HTC brings four more wallet-friendly Desire phones to the US
If you haven’t seen of HTC’s wallet-friendly Desire phones in the wild, you probably will soon — they’ve been doing great for the ailing smartphone maker overseas and they’re picking up steam on our shores, too. Since HTC could use some more of that momentum, it’s gearing up to release four more Desire models — the Desire 520, 526, 626 and 626S — in the United States with the help of almost every carrier you’ve ever heard of.
Before we go any further, here’s a crash course in Desire philosophy: It’s all about making cheap phones that don’t suck. That means solid build quality, attractive designs, and the same software features you’ll find on higher-end HTC phones. Every once in a while you’ll see HTC take the formula in some odd directions (we’re looking at you, Desire Eye), but general it’s just lots of modest hardware. All of these Desires, for instance, are built on the foundation of Qualcomm’s quad-core Snapdragon 210 CPU. All of them have 8-megapixel rear cameras. All of them take microSD and microSDXC cards up to 2TB in size.
The rest of the particulars vary depending on the whims of the carrier selling these things. Consider the Desire 520 for a moment. This Cricket exclusive comes with a pocket-friendly 4.5-inch screen running at a paltry 854×480 resolution, all wrapped in a palm-pleasing soft touch finish. The Desire 526, on the other hand, is the odd one out when it comes to looks; Verizon seemed to prefer a rounder aesthetic with curved bezels that run around the 4.7-inch qHD screen. It’s also got 1.5GB of RAM in there, giving it just a little more oomph than its other 520-series cousin.
Then you’ve got the Desire 626 and 626S sitting at the top of this class. Both are kitted out with 5-inch, 720p screens but the differences are there if you know where to look. The most glaring variances? The prepaid-only 626S has 8GB of storage and a 2MP front-facing camera compared to the 16GB/5MP camera setup on the 626 that’s hitting AT&T and T-Mobile. (Just to make things a little more confusing, there’s already a version of the 626 floating around Asia with a divergent design and a completely different chip inside.)
Still, they’re arguably the fanciest of HTC’s new quartet, and after a little hands-on time they proved themselves to be worthy little devices… as long as you keep your expectations in check. First, the good: they feel surprisingly sturdy given their all-plastic construction, not to mention almost shockingly light. HTC’s always done well as a purveyor of polycarbonate phones and it’s frankly nice to see that even the cheap stuff avoids feeling chintzy. Both devices run without too much trouble either, though they’re not as immediately snappy when responding to touch inputs as other low-cost phones are. HTC’s desire to keep costs down are most apparent when you start eyeing up that 720p screen — text and visuals are mostly crisp, but the look is little muddy overall and there’s plenty of apparent grain on the edges of letters and icons. Still, the 626 and 626S will be tidy little packages if they get the aggressive price tags to match; now we’ve just got to wait for all those carriers to get a little chatty.
ZTE Axon vs LG G4 quick look
We’re in New York to see ZTE’s new and highly ambitious offering for the US market, the Axon. Combining a striking all-metal design with some of the finest specifications on the market, the Axon deserves your attention in and of itself. But ZTE seems decided to make this device a homerun, which may explain the Axon’s affordable price tag: $500 unlocked.
The Android arena is nothing if not competitive, so can a newcomer (even one with the massive might of ZTE at its back) take on heavyweights like Samsung Galaxy S6, HTC One M9, or the LG G4?
In this quick comparison, we look at how the ZTE Axon compares to LG’s leather-bound G4. Let’s get right to it!
Build quality and design
Two premium looking phones go toe to toe, but the similarities end there. The ZTE Axon stands out through its metallic unibody, which sports a striking design element in the styling of the frontal grilles and the camera panel on the back. While the Axon is relatively attractive, it’s not exactly an original appearance, at least not if you’re familiar with HTC’s 2011 flagship, the One X. The Axon seems to combine the One X’ general shape and grille placement with the metallic construction of the One M series. It’s up to you how you feel about it, but overall we think ZTE’s designers did a solid job.
