Roku 2 XD new low, discount iTunes gift card, Fisher

The most popular Internet streaming set-top box can be yours for only $40 today. The Roku 2 XD is a full $20 off the next best REFURBISHED price. New you're looking at nearly $40 more. Streams basically anything you want to stream.

If you're a big spender in the iTunes store, why not save 15% off $100 worth of purchases? Today you can pick up a $100 iTunes gift card on sale for $85. Simple as that. Add the card to your account and save away on music, movies, apps, and more.

And for those with small children, get a jump start on Christmas today at Amazon with a 40% off Fisher-Price toys sale.

LAPTOP DEALS

Plenty of great laptop values to be had today. If you want to take advantage of pre-processor refresh savings on a MacBook Pro, today and tomorrow you can pick up a Core i7 Ivy Bridge MacBook Pro 15 for $1,500 - the cheapest we've seen the config by $149. Another Core i7 option on the PC side is the Lenovo G700 we found for $699 after coupon with GeForce GT 720M and 900p display. Or, go higher-end with a Haswell-powered Lenovo IdeaPad Y410p with GeForce GT 755M 2GB. Finally, the uniquely-designed Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 14 and a Dell Inspiron 14R touchscreen laptop are cheapest ever by $50.

GAMING DEALS

Looking for the best deal on next week's release NBA 2K14? Well Best Buy is offering a $10 bonus incentive, the King James DLC, and for PSN users $10 off a 12 monthly subscription. If you need a PS3 to go along with the game, on eBay you'll find it bundled with the limited edition move bundle for $239 - which is a great bargain when you consider the move bundle itself sells for $280. Other good deals include $13 off today's release Rise of Venice after coupon GMG20-WS93W-R39MD.

ALL THE OTHER GOOD DEALS

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The hipjib Provides New Shooting Dimensions

If you're a camera professional (and we're talking like a pro who actually has a job in film or something like that), the Kickstarter campaign for the hipjib is what you need! It's a pocketable supplement for when you want smooth and flexible video camera handling. Another cool thing about it is that it converts standard tripods into a mobile jibarm with great results. It's only the size of two fists and enables you to have steady camera movements and mobile camera stability so you have the freedom to move any which way to get that perfect shot while still feeling comfortable with solid support. Its strengths come into play in situtations where speed, improvisation, and flexibility are needed while filming.

Created by award-winning photographer and cameraman Gert Wagner - who travels the globe on countless assignments covering themes like sports, nature, documentaries, corporate, education - the hipjib weighs 0.88 pd, is 10 inches long, and 2 inches in diameter. The idea for it came about idea via f tough shooting conditions demanding flexibility yet generating superb results at a moment's notice.It features an attachment made from high-quality polyamide that attaches in seconds to the waist via a belt you only need to plant an ordinary tripod or monopod into it and start shooting right away. Also, in between takes the t hipjib supports holding your camera with no extra effort. You are ready to shoot again at a moment's notice, making it great for those who film for documentaries and journalism. Get one by pledging $140 or more.

Motorola Droid MAXX Review

When you think of longevity, smartphones never come to mind, and for good reason. The damn things never last. A day, a day and a half at most. That's all they have. Which is ridiculous, because the bigger ones have much larger batteries, and they almost always have worse battery life than their smaller, less expensive, less powerful counterparts. It doesn't matter which smartphone you have or what operating system it is, as 'smart' as today's best phones may be, they generally last long enough for you to live with.

Who ever said that was enough?

From the get go Motorola said it wasn't. They didn't start with the MAXX series of smartphones, but it came soon after their first major push with Android after the Motorola Droid Razr, which was deceptively thin, light, and bared an ancestral title of royalty. The Droid Razr MAXX held all of that majesty...but it was always perceived - at least visually - as the fatter duke brother. And then it didn't take long for the Razr MAXX to start outselling the Razr. Because as many people as there are interested in the thinnest and lightest, there are plenty of business people who need to talk all day on the phone, plenty of teens SMS-ing for hours on end, and new moms who just can't take enough pictures of their kids and sending them to all of their friends.

Verizon must have been happy with the device as the exclusive carrier of all 'Droid' labeled phones, because a year later the Droid Razr MAXX HD released, and then a year after that we have reached the pinnacle of the series with the Droid MAXX. A 1.7GHz dual-core powered smartphone that isn't the most powerful in the world, but plugs more hertz than most competitors with a higher clock speed that makes it snappier than most. 2GB of RAM and a very comfortable 32GB memory capacity. For $300, that may sound just about right, but the highlights make the MAXX a remarkably good deal.

As I wrote about in my first impressions, the Droid MAXX is incredible for its longevity. When the actor with an obnoxious 5 o'clock shadow answers his tall, thin, and blond British boat-mate that his phone will last ' about two days ', I can attest to it. That's absolutely true, it'll do that and likely more, though in the middle of the ocean constantly searching for a signal, probably not.

Just how long does the Droid MAXX last? Motorola stipulates roughly 48 hours of mixed use, which includes streaming HD videos over LTE, plenty of talk time, checking emails, playing games here and there, and streaming music. I wrote all about battery life in my first impressions, so you can read more about it there, but what I can say without a doubt is that if you are in the market for a new phone and you want it to last, there's only one option. And you're reading about it.

The Droid MAXX is significantly improved over last year's Droid Razr MAXX HD. It has an almost identical though brighter AMOLED display, which is easily distinguishable by it's slightly blue hue in sunlight. The color contrast is excellent, though brightness is lacking, which is the nature of the technology. It's also only a 720p display (1280×720 pixel resolution) though at 5-inch that's more than enough. Today's top phones like the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S IV have 1080p (1920×1080) displays, but on anything with a 5-inch screen or smaller those additional pixels are not going to be noticeable. There's a good reason Apple stopped at what they deem Retina, and everyone going overboard is a purely marketing ploy. Motorola didn't fall for it, and while that may be to the behest of some buyers, our readers should know better. A 720p screen like this is worth having.

The lower resolution also helps conserve battery life by requiring less from the processor (which is why the major competitors need quad-core chips, to help carry those additional pixels to the screen). Meanwhile the MAXX chugs along like a pro. I haven't seen it slow down once when handling a lot of data. The Droid MAXX handles itself with a buttery-smooth fervor. If you're worried about how long such a processor will last considering future software upgrades, you don't have to worry...much. 1.7GHz is probably a higher frequency than your ultrabook (though the cache is likely much smaller), but at such a high speed it's unlikely that you'll have difficulty with anything except for the highest-end games after 18 months.

I also mentioned Google's purchase of Motorola in my first impressions, specifically about the company's move to have voice recognition always-on so that users could activate the phone anytime. It works really, really well, in part due to Google's excellent voice transcription, and the rest due to the network your on, either local Wi-Fi or Verizon LTE. Activating the phone is easy: just say 'Okay Google now' and the phone's ears hear and it pipes up. The screen activates with a microphone, and just like Apple's Siri, you can issue commands to open apps or start a search. However, unlike Siri (even on iOS 7...we'll talk about that more in the future) Google's search is really, really accurate. And remarkably stable. It isn't 100% accurate, but it learns your voice over time thanks partly due to the 'natural language processor' built into the Droid MAXX and partly from Google's native 'LEARN EVERYTHING' function that tracks all of your data, including voice searches. In this case, it's amazing because Google learns who you are and what you sound like to help provide better search results.

I've experienced exactly that. The problem is that unlike Siri, if you say 'Open Chrome', it doesn't open Chrome...at least not right away. It waits to register that yes, that's what you wanted, like a completely unconfident child. Each search query takes five seconds to actually activate unless it's an actual web search, in which case it happens immediately. The biggest irony of all is that you can't tell your phone to go into standby mode, which would be tremendously helpful when driving.

Point is that Motorola is doing a great job with voice recognition, which is mostly due to Google's extensive infrastructure that's always improving. My usage has been highly successful, though clearly voice recognition has a ways to go. If anyone solves that puzzle, it'll be Google with their massive amounts of data, which makes the Droid series safe for long-term improvement.

