Microsoft and Nokia finally tying the knot on April 25th

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Let the wedding bells ring! Microsoft announced this morning that it finally has something we've been curious about since September: the actual date the company will complete its proposed acquisition of Nokia's devices and services business. In a blog post, Microsoft's General Counsel Brad Smith explained that all of the legal hurdles have been cleared and that the merger will officially take place this Friday, April 25th. "We look forward to introducing the next billion customers to Microsoft services via Nokia mobile phones," Smith said.

Microsoft will manage the Nokia.com domain and the company's social media presence for up to a year, and former Nokia CEO Stephen Elop will be in charge of Microsoft's devices group, reporting directly to CEO Satya Nadella. Aside from this, Microsoft has been pretty tight-lipped on details about what the post-acquisition world will be like, mainly due to legal restrictions. After this Friday, however, we hope the company will open up a bit more about what we can expect going forward.

You can now pay for your Domino's Pizza with Google Wallet

Domino's has already made it pretty easy to order your favorite pizza using your smartphone, but today things are getting even simpler for US Android device owners. Today the company confirmed that it's added Google Wallet to the list of supported payment types in its Android app, allowing you to complete an order using the same details you'd typically download apps or rent movies with. If app-based ordering wasn't already affecting your impulse spending, dispatching a deep dish with even fewer screen presses might be a blessing or a curse.

iOS 8 release date, screenshots, features, news and rumours for new iPhone 6 and iPhone 5 operating system

A new version of Apple's iOS operating system is in the works and is set to launch alongside the iPhone 6 later this year. Reports suggest that while it will look a lot like iOS 7 a host of new features will bring it bang up to date. A new version of Siri, new health apps, improved Apple Maps, support for iTunes Radio in the UK, more TouchID features and much more besides are all expected for iOS 8.

We're keeping an eye on all the latest iOS 8 rumours and will be regularly updating this page.

iOS 8 features - what will iOS 8 look like?

A lot like iOS 7. Apple won't want to rock the boat too much after it made wholesale changes last time out. Expect the same icons, the same layout with most the changes being made behind the scenes or on features like Siri. Also expect some new apps from Apple – more on that later.

The most credible iOS 8 leaked image to date (not that there's much competition) is this one nabbed from Chinese social network Weibo.

It looks an awful lot like iOS7, with the same layout and the same apps and icons. Three new apps caught our attention: Healthbook, Preview, TextEdit and Tips. While we're dubious about the authenticity of this leaked image, one new feature that seems certain for iOS 8 is a big tie-in with fitness.

A mocked-up video on YouTube suggests that Apple should make notifications more interactive in iOS 8. The video shows someone receiving a text message, tapping Reply and composing a message before the notification zooms off the screen. This would certainly be an improvement on the current, somewhat clunky implementation of notifications in iOS 7.

Siri on iOS 8

Siri could see more changes than any other aspect of iOS 8. Apple has been busy acquiring speech recognition firm Novauris and it is very likely that Siri will get a major update. Novauris might not be a recognisable name, but the company was formed out of Dragon Systems and has a long history in dictation and speech recognition.

The company claims its technology "identifies complete phrases from start to finish" rather than recognising words in sequence. This reportedly makes the technology more accurate.

One of Siri's biggest failings is its lack of support for third-party apps. While it is well integrated into iOS 7 and select apps such as Facebook and Twitter, it can only work with other apps if Apple does some legwork to add support. That's a major stumbling block and something that will hopefully be fixed in iOS 8. Expect the updated version of Siri to be smarter, quicker and be able to understand a huge range of commands for just about any apps on iOS 8.

iOS 8 release date

September is the best guess, but we could get a sneak peak of iOS 8 at WWDC in June. A September release would also mean that iOS 8 will launch at the same time as the iPhone 6. This would certainly follow the trend of Apple's past iOS launches.

Will iOS 8 be available for the iPhone 5?

Yes, almost certainly. But you might not get iOS 8 if you have an iPhone 4 or 4S, or an older iPad.

