Harmonix caught posting five-star Rock Band 4 reviews on Amazon
When is it a good idea for employees to post reviews of their own company’s game? Most people would probably say “never,” but that didn’t stop Harmonix employees working on Rock Band 4 from doing it. A suspicious Reddit user found at least seven 5-star reviews by Harmonix employees, including from one user who said she was a “new fan,” but is actually the company’s “legal and music coordinator.” Others including a project manager, consultant and senior designer also gave it top marks. Amazon ratings are crucial for such a family-oriented game, given that the online retailer may be the only place casual buyers will look for them.
Harmonix confirmed to Destructoid that its employees did post the reviews, but said “we believe (they) were sincere and without ill intentions.” It added that “as a studio, we don’t believe these are appropriate actions,” and asked that employees either identify themselves or take down the reviews. One employee said that “I’m confident that if I didn’t (work for Harmonix) I would still give the game five stars.” However, he’s not actually allowed to do that by Amazon’s rules, and as some Redditors pointed out, it’s odd that so many Harmonix employees put them up independently.
The game has actually received decent notices by users and critics. Still, there’s a lot riding on it, especially for Mad Catz, the company that co-publishes the game and makes the guitar and drum controllers. In a recent financial statement, it said that its ability to avoid defaulting on debt “depends on (our) ability to increase net sales and gross profit considerably,” especially “from anticipated sales of products related to… Rock Band 4.”
Via: Destructoid
Source: Reddit
Tangram is the perfect feature-packed browser [App Review]
There may be aplenty web browsers on the Play Store for everyone, but none seem to offer anything that stand out from the crowd. Tangram, however, is a browser dedicated to those who want something snappy, responsive and suiting of their needs. To put it into better words, “Tangram is a task-based mobile browser for professionals and power users”, according to the Play Store Description. You can have a peep at their website over here.
Setup
The app popped up with an email registration box immediately upon opening. Being the type of guy that hates spam mail, I found the “Skip” button at the top corner handy. This was then followed by a quick introduction of the app, boasting about the whole host of integrated features.
Settings wise, you’re pretty much stranded. Clicking on the settings button just pops up a small notification saying “Features Coming Soon”.
Features
The app basically functions as a browser with several neat extensions. Clicking a link on an Instagram bio, for example, begins loading the web page in the background and displays as a little circle that floats over your screen. Clicking on this then pulls up the web page and covers half the screen, providing easy and instant access to the page.
The normal browsing mode is also different. The UI is considerably different to other apps, something that I didn’t particularly enjoy as it is rather confusing to use, especially in the beginning. But like all things, you’ll get more used to it overtime. That also doesn’t make the aesthetics of the app bad, but perhaps Material Design could’ve popped its head in every now and then.
You may find navigation confusing
The actual browsing experience is very pleasing. Pages were quick to load and the sites were very responsive – with almost no lag and delay. I wish I could talk about Chrome this way as well.
Thankfully, the app also doesn’t come across as cluttered or over-complicated for everything it offers. In fact, everything was nicely bundled in a clean and organized way, something which is rare for a feature-packed app.
What we like:
- Feature packed
- Clean, fast and responsive
- Helps with productivity
And not so much:
- No Settings as of yet
- UI is a bit confusing
4.2 out of 5 stars
Perhaps the strongest part of Tangram is its ability to offer a wide range of features while not falling back on performance. You should check it out if you’re a strong multitasker, and you shall not be let down.
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1byone Wireless Bluetooth keyboard with an integrated touchpad (Review)
1byone does it again with another high quality product with the Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard which is designed to be used with all software such as Android, Windows and Linux. Considering I have a wide range of smartphones, tablets and laptops and am always on the go, having a portable keyboard that can keep up with me is vital to my writing. So when 1byone offered me the opportunity to review its wireless keyboard I jumped at the opportunity.
Design
The keyboard is primarily made of hard plastic with a brushed metal underbelly. It is an ultra-slim portable keyboard, with Bluetooth 3.0 built-in for quick data transfers, and comes with an integrated touchpad off to the right side which acts as a mouse. The touchpad is surprisingly one of the better ones I have ever used – the texture of the pad itself is right in that sweet spot of rough but still smooth enough to provide good feedback. It is also capable of the modern Windows gestures – pinch to zoom, swipe right, swipe left making it more than just a pointer.
There are also a pair of keys marked “For Win” and “For Android” above the Backspace button that change some of the operating system specialized functionality to make the keyboard more convenient for how you’re using it. A button to disable the trackpad is present, that I ended up not really having to use. Normally I’m one of those people who would accidentally be tapping or touching it while typing, but the touchpad is located to the far right of the keys making it completely out of the way of my palm.
Two AAA batteries are required to power the keyboard and are not included in the box.
Overall 1byone built a fantastic keyboard using high-quality materials with a well thought out design.
Usage
The keyboard paired easily with my Windows Surface Pro 3 tablet, Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and Nexus 6P. It was sturdy enough to use on my lap without flopping around while I typed on the keys. I found the 1byone Wireless Keyboard to be a refreshing replacement to my Surface Pro 3’s flat keyboard which cost me $129 and provides little ergonomics with a tiny touchpad. I prefer my touchpad be off to the right side of my keyboard, rather than in the center bottom portion, as I have been using a mouse for twenty years with it off to the side.
Typing this review on my Surface Pro 3 and then finishing on my Note 5 was a breeze using this keyboard. Sure there was a little getting used to touching my phone’s display, but when it came to typing I know this keyboard will be in my armory of gadgets due to its combination of functionality with great ergonomics.
It’s actually quite light and small enough to fit nicely in my standard sized backpack or my medium sized shoulder bag. It is not too small that it felt cramped.
Specs
- Supports any Bluetooth-enabled devices
Support systems: Windows, Mac/IOS, Android, Tablet PC, Smartphone - Using the American Broadcom Bluetooth 3.0 chip, it is up to eight times faster than Bluetooth 2.0
- Signal distance up to 33ft (10m).
- Ultra-slim design, easily stows in a backpack, messenger bag, or case. Ergonomic tilted design reduces wrist strain.
- QWERTY layout with hot keys
- Auto-sleep feature saves power and extends battery life.
- Requires two AAA batteries
Summary
If you’re in the market for a compact keyboard with an integrated touchpad the 1byone Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard is an excellent choice. The touchpad is one of the better ones I’ve used and the keyboard is small enough to be moved around the house or carried in a bag with ease. It is also large enough that it does not feel cramped to type at full speed. The auto-sleep feature will mean longer battery life even if the power switch is accidentally left in the on position.
