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Google rolling out Android 6.0.1 update to Nexus devices

AndroidGuys
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0

We know that most of you are still waiting patiently for Android 6.0 Marshmallow update to hit your smartphones. And it only hurts more when we hear that some Nexus devices have now jumped the queue to receive the Android 6.0.1 update. Yes, you read it right – Google is pushing the new software update to the Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus 5, Nexus 6, Nexus 7, Nexus 9 and the Nexus Player.

As part of the software update, devices running the latest version of Android would receive 200 new and redesigned  emojis. The good news for the world obsessed with texting is, Google has included unicorn, cat, cheese-block, popcorn and taco emojis in the latest update. Just like we informed in our earlier report, many old emojis such as poop and body parts have have been redesigned and recolored. It is noteworthy that the new emojis have already been available on Windows 10 and iOS platform for a few weeks.

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Another small change that users who have tablets running Android 6.0.1 will notice that the ‘Back’ and ‘Home’ navigation buttons are now located on the left hand side of the display’s base instead of their central position. The Android 6.0.1 factory images are also available to download on Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6, Nexus Player, Nexus 9, Nexus 7 (2013).

Via: Mobile Syrup

Reminders join Google Calendar to further help us stay on top of things

Josh Noriega
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0

I don’t know about you, but Google’s Reminders system has become a vital feature to helping me function in everyday life. These days, we have so much going on. And with our devices always around, it only makes sense to utilize them to stay on top of things we’ll inevitably forget.

Google has long kept Calendar entries and Reminders separated, still hanging on to the calendar events ideology. But with the increased importance of Reminders in the ecosystem, Google is now adding them as entries in the Calendar app.

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One of Google’s justification for doing this is that “while those entries [calendar events] come and go, Reminders stick with you over time so you can track them until they are actually done.” Reminders will stay on top of your daily list of entries until you dismiss them.

Reminders in Calendar will also 1’up event entries by automatically adding information like phone numbers and addresses (if you make a Reminder to make a call or go somewhere). That’s what great about the Reminder system, it gets incorporated across the ecosystem. Therefore, if you create one via a voice command on Google Now, it will automatically populate in Inbox, Keep, and now Calendar.

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Regarding the roll-out, Google says that incorporation into the mobile Calendar app will come first – an update will show up on the Play Store and iOS App Store this week. The update via Calendar on the web is in the works. Check out Google’s video on the new feature below.

Source: Google Blogspot

Google’s new smartwatch could draw your blood without needles

AndroidGuys
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0

Gone are the days when smartwatches used to perform only basic tasks such as timekeeping, calculation and light entertainment. Nowadays, when market is witnessing an unprecedented upsurge in wearable technology, most smartwatches come preloaded with a host of health and fitness-related functions.

Google has decided to stay a step ahead in the war of wearable technology by filing a patent for a smartwatch that is capable of drawing blood samples without the use of needles.

While the technology is still in the patent phase; once operational, it would prove to be very beneficial for diabetic patients who’d be able to monitor their blood glucose levels without having to perform the usual finger prick test throughout the day.

“Such an application might be used to draw a small amount of blood, for example, for a glucose test,” Google writes in the patent application.

If you remember, Google was earlier reported to be working on smart contact lenses for diabetics, which could check the glucose in tears thanks to a tiny wireless chip and miniaturized glucose sensor.

USPTO_Google_smartwatch

Now, let’s take a look at how this smartwatch works. According to the patent application, the wearable sends an abrupt surge of gas into a barrel that has microparticles, which in turn puncture the skin to draw a droplet of blood. The blood then goes to the negative pressure barrel situated in the chunky device for final testing.

While this innovative smartwatch may have many takers immediately, it is not likely to hit the market anytime soon, says Google.

“We hold patents on a variety of ideas – some of those ideas later mature into real products or services, some don’t. Prospective product announcements should not necessarily be inferred from our patents.”

