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Blu announces the Pure XL, a $350 flagship with monster specs

Matt Adams
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2

Blu products is known for very cost efficient phones. You won’t find much in their lineup over $300 and they always seem to have great specs. This time Blu is kicking it up a notch releasing a flagship level phone for $350. Let’s take a peek at the specs first.

Blu Pure XL
Dimensions 164mm x 82.2mm x 9.6mm
Weight 202 g
Screen 6” 2K Super AMOLED, 490 PPI
Processor MediaTek 6795 Helio X10 2.0 GHz
GPU PowerVR G6200 GPU
RAM 3 GB
Storage 64 GB internal, 64 GB expandable
Battery 3,500 mAh
Rear Camera 24 MP
Front Camera 8 MP
LTE Bands 2/4/7/17
Operating System 5.1 Lollipop

 

blu pure xl

At first glance, this is an absolutely stunner in terms of specs. Only a few phones have broken past the 3 GB of RAM mark at this point in 2015 so the Pure XL is absolutely on par for a top tier device.

The 6″ screen reminds of us of the Nexus 6 and all the complaints we’ve heard of it being too big. And for most part, it really was. The Nexus 6 is a monster. You could adjust but it required compromise and it appears the Pure XL is going to require even more of an adjustment. While it’s not as wide, 82.2mm vs. 83mm or as thick, 9.6mm vs. 10.1mm as the Nexus 6, it’s taller at 164mm vs. 159.3mm. The rounded back of the Nexus 6 definitely helped in handling it, we’ll see if the more flat back of the Pure XL hurts it here.

The fact that the Pure XL is launching with Android 5.1 Lollipop on board is an encouraging sign. Blu has gotten flack in the past about their dearth of updates and the lack of pace in the updates that do see the light of day. Normally you could just flash a custom ROM with a newer version of Android, but since we’re seeing a MediaTek chip here, that might prove challenging. Development for the MediaTek chips comes about slow, or not at all due to poor documentation from the chip maker.

blu pure xl

We’re also seeing a fingerprint sensor on the back of the device for added security. This is becoming a pretty standard feature and it’s great to see “Flagship killers” like the Blu Pure XL and OnePlus 2 include it. We high end features like a fingerprint reader on more expensive devices like the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 or Apple iPhone but keeping costs low can force smaller OEMs to leave out such features.

The Pure XL will boast a 24 megapixel camera with a f/2.0 aperture, optical image stabilization, 1/2.3 inch sensor, real time HDR, dual-tone LED flash and phase detection auto-focus. One thing that we’re seeing on the Pure X is a dedicated camera button. Many others claim to care about cameras while throwing out specs and features but only Samsung and LG have risen above the crowd. Now Blu tops them all with a dedicated camera button.

Photography is advancing so rapidly that we’re getting phones that can almost make you justify putting away the point and shoot cameras. The fact that you may be able to get a phone for $350 with these kinds of specs is pretty fabulous. But the proof will be in the pudding. We’ve seen plenty of phones with beefed up specs on paper, so we’re not going to trust those numbers before recommending this camera.

And to top it off, the Blu Pure XL will be made out of a solid aluminum design. It will feature chamfered edges, an “all day” battery with quick charging, and come in gold and grey. We’ve heard plenty of phones talk about all day battery and not deliver so we’re going to have to test this one out before we give it out stamp of approval. 3,500 mAh is an impressive size for a battery but it’s also pushing a decacore processor and 6″ 2560 x 1440 screen. That’s a lot of pixels to power, even if it is an AMOLED panel which turns black pixels off to save power and to sport and impressive contrast ratio.

blu pure xl

What do you think about the Blu Pure XL? Does this take the place of the OnePlus 2 as the cheap flagship killer for 2015? Or would you rather spend more money for a name brand phone that more reliably updates their phone? Let us know in the comments what your reaction to the Blu Pure XL is.

Source: Blu

[df-gallery url=”https://www.androidguys.com/gallery/blu-pure-xl/”%5D

 

Zorloo Z:ero Digital Earphone review: Move over everyone!

Jason Botha
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2

Since earphones came out, they’ve constantly been increasing in quality, sound and price. Bluetooth earphones were the last milestone in the technology, and we haven’t seen much change since. But a company from Hong Kong, Zorloo, is set to change that with their latest offering: A set of digital earphones at a great price.