Priced at $22.99, the 1byone keyboard is a bargain compared to portable keyboards made by companies like Microsoft and Logitech. Save yourself some money and check the 1byone Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard out at Amazon.com. It will also make a perfect gift for students and any writers you might know.
Link to purchase
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Sony Xperia Z5 Compact review
It is no secret that Sony is struggling in the smartphone market. In fact the company has publicly declared that it is now make-or-break time for its Android handset division, if the board doesn’t see progress in sales and profitability then the whole unit could be for the chop. With that in mind we turn to the release of the Sony Xperia Z5 line, a series of three phones, the smallest of which is the 4.6 inch Z5 Compact.
I got my hands on the Z5 Compact a few days ago and following my unboxing on Periscope I have been testing it to see if it will help Sony lift its mobile division out of the doldrums. Let’s see what I found out.
Design
The design of the Z5 Compact will be instantly familiar to anyone who is acquainted with Sony’s other Z devices, particularly the Z3 Compact. As you can guess from the Compact moniker, this handset shares the same design language as its bigger non-compact namesake, the Sony Z5, but in a much smaller body. The signature button layout returns including the the dedicated camera shutter button and a new large power button, which now houses a fingerprint reader.
The new power button doesn’t look as iconic as the round button from before, but still retains a unique look. However, the downside of Sony’s button layout is that the volume rocker is towards the bottom of the right side, between the centrally placed power button and the camera shutter button. This makes the volume rocker hard to reach, regardless of which hand you are using to hold the device.
Going around the device, there is the 3.5mm headphone jack on the top, and the micro USB port on the bottom. Both the top and bottom have microphone holes as well. On the left is the flap which protects the SIM card and the SD card, along with a strange roll out piece of plastic film which holds the CE and FTC information. On the front you will find the 4.6 inch 720p display, the front facing camera and the front facing speakers. On the rear is the main camera and various logos.
Like the Z3 Compact, the Z5 Compact feels nice in the hand and is easy to handle, mainly due to its size. It has a symmetrical design making it easy to grip and although this design has been updated with this iteration, the Z5 Compact remains quintessentially Sony.
Display
Since this is the Compact version of the Z5 you get a 4.6-inch display with a 720p resolution, resulting in a pixel density of 323 ppi. This resolution and pixel density works perfectly for a smaller display, with all text looking crisp and sharp. You get the same color reproduction that you’d expect from the Triluminos display with the X-REALITY Engine enhancements, along with the great viewing angles from this IPS screen. The Z5 Compact also includes Sony’s Dynamic Contrast Enhancer, which the company says makes the bright parts of the screen brighter and the dark parts a truer, deeper black.
Of course, the real question is do you want a 4.6 inch display? When it comes to watching videos, playing games, or reading text, the smaller display size may take some getting used to, especially if you are used to using a bigger screen. The trade off is easier handling, which is something that a lot of consumers do want, but if you are looking for a higher experience in terms of the display, the Xperia Z5 Compact is probably not for you.
Performance and hardware
Although the Z5 Compact has a smaller screen, Sony has not compromised on the internals. Like its bigger siblings, the Z5 Compact uses an octa-core Snapdragon 810 backed by the Adreno 430 GPU and 2GB of RAM. There is 32GB of internal storage and the option to add more via a microSD card. You also get all of the normal connectivity options including NFC, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, GPS, Bluetooth 4.1, and 4G LTE. The only difference, in terms of the specs, is that the Z5 and the Z5 Premium boast 3GB of RAM.
The Z5 Compact is significantly cheaper than the similarly sized iPhone 6S.
In terms of waterproofing, the Z5 Compact is IP65 and IP68 rated, which according to Sony means you don’t worry if you get caught in the rain or want to wash off dirt under a tap. However Sony recommends that you don’t put the device completely underwater, expose it to seawater or pour hot drinks on it.
As for sound, the Z5 Compact features dual front facing speakers meaning that the sound is unobstructed when you place the phone on a flat surface and that the sound is projected directly upwards and outwards. The speakers can get quite loud (for a 4.6 inch phone) however at the highest volumes the sound loses depth and can be a bit “squeaky”.
There are a number of Audio settings which can be used to improve the sound quality including DSEE HX, ClearAudio+ and a Dynamic normalizer. There is also a manual mode which allows you to enable the equalizer or activate various surround sound options. Using the Bass Boost mode of the equalizer I found I could improve the speaker reproduction, however your tastes may differ.
When it comes to the battery, the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact packs a 2,700 mAh unit, which is more than enough for a smaller phone like this. The lower screen resolution display helps and in general Sony devices have always been known to feature great standby times and useful power saving modes.
With moderately heavy usage, I was able to get a full day of battery life and this could be improved by turning on some power saving features once the capacity goes down to 25 percent. You maybe be able to get more. A screen on time of between 4 to 6 hours is quite possible, as my tests show that you can stream YouTube videos for around 6 hours on one charge or play 3D games for around 4.5 hours.
The first time I fully charged the device I got was 44 hours of standby with 3 hours and 49 minutes of screen on time, however these number were influenced by my Snapdragon 810 thermal tests (see below), which drain the battery faster than normal. On the next charge I got 5 hours of screen on time over a period of 42 hours.
The Z5 Compact supports Quick Charge 2.0 which means that the phone can be charged up to 80% relatively quickly. My tests show that you can charge it from 10% to 80% in about an hour, or to just 50% in about 40 minutes. A full charge from 10% to 100% takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 got a lot of bad press when it first appeared because it was said to overheat resulting in the CPU speed being throttled and the performance dropping. In an effort to rebuild confidence in the Snapdragon 810, Qualcomm released a newer version of the SoC with the V2.1 moniker. And it looks like Qualcomm’s plan worked as Sony picked the chip for its Z5 line, as did Huawei for the Nexus 6P.
But the question remains, does the 810 V2.1 overheat? Unfortunately the answer is a little more complicated than the question. During normal usage like web browsing, email, gaming, and when using the camera for photos then the device does not overheat. According to my testing, using a handheld infra red thermometer gun, you can expect the temperature of the back of the phone to raise by a maximum of 9 degrees Celsius during normal usage. To put that into context, the temperature of the top left hand corner of the back of the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 goes up by 10 degrees while playing Epic Citadel for 20 minutes.