On the other hand, we have the G4, with its smooth curves and natural leather backing. While some may find the prominent seam dividing the back of the G4 a bit gaudy, there’s no denying that leather is a premium material that just oozes personality. If the leather doesn’t catch your eye, the rear-mounted power button and volume keys just might. It’s a distinctive design element that offers some distinct functionality as well, as having the buttons on the back makes it easier to maneuver the 5.5-inch device.
Speaking of size, both phones have 5.5-inch displays, but due to its front grilles and generally larger bezels, the Axon is visibly larger than G4’s compact flagship. That’s not to say the Axon is unwieldy, though at 175 grams it’s not a light phone either.
The Axon features ZTE’s well-known “circle” home button, flanked by two capacitive keys, while the G4 uses on-screen navigation. One advantage that the Axon offers is the presence of a dedicated shutter button on the side, which is something that few Android smartphones feature these days.
Display
Both competitors offer 5.5-inch screens of Quad HD resolutions, resulting in pixel densities of 534 ppi. However, while the raw specs are similar, there are some differences in the underlying technology.
The LG G4 offers an IPS LCD display dubbed Quantum, which offers a wider color range compared to the previous generation of the G series, as well as more brightness. Looking at the G4’s display, it’s easy to see what LG is talking about: the colors just pop from the screen and there’s little to complain about.
The ZTE Axon is also LCD, but its particularity is the use of Continuous Grain Silicon technology, which increases electron mobility in the display and allows for a thinner and more efficient construction. From our experience with it, the Axon looks fantastic, with great colors, brightness and viewing angles.
Performance
ZTE is pulling no punches with the Axon, even if the decision to include the Snapdragon 810 processor may dismay some people. With that said, while HTC and Sony did have some apparent issues with the inclusion of the hot-tempered Snapdragon 810, there’s no guarantee the Axon will suffer the same fate. Performance-wise, there’s nothing to complain about here, though obviously our brief time with the device is not enough for any real judgement. The UI elements were animated without any stuttering and there was no lag in opening and switching between apps – the 4GB of RAM of the Axon certainly help in this regard, as we’ve seen with the Asus Zenfone 2 before it.
In the opposing corner, LG did not risk using the Snapdragon 810 on the G4, opting instead for the slightly slower Snapdragon 808, coupled with 3GB of RAM. LG’s UI is the fastest it’s ever been on the G4, and that is said to be a result of the optimization work that LG did in collaboration with Qualcomm.
Bottom line, these are two powerful devices that will offer great performance, but the Axon may hold the edge thanks to the extra RAM, especially in multi-tasking situations.
Hardware
In terms of storage, you get 32GB on both devices, but the G4 gets a lead thanks to the presence of a microSD card slot beneath the removable back plate. The Axon, in contrast, does not offer expandable storage, so you will have to rely on the cloud to supplement your 32GB of onboard memory.
ZTE touted the hi-fi audio playback capabilities of the Axon, but even if the dual grilles would have you believe otherwise, there’s only one speaker on the device, on the bottom side of the phone. Still, ZTE says you will be able to hear the difference that hi-fi audio makes, even when listening with a cheap pair of headphones.
The battery size on both phones is 3,000 mAh, but the unit on the G4 is user replaceable.
Camera
The Axon features a dual-camera setup that resembles the Duo Camera setup of the One M8 and other HTC devices, allowing the device to focalize better and faster, as well as offer features like post-shot refocusing. The two cameras are 13MP and 2MP respectively, and they are aided by a dual-LED flash and two microphones, which should eliminate ambient noise when recording in difficult conditions. Meanwhile, selfie lovers will want to hear about the 8MP front shooter. We’ll need time with the Axon to really appraise its camera, but at least on paper, things are looking good.
Things are also looking very good when it comes to the LG G4’s camera, with its laser-assisted focus system and impressive f 1.8 aperture lens allowing it to capture lots of ambient light. Optical image stabilization helps with low light photography and video, and, overall the G4 is one of the finest camera phones you can get right now.
Software
While ZTE phones destined for the Chinese market are not known for their polished and minimalist user interfaces, the situation is slightly different on the Axon. While there are some customizations, ZTE generally kept stock elements from Android 5.1, including the notification dropdown, the quick settings screen and more. There are a handful of pre-installed apps as well, including Argus and Map My Run.
