Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge UK pre-orders begin March 20th
Today, Samsung has announced that UK pre-orders for its Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge flagship smartphones will go live on March 20th, before the handsets’ retail date on April 10th.
The country’s largest carriers will all be accepting pre-orders, including EE, O2, Three and Vodafone, and high-street retailer Carphone Warehouse will also be stocking the two handsets. Come release day, the two smartphones will be available in 32, 64, and 128GB storage options and with your choice of White Pearl, Black Sapphire and Gold Platinum case colors.
Samsung is also taking orders itself, through both its UK webpage and in the various Samsung Experience Stores dotted up and down the country. If you purchase yours through either of these two options, Samsung will let you pick up your new smartphone a day early on April 9th.
If you’re still undecided, be sure to check out our hands-on time with the two new Samsung Galaxy S6 handsets.
Who’s pre-ordering then?
London, UK – 18th March, 2015 – Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. announced that the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge smartphones will be available to pre-order in UK stores from 20th March 2015, ahead of the on-sale date of 10th April 2015.
The Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge will be available to pre-order from all high street retailers and networks including Vodafone, Carphone Warehouse, Three, EE and O2.
The Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge offer a new standard for design, craftsmanship and performance and seamlessly blend premium materials with the most advanced Samsung technology to offer consumers an unmatched mobile experience.
Those customers who have pre-ordered devices from the Samsung Experience Store and Samsung.com will be able to pick up their device a day earlier on 9th April.
Beauty Meets Purpose
Carefully crafted from metal and glass, the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge blend purposeful design with powerful features. The Galaxy S6 edge, particularly, shows unique and outstanding beauty while also providing a solid grip and an immersive viewing experience with the world’s first curved display on both sides. Its glass body, made from the toughest glass to date, Corning® Gorilla Glass® 4, is available in an array of jewel tones, including White Pearl, Black Sapphire and Gold Platinum, which elicit a unique visual texture as it reflects natural light.
Vivid Images with a Fast, Bright Camera The Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge are equipped with an incredibly vivid, bright and fast front and rear camera. The F1.9 lenses and high-resolution sensors on both front (5MP) and rear (16MP) cameras provide the most superior image quality in a smartphone, even in the dark. In addition, Auto Real-time High Dynamic Range (HDR), Smart Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) and IR Detect White Balance provide advanced light sensitivities and crisp camera solutions. Furthermore, a new “Quick Launch” feature give users fast, direct access to the camera from any screen in just 0.7 seconds* by simply double clicking the home key button. These advanced camera functions enable users to capture their most precious and personal moments in uncompromisi g quality, however and wherever they want.
Super Charging and Cord Free
With fully embedded WPC and PMA certified wireless charging technology, the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge are setting a new industry standard for universal wireless charging. The devices work with any wireless pad available in the market that supports WPC and PMA standards. They also sport incredibly fast wired charging, 1.5 times faster than the Galaxy S5, providing about 4 hours of usage after only 10 minutes of charging.*
“The response to the Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge devices has been overwhelming, the entirely redefined smartphones offer consumers what’s next in mobility,” said Conor Pierce, Vice President IT & Mobile at Samsung Electronics UK and Ireland. “At Samsung, we don’t talk about what might be possible tomorrow, we make it happen today and that’s why we’re bringing people new technology faster than anybody else.”
The Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge will be available from 10th April, 2015 with 32/64/128GB storage options available in White Pearl, Black Sapphire and Gold Platinum.
Full details and product images are available at http://www.samsungmobilepress.com.
For full information on the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge please visit http://www.samsung.com/uk/galaxyS6/
To pre-order the Samsung Galaxy S6 or Galaxy S6 edge please visit http://www.samsung.com/uk/shop/
Related videos:
.rvs_wrapper
width: 335px;
.rvs_wrapper.align_left
float: left;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right
float: right;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center,
.rvs_wrapper.align_none
width: 100%;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center
text-align: center;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center.cbc-latest-videos ul li
float: none;
display: inline-block;
vertical-align: top;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos:not(.align_none) ul li:nth-child(2n+1)
clear: both;
.rvs_title
font-weight: 600 !important;
margin: 0 !important;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right .rvs_title
padding-left: 20px;
.rvs_title a
font-family: ‘Roboto Condensed’;
color: #3a3a3a;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul
padding-top: 10px;
.rvs_wrapper.align_left.cbc-latest-videos ul li,
.rvs_wrapper.align_none.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 15px 0 0;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 0 0 15px;
float: right;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 7px;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li > a
font-weight: 400;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li > a .yt-thumbnail
margin-bottom: 0;
@media only screen and (max-width : 480px)
.rvs_wrapper
width: 100%;
text-align: center;
#page .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 7px;
display: inline-block;
float: none;
vertical-align: top;
‘Defective’ graphene makes for super-efficient fuel cells
Like a runway model, graphene is nice to look at, but can’t do a whole lot. When you add a few warts and imperfections, however, it becomes more interesting — specifically, it has the potential to make fuel cells better and cheaper. Scientists from Northwestern University and other institutions were toying with the material as a hydrogen fuel cell membrane, and found that by knocking out at least four carbon atoms from the normally pristine structure, it performed vastly better. A large number of protons (and nothing else) slipped through imperfections in the atom-thick material in just a few seconds, efficiently generating electricity.
