Saturday, December 6, 2014

Promo Code Giveaway: 140$ off Moto X 2nd Gen!

Motorola was giving away promo codes for getting the Moto X 2nd generation with a discount of 140$ off contract. We are giving away 4 of those here! This code can be applied on Motorola.com during checkout to receive the discount before 15th December, 2014.



To apply for the giveaway, all you have to do is follow the blog's official page on Google+(plus.google.com/+UltrafiniteBlogspot) and leave a comment on this post before 9th December 5 pm GMT. On 10th December, I will be posting the 4 names (chosen randomly) who would have won the codes and inbox them the promo codes.

Also, if you apply, chances are that you will win 1 of the codes! :)

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Bluetooth 4.2 Announced with IPv6 Support, Better Transfer Speeds and Security

New advancements in core technology always make people happy. Recently, there was a hyper for a new IEEE standard 802.11ax which allowed WiFi speeds up to 10 Gbps. Bluetooth is used by majority of consumers for different purposes and changes in it will definitely affect the user experience. Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy allowed for smart wearable devices which were constantly connected to your primary device but didn't hog the battery life.



Bluetooth 4.2 was announced on 2nd December. It includes support for IPv6 and 6LoWPAN, a feature that’ll allow Bluetooth devices to connect to the Internet themselves rather than requiring a smartphone, tablet or other device to connect them. Data transfer has also been improved in Bluetooth 4.2, with Bluetooth Smart data sync speeds increasing 2.5 times and packet capacity growing nearly 10 times.

The Bluetooth SIG says that Bluetooth 4.2 includes improved security that prevents Bluetooth Smart devices from being tracked and also includes improved data encryption. Finally, Bluetooth 4.2 offers power improvements that let the batteries of Bluetooth Smart devices sip less juice.



With the rise of connected devices, smartwatches and more, Bluetooth 4.2 sounds like it ought to be a big improvement to the Bluetooth standard. Battery life on wearables has been an especially hot topic lately, and so the power improvements in Bluetooth 4.2 are a welcome tweak. However, there’s no word yet on when we can expect to see Bluetooth 4.2 used in consumer hardware.

Source: Bluetooth SIG

Thanks for reading this article! If you liked it, please +1 this or the blog and follow me or our official page on Google+ to be one of the first ones to know whenever we post more awesome content! :)

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

NiCd/Li-ion/NiMH Battery Charging Circuit With High and Low Power Indication, and Automatic Cut-off

First things first, I don't usually write articles like this and I am writing this article only to showcase a battery charging circuit me and my friends made for a college project.

The circuit is designed to charge 3 NiCd batteries of 1000 mAh each but can be modified to be set at any battery voltage and the circuit can be used for any battery type.

Components:

  • 230 V to 9 V Transformer (Or 110 V; depends on the AC Mains voltage where you live)
  • Bridge rectifier. We used one similar to 4 1N4007 diodes but you can use any that you find.
  • 470 microF, 50 V capacitor which is used as a filter.
  • LM7805 Voltage regulator.
  • LM741 op amp x3
  • BC547B NPN Transistor
  • 1 kiloOhm Resistor x5
  • 1.2 kiloOhm Resistor x2
  • 2.7 kiloOhm Resistor
  • 2 LEDs (1 red and 1 green)



The voltage at the node connecting R1, R2 and the U1 op amp is ~3.64 V which is the full voltage of the battery.

This circuit is designed in such a way that the current going into the battery getting charged decreases when the voltage increases and the current gets automatically cut-off at 3.64 V.

Most of the charging current going into the battery comes from the emitter of the NPN Transistor.

For high and low battery indication, 2 LM741 op amps are used as comparators. The D1 LED is green, indicating full charge and the D2 LED is red indicating low charge. 

In the circuit diagram, the +5 V voltage source is the equivalent of the circuit containing transformer, bridge rectifier, capacitor and LM7805 Voltage Regulator.

Link to .asc file to access circuit in LTSpice:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwawuPAjHYZSdmNCM3lVclA1RkU/view?usp=sharing

I also want to tell you about two of my friends' blogs who are in the same college as me.
Maitrey Mehta: infotechpundit.blogspot.com
+Shreyas Patel : spatels.blogspot.com

That's it for this article guys! I may write some more articles similar to this displaying my college projects. Feel free to write any comments/suggestions/questions in the comments section below. Keep reading! :D

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

This N1 is a tablet from Nokia, not an Oppo phone!

There were rumors going around that Nokia was going to announce "something" today and Nokia just announced a new affordable Android tablet and it really has hit it out of the park this time!


Announced today at Slush 2014, the N1 is a tablet by Nokia that comes with Android 5.0 Lollipop out of the box  and full bang-for-your-buck specs. This is a tablet Nokia should have announced in 2012/3 to prevent what happened to the company. But, like the Nokia X Android phones, there is no Play Store out of the box but considering it is an Android tablet, we can do anything with it, can't we? ;)
The Nokia N1 is one of the first devices to feature a reversible USB type C connector

The body is made of aluminum with a thickness of just 6.9 mm and a weight of 318 grams.

The display is a 7.9" IPS LCD screen with a resolution of 2048x1536 and an aspect ration of 4:3 which comes out to be about 324 ppi.

The processor is an Intel® 64-bit Atom™ Processor Z3580, 2.3 GHz with 2 GB RAM and a PowerVR G6430 GPU. To support all of this, there is a 5300 mAH battery.

