HTC One M9 Camera Shootout
HTC may have things figured out when it comes to design and build quality, but one aspect the company has had issues with when it comes to their flagships is the camera experience. HTC has been working hard to change that reputation, with a slew of devices aimed at showcasing their camera prowess, leading up to the current flagship.
The HTC One M9 packs a traditional 20 MP rear camera, while moving their Ultrapixel tech to its better-suited position up front. We’ve already seen an overview of the camera performance in the comprehensive review of the device, but now, we take an in-depth look at the camera in this HTC One M9 camera shootout!
Like most other smartphones out there, most of the good shots this camera was able to take were in broad daylight. All of these photos are taken at the full 20 MP resolution, and as you can see, the color saturation is quite good, but may not be as saturated as what you get with some of the other players in the Android world.
As a daily driver, the HTC One M9 camera isn’t a hard one to use, with it very easy to access and switch between the various modes available. However, the camera app can be quite fidgety, especially when you’re trying to trigger things like HDR mode, which requires a few different presses to activate, as well as to turn off. Speaking of HDR mode, it does somewhat mitigate the exposure issues that happen in the camera app, but can be hit and miss. While taking scenery shots with the subject off in the distance, they do look good, but there is some grain present as seen with a closer look, because of the use of the digital zoom of the camera app.
Without the availability of optical image stabilization, you do need steady hands to take the photo properly. The lack of OIS is felt even more prominently while shooting video, which can turn out very shaky if shot without very steady hands.
Going back to the exposure issues that were mentioned earlier, this happens because the One M9 camera app focuses on spot metering, you have to find just the right spot in order to get the exposure that you want in the photo. If you go into a dark area, the entire photo gets pretty light, and vice versa. This is where using the HDR mode makes a world of difference, evening out the exposures, and adding some saturation to the photo, making it even more disappointing that it is a mode that takes some fidgeting to get to.
There are of course, a few other modes available, such as Panorama, which does allow for some really good shots, but do have some stitching issues, which can be chalked up to human error more than anything else. As mentioned, the front-facing camera is now of the Ultrapixel variety, which allows for some great shots and self-portraits, especially when indoors. There are also different effects available such as Face Fusion, adding particle effects to a photo, the ability to put two photos together with a number of different effects to get one nice shot. All of these effects are a lot of fun to use, especially Zoes, that makes a return with the latest flagship, which is a very nice way of recapping a particular day.
As we move into indoor shots and those in poor lighting conditions, the main gripe I have with the One M9 camera is that its performance is quite inconsistent, in terms of sheer quality. When taking shots indoors, or outside at night, there is a lot more grain in the images, and unfortunately, there is a noise reduction going on that makes all of the photos quite smudgy, with the degradation more and more evident as lighting conditions deteriorate.
From what I can tell, the main reason why the HTC One M9 has a problem with low light shots is because of the two things it typically does in these situations. The first being that it bumps the ISO to very high levels, which adds a lot of grain to photos, with the second being the lowering of the shutter speed, which comes with its own issues, requiring you to keep your hands as steady as possible because of the longer amount of time needed to bring in all of the light in order to get the proper exposure. You will likely end of taking multiple shots in those situations, and more often than not, the images will turn out blurry.
100% crops
Which brings us back to the issue of consistency. While able to take some great shots in prominent lighting, the grain comes out in even indoor shots, and the noise reduction that the camera app uses in post processing doesn’t do much to help the situation.
Ultimately, the camera of the HTC One M9 is not a bad performer by any stretch of the imagination. Unfortunately, the reason I may not be using it all the time is because I prefer to have a smartphone camera that can take a good shot in any situation, and that isn’t always the case with this device. Many users have confirmed though that you can go into the Settings to make some changes that do allow for better photos, but given the fact that you do spend a lot of money to get a phone like this, the out of the box experience should have been good right off the bat.
HTC One M9 Camera Shootout
HTC may have things figured out when it comes to design and build quality, but one aspect the company has had issues with when it comes to their flagships is the camera experience. HTC has been working hard to change that reputation, with a slew of devices aimed at showcasing their camera prowess, leading up to the current flagship.