-Google

With over 9% adult human population suffering from diabetes, we can hope that the Internet giant introduces this wearable technology to the market as soon as possible.

Source: USPTO

My Nexus 6P looks better than yours thanks to my dbrand copper skin

Derrick Miyao
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16

dbrand seriously hooked me up with some sweet skins for my Nexus 5X and 6P. Many of you tech enthusiasts are similar to the writers here at AndroidGuys, in that you love your devices and want to make sure they look good too. Looks are becoming more important as we grow more attached to our devices.

A great way to prevent scratches, cover up existing scratches and to completely customize the look of your smartphone is to use a skin from dbrand. Yesterday I wrote about a gorgeous carbon fiber skin that I put on my Nexus 5X that looks awesome. dbrand sent me a carbon fiber skin for my Nexus 6P as well, but I didn’t want to give you guys the same look. Instead I went with the brushed copper skin with a cutout for the X in Nexus.

Nexus 6P in copper and the Nexus 5X in carbon fiber.
Nexus 6P in copper and the Nexus 5X in carbon fiber.

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Design

With the Nexus 5X skin dbrand I was most impressed with the high-quality materials. Those high-quality materials are sourced from 3M, and dbrand guarantees its products meet the highest standards. dbrand also make precision a primary feature, and I can say the skins I have used are so perfectly cut, that they must have been cut with space age lasers. The cutout for the microphone and fingerprint reader on the back of the Nexus 6P are so perfect that it looks like my phone was made from copper straight from the factory. The proof is in the images below.

Our Variety, Your Choice (from the dbrand website)

“Our Nexus 6P decals come in a wide array of textured finishes including Carbon Fiber, Brushed Titanium, Leather, Matte, True Color, and Wood Grain. Furthermore, our customization is limitless. Choose any Nexus 6P back skin, then select from three different Nexus cutout options. From there, you can even fill in the Nexus logo with a different material or convert your 6P into a Google Edition with our exclusive Colored X (also known as the Rainbow X) inserts. Complete the customization by mix ‘n matching frame and front skins in any of our 18 textured materials. Our wraps for the Nexus 6P have, bar none, the most customization potential you’ll ever encounter with a skin.”
The copper skin I have actually has the texture of brushed metal and prevents my phone from developing fingerprints. The brushed metal texture also makes my Nexus 6P much easier to grip.
dbrand custom
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Installation

Installation is so easy even I could do it without making a mistake. And that really speaks volumes because I am far from a perfectionist. I typically rush through projects like this, and dbrand was ready for my shaky hands. After installing the Nexus 5X skin, the Nexus 6P installation took me all of five minutes.

IMG_20151206_181806 - Copy
1. Get a hair dryer or heat gun and pull out your skin materials.

 

2. Wipe your Nexus 6P to remove oil and dust.
2. Wipe your Nexus 6P to remove oil and dust.
3. Install the top portion of the skin first by aligning the microphone cutout and fingerprint reader. No extra metal from the Nexus 6P should show.
3. Install the top portion of the skin first by aligning the microphone cutout and fingerprint reader. No extra metal from the Nexus 6P should show.
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4. After completing the bottom installation and wiping down the edges with the included cloth, the X is ready for its inserts. Yellow goes on the bottom left, blue top left, red top right and green on the bottom right. You could make your X all green, blue, red, or yellow as dbrand does provide you with four of each color for the X.
Complete. Time to show off my one and only copper Nexus 6P.
Complete. Time to show off my one and only copper Nexus 6P.
Even C3PO is awestruck.
Even C3PO is awestruck.

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Summary

The look and feel of my Nexus 6P has dramatically changed for the better, all for less than $12. dbrand’s skins are unique, great looking, reasonably priced and easy to install. It makes my wonder why manufacturers of smartphones just don’t offer skins direct since customers do love choice. Many of us really are tired of the same old gold, silver, white and black colors that our smartphones come in.

