discontinue the experiment after two years, and hopefully move on to an even better algorithm.

"While it's still very early days for quantum computers, we're excited to begin preparing for them, and to help ensure our users' data will remain secure long into the future," he wrote.

What does all this mean for Chrome users? Not much. Regular users won't be part of the test. Those who want to have a fraction of their online communication protected with a post-quantum key exchange algorithm should install the latest Chrome Canary build. To check whether post-quantum crypto was on, go to a HTTPS-secured page, click on the lock next to the URL in the address bar, click on "details," and check if Key Exchange starts with “CECPQ1”.


Congratulations, the details of your visit to Google's Play Store are now secure against a vastly powerful, future quantum computer.
IMAGE: GOOGLE

Doesn't sound that exciting? Well, it will be when hackers from an advanced future civilization crack every single bit of encrypted data anyone has ever sent online — except your Kung Fu Panda 3 Play Store download.

5 Things to Consider Before Buying a Used iPhone And 5 Ways to be Safe When Using Mobile Banking

5 Things to Consider Before Buying a Used iPhone

iPhone is expensive, stylish, and trendy. Only a handful of Nigerians can arguably buy a brand new iPhone. The alternative is buying a used iPhone popularly called London use. But, before buying one, there are some things you need to consider. Jumia Travel, shares tips for purchasing a used iPhone.

Ensure that it is not stolen

Stolen phones are all over the place. You do not want to be embarrassed after buying a phone and be told that the iPhone was stolen. You can use Apple’s activation lock status tool to determine and ensure that the iPhone is not stolen. You should ask for the device’s IMEI or serial number to check its status.

Ensure iPhone can be activated on your network

There are different ways a phone can be blocked from a network. One of the ways this can happen is if you cannot activate it on your own account. You can your service provider to ensure that your network works with it. In most cases the networks are compatible but it is also important to check.

Check the phone for any damage

When buying a used iPhone, you should not only focus on the hardware. You must also check the software. Look out for little cracks at the screen’s edges, check the keypads, plug some headphones into the headphone jack, and play music over the speakers.

Verify the IMEI number from both body and software

The body of the phone may be attractive but the same time the content may be different. To ensure this is not the case, check if the IMEI number on the body is the same with the software.

Erase data

It is not possible to operate a used iPhone without wiping the data of the previous owner. Before buying the phone, it is safer to first erase the present owner’s ID from the settings.

5 Ways to be Safe When Using Mobile Banking

In today’s world, you do not need a computer to do any bank transactions. You can easily do such transactions via your smartphone. Mobile banking is now trending because of the increased use of smartphones and internet. But, one major concern is the safety of mobile banking. To ensure the safety of your mobile transactions, Jumia Travel shares 5 tips.

Never leave your device unlocked

Passwords are essential to mobile banking. Hence, if you often use your phone for mobile banking, you should always lock your phone. This will prevent unauthorized persons from accessing your phone. If you do not lock your phone, you may lose your money.

Keep your mobile banking apps updated

Banks regularly update their apps to accommodate new additions. For users of these apps, you should always update your applications because it is safe and secured. Also, you have to be careful with counterfeit apps.

Avoid unsecured Wi-Fi

In as much as you get a free Wi-Fi, you should not use when doing your mobile transactions especially if it is a public one. Alternatively, it is better to use your mobile data. Using an unsecured Wi-Fi may allow hackers to intercept your money or steal your account information.
Be careful when downloading apps

There are many fake apps Google Play store or Apple play store. When downloading you have to check several times to be certain that it is the original apps you are downloading.

Encrypt your phone

Encrypting your phone will store your phone’s data in an unreadable seemingly scrambled form. On an encrypted device, your personal data including emails, texts, contacts, Google accounts data, apps, photos, media, and downloads. This will make it difficult for anyone to steal your data.

Fastest Cars In The World 2016 – Top 10 List

Drophead, beltline, spark plug and other things I don’t understand. I know very little about cars, but I do know that speed is equal to distance over time and you won’t find anything faster than these vehicles that’s street legal. Unless you live near the autobahn or own a racetrack you’re not going to see half the speed that these beasts can output, but that’s not the point. The point is being able to drive that fast. If you want to*.  