You get all of this for just 250$ but the tablet is to be released in early 2015.

Full specs:

Component    Description
Screen size 7.9 inches
Screen type IPS LCD
Resolution 2048 x 1536
Pixel density 324 ppi
SoC                 Intel 64-bit Atom Z3580
Type        Quad-core
Speed        2.3 GHz
GPU        PowerVR G6430 533MHz
RAM        2GB
Storage          32GB
Expansion None
Camera        8MP autofocus
Flash        None
Front-facer   5MP fixed focus
Battery       5300mAh
OS              Android 5.0 Lollipop
Bands      WiFi-only
SIM type      N/A
Bluetooth    Bluetooth 4.0
WiFi      802.11a/b/g/n/ac (MIMO)
NFC     Unknown
Infrared     None
Sensors     6-axis gyro / accelerometer
Build    One-piece design / aluminum with surface anodization
Size            200.7 x 138.6 x 6.9mm / 318g


Gallery:


Video:



That's all thanks for reading this article. Whether you liked it or not, feel free to post a comment down below about any suggestion/remarks/corrections etc. Follow me and our official page on Google+ to be one of the first ones to know whenever we post more awesome content like this! (y)

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Everything You Need to Know About the New Nexus family!

Google didn't actually hold an event for the announcements but, they did actually announce them! The newest devices out of Mountain View are the Nexus 6, Nexus 9, and the Nexus Player. And yes, Android 5.0 is, LOLLIPOP!


Nexus 6

It looks just like all the leaks did and actually, you can name it the "big brother" of the Moto X 2nd Gen. 


As you can see, the device looks very similar to the Moto X but it also sports a "Nexus" branding on it. The specs on this beast are out of this world and the price is also not so affordable but I think that the price can be justified, easily.

The Nexus 6 ships with Lollipop out of the box and because it is a Nexus, you can count on Google to be the one of the first ones to be updated to the next version of Android. It sports a 5.96" quad HD AMOLED diplay. Yes, QUAD HD AMOLED!! I told you that the price was worth!

OK. I'm going to list out the specs but I must warn you, you will need a brave heart to wait to buy it!

Specs:
  • 5.96" Quad HD AMOLED display
  • 493 ppi and Gorilla Glass 3 screen
  • 3 GB RAM
  • 13 MP rear camera with OIS and f/2.0 aperture
  • 4K video recording at 30 fps
  • 2 MP front camera with 1080p video
  • Dimensions: 82.98mm x 159.26mm x 10.06mm
  • Weight: 184g
  • 802.11AC WiFi with MIMO
  • Bluetooth 4.1 and NFC
  • Sensors: GPS, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Magnetometer, Ambient light sensor, Barometer.
  • Audio output: Dual front facing speakers
  • 3220 mAH battery with Qi wireless charging support and Motorola Turbo Charging.
  • Network Bands:
North America:
GSM: 850/900/1800/1900MHz
CDMA Band Class: 0/1/10
WCDMA Bands: 1/2/4/5/8
LTE Bands: 2/3/4/5/7/12/13/17/25/26/29/41
CA DL Bands: B2-B13, B2-B17, B2-29, B4-B5, B4-B13, B4-B17, B4-B29

Rest of World:
GSM: 850/900/1800/1900MHz
CDMA: not supported
WCDMA Bands: 1/2/4/5/6/8/9/19
LTE Bands: 1/3/5/7/8/9/19/20/28/41
CA DL: B3-B5, B3-B8

Note: I haven't seen any camera samples from the Nexus 6 yet but, judging by the size of the aperture, resolution and the fact that it also has OIS, it will be one of the best phone cameras ever, if not the best.

Nexus 9

This tablet too, is very similar to what the leaks suggested. The Nexus 9 is the newest tablet from Google which is manufactured by HTC.


The Nexus 9's display sizes up to 8.9" with a resolution of QXGA (2048 x 1536). The display is not the standout point but it's the raw processing power of the beastly 64 bit Nvidia Tegra K1. The GPU used is Nvidia's 192 core Kepler. The RAM measures up to 2 GB and this is probably the only thing to concern according to me. GPU's are RAM hungry and I think that 3 GB of RAM would've been more appropriate with the other specs.

As this tablet is manufactured by HTC, it brings in some of it's signature features like BoomSound and Double Tap2Wake. The battery capacity is 6700 mAH and the Nexus 9 comes in 16/32 GB WiFi only and 32 GB LTE models.

Specs:
  • 64-bit NVIDIA Tegra K1 Dual Denver @ 2.3GHz
  • 2 GB RAM
  • BoomSound speakers
  • 8.9" QXGA display (281 ppi)
  • 6700 mAH battery
  • Cameras: 8MP Rear camera, f/2.4 aperture, Auto-focus, LED flash, 1.6MP Front camera, f/2.4 aperture
  • WiFi 802.11AC with MIMO
  • Bluetooth 4.1 and NFC
  • Sensors: GPS, Ambient light sensor, Gyroscope, Accelerometer and Magnetometer.

Nexus Player

Last but, not the least on this least is the Nexus Player. This product wasn't expected and took the world by quite a surprise. After placing it on the Play Store, some people on the internet claimed that this product didn't pass the FCC and so, Google pulled it off. Anyways, here are the details.