The HTC One M9 packs a traditional 20 MP rear camera, while moving their Ultrapixel tech to its better-suited position up front. We’ve already seen an overview of the camera performance in the comprehensive review of the device, but now, we take an in-depth look at the camera in this HTC One M9 camera shootout!
Like most other smartphones out there, most of the good shots this camera was able to take were in broad daylight. All of these photos are taken at the full 20 MP resolution, and as you can see, the color saturation is quite good, but may not be as saturated as what you get with some of the other players in the Android world.
As a daily driver, the HTC One M9 camera isn’t a hard one to use, with it very easy to access and switch between the various modes available. However, the camera app can be quite fidgety, especially when you’re trying to trigger things like HDR mode, which requires a few different presses to activate, as well as to turn off. Speaking of HDR mode, it does somewhat mitigate the exposure issues that happen in the camera app, but can be hit and miss. While taking scenery shots with the subject off in the distance, they do look good, but there is some grain present as seen with a closer look, because of the use of the digital zoom of the camera app.
Without the availability of optical image stabilization, you do need steady hands to take the photo properly. The lack of OIS is felt even more prominently while shooting video, which can turn out very shaky if shot without very steady hands.
Going back to the exposure issues that were mentioned earlier, this happens because the One M9 camera app focuses on spot metering, you have to find just the right spot in order to get the exposure that you want in the photo. If you go into a dark area, the entire photo gets pretty light, and vice versa. This is where using the HDR mode makes a world of difference, evening out the exposures, and adding some saturation to the photo, making it even more disappointing that it is a mode that takes some fidgeting to get to.
There are of course, a few other modes available, such as Panorama, which does allow for some really good shots, but do have some stitching issues, which can be chalked up to human error more than anything else. As mentioned, the front-facing camera is now of the Ultrapixel variety, which allows for some great shots and self-portraits, especially when indoors. There are also different effects available such as Face Fusion, adding particle effects to a photo, the ability to put two photos together with a number of different effects to get one nice shot. All of these effects are a lot of fun to use, especially Zoes, that makes a return with the latest flagship, which is a very nice way of recapping a particular day.
As we move into indoor shots and those in poor lighting conditions, the main gripe I have with the One M9 camera is that its performance is quite inconsistent, in terms of sheer quality. When taking shots indoors, or outside at night, there is a lot more grain in the images, and unfortunately, there is a noise reduction going on that makes all of the photos quite smudgy, with the degradation more and more evident as lighting conditions deteriorate.
From what I can tell, the main reason why the HTC One M9 has a problem with low light shots is because of the two things it typically does in these situations. The first being that it bumps the ISO to very high levels, which adds a lot of grain to photos, with the second being the lowering of the shutter speed, which comes with its own issues, requiring you to keep your hands as steady as possible because of the longer amount of time needed to bring in all of the light in order to get the proper exposure. You will likely end of taking multiple shots in those situations, and more often than not, the images will turn out blurry.
100% crops
Which brings us back to the issue of consistency. While able to take some great shots in prominent lighting, the grain comes out in even indoor shots, and the noise reduction that the camera app uses in post processing doesn’t do much to help the situation.
Ultimately, the camera of the HTC One M9 is not a bad performer by any stretch of the imagination. Unfortunately, the reason I may not be using it all the time is because I prefer to have a smartphone camera that can take a good shot in any situation, and that isn’t always the case with this device. Many users have confirmed though that you can go into the Settings to make some changes that do allow for better photos, but given the fact that you do spend a lot of money to get a phone like this, the out of the box experience should have been good right off the bat.
Recommended Reading: Designing a roller coaster that’ll make you weep
Recommended Reading highlights the best long-form writing on technology and more in print and on the web. Some weeks, you’ll also find short reviews of books that we think are worth your time. We hope you enjoy the read.
How to Design a Roller Coaster That’ll Make You Beg For Mercy
by Jeff Wise
Bloomberg Business
When it comes to designing a roller coaster, there are any number of tools that can achieve that maximum thrill. At Carowinds, a theme park that borders North and South Carolina, the Fury 325 debuted this spring. The ride packs a 325-foot drop and top speeds of 95MPH. How does something like this come about? Bloomberg’s Jeff Wise will take you for a ride to find out.
