LG G2 review

With the G2, it seems like LG took a lot of cues from its Korean counterpart and built what many called a Galaxy S4 clone. It's large, made of lots of plastic, shaped similarly and is jam-packed with more features than a single person can handle.

Super fast processor
Ultra long lasting battery
Mega bright, sharp display
Thin,light,compact design
Super-slim Bezels
Rear key innovation which I wonder why no one thought of sooner...
Truckload of USEFUL software features
OIS Camera

Display:
A beautiful 5.2" 424 PPI full HD IPS display with the standard RGD matrix which sports 2 million more sub pixels than the galaxy S4's display, it can't get any sharper and as an added bonus, the display is super bright at 450 nits so you can be sure that when ourdoors the displays beauty will not fade. It has great viewing angles so you can watch a video with a buddy and the display has some galaxy-esque features like samsungs smart stay which do exactly what the galaxies do.

This display does an excellent job of balancing the colours to make them look more true to life and the contrast rivals even that of the super amoled screens.

Whats more is that the screen occupies as much of the front of the device as possible, reducing the dimensions of the device to just a little bit bigger than the HTC one which has a display 0.5 inches smaller than it.

Battery Life:

Packing a non removable 3000mAH battery which doesent seem like much when you think that the large display and super fast processor will gobble up in an hour. But do not underestimate this phone as the snapdragon 800 processor has dynamic power sensing which maximises battery life and it really works as I managed 14 hours of heavy use and an entire night on standby and by heavy use I mean benchmarking, gaming, watching videos, more benchmarking and basically way more than the average user does.

The next day, I used it like how an average user would use it- Texting, quite some youtubing, phone calls and some light gaming and I was just blown away. I still had 53% battery left after 8 hours!

The Processor:
Featuring the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad core 2.26GHz processor, the LG G2 is the fastest phone you can find and in all my usage I felt not one second of lag, not one stutter at all. I downloaded an app and as it was installing opened and closed every other app I had but to no avail. This phone just cannot be slowed down.

Not just is it a heavy lifter, its fuel efficient too, just like i said above.

I reckon, there a'int no app that can slow down this here phone!

Design

Diving right into what powers the LG G2 and makes it purr, you'll first notice a 5.2-inch 1920 x 1080 display, which gives us a 424 PPI density. The chipset inside is a Qualcomm MSM8974 Snapdragon 800, with a 2.26GHz quad-core Krait 400. In terms of processing power, it seems that the G2 is in no short supply.

It comes in 16GB and 32GB variants, with 2GB RAM. Connectivity includes Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, Infrared port and 4G LTE.

Software Features:
Qslide - A small resizeable, transparency adjustable, overlaid application which runs on top of whatever you are doing to multitask. Can be used to open a web browser and calculator at the same time for example, so you can type in numbers as you see them pop up.

Slide aside - A more efficient multitasker than androids stock multitasker which is used by using three fingers to swipe to the left, storing the application in the state you left it, and up to three apps can be slid away at a time. To access them just swipe with three fingers to the right and tap on the app you want to open.

Knock knock - LG lets renders the power button useles in turning off and on the screen because now, with a double tap to the display, the screen pops to life!

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The Best Smartphones In The World

1. LG G2

LG has trumped the competition with the G2. The phone offers a combination of value for money with high-end features which we haven't seen from rival flagship devices. A great specification combined with impressive design and handy software features mean there's very little to dislike about this handset - only really the lack of a microSD card slot.

2. Google Nexus 5
Google and LG have done a fantastic job with the Nexus 5, producing a very desirable phone at an outrageously low price. It's the best value-for-money smartphone out there right now.

3. Sony Xperia Z1
Sony has upgraded its fantastic Xperia Z. The Xperia Z1 feels nicer but is unfortunately bigger and heavier. It's a powerhouse with an all-round impressive specification. Easily one of the best Android handsets around but the high price tag taints this slightly.

4. iPhone 5S
If you already own an iPhone 5, it’s hard to justify upgrading to the 5S. Yes, it’s considerably faster and takes better photos and videos in low light, but the 5 is still a great smartphone and has at least another year in it before apps (and possibly iOS 8) start to find the A6 processor’s limits. Those with a 4S (or 4) are in for a treat, though. As well as serious performance gains, the bigger screen and lighter weight make a huge difference, and the fingerprint scanner is a bonus. Ultimately, if you want an iPhone, the 5S won’t disappoint and is one of the most future-proof of the current smartphone crop.

