Google Maps will soon make it easier to hail a cab

Google is giving you more ways to get around with the integration of ride-hailing services to Google Maps in countries across the world. Now, when you ask for directions, Maps can give you fare estimates and pickup times if a car from one of the new partner services is near you. Google has added support for Hailo in the UK and Spain, 99Taxis in Brazil, Ola Cabs in India, myTaxi in Germany and Spain, and Gett in the UK.

In order to take advantage of this new integration, you’ll need to install the app from one of these services. From Google:

Select a service, and we’ll take you directly to their app for you to book your ride with one tap. When it makes sense, we’ll also show ride service availability when viewing the map in walking and transit directions, and multiple ride services options for each provider—where they exist. For example, if you’re using Uber, starting today, we’ll now show uberX, uberXL and UberBLACK for an easy and quick comparison.

To start, Google will only be offering integration with these services in the UK, Spain, Germany, India, and Brazil. This feature will begin rolling out in the next few days on Android, and will arrive on iOS shortly as well.

Guess the Android N nickname and you could win a Pixel C tablet!

The yearly cycle of Android upgrades has started early in 2016, with the first Android N Developer Preview dropping a full month and a half ahead of the annual Google I/O developer conference. We don’t know what it’s going to be called, but if the pattern of years past continues, there’s a good chance it will be a sweet food related name. Could it be Android Nutella? Perhaps Android Nanaimo Bar? Or will things get really crazy when they announce Android Nacho? (C’mon, it’s a tasty treat, too!) We all just have to wait and see! In the meantime though, let’s have some fun!

We want to give one of you a Pixel C tablet. Android N is going to bring a super important function to this tablet (hello multi-window support!) so we thought it would be rad to give one out to someone. But we also want to have some fun, so we’re not just doing a “leave a comment below to enter” contest. This time you’re going to work for it.

So, to enter, post a creative picture on Instagram or Twitter with your prediction of what the N will stand for. Make sure you include the hashtag #WhatIsAndroidN so we can find your post, and if your account is private you might want to consider opening it up for the duration of the contest, otherwise we won’t be able to see your picture.

Be creative! (I can guarantee that a picture of a lonely jar of Nutella on your counter isn’t going to win.) You definitely want to try to include your phone or tablet or something else Android related in the shot. Bonus points if you’re in the picture too!

Everyone may enter up to two pictures, so make sure you come up with a great idea and post your best shot. The contest is open worldwide, but please be aware that we are not responsible for fees incurred during shipping, such as customs fees, duties, taxes, and so on. We will be accepting entries through the end of March. After that we’ll scour the internet for your pictures (using #WhatIsAndroidN to find you!) and then our team of judges will pick their favorite to win! Good luck everyone!

Should you upgrade to the Galaxy S7 edge from the Galaxy S6 edge?

Year after year, it’s always the same question: should you upgrade?

Now that it’s out and available, there’s plenty to be excited about with the Galaxy S7 edge. A larger screen and bigger battery are joined by the return of waterproofing and an SD card slot to the Galaxy S line, and those four points alone are making those who have spent a year with the Galaxy S6 edge look longingly at the successor to their current phone.

But for as nice as the Galaxy S7 edge looks, you already have a phone — and while we all would love to be able to upgrade every time the new hotness hits the shelves, these things cost a lot of money. So if you have a Galaxy S6 edge and are considering an upgrade to the latest edge from Samsung, is it worth the cash? We’re here to answer that question.

Hardware and specs

Last year, the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge kicked off an entirely new design language for Samsung. The metal frame accented with two panes of glass — and in the case of the S6 edge, curved glass on front — was a gigantic step forward for the company. Things haven’t really changed in 2016, and the Galaxy S7 edge is basically the same phone externally. The rear glass is now slightly curved to provide a bit better grip, and the camera “hump” on the back is greatly diminished — but despite those changes there isn’t enough here in the hardware to make you lust after the new phone.

Internally, you start to notice a few differences. Being a year newer, you of course expect to have a faster processor and more RAM. You get a Snapdragon 820 processor here in the U.S. or Samsung’s latest Exynos 8 octa-core processor most other places in the world, and both are a step up from last year’s. You also have 4GB of RAM inside instead of 3GB, which doesn’t mean a whole lot now but surely adds a bit of life in terms of futureproofing you for capabilities a year or two down the road. The only potential downside here is storage, where the Galaxy S6 edge actually offered 64 and 128GB internal storage options … the Galaxy S7 edge has 32GB, and that’s it.

The few hardware changes are big ones that make a difference in how you use the phone.

