Wednesday, June 4, 2014

HTC One E8 vs M8 - what's the difference, price, release date, specs 4 /6/2014

HTC has announced the One (e8), a plastic bodied version of its flagship handset, the One (m8). Previously known as both the One (m8) Ace and the One Vogue Edition prior to its official confirmation, the (e8) shares many of the same specs as the (m8) but is expected to be slightly cheaper once it launches worldwide.So how does the (e8) stack up against the (m8)? We've been comparing each phone's specifications to see just how different they really are.

DESIGN One of the main differences between the (e8) and (m8) is its design. HTC says the (e8) will have a polycarbonate unibody frame and will come in four colors: polar white, electric crimson, Maldives blue, and misty gray. It will also have a "dual curve" design which HTC claims will be more comfortable to hold in your hand.

HTC One E8
The One (m8) is made of brushed metal, giving it a much more premium look and feel. It still has a curved back, but the additional gold and silver colours for the (m8) have a matt finish.Otherwise, both phones look very similar. Each one has a pair of Boomsound speakers either side of the display, and both cameras are located in the same place on the front and rear of each handset.One of the (e8)'s main advantages is that it will have a dual-SIM card slot, but HTC has said this will only be available in selected regions.

SIZE AND WEIGHT

While the (e8) may not feel quite as nice to hold, its polycarbonate chassis is a lot lighter, weighing 145g compared to the (m8)'s hefty 160g. That said, the (e8) is slightly thicker, measuring 146.42x70.67x9.85mm compared to the 9.4mm thick (m8). This is unlikely to make a huge amount of difference in practice, though.
HTC One E8

DISPLAY

One of the (e8)'s most attractive features is its large 5in 1,920x1,080 LCD display. This is same-sized panel and resolution as the (m8), meaning both phones will have a pixel density of 441 pixels-per-inch. This is sharper than both the Samsung Galaxy S5 and the Sony Xperia Z2, giving the (e8) a top class screen for a fraction of the price. It's still not as sharp as the forthcoming LG G3, though, as the G3's huge 5.5in display and 2,560x1,440 resolution means it has a PPI of 538.HARDWAREThe (e8)'s underlying hardware also has a lot in common with what's inside the (m8). Like its big brother, the (e8) will be powered by a quad-core 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, 2GB of RAM and will come with 16GB of internal storage. This can be expanded up to 128GB with a microSD card. This gives the (e8) plenty of power to run Android 4.4.2 and HTC's Sense 6 UI.

CAMERA

The (e8) starts to deviate from the (m8) when it comes to the phone's camera. In a similar move to the HTC One Mini 2 - the (m8)'s miniature successor - the (e8) will have a 13-megapixel camera on the back and a 5-megapixel sensor on the front. The rear sensor will have a f/2.2 aperture and a back-illuminated sensor, autofocus and an LED flash.
HTC One E8
Meanwhile, the (m8) has HTC's unique 4-megapixel Duo Camera with its Ultrapixel sensor. This has a generous 1/3in sensor and larger 2.0um pixels to capture more light information than other high-end phone cameras on the market
This means it's unlikely that the (e8) will be able to offer the same number of fancy applications and extra camera functions as the (m8), but this may be a blessing in disguise for some users.

BATTERY

HTC has confirmed the (e8) will have a huge 2,600mAh battery, which is the same battery you'll find in the (m8). Considering the (m8) managed an impressive 13 hours and 28 minutes in our video playback test, we'll be very pleased indeed if the (e8) lasts the same length of time when we start testing it.

PRICE

So far, HTC has only announced the price of the (e8) in China, but it roughly equates to £267. The One (m8) still costs around £520 SIM free, so the (e8) is considerably cheaper than its premium counterpart. This will be great news for those looking for a phone under £300 with a high quality display and great performance, but it remains to be seen whether UK retailers will match this price or push it closer to the HTC One Mini 2's price of £360 SIM free.

