Shake It Up 3D: Seasons LWP review
Did you know that an average person checks their phone up to a 150 times a day? And what screen do you get when you unlock your phone? It’s your home screen most of the times. Well, the good thing for Android users is that there is no limit to the customization that you can do with your phones, which include some crazy home screen customizations.
Well, today we bring you something simple and beautiful. A live wallpaper app! Shake It Up 3D: Seasons LWP, an app by Screaming Snail Studios Inc., is a collection of different seasonal wallpapers that you can use to glorify your home screen. Seeing a static wallpaper does get boring for some people after a while. With Shake It Up 3D: Seasons LWP you get an option to choose from all four seasons, Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.
Coming to the app, you can either choose one of the four seasons or just put it in Auto Season to choose one randomly. There are also options to choose and set your preferred background scene, gradient color, and the globe wood type. Using all these settings the app renders a beautiful snow globe on your home screen containing different kinds of scenery as per the options chosen in the app settings.
The wallpapers rendered are absolutely beautiful and display in amazing 3D quality using the Unity App Engine for Android. The transitions are very smooth as well. The snow falling or the animals dancing, the wind raking the leaves, all the little movements of the scenes worked flawlessly. A handy double tap shortcut is present that takes you to the settings directly from the home screen.
If that was not enough, you can also set if you want your snow globe to rotate and control its speed as well. I personally liked the bouncing snowman in the winter season setting. Made me smile every time I looked at it.
| Screenshots |
|---|
     
|
There is also an experimental option to choose from for the view position of the live wallpaper. If having a live snow globe wallpaper was not enough, Shake It Up 3D: Seasons LWP also allows you to step inside the snow globe and keep that as the wallpaper. Its feels really amazing to have the view from inside the snow globe. The snow and the leaves feel like they are just at your fingertips whenever you swipe on the home screen.
I hate to say it, but there are some bugs as well. I encountered a black screen several times when trying to load a wallpaper preview in the settings. I had to quit and restart the app for it to disappear. I used a Nexus 4 and Moto G to test this. Also, the app force closed on me when trying to change the wallpaper while I was trying out all the options one by one. The app worked fine after I restarted my devices though. I think its a matter of optimization of the unity engine and I hope it will be fixed in the next update.
One more thing I would like to see is the introduction of a rainy season. Not to sound all gloomy but I do like when it rains, especially when it first rains after a long hot summer. It’s one thing I’ll be looking forward to in a future update.
To sum it up, Shake It Up 3D: Seasons LWP is an app that you can use all year long for every season. Its beautiful animations will have you loving your phone every time you unlock it and the cheerful scenery will bring a smile to adults and children alike.
| What We Like | What Needs Improvement |
|---|---|
|
|
Shake It Up 3D: Seasons LWP is available as a paid app download in the Play Store for only $0.99 and I would recommend it, as it is surely worth the price. A nice way to spice up your home screen without using any special launcher.
Have you tried Shake It Up 3D: Seasons LWP ? Tell us your experience in the comments below.
The post Shake It Up 3D: Seasons LWP review appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Twitter update allows auto-play feature for videos
T
he fight for social media users attention has gotten more intense lately. Social networks like Facebook and now Twitter have been relentlessly attempting to gain some of the video space from the industry leader Youtube.
Today’s Twitter update introduces a more seamless video experience. It is now easier to enjoy videos on Twitter as native videos, Vines and GIFs will begin to play back automatically. So you can keep up with the action without missing a Tweet and get a better sense of what’s been shared instantly.
Previously on Twitter, in order to watch a video, you had to physically tap the video to enable it to play. Now once you tap the video, the video and sound will play automatically in an expanded view. Also, if you flip your device to landscape mode, the sound will also automatically turn on and expand the video to fill the screen.
Yes Twitter, this is a cool concept. Although I can imagine what your thinking (your being our lovely AndroidGuys readers), that you don’t really want to watch every video of your friends kids, or cats, doing backflips automatically.
Thankfully you still have ultimate control over the playback settings. You have the option to choose the previous click-to-play option or have videos autoplay only when you are connected to WiFi. If you are at a location with high data rates or have low bandwidth on your device, Twitter will automatically opt you out of autoplay and you will only see click-to-play option.
Who does this Update benefit?
Twitter and it’s advertisers of course. The logic behind it is simple, most people will not click to watch an ad, though if it plays automatically you are more likely to watch it.
Autoplay can be a useful feature to have for sure, although only in moderation. There have been multiple occurrences on Instagram where I have attempted to tap-to-play and inadvertently double tapped instead, causing me to like a post. So let’s be thankful we have been given more customization’s options this time around with the option to turn the feature off.
Updates began rolling out to everyone today on Twitter for iOS and Twitter.com with an Android version coming soon.
Tell us if you like the new auto-play feature by leaving a comment below!
The post Twitter update allows auto-play feature for videos appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Elephone P7000 review
The Bottom Line
- 3GB of RAM
- Android 5.0
- 360 degree fingerprint reader
- 16 core ARM Mali-T760 GPU
- Good to see microSD and dual-SIM here
- Display could be brighter
- Photos lack vibrancy
- Lack of depth to sound from speaker
A solid 5.5 inch mid-range device, with a 64-bit processor and an excellent GPU. The 3GB of RAM makes multitasking a breeze and the fingerprint reader is an added bonus.
(function($)
$(document).ready(function()
$(“#aa_bottom_line .aa_bl_pros_cons”).each(function()
var aa_bl_pc=$(this).find(“.aa_bl_pc”);
var aa_bl_pros=$(this).find(“.aa_bl_pros”).height();
var aa_bl_cons=$(this).find(“.aa_bl_cons”).height();
if(window.innerWidth > 480 && aa_bl_pros != aa_bl_cons)
if(aa_bl_pros > aa_bl_cons)
aa_bl_pc.height(aa_bl_pros);
else
aa_bl_pc.height(aa_bl_cons);
)
);
)(jQuery);
64-bit processors are certainly a mainstream option now on Android devices, and the P7000 is no exception with its octa-core 64-bit processor from MediaTek. But there is more to the P7000 than just a multi-core 64-bit CPU. Supporting the CPU is a hefty 3GB of RAM and a 16 core Mali-T760MP GPU. Plus there is the 360 degree fingerprint reader, and the Full HD display, but I am getting ahead of myself here!
I got hold of the P7000 a few days ago and I have been putting it through its paces, and this is what I found out.
Specs
As well as its octa-core Cortex-A53 based processor, the Elephone P7000 has a 5.5 inch Full HD display, and runs Android 5.0 Lollipop. Here are the full specs:
| Display | 5.5” Full HD IPS 1920 x 1080. |
| Processor | 1.7 GHz, octa-core MediaTek MTK6752, 64-bit, Cortex-A53 |
| GPU | ARM MALI-T760MP |
| RAM | 3GB |
| Storage | 16GB, microSD card slot, up to 64GB |
| Camera | 13 Megapixel Rear Camera (SONY IMX214 f/2.0), 5MP Front Camera |
| Battery | 3450 mAh |
| Connectivity | GPS, microUSB 2.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth |
| Networks | GSM, 3G, 4G LTE |
| Software | Android 5.0 with Google Play. |
| Dimensions | 155.8 x 76.3 x 8.9 mm |
| SIM slots | Dual-SIM: SIM + Micro SIM |
Design
In an attempt to distinguish itself from the myriad of plastic low-end phones coming out of China, Elephone has put some extra effort into the the design of the P7000. First of all it includes a metal bezel which instantly gives the phone a high-end look and feel. The bezel is made of Magnalium, which Elephone says has “great strength and lightness.” I hadn’t heard of this particular alloy before, but a bit of quick research reveals that it is a aluminium alloy with magnesium and small amounts of copper, nickel, and tin. Although more expensive than aluminium, it is indeed known for its strength and low density. Elephone point out that the use of a metal bezel means the P7000 “will not bend in your pocket” and that Magnalium also has good electromagnetic shielding characteristics.
Another interesting aspect of the P7000’s design is its range of colors. Out is the standard black, and in are gold, white and cool grey!
