Chances are, if you watch a YouTuber by the name of MKBHD, you've probably heard of a company called RED. RED makes high-end cameras used to film tv shows, movies, and MKBHD's YouTube videos. Now, RED is venturing into a new market, smartphones. Today, RED announced that they will be releasing a smartphone, with an expected release early next year. The phone is called the RED Hydrogen One. It is currently available for pre-order, through RED's website. There are two models available, one is made of aluminum, the other of titanium. The aluminum model will cost you $1,195, and the titanium model will cost $1,595.
If you're wondering what you get for such a steep price tag, you're not the only one. The only information given by RED, is that the phone will feature a 5.7" display, that can switch between 2D and 3D content. Also, there will be modular components available, similar to the current Moto Z line of phones. Considering that RED has built their reputation by making high-end filming equipment, I think that the Hydrogen One will be similar to the LG V10, focusing primarily on the camera's photo and video capabilities. If interested, you can checkout the available information, or pre-order the RED Hydrogen One HERE.
0 Comments
First Time For Everything
It looks like the pressure is on, over at Apple. The Cupertino based company has reported its first dip in iPhone sales the products initial release in 2006. This is also the first dip in Apple's sales since 2003. iPhone sales have dropped 16 percent, this quarter, compared to the same quarter last year. Overall sales dropped by 13 percent, down to $50.6 billion. In China alone, iPhone sales plummeted 26 percent. This is no surprise, considering the increase in foreign phone companies offering powerful devices, at much lower prices. No Signs of Getting Better? According to Toni Sacconaghi, an analyst at the Bernstein brokerage firm, "there's no question that Apple's best days are behind it. The company grew at astronomical rates, and it's now so big that its ability to grow at those rates doesn't exist anymore." According to forecasts of the current quarter, things are not looking up for Apple. Projected revenue for this quarter is expected to go from $41 billion to $43 billion. This is a lot lower than what Wall Street was expecting. Will things get better for Apple? When? According to Tim Cook, this drop in sales is due to the regular two-year product cycle of the iPhone. Tim Cook went on to say, "If you look at our installed base of iPhones today versus two years ago, it's increased 80 percent." For some time now, rumors had been circulating about Apple's March, 2016 event. It seemed like we were getting more and more info on Apple's latest devices on a daily basis. So much so, that the event seemed almost unnecessary. But, as always, nothing is "confirmed" until Apple says it is. Well, today all of those rumors were finally confirmed. As many were expecting, we saw the "all new" iPhone SE and and The New [9.7-inch] iPad Pro. iPhone SE The iPhone SE is Apple's solution to bringing back the 4-inch smartphone. This was one of the rumors that was a toss-up. There were sources stating that the SE would be a "smaller, thicker iPhone 6s", and then there were those saying it would be " a revamped iPhone 5s". Unfortunately, the latter has turned out to be true. The iPhone SE takes [most] of the specs from the iPhone 6s, and puts them in an iPhone 5s casing. It seems like the only thing that the iPhone SE didn't inherit from the iPhone 6s is the 3D Touch display. For me, the biggest "issues" I have with the iPhone SE are;
The New iPad Pro
Along with the iPhone SE, Apple also announced a smaller version of last years powerhouse tablet, the iPad Pro. This new iPad (still just iPad Pro) takes all of the power of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, and puts it in a 9.7-inch housing. The 9.7-inch iPad even comes complete with the 4 stereo speakers, smart connector, and Apple Pencil Support. The smaller iPad Pro even comes equipped with something that its larger sibling doesn't. The 9.7-inch iPad Pro has a "True Tone Display". This means that the iPad Pro display will adjust the lighting of the display in response to the lighting of the environment, similarly to the way paper does when it reflects different light. Another big upgrade that the 9.7-inch iPad Pro is the camera. The new iPad features the 12-megapixel iSight Camera found on the iPhone 6s/6s Plus. The one downside (for some) is that with the new camera, the 9.7-inch iPad Pro also inherited the infamous camera bump found on the latest iPhones. I personally prefer the size of the 9.7-inch iPads over the size of the pro. I think that it's a much more practical size for those that aren't looking to use the iPad as a laptop replacement. My only complaint with the new iPad Pro (which might end up not being a problem at all) is the True Tone Display. After seeing this feature demoed I am willing to test it, but I'm not thrilled about