Monthly Archives: May 2015

Attention, speaker buyers: Is sound quality really the top priority?

Audio & Video, ,

Be honest, is sound quality that big a deal?

 

kefreference5a.jpg
KEF Reference 1 speakers.

 

Come on, it’s just you and me, how do you rate it? Is sound quality the main thing, or is price, features, size, styling, name brand or scoring the best possible deal? It’s probably a combination of all of those things, but how high does sound quality rate for you?

Ten years ago at a press luncheon when I was seated next to the president of a large, mainstream American speaker company, I asked (off the record) about his priorities, where sound quality fit in relation to design and material costs, marketing, advertising, dealer relations, styling and so on. He practically choked on his food and turned away and talked to someone else. There was no way I’d get an honest answer out of him. Even then, most of his customers never heard his speakers before they bought them. So, sure, all speaker companies pay lip service to sound quality, but their real top priority is selling product.
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https://www.cnet.com/news/attention-speaker-buyers-is-sound-quality-really-the-top-priority/

Nokia N1 tablet finally available outside of China

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Taiwan is the next country to get sleek the Android tablet with tantalising specs.

The iPad-looking Nokia N1 tablet is now being sold outside of China.Andrew Hoyle.

 

Remember the Nokia N1 tablet that turned heads because of its Apple-inspired design? Here’s the good news — the same Android tablet is now being sold outside of China, beginning with Taiwan this month for 8,190 Taiwanese dollars (about $265, converted directly). The bad news is there’s no word on when the Finnish phone maker’s device will hit other markets, though.

The Nokia N1 tablet was first unveiled on the show floor of Mobile World Congress in 2014, and like theiPad Mini 3 it resembles, the N1 boasts an eye-pleasing 7.9-inch IPS LCD screen with a 2,048 x 1,536-pixel resolution, and comes powered by a 64-bit 2.3GHz Intel Atom Z3580 CPU with 2GB RAM and 32GB of onboard storage.

The 6.9mm-thick N1 runs a mostly vanilla version Android 5.0 OS Lollipop, but with Nokia’s very own Z Launcher that helps reduce home screen clutter. Other cool features include a sand-blasted aluminum rear, and, taking another leaf out of Apple’s Macbook, a reversible USB Type-C port.
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https://www.cnet.com/news/nokia-n1-tablet-finally-available-outside-of-china/

Nokia Lumia 635 Review

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The Nokia Lumia 635 takes everything that made the Nokia Lumia 520 a winner and gives it a boost. It remains one of the cheapest Windows Phone 8 devices, now coming with Windows Phone 8.1 and the newest Nokia software, along with a look and feel that creates a powerful value proposal. Should you just buy last year’s model on sale, or do you want this improved breadwinner?

The Upgrade / The Reboot

The device you’re seeing next to the Nokia Lumia 635 in this review is T-Mobile USA’s best-selling Windows Phone device, the Nokia Lumia 521. This device was released last year and, with its counterpart the Lumia 520, sold so well that Microsoft made a bigger effort this year to aim for the lower end of the market.

IMG_9073

Make no mistake – this device is an upgrade in every way, starting with aesthetics. It’s super-simple looking and feels nice to hold as well.
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https://www.slashgear.com/nokia-lumia-635-review-20337565/

How to change the name of your Apple Watch

Wearables, , , ,

Just like you can with any other iOS device, you can give your watch a name of its own.

 

 

When you first set up your Apple Watch, Apple assigns a default name to it. For my watch it was “Jason’s Apple Watch.” Yours is likely something similar, only with your name, not mine.

Some people, like me, prefer to give our devices a name of our own instead of a standard affair.

To change the name assigned to your Apple Watch during setup, you only need a few seconds of your time.
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https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-change-the-name-of-your-apple-watch/

Amazon Fire Phone review: The shopper’s smartphone

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When Amazon wades into a new segment, competitors take note, and few devices have been so nervously anticipated as the Fire Phone. Amazon’s first smartphone doesn’t just put Prime in your pocket, it also pushes the limits of UI, with its quartet of Dynamic Perspective cameras, and computational photography, with Firefly. Ambitious, then, but Jeff Bezos & Co. have seldom lacked that. Question is, does the Fire Phone deserve to be the hottest handset in town?