The other half of Motorola's improvements is something I mentioned in my first impressions of the MAXX, the auto-activate feature. If you activate one of the Droid MAXX's sensor, such as the accelerometer, motion sensor, or light sensor, the phone will activate in a low-powered state with a simple unlock function or an unlock-to-app function based on the last received notification. This is surprisingly helpful; if you get a notification but don't see it, it's far less annoying to notice it on the screen with a black background and the very pretty Android font instead of a constant blinking light built into the phone. That's not to say it isn't annoying, but what are notifications but a reminder that someone wants your attention?

Call quality is excellent in the Los Angeles area. I've still found several areas in LA county where Verizon drops (around PCH), though the previously usual drop-spots are all gone, which is a sign of serious improvement. Calls are clear through the MAXX, and people on the other side of calls said that my voice came through loud and clear. The speakerphone is also very good; it is a bit scratchy but otherwise sounds good for both sides.

Camera quality is good to great. Colors aren't particularly distinctive, but photos are clear even under poor light. There is noticeable noise when blown up to full size, but that's why we have 8MP shooters. The flash is powerful and does a good job of removing any noise that a low-light shot would typically produce. In good lighting, stills look great, so you'll absolutely like it for outdoor photos.

I seriously love this phone. The Droid MAXX is a brilliant piece of hardware. Fast, solid, with the muscle and vigor that a smartphone should have, what better phone is there? The only problem is that as the one company owned by Google, maker of Android, the MAXX ships with Android 4.2.1, not the current 4.3, and it doesn't have first-dibs. In fact, the MAXX isn't even available as a developer-only device, part of Verizon's exclusivity of the Droid name. As much as I like Verizon's coverage and data - which is excellent, though still lacking near my Santa Monica office thanks to lovely local cell tower laws - the biggest limitation of the Droid MAXX is that not everyone can buy it. You have to be a Verizon customer to get your hands on this masterpiece. Even then, for the longest-lasting phone on the market by a longshot, it's worth the switch.

Bottom Line: It's the longest-lasting Android phone on the market. Great speed, great quality, and the lifespan to get you through anything.

Magicstick Powerbank 2800 (Gadget Review)

BioGamer Girl MagazineMagicstick Powerbank 2800 ( - )BioGamer Girl MagazineThe Magicstick Powerbank 2800 is an innovative product, and you'd be doing yourself a favor to pick up one of the new gadgets today if you travel frequently or often find yourself with the need for a charge for your phone or mobile device when there ...

DirecTV Review

- DirecTV Review - The packages range from $29.99 per month to $91.99 per month for new customers, and DirecTV is currently offering $5-off per month for the first 12 months in a 12-month contract. (Those prices range from $54.99 to $124.99 per month for existing ...

The Dark Energy Reservoir Charges Your Smartphone, Not Your New Age Beliefs

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13 of the Best GTA 5 Cheats to Get Your Rampage On

It's been two days since GTA 5 was officially released and just as expected, the web has blown up with articles, picture and videos detailing the new gameplay and showcasing just how fun the latest in the GTA franchise truly is. To assist in curbing the eventual boredom that is destined to rear its ugly head following tireless hours of mission play, Rockstar has included an abundance of side games to keep you going. Now don't get me wrong here, I'm all about the side games, who doesn't like the idea of your wife giving you $25 every time you beat her at tennis? However, even with the new environment, features and mini games, I can't help but feel like something's missing. It took a few days, but I finally figured it out, I miss the unadulterated and exhilarating rush that comes along with an unaccountable rampage while taking turns with your friends. If you're going to have a rampage competition with your friends, you've got to rampage right, and rampaging right, means cheating.

Sure, you can rampage with whatever weapons and ammo you find, but the real joy comes when you've got several platoons chasing you down while you take out tanks with a rocket launcher. I really wanted to see how the new game responds to an overpowered and near immortal homicidal maniac, unfortunately, I was unable to find any cheats providing all weapons and unlimited ammo, but there are a few bugs that help you get close. To experience a proper rampaging, I'm willing to exploit a few bugs and I'm sure you do to, so I've compiled a list of the 13 best cheats and bugs to assist you in your maniacal catharsis.

Rockstar has scrapped the cell phone cheat menu introduced in GTA 4 and returned to the real time button entry method of classic GTA games. After successfully entering the correct key combination, you'll see a confirmation appear above the map. Remember that cheat codes disable all Achievements and Trophies, so don't get upset with me when you realize you won't receive The Government Gimps achievement after entering these codes.

1. Raise Wanted Level

If you're going to rampage, you don't want to wait for appropriate response, get law enforcement good and mad, good and fast.

2. Fast Run

Criminals run fast, Squad cars are faster, use this when you really need to get away.

3. Faster Swim

Swim for cash... see below

4. Recharge Ability

Each character has a unique ability, unfortunately. you can't use it whenever you want by default. Fixed!

5. Explosive Melee Attacks

Is there really any explanation needed?

6. Explosive Bullets

Take armored vehicles out with a big, baada-boom!

7. Flaming Bullets

Some people just like to watch the world burn.

8. Slow Motion Aim (Bullet Time)

Everyone loves a slow motion gun fight, make one of your own.

9. Spawn Buzzard Attack Helicopter

Rain deadly damage upon Los Santos and fly away to safety.

10. Skyfall

Not sky diving, sky falling, No chute, pure adrenalin. You can survive the fight, ONLY if you land face first.

11. Infinite Money - Bug

This one requires you to either swim or take a boat out to sea. Scattered underwater around the map are chests containing free money. To exploit this bug and receive infinite money (without technically cheating), just pick up the dough and immediately save your game. Reload and return to the same chest and it will be full again, voila, free moneys!

12. Infinite Grenade Launcher - Bug

This one uses the same save game bug that gives you the unlimited moolah. To find the grenade launcher, head to the location shown in this video and enter the cave. Once inside, dive down to the bottom of the water and pick up the grenade launcher. Once again, save the game and reload. When you head back to the cave, someone has miraculously replaced the one you took. Take it and have fun.

13. Free Weapons Upgrade - Bug

After you've grabbed enough free treasure at the bottom of the sea, start a mission and head to the gun shop. After purchasing all the upgrades available, simply leave the gun shop and kill yourself. Yeah, you'll fail the mission, but after the hospital resurrects you and the mission restarts, all the money you spent in the gun shop has been refunded to you and you get to keep your weapons. Check back whenever new upgrades are available and you'll be wreaking havoc across Los Santos in no time.

HTC One Max possible specs and price info appears

There have been a number of leaks and rumours in the last few weeks suggesting that HTC are about to launch a phablet sized version of its popular HTC One smartphone, and ahead of any official announcement the HTC One Max specs and price seemingly appear.

The rumours and apparent leaks have been increasing recently with images of fingerprint scanners and other claims, and now it seems that someone at China Mobile has been a little bit trigger happy and pushed the publish button for a listing for the Chinese version of the HTC One Max.

It suggests that the device will be priced at around $800 with the Chinese version having the model number of HTC 8088, and also having dual SIM support and a microSD card port. The rest of the specs that should arrive elsewhere include a 5.9-inch Full HD display with a 1.7GHz processor, which is likely to be the quad core Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 unit.

Other features are listed as 2GB of RAM along with 16GB of storage with a 3,300 mAh battery providing the juice, but the international version of the handset could have more internal storage due to the lack of microSD card support.

Camera wise the main rear unit is a 4MP UltraPixel shooter but it is not known if it will feature OIS like the HTC One does. Rumours so far have suggested that the HTC One Max will be launched sometime next month, but until we hear something more official we won’t know for sure.

Will you consider the HTC One Max or is the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 your preferred choice?

Source: GSM Arena.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom review

The Samsung Galaxy Camera was amongst the first Android-powered point and shoot cameras, however, in the age of smartphones that take good quality pictures, it didn’t gain much popularity, primarily because the user still had to carry an additional device to make calls, though it did address the issue of connectivity and sharing, at least partially, by offering support for 3G and Wi-Fi.