5. Motorola Moto G
Motorola's Moto G is the best budget smartphone around. At £135 it's got great build quality, an excellent screen, decent cameras and Android 4.3 Jelly Bean soon to be upgrade to 4.4 KitKat. It's only limited in the storage department and a lack of 4G support.

6. HTC One
The HTC One is up there with the very best smartphones on the market today. It has superb performance, and excellent build quality spoiled only slightly by running hot in use. You can't fault the feature set, and it matches the other high-end products in terms of price. In terms of audio and visual output it is unsurpassed. The interface might be an acquired taste for some, and we weren't overly impressed with the camera. It's not perfect, but alongside the Xperia Z and iPhone 5 this is about as good a phone as you can buy.


7. Samsung Galaxy Note 3
We're not sure you need all the extra features that Samsung packs in, and we could live without the S Pen. And not everyone needs or wants a smartphone with a 6in display. Neither is the camera all that great. But be in no doubt about it, the Galaxy Note 3 is a high-quality portable device, offering the best performance we've ever seen, a stunning screen and nice build quality.

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How to install Android 4.4.1 on the Nexus 5

Google has started rolling out Android 4.4.1 to Nexus devices. The update is supposed to not only alleviate some bugs brought along by 4.4, but is also said to noticeably improve the camera on the Nexus 5. This is enough of a reason to go ahead and install the update right away without waiting for it to arrive automatically over the air. If you are just as impatient as we are, here is how to get 4.4.1 on your Nexus 5 today.

Here's how to get Android 4.4.1 on your Nexus 5 in a pinch. © AndroidPIT

What you’ll need

There are two things that you will need before you get started:

• ADB Tools
• the update to Android 4.4.1 for the Nexus 5

With the update, your Nexus 5 will acquire a build number of KOT49E. In order for the update to install, your device should already be running on build number KRT16M - this is the default OS build the Nexus 5 shipped with, so you should be fine. To find out if this is indeed installed on your Nexus 5, bring up your Android settings, tap on ‘About device’ and check out your build number there.

Installation process

On your Computer

Unzip ADB Tools, go to the adb-tools folder and press the shift button on your keyboard. Then, right click on your mouse in a free space in Windows Explorer and choose ‘open command prompt here’ from the context menu by left-clicking the mouse on this selection.

Now copy the Android 4.4.1 update file into the adb-tools folder and change its name to something shorter which you’ll have to type in later on. A good example would be ‘nexus5-441-ota.zip’.

On the Nexus 5

• Turn off the device
• Hold down the volume down and power buttons in order to enter the fastboot menu.
• By using the volume rocker, choose the option ‘Recovery Mode’ and confirm with the power button.
• As soon as you see the Android robot with its open tummy, press and hold Power, then tap (press) Volume up
• Again, by using the volume rocker, now choose the option ‘apply update from ADB’ in the open recovery menu and confirm with the power button.

Back on the computer

Connect your Nexus 5 to your computer via USB and go to the command prompt. Type in the following command in order to install the update.

adb sideload nexus5-441-ota.zip

Please note: if you renamed the update file something other than what we suggested above, please substitute whatever you renamed the file in the ADB command.

The installation process will now commence. The update will be copied onto your Nexus 5 and then be installed. After about 5 minutes, the entire procedure will be complete and you can restart your Nexus 5 via the option ‘reboot system’.

Done! You have now successfully installed Android 4.4.1 on your Nexus 5.

Tip: Should your Nexus 5 not be recognized by your computer, disconnect it from your PC, install the ADB tool into the adb-tools folder and connect the device to your PC again.

Let us know how the process went for you!