it. So, as long as that feature gives you the option to turn it off, all is good. What do you think about Apple's "new" devices? Are they necessary? It looks like LG has stolen the show at this year's WMC event. Their latest flagship, the G5, seems to have even overshadowed the likes of Samsung and their latest Galaxy phones. This is with good reason. The LG G5 seems to have drastically changed LG's idea of a flagship smartphone. Reinventing The Wheel? Although LG did keep a few of their much favored features (the removable battery and expandable storage are here to stay) with the G5, they made even more changes. Design In the past, LG's flagship smartphones featured plastic builds that were, on occasion, somewhat disappointing. With this year's update, however, LG opted for an aluminum unibody for the G5; a drastic change from the previous models. Another, change LG made to exterior of the phone, is the placement of the volume buttons. The volume buttons on the G5 are located on the left side of the phone rather than the back. Display The G5 comes with a 5.3" IPS LCD display, with a resolution of 2560 X 1440. The display also features an Always-on function. According to LG, this feature is why they opted for the IPS display rather than an AMOLED display. They stated that showing information all the time on an AMOLED display would lead to a burn out. Camera(s) Like the building material of the phone, the cameras are one of the biggest changes to the G5. The LG G5 features an 8 megapixel from facing camera, and in the back is where it gets really interesting. On the rear of the phone there are two cameras; one is a standard operating 16 megapixel sensor, the other is a wide-angle 8 megapixel sensor. These two cameras offer a wide range of functions that you wouldn't be able to find on a standard smartphone setup. For example, you can record video and shoot stills at the same time. Power
The G5 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820, onto-core processor and 4GB of RAM. For storage, there is 32GB built-in and a Micro SD card slot to expand. The 2800mAh battery isn't particularly impressive on its own, but when you take into consideration that the phone has a removable battery and Quick Charge 3.0 with USB Type-C. Modular Build The LG G5 also has another feature that radically operates it from any other smartphone currently on the market. The G5 features a modular design that allows you to add additional parts to your phone. LG currently has two models for the G5. The Cam Pro, which enhances your photography experience, as well as expand your battery to 4000 mAh. The other module is the LG Hi-Fi Pro, which offers a 32-bit DAC and amp meant to offer an audiophile experience through your handset. Thoughts Personally, I think that the LG G5 has a lot of great features that make it an amazing flagship. The metal build is a much needed enhancement. I felt that the G3 and G4 were too light, they almost felt like they were nothing more than mock-ups of a phone. The ability to add additional parts to the phone, and change the overall capabilities of your device. That is something truly unique at this time, and I hope that other phone manufacturers follow the lead. For me, the only downside to the G5 is the screen size. I know that a 5.3" display isn't the smallest screen currently on the market, and with its resolution offers a higher pixel density; but I would prefer at least a 5.5" display. What do you think about the LG G5? Did it hit the mark, or is it lacking anything else you would like to see? We already know when we are getting the new LG G5, we might even have an idea of what it it looks like. Now, thanks to the twitter page of LG South Korea, we have a hint at another feature that will be included in the companies latest flagship. As you probably already know, last years LG V10 featured a secondary "always on" display. This display is located at the top of 5.7-inch primary display. The "always on" is meant to give you constant access to notifications, frequently used apps/contacts, as well as certain controls (media controls, flashlight, wifi, bluetooth, etc.) without having to unlock your phone. Well, it appears that LG will be applying this "always on" function to their latest flagship, with a slight twist. It appears as though the LG G5 will feature an Always-On Primary Display. So, rather than having an additional thin display on the top of the phone, the G5 will give you those same controls throughout the entire display. As I said earlier, this feature was hinted by LG, in a tweet sent out earlier today. This tweet was also accompanied by a GIF that-in all honesty-didn't provide much additional information, but does seemsupport the conclusion of an Always-On primary display. If LG is planning on making an Always-On Primary display, it would be interesting to see how that affects other aspects of the phone, such as battery life. Will LG be sticking with a removable battery as rumored before. I guess we'll see on the 21st.