The “defective” graphene membrane transports protons much faster and more selectively than standard fuel cell membranes, which tend to let too many impurities through. That could lead to less complicated, hyper-efficient fuel cell batteries for EVs and wind or solar power plants. The tech could also bring improvements to regular batteries, according to the researchers. Despite being the poster-child for promising materials that nobody uses, Graphene might finally get its day by powering your future fossil-free car.
[Image credit: Murali Raju, Penn State]
Via: Phys.org
Source: Penn State, Northwestern University
Apple Removes Featured Watch App ‘The Whole Pantry’ From App Store Amid Fraud Claims
Apple has removed the award-winning healthy eating app The Whole Pantry from the App Store and its featured Apple Watch apps page amid allegations that its creator Belle Gibson committed fraud, according to The Sydney Morning Herald. The report states that Gibson is accused of making false claims about her cancer diagnosis and failing to donate thousands of dollars collected during fundraisers to charities.
Apple has removed The Whole Pantry from its Apple Watch featured apps page
Apple had been promoting The Whole Pantry as a featured Apple Watch app on its website over the past week, although it has updated the page today to remove the listing. The app also appears to have been pulled from the App Store worldwide, based on spot checks of the United States, Australia, Canada and United Kingdom storefronts. The company has yet to comment on the matter.
The Whole Pantry was featured on the Apple Watch apps page earlier this week
Gibson is a 26-year-old from Melbourne that rose to fame for healing herself from terminal brain cancer without conventional treatment, although the report claims that she later admitted to possibly being misdiagnosed. She has since been the subject of intense scrutiny from her supporters and those that donated to her cause, and has disabled the Facebook page for The Whole Pantry and her personal Instagram account.
Note: Due to the social issues regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
Windows 10 will include new touch gestures for precision touchpads and touchscreens
Microsoft will include new gestures for controlling Windows 10 for owners of laptops that have precision touchpads. It will also offer some new actions for gestures made on touchscreens.
LG G Flex 2 to be available in India later this month, Watch Urbane in April
LG has announced the G Flex 2 for India. It will be available later this month for Rs 55,000 ($877), and you will have your choice of either silver or red.
The more important part of this news it the announcement that the Watch Urbane will be released in April. This should hopefully mean that it will launch in the U.S. and other areas at the same time. Unfortunately no price was specified, but we are expecting it to come in around $299 to $349.
source: android.in
Come comment on this article: LG G Flex 2 to be available in India later this month, Watch Urbane in April
Moto E (2015) Review
brightcove.createExperiences();
The Bottom Line
- Signature Motorola design and build quality
- Near stock Android software experience
- 4G LTE support
- Fantastic price point
- Great battery life
- Low resolution display
- Subpar camera experience
Priced at just $149.99, the Moto E (2015) is one of the cheapest smartphones available that offers LTE support. It’s not without its issues, as its entry-level nature would suggest, but when considering what it does offer for this price point, this device is definitely a great bargain.
(function($)
$(document).ready(function()
$(“#aa_bottom_line .aa_bl_pros_cons”).each(function()
var aa_bl_pc=$(this).find(“.aa_bl_pc”);
var aa_bl_pros=$(this).find(“.aa_bl_pros”).height();
var aa_bl_cons=$(this).find(“.aa_bl_cons”).height();
if(window.innerWidth > 480 && aa_bl_pros != aa_bl_cons)
if(aa_bl_pros > aa_bl_cons)
aa_bl_pc.height(aa_bl_pros);
else
aa_bl_pc.height(aa_bl_cons);
)
);
)(jQuery);
Along with the original Moto X and Moto G, rounding out Motorola’s comeback into the world of Android was the entry-level Moto E. Introduced last year, the Moto E was one of the best budget-smartphones available, packing a lot more than what its entry-level nature and price point would suggest. Motorola took the wraps off of the successor to this device less than a month ago, with the next-gen handset boasting even more in terms of features and enhancements, most notable of which is 4G LTE support. Does the latest iteration of this entry-level device continue to be an incredible bargain? We find out, in this review of the Moto E (2015)!
Design
Motorola has created a very distinctive design language for their smartphone lineup, and when looking at the Moto E, there’s no mistaking it for anything other than a Motorola device, with the phone featuring the same rounded corners, sloping curve and the signature dimple housing the company logo on the back. The back is made of a soft touch plastic material, while the outer frame features a ridged texture that goes all the way around, allowing for a very comfortable grip. Motorola has also been focusing on offering some sort of customization with their smartphones, and in the case of the Moto E, that comes in the form of a removable outer frame that can be swapped out for a variety of color options.