(translated by Loie Favre)

How to install Android 4.4.1 on the Nexus 5 How to install Android 4.4.1 on the Nexus 5 How to install Android 4.4.1 on the Nexus 5 How to install Android 4.4.1 on the Nexus 5 How to install Android 4.4.1 on the Nexus 5 How to install Android 4.4.1 on the Nexus 5 How to install Android 4.4.1 on the Nexus 5 How to install Android 4.4.1 on the Nexus 5 How to install Android 4.4.1 on the Nexus 5

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Samsung focusing on smartphone accessories, peripherals in 2014

A new report out of Korea says that Samsung has lowered their smartphone sales projections for 2014 from 360 to 330 million units. In doing so, Samsung hopes to focus on smartphone accessories and peripherals next year. The reason for shifting its focus and lowering sales projections is because the smartphone market is becoming increasingly crowded. But by no means is Samsung worried. Selling 330 million units is certainly a great goal to have. This new focus will likely start with the release of the Galaxy Gear‘s successor when it is rumored to launch beside the Galaxy S 5. This could also mean that the S Pen’s functionality will be expanded with the release of the next Note device. Only time will tell to see how Samsung innovates in 2014.




Source: ET News

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Nokia's cheap smartphones drive Windows in Europe

During the three months to August, the Windows Phone platform reached a market share of over 10 percent for the first time in France and Britain, with 10.8 percent and 12 percent respectively, the researcher said.

Nokia, which earlier this month agreed to sell its mobile phone handset business to Microsoft, is the main user of the Windows platform and the driver behind the increase.

"Windows Phone's latest wave of growth is being driven by Nokia's expansion into the low and mid-range market with the Lumia 520 and 620 handsets," said Kantar analyst Dominic Sunnebo.

"These models are hitting the sweet spot with 16 to 24 year-olds and 35 to 49 year-olds, two key groups that look for a balance of price and functionality in their smartphone."

Google's Android, which runs on Samsung and Sony smartphones among others, remained the leading platform in key European markets, which include Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Spain.

Android's market share increased to 70.1 percent from 68.8 percent in the same period last year. Apple's iOS was the second-biggest platform with a 16.1-percent market share, 2 percentage points more than last year.

BlackBerry, which earlier this month agreed to go private, saw its market share more than halved to 2.4 percent from 5.8 percent.

(Reporting by Harro ten Wolde; editing by David Evans)

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Apple has released an iPhone 5c

Upwards from $99
iPhone 5C launch on September 20th

ios7

Cleaner, simpler icons. An interface that feels fluid and alive. And new features that make the most of the technology inside. The world’s most advanced mobile OS is the perfect companion to the most colorful iPhone yet.

Phone 5c has up to 13 LTE bands. That’s more than any other single model of smartphone. Which means even more iPhone users can experience fast download and upload speeds in more places around the world. Meanwhile, the number of LTE carriers supported by iPhone worldwide continues to grow. So when you’re traveling, you can take advantage of ultra-fast LTE networks in more places

HD video.

Now when you record video in 1080p HD, the new 3x zoom feature lets you get in tighter on your subject. Video image stabilization helps smooth out shaky footage from your high‑adrenaline moments. (Running of the Bulls, anyone?) Face detection for up to 10 faces makes sure nobody gets lost in the crowd. And the ability to take still photos while recording video comes in handy when you want to tell that story within a story.

New Camera app.

iPhone 5c also comes with a new Camera app that raises your photography game. Now you can shoot images in a square format. And choose from eight live filters than can be applied before or after you take your photo. Use the Instant filter to give a group shot at the beach a vintage color look. Make a sunset even more vivid with the Chrome filter. Or choose Noir to capture a self-portrait in dramatic black and white.

Long battery life.

The A6 chip is designed to be extremely energy efficient, so you can spend your day taking advantage of all the features and apps on your iPhone. Without worrying about battery life.

Height: 4.90 inches (124.4 mm)
Width: 2.33 inches (59.2 mm)
Depth: 0.35 inch (8.97 mm)
Weight: 4.65 ounces (132 grams)

GSM model: GSM/EDGE
UMTS/HSPA+
DC-HSDPA
CDMA model: CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and Rev. B
LTE3
Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n; 802.11n on 2.4GHz and 5GHz)
Bluetooth 4.0
GPS and GLONASS


4-inch (diagonal) Retina display
1136-by-640 resolution
326 ppi

• 8 megapixels
• ƒ/2.4 aperture
• Sapphire crystal lens cover
• LED flash
• Backside illumination sensor
• Five-element lens
• Hybrid IR filter
• Autofocus
• Tap to focus
• Face detection
• Panorama
• Photo geotagging

