10 tips for testing apps for the real world

10 Things 10 tips for testing apps for the real world

Takeaway: Today's apps are being used in situations and environments that traditional testing methods never anticipated.

The beauty of Internet-enabled applications is that it's easy to add value with rich media, real-time monitoring, and other features. But with this flexibility comes new responsibilities for testing the "goodness" of applications in real-time situations. For instance, if employees are using mobile devices powered by Internet, app developers can no longer assume a stable in-office environment in which their applications will be used. Instead, they might have to consider whether an app will be used in a moving car, or in temperatures below freezing. This conflicts with present IT application testing methodology, which usually doesn't go far enough to test for environmentals and usability. As a result, IT can miss the boat in its testing strategy and find itself doing much more work in app maintenance.

Here are 10 things to consider if you are developing apps that have to function with outside "things," –environments and usability challenges that you can't readily foresee in your test lab.

1: Think about how people will use the application

An application that comes packaged on a consumer-grade laptop or notebook for a police squad car will not withstand the rigors of high-speed chases and constant bangs and knocks. Part of the application testing strategy, if you are developing for situations like this, should include the testing of the robustness of the device itself in adverse operating conditions. If you fail to include the device in your test plan, the app might be great — but it might also crash at a critical moment if the end device fails.

2: Consider environmental conditions

It doesn't do anyone any good if an end user tries to place a consumer-grade device in a freezer to monitor temperatures. Ruggedized handheld devices are especially designed for work in extreme cold conditions. This is a case where it is important to know the environments that users are going to use their mobile devices in — which again, makes it essential to include the device as well as the app in your test plan.

3: Develop a comprehensive test plan with a checklist for usability as well as for app features and functions

Eighty percent of end user acceptance of an app comes down to usability (over features and functions). Yet interestingly, an IT test plan is usually the reverse (80 percent features/functions and 20 percent usability). I once redesigned an app that had been sitting on the shelf at a company for more than two years because it had an unfriendly user interface. Once we pared away two-thirds of the interface (and reduced the features-functions set to make the app less complex), the uptake by users was almost immediate.

4: Actively engage users in testing

Engaging users in testing (especially for usability and fit for environment) ensures that there are no surprises from the user side when the app goes into production. It also ensures user signoff and buy-in for the app and an ongoing collaborative relationship with the end business unit as you enhance the app over time.

5: Engage users up front in app design

Many IT application developers now get users involved at the very beginning of application design, especially when it comes to designing the application interface. It's a good practice, because it provides a working blueprint of user interface requirements that your test plan can be linked into. It also puts the users (and not IT) in charge of designing the "look" of the app.

6: Prototype

As soon as developers have a working model of an app, they should sit down with end users and demonstrate both the user interface and how data flows into and out of the interface. These demo sessions should be short and iterative (as more pieces of the app are completed), and they should occur often. Doing this will ensure that the app continues to track true to user requirements. These regular prototype reviews will significantly shorten QA and final test times.

7: Build scalability into your app — and test for it

Especially for Internet and mobile devices, app add-ons such as rich media should be anticipated to grow. Your design plan should anticipate this (e.g., scalability for storage, CPU, bandwidth) — and your test plan should test for it. By sizing for future expansion, you can avoid costly app redesign.

8: Include security and lockdown

Data encryption, conformance with security standards, and locate and lockdown ability when devices get lost are all important test points for mobile devices. IT usually gets the first two, but the locate and lockdown is often missed. It shouldn't be. Thirty billion dollars worth of mobile devices were lost last year.

9: Use standard APIs for app interfaces

One of the worst nightmares for application integration (and almost all apps are integrated with various data repositories, other apps, etc.) is the development of custom interfaces that have to be changed over time — and which in turn create maintenance work on every other app they touch. You can save a lot of time in regression testing by sticking with standard APIs.

10: Make testing everybody's business

We've already talked about getting end users engaged in final checkout and in intermediate checkouts. But it's also good to include input (and checkout) from the help desk, which understands as well as anyone in IT what the constant user pain points are. It's also a good idea to split your QA team into two camps: one side that tests the app for technical "goodness" and a second side that tests for usability and overall "fit" for the business and the end user's work environment.