What users will really appreciate about the Mote E though is it’s one-handed usability. Given how small and compact it is, it is easy to grip the entire phone in one hand, and not even the slightest of hand gymnastics is required to get to every part of the display. Given the trend of large smartphones nowadays, one-handed use is generally overlooked, but it’s always a very refreshing feeling when using a device of this size again.
Looking around the device, the power button and volume rocker are found on the right side within easy reach, and both offer a very solid feel and tactile feedback. The power button features the same ridged texture found on the Moto X (2014) and Nexus 6, making it easier to locate by feel. The microUSB port and headphone jack are placed at the bottom and top respectively, and up front are the usual sensors, along with the earpiece/speaker, as well as the newly added front-facing camera.
Display
The display has seen a slight increase in size between generations, with the Moto E (2015) featuring a 4.5-inch IPS LCD display, but with the same resolution of 960 x 540, resulting in a pixel density of 245 ppi. The resolution is of course fairly low, and pixels are noticeable with a closer look, especially while gaming. The display is more than capable when it comes to general, everyday tasks though, such as browsing webpages or keeping up on social media. Color saturation, outdoor visibility, and viewing angles are all quite good, and the only really big drawback of having a non-HD display is that you do lose out on HD playback.
Performance and Hardware
The processing package of the Moto E (2015) is different depending on whether you choose the LTE version or the 3G iteration, with the former packing a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor and the Adreno 306 GPU, while the latter comes with a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 and the Adreno 302 GPU. Both processors are clocked at 1.2 GHz though and also come with 1 GB of RAM.
When it comes to performance, the device handles most tasks like navigating around the OS, web-browsing, and opening and closing apps, very easily, but there were some instances of stutter when trying to multitask. Gaming is also manageable, but loading times can get a bit long, and dropped frames do occur occasionally with more graphic-intensive games. Touch responsiveness also proved to be an issue, as having to swipe or tap the screen multiple times became necessary quite often.
#gallery-1
margin: auto;
#gallery-1 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 25%;
#gallery-1 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-1 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
Besides the slew of standard connectivity options, the Moto E (2015) also introduces 4G LTE support, along with the internal storage getting a bump to 8 GB, double of what was available with its predecessor. That still isn’t very much, but expandable storage up to 32GB via microSD is available, with the slot hidden beneath the replaceable outer frame. The earpiece on the front now doubles as a speaker and it automatically gets points for being on the front, but is otherwise fairly run of the mill. It’s decently loud and produces a clean sound, but since it’s just a single driver at the top of the phone, it does sound lopsided, especially when using the phone in the landscape orientation.
#gallery-2
margin: auto;
#gallery-2 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 25%;
#gallery-2 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-2 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
The Moto E (2015) packs a 2,390 mAh battery, and while it may seem a little small, it is actually more than enough considering everything it has to power, such as the small, low-resolution display. Even with a lot of gaming and taking a ton of pictures, the screen-on time never went below 5.5 hours, and on low usage days, where it mostly about texting and keeping up with social media, the device managed upwards of 6.5 hours of screen-on time, so it’s not unreasonable to expect at least a day and half of battery life from the Moto E (2015).
Camera
The camera on the current generation Moto E remains unchanged from its predecessor, for the most part. It is still a 5 MP sensor and doesn’t come with an LED flash, but does feature auto-focus this time around. The camera UI is minimalistic and easy to use, and will be very familiar if you’ve used a Motorola device before. Taking a photo is as simple as tapping on the viewfinder, and swiping inwards from the left side will reveal what is mostly basic camera settings, but with shooting modes like HDR, panorama, and 720p slow-motion video also available.
Picture quality is what you might expect from such a basic camera that didn’t receive much of an upgrade. The addition of auto-focus is nice, but doesn’t actually do much to improve the image quality. Color saturation and sharpness is quite underwhelming, providing for some very bleak images. Noise levels are also very high and noticeable in even the most well lit of environments. If this is the only camera you have, it’ll certainly get the job done, but it’s safe to say the camera is the biggest weakness of the Moto E (2015).
The device now packs a front-facing camera as well, so selfies are possible, but with a 0.3 MP (VGA) unit, don’t expect an optimal selfie taking experience.
Software
The Moto E (2015) is running what is mostly a stock version of Android 5.0.2 Lollipop. It may not be the latest Android 5.1, but considering Motorola’s recent track record with updates, we assume it should get the update fairly quickly.