However, when recording 4K video the device can become very hot, and Sony knows it. When you enter into the 4K mode you are greeted by a nice dialog which warns you, “If the device temperature rises, the app may close during use. You recording will be saved automatically.” And the warning dialog is right, once you start recording 4K the device temperature does rise and indeed if it gets too hot the app close. This isn’t an immediate thing, we aren’t talking about 1 minute of use, but if you record 4K for around 20 minutes the device heats up significantly and the app will close. According to my measurements the temperature of the back of the Z5 Compact can raise by as much as 20 degrees C. It is also worth pointing out that 4K recording eats into your battery life significantly. This excessive heating isn’t just limited to 4K video recordings. If you record HD video (again for 20 minutes) the Z5 Compact also heats up, not as much, but still by a significant 17C.
In terms of general performance the Snapdragon 810 provides a snappy user experience. The UI is smooth and there aren’t any lags, you won’t find yourself wishing there was a different CPU in the phone. The gaming experience is also very good, in fact the Z5 Compact manages an impressive 58.5 fps for Epic Citadel in Ultra High Quality Mode. As for AnTuTu, the device managed a top score of 62,130. A re-run of the benchmark straight after recording 4K video yields a score of 50,955, which is an 18 percent decrease.
Camera
With a 23 MP Sony Exmor RS sensor, a wide angle 24mm G Lens, and 4K video recording, I was really looking forward to seeing what the Z5 Compact’s camera could do. However, I must confess that I am a little disappointed. Part of my disappointment might be because my expectations where high: this is a Sony device, Sony make great digital cameras, Sony sells its mobile sensors to lots of other smartphone makers, the Z5 Compact has a 23MP sensor, and so on. Basically I was expecting great things.
All I can say is that the camera on the Z5 Compact did not meet my expectations. That doesn’t mean it is a bad camera, in fact it is quite good, but it isn’t the best. So let me justify my statements. Below are two galleries, one with pictures shot in 4:3 at 23MP, the second in 16:9 at 8MP, the latter should be using supersampling.
23MP
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8MP
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As you can see in good daylight the camera works well and there is little to choose between the 23MP and 8MP images (other than the resolution). However some pictures seem dull and washed out. In low light situations the camera tries very hard to produce a good shot, however the noise levels can be very high, even for indoor shots.
The camera in the Z5 Compact is the same as the camera in the bigger Z5, for a deeper comparison of how the camera compares with other smartphones check out our camera shootout – Xperia Z5 vs LG G4 vs Galaxy Note 5 vs iPhone 6S
Having said all that, my disappointment about the camera’s performance was slightly alleviated by the bundled camera app. It is truly a great app and offers much more than just HDR and Panorama. Along with a full manual mode, there are lots of additional modes including an AR mode, which can superimpose computer generated scenes like dinosaurs and fish onto your photos or videos; an AR mask mode, to mask your face with different generated masks; a timeshift video mode, which records at a high frame-rate and applies slow motion effects; and a multi camera mode, which allows you to record the same scene from multiple angles on a single screen.
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Software
The Z5 Compact comes with Android 5.1.1 Lollipop by default and it will receive an upgrade to Android 6.0 Marshmallow at some point in the future. Sony has added a light skin on top of stock Android and also included extra features and Sony related apps.
As well as the software for managing the fingerprint reader there is a myriad of device connection options including the ability to wirelessly play content on your Xperia on other devices (i.e. Sony TVs), screen mirroring, connecting to Playstation controllers, and MirrorLink.
There is also a theme library with some free color based themes (e.g. Dark, Blue, Grey, Light, etc.) and with some paid themes based on movies including Frozen, Cars, Donald Duck, Mad Max, etc. Some of the full themes are also free.
Under Power management there are several different power saving modes available including STAMINA mode, Ultra STAMINA mode, and Low-battery mode. At the top of the Power management setting page the estimated battery time is shown. With just 40% left in the battery the estimate showed that the phone could survive in standby for another 3 days, impressive!
In terms of extra apps, Sony has included Lifelog, for tracking calories, steps and sleep, etc.; Movie Creator, which makes movies from your photos, in a similar way to Google Photos; TrackID, Sony’s music recognition app; Wisepilot turn-by-turn navigation software; plus three PlayStation apps – PSN, PlayStation and PS Video.
One final thing worth mentioning on the software side is the inclusion of Sony’s small apps. When you tap the recent apps button there is a small toolbar with a selection of small apps like a calculator and a timer. If you tap the ^ symbol then you will see more apps including a mini browser, Gmail and a music app.
Specifications
| Display | 4.6-inch IPS LCD display, 720p resolution, 323ppi |
| Processor | 64-bit octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 |
| GPU | Adreno 430 |
| RAM | 2GB |
| Storage | 32GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 200GB |
| Software | Android 5.1 Lollipop, Sony’s customized UI |
| SIM card | Nano SIM |
| Dual SIM | No |
| Water resistance | IP65 / IP68 certification, capless USB |
| Quick Charge 2.0 | Yes |
| Cameras | Sony Exmor RS 23MP rear-facing camera, Sony Exmor R 5MP front-facing camera |
| Battery | Non-removable 2,700mAh battery |
| Dimensions | 127 x 65 x 8.9mm, 138g |
Gallery
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Pricing and final thoughts
The Z5 Compact is available in the UK from a variety of carriers and outlets and costs around £429 without a contract. In Europe you can buy it off contract directly from Sony for €599. There is no news about when or if the Z5 series will officially reach the USA, however you can find it Amazon.com starting at $560, however the average price seems to be around $700.
To put the UK price into some context, the 16GB version of the iPhone 6S costs around £539.00 without a contract and the 32GB variant of the Samsung Galaxy S6 can bought for around £415. That means that the Z5 Compact is significantly cheaper than the similarly sized iPhone 6S, and in the same ball park as other Android flagship phones.
If you would buy the Z5 Compact really comes down to its compact size. On the plus side the design and size of the Z5 Compact is ideal for those looking for a sub five inch phone. It comes with flagship specifications, IP certification and a whole bunch of extra apps and features from Sony. However, the small screen and 720p display won’t be to everyone’s liking and although the camera is good, it doesn’t live up to its hype.
Nexus 5X first impressions. The REAL flagship killer has just stood up.
I know it is too soon to say the Nexus 5X is the real flagship killer that the OnePlus 2 claims to be, but after two days of usage, the Nexus 5X is the real deal. Starting at $379.99 for the LG built Nexus 5x, the phone comes loaded with a Snapdragon 808, 2GB RAM, 16GB memory(not expandable), 5.2 inch LCD 1080P display, and most importantly the same 12.3MP rear camera, Android 6.0 and the game-changing fingerprint reader that the Nexus 6P is loaded with.
