Top 10 Smartphones Accessible Now

The year's top 10 smartphones accessible now

Back in December I wrote about my top smartphones of 2013. With all above aboriginal division new smartphones accessible from US carriers this week, it’s time to attending at the best accessories to acquirement as we alpha 2014.

We can apprehend a new iPhone, the Xperia Z2, possibly a new Moto X, and added advancing in the next few months. For now, there are at atomic 10 acceptable superior accessories — this account is based on my adventures and opinions. I am abiding abounding will accept altered opinions about the baronial and am analytical to see what your top accessories are at this time.

Number 1: Apple iPhone 5s

All break are that we will see a new iPhone, possibly with a beyond display, appear in June at WWDC. However, afterwards searching at the accepted updates from HTC and Samsung, it is difficult for me not to accord my top aces to the Apple iPhone 5s. With the iPhone 5s in hand, you get all of the latest apps and casework first, a solid assuming all-around camera, an acutely pocketable anatomy factor, and a smartphone that is artlessly boxy to beat.

Number 2: HTC One (M8)

The HTC One (M7) was my top smartphone of 2013 and I would accept placed this new HTC One (M8) at the top of this account if HTC had done a bit added with the rear camera. It is candidly still the smartphone I would alone acquirement myself at this time, but I accept not anybody wants a new accessory just because it has the best body superior over aggregate abroad available. HTC bigger its Sense 6 UI so that it candidly enhances, rather than detracts from, the Android experience. There is just the appropriate bulk of customizations, settings, and appearance after accepting ascendant like Samsung tends to do. You won’t acquisition a bigger advised smartphone and HTC did a absurd job convalescent on an already abundant device.

Number 3: Samsung Galaxy S5

Samsung’s latest smartphone is accessible from US carriers this anniversary and — as acutely declared in CNET’s abounding analysis — the S5 is one of the top two Android smartphones to acquirement appropriate now. It has some new appearance over the S4, such as a fingerprint scanner, affection amount monitor, upgraded 16 megapixel camera, and baptize aggressive design. The Samsung Galaxy S5 is one of the alone smartphones today that offers both a disposable array and microSD amplification agenda slot, which makes it accessible for alley warriors. There are affluence of options in the S5, but thankfully TouchWiz has been slimmed down a bit to action a bigger all-embracing experience.

Number 4: Moto X

While the Moto X was launched endure fall, it charcoal one of my admired smartphones of all time. The Moto X is abundant because of the things Motorola has done to accomplish the all-embracing acquaintance fantastic, including alive notifications, touchless controls, Motorola Connect, and Motorola Assist. The Moto X is aswell one of the everyman priced smartphones you can acquirement and is accessible on all US carriers via the Moto Maker customization site. Even admitting I abide to analysis out the HTC One (M8), my SIM keeps award its way aback into my custom Moto X because of the Motorola enhancements.

Number 5: Nokia Lumia Icon

Windows Buzz is accepting bazaar allotment and the best all-embracing Windows Buzz accessible today is acutely the Nokia Lumia Icon from Verizon Wireless. It offers up the absolute mix of awning size, 5 inches, with abundant centralized specs and a absurd camera. You can’t exhausted a top end Nokia Lumia camera on a buzz and the Icon doesn’t disappoint. Nokia just appear the Lumia 930, which is the GSM adaptation of the Lumia Icon for barter alfresco the US. Windows Buzz has appear a continued way and will be accepting even bigger actual anon with the Windows Buzz 8.1 amend that was appear and apparent off endure week At EQ Works, we believe that every website should generate results; whether it’s an ecommerce site driving direct sales or a lead generation site that kick starts the sales process for offline revenue..

Samsung Galaxy S5 aboriginal take: Can it trump the new HTC One?

Samsung Galaxy S5 aboriginal take: Can it trump the new HTC One?

The Samsung Galaxy S5 and HTC One (M8) both arise in food at the four above US wireless carriers tomorrow. If I appointment T-Mobile tomorrow, it's acceptable I will be walking out with just One. I plan to do a abounding analysis afterwards I get a brace of weeks with the device, but in the concurrently I acclaim you analysis out the analysis on CNET. Samsung sells millions of Galaxy smartphones and they are abundant accessories to accede purchasing. The Galaxy S5 is the next change in the band and has some nice improvements that accept me actively because it.

I abnormally like the baptize aggressive design, anatomic centermost accouterments button, camera performance, accessible widgets, and hardly beneath advancing UI update. However, I'm not a fan of the artificial design, cartoonish app icons, slight lag in admiration compared to the One (M8), and continued all-encompassing new settings area.

Let's yield a afterpiece attending at the Galaxy S5.

Initial accouterments thoughts

I accustomed the AT&T Samsung Galaxy S5 to analysis out for a brace of weeks and it accustomed in the archetypal tan box I accept apparent Galaxy accessories address in the endure few releases. I opened up the box to acquisition a charcoal atramentous device. I absolutely like the new bendable blow and pleather back. The Bandaid comparisons are a bit exagerated.

The weight feels acceptable for a accessory with a 5.1-inch display. I'm not a fan of the argent artificial anatomy and anticipate this is absolutely one breadth breadth Samsung could add some metal and decidedly advance the superior feel of the device.

The Cool AMOLED affectation looks great. Samsung knows how to accomplish displays pop and the S5 is no barring there.

Personally, I like accepting the accouterments button at the bottom, aback it gives me a quick way to consistently get aback to a home awning console to alpha at or calmly barrage Google Now with a columnist and hold. The accouterments button aswell serves as a fingerprint scanner, but I accept not yet had time to absolutely analysis it out.

The Galaxy S5 is baptize aggressive with the basal USB charging aperture bankrupt and it is appealing simple to accessible and close. I would adulation to see Samsung awning Qi charging; you will be able to buy alternative aback covers with this capability, which would again accomplish the accessory added calmly waterproof. You can in fact see the baptize sealing gasket beneath the aback awning if you yield it off.

You can pop off the aback awning to admission the microSIM agenda (I accepted nanoSIM like all the added flagships), microSD card, and disposable battery. I apperceive abounding association like disposable batteries, but even admitting I buy them for my accessories I rarely anytime use them (I rarely accumulate my accessories best than a year) so it is not a benefit for me personally.

On the aback you will acquisition the 16 megapixel camera centered abreast the top. Taking a few quick photos, I noticed that the S5 absolutely has bigger detail than the HTC One (M8). Below the camera is the individual beam and the affection amount sensor. The affection amount sensor is fun to use because I like to see breadth my affection amount is at from time-to-time, but it isn't essential.