This year, after launching its flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S4, Samsung has tried to leverage the same umbrella brand with variants, some with much inferior hardware specifications, to address different niche market segments. With the Galaxy S4 Zoom, Samsung has tried to merge its point and shoot camera with a full featured Android smartphone.

Is the Galaxy S4 Zoom as good a smartphone as it’s a camera or vice-versa? We attempt to answer this question in our review.

Build/ Design

The Galaxy S4 Zoom looks just like any other touchscreen phone from the front, but the big 10x zoom lens and a grip that protrudes out give it the appearance of a point and shoot camera at the rear.

We won’t hesitate in saying that the Galaxy S4 Zoom is a bulky device and we felt that it’s difficult to carry it around and use it as one’s primary phone. The biggest reason for this is the same bulky lens and grip that make it difficult for users to keep the phone in their pockets. The phone’s increased thickness at 154mm and weight (208 grams) make it a bulky device.

Also, anyone using the device as a phone would look really odd, as the device looks like a camera from the back. So, you should be aware that it’s essentially a point and shoot camera with telephony and data features and not really a camera phone, if you’re thinking of buying the Galaxy S4 Zoom.

The S4 Zoom’s front panel is surrounded by a chrome frame that runs across the entire body and takes the shape of the grip towards the bottom, where you’ll also spot a big camera shutter key. The front of the phone is clearly based on the same design that we’ve seen on other Galaxy smartphones. The phone’s front panel sports a 4.3-inch display and features a physical Home button and two capacitive touch buttons for Menu and Back controls. The different sensors, front camera, and earpiece grille sit above the display.

Unlike other Galaxy phones, the S4 Zoom’s Power/ Screen-lock button and the volume rocker are both located on the right hand side. The left side of the phone features a hole for mounting a tripod which is plugged by a small round piece of plastic. The same side also features a slot for the microSD card, protected by a plastic flap.

The 3.5mm headset jack and the InfraRed Blaster sit at the top edge of the S4 Zoom, while the micro-USB port is located at the bottom. The port is surrounded by a big plastic flap which hides the battery compartment and the micro-SIM slot. The battery is removed through a mechanism mostly seen in point and shoot cameras, involving an open and close slider.

The back of the Galaxy S4 Zoom is made of high quality plastic that sports a glazed finish. A major part of the back is occupied by Samsung’s 24mm lens that’s placed inside a movable ring. The back curves out towards the bottom to become the grip for one hand operation. You’ll also see a big Xenon flash and an autofocus assist light reassuring you that it’s a complete point and shoot setup integrated with a smartphone.

Display

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom features a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED touchscreen that features a resolution of 540×960 pixels and a pixel density of 256ppi. Samsung has cut corners when it comes to the phone’s display, and it clearly shows. While the low resolution of the display is somewhat offset by its smaller size, we still feel that Samsung should have included at least a 720p display on this imaging-focused phone. Images and videos don’t look as sharp as they do on some phones in the same price range that offer a 720p display.

However, the S4 Zoom’s display was not very reflective and under sun visibility was good. The viewing angles on the phone are also decent.

AMOLED displays are known to offer oversaturated colours and the images taken on the phone at times look different when you transfer them to another device, due to this reason. Samsung has tried to mitigate the issue by offering an Adapt display setting that optimises the S4 Zoom’s display for different situations.

Camera

The Galaxy S4 Zoom is primarily a point and shoot camera. The device sports a 16-megapixel BSI sensor with a 10x optical zoom, great for taking pictures in low light conditions. It also has optical image stabilisation for preventing blur caused by shaky hands.

As we mentioned earlier in the review, the S4 Zoom features a zoom-ring control that surrounds the lens and it allows users to share a photo even during phone calls, control the optical zoom, and launch the camera. Rotating the ring triggers a menu that allows you to quickly select a photo mode across auto, ‘Beauty Face’, landscape, macro, ‘Animated Photo’ and night modes in addition to quickly launch the photo gallery app. You still need to use the screen to select a mode.

Rotating the same ring during an ongoing phone call also offers an In-call photo share option through which you can shoot a photo and send it to the same person you’re talking to via multimedia messaging. In our use, this feature worked as promised on the S4 Zoom.

The Galaxy S4 Zoom offers a plethora of camera features including a choice of a number of shooting modes such as ‘Beauty face’ for portraits, ‘Best photo’ to take a series of photos and select the best one, ‘Continuous shot’ to shoot four pictures per second, ‘Best face’ selects the best picture of each person from five consecutive group photos, ‘Kids shot’ that plays a sound to attract the kid’s attention, in addition to take pictures in Landscape mode, Macro mode, at Dawn, in Snow conditions, in Night conditions, a mode for shooting food, parties, and even Waterfalls, among others.

It also features the new tricks we first noticed in the Galaxy S4 including a Cinemagram-like ‘Animated photo’ mode, an ‘Eraser’ mode to delete moving objects from five consecutive photos, and ‘Drama shot’ that takes multiple photos of a moving object and merges them all to denote action. Besides these, there’s a Smart mode suggest option that chooses the best shooting mode for you.

For pro users, the Galaxy S4 Zoom’s camera also offers a manual shooting mode, a program shooting mode and a custom mode, in which they can choose manual settings for EV (brightness), ISO, white balance, metering, shutter speed, and aperture.

The S4 Zoom’s camera can also record 1080p video at 30 frames per second and 720p video at 60 frames per second.

As expected, the camera on the Galaxy S4 Zoom doesn’t disappoint. The benefits of optical zoom over digital zoom are clearly visible with photos taken from a distance also coming out clear and crisp. Colour reproduction was pretty accurate and pictures did not miss out any details.

Even images captured with the S4 Zoom in low-light conditions came out well, without the use of a flash, although we did notice some noise.

The S4 Zoom’s Xenon flash is not very bright but makes objects appear more natural compared to the LED flash.

Videos shot with the S4 Zoom were also good in quality, and can be compared to the ones shot with the Galaxy S4 except that you can zoom-in much closer to the subject. Videos shot in 720p at 60fps offered some really fluid motion. The S4 Zoom is one of the very few devices that offer this video setting.

The Galaxy S4 Zoom’s 1.9-megapixel camera does a decent job when it comes to self-clicks or for video chats on Skype and other similar apps.

Software/ User Interface

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, the latest iteration of the OS and TouchWiz Nature UX, Samsung’s own UI that includes custom apps in addition to a skinned interface.

Some people prefer stock Android to any kind of skinning, and Samsung’s TouchWiz UI has been panned for employing big, glossy and cartoon-like icons and menus. The intent might be to make the UI more user-friendly, but it ends up looking anything but pleasant.

With Android 4.2, the S Zoom gets lockscreen widgets. Although these are not enabled by default, users can place select third party widgets, in addition to a choice between access to their favourite apps and camera. Users can also enable lock screen shortcuts that allow them to unlock directly into their respective apps. The phone offers a choice between the familiar Ripple effect and the new Light effect for the unlock animation.

The S4 Zoom offers up to seven home screens that can be populated with widgets and app shortcuts or folders. The pinch-in gesture lets you add or remove home screens. The app plus widgets drawer lets you arrange app shortcuts as per your own preference or alphabetically.

The drop down notification tray on the S4 Zoom features a settings shortcut and a clear all notifications button, along with expandable notifications (expanded with the two-finger pull gesture). Toggles for 10 settings are also located on the tray and you can choose to scroll through them horizontally or expand to get a grid of all the settings on one screen.

One can navigate the S4 Zoom through the Back and Menu capacitive touch buttons and the Home physical key. The Home button on long press takes you to the app switcher and you can fire up the task manager, kill all apps or access Google Now through the shortcuts offered with the task switcher. Double pressing the Home key launches S Voice, Samsung’s voice assistant. Long pressing the Menu key also launches Search.