The Nexus Player is the first Android TV device to be sold in the public, the first one was ADT-1, a developer version of the same device distributed at I/O.


If you aren't familiar with Android TV, please read this article. You can control the Nexus Player using a remote provided, game controller which is sold separately or by your Android phone, tablet or Android Wear watch!

Specs:
  • Chipset: 1.8GHz Quad Core, Intel® Atom™
  • Imagination PowerVR Series 6 Graphics 2D/3D Engine
  • Memory: 1GB RAM, 8GB storage
  • Ports: 18W DC power, HDMI out (1920x1080@60Hz), Micro-USB 2.0
  • Wireless: 802.11ac 2x2 (MIMO), Bluetooth 4.1
  • Weight: 235g
  • Dimensions: 120mm x 120mm x 20mm

That's everything guys! If you liked this article, follow me our our official Google+ page to be one of the first ones to know whenever we post more awesome articles! If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to post a comment down below! Keep reading! :D

Monday, September 29, 2014

iPhone 6 and 6 Plus Impressions from an Android fanboy's perspective!

Apple announced the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus on the 10th of September and almost 20 days later, here are the impressions from an Android fanboy's perspective.

iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. The best iPhones we’ve ever made.

The iPhone 6 has a 4.7" display and the iPhone 6 Plus has a 5.5" display. Both feature a new "Retina HD" display. iPhone 6 has a resolution of 1334 by 750 with 326 pixels per inch. The 6 Plus has a 1080p display. 1080p in late 2014? This is a low. Even for Apple.

As always, Apple tries to trick it's 'dumb' users by emphasizing on useless numbers. For eg: "The iPhone 6 Plus has 2 Million pixels on it's display." If a normal person reads this, they think that it is the highest ever on any device. What they don't know is that 1080p phones are available since 2 years. 

iPhone 6 has a 4.7-inch display. iPhone 6 Plus has a 5.5-inch display.


The A8 chip has up to 25% faster processing power and up to 50% faster graphics than the A7.

Many Apple fans deny this but there is a general allegation that Apple re-introduces already established technology and the users think that it is an Apple innovation. The biggest examples are a 4.7" screen and 1080p resolution, which are both pretty normal since 2 years.

Okay, pretty much all of the new features are already in some phones so I'll just list all of them and which phones had them before.

"New" technology in iPhone 6   :   Phone which already had it

Wifi 802.11AC : Samsung Galaxy S4, HTC One M7 and pretty much all flagships of 2013/4
Barometer : Samsung Galaxy Nexus(2012), Samsung Galaxy S3, S4 and S5
Optical Image Stabilization  :  LG Nexus 5, LG G2, G3, HTC One M7.

iPhone 6 now supports Voice over LTE.

I think that the new back looks ugly. And this is not because I am an Apple hater, I liked the back of the iPhone 5/5S.

Camera:

The iPhone 6 has a 8 MP rear shooter with f/2.2 aperture, 1.5 micrometer pixels and OIS. What Apple users don't know is that the HTC One M7 has a 4 MP shooter with f/2.0 aperture, 2 micrometer pixels and OIS. 

Processor:

Apple users tell about how everyday app opening speeds are much faster in iPhones than Android phones. Here is a video by +Chris Nacca comparing the iPhone 6 with the Nexus 5.
Before watching the video, note that the Nexus 5 is a year old with ART disabled (ART increases app opening times drastically) and the processor has more than twice the number of pixels to process as compared to the iPhone and STILL, the Nexus 5 is at par with the iPhone 6 and even faster in some cases.


Pricing and availability: 

iPhone 6 starts at $199 with a two-year contract.

iPhone 6 Plus starts at $299 with a two-year contract.

Introducing a 128 GB iPhone is pretty much the only good thing the Apple has done but not to mention, it's stupidly expensive. The prices above are for a 2 year contract. Yup...

"OMG Apple made a new technology called NFC. This is so cool, you just have to tap to pay." Don't worry Apple users, you won't be able to transfer files by using a feature similar to "Android Beam" as the iPhone's NFC chip will only work with Apple Pay devices.

This is not a shocker to me because you can't even transfer files via bluetooth on iPhones, transferring files via NFC should be beyond Apple's imagination. Btw, Android Beam only uses NFC to authenticate the devices and Bluetooth to transfer the files.

The payment system is called "Apple Pay". Shouldn't it be "Pay Apple"?

Super buggy iOS 8.0.1 update:

Soon after the iPhone 6 launch, Apple released 8.0.1 that broke TouchID on all phones and also, network was unavailable.When you pay SO much money for a device, you expect at least not to receive a buggy software update. After 2-3 days of the 8.0.1 update, Apple released iOS 8.0.2 resolving the bugs caused by 8.0.1 but still, this is unacceptable...

Bendgate

Most of you would've probably heard about the bendgate. If you haven't, I'll explain it to you. On 23rd September, Lew from +Unbox Therapy uploaded a video showing how the iPhone 6 Plus "bends" when pressure is applied at specific points on the back. Not only this, even the display comes out of the 'unibody' of the 6 Plus. This video went viral and as of writing of this article, has 45 million views in 5 days!


After the launch of this video, many Apple fans claimed that the video was edited and Lew swapped devices in between shots. To entertain this nonsense appeal, Lew went out in the open and did the bend test in the open without editing in front of an audience of 4-5 people.