What exactly are ‘digital’ earphones? Rather than route an audio signal through an audio jack and then on up to the drivers, Zorloo’s earphones are plugged into the micro-USB port of an USB OTG-capable smartphone or tablet. This diverts the audio signals from its normal path, bypassing the phones own amp and running it through the Z:ero inline control unit, which also splits the connection to the two earbuds.

20150908_150326_HDR
This is where all the magic happens

Inside the control unit is a six layer PCB sporting a Cortex-M3 processor and a Wolfson WM8918 DAC and headphone amp, and is said to produce up to three times the output power of a regular smartphone’s audio jack. This also means that any audio processing strain is taken away from the phone.

What does all this mean? Quite simply, the quality is considerably better, arguably the best in the market. With a price tag of $39, the Z:ero earphones look set to change the market.

In the Box

For a $39 set of earphones, you get quite a decent amount of goodies. They are available in either red or gold, and come in a handy little carry pouch with:

  • 3 Sets of different sized eartips
  • A USB to micro USB converter (To use with a PC)
  • 6 month warranty slip
  • Instruction leaflet

And some Silica gel, just to top it off. I quite like the little carry pouch. It’s sturdy and just the right size to carry around.

Build and Quality

The first time you pick them up, it becomes immediately obvious that Z:ero is made out of premium materials. The eartips are cold to the touch, something that can be attributed to the Aluminium build. When placed in the ear, they are surprisingly comfortable for the straight shape they have, although I do think they could improve by having an angle to them.

Speaking of Aluminum build, I’m relieved they aren’t plastic. Very often plastic headsets break for no reason, or split in half exposing the wires, something I’m confident will not happen to Z:ero.

20150908_165040
With a length of 4.2 feet, they’re not gonna limit you

The wire also feels premium, and after a few tugs and twists at the base of the ear tips, I doubt that they’re going to come out or be damaged anytime soon. Perhaps this is in part thanks to the plastic coating around the wire, which bounces back if twisted. The only doubt I have is regarding the micro USB connection. Especially when it’s at the bottom of your phone, it may be prone to damage and the connector lacks any reinforcement. So far it is sturdy and resilient, but I’m not sold with what the long term effects may have on it.

Sound

While I’m no audio expert, I can say with certainty that Z:ero offers some of the best audio playback available today. The treble and low’s are equally good, with the bass side probably having a slight advantage. Neither were overdone, but were rather at a sweet spot. Andy Ho, the developer behind Z:ero said they optimized the control unit for pop and electronic type music, as their market is primarily focused on the youth. Luckily for him, that happens to apply to me and can honestly say that this is the best I have heard music before.

20150120003043-spec

You will still be able to hear outside noise a little bit if they aren’t playing loud (Which I do not recommend). Speaking of volume, Z:ero works a bit differently to your conventional headset as the volume up/down on the earphone works independently of your phones. This basically means that you should put your Android’s media volume on 100%, and use the provided controls on the unit.

Similary, this works across all devices. My Windows 10 laptop had no problem playing audio with the provided adapter, and provided more bass, probably due to the drivers.

20150908_153915_HDR

 

Daily Usage

I should start off here by saying that Z:ero’s are not compatible with a lot of phones. If your phone supports USB OTG (On The Go), you’ll most likely have no problem using them. Please don’t fool yourself here: They will not work with just any old phone that’s lying around in your cupboard, and most likely won’t work with a phone that doesn’t support OTG. Head over here for an incomplete list of supported phones.

Now that I’ve got that off my chest, I’d like to blow it away and carry on, but I can’t quite yet. There are several other small issues that are compromises, and there is no real fix to them.

Firstly, you obviously cannot charge your phone while using them. This is going to be a problem for some, while for people like me, it’s not really going to change anything. Secondly, they drain more battery than a conventional pair, thanks to the built in DAC unit. On my LG G4, I did not really experience any drain. Mr Ho claims that about 50mAh will be consumed, which makes up 1/60th of my battery life, or 1.67%; an amount so pathetic you shouldn’t worry about it.

And lastly, you can’t just go anywhere and plug them in a headphone jack like you would before. As someone with an iPad, I had to watch my YouTube videos with my old headset, a minor inconvenience. Zorloo is bringing out a pair with the Lightning connection for those interested, and with the USB adapter, this should soon become a non-worry.