Samsung also offers some of its pre-loaded apps on the S4 Zoom, including S Planner, Voice Recorder, ChatOn messaging app, Paper Artist, Samsung Apps app store, Samsung Hub content store, Samsung Link for transferring and syncing content to other devices via cloud services like Dropbox, WatchON – a universal remote control software that also offers program guide functionality, S Translator, S Memo, Story Album, Video editor and Group Play.

The S Translator supports speech to text and text-to-text translation for English, French, German, Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Japanese and Korean.

In our usage we found that Samsung’s voice assistant app on the S4 Zoom, S Voice, works well with Indian accents and offers good functionality.

The Group Play feature allows you to create groups and share and instantly view or play documents, music files, photos, and other content to other compatible handsets through Wi-Fi Direct. All phones need to be connected to a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot which is created on the device where the group is created. The service also works with NFC.

The Galaxy S4 Zoom brings a large number of software features seen on the Samsung Galaxy S4. However, it misses on some ‘smart’ (and gimmicky) features including motion and hand gesture driven controls such as Air gestures that allow users to browse content and control the phone without touching it. It only offers the Smart Stay smart screen feature which keeps the screen on as long as you’re looking at it, dropping Smart Pause and Smart Scroll. It does include Motion gestures including the one that allows you to tilt your phone to zoom in while looking at an image or turn over the phone to mute while receiving a call.

The Galaxy S4 Zoom does include voice commands which were also present in the Galaxy S4. You can trigger the camera shutter, answer or reject calls or control alarms and music through these voice commands.

The S4 Zoom doesn’t offer multi-window and pop-up play modes for switching between apps and using more than one app at the same time, perhaps due to the smaller screen size.

Performance/ Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom is powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core Exynos processor. It has 1.5GB RAM, and a Mali 400 chip for processing graphics. Our review unit had 8GB of built-in storage (expandable 64GB) out of which 5.4GB was available for our use.

With Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, the overall experience of navigation through the S4 Zoom’s interface was decent. However, we did experience occasional lag. For instance, launching the camera app and getting back to the home screen was a bit jerky. Similarly, if you’re using some graphics heavy widgets, you’ll find that they’ll reload once you exit an app. At times, we also noticed minor lag in the form of dropped frames while playing some graphics heavy games like Asphalt 7, when we were running a few apps in the background. However, most casual games including Temple Run 2 and Subway Surfers run fine.

Other than that, we did not face issues while scrolling web pages or switching between apps. The Galaxy S4 Zoom offers Chrome in addition to the default browser. The default browser does not offer Adobe flash. It also offers a reader mode for reading text heavy web pages.

We were able to play full-HD clips, though some formats including .MOV, were not supported natively (this was easily fixed by the use of third party apps). The native video player also supports sub-title files and even lets you set a timer to turn off video, in case you like to fall asleep while watching a movie.

The speaker outlet on the S4 Zoom delivers good quality sound at average volume levels. Call quality was great and the phone is able to latch on to cellular networks even in weak signal areas.

Just like the Galaxy S4, the Galaxy S4 Zoom also doesn’t offer FM radio functionality, which is a downer.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom comes with a 2330mAh battery, and in our usage, it lasted us a full workday. We charged the phone in the morning (at around 9am), and with medium to heavy usage, including 1-1.5 hours of phone calls, two email accounts with push notifications, playing some music, taking some photographs, Twitter notifications and WhatsApp chats, the phone lasted a good 9-10 hours.

It’s worth mentioning that the use of the Xenon flash also impacts the battery and using the camera for taking pictures at night with the flash on drains the battery faster. For testing, we had turned off Wi-Fi and auto-brightness, and the phone was hooked to a 3G network with the screen brightness at the highest level. Altering these settings might help in running the phone for a longer duration, depending on your usage pattern.

Verdict

The Galaxy S4 Zoom is anything but a mainstream device. It’s clearly targeted at the shutterbugs, people who like taking pictures all the time and want their pictures to stand out above the rest and don’t mind the extra bulk that comes with the device.

Having said that, if you just click and share pictures casually, we will not recommend this device. Most flagship phones and even mid-rangers take decent quality pictures, without the awkward form factor being involved. Priced at nearly Rs. 29,000, the Galaxy S4 Zoom offers average performance and a low-resolution display.

The only reason for buying the S4 Zoom is its camera, which offers optical zoom which is not seen on smartphones. But then, a number of point and shoot cameras also offer Wi-Fi connectivity, including the Android-powered Samsung Galaxy Camera. So, we’d advise you to take a look at them, as well.

In the same price range, you could perhaps also look at the Nokia Lumia 925, which is great camera phone, with none of the form factor and performance drawbacks.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom in pictures

Price: Rs.29,000

Pros

• Great camera with optical zoom


• Decent battery backup

Cons

• Chunky


• Underwhelming performance


• Low resolution screen

Ratings (Out of 5)

• Design: 2.5


• Display: 3


• Performance: 3


• Software: 3.5


• Battery Life: 3


• Value for Money: 3


• Camera: 4


• Overall: 3

*http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNHo1QtSLbUucXSM_BsbM8ZJmgqkqg&url=http://gadgets.ndtv.com/mobiles/reviews/samsung-galaxy-s4-zoom-review-419469

Sony Xperia Z Ultra LG Android 4.4 contender planned

The Sony Xperia Z Ultra is a phablet-sized device that released in July. It has some impressive specs and a whopping 6.4-inch display and the phone has received plenty of praise since its launch. Now it appears that LG has plans for a contender to the Sony Xperia Z Ultra, and it will launch running Android 4.4 KitKat.

LG is developing its own rival to the Sony Xperia Z Ultra according to sources. The display is rumored to be the same 6.4-inches as the Xperia Z Ultra and will have the same resolution of 1920 x 1080. However pixel density of the LG version is said to be 418 ppi rather than the 342 ppi offered by the Xperia Z Ultra.

Other rumored inclusions for the LG phablet are 3GB of RAM, an 8-megapixel rear camera and it will launch running the upcoming new version of the Android operating system, 4.4 Kit Kat. We must point out that at this point none of this can be verified, and so we must treat it as speculation.

Nevertheless, considering the recent praise for the LG G2 smartphone, we feel many people would like to see this new rumored phablet. There are no details yet on a release date and not even a mention of the name of this LG device, but if the source is accurate we could be hearing something more official soon.

The popularity of larger phablet-sized devices seems to be increasing even more, with many notable handsets on the way such as the recently announced Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and the rumored HTC One Max. It looks as though there could be another notable edition on the way in time for the lucrative holiday season.

Are you interested in the idea of this rumored LG phablet running Android 4.4 KitKat? Maybe you’ve already decided on your next smartphone choice? Let us have your comments.

Source: AndroidSaS

*http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNGtizVHCWh_nSwgB03a5vzzQyR5cQ&url=http://www.phonesreview.co.uk/2013/09/16/sony-xperia-z-ultra-lg-android-4-4-contender-planned/

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 vs Acer Liquid 2 specs lineup

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and Acer Liquid 2 are both recently announced Android smartphones of the phablet variety. Both will release soon and both have a lot to offer. We thought we’d take a look at the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 vs. Acer Liquid 2 in a specs comparison to help out readers who may be about to purchase a new smartphone.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 release rolls out from September 25 while the Acer Liquid S2 is due to release in Europe. Looking at some of the key specs for each will give a general overview of the two phones.

Processor

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is powered by a 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor or 1.9GHz Exynos Octa-core processor (models vary) and Adreno 330 graphics. The Acer Liquid S2 has a 2.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor and also has an Adreno 330 GPU.

Display

There’s a 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display with resolution of 1920 x 1080 and 386 ppi for the Galaxy Note 3. Meanwhile the Acer Liquid S2 has a 6-inch IPS LCD display with resolution of 1920 x 1080 and 367 ppi.

RAM and Storage

The Note 3 has 3GB of RAM and 32 or 64GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD to 64GB). The Liquid S2 has 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD to 128GB).