Design and Specifications

Though at first glance it looks like a sober black slab, after a little familiarization the Fire Phone feels in many ways like its been pieced together from aspects of different handsets. The glass back is reminiscent of the Nexus 4, while the micro-drilled speaker holes on the bottom are a little iPhone-esque. In the hand, there’s something of the BlackBerry Z10 to it, though Amazon’s phone is sturdier.
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https://www.slashgear.com/amazon-fire-phone-review-the-shoppers-smartphone-22338233/

How to change storage limits for Photos, Music apps on the Apple Watch

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Changing how much space each app eats up on your watch is simple.

 

Jason Cipriani.

 

With such a finite amount of storage available on the Apple Watch — a measly 8 gigabytes — Apple has opted to limit how much storage users can assign for the Music and Photos apps to take up.

You have some, albeit limited, control over how much space is taken up on your watch. Here’s how to adjust how much storage the Photos and Music apps take up on your watch.
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https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-change-storage-limits-for-photos-music-apps-on-apple-watch/

LG G4c tipped as cheaper take on flagship variant

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A lesser-powered riff on the G4 recently appeared on a German retailer’s website.

 

 

The LG G4 may soon have a lesser-powered counterpart.Andrew Hoyle.

 

Does “c” stand for “cheap”? That might be the case for the LG G4c, which looks like a smaller and less expensive version of its flagship G4 smartphone, according to German retail website 0815.eu.

Based on the specifications listed online, LG has apparently scaled back on nearly all aspects of the G4 to make the G4c. While it does bear a physical likeness with the same body shape and faceted metallike backing, the specs are a generation or two behind.
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https://www.cnet.com/news/lg-g4c-tipped-as-cheaper-take-on-flagship-variant/

Samsung’s Gear VR brings virtual reality to the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge (hands-on)

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Samsung’s latest version of its Gear VR headset only works with the company’s Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge phones. Like the original Samsung Gear VR, this headset is dubbed the “Innovator Edition,” and is a $200 device (about £115 or AU$230) aimed at developers who are interested in taking the plunge into smartphone-based virtual reality.

That’s quite a few caveats. And this remains a developer-focused device, though Oculus, which makes the headset’s virtual-reality software, told us we could expect something for consumers later this fall. But right now, the combination of premium smartphone and clever software makes for an engrossing virtual reality experience you can take anywhere.

 

The dos and don’ts of mobile VR

 

samsunggearvrinnovatoreditionforgalaxys6s6edge-5076-004.jpg

 

Setup is important. Your first step is to make sure you have a general idea of how much space you have around your chair. And make it a swivel chair, as you’ll appreciate the range of motion. That spatial awareness is going to be key, as the soft foam padding that keeps the Gear VR snug across your face blocks out all light, heightening the experience but sequestering you inside of a deep, dark virtual cavern.
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https://www.cnet.com/reviews/samsung-gear-vr-innovator-edition-for-galaxy-s6-and-s6-edge-preview/

HTC One (E8) review: Android’s iPhone 5C is here

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The HTC One (M8) is one of the better Android handsets available. For many, it’s the aluminum shell that takes the cake. What happens when you strip it away and add plastic, though? Is the device still a winner? The HTC One (E8) is trying to answer that question.


This has been done recently, and it didn’t go over that well. The iPhone 5C was basically an iPhone 5 in plastic, and while not a bad phone — it wasn’t the iPhone we all knew and loved. The HTC One (E8) could find itself in similar company, taking the sexy metal casing and re-branding it anew in molded plastic.

Hardware

Aside from swapping plastic from metal, is anything else different? You can run down much of the spec list of the One (M8) and find the same hardware. Snapdragon 801, Adreno 330, 2,600mAh battery, 16GB memory (expandable), and 2GB RAM.
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https://www.slashgear.com/htc-one-e8-review-androids-iphone-5c-is-here-05339892/

Citrix to launch iOS-compatible mouse

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Designed to help business users of Citrix apps make the most of their iPads, the X1 Mouse will launch next week.

 

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Now there’s a scene you don’t see every day: an iPad and a mouse!

