There are two constants in the world of smartphones: one is that screens are getting bigger, and the other is that devices are getting thinner, and with that last one in mind, Huawei has crafted what it says is the slimmest handset yet.

Announced in London this week, the Huawei Ascend P6 pushes more boundaries by bringing those lines closer together, at least in the thickness department.

Armed with a 4.7 inch HD capable screen, the Ascend P6 is the first smartphone in the world to cram a quad-core processor, a 2000mAh battery, Google Android 4.2, 2GB RAM, and 8GB storage with a microSD slot into a body that literally measures 6.18mm thick, compared with 7.6mm on the Apple iPhone 5 and 6.9mm on the Samsung Galaxy S4.

The phone will come with Huawei’s interesting take on the Android look called the “Emotion UI,” seen last in the massive 6.1 inch Ascend Mate which collapses the apps menu into the home screen and emulates the simplicity of Apple’s iOS.

A look of the operating system isn’t all Huawei is intending to look at the design of, as the hardware here gives off the feeling of something i-inspired, from the metal on the sides, the back, the style of SIM slot, and even the camera placement.

One difference, however, is the type of camera, with a 8 megapixel on the back, but also a 5 megapixel on the front, a first for the industry, with a camera that goes beyond 2 to 3 megapixels.

That essentially means better selfless when you want to take them – let’s be honest, that’s what most of us are using the front-facing camera for – and then Full HD video conferencing for that rare time we’ll be Skyping.

The Huawei Ascend P6 will come in white, black, and pink.

Pricing and availability have yet to be confirmed for Australia, with a representative for the company in this country saying “nothing to announce yet,” but asking us to “stay tuned.”

Given the amount of Huawei releases we’ve had so far, we’re betting this model is coming, though probably in August or September. As he said, “stay tuned.”

If you liked the look of the new new BlackBerry but still can’t picture the email-friendly smartphone without a physical keyboard, your wish is about to come true, as BlackBerry announces that its key-wielding handset arrives in a couple of weeks.

It’s the return of BlackBerry, and while we first saw a hint of that return in late January, that model – the Z10 – was a purely touchscreen phone, and that’s not the BlackBerry we know and love.

No, the BlackBerry we remember built itself upon devices sporting some of the best miniature physical button-based keyboards ever created, and with that in mind, the brand is about to unleash the Q10.

A new handset, this model will also feature a touchscreen, albeit a smaller one than the Z10′s 4.2 inch display. Rather, the Q10 will show a 3.1 inch display with a resolution like HD on one measurement but not in the other, displaying 720dpi with roughly 330 pixels per inch as the aspect ratio, higher than the iPhone 5.

The physical keyboard is here, though, as well as 16GB storage, an 8 megapixel rear camera with 1080p Full HD recording, a microSD slot, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, and support for 4G LTE.

“We are excited to be working with our partners to bring the first BlackBerry 10 smartphone with a QWERTY keyboard to customers in Australia,” said BlackBerry’s Matthew Ball, Managing Director for the Australian division of the company. “The BlackBerry Q10 smartphone offers customers the power and performance of the BlackBerry 10 platform in a signature BlackBerry design.”

Telstra and Optus have signed up to be the carriers supporting this model, with Optus grabbing it on July 1, Telstra on July 2, and retailers Harvey Norman and JB HiFi adding to the mix to let you pick it up from their stores, too.

Pricing hasn’t yet been announced, but BlackBerry has said that the handset – which is available in black only – will be available on “competitive pricing plans.”

The words “budget” and “high-speed” rarely go together, but LG is looking to change all of that, with a smartphone that offers both with a premium name. Packing in 4G, a quarter-HD IPS screen, 5 megapixel camera, and $299 price, is this the best in class for budget buyers?

Features

The first product from LG to sit in the Optimus “F” line-up, this handset looks to provide elements from both the inexpensive L series and the flagship G series devices. Sitting in between both, you’ll find slightly better specs than the L series, but not as high quality materials used for construction in the G.