With an official release date set and a lot of speculation about what's inside the phone, the only thing missing is the design of the LG G5. Well, thanks to an early release on Amazon, we now have a look at a possible case (along with a render) of the latest flagship phone from LG. When/Where As stated earlier, the LG G5 now has an official release date. The LG G5 will be unveiled at this year's Mobile World Congress on, February 21st (same as the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge). Design It is possible that this year's LG flagship will feature a premium all metal build. This would be a big change from the plastic or leather that was featured on previous LG smartphones. It is also being suggested that LG will keep the removable battery and expandable storage. The idea is that the LG G5 will feature a large battery tray, similar to the one that holds your SIM card. Display Rumors are suggesting that the G5 will have a 5.6-inch display, with a resolution of 2560X1440. Depending on the bezel size, the phone could potentially be the same size as last year's G4 (5.5-inches). Camera There is still some debate as to what camera the G5 will have. While some rumors are saying that it will have a 21MP sensor, others are suggesting that it will feature a 20MP camera with a custom 1/2-inch Sony sensor. Then there is the matter of the dual-lens camera, and what that could feature. Power According to reliable sources, the LG G5 is expected to be powered by a Snapdragon 820 chip and 3GB of RAM. Currently, the LG G4 runs on a Snapdragon 808 chip. Based on the release date, the G5 is expected to ship with an LG skinned version of Android Marshmallow. Miscellaneous Some other features that the LG G5 may come equipped with include; a USB-C port on the bottom, a lone fingerprint sensor on the back (volume rocker is said to be moved to the side), and an "accessory slot" that allows for modular hardware expansion. As of right now, there is no word on what the pricing of the LG G5 will be. However, that detail will more than likely be unveiled during the G5's launch.
Has Sony just confirmed that the iPhone 7 Plus will feature dual-camera? According to Sony, their dual-lens camera technology will make its way into devices from "major smartphone players" in the year 2016. This information was shared by Kenchiro Yoshida, Sony's CFO, during the company's Q3 earnings call. Although, Sony cameras are used by numerous smartphone manufacturers, it is probably safe to say that Apple is the biggest. When asked, Yoshida would not specify which companies would be executing this technology. Thoughts Now, I do think that these dual-lens systems are great, and offer some great features to smartphones. For example; the ability to adjust focus after taking a photo, or the versatility of having the two different lens types. I do also think that there is one very small downside to having a dual-lens camera on your smartphone. This downside will not be an issue for many smartphone photographers. This issue I'm referring to is external lenses, or lack there of. If the iPhone 7 does feature a dual-lens camera, things like the Olloclip, Moments lens, and iOgrapher become irrelevant. Now, obviously without getting our hands on this new iPhone, there is no way of knowing if the features that the dual-lens system adds will be worth the trade. What do you think? Do you think that an iPhone with two rear-facing cameras is a good idea? Why? Why not?