 

Can an iPad really take the place of a laptop? For many a business user, there’s one key element missing: a mouse.

Sure, you can use a fingertip for things like selecting text and dragging and dropping spreadsheet cells, but that’s nowhere near as precise. Indeed, far too many business-computing actions become awkward or even impossible when fingers try to replace a pointer.
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https://www.cnet.com/news/citrix-to-launch-first-ios-compatible-mouse/

EVGA Tegra Note 7 Review

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The stylus was dead, and now it’s back. What once was the hallmark of cheap touchscreens and finger-unfriendly software has, thanks in no small part to Samsung’s efforts with its Galaxy Note range, had a second-wind; even the popularity of aftermarket capacitive pens for the iPad suggests not every iOS user agrees with Steve Jobs that “if you see a stylus, they blew it.” Now NVIDIAis wading into the fray, targeting not only pen control but a low price too, with the Tegra Note 7. Set to be sold under different brands in different countries – such as the EVGA model on the SlashGear test bench – the Tegra Note 7 claims similar functionality to Samsung’s Galaxy Note 8.0 but at just $199. Over-ambitious? Read on for our full review.

Hardware

What does $200 get you in a tablet? The Tegra Note 7, as the name suggests, is built around NVIDIA’s own Tegra 4 chipset, which we’ve seen in several other devices over the past months. It’s paired with a 7-inch, 1280 x 800 IPS LCD display, 1GB of memory, and 16GB of internal storage, plus WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 LE, and GPS. There’s no 3G/4G option, but you do get a microSD card slot, a 5-megapixel rear camera with autofocus, and a VGA front camera.
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https://www.cnet.com/reviews/evga-tegra-note-7-review/

Get a four-port USB car charger and a 6-foot Lightning cable for $16.99

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Finally, a decent option for recharging your mobile gadgets while you’re on the road.

 

iclever-4-port-usb-car-charger.jpg
iClever

 

Ever notice how car chargers are mostly terrible? In my experience, built-in USB ports deliver only a trickle charge, and a lot of cigarette-lighter adapters are the same way. Modern phones and tablets need more juice.

Meanwhile, ever notice how most cheap Lightning cables are terrible? In my experience, unless they’re MFi certified, you’re lucky to get a couple weeks before they just flat-out stop working. Alas, the MFi-certified cables tend to sell at a premium.

Enter today’s deal, a great two-fer if ever there was one: Hisgadget (via Amazon) has the iClever four-port USB car charger and iClever 6-foot MFi-certified Lightning cable for $16.99. That’s after adding both to your cart and applying coupon code VPBCQKJ4 at checkout. Shipping is free for Amazon Prime subscribers.
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https://www.cnet.com/news/get-a-4-port-usb-car-charger-and-6-foot-lightning-cable-for-16-99/

Nokia Lumia 2520 review

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The Nokia Lumia 2520 has been some time coming. The glaring absence of a tablet in the company’s range, and its refusal to discuss it until it could figure out a suitably “Nokia spin” on the segment, left us with big expectations. Turns out, the Nokia magic is making LTE standard-fit and borrowing the Lumia phone style for a Windows RT slate, but is that enough to differentiate the Lumia 2520 from the iPad and Microsoft’s Surface 2? Read on for the SlashGear review.

Hardware and Design

Shorter and narrower than the Surface 2, at 267 x 168 x 8.9 mm, the Lumia 2520 is also lighter, at 615g than its soon-to-be step-sibling. That’s because Nokia opts for polycarbonate plastic rather than the metal chassis of Microsoft’s tablet, a rounded-edged slab that looks much like an oversized Lumia 1520.

The glossy red of our review model feels solid in the hand, though there’s some noticeable flex to the back panel. On the front you get a 10.1-inch, 16:9 aspect Full HD display, which Nokia is particularly proud of: it uses a particularly bright 665 Nits LCD topped with Gorilla Glass 2, for improved outdoor visibility and broader viewing angles; there’s also a special coating to supposedly cut down on reflections.
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https://www.cnet.com/reviews/nokia-lumia-2520-black-review/

Dell Venue 8 Pro review

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Not to be confused by the Android tablet with a similar name, the Dell Venue 8 Pro is running Windows. Unlike the difference in operating systems though, there is one similarity to some of those Dell Android tablets, the processor. Dell has the Venue 8 Pro equipped with an Intel processor. Basically, we are looking at an 8-inch tablet running a full Windows installation here, so read on to check out the full SlashGear review.

