PSA: You can now pay for Play Store purchases using your fingerprint
If your lucky enough to own a smartphone that’s running Marshmallow and has a fingerprint sensor on board, we have some pretty great news for you. Starting today, you can pay for your Play Store purchases by simply placing your configured finger on the device’s biometric scanner.
Seeing as the functionality is only available on a handful of devices at present, it’s not enabled by default — so you will have to activate it manually. Doing so couldn’t be any easier, though. All you have to do is head into the Play Store’s settings menu, tap User Controls then check the box for Fingerprint Authentication.
Via: Android Police
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EU’s antitrust chief says analyzing Google’s practices is a “high priority”
Europe’s Competition Commissioner, Margrethe Vestager, is aiming to launch a renewed probe into Google’s Android, shopping, advertising and more. The antitrust chief, who took the job over a year ago, told the Wall Street Journal that launching an investigation on Google’s practices is being highly prioritized. This suggests European regulators could potentially launch a series of inspections in the near future, though it should be noted that no official action has been taken as of yet.
In the interview, Vestager explained:
The Google case is about misuse of a dominant position, to promote yourself in a neighboring market not on your merits but because you can. And no matter the course of the case, there should be a takeaway which can be understood.
While this may seem like a blanketed strike against Google as a whole, Vestager notes that each of these cases are being treated as a separate investigation.
“…things are very different,” said Vestager, “what they have in common is that the name Google appears in each one, but apart from that they are very different. And therefore I do not think of it as one Google case but literally as different investigations and different cases.”
Related: FTC may launch antitrust case against Google over Android
Vestager announced an in-depth investigation into Android back in April, which was based on the claim that Google was abusing Android to unfairly gain marketshare for its services and software. At the same time, she issued a Statement of Objections regarding Google’s shopping service.
Commenting on the Android-specific investigation, Vestager explained the importance of focusing on the OS itself:
…it is a different creature than the Google [shopping] case because people don’t think so much about the operating system on their phone. But those who produce phones or sell phones or develop applications, they are very preoccupied with the operating system. So we give that a high priority.
We’ll be sure to update this post as we learn more about the EU chief’s plans.
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 review: A change for the best?
Samsung completely revamped its entire Galaxy smartphone line this year, focusing on premium build materials. Their sales numbers have been dropping off in the recent past with their Galaxy line, especially in countries like China where Apple and Huawei are seeing tremendous growth. Overall Samsung still sells more smartphones than any other manufacturer by a wide margin. The days of Samsung dominating the smartphone market appear to be in threat as others steal market share.
To slow the declining sales numbers, Samsung shook up management in hopes that changes would start from the top and work its way down. The new management team had a clear vision of what it wanted: it took the utilitarian, do everything devices, and turned them into a superficial devices that looked great for the masses while eliminating features it deemed useless like the removable battery and microSd card slot. Ironically they still kept features most of us find useless like duplicate apps which I will delve into in the software section.
The Samsung Galaxy Note line has been my favorite over the past few years and by no small margin.The Note line typically offers the best specs and hardware of any calendar year and can handle all tasks I throw its way.
When I was given the opportunity to review the Samsung Galaxy Note 5, I was more than happy to do it. Samsung is hoping a new design and construction of one of its best selling smartphones will help turn the sales tide back in their direction. Lets check it out.
Overall Design
Without question, the new Galaxy Note 5 put aesthetics ahead of all other features. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as it really is one of the best looking phones of 2015, if not the best. Off the top of my head, I cannot think of one other device that looks as good as the Note 5. The device is framed in metal and is covered with Gorilla Glass 4 on the front and back, giving it a super clean look. The Note 5 I have comes in a deep midnight blue, which Samsung calls Black Sapphire, and is absolutely stunning. It’s a nice change from simple black or silver that we have been seeing since the arrival of smartphones.
Being glass on both sides makes the Note 5 feel incredibly fragile. Almost all of us have seen the consequence of drops as a shattered screen, either through our own devices or someone we know. I’m not someone who really likes to use cases as I feel it: 1. ruins the look of the phone 2. adds unnecessary bulk 3. adds more cost. I don’t see a point in buying a phone for its looks only to cover it up later. With that being said, I am playing Russian Roulette by not using a case on the Note 5, and because of that I am always holding it a little tighter than previous phones. Having a shattered screen AND a shattered back panel would end the desire for a great looking phone rather quickly.
Another downside to having a glass back panel, is the Note 5 is a fingerprint magnet. It looks greasy immediately and every time I would show the phone off to someone, I would have to wipe it down first so it didn’t look so dirty. This was an annoying side effect from having glossy plastic phones, but having glass just brings that problem back again.
Another sacrifice, at the expense of design, is the lack of a microSD card slot. Samsung, once a pioneer in keeping expandable memory alive, is now forsaking it for aesthetics. Like the Apple iPhone, memory upgrades come in $100 increments, but at least the Note 5 comes in a base 32GB model in the US. This is a deal breaker for some, and I don’t understand why Samsung did away with it other than to assume it was to drive up revenue through memory upgrades. There are other metal phones like the HTC One M9 that provide memory card slots.
Overall, you can’t argue the Note 5 looks incredible. But there’s a cost to looking so good in that it attracts fingerprints and now runs the risk of having a shattered screen as well as back cover.