#gallery-3
margin: auto;
#gallery-3 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 33%;
#gallery-3 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-3 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
To enhance the experience on this entry-level device, the Moto E brings some of the staples features that can be found on Motorola’s flagship smartphone, such as Moto Assist to keep your phone quiet during meetings or while asleep, Moto Actions to quickly launch the camera by simply twisting your wrist, as well as Moto Display, for those subtle notifications when the screen is off. One thing to be aware of though is that, since the Moto E has a LCD display, these notifications do not continuously pulsate like on the Moto X (2014). If they did it, it would quickly drain the battery. The notifications do, however, show up when you pick up the phone, and when the notification is initially received.
Specifications
| Display | 4.5-inch IPS LCD qHD (540×960) 245 ppi |
| Processor | 3G – 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 200 Adreno 302 GPU 4G LTE – 1.2 GHz quad-core Snadragon 410 |
| RAM | 1 GB |
| Storage | 8 GB, microSD card slot, up to 32GB |
| Camera | 5 MP rear camera VGA front camera |
| Battery | 2,390 mAh |
| Connectivity | GPS, microUSB 2.0, Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 |
| Networks | 3G/4G LTE |
| Software | Android 5.0 Lollipop |
| Dimensions | 129.9 x 66.8 x 12.3 mm 145 grams |
| Colors | Black, White |
Gallery
Pricing and Final Thoughts
The best part about the Moto E (2015) is its price, with the device available for just $149.99 off-contract for the LTE version, with the 3G iteration an even cheaper $119.99. We do recommend spending the additional $30 on the LTE version though, as high-speed internet does do a lot in enhancing the overall usability and experience of this smartphone.
So there you have it – a detailed look at the Moto E (2015)! Motorola is proving once again proving their dominance in this price segment, offering a sub-$200 smartphone with Android 5.0 Lollipop and 4G LTE on-board. I’ve really enjoyed using the Moto E (2015), and to answer the question asked during the introduction, this device is a solid entry-level smartphone and a great bargain for what it offers at this price point.
Moto E (2015) Review
brightcove.createExperiences();
The Bottom Line
- Signature Motorola design and build quality
- Near stock Android software experience
- 4G LTE support
- Fantastic price point
- Great battery life
- Low resolution display
- Subpar camera experience
Priced at just $149.99, the Moto E (2015) is one of the cheapest smartphones available that offers LTE support. It’s not without its issues, as its entry-level nature would suggest, but when considering what it does offer for this price point, this device is definitely a great bargain.
(function($)
$(document).ready(function()
$(“#aa_bottom_line .aa_bl_pros_cons”).each(function()
var aa_bl_pc=$(this).find(“.aa_bl_pc”);
var aa_bl_pros=$(this).find(“.aa_bl_pros”).height();
var aa_bl_cons=$(this).find(“.aa_bl_cons”).height();
if(window.innerWidth > 480 && aa_bl_pros != aa_bl_cons)
if(aa_bl_pros > aa_bl_cons)
aa_bl_pc.height(aa_bl_pros);
else
aa_bl_pc.height(aa_bl_cons);
)
);
)(jQuery);
Along with the original Moto X and Moto G, rounding out Motorola’s comeback into the world of Android was the entry-level Moto E. Introduced last year, the Moto E was one of the best budget-smartphones available, packing a lot more than what its entry-level nature and price point would suggest. Motorola took the wraps off of the successor to this device less than a month ago, with the next-gen handset boasting even more in terms of features and enhancements, most notable of which is 4G LTE support. Does the latest iteration of this entry-level device continue to be an incredible bargain? We find out, in this review of the Moto E (2015)!
Design
Motorola has created a very distinctive design language for their smartphone lineup, and when looking at the Moto E, there’s no mistaking it for anything other than a Motorola device, with the phone featuring the same rounded corners, sloping curve and the signature dimple housing the company logo on the back. The back is made of a soft touch plastic material, while the outer frame features a ridged texture that goes all the way around, allowing for a very comfortable grip. Motorola has also been focusing on offering some sort of customization with their smartphones, and in the case of the Moto E, that comes in the form of a removable outer frame that can be swapped out for a variety of color options.
What users will really appreciate about the Mote E though is it’s one-handed usability. Given how small and compact it is, it is easy to grip the entire phone in one hand, and not even the slightest of hand gymnastics is required to get to every part of the display. Given the trend of large smartphones nowadays, one-handed use is generally overlooked, but it’s always a very refreshing feeling when using a device of this size again.
Looking around the device, the power button and volume rocker are found on the right side within easy reach, and both offer a very solid feel and tactile feedback. The power button features the same ridged texture found on the Moto X (2014) and Nexus 6, making it easier to locate by feel. The microUSB port and headphone jack are placed at the bottom and top respectively, and up front are the usual sensors, along with the earpiece/speaker, as well as the newly added front-facing camera.
Display
The display has seen a slight increase in size between generations, with the Moto E (2015) featuring a 4.5-inch IPS LCD display, but with the same resolution of 960 x 540, resulting in a pixel density of 245 ppi. The resolution is of course fairly low, and pixels are noticeable with a closer look, especially while gaming. The display is more than capable when it comes to general, everyday tasks though, such as browsing webpages or keeping up on social media. Color saturation, outdoor visibility, and viewing angles are all quite good, and the only really big drawback of having a non-HD display is that you do lose out on HD playback.