Related Videos
.rvs_wrapper
width: 350px;
.rvs_wrapper.align_left
float: left;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right
float: right;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center,
.rvs_wrapper.align_none
width: 100%;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center
text-align: center;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center.cbc-latest-videos ul li
float: none;
display: inline-block;
vertical-align: top;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos:not(.align_none) ul li:nth-child(2n+1)
clear: both;
.rvs_title
font-weight: 600 !important;
margin: 0 !important;
font-size: 24px !important;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right .rvs_title
padding-left: 20px;
.rvs_title a
font-family: ‘Roboto Condensed’;
color: #3a3a3a;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul
padding-top: 10px;
.rvs_wrapper.align_left.cbc-latest-videos ul li,
.rvs_wrapper.align_none.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 15px 0 0;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 0 0 15px;
float: right;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 7px;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li > a
font-weight: 400;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li > a .yt-thumbnail
margin-bottom: 0;
@media only screen and (max-width : 480px)
.rvs_wrapper
width: 100%;
text-align: center;
body .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 7px;
display: inline-block;
float: none;
vertical-align: top;
On the front of the device is the 5.5 inch , Full HD display, the front facing camera, a earpiece and the home key. Integrated into the home key is a breathing, pulsing LED which can be configured in the software to change color when you have notifications, messages, and calls. On the left and right of the home key are the menu and back keys respectively, but there aren’t any actual markings on the phone. However this is less troubling than you might think since I already know where the buttons should be, and I just tap instinctively. However for new users coming to Android for the first time this might be a little difficult.
Down the right-hand side is the power button, while the volume rocker is on the left. Both are easily accessible when the phone is held in your left hand.
On the top you will find the 3.5mm headphone jack and the micro-USB port. On the bottom are two speaker grills, however there is only one speaker. Flipping the phone over, you will see the prominent Elephone logo, the camera lens, the flash, and the fingerprint reader.
Display
The 5.5 inch display on the P7000 is OK, but not brilliant. It is an IPS display with a resolution of 1920 by 1080. That works out to 400 ppi. Overall the definition is excellent, but the color reproduction is fair to middling, with colors lacking vibrancy and the whites seeming pale. Having said that the viewing angles are great. The display is reasonable when used indoors, however I found that it could do with being a bit brighter for outdoor use on sunny days.
As with most displays, the lacks can really only be noticed when you place the phone next to another device with a better display. However when used in isolation the display is more than adequate, just not stunning!
It is also worth mentioning that in the box is a toughened glass screen protector. Not a plastic film which you stick on the display, but an actual piece of Gorilla Glass 3. The only downside is that you need to stick it on the phone yourself!
Performance
At the heart of the P7000 is the MediaTek MT6752. It has an octa-core Cortex-A53 based processor which is coupled with a Mali-T760 GPU. A quad-core version of the same processor can be found in the P6000. The Mali-T760 is certainly a powerful GPU and while the Cortex-A53 has a lower performance than the Cortex-A15, the Cortex-A17 and even the Cortex-A9, it is a good entry point into 64-bit computing and it works well with Android 5.0 Lollipop.
The supplied version of Lollipop is basically stock Android with the standard launcher and an app drawer!
One key thing about the Cortex-A53 is that it is ARM’s super power efficient 64-bit processor. The MT6752 uses eight of these Cortex-A53 cores, all clocked at 1.7GHz.
My experience of using the P7000 is that the overall processing package is fast. The UI is smooth and rapid, and multitasking is a breeze due to the 3GB of on-board RAM. Overall the P7000 handled everything I asked of it including gaming and video.
In terms of benchmarks, the P7000 managed to chalk up 53.4 frames per second on Epic Citadel in High Quality mode, and 40.1 frames per second in Ultra High Quality mode. AnTuTu gives the P7000 a score of 45034, and it managed a score of 6234 on 3D Mark – Ice Storm Extreme.
Hardware
The phone comes with a 3450 mAh battery, which is a great size for this device. Since the P7000 has a 5.5 inch display then it makes sense for Elephone to use that space for a bigger battery and I am glad to see that it didn’t try to go down the ultra-thin path and sacrifice battery capacity.
What my testing showed is that the battery is great. The battery will last all day (from morning to evening) without any problems. I ran my customary set of tests. On one charge you will be able to play intensive 3D games for at least 5 hours. GameBench shows that Riptide GP will run for almost 5 hours. For those into multimedia, you can get about 5.5 hours of YouTube streaming in Full HD.
The phone has a single speaker on the bottom edge and overall I was quite impressed with the sound quality since this is a mid-range phone. However, don’t expect the same fidelity as a high-end flagship phone. Music can sound “tinny” and in general there is a lack of depth.
The P7000 is a dual SIM phone that offers quad-band GSM, which means 2G will work just about anywhere in the world; quad-band 3G, on 850, 900, 1900 and 2100MHz; and quad-band 4G LTE on 800/1800/2100 and 2600MHz. The 3G and 4G will work in lots of countries around the world, especially in Europe and Asia. In the USA you should get 3G coverage on AT&T and possibly on T-Mobile (as only one of the needed frequencies is supported), but no 4G.
The device comes with 16GB of flash and has a micro-SD card slot which can accept cards up to 64GB.
The GPS performance is fair. The device is able to get a lock outdoors and it can even get a lock indoors, however the indoor lock seems to fluctuate a lot. There were some moments when the lock wasn’t very accurate while I was using Google Maps outdoors, however there was also a thunderstorm brewing, so it is hard to tell who was to blame, the phone or the storm! For driving, I tested the P7000 with Nokia Here maps and Google Maps and I was able to use the turn-by-turn navigation without any problems.
It is worth mentioning that the P7000 doesn’t have a gyroscope sensor (but it does have an accelerator) and the result is that you can’t use the phone with Google Cardboard or other VR applications.
In terms of internal storage, the device comes with 16GB of flash and has a micro-SD card slot which can accept cards up to 64GB. Thankfully, unlike other MediaTek based devices, the internal storage isn’t divided up, you get access to the whole lot, which is around 12GB – once you leave space for Android etc.
Camera
This phone has a 13MP rear facing camera and a 5MP front facing camera. The sensor in the rear facing camera is the SONY IMX 214 and Elephone has coupled it with a large f/2.0 aperture lens. Overall the pictures are crisp, but they seem to lack punch even in good outdoor lighting. Using HDR can help in some situations, but it isn’t a cure all.
However the low-light pictures are much better than I was anticipating, the combination of the f/2.o aperture and the support for ISO 1600 means that you are able to take pictures without the flash for many indoor situations. However the laws of physics still demand a certain amount of light to enter through the lens, so don’t expect wonders.
For those of you into video, the rear camera can capture in Full HD at 30 frames per second.
The included camera app at first glance looks like the standard AOSP app, however it seems to offer a few more features beyond HDR and Panorama. For example, the camera options include anti-shake, gesture shot, smile shot, 40 picture continuous shooting, and auto scene detection. The video options include noise reduction, EIS, and time lapse mode.
You can also change things like the exposure level, the scene type, the white balance, face detection and so on. Overall, the app is fairly comprehensive and includes some special modes like object/motion tracking.
Here are some sample shots, judge for yourself:
#gallery-1
margin: auto;
#gallery-1 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 25%;
#gallery-1 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-1 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
Software
The P7000 runs stock Android 5.0 Lollipop. You get access to Google Play and all of Google’s services like YouTube, Gmail and Maps, however most of them are not installed by default.
The device supports Over-the-Air (OTA) updates and since its official launch Elephone has made at least one new firmware release. However the default firmware on my review device had a glitch in that while it says it supports OTA updates, it actually doesn’t. The phone checks for updates and even downloads the new software but when it comes to actually updating it I get an error, “Your system was damaged, wireless update disabled!”
Although it sounds serious the phone does actually continue to function normally. The solution is to download a new firmware and re-flash the phone. After the re-flash everything works as expected. A few days after I flashed the new firmware, Elephone released another OTA patch and this one downloaded and installed without any problems.