When iOS 7 was released it supported the iPhone 4, iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s. It also supported the 5th generation iPod Touch and the iPad 2, 3rd generation iPad, 4th generation iPad, iPad Mini, iPad Air and iPad Mini 2. It might be the case that Apple will not release an iOS 8 update for the iPhone 4 and iPad 2 as both devices are now old and slow compared to more recently released Apple devices.

iOS 8 health and fitness apps

With the much-rumoured iWatch in the works, it is expected that iOS 8 will also have lots of health and fitness features. Samsung has already stolen a march on with the Gear 2 and Apple will be keen to catch up. Apple is reportedly working on an app called Healthbook, which will have a similar interface to its Passbook app. Healthbook will work in a similar way to a lot of other health and fitness trackers and measure steps taken, calories burned, distance travelled and weight loss.

Speculation has also suggested that the new Healthbook app will be able to track blood pressure, blood sugar, heart rate, hydration and respiratory rate. The iPhone doesn't currently have sensors that can detect this sort of information and it seems unlikely that the iPhone 6 will be able to do the job. That makes it even more likely that the iWatch will be packed with tech to track and monitor your body.

Mobile payments on iPhone 6 and iOS 8

With TouchID and Passbook already available, Apple is reportedly working hard to replace your wallet with your iPhone. Apple has reportedly met with key industry executives to discuss paying for physical goods and services using iPhones and iPads, while long-time Apple exec Jennifer Bailey has moved into a new role to build a payment system for iOS.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple has already developed and then dumped a wallet app over concerns of implementing it with retailers. Speculation is now mounting that Apple will launch such an app for iOS8 and couple it with TouchID and other authentication technology and sensors to make mobile payments for physical products more secure and widely used.

iTunes Radio finally coming to UK in iOS 8?

Apple's Spotify and Google Play Music All Access competitor is already available in the USA and it should finally be coming to the UK, possibly in iOS 8. Apple has been meeting with media agencies in the UK to arrange advertising deals to fund iTunes Radio and it surely won't be long before it launches.

Like Spotify, iTunes Radio plays music interspersed with audio and display advertising unless you pay for the 'premium' version. If iTunes Radio doesn't come to the UK in the next few months, it is a certainty for iOS 8.

iOS 8 release date, screenshots, features, news and rumours for new iPhone 6 and iPhone 5 operating system

A new version of Apple's iOS operating system is in the works and is set to launch alongside the iPhone 6 later this year. Reports suggest that while it will look a lot like iOS 7 a host of new features will bring it bang up to date. A new version of Siri, new health apps, improved Apple Maps, support for iTunes Radio in the UK, more TouchID features and much more besides are all expected for iOS 8.

We're keeping an eye on all the latest iOS 8 rumours and will be regularly updating this page.

iOS 8 features - what will iOS 8 look like?

A lot like iOS 7. Apple won't want to rock the boat too much after it made wholesale changes last time out. Expect the same icons, the same layout with most the changes being made behind the scenes or on features like Siri. Also expect some new apps from Apple – more on that later.

The most credible iOS 8 leaked image to date (not that there's much competition) is this one nabbed from Chinese social network Weibo.

It looks an awful lot like iOS7, with the same layout and the same apps and icons. Three new apps caught our attention: Healthbook, Preview, TextEdit and Tips. While we're dubious about the authenticity of this leaked image, one new feature that seems certain for iOS 8 is a big tie-in with fitness.

A mocked-up video on YouTube suggests that Apple should make notifications more interactive in iOS 8. The video shows someone receiving a text message, tapping Reply and composing a message before the notification zooms off the screen. This would certainly be an improvement on the current, somewhat clunky implementation of notifications in iOS 7.

Siri on iOS 8

Siri could see more changes than any other aspect of iOS 8. Apple has been busy acquiring speech recognition firm Novauris and it is very likely that Siri will get a major update. Novauris might not be a recognisable name, but the company was formed out of Dragon Systems and has a long history in dictation and speech recognition.

The company claims its technology "identifies complete phrases from start to finish" rather than recognising words in sequence. This reportedly makes the technology more accurate.