Samsung and LG were quick to mock Apple for this controversial structure of the 6 Plus.





An Apple event is never complete without irony, is it? Gather around kids, it's time to see how Apple changes it's statements ONCE AGAIN! 

Sunday, September 7, 2014

The new Moto X and Moto G are here!

Motorola has finally officially announced the much awaited Moto X+1 (it's official name is just Moto X) along with the successor of the highly successful budget Android phone Moto G and the first in-ear wearable Moto Hint which I won't be covering in this article.

Motorola Moto X (2nd-gen) hands-on

Design

The 2 single lines on the top and bottom of the screen which were first introduced in the low-cost Moto E make their way into the new Moto X and Moto G and I have a feeling that this will have mixed  reviews from different people and will end to personal choice.
Thankfully, the bezels are thin (*coughs* HTC) and this results into a phone that will rest comfortably in your hand despite having a decent 5.2" screen. 
The Motomaker software is also available so that you can make your Moto X your own. But interestingly enough, the specs hint that the standard version will have 16 GB of storage and you will HAVE to buy a 32 GB phone if you buy it through Moto Maker. And it also looks like the wood versions will be available.

Software

Motorola has been releasing near stock Android phones for a year or so now and this phone is no exception. It comes with stock 4.4 Kitkat out of the box and I can pretty much guarantee that it will receive Android L when it comes out. Obviously, it also includes some of Motorola's apps like Assist but those don't feel like bloatware.

Camera

The Moto X was criticized for it's 10 MP shooter that under performed but Motorola seems to have solved this with a 13 MP F 2.25 rear camera which also shoots 4K video. If you were surprised that there is no LED flash at the back, you will be even more surprised to know that the flash is actually in the form of a ring around the camera. The front facing camera is a 2 MP shooter with 1080p recording.

Motorola Moto X (2nd-gen) hands-on
Motorola has a unique camera LED setup which goes around the lens

Technical Specs:

Operating system: Android 4.4.4 KitKat® 

Capacity Storage (ROM) Std: 16GB; Motomaker: 32GB

Dimensions: Height 140.8 mm, Width 72.4 mm, Depth 9.97mm

Weight: 144 grams

Camera Rear camera: 13MP F 2.25 Front Camera: 2MP (1080p)
Audio
Speakers: front-facing and at bottom

Processor
MSM8974-AC 2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 with quad-core CPU

RAM 2GB

Display: 5.2” (423 ppi) 1080p OLED

Corning Gorilla Glass 3

Battery: 2300 mAh

Connectivity: Wifi 80211.ac, BT 4.0 LE

USB centered at bottom

Moto G 2nd Gen

Buy Moto G (2nd Gen): Mobile
                Black variant                                                                                    White variant

The Moto G 1st edition was a great success in the USA and even a greater one in India. It was launched on February 6, 2014 exclusively on flipkart.com and the 16 GB version sold out in just 15 minutes which costed 14,000 INR (~232.5 USD) which was probably the start of an awareness of stock Android in the people of India. A similar thing happened with the Moto E and that too, was exclusively on Flipkart. Anyways, let's get started about the 2nd Gen Moto G!

There are not many changes in the design as compared to last year's model except the added bars on the top and bottom which are new also in the Moto X. So, I'll straightaway compare the specs of both the models and tell you what's improved this year.

Differences from last year's model:
  • Thinner; 11 mm vs 11.6 mm.
  • Bigger screen: 5 inches vs 4.5 inches.
  • Heavier: 149 gms vs 143 gms.
  • Lower pixel density: 294 ppi vs 329 ppi.
  • Higher resolution cameras: 8 MP vs 5 MP(main) and 2 MP vs 1.3 MP(front-facing).
  • Lesser battery life: I assume this because of better specs and the same 2070 mAH battery.
  • Disadvantage: Same processor, RAM and GPU.
Technical specs:

Operating system: Android 4.4.4 KitKat®

Capacity Storage (ROM): SS-8GB

SIM card slot: Micro SD Card Slot

Dimensions: 70.7 x 141.5 x 10.99mm

Weight: 149g

Cameras: Rear camera: 8 MP AF, Front Camera: 2 MP

Audio: 2 Speakers: front-facing, 2 Mics

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor with 1.2 GHz quad-core CPU

RAM: 1GB

Display: 5" 720p HD

Connectivity: WiFi: 802.11 b/g/n, BT 4.0LE

USB centered at bottom

3.5mm Headset Jack

Battery: 2070 mAh

That's it guys. Let me know in the comments section if I missed anything, any ways to improve my writing or ANY other suggestion. Keep reading! :)

Friday, September 5, 2014

Sony Xperia Z3, Z3 Compact and Z3 Tablet Compact, by the specs


Sony's knack for releasing hydrophobic and console-related devices can be seen in IFA 2014 as they release three flagship devices in different sizes. The same omnibalance design, rectangular body and dual glass protection is maintained, which seems to be the fad for Sony's mobile devices.

Sony Xperia Z3





The Sony Xperia Z3, is the fourth iteration to Sony's original flagship line-up. With its new albeit shorter six-month cycle of releasing Xperia Zx phones, Sony promises to deliver incremental upgrades to the series, and it doesn't fail to do so. 