The supplied version of Lollipop is basically stock Android with the standard launcher and an app drawer! There are a few extras included for things like the fingerprint reader; the pulsing notification LED, known in the Settings as the Harlequin LED Notification; some Smart Unlock functionality, which unlocks the phone when you are near a trusted Bluetooth device; and the screen-off wake gestures, like double tap and ‘C’ for camera etc.
The fingerprint reader is located on the back of the phone just below the camera. It is a 360 degree reader which means it doesn’t matter how you place your finger on the sensor, it will still be able to read it and recognize it. This is particularly important since most of the time you will use the reader while using the phone which means you can’t see the reader and depending on how you are holding the phone your finger will be placed on the sensor at different angles.
Overall the sensor works well. The number of misreads is actually quite low and it will only grant authorization to store fingerprints (i.e. it isn’t easy to fool). The initial set up is quite easy and just requires you to place your finger on the reader several times until the fingerprint is registered. The default security mechanism is the fingerprint unlock, which only unlocks the phone with your fingerprint. You can also use the fingerprint scanner to lock individual apps, galleries, messages etc.
Price and Wrap up
To sum up, the P7000 is a 4G LTE enabled smartphone, with a Full HD display and a octa-core 64-bit CPU. The performance is great, and it is good to see Android 5.0 Lollipop here. You can pick up an Elephone P7000 for around $230, which when you consider the overall specification of the device, is a good price.
Huawei P8 Lite review
The Bottom Line
- Reliable and long lasting battery life
- Expandable storage
- Limited yet fluid user experience
- Poorly lit display
- Uninspired build
- Ships with old software
Priced at just $250, the Huawei P8 Lite is a good entrant in the budget-friendly smartphone space, but it does fall short in some key areas when compared to its competition.
(function($)
$(document).ready(function()
$(“#aa_bottom_line .aa_bl_pros_cons”).each(function()
var aa_bl_pc=$(this).find(“.aa_bl_pc”);
var aa_bl_pros=$(this).find(“.aa_bl_pros”).height();
var aa_bl_cons=$(this).find(“.aa_bl_cons”).height();
if(window.innerWidth > 480 && aa_bl_pros != aa_bl_cons)
if(aa_bl_pros > aa_bl_cons)
aa_bl_pc.height(aa_bl_pros);
else
aa_bl_pc.height(aa_bl_cons);
)
);
)(jQuery);
Quickly becoming one of the most talked about popular categories in the Android world, budget-friendly smartphones have seen an impressive improvement in quality, while also becoming more easily available to consumers in demanding markets like the US.
Chinese OEM Huawei has some fantastic devices on offer in other key markets around the world, and now the company is making a play to get a piece of the market in the US. What does Huawei’s latest budget-friendly offering bring to the table? We find out in this Huawei P8 Lite review!
Design
The Huawei P8 Lite retains the design language of the P8, but swaps out the premium metal build of the flagship in favor of plastic, which makes sense given the low-cost nature of this device. With the move away from metal though, the P8 Lite doesn’t do much in the way of distinguishing itself from the competition, and the design isn’t particularly striking. Protruding sides with a brushed finish and plastic that wraps around from the front and back to meet the silver sides, are design elements that are quite common in the budget friendly sector of the Android world.
The SIM card slot and microSD card slot can be found to the right, and the power button sits just below the power button on the same side. The power button comes with a different feel to the touch, and there shouldn’t be any issues with accidentally pressing the volume keys instead of the power button or vice versa. Up top is a microphone and the headphone jack, and at the bottom is the microUSB port, flanked by the speaker grilles. Above the display is the 5 MP front-facing camera and the notification LED, with the Huawei branding adorning the chin below the screen. On the back, the camera module sits on the upper left, with the flash surrounded by a glossy plastic bar that stretches over the whole top.
As mentioned, the body of the device is made entirely of plastic, but resembles the P8 thanks to the faux brushed-metal design, with its smooth texture making for a somewhat slippery surface, even though it is comfortable to the touch. The rectangular design, along with its thickness of just 6.7 mm, help with the handling experience, and the relatively smaller size making the device easy to pocket.
Display
The Huawei P8 Lite sports a 5-inch IPS LCD display with a 720p resolution, resulting in a pixel density of 294 ppi. This resolution and pixel count may not be all that impressive given the world of Full HD and Quad HD that we now live in, but the smaller size means that there isn’t a lot of loss in sharpness overall, and the display proves to be quite capable.
The screen tends to a warmer color palette, but you have the option to play around with the default settings in the Settings menu. The major problem with this display is that it’s quite dim, and that means you will need to keep the brightness at 100% to use it comfortably. That aside, the display is quite good overall, with colors on the screen looking really good, with a certain pop to them.
Performance and Hardware
Under the hood, the Huawei P8 Lite packs an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 processor, clocked at 1.5 GHz, and backed by the Adreno 405 GPU and 2 GB of RAM. This processing package is what you get with a lot of other devices that fall in a similar price segment, and has proven to be quite an able performer. That is also the case here, and there’s hardly any noticeable lag. The overall experience was mostly fluid, and the UI was fast and responsive most of the time.
#gallery-1
margin: auto;
#gallery-1 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 50%;
#gallery-1 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-1 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
The P8 Lite comes with 16 GB of on-board storage, further expandable via microSD card by up to 32 GB. The device comes with a standard suite of connectivity options, along with support for 4G LTE. With its official release in the US, you don’t have to worry about compatibility, as the phone packs the LTE bands necessary for high-speed internet access on the AT&T and T-Mobile networks.
Despite the appearance of a dual speaker setup, the device houses just a single speaker on the bottom left, that actually produces a surprisingly loud and crisp sound. The audio quality isn’t as full bodied as some other, more expensive options out there, but the sound is clear, with no hint of the annoying tinny sound that plagues a lot of smartphones in this price segment. As is the case with any phone with bottom-firing speakers, it does become quite easy to cover up and muffle the sound when holding the device with two hands in the landscape orientation.
#gallery-2
margin: auto;
#gallery-2 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 33%;
#gallery-2 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-2 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
One of the highlights of the Huawei P8 Lite has to be the battery, with the 2,200 mAh unit lasting an impressively long time. Getting through a full day of use is guaranteed, and you are likely to have it survive for most of the next day, as well, with light usage. Attempting to drain the battery in one day required using the device mostly for watching videos, along with a lot of web browsing. I managed around 5 hours of screen-on time, which would have been a lot more if I didn’t need the brightness to be at a 100% all the time.
Camera
The P8 Lite features a 13 MP rear shooter with a f/2.2 aperture, and for a camera with no OIS, it does take decent photos, particularly outdoors. Colors aren’t too saturated, and might be on the duller side in some cases, but they are still more than acceptable. As with most smartphones, the camera suffers in low light conditions, which results in a lot of noise and a general lack of details.
The camera app is quite simplistic, but does come with a few modes and filters, including HDR, All-Focus Mode, that lets you change the focus of the shot after the fact, and the now popular Beauty Mode. It is also very quick and easy to start the camera and take a shot, by simply double tapping the volume down button when the phone is idle.
The front-facing 5 MP camera comes with an f/2.4 aperture, and unfortunately, proves to be quite mediocre. The shots look about average when outdoors, as they lack any richness in color and leaning towards the darker side. It doesn’t fare much better in low light conditions either, and you might not be able to depend on this shooter all the time to get that perfect selfie.
Software
The Huawei P8 Lite running Android 4.4.4 KitKat, and the use of older software is very disappointing. While there are talks of an eventual upgrade to Android 5.0 Lollipop, a fixed timeline is yet to be established on that front. Huawei’s Emotion UI is to be found on top of KitKat, and like what is seen from most Chinese OEMs, leans towards a rounded look with the icons and a generally more colorful interface.
#gallery-3
margin: auto;
#gallery-3 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 50%;
#gallery-3 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-3 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
No application drawer is available, which can take some getting used with, and leaves users dependent on using folders to keep things organized. Features such as motion controls and Smart Assistance are available with the Emotion UI, as well as a one-handed UI mode that allows the dialer on the phone to either sit on the left or right side depending on your preference. The navigation bar can also be adjusted to whatever arrangement you are comfortable with, including the option to add a key to open the notification dropdown. A Theme store is also available to let you completely change the look of the UI. Unfortunately, not a lot of options are included as of now, but that should change over time.