As you can see from the images above, the skins on both the Nexus 5X and the Nexus 6P are so perfectly cut that they look like they came in actual carbon fiber and copper from the assembly lines. I was even stopped by three people today, while I was out, asking what phone I was using because they had never seen a copper phone before. I love the skins from dbrand as they do protect my all metal Nexus 6P from scratches, and gives it a nicer feel too.

And one last thing, and I really do mean this, if I can install these skins there is no doubt in my mind you can too. My eyes are not quite perfect anymore and my hands are shaky. dbrand offers a huge range of skins so check out its website to see if they have a skin for your device. They even have skins for laptops, smartwatches, tablets and game consoles.

dbrand is really the boss of all vinyl skins.

dbrand website link

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dbrand’s skins make my Nexus 5X look awesome and unique

Derrick Miyao
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1

I’m not one who normally uses cases or skins on my phones, but I recently came across MKBHD’s(Marques Brownlee) line of skins from dbrand on Twitter, and thought his stuff looked pretty sweet. It’s been awhile since I have even looked into skins for smartphones – if I was ever looking to cover my phone I would typically choose a case over a skin. I HATE putting on skins. But since dbrand’s skins looked so cool, I really had to try a set out for myself for my Nexus 5x.

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Design

Capture

With dbrand’s custom ordering website, you can literally make hundreds of different combinations of custom skins for your devices. dbrand offers complete coverage by offering back, front, frame and camera skin coverage. At dbrand, they only use authentic 3M vinyl on LG Nexus 5X skins and will guarantee no adhesive residue will ever be left on your device if you ever decide to remove it.

“What does that mean for you? It means that whenever you decide to take off your Nexus 5X wrap, there won’t be any adhesive residue left on your device. Guaranteed. We’re committed to providing our customers with uncompromising quality. You can relax, we only use the highest grade materials on the planet.” – dbrand customer service.

I even saw a customer on reddit who had a rare experience with a skin pulling off some of the paint on his Nexus 5, but the user was beyond satisfied with dbrand’s best in class customer service. They sent him a new Nexus 5 cover in addition to 15 sets of skins of his choosing. That’s pretty awesome.

From carbon fiber, to leather, metal, colors and wood, dbrand has just about every person’s taste covered with their multitude of options.

 

drand website

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Installation

This is one area I dread with skins. I used to try putting skins on my devices a couple of years ago, in addition to screen protectors, but I am really impatient with detailed work like this. It’s the main reason why I stopped looking into skins altogether. Skins and screen protectors usually end up as one massive fail.

Since dbrand sent me the latest skins, I figured it was worth a try since the new skins look really awesome.

I went to dbrand’s website and looked up how to install the skin and luckily they had the best instructional video you could ask for. It literally walks you through installation step-by-step, and within ten minutes you will have your entire skin installed. I’ve got the images to prove just how easy the dbrand skin was to apply to my Nexus 5X.

IMG_20151205_234329
1. Wipe down the device with the included cloth
2. Align the flash, laser sensor and fingerprint reader.
2. Align the flash, laser sensor and fingerprint reader.
3. Flip the device around and align the 3.5mm headphone jack. Remove the backing and use a hair dryer to heat the adhesive and make it stick to the device.
3. Flip the device around and align the 3.5mm headphone jack. Remove the backing and use a hair dryer to heat the adhesive and make it stick to the device.
4. Remove each individual letter and use the backing to align each insert.
4. Remove each individual letter and use the backing to align each insert.
5. I found tweezers to be much easier.
5. I found tweezers to be much easier.
6. Once everything is in place, I used a heat gun(I do not own a hair dryer) to warm the skin and smoothed it out.
6. Once everything is in place, I used a heat gun(I do not own a hair dryer) to warm the skin and smoothed it out.
Completed installation in less than ten minutes.
Completed installation in less than ten minutes.

