LG G4 dbrand skins review: Perfect fit
The good guys at dbrand were willing to send us a few skins to try out on the LG G4. It’s likely you’ve heard of dbrand before, but if you haven’t, they specialize in making skins for your phone. These can be easily applied and removed with perfect precision. Different themes and color combinations can be used for different areas of the phone, and you can even order a custom sticker if you’re really in the mood for customization. Go have a peek at their website if you’re still confused.
In the box
All dbrand skins come in a desirable plastic sleeve, stuck onto the specialized 3M paper (more on that later). Simple, compact and effective, I could marvel at the packaging the whole day. Yes, it’s that… appealing. You’ll understand if you’re that type of guy that keeps his packaging.
Application
Ignoring the big bold text that recommended to firstly watch the video on how to apply the skin, I went straight ahead and applied it without prior knowledge of what I’m doing. Thankfully, my first application worked out just fine, my only problems were that the skin was slightly misaligned with the speaker grid and that the edges were sticking out a bit.
After then watching the video, I learnt that you have to use a hair dryer to push down the edges and bits that stick up a bit. This stretches it a little bit and activates the stickiness a bit more, meaning the entire skin is flush with the device and that you won’t have pokey corners, instead it’ll curve round the edges more consistently.
dbrand have confidently said that their skins are the most precise on the market. While I have not had experience with other brands, I can certainly back them up here and, barring the speaker cutout, say that every millimeter is on point.
On that point, on the three skins that I had, only one aligned perfectly with the speaker grill, making me think that the problem is not within the skin itself, but rather how it is applied by the user. Perhaps I just need to jack up on my skills.
With the front stickers, you have the option to either have two separate skins for the top and bottom bezel, or have one skin which joins the top and bottom parts with the side bezels. These were the easiest to apply, and aligned perfectly with all the components at the top.
If you want to remove them, you simply pull up a corner somewhere and pull gently. Thanks to the high quality 3M paper that dbrand uses, you won’t find any glue or residual marks left behind. You also may be wondering if it’s possible to reuse skins, and the answer is yes, at least with the G4. You will, however, have to pull it off gently in a way that does not excessively stretch or create tears. Unfortunately, I could not reuse my carbon fibre skin:
Now is also a good time to mention that you cannot apply a skin to a leather back, only the plastic version.
The skins are approximately 0,23mm thick, but provide reasonable protection against scratches and the elements. Their high quality is the epitome of dbrand’s good workmanship.
In case you’re wondering what color to get, I’ll highly recommend the mahogany wood back. It looks better without the accents, though.
Overall, dbrand certainly has some quality products up their sleeves. The excellent customer service, range of skins and product quality is testament to their success in the field.
You can head over here if you want to take a look at G4 skins, or here if you want to go to their main page.
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Harry Potter Enhanced Editions Now Available Exclusively on iBooks
Apple today announced that enhanced editions of all seven books in the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling are now available exclusively through the iBooks Store around the world for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Mac.
Harry Potter Enhanced Editions are available in English for $9.99 each in 32 countries, while pre-orders begin today for French, German and Spanish versions, which will be available on November 9 in 18 additional countries.
“I’m thrilled to see the Harry Potter books so beautifully realised on iBooks for the digital world; the artwork and animations in these enhanced editions bring the stories alive in a delightful new way,” said J.K. Rowling.
“Harry Potter fans are going to love how their favorite stories come to life,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “J.K. Rowling’s legendary series is perfect for enjoying on your iPad or iPhone and we’re thrilled to offer them exclusively on the iBooks Store.”
Harry Potter digital books were previously only available for purchase through the Pottermore shop that J.K. Rowling developed in partnership with Sony.
Gionee launches the 6-inch Elife E8 exclusively via Snapdeal in India for Rs. 34,999
Here we have the China-based Gionee launching its Elife E8 flagship device in India, exclusively via the Indian online retailer, Snapdeal. Priced at Rs. 34,999 ($537), the gold 6-inch Elife E8 boasts some impressive specifications, join us after the break for the rundown.
As you can probably tell from the image above, the Elife E8 is not a small, dainty phone. Instead, it sports a big 6-inch display, and Gionee are quick to point out the Elife E8’s prowess for taking pictures with that 24MP rear camera. More on that, and the handset’s similarity to the BLU Pure XL a little later. Let’s deal with the nitty-gritty first.
