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

Tekken Tag 2: Devil Jin

Today I've got a great tutorial concerning one of the top tier characters in Tekken Tag Tournament 2, Devil Jin. (You can check out the video courtesy of LevelUpYourGame at the end of this post.) Devil Jin is the evil transformation of Jin Kazama who was of course infected with the Devil gene in an earlier version of Tekken.

As a result of this, Devil Jin is obsessed with power and this really shows in Devil Jin's exceptional combo ability. At first these combos may be a little difficult to pull off, but with practice and patience you get the hang of it. After that, the sky is the limit really with Devil Jin, especially due to the fact that his combos have great wall carry along with massive damage output.

In terms of his ranking versus the other Mishima characters, he definitely has the best overall game. Along with combo potential, his poking and punishment is quite good. He has the mighty electric wind god fist and his laser is great in certain situations. Also, unlike Kazuya, he does not have to transform to use the laser moves.

He also possesses wonderful low moves that are both hard to punish and have great crushing properties. His db+2 is the best example of this. Compare this to Heihachi, who does not possess low moves with these properties and Devil Jin's superiority in this regard becomes apparent.

In conclusion I would say that if you're looking for a complete player to use in Tekken Tag 2, then Devil Jin is the character to use. Yes, you would have to practice for a while upfront, but it is well worth it in the end. So, as promised, check out the tutorial below and sound off in the comments section below with regards to your best Tekken Tag 2 character.

*Image Courtesy FXMislang

Forza 5 Gameplay Video

At the recently concluded E3, we got a  look at the gameplay for the Xbox One launch title, Forza 5. The makers of this game, Turn 10 studios, have set out to create an awesome and engaging racing title and so far it looks very impressive.
One of the first things you notice is the paint detail on the cars. This is in fact an upgrade from previous versions in that the paint is made up of a base coat, metal flake and a clear coat. Any imperfections on the car's surface are also noticeable as well as changes from the paint to the carbon fiber components. Details such as the rims and tires are also very clearly shown. Another striking aspect is that when you've chosen the cockpit view while racing, the details on the dashboard and windscreen are quite life like. You can see the reflection of the dashboard on the windscreen and as you race past different areas this reflection also changes.
Possibly the most eye popping component of the game might be the views along the racing tracks. Details such as trees and crowds are beautifully represented along with the panoramic views of the surrounding city. The tracks themselves have details such as tire marks, oil stains and marbles.
In terms of the cars Forza 5 has a great variety. Not only do they have cars like the McLaren MP-1 or the Pagani Huayra, but also a lot of lower level cars that are favorites of many car enthusiasts worldwide. In addition to this, open wheel racing is also set to make its debut on the franchise which has excited quite a few of the Forza fans.
One of the most innovative aspects of Forza 5 is the use of the cloud to create what is known as your Drivatar. The game monitors your driving habits and then creates an online persona which drives just as you would without any involvement on your part. This allows you to earn money which can then be used to purchase more cars. This is really next gen stuff.
In conclusion, I would say that this game truly is setting the bar high for next gen racing games. The graphics and the use of  cloud processing really stand out to me as I review this game. As the clock winds down to November 30, more aspects of Forza Motorsport 5 are expected to be released. For now though, enjoy the gameplay video below courtesy of MotoGamesTV.

*Image Courtesy tarciltarcil

Roku Private Channels

So, you've bought your new Roku and have already searched through all the free and paid options as regards to channels. You now find yourself realizing that there are channels that you wanted but there are no options to purchase them. What do you do? Do you just give up on these channels? No, there is a way you can access these private channels on the Roku thereby significantly enhancing your overall set top box experience.
Firstly, what are private channels? Private channels are basically channels that Roku have not reviewed and approved so as to be listed in the Roku channel store. Roku currently offers about 700 channels, so even without the private channels you will not be struggling for content. However, if you do see a channel you like, then to install it on the Roku you would first need the channel code. You can get a huge list of channel codes by clicking here. Once you have the code, simply navigate to the Roku website and login. Then, click manage account and  add a private channel and you will have the option to enter the code you acquired previously. That channel's app will then be downloaded to your Roku and you will now be able to view its content.
It should be noted that many of the private channels are run by independent developers, so your viewing experience may not be as crisp as some of the officially approved Roku channels. Additionally, these channels do sometimes get terminated by the developers. Therefore, it is up to you to choose wisely in this regard.
In conclusion I would like to say that the Roku really is a great device for those wishing to end their dependence on network television. The flexibility it offers is unmatched in my opinion and as it is constantly adding new channels to the channel store, its ratings are definitely only going to increase.

Next Google Pagerank Update

Many people are wondering when the next Google pagerank update will be. While we can't say for sure the exact date, we can say that it usually occurs within a timeframe of 3 months apart. Therefore, since the first pagerank update of 2013 was on February 4th, the second update should have been in May. Unfortunately for those of us who were eagerly anticipating this, it still has not yet arrived.
As of today, June 19th, it is now expected that the pagerank will be updated by July 15th. I'm certainly keeping my fingers crossed that this date will prove to be true. Now, it must be noted that pagerank in and of itself is not a determining factor for Serp positioning or for any traffic to your website at all. Many bloggers tend to get carried away with achieving a high pagerank only to be very disappointed when the expected flood of traffic does not arrive. In fact, I've seen PR2/3 websites outrank PR6/7 websites for competing keyword terms!
Hence, for great Serp positioning it is far more important to have great content and backlinks from authority sites in your niche. Social media backlinks are also proving to be worth your while, as it not only shows Google that your website has social signals but you can get a great deal of traffic from these sites as well.
So, in summation, it would be nice to have the pagerank update by mid July, but if this does not occur one should not be too disturbed. As a blogger in the post Panda and Penguin period, content is really and truly king.