It has been recently announced (officially), that Samsung's latest event will be held on February 21st. At this event, it is expected we will see the latest flagship smartphones from samsung; the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge. Design In terms of the design of the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge will-supposedly-look almost identical to last years S6 model phones. Now, for many (including myself) this is not a bad thing. According to rumors, the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge will share the same metal and glass build of the their predecessors. The only downside to this, in my opinion, is the slipperiness of the phones. Although this is an issue, it is a small issue that can be easily fixed. All you need is a case (or a skin, if you prefer). There is one "big" differences that the S7 edge will bring to the table, and that is its size. Last year, the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge shared the same screen size of 5.1 inches. Supposedly, the S7 will stick with this screen size. The S7 edge, however, is said to come equipped with a 5.5 inch screen. Specs
Camera Last years Samsung phones featured probably one of the best (if not the best) cameras on a smartphone. It looks like Samsung will be making a drastic change to the camera on the S7 models. Instead of keeping their 16MP rear camera, it seems like Samsung will be lowering the camera to 12MP in favor of improving low light performance. Lowering the pixel count would be a strange move, although it could prove to be a worthwhile improvement. The front-facing camera is supposedly still going to be 5MP. This should be more than enough to keep those selfies look extra crispy. Battery The battery of the Galaxy S7 phones will still be non-removable, but should be increased from 2600 mAh to 3000 mAh. It is also being suggested that Samsung will be taking measures to keep the phone cool. This will keep the battery from overheating, thus further improving battery life. Chipset Samsung is said to be offering to different chipsets on their phones-probably varying by region. One variant will more than likely include an Exynos chipset, while the other will include a Snapdragon 820. There currently isn't anything to suggest where these different chipsets will be made available. Miscellaneous One of the big improvements coming to the new Galaxy phones is the return of expandable storage. The S7 and S7 edge will supposedly feature a dual-card SIM slot (one for your SIM card, and another for a micro SD card). It is possible that another change coming to the new Samsung phones, is the charging port. This years Galaxy phones might be getting rid of the micro-USB port, in favor of a USB Type-C port. Verdict Overall, I think that the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge will feature some exciting changes, although they don't exactly make the upgrade necessary especially if you are currently Earlier today, Microsoft announced several new products. These products consist of Microsofts newest Lumia Smartphones, as well as their new Surface devices. Lumia 950 + 950 XL Microsofts latest flagship Windows Phones were announced at today's Microsoft event. The two phones announced were the Lumia 950, and the Lumia 950 XL. These phones new phones have been expected for some time. Both phones feature AMOLED QHD displays (2560X1440 resolution), with the 950 display measuring 5.2" and the 950 XL measuring 5.7". Both phones also feature the same camera. It is a 20 MP sensor (video recording in 4K), with a triple LED natural flash, and ZEISS optics. The Lumia 950 is powered by a Snapdragon 808 exa-core processor, and runs off of a 3,000 mAh battery with USB Type-C Fast Charging. The 950 XL, on the other hand, is powered by a Snapdragon 810 octal-core processor, and is running off of a 3340 mAh battery; also with USB Type-C Fast Charging. Display Dock I think my favorite part of the Lumia presentation was the demonstration of the Display Dock. This dock allows you to connect your Lumia 950/950 XL to an external monitor and peripherals, and use it as a full Windows 10 PC. All the apps on your Lumia Phone are converted into their full desktop version and run as they would on any Windows 10 laptop or desktop. The dock also allows you to do this while still using your Lumia phone, as a phone. So, you can be editing documents on the external monitor while responding to phone calls or text messages on your phone. I think this is such a great feature. Surface Pro 4 Microsoft also unveiled the latest Surface Pro. The Surface Pro 4 got an larger display--due to smaller bezels--coming in at 12.3-inches. The resolution of the display has also been improved, going from 1920X1080 to a 2763X1824 PixelSense Display. Even with these improvements the Surface Pro 4 is still thinner and lighter than the Surface Pro 3. The Surface Pro 4 starts at $899. This gets you an Intel Core m3 processor, 4GB of RAM, and s 128GB SSD. The Surface Pro 4 now includes the Surface Pen. The TypeCover however, is still sold separately. Surface Book The final product that Microsoft unveiled at their event was the Surface Book. The Surface Book is the first laptop made by Microsoft. It features a design similar to the Microsoft Surface Pro 4. The Surface Book has a 13.5-inch PixelSense display, with a resolution of 3000X2000. The Surface Book has a starting price of $1499. This gets you an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 128GB SSD. All models of the Surface Book include the laptop (with removable keyboard) and Surface Pen. Final Thoughts