Specifications:
- Android 5.1 Lollipop running Amigo 3.1 custom interface
- 6-Inch Super AMOLED display with WQHD (2560 x 1440) 490ppi
- MediaTek MT6795 octa-core Helio X10 @ 2GHz
- PowerVR G6200 GPU
- 3GB RAM
- 64GB Internal storage
- MicroSD card support (up to 64GB)
- 24MP Rear camera with OIS, lossless zoom up to 3X, 4K video and Phase Detection AutoFocus (PDAF) and a dual-tone flash
- 8MP Front camera
- Dedicated camera shutter button
- Fingerprint sensor on the rear
- Dual speakers on rear
- Micro-SIM/Dual-SIM/Dual LTE mode
- WiFi 2.4GHz & 5GHz
- Bluetooth 4.0/ NFC/GPS
- Battery: 3,500mAh
- Dimensions: 164 x 82.28 x 9.6mm
- Weight: 210 grams
The 24MP rear snapper can stitch images together, resulting in an image with up to 120MP resolution. Gionee also states that the camera can focus on an image in just 0.08 seconds, which is pretty quick.
Eagle-eyed readers will have noticed that the Gionee Elife E8 is a dead-ringer for the BLU Pure XL that launched in the US last month for $349 via Amazon. In case you were wondering which device is the original, apparently the BLU Pure XL is the rebranded device, or doppelgänger if you will. It isn’t the first time that a Gionee handset has been rebranded for sale in a different country.
Pricewise, the BLU Pure XL is retailing for almost $200 less than the Gionee Elife E8’s Indian Recommended Retail Price (RRP) of Rs. 34,999 ($537). It’s still a lot of phone for the money, but it’s a hefty markup all the same. If you are in the market for a 6-inch smartphone or phablet (sorry Justin), does the Gionee Elife E8 tick the box for you?
Full Press Release:
NEW DELHI, India, Oct. 8, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Gionee, a leading global provider of mobile devices, announced the launch of its much awaited flagship ELIFE E8 in India with an exclusive deal with the largest online shopping website Snapdeal.com. ELIFE E8 will mark Gionee’s debut in the e-commerce space boosting its already existing offline distribution across the country.
ELIFE E8 comes packed with 24 MP rear camera, which will be able to produce photographs up to 1200 Mpxl in resolution. E8 is the first Android smartphone to offer Lossless zoom that maintains image quality even at 3X zoom along with host of enhanced camera features for producing a professional level images on the go. Some of the key features of the ELIFE E8 include One dedicated shooting button, 8 MP front camera, magic focus among others.
The Gionee E8 offers android 5.1 out of the box, Mediatek MT6795 Helio X10 Chipset and Octa Core 2.0 GHz CPU. Along with Biological (Fingerprint) recognition system it also offers Dual SIM 4G, 6.0inch WQHD Super AMOLED Display, 64GB ROM+3GB RAM, NFC, Dual Speaker , HIFI Sound, 3500 mAh Battery and fast charging.
Arvind.R.Vohra, Country CEO & MD, Gionee India said, “E8 is the flagship for Gionee India and is one of the best camera phone if not the best in the market .We are very excited to find a great strategic partner as Snapdeal for Gionee ELIFE E8.”
William Lu, President Gionee added, “Gionee’s ELIFE E8 is going to be one of the finest offering to the Indian smartphone market with its cutting edge technology and design element. Built to perform like a professional camera for today’s user, the E8 offers every aspect and dimension of a professional camera.”
Key Specs of the ELIFE E8
- 24Mpx Camera
- 1200 Mpx
- Amigo 3.1, Android 5.1
- Mediatek MT6795 Helio X10
- Octa Core 2.0 GHz CPU
- Biological (fingerprint) recognition system
- Dual SIM 4G
- 6.0inch WQHD Super AMOLED Display
- 64GB ROM+3GB RAM
- NFC
- Dual Speaker , HIFI Sound
- 3500mAh Battery
The ELIFE E8 will be available in India @ MOP of INR 34,999
About Gionee
Established in 2002, Gionee Communication Equipment Co., Ltd. is a hi-tech company engaging in mobile device designing, R&D, manufacturing, sales in global markets, and mobile internet application services.