The big differentiators really come down to four main areas: screen size, battery size, waterproofing and an SD card slot. The first two really go hand-in-hand, with the Galaxy S7 edge bumping up its screen size to 5.5-inches from 5.1-inches in the GS6 edge. It keeps the same resolution and fantastic screen quality, but having a little extra real estate is a big feature for a lot of people. That larger screen gave Samsung more room to work with in terms of battery, and the GS7 edge makes a huge jump to 3600 mAh from just 2600 in the GS6 edge. Battery life is easily a full day on the newer model, which is something very few Galaxy S6 edge owners can claim to achieve on a regular basis and may be one of the biggest factors in considering an upgrade.

And on the other two features, it’s pretty simple: the new Galaxy S7 edge can take in an SD card to expand your storage capabilities, and the phone can go for a swim for up to 30 minutes in water and be completely fine at the end. That SD card works for storing media, moving files to/from your computer and for storing some apps, but keep in mind that it doesn’t work as proper “adoptable storage” as other Marshmallow phones offer. As for the waterproofing, it’s a huge bonus — being able to spill a drink on the phone or drop it in the sink accidentally is great. Just don’t expect the Galaxy S7 edge to be able to take the physical damage often associated with such accidents — it’s still very fragile.

Software and performance

The Galaxy S7 edge ships with Android 6.0 Marshmallow, and all of the associated changes from Samsung therein. There are big improvements in the base Marshmallow software, of course, and those who have latched onto using the edge screen software will be in for a treat with more edge panels and customization options. You get a nicer color palette, slicker animations and just a little less legacy cruft to deal with, but in terms of a wholistic experience it isn’t far off from Samsung’s take on Lollipop that shipped on the Galaxy S6 edge.

But this isn’t too big of an argument to have at this point, as Samsung is deep into the rollout of Marshmallow to the last-generation phones at this point. The Galaxy S6 and S6 edge in regions around the world — yes, even via the carriers here in the U.S. — are starting to get Marshmallow updates with the same experience as you get out of the box on the Galaxy S7 edge.

Marshmallow is a nice improvement — but it’s coming to your Galaxy S6 edge already.

Of course if you have one of the Galaxy S6 edge variants that hasn’t been updated to Marshmallow yet, you’ll have a little bit of envy seeing the latest software that’s available on the Galaxy S7 edge. While we all know how difficult that can be, the update is coming to your current phone — and given the number of models that already have it, you’re likely to see it sooner rather than later at this point. Don’t go buying a new phone just to get Marshmallow when the update is on its way to your phone already.

When it comes to daily performance, things are pretty darn close between the two generations. As I touched on above, there are bumps in the processing speed and amount of RAM available in the Galaxy S7 edge, but that doesn’t actually translate at this point into dramatically faster performance in any of your usual tasks. If you set the two phones side-by-side you’ll notice fractionally-faster app opening times on the newer phone, but this isn’t something you’d notice if you just used one or the other.

As I noted earlier, the better processor and increased RAM really only come into play later on down the road, after one or two years using the phone, where apps and software are even more demanding than today — at that point, you may be glad you had the extra horsepower to work with.

Camera quality

This is going to be a big point of contention for people on both sides. Samsung has changed the camera setup in the Galaxy S7 considerably, dropping to 12MP in order to get larger individual pixels; then putting that sensor behind a faster f/1.7 lens. Yes that’s lower resolution than the 16MP you’ll find in the Galaxy S6 edge, and yes the lens is faster than the f/1.9 of last year. It’s a useless argument to talk about which one is “better” in terms of numbers here — it all comes down to the resulting photo quality.

Your Galaxy S6 edge’s camera shouldn’t feel inadequate in any way.

In daylight situations, it’s actually debatable which phone takes better photos. Even set right next to the newer camera, the Galaxy S6 edge still takes beautiful, vibrant and crisp photos. If anything, the Galaxy S7 edge can come up short in some ways with poorly processed dark areas of light photos. In entirely dark scenes, the larger pixels and faster lens in the Galaxy S7 edge do make a difference in offering lots of clarity and low noise, but then again the Galaxy S6 edge is hardly a slouch in those shooting conditions.

To help illustrate the point, here are just a few snapshots to compare. (You’ll notice the 16:9 image is from the Galaxy S6 edge, which I’ve chosen to not crop in in order to show the full native resolution of the sensor.)

Galaxy S7 edge (left) / Galaxy S6 edge (right) — click images to view larger

When viewed at these normal web sizes, and even in full-resolution on your computer, you really can’t tell the difference for the most part. Both take absolutely great photos in a variety of situations, and will blow away anyone that looks at them online, at home on your TV or even printed out at a reasonable size.