Initial software thoughts

It is bright that Samsung bass down their TouchWiz UI a bit, but there is still affluence provided on the Galaxy S5. The quick settings arise at the top of the notification area, and you can bound adapt what controls arise here. I alone do not like their new vertical scrolling settings breadth that seems to go on and on consistently — whether you are in list, tab or filigree view. There are a ton of settings and all the assorted figure colors are a bit overwhelming. HTC goes with a abundant simpler account that I adopt to admission and use.

You will acquisition settings for your connections, the device, assorted controls, accepted settings, and applications. As with the Galaxy Note 3, there is a lot you can do with a Galaxy accessory and abounding humans will acceptable adore all of the customization options available.

Samsung has their "My Magazine" home awning panel; if you bash larboard to right, you end up on that screen, agnate to HTC's BlinkFeed. However, it is a bit apathetic (I begin it like this on the Note 3, too) and abundant beneath customizable than BlinkFeed. HTC has actively adapted BlinkFeed with Sense 6 and it is actual advantageous and able to be angry off if you don't ambition to use it.

I like some of the widgets accessible on the S5, including the voice-supported Google seek widget, email widget, and S Health widget. Speaking of email, I was actual blessed to see the S5 fix the Exchange issues I had with the Note 3. I can use the S5 for plan admission to all my bounded folders.

US carriers abide to amount up Android accessories with lots of their own apps and services, and there are affluence actuality on the S5. AT&T Mobile Locate, AT&T Navigator, AT&T FamilyMap, Caller Name ID, DriveMode, Mobile Hotspot, Mobile TV, myAT&T, and Acceptance Manager all are included. A brace are useful, and you can consistently adumbrate them from the app launcher if you wish.

Which will I buy? The Galaxy S5 or HTC One (M8)

Since I never use the S Pen, if I was traveling to acquirement a Galaxy smartphone again it would absolutely be the S5. That said, I am planning to aces up the HTC One (M8) on T-Mobile instead of the S5.

The Galaxy S5 has a bigger camera for capturing data and a articulation activated Google seek widget, but those are about the alone advantages over the new HTC One (M8) for my usage. The HTC One (M8) has the best architecture of any smartphone accessible today, agitation foreground stereo speakers, microSD agenda for storage, absence 32GB RAM, agreeable camera software and Highlight Video support, accomplished Sense 6 user interface, and cool fast performance.

This anniversary I ranked the top 10 smartphones currently accessible in 2014 with the HTC One (M8) in the additional atom and Galaxy S5 in third. Afterwards a brace added canicule with both I am even added assertive I put them in the appropriate order.

HTC One M8 Reviews

HTC One M8 survey: More metal, same restricted point of interest Ultrapixel Polaroid

Most telephones stay in my pocket for one to three months, yet the HTC One M7 has been my partner for a year. I have been trying out the new HTC One M8 for the past a few days, yet won't be acquiring one for myself for a few key reasons. It is a pleasant evolutionary change over a year ago model with enhancements in a couple of key zones.

It is extremely troublesome to launch a revolutionary cell phone today since it appears we have arrived at the cutoff points of fittings engineering and the structure element is equitably standard over all telephones. Organizations emerge today with some extra tweaks, for example, Sony's waterproof configuration, and their custom programming improvements. HTC's Sense 6 most likely contends well in the product division and their fittings fit and completion is awesome, yet I think about whether that is sufficient for them at this point.

I didn't get the new HTC One M8 and promptly think I must go out and purchase it now, likely due to the extra stature with an unimportant build in usable showcase range and the utilization of the same determination Ultrapixel Polaroid that now disillusions me. Notwithstanding, it is enhanced in a couple of zones over a year ago model and will fulfill those requesting a microsd card space, in spite of the fact that Google has constrained the helpfulness of development card stockpiling.

Equipment

A year ago the HTC One earned a few recompenses for fittings outline and they again indicate that exquisite equipment is a center for them. Different makers are likewise concentrating on fittings, however and I don't think there is to the extent that a differentiator in the not so distant future as there was a year ago.

A year ago HTC One was 70 percent metal and this time around we discover the substance at 90 percent. A significant part of the distinction is in the metal blanket the sides where we awhile ago saw plastic sandwiched between the presentation and back metal piece.

The new HTC One M8 will at first be accessible in Gunmetal Gray, Glacial Silver, and Amber Gold, contingent upon the transporter and district where you live. We may see different shades propel later on, like what HTC did with the current One.

Size: One thing I enjoyed about the HTC One M7 was the size that made it practically ideal for my hand and jeans pocket. Sadly, the HTC One M8 developed a lot taller (9 mm) and a bit more extensive (2.4 mm). It is about the same thickness and does feel extraordinary in your grasp on account of the bended edges and back, yet its going to take some time to get used to the extra tallness.

I wouldn't see any problems the stature increment in the event that it implied essentially more usable showcase, yet, because of the evacuation of committed regions for the base catches (they are presently some piece of the presentation), when you line up both Ones on the home screen you will find that the first really has more tallness accessible on the presentation. There is a column for the capacitive catch territories and a taller line for home screen easy routes that end up being taller on the new One. The M8 does have a marginally more modest side bezel and more width so the visible showcase is somewhat more extensive.

HTC has a dark bar beneath the show that holds HTC marking in the core. I see there are inside segments here and that the space is practically vital. The catches never troubled me on the M7, so I for one might have gotten a kick out of the chance to have picked up additional usable presentation region and kept the catches.

The presentation is the same awesome 1080p Super Lcd3 they had before that shows genuine nature and is choice, IMHO. The PPI is marginally less, 440, in light of the fact that the presentation is somewhat bigger in measurements. There is currently a 5-broad point front confronting Polaroid and HTC is liable to be delegated the top selfie Polaroid in 2014 as well.

Boomsound speakers:you will again find Boomsound stereo speakers on the front, yet they are highly enhanced over the HTC One M7 speakers. HTC states they are 25 percent louder and that appears to be about right to me. I listened to a few of the same melodies on both, and the M8 gives louder and fundamentally wealthier sound quality. They are good to the point that they really now have me feeling a bit baffled with my current One.

There is still a volume catch on the upper right, yet you will likewise discover a slide-in tray over that. Yes, HTC is presently furnishing clients with a microsd card opening that backings up to the 128gb cards. I propose perusing this Android Central article for a complete illustration about the status of capacity card development on Kitkat gadgets. You will discover the nanosim card space on the left side. It shows up a bit long, yet that is for business sectors outside the US where double SIM competence is furnished with the same tray size.

When you take a gander at the bottom, you'll see regardless they have the same upside-down microusb port with the expansion of the 3.5mm headset jack. Once more on top you will discover one of the plastic zones with the double power button/ir sensor close to the right corner. It is a robust telephone that likewise now accompanies the six-month screen displacement scope.