Processor – Exynos 7420
Samsung decided to forego Qualcomm this year and thankfully so. Qualcomm, for the first time in years, ran into overheating and throttling issues with the Snapdragon 810 which would have held the Note 5 back from performing its best. Instead they came out with their own octa-core Exynos 7420 which they used in their Galaxy S line and it proved to be ultra speedy. Almost everything performed quickly with the occasional hiccup which could be attributed to software. Overall this is one area the Note 5 shines in and the internal hardware should perform for years to come.
No other phone matches the hardware performance of the Note 5 in benchmark tests.
Display
The Note 5 comes with a nearly identical 2k, 5.7″ Super AMOLED display found on the Note 4 and it is simply the best display you can get your hands on today. According to some expert reviewers, the colors aren’t perfect but I think they look stunning. The contrast ratio is unmatched by LED displays, and in full sunlight you can still read the Note 5’s display, even with sunglasses on.
The area where I enjoy the screen the most is when I review the photos . The level of detail and color is unmatched by any other phone and makes looking at photos a fun experience.
Text and movies are equally stunning on this 5.7″ inch display and since the Note 3, I really have given up on tablets as a source for media consumption as the screen size is perfect for me. I tried using the Nexus 6 this year, and had fears the larger screen would make it hard to go back to a smaller screen. Instead I found that the 6″ inch display was just a little too big for me to handle and verified my love of the 5.7″ display size.
S-Pen
The S-Pen, also known as a stylus, is the most distinctive feature about the Samsung Galaxy Note 5. It is where the Note derived its name for it is a tool designed for taking notes. No other device does the stylus as good as the Note and Apple saw the success of the stylus and came out with its own “Pencil”. A new design feature in the Note 5 is a spring loaded stylus which pops out at the push of a button. This does help contribute to a much cleaner look, but one big issue is if you put the stylus in upside down it will break off inside of the device causing a set of issues. So don’t put it in upside down.
The S-Pen is perfect for jotting down notes, phone numbers, drawing, or even navigating the display as it is pin-point accurate. It isn’t a feature everyone uses on a regular basis, but for those of us who do, like me, we absolutely love it. As a medicinal chemist, there aren’t many tools outside of paper notebooks that are easy to draw chemical structures in, but this note handles my needs perfectly. I can jot down chemical structures and keep them all stored on my phone without having to go through old notebooks. I love it, but for many it might not be useful as typing on a keyboard is quicker than pulling out the stylus.
An added feature to this year’s Note is the ability to takes notes on the screen when the phone is off. Yeah, that’s right when you pull the stylus out of the phone, you can write on the unlit display in white lettering and it will auto-save to your device when you hit the power button. This makes for super quick note taking and is a very advanced feature no other phone has.
Whether you love doodling, taking notes, editing pictures or using the stylus as a navigation tool, the S-Pen is unique and sets the Note line apart from all other phones.
Battery Life
The Galaxy Note 5 comes with a 3000mAh battery, which is smaller than last years Note 4, but it also comes with Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 2.0 and built-in wireless charging. The trade-off was the removable battery which every other Note had and for some that is a deal breaker. I would dare to guess that most people never need to change their batteries for an instant refill, but for many Note enthusiasts this is something that broke our heart.
The Note is designed to be a powerhouse, not just a typical texting and web browsing machine. Note users adore the line because of the versatility it offers and probably use their phones more than the average user. This means they need a versatile and long lasting battery as the last thing they need is to be sitting next to a wall waiting for their phones to be charged. Nothing beats swapping in a fresh battery to bring the charge up to 100% within one minute. Not even Quick Charge 2.0 can beat that.
With that being said, the Note 5 does have excellent battery life and I found myself being able to make it through a full day with moderate to heavy usage. Over two solid months with the Note 5 as my daily driver, I did not see a decline in the quality of the internal battery, but there were many days when I was traveling where I had to pull out an external battery to keep my phone charged. Again, this feature isn’t necessary for everyone, but for me it was a heart breaker knowing I once had a feature that could get me to 100% power in one minute.
The addition of wireless charging was something I actually came to enjoy. Not having to plug in my phone when I went to sleep, or sat at my lab bench was really nice. Wireless chargers these days are really efficient and the Note 5 even charges faster than the last generation wireless chargers with a compatible device.
Having fast wireless charging and Quick Charge 2.0 are two features most people will love. I love them too, but I just wish Samsung kept the removable battery option which will be a deal breaker for some die-hard enthusiasts.
Camera
The camera in the Note 5 is really one of the best cameras you can get in a smartphone. Samsung knows everyone is taking more and more pictures documenting our food, pets, children, sunsets and everything else you can think of. The camera on the Note 5 really shines and is not only fast, but it is super clear and performs well on every level. It does well with action shots, still shots, close-ups, selfies, panoramic scenes, and night shots.
The specs of the camera are nothing short of impressive: 16MP, optical image stabilization, LED flash, 1/2.6′ sensor, HDR, with a 5MP wide front shooter. Check out some of my samples below to gauge for yourself. You will be hard pressed to find a better camera than what comes with the Note 5.
Software
I have the AT&T model of the Note 5 which runs Android Lollipop 5.1.1. This is a very stable version of Android which is skinned with Samsung’s own Touchwiz. Touchwiz brings a lot of useful features like Multi-Window or S-Pen, but it also brings a ton of useless features. Installed on the Note 5 are duplicate apps of what Android already provides. Samsung forces duplicate apps onto its devices like Samsung Pay(Android Pay), S-Voice(Ok Google), Gallery(Google Photos), Galaxy App Store(Google Play Store), email, phone dialer and texting. This can be confusing for some and I have yet to find someone who actually prefers the duplicate Samsung apps over Google’s apps.
