Sony’s Xperia Z5+ to run 4K X-Reality software, lends weight to 4K display rumour
Moving away from Samsung articles, here we have a report that Sony could bring a new version of its display software called X-Reality to its upcoming Xperia smartphones. While that news isn’t exactly enthralling, another small factoid has reared its head that is much more exciting; in that a version of the display software is called 4K X-Reality. This lends further credence to the rumour that the upcoming Xperia Z5+ (S70+) may actually carry a 4K display.
According an article published last week, the Xperia Z5+ is apparently using the Snapdragon 810 processor and features a 5.5-inch display with a whopping 801ppi. In that same article, Brad, quite rightly, is sceptical about the Z5+ actually having a 4K display largely down to the huge impact such a high-resolution display would have on battery life, as well as the associated risks that come with using a Snapdragon 810 chip.
On the flip side of that opinion, Sony uses its 4K X-Reality PRO display software in its 4K televisions to help upscale HD content. It isn’t a huge leap of faith to connect the use of the 4K X-Reality display software with the Z5+ to mean that it will sport a 4K display. Also, given that the Z5+ will be slightly larger than the Z5, surely that means there is space for a larger battery, to help minimize the impact on battery life from using such a high-resolution display.
The other rumoured Xperia handsets, the Xperia Z5 (S70) and Z5 Compact (S60). will run the X-Reality display firmware as well, albeit not the 4K version. What do you think? Will Sony go all-in with the Xperia Z5+ trying to differentiate it from the likes of Samsung or is the inclusion of a 4K display just overkill? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Digi-Wo
Via: XperiaBlog
Come comment on this article: Sony’s Xperia Z5+ to run 4K X-Reality software, lends weight to 4K display rumour
Sony adds binaries for 64-bit devices
Sony has uploaded a new set of operating system binaries for their first 64-bit devices based on Android 5.1 Lollipop. The new files will work on the Sony Xperia Z3+, Xperia Z4 Tablet and the Xperia Z4 Tablet WiFi. All of these devices are based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor. With these files uploaded to the Sony AOSP for Xperia web site, the custom ROM community will be able to more easily produce customized, AOSP based ROMs.
Along with those devices, Sony also created a new file repository for the Xperia M4 Aqua even though the device is not able to be unlocked at present. The Xperia M4 Aqua is based on the mid-range Snapdragon 615 chip from Qualcomm.
Developers interested in pulling these AOSP builds into their ROM creations can head over to Sony’s site to download the binaries and instructions. Sony does say there may be a few stability issues and functions disabled.
source: Sony
via: Android Authority
Come comment on this article: Sony adds binaries for 64-bit devices
First 64-bit Sony devices added to its open device project
Sony has been making a major effort to open up its devices to third party ROM development and has now uploaded a new set of 5.1 Lollipop AOSP binaries for the company’s first 64-bit devices – the Xperia Z3+, Xperia Z4 Tablet and Xperia Z4 Tablet WiFi.
Sony has also uploaded a repository for the Xperia M4 Aqua, which is also a 64-bit phone, but the handset is not officially supported right now as it cannot be unlocked at this point in time. All of these Xperia devices are based on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 810 SoC, which is built from four 64-bit ARM Cortex-A57 and four Cortex-A53 CPU cores, except for the M4 Aqua, which is based around a mid-range octa-core Snapdragon 615.
For developers and end users, this means that the custom ROM community can now more easily start working away on their customized AOSP based creations for these devices. However, Sony has stated that there may be a few stability issues and some important functions may be disabled with these builds.
Eager developers can grab the binaries for Android 5.1 Lollipop, along with instructions for integrating them with their build, over at Sony’s AOSP for Xperia website.