Ultrapixel Polaroid: When you flip the HTC One M8 over, you'll promptly recognize a few contrasts. The same 4.1-megapixel determination Ultrapixel Polaroid is utilized, yet there's an enhanced blaze module (Smart Flash 2.0) and an auxiliary Polaroid focused over the essential Polaroid. The auxiliary Polaroid is utilized to help catch profundity of field data and give HTC the capacity to give improved photograph altering instruments. This is known as the Duo Camera and I will have an article digging deeper into this practicality soon since there is a ton happening here concerning photograph altering and imparting.

The blaze is like the Apple iphone 5s with warm and cool lights that consequently evaluate what's required for fitting glimmer force without finishing extinguishing photographs like HTC spotlights have constantly done.

OIS is no more included in the HTC One, however it wasn't that great on the One (M7) when contrasted with what Nokia has on their Pureview Polaroids. HTC did enhance the Polaroid innovation with the goal that catch starts before you even press the catch and it is an amazingly quick Polaroid so I truly don't think slight development of the Polaroid will be an issue.

Movement Launch signals: Similar to how Nokia, LG, and Motorola utilization screen touches when the presentation is set for perform capacities, HTC has taken this to the following level with screen touches and gadget development to make Motion Launch capacities. In the event that you simply twofold tap the showcase when its off and resting on a table, then nothing will happen. You have to first lift it up and after that tap or swipe over the presentation to make the accompanying happen.

HTC additionally uses movement to attempt to aid you with telephone calls. The point when your telephone rings and the guest ID is demonstrated to, you can address essentially by putting your telephone up to your ear. No pressing on the presentation or swiping is needed. HTC is utilizing the movement of you searching at the showcase for guest ID, emulated by the activity of holding up to your ear to confirm that you aim to answer the call. My testing uncovered this works extremely well. It's custom characteristics like this that make your telephone work shrewdly and upgrade your telephone experience. You can just turn this setting off also.

Compelling Power Saving Option: The main telephone I found that keeps up a full day (4 am to 10 pm) is the Motorola Droid Maxx, yet every other telephone obliges me to hit the charger eventually. Since there are no revolutionary advancements in battery engineering, HTC is putting forth an amazing force sparing mode choice that resembles a champ. You can set up this mode to turn on when your battery is down to 20, 10, or 5 percent. The point when empowered, the telephone interface progressions to an exceptionally improved one, like their HTC Car mode, with expansive catches for telephone, messages, mail, timetable, adding machine, and passageway (used to escape amazing force sparing mode).

In this mode, you can at present get calls and messages, yet foundation administrations are impaired so nothing is getting pushed to your telephone. You need to physically synchronize email in the event that you need to download messages with this mode empowered. HTC states you will get 60 hours of standby time if empowered at 20 percent, 30 hours at 10 percent, and 15 hours at 5 percent. I turned it on for 10 percent and, in case I'm away and can't get to a charger, then it would appear that I figured out how to continue utilizing my telephone and endure one taxing day. I just have a worldwide model so can't pass judgment on the battery life until I get one advanced for US organizes.

The HTC One M8 incorporates the Qualcomm 801 processor and it flies. I didn't have any true protestations about the One M7, however can even now tell a recognizable change in responsiveness with the M8 and again my M7 now is looking dated.

Embellishments

HTC is including a back and side spread with each One that appears to include a bit of insurance and help you hold it a bit less demanding. They demonstrated to me their HTC Dot View case that I can hardly wait to buy. It is a flip spread case that demonstrates to you data through the front openings and even permits you to perform fundamental capacities through the spread.

The blaze is like the Apple iphone 5s with warm and cool lights that naturally evaluate what's required for fitting glimmer force without finishing extinguishing photographs like HTC electric lamps have constantly done.

OIS is no more included in the HTC One, however it wasn't that great on the One (M7) when contrasted with what Nokia has on their Pureview Polaroids. HTC did enhance the Polaroid innovation with the goal that catch starts before you even press the catch and it is a greatly quick Polaroid so I truly don't think slight development of the Polaroid will be an issue.

Movement Launch motions: Similar to how Nokia, LG, and Motorola utilization screen touches when the showcase is headed toward perform capacities, HTC has taken this to the following level with screen touches and gadget development to make Motion Launch capacities. In the event that you simply twofold tap the presentation when its off and resting on a table, then nothing will happen. You have to first lift it up and after that tap or swipe over the presentation to make the accompanying happen.

HTC likewise uses movement to attempt to aid you with telephone calls. The point when your telephone rings and the guest ID is demonstrated to, you can address essentially by putting your telephone up to your ear. No pressing on the showcase or swiping is needed. HTC is utilizing the movement of you searching at the presentation for guest ID, emulated by the activity of holding up to your ear to verify that you propose to answer the call. My testing uncovered this works exceptionally well. It's custom characteristics like this that make your telephone work adroitly and upgrade your telephone experience. You can just turn this setting off too.

Amazing Power Saving Option: The main telephone I found that endures a full day (4 am to 10 pm) is the Motorola Droid Maxx, however every other telephone obliges me to hit the charger eventually. Since there are no revolutionary developments in battery innovation, HTC is putting forth a great force sparing mode choice that resembles a victor. You can set up this mode to turn on when your battery is down to 20, 10, or 5 percent. The point when empowered, the telephone interface progressions to an exceptionally improved one, like their HTC Car mode, with vast catches for telephone, messages, mail, timetable, number cruncher, and passageway (used to escape amazing force sparing mode).

In this mode, you can at present get calls and messages, yet foundation administrations are incapacitated so nothing is getting pushed to your telephone. You need to physically match up email on the off chance that you need to download messages with this mode empowered. HTC states you will get 60 hours of standby time if empowered at 20 percent, 30 hours at 10 percent, and 15 hours at 5 percent. I turned it on for 10 percent and, in case I'm away and can't get to a charger, then it would appear that I figured out how to continue utilizing my telephone and endure one taxing day. I just have a worldwide model so can't pass judgment on the battery life until I get one enhanced for US organizes.

The HTC One M8 incorporates the Qualcomm 801 processor and it flies. I didn't have any true protests about the One M7, yet can even now tell a discernible change in responsiveness with the M8 and again my M7 now is looking dated.

Extras

HTC is including a back and side spread with each One that appears to include a bit of insurance and help you hold it a bit simpler. They demonstrated to me their HTC Dot View case that I can hardly wait to buy. It is a flip spread case that reveals to you data through the front gaps and even permits you to perform essential capacities through the spread.

They will additionally be putting forth the HTC Flip Case that doesn't have intuitive openings and a Double Dip case, like what they had for the One (M7), that will incorporate two extra tip and bottom blankets so you can have various color blends for your case.

