Monthly Archives: May 2015

LG Magna and Spirit

LG keeps the curves coming with Magna and Spirit phones (hands-on)

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It seems as if these days, LG smartphones are all about curve. Following the launch of its high-end G Flex 2, LG announced its new Magna and Spirit devices. Sporting curved displays (that bend much more subtly than the G Flex 2), both handsets were showcased at MWC 2015 this week, along with two other LG phones.

The Magna and Spirit replace LG’s F-series of premium midrange devices, and they have arched touchscreens that bend at 1/4 the curvature of the G Flex 2. Due to the subtlety of the curve, it’s quite hard to notice the bowed shape at first glance. During my brief time with it, I was able to see the arcs only when I placed the handsets face-down on a flat surface.

 

 

Both phones run Android 5.0 Lollipop and have different features depending on your availability. They can either have a quad-core 1.2GHz or 1.3GHz processor, and either a 5- or 8-megapixel rear-facing camera.
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Dell Venue 10 7000 Android Tablet

Dell’s new Android tablet is built for work and play (hands-on)

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Dell on Wednesday unveiled the Android-powered Venue 10 7000. The tablet is a big brother to theDell Venue 8 7000, one of our favorite tablets here at CNET, and shares many of the same features. Inside of the Venue 10 is the same quad-core Intel Atom Z3580 processor clocked at 2.3GHz and supported by 2GB of RAM.

The Venue 10 7000 also comes with the same 8-megapixel rear camera as its sibling, with Intel’s RealSense technology, which allows you to adjust the focus on images after they have been taken and even measure the distance between items. Other specs include a microSD card slot that supports cards up to 512GB, and a 7,000mAh battery, which Dell says should get you around 15 hours of usage.

As the name implies, the main difference between the two slates is the Venue 10’s display. The tablet is equipped with 10.5-inch OLED display with a pixel resolution of 2,560×1,600. That works out to roughly 287 pixels per inch. The Venue 10 is Dell’s first tablet to ship with Android 5.0 Lollipop. It runs a near-stock version of Android, although Dell has included some of its own apps.
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https://www.cnet.com/reviews/lg-magna-preview/

Elite x2 1011 G1

HP offers a tough slate-plus-keyboard hybrid in the Elite x2 1011 G1

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Just weeks after the annual Consumer Electronics Show, HP is already announcing a new lineup of PCs and tablets. This batch is targeted at business and enterprise customers, including the education and healthcare markets, but HP is also known for making business systems that have strong potential consumer appeal.

The flagship of these early 2015 products is the Elite x2 1011 G1, a Windows 8 tablet that takes a few cues from Microsoft’s Surface tablet line and other hybrids. HP calls it a cross between a tablet and an ultrabook, and it can run as either a standalone slate, or as something close to a clamshell laptop when adding an optional snap-on keyboard.
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https://www.cnet.com/reviews/hp-elite-x2-1101-g1-preview/

Dell Chromebook

A rugged Dell Chromebook for students

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Many school districts now offer students a dedicated laptop or tablet, but that makes for some major decisions on which platform and devices to offer. Laptop or tablet? Windows, OS X, iOS, Android or Chrome? Dell has many of these bases covered, at least for Windows, Android and Chrome products, with its new early 2015 lineup of devices for the education market.

 

 

 

The flagship is a new 11-inch Chromebook, which Dell says is designed to be “schoolyard tough,” using a semirugged plastic chassis and Corning Gorilla Glass for its display. This model has the same name as the previous version, called the Dell Chromebook 11, but the new 2015 version has a hinge that opens a full 180 degrees, a Bay Trail-generation Intel Celeron platform, faster 802.11ac Wi-Fi and what Dell calls an “activity light” on the back of the lid.
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https://www.cnet.com/reviews/dell-chromebook-11-for-education-2015-preview/

ZTE's Grand S3

ZTE’s Grand S3 is one phone you don’t want to give the evil eye to (hands-on)

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BARCELONA — Most of us spend a lot of time looking at our smartphones, so it should be no surprise that ZTE is taking it to the next level with a biometric security solution that uses the vein patterns in the human eye to unlock the phone.

Yes, you read that right. The ZTE Grand S3, unlike Apple’s TouchID, comes with Eyeprint ID, which scans your eyeball with the front-facing camera to verify that it’s you before unlocking the phone. It’s based on EyeVerify technology announced last year at MWC; it uses images the veins in the corner of your eyes as a unique identifier.