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Summary

As you can see in the pictures, dbrand’s skins look awesome. The skins turned my drab Nexus 5X, in Frost White, into a slick carbon fiber device with a properly Google colored X in the center of the Nexus logo. I happened to put my own touch on the layout by using the silver S instead of the white one, to show you really can do whatever you want with customization.

dbrand did not provide me with the side skin pieces, nor the front skin. It doesn’t really matter as I think the back carbon fiber skin looks fantastic. The skin kit for the back, Nexus logo, limited edition colored X, and camera costs less than $15 which is an incredible value considering the kit dramatically improves the look of your device. I highly recommend dbrand’s skins as they offer complete customization, super easy installation, high-quality materials, and excellent durability. They’ll keep your phone protected against scratches while giving you a whole new look.

dbrand makes skins for a wide variety of devices. If you want to learn more head on over to their website by clicking here.

dbrand.com

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Beyerdynamic DTX350M Stereo Headphone review

Jason Botha
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0

The good people at Beyerdynamic sent us a pair of their lower-range DTX350M on-ear headphones to test out. You’ve probably heard of Beyerdynamic before, and associate them with expensive, high-end headphones. You’re not wrong for thinking that, but recently they have introduced cheaper options for customers that still want a decent pair without digging a valley in their pockets.

https://www.androidguys.com/buyers-guide-headphones/

One of these ‘cheaper’ options happens to be the DTX350M that I got my hands on. At $69, it may not exactly fall into the budget zone, but compared to the rest of Beyerdynamics offerings, it’s considerably less than what you may expect to find.

Do the headphones stand up to their brand name?

In the Box

My attention was immediately drawn to how small the box was. I thought it was not possible to fit any kind of headsets into such a small box. Opening it however revealed the snugly fitted components:

As it turned out, it’s just really neatly packed in. The set can be folded into a considerably smaller footprint than its full size.

Included in the box is a reasonably sized synthetic leather bag to put the headset in. While it won’t offer as much protection as a hard case, it’s still a neat little perk to have. There is also a Beyerdynamic lanyard thrown in.

Enough on the unboxing… how well does the hardware bode?

Hardware

As it is one of the cheaper offerings, it’s no surprise that they are constructed almost wholly out of plastic. The only alternate material is the occasional metal along the inside of the adjustable headband and the obvious hinges above each ear pad.

Talking of ear pads, they each consist of soft padding for the on-ear experience. They aren’t designed to cover your ears completely, but rather just sit comfortably on top of them. This also means that isolation is present, but not as strongly as a pair that would completely surround your ears.

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In this picture, you can see how my ear lobe sticks out. This soon becomes uncomfortable.

The plastic doesn’t exactly make it feel cheap, but I do feel like they could easily break or conk out on me if I don’t handle them carefully. This is a problem for people with a big head (like me) as I constantly felt like they were going to snap in half when putting them on. They aren’t tiny, but they could be a even a weeny bit bigger in terms in the band size.

This small-ish size also creates a problem when using the headset for extended periods of time as after about an hour and a half I could start feeling discomfort on my ears, particularly along where the padded parts went along my ear. But by all means, they weren’t tight on my head. On the verge of being tight, maybe, but not quite squeezing my brains out.  In other words, it wouldn’t of hurt Beyerdynamic to add an extra inch around20151202_141434 the headband, but if you have a relatively normal sized head, you should be fine.

There is also an in-line audio control with a microphone. The microphone worked great during FaceTime calls, but there is only one button to control play/pause. It was nice and big, however.

Audio hardware

T20151204_170658-1 (1)he DTX350M comes with some neat audio hardware tucked away inside. It uses a closed transducer with 40mm speaker size. The cable length comes in at 3.93 feet (1.2 meters) with a 3.5mm gold coated audio jack. Impedance comes in at 32 Ohms which results in a frequency capability of between 20 – 20,000Hz. If you’re unsure what half of that means, just know that that’s pretty much a standard combo in most headsets we see today. In short, it is a slightly better spec sheet than most other pairs, particularly the large speaker size.