In addition to duplicate apps, Samsung also lets AT&T provide a whole host of its own apps which can only be deactivated wasting more than 1GB of precious memory. As a consumer, I don’t think it is right that we pay for an expected amount of advertised memory(32GB), only to have it wasted with apps we do not want and cannot delete. It’s this behavior from Samsung that is really causing the downfall of sales as customers don’t want to be confused with duplicate apps or apps they don’t want. If Samsung really wants to take a lesson, they need to take a hard look at iOS and see how they limit bloat on its devices.
I’ve used stock Android on the Nexus 6 and it is normally very fast. With Samsung’s Touchwiz over-layed onto Android, I’ve seen more hiccups than I would like with a processor that beats all others in benchmark tests. The software itself is still fast by any measure, but there are times when apps lag and close on their own which I attribute to Touchwiz.
The other thing to be aware of, with Samsung, is terrible timing with updates. Other manufacturers have committed to updating their phones to the latest Android version within reasonable amounts of time, but Samsung works on its own schedule and should be a major concern to anyone who uses their phones more than six months.
Many reviewers like myself use phones for maybe three months until they get a new one. Reviews on software will usually be positive as the device they are reviewing usually comes with the software that is most up-to date. I decided to not upgrade my Samsung Galaxy Note Edge for one year, to really try to understand why so many users complain about slow updates, and boy oh boy, did I feel their pain. My Note Edge ran for six months on the buggy Android 5.0 and I could barely make it to 5pm on a single charge. My phone constantly lagged due to memory leaks and overheated on a regular basis. When I asked AT&T and Samsung when I would get an update to fix these bugs, the answer was indefinite. Samsung has yet to commit to Android 6.0 on my Note Edge which is just one year old and still costs $950 new.
So if you’re a typical user, be aware that Samsung may or may not update your version of Android and that will leave you stuck with security vulnerabilities and bugs that are addressed in the latest updates.
With that said, the Note 5 software is quick and does have nice features like themes and Multi-Window which is something yet to be found on stock Android devices. I still would prefer much less bloat and a simpler user experience.
Summary
I really think highly of the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 in more areas than not. I admire its beauty and think it has incredible hardware specs that set the bar for other manufacturers. Its camera, S-Pen and display are second to none. But Touchwiz and Samsung’s poor record of updating software make me hesitate in recommending this phone to the average consumer. Yet, most will probably prefer the new design over having a removable battery and expandable memory.
For die-hard Note fans, I can see most of them sticking with their Note 4 in hopes Samsung will get back to its utilitarian ways and put aesthetics second to function and software updates. I’ve seen more first-time users now though as they simply love the design of the Note 5 and that scares me. It might validate that Samsung was right with putting looks first and they may never get back to what made the original Note series great – complete versatility.
Regardless, if you understand the risks in software updates, and do not care about expandable memory or a replaceable battery the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is a worthy option.
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Nexus 6P review
Buy the Nexus 6P from the Google Store
The Nexus line represents what Google views as the essential Android experience. But as good as they were, there have always been a few reasons why Nexus devices fell short of being considered the complete package. Be it a disappointing camera or lack of hardware features, each new Nexus, while highly anticipated and respected, would generally be just behind the flagships of any given year.
With the Nexus 6P, Google is hoping to continue what it started last year with the Nexus 6, by bringing to consumers a truly compelling high-end smartphone made to compete with current generation flagships. With a new partnership with Huawei in place, does Google manage to finally put all the pieces together? We find out, in this comprehensive Nexus 6P review!
Design
Design takes on a whole new outlook in the Nexus 6P. Huawei is at the helm of creating what might feel like the most premium Nexus device yet, with the device featuring a full metal unibody design with flat sides, which helps with the handling of this large smartphone.
The buttons are all on the right side, and offer a solid tactile feedback when pressed, while the power button is textured, making it very easy to find. The headphone jack is up top, and at the bottom is the USB Type-C port. This port marks the start of a new ecosystem for everyone to get used to, but it is admittedly going to take some time for that to happen. The new cord is Type-C on both sides and fully reversible, and, as useful as that is, you will need to remember to take the cable with you when you’re away from home, as Type-C charging cables are still a rarity.
The 5.7-inch display dominates the front, and above and below it is the dual-front facing speaker setup, which is always a welcome addition. Turning over to the back brings us to the new hardware offerings, but also a couple of unique design aspects as well. As seen with the last few Nexus smartphones, the Nexus logo is oriented vertically. This time, the logo is painted right onto the metal back, instead of being an insert made of a plastic that can peel off in time.
Above the logo is the new fingerprint scanner, lined by a shiny circle, and finally, there is the black bar up top, that houses the camera package, including the laser auto focus system and the flash. This bar might not have looked that great in the early product renders, but it does actually fit quite well as a new defining aesthetic for the premium Nexus phone. It does protrude however, albeit not by much.
Metal plays a big role in how the the Nexus 6P looks and feels, but the inclusion of the last two features on the back are what really make this device stand out, with the Nexus logo, the fingerprint reader, and the black bar making for a very recognizable smartphone.