If you’ve been using a Galaxy S6 edge and loving the camera, as is the case for most folks who have it, you shouldn’t be dying to get your hands on the Galaxy S7 edge simply for its camera quality. That’s a bit surprising as we always expect things to get notably better with each new phone version, but in this case you can be happy with what you have.

Read: Camera showdown: Galaxy S7 vs. iPhone 6s Plus vs. Nexus 6P vs. Lumia 950

The bottom line

Going through things section by section, it’s actually somewhat surprising how little has changed overall from the Galaxy S6 edge to the brand-new Galaxy S7 edge. Assuming your Galaxy S6 edge has the latest software update it’s running identical software to the GS7 edge, and either way the day-to-day performance is basically the same between the two. The hardware looks and feels almost the same, and packs all of the main features — including the great fingerprint sensor and top-notch screen quality.

That being said, the handful of things that have changed may be the ones to pull Galaxy S6 edge owners into considering a sale of their current phone to pick up the newer version.

The new features will make a difference in your everyday life, but are they worth $300-400?

The biggest is the battery. It’s no secret that the Galaxy S6 edge has horrid battery life, and the Galaxy S7 edge is a full-day phone no matter what way you slice it. Then you add in the other part of the larger phone: the bigger screen. For many people, it’s a bonus to have a bit more room to work with. You also now have an SD card slot, giving you potential for expanding your storage later on after purchase if you wish. And although the hardware externally hasn’t changed much, it’s now entirely waterproof — an increasingly important feature to consider when you drop upwards of $800 on a new phone.

Then there’s the camera — one area of the Galaxy S6 edge that you aren’t likely looking for an upgrade from. The Galaxy S7 edge’s reworked camera will once again be in the running for the best smartphone shooter of the year, but it actually isn’t a wholesale upgrade over what last year’s camera offers. The new camera does appreciably better in low light situations, but in complex daylight situations it may not come out ahead of what the Galaxy S6 edge can do.

So with at most a year of time with your Galaxy S6 edge, should you consider upgrading to the Galaxy S7 edge? It’s basically going to come down to how much you want these few basic features that are likely to play into your everyday life. The larger screen, dramatically bigger battery, SD card slot and waterproofing are all welcomed upgrades, but they alone might not be enough when you’re facing a $300 to $400 differential in price after you sell your phone. If you stay with your current phone, you can know you’re getting a lot of the same experience you’d find in the newer Galaxy S7 — and maybe that’s enough for you to keep your wallet securely in your pocket.

Do you have a Galaxy S6 edge and are considering the upgrade to a Galaxy S7 edge? We want to know what you’re thinking — sound off in the comments!

Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge

• Galaxy S7 review
• Galaxy S7 edge review
• Galaxy S7 edge with Exynos: A Canadian perspective
• Here are all four Galaxy S7 colors
• Details on the Galaxy S7’s camera
• The SD card is back on the GS7
• Join our Galaxy S7 forums

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Order your limited-edition Android History T-Shirt today!!

Android has a long and storied history. It also has Cupcake and Donut and Eclair and Froyo and Gingerbread and … Well, it’s got a long lineage of tasty treats. And now you can not only house those scrumptious morsels on your phone (OK, hopefully something newer than Gingerbread), you also can do so on your belly thanks to this new — and limited-edition — Helvetica Android History T-shirt!

Wow your friends, impress foodies (OK, maybe not so much) and know that the answer to any question about the order of Android updates is only a load of laundry away. Or do the right thing and order two! We’ve got long-sleeves available as well, or you can go the hoodie route should your head need to stay hidden.

Click here to order before they’re gone!!!

Best Galaxy S7 edge cases that you can buy today!

If you want to keep your Galaxy S7 edge protected, check out these great options available now!

So you bought the Galaxy S7 edge but didn’t bother to order a case, but now you really want one? Well, luckily there are already a bunch of different options that are available for the phone. From slim cases to clear ones, wallet cases and super protective, you can find just the right one for you.

Did you get a the regular version and not the edge variant? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered on the best cases for the Galaxy S7 as well. So, let’s take a look at some of the best Galaxy S7 edge cases available right now.

Otterbox Commuter Series

Otterbox has been a trusted branded to keep your phone protected for years, and their Galaxy S7 edge case is no exception. The Commuter series features a two-piece design, with a rubber layer on the inside and a hard plastic outside that work together to prevent damages from drops. You can grab one in a variety of colors for around $35, though not all options are yet available.