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SF top city in Businessweek.com ranking

SF top city in Businessweek.com ranking:

SF top city in Businessweek.com ranking

Though numbering fewer than a million people, the city packs in so much - from world-class restaurants and museums to community fairs and music festivals, a large educated class, and an improving economy - that many proud San Franciscans will tell you that its finish at the top of Businessweek.com's 2012 best cities ranking is well-earned.

The 2012 rankings placed greater emphasis on leisure amenities than last year's, using figures from data company Onboard Informatics and the nonprofit Trust for Public Land.

San Francisco, for instance, had the highest score for education, ranked sixth for leisure, and placed in the top 20 for economic factors and air quality.

In addition to the usual plethora of food trucks, restaurants, bars and parks, the city also hosts an endless stream of events, including an annual jazz festival, a literary festival, and a number of fairs in the month of October alone.

While cultural institutions such as the de Young Museum may house famous works, the city also tries to bring art to all its residents.

(Via SF Gate BayArea)

Drive-by Wi-Fi: Staying connected on the road

MacWorld News Drive-by Wi-Fi: Staying connected on the road

Once upon a time, it was a real adventure to try to find Wi-Fi as you tooled about the countryside in (or on) your vehicle of choice. Snagging free Wi-Fi was even harder. These days, however, local and national merchants are competing to draw customers in by providing wireless service, and chances are good that you'll find a source of free Wi-Fi at any freeway exit or town. But you can still save a lot of time if you know where to look, and the best places for Wi-Fi might surprise you.

Want fries with that?

You're probably aware of some of the national chains that usually have free Wi-Fi (and are typically close to highway exits), such as Denny's, Dunkin' Donuts, Hooters, and Starbucks. Other chains offer the service, too, and I found that a large number of the local businesses at the end of the freeway off-ramp now provide free Wi-Fi as well. Usually Wi-Fi is prominently advertised, so you won't have to look too hard.

McDonald's is your Wi-Fi friend on the road. Image: Jon L. Jacobi

Although it might rub some foodies the wrong way, the most prevalent free wireless throughout the country is found at McDonald's. Personally, I think McFries (in moderation) are one of the best things ever created, but the fast food giant's embrace of Wi-Fi ranks right up there too. In my cross-country travels, I found that at McDonald's you usually can get online access simply by clicking through a portal page, but on occasion you might have to ask an employee for a password. Coverage is also quite good in the drive-through and in parking-lot spaces that are close to the building.

Far less consistently, I've been able to find free Wi-Fi at other off-the-interstate places such as Sam's Club and Walmart, and at local shopping malls (no doubt to pacify bored husbands waiting for their wives outside the shops). You can also find free Wi-Fi at many auto-repair shops, where customers typically endure a lengthy wait.

Draft that semi

Travel America now offers for-pay Wi-Fi service at all of its truck stops and travel centers.

No, don't pull up directly behind one of these beasts, where a disintegrating retread could ruin your day (or worse). Just notice where they stop. Large truck-stop chains such as Flying J, Love's, Pilot, and TA are another reliable source of Wi-Fi, catering to a new breed of trucker who operates his business almost completely online. In most cases you'll have to pay for the service, but you can easily scrape up in change the $2 that an hour of Wi-Fi will cost you, and the service is usually pretty fast.

Truck stops and 'travel stops' are good places to find free Wi-Fi. Image: Jon L. Jacobi

If you don't need fast Wi-Fi, you can find a Mickey D's or some other fast food chain nearby for a free (if a little slower) connection. So don't resign yourself to the pay service immediately.

Independent truck stops usually feature free Wi-Fi as a way of drawing truckers away from the large chains, and auto-oriented stops often have it as well.

Motels and hotels

Another place to find free Wi-Fi is in the parking lot of a motel or hotel. Since such places are in the business of selling convenience, they frequently leave their networks unprotected, so you can just drive in and connect. I've even pulled up and used a motel's Wi-Fi to book a room at the Internet rate, which is sometimes lower than the rate available at the front desk.

Even if the network is password protected, the friendlier locales will often provide a password if you ask nicely and explain why you need it. With some people relying on mapping software on their phones, tablets, and other devices these days, saying you need to figure out where you're going is a decent excuse. Just remember that some businesses may block certain sites, like Facebook, to prevent their employees from wasting time at work.

For a number of years, one of the best places to find free Wi-Fi has been the public library. You might have to ask for a passcode, but many times not. Years ago I parked next to one in Alabama at 11 p.m., and got online just fine.