Another plus is that the handling experience is fantastic. The flat sides are easy to grip, the metal feels nice and cool in the hand, and the heft makes this phone exude feelings of high build quality.
Though past Nexus smartphones have taken design cues from the manufacturer’s own offerings, Huawei benefits from a lesser known identity in the West, while of course, also designing a uniquely exquisite smartphone. Simply put, the Nexus 6P certainly lives up to the “premium” moniker.
Display
The Nexus 6P comes with a 5.7-inch AMOLED display with a 2560 x 1440 resolution, resulting in a pixel density of 518 ppi. Quad HD has become the mark of a high-end smartphone over the past year or so, and with the AMOLED construction bringing the higher color saturation levels, this display offers a very enjoyable viewing experience. Colors pop on this display, benefiting from the deep blacks that allow for a higher level of contrast. Sharpness is also impressive, as is the case with any Quad HD screen, and the display also gets plenty bright.
The only real problem we had with the display was when it came to using Ambient Display, which is meant to show a power saving overview of the notifications, but doesn’t trigger very easily. In fact, other than actually picking up the device, there is no other way of activating this otherwise nice feature, and some form of gesture controls would have certainly been useful here.
Performance
Under the hood, the Nexus 6P comes with an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, clocked at 2 GHz, and backed by the Adreno 430 GPU and 3 GB of RAM. This processing package remains the 2015 flagship standard, and the great experiences seen with the other high-end smartphones throughout the year is also found here. Of course, the pure Android software experience plays a big part in keeping things moving along swimmingly.
Moving through the homescreens, opening and closing applications, and multi-tasking have all been an absolute breeze. Gaming on this device has also been a treat, not only because of the processing package, but also because of the display and the dual front-facing speaker setup, that all contribute towards enhancing the overall experience. Once again, the Nexus proves that it isn’t just sheer power that allows for great performance, and that software optimizations are certainly needed to properly take advantage of the all the power that is available.
Hardware
While Nexus smartphones have historically been quite bare-bones in terms of hardware, featuring just the essentials, there has been a shift in focus with the latest Nexus flagship, starting with the fingerprint scanner on the back.
Fingerprint reading is now an built-in feature of Android 6.0 Marshmallow, which Google calls Nexus Imprint, that is backed by Huawei’s pedigree of good fingerprint scanner iterations, which really shows with the Nexus 6P. The set up process is very simple, and using the scanner is even easier. All you need to do is rest the finger on the circular area on the back, and when the phone is off, it wakes up unlocked and ready to go, without even showing the lockscreen. Apart from letting you immediately replace patterns, passwords, and swipes as the unlock method, the fingerprint scanner can also be used in conjunction with Android Pay, for an additional layer of security when using the mobile payment system.
Moving to the front is where you will see the dual speaker setup, that provides a really good sound experience. They get pretty loud and provide a good amount of body to the sound, which is great, especially when compared to any of the bottom or rear-mounted speakers out there. As an alternative to using headphones when watching videos and playing games, these speakers have definitely been up to the task.
Phone call quality has been to the point, and we have used the phone on the T-Mobile and Google Fi networks without any issues. Speaking of network compatibility, the Nexus 6P is compatible with every major carrier in the US, making it a pretty easy choice as an unlocked offering.
There is no expandable storage via microSD available here, but the 32 GB of in-built storage of the base model should be enough for most. Of course, 64 GB and 128 GB options are available as well for those who want it.
Battery gets a huge boost, not only because of the large 3,450 mAh unit that the device packs, but also courtesy of a new power saving feature introduced with Android 6.0 Marshmallow, called Doze. Doze relies on all of the different sensors to put applications in a deeper state of sleep than usual. The sensors need to be left alone and not be triggered at all, which essentially means leaving the phone untouched. It does seem to work quite well, and it kept the battery from draining almost at all when in standby. The basic message here is to abstain from habitually waking your device up if you want good battery life, but at least Doze is helping make that down time count.
The large capacity of the battery is a big plus as well, allowing for an impressively long life. Though usage varies from user to user, but by leveraging Doze and doing less power intensive tasks, the Nexus 6P can go for two full days with moderate usage. When you do need the charge the device, USB Type-C makes this a very easy task. Granted, Qualcomm Quick Charge does go by the wayside here, but the higher power current Type-C still allows for a quick recharge, with the device battery going from 0 to 100 is under 90 minutes. Battery is probably one of the best parts of the Nexus 6P, because with all of the good this phone brings to the table, being able to enjoy it all for a long time is the icing on the cake.
Camera
If there was one aspect where the Nexus line consistently fell short, it was in the camera department. This year, the Nexus 6P has to contend with what has been a pretty incredible year for smartphone cameras, and fortunately, the device has risen to the challenge.
A 12.3 MP rear shooter tries to allow for more light to enter than before, thanks to a 1.5 microns sensor, that may sound minuscule, but is bigger than the sensor found with the vast majority of Android smartphones today. Unfortunately, there is no optical image stabilization, but its absence is felt primarily when recording videos. The combination of fewer, but more effective pixels, and the overall large sensor size helps with light capture and thus allows for better low-light photography. But it’s not just low light performance that sees a big boost – the overall quality is also higher than before.