Somehow, I disagree with their new ideology, but I find it agreeable that they stay away from the 4K-screen club because of two reasons: first, most tech critics agree that 4K resolution on small displays are not beneficial, and second, higher-resolution screens tend to be horrible battery drainers. And in case you're gonna ask, the Z3 has a Full HD (1080p) display. It is further enhanced by Sony's Triluminos display and X-reality engine, which has been the hair and skin of almost every Xperia.

Its actual dimensions put it a strand thinner on every aspect than its predecessor. Z3 has an actual dimensions of 5.75 x 2.83 x 0.29 in while Z2 has dimensions of 5.78 x 2.89 x 0.32 in. Its screen diagonal is said to be 5.2 inch. But take note - the Z3's corners now have nylon caps to protect them from scratches. Come to think about it; a phone's corners are often abused since they stick out.

On the internals department, Z3 is given a small bump on the processor side. It's running on Snapdragon 801 with a clock speed of 2.5 GHz, as opposed to Z2's 2.3 GHz speed. It retains the same 3 GB RAM of memory on its predecessor; but unlike the latter, you can have the option now for a 32 GB internal storage. You can also pack a 128-GB micro-SD card for storage junkies out there. On the software side, it runs on the latest Android version, Kitkat 4.4.4. And you should have a nano-SIM card for mobile usage.

For the camera department, it is packed with Sony-crafted lens which garners a 20.7 MP count and a relatively larger 1/2.3 sensor. It can record 2160p videos at 30 frames per second, although we have yet to see its quality. A new feature makes it more useable in low-light environment - an option to increase the ISO setting up to 12 800. That seems to be a first in the smartphone department, and for comparison's sake, my Nokia Lumia 1520 tops the ISO setting at 4000 only. Another use for a high ISO setting is that it seems to take a better image of a moving object. But a word of advice: a higher ISO means grainier images. On the other hand, its front camera has a 2.2 megapixel count which can record videos at 1080p.

Let's get a little bit more on the interesting side of things. Sony claims that with its new improvements on the Z3, its 3100 mAh battery can last two days with normal usage and with stamina mode turned off. This seems to be a really interesting (and almost unbelievable) development since most of the phones that Sony released before are criticized to have low battery life (take for example the Z1 and Z Ultra). For comparison, the Sony Xperia Z1 has a Sony rating of 1.1 days while the Z3 has a rating of 2. I will reserve my compliments later once this is proven in real life, but Sony told something that can garner potential believers: their new devices have something like a 'screen cache' which stores images that are not used for too long in a cache so that the screen won't refresh every other second.

Another interesting thing is a feature borrowed from PS Vita where you can stream your PS 4 games on your devices. The Z3 (as well as the Z3 Compact and Z3 Tablet Compact) also has a native support for the PS 4 controller. For gamers out there, this could mean a difference between buying an iPhone, a Samsung Galaxy Note and an Xperia Z3. As for my opinion, I don't get it why people would want to stream their games on a smaller-screen Z3 (let alone the Z3 Compact) when they already have larger screens on their living rooms. I would like to do the reverse, though.

Sony Xperia Z3 Compact

Last year, a demand for smaller phones (those with screen size below 5 inches) with flagship qualities has been raised by certain netizens. If you will take a look at the 'Mini' series released by Samsung, LG, HTC and other manufacturers and compare it to their big brothers, these 'Mini' phones are belittled not only in size but also in the spec sheet. And so, Sony, being a different thinker, stayed away from the club and produced a super 'Mini' phone - the Z1 Compact. And now, this hell of a Mini phone has another successor.

The Z3 Compact proves not only Sony's unique thinking but also that size doesn't always matter in terms of power. Unlike its bigger sibling, the Z3, Z3 Compact was released after a nearly year-long hiatus of releasing flagship products in this size category. So definitely, a bigger difference is expected to set a Z3 Compact from Z1 Compact, but does it?

Dimension-wise, the Z3 Compact is nearly identical to the Z1 Compact. Just compare the latter's 5.01 x 2.56 x 0.34 in dimensions to the former's 5.0 x 2.56 x 0.37 in. Ironically, the Z3 Compact's screen diagonal is almost a huge bump - from the Z1 Compact's 4.3-inch diagonal, it was upped by 0.3 inches longer.

The Z3 Compact houses the same internals and camera than its big brother, so there's no need to keep things lengthy in this segment. The only difference would be the screen's True HD (720p) resolution which will prove to be easier to deal with by the processors and thus produce better performance than its big brother. See, small things do beat bigger counterparts on a few occasions!

On the battery department, it houses a smaller 2600 mAh battery. With Sony's new 'screen cache' technology and with a 720p display, we could expect that this phone can last longer than its larger sibling.

Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact

The second Sony tablet, the Xperia Z Tablet, proved to be a successful creation and eventually became popular in the market despite its larger size. And after a long time, Sony enters the small tablet category with flagship specs. Meet the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact, (an annoyingly long name for a product which most techies have high expectations of).


Look at the Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 2013, iPhone 5S and iPad Mini retina, Z3 and this tablet and you can see something familiar. Yes, each tablet that I have mentioned looks like bloated counterparts of the respective phone. The only difference between the Z3 Tablet Compact to its small cousin is the landscape orientation of its home screen, since phones are usually oriented in portrait mode.

Its vital statistics is 8.40 x 4.87 x 0.25 in, which says it has a very thin body (just one-fourth inch) but it is definitely larger than the Nexus 7 2013. Sony also drops the dual-glass panel and opts for a matte back. Its rear camera is also fixed at 8 MP, but it would be really awkward to capture photos with a tablet (though I still see a lot of people doing this...)