Here we count down the fastest cars in the world.

10. Pagani Huayra

Coming in at number ten with a top speed of 230mph this Italian super car is no slouch. It won Top Gear Hypercar of the Year 2012 and currently holds the fastest lap time on the UK “Top Gear” test track. The original model was limited to just 100 units and as of February 2015 is sold out, but a roadster variant will be unveiled in the upcoming Geneva Motor Show in 2016.

9. Zenvo ST1

Designed by Christian Brandt and Jesper Hermann this Danish super car boasts a top speed of 233mph, only just ahead of the Pagani. Infamous for spontaneously combusting on both “Top Gear” and the 2015 Copenhagen Historic Grand Prix giving new meaning to the term “Burning Rubber”. Combines the thrill of speed with the danger of death. Drive at your own risk and all that.

8. McLaren F1

Once the world’s fastest production car the British made Mclaren F1 has fallen to 8th place. Not bad for a near quarter a century old machine. Topping out at 240mph, only 104 were built in the six years in was in production. In 2005 it was voted the number one greatest car on Channel 4.

7. Koenigsegg CCX

The first two Koenigsegg cars on the list the CCX, short for Competition Coupe X, was released in 2005. Reaching a top speed of 245mph, it had to receive extensive modifications to pass emissions standards in the United States. It marked the tenth anniversary of Koenigsegg super car releases.

6. Saleen S7 Twin-Turbo

America’s first mid-engine production sports car the S7 Twin Turbo clocks at 248mph. Initially produced in England, original S7 couldn’t hit those speeds until it received the twin-turbo power plant, boosting it from 550Hp to 750Hp. It has a racing variant in the S7R.

5. 9ff GT9-R

Based loosely on the Porsche 911 the GT9 was retrofitted by German company 9ff. Its short production run now over only 150 were produced, only 20 of which can hit the impressive top speed of 257mph. A new version was shown at the 2011 Essen Motor Show, GT9-CS.

4. SCC Ultimate Aero

Produced by SSC North America, formally Shelby SuperCars, the Ultimate Aero is still a marvel of American engineering. An old school design philosophy making it a driver’s car. No electronic aids, such as antilock brakes or traction control, are featured. It ties for fifth place with the GT9-R at 257mph

3. Koenigsegg Agera R

The successor to the CCX, “Top Gear” Hypercar of the year 2010. The Agera R is a beast. Clocking in at 260mph it can generate 1.5G when cornering and was heavily featured in the “Need For Speed” movie. It also featured heavily in “Need for Speed: Most Wanted” ad “Need For Speed: Rivals” the video games.

2. Bugatti Veyron Super Sport

Designed by Germans and built by the french the Bugatti Veryon was once the fastest super car on the market. With an impressive 268mph the vanilla version was named Car of the Decade and best car award on the UK show “Top Gear” and until Guinness updates their list it is the current holder of the fastest street legal car in the world.

1. Hennessey Venom GT

Here it is. The fastest cars in the world. American Designed. Top Speed 270mph. $1.25 million Dollars. Only three on the planet.

Based on the Lotus Exige and manufactured by Hennessey Performance Engineering. The company is already working on its successor, The Venom F5, aiming for a top speed of 290mph, so I don’t expect this to remain at the top spot for long.

So there we have it. The top ten fastest cars in the world. If any of the images are in error please let me know in the comments. If any of them are from video games, other than the one I pointed out, they were intentional jokes and expect this list to be out of date soon.

20 Best Tablets of 2016

 

What’s the best tablet? The best all-round tablet is the iPad Air 2, but if you’re looking for an Android tablet you should look instead to the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2. There are plenty of alternatives to choose from here, too. Learn more about these top tablets in our best tablets chart below.

These are the best tablets to buy in the UK in 2016. Scroll down (or click this link) for our 20 best tablets reviews, or read on for our general buying advice along with full tablet reviews of the best-value tablets, best iPads and best Android tablets. . (Also see: Best SIM-only deals: Best SIM-only and Data SIM deals for smartphone and tablet users.)