That said, the camera app is lacking when compared to much of the competition out there, mostly due to the lack of manual controls. It is a good automatic shooter, and fast, even when shooting in HDR+ mode, with the processing being done in the background in the Gallery app. Aside from a few extra modes like Panorama and Lens Blur, there isn’t much else available with this camera app however. On the video side, 4K recording is available, and slow motion capture at 120 fps or 240 fps at a 720p resolution was a lot of fun as well.
Camera samples
Image quality is actually really great, with details captured very well, despite a small, yet noticeable, amount of noise reduction still at play here. Low light situations still require at least a little bit of light to differentiate the subject from the surroundings, but the enhancement here is that the subject is recognizable. Photos benefit from a subtle amount of saturation for nice and vivid colors, but the results are a little different when viewing the images on a screen other than the saturated AMOLED display of the phone.
100% crops
Panorama images were stitched together without too many problems, and HDR+ turned out quite a few good shots as well. HDR+ did strike us as a little moody however, as the highlights were crushed out in some shots, while the focus was on blowing up the shadows in others. Colors were given a much harder punch in every picture though.
HDR camera samples
Overall, we are really happy with the new Nexus camera. It’s much better than on previous iterations, and, more importantly, you no longer have to feel like you’re settling for this camera when compared to its competition.
Software
On the software side of things, Android 6.0 Marshmallow brings the crux of the Nexus experience, the latest and greatest of Android, with timely updates for the foreseeable future. Android has definitely come a long way, and Marshmallow is all about polish, rather than too many flashy new features.
There are a few flashy features to be found of course, with one coming in the form of Google Now on Tap. While Google Now still resides beside the homescreens, it can now be used to search for anything that is currently displayed on the screen, by long pressing the home button. It basically requires text-based areas to pull information from, but the main gripe with the service is that it can be a bit hit and miss. After all, you cannot cherry pick exactly what information it pulls down, so if there aren’t any instantly recognizable Google search terms present, there likely won’t be anything on tap. It is a great feature when it works though, and we are definitely looking forward to seeing how it develops over time.
Other features are less flashy but just as important, such as Doze. The application drawer has also been given a new look, now being a vertical scrolling list. A line at the top houses the four most used applications, which is a nice touch, and there is also a search bar to help you quickly find any application. Finally, there is now a better way of checking and setting up App Permissions, which can all be done from the Settings menu. Further, Android asks if you want an app to access a particular function when the app tries to access it for the first time. For anyone who is a bit apprehensive about security on Android, the full control now available to you might bring a little peace of mind.
Of course, the main reason to get a Nexus device is to get the latest and most optimized version of Android that is available, and that is exactly what you get here. Small tweaks to the animations make Android feel that much smoother, and the overall experience is really impressively snappy. There is also the advantage of timely updates, which is always a big plus.
Specifications
| Display | 5.7-inch AMOLED display 2560 x 1440 resolution, 518ppi |
| Processor | 2 GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor Adreno 430 GPU |
| RAM | 3 GB |
| Storage | 32/64/128 GB not expandable |
| Networks | GSM 850/1900 W-CDMA 2/4/5 CDMA 0/1/10 LTE Band 2/4/5/7/12/13/17/25/26/41 |
| Software | Android 6.0 Marshmallow |
| Fingerprint scanner | Yes |
| Camera | 12.3MP rear-facing camera 8MP front-facing camera |
| Battery | Non-removable 3450 mAh |
| Dimensions | 159.4 x 77.8 x 7.3mm, 178g |
Gallery
Pricing and final thoughts
The Nexus 6P is priced starting at $499, which may be less than the price of typical flagships, but is still definitely a premium price for the Nexus series. A great experience in a properly premium body means that this device is definitely worth it.
So there you have it for this in-depth look at the Nexus 6P! Some people might scoff at the price, especially those who still consider the Nexus line to be an affordable series that brings with it essential Android experiences. Last year’s Nexus 6 bucked that trend, and the Nexus 6P continues it by truly looking and feeling high-end, while offering a premium experience under the hood, including a camera that finally does justice to the flagship line. If you do want Android in its purest state, either of the two 2015 Nexus smartphones will do, but when looking for a high-end experience, the Nexus 6P takes the crown. As an Android phone that is capable of satisfying just about anyone, the Nexus 6P is definitely worthy of your consideration.
Google is relying on AI to handle difficult search queries
You’ve probably heard of PageRank, Google’s original secret sauce for organizing search results quickly and accurately. Now there’s a new, artificial intelligence-powered search technology that’s becoming increasingly important for Google: RankBrain. It’s basically the company’s solution for interpreting the some 15 percent of daily search queries that it’s never seen before. RankBrain works by transforming words into “vectors,” or mathematical entities, which Google’s search engine can use to find similar words or phrases. That allows it to parse unusual search entries like, “What’s the title of the consumer at the highest level of a food chain?” Over the past few months, RankBrain has become the third-most important signal for display search results, out of “hundreds” of signals currently in play, Google senior research scientist Greg Corrado told Bloomberg. It’s also even better at sorting relevant search results than Google’s own search engineers.
Source: Bloomberg
Google patents new road safety feature for Android Wear devices
Google has just filed for a patent on a brand new piece of technology it hopes will improve road safety. According to the information included in the documentation filed at the USPTO, the system will enable smartwatches to detect whether you’re a driver or passenger in a vehicle, so that it can disable certain notifications and functionality to ensure that all drivers are using their Android Wear devices responsibly on the road.