Aside from the things previously mentioned, this tablet has the same internals, same screen resolution, same front camera and other specs of the Z3 (except for the battery size). Of course, one can expect less from its name, and it is the most likely candidate for PS 4 streaming due to its larger size.

On the power department, the Z3 Tablet Compact packs a battery at 4500 mAh, which should last as long as this tablet's complete name. For references, the Nexus 7 2013 has a 7-inch screen diagonal and has a 3900 mAh. The Nexus 7 2012 has a 4050 mAh.


Final words

Sony's products seem to be very attractive, especially that Sony retains its design philosophy and other functions that are reminiscent of their earlier flagships. And it didn't stop them from providing innovations to their new products. For a better perspective of these products, we should wait for these to be actually released and tested by techies and bloggers out there. I can't wait to see reviews of their new screen technology works, since it really looks like a very good innovation.

Thursday, September 4, 2014

My Android phone setup: 4th September, 2014.

You can watch my last month's here. I have not changed the apps used so if you want to make your phone look like mine, go to the article above and I have included step-by-step instructions which are also applied to this post.

Screenshots:


Details:

  • Device: HTC One M7
  • ROM: Paranoid Android 4.6-Beta 1
  • Launcher: Nova launcher
  • Icon pack: Elun
  • Wallpaper: https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B2vrPPewUnGHM2JSblFGM2hwOVE&usp=drive_web
  • CM11 theme: Shift UI green
  • Homesreen widget: Power Toggles
  • Xposed modules: XuiMod(for seconds in statusbar) & Gravitybox(for navigation bar customization)

Samsung roundup at IFA: Note 4, Note Edge, and Gear VR

Everybody knew this was coming. But Samsung managed to pull some surprises from it's bag of tricks which were, surprisingly enough, not leaked before the announcement.


Galaxy Note 4

samsung_galaxy_note_4_ifa_2014.jpg

As expected, Samsung has launched the Galaxy Note 4 at its pre-IFA 2014 event, Samsung Unpacked 2014 Episode 2. Samsung also launched a unique smartphone with a side display called the Galaxy Note Edge.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 comes with the new S Pen stylus with improved pressure sensitivity, as well as the new Smart Select feature, apart from the new calligraphy and signing pen writing options.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 runs on Android 4.4 KitKat, and features a 5.7-inch Quad-HD (1440x2560 pixel) Super AMOLED display with a pixel density of 515ppi. It weighs in at 176 grams, and is 8.5mm-thick. 

The Galaxy Note 4 will be made available in 4G LTE and 4G LTE Cat.6 (LTE Advanced) variants depending on the region. The processor will be either a 2.7GHz quad-core processor, or a 1.9GHz octa-core (1.9GHz quad-core + 1.3GHz quad-Core) processor. Both feature 3GB of RAM.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 features a 16-megapixel autofocus rear camera with Smart OIS, and a 3.7-megapixel front-facing camera with a f/1.9 lens. It comes with 32GB of built-in storage, and expandability via microSD card. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 802.11 a/ b/ g/ n/ ac, GPS/ Glonass, NFC, Bluetooth v 4., IR LED, USB 2.0, and MHL 3.0.
Sensors onboard the Galaxy Note 4 include an accelerometer, geo-magnetic, gyroscope, RGB, IR-LED, proximity, barometer, hall sensor, finger scanner, UV, heart rate monitor. It features a 3220mAh battery.

Samsung is also touting the Multi-Window feature available from the Recent button. 
The Galaxy Note 4 will be available in Charcoal Black, Frost White, Bronze Gold, and Blossom Pink in global markets starting October.

Galaxy Note Edge

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The Note family added a second new phablet today, the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge. The name isn't random, the right edge of the screen folds to cover the side of the device and enable unique interactions. So, not the three-sided screen of the rumors but two sides are unique enough.

The Galaxy Note Edge is based on the Galaxy Note 4 internally, but it's the screen that makes all the difference. The folded side adds an extra 160 pixels so the resolution grows to 1,600 x 2,560 (the highest on a pocketable device yet if you keep note on those things) but it also makes the Galaxy Note Edge a bit wider than its straight-screened sibling.

Samsung has added enough smarts to the curved side that accidental touches to it are not a problem.
With the phone locked, the curved side can display the Quick Glance info (time and notifications). When you wake the screen, the side displays notifications for various features, including timer and flashlight shortcuts and even a ruler (which works surprisingly well on the curved side).

With the phone finally unlocked, the number of options grows threefold. You can keep shortcuts on the side for easy access or use the curved side for at-a-glance info (say a Twitter feed or a stock ticker). Or you can use it to enhance multitasking by switching between several screens (think virtual desktops). Event switching between the pages of the homescreen or the app drawer is also handled by the curved side.

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Individual apps can put the curved side to use too, usually to keep the main screen free from clutter. Both the camera and the video player put their controls on the side so the screen is left to the viewfinder/video. Samsung will release an API to enable third-party devs to utilize the potential of the curved side as well.

As you can imagine, the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge experience revolves mostly around the curved side of the screen. Beyond that it's a Galaxy Note 4 with Snapdragon 805 or Exynos 5433 chipset, Android 4.4, 16MP OIS camera and S Pen stylus.