How do these translate in real life?

 

Audio

This is where the headset surprised me. For $69, these produce some, if not the, best audio in this range. This is where the Beyerdynamic brand name shows itself.

A quick look at box reveals a neat little paragraph regarding the sound:

[blockquote author=””]The sound was developed by our best engineers, who developed acoustic reference headphones such as the T 1.The headphones feature clean highs, detailed mids and a crisp bass. [/blockquote]

There’s nothing I can argue with here. The sound is very well balanced; the bass maybe not “crisp” but rather “nice ‘n deep”; perhaps the highs should be labelled as “crisp”.

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The bass was in a sweet spot. You may think it is a tad too much if you’re not into bass, but for me personally it reproduced the lows almost flawlessly. In a bass boosted song, you could even feel them vibrating a teeny bit, a wet dream for any bass lover. That being said, they were not over-empowering and I think the designers did an excellent job for the bass.

The same thing can be said for the treble. It is very smooth and, unlike a lot of headphones that I’ve used, the highs aren’t piercing if the volume is high. They are well reproduced and lush audio is the result of this. No harsh sounds were present.

They are also effective at taking away any grainy noise in the background from low quality audio files.

giphy (1)

The only thing I can criticize here is the volume. Note that I’m not the type of person who likes to blasts their eardrums out with max volume. For most tracks, the volume was just fine, but on files that were created with low volume or during calmer songs, I do wish I could step the volume up a notch or two.

Opinion

You get a nice package with these headphones. There are no missing features or severe trade-offs, and they are convenient to carry around. This price range also makes them a good choice for students wanting a decent set.

The Beyerdynamic 350M are an excellent pair of headphones for $69. You get high-end audio at the price of “meh” audio. This is, however, compensated for in the build quality with the weak-feeling plastic. It is by no means a ‘cheap’ feel, but you’ll have a hard time convincing anyone that they’re a premium set.

Unless they listen to them, that is.

You can check out the official Beyerdynamic page on them here or have a look at them on the official Amazon page here.

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Top 20 paid and free apps at Amazon this week (December 5)

AndroidGuys
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0

In the market for some new apps and games to play with this weekend? Have you considered checking out Amazon? Did you even know Amazon offers apps for Android smartphones and tablets? Indeed, they certainly do. In fact, Amazon even keeps track of which titles are moving well.

Not unlike what Billboard does with its weekly charts, you can check out two lists: top 100 free apps and top 100 paid apps. If you’re looking for something new, these lists are a great place to start.

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Top Paid Apps

  1. Minecraft – Pocket Edition
  2. Minecraft: Story Mode
  3. Plants vs. Zombies
  4. Geometry Dash
  5. Sea of Lies: Nemsis A Hidden Object Game
  6. Terraria
  7. Hidden Object – Cozy Christmas
  8. Hidden Object – Spirit of Christmas
  9. Plague Inc. 
  10. Scribblenauts Remix
  11. Shiver: The Lily’s Requiem Collector’s Edition
  12. Five Nights at Freddy’s
  13. Christmas Drops 2 – Match Three Puzzle
  14. Minionn Craft
  15. Five Nights at Freddy’s 4
  16. AirPlay/DLNA Receiver (PRO)
  17. Five Nights at Freddy’s 2
  18. Dr. Panda Firefighters
  19. Kids – for YouTube Kids for Kindle
  20. Bloons TD 5

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Top Free Apps

  1. Facebook
  2. Netflix
  3. YouTube app
  4. Amazon Video
  5. Facebook Messenger
  6. YouTube
  7. Candy Crush Saga
  8. Solitaire Classics
  9. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
  10. Subway Surfers
  11. Pandora
  12. 33 in 1 Games for Girls
  13. Candy Crush Soda Saga
  14. ES File Explorer
  15. Crossy Road
  16. HBO NOW
  17. Smashy Road: Wanted
  18. Hill Climb Racing
  19. WordBrain
  20. Pinterest

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Camera Shootout (Round 2): LG V10 vs Sony RX100

Josh Noriega
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9

Last time we did a camera showdown, we took the Galaxy S6 and pitted its well-received shooter against a renowned dedicated camera – the Sony RX100 (Mark II). The overall comparison showed a very interesting result – smartphone cameras aren’t as far off from real cameras as one might suspect.