As such, the Optimus F5 P875 includes a dual-core 1.2GHz processor running 1GB RAM, down from the quad-core and 2GB inside the Optimus G. Aside for the chassis – which is based in plastic and glass – that’s pretty much what the difference is between an “F” and a “G” in the LG Optimus line, and as a result, most of the other specs are close to being the same.

There’s the version of Android, which is 4.1 “Jelly Bean” with LG’s own overlay touches which stick pretty close to the design Google has put forth, as well as connection options such as Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n, DLNA, and Near-Field Communication (NFC).

Storage is a little lower than in the G, with 8GB inside ready for you to use, but comes with the bonus of a microSD slot for expanding it considerably, something the Optimus G lacks with its all-in-one design.

The screen is a touch smaller, with a 4.3 inch qHD (960×540) compared to the 4.7 inch HD-capable screen (1280×768) of the Optimus G, both supporting In-Plane Switching (IPS) displays which should improve viewing angles. Cameras are here, too, with a 5 megapixel module on the back and a 1.3 megapixel shooter up front.

LG’s Optimus F5 does have one thing over its brother, however, with a little more juice. A fraction, in fact, as the Optimus F hold 2150mAh over the Optimus G’s 2100mAh.

As is typical with most smartphones these days, there are very few buttons or ports, and you’ll find a power button on the left side and volume rocker on the left for the first batch of those, while only a 3.5mm headset jack sits up top and a microUSB charge and data port down below for the last batch. Soft buttons do exist on this handset, the light-up touch buttons with vibrating haptic feedback underneath existing below the frame of the display acting for going back, home, and triggering menu options.

The back panel of the mobile handset can be removed to show the replaceable battery, microSD slot, and the place where your microSIM goes.

The Optimus G on the left compared with the Optimus F on the right.

Performance

Does anyone want a cheap entry into the world of high-speed 4G? That’s the question LG is trying to answer with the Optimus F5, a smartphone that brings the similar qualities over from the flagship G to a different price point.

Aesthetically, it’s a fairly minimalist affair with a simple white front and dark 4.3 inch diagonal screen inside this frame, set out with a silver reflective LG logo up top and three subtle light-up buttons below it all.

The back has a neat semi-holographic pattern printed into the plastic, which reminds us of the treatment LG gave to both the Google Nexus 4 and the Optimus G.

The feel of this handset is soft, smooth, and quite comfortable, and we’re easily reminded of a slightly longer version of what the iPhone would be like if Apple gave up on aluminium and glass, and instead went back to plastic. The edges aren’t easily noticed, and neither is the weight of the handset, which fits comfortably in the both the hand and pocket.

From there, we simply need to switch the phone on and start using it. Do that, and if you’ve ever used another LG Android phone, you’ll be at home.

Geared at camera geeks who take to the streets and bring everything they can with them, Lowepro’s Transit all-weather (AW) series has been designed to make it possible to carry a post-processing solution and the shooting solution with you comfortably, as well as any other bits and pieces you just can’t live without.

“By combining the most revolutionary features of our best-selling camera bags – and then adding the innovative UltraFlex fit system – getting that perfect shot on the move has never been easier,” said Maxwell’s Brendan Lee, Marketing Manager of the company bringing Lowepro gear to Australia.

That UltraFlex system Lee talks about is Lowepro’s velcro-lined padding system (below) inside the backpacks that allows you to change the shape of a backpack to fit all manner of cameras and accessories, and making it possible for a bag normally designed for a digital SLR to support all manner and makes of cameras and lenses quickly and easily.

Outside of the internal camera storage, the bag also features a way of storing a tripod by keeping it connected to the side of the bag, a zippered up rear slot for laptops and tablets, a wrist strap for spreading bag weight over your arm, and an all-weather cover which can protect your gear from the elements.