Hardware and Design

Coming out of the box and we find a tablet that feels solid, not necessarily heavy, but solid. Based on measurements, the tablet weighs in at 0.87 pounds and measures in at 0.35 (T) x 5.12 (W) x 8.50 (L) inches. Though, once you add some of the available accessories, the weight will only increase a bit. At risk of jumping ahead here, Dell has a folio style case and stylus available.
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https://www.slashgear.com/dell-venue-8-pro-review-19309265/

How to use the Apple Watch: Everything you need to know

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As a brand new Apple device, the Apple Watch is like no other gadget that you’ve used before. CNET tells you how to get the most out of your new treasure.

 

Sarah Tew.

 

With many more ways to control an Apple Watch than just winding it up, using Apple’s newest gadget to its fullest extent will take some time to master. The small and pressure-sensitive touchscreen isn’t quite like what you use on your iPhone and accessing so many (and sometimes hidden) features isn’t always straightforward.

Fear not, though, as CNET How To is here to help. As he was writing his exhaustive Apple Watchreview, our wearables guru Scott Stein explored all corners of the device. So, if you have an Apple Watch, or have preordered and are eagerly waiting for it to arrive, let us guide you on exactly how to use the your new friend and what it can do for you.

We’ll be adding more Apple Watch How Tos this week so bookmark this post and check back. And if you have any questions, ask them in the comments.
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https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-use-the-apple-watch-everything-you-need-to-know/

HTC One M8 with Windows Review

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What we could be witnessing right now is a crossroads in the Windows universe. HTC may very well have made the step towards legitimacy the Windows Phone platform needed to show the world that they really, truly can compete with Android. In the HTC One M8 with Windows, HTC has switched out Android for Windows Phone in the greatest handset they’ve ever made, providing a new path of opportunity for Microsoft in the process.

Hardware

The HTC One M8 was a follow-up to a piece of hardware that didn’t need to be replaced. Not on the consumer’s side, anyway. HTC needed a new phone, but as we discussed in an HTC One M8 vs HTC One M7 article earlier this year, the differences are extremely few.

holder

The differences between the Android version and the Windows Phone 8 version of the HTC One M8 are none. There aren’t any perceivable differences between the two devices. Not on the surface. This includes cameras, cellular reception, data speed, everything.
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https://www.slashgear.com/htc-one-m8-with-windows-review-30343567/

3 new features in Google Maps 9.8 on Android

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Google Maps 9.8 has three new features that help manage location photos, details and your schedule.

 

Nicole Cozma.

 

Version 9.8 of the Google Maps app for Android brings three changes that seek to enhance your user experience. You’ll now be able to add multiple photos at a time, hide scheduled events on location cards, and you can pull up all scheduled events with new commands. Here’s how to use each:

 

Batch upload photos

 

Multi-photo upload in Google Maps 9.8.Screenshot by Nicole Cozma.

 

Before this update, if you wanted to add multiple photos to a location, they had to be added one by one. Now you can tap the overflow menu in the top right on a location page, pick Add photos and then tap on all of the ones you want to share. Press Select at the top right when you’re finished.
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https://www.cnet.com/how-to/new-features-in-google-maps-9-8-on-android/

Grim Fandango Remastered arrives on Android and iOS

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The LucasArts adventure classic gets modern graphics and sounds and makes the move to mobile platforms.

 

grim-fandango-for-ios.jpg
Good to see you again, old friend. You’re looking mighty high-res!Screenshot by Rick Broida.

 

It’s a good month for nostalgia and mobility. First came Cinemaware’s Wings Remastered for Android and iOS, and now developer Double Fine (best known for the modern adventure game Broken Age) has released Grim Fandango Remastered for iOS and Android.