Overall, there was not much hassle using Z:ero. Perhaps my biggest obstacle was having to find which one bud went in which ear each time. There are markings, but they’re small and impossible to see at night.

Conclusion

Z:ero offers some of the best audio playback currently available. You’d expect to pay thousands of dollars, but that is not the case at $39. The highs, bass and treble are perfected. Put together with quality hardware, Zorloo’s Z:ero earphones are the best you can get your hands on. Go get a pair now!

 

IMG_2403

 

 

 

AT&T launches first auto Wi-Fi plugin with ZTE Mobley

Scott Webster
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1

[df-subtitle]Compatible with cars from 1996 on, the device offers a mobile 4G connection[/df-subtitle]

mobley_car_wifi_ZTE

AT&T on Monday announced announced the ZTE Mobley, a mobile 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot for automobiles which connects via the OBD-II port. Designed to work with most cars from the last decade (1996+) on, it allows for up to five devices to connect at once.

Essentially, the ZTE Mobley acts as a portable hotspot in the same manner your phone would. AT&T will sell the Mobley outright for $100; however it will also be free if customers agree to a two-year service agreement.

[blockquote author=”Lixin Cheng, CEO and chairman of ZTE USA”]We worked with AT&T to define, build and deliver a product that was both useful and affordable. Collaborating with like-minded organizations in the U.S.[/blockquote]

The unit can be added to a new or existing Mobile Share Value plan for $10 per month, using data from the pooled account. Alternatively, there are Data Connect plans for $20 per month (1GB data) or $30 per month (3GB data).

 

Cheats for Minecraft Pocket Edition (app review)

Austin Hyde
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0

Cheats for Minecraft Pocket Edition isn’t what the title seems to indicate. It isn’t an app that allows cheats in Minecraft PE via the app. Instead, it’s the mobile app for the website minecraftpecheats.com. The web developer used the Mobiloud Wordpress plugin to create his app out of his web page. I wanted to mention that upfront because it’s important to judge this app based on what it is and not on what it seems to be.

Cheats for Minecraft PE overview

As I mentioned this app is simply a repacked version of their website with push notifications.  To me, this is the biggest disappointment. My opinion on mobile apps is that they should offer up a significant feature or improvement over what is available on the mobile site. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. The push notifications are the only improvement over the website, but I can get those with my favorite RSS reader.

As I mentioned earlier this is basically minecraftpecheats.com reframed into a mobile app. I feel like the rest of the review is basically a review of the site, but I’ll refer to it in the context of the app.

This is basically a Minecraft PE blog. There are articles that are broken down into categories. These articles showcase maps, seeds, world designs, guides, mods, skins, and news. The app will allow you to filter the articles, based on the aforementioned categories.

Cheats for Minecraft PE setup

Other than installing it from Google Play, there is no other setup required.

Cheats for Minecraft PE app usage

At first I didn’t like the app. I didn’t understand what the app was. I was thinking that the app would enable cheats on Minecraft PE. After all there are a few Minecraft apps that enable mods, so why not?

I soon noticed that the cards were actually articles, so I googled “Cheats for Minecraft PE” and the website popped up. As I’m looking at it, it dawns on me that it’s the same exact thing as the app.

From there I started questioning why the app was even necessary, but I realized that I would have never found the web page if I had never found the app. I imagine that the developer uses the app as a discovery tool.

While there is nothing that I can access on the app that I can’t access on the website, the app does seem to load much quicker than the website. The interface is also easier to use than on the website. However, there are plugins for WordPress that the developer can use to make the website look more like the app.

Minecraft PE Cheats ScreenShots

What we liked:

  • Easy to use interface
  • Fast loading
  • Interesting reads

What could be better:

  • Different functionality than the website

Cheats for Minecraft PE summary

Overall I found that the articles were interesting to read. The app loaded quicker than the web page and there are push notifications, but these are features found in most RSS readers. I believe that the purpose of this app has more to do with providing another avenue to discover minecraftpecheats.com, than to make it easier to read on mobile devices.

Nevertheless, if you are a Minecraft PE fan, then you will probably enjoy using this app. There is a lot of cool information in the app that fans will appreciate.

[pb-app-box pname=’com.mobiloud.android.minecraftpecheats’ name=’Minecraft PE Seeds’ theme=’discover’ lang=’en’]

Try and block those pesky ads on your Android device with Adblock Plus

Andrew Myrick
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0

Ads are annoying, we all know it, but they serve a purpose. Regardless of the purpose served, these ads cause frustration with just about everyone due to slow loading times for various websites. Plus, those pesky ads from YouTube are frustrating.