I would estimate that 75-90% of Android users out there, like my fantastic mother, don’t need octa-core processors and 4GB of RAM. The majority of users need a stable phone with security features to match, a great display, an even better camera, easy-to-use software and definitely long-lasting battery life. What all of us need more than anything is an affordable device. For far too long, smartphone prices have been out of control and Google is always doing its part to give high value for your dollar and that principle shows clear in the Nexus 5X.
For this initial impressions post, I didn’t get to focus on the Nexus 5X as much as I would have liked, because I was focused on the Nexus 6P instead. However I did try to test it out thoroughly to best inform you of what you should expect.
Design
The Nexus 5X, built by LG, is no slouch when it comes to build-quality. No it doesn’t come with an all metal build or a Super AMOLED display, but that doesn’t mean this device is not premium in its own right. The Nexus 6P, P for “Premium”, would make you believe the 5X is something less, which it is not. I wish Google would have named the Nexus 6P the 6M for metal, because metal is really the main difference besides the base memory and size beyond the spec sheet.
The Nexus 5X comes in a plastic housing that doesn’t feel cheap. It comes in three colors – Carbon(black), Quartz(white) and Ice(minty green shade). All of the colors are very appealing with Ice being the most different color I have seen on a mainstream phone in a long time. It was actually refreshing to see something other than black, silver, gold or white and I hope it is a trend other manufacturers pick up on. Google sent me the Quartz color, which is matte white, and after two days of use I do not see this phone attracting smudges. But I will update you on that when I have a full review in a month or two.
The display is 5.2 inches across, protected by Gorilla Glass 3, and has a front-facing speaker on the bottom portion of the phone. Weighing in at 136g, it is much lighter than the 178g Nexus 6p and is very easy to use one-handed. The main downside to the design of the Nexus 5X is the camera hump on the back of the device. I really dislike when I set my phone down onto the camera lens. It doesn’t sit flat and will probably wear in the spot where it touches flat surfaces.
Other than that minor detail, the Nexus 5X is definitely a premium device by build quality alone.
Fingerprint Reader
If you have read the Nexus 6P first impressions post, you will know I was gushing over the fingerprint reader that Google put so much effort into developing. The Nexus 5X lives up to its premium sibling when it comes to the fingerprint reader. Both are flawless.
The integrated fingerprint reader also lives on the back of the device, where you finger naturally rests when gripping the phone. Being that the Nexus 5X also uses the latest Android software in 6.0 Marshmallow, it uses Nexus Imprint to unlock and turn on your display with your fingerprint. As I stated in the Nexus 6P first impressions review, I truly believe this fingerprint reader is something all Android users will be using in the very near future.
Not only is it nice to unlock and turn on your display, but the fingerprint reader is needed for Android Pay and will replace pattern and code unlocks.
Performance and internal hardware
Naturally you would think, based on price, that the Nexus 5X would be outperformed by the Nexus 6P. The Nexus 6P comes with 3GB of RAM and the Snapdragon 810 v2.1, while the Nexus 5X comes with 2GB of RAM and the lower Snapdragon 808.
In my initial usage, I have yet to experience lag or stutters from the 5X, and to be honest, the performance feels almost identical to the 6P. I ran an Antutu benchmark test and it confirmed my feelings as the score was nearly identical. How could this be? Well the Nexus 6P runs the higher resolution OLED display which needs more processing power to drive those extra pixels.
So if the Nexus 5X performs as well as the 6P, and you don’t care about having a metal build or a 5.7 inch display vs. a 5.2 inch display, the Nexus 5X might be a better option considering you will save over $100 dollars.
Google did happen to send me the 32GB version to review which is probably enough memory for the majority of users- the 16GB base model without the ability to add external memory may not be enough. Although I am sure many people get by just fine with 16GB of memory with options to upload pictures, videos and music to the cloud.
Camera
Considering the Nexus 5X has the same camera as the Nexus 6P, one should assume that it performs identically. I haven’t had the time to do head-to-head comparisons but I was equally impressed with the camera. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to get a ton of shots in full daylight, but I did just walk around outside and take pictures at night.
Google knows cameras are important to people as they are documenting their lives more and more everyday through photos. My nieces can’t stay off Instagram. Who knows, in 100 years we might communicate through pictures instead of words(just kidding). Check out the gallery below.
Battery
The Nexus 5X has a 2,700mAh battery inside which is rated to last up to 420 hours on standby, 20 hours of talk time, 10 hours of video playback or 75 hours of audio playback. The battery is no slouch. According to Google, the 5X can last up to four hours on a ten minute fast charge. USB type-C is also integrated into the 5X replacing the antiquated micro-USB standard.
I was tickled at how well the battery has lasted. I gave it a full charge on Friday night, unplugged it Saturday morning around 9am and haven’t connected it to a charger since. As of right now, Monday morning at 12:42am, the Nexus 5X has 66% of battery life remaining! If that isn’t something to brag about, then I don’t know what is.
Disconnected around 9am on Saturday.
Still 66% without recharging on Monday at 12:42am.
Display and Speaker
Now, in my Nexus 6P review, I mentioned I am a display snob. I love Samsung’s OLED displays because of the resolution, color saturation and accuracy and brightness level, especially in full sunlight. In terms of resolution, I really cannot see any pixels on this 1080P 423ppi display. The colors are more than acceptable, and the brightness is great too. It does get very bright, from the naked eye it appears to get brighter than its sibling, although like other LCD displays the colors wash out a little bit at the highest setting.
Comparatively it is as good as all other LCD based displays I have laid my eyes on and I know for a fact I could learn to love this display.
The speaker is mounted in the front mouth piece area and does get loud. Being that it is a speaker built into a small area, it does lack bass and slightly distorts on maximum volume. It is still a solid performing speaker by most standards.
Summary
Overall the Nexus 5X(I keep wanting to call it the 5P) is a great phone at an even better price. Don’t let the spec sheets fool you as this does perform equally well to its premium sibling, the Nexus 6P. Specs really mean nothing when it comes to overall performance. If you’ve been using devices with lots of bloat, you probably know what I am talking about.
Starting at $379.99, the Nexus 5X may not have the specs to match the OnePlus 2, but it does beat it in the performance section as well as the NFC category. Android Pay is still in its infancy but is something you’re going to want to use once more places accept it. It is similarly priced and also runs the latest version of Android unlike the OnePlus 2. The Nexus 5X has incredible battery life, a superb camera, high-end performance and should be dubbed The Flagship Killer.
Depending on your budget, I have no hesitations in recommending the Nexus 5X as a daily driver. If I wasn’t such a phone snob, I know with 100% certainty I would buy the Nexus 5X over any other phone for its total package offering including the price.