Performance and Hardware
The processing package of the Moto E (2015) is different depending on whether you choose the LTE version or the 3G iteration, with the former packing a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor and the Adreno 306 GPU, while the latter comes with a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 and the Adreno 302 GPU. Both processors are clocked at 1.2 GHz though and also come with 1 GB of RAM.
When it comes to performance, the device handles most tasks like navigating around the OS, web-browsing, and opening and closing apps, very easily, but there were some instances of stutter when trying to multitask. Gaming is also manageable, but loading times can get a bit long, and dropped frames do occur occasionally with more graphic-intensive games. Touch responsiveness also proved to be an issue, as having to swipe or tap the screen multiple times became necessary quite often.
#gallery-1
margin: auto;
#gallery-1 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 25%;
#gallery-1 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-1 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
Besides the slew of standard connectivity options, the Moto E (2015) also introduces 4G LTE support, along with the internal storage getting a bump to 8 GB, double of what was available with its predecessor. That still isn’t very much, but expandable storage up to 32GB via microSD is available, with the slot hidden beneath the replaceable outer frame. The earpiece on the front now doubles as a speaker and it automatically gets points for being on the front, but is otherwise fairly run of the mill. It’s decently loud and produces a clean sound, but since it’s just a single driver at the top of the phone, it does sound lopsided, especially when using the phone in the landscape orientation.
#gallery-2
margin: auto;
#gallery-2 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 25%;
#gallery-2 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-2 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
The Moto E (2015) packs a 2,390 mAh battery, and while it may seem a little small, it is actually more than enough considering everything it has to power, such as the small, low-resolution display. Even with a lot of gaming and taking a ton of pictures, the screen-on time never went below 5.5 hours, and on low usage days, where it mostly about texting and keeping up with social media, the device managed upwards of 6.5 hours of screen-on time, so it’s not unreasonable to expect at least a day and half of battery life from the Moto E (2015).
Camera
The camera on the current generation Moto E remains unchanged from its predecessor, for the most part. It is still a 5 MP sensor and doesn’t come with an LED flash, but does feature auto-focus this time around. The camera UI is minimalistic and easy to use, and will be very familiar if you’ve used a Motorola device before. Taking a photo is as simple as tapping on the viewfinder, and swiping inwards from the left side will reveal what is mostly basic camera settings, but with shooting modes like HDR, panorama, and 720p slow-motion video also available.
Picture quality is what you might expect from such a basic camera that didn’t receive much of an upgrade. The addition of auto-focus is nice, but doesn’t actually do much to improve the image quality. Color saturation and sharpness is quite underwhelming, providing for some very bleak images. Noise levels are also very high and noticeable in even the most well lit of environments. If this is the only camera you have, it’ll certainly get the job done, but it’s safe to say the camera is the biggest weakness of the Moto E (2015).
The device now packs a front-facing camera as well, so selfies are possible, but with a 0.3 MP (VGA) unit, don’t expect an optimal selfie taking experience.
Software
The Moto E (2015) is running what is mostly a stock version of Android 5.0.2 Lollipop. It may not be the latest Android 5.1, but considering Motorola’s recent track record with updates, we assume it should get the update fairly quickly.
#gallery-3
margin: auto;
#gallery-3 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 33%;
#gallery-3 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-3 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
To enhance the experience on this entry-level device, the Moto E brings some of the staples features that can be found on Motorola’s flagship smartphone, such as Moto Assist to keep your phone quiet during meetings or while asleep, Moto Actions to quickly launch the camera by simply twisting your wrist, as well as Moto Display, for those subtle notifications when the screen is off. One thing to be aware of though is that, since the Moto E has a LCD display, these notifications do not continuously pulsate like on the Moto X (2014). If they did it, it would quickly drain the battery. The notifications do, however, show up when you pick up the phone, and when the notification is initially received.
Specifications
| Display | 4.5-inch IPS LCD qHD (540×960) 245 ppi |
| Processor | 3G – 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 200 Adreno 302 GPU 4G LTE – 1.2 GHz quad-core Snadragon 410 |
| RAM | 1 GB |
| Storage | 8 GB, microSD card slot, up to 32GB |
| Camera | 5 MP rear camera VGA front camera |
| Battery | 2,390 mAh |
| Connectivity | GPS, microUSB 2.0, Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 |
| Networks | 3G/4G LTE |
| Software | Android 5.0 Lollipop |
| Dimensions | 129.9 x 66.8 x 12.3 mm 145 grams |
| Colors | Black, White |
Gallery
Pricing and Final Thoughts
The best part about the Moto E (2015) is its price, with the device available for just $149.99 off-contract for the LTE version, with the 3G iteration an even cheaper $119.99. We do recommend spending the additional $30 on the LTE version though, as high-speed internet does do a lot in enhancing the overall usability and experience of this smartphone.