If the name doesn’t ring a bell, you were probably born sometime after 1990. The game made its PC debut in 1998 to almost universal acclaim, and indeed currently holds a Metacritic score of 94. It came from LucasArts, the game-studio offshoot of Lucasfilm responsible for loads of other adventure classics: Maniac Mansion, Zak McKracken and the Monkey Island series.

Grim Fandango was the studio’s first stab at a 3D, and also one of its last original adventure games, as the category seemed to dwindle with the rise of console gaming.
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https://www.cnet.com/news/grim-fandango-remastered-arrives-for-android-ios/

Moto X (2014) Review: Finally, a true Motorola flagship

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Motorola never quite got the praise it deserved with the originalMoto X, the company’s decision to step off the specs bandwagon unduly masked by relatively uninspiring design. Now, the 2014 model arrives to rectify that, sharing the same name but stepping up performance, aesthetics, and – essential for any device with ambitions to play among the flagships – build quality. Has the Moto X finally got the balance right? Read on for our full review.

Hardware and Design

The first Moto X was an unusual step in the smartphone space. Where rivals like Samsung, LG, and HTC were chasing the latest chips, camera sensors, and displays to fall off production lines, Motorola opted for less cutting-edge components and instead worked on improving efficiencies in Android itself.

The result was a phone that, despite not having as fast a processor as its rivals, felt much like them in everyday use, only without the crazy battery drain. So far so good, but Motorola’s decision to wrap all that in a plastic casing – even one which could be color customized through the Moto Maker online ordering system – left it feeling pedestrian in the hand, while the compact 720p screen paled in comparison to bigger, better panels from rivals.
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https://www.slashgear.com/moto-x-2014-review-finally-a-true-motorola-flagship-15346294/

iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus Review: Bigger is Better

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Apple promised us something big, and it delivered both metaphorically and literally. The iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plustake Apple’s flagship smartphone in new directions, finally bowing to consumer demand for larger handsets. These aren’t just your old iPhone made bigger, however: a combination of broad hardware improvements and iOS 8 makes sure of that. Question is, does bigger mean better, or has Apple lost its legendary ease of use in the process? Read on for my full review.

Design

Nobody is going to presume you’re carrying last year’s phone. The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus introduce a brand new design language, recognizably “iPhone” in its styling but updated to accommodate the displays.
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https://www.slashgear.com/iphone-6-and-iphone-6-plus-review-bigger-is-better-16346550/

How to disable Apple Pay on a lost Apple Watch

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Even with the added security of a passcode, this is something you’ll want to do should you lose your watch.

 

Jason Cipriani

 

When Apple touted the ability to disable Apple Pay on a lost Apple Watch, I had assumed it meant the smartwatch would appear in the Find My iPhone app and on the website alongside fellow iOS and OS X devices.

And I was wrong.

The Apple Watch is nowhere to be found within the service, leading to confusion on how exactly you would disable Apple Pay on a lost or stolen Apple Watch.

After some digging, I found an Apple support document detailing where you can find the setting should you be faced with the unfortunate situation.

To disable Apple Pay on an Apple Watch (try saying that three times fast), follow these instructions.
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https://www.techradar.com/how-to/wearables/how-to-disable-apple-pay-on-apple-watch-if-it-s-lost-or-stolen-1302038

Nokia Lumia 530 Review

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When we posted our review of the Nokia Lumia 520 and subsequently the Lumia 521 for T-Mobile, it wasn’t yet entirely clear the impact they’d have on the Windows Phone universe. Now that we know that Nokia’s efforts allowed it to dominate the Windows Phone universe, we can see how important it is that the brand was able to create a generally OK phone as an extremely low-cost deliverable. They’re trying to do this again with the Nokia Lumia 530 around the world – today we have a peek at the T-Mobile USA edition.

The review you’re about to read is in a slightly different format than you might be used to if you frequent SlashGear reviews. This is because the Lumia 530 is so extremely similar to the 520 that it’s almost certainly going to appeal to the same crowd. Therefor we aim this review at those readers and/or you!

Why not Lumia 520?

We live in a technology-slinging environment in which a new smartphone must be made every year in a line from a carrier. HTC does it, LG does it, Apple does it, everyone does it. They become better at getting components cheaper and they modify prices accordingly.
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https://www.slashgear.com/nokia-lumia-530-review-14350650/

Moto X (2014) flicks on built-in flashlight with Android 5.1 update

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A new quick-access gesture in the latest Lollipop build turns on the phone’s flashlight with a wave of the wrist.