Overall, I was very excited about the entire event. The new Lumia phones seem extremely promising. Although, I currently wouldn't pick one up. The only thing that is holding me back--like most people, when it comes to Windows phones-- is the limited selection of apps. It seems like Windows 10 will begin to change that, with universal apps that work on all Windows 10 devices. I do look forward to testing out the Continuum features with the Lumia Display Dock. When the Surface Pro 4 presentation began, I was very excited. With the upgraded display and latest Intel processors, there is no denying that the Surface Pro 4 will continue its legacy of being the "tablet that can replace your laptop". As I said earlier, I was extremely excited about the Surface Pro 4. After seeing that presentation, I was convinced that the 4 would finally be the Surface for me. That was until, Microsoft unveiled the Surface Book. When this laptop first made its way onto the stage, I was ecstatic. The Surface Book looks great, with its simple "slab" design similar to the standard Surface. Originally, I thought the Surface Book was "just" a laptop, with a somewhat strange looking hinge. Although it was later revealed that the keyboard on the laptop is reversible, allowing to be used as a tablet. The upgraded models of the Surface Book have dedicated NVIDIA GPUs located in the Keyboard. This means that all graphic intensive tasks will require the Surface to be connected to its keyboard. The model of Surface Book I find most interesting is the $1900 model. This pricing gets you an Intel i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD, and NVIDIA dedicated graphics. The top tier model is priced at $2700. This upgrades you to an Intel i7 CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. What do you guys think of the latest devices, announced by Microsoft? Are you interested? Why? Why not? Nothing New?
Earlier today, Google wrapped up an event showcasing their newest flagship smartphones, as well as a few other "tasty treats". Thanks to many leaks online, there wasn't all that much to be surprised about, with Google's event. The Phones When it comes to the phones, the rumored specs were not that far off, although there were a few things that weren't let out. Here are the full specs of both of the phones that Google announced earlier today: Nexus 6P Operating System
Nexus 5X Display
In terms of pricing and availability, both phones are currently available for pre-order. You can find them HERE. The Nexus 5X is starting at $379 and the Nexus 6P is starting at $499. Both phones will begin shipping in 4-5 weeks. Currently with pre-orders, both phones include a 90-day trial for Google Play Music and a $50 Play Store gift card. The Tablet This was one of the later rumors to be released about today's event. The first Android tablet built 100% by Google. The Pixel C is 10.2-inch tablet that will run Android Marshmallow. The tablet is powered by an NVIDIA Tegra X1 processor and is equipped with 3GB of RAM. On the outside the Pixel C has an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera. The resolution of the tablet is 2560 X 1800 (pixel density of 308 ppi). The "C" in Pixel C stands for "convertible". What makes the Pixel C convertible? The answer to that lies in the optional keyboard. This keyboard, unlike the Microsoft Surface or Apple's iPad Pro, the Pixel C does not require a dock to attach to the keyboard. Instead the tablet connects to it's keyboard through magnets. These--very strong--magnets keep the tablet attached to the adjustable hinge. The Chromecasts Along with the new phones and new tablet, Google also unveiled their new chromecasts. Yes, chromecasts, as in multiple. Two, to be exact. Google unveiled two new casting devices. One, simply called the New Chromecast and the other one called Chromecast Audio. The New Chromecast is a newly redesigned, and faster Chromecast. It now supports 5GHz WiFi (instead of just 2.4GHz), and it also has a new feature called Fast Play. Fast Play does exactly that, it is a faster way to stream your media from your phone to the Chromecast. For example, when you begin watching a show on Netflix, while the first episode is playing the Chromecast will begin loading the beginning portion of the next episode. This will allow you to go from the end of one episode to the beginning of the next episode, much faster. Chromecast Audio is essentially the same concept as the "regular" Chromecast, but for speaker systems. Plugging the CHromecast Audio into a non-WiFi speaker system will allow you to stream any and all Chromecast supported audio (YouTube, Pandora, Google Play Music, and soon Spotify), to said speakers. Both the New Chromecast and Chromecast Audio are currently available for pre-order. You can find them HERE. They are each priced the same as the original Chromecast, coming in at $35. |
Archives
July 2017
Categories
All
|