Gallery
Pricing and Final Thoughts
The Huawei P8 Lite is available now from Amazon for $249.99 unlocked, with the color options including white and black.
So there you have it for this closer look at the Huawei P8 Lite! The P8 Lite is certainly a solid entry to the budget-friendly smartphone segment, and gets some things right, especially in terms of battery life. That said, things are already extremely competitive in this space, with some fantastic offerings from other OEMs like Asus, Alcatel, and Motorola fighting for dominance. The P8 Lite falls short in some key areas when compared to its competition.
Voice Recorder HD review
Modern smartphones are created to be able to perform so many different tasks, from being able to check the internet (the largest repository of knowledge on the planet) to playing console quality games. With so much built into them, it can be easy to forget their original purpose, be able to understand our voices and words and then transmit them elsewhere. Well, today we are taking a moment to go back to our phone roots and appreciate the great ability that our smartphones and phones can do, understand sound. Even better, let’s appreciate that our phones can not only understand it but save it for later listening.
I mean, you never know when you are going to need to record a lecture in class because you are too busy staring at that cute girl that sits right in front of you. Morgan, I think we will call her Morgan. Anyway, I digress. Today we have a great new app that specializes in voice recording and does a great job. (Key drum roll!) Introducing Voice Recorder HD
Design
The interface of Voice Recorder HD can be best described as modern and sleek. Designed with blacks, grays and some splashes of red, it is quite the looker and doesn’t try to distract you from its actual purpose. It seems that most apps nowadays try to impress users by throwing every color under the rainbow at them, when only one or two are really needed. Anyway, Voice Recorder HD not only maintains a great color scheme but they also do not try to add so many buttons and distracting elements to their interface and instead opted to only include the needed buttons.
When you first open up the app, all you are going to see is the name of the app and a setting logo on the topmost bar, a Recorder and Voice Memo tab, a graphical image of a microphone that dominates the most of the screen, and pause and stop buttons on the bottom.
Click on the Voice Memos tab and you will be taken to the only other page of Voice Recorder HD. This section is going to appear empty until you actually record some audio, but once you do all of them will be listed on this page in order of recording. On the bottom, you will find buttons that will allow you to rewind the recording or forward it, whichever one suits your fancy at the moment.
Not satisfied with the current settings? Then you can click on the setting page on the top and from there you can change some of the options on Voice Recorder HD. From the General tab, you can change how you want your voice memos to be uploaded (which we will address later on) and the amount of time that can be rewinded or forwinded. Other options that can be changed are the recording quality and Dropbox syncing.
Features
Now that we have addressed the way Voice Recorder HD looks, let’s delve a bit deeper into all the cool features that the app provides. The number one feature (and most obvious) is the ability to record sound. Now, while that by itself is not a world changing feature, it’s the way that Voice Recorder does so and then organizes it that makes it such a great app.
“Voice Recorder HD is a great tool for anyone that finds themselves in need of recording audio on a daily basis. From recording that killer conversion with a famous celebrity to your baby’s first words, Voice Recorder has you covered. “
Voice Recorder HD also has a nifty feature that you many other similar apps do not have, the ability to automatically pause itself when you receive a phone call and resume recording after yoru call has ended. Great little feature that at first glace might not seem like a very big deal but you are going to be glad you have it when you are recording an epic monugle for yoru next acting session and your Mom calls right in the middle of it. Now you can kindly tell her you are busy and quickly resume to what you were doing.
One quick thing that wish to mention is the ability of Voice Recorder HD to allow you to sync your Dropbox account to the app. This way, if you don’t have a large amount of storage on your phone, you can instead record your audio and then send it to the cloud. This allows you to record audio in High quality without having to worry about running out of space (At least space on your phone).
Final Thoughts
We really enjoyed using Voice Recorder HD and would recommend it in a heartbeat for anyone that is in need of such an app or wishes to replace their current recording application. One feature that we would really like to see in a future update though would be the ability to be able to sync our recordings with our Google Drive accounts. While I am sure that there are many of you that use Dropbox, there are also a great many that use Google Drive exclusively (One of those being me.) Make sure to download Voice Recorder HD using the link below and let us know what you think in the comment sections below!
| Screenshots | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
The post Voice Recorder HD review appeared first on AndroidGuys.
LG G4 vs LG G3: LG’s flagships compared
The LG G3 was one of the best smartphones of 2014, but that doesn’t meant the company didn’t have anything to improve upon for its followup flagship. The brand new G4 brings some of the best specifications we’ve ever seen on a smartphone, but so did last year’s G3. So are the two different enough to warrant an upgrade? Did LG push the boundaries enough this time around? We find that out, and more, in our in-depth look at the LG G4 vs LG G3!
Related Videos
.rvs_wrapper
width: 350px;
.rvs_wrapper.align_left
float: left;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right
float: right;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center,
.rvs_wrapper.align_none
width: 100%;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center
text-align: center;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center.cbc-latest-videos ul li
float: none;
display: inline-block;
vertical-align: top;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos:not(.align_none) ul li:nth-child(2n+1)
clear: both;
.rvs_title
font-weight: 600 !important;
margin: 0 !important;
font-size: 24px !important;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right .rvs_title
padding-left: 20px;
.rvs_title a
font-family: ‘Roboto Condensed’;
color: #3a3a3a;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul
padding-top: 10px;
.rvs_wrapper.align_left.cbc-latest-videos ul li,
.rvs_wrapper.align_none.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 15px 0 0;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 0 0 15px;
float: right;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 7px;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li > a
font-weight: 400;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li > a .yt-thumbnail
margin-bottom: 0;
@media only screen and (max-width : 480px)
.rvs_wrapper
width: 100%;
text-align: center;
body .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 7px;
display: inline-block;
float: none;
vertical-align: top;
Design
LG has made it clear that its iconic design language and large form factor of the G3 is here to stay, which isn’t a bad thing in the slightest. The G3 brought the very first Quad HD display to the forefront while keeping the same rear-mounted button layout that first appeared on the G2. With the power button flanked by the volume rocker, this design cue on the G3 quickly became one of the most distinguishable LG features that would in turn end up sticking around for some time.
A brushed plastic design gives the phone a stylish and sleek profile, with some of it bleeding into the bezel on the front of the device. With that said, the bezels on the G3 are pretty respectable, so handling is mostly dictated by the larger form factor. The G3’s back cover and battery are both removable, which many consumers tend to prefer.
The G4, on the other hand, keeps the larger size but adds in a slight curve, not only for durability, but also for handling. The curve is most pronounced on the back, so the phone sits very comfortably in the hand. In turn, the very subtle curve on the front affords this device a bit more durability than what can be found on any of its flat-screened competitors. The iconic back buttons return once again, as expected, but this time around the power button is a tad thinner and not quite as easy to feel as the larger circle that’s found on the G3.
Despite being just a bit narrower, the G4 is noticeably taller, but thankfully the curve tries to even this out in the handling department. The plastic backing doesn’t quite have the clean look of the brushed texture on the G3, as the subtle grid pattern seems just a bit more odd as a design cue. Still, the main story on the G4, of course, is the vegetable-tanned leather back plate. Sourced from actual cows, these leather backs provide much more grip and give the phone a profile more unique than last year’s offering.
Handling is largely the same between these two devices, but we mostly enjoy the curves of the G4. LG definitely brought some design cues from the curved G Flex 2, which makes the G4 the overall winner in the handling department.
The G3 is a bit simpler in its design philosophy without being too generic, so the changes in the G4 might seem like their reaching a bit, especially if you factor in the new leather back plates. Still, these are two of the more unique offerings from their respective release years, because LG has stuck to their signature design language in creating an attractive yet accessible line of devices, considering their larger screen sizes.