New tablets have been thin on the ground this year, but there are still lots of good buys. The latest entry below is Apple’s new smaller iPad Pro, but the extra power, features and cost mean the older iPad Air 2 is still the best value choice for many. There are still a few launches to come: Lenovo announced cheap Android tablets at MWC 2016 andHuawei launched the MateBook. There’s also the Alcatel Plus 10.

Best Tablets Buying Advice

In this article, we’re talking about the best tablets money can buy. If you’re on a tight budget, you should be reading our best budget tablets roundup. And if you’re looking for a tablet for your child, check out our best kids’ tablets article.

If you’re still here, you’ve got three main choices: an iPad, an Android tablet and a Windows tablet.

Apple iPads run Apple’s own iOS operating system which is widely regarded as one of the best out there. It’s easy to use and app makers usually make it their first choice, so you’re pretty much guaranteed to find what you’re after.

This is valuable when you buy accessories which require apps – mainly smart home or fitness gadgets – as you may not be able to control these from a Windows tablet.

In most cases, apps are made available on Android as well as iPads, but not always. Android tablets can be cheaper than iPads, but there are some Samsung models which cost the same or are more expensive. Windows tablets come in both cheap and expensive guises, but although Windows is the ‘worst’ of the tablet operating systems, it has the advantage of being able to run the same programs you use on your laptop or PC – not just finger-friendly tablet apps. The latest version of Android is Android 6.0 Marshmallow.

And that’s why most Windows tablets come with a keyboard, or offer it as an option: they’re really a hybrid of a laptop and tablet. But as you’ll find out in most of our Windows tablet reviews, this is rarely a case of getting the best of both worlds. One exception is the Surface Pro 4 from Microsoft.

For more on this, see our articles: The best Android tablets of 2016 UK and Best Windows tablets.
There’s also a fourth option: Amazon’s Fire tablets. These are based on Android but are locked into Amazon’s system: you won’t find any Google services or apps on them.

What Do You Want A Tablet For?

Tablets are great for watching videos and TV, for playing games, reading eBooks, and browsing the web. Sharing photos and catching up via Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest are all great on iPads and Android tabs. And you can catch up on email, too.

They’re not so good if you need to create a newsletter, presentation or write up a report. Printing off a spreadsheet or document can prove problematic if you don’t have a printer that’s compatible with your particular tablet. These things are possible, but you’ll find it’s much easier on a laptop or PC.
You can install extra software – known as apps – on a tablet, much like you can on a PC. Many are free, but some cost a few pounds. You have to install apps from the respective store on your tablet: Apple’s App Store on an iPad, the Google Play Store on an Android tablet and the Amazon Appstore on a Fire Tablet.

On a Windows 10 tablet you can install normal Windows software, but you also get to browse the Windows Store for dedicated tablet apps. But the selection is much more limited than on the other types of tablet.

The same is true of music- and other media: you can buy it from Apple, Google, Amazon or Microsoft. You can also transfer your own music, videos and photos to your tablet from a PC or access them from many cloud storage services. Apple, Google, Amazon and Microsoft have their own cloud services but you can also use others, such as Dropbox, which let you store files and media and get to them from all your devices, no matter whether a phone, tablet, laptop or PC.
Here’s the bottom line: for fun, you need an iPad- or Android tablet. For work, go Windows. But only if you can afford the best.

Display

Tablets come in many sizes ranging from almost smartphone-sized screens up to around 13in. So one of the first decisions is how big a tablet you want. For some, a 7-8in tablet is perfect as it’s big enough to be more comfortable to use (for web browsing, say) than an phone, but small enough to fit into a handbag and less strain on your wrist when you are lying or sitting at home.

Larger tablets usually have a 10in screen, and this is the ‘standard’ size Apple has used since the very first iPad.

Now, there are more larger tablets to choose between, including several of Microsoft’s Surface tablets running Windows and Apple’s 12.9in iPad Pro.