The Note Edge has a slightly smaller battery (3,000mAh vs. 3,220mAh) and the USB port moves back to version 2.0.

Gear VR


Samsung announced its first-ever virtual reality headset, named Gear VR. It is a headset that Samsung has built in conjunction with Facebook owned VR company Oculus, and the company aims to invest more in this technology in coming time. 

So, what does it feel like to play a game or watch a movie using the headset? Here are our first impressions of Samsung's new Gear VR virtual reality headset... 

Samsung Gear VR is a pretty big gadget and consists of two parts -- the headset and the strap. The headset is big and characterized by a curvy and sloping design. You need to pop a Samsung Galaxy Note 4 in the headset in order to make Gear VR work. 

On the right side of the headset is a touch-sensitive scroll pad that can be used to juggle between different functions on the screen. The volume hardware key is also located on the right. You can change the focus of the image from a scroll wheel located on the top of the screen. This feature works well even if you wear prescription glasses. 

However, if the difference in the power of both your eyes is very big, then viewing the image would be a problem as you cannot change focus separately for both eyes. 

The strap is pretty much what you would expect from a gaming headset: it sets Gear VR on your head such that it doesn't slip off. The plastic piece on strap that goes above the head is shaped ergonomically, such that it is flush with the shape of the head. 

Despite trying to make the Gear VR as comfortable as possible for the wearer, Samsung has not been able to manage the weight of the device. The headset is pretty heavy so your head would keep drooping in front when you wear it. There is no way to add weights in order to balance the weight of the device as well.
Watching a video 

Samsung demoed a video using IMAX technology on Gear VR at the launch event. You can see videos loaded on the Galaxy Note 4 on the headset, and there are a number of content companies that Samsung has partnered with for the device. You can choose content offered by Vevo, Marvel, Imangi Studios, Warner Bros etc. 

When the video started playing on Gear VR, we could see the video as it would look in an IMAX theatre. Move your head to the left or right and you will see empty seats in the virtual movie hall. Look up and you will see the ceiling. It is a very different experience compared to watching a movie on a mobile device. 

However, there is a problem, and a major one at that. Gear VR shows very pixilated videos, even though the Note 4's screen has a QHD resolution. The likely reason is that Gear VR's lenses focus on only a small portion of the screen to play the video and then magnify it up this portion only, thus resulting in a pixelated display. 

Another problem we encountered was the sound quality. The sound is delivered by the speakers of Note 4, and the headset itself does not amplify it artificially. During our demo, this resulted in low sound while watching the movie. Of course, this was in a noisy hall where around 500 people were milling about, so your real-world experience would most likely be better. 

Operating the device is pretty simple: touch the scroll pad on the side to fast forward, rewind, pause or play. Turn the volume up or down using the hardware key on the same side. 

UI which is seen inside the Oculus

Playing a game 

Playing games on a VR device is also very different from playing them on a console, PC or mobile device. You are a playable character in the game and can interact with other characters. Instead of panning over the screen once to see what's near you, on Gear VR (as well as other VR headsets) you move your head to see your surroundings. 

You can perform actions using the touch-sensitive pad on the right side, so picking up objects, moving around etc is done using this controller. 

Low audio was a problem here too, but we don't foresee any issues when you are playing a multiplayer game with friends who are also on Gear VR.

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HTC Desire 820 with octa-core 64 bit processor announced at IFA

OH.MY.GOD. Samsung Galaxy Note 4 & Note Edge, HTC Desire 820, Moto X+1 & G2, iPhone 6, Sony Xperia Z3 & Z3 Compact. Is there a record for most number of phones being released in 1 week?


Anyways, HTC announced their newest addition to their "Desire" family of phones called the Desire 820. The major standout point is it's Snapdragon 615 Octa-core 64-bit processor so that you can play Swing Copters even more smoothly! :P
HTC Desire 820

This phone is a direct competitor for the Samsung Galaxy S5 LTE-A and LG G3 Prime in terms of specs. This phone boasts of a 8 MP front facing camera, a 13 MP BSI rear facing camera.

It has a 2600 mAH battery with a 5.5 inch screen and a resolution of 720x1280 which means that the pixel density is below average as per today's standards at 267 ppi. 

Of course, it comes with HTC Sense out of the box and also the much appreciated BoomSound speakers. The display quality and glossy plastic on the back are probably the only negatives of this phone.
desire 820

Links:

That's all for this short article about the newest phone by HTC. If you liked this article, you can also read other articles which are listed on the right hand side or find articles that you might be interested in by using labels which are also on the right side. Also +1 this article and follow me/our official page on Google+ to be one of the first people to know whenever we post more awesome articles! (y)

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Circular LG G Watch R Teased for IFA Unveiling!

LG teases the G Watch R, and you probably know what the "R" means


Last week, we heard that LG was working on another Android Wear device. The rumor stated that it would be the LG G Watch 2, implying that it was a direct sequel and might even replace the current G Watch; but, that wasn't right. In fact, LG is simply expanding its Android Wear lineup with the LG G Watch R. Even more, LG is directly calling out the Moto 360 for not being perfectly round. 