To do so, all you need to do is swipe down from the lock screen. A scanning box with a bright white area shows up (to help with dark areas), and you’ll need to hold the phone close to your eyes. Once you do so, the phone will automatically unlock.
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https://www.cnet.com/reviews/zte-grand-s3-preview/

The Polaroid smartphone

Polaroid enters the smartphone market

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5-4g-lte-quad-core-android-smartphone.jpgThe Polaroid smartphone

 

In an announcement at Mobile World Congress 2015, Polaroid is entering the European smartphone market with a line of devices that will run both Android and Windows Phone OS.

Exclusive to Europe, the collection features the first Polaroid Windows smartphone as well as Android models featuring the Android 4.4 KitKat operating system.

At this time Polaroid has not given these devices specific names. All of the phones in the line will be either 3G- or 4G-capable and feature quad-core or octa-core processors.
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https://www.cnet.com/reviews/polaroid-smartphone-preview/

Alcatel adds a 5.5-inch model to its OneTouch Pixi 3 lineup

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Alcatel

 

BARCELONA — Given that there were already 24 versions of Alcatel’s OneTouch Pixi 3 announced at CES, it was almost a relief to find that the company only has one more new model to show off this time, a 5.5-inch model that’s the largest of this entry-level series.

Keeping much to the same design, the phone has the same rounded edges and plastic design. Mind you, the unit shown to us was a mock-up, but it greatly resembles the the other handsets in the lineup.

Like the other Pixi 3’s, the 5.5-inch model is no different. Depending on the carrier, it can be customised with different hardware configurations. However, it will only run Android 5.0 Lollipop. There will be two main models for the phone, one with 3G and another with 4G.
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https://www.cnet.com/reviews/alcatel-onetouch-pixi-3-5-5-inch-preview/

Waterproof Kazam Tornado 455L weathers the storm (hands-on)

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If you want a smartphone that can handle tough weather, the Kazam Tornado 455L is aptly-named. The 4G LTE Android phone from young mobile brand Kazam is encased against the wind and rain in a waterproof shell.

The Tornado 455L will be available across Europe around March or April. Specific release dates and prices will be announced nearer the time. Kazam is a relatively new brand but has a relationship with operator Telefonica in Spain, while phone fans in the UK can buy directly from Kazam or from such emporiums as Argos, Tesco and Amazon.

Kazam was founded in 2013 by former HTC executives jumping ship to produce an assortment of wallet-friendly Android and Windows Phone smartphones. Devices start with the entry-level Trooper range, move up to the mid-level Thunder range and peak with the Tornado range. The new 455L is the second Tornado phone, following on from the skinny Tornado 348.
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https://www.cnet.com/reviews/kazam-tornado-455l-preview/

Photo-centric smartphone has heaps of camera settings and a ‘pro’ mode switch

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BARCELONA — Lenovo’s new smartphone is aimed squarely at those obsessed with taking photos with their smartphones. The Vibe Shot has buckets of photo settings, plus some interesting camera hardware and a ‘pro’ mode switch for extra control over your snaps. We’ve gone hands-on with this snapper-centric smartphone at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, so read on for everything you need to know.

 

Smart and Pro mode switch

 

The Vibe Shot’s camera-centric approach starts with two keys on the side of the phone. One is a shutter button, which gives you something physical to tap when you want to take a photo, while the other is a switch to toggle between ‘smart’ and ‘pro’ mode.
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https://www.cnet.com/reviews/lenovo-vibe-shot-preview/

Mysterious BlackBerry Slider combines the old and new of smartphone design

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The mysterious BlackBerry “Slider”.BlackBerry

 

BARCELONA — Sliding phones — remember them? BlackBerry certainly does, giving us a glimpse of a mystery slider phone here at Mobile World Congress. Rather imaginatively, it’s nicknamed “the Slider”.

The mystery Slider phone isn’t a finished product; it was flashed by BlackBerry boss John Chen at the launch of the new 5-inch Leap, which is nearly finished and goes on sale in April.