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Tidal’s Indie Plan Tidal has received its fair share of criticism for a star-packed relaunch event that mentioned little about helping independent artists. Jay Z and Co. revealed some tools in the weeks since, including the ability to upload tracks directly. |
The Man Who Broke the Music Business A man who worked at a CD-manufacturing plant in North Carolina became a notorious leaker for much-anticipated albums. He did his part to put a dent in the music industry for years, until the FBI finally caught up. |
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The Uncanny Evolution of Invisible Boyfriend, the Site Where Money Can Buy You Love Need that fake boyfriend to appear real to appease a nagging relative? Well, Invisible Boyfriend will create “social proof” one exists for just $25 a month. |
What Game Designers Love (And Don’t Love) About ‘Souls’ Games Video game designers weigh in on the great and not-so-great elements of From Software’s Souls games. |
[Image credit: Carowinds]
Filed under: Misc
Nexus devices aren’t selling well, Nexus 6 mostly to blame
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Google has just announced their quarterly financial results for Q1 2015, and while the overall picture is good, there’s a bit of bad new for Nexus devices. Google refers to the money it earns from the Play Store and Google Store as “other revenues”, and while overall “other revenues” has increased to $1.8 billion, up 23% year-on-year, when compared with last quarter, this revenue stream has actually fallen by 3%. In the earnings call, Google CFO Patrick Pichette attributed this decline to the fact that Nexus devices aren’t selling well anymore, in particular the Nexus 6, which hasn’t been the financial success that the Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 were.
You can kind of understand why this is the case – the Nexus 5 ($349) and Nexus 7 ($249) were significantly cheaper than their successors, the Nexus 6 ($649) and Nexus 9 ($399), and it’s obvious that the almost double-the-cost Nexus 6 is a bit of a tough ask for what is essentially an enthusiast’s device. Having said that, it’s unlikely that Google will bat an eyelid as the Nexus line, as we all know, is less about being a commercial success but getting quality devices into the hands of developers and enthusiasts – though I doubt they’d complain if it actually made money too. We’ll have to see if Google changes their strategy with the next Nexus smartphone and goes back to a cheaper device.
What do you think about Nexus devices not doing too well? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: 9to5 Google via TalkAndroid
The post Nexus devices aren’t selling well, Nexus 6 mostly to blame appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Only selfies can kill the bad guys in this game
Okay, “bad guys” is a bit of an exaggeration: The green boxes you have to kill in Selfie Assault don’t really do anything but stay perfectly still. You’d have to eliminate them all to conquer the game, though — as its tag line says: “Only cameras can see them. Only selfies can kill them. No filter. No mercy.” In Selfie Assault, developed by mint for the Ludum Dare 32 game jam, you go around in a white room, finding enemy green boxes through a virtual phone screen. To make them go away, you’d have to take a selfie with them in the picture. The photo’s angle and your position in the selfies don’t matter, so you can think up of crazy poses and be creative.
It’s not exactly a heart-thumping shooting game, but you have to give the devs props for both making fun of selfies and letting those fond of taking them practice while playing. As for those harmless “enemies,” well, just imagine they’re silently waiting for a chance to conquer the world if that makes you feel better.
Via: Kill Screen
Source: Ludum Dare
Google pulls the Nexus 7 tablet from its online store
In case you were on the fence about grabbing one of Google’s affordable Nexus tablets, you’d better jump off it pretty soon. The Nexus 7’s been pulled from the Google Store, as spotted by TalkAndroid, and it almost assuredly isn’t coming back — especially since the Nexus 9 exists. That means if you still want one of the consistently updated 7-inch slates you’ll have to hit places like Amazon while supplies last or wallow in regret for all that could’ve been. Namely, owning a tablet that (to me at least) is more comfortable to hold than the IPad Mini 2 and is essentially just as capable.
Unless you go for the most expensive configuration — 32GB with LTE — most models will run you less than half what one of Google’s newer, bigger tablets will, too. That sound you hear? It’s opportunity knocking. We’ve reached out to Google for additional info and will update this post should we hear back.