Larger tablets are better for productivity and tend to have more powerful processors, but are heavier and – obviously – larger and less portable.

These days screens are better quality and there are fewer duds, but it’s still worth reading our reviews to find out if there are any particularly good or bad ones. You can look for specifications such as resolution, pixel density and aspect ratio, but none will tell you anything about a screen’s colour accuracy, contrast or brightness. Look for an IPS or AMOLED screen and avoid anything with a TN screen.

For a decently sharp image, look for a pixel density higher than 160ppi (pixels per inch). Many Android tablets have widescreen displays with an aspect ratio of 16:9 (the same as a TV), while iPads have 4:3 screens, like old non-widescreen TVs. One isn’t better than the other, unless you already know you will primarily use your tablet for watching TV shows (go for a 16:9 screen). For almost everything else, a 4:3 or 3:2 screen is a more comfortable option.

 Connectivity

If you need to get on the internet while you’re out and about with your tablet, you might want to go for one which will accept a 3G or 4G SIM card (like your phone). Not many Android tablets have this option, but all iPads do.

Just bear in mind that you’ll pay more for a tablet will a SIM slot and that you’ll need to pay for a special data-only SIM, either on a contract or a monthly pay-as-you-go deal. For most people it’s not worth it: you can use your phone to go online, or set your phone up as a Wi-Fi hotspot so that an ordinary tablet with Wi-Fi (but no SIM card) can get online.

And there are so many Wi-Fi hotspots around these days that it’s rarely necessary to have a tablet with 3G or 4G connectivity.

All tablets have Wi-Fi but some have the older 802.11n version and some also support the newer 802.11ac standard. In practice, it doesn’t really matter as even the older 802.11n standard is perfectly fast enough and not that many Wi-Fi hotspots (including home routers) support the faster 802.11ac standard. In any case, both are faster than the average broadband speed.

Other important features will be Bluetooth and – potentially – NFC. Wireless charging is starting to become important, too. Some tablets may come with an infrared transmitter – or IR blaster – which means you can use it to control other gadgets around your house such as your TV.

It’s unlikely you will want GPS in a tablet, but if you do want to use it as a navigation device make sure you get one with a GPS receiver. Only Wi-Fi + cellular iPads have this – Wi-Fi only iPads don’t have GPS.

iPads also have their own proprietary charging cable with a ‘Lightning’ connector. This means that you need peripherals that work specifically with the iPad. Android- and Windows tablets typically connect via a microUSB port which means you can use a standard cable and charger, although some Windows tablets also have full-sized USB connectors which are very handy for attaching a USB flash drive, hard drive or even a keyboard or printer. Reversible USB Type-C is becoming more common, too.

If you need to connect a USB flash drive to your tablet, Android can also be a good option as long as its microUSB port supports OTG (on the go), and you’ll also need a specific OTG flash drive with a microUSB connector.

Finally, do you want to hook up your tablet to a TV? If so, look for one with an HDMI output in some form. It’s more common on Android tablets, but you can buy an adaptor for an iPad which lets you connect a standard HDMI cable. Bear in mind that not all apps allow you to view them on a big screen, for example the Sky Go app.

There are ways to connect tablets wirelessly to a TV: iPads use Apple’s AirPlay standard (you’d need an Apple TV box as well) and Android tablets may use Miracast or you could buy a £35 Google Chromecast and use your Android tablet like a giant remote control for that. For more, see how to connect Android tablets to a TV.

Storage

Storage is important, but it’s most important with tablets that don’t have a microSD slot, because this means you can’t add more storage after you’ve bought the tablet. iPads don’t have microSD slots, and the same is true for a few Android tablets and older Amazon Fire tablets.

The headline number for internal storage can be misleading. For example an 8GB tablet might have only 5GB of free space available to use: the rest is taken up by the operating system and pre-installed apps. Windows tablets can be the worst for this: a 64GB Microsoft Surface might have as little as 23GB of usable space.

Add-on storage like microSD cards and USB drives might be cheap, but they’re not as good as built-in storage because not all tablets allow you to install apps on a microSD card. Performance might suffer, too, as some USB drives and microSD cards are much slower than internal storage.

