Motorola Moto X Scratch Test

Motorola's newest smartphone offering the Moto X has been out for a couple weeks now and many users are quite enamored with this phone. It boasts a 4.7 inch, 720*1280 pixel display and if bought through the Motomaker website, the level of customization offered is insane.

In addition to the above, the Moto X runs on Android 4.2 which is a bit of a drawback seeing that Android 4.3 is already out. Anyway, as with many new smartphones on the market today, there is always the question of the phone's ability to resist scratches. Of course, someone always steps up to the plate and answers this question once and for all.

So, let's get right down to it. Below is a video courtesy Phonebuff which shows a Moto X smartphone being put through the ringer with a knife as well as a hammer! Those of you that don't like to see expensive phones get beat up, really shouldn't watch this video. For everyone else, check it out below.

Otter box Defender Case for IPad

Many people have the problem of their IPad being damaged by inadvetent spills, dust or other mishaps. The cost of then having to fix it can be high. This is where buying a strong protective case can help. One great case I've found is the Otterbox Defender case. Strong and sturdy it really does what it's supposed to, and that's protect your IPad.

The Otterbox case has really been built solidly. It is composed of three layers along with a built in screen protector and kickstand. The three layers consist of a solid inner layer, an interior foam layer and a polycarbonate outer layer. These layers in combination protect your IPad from dust as well as drops.

The screen protector works quite well especially since it is built in because there is no need to stick it on yourself. One disadvantage though, is that this case is quite heavy. This means that traveling with your IPad can become a little tougher with the extra weight and bulk.

Overall, the Otterbox Defender series of IPad cases do in fact serve the intended purpose. Whether it's a toddler trying to see if your IPad can bounce, or an accident of your own making, the Otterbox works. For more info on this product, you can check it out here. Also, feel free to list your experiences with the Otterbox or any other type of IPad case in the comment box below.

LG G2 Overview: Big Screen and Buttons on the Back

LG have officially announced their next flagship device, the LG G2. This was done at a launching event in New York earlier today. Some key points of interest were the use of a Snapdragon 800 processor and the design choice of placing the volume rocker and power button on the back face of the device. Also, it was revealed that the phone will be released in North America in Q3 2013 to the four major carriers with South Korea being the first to receive the new smartphone.

The LG G2 certainly matches up and in certain areas exceeds its competitors when we look at the base specs. Boasting a monster Quad Core Qualcomm 800 Snapdragon processor at a speed of 2.26 GHz this device is certainly no slouch. In fact, these specs alone will ensure that this phone will not have any trouble dealing with apps and other software out on the market now. In addition to this, it comes with a 5.2" full 1080p HD display at 423ppi. Not bad, not bad at all. The material used for the display is the scratch resistant Corning Gorilla Glass 3. This phone runs on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. 

G2 Video Courtesy Phonedog

The G2 comes with a 3000mAh battery, which LG have stated should last about 1.2 days without needing to charge. On this front the G2 definitely outperforms both the S4 and HTC One. The G2 also has 2GB of RAM and 32 or 64 GB of storage. One noticeable drawback though is that there is no place for  an external micro SD card to increase storage capacity. Another noteworthy point is that LG have placed some emphasis on GRAM in their smartphone design which I personally feel is a smart move as many of us do love to play games on our phones.

Without a doubt, the most interesting feature of this phone is the design. Placing the volume rocker and power button on the back of the phone is a bit of a daring move. LG have stated that this was done because of research that showed it was easier to reach for many people when dealing with large phones. While this may be true, reprogramming oneself to reach for the back of the phone instead of the side might take a while. Another aspect of this phone's design are the very narrow bezels.

In terms of new and innovative features the G2 has a few worth mentioning. Firstly, there's Answer Me which is supposed to automatically answer any call as long as the phone is raised to your ear. I must say, that does seem pretty interesting. Another feature has been termed Guest Mode. Basically, what this does is show certain apps on screen based on whether it's the phone's user or someone else that unlocks the phone.

The G2 comes with a 13MP rear facing camera and a 1.2MP front facing one. It packs a punch in this regard with optical image stabilization and eight times zoom. Added to this there is an LED flash and camera modes such as Beauty mode, Panorama and Burst mode.

Overall, I feel that LG have definitely made a positive statement of intent with the G2. In terms of the specs, it is definitely up there with the best of them and in terms of design they've gone ahead and tried something new. It is just a matter of time now to see whether LG can truly challenge the big boys in the lucrative smartphone market.