Read and watch: LG G4 color comparison
Display
While it’s still debatable as to whether or not these new Quad HD displays are necessary, Quad HD is basically considered a requirement in a high-end flagship these days. Although the G3 was the first widely available smartphone with a Quad HD panel, it didn’t come without its quirks. Sure, the higher resolution brought a better overall pixel density, but LG made compromises in how the elements were displayed on the screen. There’s a noticeable smoothing effect that can be found on the G3 when scrolling quickly through text – a problem that isn’t as apparent on the G4. Colors on the G3 also lack a bit of a punch, despite LG’s software overlay exacerbating this with its lighter and warmer tones. Nonetheless, having a larger screen with this kind of resolution turns out to be pretty fun for both work and play. The nuances found on the G3’s panel aren’t necessarily heavy offenders, just small quirks we notice from time to time.
This is why the G4 needed to improve on the display found on last year’s model, and LG absolutely delivered with its new Quantum Display. With science aside, the point of this new version of LG’s IPS panel is to meet a standardized level of quality – the DCI film standard. The G4’s panel is missing the kind of saturation found on the G3, but it remains within the DCI levels of color, rather than the slight over-saturation that’s found on Samsung’s new panels. Though we do still notice some slight smoothing when scrolling through text, it’s definitely a lower amount than what’s found on the G3.
It shouldn’t be a surprise that the G4 screen is an improvement from last year’s panel, but the comparison still feels necessary. The enhancements make this a proper flagship offering for this year, but all in all, both panels will likely please anyone looking for a larger screen size.
Performance
LG continues to offer Qualcomm processors in its flagship devices, and that’s not a bad thing in the slightest. Last year’s LG smartphone brought the Snapdragon 801 and the Adreno 330 GPU, with the RAM capacity depending on how much storage the device offered. The 800 line is quick and capable, and despite the G3’s feature-packed software, the processor is still able to move along without many issues. Multitasking via the recent apps screen or the Dual Window feature allows for the power user to get done what they need, in an impressive amount of time, and that’s thanks in part to the G3’s beefy internals.
The G4 offers top of the line performance through and through, largely because of its improved software and bump up in specifications. Instead of opting for Qualcomm’s flagship chipset, LG went with the Snapdragon 808 processor with 3GB of RAM this time around. As a result of the toned down UI and capable CPU, fluidity and easy navigation are the cornerstones of this LG UX. Despite not really fulfilling the desires of the overly spec hungry, most power users should get the kind of performance from the G4 that they really need out of a smartphone.
When it comes to overall performance, the G4 takes the cake again. Both devices are a joy to use, but all in all, we just experienced less stutters on the G4.
Hardware
Despite changes on the outside, subtle or otherwise, much of what comes underneath the shell remains the same, and that matters more now than it did a year ago. LG currently finds itself in a landscape where plenty of manufacturers are omitting certain features that many users view as essential to their smartphone experience, which is exactly why many are favoring the G4 over other smartphones currently on the market. Both devices feature removable back plates, removable batteries and expandable storage. The option to expand the storage amount is probably the most important aspect considering the space-grabbing RAW capture in the camera of the G4, but otherwise remains simply a nice feature to have as a buffer.
The G3 was our first example of how a higher resolution display might disrupt battery life, though all in all, last year’s flagship has done a great job at offering sufficient battery life. Though the battery capacity remains the same this year, the G4’s optimizations keep longevity exactly where it should be. With a bit more moderate usage along with some work to keep background apps from running, users can stretch battery life on the G4 past the day and a half mark.
Though it might not have been a huge deal last year, the inclusion of a removable battery and expandable storage on this year’s flagship flies in the face of other manufacturers that have decided to go the other route.
Camera
LG hasn’t been shy when rolling out new ideas in the camera department, and that’s absolutely true with the G3. In hopes to continue its pursuit to make the best smartphone camera available on the market, LG added in both optical image stabilization and a handy laser guided focus feature in the G3. In turn, the G3 offered one of the fastest camera experiences available on the market at the time of its release. The speediness of the camera paired with the phone’s much simpler camera application pulled in many consumers who wouldn’t necessarily carry a G3 as their main device. Last year we really only docked the G3 for its noise reduction and post processing, but other than that, the G3’s camera produced otherwise detailed and beautifully-colored photos.
This year, LG bolstered the G4 by upping the megapixels from 13 to 16 and lowering the aperture to an impressive f/1.8. The front-facing camera was also slightly strengthened for the selfie generation with a wide angle lens and 8MP sensor. The front shooter can be controlled by a number of gestures, most notably the ability to easily check the picture by simply bringing the device down after the picture has been taken. And along with the laser auto focus and the larger sensor comes the Color Spectrum Sensor, a beefed-up IR that analyzes the scene in order to achieve proper white balance levels and more accurate colors. The G4’s camera app also includes a manual mode for those who are a bit more finicky with their photos. In the manual mode, you can use a histogram, leveler, and change very minute values – everything from the shutter speed to the kelvin levels of the white balance. You also have the ability to shoot RAW photos, allowing you to edit your images in post production if need be.
setTimeout(function()
brightcove.createExperiences();
,
3000);
The G4’s post processing is really the only misstep that we could find in LG’s newest flagship, as the smudgy noise reduction takes away from what are otherwise really great photos. Overall a better depth of field is observed in this lower aperture camera, and the colors are a tad clearer compared to the images produced by the G3’s camera. The lower aperture is also somewhat helpful in low light situations, though we can’t really complain when it comes to the G3’s larger sensor.
Again, we shouldn’t be surprised that the G4 is an improvement from the G3, but what is important to note is that in this year’s high quality offerings the bar is getting set pretty high – and the G4 stays with the pack, providing a package that is as great for common users as it is for more experienced shutterbugs.
LG G4 camera samples
It’s easy to see, judging by the few camera samples we’ve provided here, that the G4 is an obvious improvement over last year’s camera. We never really had many problems with the G3’s camera, but somehow LG largely improved the overall experience, in turn making the G4’s camera one of the best shooting experiences available in a smartphone to date.
LG G3 camera samples
Taking a look at the G3’s photos, it’s clear that LG needed to make a few improvements in the camera department, though admittedly not as many as other flagships from last year. Still, the G3’s camera provides clear photos with vibrant colors, which is an impressive feat for a smartphone that launched over a year ago.
Software
When it comes to software, LG didn’t add too many new features in its newest flagship, though a few improvements have been made to keep the G4 feeling new. LG’s UX often gets slammed by users for its abundance of features that tend to bog down the system, and that’s exactly true for the G3. Last year’s flagship has many features that most users don’t ever touch, particularly the QSlide apps that take up a lot of space in the quick settings menu. After the G3 got its Lollipop update, many of the software annoyances were fixed, but some still remained. Since the phone’s launch, the UI has been cleaned up a bit, and the Knock Code and Dual Window features have been improved as well.
The software experiences on both devices are largely the same, only with a few notable differences. The G4 features an improved calendar app that can save just about anything with ease, as well as a more powerful gallery app that categorizes pictures and videos. The G Flex 2’s Smart Notice feature has made its way to the G4 as well, though it now gives better weather notifications and warnings about battery draining background applications. Overall, though, the software has been toned down enough to where performance is improved, making the G4 a joy to use. Jumping out of the recent apps screen, Dual Window and the app drawer allow the device to move along without much stutter, which is very important in this year’s crop of flagships.
setTimeout(function()
brightcove.createExperiences();
,
3000);
If you want fast and reliable performance, the Lollipop update with the G3 helps a bit, but the G4 is a much better performer in the software section, overall.