So there you have it – a detailed look at the Moto E (2015)! Motorola is proving once again proving their dominance in this price segment, offering a sub-$200 smartphone with Android 5.0 Lollipop and 4G LTE on-board. I’ve really enjoyed using the Moto E (2015), and to answer the question asked during the introduction, this device is a solid entry-level smartphone and a great bargain for what it offers at this price point.
Nintendo’s sellout seals the fate of the Japanese videogame industry
At the risk of sounding overly dramatic here, I was absolutely devastated at the news from yesterday that saw Nintendo finally take the plunge into smartphone apps… with none other than IAP king, DeNA. In the decade I’ve spent in Japan, there has been a lot of surprises, but perhaps none as large as this. Let’s explore just what the Nintendo partnership means and what may-or-may-not occur.
On DeNA
DeNA has been around for a long time, though in days of old it was largely known by the “Mobage” free game portal and auction sites it had for Japanese feature phones. The enterprise gradually expanded, and when the smartphone revolution began, DeNA, along with its rival GREE, were quick to make use of IAP systems to collect cash. The company currently has a market cap of around 210,000 million yen (about $1.73 billion) and a whopping sixty (60) different apps on the Japanese Google Play Store, all of which are free to download.
A random selection from the 60 different products DeNA currently has on the Japanese Google Play Store. The cost? All FREE!
Unfortunately, the success would be called into question. The company’s enormous income was in no small part driven from the obscene amount of money its users were spending on “gacha” items. The term refers to a lottery-type system wherein you pay money to get a random item, then after collecting enough random items, you can get a new, even better item. Japanese consumers in particular are known for their tendency to want to “collect ‘em all” be it trading cards, Pokemon, or even virtual items. With some customers spending what might be over $10,000 in a single month, the Japanese government sought to crack down on the practice under the guise of consumer protection advocacy. As could be imagined, the stock price for DeNA and its cohorts fell an insane $3.8 billion in market cap when the Tokyo Stock Exchange opened the following Monday.
The “Kompu gacha” system explained in visual form.
There is nothing intrinsically wrong with DeNA any more so than there is with its peers. Even the gacha system isn’t unique to Japan. If anything these businesses should be applauded for their almost subliminal way of getting users to spend money on products that are, in theory, totally free. That they can make so much money as a result is simply a testament to ingenuity behind their deceptively simple applications. As for if this kind of business partner is right for Nintendo on the other hand, is another matter entirely.
On Nintendo
By now most people are familiar with Nintendo, and chances are their memories are (a) from childhood, (b) extremely happy, and (c) filled with love for the company’s venerable IP catalog. Mario and Luigi. Link and Zelda. Pikachu and Ash. Fox and Peppy. Donkey Kong and Diddy. Even the more niche franchises such Pikman are held in high esteem in the gaming community. As Nintendo has gradually faltered over the years, in part due to arrogance and in part due to its failure to adapt to modern times, even its most staunch critics have exchanged harsh words, out of love for what once was, and out of concern for what might never be. No one wants to see Nintendo die, but at the same time, they don’t want to have to buy Nintendo’s hardware to play the products either.
Long, long ago, these kinds of trinkets were the extent to which most of Nintendo’s marketing reached. This map was actually included FREE with the game no less!
Nintendo, in turn, has been rather adamant about its plans. Despite the fact that it’s current president has promised to step down several times in the past due to his inability to produce results (i.e. profit), he is still there, and still as questionably competent as-ever. Many saw his decision last year to forgo the mobile gaming community as the epitome of his foolishness, especially given how much money the company stood to make from the revenue. Of course this was before the shameless Nintendo Amiibo toys were released.
To this day, people still ask for their favorite game franchises to appear on their smartphone’s mobile store. Ports or not, they want to game on the go and not be tethered to some antiquated notion of a “handheld console” as Nintendo would seek them to be. Indeed, it’s a fair argument: if the PMP genre has died (don’t tell Sony) in light of integrated media players in our phones, why, then, do we need portable gaming consoles?
What’s all the fuss about?
While DeNA might not be such a household name outside of Japan (or Asia), chances you’ve heard of similar ventures such as King, which seemingly took the role of last decade’s Zynga. King in particular has been the subject of much criticism whether its the bizarre inclination it had to trademark the word “Candy” or the seemingly endless number of editorials that have been written about the manner in which its Candy Crush title becomes exceedingly addictive and compels users to spend on micro-transactions. The fact that it’s all tied into Facebook means that even if you aren’t playing, someone you know probably is, and then you need to log in to help them out.
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: A simplistic game that requires massive IAP to fully “enjoy”. And surprise! Fans can’t resist spending.