Well, now it’s time we take the RX100 up against another contender. LG has been right on Samsung’s tail since the debut of its new 16MP f/1.8 camera on the G4 this year. The sensor is essentially a Sony IMX234 module, modified with LG’s own lens, laser auto-focus, and white balance sensor. And of course, it made sense to carry the stellar camera over to the V10.

So now it’s time to see if LG’s work paid off and and can hold a candle to a dedicated camera. The Sony RX100 has gained a large fan base for the superb image quality from a compact body. In my opinion, the RX100 is the highest reasonable level to compare to a smartphone camera, because past this point you’re in DSLR territory.

We’ll have three categories in this comparison: Backyard, Indoors, and Town. I’ve dropped the RX100’s capture down to 16:9 and 17MP (close enough to the V10’s 16MP resolution), and I used Auto Mode on both cameras. Also, I’ve implemented a side-by-side image preview this time, for easier comparing. The LG V10 images will be on the left and Sony RX100 on the right (you can pop up the full images via the links below each image pair). Let’s begin!

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Backyard

I have a forest in my backyard, so this gives me lots of opportunity for foliage shots. I picked the most interesting ones out of my set to show you guys.

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        LG V10   |   Sony RX100

I caught this forest shot early in the morning and wanted to see how well both cameras responded to the sun’s light. I felt like the V10 did an overall better job – the RX100’s image looks slightly faded due to the light (and a blueish tint). The V10’s colors are deeper.

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        LG V10   |   Sony RX100

My dogs were nice enough to help with the shootout. Here, I prefer the RX100’s image. If you zoom in on Ian’s fur, detail was captured better on the RX100. The V10’s image came out slightly brighter and less contrasted.

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        LG V10   |   Sony RX100

I loved this shot, for both the artistry and the complexity that the sun adds. There was a pretty drastic difference between the cameras. One important note is that the RX100 focused on the pot while the V10 appeared to focus on the concrete ledge (not sure on why LG’s camera wouldn’t focus on the object directly in front). You can also see the sun’s rays cut into the V10’s image more. But that slight blueish tint makes a return on the RX100 image (I like the contrast in the V10 image better).

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        LG V10   |   Sony RX100

The detail in both of these images are the same as far as I’m concerned, but overall coloring is definitely different. I would say that the coloring on the RX100 was most true to the actual of that scene.

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        LG V10   |   Sony RX100

This was another early morning shot – a cold, frosty morning actually. Again, these images are very close in detail to me. The big different I see is that the RX100 is more aggressive with depth of field (de-focusing of the surrounding), which makes for a more dramatic image.

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        LG V10   |   Sony RX100

I noticed a good opportunity to catch differing detail as the sun melted the frost that morning. Both cameras reproduced the moisture detail on the lounge chair fantastically. What’s interesting is that the RX100 captured a vertical rainbow effect. If you look at the de-focused area on the back, the contrast and colors of the RX100 is much better.

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        LG V10   |   Sony RX100

I did a close-up on a leaf that had frost on it. I prefer the RX100’s shot here. If you zoom in, the frost detail is definitely resolved better. Also, the color on the rock is more accurate.

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        LG V10   |   Sony RX100

Stepping away from the close-ups, this patio shot shows the sunlight dominating the V10’s image a bit too much. It looks slightly hazy and not as contrasted as the RX100 image.

