Two Samsung Galaxy S5 variants get benchmarked and reveal some very interesting Specs
At the end of January, KGI Research made the courageous decision to make an educated guess of what specifications they expected the Samsung Galaxy S5 to have, and to our surprise, they postulated that there would be in fact be two variants of the Galaxy S5, one a standard version and one a premium version. While there has been very little reference to more than one variant of the Galaxy S5 since then, some benchmarks that have showed up on the AnTuTu database might just prove that KGI was mostly correct as they feature two Samsung Galaxy S5 variants, the SM-G900R4 and the SM-G900H.
The above images were gleaned from the database and appear to describe two very different devices, though it’s clear that one is meant to be a more powerful device. The SM-G900R4 looks like a lock as the premium device, bearing a quad-core Snapdragon 800 clocked at 2.5GHz, a 2560×1440 display, 3GB RAM and 32GB RAM. With a slight step down, the SM-G900H looks to be what we’ll be calling the standard version, featuring a octa-core Samsung Exynos 5422 running at 1.5GHz, a 1920×1080 display, 2GB RAM and 16GB RAM. Both are obviously not devices to sneeze at, but the SM-G900R4 looks a lot more enticing with it’s higher end specs, though somehow it doesn’t look that much more impressive than its counterparts, like the LG G2 and Xperia Z1, at this point.
Benchmark for SM-G900R4
Benchmark for SM-G900H
Above we have the benchmarks from the AnTuTu database and what you might notice from the 3D performance of the two new devices is that the standard Galaxy S5 (SM-G900H) actually appears to perform better than the premium Galaxy S5 (SM-G900R4). What’s more is that while the standard version (SM-G900H) performs better than the Galaxy Note 3 it’s been compared with, the premium version (SM-G900R4) actually performs worse than the Note 3. SamMobile suggests that the difference in 3D performance is due to the fact that the Adreno 330, while featured in both the premium Galaxy S5 and the Note 3, it is actually powering a 2560×1440 resolution display in the Galaxy S5 as compared to a 1920×1080 display in the Note 3.
As a round up, the two Galaxy S5 variants do appear to have a few things in common including running Android 4.4.2 as well as both having a 2.1MP front camera and 16MP rear camera. Despite some very impressive hardware, impressive benchmark scores and now two variants, the Galaxy S5 doesn’t appear as invincible as it has in the past, but that’s just my opinion: what do you make of the specs shown off here? Which variant of the Galaxy S5 would you get? Let us know in the comments.
Source: AnTuTu (1), (2) via SamMobile
Jolla’s intelligent phone covers are now on sale, and you can make your own
One of the signature features of Jolla’s first smartphone is The Other Half — an intelligent phone back that uses NFC to automatically customize the phone’s software. Early owners haven’t really had a chance to try the feature for themselves, but that’s changing now that Jolla is selling The Other Half covers through its website. Paying €29 ($40) will get you an Aloe- or Keira Black-colored shell, either of which changes the system sounds and wallpaper to reflect a cohesive theme. And if you’re not happy with Jolla’s designs, you can make your own — the company has released a developer kit that includes the 3D printer file, software instructions and tech specs that you’ll need to get cracking. It currently takes two to three weeks for The Other Half units to ship to European customers, but anyone who’s unwilling to wait can grab the do-it-yourself tools right away.
Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals, Mobile
Via: Forbes
Source: Jolla, JollaHQ (Twitter)
Sigma’s dp Quattro cameras boast higher-resolution sensors and an extra-wide design
No, you’re not looking at a projector — it’s the dp2 Quattro, the first of three cameras in Sigma’s new dp Quattro lineup. That unusually wide, almost cinematic body is meant to provide a more balanced feel in the hand than the compact design of its predecessors. However, the real centerpiece is underneath: every camera has a new version of the three-layer, color-rich Foveon X3 sensor that takes higher resolution photos (20 megapixels versus 15.3) while improving both performance and battery life. Sigma has also made a leap to a faster TRUE III image processor. Unusually, there’s also an optical viewfinder available for purists, which should work well with the fixed lenses. The dp2 Quattro will come with a 30mm f/2.8 general purpose lens, while the dp1 and dp3 will respectively carry 19mm wide-angle and 50mm telephoto optics. The company hasn’t said just when the Quattro cameras will ship, but history suggests that they won’t be cheap.
Filed under: Cameras
Source: Sigma
iPhones with Flappy Bird Pre-Installed Hit ebay with Bids Hitting $89,000!
This is pretty ridiculous guys. I mean, if I would’ve known this whole Flappy Bird situation was going to lead people into making staggering profit from it, I would’ve bought myself an iPhone. Seems some clever entrepreneurs out there decided to take it upon themselves to help those who weren’t able to grab a Flappy Bird download by throwing iPhones on ebay with the game pre-installed. Hey why not? Could make a couple hundred bucks or so…OR SO!
The image above shows an actual ebay bidding for one of these iPhones with Flappy Bird installed on it. The bid is almost at $89,000! Are you kidding me? I want to believe this is fake, but looking on the actual page it does seem to be legit. I even saw someone else post a screenshot of another iPhone with Flappy Bird installed on it going for $42,000. Us Android enthusiasts are laughing our asses off, because we can obviously side load the apk with ease.