The overall concept is pretty simple. First and foremost, GPS is used to detect whether the wearable is in a moving vehicle. Next, a proprietary piece of software is used to connect to the sensors within the smartwatch to identify whether it is on the wrist of a driver or passenger by observing key movements associated with driving a car, such as the turning of a steering wheel. Finally, if the algorithm determines that the wearer is operating a vehicle, functions like texting and web browsing are immobilized.
As with many patents, it’s entirely possible that this development will never see the light of day, but I, personally, feel it’s a great idea and hope it makes its way onto our Android Wear devices in the not-too-distant future.
Source: USPTO
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ESPN is no longer displaying content on YouTube
YouTube Red was announced this past week and may have left a few providers unsatisfied. ESPN being one of them.
Due to the creation of YouTube Red, ESPN will apparently no longer provide content on YouTube. This is reportedly due to rights and legal issues. However, Disney, the parent company of ESPN, just signed a deal that will include its content on YouTube Red. Which is kind of strange. Unfortunately those are all the details we have right now. Here’s the official statement made by ESPN regarding the service:
“ESPN is not currently part of the Red service. Content previously available on the free YouTube service will be available across ESPN digital properties”
Source: Mobile Reuters
Come comment on this article: ESPN is no longer displaying content on YouTube
Nexus 6P vs Nexus 5X
This year was pure bliss for Android purists, with two Nexus devices hitting market. One phone definitely doesn’t fit all, something Google learnt with the Nexus 6, a device that was significantly larger than most smartphones and came with a price tag that was heavier than usual.
We have been playing with both the Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X for some time and are ready to put them face to face. These Nexus devices have plenty of differences, but the price is obviously the first that comes to mind. The Nexus 5X costs $379, while the Nexus 6P will set you back $499 – but will this make one of these phones better than the other? Let’s find out in our full comparison of the Nexus 6P vs Nexus 5X.
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Design
These smartphones come from the same family, but you would surely think one of them is adopted. They look nothing alike. And much of that is due to the fact that they are made by different manufacturers. Also, the “P” in Nexus 6P stands for premium, which will definitely make it a bit more high-end than the Nexus 5X. “Premium” is definitely the best way to describe the bigger, badder of these two products. Huawei managed to make a good-looking smartphone with a metal design that is ever so slightly curved on the back. Of course, things change once you take a look at the large and heavy top area that houses the camera and its accessories.
Some folks are not too fond of the black bar on the 6P, but it has really grown on us. After all, it actually serves a purpose; and since it’s covered in strong glass, it should hold up under normal usage. Below said bar you will find the fingerprint reader and the landscape-oriented Nexus logo, which does manage to look quite snazzy.
Looking around the phone we can find that the sides are nice and flat, giving the device a very nice grip. Regardless, the phone is still a bit too large for one-handed use. All the buttons are on the right side, and a USB Type-C port sits lonely at the bottom of the smartphone. We are still getting used to this new port, but it’s something that’s growing on us. Aside from being double-sided, this should make a huge impact on peripheral support and accessories.
Finally, there are two front-facing speakers: one above the screen and the other one below, with the 5.7-inch panel right in between them. Front-facing speakers are definitely a must for many of us. I still don’t know why manufacturers continue making phones without them at this point.
On the other hand (quite literally), we have the Nexus 5X made by LG. It’s not only made by a different manufacturer, but it falls under a different price range. For starters, the Nexus 5X is made completely of plastic, so no metal here. And though the black bar in the back is missing, the Nexus 5X’s camera optics do pop out a bit, creating that dreaded protruding camera bump. The fingerprint sensor and landscape Nexus logo are still on board. The general button layout and ports are also the same as with the Nexus 6P, with the only exception being that the 3.5 mm headset jack is located at the bottom of the 5X.
One complaint is that the front of the handset does sport only a single front-facing speaker right below the 5.2-inch display. The good news about this smaller display is that it makes the handset much easier to handle. And though it’s not made of sturdy metal, the soft plastic does manage to feel great in the hand, similarly to the original Nexus 5.
As you can see, these phones are quite different, which is not necessarily a bad thing. We will say the the exquisitely chiseled 6P looks better than the more generic plastic-clad 5X. But I also wouldn’t say the 5X’s plastic body makes it cheap, though. After all, it’s somewhat similar to the previous-gen Nexus 5, and that phone was loved by many. It just happens to be a phone of essentials. No bells or whistles.
Does this mean the Nexus 6P is trying too hard? Certainly not. The high quality build will be familiar to Nexus fans, and it goes in line with Google’s philosophy. Just lifting the device evokes a pleasant emotion, and this phone has everything it needs to give you the best Google has to offer.
Display
Talking about premium – this Nexus 6P display is gorgeous. The 5.7-inch AMOLED panel touts a Quad HD resolution (2560×1440), which emits vibrant colors, deep blacks and steep saturation, something we can expect from high-quality AMOLED screens. Text is obviously amazingly sharp, and media is a pleasure to view.
What about the Nexus 5X display? I have always said a good 1080p panel trumps a bad QHD screen, but there are obvious differences in this case. While a Full HD resolution works just fine for most uses, there’s an obvious difference in color reproduction here. The Nexus 5X looks a bit washed, so to speak. Colors are simply not as vibrant, and this can be mostly due to the AMOLED display doing a better job of displaying black levels, which help with contrast and ultimately make colors pop better.