Specs comparison
| LG G4 | LG G3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 5.5-inch Quad HD Curved Quantum display | 5.5-inch Quad HD IPS LCD display |
| Processor | 1.8 GHz 64-bit hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor | 2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor |
| RAM | 3GB | 2GB of RAM or 3GB of RAM with 32GB model |
| Storage | 32GB, expandable up to 128GB | 16/32GB, expandable up to 128GB |
| Network | 4G/LTE/HSPA+ 21/42 Mbps | 4G/LTE/HSPA+ |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth Smart Ready (Apt-X) 4.1, NFC | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth Smart Ready (Apt-X) 4.1, NFC |
| Camera | Rear 16MP with OIS+ Front 8MP |
Rear 13MP with OIS Front 2.1MP |
| Software | Android 5.1 Lollipop | Android 5.0 Lollipop |
| Battery | Removable 3,000mAh | Removable 3,000mAh |
| Dimensions | 148.9 x 76.1 x 9.8mm 155 grams |
146.3 x 74.6 x 8.9mm 149 grams |
Gallery
Pricing and final thoughts
Though the G3 is increasingly becoming available for lower prices, you will be buying a year-old phone. Although many don’t feel comfortable spending their hard-earned cash on a smartphone that was released in 2014, software updates have been doing a good job at keeping the phone from feeling like a fossil. The G3 is still a great value considering its lower price point, solid camera and speedy performance. However, the G4 has proven itself worthy in this year’s crop of flagships, and offers enough improvements across the board that make it worth the extra dough. The camera is more powerful and robust than ever, the user experience is as smooth as it should be at this point in the game, and the signature LG style continues to impress. Save some money, or don’t – that’s what it ultimately comes down to. But if you go for the G3, you might feel like you’re missing out on one of the most powerful smartphones available to date.
What are your thoughts? Do you think the G4 is worth the extra cash? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
LG G4 vs Samsung Galaxy S6 / S6 Edge – Camera Shootout
The LG G4 and Samsung Galaxy S6/edge are currently some of the best Android phones you can get your hands on. Both handsets have received no shortage of compliments, and deservedly so. We’ve already pit the flagships from the two Korean giants against each other in a comprehensive comparison but, as promised, today we’re going to focus on one particular aspect that makes both these devices amazing: the camera experience.
#gallery-1
margin: auto;
#gallery-1 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 50%;
#gallery-1 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-1 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
-
- Samsung Galaxy S6
-
- LG G4
Kicking things off with their respective self-portrait taking capabilities, looking at the image above and in the video, it’s obvious that the LG G4 does tend to overexpose some parts of these photos, and the field of view of the 8 MP front-facing shooter is somewhat narrow. The 5 MP front-facing unit of the Galaxy S6 does comes with a wider angle lens, and also benefits from a Wide Selfie Mode that allows you to use a panoramic motion in order to get more people into your shot. On the other hand, the LG G4 comes with a slew of gestures in order to make taking selfies a little more exciting, but the most useful of the lot is the ability to bring down the phone to a viewing angle that automatically lets you see the selfie you just took.
#gallery-2
margin: auto;
#gallery-2 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 50%;
#gallery-2 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-2 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
-
- Galaxy S6
-
- LG G4
Moving onto the rear cameras, the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge pack 16 MP rear shooter with a f/1.9 aperture and OIS, while the LG G4 also features a 16 MP unit with f/1.8 aperture and OIS+, as well as a laser guided auto-focus system and a color spectrum sensor that flank the camera.
#gallery-3
margin: auto;
#gallery-3 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 50%;
#gallery-3 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-3 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
-
- Samsung Galaxy S6
-
- LG G4
In lower light situations, the G4 still ends up over exposing the shot a little too much, and when there is a prominent light source on the subject, it will tend to be more blown out. Testing these cameras out during a concert, with the band members on stage being under very bright lights, you can see that even with spot metering you’re not going to be able to get a very good shot in the basic mode. That is where the Pro Modes comes in.
#gallery-4
margin: auto;
#gallery-4 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 50%;
#gallery-4 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-4 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
-
- Samsung Galaxy S6
-
- LG G4
The Pro Mode of the Galaxy S6 isn’t very robust, and there aren’t a whole lot of settings that you can manipulate, but you can bring the exposure compensation slider down, for example to -2, that does make for a somewhat better shot. The G4 did a better job with the exposure, despite the fact that, with the faster shutter speed that ISO had to compensate for, there ended up being a lot of grain in the shot. So in this situation, you’ll have to take your pick between a shot that is a little bit more overexposed with the Galaxy S6, or a better looking photo in terms of color and exposure with the LG G4 but with a lot more grain in the image.
As you may have noticed in the videos taken during the concert, taking a video makes the settings revert to what you get with the auto mode, and it is disappointing that the manual settings don’t have any effect on the video content.
#gallery-5
margin: auto;
#gallery-5 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 50%;
#gallery-5 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-5 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
-
- Samsung Galaxy S6
-
- LG G4
Moving to the outdoors and other well-lit situations, both cameras do an excellent job, but unsurprisingly, the Galaxy S6 does tend to oversaturate the shots a little bit. In some instances, this means the availability of deeper blacks and more contrast, and the punch in the colors can get to be a little much, even if some people do prefer that. In the case of the LG G4, the color reproduction is a lot more accurate because of the color spectrum sensor.
#gallery-6
margin: auto;
#gallery-6 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 50%;
#gallery-6 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-6 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
-
- Samsung Galaxy S6
-
- LG G4
There were a few rare instances where the G4 actually saturated the photo a little bit more than the Galaxy S6, as you can see in the second set of images above. The G4 also lets you cater the shot more to you liking with the more robust Manual Mode that it features, and of course, you also have the ability to shoot in the RAW format, and use the RAW capture photo in a program like Lightroom to make it look exactly the way you want it.
#gallery-7
margin: auto;
#gallery-7 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 50%;
#gallery-7 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-7 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
-
- Samsung Galaxy S6
-
- LG G4
Apart from the image quality possible with both cameras, a mention has to be made with regards to the picture taking experience itself. Samsung introduced a new shortcut with the Galaxy S6 that allowed you to double tap the home button up front to bring up the camera app and start shooting right away. The LG G4 has its own shortcut as well, a double tap of the volume down button, but this isn’t just to launch the camera app, as it also ends up taking a photo. Now, if you haven’t already framed the scene correctly without the viewfinder, or if there is nothing to take at the time, the camera will still take a picture, and only then can you begin to cater your shot, making the G4 just a little bit slower in going from the prone position to actually being able to take photos.
#gallery-8
margin: auto;
#gallery-8 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 50%;
#gallery-8 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-8 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
-
- Samsung Galaxy S6
-
- LG G4
Testing the optical image stabilization available with either device, you can see in the video above that the larger sensor of the G4 and the enhanced OIS does a great job in keeping things stable, while the resulting video with the Galaxy S6 is not as steady in comparison, and is a really big feather in the cap of the LG G4.
Samsung Galaxy S6 Camera Samples
While the Galaxy S6 tends to oversaturate, and the LG G4 has a penchant for overexposure, when it comes to capturing detail, both of these devices do a fantastic job. It’s only when you really zoom in to the photos that some disparities might come up, but is nothing significantly noticeable. You may see that the post processing that goes on results in a slight loss of sharpness in the case of the LG G4, but is something that is noticeable only when really zooming in to the shot.
LG G4 Camera Samples
So there you have it for this in-depth look at the LG G4 vs Samsung Galaxy S6 / S6 Edge camera! As you may have noticed throughout the video, the Galaxy S6 does tend feature very punchy colors, but the color reproduction with the LG G4 is far from bland, and the shots still look really nice. Bottom-line, users will likely be happy regardless of which smartphone camera they end up choosing. It cannot be emphasized enough how great both of these cameras are, and we’ve come to a point in the Android world where the smartphone tech is getting more than good enough to replace regular point and shoot cameras. This is a wonderful thing to happen, and it will only continue to get better over the course of this year and beyond.
Blu Life 8 XL review: really cheap, but that comes at a price
setTimeout(function()
brightcove.createExperiences();
,
3000);
The Bottom Line
- Flashy color options
- Stock Android version, with expected upgrade to Android 5.0 Lollipop
- Excellent battery life
- Very affordable price, especially in first week
- Disappointing camera performance
- Outdated processor and low RAM
- No 4G LTE support
While the Blu Life 8 XL is great for those on a tight budget, those with a little more to spare can find some arguably better options out there.