The Other Stuff

Generally, you won’t have to think about processor and RAM (memory) when choosing a tablet. And, as with screen specifications, don’t read too much into them. If you’re in any way concerned about performance, be sure to check our reviews to see not only benchmark results and comparisons, but also to find out what a tablet is like to use day to day.

Tablets – like phones – have cameras, but most are fairly poor quality compared to the best phones. We’ll always comment on quality in our reviews, so don’t go by megapixel ratings. Anything below 5Mp is to be avoided if this is an important area, and make sure your chosen tablet has a front camera of 2Mp or better if you want to use Skype or another video calling app (1.2Mp is ok if it’s an iPad).

Battery life

Finally, there’s battery life. You don’t want your tablet to last less than around six hours, and the recharge time is worth knowing, too. Some tablets take almost as long to charge as they do to discharge.

As a benchmark, every iPad lasts about 10 hours or so for watching videos or browsing the web. That’s multiple days with ‘normal’ use. Many cheaper tablets skimp on battery life and since you’re rarely going to want to you a tablet that’s tethered to the mains, make sure you pick one that lasts a long time between charges.

To find out more about what to look out for take a look at this feature: which tablet should I buy? 

20 Best Tablets Of 2016: Best Tablet Reviews

 

20. Dell Venue 8 7000

• Reviewed on: 20 August 15
• RRP: £369 inc VAT

The Dell Venue 8 7000 is an attractive Android tablet with a super slim design, a great screen and offers smooth performance combined with good battery life. However, it’s more expensive than closely matched rivals and the RealSense camera technology which is supposedly a selling point isn’t worth the time of day. 

19. Nexus 7 (2013)

• Reviewed on: 22 July 14
• RRP: £199 (32 GB)/£239 (1 32GB)

The 2013 flavour of the Nexus 7 is no longer available from Google. But shop around and you can find it in various online stores, at a great low price. Arguably the Hudl 2 offers a similar blend of value and quality, and may even be a bit faster. But you are unlikely to notice, and although the Nexus 7 is still lacking a microSD card slot, for many people will be the best 7in tablet around. It may even be the best value tablet there is. 

18. Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet

• Reviewed on: 17 April 14
• RRP: From £399 inc VAT

The Xperia Z2 is a great looking and well built Android tablet. It is staggeringly thin and light for a 10in device, has a great screen, expandable storage and good performance. We like the OS and the camera. Indeed, our only issues with the Xperia Z2 Tablet is occasionally laggy web browsing, and the fact that the screen is poor under natural light. But priced in line with the iPad Air this is right at the top of the shop. 

17. Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5

• Reviewed on: 1 August 14
• Buy for £399 inc VAT

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 is one of the firm’s best ever tablets with a thin and light design, although there is still too much plastic. Hardware is decent, namely that impressive display and great battery life making this a consumption machine. It’s got pretty much everything you could want on a tablet, and it is priced competitively against its key rivals earning it a recommended award. 

16. Google Nexus 9

• Reviewed on: 18 May 15
• RRP: £299 inc VAT

Previous Nexus tablets, particularly the Nexus 7, have been hard to beat for value but that’s not the case for the Nexus 9. It’s not a bad tablet – especially if performance is a priority – but the screen isn’t perfect and neither is build quality. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 is a better choice if you can live with a smaller screen, and don’t forget the original iPad Air also costs £319 now, making it look very good value indeed. 

15. Microsoft Surface Pro 3

• Reviewed on: 22 January 16
• Buy for From £639 inc VAT

A very decent laptop replacement, and an okay tablet, the Surface Pro 3 is undeniably impressive. If you need a single device to do everything we can’t think of any better device. And when you consider the cost of buying a discrete laptop, tablet and desktop PC the Surface Pro 3 is priced to shift. The question remains as to whether people want a single device rather than multiple gadgets that are better at their individual tasks. Microsoft’s latest results suggest that Surface Pro 3 is winning hearts and minds. Has it won yours? 