So, what do you think? Will you be buying an LG G2 when it comes out later this year?

* Image courtesy Javier Ferreiro

Nokia Lumia 1020 Specs: Cameraphone Perfection

Nokia's premiere smartphone offering the Nokia Lumia 1020 is out on the market and has already received some positive reviews. It is especially targeted to those smartphone users who like to have  really good camera capabilities with their phone. In this regard, this Windows Phone 8 powered device boasts a 41MP camera. Yes, that's not a typo! Utilizing such a high end camera should result in fantastic pictures, so, let's take a deeper look at the phone's specs and see if it delivers.

The Lumia 1020 has a 4.5 inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 332 ppi. It runs on a 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor with 2GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage which unfortunately cannot be increased. While these specs aren't necessarily mind blowing, the phone runs quite fast and one of the unique features of this phone is its ability to have a viewable screen even in direct sunlight. This is something we have yet to see in many other smartphones and is definitely a major plus for this device.

In terms of the overall design the power, volume and shutter buttons are located along the right edge while on the bottom of the phone there is the speaker and a micro usb charging port. One major drawback I found with this phone however, is the camera lens on the back. The lens is quite large as one might expect and as a result of this the phone has a piece jutting out at the back. This can be a bit irksome when handling the phone and certainly trying to rest it flat on any surface is not possible.

This smartphone comes  with a 2300mAh non removable battery which is a bit disappointing. Even though you do get a full days use with this phone without having to recharge, making it non removable similar to the HTC One does hurt the power users among us. Nokia has estimated that you can get about 13 hours of talk time and approximately 16 days of standby usage out of this phone.

Okay, so let's get to it. The main reason for this phone is undoubtedly the camera. It comes with a staggering 41MP rear camera with optical image stabilization, a Xenon flash and 6x digital zoom. The zoom on this camera is fantastic. The quality of the picture stays true and clear even at a very high zoom. Furthermore, two pictures are actually taken at the same time when you press the capture button. One of the pictures is the full res version and the other is a 5MP version. The smaller resolution picture is the one that you can then send to family and friends immediately through the usual internet resources. The full resolution pic however, can only be accessed later by plugging the phone through the usb into a computer. In addition to its camera capabilities this smartphone also takes 1080p video recordings.

Let's now move on to the apps. The Windows app store itself has about 160,000 apps currently available and while that's quite a large number, it pales in comparison to Android and iOs. In terms of camera apps there's the Pro Camera app, Creative Studio and Smart Camera among others. Utilizing the Pro Camera app you can manually adjust settings such as ISO, flash as well as the exposure.

Overall it could be said that in terms of the camera capabilities, this phone has no peers in the current market. Certainly, Nokia has targeted the camera enthusiasts with this particular smartphone offering and I don't think they will be disappointed. However, the less than stellar apps and the inability to expand the storage do count as drawbacks. In terms of availability, it's only available with AT&T for $299 on a two year contract. Yes, it is a pretty big commitment but as I said earlier if the camera is your main focus then this phone is definitely  for you. 


* Images courtesy piercedavid

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Unboxing

Samsung have just released another tablet onto the market with the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3. It's got three different versions with a 7 inch, 8 inch and 10 inch screen. Yes, they  are releasing a lot of these devices basically flooding the market but if there is a demand then Samsung will surely continue to supply them. So, how does it stack up you ask? Well, let's take a deeper look into the 8 inch version of this tablet.

The Tab 3 runs on the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean operating system and it has a 1.5 GHz dual core processor. It comes with 1GB of RAM and 16 GB of memory. This could be increased using a 64GB SD card. In addition to the above, there is a 1.3MP front facing camera and a 5MP rear camera.

Taking a look at these specs, one could say that it isn't exactly earth shattering and one would be right. I would say though that the performance of the Galaxy Tab could prove to be surprising so only after some time using it under various conditions would we get the full picture. For now though, let's just watch the unboxing vid courtesy of Technobuffalo. Hope you guys enjoy.

*Image courtesy jfingas

Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom Specs

Ever wanted more from the camera on your phone? Then the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom might be for you. It's basically a fusion between the Galaxy S4 Mini and the Samsung camera. Yes, I know, it sounds a bit strange but let's take a look at its specifications and functionalities to see if we can understand it better.

 

S4 Zoom Unboxing courtesy Phonedog

First off, it runs on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean  and boasts a 1.5 GHz Dual Core processor. It has a 4.3 inch qHD Super AMOLED display with a 2330mAh removable battery and 1.5 GB of RAM. In terms of its design it looks like the S4 mini when viewed from the front while it takes the look of a camera when viewed from behind. While the aforementioned specs aren't anything to write home about, this phone really is all about the camera, which we'll take a look at now.