(function($)
$(document).ready(function()
$(“#aa_bottom_line .aa_bl_pros_cons”).each(function()
var aa_bl_pc=$(this).find(“.aa_bl_pc”);
var aa_bl_pros=$(this).find(“.aa_bl_pros”).height();
var aa_bl_cons=$(this).find(“.aa_bl_cons”).height();
if(window.innerWidth > 480 && aa_bl_pros != aa_bl_cons)
if(aa_bl_pros > aa_bl_cons)
aa_bl_pc.height(aa_bl_pros);
else
aa_bl_pc.height(aa_bl_cons);
)
);
)(jQuery);
While more and more budget-friendly offerings in their unlocked iteration are making their way to the US, one company that definitely stands out in this category is Florida-based Blu, with their diverse portfolio of devices that cover the entry-level and mid-range segment. The latest addition to their lineup is another such budget-friendly offering that falls in the sub-$150 price range. Does this device bring enough to the table? We find out in this Blu Life 8 XL review!
Design
As the name suggests, the Life 8 XL is essentially a larger version of its older sibling, the Life 8, featuring a 5.5-inch screen, compared to the 5-inch display of its smaller namesake. The design language is very similar, and other than the size, the only noticeable difference is in the navigation keys, with the Life 8 XL favoring on-screen soft keys, as opposed to the capacitive buttons found with the Life 8.
The Life 8 XL is available in five flashy colors, and is also quite thin, with a thickness of just 7.7 mm. The 8 MP camera unit at the back does end up protruding a bit as a result of the sleek profile though, which may be a point of contention, given that the phone tends to wobble a bit when set on a flat surface. The matte plastic back cover offers a nice feeling in the hand, and the back cover is also removable, despite it wrapping around to the chin of the device. Removing the back cover gives users access to the dual microSIM card slots, a microSD card slot, and the battery.
The faux metal band around the device isn’t all that convincing, and there are noticeable parting lines on both the top left and top right corners of the band. The power button and volume rocker, found on the right side of the device, are placed within easy reach and offer a decent tactile feedback, but they do rattle if you shake the device.
Maintaining the design language of its namesake, the Life 8 XL comes with a significant chin below the display, which ends up looking out of place and barren with the move away from the capacitive keys that would have otherwise been housed there. Above the display is an orange notification LED at the top left, which unfortunately isn’t bright enough to see unless you are in a poorly lit environment.
Display
The Blu Life 8 XL comes with a 5.5-inch display with a 720p resolution, with a resulting pixel density of 267 ppi. The lower resolution and pixel count does take away from what could otherwise have been a great media-consumption experience with a display of this size. Brightness is of no issue though, but outdoor visibility is surprisingly poor, and viewing angles could have been better as well. Overall, there are certainly better displays out there, even in the budget-friendly category, but this screen certainly isn’t the worst of the lot either.
There isn’t any Corning Gorilla Glass panel to help protect the display, but at least the device comes with a screen protector pre-installed, along with a spare that is included in the box.
Performance and hardware
Under the hood, the Life 8 XL packs an octa-core MediaTek MT6592 processor, clocked at 1.2 GHz, and backed by the Mali-450 GPU and 1 GB of RAM. This processing package, released in late 2013, is certainly starting to show its age, and while day to day performance is decent, it’s nothing to write home about. Multi-tasking is also a tough ask with the 1 GB of RAM unable to handle running more than a few apps at once. The stock Android software does help keep things smooth though, and the average user shouldn’t have any problems with getting things done. The device also handles gaming quite well, and even with the graphic settings set to high, the Life 8 XL did not drop frames as easily as a few other budget-friendly devices out there.
#gallery-4
margin: auto;
#gallery-4 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 25%;
#gallery-4 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-4 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
The Blu Life 8 XL comes with 8GB of on-board storage, further expandable via microSD by up to 64 GB. The device also comes with a standard suite of connectivity options and sensors, with the exception of 4G LTE support, which is quite unfortunate. You do get full support for AT&T’s HSPA+ network, but only partial support for T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network, dependending on your location.
The single speaker unit at the back gets very loud, but the audio quality isn’t the best, with the sound quite tinny. As is the case with any device with a speaker placed at this location, the sound also gets muffled easily when the device is placed on a flat surface.
#gallery-5
margin: auto;
#gallery-5 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 25%;
#gallery-5 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-5 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
The device packs a 2,920 mAh removable battery, and with the lower resolution display and power-frugal processing package, one of the highlights of the Life 8 XL is the battery life it provides. The device can comfortably last a full day and possibly longer, powering through a day that started at 7 AM and lasted till about 1 AM the next morning with just over 4 hours of screen on time.
Camera
The Life 8 XL comes with an 8 MP rear camera that takes some average shots. The camera did have some issues with focusing on closer objects, and the overall quality is unfortunately just not very good. That said, this holds true for most devices found at this price range, and isn’t just an issue with this particular camera unit. The camera application is quite simplistic, but you do get some manual control over aspects like white balance and ISO.
Software
The Life 8 XL runs Android 4.4.2 Kitkat, and with the exception of a few pre-installed apps, that can easily be removed, this is a completely stock iteration, which is quite refreshing coming from other devices. An update to Android 5.0 Lollipop is also in the works, and should make its way over the device by the end of July.
#gallery-6
margin: auto;
#gallery-6 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 25%;
#gallery-6 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-6 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
Gallery
Pricing and final thoughts
The Blu Life 8 XL will be released on the 22nd of June for $129 via Amazon, but for the first week, you will be able to pick up the device for as low as $79. This offer is available just for the first week though, so it will be a good idea to move fast if you do decide to get it.
So there you have it for this closer look at the Blu Life 8 XL! The device does get some things right, especially with regards to the battery life, but the outdated processor, mediocre camera, and lack of 4G LTE support may be hard to ignore. All said and done, this is a good option for those on a tight budget, and the $79 price point is impressive. When it does go up to $129 though, there are some arguably better options available that will set you back only an additional $30 to $80, which isn’t that much more for a better experience.
Blu Life One review: LTE on a tight budget
setTimeout(function()
brightcove.createExperiences();
,
3000);
The Bottom Line
- Beautiful design
- 4G LTE support
- Will be upgraded to Android 5.0 Lollipop
- Great battery life
- Affordable price point
- Low resolution display
- Sluggish performance at times
- Low RAM
If you’re looking for a solid device that allows for access to high-speed internet on a budget, the Blu Life One should definitely be under consideration.
(function($)
$(document).ready(function()
$(“#aa_bottom_line .aa_bl_pros_cons”).each(function()
var aa_bl_pc=$(this).find(“.aa_bl_pc”);
var aa_bl_pros=$(this).find(“.aa_bl_pros”).height();
var aa_bl_cons=$(this).find(“.aa_bl_cons”).height();
if(window.innerWidth > 480 && aa_bl_pros != aa_bl_cons)
if(aa_bl_pros > aa_bl_cons)
aa_bl_pc.height(aa_bl_pros);
else
aa_bl_pc.height(aa_bl_cons);
)
);
)(jQuery);
There are only a handful of budget-friendly smartphones in the US, priced at under $200, that feature support for 4G LTE networks. Florida-based Blu is hoping to change that though, with their revamped Life One series of smartphones. Apart from offering high-speed internet access, what else does this device bring to the table? We find out, in this Blu Life One review!
Design
The Blu Life One series features two smartphones, one with a 5-inch display, and the other, the Blu Life One XL, featuring a 5.5-inch screen. In this review, we’ll be taking a closer look at the 5-inch iteration, but it has to be mentioned that the XL edition shares the same specifications as its smaller sibling for the most part, save for its larger display, larger battery, and slightly thicker profile.
The Blu Life One is available with a few different color options, all featuring a sandstone finish and metal side housing. The device offers a very comfortable feel in the hand, weighing just 125 grams and with a thickness of just 7.5 mm. The handling experience is also very good, and simply put, the Blu Life One not only looks great, but feels extremely good as well.