On our computers, there are a plethora of ad-blocking services and apps that we can use to speed up our experience. However, on mobile devices, the choices aren’t so clear. Today, a familiar name has released a way to block ads and speed up those websites on your devices.

Adblock Plus has released a new application that hopes to replace your browser of choice and speed everything up. The application is free, and has been in beta since May of earlier this year. There is even a Google+ community dedicated to this application.

Adblock Plus may seem like a familiar name due to its popularity for Chrome and Firefox users on the desktop. In fact, in the press release, the company states that the desktop ad blocker “has been downloaded more than 400 million times”. That is a ridiculous amount of users who can’t stand ads.

Here are some of the features that the new Adblock Plus browser brings to Android users:

  • Automatic adblocking – This is the first browser of its kind to offer users ad blocking as an integrated feature. As more users block ads on their desktop, many are finding little value in the ads served on their phones and tablets. A study by PricewaterhouseCoopers from last year found that most mobile ad clicks were accidents. Automatic ad blocking in a browser app is the crucial first step in a complete mobile ad blocking solution.
  • Fast, efficient browsing – Ads cause pages to load slower and can consume 23 percent of your battery. Loading ads also costs data, so blocking them on your mobile browser saves you on your data plan.
  • Safer browsing – Malware often hides behind ads, even on trusted networks. Blocking annoying ads reduces your risk of infection, and Adblock Plus has been recommended by Stanford University, UC Santa Barbara and the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
  • Total control – Annoying ads are always blocked, but users can encourage better ads by allowing nonintrusive ads to display. Users can change this setting at any time by simply tapping the Menu icon > Settings > Acceptable Ads.

So in an effort to bring that ad-free experience to mobile devices, Adblock Plus has a mobile browser application replacement. Based on Firefox mobile, the browser probably seems pretty familiar to you, but is different in its own way.

We haven’t put Adblock Plus through its paces yet, but if you’re in the market for a new browser, and want block those pesky ads, give Adblock Plus a try. You can grab it from the Google Play Store via the Play Store widget below.

Let us know what you think about this new browser option, and whether it’s really time-saving.

[pb-app-box pname=’org.adblockplus.browser’ name=’Adblock Browser for Android’ theme=’light’ lang=’en’]

Amazon may be gearing up for the holidays with a sub-$50 tablet

Andrew Myrick
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0

When it comes to Amazon releasing their own devices, it has been an up-hill battle. With the exception of the Echo and Kindle E-Readers, Amazon has yet to really find it’s niche in the tablet market. There was news galore surrounding the fact that Amazon has given up on the Fire Phone, and you can now find those for as low as $125 with a year of Prime still in tact.

Reports have started coming out that Amazon is gearing up to try and hit a different part of the market share. The low, low-end. These reports are stating that Amazon is planning to release a sub-$50 tablet with a 6-inch display, for the holiday season.

When it comes to sub-$100 tablets, the market is really scarce. There are those off-brand ones, but to find a good sub-$100 is next to impossible. That is, of course, if you do not include the refurbished options and such.

kindle_fire_hdx_89

 

Since this report is so early, it’s not yet known whether the new tablet from Amazon will be a part of the Fire family. However, if it is, the tablet would be half the cost of the lowest available Fire HD tablet, which also has a 6-inch display.

It will be interesting to see what Amazon does to try and force their way onto the market with another option. If they can deliver and bring a $50 tablet to the market in time for the holidays, combined with a decent performing tablet, it’ll be interesting to say the least.

Let us know what you think about Amazon’s rumored plans for a new tablet, and whether you think they should keep trying to gain market share.

Source: Wall Street Journal

Pornography app holds users hostage, demands $500 ransom

Jason Botha
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4

According to security company ZScaler, a malicious Android app disguised as a pornography viewer has been making the rounds. “Adult Player” is meant to offer viewers an adult video player, but instead turns pleasure into displeasure by taking sneaky pics with the front facing camera.

The app then holds the phone hostage and forces users to pay a $US500 ransom through PayPal. It stays persistent even if the user attempts to uninstall to, and frequently pops up over the screen, meaning it can’t be ignored.