The spec hungry will need a larger screen and overall higher-end specs. Without a doubt, the Nexus 6P does provide a better experience. And it’s not even about the resolution.
Performance
The Nexus 6P obviously brings the best performance to the table, in this case, featuring a powerful Snapdragon 810 processor and 3 gigabytes of RAM. It has what it takes to compete against the best of the best, and quite frankly, there is very little we can do to slow it down. Going through every single part of the phone was a breeze.
In contrast, the Nexus 5X features a Snapdragon 808 chipset with 2 gigabytes of RAM. Given the demands that Android can have on the system, more RAM has become the standard and 2 gigabytes seems like the bare minimum at this point. With that in mind, the 5X is still capable of providing a great daily experience.
When you put these phones side to side though, there is a noticeable difference. We would say the Nexus 5X is a couple steps behind the Nexus 6P. It’s not a huge difference, but it just may be enough to sway some of you from one device to the other.
Hardware
This part is interesting, because much of what makes the Nexus experience has been put in both gadgets. The lower-end Nexus 5X still enjoys the benefits of the fast fingerprint reader, Nexus Imprint and awesome camera. Is there anything in which the Nexus 5X falls short, though? The speaker set-up has to be the main concern. But at the very least the single front-facing speaker LG opted for has a nice soundgate, though it could use more volume.
Battery is another point of contention – the smaller 2700mAh battery in the Nexus 5X is not made to go for long periods of time, but we did find it does much better than the older Nexus 5. We can probably thank Doze for this, which puts the phone in a deeper slumber when in sleep for extended periods of time. Overall, you should be able to get a full day of juice, but this is not great compared to the Nexus 6P.
The larger Nexus comes with a massive 3450mAh battery, allowing us to experience battery life times that go well over a full day. We managed to get over 4 hours of screen on time during our tests, without even trying to save battery.
In addition, the dual front-facing speakers provide a loud stereo experience. Once again, the Nexus 6P is simply the better of the two.
Both phones offer the USB Type-C port, which is very convenient, but does come with its downsides. Qualcomm’s Quick Charge solutions are no longer available, for one. Charging is still pretty quick, though, with both phones reaching 0% to 100% in under 90 minutes.
Finally, we have to mention that we love the circular fingerprint readers in these handsets. These are literally some of the best performers we have ever used. They are not only easy to set up, but are also a breeze to use. One can wake and unlock the devices in no time. Using these sensors really do feel like second nature, and you can have your phone ready to go in the very motion it takes to take it out of your pocket.
Camera
Perhaps the best news in terms of these phones’ similarities is the camera, which is the same in both cases. These Nexus handsets have a 12.3MP sensor that Google claims is better at registering more amounts of light. Aside from the better sensor and improved optics, these handsets also tout laser auto-focus, which makes focusing faster.
The app also brings great auto interface, but we must say the software lacks in terms of manual controls. HDR+, Photo Sphere, Panorama and Lens Blur modes do all the work on their own; all you have to do is point and shoot.
4K UHD recording is also available, as is 120 and 240 fps slow motion, though that would be recorded at 720p. What I do love is that Google has added a way to quickly launch the camera by double tapping the power button.
After some testing, we have found the images are actually very detailed. The Nexus line-up has never been known for having great cameras, so it’s definitely pleasant to see this change with the 6P and 5X. Low light performance is quite good, and HDR does a good job at keeping lighting uniform.
All in all we have a good time with these cameras despite the omission of optical image stabilization, which is most felt when shooting video – in photos, it might have been a good boost but hasn’t felt like a huge gap.
Software
You can’t go wrong with Nexus software, right? I mean, these phones offer a pure Google experience, which means the software will be as clean and simple as they get. You also get the benefit of enjoying the latest and greatest Android version, which is 6.0 Marshmallow.
One of the main differences you will find is within the app drawer, which now scrolls vertically, as opposed to horizontally. There’s also a row of favorite apps added to the top of the drawer, which is great for accessing your 4 most used applications. The flashiest addition to Android 6.0 is definitely Google Now on Tap, though. This software addition looks at what is displayed on the screen and pulls related information on the fly. You can easily access it by pressing and holding the power button. The service might be a little off at times, but overall it works great with text (not so much with images).
Other significant additions are Nexus Imprint, Doze, granular app permissions and more.
Specifications
| Nexus 6P | Nexus 5X | |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 5.7-inch AMOLED display 2560 x 1440 resolution, 518ppi |
5.2-inch LCD display 1920 x 1080 resolution, 424ppi Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor | 2.0GHz hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor |
| RAM | 3GB | 2GB |
| Storage | 32, 64, 128GB | 16, 32GB |
| MicroSD | No | No |
| Networks | GSM 850/1900 W-CDMA 2/4/5 CDMA 0/1/10 LTE Band 2/4/5/7/12/13/17/25/26/41 |
GSM 850/1900 W-CDMA 2/4/5 CDMA 0/1/10 LTE Band 2/4/5/7/12/13/17/25/26/41 |
| Software | Android 6.0 Marshmallow | Android 6.0 Marshmallow |
| Fingerprint scanner | Yes | Yes |
| Camera | 12.3MP rear-facing camera 8MP front-facing camera |
12.3MP rear-facing camera 5MP front-facing camera |
| Battery | Non-removable 3450mAh | Non-removable 2700mAh |
| Wireless charging | No | No |
| Dimensions | 159.4 x 77.8 x 7.3mm, 178g | 147.0 x 72.6 x 7.9mm, 136g |
Gallery
Pricing and final thoughts
This time around price is much less of an issue compared to other years, this is because Google’s offerings now include both an affordable and a high-end option. The Nexus 5X costs $379. On the other hand, a bigger battery, faster processor and superior build is still quite reasonably priced at $499.