Mind your Wi-Fi karma

Most roadside stops don't mind your using a small amount of their bandwidth for a short period of time if it's for a good reason. Just remember that someone else is paying for what you are using, so it's good practice to go inside and give your wireless benefactor a little patronage—buy some fries, coffee, gas, or whatever the business happens to be selling. Call it good Wi-Fi karma: You'll be helping to ensure that the Wi-Fi will remain available and free for the next person.

Wi-Fi finder apps

Apps for both Android and iOS, such as JiWire's Free Wi-Fi Finder, can tell you where to grab free Wi-Fi. The catch is that you need at least a marginal data connection to use them, and their coverage is rather urban-centric.

JiWire's free Wi-Fi finder app. Image: JiWire

WeFi Pro runs in the background of your Android device, connecting automatically to the strongest available open Wi-Fi network. It logs in and reconnects automatically, even turning your device's Wi-Fi feature on if it's off.

WiFi Manager lists available connections, as well as their signal strength and security status. It also displays the channel each network is using so that you can choose a network that isn't stepping on others. (Networks in close proximity running on the same channel may create interference.)

Most users can do just fine with the Wi-Fi utilities built into the operating system of their device.

Last but not least, if you really want to get the most from your Wi-Fi-enabled devices while you're exploring the scenic beauty that's to be found across the United States, turn those gadgets off and leave them in the trunk. You may miss them for a day, but you'll soon experience the curious sense of freedom that comes with a life unburdened by the need for constant communications.

http://www.techhive.com/article/2010303/drive-by-wi-fi-staying-connected-on-the-road.html

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Troubleshoot your wireless network with Wi-Fi Diagnostics | Macworld

Troubleshoot your wireless network with Wi-Fi Diagnostics | Macworld
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Troubleshoot your wireless network with Wi-Fi Diagnostics

Glenn Fleishman @GlennF

Glenn FleishmanSenior Contributor

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Glenn Fleishman writes about technology crossed with culture for The Economist's Babbage blog as G.F., and is a senior contributor to Macworld. He is the author of many books in the Take Control series.
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When it comes to helping you troubleshoot wireless networking problems, Mac OS X can't seem to make up its mind. The old Network Utility was appropriate primarily for network gurus. OS X 10.4 came with Network Diagnostics, which took a user-friendlier hand-holding approach. Lion added Wi-Fi Diagnostics, but hid it away; it was largely intended to be used by AppleCare technicians or Apple Store Geniuses, who'd use it to generate detailed log reports. Now Mountain Lion comes with a network tool—a revised version of Wi-Fi Diagnostics—that's once again intended for regular end users, not just network experts.

Wi-Fi Diagnostics can help you figure out why your Mac's Wi-Fi adapter isn't connecting to a network. It can also find nearby networks (which in turn can be useful for tracking down interference problems) and services broadcasting their availability via Bonjour. It also offers a graphical front end to some common Unix network tools, much as Network Utility did, but in a form that those without command-line experience can use.

To launch Wi-Fi Diagnostics, hold down the Option key as you click on the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar. That'll open the Wi-Fi menu with an Open Wi-Fi Diagnostics item at the bottom; click that item to open the utility. You can also launch the program directly from its hidey-hole: In the Finder, choose Go > Go to Folder, and enter /System/Library/CoreServices/. You'll find the Wi-Fi Diagnostics app in there.

However you open it, you'll see a welcome window with three options: Create Diagnostic Report, Turn on Debug Logs, and Capture Network Traffic. For your troubleshooting purposes, you can ignore all three and instead choose File > Network Utilities (or press Command-N).

The Network Utilities window provides four separate tabs that are each useful in their own way. Let's go through them one at a time.

Performance

The Performance view tracks the wireless connection between your Mac and the base station to which it's connected. The top chart, Signal Strength, shows the relative quality of the connection, while the bottom, Network Traffic, shows bytes passing back and forth. Together, these charts can help you figure out the optimum place to connect to a network or to troubleshoot dead spots in your home or office.

Performance tab

On the Signal Strength chart, the upper yellow line shows the power of the signal being received from the base station while the lower green line shows noise. The further these two lines are from each other, the greater the throughput you will receive. The higher the signal level, the stronger the signal.

