Qualcomm on Monday announced two new members of the Snapdragon family of mobile processors. The Snapdragon 808 and 810 CPUs are both 64-bit, LTE-Advanced chips that use 20nm processing. Qualcomm indicates the two chipsets can support theoretical download speeds of up to 300Mbps.
The Snapdragon 808 uses a dual-A57 and quad-A53 configuration, includes Adreno 418 GPU, and supports 2K displays. The Snapdragon 810 uses a quad-core A57 and quad-core A53 configuration, includes a new Adreno 430, supports 4K video capture, and an image sensor up to 55-megapixels.
Qualcomm says the new processors will sample during the second half of 2014 with the consumer devices arriving in the first half of 2015.
As if we expected anything else, Amazon today announced its set-top box experience. Taking aim at devices such as Apple TV, Roku, and even Chromecast, the Amazon FireTV is a hardware and software solution for today’s living room. Designed for movies, TV shows, music, and even games, it’s bound to be one of the year’s most talked-about products.
Media
In terms of content, the FireTV features stuff from a variety of partners. Familiar names are present here; Hulu, Netflix, YouTube, MLB.TV, and Vimeo are some of the apps offered. Naturally, Amazon’s own Instant Video is the key player and main draw. Like we have in similar devices, the FireTV also has Pandora, iHeartRadio, and other streaming music options.
Movies and TV Shows from Netflix, Prime Instant Video, Hulu Plus, and More – Fire TV comes with instant access to all of the most popular subscription video services, including Netflix, Prime Instant Video, Hulu Plus, WatchESPN, VEVO, SHOWTIME, Crackle, YouTube, and more, with additional services like WWE Network, MLB.TV, WATCH Disney Channel, WATCH ABC, and Twitch coming soon.
Prime Instant Video, with Exclusives and Original Shows – Fire TV is seamlessly integrated with Prime Instant Video, Amazon’s subscription streaming service. With tens of thousands of movies and TV episodes, Prime Instant Video is the exclusive premium subscription streaming home for thousands of hours of video, including shows like Downton Abbey, The Americans, Workaholics, Justified, 24, Hannibal, Dora the Explorer, SpongeBob, and more. Prime Instant Video also includes shows from Amazon Studios, the original TV production arm of Amazon, such as Alpha House from Pulitzer-Prize winner Garry Trudeau and starring John Goodman, which debuted last year and quickly became the most watched show on Amazon since its release. Alpha House is now in production for its second season, and Amazon recently greenlighted six new shows, including The After, Bosch, Mozart in the Jungle, and Transparent, which will be available starting later this year.
The Largest Selection of Videos for Rent or Purchase – Rent or purchase over 200,000 movies and TV episodes from Amazon Instant Video, which has the world’s largest selection of videos to rent or buy, including new releases and blockbusters. Amazon is the only nationwide video service that offers rental and purchase, as well as a subscription streaming service, so you can find everything you want in one place—catch up on past seasons of popular TV shows with Prime Instant Video before purchasing the most recent episode of the show as it’s released.
Find the Lowest Price—Even if it’s Not from Amazon – Just like on Amazon.com, Fire TV integrates viewing options on a single page so you can always choose the lowest price. This is available starting with Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Video, and Prime Instant Video, and will expand to other content providers so you’ll see all of your options in one place.
Games
Switching gears, the Fire TV will also play host to games from players such as Sega, EA, Disney, and others. Starting next month we’ll see thousands of new games debut in the AppStore. An optional Fire Game Controller can be purchased for $39.99 and comes with 1,000 Amazon coins worth $10 in app purchases. Seeing as how the average price of a game today is only $1.85, the FireTV could become the next killer console experience. So, not only does this take a swipe at Apple and Roku but it also aims at OUYA and other products.
Price
Shipping immediately, the Amazon Fire TV is available for $99.
Casio dove into the world of smartphone connected and smart watches in 2011 with technology improving daily. While not your average smartwatch, this is a very durable Casio G-Shock with light and basic smartphone connected features. Details include alerting you by vibration and/or sound when you’re receiving a phone call, text message, email, etc. The watch comes with a companion application which can be found on the Google Play Store.
Time and Durability
Keeping track of time is the most important function of any watch. Thanks to Casio’s MobileLink, the time will auto-synchronize with your smartphone.
Like other Casio G-Shock products, durability is a huge advantage. The water resistant watch can handle the wear and tear of an active life. Featuring an LED Backlight, you can use the timer, stopwatch, world time, and alarm to help you throughout your day.