LG chose to simplify the aesthetics of its UI, even if functionality remains relatively stuffy on the G4. There are some questionable features, but also several useful ones, like Knock Code and Multiwindow. LG also worked with Google to put its apps front and center on the device, as opposed to opting for its own apps.
Wrap up
The LG G4 and ZTE Axon are both great devices, but it looks like the newcomer will be able to give the G4 a run for its money, and more than that. At $500, the ZTE Axon is not exactly in the impulse buy territory, but for those who buy their phones unlocked the $150-$250 difference compared to other Android flagships can make a real difference.
We’ll reserve our full judgment for the review, but in the mean time tell us what are your thoughts on the Axon and how it compares with the LG G4?
Sketchy Report Claims No New iPad Air in 2015, One Last iPad Mini
With Apple said to unveil its long-rumored 12.9-inch iPad Pro in November, many assumed that both the iPad mini 3 and iPad Air 2 would see refreshes as well. However, a new report from Economic Daily News [Translation] (via Macotakara [Translation]) says that no new iPad Air will be revealed.
While the iPad Air 2 may not see a refresh, the iPad mini 4 and iPad Pro will see introductions. Liaoxian Li, investment advisor at Fubon Hardware, tells Economic Daily News that Apple may want the attention on the new iPad Pro and thus will let its main assembly plant for iPads, Foxconn, focus on the Pro to maximize deployment capacity. Li believes a new iPad Air might not be released until 2016. Economic Daily News has a mixed track record on rumors and the accuracy of this particular analyst isn’t known.
Additionally, the report claims that the new iPad mini might be the last one as the Apple wants to focus on the two larger iPads in the future. Many people were disappointed with the iPad mini update in 2014, which essentially added Touch ID to the existing iPad mini 2. The next iPad mini will likely be more of an upgrade, with a rumored rear shell featuring iPad Air 2 design elements already making the rounds.
While it’s possible Apple won’t upgrade the iPad Air 2 this year, the company has been constraining supplies of the iPad Air to third-party retailers, suggesting the iPad Air 2 would become the lower-cost option as an iPad Air 3 slots into Apple’s tablet lineup. However, it’s possible Apple introduces an iPad Air 3 with minimal additions, as it did with the iPad mini 3.
Logitech’s first Logi iPad cases are all about tough corners
You might have heard that Logitech is rebranding itself with the hipper, more with it, Logi moniker. Now we’ve got the first official Logi products: iPad cases! The company’s new “Blok” lineup of cases for the iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini all feature ribbed, shock-absorbent corners, the areas that typically get damaged when you drop your iPad. True to their name, they’re blockier than most other cases today, but those sharper corners also give them a distinctive visual style that befits a brand desperate for attention from youngins. The $40 Logi BLOK Protective Shell offers basic iPad protection (along with a screen protector), while the $70 BLOK Protective Case offers complete screen protection and a (surprisingly) adjustable stand. But what really intrigues us is the $130 BLOK Keyboard Case, mainly because Logitech has already made a name for itself with solid iPad keyboards over the years (and for much less than competitors like Typo).
To prove the BLOK cases could actually take a wallop, Logitech vice president of mobility Michele Hermann brought out one of the company’s drop test machines, a custom-made gadget torture device that looks like it belongs on the set of Mythbusters. She dropped an iPad equipped with the BLOK Shell from both three feet and fix feet and, as you can see in the video below, it emerged unscathed.
Logitech worked together with Cranfield University to find the right plastic mixture, allowing for a decent amount of protection without making the cases too thick. I was honestly surprised by how thin they were during my brief hands on time. I’m not usually one for tablet cases, especially on a thin device like the iPad Air 2, but I could actually see using the BLOK lineup. The stand on the BLOK Case and Keyboard Case feels reminiscent of Microsoft’s Surface stands, but without the complicated hinges.
The BLOK family of cases will be available in stores in August. We’ll be testing them out soon, so check back for more on how they perform in the real world.