1080p HD video recording
30 fps
LED flash
-
Video stabilization
Take still photo while recording
video
Face detection
3x zoom
Video geotagging
Tap to focus

• Face Time
• iPhone 5c to any Face Time-enabled device over Wi-Fi or cellular
• Initiate video calls over LTE, DC-HSDPA, HSPA+, 3G, and 2G
• HVGA-resolution (480 by 368) calls over Wi-Fi

Three-axis gyro

Accelerometer

Proximity sensor

Ambient light sensor

-

White Pink Yellow Blue Green

Upwards from $99

iPhone 5C launch on September 20th

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iPhone 5S hands-on: September 20 release date, in 3 colors

Fingerprint scanner

The optional fingerprint scanner rescues Apple's reputation as a smartphone maker with cutting-edge features that actually influence how people use their phones. The new scanner, called the Touch ID sensor, is integrated into the home button and adds some classy materials with its sapphire crystal topper and "stainless-steel detection ring." Now you tap to activate your phone, instead of pressing the button (but the button still depresses for normal navigation actions.

Touch ID scans sub-epidermal skin layers, Apple says, and has "360-degree readability," meaning it should be able to recognize your fingerprint regardless of orientation.

In addition to the Touch ID sensor doubling as your security key instead of a four-key password, you can also purchase apps and other iTunes content with a tap of your finger. Fingerprint information is never available to other apps, Apple says, nor will it be stored in the cloud.

As for guest profiles, yes, you can store details for multiple fingers -- yours and someone else's.

In classic Apple style, Touch ID is easy to set up as you tap and circle your finger to capture multiple fingerprint angles. In fact, setup is a bit like a video game that collects more prints the more you tap. After that, you scan your fingerprint and voila, you're in. The entire setup process takes a minute or less. Log-in is as quick as clicking.

How did it feel during a brief hands-on session after Apple's event? Surprisingly easy and fast. We were able to have Touch ID scan our fingerprint after about a dozen or so tap-clicks. After the process is done, the scan happens instantaneously: it feels just like clicking a home button. The scan becomes unnoticeable. There is a little adjustment, though, to getting used to how the button now works capacitively and as a click button.

If you don't want to use the fingerprint scanner, you don't have to. There's still the option to use the four-digit PIN password or no password at all. The benefit? No longer having to enter your iTunes ID in order to make purchases.

Specs-a-palooza

Hardware design stays the course with identical dimensions and the same chamfered edges as the iPhone (that means the 45-degree angles on the corners). The "space gray" design with the silver and black colors has a look that feels like a cross between the iPhone 5 and the 4/4S' silver-and-black banded design, which is to say that it looks very cool and familiar. It actually looks more distinctive than the all-black iPhone 5, and should be more scratch-resistant (we knew more than a few people who had the all-black previously and collected scuffs).

The gold is pale and shimmery, just like champagne. It isn't an offensive shade by any means. The white and silver version looks just like last year's model.

Apple's $39 leather iPhone cases make the 5S look almost 5C-like from a distance, but there are plenty of other cases the 5S should be compatible with: after all, it's the same exact shape as the 5.

The iPhone 5S has the same 4-inch screen as the iPhone 5, and Apple's Retina Display, which has a 1,136x640-pixel resolution and a pixel density of 326 ppi. (This isn't the highest around, but Apple maintains that beyond this so-called sweet-spot saturation level, higher pixel density ceases to matter.)

Here's something new: the iPhone 5S will have the first 64-bit chip in a mobile phone, but will be backward-compatible with 32-bit apps. Under the hood, Apple's A7 processor promises to power the iPhone 5S with 56 times the graphics performance of the very first iPhone, and about 40 times its CPU muscle.
On the gaming front, the iPhone 5S features OpenGL ES 3.0, which has the potential to make this phone the technically best-performing in the smartphone world. (CNET mobile gamer Eric Franklin will love sizing this one up.)

New to the iPhone 5S is the M7 motion coprocessor, which joins the A7 chip in processing. Specifically, the M7 chip keeps tabs on the accelerometer, gyroscope, and compass data. At the end of the day, that makes it possible for wearables like fitness bands and other accessories to tap into that data faster and more efficiently. It's a fascinating idea, but was only mentioned briefly during Apple's event. Keep an eye on this M7 processor: if any chip ever makes it into a future iWatch, it could be this one.