Different extras incorporate their Car Kit, HTC Fetch, HTC Boombass speaker, HTC Mini+, and HTC Battery Bar. Accessibility and valuing was not reported, however I see some retail areas may be getting these at diverse times.

Iphones to Start on Planet's China Mobile soon

iphones to start on planet's biggest transporter China Mobile soon, says report

China Mobile, the planet's biggest transporter with around the range of 700 million subscribers, will soon offer the most recent iphone, opening Apple up to the biggest single cell market to date. 

Refering to sources acquainted with the matter, The Wall Street Journal initially reported the as far back as anyone can remember expected (and exceedingly foreseen) proceed onward Wednesday.

The rollout is required to start later this month with a disclosing occasion got ready for December 18.

It's been quite a while nearing. The iphone is presently accessible on very nearly every significant Western and Asian cell transporter bar China Mobile. The hangup was credited on the most part to the bearer's failure to furnish 4g administrations, which it has been taking a shot at for as long as not many years.

China Mobile likewise runs an alternate 3g fittings base than China Unicom — the planet's third-biggest system with more than 125 million clients — which prompted cerebral pains at Cupertino. It wasn't as basic as simply building another unit to addition similarity as it did with Western units that oblige Cdma forms over Gsm, for instance. It obliged acquiring the right equipment and the suitable licenses. 

At last, both China Mobile and Apple expected to can avoid the 3g incompatibilities and bounce straight on the cell monster's Lte system. What's more that day arrived. Chinese powers at last allowed the bearer licenses to work the higher-speed systems, preparing for 4g perfect iphones to take a shot at the system.

China remains imperative to the iphone's development. Fruit's primary bread and spread is the cell phone unit, which consumes in almost half the organization's income at its most recent financial final quarter profit. Yet development generally speaking has been moderate — even in China, with a gigantic 1.3 billion potential compass. As such, Apple has just had the ability to secure manages the more diminutive Chinese transporters.

Hitting China hard has been a speculation worth the trouble at last, yet the result will come in the accompanying monetary quarters.

Consistent with Trefis research, China Mobile may have the ability to offer something like 1.5 million iphones for every month, totaling 20 million extra iphone initiations throughout 2014.

That alone might push the organization's iphone income up by to the extent that 17 percent year-over-year contrasted and 2013, finished S

LG G2 review: Recommended, unless you need storage expansion

Lg G2 survey: Recommended, unless you require space development

The Lg G2 is the lead handset from an organization that ostensibly doesn't get the credit it merits. The G2 is Lg's reply to any semblance of the Samsung Galaxy S4, Htc One, Sony Xperia Z1 — and obviously Apple's iphone 5s. With an expansive screen and great electric storage device life, The Lg G2 hits some essential targets — however does it match its high-end rivalry and defend its high cost — £340 (ex. Vat, or £408 inc. Vat)?

Design

The advertising for the Lg G2 notice the positioning of its on/off catch and its 'close zero bezel'. These are absolutely notable characteristics, keeping in mind the previous won't be to each taste, the recent is liable to be invited by all. Lg has figured out how to pack a 5.2-inch screen, which we measured as 65mm wide, into a body that is only 70.9mm wide. The bezel along the long edges truly is just about non-existent, and is shockingly limited at the top and bottom as well. A speaker, front Polaroid and caution light are pressed in at the top, and the by and large impact is of a telephone that is practically all screen.

LG's leader G2 has a 5.2-inch Ips screen and is fueled by a top-end Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 Soc with 2gb of Ram. Our survey test had 32gb of inward space, however no Microsd opening for including additional limit. Note the force bind and volume rocker on the over of the handset. (Picture: Lg)

Regardless of its size, the screen doesn't appear to be excessively vast — despite the fact that we discovered it difficult to utilize one-gave. The presentation itself is sublime, with a full-Hd determination of 1,920 by 1,080 pixels giving it a pixel thickness of 424ppi that is just decimated by the 4.7in. Htc One (469ppi), 4.95in. Google Nexus 5 (445ppi), 5in. Samsung Galaxy S4 and 5in. Sony Xperia Z (both 441ppi). The Ips board has extraordinary colour rendering and brilliant survey plots. It's challenging to find blame here.

That other outline component we specified, the positioning of the on/off bind, is prone to be a little more petulant. As opposed to spot this on an edge, as is the standard, Lg has set it on the again, underneath the Polaroid lens. It's limited top and lowest part by the volume catches.

The little capsule formed force switch is marginally raised, making it conceivable to find by touch alone. We discovered a spot of a fiddle from the get go, however did get accustomed to it after a while. Lg has plainly recognised that the ergonomics will remain an issue for some individuals, and has furnished the alternative to twofold tap the screen for securing and opening the telephone.

Despite the fact that migrating the on/off bind may have been an improved move, we need to concede that the twofold screen tap is an incredible thought. It's especially suitable when the handset is sitting on a work area, and we'd get a kick out of the chance to see more telephone creators receive it.

The volume rocker that encompasses the on/off bind is a great deal less of an issue. It is less oftentimes utilized than the force bind, and we discovered it simple to gain entrance to with the handset in a pocket.

The Lg G2 takes a microsim that goes into a caddy on the left edge of the skeleton. Separated from the caddy and a headset jack and Micro-Usb connector on the bottom, the edges of the handset are free of disorder. They bend into the backplate which is gleaming, shows up finger-oil and is not especially hold cordial.

The main other edge-mounted characteristic is a couple of speaker grilles on the base of the frame. These convey a sound volume, despite the fact that there's some mutilation at the precise loudest level. It's not difficult to blanket these grilles when you're holding the handset in scene mode (when gaming for instance), which will stifle the sound.

Features

As Lg's leader handset, the G2's particulars are great, with one disturbing (however all too regular) special case: there's no Microsd card space for space development. Our audit unit had 32gb of inner space, however that is not accessible in the Uk, where 16gb is standard. The working framework and different Lg additional items consumed 8gb of space on our audit handset, leaving 24gb for client applications and information. The 16gb model will have even less free space to play with, and its a genuine compassion that limit is hampered along  these  lines.

The processor is Qualcomm's Snapdragon 800 running at 2.26ghz. It's the present processor of decision for top-end handsets and, went down by 2gb of Ram, is exceptionally zippy: screen moves, page renders and motion picture playback were all quick and smooth. We've no protestations about this handset's speed.

This is a Lte handset with a full supplement of remote characteristics — Wi-Fi (double band 802.11a/b/g/n/ac) and Bluetooth (4.0), in addition to Nfc and Gps (with A-Gps and Glonass help). Music backing incorporates the lossless Flac codec — one of various additional items that Lg has overlain on top of Android 4.2.2.