Noise often remains constant; if you walk around your home or office with your laptop, that line may not change at all. The yellow signal line is more responsive, and you can watch it change as you move around (or walk between a computer and the direct path to a base station).

The Network Traffic chart below may be less useful than the Signal Strength chart, because it just shows the quantity of data being transferred over your Mac's wireless connection. But it can tell you whether any data is getting through.

Wi-Fi Scan

The Wi-Fi Scan view shows the results of a scan of the surrounding networks, presenting as much detail about each as it can without actually connecting. The scan can be updated by selecting Active Scan or Passive Scan from the Scan pop-up menu in the lower left; it also updates periodically without intervention. (An active scan may find more networks that broadcast less or no information about themselves.)

Wi-Fi Scan

Here's what all the information means:

• Network Name: Technically known as the SSID (Service Set Identifier), this is the name that a Wi-Fi base station broadcasts. Multiple base stations may share the same name, to provide roaming.

• BSSID: The factory-assigned, uniquely numbered address for the base station's Wi-Fi radio or radios.

• Channel and Band: Wi-Fi can operate in two frequency bands: 2.4GHz and 5GHz. Depending on the country, you'll find channels 1 to 14 in 2.4GHz and 36 to 167 in 5 GHz. (They go up in increments of four, with some gaps.) The Channel and Band columns show which channel a base station offers in which band. Simultaneous dual-band base stations have two listings, one for each band.

• Width: It'll be either 20 MHz or 40 MHz, which refers to the "wide" channel option that doubles throughput but requires two channels to function. Apple only allows its base stations to use wide channels in 5GHz.

• Security: The acceptable methods for connecting appear, such as WPA and WEP.

• Signal and Noise: Same as the numbers explained above, representing the strength of signal and noise. Again, the bigger the difference, the better the signal.

• Protocols: The scan shows the standards being used the various Wi-Fi devices near you. 802.11a and b are the oldest, dating to 1999; 802.11g debuted in 2003; and 802.11n matured in 2007.

• CC: The country code for a given device indicates the regulatory domain in which it's set to operate. If you're in the US and it doesn't show US, someone could be violating federal telecommunications law.

Bonjour

The Bonjour tab reveals the services that Bonjour-compatible devices around you are advertising. Each entry shows a particular service, such as iTunes Sharing, and the Bonjour-style address in URL form to reach it. Double-click one of those entries, and OS X will launch the corresponding program and attempt to open that URL.

Bonjour

The Bonjour view provides "negative" knowledge, as well as positive: You can see which devices are talking, but also, by inference, which ones aren't on the network.

Tools

The Tools tab gives you a graphical interface to a bunch of common networking diagnostic tools; many of them are also found in Network Utility, but in a much less friendly form.

The tools include ping and ping6 for checking whether a remote system is responsive; netstat which provides (exceedingly technical) details about connections in progress by a computer's network adapter; and whois, which looks up domain registration information.

The gear menu changes contextually based on which of command is selected. With ping, for instance, you can pick the number of pings (attempts to test for a machine being alive) as well as the time-gap between them and the size of the packets used in those attempts. With lookup, which pulls down domain name system (DNS) records, you can type in a domain name and select Mail Exchanger (MX) to retrieve which mail servers handle messages for that domain.

While you may not spend a lot of time diagnosing wireless connectivity issues, it's nice to know that there's a tool that regular mortals—not just network nabobs—can understand. If nothing else, it'll make it easier to get help when you can explain to someone else exactly what's going—or not—on your wireless net.

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This Week's Reading - 20120923

Tutorial: How to set up and manage a home network with AirPort Utility 6 - TechRadar

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How to manage multiple servers in Windows Server 2012

TechRadar: All latest feeds How to manage multiple servers in Windows Server 2012

Ed Baker, a Windows Server Instructor at Firebrand Training explains how to manage multiple servers in Microsoft Windows Server 2012

Now cloud computing is here, Server Manager needed to move from a single- to a multi-server view of the environment. Now you can see all your servers, check their performance and fix any issues – all from the Server Manager dashboard.

Windows Server 2012 allows multiple servers; with remote management, monitoring, installations and roles. I can now make changes to a group of DCHP or DNS servers – regardless of where they are physically.