See at Amazon

Verus Wallet Case

It’s not always convenient to carry around your phone and wallet, unless you have a wallet built into the case on your phone. The Verus Wallet Case makes a great addition to the Galaxy S7 edge, as it doesn’t add a ton of bulk, but lets you store two cards in it. It fits nice and snug to the phone, and the TPU lip around the edge keeps the screen from getting bumped and scratched too much. You can grab one at Amazon for around $20.

See at Amazon

Spigen Slim Armor

So you want to add a little protection without compromising too much of the overall style of the phone? Spigen’s Slim Armor is a great choice to do just that. It’s made up of a shock-absorbing TPU interior and a polycarbonate exterior to add military-grade protection to your shiny new phone. You can grab one from Amazon in gunmetal, slate, white and purple for around $30.

See at Amazon

Supcase Rugged Holster Case

While Samsung added waterproofing to the Galaxy S7, the phone overall is still a bit delicate with glass all around. If you work in a hands-on environment, like a factory or construction site you may be looking to add a bit more protection to your phone. Supcase’s rugged holster case allows you to add protection and keep some industrial design on the phone. You can grab one from Amazon now for less than $20.

See at Amazon

Poetic Affinity

Samsung is offering some great color choices on the Galaxy S7 edge, and if you want to show them off the Poetic Affinity series may be for you. It features a clear design, with the ability to pick an accent color that may work well with the phone itself. The case is nice and thin, it doesn’t add a ton of bulk but can still protect against scratches, dings and even some drops. You can grab one of the various colors from Amazon for around $15.

See at Amazon

Bomea Leather Carrying Pouch

The thing with adding cases to your phones is that it can make them harder to get in and out of your pockets, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider one. Bomea’s leather carrying pouch makes a great addition to any cased phone, as it allows you to hold it on your hip for easy access. This carrying pouch is held to your belt with its belt loops, and fits phones with cases inside of it. There is also a money holder, and a place to safely store credit cards and ID. You can grab one at Amazon for less than $10.

See at Amazon

What’s your favorite?

This is just a small list of the cases currently available. The best part about having such an amazing community is that we can count on you to share your experiences with us as well. Be sure to let us know which case will be protecting your Galaxy S7 edge, and why that is the one for you!

Discuss your favorite Galaxy S7 edge cases in the forums

Fossil introduces two new Android Wear watches, various fitness trackers

Fossil has announced seven new fitness trackers and smartwatches that are designed with fashion in mind. The company has already released the Q Founder, its first Android Wear-powered smartwatch, and now it is back with the Q Marshal and Q Wander. These are designed to look more like a traditional timepiece instead of what we have seen other smartwatches look like. Both smartwatches will be priced starting at $275 and will come in two sizes, 44mm and 46mm.

As for the fitness trackers, Fossil has gone with a cylindrical-shaped tracker that comes in a variety of colors with different color bands. The trackers don’t have rechargeable batteries, and instead will require you to swap its coin cell battery every six months. Pricing for these new trackers starts at $95.

Fossil’s chief creative officer told Mashable:

“All our changes to date have been direct responses to customer feedback. We’ve learned so much from our initial launch in connected accessories and know technology is a major disruptor in many industries right now, including fashion. But to successfully merge the two, we believe you need to have the fashion design expertise and focus on it first.”

At this time, Fossil has not yet announced when these new watches and trackers will be made available for purchase.

I finally found a reason to use Android Wear

Android Wear lets me be distracted and pay attention all at the same time.

We recently had a company-wide summit outside of Atlanta, GA. You’ve probably seen pictures on social media of the fun stuff — imagine a boat filled with tech bloggers, an open bar and an Xbox — but a good portion of our days were spent in meetings trying to figure stuff out. Many of us have been to similar company retreats.

Of course, we couldn’t just drop everything else going on. Android stuff doesn’t stop happening just because people are busy doing other things. The skeleton crew at home did a wonderful job, and were lifesavers for the most part. But if you’re a slave to your inbox like I am, you know that you can never really get away.

Normally, I sit at a desk all day long and let the email flow and ding and flash tabs and otherwise let me know that a beast needs fed. When I’m not working, I just don’t care and never check anything (something everyone needs to try). But that wasn’t going to happen while AC was in Atlantis, and we actually had to pay attention to what was happening in front of us during the workday or run the risk of being left behind.

Enter my Huawei Watch and Android Wear.