Camera Set-up

On the Galaxy Note 3 there’s a 13-megapixel rear camera with autofocus, LED flash, simultaneous HD video and image recording, image stabilization, panorama, HDR and Dual Shot. Video capture is 2160p@30fps or 1080p@60fps for the LTE model or 1080p for the 3G model. It also has a 2-megapixel front-facing camera. The Liquid S2 has a 13-megapixel rear camera with autofocus, LED ring flash, 27-megapixel panorama photos and video recording capability of 2160@24fps or 1080p@60fps. Like the Galaxy Note 3 the front-facing camera is 2-megapixels.

Battery

The Galaxy Note 3 has a 3200 mAh battery while the Liquid 2 totes a 3300 mAh battery.

Operating Systems

Android 4.3 Jelly Bean skinned with Samsung’s TouchWiz UI runs the Galaxy Note 3. The Liquid S2 runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean with Float UI.

Measurements and Colors

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 has dimensions of 151.2m x 79.2mm x 8.3mm and weighs 168g. It will come in black, white or pink color options. Acer’s Liquid S2 has dimensions of 166mm x 86mm x 9mm and comes in black or red (weight is unspecified at this point).

We cannot give you every single specification and feature of both phones here, but hopefully those provided will give you a good idea of how they stand up against each other. Another thing to point out is that the Galaxy Note 3 also has the popular S Pen stylus.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 will be available in regions worldwide on various carriers. The Acer Liquid S2 will initially launch in Europe. Both are notable smartphones with some top-end specs and features, so it will be interesting to see how they contend with each other.

The Galaxy Note 3 has the mighty marketing power of Samsung behind it and previous versions of the phone have been hugely successful, so it will undoubtedly win in sales. Personal preference of design will also have a part to play though, so we should not dismiss the Acer Liquid S2.

Looking at the major specs of these two smartphones there’s a lot to impress. In the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 vs. Acer Liquid S2 contest, have you a clear favorite? Send your comments to let us know.

*http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNFWAtTDLaC40qPnGi-GqjAY0IxV5A&url=http://www.phonesreview.co.uk/2013/09/16/samsung-galaxy-note-3-vs-acer-liquid-2-specs-lineup/

The Dark Energy Reservoir Charges Your Smartphone, Not Your New Age Beliefs

- The Dark Energy Reservoir Charges Your Smartphone, Not Your New Age Beliefs - Admittedly, a “dark energy reservoir” sounds like something you buy in that shop with all the crystals that obviously only stays open because the owner has a, shall we say, independent pharmaceutical dealership on the side. But the Dark Energy ...

HTC One Android 4.3 update to bring camera fix

It is not unusual for various smartphones to have issues that instead of being of a more worrying hardware problem are normally a bug with the software that is running on them. Now it has been revealed that the HTC One Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update is to bring a fix to the camera and the issues that have been affecting some users.

It seems that owners of the HTC One have been met with a problem when using the HTC One camera that causes images to be tinted blue, purple, or red when taking photos in low light conditions.

Now the company has stated that it is working on the problem that has been affecting some users of the HTC One, and a fix will be released with the Android 4.3 update when it arrives. The update is expected to arrive for US owners of the device first sometime this month, before being released to international users in the second phase of the rollout.

In the meantime the company are advising those that have been affected by the problem to reduce the ISO levels to make the problem less noticeable, or even return the handset to be given a replacement.

This will be embarrassing for the company as the 4MP UltraPixel rear camera is one of the biggest selling points for the handset, which has impressed many users and reviewers alike since the HTC One was released earlier in the year with many suggesting the device is the best Android unit available at present.

Has your HTC One been affected by this issue?

Source: HDBlog via Google Translate.

Apple 5S and 5C: 10 things you need to know

1 Going for gold

The iPhone 5s is the true next-generation iPhone, in a choice of gold, white and black. It is more expensive at a SIM-free price of £549, £629 and £709 for the 16GB, 32GB and 64GB models, with the leather case costing £35. But it’s the 5s that has all the new hardware features.

2 C is for Colourful

The iPhone 5c is essentially last year’s iPhone 5 in more colourful clothing. It has a larger battery and better front-camera than the iPhone 5, and its SIM-free price will be £469 for the 16GB model and £549 for the 32GB model when it goes on sale on 20 September.

3 When I’m 64-bit

Apple is shouting about its A7 processor and its “desktop-class” 64-bit computing capabilities. The company claims it’s twice as fast at CPU and graphics tasks, with an emphasis on bigger, richer games. Expect overuse of the phrase “console-quality” from developers.

4 Whirled in motion

The iPhone 5′s innards also include an M7 “motion coprocessor” designed to collect data from its accelerometer, gyroscope and compass. This is big news for health apps tracking your activity throughout the day, although possibly not-so-good news for companies like Fitbit who make external gadgets to measure it.

5 Prints charming

The iPhone 5s has a fingerprint sensor built into its Home button. It scans your fingerprint and stores it, so you can unlock the phone and authorise iTunes/App Store purchases with a touch.

6 Picture this

Apple has improved the camera in the 5s, but not with more megapixels. Instead, it sports a better lens and sensor to let in more light, better colour and less noise. The flash is smarter too.

7 Buy one, get five apps free

Apple has traditionally charged for its flagship Keynote, Pages, Numbers, iPhoto and iMovie iOS apps. Now it’s making them all free for people buying any new iOS device – iPad and iPod touch included.

8 Deadly 7

Hardware is good, but it’s Apple’s new software that holds the most changes. iOS 7 debuts on 18 September with a new look and new features. More battery-efficient multitasking; a much better Photos app; AirDrop to ping photos, videos and contacts to nearby iOS devices; and a smarter Siri that can now access Twitter.

9 Apps for that…

Developers got their hands on an early version of iOS 7 in June, and have been working on their apps accordingly. Expect a flurry of updates around the 18th making use of the software’s new features.

10 Radio rocks

One of iOS 7′s other big features is iTunes Radio, a music app that serves up radio-like streams of songs based on artists or genres. It’ll be free but for now it’ll only be available in the US.

• The headline and intro on this article were amended on 15 September

to reflect that this article is not a review

*http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNH7-eFmth6Q3eYd__Wh1a3I8sAj3g&url=http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/sep/15/5s-5c-iphone-review-features

HTC One Max inspires Ultra imagining

The upcoming HTC One Max is generating a huge amount of interest at the moment. The phone may not have been officially introduced yet, but is said to be a phablet version of the massively popular HTC One smartphone. Now the HTC One Max has inspired an Ultra imagining.

The HTC One Max has been the subject of plenty of leaked news and looks set to have a 5.9-inch display and possibly a fingerprint scanner, unlike the One and One Mini. The HTC One Ultra that we’re showing here has a 5.8-inch display and like the HTC One has beautifully sleek styling.

It’s at this point though that we have to inform readers that the HTC One Ultra is a concept design, so it won’t hit the shelves unlike the HTC One Max. Nevertheless this is such an impressive concept that we thought many of our readers would be interested in seeing it.

It’s always good to take a look at concept renders from time to time as they can offer a taste of what to expect on future devices. This HTC One Ultra was designed by Hasan Kaymak and has some attractive touches such as the slightly curved body to sit nicely in the hand.

Kaymak has helpfully provided some specs for the HTC One Ultra that would have looked a little futuristic until recently. However the speed with which we’re seeing improved specs arriving for current smartphones means that they don’t look quite so overblown.

This HTC One Ultra has a 64-bit processor (as just appeared on the iPhone 5S), a 5.8-inch UltraHD display, 4K video capture, and runs HTC Sense 6.0 with Active Multitasking. It also has Beats Audio with in-ear headset, a changeable battery and microSD card slot.

As well as all this, what about ActiveOn technology that means the user doesn’t need to press the power button as a sensor recognizes their hand. This is one of the most notable concept designs we’ve seen lately, and we wonder how many readers would like to see this type of HTC handset come to fruition?