 

New update lets users chop the Moto X in the air to enable the flashlight.James Martin

 

Motorola on Friday began pushing out an Android software update to its current flagship smartphone, the second-generation Moto X. This isn’t just any old update, mind you, but one with a cool new feature.

As part of Android 5.1, Motorola has introduced a new Moto Action gesture that turns on the phone’s flashlight. Clunkily called “Chop twice for Flashlight”on Motorola’s official website, you wave the phone in the air like you’re cutting an onion. This turns on the LED camera flash until you “chop” again to turn it off.

In addition to Motorola’s flashlight action, Android 5.1 provides a number of other enhancements, including stronger security for lost or stolen devices. Additionally, the update brings HD voice support and quicker access to Bluetooth and Wi-Fi settings.
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https://www.cnet.com/news/moto-x-2nd-gen-gains-flaishlight-gesture-in-android-5-1-update/

Sony Xperia Z3v Review

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Over the past week we’ve had a look at the third in a line of Sony’s “Z” devices in so many years, this one called the “Z3” when it’s not carried by Verizon. This version of the Xperia Z3 goes by the name “Z3v”, appropriately, as it runs on Verizon’s 4G LTE network. The only differences between this “v” model and the standard “Z3” is the added thickness (negligible) and the reason for the difference in size: the addition of wireless charging capabilities. This device is massive, sleek, and quite clearly meant to compete with the finest smartphones ever released.

Hardware

I’m of two minds about the hardware Sony chooses to use for its smartphone and tablet lineup. When I handle any smartphone that uses excessive amounts of glass – no matter how reinforced and “scratchproof” it is – I feel like I’m handling something that’s always one step away from being damaged. The same goes for the iPhone (before they went with aluminum backs), the same goes for basically every tablet fronted by a giant glass panel.
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https://www.slashgear.com/sony-xperia-z3v-review-23352054/

As Apple rises, so Samsung falls

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Samsung is counting on its new smartphones, the Galaxy S6 Edge and Galaxy S6, to boost its results.

 

Samsung’s financial results continued to take a hit in the first quarter as the company battled tough competition in the smartphone market.

The South Korean electronics giant — which makes everything from smartphones and TVs to memory chips and displays — on Tuesday reported March quarter sales and operating profits largely in line with its estimate from earlier this month. Sales dropped 12 percent from the previous year while Samsung’s operating profit fell 30 percent.

A 30 percent decline in operating profit isn’t minor, but it’s a smaller drop than what Samsung has posted in previous quarters — 36 percent in the fourth quarter and 60 percent in the third quarter. Samsung also said smartphone shipments increased from the fourth quarter, led by mid- to low-end device, though tablet and feature phone sales fell.

“Earnings improved due to more efficient management of marketing expenditures, expanded sales of middle-end smartphones including the Galaxy A Series, and a strengthened premium lineup following the introduction of the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge,” Samsung said in a press release.
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https://www.cnet.com/news/as-apple-rises-so-samsung-falls/

Nexus 6 Review – You want to lick this Lollipop

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A new Google smartphone is a big deal, and the Nexus 6 is a very big phone indeed. Largest so far of Google’s collaborations with handset manufacturers, and first to see Motorola take the Nexus reins – ironically just as the two firms part company – it’s a riff on this year’s Moto X but with a new turn of speed and a crazy Quad HD display. It’s also the launch vehicle for Android 5.0 Lollipop on phones, arguably the biggest thing to happen to the OS in many generations. So, with supplies still frustrating all but the best-timed of buyers, is the Nexus 6 the Android phone you want in your pocket?

Design and Display

Familiar, and yet still surprising. If you’ve kept up with Motorola’s Android phones over the past year or two, the general shape of the Nexus 6 won’t come as a great surprise; nonetheless, there are a few factors that distinguish it from devices like the 2014 Moto X.
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https://www.slashgear.com/nexus-6-review-you-want-to-lick-this-lollipop-12355150/

A hot market for pre-owned gadgets is a boon to savvy consumers

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Smart consumers can get a great deal on a used device, while early adopters can invest in new tech knowing there will likely be a gadget once they move on to the next generation.