Battery life is a big issue in the smartphone world, and Apple remains coy with actual milliamp hour capacity. Apple takes the iPhone 5S to 10 hours of talk time over 3G (but what about LTE, Apple?!), 10 hours of LTE browsing, and 10 hours of video. You also get 10.4 days (250 hours) in standby mode, a full day longer than on the iPhone 5 (225 hours).

Once again, the iPhone is without NFC, which makes it the only major platform to exclude the short-range protocol. Apple has stubbornly used workaround features like the wallet and perhaps this new Touch ID scanner to circumvent NFC's specific brand of device-to-device communication.

Camera and video

When it comes to camera territory, Apple has traditionally been a gold standard, highly consistent in all scenarios without fussing with controls. This has been slipping with competitors' improved cameras in rival phones like the Samsung Galaxy S4, Nokia Lumia 925, and especially the Nokia Lumia 1020 (and its 41-megapixel camera).

Here, Apple once again challenges the field with a lot of built-in logic that makes for automatic adjustments of everything from white balance to the color temperature of the new, dual-tone LED flash.

In addition, Apple gives its iPhone 5S a five-element lens that Apple designed in-house. Its sensor size is 15 percent larger than before, and it packs in a f/2.2 aperture. The result? More light for theoretically better pictures.

You won't find more megapixels in this version of the iSight camera, which means images top out at 8 megapixels. However, you'll find an all-new burst mode that snares snaps at a rate of 10 frames per second when you hold your finger down on the shutter. Burst mode is very fast, and the iPhone 5S automatically picks the best of the bunch, nesting the rest in a sort of digital subfolder. A subtle gray dot designates the best one, but you can easily scan these and pick your own to save.

You can also take shots that span a 28-megapixel panorama. Apple will now automatically adjust exposure as you move, which is a nice touch. There's auto image stabilization as well.

The iPhone 5S once again ups the ante with 1080p HD recording for the front-facing camera. The rear captures video at the usual 30fps as well as 120fps for slow-motion video (as do the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4.) In the app, slow-mo can be selected for various parts of the clip you shot by sliding little markers, much like editing a video clip in iMovie.

It's hard to tell camera quality in a brief hands-on, but the 5S burst mode is speedy, much more so than the iPhone 5's, and the autopicking of "best shots" in bundled photo collections within the app should avoid a sensation of filling your Camera Roll with identical retakes.

In many ways, Apple's camera functions are still in catch-up mode, with Apple just now getting around to features like burst capture. However, Apple's strength is in bringing consistently great photos to the mass market, and the new baked-in camera features seem to integrate quite nicely with iOS 7's new software.

Operating system

Calling it "the most forward-thinking phone anyone's ever made," Apple ships this new iPhone with iOS 7 software inside, which Apple previewed earlier this summer. A brighter, more colorful interface is one major cosmetic enhancement. A Control Center you can call up from any screen for one-touch settings, and new camera apps are more substantial features.

Outlook

The iPhone 5S is a little same old, same old when it comes to the design and features, which isn't going to give flagging-but-hopeful supporters much to get excited about when it comes to the phone's looks -- that is, unless they've been clamoring for a champagne-gold phone all along. (That being said, actually, "space gray" might be our favorite new color and name in an Apple product.)

In other ways, Apple's fingerprint scanner does add a shot of technical intrigue that we'll need to take a closer look at to see if it's more gimmick than game-changer. If Touch ID ends up being a standard that app developers can tap into to make purchases easier and log-ins more self-contained, it could be a wonderful time-saver...and something that could find its way into the rest of Apple's product line.

How good the camera and A7 processor are, really, remains to be seen. The real question in our minds is this: will more people pick the 5S or the 5C, or another phone entirely? It looks like Apple is using this year to refine peripheral technology around the iPhone rather than heading in a bold new direction. That said, if Touch ID makes the iPhone 5S more secure, it'll be no small feature. We'll also be keeping an eye on the M7 chip: Apple might be making a play for iOS health-tracking apps and gear to beat competitors to market, or, failing that, to just plain beat them.

How large a leap the iPhone 5S is over last year's 5 remains to be seen. Will it be a bigger leap forward than the iPhone 4S was over the 4? We don't know yet, but that new home button's pretty nice.

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