The Polaroid is a for example. The back Polaroid has a 13-megapixel determination — a sound particular, and one that processes some fantastic shots. Optical picture stabilisation helps diminish the probability of smeared pictures (particularly in low light), and you can take photographs that incorporate what both the front (2.1mpixel) and back Polaroids can see; there's likewise a mode that shoots five pictures rapidly, permitting you to hold the one you like best.

You can design the front touch catches to your enjoying, changing the setup of the left and right binds and adding a fourth bind either to start Lg's Quickmemo application — which gives you a chance to take a screenshot and explain it, and after that spare or stake it — or to force down the warning board.

The warning symbols could be altered to incorporate simply the alternate routes you require. Qslide is an extra utility that sits in the warnings range and furnishes access to an extent of pop-up applications that open on top of whatever you are doing around then. These are resizeable and incorporate not only applets as an adding machine and a note-taker, additionally weightier applications, for example, a document director.

When you connect to a headset, four alternate ways pop up indicating significant applications, and you can alter these so your favorite quartet is offered. There's also an eye tracking system that pauses video if you look away from the screen and keeps the screen awake while you're looking at it — overriding whatever time-out you've set.

The LG packs a 3,000mAh battery beneath the G2's non-removable backplate, claiming up to 17.5 hours of 3G talk and 900 hours (37.5 days) on standby. For once we're not complaining about having to find mains power mid-afternoon, or even early evening. Even if you're a power user, you should be able to get through a day without charging the battery. This feature alone may draw you to the LG G2.

Conclusion

LG has done a great job with the G2, and its battery life will be a big plus for many potential buyers. The power button placement is odd, but isn't a deal-breaker. The G2's only real drawback is its lack of MicroSD storage expansion. If don't need this, then it's well worth shortlisting.

Engineers progressions Apple ios 7

How engineers are managing the progressions Apple created in ios 7

Macintosh's new interface changes in ios 7 have annoyed some iphone and ipad clients. Be that as it may engineers have all that anyone could need inconveniences of their own coordinating the significant framework redesign. The upgrade is carrying some intense decisions to engineers, consistent with engineer and creator Matt Neuburg, in an entrancing post at Tidbits.

In How ios 7 Will Affect Developers — and You, Developer parts engineer and client interface issues with the essential interface changes, for example, binds; new Uikit Dynamics activitys and smudged moves; foundation downloading; content changes; and bugs.

Designers demonstrates screenshots of his application Zotz! prior and then afterward ios 7, and examined the suggestions for its convenience. Tragically, the progressions important to overhaul the code might make it an agony to administer more seasoned code.

Attempting to untangle the ensuing interface mess is troublesome to the point that numerous engineers will presumably find it not worth their opportunity and exertion to support similarity with ios 6 and some time recently. It's far less difficult to drop ios 6 backing, or to distribute two separate applications (one for ios 7 and one for pre–ios 7), than to rejigger one application to look right on various frameworks. It took me a few days to settle the way Zotz looked; when I was carried out, I had a tolerable ios 7 interface, however there was no retreating.

The settings screen of my Zotz application demonstrates to a percentage of the conformities I needed to make so as to manage changes in how widgets draw themselves. The issue with binds was especially intense; the framework was no more indicating clients that these were catches — they looked like simple content. To elucidate the interface, I wound up drawing my own particular rather unacceptable custom catch like fringes. On the left, how it looked in ios 6; on the right, how I figured out how to get it to look, finally, in ios 7. 

The languid way that ios 7 is finalizing some more seasoned fittings will keep numerous clients on the more senior ios 6 and much more seasoned forms. At the same time as Developer infers, engineers may be centered progressively on managing ios 7 issues, as opposed to redesigning for more seasoned adaptations. This could expedite a fast, mass stranding of these more senior applications.

Engineers examined various typographical characteristics in Dynamic Text, about which I posted in the sunny season. He additionally discusses the carrying of the Mac's Os X content layout motor to ios.

How designers will utilize this newly discovered force is anyone's supposition, yet attracting styled content refined ways will be immensely simpler. Hope to see inline pictures, tab stops, message "adornments" of different sorts, (for example, extraordinary hued underlines or word foundations), and content masterminded in fascinating shapes. Case in point, I'm not certain if or how I could have laid out a represented value record in segments in past renditions of ios, yet in ios 7 its simple. (The missing "0" isn't an error; its to demonstrate that my tab stop arranges the costs on the decimal focus.)

As per Developer, ios 7 is the "buggiest major ios framework discharge ever." Many applications should incorporate workarounds, he says, and a few engineers are holding off on redesigns since "basic purpose no more works accurately." He said there's an interface component that works under ios 6 and ios 7.0.3, yet breaks under the most recent Version 7.1.

On the other hand widgets that worked from ios 4 thru

Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 and Galaxy Tab 3 8.0

Hands-on with the AT&T Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 and Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 (Gallery)

 

Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 on AT&T

My first Android tablet was an original Samsung Tab 7 inch device that served me well, but was a bit chunky by today's standards. I had the chance to test out the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 and AT&T Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 for the past week and enjoyed both devices.
 
Regular readers know I am more focused on smartphones for working and playing on the go, but still have a couple tablets around. My preferred Android tablet is the Nexus 7, but I have to say that these two new Samsung 8 inch models almost had me clicking the buy button on Amazon. They are vastly improved over the original Tab 7 I owned a few years ago, but as a previous Galaxy Note II owner they appear to just be large devices with very similar hardware design elements.

Samsung Note 8.0 on AT&T

My local AT&T rep sent along the Galaxy Note 8.0 and as a very data-centric user this device is appealing to me. My Note II was a good test to see if I would use the S Pen enough to justify the cost and screen size. When I look back on my usage patterns, I rarely found it necessary to use the S Pen. However, part of that was the fact that I could only fit a few words on the display, even at 5.5 inches. The Galaxy Note 8.0 solves that issue with a much more ink-friendly sized display.
 
The Galaxy Note 8.0 doesn't support phone calls, but the data connection works on LTE and HSPA+ for a very fast experience when you are outside the range of a WiFi network. With AT&T, it only costs an additional $10 per month to add the Galaxy Note 8.0 to your current plan. You can also purchase a WiFi-only Galaxy Note 8.0, reviewed here on ZDNet.
 