The back cover is removable and allows for access to the microSIM card slot and the microSD/nanoSIM slot. Unfortunately, the battery is not user replaceable. The power button and volume rocker are placed on the right side, within easy reach, and they feature excellent tactile feedback. Up front, there is a considerable amount of bezel around the display, but it was great to see the same sandstone finish of the back cover making its way over to the front as well. Above the display is the 5 MP front-facing unit to the right and the LED notification light to the left, flanking the earpiece.
Display
The Blu Life one features a 5-inch display with a 720p resolution, resulting in a pixel density of 294 ppi. The display offers good viewing angles, and while it does get bright, it can be difficult to see in direct sunlight. There is also a noticeable backlight bleeding, that takes away from a display experience that is otherwise quite good. The display is protected by a Corning Gorilla Glass 3 panel to keep things scratch-free, but there is also a screen protector included in the box if you are looking for an additional layer of safety.
Performance and hardware
Under the hood, the Blu Life One packs a quad-core 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor, clocked at 1.2 GHz, backed by the Adreno 306 GPU and 1 GB of RAM. While this processing package has proved to be a decent performer with some other devices out there, that is unfortunately not entirely the case here.
#gallery-1
margin: auto;
#gallery-1 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 25%;
#gallery-1 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-1 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
The overall performance feels sluggish at times, and there occasional stutters while scrolling or swiping through the various elements of the UI. The available RAM is enough to keep just a few apps running at a time, and we’ll have to see how it handles the more memory-hungry Android 5.0 Lollipop that will be making its way over to the device soon. The device handles gaming decently well though, but you shouldn’t be surprised to see the occasional dropped frame and slow loading times when playing more processor-intensive games.
The Life One comes with 8 GB of on-board storage, which is further expandable via microSD card by upto 64 GB. As mentioned though, the second slot can serve as either a microSD card slot or a nanoSIM slot, so it is up to the user to choose between expandable storage or dual SIM capabilities.
Apart from a standard suite of connectivity options, the big selling point of the Life One is its support for 4G LTE on the AT&T and T-Mobile networks, allowing users to take advantage of high-speed internet access with a budget-friendly device. The single speaker unit on the back does get very loud, but the sound starts to get distorted at the higher volumes. As is the case with any smartphone with a speaker in this position, it is easy to muffle the sound when the device is placed on a flat surface.
#gallery-2
margin: auto;
#gallery-2 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 25%;
#gallery-2 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-2 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
The Blu Life One packs a non-removable 2,420 mAh battery, and given the lower resolution display and power-friendly processing package, the battery life the device provides is unsurprisingly good, and most users should not have any difficulty in getting a full day of use out of it. In my testing, the device lasted for 15 hours with close to 2 hours of screen-on time, with heavy usage that involved using the device for an hour for tethering, and for navigation for around 30 minutes. Additionally, I was using the dual SIM setup, and maintaining a connection to both the AT&T and T-Mobile networks for the majority of the day.
Camera
The Life One comes with a 13 MP Sony IMX 135 rear camera, that mostly allowed for some good looking shots. Images taken outdoors in broad daylight look great, with good detail and accurate color reproduction. There were some minor issues with exposure, but the camera is a very capable performer overall. The camera application allows for a decent level of manual control, with options to change settings like white balance, ISO, exposure, contrast, saturation, and sharpness.
Software
The Life One ships with Android 4.4.4 KitKat, with a planned upgrade to Android 5.0 Lollipop by the end of July. The software experience is quite similar to stock, save for some custom icons and the use of Opera as the default web browser, with the included launcher not really doing much in the way of software customization.
#gallery-3
margin: auto;
#gallery-3 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 25%;
#gallery-3 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-3 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
One point of note is the fact that you are currently unable to change the lock screen wallpaper. After trying to change it using the default launcher as well as the Google Now launcher, there was no option to change the wallpaper of the lock screen. The setting isn’t something that is hard to get to either, and changing the wallpaper under the Display section in the Settings menu yielded no results.
Gallery
Pricing and final thoughts
The Life will be available starting today, priced at just $149, via Amazon. Blu is also offering a special discount for the first week, pricing the device at just $99. Keep in mind that this is available for the first week only, so you’ll need to act fast if you do decide to pick up this phone.
So there you have it, for this closer look at the at the Blu Life One! Overall, the Life One offers great value for money with its beautiful design and solid build quality, good camera, impressive battery life, and more importantly, 4G LTE support. While not without its issues, notably in performance, the $149 price tag, and $99 availability in the first week, certainly make for a good buy. If you’re on the lookout for a device that allows for access to high-speed internet on a budget, you should definitely consider the Blu Life One.
Inateck HB4009 review
As many of you may know, I am a huge fan of the cool gadgets thatInateck manufacturers. With inexpensive products that still function as well as their higher priced competitors, it’s hard not to like them. Well, a few weeks ago they contacted me to see if I would be interested in reviewing their latest product, the Inateck HB4009. I, of course, jumped on the purity and I am happy to say they did not disappoint. The Inateck HB4009 is a really cool gadget that allows you to connect two devices, such as your Windows PC and your Android smartphone, and move files between them using the seamless software that is included and your mouse and keyboard. That’s right, you can control your Android smartphone using the same mouse and keyboard you use to control your computer! Enough of my geekish outburst though, let’s get on with the show and let’s see just how well the Inateck HB4009 performs.
| Amazon Store | Inateck HB4009 |
|---|
Design
Aesthetically speaking, the Inateck HB4009 looks just like any other USB hub. So much so, that without the included software that makes device connect to two completely different devices, you would never be able to tell the difference. Made completely out of a gray plastic, the Inateck HB4009 is rectangular in shape with ports on top and on the right and left sides. Starting with the top half, the Inateck HB4009 has three USB 3.o ports that also provided the device with some small splashes of color since the USB ports are blue instead of the gray found everywhere else.
Real World Testing
On the right and left sides, you are greeted with two more USB ports, one with a non-removable cord and the other a simple port. The one that does not have the built-in cord is the port that allows you to connect two devices together. The Inateck HB4009 comes with a USB cable and an OTG adapter, but you can use your own if you have on already. The actual magic that allows the devices to connect together is built into the Inateck HB4009 and has nothing to do with the cables themselves.
Now we can get to what makes the Inateck HB4009 more than just another USB hub. As I mentioned earlier, there are two sides to the Inateck HB4009. One that has the built in USB cable and one that does not. Well, the one that does not have the built-in cable is called the “Magic Port.” Magic Port you ask? Yes, the Magic Port. The name suits it well if you ask me, as there is an aura of magic that is felt when you connect two devices together and then control them using the same set of controls without having to instal a plethora of software tools or having to spend hours configuring things to get them to work. Magic, right?
To test the Magic Port, I connected the Inateck HB4009 to my Windows 8 machine and to my Droid Turbo. Everything worked like a charm as my computer instantly recognized the Inateck HB4009 and automatically ran the software needed to use the device. I have to say that I was a bit amazed being to click Alt+s (the default hotkeys) and being able to use my mouse to control my computer and smartphone. I could then copy files from both devices with ease, and I used the opportunity to back up some of my phones pictures onto my PC. I should state just for reference that for me to be able to use my computers mouse and keyboard on my Droid Turbo, I need to connect them to the USB ports on the Inateck HB4009 and not just leave them hooked up to my computers USB ports.
While the Inateck HB4009 performed remarkably and did what is stated that it would do, there was one small hiccup that needs to be noted. That being changing from one screen to another. I had some issues making the Inateck HB4009 change from my PC to my Droid Turbo though that could easily be user error. I found myself having to click on Alt+S more than once to make the device change though I must say I didn’t try changing the hotkey to another key configuration to see if that made any difference.
Final Thoughts
The Inateck HB4009 is a great tool for those that find themselves using multiple devices on a daily basis and hate having to use USB drives to transfer files from one computer to another (since we are assuming you have a distaste for cloud storage). While we only touched on the subject of how the Inateck HB4009 performs when connecting a Windows PC to an Android device, the Inateck HB4009 is also capable of connecting to windows machines, a windows machine and a mac, and so on. So as you can see, the Inateck HB4009 has quite the potential to be a multitasking machine.
The post Inateck HB4009 review appeared first on AndroidGuys.
AIVAnet 