Perhaps one of the best examples of what “could go wrong” with this partnership is to look at Square Enix and the manner in which it has whored out Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest in recent years. In particular, consider the Theatrhythm series. The games are little more than simplistic rhythm outings that draw entirely on the use of music tracks from the source’s history. The games come with a set number of tracks, but of course more can be downloaded. For a price, of course.
While Nintendo gave this a try with New Super Mario Bros. 2, at least there was a substantial game to offer up, and said IAP content wasn’t the main part of the product. Would you really want a mini-game themed Mario for mobile that requires you to shell out $1 every time you want to unlock something? I’d argue people don’t want to spend money period, but the fact that it’s Mario means they (or their kids) are more likely to do it.
Oops, Nintendo did it again…
Make no mistake: Nintendo is hardly “innocent” when it comes to aggressive sales techniques.
Nintendo has, arguably, never been a truly “innocent” company when it comes to its IP. Going back to the 80’s, the very games it produced required quarters to play at arcades, and thus ironically was a quasi-IAP system before IAP ever existed. As the consoles progressed, the exploitation of the Mario Bros. in particular could be seen in television shows, books, clothing, etc. By the time the 20th anniversary of the Famicom hit, Nintendo was seemingly more interested in generating revenue from reliving the past than it was producing anything substantive in the present.
This focus on the past has resulted in another of the company’s major criticisms, that it relies too much on porting games ad nauseam. This habit is – in theory – no different than say, Lucasfilm re-releasing Star Wars in theaters for the um-teenth time, or even rival game companies putting their old software library on modern platforms. Still, one need only ask a Chrono Trigger fan just what they think of the IP owner’s contention to do nothing with the rights and let’s just say, things can get ugly.
What the real problem is
Nintendo’s partnership with DeNA is of particular concern because of the very nature of the content itself. Nintendo has already announced the new platform won’t be a place for porting existing titles. The only way to play them is, and will continue to be, on Nintendo hardware. Instead, the strategic alliance is going to focus on making new software with Nintendo’s IP. Two divergent paths spring up:
The Dynasty Warriors-meets-Zelda hybrid was a quality piece of work that Nintendo obviously devoted sufficient resources to.
Optimistically speaking, the future products will be along the lines of such recent ventures as Hyrule Warriors. They will have a large budget and be overseen by key Nintendo staff members to ensure quality and commitment to the core values of the company’s high standards for entertainment. There might be some titles of, shall we say, a more questionable nature, however thinking back to some of Nintendo’s less-than-shining moments, everyone makes mistakes. This scenario will require a lot of time, effort, and money to ensure that top quality games are made.
Realistically speaking, it’s more likely that the future products will be a shameless IAP onslaught that degrade the core of Nintendo’s once-proud franchises. The fact that DeNA was chosen almost suggests this will occur (though the extent to which remains to be seen), as it has such a strong and clear history of free to play titles. What we are seeing now is premeditation; for this to work, Nintendo must be absolved of the repercussions. They have the perfect alibi: DeNA will be blamed for the exploitation of Mario and the shameless way in which he is being prostituted, thus leaving Nintendo off the hook. DeNA, in turn, won’t be held in contempt of whoring out Mario because of a “that’s what we do, what do you expect” type approach. Think about it. It’s the perfect crime. It’s brilliant.
Wrap up
Yes, it’s true. Nintendo isn’t some saintly entity, and it’s not a non-profit organization. Like any company, it functions as a product of consumer spending, and as times change (and it doesn’t) the cash becomes harder to come by. That Nintendo needed to start developing software for smartphones and tablets isn’t, and has never been, the problem. There is an endless amount of financial reservoirs waiting to be tapped and it would be foolish not to.
Still, Nintendo has held to the idea that it’s a game company, that its core focus is on its hardware and support of it, and inadvertently, that it’s more “wholesome” than its quick-to-make-a-buck peers that have all but sold out to the glory of IAP, by watering down their IP to untold extents. Today’s announcement is both profound and prolific, for it is arguably the day that the Japanese videogame industry has truly, truly died. When the last bastion of gaming wholesomeness and child-friendly focus climbs into bed with a soulless, customer exploitative entity that even many of its addicted users wish they could drop, then things can only go downhill.
This paring is oddly more apropos to this story than one might think.
To end with an odd parallel, consider Lucasfilm and Disney. In some regards, this situation is a direct parallel: Nintendo is the former and DeNA is the latter. Despite the Star Wars company’s insatiable marketing onslaught, the franchise itself always felt a bit “protected” given that the core was but six movies. No more, no less. Notice, then, how Disney wasted no time at all in its decision to announce an entire series of Star Wars side-stories in addition to the main installments. Because it’s not enough that three new movies will release. Therein lies the core problem with the modern era of marketing: nothing is too much, and yet everything is not enough.