One of Siri's biggest failings is its lack of support for third-party apps. While it is well integrated into iOS 7 and select apps such as Facebook and Twitter, it can only work with other apps if Apple does some legwork to add support. That's a major stumbling block and something that will hopefully be fixed in iOS 8. Expect the updated version of Siri to be smarter, quicker and be able to understand a huge range of commands for just about any apps on iOS 8.

iOS 8 release date

September is the best guess, but we could get a sneak peak of iOS 8 at WWDC in June. A September release would also mean that iOS 8 will launch at the same time as the iPhone 6. This would certainly follow the trend of Apple's past iOS launches.

Will iOS 8 be available for the iPhone 5?

Yes, almost certainly. But you might not get iOS 8 if you have an iPhone 4 or 4S, or an older iPad.

When iOS 7 was released it supported the iPhone 4, iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s. It also supported the 5th generation iPod Touch and the iPad 2, 3rd generation iPad, 4th generation iPad, iPad Mini, iPad Air and iPad Mini 2. It might be the case that Apple will not release an iOS 8 update for the iPhone 4 and iPad 2 as both devices are now old and slow compared to more recently released Apple devices.

iOS 8 health and fitness apps

With the much-rumoured iWatch in the works, it is expected that iOS 8 will also have lots of health and fitness features. Samsung has already stolen a march on with the Gear 2 and Apple will be keen to catch up. Apple is reportedly working on an app called Healthbook, which will have a similar interface to its Passbook app. Healthbook will work in a similar way to a lot of other health and fitness trackers and measure steps taken, calories burned, distance travelled and weight loss.

Speculation has also suggested that the new Healthbook app will be able to track blood pressure, blood sugar, heart rate, hydration and respiratory rate. The iPhone doesn't currently have sensors that can detect this sort of information and it seems unlikely that the iPhone 6 will be able to do the job. That makes it even more likely that the iWatch will be packed with tech to track and monitor your body.

Mobile payments on iPhone 6 and iOS 8

With TouchID and Passbook already available, Apple is reportedly working hard to replace your wallet with your iPhone. Apple has reportedly met with key industry executives to discuss paying for physical goods and services using iPhones and iPads, while long-time Apple exec Jennifer Bailey has moved into a new role to build a payment system for iOS.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple has already developed and then dumped a wallet app over concerns of implementing it with retailers. Speculation is now mounting that Apple will launch such an app for iOS8 and couple it with TouchID and other authentication technology and sensors to make mobile payments for physical products more secure and widely used.

iTunes Radio finally coming to UK in iOS 8?

Apple's Spotify and Google Play Music All Access competitor is already available in the USA and it should finally be coming to the UK, possibly in iOS 8. Apple has been meeting with media agencies in the UK to arrange advertising deals to fund iTunes Radio and it surely won't be long before it launches.

Like Spotify, iTunes Radio plays music interspersed with audio and display advertising unless you pay for the 'premium' version. If iTunes Radio doesn't come to the UK in the next few months, it is a certainty for iOS 8.

Shocking! Nokia stops European sales of Lumia 2520 tablet

Nokia has pulled its Luma 2520 tablet from sale in Europe with immediate effect. The Windows 8 device has been yanked over fears that its charger could give users an electric shock.

The risk comes specifically from the device's AC-300 mobile charger with Nokia warning users to "suspend use of the charger until further notice".

Nokia said the fault isn't with the tablet itself, but only with the charger. Nokia issued a statement on its website for all users in Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Russia, Switzerland and the UK urging them not to use the faulty charger.

The announcement explained that a shock risk is also thought to apply to the device's travel charger on sale in the United States. That accessory has also been removed from sale, along with an EU travel charger.

Nokia confirmed that no injuries or shocks have been reported so far but said there was a risk to consumers.

Jo Harlow, Nokia's executive vice-president of smart devices, said:

"While there have been no confirmed consumer incidents related to this potential quality issue, product quality and safety are top priorities at Nokia."

Nokia has assured users that no other devices or chargers are affected. Around 30,000 chargers in the EU and a further 30,000 are affected by the fault. As the AC-300 charger is designed exclusively for the 2520 all other Nokia devices and chargers can be used as normal.

Sony VAIO Fit multi-flip 11 review - hands on

Sony's VAIO Fit Multi-Flip hybrid laptop has been around for almost half a year in its 13in, 14in and 15in guises, but the company still clearly thinks the range has room to grow - it announced an even more compact 11in model at this year's CES show. We took a closer look at the VAIO Fit multi-flip 11 back in Blighty to see whether a flippable screen works better in a compact ultra-portable.