On the Windows Server Blog, Jeffrey Snover groups the design of the all-new Server Manager into three principles: glance-able, actionable and relevant.

• Glance-able – You can glance at the Server Manager dashboard to get an overall view of the server environment. You can then quickly spot the key issues that need your attention
• Actionable – You can fix these issues without opening another tool. Via the Server Manager dashboard, you can start and stop services across multiple machines
• Relevant – The Server Manager dashboard is completely customisable. You can create a custom group - based on your needs - to display on the dashboard.

What you need to get started

For most of us, the Server Manager application is the starting point for all server management in Windows Server 2012, both local and remote. However, just about everything can be done from the Command Line too, using PowerShell 3.0. Indeed it is possible to have your whole server estate running on Server Core installations; and to manage the servers remotely either by PowerShell, Server Manager from an additional administrative server, or from RSAT in Windows 8 (which has its own Server Manager app).

To fully manage a server remotely from Windows Server 2012 (or RSAT Server Manager on Windows 8), it must have the following installed:

• A Windows Server operating system, 2008R2 or newer
• .Net 4.0 framework
• WMF 3.0 (which includes WinRM 3.0 and PowerShell 3.0)

How to monitor your Server estate from one console

Windows Server 2012 remote monitoring is simplicity itself. In previous versions it was possible to set up event subscriptions to see historical activity and even take action based on such activity. This was based on WinRM 2.0 and PowerShell to carry out these functions.

With the release of Windows Server 2012, the design goals have all been achieved. The dashboard view of Server Manager is 'Glance-able'. The below screenshot shows a rather unhealthy server dashboard which is monitoring seven roles, three server groups, containing five servers - one of which is a Virtual Server.

From this one screen it is possible to see the status of all the individual roles deployed, as well as the overall status of any server groups, the local server and all servers. This screen will monitor a server whether it is a physical machine or a virtual machine. Each of the tiles visible can be accessed for detailed information (the welcome tile can easily be hidden or displayed).

The screenshot below shows the effect of clicking on the HostGroup Tile, BPA (Best Practice Analyzer) entry. This list can be filtered by Severity, Category or Server.

What about managing roles and taking action on the remote servers?

Displaying information from a number of roles, servers and groups of servers is all very well. But to be of real use, we need to be able to manage these servers either individually or as a group, and carry out tasks on each one.

By selecting a role in the left hand side of Server Manager, the servers which are available - which hold that role - are displayed. In this case both The Primary server and Z600monster servers hold the DNS Server role.

A Simple right-click on the server name brings up the menu below:

This menu provides a shortcut to all the server management functions available on that server from this menu. Design goal number two achieved – Actionable, I can run DNS manager and make changes on the server concerned directly. If I had accessed the menu from the All Servers tile, this is what I would have been presented with. All still actionable. Note I can add roles remotely too. I can even add roles to OFFLINE VHDs

The benefit here is that if you are only looking for a role specific function, then that is all you will be presented with. To see everything possible on a server, simply select it from the top of the tree (so to speak) and everything that is possible will be presented. In this case, the Primary server is an Active Directory Domain Services Domain Controller so all the AD DS functions and command lines are also available. Design goal three achieved – Relevant. This relevancy is applicable on all menus at all levels within Server Manager.

The final point to make on relevancy is that if you select a single server from a list, only the events, services or BPA entries relevant to that server will appear in the server manager window below. As the screenshot below shows:

The final point to raise in the relevancy debate is that Server Groups now also exist. It is a simple matter of a few clicks to select a number of servers which may participate in the same functions or be physically located together. The criteria are not relevant. The simplicity of creating monitoring and managing a group of servers means that this is set to be the largest change to the way I control the servers in my estate. Currently I use groups for Hyper-V hosts, groups for Virtual Machines and groups for specific roles. What is great is that a machine can sit in any number of groups.

Summary

The design goals for Server Manager have all been achieved. But the simplicity with which it is now possible to manage the Server estate is such a huge stride ahead that even if all the really cool new functions elsewhere in the product had not been released, the new Server Manager is enough for me to upgrade. While I was writing this article, I remotely installed roles on five servers at the same time with the same click of the mouse. All the results were returned to my management console and any reboots carried out automatically. Remember this can be administered from a Windows 8 Client with RSAT.