Lowepro's Transit Sling 250 AW

Two versions of the Transit are available, with the Transit Sling 250 AW featuring only one strap and traditionally going over your shoulder, while the bigger Transit Backpack 350 AW is worn like a traditional backpack and supports more cameras.

Both should be hitting camera stores now, with the Transit Sling 250 AW arriving for $129 RRP, while the Backpack 350 AW comes in at $159.

Lowepro's bigger Transit Backpack 350 AW

Those of you out there with a desire for a proper home theatre might just fall in love with a new piece of technology about to hit the market, as LG shows off the latest innovation in the area: a projector that uses laser light to show a massive image over a short distance.

First shown to the world at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas earlier in the year, LG’s Laser Display is a Full HD projection unit that can send a 100 inch image to a screen sitting only 56 centimetres away, a feat which would normally require several metres of throw.

Using the word “laser” isn’t just a sales gimmick, with the technology employed here running 36 laser diodes able to run at roughly five hours a day for 13 years, producing 25,000 hours of life in economy mode.

This projector also aims to be quiet, running at 20 decibels in economic mode. Normal mode will reduce the life to 20,000 hours, but push noise to 22dB.

While the tech inside the projector is impressive, it also will come with its own screen to use it with.

This display measures 100 inches diagonally and features a very slim bezel, as well as being an anti-reflective screen.

As such, instead of being the traditional white or off-white that regular projection screens are, this one looks closer to black, and is designed to make it possible to see images and videos even when the curtains aren’t drawn.

Demonstrated, when light isn't on the screen, the anti-reflective coating shows up as black.

We’re told that this unit also features a speedy start up time of less than ten seconds, and it also comes with features typical of LG’s other home entertainment products, such as support the Magic Remote, video on demand over LG’s Smart Services, Intel Wireless Display (WiDi), and connectivity options including three HDI, two USB 2.0 ports, one composite, one component, one Ethernet, one optical audio output, and a VGA/RGB input.

Aside for the screen being part of the package, LG will also include a Blu-ray player and Twin HD Tuner Recorder (HR938T) as part of the bundle, offering both BD playback and 1TB TV recording.

“Following our recent unveiling of the 2013 Home Entertainment line-up, we are pleased to bring to market another innovation that will broaden our product offering and give our customers an extra-large screen viewing experience,” said Lambro Skropidis, Marketing General Manager for LG Australia.

“This is a great choice for people who want to create a special home cinema experience at a more accessible price.”

One thing hasn’t been confirmed for this product, however, and that’s 3D, with information as to whether it’s supported missing in action.

Regardless, pricing for the bundle has been set to $8999 when it arrives exclusively at Harvey Norman stores in mid-July, which will bring the biggest screen size within reach to anyone who didn’t want to spend over $10K for that pleasure.

This week, Intel showed its new chips to Australians for the first time, and that means faster laptops with better battery performance are on the way. But what of the older computers? How do you spot the difference, and can you save money buy buying older tech before the new ones come out?

When most of us go shopping for new computers, we don’t really think of the technical names and part numbers for what’s really inside.

And that’s hardly surprising, as only those who need to know are thinking of the speed of the RAM, the write speed of the hard drive, the amount of cells the battery has, and so on and so on.

Most people don’t need to know that sort of stuff, but during the limbo that is chip changeover time, there is one part number you might want to know, and that has to do with the processor inside.

You see, when you’re shopping for a laptop, you generally just see things like “Intel Core i5 processor” or “Intel Core i7 processor” listed on the selling points, and while that could very well be the chip inside, at the moment, there’s a possibility for two distinct generations of those: last year’s third-generation Ivy Bridge or this year’s fourth-generation Haswell chips.

So what is the difference, and how do you spot it?

The answer to the first comes from improvements to the processor and chipset design that cater for around fifty percent more battery life, strengthened graphics, and increases to performance all around, as well as some new multimedia and security features.