I can’t even think someone would actually pay that amount of money, and that very may be the case. It’s not like they are putting actual money on the table. Could be just idiots making fun of other idiots for putting the iPhone on Ebay. But we really will never know. Let us know your thoughts about this craziness. Maybe its the developer posting these iPhones to rake up more dough from his game, and all this drama surrounding it was just a clever marketing scheme.
Golf swing sensor offers smartphone-based coaching, saves your best drives in cloud storage
Sony might have claimed tennis, but Seiko Epson is going for golf. After (surprisingly) announcing its foray into wearables at CES last month, the company has announced its next step into broadening its remit beyond printers and projectors. The M-Tracer For Golf sensor attaches to golf club handles and houses two acceleration sensors, able to measure up to 16 and 300 G, respectively. There’s also a gyroscope, with all the sensors involved apparently developed and made in-house. From these, the sensor can gauge the orbit of your swing as well as the face angle at time of impact. This, alongside other metrics, are then transmitted to your (at the moment, Android) smartphone, which demonstrates animations and graphs of that last epic drive, as well as offer a view of your swing from three different viewpoints. The in-app analysis was co-developed with the Sports Dynamics and Informatics Laboratory of the Keio Research Institute. The app can beam up to 2,000 items of swing data to cloud storage, while it’ll locally store 300 on the smartphone itself. The sensor will cost 29,800 yen (around a pricey $290), and launches in Japan on April 10th.
Filed under: Wearables
Microsoft starts selling ASUS’ VivoTab Note 8 for $329
ASUS, like many other companies, took to CES 2014 to introduce a number of new products. Among these was the often-leaked VivoTab Note 8, an 8-inch Windows 8.1 tablet with support for Wacom pen input. If you were remotely intrigued back then, it looks as if Microsoft has now (quietly) placed it up for grabs in the US. Currently, Redmond’s online store is selling the 32GB model of ASUS’ VivoTab Note 8 for $329, which is slightly different than the $299 price tag it was announced with in Las Vegas. Strangely enough, there’s also no apparent sight of the 64GB flavor, which makes us think that this Bay Trail-powered, pen-friendly slate may have been listed ahead of time. Regardless, it’s very much available here — at least for the time being.
[Thanks, Phillip]
Filed under: Misc, Tablets, Microsoft, ASUS
Source: Microsoft Store
It’s official: Flappy Bird is not longer on the Google Play Store
Here lies Flappy Bird; a game that nobody understood the point of, yet everybody played. A game that everybody was addicted to, but always ended up hating. A game that helped us all see how random viral trends can be, and yet how simple we can all be. Flappy Bird. So it turns out Dong Nguyen wasn’t bluffing; Flappy Bird is not longer on the Google Play Store, and presumably the creator of the overnight sensation can finally get some peace and quiet.
We may never find out what motivated Nguyen to kill Flappy Bird, but it was good while it lasted, and more than anything, we’ll probably remember it better now that it’s gone. Who knows, maybe Nguyen’s next game will go just as viral and we’ll have to see what he does then. All the same, if you’re not quite ready to say goodbye to Flappy Bird, and you weren’t able to install it before it disappeared from the Play Store, we’ve got some suggestions for you to take a look at to experience the Flappy Bird craze, post-Flappy Bird (read our suggestions here).
Did you play Flappy Bird: what was your highest score? Are you glad to see it go or did you want to see where it would go? Let us know in the comments below.
Source: Phandroid
How would you change Sony’s Xperia T?
Much as we love Sony, it’s an open secret that the company has somewhat lost its way. For example, when we reviewed the Xperia T, Sony’s late-2012 flagship, we found that it really wasn’t any better than the Xperia S, its predecessor. In fact, when placed side-by-side, we struggled to work out which one best. What we want to discuss this week, therefore, is what were your impressions of the Xperia T, and more generally, where did Sony go wrong? Head on over to the forum and vent some spleen.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Sony
Motorola drops device exclusivity from Droid Zap photo sharing app
Would Twitter, Instagram or Vine be any fun if you couldn’t participate in the social experience? No, probably not. This is the problem that Motorola’s Droid Zap had: it was a unique, localized photo-sharing service that left non-Droid owners out to dry. Users of any Android phone could call up the app and see what other users in a 1,000-foot radius were sharing, but were barred from sharing anything unless their device was Droid-branded. Now, Motorola is finally letting other phone owners become part of the conversation, opening the app’s photo-sharing features to all Android devices. Unfortunately, the full experience still isn’t available to everyone: the new Zap Zone feature (a timed, live and shared photo album) is exclusive to Droid devices, as is the ability to send videos and regular files. Still, with the ability to participate at least a little, non-Droid users finally have a reason to try the app.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
Via: Android Police
Source: Google Play
Here’s a sample of what to expect from Panasonic’s 4K-ready LUMIX GH4
It’s been a mere couple of days since Panasonic unveiled its next-generation GH camera, the LUMIX GH4. But, since there’s no release date information as of yet, chances are it’s going to be a little while before interested parties can take this new shooter out for a spin. Luckily, Panasonic has already let some professionals have their go at its GH4; Hungary, Japan and Northern Kenya are all places where sample photos were taken, and there’s also an incredible 4K video (embedded after the break) that was shot in Yucatan, Mexico. The results produced by Panasonic’s Micro Four Thirds camera are definitely impressive, but we wouldn’t have expected any less from something that could be priced at around $2,000. For more, head to the source link below, where you’ll find the entire set of pictures and some extra behind-the-scenes stuff.
Via: PetaPixel
Source: Panasonic
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