With Vertu finally offering an up-to-date luxury phone, we naturally had to check out the Signature Touch up close and personal. After all, it’s not everyday that one gets to play with a $21, 900 phone for free (though you can do so at any Vertu boutique, as long as you’re nicely dressed). For those who haven’t caught up with the announcement, we’re looking at a 4.7-inch 1080p display, a 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 chip, 64GB of storage, 13MP/2.1MP cameras, a 2, 275mAh battery, Qi wireless charging, NFC and a handful of LTE bands. With the exception of the battery (which, to be fair, is already much larger than those on previous models), these are all very decent for an Android 4.4 device. As hinted by its name, the Signature Touch continues the legacy of the Signature series by carrying its iconic features. Under Vertu’s new lead designer, Ignacio Germade, the masculine “V-spine” design and the D-ring latch (for popping open the Micro SIM tray cover) remain; though the ceramic ear pillow is now smaller and makes way for a titanium chin, instead of being surrounded by a metallic bezel. Another notable change is that the stereo speakers — developed in partnership with Bang & Olufsen — are now facing the front, which makes a lot more sense than the sideway speakers on the similar-looking Ti . The ringtones produced by the London Symphony Orchestra sounded exceptional on those speakers, which isn’t a surprise. According to Hutch Hutchison, Vertu’s Head of Concept Creation and Design, each ringtone is tuned for optimal effect on each model, rather than just copying the same audio files to the whole range. A new addition on this end is the set of Dolby Digital Plus effects, which should come in handy for watching movies and playing games. Another big collaboration on the Signature Touch lies within its 13-megapixel and 2.1-megapixel cameras. We’re still surprised that Vertu managed to get renowned camera maker Hasselblad to help optimize the imaging performance; though sadly, we’ll have to wait for the final camera software before we can judge the results. As with all Vertu devices, the Signature Touch has a dense, expensive feel with its 192g weight and hard metallic body. We didn’t dare to do any torture test, but the grade 5 titanium body, the fifth-gen sapphire screen and the conditioned leather should stand the test of time. In addition to the usual drop test and steel ball test, the company’s also made sure that this hand-assembled phone would operate just fine from as low as -45 degrees Fahrenheit all the way up to 176 degrees Fahrenheit. The Signature Touch comes in a range of skins and colors. You start at $10, 300/£6, 750 with the basic “Jet Leather” (black and silver) or “Claret Leather” (red and silver), followed by other skin options (lizard or alligator) plus PVD coating option for the titanium frame, and capping at $21, 900/£14, 350 for the maxed-out “Pure Jet Red Gold” edition (black and gold). We actually liked the “Pure Navy Lizard” and the “Damson Lizard” the most for their unique textures, whereas Vertu’s CEO Max Pogliani currently carries an equally exotic “Jet Alligator” customized with a black PVD titanium body (by default it’s a bare metal body). The lucky folks who have the cash to spare tend not to have a problem picking their favorite variants. In fact, some are known to buy multiple versions of the same model, thus also accumulating years worth of bundled one-year concierge service in the process (it’s otherwise “just” £2, 000 or about $3, 400 annually for the classic service, or double that to continue having a dedicated agent). If we were given a chance to try this service, we’d totally just get a butler to write up this article while we sit by the pool at an exclusive clubhouse. Disclaimer: This article was not written by a butler. Filed under: Cellphones , Mobile Comments

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This is what a $22,000 Android phone feels like

For some just the phrase “P-touch” elicits feelings of organizational euphoria. We get that label makers aren’t exactly the sexiest gadgets in the world, but like ever other gadget there is a need to evolve. Brother took the obvious route and just crammed a wireless radio into the PT-P750W. Under the hood is a WiFi radio that multiple computers, phones and tablets can connect to and, since you have the option of powering it with batteries (either 6 AAs or a rechargeable lithium ion pack), you can even use it while travelling. Even set up is painfully simple since there’s an NFC pad at the top that will automatically connect your phone to it. Obviously, it takes a certain kind of person to spend $130 on a label maker, but there are more enough people out there with a fetish for organization. And, if we’re being honest, there might be a few of them on staff here. Filed under: Peripherals Comments Source: Brother

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Wireless label maker is a boon for cable-hating office supply fetishists

Long before Nokia took up residence at Microsoft and became enamored with Windows Phone, the company had another Mobile OS to care for: Symbian . For awhile, it was the most widely used smartphone OS in the world, and according to a Finnish TV station, being its custodian was no easy task: in 2007 Nokia apparently paid several million euros to keep its encryption key private. MTV News (no, not that MTV ) reports that criminals threatened to release the encryption key into the wild, potentially opening the OS to attacks and malware by unsavory programmers. Naturally, Nokia contacted the police, hoping to catch the crooks when they attempted to collect their ransom in a Tampere parking lot. Sadly, something went wrong: after the criminals collected the untold millions, Police somehow lost track of them. The suspects, their encryption code and Nokia’s bag of money were gone. MTV News and Reuters both indecently verified the blackmail with Finnish police, which is still considered an open case. These days, Symbian is a bit more open source — but remember: once it was a big enough driving force in the mobile market to be held for ransom. Filed under: Cellphones , Mobile , Nokia Comments Source: MTV News , Reuters