If you like this design you may like to look at a previous HTC Max Ultra concept that we showed. Are you one of the many people waiting for the HTC One Max smartphone? What are your thoughts on this HTC One Ultra, inspired by the Max? We always appreciate your comments.

Source: Hasan Kaymak (Google+)

Apple 5S and 5C review: 10 things you need to know

1 Going for gold

The iPhone 5s is the true next-generation iPhone, in a choice of gold, white and black. It is more expensive at a SIM-free price of £549, £629 and £709 for the 16GB, 32GB and 64GB models, with the leather case costing £35. But it’s the 5s that has all the new hardware features.

2 C is for Colourful

The iPhone 5c is essentially last year’s iPhone 5 in more colourful clothing. It has a larger battery and better front-camera than the iPhone 5, and its SIM-free price will be £469 for the 16GB model and £549 for the 32GB model when it goes on sale on 20 September.

3 When I’m 64-bit

Apple is shouting about its A7 processor and its “desktop-class” 64-bit computing capabilities. The company claims it’s twice as fast at CPU and graphics tasks, with an emphasis on bigger, richer games. Expect overuse of the phrase “console-quality” from developers.

4 Whirled in motion

The iPhone 5′s innards also include an M7 “motion coprocessor” designed to collect data from its accelerometer, gyroscope and compass. This is big news for health apps tracking your activity throughout the day, although possibly not-so-good news for companies like Fitbit who make external gadgets to measure it.

5 Prints charming

The iPhone 5s has a fingerprint sensor built into its Home button. It scans your fingerprint and stores it, so you can unlock the phone and authorise iTunes/App Store purchases with a touch.

6 Picture this

Apple has improved the camera in the 5s, but not with more megapixels. Instead, it sports a better lens and sensor to let in more light, better colour and less noise. The flash is smarter too.

7 Buy one, get five apps free

Apple has traditionally charged for its flagship Keynote, Pages, Numbers, iPhoto and iMovie iOS apps. Now it’s making them all free for people buying any new iOS device – iPad and iPod touch included.

8 Deadly 7

Hardware is good, but it’s Apple’s new software that holds the most changes. iOS 7 debuts on 18 September with a new look and new features. More battery-efficient multitasking; a much better Photos app; AirDrop to ping photos, videos and contacts to nearby iOS devices; and a smarter Siri that can now access Twitter.

9 Apps for that…

Developers got their hands on an early version of iOS 7 in June, and have been working on their apps accordingly. Expect a flurry of updates around the 18th making use of the software’s new features.

10 Radio rocks

One of iOS 7′s other big features is iTunes Radio, a music app that serves up radio-like streams of songs based on artists or genres. It’ll be free but for now it’ll only be available in the US.

*http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNH7-eFmth6Q3eYd__Wh1a3I8sAj3g&url=http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/sep/15/5s-5c-iphone-review-features

Sony Xperia Z1 Mini specs seemingly confirmed

It seems that Sony is looking to take a leaf out of Samsung’s book by releasing a whole host of new hardware as it looks to rapidly expand its smartphone range, and now the specs for the yet to be announced Sony Xperia Z1 Mini have been seemingly confirmed.

A few days ago an image of what was allegedly the Sony Xperia Z1 Mini appeared which followed rumours last month of such a device being in the works with the main thing being scaled down was the actual size of the device instead of the specs, which is unlike other mini versions of flagship handsets.

Now the image that you can see on this page has appeared that is allegedly of a document that confirms at least some of the specifications of the unannounced device. It seems to confirm that under the hood will be the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad core processor powering a 4.3-inch display.

There is no mention of the screen resolution but earlier rumours hinted at a 720p HD display compared to the Full HD display on the Xperia Z1, while other features are thought to include 2GB of RAM along with the same 20.7-megapixel rear facing camera with Sony G Lens that is found on the bigger handset.

Internal storage is tipped to be at only 8GB but microSD card support is rumoured to be a feature along with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean from launch, but we will have to wait for anything official to come out from Sony before we will know for sure.

Would you like to see this handset being released soon?

Source: CNMO via Google Translate.

*http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNFd8watAWEuGPDPC4pSdu0TlHexsw&url=http://www.phonesreview.co.uk/2013/09/15/sony-xperia-z1-mini-specs-seemingly-confirmed/

HTC Droid DNA Sense 5 Android 4.2 update detailed

There’s good news today if you own the Droid DNA smartphone. Verizon has now detailed the HTC Droid DNA Android 4.2 and Sense 5 update, so it looks as though the arrival might be just around the corner.

The software update will bring Android 4.2 Jelly Bean to the Droid DNA as well as the HTC Sense 5 user interface. Verizon hasn’t yet officially announced when the software update will release but the fact that Big Red has highlighted HTC Sense 5 for the Droid DNA on a support page is promising news.

The page gives an overview of the update with plenty of information about the many additions that Droid DNA owners will benefit from with HTC Sense 5, such as BlinkFeed to personalize your Home screen, a favorites tab for an easier way to find contacts and a new calendar.

There are also new Quick Settings including new toggles in the notification bar, smart dialer, a gallery app with video highlights and more. Usually once we see details of an update on Verizon’s website it’s not too much longer until the rollout of the update begins. So fingers crossed, we’ll be hearing more on that very soon.

If you want to find out much more about this update head to Verizon here, where you’ll see the Droid DNA smartphone update is tagged as ‘coming soon.’

HTC has previously said that the Droid DNA would receive Android 4.3 by late September and skip 4.2, so it’s possible that 4.3 will bring this Sense 5 update. Verizon doesn’t specify which on this support page.

Have you got the HTC Droid DNA? Are you eagerly waiting to receive this latest update that will include Android 4.2 and Sense 5?

Sony Xperia Z1 successor Z2 already rumored

The impressive Sony Xperia Z1 smartphone was only officially introduced recently and will release shortly. However the Xperia Z1 successor the Z2 is already being rumored.

The Sony Xperia Z arrived earlier this year with its notable feature being dust and water-resistance. Following the Xperia Z we’ve also seen the arrival of the Xperia Z Ultra, and now the unveiling of the camera-centric smartphone, the Xperia Z1 (Honami).

Some specs have now been leaked for the Sony Xperia Z2 (C770X codenamed Avatar). It’s said to be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor, and have a 5.2-inch IGZO Triluminous display with 500 ppi, and 3GB of RAM.

Other unofficial specs include a 20.7-megapixel rear camera with 4K video capture, a 3200 mAh battery, and the Android 4.4 KitKat operating system. The same source of this leak suggests it will be shown at CES 2014.

If these leaked specs are accurate then a highlight of the Xperia Z2 will be the IGZO display. IGZO technology enables touchscreens to have higher sensitivity and eats up less power for high-resolution displays.

It’s rather early to be hearing leaked specs for the Sony Xperia Z2, so for now we need the proverbial pinch of salt. Nevertheless this is an interesting specs sheet and something that many people would like to see.

Do you think it’s credible that the Sony Xperia Z2 could have these specs? Maybe you’re just about to purchase the Xperia Z1 and want to concentrate on that for now? Your comments are always welcome.

Source: Esato Forums Via: TechKiddy

*http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNGRUNI1e7d552jvJi-njVxLnd_EqA&url=http://www.phonesreview.co.uk/2013/09/14/sony-xperia-z1-successor-z2-already-rumored/

HTC One Max fingerprint scanner spotted again

HTC started the year by releasing the hugely popular HTC One which has since spawned a mini version, but there has been a lot of anticipation for the release of the much rumoured HTC One Max which has been spotted again wearing what looks like a fingerprint scanner.

The image that you can see on this page is allegedly showing a working HTC One Max sitting next to the HTC One, but as we have seen before images can prove to be bogus. These latest images though do fit in with previous sightings that also include a fingerprint scanner fitted to the device.

These images have been put up on Chinese website Weibo and include one that shows the device seemingly working, but the image that shows the back of the device has a square cut out below the camera that could be the fingerprint scanner.