LG has released a teaser video for the device, which gives flashes of different parts of the G Watch R. LG did something similar even before the launch of the G3 and released a video titled, "Official Teaser" and I think every company should do this. The basic impression from the video is that this will be a round-faced watch, but if you mash together all of the pieces from the video, you get a full look at a render of LG's next smartwatch (as seen above). It appears to be designed to look like a classic wristwatch, and the render implies a metal body. If you have ever owned or seen a Tommy Hilfiger watch, you should notice that the design is very similar. The video also alludes to a step counter and compass in the watch. 

The most direct comparison is of course the Moto 360, since it is the only other round Android Wear device that we've seen. The Moto 360 isn't completely round, because the display drivers and ambient light sensor needed a place to live. The teaser goes slow-motion when it hits the part where the Moto 360 has its black bar, and says the G Watch R will be perfectly round. The G Watch R render has a wider bezel than the 360, which could be used to hide the display drivers; and, to be perfectly round, we have to assume the watch doesn't have an ambient light sensor. 

LG is expected to have the G Watch R at IFA, which starts September 5th in Berlin, but it is unclear if LG will show it off to the public or just corporate partners. Last week, an LG official called the G Watch R a "game changer". After seeing this teaser, do you agree?

A short warning before watching the video below: you won't be able to sleep tonight due to excitement :P

So, that's it guys, hope to see you again soon. If you liked this article, please also read our other articles which are listed on the right and share it with your friends who love Android too! Also, if you want to make sure you are one of the first persons to get notified when we write more awesome stuff like this, add me in your circles, +1 or follow the blog via e-mail!

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Motorola Nexus 6, nicknamed "Shamu" spotted


Motorola has become the latest hardware maker to have its name linked with an upcoming Nexus device. According to details first discovered by TechTastic, a Motorola smartphone code named "Shamu" could ultimately arrive as the Nexus 6.


Alleged benchmark scores indicate that the phone performs in line with others that run a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor. More specifically, it could have processing prowess similar to the Samsung Galaxy S5 or HTC One M8. Aside from the handset's project name, little is known about the Motorola Shamu. Still, the moniker does fit in nicely with previous Nexus products, such as "Flounder" for the Nexus 8.

The Russian tech site posits that the Nexus 6 should feature a 1080p HD display. Based on previous Nexus smartphones, I am inclined to agree with the assessment.

Google typically dials the specifications down to just below the top-tier for its own Nexus line. Perhaps in an effort to keep costs competitive, we don't often see anything bleeding edge from this family.


Conflicting report

Newer, conflicting details published August 13 suggest the Nexus 6 could offer users a much more powerful experience. According to the GFXBench listing, the handset could pack a 5.2-inch QHD display, 3GB of RAM, and Qualcomm's latest and greatest processor. With 32GB of internal storage and a 12-megapixel camera capable of recording 4K video, the Motorola Shamu sounds like a killer whale to be sure.

One thing to keep in mind when dealing with Nexus rumors is that they are almost always subject to conflicting reports. In fact, previous reports indicated that Google had turned to LG once again for the Nexus line. Motorola's involvement could be a swan song before future parent Lenovo officially grabs the phone-maker away from Google.

As to when we'll see this Nexus 6, the launch date remains unclear, but there's a good chance we'll see it sometime this fall when Google publicly releases Android L. The last few generations of Nexus handsets each made their debut around October, so we could still be a few months away.

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Samsung Galaxy Alpha flaunts it's metal body!

The day that we had all been waiting for is finally here. Samsung today officially announced the Galaxy Alpha, its new metal touting smartphone that we have been consistently hearing about over the past few months. There have been countless rumors about its specifications and dozens of pictures leaked online but none looked better than the official press images that Samsung has released today.

As expected the Samsung Galaxy Alpha has a 4.7-inch 1280×720 Super AMOLED display, Samsung’s own Exynos octacore processor (Quad 1.8GHz + Quad 1.3GHz) with 2GB RAM and 32GB of internal storage (no microSD support), LTE-A support, 1860mAh battery, fingerprint sensor, 12 megapixel rear camera with 4K video recording, 2.1 megapixel front shooter and more. Camera modes include HDR, Panorama, Selective Focus, Dual Camera, Beauty Face, Virtual Tour and others.

Software features like the Ultra Power Saving Mode, Download Booster, Quick Connect and Private Mode are also present, baked into Android 4.4.4. There’s support for Wi-Fi 802.11ac, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0 and USB 2.0. Sensors include an gyro, geomagnetic, hall, light, proximity, gesture and HR. An accelerometer is present onboard as well.Despite its metal build the Galaxy Alpha is just 6.7mm thick and it weighs in at 115g. The Galaxy Alpha will be released in five colors: black, white, gold, silver and blue. Samsung says that the new device will be released sequentially in more than 150 countries starting September 2014.
Conclusion:

Those of you hoping for a metal Samsung Galaxy phone that packs the latest, greatest mobile technology around will be disappointed. Its screen resolution doesn't impress, it lacks the water resistance of the S5 and the camera has been knocked down a peg. Still, it's a good-looking piece of kit and will no doubt receive a lot of love from those of you not keen on the plasticky feel of Samsung's other Galaxy phones. So for now, you have an option only between the build quality of the Galaxy Alpha and the Specs of the S5/S5 LTE-A.

So, that's it guys, hope to see you again soon. If you liked this article, please also read our other articles which are listed on the right and share it with your friends who love Android too! Also, if you want to make sure you are one of the first persons to get notified when we write more awesome stuff like this, add me in your circles, +1 or follow the blog via e-mail!