Darth Vader PS4 bundles cater to your ‘Star Wars’ cravings
Between The Force Awakens, Battlefront and Disney Infinity, you’re about to get your fill of Star Wars — and Sony is determined to capitalize on that sci-fi feast with some special PlayStation systems. It’s releasing two limited edition Darth Vader PS4 bundles that each include a distinctive 500GB console (emblazoned with the Sith Lord’s face, naturally) and a controller whose red and white accents mimic Vader’s chest panel. The core Battlefront Vader bundle includes both a Deluxe edition of its namesake shooter as well as a voucher for four vintage Star Wars games (Super Star Wars, Bounty Hunter, Jedi Starfighter and Racer Revenge). Head to Walmart, meanwhile, and you can spring for a Disney Infinity 3.0 Vader bundle that replaces Battlefront with Infinity and a matching figurine kit. And if you’re just interested in software, there will be a plain PS4 bundle that includes Battlefront and the classic games.
Sony hasn’t divulged pricing just yet, but we’d expect at least the Darth Vader kits to carry a premium over run-of-the-mill 500GB systems. All of the new hardware will be available on November 17th, and pre-orders are poised to start “soon.”
Source:
PlayStation Blog
Tags: battlefront, bundle, darthvader, disneyinfinity, gaming, infinity, playstation, playstation4, ps4, sony, starwars, starwarsbattlefront, video, videogames
New in our buyer’s guide: the Chromebook Flip and some gaming gear
Yes, we know: A bunch of phones just came out. Don’t worry, we’ll be reviewing those shortly. In the meantime, we have a handful of items we’d like to induct into our buyer’s guide. Included among them: not one, but two laptops, including the impressive Chromebook Flip and MSI’s GT80 Titan gaming notebook, which packs a mechanical keyboard. Rounding out the list are Teenage Engineering’s pocket-sized synthesizers and a pair of gaming peripherals, including the newer Xbox One Kinect sensor and the PlayStation Camera. Also, though there’s nothing wrong with the old wireless Xbox 360 controller, we’ve updated our guide to recommend you hold out for the wireless Xbone version. In any case, that’s all for now — check back next month to see what we add next.
Filed under:
Laptops, Wearables, Sony, Microsoft, ASUS, LG
Source:
Engadget Buyer’s Guide
Tags: asus, buyers guide, buyersguide, engadget buyers guide, engadgetbuyersguide, lg, microsoft, sony
The best voice recorder
This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a list of the best technology to buy. Read the full article here.
After 36 hours of research, testing eight different devices in a number of real-world settings and then playing the audio we collected to a four-person blind listening panel to evaluate its sound quality, we’ve determined that the best audio recorder for taping meetings, lectures, and interviews is the $100 Sony ICD-UX533. It recorded the most intelligible and truest-to-life sound clips of all the recorders we tested. It’s easily pocketable and its intuitive, easy-to-press function buttons combined with a legible, backlit screen gave it the best user interface out of all the models in our test group.
Who is this for?
If you want to record a lecture, meeting, or interview, this pick is for you. It’s ideal for students, radio journalists, and anyone who needs to record meetings for future reference. On the other hand, if you’re a musician, a professional podcaster, a radio journalist or if you belong to some other profession that requires the use of a high-quality audio recorder on a regular basis, this pick isn’t for you.
How we decided
Four of the eight devices we tested to find the best.
We found that for $100 or under, it was reasonable to expect a recorder that offers respectable sound quality, an easy-to-read display and simple user interface, at least 4GB of internal memory, the ability to record at multiple bitrates/in multiple formats and to easily transfer files to an Apple or Windows PC. We looked at dozens of recorders with these features and then chose to call in eight for testing. To test the hardware’s recording capabilities, we recorded sound in six different real-world environments and then submitted the collected audio to our blind listening panel to decide which device sounded the best.
Our pick
The Sony ICD-UX533 is a compact, capable and easy-to-use audio recorder that provides crisp, clear audio in everyday recording situations.
$100 Sony ICD-UX533 is our main pick due to its excellent recording quality, useful feature set, great build quality, bright backlit display and easy-to-master user interface. It won over our listening panel by producing clearer, truer-to-life recordings in a wider variety of challenging environments than any other audio recorders we tested.