That’s in the new fourth-gen Core processors, and while the third-gen chips from 2012 through to this year are still excellent, they are, frankly speaking, old tech.

How you spot it, though, comes from either looking at the box, seeing a better spec sheet, or doing something in Windows on the demo computer.

For products in the new series, they will start with a “4,” while products from last year will — you guessed it — start with a “3″.

This store lists Samsung's ATIV Tab with the Core i5-3337. The first "3" in that four digit number tells you it's third-generation.

Examples of this can be seen in third-gen chips like the Core i5-3317U or Core i7-3537U. That first number after the chip class (“i5″ or “i7″) and then the dash designates the generation. Chips from this year, however, might look like Core i5-4200U or Core i7-4500U.

See the “4″ in that four digit number after the chip class? That tells you it’s a fourth-generation processor.

This product listing shows the Core i5-4200U. The "4" in that four digit code tells you it's a fourth-generation chip, and is therefore new.

Hopefully, the store you go to is being honest, and has put the specs out for you to take a gander at. If they have, just look for the chip model number.

If they haven’t or you’re concerned the store might be doing a dodgy, there’s another way to check:

Simply hit the Windows key and R to activate the “run” command, type in “dxdiag” without the quotes in the dialog box, and run the “DirectX Diagnostic Tool,” which will tell you the chip number.

The current computer this writer uses features a third-generation Core processor, as seen in the DirectX Diagnostic Tool.

Why are we mentioning all of this?

With new laptops and Ultrabooks on the way utilising these new chips, it’s possible that you can get out your bargaining skills and push down the prices of laptops that will be replaced in the next few months.

Retailers themselves will be doing just that themselves, so there’s no reason why you can’t get started ahead of them.

When the web first started, many of us went out and grabbed the first Yahoo usernames and email address. This writer still remembers his, but will admit that he hasn’t used it in a long time. Bad news for us, though, as Yahoo will begin to retire IDs that aren’t in use.

From mid-July, Yahoo will be shutting down old accounts that aren’t used anymore, freeing the usernames up for people who want to send emails, but also are thinking of creating Tumblr accounts with these names, since Yahoo now owns the microblogging platform.

Stopping Yahoo from retiring a user ID is pretty easy, mind you, and only requires a login, although we’re not sure how many times you’ll need to do this per year.

Right now, Yahoo is asking people who want to keep their names to login before July 15. Do that, and you’re safe.

Don’t and you’ll find your username might not be yours ever again.

Last night at the launch of Intel’s fourth-generation Core processors, we certainly saw some interesting pieces of tech. There were big tablets, little tablets, and claims of battery life that were able to reach over nine hours. And then there was a line of computers turning everyone’s head, because it looks like someone has finally made a good and proper MacBook Air killer.

Apple’s Air has long been the Ultrabook to tango with. Not technically classed as Intel’s “Ultrabook” specification, the computer is a thin and light masterful piece of kit, and has been a favourite of many a reviewer and consumer. And why not: it’s light, elegant, and features a solid amount of battery life.

PC manufacturers have for a while been trying to compete with the Air, though, and there have been some notable machines in that time. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1. Samsung’s 13 inch Series 9. Even Acer’s Aspire S7 got close, but didn’t quite nail the battery life.

Now, there’s a new machine in town, and like the recently announced 4th-generation Core equipped MacBook Air, it too is already in stores, arriving before most of the competition. Like the Air, it’s sleek, well designed, and sports the tech to make it a true competitor, but it also comes with some features that go above and beyond the call of Apple, and that alone is impressive.

This is Sony’s VAIO Pro, and while the phrase “you have to see it to believe it” can usually apply to pretty much anything, the phrase has never been more true of a product.

It’s a small laptop, sure, but it’s a laptop with a touchscreen, as one of the core features of Intel’s fourth-gen chips is support for touch, and Sony is saying that touchscreens will come with every fourth-gen Core device from here on in.