The market for pre-owned gadgets is booming these days — and you shouldn’t overlook it when you’re buying a device.

That’s the message I offer two different readers of Ask Maggie. The first wants to know if buying a used smartphone is a good idea for her teenage daughter, while the second wants to know if theApple Watch is likely to hold its value like other Apple products.

In spite of a never-ending pipeline of new smartphones, tablets and other gadgets, a growing number of consumers are opting for pre-owned devices. Earlier this year, tech-research firm Gartner predicted that the market for used smartphones will roughly double to 120 million units, or a wholesale value of $14 billion, by 2017.

Even though there’s always been a market for used cell phones, most of them were sold overseas. Now — as wireless operators push customers to pay full price for smartphones and as consumers grow accustomed to buying unsubsidized tablets — consumers are realizing the true value of their tech devices.
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https://www.cnet.com/news/a-hot-market-for-pre-owned-gadgets-is-a-boon-to-savvy-consumers/

Samsung regains smartphone sales crown from Apple

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The South Korean electronics giant’s market share shrinks to 24 percent from 31 percent a year ago, but that’s still enough to beat Apple.

Samsung Electronics has recaptured its title as the world’s top smartphone maker, according to new research released Tuesday.

The South Korean electronics giant shipped 83.2 million smartphones worldwide during the first quarter of 2015, capturing 24 percent of the smartphone market, according to market researcher Strategy Analytics. While that’s a decrease from its 31 percent marketshare a year ago, it still bests the 17.7 percent marketshare Apple recorded with 61.2 million units shipped during the quarter. The iPhone maker’s market share expanded on the 15.3 percent it commanded a year ago but shrank from the 19.6 percent it captured in the fourth quarter of 2014, according to Strategy Analytics.

 

 

“Samsung continued to face challenges in Asia and elsewhere, but its global performance has stabilized sufficiently well this quarter to overtake Apple and recapture first position as the world’s largest smartphone vendor by volume,” Neil Mawston, executive director at Strategy Analytics, said in a statement.
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https://www.cnet.com/news/samsung-regains-smartphone-sales-crown-from-apple/

Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 LTE (Verizon) Review

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With the Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 from Verizon Wireless, users have the largest tablet on the carrier. This device is not the largest tablet on the market – that honor goes to the Panasonic Toughpad 4K UT MB4 at 20-inches – but it’s certainly the biggest we’re willing to go for a mobile device. This iteration of the machine also comes with Verizon’s 4G LTE connectivity.

Hardware

The Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 works with a 12.2-inch display with Super clear LCD technology and 2560 x 1600 pixels of light to fill it up. This means you’ve got 247 PPI (pixels per inch) and more than enough to keep your eyes entertained on long plane rides. This display is both extremely bright and sharp enough to keep up with your extra-sharp eyes’ desires.
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https://www.slashgear.com/samsung-galaxy-note-pro-12-2-lte-verizon-review-28322845/

Lenovo TAB A8 Review

Tablets, , , , ,

 

Lenovo has added some new tablets to its roster, among them being the 8-inch Lenovo TAB A8. This tablet is a mixture of goodies — it is thin and light, and boasts an astounding battery life (hint: I gave up on waiting for the battery to deplete in standby after day 19). Though the specs are in the range needed to make the TAB A8 a relatively budget-friendly slate, it doesn’t feel like a mid-range tablet. How does it hold up when put to use, though? Read our full SlashGear review to find out.

Hardware

The Lenovo TAB A8 is a svelte 8-inch tablet featuring a rubber-like backing that gives it a bit of grip when on a flat surface or being held. The blue backing runs seamlessly up the edges of the tablet, where it meets the outer edges of fairly wide black bezels surrounding the display, both of which are covered in glass. The uppermost left edge features a large snap-in-place cover concealing a microSD card slot, while the right upper edge holds the volume rocker and power button. A small webcam lies on the front, and a larger silver-circled webcam is positioned behind it on the rear.
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Read full post here:
https://www.slashgear.com/lenovo-tab-a8-review-14330361/