Come comment on this article: Gionee launches the 6-inch Elife E8 exclusively via Snapdeal in India for Rs. 34,999
Amazon launches a Handmade rival to Etsy
If you’ve been looking for for a hand-sculpted Gothic dragon weathervane, you now have a new way to find it: Amazon’s Handmade online store. As rumored earlier, the new venture has arrived in response to the success of Etsy, the artisan-goods company that just went public with a massive $3.5 billion valuation. The store is divided into seven categories, including jewelry, home decor, artwork and furniture. That’ll give you a chance to find some one-of-a-kind paintings, along with items like leather magnetic cuffs, walnut rocking chairs and a beer growler holder.
Amazon has 80,000 items in the store already from artisans in over 60 countries around the world. The company told the NYT that “you can think of it as a factory-free zone… we’re going to launch with an experience that’s very different.” The retail giant has promised that every item is genuinely handmade, and every artisan has a profile on the site so you can see how they make their items. Meanwhile, Etsy recently allowed vendors to outsource manufacturing, and has faced questions over counterfeit goods on its site.
However, artisans have expressed concerns over the higher fees that Amazon charges, and think that the corporate vibe doesn’t mesh with craft culture. Either way, Etsy will be in tough against Amazon, which is the largest retailer in world and has over 10 times the customers of its artisan rival.
Source: Amazon
The Big Picture: Mars’ fractured surface underneath the dunes
The dune images Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter sends back to Earth helps NASA study erosion, wind, weather and movement of materials on the red planet. But this image taken by the orbiter’s High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on July 30th shows the fractured surface underneath sand dunes more prominently. According to the agency, the textured ground could be bedrock that has cracks all over due to extreme temperature changes. Or, it could be a sedimentary layer that developed fractured after it dried up. Either way, NASA can use this photo (among the others that HiRISE took) to take a closer look at the planet’s surface.
Source: NASA
Google for iOS can play GIFs in search results, show maps in-app
Google has released an update for its iOS app to add a fun feature and make it even more useful after upgrading its “Ok, Google” voice prompt. Now, when you search for an address, you’ll get map results within the app. You can also leave reviews of your (most and least) favorite establishments: simply search for a place’s name and click the right link that shows up at the top of the results page. It’ll take you to a section where you can rate the restaurant/brewery/concert hall/et cetera, write up a short review and even upload photos of the location. Finally — and for some people, most importantly — the app can now play animated GIFs in the Image results tab, so long as you click and enlarge them.
Source: iTunes
Bowers and Wilkins’ new Zeppelin speaker nixes the dock to go wireless
Eight years ago, Bowers & Wilkins released its first Zeppelin speaker dock. After a few updates along the way, the company nixed the dock and went wireless for the new model. The appropriately named Zeppelin Wireless keeps the airship-esque design while adding support for AirPlay, Spotify Connect and Bluetooth aptX connections. While the look might be familiar, the company says it redesigned “every element” to re-imagine “what is possible from a single speaker system.” To do just that, Bowers & Wilkins used a group of five speakers: two Double Dome tweeters from its high-fi CM Series speakers, two mid-range drivers and a 6.5-inch subwoofer to manage the low end. The cabinet itself was also retooled for added strength and to reduce vibrations for improved overall sound quality. Slideshow-326759
In addition to the connectivity that we’ve already mentioned, Bower’s & Wilkins has a Control app for iOS, Android, Mac and PC to lend a hand with playback functions and volume adjustments. And yes, there are on-board controls for play/pause and volume, too. The speaker also carries Digital Signal Processing (DSP) that’s said to be twice as powerful as that of the previous Zeppelin speaker, which, in theory, will lead to enhanced clarity and depth of sound. If all of that sounds too good to pass up, the Zeppelin Wireless goes on sale today for £499 (around $765). High-end audio is certainly not cheap.
LoopPay hacked but Samsung Pay not affected
Hacking seems to be an increasingly popular way of causing damage to a company with hackers attacking everything from small companies to major retailers and the latest to be affected is mobile payments specialist LoopPay, a subsidiary of Samsung and one of the companies making Samsung Pay a reality.
Top phones for Samsung Pay:
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According to the New York Times, Chinese hackers accessed LoopPay computer systems in March – just a month after it was bought by Samsung to help create Samsung Pay – and the hack was only discovered five months later in August. LoopPay reportedly said that the hackers were from a group known as Codoso Group or Sunshock Group and were after the company’s Magnetic Secure Transmission (MST) technology.