With the same brushed metal palm rest and lid as the rest of the range, the VAIO Fit multi-flip 11 is practically indistinguishable from the Flip 13, 14 and 15 in all but size. It might use polycarbonate plastics for the rest of the chassis but it still felt sturdy when we picked it up, despite being incredibly light - it rivals the unibodyMacBook Air in terms of portability.

The Flip 11's party trick is its display, which can be unlocked from traditional laptop mode and flipped over (hence the name) into a tablet for easier touchscreen control or a freestanding viewer for watching films or giving presentations. The locking mechanism doesn't re-lock when you return the screen to laptop mode, meaning the next time you go to open the lid you could accidentally flip the screen instead.

The display itself has a gorgeous 1080p panel that uses Sony's own Triluminos colour technology; combined with excellent viewing angles thanks to an IPS panel, photos had plenty of pop along with ample detail.

Sony's familiar Chiclet keyboard makes an appearance here, complete with white LED backlighting to make working in the dark a little easier. Unsurprisingly given the size of the machine the keys aren't full size, but we were still able to tap out a few lines without making any spelling errors - the gaps between each key work in its favour so you shouldn't have too many typos once you've adjusted to the more compact layout.

The touchpad felt a little cramped and didn't respond to some of the more common multi-touch gestures, although we didn't have time to check whether this was because they had been disabled in software. At least the 10-point capacitive touchscreen was responsive. You can use your fingers or Sony's capacitive stylus, which detects multiple pressure levels and deactivates other inputs, letting you lean on the screen without bumping the cursor around the screen.

Connectivity is limited, as it is with most Ultrabooks. You get two USB3 ports, an HDMI video output, 3.5mm headset audio jack and a multiformat card reader, although Bluetooth and NFC support make connecting wireless peripherals a lot simpler. An 8-megapixel Exmor camera sensor on the back should take reasonable photos in good light, although we weren't able to properly test the feature during our brief hands-on.

The model on display during Sony's hands on event was powered by an Intel Celeron processor paired with 4GB of RAM and the 64-bit version of Windows 8.1, although more powerful CPUs and more memory can be added before you buy.

The VAIO Fit multi-flip 11 will be available exclusively through Sony's Configure to Order service here in the UK when it arrives around April. Hopefully Sony will also put a few demonstration models in stores too, as we think you need to at least try the compact keyboard before you make a buying decision. Otherwise a starting price of around £799 makes it a compelling alternative to the 11in MacBook Air, if you're looking for something that can also double as a tablet.

Lenovo expands Flex hybrid laptop family with Full HD Flex 2 models

Lenovo has announced it will be introducing two new laptops to its Flex range of budget hybrids.

Known collectively as the Flex 2, the laptop will be available in both 14in and 15.6in models and will come with the Flex's unique 300 degree hinge. This lets the laptop fold in half to transform it from an ordinary laptop into a kind of a makeshift stand to make it easier to use the touchscreen. A backlit keyboard will be optional.

We quite liked the original Flex 15 when we reviewed it earlier this year, but the Flex 2 will improve on its predecessors in several key areas. One of the biggest changes comes in the form of brighter 1,920x1,080 screens, which will be available on selected models. The laptop's hardware will also be more powerful, ranging right up to fourth generation Core i7 processors and discrete Nvidia GeForce graphics chips.

The Flex 2 will be available with AMD hardware as well. Users will be able to choose from models with AMD Radeon R5 M230 discrete graphics chips, and the 15in version of the Flex 2 will have AMD APU's ranging all the way up to A8 chips with on-chip Radeon graphics.

As for storage, Lenovo has said the Flex 2 will have three different configuations: up to a 1TB hard disk, a 1TB hybrid SSHD, or a 256GB SSD.

These higher end models will no doubt stray from the traditionally entry-level prices of the previous Flex laptops we've tested, but Lenovo has said that the lower-end models will start with prices of just £299.99 for the 14in model and £349.99 for the 15.6in model, making the Flex 2 one of the cheapest hybrid laptops around.

Due to launch at the beginning of June, we'll bring you our final verdict as soon as we get hold of review samples.