About 15 minutes into our first presentation, I realized how easy it is to triage email from my wrist. Kevin Michaluk, Mobile Nations’ commander-in-chief, master of all things BlackBerry and quite the master of the whiteboard, was telling us about a bunch of mostly exciting new things and if I’m there with my face in a laptop or even a phone, I’m going to miss a good bit of it. And be that guy in the front row who wasn’t paying attention — never a good position to put yourself in during any company meeting where all the people who decide if you get a paycheck are in attendance. But I could take a look at my wrist when it buzzed at me, and swipe away what’s not important or pull out my phone for what was. It worked.

I’m still not all-in with wrist computing, and will never understand some people’s passion for that tiny screen (don’t even come at me with a keyboard or web browser unless you want to see how hard I can laugh), but my Huawei Watch actually helped and made things better for a few days in Atlanta. I’ll be sure to wear it the next time I need to be distracted by email while still paying attention.

Best compact cameras 2016: The best pocket cameras available to buy today

If you’re looking for the best compact cameras of 2016 then you’ve come to the right place. We will guide you through the hottest cameras to save you time when it comes to buying one from your local shop or online.

Compact cameras are plentiful. With new releases and updates flooding the market every few months it’s as much an assurance to know that the most up-to-date tech is out there as it is a hindrance to decide which one to pick. 

Run this question through your head: “Which compact camera is best for me?”. There are lots of ways to think through it – what do you want to use the camera for? Perhaps you want a versatile, all-rounder for a holiday or travel jaunt, a camera with a bonkers-long zoom for some extra curricular activities or spotting those lions and elephants on safari, a compact with a viewfinder built in, or that pro-spec DSLR alternative. There’s something out there for everyone. 

Here at Pocket-lint we’ve been cutting through the abundance of compact camera releases over recent years, including the creme de la creme of last year’s models which remain strong. We’ve broken our list of great cameras down into sub-headed categories to make things easier to digest. You name it, we’ve got you covered.

We’ll be regularly updating this feature with the latest and greatest compact cameras that we review in full – and only those we’ve seen and judged – so you can see where your money is best spent.

Best do-it-all compact camera

Pocket-lint

Panasonic Lumix TZ80

Panasonic’s TZ-series has long been a favourite and the Lumix TZ80 is its top-end do-it-all compact. It even has a built-in electronic viewfinder to the rear, which is helpful to see an image direct to the eye when sunlight makes the rear screen tough to see.

The TZ80’s premier feature is its 30x optical zoom lens, which encompasses wide-angle (24mm equivalent) for those group shots or can zoom right in (to a 720mm equivalent) to make far-away subjects appear large in the frame.

Add decent autofocus, excellent image stabilisation and a whole roster of other top features that show the TZ80’s aspirations to be a one-stop shop for all things. It’s higher-resolution than the earlier TZ70, however, so how that will affect image quality overall is up for debate.

What we’re particularly fond of in the TZ80 is that, finally, there’s a touchscreen for added ease of operation. Whoop.

PRICE: £359

PREVIEW: Panasonic Lumix TZ80 preview

Pocket power

When it comes to something small and pocketable, but where image quality needs to be a step above the conventional compact, there are various series on offer.

These tend to have shorter zoom lenses in order to retain best sharpness and clarity throughout the range while offering more advanced optical features such as wider maximum apertures for low-light shooting or creating that pro-looking, soft-focus background effect. 

Canon PowerShot G7 X / G7 X II

It had taken Canon a while to create compact camera with a 1-inch sensor size, the focus being on high-quality images – and now there are a bunch, from G9 X through to G1 X.

Although the G7 X – or more recent Mark II model, with its additions of enhanced tilt-angle screen and dual function lens control ring – doesn’t opt for the smaller scale of the Sony RX100 line – the fourth-generation model of which is further down the page – and there’s no viewfinder, there’s still a lot to enjoy about Canon’s take on the 1-inch market. Plus the price is within reach rather than super-high like Sony’s advanced offerings.

The G7 X is still one of our favourite PowerShot cameras to date: that large sensor is matched with a tilt-angle screen which is both touch-sensitive and selfie-capable, alongside a 24-100mm f/1.8-2.8 equivalent lens. That aperture is critical to this camera’s selection too, as the touchscreen-focused G9 X might sound more tempting, but its price is similar and its slower lens means it’s not a particularly sensible option.

The Canon G7 X is that sweet spot in the Canon series; one that takes good quality images and comes bundled into a pocketable, well-built body with customisable controls. Even if there is no viewfinder, the G7 X is one of the more notable G-series Canon cameras.