The app is not available on the Google Play Store and can be installed from a web browser, which is poor security practice. To avoid being a victim of such ransomware, ZScaler says it is always best to download apps only from the Google Play Store, and ensuring the “Unknown Sources” option under the “Security” settings is unchecked.

This is not the first time we’ve seen apps like this. Perhaps Android M’s upgraded permission manager can prevent this. What do you think?

Source: ZScaler

 

HTC’s woes continue, removed from top 50 Taiwanese index

Matt Adams
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0

The hits keep on coming for embattled smartphone maker HTC. They’ve had a rocky year with smartphone sales down and a shakeup at the top of the company, and now they’re taking another hit. Following a downward spiral of stock prices, the Taiwanese Stock Exchange FTSE TWSE Taiwan 50 Index will remove HTC’s listing. As of September 21st, the tech giant will be replaced by a textiles company on the index. The top 50 index lists the biggest and best of Taiwanese blue chip stocks representing nearly 70% of the country’s stock market.

HTC was once on top of the Android world. They were the biggest Android OEM even making the HTC Nexus One, the first reference device from Google. They’ve gone on to work on a few more projects with Google, namely the Nexus 9 tablet, but have fallen on hard times. The HTC One M7 was lauded by critics on release for it’s beautiful design and build quality, but the inability for HTC to adjust to a changing market, and lack of compelling mid and low tier options have left HTC reeling.

HTC is rumored to be announcing two new flagships at the end of September. This may be a make or break announcement for the company.

Source: CNET

HTC will release two new flagships at September event, leaks suggest

Matt Adams
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0
HTC will release two new flagships at September event, leaks suggest

HTC has been having issues. Earlier this year the company lost so much value it was basically worthless and now they’ve been dropped from Taiwan’s top 50 index.  This was on the back back of the failure of the One M9 to attract customers and and a tepid response to their low and medium tier phones. But the once proud tech giant is looking to get back on its feet with the launch of two new flagship devices, according to a new leak.

 

HTC-event

On Twitter, upleaks, who appears to be plugged in to all things HTC, leaked a press invite pulled from HTC’s Weibo account. The invite states that on September 29th, the Taiwanese smartphone and tablet maker will release two new devices. A translation states that “double flagship new machine will be released in Hakone, Japan” on September 29th.

There’s long been rumors of a new HTC One A9 or Aero device that has yet to surface and the Butterfly line that hasn’t received a flagship update this year. These two options could go a long way to boosting sales in Asia but with the Apple iPhone, Samsung Note and S6 Edge+, Moto X line and Nexus line all releasing in the last 3 months of the year, it might be difficult for HTC to gain any momentum in 2015 here in the States.

What do we know about about the Aero (or One A9) so far? Not much. It’s been spectulated that we’ll see a 5.2″ quad-HD display with 4 gigs of ram and a 3,500 mAh battery being powered by a MediaTek chip but nothing concrete has come out yet.

Do you think HTC can rebound or are they doomed? Let us know in the comments where you see the future of the once largest Android OEM going.

source: Fonearena

Pre-orders for Nexus 5X may begin October 13th

Dan Bartram
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0

Another day, another Nexus rumor – this time it’s about when the world can finally do something to get their hands on the Nexus 5X as it’s known. That’s not just all, however, as this rumor suggests that both the LG and Huawei built Nexus 2015 devices will be available for pre-order on October 13th, 2015.

This one comes from TalkAndroid and a mysterious ‘source’ that suggests the devices will be announced at an event in San Francisco on September 29th and be available for pre-order on October 13th.

nexus 5x

The actual shipping date was not divulged, however historic Nexus devices have shipped 1-3 weeks after pre-orders went live.

[alert color=”green”]Nexus One: December 12, 2009 (confirmed); January 5, 2010 (released)

Nexus S: December 6, 2010 (announced); December 16, 2010 (released)

Galaxy Nexus: October 19, 2011 (announced); November 17, 2011 (released)

Nexus 4: October 29, 2012 (announced); November 13, 2012 (released)

Nexus 5: October 31, 2013 (announced, pre-ordering started)

Nexus 6: October 15, 2014 (announced); October 29, 2014 (pre-ordering started)[/alert]

An October 13th timeframe for pre-orders of the new Nexus devices seems legitimate, but with a sketchy unspecified source, you’ll be forced to take this one with a pinch of salt.

Source: TalkAndroid

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