The ICD-UX533 can record MP3s at 8, 48, 128,192-kilobits-per-second, or in Linear PCM/MP3 at a rate of 320 kbps. It’s 4GB of built-in storage can hold about 45 hours’ worth of 192kbps audio. It can also use a microSD card up to 32GB in size. And because it stores the microSD card behind the battery, there’s no chance of losing it. It runs off of a single AAA battery that’ll provide roughly 24 hours of power and can recharge via USB if you put a rechargeable battery in it.
We weren’t thrilled with the sound quality of its built-in speaker, but it was no worse than the other units we tested in this regard. Additionally, it’s glossy plastic shell scratches kind of easily. But overall, it makes better-sounding recordings more easily than every other recorder we tested.
Runner-up (and budget-friendly pick)
The Sony ICD-PX333 is a competent, inexpensive recorder, but it makes only mono recordings.
The runner up in our listening panel tests was the $52 Sony ICD-PX333, which, thanks to the clear, understandable recordings it made during both rounds of environmental testing, earned almost as much praise from our panelists as our $100 main pick did. The ICD-PX333 is a monaural recorder, which means it neither records nor plays back audio in stereo (although if you plug headphones into it, you will hear audio from it in both ears.). That’d be a big deal if you were using the hardware to record music or if you planned on using what you captured for broadcast on the radio or in a podcast. But you just want to record a lecture, meeting minutes, or personal notes, this shortcoming is tolerable.
It weighs more (it uses two AAA batteries instead of one) than our main pick does, has fewer audio quality settings, and puts its microSD slot on the outside—which means you might lose your card if you’re not careful.
This guide may have been updated by The Wirecutter. To see the current recommendation, please go here.
Filed under:
Portable Audio/Video, Sony
Tags: ICD-PX333, ICD-UX533, partner, sony, SonyICD-PX333, sonyICD-UX533, syndicated, thewirecutter, voicerecorder, wirecutter
Promo image of the Sony Xperia Z5 leaks out
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push();
We’ve been hearing more and more about the Sony Xperia Z5 as we approach IFA 2015 where it is expected to be announced. Today, a new promo image has leaked out which is allegedly of a device called the Sony Xperia Z5+ – personally I’m not convinced by the name since the Xperia Z3+ only came out after the Xperia Z3 did. According to the report, the pictured device is a phablet, which actually lines up with a previous rumour that suggested that the Xperia Z5 is going to have a 5.5-inch display, making it a phablet.
While it’s extremely hard to confirm what we have here, we can see the blurry outline of an elongated power button on the side of the device – this is also what we saw in previous leaked photos of the device. The Xperia Z5 is also expected to be announced with two companions, the smaller (yet no less powerful) Xperia Z5 Compact, and the larger (yet not more powerful) Xperia Z5 Ultra. Naturally, all we can do is wait and see whether any of this is true when Sony inevitably holds a press conference at IFA 2015.
What do you think about the Sony Xperia Z5? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: XperiaBlog
The post Promo image of the Sony Xperia Z5 leaks out appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Promotional material of Sony’s Xperia Z5+ leaks on Twitter
We all know Sony will release the Xperia Z5 at some point. It’s also a pretty safe bet that they’re going to stick with what’s worked for them for the past few years. According to some promotional material, though, Sony might try to shake things up with a bigger variant of their flagship Xperia device this year.
The above shot is of the Xperia Z5+ with a model number S70+. As of right now, that’s a completely unconfirmed device, but with that naming convention it’s pretty likely we’ll see a bigger version of the Z5 alongside the regular version and the compact version. It’s not completely clear if this will get into Xperia Z Ultra screen size, but it’s a safe bet that it’s going to be bigger than the 5-inch screen we always see on the flagship Xperia Z refresh.