[twentytwenty]V10_Backyard_9Sony_backyard_9[/twentytwenty]

        LG V10   |   Sony RX100

I got the cameras to focus at about the same spot in this image. You can see again that the overall coloring is slightly different. A common occurrence I’m seeing is that the V10’s camera prefers to produce a brighter image at the cost of some color accuracy. We’ll see if that behavior continues in the next set.

Indoors

Indoor shots tell a lot about a camera’s abilities – lighting is different at every angle. Let’s check out how the V10 fares in varying conditions.

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        LG V10   |   Sony RX100

Got my wife some Fall flowers for our anniversary and saw a picture opportunity. Going along with my previous observation, the V10’s image is brighter. It may come down to preference, but I just like the RX100’s image better. The extra brightness makes the V10’s image bland in comparison.

[twentytwenty]V10_indoor_2Sony_indoor_2[/twentytwenty]

        LG V10   |   Sony RX100

I brought in my little orange Android to help out. The color on the RX100 image is so much better to me (the V10’s image looks pale in comparison). But the Android’s detail on the V10 image is clearer (maybe because the RX100 focused on the table).

[twentytwenty]V10_indoor_3Sony_indoor_3[/twentytwenty]

        LG V10   |   Sony RX100

Mmmm, ham and cheese croissant. The detail on both images are great, but I like the contrast and color accuracy on the RX100 image better.

[twentytwenty]V10_indoor_4Sony_indoor_4[/twentytwenty]

        LG V10   |   Sony RX100

Here, I tried to focus both cameras on Intel logo on my XPS 13 (the device I’m a slave to when pumping out these posts). Something I really notice is the dominant yellowness of the V10’s image (probably due to both the table’s color and lighting). The RX100 wasn’t deterred by the surroundings.

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        LG V10   |   Sony RX100

Now for some shadows! I caught this drama happening on my dining room floor. The floor color with the V10 is pale, while the RX100’s image was truer to real life.

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        LG V10   |   Sony RX100

This is my other dog. His name is Beau and he’s a Great Pyrenees. Fortunately, he was nice enough to pose for me (this time). We again get a brighter image with the V10, somewhat countering the shadowing in the scene. If you zoom in on his face, the RX100 image is more detailed.

[twentytwenty]V10_indoor_7Sony_indoor_7[/twentytwenty]

        LG V10   |   Sony RX100

Interestingly, the results are reversed in this comparison. The RX100’s image now has a yellow-ish tint. To me, the V10 wins here.

[twentytwenty]V10_indoor_8Sony_indoor_8[/twentytwenty]

        LG V10   |   Sony RX100

Tea time! Again, the V10’s image is brighter (and a bit paler) in comparison. But both are good.

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        LG V10   |   Sony RX100

For this last one, I wanted to address the low-light struggle of the cameras. The V10 did a fantastic job pulling light in, look at how comparable these images are. May I remind you that the RX100 has a 1-inch sensor. But with that said, the Androids on the V10 image are slightly grainier. Still, I’m impressed.

Town

For variability of outdoor images, I went out to my local town and got a few good shots.

[twentytwenty]V10_town_1Sony_town_1[/twentytwenty]

        LG V10   |   Sony RX100

I like how the V10 handled this scene. The RX100 blew out the lighting on the top left area, resulting in an overall paler image.

[twentytwenty]V10_town_2Sony_town_2[/twentytwenty]

        LG V10   |   Sony RX100

These two images are very close. I prefer the V10 here, again. The lighting on the RX100’s image is ever so slightly overdone from the top.

[twentytwenty]V10_town_3Sony_town_3[/twentytwenty]

                                                             LG V10   |   Sony RX100

It’s Christmas time, so why not compare a tree? To me, the RX100 wins here. The V10’s reproduction isn’t as clear and slightly yellowy.