Specifications of the AT&T version of the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 include:

• 1.6 GHz quad-core Qualcomm processor
• 2GB of RAM
• 16GB internal storage with microSD card slot
• Android 4.1 Jelly Bean OS
• 8 inch 1280x800 pixels display
• 5 megapixel rear camera and 1.3 megapixel front facing camera
• 802.11 a/b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0 LE, DLNA
• 4,600 mAh battery
• Dimensions of: 8.29 x 5.35 x 0.31 inches and 12 ounces

New devices are launching with Android 4.2, but the Note 8.0 has been out in other parts of the world for a couple months so that helps explain why it was released with this version. There are a few nice updates in 4.2 so I hope Samsung updates the device soon.
 
The Note 8.0 has a center physical button with the menu and back capacitive areas on either side. The microSD and SIM card are on the left side, under covers, with the power and volume buttons located above the IR port on the right side. I have grown to be a huge fan of the IR port on my HTC One to control my TVs and appreciate having one on the Note 8.0 as well. The headset jack is on top with the microUSB port on the bottom. The 5 megapixel camera is centered on the upper back and takes decent photos.
 
The Note 8.0 is a bit wide for me to use for extended periods in one hand since they made a bezel that would allow you to hold it around an edge and then use the S Pen on the display. There is a S Pen silo on the lower right side and I found the design of the S Pen to be just fine for daily usage.
 
A few of the advanced functions seen on the Galaxy S4 are here on the Note 8.0, including multi-window and reading mode. I valued using multi-window on my Note II and it is even better on a larger display like we see in the Note 8.0. There is not a ton of extra AT&T or Samsung apps so the Android experience is pretty clean. I find value in these newer versions of TouchWiz as well.
 
Overall, I enjoyed using the Note 8.0 and saw I could pick up a WiFi-only refurb for $320, which really interests me. The full price of the WiFi model is $380, but if you buy at Samsung they are also offering you $25 in Google Play credit. The AT&T model is priced at $399.99 after a $100 savings with your contract. If I used the S Pen more on my Note II then I would buy one, but I don't think I can justify that advanced functionality. You can buy a Note 8.0 in white or brown/black and as a fan of brown I would likely get that color. I personally found the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 to be more interesting for my needs as you can read below.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8.0

When I pulled the Tab 3 8.0 from the box, my first impression was that this was an awesome improvement over the Tab 7 inch I used to own. The width is perfect for my hand and it still amazes me how thin the device really is.
 
Specifications of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 include:

• 1.5 GHz dual-core Samsung processor
• 1.5GB of RAM
• 16GB internal storage with microSD card slot
• Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean OS
• 8 inch 1280x800 pixels display
• 5 megapixel rear camera and 1.3 megapixel front facing camera
• 802.11 a/b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0 LE, DLNA
• 4,450 mAh battery
• Dimensions of: 8.26 x 4.87 x 0.275 inches and 10.9 ounces

As you can see in the specs comparison, the Tab 3 is narrower, slightly thinner, and lighter than the Note 8.0. The Tab has a dual-core processor, compared to quad-core, slightly less RAM, and slightly smaller battery. However, it has the latest and greatest version of Android, the same camera, same storage capacity, and same display resolution.
 
The Galaxy Tab 3.0 has nearly the same design elements as the Note 8.0, with the exception of the SIM card slot on the AT&T model I was testing out and the S Pen silo. The back camera is offset on the Tab 3 8.0, but has the same quality and performance. I personally don't care about the back camera on a tablet anyway, but the front camera is useful for video calling.
 
In terms of software, the latest version of Android and TouchWiz add in Smart Stay, screen mirroring, and a slightly updated settings layout. A major improvement is the use of the slick new Samsung camera utility. There are other improvements in 4.2.2 as well and I just hope Samsung upgrades the Note 8.0 soon.
 
The Galaxy Tab 3.0 is available for $300, which is just $55 less than the Note 8.0 WiFi when you account for the $25 Google Play Store credit. This makes the Note 8.0 a bit more compelling to me with the better specs and more functional tablet with the S Pen capability. If I used a tablet more, these are two I would seriously consider. They are not the least expensive tablets, but I think there is good value here.

New Google Nexus 7

Seven reasons to buy the new Google Nexus 7

Yesterday Google announced the new Nexus 7 device that leapfrogs the iPad Mini, for now. I own last year's Nexus 7, but just pre-ordered a new 32GB WiFi model at Best Buy yesterday and here are seven reasons I made that decision. The new Nexus 7 comes in 16GB ($229) and 32GB ($269) WiFi models that will be available on 30 July. A LTE model that works on T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon will be available in the future for $349. With my smartphones now all having tethering capability I went for a 32GB WiFi model that you can pre-order at Best Buy now, but am still considering the LTE model too.

Reason #1: I need Android in my life

I use Gmail, Google+, Google Play Movies, Google Maps Navigation, and more Google services on a daily basis and have now integrated their services into my life. I love my HTC One, but as a smartphone reviewer I jump between a lot of mobile operating systems. Having a Nexus 7 gives me a portable, consistent Android companion that helps provide Google services even if I am using a Windows Phone 8 or BlackBerry 10 device for my smartphone needs.

Reason #2: Android OS updates

The new Nexus 7 launches with Android 4.3 and like the previous model and Nexus smartphone line, it will get the next versions of Android first. We will likely see Android 5, aka Key Lime Pie, sometime before the end of 2013 and you can bet the Nexus 7 will get that update.

Reason #3: The price is right

The WiFi only models are $229 and $269, which are more expensive than last year's Nexus 7 offering for a lot more device. When you look at the iPad Mini at $329 and $429 though, the Nexus 7 is attractively priced. I understand the iPad Mini has a slightly larger display, but the new Nexus 7 blows the iPad display out of the water. You can look at comparable Amazon Kindle Fire HD unit and see they are similar in price, yet the new Nexus 7 offers an optimal Google experience rather than an Amazon one.

Reason #4: 9 hours of HD playback

My daily commute consists of 2 hours of train riding and I can be found on an airplane about once a month. I like renting movies from the Google Play Store and with the 3,950 mAh battery on the new Nexus 7 it looks like I can travel across the country and be covered for entertainment.

Reason #5: High resolution display

The new Nexus 7 comes with a 1920x1200 pixels LCD at 323 ppi, which is a jump from 1290x800 pixels and 216 ppi seen on last year's model. As most of my smartphones now have pixel density like this, my eyes are spoiled by high resolution displays. The iPad Mini has a 163 ppi display while the iPad 3 that I enjoy using has a 236 ppi display. I can't wait to see the new Nexus 7 display in person next week.

Reason #6: Qi wireless charging

Nokia spoiled me with wireless charging in the Lumia 920 and now I want that in all of my devices. I have three Qi wireless charging pads at home and in the office and find it much more convenient to just set down a device on the pad rather than messing around with a microUSB cable and figuring out which end is up to plug it in.