IFA is coming up next month, where Sony usually announces one thing or another. Might want to keep an eye out for this one.
source: Steve Hammerstoffer (Twitter)
Come comment on this article: Promotional material of Sony’s Xperia Z5+ leaks on Twitter
Sony Xperia Z5 rumor roundup
The Sony Xperia Z4 (or Z3+) may have been a great device for the Japanese market, but it was certainly not the flagship phone we were all hoping for. The truth is the newest Xperia device is only an incremental upgrade over its predecessor, the Z3. Sony is known for releasing a couple flagship series per year, though. Now all eyes are on the Sony Xperia Z5 and Z5 Compact, which are said to be the high-end phones we have all been expecting to see coming from the mighty Japanese manufacturer.
As you can expect, rumors and leaks have begun surfacing and we can now get a slight idea of what to expect. Let’s take you through all the bits of information we currently know. By the way, this Sony Xperia Z5 rumor roundup will continue to get updated as more details emerge. Sony fans and other interested readers should keep this page bookmarked and look out for changes as they continue to appear!
Disclaimer: Keep in mind these are all rumors. None of the information you will find in this article has been confirmed by Sony, so please don’t quote us on these details just yet. With that said, let’s get down to business!
Design
Sony has been known to play a key role in 007 films’ product placement, and this year seems to be no exception. Sony shared an image last month, sending out a teaser that mentioned an Xperia device with the number “5” in its name. It was a phone that would be “made for bond”, which led us to believe there would be major changes to the design.
Sony is not one to stray from its classic design language, though, and it seems the case will be similar with the Z5 series. The latest image leaks from @vizileaks display a couple Sony smartphones next to the iPhone 5s (for size comparison reasons). These phones (likely the Xperia Z5 and Xperia Z5 Compact), have the same square, sleek design the brand is now so popular for. The device still has a dedicated camera button, the volume rocker and a power button placed on the right side.
The only key difference in here is the power button, which is now larger, but there is a reason for that (more on that in the specifications section). Otherwise, the phone still uses that black slab design that happens to make many Sony fans very happy.
Sony has always been good at making its products waterproof and resistant to active lifestyles, so we can expect that from the Z5 series, as well. So far no leaks have corroborated that, though.
Display
Sadly, we haven’t heard too much about the display yet. The little we have heard comes from website AndroidOrigin. Their sources suggest Sony will finally take the plunge and upgrade to QHD resolutions, but only for the regular version (and the Xperia Z5 Ultra, which we haven’t heard many rumors of). The Xperia Z5 Compact would keep a 1080p display. Other sources do say all new Xperia Z5 phones will come with 1080p displays, though. We are not exactly sure who to trust here.
We haven’t heard a thing about size either, but the Xperia Z4 and Z4 Compact have 5.2-inch and 4.7-inch panels, relatively. We can assume sizes will be similar on their direct successors.
Specifications
This is another area we don’t know much about. The only thing we can put more trust on is the fact that the phone should come with a fingerprint reader, and it is integrated into the power button (hence the larger size).
Aside from this, we have nothing but sourceless rumors coming from multiple sites. Needless to say, we would especially not hold our breath on these details, but here they are. Murmurs say the phone should come with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, 4 GB of RAM, a 21 MP camera (likely Sony Exmor) and a massive 4500 mAh battery. I am really praying for that battery size! Unfortunately, that 820 is pretty much impossible, as Qualcomm recently revealed the chip won’t be seen until Q1 2016. More likely, we are looking at 810 or 808.
Software
There’s not much info on this either, but we can assume the phone will come with the latest Android software. Depending on when the phone is released, that could be Lollipop or possibly even Android M, which should launch along with the new Nexus phones later this year. For what it is worth, Sony has been reportedly testing out redesigned software so it’s possible that the UI experience could get a major refresh for the Sony Xperia Z5 — but it’s really too early to say for sure.
Announcement and release date
Once again, nothing has been confirmed (or even highly suggested) but Sony does have a major press conference scheduled for September 2nd at IFA 2015, in Berlin. Most of us are hoping that is when the new Sony flagship phone will be announced. Regardless, we would say a release is to come before the end of the year. Sony wouldn’t like to miss the Christmas shopping season.