We’ve seen laptops with touchscreen before, but we haven’t seen laptops with triluminos displays. For those that aren’t aware, this is the same colour gamut widening technology that Sony is throwing into its very high end TVs, including the 4K Ultra High Definition displays that sit in the 55, 65, and 84 inch sizes.

Employed with either an 11 or 13 inch In-Plane Switching (IPS) touchscreen delivering Full HD (1920×1080) resolution, this promises more solid colours that appear to be more real, wider dynamic range, and in general, a better picture altogether.

A difference in colours with the VAIO Pro on the left and the MacBook Air on the right.

Eyes on yesterday, and that’s exactly what we saw, the comparison made between the VAIO Pro’s direct competitor, the aforementioned MacBook Air. While we look forward to doing our own testing, the screen looked impressive enough by itself.

But the screen is just one feature in a laptop that looks to have been designed and priced well from the get go.

We could list specs for you – Intel Core i5 fourth-generation “Haswell” processors, 128GB solid-state drives in either SATA or PCI-express (faster than SATA) setups, 4GB RAM – but that probably doesn’t interest you.

What will, though, is the design, and with a carbon fibre chassis that is insanely light, neither of these laptops goes anywhere near the current crop of thin and light computers.

In fact, the 13 inch barely nudges over a kilogram at 1.06 kilos, while the 11 inch model — which packs practically the same tech into a smaller form-factor — weighs 870 grams, just over 200 grams more than an iPad.

Pretty snazzy, and those weights (or lack thereof) are insanely noticeable when you pick either up, making us believe they won’t hurt the back much at all.

Battery life is expected to hit roughly seven hours for the 11 inch model and nine for the 13, but these can be doubled with a battery pack that plugs in from the bottom and should retail for under $300.

There’s another area we’re intrigued to see Sony working on with its Pro laptop, and that’s the battery pack.

A pet peeve of ours, we’re constantly dismayed when manufacturers decide not to change the basic brick formula that’s out there, with only Apple, Asus, and Samsung moving away from the stock standard brick.

Sony can now join that group with its new laptops, providing a power brick that not only features a USB port to charge your devices, but also a wireless access point that plugs in over the brick’s USB port and offers a way to distribute network access while the laptop charges.

A neat idea, this is specifically aimed at travellers who use their hotel’s wired networking specifically aimed at with this accessory.

Indeed, this looks to be one impressive piece of kit, and for once, we’re seeing a manufacturer put the pricing squarely against Apple, and not just slightly above it, which is good to see, also.

We’re looking immensely forward to reviewing this one, as it looks like Sony might have nailed the Ultrabook PC formula.

Fresh off the back of the launch at Computex in Taipei last week, Intel has launched the next generation of its processors, and carrying benefits such as fifty percent more battery life and the hint of touch in every new laptop, there’s a lot for consumers to be happy about.

Every year, we see some exciting developments from processor makers about how computers are going to be better than ever, and this year is no exception.

With Intel moving past the bridges that previously codenamed second and third generation processors (Sandy Bridge for 2nd, Ivy Bridge for 3rd), we’re now onto Haswell.

So what’s in store for this new generation?

Aside for a new set of chip model numbers that bring with “4″ (and that’s your dead giveaway to work out what you’re looking at), the new processors have been designed with up to 1.4 billion transistors packed into the tiny space.

These bits that make up the chip are so small, that apparently when viewed under a very, very strong microscope, you can see a measurement of three atoms across each. That’s super small.

Put together and designed with a bunch of know how, Intel has created a line of processors that not only promises greater performance, but also stronger graphics capabilities, better battery life, and the compact size that means this technology can be thrown into devices with smaller form-factors.

“It’s a fundamental reinvention of the transistor,” said Gregory Bryant, Intel’s Vice President of the Sales and Marketing Group and General Manager for Intel in the Asia Pacific region.

“It’s a new architecture, a new level of integration that really enables it to work well in these devices.”