Let me know in the comments section what you think and let me know what I missed so I can add it to my full review in about a month. Thank you for taking the time to read my review!
The post Nexus 5X first impressions. The REAL flagship killer has just stood up. appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Nexus 6P first impressions(P is for Premium). So far it is the best phone of 2015.
It is really difficult to tell how great a phone is at a press event. As a writer, we literally get a few hours max to spend with the newest devices while fighting off other media outlets. I attended the Google press event for the Nexus releases, and my first impressions of the 6P were positive, but I rarely ever like to make judgements without spending quality time with a device. It’s in my nature to study and try things out before I make judgements as I am a Medicinal Chemist at a Biotech in San Diego(yes I can make methamphetamine like Walter White in Breaking Bad, but I enjoy a prison free life so no I will not ever make it). I was taught to make decisions using the Scientific Method which is a process to acquire new knowledge. Yes, I know, I am a super nerd but I am cool with it.
I received the Nexus 6P at 9:20am on the morning on Friday Oct. 16th and got into work late because of it. I had to make up that time this weekend. I was simply excited like any other Nexus fan and once I opened the box, I knew I had something special. It’s been a long time since a device has got me this excited- I was like a fat kid running free in a candy shop with no parents around. Let me explain why.
Nexus 6P unboxing. Google provides a USB type-C to USB type-C cable and type-C charger plug. Under the plug is a standard USB to USB type-C plug.
Design
The first thing we naturally do as humans, is make an initial judgement on how something looks and this Huawei made Nexus 6P is really good looking. If this were a prom dance, the Nexus 6P would nominated for royalty for its looks alone. As a Samsung fanboy, I learned a hard lesson this year about how much people care about the materials used to build smartphones. Samsung radically changed their designs and put beauty over function in their latest metal and glass covered Galaxy devices which broke my heart.
Huawei and Google spared no expense when it came to build materials on the Nexus 6P. It is made out of aeronautical-grade aluminum and comes in three colors – aluminum(non-painted metal), graphite(anodized or powder-coated dark gray color) and frost(also known as white). Google sent me a graphite colored device, and frankly I love it. I saw the aluminum and frost colored Nexus 6P’s at Google and they are all stunning. I really would have been equally happy with any of those colors.
On the sides of the Nexus 6P are chamfered edges which is a similar design to the Samsung Galaxy Note 4. The all metal body measure at 159.3 X77.8 X 7.3mm, which in comparative terms is very similar to the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 in size and feel. Although being that the Nexus 6P is made of all metal, it feels much less fragile than the Note 5 and feels very much like a combination of a Note 4 and HTC One M7.
Nexus 6P textured power button with volume rocker. Also notice the chamfered edges.
On the front of the phone are dual front-facing speakers, which like the Nexus 6 blast out sound from the earpiece and microphone slots. The WQHD (2560 x 1440) display is covered in super strong Gorilla Glass 4 and measures in at 5.7 inches diagonally. The back of the phone houses a black strip across the top which holds the flash, laser auto-focus and 12.3 MP camera.
The black strip across the top of the backside seemed to be a concern for aesthetics for many potential users, but I personally don’t find it distracting one bit on this graphite version. The phone sits flat on any level surface and is a nice change from the rounded back of the Nexus 6. The Nexus 6 rocked back and forth when trying to use the device on a flat surface. In regards to the frost and aluminum colors, the black strip can look out of place, but honestly I did not think it was a distraction at all.
Also on the backside of the phone is the new fingerprint reader. The fingerprint reader is a simple circle that is painted the same color as the rest of the phone. If you didn’t know it was a fingerprint reader, you would just assume it was apart of the design.
One nice tidbit I have noticed so far, is the weight of the Nexus 6P is distributed very evenly across the phone. This matters because it makes it very easy to hold one-handed for a large device. I actually found myself typing one handed, which I haven’t done in years, because my primary devices were Galaxy Notes which were awkward to hold. My hands aren’t large by any means, so this was a pleasant surprise.
Samsung Note 5 on left and Nexus 6P on right. Very similar size.
Both of the buttons, power and volume rocker, are placed near the middle of the right side of the phone. This makes it very easy to turn the phone on/off since you don’t have to change the placement of your hand to reach the top sides of the phone which is where large phones usually place the power button. Same goes for the volume rocker – the placement is just perfect.
Overall, the design is top-notch and I can’t get enough of it. I can’t wait to see more Huawei designed phones to hit the US market. Google picked the perfect partner to make its first “Premium” smartphone as evidenced by the Nexus 6P.
Fingerprint Reader
The reason why I put the fingerprint so high up on the initial impressions post is because this feature is going to be something everyone uses going forward. Google developed “Nexus Imprint” as a way to unlock your phone, turn on your screen on and breeze through checkout lines using Android Pay. The Nexus 6P asks you to set up a fingerprint, you can do more than one, when you set-up the device. All you have to do is place the same finger on the fingerprint reader five or six times so it can accurately read your fingerprint without worrying about placement.
Nexus 6P fingerprint reader.
After over 100 unlocks, with wet fingers even, the fingerprint reader has yet to fail one time. It is so seamless, I don’t even realize the phone is locked because as soon as it reads your fingerprint, which is almost instantaneous, the screen turns on and is unlocked. As a back-up, if for some reason you can’t use your fingerprint, or if someone else wants to unlock your phone, you can always revert back to the more traditional pattern or pass code unlock method that you’re already familiar with.
The fingerprint reader is so easy to use, I don’t see anyone leaving their phones unlocked anymore. I was one of those users who hated to type in pass codes, and also hated Samsung’s fingerprint reader because of the failure rate. I always thought Apple did the fingerprint reading the best on their iPhone, but I can now proudly say that Google OWNS every other fingerprint reader on the market.
Tempted to get the free Android figurine at Jamba Juice this weekend, I used Android Pay four times to make sure I didn’t base my opinion on one payment. On every single attempt to use Android pay, the Nexus 6P performed flawlessly. The Jamba Juice employees, on the other hand…
I actually thought Android Pay wouldn’t make much of an impact, because it’s pretty darn easy to pay with a credit card. However, after using Sndroid Pay, it is much easier to pay with a fingerprint and your smartphone. You don’t even need to pull out your ID or sign a receipt.
The fingerprint reader with Nexus Imprint is a game changer and I expect everyone to be using it very soon.
Battery
Android 6.0 Marshmallow claims to improve battery life. As a self-proclaimed power user, I was one of Samsung’s biggest critics for getting rid of the swappable battery option in their Galaxy devices because I need at least one full re,charge per day. Not because devices had battery issues, but I really do use my phones that much.
