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.
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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. According to rumor, Google is planning to launch a 10.2-inch tablet later this year. This tablet-rumored to be called the Pixel C-will supposedly feature a design similar to the Chromebook Pixel, down to the multi-colored light bar. Although it will be a Pixel device, it will not be running Chrome OS. Instead, the tablet will ship with Android Marshmallow. Since this tablet is Pixel device and not a Nexus, the hardware will be handled 100% by Google. The Pixel C will supposedly have support for a detachable keyboard, similarly to the Microsoft Surface and iPad Pro.
The 10.2-inch tablet will supposedly be powered by an NVIDIA X1 quad-core processor and Maxwell-made GPU, it will also have 3GB of LPDDR4 RAM. In terms of design, apparently the device will look just like a smaller version of the Chromebook Pixel-minus the keyboard. It will charge via a USB Type-C connector, and will have "two keyboard accessories to choose from". In terms of availability, it is being guessed (roughly) that the tablet will ship in November. With this estimated shipping date, it is possible that we will get more info on this tablet at Google's event tomorrow (September 29th). Over the past couple of days, a lot of what was rumored about the upcoming Google Event has been confirmed. Thanks to Android Police we now have leaked images that confirm some of the speculated details about these new phones. Names Thanks to leaked packaging for both of the phones, the names of both of these devices have now been confirmed. The smaller, LG made device will be the Nexus 5X and the larger Huawei made device will be the Nexus 6P. Phone Design Another (former) speculation that has been confirmed is the overall design of the phones. These leaked press images show both the LG Nexus 5X and Huawei Nexus 6P in all of their color variations. As had been previously suggest, both phones seem to feature a fingerprint sensor on the back of the phone. Also, they both feature protruding cameras. The 5X features a more subtle bump, while the 6P has a bump that goes across the entire top section of the phone. Although the protruding cameras might be a turn off for some, I'm sure if the hardware inside is good enough, others won't mind it.
Final Thoughts Although the names of the phones are ideal, I don't think that should deter anyone from considering them. If the specs on these phones do turn out to be true-that seems to be the only thing that hasn't been confirmed-the name would be the only "down-side". Personally, I do prefer the look of Huawei made 6P; even with the large camera bump. The New Chromecast It has been over two years since the Chromecast first hit the market. In that time it hasn't received any updates-in terms of the hardware-but it seems like that will change this year. It is being rumored that the Chromecast will finally receive a hardware update in the New Chromecast. As you can see in the image above, from 9To5Google, the Chromecast will be receiving an all-new design to go alongside the improved internals. The newly redesigned New Chromecast will supposedly feature 802.11 ac WiFi support. It will also come equipped with a feature "Fast Play". The "Fast Play" function, combined with the improved WiFi connectivity, should allow the Chromecast to connect and begin playing content much faster. This will give the users a more seamless experience. The New Chromecast will also include support for content feeds on its home screen. There are still no specifics on what type of "feeds" will be supported on the New Chromecast, although it will probably support social media feeds. Chromecast Audio
Along with the New Chromecast, Google is also being said to announce an additional device. This device is the Chromecast Audio, and it will enable speaker systems to connect to WiFi. The device will connect to your home speakers with a 3.5mm audio plug, that seems to be included with the device. The Chromecast Audio will feature multi-room support, which seems to mean that with several of these devices connected to speakers through out your house, you will be able to stream the same audio at the same time. Similarly to the original Chromecast, the Chromecast Audio will be able to stream audio from your Chrome web browser and Android Phone. Another announcement being prepared for the New Chromecast devices, Spotify will be adding Chromecast support to its app. Final Thoughts I am excited to see the updates to the New Chromecast devices. I have had my Chromecast since launch, and I'm excited to see what these changes bring. Along with the possible social media feeds on the Chromecast home screen, I would like to see some news feeds similar to Google Now. What are your thoughts on the New Chromecast? Will you pick one up? The Date On Friday, Google sent out press invites for an event that they are holding on September 29th. In the invite Google teased some "tasty treats" for the event. According to rumors this is the date that the new Nexus Devices will be unveiled, possibly along with a next generation Chromecast. The Phones If the rumors are correct, Google will be unveiling two new phones. One of these phones will be made by LG and the other by Huawei. The LG made phone (Nexus 5X) will supposedly feature a 5.2" 1080p display, the Snapdragon 808 SoC, 2 GB of RAM, 12 MP rear-facing camera, and a fingerprint sensor. While the Huawei made phone (Nexus 6P) is said to feature a 5.7" QHD display, Snapdragon 810, and 3 GB of RAM. The names mentioned above-the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P-are the expected names of the new Nexus phones. These names, all though likely, have not been confirmed as the official names of the LG and Huawei made devices. As mentioned above, the second generation Chromecast is also rumored to make an appearance at Google's September event. More info will be shared on that later.
What do you think of the possibilities of the new Nexus phones? Are you excited? Were you expecting more? Personally, I think the specs seem promising. The design of the Nexus 6P looks decent, although I am curious to see what it's going to pack inside of the camera bulge that takes up the entire top section of the phone. Apple finally released the final version of iOS a couple of days ago, (September 16). I waited until today to update my iOS devices to avoid any of the chaos of updating on release day. Last year, I tried updating my iPhone and iPad on release day, and I can honestly say that it wasn't the funnest experience. Between the constant notices from Apple saying that my update wasn't available at that time, due to the amount of people trying to update their devices. Plus, on top of that, the slower than normal download speeds. It made for an aggravating update experience. I will be covering the top (in my opinion) changes to this years iOS update. What's New With iOS 9, you are getting the same look as the previous two versions of iOS. One thing you probably will notice is that iOS 9 does have a couple of new built-in apps. These apps are Apple News, iCloud Drive. Apple's new News app lets you save all of your favorite news sources in one place. These sources range from the top news organizations to indie publications. The News app learns what stories you like to read and as you keep using it, it will provide more accurate recommendations. iCloud Drive allows you to access any files that you have saved on your iCloud. The iCloud Drive app is essentially Apple's in-house version of Dropbox. This will work between all iOS devices running iOS 9 as well as Macs that have access to iCloud Drive.
Other than the two apps mentioned above it appears that many of the changes made in iOS 9 were purely refinements from the previous versions of iOS. For example, the row of recent contacts has been removed from the multitasking window. Also, the left home screen has made a return; and has been redesigned to show your most used contacts and apps, as well as nearby places and top recommended news articles. Another refined feature is Siri, she has been given several new commands, and the Siri interface has been changed to look more like the Apple Watch's. In terms of the mobile devices (iPhone 6/6 Plus and older), these are the biggest changes made for these devices. It seems as though many of the changes made with iOS 9 were either made for the newer devices. For example, many of the new iPad features such as Picture in Picture and Split View will only be available on the iPad Air and newer/iPad Mini 3 and newer. Final Thoughts It if clear that iOS 9 isn't a huge overhaul in terms of what's changed from last year's update. It is a good refinement, but many of the biggest additions will only be available on the newest Apple devices. So far, my favorite change to iOS is the addition of the News app. It is a great way to find all of the latest stories from all of your interests, without having to search for too long. iOS 9 is supposed to run smoother and faster than iOS 8, but I haven't noticed any difference in speed. According to many other users, iOS 9 actually lags more. I personally haven't experienced this yet, but if it's true, hopefully Apple fixes it with an update soon. Thanks for reading. What are your thoughts on iOS 9 so far? |
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