The S4 Zoom has a 1.9 MP front facing camera for self portraits and video chat while it sports a 16MP rear facing camera with f /3.1-6.3, 24-240mm and 10x optical zoom. You won't find any other smartphone with that amount of zoom so the pictures you take will look quite a bit better than your usual smartphone in normal light conditions.

There are also a ton of scene modes to select on this device. Modes like HDR, Panorama, Fireworks, Drama and Landscape are available on this device. There is also a Smart Mode Suggest feature which takes a look at the scene you wish to capture and then suggests the appropriate mode. All these features are quite good and do add a lot to this phone.

Since this phone is an Android device, there are many apps that you can download to edit and share your photos. This gives it an added dimesion when compared to your normal point and shoot camera and is a definite advantage.

The Zoom sports a larger CMOS sensor than normal smartphones but when compared to DSLR cameras it really comes in as just about average. I guess this is to be expected since this is also a phone and not a dedicated camera. The downside to this phone's philosophy is that it gets caught between two worlds's, is it a smartphone or is it a camera. In the end, it just averages in both departments so only those of us that are really interested in the S4 line of devices would probably pick this one up.

Do you like the S4 Zoom? Give your feedback on it in the comment section below. 


*Image courtesy Samsung Belgium

Cool Tricks to Extend Battery Life on the S4

For those of us that have the awesome Samsung Galaxy S4, a major question is how to extend its battery life. The S4 comes with a removable 2600mAh battery which does work very well in most cases. However, for the power users among us, more capacity may be required. Let's take a look at the options we have below.

Firstly, there are some general guidelines to use when trying to extend your battery life. The S4 comes with an option to go into power saving mode. Obviously, this could be the first thing you do and for some it's all that is required. In this mode the screen brightness is reduced and the colours will change among other things. Considering that the Super AMOLED screen is the major battery life hog on this phone, using power saving mode will definitely improve your battery's performance.

In addition to power saving mode, disabling some of the flashier features on this phone can go a long way in improving battery performance. Some of these extras are things like Air Gesture, GPS and Sync. In order to do this, swipe down from the top and tap the upper right hand corner. All the features will come up on the screen and you can then disable the ones you want to.

There is also the option of purchasing an extended battery. These are batteries made by various manufacturers for the S4 specifically. These batteries are usually larger than the original and often you may have to use the case provided by the company for the battery to fit properly. This should not be a surprise as extended batteries offer increased capacity and consequently will be larger in size.

A good example of an extended battery is ZeroLemon's offering for the Galaxy S4. It comes in at a whopping 7500mAh which is approximately three times the original value. So far this is rated as the largest extended battery on the market and users have noted that even with heavy usage the S4  is still funtional for days on end. These extended batteries tend to come with full warranties and are usually available for many different carriers both locally and internationally.

Okay guys, that's about it for this post. I know that there are many more tips to extend the S4's battery life, so please feel free to include them in the comments section below.

 *Image courtesy Janitors

 

Samsung Galaxy S4 Specs

Samsung's flagship smartphone for 2013 is the Galaxy S4. Recently released in the United States, this phone has garnered a great deal of attention both from Samsung's core base as well as the wider tech community. I've already reviewed the HTC One, so let's now take a look at the S4's credentials.

First off it boasts a 1.6 GHz quad core processor with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. This can increased however to 64GB with the use of a micro SD card. Due to the RAM and the processor, this phone flips through apps and whatever other screens you are viewing with ease. There really isn't any lag to speak of with this smartphone. It runs on the Android Jelly Bean 4.2.2 operating system.

On to the display. The S4 has a 5 inch HD Super AMOLED 1920*1080 display. This works out to a pixel density of 441ppi. Needless to say, these specs make the screen display look absolutely stunning. Colours are bright and true, with everything reproduced sharply on screen.

The S4 comes with a 2MP front facing camera and a massive 13MP rear camera. Obviously, the rear camera takes fantastic pictures. Added to this is the HD video recording and playback capabilities and you have a winning combination. This phone also has the added functionality of allowing you to take pictures with both the front and rear facing cameras on at the same time. One point though, in low light conditions I would say that the HTC One takes better pictures. Maybe there really is something to their Ultrapixel language after all.