Reason #7: Stereo speakers

The HTC One is a device that has also spoiled me, with its fantastic BoomSound front facing speaker system. The new Nexus 7 has stereo speakers with Surround Sound powered by Fraunhofer and if it is anything like the amazing sound found on the Chromebook Pixel I will be impressed. 

While I use headphones on my commute and airplane, I also often show videos from YouTube and Facebook to my family with my HTC One so having good speakers is important to me as well.

Nokia Lumia 1020

Nokia Lumia 1020: Unmatched camera experience in a growing Windows Phone market

Summary: There is no argument that the Lumia 1020 is the best camera in a modern phone, but you are going to have to decide if you are willing to trade size for such power.

Whether or not you like Windows Phone 8 as a smartphone OS, there is absolutely no doubt that the Nokia Lumia 1020 offers the best camera experience in a modern smartphone. I have been using one for four days and while that is not yet enough time to test every aspect, my associated image gallery clearly shows that the Lumia 1020 is the device to get if you want a camera with a phone strapped on the back.

At the launch event a couple weeks ago we never even heard anything about the smartphone part of the device until near the end of the announcement. Nokia is focusing on the advanced imaging technology of the 1020 and for good reason. I own a Nokia 808 PureView and take it out when I know I will be going somewhere and have a desire to capture fantastic quality photos. Even though Symbian is a powerful OS, there are too many missing apps and user experiences for me to use it regularly. The Lumia 1020 offers an amazing camera experience with a solid Windows Phone 8 experience that gets better on a weekly basis.

Retail package and out-of-box impressions

I was sent an AT&T retail packaged matte white Nokia Lumia 1020 to evaluate and it comes in a fairly typical AT&T box. Inside you will find the Lumia 1020, USB cable, SIM door key, leather wrist strap, USB A/C adapter, and Quick Start Guide. There is also a NFC card that provides you with a tutorial to help you improve your camera skills. The Lumia 1020 is $299.99 with a two year contract or $659.99 with no contract. It is locked to AT&T and will be as long as it is an exclusive in the US.

We don't often see wrist straps in US retail packages, but I did have one with my 808 PureView and honestly haven't removed it since the first day. With a device focused on the camera experience, having a solid wrist strap solution can be quite useful and functional.

I am used to the rather heavy Nokia Lumia 920 and expected the same first impression when I took out the 1020. The front looks a lot like the 920, but when I picked it up I immediately felt it was lighter and thinner than the 920. The matte finish is great and I personally prefer it over the glossy finish seen on many of the other Lumia models.

The white 1020 with the black camera module and buttons looks awesome IMHO and is even more of a Stormtrooper phone than my Lumia 900 was. The black camera module is large and the phone sits up at an angle on the table, but I think you can see in my image gallery that the size is worth it for great photos.

The 41 megapixel camera experience

The camera is the focal point of the Lumia 1020 and you should only buy the device if you will be using the camera a lot and want the best photos ever on a phone. If you just want a great Windows Phone 8 device with solid camera you can save money and size by going with a 920 or a number of the other lower end devices. There are also options for other carriers and I am really enjoying my Nokia Lumia 925.

You will find three primary camera software options on the Nokia Lumia 1020: the default Windows Phone camera software, Nokia Smart Camera (seen first on the Lumia 925), and the new Nokia Pro Camera application. The default camera looks to be the quickest way to capture a photo and can be set as the default for a press and hold of the physical camera button. You can reassign this button to any of these three apps.

I discussed the Nokia Smart Camera application a bit in my Nokia Lumia 925 first impressions post and enjoy the advanced editing experience found in that software. Smart Camera lets you capture photos in burst mode and then have quick access to different editing tools.

Nokia Pro Camera looks to be useful for camera enthusiasts and if you are buying the Lumia 1020 you are likely one of those people. Like most people who take photos with the phones, I live in the world of Auto and rarely venture out since I just don't know enough about photography to feel comfortable messing around. Nokia Pro Camera was actually setup to help people like me with an integrated tutorial that shows you samples, provides detailed explanations, and launches a session focused on the technique you just read about.

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In that regard, Nokia Pro Camera has the potential to educate people and make many of us better photographers. I look forward to seeing the application launch on my Lumia 925 too. Topics covered in detail include:

• Exposure
• Shutter speed
• Low light
• White balance
• Basic photography
• Videos

The cool thing about the Nokia Pro Camera software is that as you change the different settings the resulting effect appears live right on the display before you even capture the image. You can control the settings for the topics listed above by tapping on the main icon and then tapping or scrolling along the half-circle appearing on the right side of the display.

Capture modes with Nokia Pro Camera include 5 megapixel JPG or 5 megapixel along with 34 megapixel. There are no options in the default WP camera app, all images are 5 megapixel images. You can only share the 5 megapixel images directly from the phone and need to connect and transfer large resolution images off of the phone to a computer. I found typical 5 megapixel images were about 2 MB in size while the 34 megapixel ones were in the 8.5 to 15 MB range. I accidentally grabbed just the 5 megapixel ones for Flickr and have to go look for the other to put in my Flickr set.

One thing to remember with Nokia Pro Camera is that you can reframe image after the fact and then save parts of the larger image as its own high quality image. I understand you can do this with the 808 too, but no one really cares about that device. This is very slick and something I just started discovering after a couple of days of taking photos.

When you view the photos in the gallery you will note there are hyperlinks below images captured with Nokia Smart Camera and Pro Camera that will then open up those images in those apps to allow for advanced editing. These tools include Best Shot, Action Shot, Motion Focus, Change Faces, Removing Objects, and reframing parts of images.

Hardware and specifications

The specifications of the Nokia Lumia 1020 include:

• Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual-core 1.5 GHz processor
• 4.5 inch 1280x768 pixel resolution PureMotion HD+ display
• 41 megapixel camera with Xenon flash and Zeiss optics, OIS
• 2GB RAM
• 32GB integrated storage
• 802.11 a/b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0, NFC
• 2000 mAh battery
• Dimensions of 130.4 x 71.4 x 10.4 mm (5.13 x 2.81 x 0.41 inches) and 158 grams (5.56 ounces)

As I have stated a number of times, specifications of Windows Phone devices can't really be compared to iOS, Android, or BlackBerry 10 because each OS is optimized differently and Windows Phone 8 doesn't require the same specs as an Android device. I found the Lumia 1020 to perform as well as all other Windows Phones I have tested, with the exception of a bit of slow down due to some advanced image processing as you use the camera.

You can purchase a battery/camera adapter accessory and Qi charging cover as well. I haven't seen either accessory so cannot comment on their functionality or design.