Author Bio: This guide was created by Ed Baker - Ed works for Firebrand Training as a Windows Server Instructor training individuals for their MCSA and MCSE certifications.

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Steampunk coffeemaker comes home

Cnet Steampunk coffeemaker comes home

Boiling water and pressure changes equal old-timey coffee-making.

(Credit: Hammacher Schlemmer)

Certain descriptive words tend to get overused. Do an eBay search for vintage or retro and that becomes all too clear. Another label that gets applied all over the place is steampunk. Sometimes one can even see it applied to things that plug into the wall. For those who fancy technology from the Victorian or Edwardian eras, that is probably not what they have in mind.

Ancient tech comes at a price, and in this case that price is $699.95. Inspired by a coffee-brewing process invented by Loeff of Berlin in the 1830s, the Genuine Balancing Siphon Coffee Maker is an old-timey delight that brews a pot of coffee starting with only a flame. The alcohol burner heats water inside a copper kettle, sending it through a pipette. From there, the hot water is introduced to ground coffee inside a brewing chamber. What brings the system home, however, is the fact that the flame is automatically extinguished as a counterbalance provides the action to lower a snuffer onto the flame as the copper kettle rises because of its decreased weight.

The elegant contraption continues from there, completing the brewing process because the pressure variance created by the cooling coffee sends the final brew back to the kettle. A filter installed in the pipette even holds back the grounds as the liquid makes its return journey. Constructed of brass, solid copper, and lead crystal all on a mahogany base, the fanciful gadget is a working example that reaches back in time no matter what it happens to be named.

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This Week's Reading - 20120917

Two new Olympus PEN cameras put OM-D sensors in pocketable bodies | TechHive

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Understanding Camera Metering and Exposure

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How to Wipe an iPhone or iPad

Petri IT Knowledgebase How to Wipe an iPhone or iPad

The term "reuse" seems far friendlier than "replace," right? Maybe this is due to prevailing environmentally conscious attitudes in our Western society. Maybe it is due to the financial benefits gained from using something already owned versus buying new. Regardless of the reason, reusing IT equipment is often just the right thing to do.

Redeploying previously configured equipment brings with it a few unique concerns. Primary among these is completely, securely, and efficiently removing all previous data and settings from the device before it is set up for its new owner. Simply deleting a few files and changing a bit of setup information doesn't cut it -- the data needs to be destroyed and existing settings need to be erased no matter how buried they are in the device's innards.

Hyper-V™ vs. vSphere™

Problem: Microsoft's planned enhancements for Hyper-V version 3 have more and more customers planning for a dual hypervisor environment. Unfortunately, multiple management consoles are hard to use, clunky, and don't provide the flexibility needed in measuring & managing virtual infrastructures.

Solution: SolarWinds Virtualization Manager now allows you to see both VMware and Hyper-V environments in a single pane of glass.

FREE 30-Day Trial - SolarWinds Virtualization Manager 5.0

Often, the best way to accomplish this is to perform a factory reset on it. A factory reset does just what it implies; sets the device back to the same state it was in when it originally left the factory. Also known as wiping a device, the process removes all user data and sets all settings to prepurchase values -- a fresh start from which the device can be configured for a new user.

An iPad or iPhone supports a quick and easy factory reset process. In just a few steps, these iOS devices can be ready to provide an out-of-box experience. The following instructions reference wiping an iPad, but they work equally well on an iPhone.

Free Webinars on Windows Server 8, Exchange 2010, Security, and more!

From the iPad Home Screen, open Settings. Tap General, scroll to the bottom of the General settings list, and tap Reset.

From the Reset list, tap Erase All Content and Settings.

If your device has a passcode set, enter it.

If you have restrictions enabled, enter the Restrictions Passcode.

When prompted to Erase iPad, go ahead and tap Erase.

Tap Erase again at the Erase iPad confirmation screen. CAUTION: This is your last opportunity to turn back. Tapping this button initiates the wipe; there is no turning back after this!

The iPad will delete the hardware encryption key rendering all existing data useless. The device will then reset all settings to initial values and be back in its original, factory-fresh state. The entire process only takes a few minutes on iOS 5 or higher devices.
Wiping an iOS device is quick, easy, and effective. It is also a critical step in an effective iOS Disaster Recovery Plan. To learn more about the other steps in the disaster recovery process, check out my other Petri article on the topic.