PRICE: around £370

FULL REVIEW: Canon PowerShot G7 X review

Best superzooms

When normal compacts just aren’t enough and you want to zoom in on those far-away subjects to make them appear large in the frame, a superzoom – sometimes called bridge camera – is just the ticket. Safari, bird spotting and so forth are well matched to a superzoom camera.

These models may not necessarily replace a DSLR camera in terms of ability and final image quality, but by employing small sensor sizes their respective lenses are also relatively compact and far more affordable compared to a pro-spec camera. Modern superzooms combine significant zoom lenses in reasonable body sizes with an abundance of tech that makes them very attractive prospects.

Pocket-lint

Panasonic Lumix FZ330

Typically as a zoom lens extends the amount of light it lets in dips, which potentially means image quality can suffer in low-light conditions. Not so with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 – its wide-angle 24mm lens extends all the way through to a 600mm equivalent, all the while maintaining a maximum f/2.8 aperture. And that’s been managed without significant impact to the model’s relatively trim scale. This f/2.8 aperture means more light can enter the camera which is ideal for faster exposures to capture action or to avoid using those less desirable higher ISO sensitivities.

As the replacement for 2012’s FZ200, the FZ330 adds a touchscreen and ups the ante in the viewfinder resolution stakes too. It’s still dependent on a 1/2.3in sensor size, however, so don’t expect complete and utter miracles in the image quality department – for that you’ll want a larger yet sensor, as found in something like the FZ1000 or Sony RX10 II (both featured below).

Unless a yet longer zoom is an essential to your needs then the FZ330 is our small-sensor top superzoom pick.

PRICE: around £449

PREVIEW: Panasonic Lumix FZ330 preview

Panasonic Lumix FZ1000

Stepping things up a gear is the “premium superzoom” category, headed by the Panasonic Lumix FZ1000. It takes a 25-400mm f/2.8-4.0 lens and wraps it around a large 1-inch sensor for premium image quality. Many of the features are just as well as impressive as the top-spec Panasonic G-series interchangeable lens cameras, as is performance.

Although the Lumix FZ1000’s physical size and price tag will be a barrier for more casual users, those it will appeal to will find lots of value for money in its jumbo feature set. From 4K video, to silent operation, fast 12fps burst mode, through to the vari-angle LCD and built-in electronic viewfinder combination, decent autofocus and stacks of physical controls. There’s a lot on offer here.

Thing is, it’s a lot of money to fork out and calling it a “compact” camera is a stretch. But if you don’t want to be buying a system camera and want an all-in-one solution (which, admittedly, is a chunky beast) then this could be a viable solution. The longer lens and more accessible price point see it sit a step ahead of the Sony Cyber-shot RX10 II or Canon PowerShot G3 X.

PRICE: around £589

FULL REVIEW: Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 review

Pocket-lint

Panasonic Lumix TZ100

Now here’s an odd one out, as you can probably tell from looking at the TZ100’s small scale. Superzoom, you say? Well it kind of is, kind of isn’t. This pocketable camera combines a large 1-inch sensor, similar to that of the FZ1000 (above), but condenses the lens to a 10x optical zoom with a more limited aperture range.

Now while that combination doesn’t mean it’s a stand-out camera for shooting everything under the sun, if you’re after top quality and a decent zoom range then there’s not really anything else on the market just yet that can match – not at this pocketable scale, anyway. The exception, perhaps, is the Nikon DL24-500 f/2.8-5.6 (which we’re yet to see or test).

The TZ100 otherwise exists within its own world, leaving it almost untouched by any potential current competition. We love that it’s more pocketable than Canon’s closest equivalent, the G5 X, and having reviewed this Lumix feel the larger-sensor evolution makes more sense than the ever-extending maximum zoom options elsewhere in the TZ series. Just have ample expectations of what the lens can achieve due to its aperture limitations.

PRICE: around £529

PREVIEW: Panasonic Lumix TZ100 review

Best advanced / enthusiast compact camera

Here’s where compacts step up a gear. Whether it’s all the bells and whistles in the form of hands-on controls, a built-in viewfinder or a large sensor for optimum quality, there are all kinds of advanced compacts to suit different tastes. But these bigger wedges of camera are not only larger, they tend to demand a more considerable asking price too.

Sony Cyber-shot RX100 IV

The Sony RX100 series has gone from strength to strength and in its fourth-generation format it’s a camera that, at this size, pretty much has it all.

It’s small scale enough to be pocketable, yet has a premium build, a pop-out built-in electronic viewfinder and stacks of features – not to mention great image quality and 4K movie capture from its 1-inch sensor.