Slider phones typically include a keyboard that slides out from under the screen. Popular in the pre-smartphone days, their days were numbered the second the iPhone came along and showed us the virtues of a touchscreen that takes up the whole face of the phone.
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https://www.cnet.com/reviews/blackberry-slider-preview/

Gionee’s Elife S7 skips chasing the slimmest crown for features (hands-on)

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BARCELONA — Chinese company Gionee may not be on most of our radars unlike the more established brands such as Xiaomi, Huawei or Lenovo, but the company’s claim to fame last year at Mobile World Congress was its super slim 5.5mm thick Elife S5.5.

Since then, the phone has since been beaten at the thinnest game by other Chinese manufacturers such as Oppo with its Oppo R5 (4.85mm) or Vivo, with the X5MAx (4.75mm). Now, the chase for slimness crown seems to be something of a Chinese thing (though Apple has always managed to shave away the milimeters for each new version of its devices), Gionee has decided to sensibly stick with a sensible 5.5mm frame this time around while opting to put in better components.

Price wise, Gionee’s latest flagship product won’t be cheap. The company plans to sell it a whopping €399 — that converts to around $450, £290 and AU$575. It will launch in Europe first and will be sold online, and Gionee plans to sell the handset globally.

 

Design

 

Much like other super-slim phones, the Gionee Elife S7 feels barely there in the hands, and it feels pretty fragile. However, the company says it’s not worried about it bending. The handset is clad in Gorilla Glass 3 on both the front and the rear, which gives it a very premium feel. The aluminum alloy frame is airplane grade and features a nice-looking “U” groove design that doesn’t dig into your palms. It also gives you a grip, which helps with the slippery glass back.
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https://www.cnet.com/reviews/gionee-elife-s7-preview/

Honor 4X provides big screen on a budget (hands-on)

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BARCELONA — I’ve previously been impressed with Huawei’s Honor brand of phones. The Honor 6 was a particular gem, with great specs for an extremely competitive price. At this year’s Mobile World Congress at Barcelona, Honor showed off its new 4X phones, a 5.5-inch Android KitKat device that’s set to come with a similarly affordable price.

The 4X sits below the Honor 6 in its range of phones, so its specs and its design have been pared down slightly. Instead of a glossy glass back and metallic edges, the 4X has a black plastic back that’s been given a rough texture to give a little interest. It’s not the prettiest phone around, but it’s certainly functional, and if you’re not that fussed about having the most stylish tech anyway, it’s probably fine.

 

 

It feels fairly sturdy, although the plastic does feel a little on the cheap side. The 6 Plus is the one for you if you’re after a more luxurious design. The Honor 4X is 153mm long, 77mm wide and 8.6mm thick, meaning it’s far from tiny, but it’s still comfortable to hold. You’ll still need two hands to type though.
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https://www.cnet.com/reviews/huawei-honor-4x-preview/

Kazam Thunder 450L and 450W whip up a Windows Phone storm (hands-on)

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Thunder only happens when it’s raining, as a great lady once sang. And up-and-coming smartphone brand Kazam is raining down two new Windows Phone devices in the shape of the Kazam Thunder 450W and Thunder 450L.

The main difference between the pair is that the 450W is a 3G phone and the 450L supports 4G LTE. 4G lets you enjoy extra-fast connection to the Internet for faster browsing and smoother music and video streaming. However, it’s still relatively new, so check with networks to ensure your local area is covered by a decent signal before purchasing.

Of the two, the 450L is more soberly designed, with rounded corners and a textured case that’s fun to run your fingernail over. The 450W is more brash, with bright colours that match the colourful Windows Phone home screens. The neon yellow case is certainly bold — you won’t lose it in the dark.

 

Check out the neon look of Kazam’s new Thunder smartphones.

 

Both phones are powered by a quad-core 1.2GHz MSM8212 processor, with 1GB of RAM. There’s 8GB of storage — some is taken up by the phone’s firmware — but the rest is free for your music and movies, apps and snaps. A microSD card slot gives up to 32GB of extra leg room if you need it. There’s also an FM radio built-in.
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https://www.cnet.com/reviews/kazam-thunder-450l-preview/

Take long-exposure photos with the Nubia Z9 Max (hands-on)

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BARCELONA — At MWC 2015, Nubia, a subsidiary of Chinese-based mobile manufacturer ZTE, quietly showcased its newest high-end handset, the Z9 Max.

Packed with photo editing features, the device has several tools for its 16-megapixel rear-camera. In addition to meters for adjusting white balance, ISO levels and exposure, it has many shooting modes that take advantage of the camera’s long-exposure feature.