Nokia software

You won't just find all the great HERE Maps, Nokia Music, and other software, but even a couple new ones not yet available on other Lumia devices. Nokia Video Trimmer allows you to trim down a video and then share that to a selected service. I use this all the time on my iPhone and Android device to share short clips of events to Facebook and was hoping someone would finally develop the tool for Windows Phone.

Another Lumia 1020 exclusive is YouTube Upload, also from Nokia, that lets you upload videos to YouTube. Windows Phone already supports video upload to Facebook, but it is nice to have this option as well.

The Lumia 1020, like the Lumia 925, comes with the Nokia Amber update. This update includes great features like the double tap to unlock, Glance screen, color profile adjustments, and more.

AT&T software

Like just about every phone on AT&T, they load it up with their bloatware to get you to buy their additional services. Thankfully, with Windows Phone 8 you can remove as much as you want to have a clean device. AT&T apps and software include AT&T Address Book, AT&T Family Map, AT&T Locker (useful utility that gives you 50GB of online storage), AT&T Navigator, AT&T Radio, Mobile TV, myAT&T, and YPmobile.

Windows Phone 8 software

There isn't much to say that I haven't already covered when it comes to Windows Phone 8. There is nothing core to the OS that is new in the 1020 as the focus is on imaging and the Nokia experience. It is disappointing that you can't play the new Halo: Spartan Assault game even on the newest Lumia and I am not a fan of that exclusivity decision.

Nokia Lumia US flagship lineup

Verizon now has the Lumia 928, T-Mobile the 925, and AT&T the 1020 and 920. Nokia now has flagship devices on three of the four major carriers and I think we will continue to see growth in Windows Phone. The internals of each are all about the same, but the Lumia 925 only has 16GB of integrated storage. The Nokia Lumia 925 and Lumia 1020 require wireless charging shells, while the 920 and 928 have integrated wireless charging support.

To be evaluated

As I stated, I have only been using the Lumia 1020 for four days so I can't judge the battery life, stability, advanced camera editing functions, performance, or connectivity. I hope to continue testing the Lumia 1020 for a couple more weeks to test these topics. I did experience complete lock-up of the phone while using the camera once this past weekend and only by pressing and holding the power button for an extended period of time was I able to get it to turn off.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Review

Samsung Galaxy S4 Active, First Take: Dust-tight, water-resistant
 

One of Samsung's tricks is to take a successful handset and reproduce it in different forms. For example, the Galaxy S4, Samsung's current flagship smartphone, currently has four incarnations: the 5-inch-screen original; a smaller version, the 4.3-inch Galaxy S4 mini; the Galaxy S4 Zoom, a camera/handset hybrid; and the Galaxy S4 Active, which adds ruggedisation into the mix.

The S4 Active's chassis has been redesigned to meet an IP67 (Ingress Protection) rating. (Image: Samsung)

The £480 Samsung Galaxy S4 Active doesn't look much like the original S4. The chassis has been changed to allow it to meet an IP67 (Ingress Protection) rating: the '6' denotes that it's 'dust tight', while the '7' signifies its ability to withstand being submerged in 1m of water for 30 minutes. Samsung has had to abandon its characteristic home button beneath the screen, opting instead for three physical buttons.

The Galaxy S4 Active is not a sealed unit, so there's a protective rubber strip on the inside of the backplate, under which you'll find the SIM and microSD slots. You'll still have to be careful around water, and make sure the backplate is firmly in place — sealed handsets such as Sony's rugged Xperia Z offer better protection against water.

The microUSB slot on the bottom of the chassis has a hinged rubber cover that protects against the elements, but the headset jack on the top of the handset does not look as though it's protected at all (it's sealed inside, though). The side buttons — volume on the left, power on the right — also appear pretty normal, although they too must be designed to meet the IP67 rating.

The S4 Active has a 5-inch TFT screen rather than the original S4's AMOLED display. The main rear camera is an 8-megapixel unit, whereas the S4 has a 13-megapixel camera. (Image: Samsung)

Like the original, the Galaxy S4 Active has a 5-inch, 1,920-by-1,080-pixel screen, but the panel in this case is a TFT LCD rather than a Super AMOLED, resulting in a difference in vibrancy between the two displays.

The main rear camera is an 8-megapixel unit compared to the original S4's 13 megapixels. It is augmented by an 'aqua mode' that enhances colours when you're shooting under water, and the volume rocker doubles up as a shutter control. That's important if you plan any underwater photography as the screen's responsiveness, like all capacitive screens, is extremely poor when water is involved.

The S4 Active's engine-room is the same as the original S4's: Android 4.2, a 1.9GHz quad-core processor and 16GB of internal storage (with around 11GB free out of the box).

Extra-feature overload?Read this

All of Samsung's software enhancements for the Galaxy S4 are present on the S4 Active. So you can rest assured that videos will pause when you glance away from the screen, information about photos will appear if you hover a finger above the screen, various things will happen if you tilt the handset — and, if you can get the feature to work (I couldn't), you can even scroll web pages with a glance.

Samsung also adds a lot of apps to the standard Android complement, in many cases duplicating features provided with the operating system. This can be confusing at first.

In fact, Samsung could be accused of overkill with its myriad 'touchy-feely-looky' features and copious bespoke applications, but the current popularity of its smartphones means it must be doing something right. Fortunately, Samsung also lets you turn every extra feature on or off as required.

The Galaxy S4 Active isn't just a Galaxy S4 clone in a ruggedised chassis, as there are significant differences in specification. But most of the Galaxy S4's popular features are present, and if your work or home life involves regular exposure to challenging conditions, it may be the phone for you.

Samsung's Galaxy Mega phablet

Samsung's Galaxy Mega phablet: Will it fly in the U.S.?

Samsung on Monday confirmed that the Galaxy Mega, a 6.3-inch phablet, is coming to the U.S. and targeting folks who want a hybrid smartphone meets tablet.

galaxymega

In a nutshell, the Galaxy Mega is a larger version of the Galaxy S4. The features on the Mega and S4 roughly match. The Galaxy Mega also has an 8-megapixel camera, runs Android 4.2.2 and has enterprise features under SAFE (Samsung for Enterprise).

Initially, the Galaxy Mega will be available on AT&T, Sprint and U.S. Cellular.

The big question here is whether the Galaxy Mega will find a base of customers. The device will be too large for a pocket, but may take some of the market that would gravitate to a 7-inch tablet.

Samsung's strategy is fairly clear when it comes to its mobile devices: Carpet bomb the market with screens of various sizes. A 7-inch tablet may leave someone out so why not go for a 6.3-inch screen.

Samsung's throw every screen size against the wall strategy appears a little nutty, but so far it has worked out pretty well. At some point, Samsung will hit a screen-size wall. It remains to be seen if the Galaxy Mega is that wall---at least in the U.S.