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In Depth: Fuji X-E1: 10 things you need to know

TechRadar: All latest feeds In Depth: Fuji X-E1: 10 things you need to know

The Fuji X-Pro1, which was announced earlier this year, has proven to be a major critical success. Now, Fujifilm is hoping to appeal to a wider group of consumer users by introducing the Fuji X-E1, a smaller, more affordable compact system camera (CSC). Here are some of the key specs you need to know about the new camera, examined more closely.

• Check out our Hands on: Fuji X-E1 review.

Fuji X-E1 sensor

The most exciting news about the new Fuji X-E1 (sometimes seen as the Fuji XE1) is that it uses the exact same 16.3 million pixel APS-C X-Trans CMOS sensor as the Fuji X-Pro1. It has a unique colour filter array to minimise moiré and false colours, without the need for an optical low pass filter.

To put that in layman's terms, that means it's capable of high resolution image capture that's bright and clear across the whole image. In our lab tests of the X-Pro1, we found that the APS-C size sensor was comparable in quality to some larger, full-frame sensors.

Fuji X-E1 viewfinder

Probably the biggest difference between the Fuji X-E1 and the X-Pro1 is the viewfinder. The X-E1 uses an electronic viewfinder only, which although offputting to some, is one of the highest resolution devices currently available on the market, with 2.36 million dots.

This makes it comparable to the EVF found on the Sony NEX-7, which was widely praised and should make for very comfortable operation.

Fuji X-E1 autofocus system

One of the key problems with the X-Pro1 was the speed of autofocusing. Keen to fix the issue, Fuji has now issued a new firmware upgrade that should speed up focusing to around 0.1 seconds.

This newer version of the firmware is already fitted as standard on the Fuji X-E1. Other improvements to the autofocusing include focusing distance, making macro photography easier.

Fuji X lens range

Fuji is keen to point out that the company is in the interchangeable lens market for the long-haul, with plans to increase the available optics for the X system considerably by 2013. Lenses already available include fixed length 18mm, 35mm and a 60mm macro.

Alongside the launch of the X-E1, Fuji has also revealed a new 14mm prime lens and a new "kit" 18-55 f/2.8 – f/4 premium standard lens. By 2013, the lens range should have expanded to 10 different options, including more zoom optics.

Fuji X-E1 LCD screen

If you don't want to use the EVF, the 2.8-inch 460k dot LCD screen can be used. Although not a particularly high resolution device, compared with others in the market, Fuji does promise that the high contrast, high brightness device has the advantage of a wide viewing angle for composing from slightly odd angles.

Fuji X-E1 flash

Unlike the Fuji X-Pro1, the Fuji X-E1 comes with an inbuilt flash. Equivalent to a guide number of seven, the flash should be ideal for providing fill-in flash. There's also an accessory hotshoe for adding an external flash if you prefer.

Fuji X-E1 build

Both the top and front covers are made from die-cast magnesium, which Fuji says gives the camera a rigid, yet delicate design. It's roughly the same size as the Fuji FinePix X100, the company's APS-C sensored premium compact, and it's also got a rubber grip specifically designed to provide extra purchase when holding the camera in one hand.

Fuji X-E1 design

As with other cameras in the X series, Fujifilm has put a lot of effort into the design of the X-E1. It will be available in two colour variations. One is pure black, which it believes will appeal mainly to photojournalists and street photographers, who want something more subtle. The other is black and silver, and is designed to appeal to those wanting to make a statement about their camera choice.

The sides of the dials on the top panel feature a texture pattern for smooth adjustment, while dials for choosing exposure compensation and shutter speed can be found at the top of the camera. Aperture rings around every X series lens can be used for choosing aperture.

Fuji X-E1 battery life

Because the camera uses an electronic viewfinder only, it doesn't have the same maximum battery life as the Fuji X-Pro1. However, the battery can offer more than the X-Pro1 if both were used with the EVF continuously used. Fuji's testing indicates that the X-E1 can last around 350 shots, compared with the X-Pro1's 300.

Fuji X-E1 price

One of the most appealing things about the Fuji X-E1 is likely to be its price, since it's set to start with an RRP that's significantly cheaper than the X-Pro1's starting RRP. We've yet to receive an official UK price, but several US sites are listing it as $999 (body only) or $1400 with the kit lens.

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