Filed under: Tablets, Mobile, Google
Via: TalkAndroid
Source: Google Store
Chill out with this ‘holographic’ virtual aquarium
There’s something inexplicably tranquil about gazing at fish in an aquarium as they swim back and forth, darting about rocks or that tacky plastic treasure chest sitting in the corner. But what if you could have one on your desk, without all the water changes, filter cleaning and general maintenance? That’s probably a ways off, but Memukhin Oleg’s “Fishing Day” explores such a (not entirely virtual) reality. As you’ll see in the video below from The Creators Project, he’s used a handful of different 3D modeling techniques to bring artificial fishies to life. They react to a handheld submarine, schooling and separating as they might in the real world, flitting through a gaudy shipwreck you’d find at a pet store’s aquarium aisle. It’s all really, really impressive and there’s even a breakdown of how the effects shot came together. The only bad part? The video’s a bit on the short side.
https://player.vimeo.com/video/122942653
[Image credit: The Creators Project]
Filed under: Internet
Via: Laughing Squid
Source: The Creators Project
Project Fi | The Friday Debate Podcast 014
The gang gets together, catches up on the week’s personal happenings, and then gets talking about Project Fi. For those who don’t know, Project Fi is a new wireless service (basically a MVNO) by Google that focuses on the ability to move from mobile networks and Wi-Fi hotspots on the fly, as well as some simpler pricing for talk, text, and data. The functionality to switch among networks is only found on the Nexus 6, currently, however, but the gang talks about future possibilities. Project Fi is certainly an anticipated move from Google, but are we really happy with the details that have thus far come to light? Find out on the FDP!
The Friday Debate Podcast by Android Authority – discussing topics in Android every week.
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Project Fi announcement
Project Fi partnership with T-Mobile
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Recorded on April 23, 2015 – Hosted and Produced by Joshua Vergara
Knights of Pen and Paper 2 gets a 60fps trailer, shows more of that beloved gameplay
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The original Knights of Pen and Paper was a surprising hit with its meta-RPG approach, and its sequel, Knights of Pen and Paper 2, is arriving in May this year to roll its die again on PC, iOS and Android. Releasing its latest trailer, Paradox Interactive has shown off the game running at 1080p, 60fps, though the jury is still out whether this will be the case on the mobile versions as well. Still, the retro themed game is looking fantastic and as colourful as ever – check out the trailer below:
Admittedly, I haven’t played the first Knights of Pen and Paper, but this trailer is really tempting me to get into it now before the sequel arrives. Chief among the advertised improvements in Knights of Pen and Paper 2 are the following:
- +2 to Impress: The retro adventure makes the leap from simulated 8-bit graphics to simulated 16-bit graphics, providing players with twice the bits
- New Racial Feats: Customize your party members by choosing players such as the Goth or the Rocker, classes such as Wizard or Thief, and for the first time, races such as Dwarves and Elves
- A Game of Throws: Face the whims of the d20 in an overhauled combat system, new crafting and loot, dynamically generated dungeons, and a variety of nail-biting saving throws
- Entirely Too Many Gaming and Pop Culture Jokes: Seriously
For more information about Knights of Pen and Paper 2, you can visit the game website here.
What do you think about Knights of Pen and Paper 2? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
The post Knights of Pen and Paper 2 gets a 60fps trailer, shows more of that beloved gameplay appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Cricket Wireless adds unlimited calling and messaging to Canada
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Cricket Wireless announced this morning that they are adding in unlimited calling and messaging to their services. Users don’t have to pay extra to gain the coverage as it is part of the standard monthly plan offerings from $50 and up.
Now users get both Canada and Mexico calling for a simple low rate.
“Cricket is focused on giving consumers more of what they want and need,” said Janna Ducich, chief marketing officer, Cricket Wireless. “More 4G LTE coverage nationwide than T-Mobile, Metro-PCS, Sprint or Boost. More than 35 million songs from Deezer, the world’s largest streaming music catalog. More ways to pay for your phones thanks to our new Phone Payment Plans. And now, even more international calling options. We want to make it easy for our customers to call almost any number — landline or mobile — in Mexico and Canada — whenever they want, and talk for as long as they want.”
As an added bonus, they are also offering the HTC Desire 510 for only $9.99 paired with a month of free service now through April 30th. (In retail stores only, with a number port and after 2 months of service.) The Desire 510
Source: Cricket
The post Cricket Wireless adds unlimited calling and messaging to Canada appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
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