The Nexus 6P comes with a large 3,450mAh battery, 450mAh bigger than the equally sized Galaxy Note 5. Google claims you can get 440 hours on standby, 23 hours of talk time, 10 hours of video playback or 100 hours of audio playback. I haven’t taken the time to measure specifics, but this is one of the best performing phones when it comes to battery life. I find myself looking for a charger less than ever before. And when it comes to standby, the power meter doesn’t drop when I leave it disconnected from a charger while I sleep. Other phones promise excellent standby time, but many rarely deliver.
The Nexus 6P also comes with the new type-C plug, and other than having to change my cables going forward, I simply love this feature. With micro-USB cables, I might be in the minority here, I always felt like the charging port was fragile. That connector always scared me because I always feared I was going to plug it in at the wrong angle and break it. USB type-C does away with that fear and you can now plug in the cable without looking because it is completely reversible. The Nexus 6P also charges very quickly, with 10 minutes of charging providing up to seven hours of battery life.
Between Marshmallow optimizations and USB type-C, I already feel like micro-USB cables are outdated and phones running on anything less than Android 6.o are ancient.
Software
Again, as a Samsung fanboy, I actually liked Touchwiz. I know that sounds crazy to most of you, but I found it useful. Yes there an abundance of useless features, but the useful features like multi-screen or the stylus outweighed the negatives. When I tried stock Android 5.0 on the Nexus 6 it proved to be boring and too simple for me.
With the introduction of Android 6.0 and all of its optimizations, I now have a changed heart and now think TouchWiz is overdone. I was more annoyed with Samsung’s really slow updates, being even slower this year though, and lost all of my patience with them on the Note Edge.
Stock Android Marshmallow doesn’t look any different, from what I can tell so far, than Android Lollipop. It performs buttery smooth on the Nexus 6P and the Nexus 5X. Not once have I experienced a single stutter or lag which is something I cannot say for any other device including the Note 5 and iPhone 6S.
Considering I have only used the Nexus 6P for two days, I haven’t had enough time to play with the new software features like “Now on Tap” or “Direct Share”.
I will get to those features in my full review in about a month. Overall, Android 6.0 Marshmallow is blazing fast and super stable and I love it so much I want to marry it.
Camera
I’m probably the last guy who should be testing cameras at Androidguys.com as I simply am not good at picking up fine details. I think many cameras are great these days, with the exception of Motorola and mid-range to budget devices. Hopefully Josh Noriega, another editor at AG, will do his signature camera comparison in the near future.
The Nexus 6P comes with a 12.3MP rear camera, f/2.o aperture, with IR laser-assisted auto-focus and an 8MP front facing camera. The pictures I took look great to me, but I will let you decide in the gallery I have listed below. As for the speed of the camera, it loads super quickly with a double-click of the power button and snaps pictures just as quickly.
For a camera and using it over a weekend, I am more than happy with it and desire nothing more.
Display
Again, as a Samsung fanboy I am a display snob. I rarely find any display acceptable, other than what comes on Samsung flagships, because the latest Galaxy devices have the best displays using 2k resolution and OLED technology. The super AMOLED display Samsung uses is incredibly bright, has superior contrast ratios, rich colors and is very clear.
Rather than try to beat Samsung at a game they cannot win, Google and Hauwei decided to use Samsung’s OLED displays in the Nexus 6P. Everything matches up in terms of display performance, with the slight exception that the Nexus 6P appeared less than the Note 5 in daylight. I couldn’t test this completely, as San Diego was cloudy all weekend which is a rarity around here. I still did not have any issues seeing the display under full cloudy conditions. Being a premium device, the Nexus 6P display measures up to its name.
Nexus 6P on left and Samsung Note 5 on right under cloudy conditions. Picture taken with Nexus 5X.
Snapdragon 810 v2.1 processor
Many of you know Qualcomm ran into some issues with its Snapdragon 810 which lead to device manufacturers shying away from the high-end processor. This blunder helped contribute to Qualcomm’s struggles in 2015 and resulted in employee layoffs. Google and Huawei decided to go with the Snapdragon 810, but it wasn’t the same version that ran into issues. They used the Snapdragon 810 v2.1 which supposedly fixed the overheating and throttling issues.
In my initial usage, I never found the phone to get hot or stutter. I wish Qualcomm would have named the Snapdragon 810 v2.1 something else like the Snapdragon 811 because people simply don’t know enough about the 810 to know there was an updated chip that addressed those issues.
According to the Antutu benchmark test I ran, the Nexus 6P isn’t the fastest performer on the block, but Google wasn’t dumb enough to fall into that trap. Google didn’t see a need to put a v-12 engine in a golf cart, rather they built the Nexus 6P like a Porsche with balanced a balanced power-to-weight ratio, as this phone is designed to be an all-around performer. Not a drag strip car built for the quarter mile that needs to be towed to the track.
Referring back to the software and the software optimizations, this is probably the quickest phone I have ever used.
Antutu benchmark results fell in the range of 53k-59k.
Audio
The Nexus 6P comes with dual front-facing speakers which get loud. They are definitely clear at the highest volume, but do lack depth and bass if I were to judge it against the HTC One. If I were to judge it against the Nexus 6 or Note 5, I would choose the 6P in a blind test as the best performer every time. Speakers should not be on the back or bottom of a phone as it does not make sense to point sound away from your ears.
Nexus 6P flush speaker with display.
Summary
It has been a long time since I have been excited about a phone and I am giddy every time I pull the Nexus 6P out of my pocket. In just two full days of usage, I am not longer a Samsung fanboy, but I still dare them to get my attention back. The Nexus 6P is a loaner from Google, and the day I send it back, I will already have a replacement Nexus 6P ready to go paid for with my own hard-earned money. Other than having to upgrade my cables around my house to USB type-C, I cannot find a single flaw with the Nexus 6P. It is fast, has incredible software with no bloat, has a game-changing fingerprint reader, great camera, and best of all an incredible build. Starting at $499 for the base 32GB model with 3GB of RAM, you cannot go wrong with this most premium of phones in the Nexus 6P. You can order the Nexus 6P now at the Google Store, and if you have been looking for a new phone just get this one, you won’t regret it. Beware, shipping times are four weeks out and I suggest you get your order in sooner rather than later as I predict the Nexus 6P will sell in record numbers.
Look for a full review in one month. Thanks for reading this initial impressions post. Please let me know your feedback in the comments section below.