E’ confermato: il 2 settembre terremo una conferenza stampa da #SonyIFA per annunciarvi tante novità! pic.twitter.com/LOPiwjK4kd
— Sony Italia (@sonyitalia) July 27, 2015
Wrapping up
Sony Xperia Z5 (and Compact) rumors are still very fresh, so keep coming back for more as the details become more clear. Like we said above, this post will continue to be updated as more rumors emerge, so stay tuned to it!
The Xperia Z5 series is looking to be exactly the flagship we were hoping to get with the Z4, so things are starting to look up for the Japanese manufacturer. Those numbers need to start rising, and that won’t happen if Sony sticks with slight upgrades (at least not outside of Japan).
Are you thinking of getting a Sony Xperia Z5 or Z5 Compact? Hit the comments and let us know what you would like to see your next phone touting. Are you happy with the rumors we have so far?
Samsung Galaxy S6 vs Sony RX100, how good is today’s smartphone camera?
Many of us use our smartphones as our primary cameras. We’re aware that they cannot compete with real cameras. Their lenses are too small. But that’s okay, they’re good enough. But for the curious folk, how good exactly?
We continually see OEM’s pushing the technological capabilities of our tiny shooters. To us faint of heart, they look superb, don’t they? Is it justified that we cower in submission when our buddies, who lug their humongous DSLR everywhere, scoff at our puny, insignificant excuse of a camera?
Well, I wouldn’t dare to say that it isn’t justified from a quality perspective. But, I can argue that they’re not as bad and insignificant as they could be perceived. This is why I thought a camera shootout should be in order.
The Galaxy S6 camera is one of the best (if not the best) camera offerings in an Android smartphone. And the contender? Well, I felt it’d be frivolous to compare it to a DSLR. They’re no where in the same league. But what about a renowned compact camera? On the opposing corner we have the Sony RX100 (Mark II).
Yes, I know. Sony’s compact flagship is up to the Mark IV generation currently. The Mark II is what I have in my arsenal. Both models use a similar Carl Zeiss lens, it’s close enough.
Before I begin, know that I’m no professional photographer. But for this kind of comparison, I think that’s a good thing. I won’t overdo the analysis and bore with technicalities. I’m more interested in what the average user is interested in: What is the grade of the pics coming out of my flagship smartphone camera? Should I not be using it as a dedicated camera, am I unknowingly missing out?
These are great questions to ask, which no one is asking. And the results from my tests are quite surprising. I went around shooting the same shots with both cameras, of random things.
The Galaxy S6 camera shoots 16:9 at 16MP (I’m actually using the S6 Edge variant, but they both have the same camera). The RX100 has 20 MP at 3:2 natively, but I set it at 16:9, which lowers the resolution to a more comparable 17 MP. Furthermore, both cameras were set to their Auto modes (on the RX100, I used Sony’s Superior Auto setting). The settings on the RX100 are far more adjustable than the S6 camera, but most people simply point and shoot.
Let’s take a look at the results. The Galaxy S6 images will be on the left and the RX100 images will be on the right. I’ve made three category of images: flowers/landscape, indoors, and outdoors/beach.
Flowers/Landscape
The details here are extremely close. I can’t really tell a difference, other than that the Galaxy S6 image looks a tad brighter.
It’s the same deal here. The detail of the butterfly and flowers are all there in both images. Focusing is a tad different. The RX100 appears to start defocusing at a shorter distance.
This image shows a more interesting result. The sun is shinning directly on the pansies, and that seems to throw the Galaxy S6 camera off. Not drastically, but you can say that the pedals are slightly washed-out. The RX100 captures their colors more deeply. Also, the RX100 has more dramatic focusing going on with the background.
On this landscape image, I think it’s clear too which wins. But again, we’re not looking at stark differences. The colors of the plants in the RX100 image have deeper colors, and the overall tone isn’t as washed-out.
I saw my dog laying still, so thought it’d make a good pet photo (his name is Ian). I actually prefer the Galaxy S6 shot on this one. The RX100 image looks slightly washed-out this time. And that plant he’s laying on looks clearer on the Galaxy S6 image.