Filed under: Mobile
Ultrasound technology captures life-like heart images
Traditional ultrasound allows doctors to see patients’ hearts, but those photos are nowhere as detailed as they would like. Now, GE Healthcare has developed advanced software called “cSound” for its new cardiovascular ultrasound machines that can render realistic 4D — that’s 3D plus time — heart images. GE claims cSound is so powerful, it can crunch a full DVD’s worth of data in just a second. If it comes across any data it can’t process immediately, it stores that info and uses algorithms to analyze it to generate images as close to the real thing as possible. The software also has built-in color maps that assigns specific hues to different tissues.
GE believes the technology could eliminate the need for additional testing. According to cardiologist Bijoy Khandheria, it can improve diagnostic accuracy, since looking at the images is “like opening the chest and seeing the heart beating.” Plus, it could prove especially useful for obese patients and other folks with lung disease and other serious illnesseses that them hard to scan.
Filed under: Science
Source: GE
MicFlip – Winnergear is bringing a reversible micro USB cable to the market
Lately, USB Type-C have been all over the internet. The Chromebook Pixel, MacBook, and soon to be OnePlus 2 all have one thing in common: they are pioneers by employing the USB Type-C connector on their devices. If you are stuck with a device still using the standard micro USB cable and don’t want to upgrade to get the reversible feature, there’s new hope.
Winnergear has now introduced the MicFlip, the world’s first fully reversible micro USB and Type-A USB cable. That means it is reversible in both directions. The Type-A side can be flipped and so can the micro side as well. In order to get the project started, Winnergear has put together an Indiegogo campaign for consumers to donate to for perks and to support the cause.
One of the biggest pains when I go to charge my device at night is whether or not I have the micro USB cable facing the right away. It’s especially a problem for me, due to the fact that I switch between my Nexus 6 and LG G4 frequently. The Nexus 6 has the micro USB slot right side up whereas the G4 has it upside down. I always seem to put the cable in upside down.
The MicFlip will definitely alleviate those concerns. Not only that, but Winnergear did not skimp on the design either. They listened to their consumers in a recent poll and they found some interesting results. 75 percent of the people who took the poll wanted a reversible micro USB cable and the other 25 percent wanted a more durable construction.
Winnergear coupled both of them together to make one heck of a cord. Not only is the cord reversible on both ends, but it also has an aluminum build, 2 meter long tangle-free braided cable, and gold plated plugs. The MicFlip is definetely the ultimate micro USB cable, and you can help to the cause. The full perks can be seen below.
- $15 Early Bird – 1 MicFlip cable
- $20 First Edition – 1 MicFlip in retail packaging
- $30 Double Flip – 2 MicFlip cables
- $100 StockFlip – 10 MicFlip cables in retail packaging
- $225 Friends & Family – 25 MicFlip cables in retail packaging
- $425 Fifty Shades of MicFlip – 50 MicFlip cables in retail packaging
- $1,500 Wholesalers – 200 MicFlip cables in retail packaging
The campaign has already exceeded its goal of $6,000 by over 710 percent. Right now the total is up to $42,575. It just goes to show how in demand a reversible cable is in the market.
Production has already been started and the cable is looking at a September release. We are hoping to get ours hands on the MicFlip to give it a review. Once we do, we’ll be sure to let you know. What are your thoughts on a reversible micro USB cable? Are you going to pick one up?
The post MicFlip – Winnergear is bringing a reversible micro USB cable to the market appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Traitor – Valkyrie Plan is a new FPS game based on a true WWII story
Plenty of First-Person Shooter games crowd the Google Play Store, but very few of them catch our attention like Traitor – Valkyrie Plan did. It has a touch of history, realistic effects and plenty of action to keep you on your toes for hours.
Traitor – Valkyrie Plan is especially exciting because it follows a true story from World War 2, known as the “July Plot”. The game tells the story of a renegade German Army officer who turns against Hitler. The story develops after Colonel Claus is found wounded in North Africa, when he decides to become a hitman. You can imagine what happens after that… or you can just play the game and find out!