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FXGuru is here to spook your Halloween! [App Review]
With Halloween just around the corner, you may be interested in an app or two that can bring some fun into the day. Today, we’re taking a look at FXGuru, a fantastic video effect app that does the job just right and can be used for all occasions to greatly liven up the experience.
Setup
FXGuru is a relatively simple app and requires minimal setup. In fact, the only setup required is in creating a new video with effects. From this, you can select the accuracy of the effect, a filter from the vast list of choices, and how the sound effects get incorporated.
You can also adjust the quality of the video, file size, and frame rate. All except the frame rate require an in-app purchase of any effect. So if you buy any other additional effect, they become unlocked.
Features
FXGuru is jam-packed with effects. Ninety-seven of them, to be precise. You can access about 30 effects for free, so don’t get too excited unless you’re planning to spend a bit. Nevertheless, the effects available without in-app purchasing should be enough for anyone and most situations.
So how exactly does it work? You select the effect from the list, point your camera at the scenery, and align the ground with the mesh on the screen. After recording, while keeping still for about 15 seconds (the time depends on the effect), the app processes it and spits out the video a few seconds later.
This is also not a half-baked app. I was initially skeptical at how decent and accurate the effects would turn out. However, I can confidently say that they are rather good for a mobile app. More so, you will not find effects capability like this elsewhere on the Play Store. The subject in the effect also looks realistic and like it’s actually touching the surface.
Along with the decent user interface, everything is a breeze to use. The sounds and music are kind of addicting. I would warn against using the app with volume on Halloween night!
What we liked:
- Super sound effects and music
- Easy to use
- Professional-looking effects
And not so much…
- Majority of effects are unlocked by paying
- Takes long to download effects if you haven’t already
4.17 of out 5 stars
FXGuru certainly has something unique to offer. With expert effects, it should be on anyone’s list of apps, regardless of age. It guarantees a shot of fun, especially at Halloween!
You can find the download link and more details on the FXGuru app here
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Moto X Style (Pure Edition) – second opinion
Everyone has their own reasons to be excited about a new Moto X, be it the customization options available to you via Moto Maker, the near stock-like software experience that keeps things smooth and snappy, or the different features that it offers when compared to the competition. Granted, the last point may not have been true with previous generations of the device, but the new Moto X is certainly trying to provide more than any other flagship smartphone out there.
Lanh already gave us a full comprehensive review of the Moto X Style (Pure Edition), but I’d like to share my own thoughts on the device in this “second opinion” look at the Moto X Pure Edition.
Design
When it comes to the design, the Moto X Pure Edition retains a lot of the design language of its predecessor, with the only big difference here being that the signature Motorola dimple on the back is a lot smaller and more subtle this time around, and is now housed in a metallic bar along with the camera unit. This different look is a pleasant change, but I did like the larger dimple of the Moto X (2014) as well. Everything else remains largely the same, and once again, you find the two motion sensors up front below the display, but these are more noticeable if you decide to go with the white color for the front face.
Moto Maker allows for a lot of customization with the device, and apart from the colors of the body and the accents, you also get to choose between various materials for the back cover, including a soft grip rubberized plastic, real wood, and leather. While opting for a wood backing, bamboo in this case, allows for a great look, it does make for a very slippery touch, with the metal chassis not helping either.
The bump in size puts the new Moto X just outside the realm of comfortable one-handed use, and with the slippery materials not providing in the way of grip, you may find the device falling out of your hand. Unless you go for the soft grip or leather backings, the handling experience with this smartphone isn’t great, even if the curved back and slightly thicker profile do their part in making a slightly positive difference.
Display
When it comes to the display, the Moto X Pure Edition comes with a 5.7-inch display with a Quad HD resolution, resulting in a pixel density of 515 ppi, but Motorola decided to make the switch from AMOLED to IPS LCD with their latest flagship. While AMOLED would have been the preferred choice here, if only because of its advantages with features like Moto Display, Motorola has done a great job with this IPS LCD panel by putting a good enough level of saturation to continue a solid display experience. Even if the handling experience has been a let down, the additional real estate available with this high resolution display means that everything from reading text, to watching videos, and gaming, has been fantastic on this screen.
Performance
Under the hood, the Moto X Pure Edition comes with a hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor, backed by the Adreno 418 GPU and 3 GB of RAM. The primary use with the Moto X Pure Edition for me has been to do with media consumption and gaming, and the device has managed to handle everything with ease. Typical usage involved watching or listening to some media, occasionally posting on social media, looking things up on Chrome, accessing the gallery, and other everyday tasks, and it was great to see everything remain smooth and snappy throughout. While the processing package is, of course, impressive, some of the credit for this performance has to be given to the near stock software experience that is available with the device.
Hardware
As far as storage is concerned, the Moto X Pure Edition is available in 16 GB, 32 GB, and 64 GB iterations, but the good news here is that expandable storage, by up to 128 GB, is available to you. With expandable storage going by the wayside with some other current generation flagships, you have to a pay quite a hefty premium if you’re looking to get any of the higher storage options with them, but in the case of the Moto X, you can always opt for the base model, and then consider expansion depending on your needs, allowing you to save a little bit of money in the process.
The Moto X Pure Edition features a dual front-facing speaker setup that allows for really good sound quality, further enhancing the media-consumption and gaming experience that is available with the large display.
The Moto X Pure Edition comes with a 3,000 mAh non-removable battery, but the battery life it provides is unfortunately not very impressive. Depending on your usage, you may find yourself running out of battery even a couple of hours before your day ends. The device’s fast charging capabilities prove to be the savior here, and if you can manage to plug in the device for even a short time at some point during the day, that extra boost should be enough to then get you over the line. This is of course, not what is expected from our smartphone batteries, but until a better solution is in place, fast charging is a crutch that we can all lean on.
Camera
Motorola hasn’t had the best track record as far as the cameras of their flagship smartphones are concerned, but that is luckily no longer the case. The Moto X Pure Edition boasts a vast improvement in the camera department when compared to its predecessors. It may not exactly match the very high standards set by the best smartphone cameras out there, but it does feature high enough quality to make it a good daily companion.
Apart from the fact that having this camera means that you won’t be missing your DSLR too much, the best part about the camera experience has to do with how easy it is to get into the camera, requiring just a couple of twists of your wrist to launch the camera app. That said, the application that Motorola uses for its camera isn’t very good, with it not only lacking in a lot of manual controls, but also the way you’re expected to take a shot by tapping on the viewfinder, instead of there being a dedicated on-screen button on the side, isn’t something I like. Having to drag the focus point around is not necessarily the way I want to cater a shot.