CONCLUSCION

So far, it looks like the (e8) will be a great value phone for those who don't want to spend over £500 for an (m8). It has the same screen, hardware and battery as its more expensive big brother, but for almost half the price. However, until UK prices are confirmed and we've tested the device for ourselves, it will be difficult to tell just how much of a bargain the (e8) will turn out to be. We'll be bringing you all the latest news as it's confirmed, so watch this space for a final verdict.

Nova Launcher updated with ‘OK Google’ hotword detection











Nova launcher OK Google hotword detection 

I think this is a day we’ve all been anticipating for a long time. With the Nexus 5, Google released the Google Experience Launcher, which allows you to reach Google Now with just a swipe to the right. It also allows you to say “OK Google” at the launcher and start speaking to Google Now without needing to go into Google Now or touch the search bar. They’re great features that were exclusive to the Nexus 5.
The launcher has since been renamed the Google Now Launcher and released for all Nexus devices, but what about the rest of us? We can sideload the launcher, but we lose all of our customizations. Nova Launcher has come to the rescue, added the “OK Google” hotword detection with its the latest update and enabling feature on many recent devices.
For the “OK Google” hotword to work, your device needs to meet a few requirements. First, it needs to be on Jelly Bean 4.1 or newer, since you’ll need Google Now for this. You’ll also need a processor that has low-power active listening support, like the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 or newer. Some other devices work as well, but you’ll need to test this out.
Hit the widget to download Nova Launcher. Give this new feature a shot; maybe it’ll pull you away from Google Now Launcher!
Nova Launcher
252,920 ratings
by TeslaCoil Software
10,000,000 - 50,000,000 downloads
Appears in a list of Form+Function


Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Sony introduces the sleek Xperia T3


The barrage of new flagships is coming to a close, and now it’s time for the mid-range devices to shine. Today Sony is introducing its sleek new Xperia T3, an Android device that features some decent specs. It sports a 5.3-inch 720p Triluminos Bravia display, 1.4GHz quad-core Snapdragon processor, 8-megapixel camera and 2500mAh battery. Also included is a pleasant design made of stainless steel and matte plastic, which allows it to be both thin and light. Technically speaking, it’s the world’s slimmest 5.3-inch smartphone, though we don’t know of too many other 5.3-inch smartphones.
The Xperia T3 comes in black, white and purple and features some Sony’s specific features. These include Timeshift Burst, which takes 31 photos in 2 seconds to make sure that you don’t miss a shot. Overall the Xperia T3 looks to be a decent, well-rounded mid-range device. The Xperia T3 will be available in July for an undisclosed price.

Verizon offering red and gold HTC One (M8) color options


Just in time for Father’s Day, Verizon is now offering two new color options for the HTC One (M8). The two finishes come in Glamour Red and Amber Gold. Added to the existing Glacial Silver and Gunmetal Gray color options, this should give your dad a phone to match any color of his truck. Along with the new color options is a deal: phones that are normally priced $199.99 or higher get $100 knocked off the price tag, bringing the final price of the One (M8) down to $99.99 on a 2-year contract. The One (M8) is a great phone and would certainly make a great gift for Father’s Day.

Top 10 most popular Android apps from last week:

Every week we cover new Android apps with Fresh Meat on Wednesday, followed by Android Gaming on Thursday and Top 10 App Updates on Friday. When Monday rolls around, we look back to see which apps were the most appealing to our audience. Read on for the 10 most popular Android apps from last week.

1. GServiceFix

GServiceFixApp info: It’s a workaround for the battery drain bug caused by Services / Android OS / Android System.

2. Murum

MurumApp info: A small collection of wallpapers inspired by my current offerings. Sixty-five wallpapers spilt into different categories like Geo, Blur, Poly and more. These wallpapers should match with most icon sets to help you create some great setups.

3. Desktop VisualizeR

Desktop VisualizeRApp info: Desktop VisualizeR(DVR) is an application that allows you to personalize your home screen by creating icons or widgets with your favorite photos or images.

4. Sunrise Calendar

Sunrise CalendarApp info: Sunrise is a free calendar made for Google Calendar and iCloud. With an amazing design, Sunrise is a new experience that will make your life easier.