For those wondering whether this means Samsung Pay was also hacked, both companies have said the attacked was focused on LoopPay’s corporate network, which is a separate physical network to that used by Samsung. Both companies are confident that the hackers had no access to Samsung Pay, which is why the payment solution’s US rollout continued without delay.
Related: Fingerprint fight: Galaxy Note 5 vs Mate S vs iPhone 6S
Samsung’s chief privacy officer Darlene Cedres, said:
“Samsung Pay was not impacted and at no point was any personal payment information at risk. This was an isolated incident that targeted the LoopPay corporate network, which is a physically separate network. The LoopPay corporate network issue was resolved immediately and had nothing to do with Samsung Pay.”
For Samsung, it’s certainly not an ideal piece of news to break, especially as there many people concerned about the security of mobile payments systems. At least for the time being, it seems that Samsung Pay wasn’t affected in any way but with hacking becoming an ever increasing occurrence in our modern day society, LoopPay has hired a couple of private forensic teams to investigate the hack and take the necessary precautions against this happening again.
Waze meets Rio officials after user killed during navigation
Mapping application Waze is currently at the centre of a major controversy in Rio de Janeiro after a 70-year-old woman was redirected into a dangerous slum when following directions provided the GPS navigation application.
Regina Murmura and her husband Francisco were using Waze to get directions to a restaurant in Rio’s sister city Niteroi but the app directed them to the a street with the same name in the notoriously dangerous Caramujo slum. Once they entered the slum, Francisco says that approximately 20 people opened fire after believing him to be a police offer.
“Unfortunately we found ourselves in the Caramujo slum, which I had never heard of before in my life. We found ourselves there, and we didn’t get out of there. When I realized it was a slum, I wanted to stop and turn around, but 10, 15 or 20 guys were already shooting.”
Waze representatives met with state and municipal officials in Rio on Wednesday to discuss the shooting and while it hasn’t been revealed exactly what was said at this meeting, it is believed the meetings were “quite productive”.
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According to Edval Novaes, sub-secretary of command and control with Rio’s state security secretariat, Waze representative Di-Ann Eisner was provided with access to a public database on the state’s crime statistics as well as a map of the city’s slums and Novaes added: “They will see how they use the data to improve the app“.
Waze declined to comment about the meetings but a statement from the company on Wednesday read:
Unfortunately, it’s difficult to prevent drivers from circulating in dangerous regions if those are the destinations selected because people who live in those areas need to get home.
For users on the traffic-riddled streets of Brazil, applications such as Waze that let you redirect around the traffic can be imperative to spend the least amount of time stuck on the road but incidents like the one on Wednesday only serve to highlight the difficulties users can face when things go wrong.
What do you think that Waze could do to try and prevent things like this happening again? Some suggestions include highlighting dangerous slums on the map itself but what do you think? Let us know your views in the comments below guys.
Malicious Android adware campaign tries to exploit root access
After the Stagefright fiasco I’m sure that the last thing you want to hear about right now are more Android security issues. But FireEye researchers have discovered an aggressive adware campaign, which they have dubbed Kemoge, that is targeting Android devices in more than 20 countries.
The malicious software is making its way onto Android phones and tablets by disguising itself as popular apps, with adware added in via repackaging. Once someone installs the infected software, the adware goes to work gathering up user data to sell and aggressively serving up irritating advertisements.
Just some examples of the repacked apps.
Kemoge apparently doesn’t stop there though, the apps then attempt to exploit eight common Android root methods in order to secure themselves deep into and to take over the system. It’s not clear how successful these exploits are, but if achieved, common processes such as com.facebook.qdservice.rp.provider are imitated to make adware removal much tougher and it even attempts to uninstall some antivirus software suites from devices.
Before anyone becomes too alarmed, the researchers note that these apps are being downloaded to users’ devices through third party app stores and web advertisement based installations. You’ve probably seen those pop-up ads that try and deceive customers into downloading software or claiming a free prize.
An overview of Kemoge’s lifecycle.
FireEye did spot one example of an app signed by the same developer certificate as an app from Google Play, but it didn’t contain any malicious code and has since been removed by Google. There’s no evidence to suggest that this adware campaign is affecting legitimate app services, so users who are careful about what they download should remain unaffected.
This is yet another reminder that legitimate stores are the safest place to download your Android apps. You can read the ins and outs about how the adware works in the source link below.
AIVAnet 