When it comes to the 5 MP front-facing camera, there is now a LED flash accompanying it as well, but unless you are taking a lot of selfies all the time, and while in dark environments, like in a club, there aren’t a lot of situations where you’ll end up using the front-facing flash. When it is used, the subject tends to get washed out, and the selfies don’t end up looking all that great anyway.
Software
Despite not being under the Google umbrella anymore, Motorola is still providing for an almost Nexus-like feel with the Moto X Pure Edition, with any extras that are baked in serving only to further enhance the software experience.
Among the extras in software is Moto Assist, that will know when the device needs to be completely quiet to avoid interruptions, and it can read your messages out to you, or let you know who is calling. Moto Voice is another very useful addition, which lets you use voice commands to get things done, and the best part here is the ability to customize the key phrase that wakes the device up.
Specifications
| Display | 5.7-inch display Quad HD resolution, 515 ppi |
| Processor | 1.8 GHz hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor Adreno 418 GPU |
| RAM | 3 GB |
| Storage | 16/32/64 GB expandable via microSD up to 128 GB |
| Camera | 21 MP rear camera with dual LED flash 5 MP front-facing camera with wide angle lens and front-facing flash |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac Universal LTE bands Bluetooth 4.1 NFC GPS+GLONASS |
| Battery | 3,000 mAh |
| Software | Android 5.1.1 Lollipop |
| Colors | Moto Maker Coated Silicon Rubber Horween leather and natural wood Metallic accents Engraving |
Gallery
Final thoughts
Motorola has to be given credit for providing a pretty good smartphone at a decent price point. While the latest flagship device is more expensive that previous generations used to be, not only are you getting a more premium product this time around, but the Moto X Pure Edition is still cheaper than most other competing high-end flagship smartphones out there. The best part about this smartphone is that it is all about choice, and that is what makes for a very compelling smartphone.
Read Lanh’s take: Motorola Moto X Pure Edition (Moto X Style) review
It may not be perfect, but the Moto X Pure Edition is definitely one of the better smartphone offerings of 2015.
UNIFUN Waterproof Rugged Battery for the active types (Review with discount code)
Another day, but not another battery pack. If you’ve ever ready one of my battery reviews in the past(thank you), this one is for the outdoor types who need to stay powered up. Over the past few years we have seen many devices cater to the people who love to bicycle, run, hike, camp, sail, and every other activity under the sun.
The Samsung Galaxy S5 and Sony Xperia Z3 come to mind when I think of devices designed to withstand the elements. If mainstream devices are going extreme, we need the accessories to match and that’s where the UNIFUN 10400mAh Rugged Battery comes in to save the day. It’s not everyday we get to test gear designed for the rugged lifestyle, so let’s check it out.
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Design
The body of the UNIFUN Rugged10400mAh Battery is constructed out of a hard orange plastic, with a softer gray plastic around the sides and in strips along the bottom and top. The gray plastic prevents the battery from sliding around on smooth surface and makes gripping the battery more comfortable.
The three USB ports are protected by an attached plastic guard which swings out of the way to allow access. Two of the USB ports serve as outlets for charging two devices at the same time, while there is a micro-USB input for charging the battery itself. According to UNIFUN this battery has an IP66 rating which means it is 100% dust proof and resistant to powerful water jets.
There is a single button that is used to both turn on and off the flashlight and to check the charge level that the battery is holding. The UNIFUN Rugged Battery also has a small plastic loop on a short side to allow for it to be clipped to a backpack or on to a waistband (you’ll need to buy your own clip).
The only downside, which is understandable, is this battery is slightly larger than portable batteries that aren’t designed to withstand the elements.
Usage
The UNIFUN Rugged 10400mAh Battery was very intuitive to use – straight out of the box I was able to find the single button and turn the flashlight on/off without looking up instructions. Letting my Samsung Galaxy Note 5 die down and charging it all the way back up with the battery was a breeze. There was still half or more of the charge left for me the next day when I forgot to charge my phone overnight.
To test the water resistance I ran it under the faucet, with the protective flap covered, and wiped it down. I found no water within the charging ports and everything worked as advertised. I repeated this process ten times to make sure it wasn’t a fluke and it proved worthy.
Not that I actually enjoy testing durability of products, as I was raised to take care of the things I own, I dropped it on solid concrete from waist height. It picked up a few minor smudges, which wiped off with ease, and didn’t even appear to had ever dropped. I can imagine the UNIFUN Rugged 10400mAh Battery at the bottom of my backpack when I go hiking and worrying if I can drop my backpack or not. I wish all of my gadgets came with this kind of protection.
Specs
Specification:
Model: U821
Capacity: 10400mAh
Input: 5V/2A
Out1: 5V/1A(MAX)
Out2: 5V/2 .1A(MAX)
Size: 147.5×75.5×28.5mm
Weight: 300g
4 Integrated LED indicators show power level
Summary
With the $20 Amazon price for the UNIFUN Rugged 10400mAh Battery, it is a must-have in any disaster-preparedness kit. In fact the CDC recommends having batteries and flashlights in your kit! It isn’t just designed for your smartphone or tablet, but any USB powered device. Beyond the disaster kit, if you’re the outdoors or active type of person, look no further than the UNIFUN Rugged 10400mAh Battery. It will keep up with your lifestyle with a durable and rugged body and certified with an IP66 rating.
If you’re interested in purchasing the UNIFUN Rugged 10400mAh battery, head on over to Amazon.com by clicking this link.
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Bell gets fined $1.25 million for leaving reviews on their own app
According to The Competition Bureau, Bell has received a hefty fine of $1.25 million for making workers leave positive ratings on their mobile app ‘MyBell Mobile.”
After leaving high ratings on their own application in the Play Store and Apple App Store, Bell removed the ratings following the incident. The app was then left with just a 2.9 rating. However, this wasn’t enough to pay for their actions. The following statement was issued by The Competition Bureau regarding the scenario.
“I am pleased that Bell Canada demonstrated leadership to fully resolve the Competition Bureau’s concerns in this matter. Bell’s senior management acted quickly to remove the reviews of the apps that had been posted by its employees and has taken steps to prevent it from happening again,” said John Pecman, Canada’s Commissioner of Competition, in a statement issued to MobileSyrup. “I commend the shared compliance approach taken by Bell to resolve this matter, which will benefit both consumers and the digital marketplace.”
Bell has been charged $1.25 million for its actions which go against rules. In addition, the program has been subjected to termination. Bell has agreed to the terms and has decided to move on.
Source: Competition Bureau
Via: Mobile Syrup
Come comment on this article: Bell gets fined $1.25 million for leaving reviews on their own app
AIVAnet 