The Haswell-equipped Sony VAIO Duo 13.

The devices in question are laptops, desktops, all-in-ones, and the hybrids we began to see with Windows 8 that combine the tablet and laptop form-factors together. This area, which Intel calls the “2-in-1″ is expected to dominate in the near future, as laptops become tablets and tablets become better machines overall.

One way this will happen stems from Intel’s increase of battery life, with standby time pushed to over a week in new laptops, and real-time use increased by roughly fifty percent. Laptops that previously only managed four hours can now reach six and higher, while computers that once offered six hours of high definition movie playback could now hit nine.

That’s the work on the chip, and it’s a feature we’re excited to see in action, as all day life is a dream of many a computer user.

“It is the biggest generation over generation increase on battery life in the company,” said Bryant at the launch this week.

“It’s not five percent better,” he added. “When you say fifty percent better, the average consumer is going to notice.”

Alienware's new laptops are designed for gamers.

Graphics are also important, and with support for 4K TVs built into the new chipsets, consumers who can afford the high-end TVs will be able to play back media and video games on their big screens.

Gamers will also appreciate the work made to the graphics, and the new system — now called Iris and Iris Pro, not just HD graphics like before — will mean modern gaming is possible on an Ultrabook without needing a discrete graphics chip that draws from the battery heavily.

While graphics and battery are among the big features, there are also little additions that consumers will appreciate, such as the voice control to let you command your computer, anti-theft security features, USB 3.0 support, possibilities for Thunderbolt, and native Intel wireless display (WiDi) across the platform.

The new Intel chips will arrive even in the 8 inch form-factor.

Already, manufacturers are getting ready for the new chips, and though it will no doubt take time for all the new machines to hit the shelf, you can expect them within the next two to three months.

Some of these will arrive as early as next week, such as Sony’s new VAIO and Duo Pro range, which look to be very impressive.

HP's Rove

HP showed us a quick look at its Rove concept, which provided a 20 inch portable tablet that doubles as a full computer that can be used flat or stood up on its stand.

It’s a neat idea, and one which looks suitable for families as a computer that can go from room to room easily, running on battery power if need be.

Acer's easel-hinged R7

Acer had two machines that grabbed us on display, with the R7 concept with its unique easel hinge, and the 8 inch Windows 8 tablet, which will initially see a third-gen Intel release in Australia, followed by fourth-gen later in the year.

Asus had more laptops on show which looked to match the mid-to-high end, as did Toshiba, and it was neat to see Alienware’s gaming systems, which are built to look amazing and feature more light up gaming goodness than ever before.

Asus laptops with fourth-gen processors.

If you have to have the most memory, the fastest graphics, more light-up colours, oh and a copy of Windows 7, Alienware will have you down.

Even LG’s recently announced Ultrabook will see a move to Haswell, though there’s no timeframe as to when that will happen.

LG's 2013 Ultrabook

All up, it’s an exciting time, and if you were holding off from buying a new machine because of what you heard, you probably did the right thing.

Now, to decide just which is the best computer…

Good things come to those who wait, and if you’re a gamer and remember the visual awesomeness that was DICE’s “Mirror’s Edge,” you’ve probably been wanting a sequel. Well, here’s the good news: something is coming.

But where ever there’s good news, bad news follows.

That bad news is that, while it’s coming soon, that soon is probably off in the distance and at least a year away.

Punch!

Electronic Arts and DICE do have a trailer for the futuristic parkour action game, though, and the in-game footage looks very, very nice. We can’t wait.

It’s not a sequel, but rather a “reboot,” and will only come to the next-gen platforms (Xbox One, PS4) and the PC, so if you’re sitting there with a 360 and hoping for the new run-jump-punchspectacular that is Mirror’s Edge, think again.

For now, though, check the trailer above to see what the new title will look like. We’re already hyped.

Mirror's Edge. Coming eventually.