Rumours about the unannounced handset suggest we will see a device with a 5.9-inch Full HD display that is powered by the quad core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor running at a 2.3GHz clock speed and paired with 2GB of RAM.

Speculation also hints that the device will have the same 4MP UltraPixel rear facing camera that is found on the smaller HTC One, and there will be 32GB of on board storage while being powered by a 3,000 mAh battery pack.

There have also been claims that the HTC One Max will launch with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean coupled with a new HTC Sense 5.5 overlay, but until we hear anything official we will have to take any leaks or images with the usual pinch of salt.

Will you wait for the HTC One Max?

Source: Mobileaks via Google Translate.

Samsung Galaxy S5 without Android not impossible

The Galaxy S5 will be another in the popular flagship lineup from Samsung and is due to release next year. If anybody were to suggest that the phone would use something other than the Android operating system, it would be easy to brush this off. However, a new report suggests it’s not impossible that the Samsung Galaxy S5 will be without Android and will instead use Tizen.

Tizen is a new mobile operating system and is an extension of the open source Linux system. Companies such as Samsung, Intel and others are supporting the development of Tizen, and some of its key features are similar to Android.

There are hopes that Tizen could become the ‘third OS’ after the dominating Android and iOS platforms, but this will very much depend on continued manufacturer support. There has been talk about whether there is room for another mobile operating system, and in July we told how Samsung was reported to have delayed its first smartphone that would launch on the new OS.

This has led to some questioning Samsung’s involvement with the new OS as the company is so deeply associated with Android. However, it has already been speculated that at some point Google may retain Android for its own use, with Motorola being favored. Although Google has denied this many times, it might be the case that Samsung wants an alternative to using Android in case things change.

There has also been conjecture that the Tizen OS would only be used for Samsung budget devices, and that seems plausible as many of us could not even contemplate Samsung devices totally moving away from Android. The thought of a Galaxy S or Galaxy Note device without Android almost seems laughable.

However, this may not be as far-fetched as it once seemed. On discussing the probable operating system for the Samsung Galaxy S5, T3 makes the point that Samsung didn’t mention Android once at the recent launch event for the Galaxy S4 smartphone, and this followed earlier tensions between the two companies.

Also Samsung co-CEO Boo-Keun Yoon recently spoke about the company’s plans for Tizen to be connected with all of its devices, including mobile phones. This is a pretty provocative statement and while he didn’t actually state that Samsung will no longer use Google Android, it definitely seems that Samsung is making some attempt to distance itself. This could certainly rub Google up the wrong way.

It’s certainly not impossible then that the Samsung Galaxy S5 could be a Tizen device rather than Android, although we still find the proposition highly unlikely. However, T3 suggests it could be the case that there might be Android AND Tizen versions of the phone.

The Samsung Galaxy S5 looks likely to release around March or April next year, and although we still feel that this might be too early for a mainstream Samsung Tizen device, anything is possible. Please note that the image used here is a concept design of the Galaxy S5 (SV).

Can you imagine a scenario where Samsung might release a non-Android Galaxy S5? Maybe you think Samsung might one day drop the platform altogether? If you’re a fan of the Samsung Galaxy flagship device, would you consider using a Tizen version, or switch to another handset altogether if Android was dropped? We’re really interested to hear what readers have to say about this, so do send us your comments.

*http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNGls88Z-ERX2rwXauRORb_QznG_8w&url=http://www.phonesreview.co.uk/2013/09/14/samsung-galaxy-s5-without-android-not-impossible/

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 possible India price and launch

It has been over a week now since the wraps were taken off the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 at the Unpacked 2 event, and while pricing has been revealed for some regions it is not known everywhere. Today we have news about the possible Galaxy Note 3 price in India and the launch date for the device.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is set to become one of the most successful new smartphones of 2013, but there have been some fears about the price of the handset being higher than usual in the country due to the weakness of the currency.

It seems though that the Galaxy Note 3 will be costing consumers in India Rs. 47,990 when it is released later this month, and this figure comes after Tech2 did some digging through some HTML source code for online retail store Saholic.

The code shows that as soon as the handset is launched in the country which will be this coming week on September 17th, it will change to display the price, but it has to be remembered that this is not an official price yet so could change a little either way.

Once released consumers will be able to pick up a device with a 5.7-inch Full HD display powered by Samsung’s own Exynos 5 Octa processor clocked at 1.9GHz, which later in the year will have the ability to operate all 8 cores at once depending on the load.

The company made a big thing at the unveiling of the device of the more premium feel to the handset due to the build materials, along with the new and improved S Pen that has always been popular among Galaxy Note owners.

Are you going to get the Samsung Galaxy Note 3?

*http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNEYGZ2eSzrozKAqoUxb0XP5weQVOA&url=http://www.phonesreview.co.uk/2013/09/14/samsung-galaxy-note-3-possible-india-price-and-launch/

Blacksumac's Piper will make your home safer, here's how.

- Blacksumac's Piper will make your home safer, here's how. - Items that can be installed in your home that will allow you to interact with your home in constructive and convenient new ways. Blacksumac, a young company based out of Canada has created a clever and creative device they're calling Piper that will ...

also @ TechSpot: Sony Xperia Z Ultra Review

With no less than 30 devices in their Xperia smartphone range, Sony certainly doesnt shy away from releasing multitudes of Android devices. This years Xperia Z flagship is competing well against the heavyweights from Samsung, HTC and Nokia, while other phones such as the Xperia SP and Xperia E give consumers options in the lower reaches of the market. And lets not forget tablets like the Xperia Tablet Z, praised by many for its slick design and water resistance.

Sony Xperia Z Ultra – $679 (unlocked)

• 6.4-inch, 1920×1080 LCD display (344 PPI)


• Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chipset


• 2.2 GHz quad-core CPU, Adreno 330 GPU, 2 GB RAM


• 16 GB internal storage, microSD slot


• 8 MP camera, Exmor RS sensor, f/2.4 lens, 1080p video


• IP55/58 water resistant


• 3,050 mAh, 11.6 Wh battery


• LTE, Wi-Fi ac/a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC


• Android 4.2 Jelly Bean


• 212 grams, 6.5mm thick

However, nothing Sony has released thus far can be likened to the Xperia Z Ultra.

For the first time, the Japanese company has released a phablet, one which truly straddles the line between high-end smartphones and small tablets. A gargantuan 6.4-inch display and powerful Snapdragon 800 processor headline a list of top-end specifications, in a body thats easily the largest, but also the slimmest that Ive ever seen.

The phone is not alone in the large-display market though, going up against a seasoned competitor in the Galaxy Note, with a new version launching in just a few weeks time.

Is the Z Ultra a worthy contender? Or is this device just simply too impractical for everyday usage?

The Sony Xperia Z Ultra unit used in this review was kindly provided by MobiCity. Check them out for the latest smartphones unlocked and off-contract.

Design

If I had to describe the Xperia Z Ultra in two words, it would be gorgeously massive. On the one hand, Sony has crafted an astoundingly beautiful smartphone, combining a slim design with premium materials. On the other, the device is ridiculously large, pushing the boundaries of what can be considered a phone, and making it somewhat hard to use.

But Ill start with what I like about the Ultra. The entire build of the phone is minimalist, slim and appealing, making it perhaps the best Sony design yet.

Left to right: Samsung Galaxy S4, HTC One, Sony Xperia Z Ultra, Nexus 7 (2013)

At just 6.5mm thick, the phone feels really nice in the hand, and even though its just a few millimeters slimmer than a phone like the Galaxy S4, it seems like theres a huge difference. Sony has used glass for both the front and the back of the phone, which improves the overall build quality, but can make it a considerable fingerprint magnet as well.

The model I received for review was deep black, and thanks to Sonys efforts in hiding elements such as sensors and speakers, the clean design looks undeniably classy and premium. The front speaker and microphone are kept to small lines at the top and bottom, while the main speaker is just another line on the bottom edge. Branding is also kept to a minimum, with a few Sony logos, NFC logo and Xperia logo scattered around the otherwise bare design.