We have to tip our hats to Google for bringing the best high-end Nexus they have ever put together, yet they also made a lot of Nexus 5 fans happy with the 5X. Those grabbing the mid-end device will have an amazing experience, but if what you want is to be on the cutting edge, the Nexus 6P is the obvious option. The Nexus 6P is incredible, the Nexus 5X is essential. Assess your needs, take your pick, and you can enjoy the best that Google has to offer in this year’s two great Nexus offerings.
What are your thoughts? Would you choose the Nexus 6P or the 5X? Be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
Buy the Nexus 6P from the Google Store
Buy the Nexus 5X from the Google Store
Android Authority this week – October 25, 2015
Android fans, HTC was in the spotlight this week, though not just for good reasons. The Taiwanese company’s new A9 looks great, but it’s a little too familiar for some tastes. In other news, we heard a credible rumor about the release of the Galaxy S7; we brought you our initial impressions of the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P; Google released a couple of big updates; the BlackBerry Priv finally went up for pre-order; YouTube Red and YouTube Music launched; we got another look at the Droid Turbo; and Samsung launched the Galaxy On5 and On7.
Inside AA HQ
Android fans, on October 21, 2015, the future has finally arrived. We don’t have hoverboards just yet, but what we carry in our pockets every day is just as amazing. As Doc Brown himself put it, the “future” is different from what we all thought, but that’s a good thing. When it comes to mobile technology, Nirave did a good job highlighting the absolutely massive leaps that the phone industry made in just one decade. Think about that the next time you feel the urge to complain about your device. And think about where we will be ten years from now.
The results of our blind camera shootout between the Xperia Z5, Galaxy Note 5, LG G4, and the iPhone 6S has caused a huge stir. Yes, the iPhone 6S won on an Android site, and the Apple blogosphere rejoiced. For us, the takeaway here is that Apple is still better at giving most users what they actually want from their cameras, and that should be food for thought for the Android OEMs that are still too fixated on raw specs. The other takeaway? Expect more camera shootouts in the future!
This Halloween, share your data horror story and stand to win a Nexus 6P, Galaxy Note 5, or Xperia Z5 from our friends at Opera. Enter the giveaway here!
The stuff you shouldn’t miss
- Review: Gary reviews the smallest member of the Xperia Z5 family
- Editorial: Delays are okay, lack of communication is not, Andrew tells Saygus
- How to: Here’s what you need to know to make the most of USB OTG
- Feature: Specs, specs, specs! On our unhealthy obsession with specs
- Review: It’s not Android, but it’s still a great smartwatch – Samsung Gear S2 review
Top news of the week
Galaxy S7 release date?
HTC One A9 is here
- HTC One A9 officially announced: everything you need to know
- HTC One A9 first impressions: trying some new things
- HTC One A9 vs Nexus 5X vs Moto X Style vs ZTE Axon: specs comparison
- HTC CEO: Our new smartphone will be good enough to replace the iPhone
- Unlocked HTC One A9: software upgrades within 15 days of every Nexus update
- HTC One A9 availability – what we know so far
- HTC executive is not amused: “It’s Apple that copies us.”
Nexus impressions
- Nexus 6P unboxing and impressions after first 48 hours
- Nexus 5X unboxing and impressions after first 48 hours
All things Google
- You can now become a beta tester for the Google app on Android
- Google Maps now makes pit stops easier, also adds gas pricing
- Here’s how Verified Boot warnings look in Android 6.0 Marshmallow
- Google tightens its OEM requirements for new Marshmallow devices
- New look Google Play Store begins hitting devices
Priv is for priviledge
- BlackBerry details the security measures it baked into the Android-powered Priv
- BlackBerry Priv briefly goes up for pre-order: $749 unlocked [update: shipping Nov 6]
- BlackBerry Priv pre-order opens in US, UK and Canada; ships Nov 6
YouTube Red & Music
- YouTube Music app launching alongside YouTube Red
- YouTube Red, Google’s ad-free video service, launching October 28 for $9.99 per month
Here comes the Droid Turbo
- DROID Turbo 2 teased ahead of official announcement, courtesy of Verizon
- Motorola DROID Turbo 2 and Maxx 2 press renders leak out ahead of official unveiling
Galaxy On5 and On7
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Chrome Canary shows how secure your web browsing really is
If you think that your browser’s little padlock icon isn’t enough to verify a website’s security (but don’t want to install a full-fledged app), you now have a better solution. Google has released a new Chrome Canary build that includes a security panel in amidst the usual developer options. Open it and you’ll not only learn about the encryption for the host page, but the encryption for all the other connected sites, too. This is ostensibly meant to help developers safeguard their sites, but it’ll also let you double-check for hidden security flaws on any site where you suspect that something’s amiss. It’ll take a while longer before this pops up in more refined versions of Chrome, so give Canary a shot if you want to verify a page before you trust it with your data.
[Image credit: AP Photo/Mark Lennihan]
Source: Google
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