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​Symbian was once held ransom for several million euros, and Nokia paid it

The US government will now allow the likes of Google and Microsoft’s Bing to use satellite images containing far more detail. Previous restrictions stopped anything smaller than 50 cm (1.64 feet) being shown on satellite photos. Imaging company Digital Globe was behind the request, and reckons it could well take shots from space that capture things as small as 31 cm. Lawyer Marc Daultich told the BBC that this could raise security concerns, although this restriction didn’t really encompass the blurring or otherwise obscuring of sensitive locations. Digital Globe plans to launch new satellites following the decision and says it’ll be able to take thrilling photos of ” key features such as manholes and mailboxes”. And hopefully something a little more interesting, too. Filed under: GPS Comments Source: BBC

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US government lifts restrictions on high-detail satellite imaging

Every Steam Machine shown so far has amounted to a small desktop PC. But what if you want to take that gaming experience on the road? Well, you might get your wish — meet Steamboy , a handheld take on Valve’s platform. On the outside, it’s pretty much what you’d expect; it looks like an Steam Controller prototype (including the signature touchpads) with a 5-inch display slotted in between. Its creator (Steamboy Machine) isn’t giving out many other details right now, but it tells The Escapist that the device’s quad-core processor (likely either an Intel Atom or AMD A4) and 4GB of RAM “won’t be as powerful” as other Steam Machines. That’s not surprising given the size, however, and it should play the “majority” of titles. There are also promises of 3G mobile data and 32GB of built-in storage. It sounds promising, even if the device is likely going to be limited to low-intensity games. However, that’s also assuming that this mini Steam Machine makes its 2015 release window. Right now, Steamboy exists as little more than a slick teaser video and a set of specifications — there’s no prototype to prove that this will be a real product. We’ve reached out to the team for more details, but you might not want to cancel that 3DS or PS Vita purchase until it’s clear that Steamboy will ship. Filed under: Gaming , Handhelds Comments Via: The Escapist , Engadget Spanish (translated) Source: Steamboy Machine

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Someone is making a handheld Steam game system

Microsoft constantly reminds us that Google scans email in order to sell ads . Now it’s adapting its policies to specifically state that it won’t engage in the same practices as its rival. Well, not all of them. In an effort to be more transparent and build trust, the company has updated its service agreement and privacy policy to make it clear that it will not access your content to sell ads. “We do not use what you say in email, chat, video calls, or voicemail to target advertising to you, ” Microsoft notes. “Nor do we use your documents, photos, or other personal files to target advertising to you.” However, the policy, which covers most of Microsoft’s online services, including Bing, Outlook and OneDrive, won’t come into effect until July 31st. To be clear, however, Microsoft isn’t ignoring your data completely, and there are still a few clauses to be aware of. While Microsoft says it won’t access your content to sell you ads, it does state that it will collect data from your account. The company says this content includes “your communications and your files, ” which ranges from words in an email or documents stored on OneDrive. It’s a muddy area, but Microsoft says it does so in order to gain an insight into how you use its services. Remember when Microsoft came under fire for rifling through someone’s Hotmail account without permission? The company vowed to go through a more stringent process in future cases and has updated its policy to reflect that change. Instead of inspecting content on its own, it will now refer suspicious activity to law enforcement. All of the changes have been made available before the July 31st deadline so you can run through the new terms with a fine-toothed comb. If you want to opt out, Microsoft will kindly show you the door — you’ll need to either stop using its services or close your account. Filed under: Internet , Microsoft Comments Via: Neowin Source: Microsoft Service Agreement , Privacy Policy

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Microsoft expands its pledge not to sell ads against your private data