Around the edges, the left side has a concealed micro-USB port at the top, and a dock connector around half way down. While the connector is magnetic, its strange that it wasnt made flush with the edge; instead you get a small ridge that can be uncomfortable while holding the phone normally. It also doesnt quite fit with the design: upon first taking the device out of the box, I thought the volume rocker was missing.

The right-hand side features the remaining buttons and ports, including the exposed 3.5mm headphone jack, the covered microSD and micro-SIM slots, the small power button and volume rocker. Despite the power button being reasonably small, its in the perfect spot, as it usually falls exactly where your fingers end up holding the device.

Despite the attractiveness associated with the slim, slate-like design, I am somewhat concerned about its strength. Sony claims the phone is ultra tough, but it still exhibits a small amount of flex, both lengthwise and diagonally, which strains the large glass panels on both sides. Unlike the rock-solid Xperia Z or HTC One, there is a possibility that the Z Ultra could snap or crack in the wrong circumstances, such as if you accidentally sat on it or bent it in your pockets. That said, Sonys choice to avoid considerable reinforcement has kept the device reasonably light for its size, which improves its portability.

While the strength of the phone is somewhat questionable, clumsy people will be glad to know the phone is water resistant up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes, and protected against low pressure water streams. Sony has coated and sealed the Xperia Z Ultra to achieve IP55 and IP58 ratings, which is part of the reason the device has flaps to cover all the ports except the 3.5mm headphone jack. Although the phone is not protected against saltwater, theoretically this IP rating means you could happily use it in a swimming pool if you so desire.

Unfortunately though, its not possible to operate the capacitive touchscreen while the phone is submerged, or even partially submerged, in water. This limits the usefulness of the water resistance, as you cant use the camera underwater, or any feature on the phone for that matter. The only real advantage to the IP55/58 rating is protection against accidental water spills, or from dropping the phone in your bath, for example. This makes the feature more a small advantage than a key selling point.

The biggest annoyance about this phone is undoubtedly its size: its impractical, unnecessary and sometimes downright frustrating to use. The Ultra is restricted most of the time to two-handed use, because good luck managing the massive keyboard or notification pane with one hand. Often the phone is awkward to hold and manage due to its large width, and the 5mm bezel on either side of the mammoth display doesnt help in any way. It takes practice to manage the phone in one hand without fumbling it, and thats not a good thing.

Even more concerning is the phones vertical height of 180mm, with 17mm of bezel above and below the display. The unnecessarily large vertical bezel presents loads of issues when the device is in your pants pockets, and for the first time ever reviewing a smartphone, in day to day activities I was physically restricted carrying the Z Ultra on me. Even wearing jeans with pockets deep enough to fit the entire device, I was hindered putting shoes on, restricted when climbing stairs and uncomfortable when sitting down. It gets worse if you dont have pants that can accommodate the entire device a situation which is reasonably likely because itll stick out and cause all sorts of annoyances.

So Im stuck in an unusual situation with the Xperia Z Ultra. I love the slim, minimalist design and premium construction, but I also hate how impractical it can be in many circumstances. If only Sony had kept the display to 6-inches or lower, because if they did, we might have had a real winner on our hands.

Display: A Full 6.4-Inches

The biggest selling point of the Xperia Z Ultra is its massive, 6.4-inch 1080p display, which is perfect for content consumption. Sony hasnt specified exactly what technology is used in this display, but my instinct tells me its a larger version of their e-IPS TFT LCD panel used on the Xperia Z. e-IPS is essentially a cost-friendly version of full IPS panels, with reduced viewing angles but largely the same color output and clarity as youd expect from a higher-end display. At 1920 x 1080, this display comes in with a pixel density of 344 pixels-per-inch (PPI).

Sony likes to throw around a lot of marketing terms such as Triluminous Display with X-Reality, OptiContrast Panel and Mobile Bravia Engine 2 to describe the Z Ultras display. In actual fact these just refer to a range of the displays basic features, and truthfully Sony doesnt need to use jargon like this because the display is very good.

Even though youre getting a full 113cm of screen real-estate (compared to 69cm with the Galaxy S4s 5-inch display), the high resolution still makes the panel very crisp. It may just be 334 PPI, which is low compared to the 450+ were seeing on the latest high-end devices, but text looks amazing, and you can fit a lot of it on the Z Ultras display while still keeping it readable. Images also look fantastic, again thanks to the combination of high resolution and gargantuan size.

Often the UI elements that are rendered dont do the display justice, because Ive discovered that a range of applications even those provided on the phone dont deliver 1080p assets. Its an unfortunate situation when you have such a beautifully big display, and its only really the first time Ive noticed a lack of 1080p elements, but its something that will hopefully resolve itself over time.

Far and away the best use of the Xperia Z Ultras display is for movies, images and gaming. There is simply no other device that can deliver a high-quality video experience, while still (almost) fitting in your pants pockets. It even surprised me how well the Bravia Engine 2 (a software display optimizer for images and videos) works, making colors pop just that little bit more than usual. And lets not forget gaming, which is nothing short of amazing on this sizeable, high-density panel.

Color reproduction from the e-IPS isnt as good as what Ive seen on the Galaxy S4s Super AMOLED, and especially the phenomenal HTC Ones Super LCD 3, but its still very respectable. Contrast is very good, as are the white levels, although like the Xperia Z, the viewing angles are lacking. Youll be wanting to view this phone directly head-on, otherwise you might experience some slight washing out to grey, but luckily this isnt a huge issue.

I was impressed by the Z Ultra displays brightness and outdoor legibility, which is no doubt improved by Sonys OptiContrast panel that essentially removes the gaps between glass and display. The maximum brightness is adequate for viewing the display in full sunlight, and I found the auto-brightness to adequately select the appropriate brightness based on ambient light. Naturally its best to keep the brightness level to a minimum, because high backlight power can significantly drain the battery thanks to this huge display; something Ill explore more in the battery life section of this review.

Aside from the display itself, the Xperia Z Ultra comes with an interesting touchscreen feature that allows you to use the phones display with essentially any conducting material, including pencils. Although the phone doesnt come with a stylus or a stylus slot in the body (which some may class as a downside), a pencil actually makes a really good substitute, providing surprisingly fast and accurate input. I also found the digitizer to work well with third-party styluses (excluding plastic ones designed for resistive touchscreens) and essentially anything metal, although ballpoint pens tend to not work due to the insulating nature of pen ink.

If youre worried about scratching the display with a metal stylus substitute or pencil, dont be, because the Gorilla Glass 3 is extremely tough and resistant to marking. While using a pencil on the Z Ultra, some graphite will deposit on the glass, then wiping the screen like you do when cleaning off fingerprints removes all traces of the pencils contact. The same goes for pen ink, if you manage to find a pen that works well with the touchscreen.

The ability to use essentially any stylus or pencil with the Xperia Z Ultra is great because you can bring along what you find most comfortable in everyday usage. However, comparing this solution directly to the Samsung Galaxy Note II reveals some downsides. While a pencil is generally more comfortable to use than the Galaxy Notes small stylus, it lacks the additional button that can come in handy for certain tasks (like cropped screen captures). There is also no hover mode with the Z Ultra that gives you a guide to the position of the stylus above the display, which is useful while sketching diagrams.

Overall though I was impressed with the Xperia Z Ultras display, which offers significant screen real estate thanks to a panel which is reasonably high quality. I was surprised at the smoothness of using a pencil on the screen for note-taking and navigation, and auto-brightness is a standout in working really well to manage brightness levels. Its just a little unfortunate that the screen size is such a hindrance in some situations, when its so good for things like movie watching and mobile gaming.

*http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNFDTTXzBgvZS3Ra-VbTqIBato5AxA&url=http://www.techspot.com/review/711-sony-xperia-z-ultra/