This last one shows an angry spider on a daisy. I think the RX100 is the clear winner here. The RX100 captures detail on the small spider much better and the purple color of the daisy is deeper.
Indoors
While great detail is captured by both cameras, the RX100 wins out with truer color reproduction. To me, the Galaxy S6 image has a slight red tint to it.
What came out most noticeably in this comparison is the difference in focus depth. The RX100 actually tends to be too aggressive with its pin-pointed autofocusing, for me. To adjust it, you have to mess with lens aperture setting.
The Galaxy S6 camera is able to capture the detail in the waffle and the moisture reflections of the banana. I think it looks great.
This was an interesting, sort of low-light shot. Because of the aggressive defocusing of the RX100, the Galaxy S6 actually captures the spider detail better (the RX100 focused on the bottom/right area of the web). But like usual, the RX100 captures the scene colors better. As seen before, the S6 camera’s overall color tone can be affected largely by the lighting situation.
For the next pair of shots, I wanted to see how far I could push low light capture of both cameras. I grabbed my trusty R.A.T. 9 gaming mouse and cut the lights slightly, and then tried an even dimmer spot.
The first pair of shots show that the Galaxy S6 camera starts to become grainy at lower light, but can still pull the detail it needs out of the subject. Being that the RX100 has a larger lens, it can pull in more light, but it does start to show some blurryness. When the light is removed even more, the S6 shot suffers in all areas. Impressively, the RX100 is still able to find light, but it struggles more with the blurryness.
Outdoors/Beach
I was impressed with the detail of the beach logs from both cameras. My only complaint is that the Galaxy S6 image has a slighy peachy tint in comparison.
To me, this one is a win for the Galaxy S6. The colors look richer on its image. The detail from both cameras are present.
Very similar image here. I have a preference for the Galaxy S6 image again, solely because it looks brighter to me.
When I zoomed on a traveling ferry, I already knew which device would win. The RX100 has optical zoom, the Galaxy S6 doesn’t. I just wanted to see how wide the difference was.
The RX100 can zoom a max of 3.6X, so this is how much I zoomed on the Galaxy S6. As expected, just about everything is clearer/sharper on the RX100 image.
More fairly, I got a shot when the ferry docked. An interesting point is the sunlight’s reflection on the mostly-white vessel. To me, the Galaxy S6 camera slightly overblows the lighting on ship’s body.
I prefer the RX100 in this image. I don’t know if it’s the lighting bouncing off the surrounding buildings, but the color of the flowers look richer to me in the RX100 shot.
The detail of the gate and de-focusing around it are captured beautifully in both images. But notice the color of the lawn. For some reason the greenery is over-saturated on the Galaxy S6 image.
Both of these images came out great, to me. I think I see that slight peachy tint on the Galaxy S6 image, but at the same time, it’s brighter. So it may come down to preference.
This last one was when I sat down with a cup of coffee. This was a shaded area, on a bright day. Interestingly, both cameras reacted differently. The S6 camera was more concerned with the overall shot, maintaining the contrast with the buildings in the background, but dimming the closer-up subjects (brick wall and chair).
The RX100 appears to wash-out the surrounding buildings, but captures the direct subjects much better. Notice the floor to the left, the RX100 is able the detail much better.
Final Thoughts
I was enormously impressed by the Galaxy S6 camera. To a causal picture-taker, such as myself, it can totally compete with a good dedicated camera. And this is saying a lot, because the RX100 is roughly the same cost of the Galaxy S6 itself.
Yes, there were clear moments that the RX100 won. To sum it up, the Galaxy S6 camera can lose color richness and have a tint with certain lighting conditions, it can’t zoom well (like other digital zooming cameras), and it can’t keep up in low-light shots.
But none of those negatives were drastic, it’s just nit-picking. And on some of those comparisons, I had to reach deep to comment on something negative. Do you agree with my assessments?
The post Samsung Galaxy S6 vs Sony RX100, how good is today’s smartphone camera? appeared first on AndroidGuys.
AIVAnet 