Different settings include super night, light painting (where users can drag a light sources to create whimsical light effects) and star track. Star track requires users to set their Z9 Max on a tripod for 6 to 8 hours in order to capture the movement of stars.

Recording capabilities include shooting in 1,080p HD and 4K video.
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https://www.cnet.com/reviews/zte-nubia-z9-max-preview/

Slimline Samsung Galaxy A7 comes with eight cores, selfie mode and KitKat (hands-on)

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BARCELONA — The Samsung Galaxy A7 is a new eight-core 4G smartphone that’s slimmer than Kate Moss on a juice cleanse, but it should perhaps have helped itself to a Lollipop.

The A7 is a follow-up to the all-metal Galaxy A5 and Galaxy A3. Like the older A3 and A5, the A7 runsAndroid 4.4 KitKat. KitKat is still perfectly serviceable, but phone fans will be disappointed that it’s not the latest Android software, which is called Lollipop.

Exact prices and release dates are yet to be confirmed. We’ve gone hands-on with the A7 here at MWC however, and we can report that its metallic frame makes a strong first impression, feeling very sturdy and much swankier than some of Samsung’s earlier plastic smartphones.
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https://www.cnet.com/reviews/samsung-galaxy-a7-preview/

Samsung Z1 Tizen-based phone mimics Android, cuts costs (hands-on)

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BARCELONA — Samsung’s Z1 smartphone is aimed squarely at developing countries and so comes with an extremely low price — about $90 (roughly £60 or AU$115).

In order to limbo under that very low bar, Samsung has ditched the Android software it usually uses on its smartphones, instead opting for Tizen, an operating system created by Samsung and various other companies — it also uses it on its new smart TVs.

Tizen is an open-source operating system and as such, has been taken and moulded by various manufacturers to fit a range of products. It’s not just for phones — Tizen can be found on watches (including Samsung’s own Gear S), cameras, car entertainment systems and connected home appliances.
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https://www.cnet.com/reviews/samsung-z1-preview/

Compact, ultrabudget Microsoft Lumia 430 arrives in April for $70

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For Microsoft, the midrange Lumia 640 and 640 XLannounced at Mobile World Congress this year apparently weren’t inexpensive enough.

The company announced another low-cost contender, the 3G-only Lumia 430. For $70 (which converts to about £47 or AU$90), the dual-SIM device puts Windows Phone 8.1 on a 4-inch display with a 800×480-pixel resolution.

Keeping in line with the penny-saving price, the Lumia 430 has a 2-megapixel camera (without flash) and a 0.3-megapixel front-facing shooter.

Inside, you’ll find a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 chipset. It isn’t surprising that storage is on the lean side, 8GB of memory and 1GB RAM. The good news is that there’s microSD card support for up to 128GB more storage.
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https://www.cnet.com/reviews/microsoft-lumia-430-preview/

Runcible is the classiest, watch-iest smartphone we’ve ever seen (hands-on)

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BARCELONA — Forget what you know about smartphones, put on your top hat and monocle, and pretend it’s the year 1515. Reach into your pocket, take out your nifty pocket watch, then stare at its gorgeous high-resolution display and make a phone call.

That’s the plan with the Runcible, anyhow. Designed by Monohm, a company founded by alumni from both Apple and Sony, the stunning, circular smartphone with the nonsensical name stands out amidst a constant drone of rectangular devices. CNET spoke to Monohm ahead of the Runcible’s MWC debut and got the full fascinating story behind this intriguing device.

 

A circular argument

 

I popped by the Firefox booth earlier to meet up with the founders, George Arriola and Jason Proctor, who were on hand to demo the Runcible prototype. However, because it’s just a prototype, I wasn’t able to get the full experience (or even the specs!), but I’m told the phone will be ready for sale by the end of the year in Japan through Japanese telco KDDI. Prices should be around unlocked iPhone 6territory — around $600 — which converts to around £390 and AU$770.
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https://www.cnet.com/reviews/runcible-preview/

T-Mobile wants $150 Alcatel OneTouch Pop Astro to be its next budget star

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The new OneTouch Pop Astro goes on sale with T-Mobile.

 

Budget-seekers, T-Mobile is betting it has the phone for you. The Alcatel OneTouch Pop Astro is the latest in the no-contract carrier’s constellation of low-cost smartphones. But it comes with a warning: this is a very entry-level device.