5. Facets

FacetsApp info: Get 365 unique pieces of art on your device as high resolution wallpapers! Facets delivers every piece from Australian artist Justin Maller’s year-long “image per day” project directly to your phone.

6. TomTom GPS Navigation Traffic

TomTomApp info: The new TomTom GO Mobile app is a sleek combination of the latest TomTom car navigation technology and world-class traffic information.

7. Peek

PeekApp info: This application is a complete redesign of the known “Peek” feature by ParanoidAndroid project, built to work on any 4.4+ ROM. The whole concept lies into allowing users to quickly interact with their notifications, without having to press any button.

8. Unicon (formerly Icon Themer)

Unicon
App info: Unicon (formerly Icon Themer) Allows you to use Nova / Apex / ADW icon packs etc. on your device.

9. Worms 3

Worms 3
App info: DEAL yourself the advantage with a new, game-changing enhancement. Turn on the card mode and alter the start and end of each turn by the playing of strategic cards.

10. Unearthed:Trail of Ibn Battuta

Unearthed
App info: Unearthed is an episodic third person Action Adventure game set in modern day Middle East. The game is available in both Arabic and English voice over and features 21 Languages for Menu and Subtitles.

Note:  To ensure that all apps receive a fair chance to make the list, we will retire any app that has made the list for 3 consecutive weeks and will place it in our Android and Me App Hall of Fame. We will post this Hall of Fame list in a dedicated series. Any app with * next to the title indicates it will now be added to our Hall of Fame list and will no longer be listed in this article.

ASUS' new external Blu-ray drive does 7.1 audio at a fair price



While ASUS continues to impress us with a slew of PCs and mobile devices at Computex, let's not forget that it still makes some nice peripherals. One thing that surprised us at the ASUS booth was a pretty external Blu-ray drive aimed at audio buffs. Dubbed the Blu-ray Prime, this USB 3.0 device claims to be the "world's only optical drive with 7.1-channel audio output," courtesy of the integrated ASUS Xonar sound card, which packs a Cirrus Logic CS4398 DAC and a C-Media CM6631A audio processor, plus optical output. It also features a 600-ohm headphone amplifier and a clean 114dB signal-to-noise ratio. Expect the Blu-ray Prime to hit various markets for about $199 in Q4, after the DVD version is released in Q3 for half the price.

Monday, June 2, 2014

Samsung Galaxy K Zoom on sale in the UK

Samsung's latest smartphone/compact camera hybrid handset, the Galaxy K Zoom, will finally arrive in the UK tomorrow.
Announced in April, the successor to the Galaxy S4 Zoom is much thinner, more compact and, importantly, much more like a smartphone than a compact camera. The 10x optical zoom lens assembly no longer juts out of the chassis, so the handset should slip in and out of a pocket much easier than before.
Samsung Galaxy K Zoom
The 20.7-megapixel, 1/2.3in CMOS sensor has an ISO range of 100-3200, can shoot in burst mode at up to 3fps and is paired with a Xenon flash for low-light photography. The zoom lens has a focal equivalent of 24-240mm and an f/3.1-6.3 aperture, and with optical image stabilisation (OIS) for steady shooting it should easily give most compact cameras a run for their money. It can also shoot Full HD video clips at 60fps.
Despite taking several design cues from Samsung's latest flagship handset, the K Zoom isn't simply a variant of the Galaxy S5 with a better camera. It has a smaller 4.8in, 720p AMOLED display, rather than the 5.1, 1080p panel used in the S5, and is powered by a Samsung Exynos hexa-core processor rather than a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip.
Samsung Galaxy K Zoom
Anyone looking to pick up a Galaxy K Zoom will be able to get one from an official Samsung Experience Store or Carphone Warehouse on the high street, or from the usual online retailers, both on-contract or SIM-free starting from £400. We're hoping to give the phone a full review in the near future, so stay tuned if you're considering buying one over our current cameraphone favourites including the Nokia Lumia