You might think we’re mad for not including the more affordable original RX100 model, but the original doesn’t have a zoom lens quite as advanced. In the case of the Mark VI it’s all about the tilt-angle LCD screen, lens ring control and the newer, faster 24-70mm f/1.8-2.8 equivalent lens. It’s a tour de force.

If pocketable is priority then this is hands-down the best option out there. But it’s far from cheap.

PRICE: around £759

FULL REVIEW: Sony Cyber-shot RX100 IV review

Panasonic Lumix LX100

The Panasonic LX100 is like the company’s (now aged) LX7 on steroids. It’s the first compact camera to feature a large Micro Four Thirds sensor – the same size you will find in top-of-the-line interchangeable lens models – for exceptional image quality. That’s a bigger sensor than the RX100 IV (above), delivering equal or better quality overall.

There’s heaps on offer too, with physical retro dials giving that chunky metal body plenty of personality. There’s an autofocus system that will see off a whole range of compact camera competitors, a fast 24-75mm f/1.7-2.8 equivalent lens and brilliant electronic viewfinder. But no tilt-angle screen or touch-based sensitivity is a bit of a downer, as is an aperture priority slow shutter speed glitch.

The LX100 might be in for a hard ride if you’re after something pocketable though. It’s not “big big”, but doesn’t achieve a pocketable scale like the Sony RX100 IV. Saying that this is Panasonic laying the foundations of a great product, and one that we think is successful enough to cut the Canon G5 X line out of the picture. 

A few physical nips and tucks here and there, plus a couple of layout and features tweaks would see the LX100 be the perfect compact companion. But even as it stands, if the physical size doesn’t perturb you then it’s a camera with few peers. High-end compact cameras really don’t come much better – plus it’s way cheaper than the Sony RX100 IV.

PRICE: around £519

FULL REVIEW: Panasonic Lumix LX100 review

Best fixed-lens compact cameras

When money is no barrier and quality is everything, there’s a camera for that. DSLR sensor sizes in compact bodies and, typically, a fixed lens (no zoom) that’s matched up to its respective sensor for best possible image quality. Here’s where the compact goes pro – and these special specimens don’t just match DSLR quality, they often better it.

Fujifilm X100T

Fujifilm has stormed the high-end compact market with the X-range, and the X100T keeps the bar high for the series.

The X100T isn’t going to be suitable for a huge audience as there’s no zoom and its retro aesthetic is a specialist thing in itself – but that, in some regard, is all part of what makes this high-end compact so appealing.

It’s not the model to pick if you’re into close-up macro shooting by any means, as wide apertures render soft images in such situations, but what really sells the X100T is the unique-to-Fuji hybrid optical and electronic viewfinder. And now that comes with a fantastic “electronic rangefinder” option for even more accurate manual focus.

That may all sound bonkers, but it’s not: think of a wider-than-100-per-cent optical viewfinder with all the bells and whistles of an electronic overlay and that’s what the X100T delivers. You can see beyond the frame’s edges to help capture the shot at that decisive moment.

Image quality from the fixed 23mm f/2.0 lens – that’s a 35mm equivalent when paired with the APS-C sensor – is so crisp from f/4.0 and below, in part thanks to Fujifilm’s own special colour array design and the fact there’s no low-pass filter to bypass light diffusion for heightened sharpness. It’s perfect for those candid street photography snaps.

PRICE: around £799

FULL REVIEW: Fujifilm X100T review

Pocket-lint

Fujifilm X70

As much as we’ve got a lot of love for the X100T, the smaller-scale Fujifilm X70 actually pips it in terms of preference for us. This 28mm (equivalent) fixed lens compact is like a more pocketable, wider-angle, slightly more consumer focused aid to the X100T.

First up, that complex (yet wonderful) viewfinder of the X100T isn’t to be found in the X70. There’s actually no viewfinder at all; instead it’s all about touchscreen controls and the screen can even flip around by 180-degrees if you’re selfie crazy. Not that we think that’ll be the most used feature of this camera.

What’s worth shouting about is the lens and sensor combination though: the 28mm equivalent with f/2.8 maximum aperture means it’ll be the wider-angle view many X100T owners have been looking for. Plus, with a 16.3-megapixel resolution, there’s still scope for 35mm and 50mm equivalents via an in-camera crop mode (without being driven into too low a resolution), which also show as 100 per cent scale in real-time on the rear screen.

Although we’d like a more detailed and faster autofocus system, and are in two minds about the lack of viewfinder, the X70 is otherwise a champion addition to the X-series. It’s really all about the image quality, which is why we suspect X100T fans and, to some degree, newcomers will be rushing out to buy this wide-angle wonder.