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Just like the plot, the game is very realistic by nature. The user will have access to real weapons, which he can use in an environment full of advanced graphics and sophisticated lighting. In addition, character movements and firing effects are as true-to-life as they get in a mobile FPS game.
Gamers will need to use stealth, disguise and hand-to-hand assassination. There’s plenty of entertainment packed in this nifty app, making you realize that $1.53 price-point is really nothing to complain about.
Developer PigFrog Entertainment states they have worked very hard to make this game run smoothly on Android devices, but they have also provided a test version of the game (Traitor LITE) for those who want to test its performance before forking out some cash. We think this is a worthy game, so you should at least give it a test by downloading the LITE version.
Have any of you been playing it? What do you think of it?
The Moto G 2015 will be announced on July 28th according to Brazilian news outlet
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We’ve seen our fair share of the upcoming mid-range device from Motorola, but today is the first time we’re hearing about a possible announcement date. According to Brazilian news outlet, TecMundo, the Moto G 2015 will be announced on July 28th and be available for purchase on the same day. Seeing as Motorola is a US native, we’d expect the Moto G 2015 to be announced globally on the same day or even a few days earlier. According to the report, the Moto G 2015 will be available for 899 BRL in Brazil which equates to the same price its predecessor was launched at, so hopefully we can expect the same in other markets.
As with its predecessors, the Moto G 2015 is shaping up to be the one to beat in the mid-range category. One big difference which was revealed only in the last 24 hours is that the Moto G 2015 is likely to feature with the products available through Moto Maker which will allow customization of the device’s appearance before shipment – how much customization is still to be seen, though plenty of colour options were leaked.
What do you think about the Moto G 2015? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: TecMundo via Phone Arena
The post The Moto G 2015 will be announced on July 28th according to Brazilian news outlet appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Google Drive can stop others from grabbing your files
Google Drive is built around collaboration. And that’s great! However, you probably don’t want to give collaborators unfettered access to everything — what if someone makes off with a sensitive report? Thankfully, you can put your foot down as of today. Google has added rights management to Drive that, if you like, prevents others from copying, downloading or printing specific files. You only need to mark a checkbox to prevent coworkers and friends from sharing your work with others. The feature is gradually rolling out now on the web. There’s no word on whether or not it’ll reach phones, so don’t count on locking down your files while you’re on the road.
Filed under: Storage, Internet, Google
Via: VentureBeat, The Next Web
Source: Google Apps Updates
Twitter looking to bring 3rd-party developers back on board?
In the midst of a new CEO search, Twitter is realizing it’s more than a mere social network. The service represents a “real-time information network” that would be better off treated as a platform, something Twitter co-founder Evan Williams claims they didn’t see before.
Every good platform needs extensive 3rd-party developer support, but the social network is in a tight situation, caused by a long time of pushing app makers away. Twitter waged war on 3rd-party developers some years ago. The company now finds itself trying to strategically re-think its model and get developers back on board.
“Twitter’s revenue stream is pretty good. I wouldn’t say we haven’t figured that out. The business is really solid, but we have so much potential with the new products we could develop.” -Evan Williams, Twitter co-founder
Twitter has a lot of convincing to do after all this time limiting support for developers. They wanted to keep tighter control on their ecosystem, which led to placing tighter restrictions on their APIs and limiting how many users these Twitter replacement apps could have. A couple of the most affected apps were Falcon Pro and Carbon for Twitter, which quickly became very popular and exceeded these limitations.
Williams goes on to mention Twitter is working on harnessing its service’s power as a news source. He states Twitter is “guaranteed to have all the info you are looking for: first hand reports, rumors, links to stories as soon as they are published. All that is there.” This will play an important role in moving forward.
Something that dampens the loud noise Twitter can make is the way the feed is set up. It’s a hassle to find important news in a sea of other irrelevant posts. “It’s hard to find exactly what you’re looking for,” says Evan Williams. Is it possible third-party developers are an important part of this? We are not exactly sure, nor is Evan Williams willing to say more. What we do know is Twitter sure does have much amending to do before they make it all right for our beloved mobile developers.
I, for one, would be excited to see Twitter opening its arms to more software creators. Wouldn’t you?
AIVAnet 