Going on sale April 29, the Pop Astro gives you 4G LTE andAndroid 4.4 on a 4.5-inch 960 x 540-pixel resolution on a basic TFT screen. There’s a 5-megapixel camera on the back and a 0.3-megapixel camera on the front. These are extremely low specs compared to top-end smartphones, but the Pop Astro is also a fraction of the cost.
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https://www.cnet.com/reviews/alcatel-onetouch-pop-astro-preview/

Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 details surface ahead of rumored June launch

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The rumored tablet, expected in 8-inch and 9.7-inch sizes, will reportedly feature premium build materials.

 

The Samsung Galaxy Tab could soon have a successor.

 

Samsung will introduce its next-gen Galaxy Tab S tablet as soon as next month, according to details recently learned by SamMobile. Reportedly, the new line of slates will employ the premium metal materials found in recent Samsung devices.

Presumably dubbed the Galaxy Tab S2, the tablet could come in both 8-inch and 9.7-inch sizes and feature Wi-Fi and/or LTE connections. In terms of specifications, the units could feature rather impressive hardware.
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https://www.cnet.com/news/samsung-galaxy-tab-s2-details-june-launch/

Sony delivers Android 5.0 to Xperia Z3 Dual, Z1 and more

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The Lollipop update arrives for half a dozen Sony smartphones around the globe.

 

The Xperia Z should see Android 5.0 in the coming weeks.

 

Android 5.0 Lollipop is ready to roll on half a dozen Sony smartphones.

A post on Sony’s blog reveals that the Xperia Z3 Dual, Xperia Z1, Xperia Z1 Compact and Xperia Z Ultra are expected to pick up the latest version of Android in the coming days.
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https://www.cnet.com/news/sony-delivers-android-5-0-to-xperia-z3-dual-z1-more/

New Zeiss FE-mount lenses get digital displays

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The company’s first self-designed and distributed Sony FE-mount lenses with autofocus come in a couple of essential focal lengths.

 

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ZEISS Batis 1.8/85Zeiss

 

Zeiss adds another couple of fast Sony full-frame E-mount lenses for the A7 series, its first FE-mount models with autofocus designed and produced by Zeiss. Launching the new Batis line, the two weather-sealed fixed focal-length lenses also sport a novel OLED display on their barrels.

The $1,300 ZEISS Batis 2/25 is a 25mm f2 based on the company’s Distagon optical design, can focus up to 7.9 in/0.2m. It’s 3.2 in/81mm around by 3.1 in/78mm long and weighs about 11.8 oz/335g.
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https://www.cnet.com/news/new-zeiss-fe-mount-lenses-get-digital-displays/

Sony updates staple pro A-mount lenses

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The veteran 16-35mm f2.8 and 24-70mm f2.8 lenses get modern coatings and other modern touches.

 

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The new lenses look pretty much the same, though the new coatings are important.

 

It’s hard to believe that they’re 10 years old, but Sony’s finally updating two of its most important lenses.

The Vario-Sonnar T* 16-35mm f2.8 SSM II and 24-70mm f2.8 II remain essentially the same but Sony incorporates more recent coatings — coating technology has change a lot in the last decade — for better clarity and less ghosting. Sony also claims significantly better subject tracking.
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https://www.cnet.com/news/sony-updates-staple-pro-a-mount-lenses/

Asus Transformer Book Flip TP300LA review

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TODO alt text

JUMP TO SECTION:

  • BEST PRICE
  • COMMENTS

OUR VERDICT

Solid build construction and a powerful processor are let down by a lack of solid state storage, unreliable flip detection and a slightly dark screen.

FOR

  • Good build quality and it’s aesthetically pleasing
  • Powerful processor for the price
  • Large 1TB hard drive

AGAINST

  • Relatively low resolution screen that isn’t visible from all angles
  • No SSD and a noisy hard drive
  • Unreliable flip detection

With the release of the latest MacBook, Apple proved unwilling to dip its toes into touchscreen laptop territory just yet – leaving the market open for Asus and Lenovo to do a few backflips into the pool and make some big waves. This, the latest from Asus’ (slightly confusingly named) Transformer Book Flip line features the new i7-5500U Broadwell Intel processor, beating its nearest rival the Lenovo Ideapad Yoga 3 which still currently has an i5-5200U.
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https://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/asus-transformer-book-flip-tp300la-1293466/review

LG G4 hits Sprint and US Cellular this June

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The newly announced flagship phone will be available on all four major US carriers, but Sprint and US Cellular are first up, offering the device in little more than a month’s time.