A fixed-lens compact is never going to be for the masses, though, but as there are so few quality wide-angle solutions out there the Fujifilm X70’s 28mm equivalent is a sure-fire route to success for a discerning audience. If you’re looking for something more flexible then the Panasonic LX100 (further up the page) is probably the route to go down, not that both models are distinctly comparable.

PRICE: around £549

PREVIEW: Fujifilm X70 review

Best full-frame compact camera

Pocket-lint

Leica Q

Originally it was the Sony RX1 which held this spot, as the original fixed-lens full-frame compact camera. Ok, so the Leica Q isn’t particularly “compact” and its £2,900 price tag certainly isn’t small, but its 28mm f/1.7 lens is so out-of-this-world that it has to take the crown.

It’s not a compact for everyone, of course, with that price tag indicating so. But its huge full-frame sensor, which is the same size as found in pro-spec DSLR cameras, is paired with a lens so sharp that its results are absolutely pro. Nope, there’s no zoom, but in-camera 35/50mm crop modes go some way to help.

There’s a built-in electronic viewfinder (a 3.86m-dot LCOS one, no less) which is wonderfully high resolution, but it ought to activate a little quicker for street work. Add surprisingly speedy autofocus, touchscreen control and a burly build – this is every bit the Leica for a new generation.

Sure, it’s not a mass market product, as is the case with any fixed-lens camera. But whether you’re a staunch Leica fan, or simply a photography fan, the Q is that rare Leica that will transcend users old and new. A rare yet wonderful thing indeed – and the winner of Best Camera in the 2015 Pocket-lint Awards

PRICE: around £2,900

FULL REVIEW: Leica Q review

US Army turns to phone app to prevent base attacks

Neighborhood watch apps aren’t just for civilian streets. The US Army has forged a deal with CloseWatch to use a mobile crime reporting app, iWatch Army, to prevent mass shootings and other crimes at over 20 domestic bases. The software forwards tips (based on the FBI’s own crime codes) to the appropriate unit in less than 8 seconds, or faster than a 911 call. It also has its own notifications, so you can get an alert if there’s a credible threat. While iWatch Army isn’t meant to replace emergency services, it could be crucial to catching terrorists before they’re ready to strike.

The initial launch is modest given the size of the armed forces, but CloseWatch tells Reuters that further Army bases and the Air Force are already asking about using the app themselves. The ultimate goal is to make iWatch the go-to crime prevention tool for the US military and its allies. That’s a tall order, but it may be realistic in an era when many soldiers are more comfortable with sending text messages than making phone calls.

Via: Reuters

Source: CloseWatch (BusinessWire), iWatch Army

Fit up, look smart: MyZone adds apparel and new app

MyZone was one of the few companies at the Wearable Technology Show 2016 that actually announced something new. Following the launch of a women’s sports bra integrating MyZone’s effort-rewarding tech at CES 2016, it has used the London wearable show to introduce a men’s compression top.

Like the sports bra, the top features embedded heart electrodes that connect to a clip-on MyZone MZ-3 module, which measures the user’s heart rate and calories burned. This data is then transferred to the MyZone app via Bluetooth, enabling the user to analyse the information on a compatible device, whether that be a smartphone, smartwatch, tablet, or GPS sports watch.

The men’s compression top will be available in red to begin with, followed by a range of colours and it will come in small, medium and large size offerings. It is manufactured from quick-drying, sweat-proof fabric and like other compression gear, it is designed to support muscles.

Alongside the new compression top, MyZone also announced a redesign of its app at the show. The new app is much cleaner and easier to understand than the current offering, delivering a more intuitive interface.

Pocket-lint

New features include automatic connectivity to the MZ-3 module when training begins and a home button to allow users to access their newsfeed, social connections, workout data and challenges from the main screen. The ability to stream music whilst working out, post pictures Instagram-style and chat privately with other MyZone users without coming out of the MyZone app has also been integrated.

Additionally, the app will offer one-tap access to a user’s MEP status, which refers to MyZone effort points, and details on how close they are to reaching their monthly goal.

MyZone has been around for a while, originating in premium gyms. It rewards effort no matter what level of fitness someone has or how they train, creating bespoke and responsive targets for each individual. A personal handicap is created based on a users maximum heart rate and MyZone’s game-based platform allows users to compete in cloud-based challenges as well as offer a social side. 

The MyZone app is free and the new iOS version will be available around the end of March 2016, while the Android version will launch around the beginning of April. The MyZone compression t-shirt costs £79.99 and is available now.

READ Our first experience with MyZone