[twentytwenty]V10_town_4Sony_town_4[/twentytwenty]

        LG V10   |   Sony RX100

These images are super close in quality. I would say that the V10’s image is slightly paler but negligible.

[twentytwenty]V10_town_5Sony_town_5[/twentytwenty]

        LG V10   |   Sony RX100

Same deal here as far as I’m concerned. To my eyes, the V10’s image is still slightly paler. I can see it being up to preference.

[twentytwenty]V10_town_6Sony_town_6[/twentytwenty]

        LG V10   |   Sony RX100

I have a hard time choosing which image I like more here, I see elements in both that are good. The lighting of the RX100 image looks overshot on the top left, but it looks more crisp than the V10 image.

[twentytwenty]V10_town_7Sony_town_7[/twentytwenty]

        LG V10   |   Sony RX100

These are close in detail, but to my eyes the colors of the building and cars look richer on the RX100’s image.

[twentytwenty]V10_town_8Sony_town_8[/twentytwenty]

        LG V10   |   Sony RX100

This pair is once again difficult to choose from. I would give a slight edge to the RX100 because I see it as more colorful.

[twentytwenty]V10_town_9Sony_town_9[/twentytwenty]

        LG V10   |   Sony RX100

The sunlight (and HDR processing) largely determines the reaction in this last image. It’s hard to choose one, but I side with the V10’s image. To my eyes, the sunlight causes a slight haze on the RX100’s capture.

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Final Thoughts

This was a very interesting battle. I would call the RX100 the winner, but there were times when the V10’s camera stepped forward. The repeated offenses I noticed was that the tone of the V10’s images could sometimes be thrown off into a slight yellowish tint and paler colors in some instances. But the capture of detail was consistently fantastic. And LG’s f/1.8 aperture is no joke, this thing can catch a great amount of light.

One last note. After having done the same comparison with top-end smartphone cameras from both Samsung and LG, you may be wondering which fared better against the RX100? I would say that Samsung’s camera did. I felt like that battle was closer. But nonetheless, smartphone cameras are amazing these days.

Despite my commentary, you of course be the judge. What did you think about this camera shootout? We want to know, so sound off below!

Amazon offering up to 25% off Amazon Coins

AndroidGuys
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[df-subtitle]Save on future app and game purchases[/df-subtitle]

Got a friend or family member who owns an Android phone, tablet, or Fire tablet? Not sure what to get them as a gift? Get them some Amazon Coins!

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Not all that different from an Amazon gift card, Amazon Coins can be used as a virtual currency. These coins can be used to pay for games, apps, or toward in-app purchases. It’s a perfect way to give someone money to spend without telling them which apps to buy. And, until we’re able to purchase apps as gifts, the Amazon Coins is the best thing going.

Shaking out to a penny per coin, 500 coins costs $5.00. There are a number of denominations to purchase, including the following:

Amazon is currently running a promotion on its Coins which sees the prices slashed by up to 25%. Indeed, you can save anywhere from 10% on the low end up to 25% on the upper end.

As of today, you can buy coins at these rates:

If you’re thinking about purchasing these for yourself or someone you know, you’ll want to act fast. There’s no indication as to how long the discounts will last.

Android phones and tablets on sale at Expansys this weekend (December 5)

AndroidGuys
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[df-subtitle]Save big on LG, Motorola, Samsung, Sony, and HTC[/df-subtitle]

Shopping around for a smartphone this holiday season? Have you ever considered picking up something that’s unlocked right out of the box? Yes, this freedom means you can take your phone to other carriers without having to give up your favorite device. Unlocked phones are a big deal and they’re only going to get bigger over time.

moto_x_style_nexus5

We’ve looked through Expansys to put together a number of deals that you ought to check out. Some of what you’ll find is pretty significant stuff; most of these prices are for a limited time only. Nevertheless, we figured you’d be interested in learning about the discounts. In addition to phones, you’ll find some tablet sales, too.

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