3M showed me how dirty my phone was at SXSW
I’m a certified germaphobe. In clinical terms, that makes me one of the 3.3 million Americans who suffer from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Being at an event like SXSW where about 33,000 of my fellow digital comrades are coexisting in very public spaces, I’m always worried about keeping myself and my gadgets clean, especially my phone and laptop. And with good reason: scientists found that cell phones carry ten times more disease-causing bacteria than most toilet seats. So, when I heard 3M was on the ground at SXSW testing out how dirty people’s phones were at its “LifeLab,” I had to check it out.
3M’s Clean-Trace NG Luminometer uses adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence to measure the level of potential contamination on a surface within seconds. Costing over $4000, the device is primarily used in hospitals to make sure patient instruments are clean. For SXSW, 3M swabbed festival goers phones and placed the swab into the luminometer, leading to a score in Relative Light Units, or RTUs, determining how much bacteria lived on the device being tested.
http://www.engadget.com/embed-5min/?sid=577&playList=518713975&responsive=false
The result? My phone scored in at a moderate 404 RLUs, higher than the recommended score of 200 (but lower than some who hit the 2,000 mark). When traveling, it’s not possible to be perfectly clean all the time, but one can always step their game up a bit. A simple disinfectant wipe (wrung out a bit to remove excess moisture) or a little mixture of alcohol and water spread on a damp cloth is more than enough to reduce that germ count. Before doing so, check the cleaning recommendations of your phone manufacturer so that if something goes wrong (say, liquid damage or a diluted oleophobic coating), you don’t void your warranty.
[Image: 3M]
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
Tim Cook Discusses Steve Jobs, Apple’s Rivals, and Calls Apple Watch ‘The First Modern Smartwatch’
In an exclusive interview with Fast Company, Apple CEO Tim Cook discusses a wide range of topics with interviewer Rick Tetzeli, from Steve Jobs’ ongoing legacy within the company to the mixed reception of the Apple Watch over the last few weeks.
Cook notes the different angles Apple took in developing ways to interact with the Apple Watch, thinking of it as its own piece of technology and not just another smartphone or tablet.
He continues that most of the companies that have made smartwatches in recent years “haven’t thought that through”, resulting in lesser and more cumbersome products.
We weren’t first on the MP3 player; we weren’t first on the tablet; we weren’t first on the smartphone. But we were arguably the first modern smartphone, and we will be the first modern smartwatch—the first one that matters.
People didn’t realize they had to have an iPod, and they really didn’t realize they had to have the iPhone. And the iPad was totally panned. Critics asked, “Why do you need this?” Honestly, I don’t think anything revolutionary that we have done was predicted to be a hit when released. It was only in retrospect that people could see its value. Maybe this will be received the same way.
Cook goes on to state that Jobs’ greatest contribution to Apple was the culture he created during his years there, calling the late Apple CEO, “The best teacher I ever had by far.” Out of that culture came a sense of community and collaboration amongst the company’s various departments, a critical element of Apple’s continued success, and one that keeps them a step above the competition, according to Cook.
We’ve turned up the volume on collaboration because it’s so clear that in order for us to be incredibly successful we have to be the best collaborators in the world. The magic of Apple, from a product point of view, happens at this intersection of hardware, software, and services. It’s that intersection. Without collaboration, you get a Windows product. There’s a company that pumps out an operating system, another that does some hardware, and yet another that does something else. That’s what’s now happening in Android land. Put it all together and it doesn’t score high on the user experience.
When asked about the possibility of “cracks” appearing in Apple’s ever-expanding ecosystem of devices and operating systems, Cook remains adamant that the company will always strive for success and satisfaction in what it does.
“It’s not that it’s not doable, it’s that we’re human sometimes, and we make an error,” Cook said. “I don’t have a goal of becoming inhuman, but I do have a goal of not having any errors.” Part of this strive for near-perfection brought about the company’s boldness in making sometimes harsh, but necessary decisions, which companies like Microsoft were afraid to make, according to Cook.
Part of the reason Microsoft ran into an issue was that they didn’t want to walk away from legacy stuff.
Apple has always had the discipline to make the bold decision to walk away. We walked away from the floppy disk when that was popular with many users. Instead of doing things in the more traditional way of diversifying and minimizing risk, we took out the optical drive, which some people loved. We changed our connector, even though many people loved the 30-pin connector. Some of these things were not popular for quite a while. But you have to be willing to lose sight of the shore and go. We still do that.
The full interview is well worth a read, as Cook discusses topics like his excitement for the under-construction Apple Campus 2 and daily usage of his own personal Apple Watch. He even comments on the still-untouched office of the “irreplaceable” Steve Jobs, noting hesitancy to visit the room soon after Steve’s passing, but a growing appreciation of the space as time has passed.
When asked whether he would ever do anything with the office, like take it for himself, Cook remained steadfast in leaving it the way it was when Jobs passed. “His name should still be on the door,” Cook remarked. “That’s just the way it should be. That’s what felt right to me.”
AIVAnet 