Hot on the heels of LG’s launch event today, the newly announced LG G4 is picking up wide carrier support in the US. Both Sprint and US Cellular have pledged that they will begin carrying the device in June.

The former will offer the handset in metallic gray and black leather. Sprint customers can alreadypre-register to purchase the phone, with a chance to win one for free.

AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon will also sell the device, though no timeline has been announced as of yet.
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https://www.cnet.com/news/lg-g4-us-carrier-support/

Sony Xperia Z5 rumors already bubbling to surface

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Although the Xperia Z4 has yet to be announced, the first batch of Z5 details has already emerged.

 

The Sony Xperia Z3 could have two successors by the end of the year.

 

There are leaks and there are leaks. Although Sony hasn’t unveiled the Xperia Z4, the first set of hardware rumors for the Sony Xperia Z5 has just come to light.

According to sources close to AndroidOrigin, Sony Mobile plans to release three versions of the Xperia Z5 in late 2015. Should this prove true, we could have an Xperia Z5, a larger Z5 Ultra and a smaller Z5 Compact before the year is out.
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https://www.cnet.com/news/sony-xperia-z5-rumors-already-bubbling-to-surface/

The Apple Watch is much more waterproof than we expected

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Apple Watch

 

With its IPX7 rating the Apple Watch should be able to survive a splash or two, but it’s supposedly far from fully waterproof. The manual specifically warns against submerging it for long periods, swimming with it or exposing it to high-velocity water.

So of course that’s exactly what someone did. DC Rainmaker put it through three gruelling tests, pushing it well beyond the limits set out by Apple.

First he took it for a 1,200 metre swim, which it survived. The heart rate measurements were inaccurate while it was submerged but everything seemingly worked fine once he got back to dry land.

Then he put it through two 5 metre dives and a 10 metre one and the watch came out of all three apparently unscathed.
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https://www.techradar.com/news/wearables/the-apple-watch-is-much-more-waterproof-than-we-expected-1293475

Qualcomm says don’t fear the Snapdragon 808

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Although the new LG G4 smartphone will be using Qualcomm’s 808 — and not the 810, its higher-end cousin — the chipmaker is still betting big on the 810.

 

Qualcomm’s top-of-the-line Snapdragon 810 chip has had a rough start since it hit the market early this year, with Samsung dumping the processorfrom its flagship Galaxy S6 and persistent rumors that the chip overheats.

With all that negativity surrounding the 810, industry observers can’t be blamed for wondering why LG — after using the 810 in another new smartphone — decided to use Qualcomm’s slightly lesser Snapdragon 808 in its G4 smartphone, which was unveiled Tuesday.
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https://www.cnet.com/news/qualcomm-says-snapdragon-808-picked-for-lg-g4-over-a-year-ago/

The best iPhone 5S deals in May 2015

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iPhone 5S deals

 

Hang about, you might be thinking: why are they offering me iPhone 5S deals, that phone’s ancient now?

Well, dear reader, don’t be put off by the age of the 5S because it’s without doubt one of Apple’s best ever phones.

For one thing, you get the brilliant fingerprint scanner, that works better than pretty much any other on the market. Plus the phone is powerful, beautifully design and supports the latest version of Apple’s iOS, and will continue to get updates for some time to come.

And more importantly, it’s now a lot cheaper than it used to be and we’ve found loads of great iPhone 5S deals we think you’ll like.

See all iPhone 5S deals
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https://www.techradar.com/

Sony unveils Xperia Z4 at 5.2 inches with Snapdragon 810

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The latest flagship in Sony’s line of sleek, waterproof Android smartphones has been announced by the company on its Japanese website.

Sony Mobile has today unveiled its latest flagship Android smartphone, the Xperia Z4. The announcement arrived with little fanfare on the company’s Japanese website, outlining specs for the new flagship and slating it for a mid-year release in Japan.

As yet, the smartphone maker has not announced an international launch date.

Following on from last year’s flagship Xperia Z3, the Z4 features a 5.2-inch, full-HD display and shaves off a few millimetres of thickness for a slim 6.9mm, 144-gram design. The face of the phone measures 146mm by 72mm, with a slim bezel around the 1,920×1,080-pixel screen.
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https://www.cnet.com/news/sony-unveils-xperia-z4/