Remember all those rumors about Amazon launching a music streaming service? Well, they were absolutely true: Amazon pulled back the curtain on Prime Music earlier today, which gives paying Prime subscribers access to over a million songs for no additional cost and without a single obnoxious ad in earshot. Amazon Digital Music VP Steve Boom told us that customers have been clamoring for this little development for ages now — here are a few answers to the burning questions surrounding Amazon’s newest media play. How do I get it? Assuming you’ve already paid Amazon for the year, you can use one of its existing Cloud Player apps for iOS, Android, OS X, Windows and the web to start digging through that catalog of free tracks. Speaking of which, doesn’t the name “Cloud Player” seem a little clunky? Amazon seemed to think so, because all those apps will fly under the new “Amazon Music” banner starting today. If you’ve got a Kindle Fire HD or HDX kicking around, they’ll get an automatic update that grants them access to that gratis music — we’re keeping our eyes peeled and will update you once it goes live.​ What does it do for me? There are already plenty of streaming services out there, but Amazon’s lateness to the game only means it had time to figure out what its rivals were getting right. You can, for example, save high-quality Prime tracks to your device for offline listening (take that Pandora). Itching for the perfect party mix? You can check out curated playlists for specific moods and activities (sorry Songza). Meanwhile, one of Amazon’s mainstays will help you discover music to add to your collection — Prime Music will chew on your preferences to recommend other artists and albums worth checking out. For now you’ll just get recommendations based on your what you’ve listened to, but Boom said it wouldn’t be impossible for future suggestions could draw from a wider array of shopping signals. What’s the catch? Here’s the rub, friend: Amazon’s library pales in comparison to the over 20 million tracks available with services like Spotify or Rdio. Sure, some big names are part of the deal — Daft Punk, Bruno Mars, Beyoncé, Celine Dion, Bruce Springsteen — but a closer look at the catalog reveals there’s nothing there that’s currently racing up the charts. The only one of Billboard’s current top songs that can be found in Prime Music is John Legend’s All Of Me , and that’s only because it first charted back in 2013. Boom promised that the catalog would grow at a steady clip, but make no mistake — unless Amazon’s licensing deals change drastically, Prime Music won’t be your source for the hottest new releases. So why does this exist? “We’d love it if people spent all their time listening to Prime Music, ” Boom noted. “But music isn’t a zero-sum game.” He’s got a point. The company has always said it goal is more about delighting customers than crushing competitors, and one need only look at its catalog to see why it isn’t a huge threat to others… yet. The service’s real value seems clear. Prime Music is another way to make that $99 annual subscription fee seem even more valuable. Think about it: in addition to getting ridiculously fast shipping and loads of premium video, you now have access to a small (but not insignificant) pool of music to flesh out your collection. It’s no secret that Prime customers buy more than regular ones do , and that’s what’s going to fuel Amazon’s continued dominance. The company has been around since 1995, and it survived a bursting tech bubble to become a global force — in short, it lives to play the long game. Comments

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What you need to know about Amazon Prime Music

The NSA may claim it’s not collecting photos of American citizens for a facial recognition database , but the FBI most certainly is. The feds has been building what it calls the “Next Generation Identification database, ” primarily by gathering mug shots from local law enforcement agencies. The software is being built of MorphoTrust, a company that helped the State Department create its own face recognition database. At the moment the two can’t share data, say by simply importing an existing State Department record, but FBI Director James Comey wouldn’t rule out the possibility. What’s more concerning however, are the accusations from the Electronic Frontier Foundation that many innocent people will be swept into the database, which is expected to reach 52 million images by next year. To make matters worse, Director Comey was unable to allay those fears when addressing law makers recently. The agency’s head said he wasn’t sure if the EFF’s claims were accurate, nor could he rule out that people’s drivers’ license photos might end up in the pool. When asked specifically about license photos he said, “I think there is some circumstances in which when states send us records… pictures of people who are getting special driving licenses to transport children or explosive materials.” Filed under: Misc Comments Source: Ars Technica , EFF

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FBI testing face recognition for finding suspects

Embedded tech can fit into some incredible spaces , but it can’t yet fit everywhere; there are places that are simply too harsh or small for modern technology. If GE gets its way, though, just about any surface will be fair game. Its Direct Write technology uses ink made from either metals or metal oxides to print tiny, flexible sensors that both fit into tight spots and survive conditions that typically fry electronics. You could see sensors inside the hot environment of a jet engine, or put both pressure and temperature sensors into areas that normally don’t have room for anything. GE is already testing Direct Write sensors with some of its partners, and it notes that the technique could apply sensors to devices well after they’ve left the factory. However, the technology isn’t flawless; while the ink may survive hostile environments, wireless signals typically don’t. It may be a long while before you can fit sensors in places where even wires are too risky. Filed under: Misc Comments Via: Wall Street Journal Source: GE Reports

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GE’s metallic ink can put tiny sensors inside jet engines

Formlabs’ Form1 was a top dog among 3D printers when it first shipped, but others have stepped up their game in the past year. It’s about time for an upgrade, don’t you think? Appropriately, the company has just unveiled the Form1+, a big improvement to its now-familiar design. The new edition of Formlabs’ pro-grade machine is all about raw performance — a more powerful laser lets it print up to 50 percent faster, and its control system produces finer, smoother sculptures. It should be more reliable, too, thanks to an improved resin tank that better preserves your material. The new printer costs the same $3, 299 as the original, which doesn’t exactly make it a casual purchase. However, you shouldn’t despair if you’re an existing Form1 owner. Formlabs is offering a factory upgrade program that brings your hardware up to spec for a more down-to-Earth (if not exactly trivial) $749. You can order the revamped device today in the US, and Europeans can pick one up in July for €2, 799. Filed under: Peripherals Comments Source: Formlabs

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Formlabs’ second-gen pro 3D printer is 50 percent faster