Let's move on to what is one of the most important aspects of any new phone, the battery. The S4 comes with a 2600mAh removable battery. The fact that it is removable is already a great deal better than the HTC One's battery configuration in which they made it near impossible to remove. In terms of battery life, the S4 does very well and even after a full day of installing apps, watching videos and surfing the internet consumers have reported that there was still some power left.

In terms of the S4's construction, there is some room for improvement. Plastic was used in the construction of this phone and unfortunately when you hold the phone it feels a little flimsy. Compare that to the aluminum construction of the HTC One and you can realize the big difference it makes. It is however very light and thin, which allows someone even with medium sized hands to comfortably hold the phone. Not bad for a screen size of 5 inches.

One of the really nice features of this phone is the IR blaster. What this basically does is that it allows your S4 to be transformed into a universal remote in conjunction with Samsung's WatchON app. It works really well and is extremely convenient. Those of us who are constantly struggling with many remotes can breathe a sigh of relief with this feature.

The S4 is also packed full of great features. Firstly, there is Samsung's Air View which allows you to hover your finger over emails, images and other files to see a preview without actually opening the file itself. Also, there is Samsung's Smart Scroll which first recognizes the postion of your face and allows you to scroll up and down by just moving your eyes. There are quite a few more features in addition to these two so you're certainly not going to get bored with this phone.

Overall this phone is fantastic. If you are looking to get a smartphone for the first time or going for an upgrade, the S4 is a good choice. It's currently being offered on all the major carriers as well as being sold factory unlocked. For more on this phone, check it out here.



*Images courtesy Janitors

HTC One Tips and Tricks

 

Hey guys, today I've got a great video for you showing many awesome tips and tricks for the htc one. If you're one of the lucky ones that have gotten this amazing smartphone, then you know that there is great scope for customization with this phone.  We'll be going through things like blinkfeed customization, widget tips as well as a full walkthrough of the app drawer. Check out the video below courtesy of Motodroidlife and don't forget to check out our rewards section. All you have to do is connect using  your facebook account and the opportunity to access various prizes is unlocked. Ok guys, see you later. 

 

 

Blackberry Q10: QWERTY Keyboard is back

Blackberry have recently released the Blackberry Q10. This phone has the old style QWERTY keyboard which will surely appeal to many Blackberry fans. In terms of specifications, it comes with a 1.5GHz dual core Snapdragon processor and a 3.1 inch 720p display. It' s got a 2100mAh battery and an 8 megapixel camera. Check out the unboxing video by Phonedog below and don't forget to say what you think about it. Has Blackberry clawed their way back into the mobile market with the Z10 and now this device?

HTC One Battery Removal

HTC's flagship smartphone for 2013, the HTC One, is a magnificent piece of technology. However, as with anything else, there were a few drawbacks, a major one being the inability to remove the battery. Even though the battery life on the HTC One is quite good, there are those who will need that extra power. For those of you that do, this tutorial is for you. Check out the video below from etradesupply showing a full teardown of the HTC One (You shouldn't really try this if you're not a professional!).

Alternatively, you could get the battery replacement text version courtesy of iFixit from the link below, showing you how to remove the battery on the HTC One. One word of caution though, this process was quite arduous and permanent damage to the HTC One's aluminum body looks like being unavoidable, so attempt this at your own risk. HTC definitely didn't make this phone with repairability in mind, that's for sure.

HTC One Battery Removal

HTC One Scratch Test

HTC have just released their flagship smartphone the HTC One. I've already reviewed it (check it out here), and overall I would say that this phone is a near perfect smartphone. One of the possible drawbacks however, is that the beautifully constructed aluminum uni body may be susceptible to nicks and scratches. PhoneBuff recently uploaded a video showing a scratch test done with the HTC One which you can check out below.  One word of caution though, if you're one who really takes great care of your mobile phones, this may be a bit hard to watch.