14. iPad mini 2

• Reviewed on: 16 December 13
• RRP: £239 inc. VAT

The iPad mini with Retina display is a fabulous tablet. The screen is excellent and more than worth the minimal weight gain. Performance is also excellent, and the 64-bit processor makes this much more future-proof than the original iPad mini. The higher price (compared to the original cost of the iPad mini) may be frustrating, but it’s arguably better value than the iPad Air as well as being more portable. If you can afford it, you won’t be disappointed. 

13. Apple iPad Air 1

• Reviewed on: 12 February 14
• RRP: Wi-Fi: £319 (16GB), £359 (32GB). Cellular: £419 (16GB), £459 (32GB). Higher storage capacities no longer available

In many respects a triumph, the iPad Air also introduces compromises to hit the low-weight/thin-case targets. Sound quality through the new stereo speaker has deteriorated, and although a matter of taste we found the iPad mini-style case loses the premium feel of preceding generations of iPad. The iOS 7 interface, not popular with every user, cannot be avoided on this device and it suffers some stickiness in app zooming. Ultimately though the iPad Air will suceed by simple nature of its new weight – the lose of almost 200g is so significant to its handling, and means it could encroach on E Ink ebook readers; only with the power and versatility, not to mention gorgeous colour screen, of a real iPad. 

12. iPad Pro

• Reviewed on: 8 December 15
• Buy for £679 (32GB, WiFi); £799 (128GB, WiFi); £899 (128GB, cellular). US pricing $799/$949/$1079

At £679, few people will buy the iPad Pro instead of an iPad Air 2. It has a great screen and plenty of power, but do you really have a need for this hulking tablet? 32GB of storage will prove too limiting for most people, and the 128GB option with the Pencil and/or keyboard is expensive (that’s ignoring the £65 silicone rear cover). If you’re considering the Pro, go to an Apple store and hold one to understand exactly how bulky and hefty the new tablet really is. If you can live with all that the Pro is a great choice – just don’t expect it to replace your laptop. 

11. Microsoft Surface Pro 4

• Reviewed on: 30 June 16
• RRP: From £749 inc VAT (model tested £1079)

There is a great deal to like and rave about the Surface Pro 4. The design is thinner and lighter for starters. The screen is awesome, there’s plenty of power available, the new Surface Pen is better and the Type Cover is a vast improvement on the last one. However, the design is inherently awkward at times, it’s more expensive that a lot of laptops and the Type Cover, which you’ll pretty much need, isn’t included lowering the value.

10. Xiaomi Mi Pad 2

• Reviewed on: 26 January 16
• Buy for £144 inc VAT

Whether Xiaomi intended to or not, the Mi Pad 2 is an Android tablet disguised as an iPad mini. This may disgust you or be exactly what you’re looking for. Either way, we can’t deny that this is a well-made, stylish tablet with decent specs for the price. You’re best off getting the 64GB model and if the iOS style user interface is a turn-off, remember that Android is highly customisable. 

9. Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet

• Reviewed on: 28 July 15
• Buy for £499 inc VAT

The Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet is a seriously impressive device and easily one of the best tablets we’ve ever tested. The design is astonishingly thin and light and the waterproofing with only the need for one cover is a bonus. This topped with excellent hardware, performance and software means we can barely fault it. However, the fact Sony bundles it with the Bluetooth keyboard with no option to buy it alone means that it’s more expensive than rivals. We feel it’s a 9/10 products but we’ve no choice but to mark the value score lower.

8. Amazon Fire

• Reviewed on: 26 April 16
• RRP: £49 inc VAT

It’s certainly not perfect, and the lack of Google apps will still put some people off, but the Fire is excellent value at under £50. The latest Fire OS is so Android-like that it’s easy to use, and the Fire for Kids app makes it possible to limit what you kids can do and how long they can use the tablet. For some people it’s well worth paying double for the Kids Edition version as you get the bumper case and the great warranty. There are some sore points: the poor cameras, the sluggish performance at times, and the long charging time. But at this price it’s hard to complain. And you certainly won’t find a better tablet for the same money. 

7. Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact

• Reviewed on: 2 December 14
• RRP: £269 inc. VAT

It’s great to see Sony finally make a smaller tablet and the 8in form factor is proving to be increasingly popular. The Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact is super thin and light and is waterproof to boot. Hardware is decent but not mind-blowing and while rivals like the Galaxy Tab S offer a bit more gadgetry, Sony offers High-Res audio and a killer feature for gamers in the form of PS4 Remote Play. It’s a great effort from Sony if you’re looking for a high-end 8in tablet. 

6. Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4

• Reviewed on: 27 August 14
• RRP: £319 inc VAT

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 is one of the best Android tablets we’ve ever reviewed. In terms of hardware it’s the best you can buy right now and has a superbly thin and light design. There’s very little to dislike here aside from some elements of the TouchWiz software and the higher price compared to Android rivals (the iPad mini 2 is the obvious alternative if you’re not set on Android). If you would rather save money and aren’t so bothered about top-notch spec and additional features like the fingerprint scanner and IR blaster, check out the Nexus 7 and LG G Pad 8.3. 

5. iPad mini 4

• Reviewed on: 25 September 15
• RRP: From £319 inc VAT (16GB)

There are cheaper tablets – cheaper iPads even – but if you can afford to buy the iPad mini 4 you won’t be disappointed. It finally has a great screen and while it can’t match the more powerful iPad Air 2, it’s got more than enough poke to satisfy demanding users. The rear camera is decent and a big step up from many cheaper tablets. With great build quality and battery life on top, it’s hard to fault the new mini so unless you want to wait to see if Apple launches an iPad Air 3, or you want the Air 2’s bigger screen, it’s a good buy. 

4. Google Pixel C

• Reviewed on: 20 January 16
• Buy for £399 inc VAT ($500) for 32GB; £479 inc VAT ($600) for 64GB

As a standalone tablet, the Pixel C is superb. It’s better than the HTC-made Nexus 9 which was great but not exceptional. Which the ‘C’ most certainly is. Storage is a bit limited, but if you can live with 32GB it’s good value at £399. Paying an extra £119 for the keyboard is something we can’t see many buyers doing. If typing is a priority, you’d be better off spending your £518 on a decent ultraportable laptop as Android Marshmallow – good as it is – isn’t nearly as versatile as Windows. And while the keyboard is well designed, you’ll still prefer a full-size laptop keyboard. If you need to run Windows apps, the consider the Surface 3 which is slightly cheaper – even with the optional keyboard – but remember that there are even cheaper options such as the Asus Transformer T100HA.

3. Apple iPad Pro 9.7in

• Reviewed on: 18 April 16
• RRP: From £499 inc VAT

There’s no doubt that the iPad Pro 9.7 is the best tablet Apple has ever made, combining the power of the original into the stunning form factor of the iPad Air 2 (with a camera bump). Apple has also added new features such as upgraded cameras and one of the best displays we’ve seen on a tablet. Whether you should buy one is another question, though, and depends on your perspective (see above). For some, the iPad Pro 9.7 will be the perfect balance between work and play while for others it will simply not be up to the job. What we can say is that it’s certainly not the ‘ultimate PC replacement’ as it’s trying to do too many things at once.

2. Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8

• Reviewed on: 13 April 16
• RRP: £319

We loved the Galaxy Tab S2 since the very first time we got our hands on it back in August, and upon further investigation and after spending more time with it we just love it even more. It’s a tablet well worth considering if you’ve been thinking about buying the iPad mini 4, as it can contend and sometimes outshine Apple’s tablet when it comes to design and power. It’s almost unbelievably thin and light and that screen is a joy to use.

1. Apple iPad Air 2

• Reviewed on: 22 March 16
• RRP: From £349 inc VAT

Besides the Touch ID fingerprint feature, the new screen assembly and uprated processor are the headline features. New cameras are a bonus too. Overall the Apple iPad Air 2 is the best tablet you can buy, without even a close competitor in performance, attention to detail, quality of build and sheer usability.