Full HTC One Review

HTC have just released their flagship phone for 2013, the HTC One. It can be viewed as  a direct competitor to the Samsung Galaxy S4 and many will be wondering how does it stack up. Is it the phone many are making it out to be? We analyzed it and here are  the results.
Let's start off with the basic stats. The HTC One boasts  a 4.7 inch display with a 1.7 GHz quad core Qualcomm processor. It runs on Android 4.1.2 Jellybean(update to 4.2 coming out anytime now) and is 4GLTE enabled. The display on this phone is truly outstanding with full 1080p HD and a resolution of 468 ppi. Screen images are clear and sharp, even in direct sunlight. It comes with 32GB  internal storage and 2GB of RAM.
When you first get a hold of the HTC One, the first thing that strikes you is the great way it feels in the palm of your hand. This phone is built from a single piece of aluminum alloy which was shaped out on a CNC machine for approximately 200 minutes. After such a long time to construct a single phone, it better be outstanding and it certainly achieves that. In terms of Android phones, the HTC One's construction is certainly the best there is. Of course, as it is a metal phone, there is the problem of nicks and scratches. HTC have stated they are confident that this phone is durable enough to withstand daily wear and tear but only time will tell on this front.
The HTC One has a  4.1 MP main camera with flash. At first glance that seems woefully inadequate for a high end smartphone such as this, but HTC have coined the term Ultrapixel to define their new camera technology. Basically, while other smartphones have been increasing their MP count and as a result decreasing micron size, HTC have gone the other direction and have used a camera with 2 micron pixels compared to other smartphones which have used 1.1 microns. What this means is that the camera has improved low light sensitivity as its main advantage. After seeing pictures taken in low lit areas such as bars and restaurants, I can say that it indeed performs better than other smartphones on the market now but maybe not as great as HTC would have you believe. Another interesting aspect of this phone is the Zoe videos. These are short video clips combined with about twenty pictures which can be taken with the HTC One and uploaded to social media sites or shared via email.I must say I really do like this feature.
This smartphone boasts dual frontal speakers with inbuilt amplifiers and Beats audio. HTC have labelled this setup as Boomsound. It must be said that the sound output from this smartphone is outstanding. Even at high audio output levels the sound is still crisp and distortion is at a minimum. Although you probably don't use your smartphone for high decibel sound output, it's still great that you can turn up the volume quite a bit.
The power button on the HTC One can also be used as a remote control for your home theater equipment since it also acts as an IR transmitter. Along with HTC's Sense TV app, you can use the One as a remote control and TV guide as well. I find that this particular feature is quite a nice addition and it is in fact very similar to Samsung's WatchON feature. Another thing that you will notice with this smartphone is that it's designed with only two capacitive buttons, Home and Back. This may be irksome for some users who are not used to this particular design, but I find that you get used to it quite quickly.
Let's move on to the battery. As with all smartphones, battery life is crucial. This phone is shipped with a 2300mAh non removable battery and HTC gives it a useable battery life of approximately 19 hours. I can tell you that after  a day of moderate use of this phone, there was approximately thirty percent battery life left. This is indeed very good and this actually mirrors my experience with the iPhone 5, so I think you get the picture, great battery life on this phone.

The HTC One comes with Android Jelly Bean 4.2.1 and HTC have put their software called HTC Sense on the phone. HTC Sense was present in HTC's previous smartphone offerings and the UI on this phone is reminiscent of those phones but with some minor changes. They seemed to have gone for a more minimalist look by removing the iconic clock and weather widget. The major change though is the addition of what Samsung calls Blinkfeed. This is basically a news and social aggregator which is the default home screen. Although it cannot be completely removed, it can be customized to show any one of HTC's home screens(Check out the Blinkfeed customization tutorial here). Through the use of the Google Play Store, users can download apps by choosing from a  list of approximately 700,000. No lack of choice there.
In terms of performance, the HTC One is fast, really fast. It utilizes a quad core Snapdragon 600 processor and from what I saw, nothing can slow this phone down. Whether you're surfing the web or just flipping through the phone's features, movement was seamless.
Overall, one could say that the HTC One is a near perfect smartphone. Again, drawbacks such as no micro SD slot for expansion and the non removable battery may annoy some, but I don't think these create too much of an issue for this phone. It is available on all the major carriers except Verizon, but there are rumors that it may come out on Verizon later this year. If you're thinking about getting it or you just want more info,  check it out here.
Please feel free to leave your comments below and say what you think about the HTC One.

Facebook Home Review

Facebook launched their software Facebook Home a few days ago. This is Facebook's first incursion into the software market and the software comes pre-installed on the HTC First cellphone. Phonedog gives their first impressions of the software in the video below. Check it out and don't forget to give your impressions of Facebook Home in the comment section below.

LG Lucid 2 Review

Hey guys, today let's take a look at the LG Lucid 2. This is a midrange smartphone device which you can get for free if you sign a two year contract with Verizon. It runs the Android operating system and has  a 4.3 inch display. It's smaller than other smartphones, but hey, it's free(kind of). 
It has the ability to record video in 1080p HD and has a pretty alright 5 mega pixel camera. In addition to the above, it's got 4GLTE connectivity. Check out the review below courtesy of Phonedog.