Smartphone Connectivity and Alerts
This watch can provide various alerts such as notifications to SMS messages, emails, phone calls and more from your cell to your watch. Many iPhones and Android devices are able to connect with this watch. Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy ensures the best battery life with the connection from your cell to your watch. According to Casio, the built in (replaceable) battery can last up to 2 years on average.
One feature I found particularly useful was the ability to change tracks on your music player when connected to your smartphone. When you receive a call, your watch will vibrate and display basic caller identification. As I indicated earlier, this one is mostly about alerts and enhancement of the smartphone experience. Unfortunately, even with the latest application updates, connection issues persisted.
Overview
While I wouldn’t go as far as calling this an outright “smartwatch” this product can help keep you alerted and better connected. It will add convenience to your life and extend your smartphone’s capabilities but never get in your way.
A model from the Casio G-Shock Bluetooth 4.0 series may be a good purchase if you are looking for a durable watch with water resistant properties and a bonus notification system. Check out the GBX6900B-1 available now on Amazon.
No April Fooling around, Samsung’s latest series of tablets has officially been announced. Slated to debut later this quarter, the new Galaxy Tab4 line will come in 7-inch, 8-inch, and 10.1-inch versions. Here’s a look at the threesome from a variety of angles.
Samsung, as expected, have just revealed their lineup of three new Galaxy Tab 4 products which include a 7-inch, 8-inch, and 10.1-inch size screen, all with new designs and new internals from the previous generation.
The Galaxy Tab 4 range sees a move towards slimmer bezels and squarer corners, together with a slimmer, thinner, and lighter design than the Galaxy Tab 3.
All three Galaxy Tab 4 tablets have the same 1280 x 800 WXGA resolution with a 16:10 aspect radio.
The Galaxy Tab 4 10.1 is powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core processor, 1.5GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, with a microSD card slot, 3-Megapixel rear-facing camera, a 1.3-Megapixel front-facing camera, and Bluetooth 4.0
With almost exactly the same specs, the Galaxy Tab 4 8.0, the main difference over the 10.1-inch model is the dimensions, with the 8-inch model measuring 124.0 x 210.0 x 7.95 mm and weighing 320 grams, compared to the 243.4 x 176.4 x 7.95 mm and 487 grams of the 10.1-inch model.
The Galaxy Tab 4 7.0 has the same internals as the bigger tablets, but will feature an 8GB option alongside the 16GB model.
Samsung has said the three new Galaxy Tab 4 devices will go on sale later this year in black and white, with pricing still yet to be announced.
We’ve all been there. That moment when your phone is dying and your charging cable is nowhere to be found. That moment when you want to share some photos and your parent’s have no idea what a micro-usb cable even is. Well today, you don’t have to be there any more. PlusUs has recently announced the thinnest charging/sync cable I have ever seen, the LifeLink.
Reigning in at just 1/10 of an inch thick (2 credit cards), LifeLink is an excellent solution to carrying around a cable when you need it the most. The cable is encased in a highly durable Teflon mold that protects the cable. In the middle of the cable lies a spring which allows you to bend the cable in any direction you need to. When you are not using the cable, it conveniently snaps together from its original length of 7 inches to roughly 3.5 inches.
After using the cable for about a week, I discovered how convenient it really is. I despise putting a 3ft long cable into my pocket so I can get a quick charge during the day or transferring data between my phone and office computer. Having the LifeLink has been a real plus for me and it also makes me feel good that for every LifeLink PlusUs sells, they will donate to a charity of your choice: education for children, shelter for a family, or water for a community.
The LifeLink comes in three models: Micro-USB, Lightning (current Apple devices), and 30-Pin connector (older Apple devices) which will cost roughly $24 + Shipping ($5 worldwide or $8 worldwide with tracking) for the micro-usb or an additional $2 for the Lightning model. You can also choose between either gray or a white color. The cable is currently for pre-order at LifeLink’s website and ships early 2014.
Samsung has really outdone themselves in sticking to their Galaxy line’s mantra “The Next Big Thing”
With a gorgeous 12.2 inch display this device will confuse most lay-people who witness you using it in public because, “I didn’t know they made iPads that big!”
Using the device at first is complete joy, I found myself grinning from ear to ear just in awe of the size of the thing. Aside from its weight, web browsing and reading are great. I really like the soft-touch, leather textured rubber of the back panel. On a device so big and unprecedented in the Android world, I didn’t find the TouchWiz UI to be overbearing or annoying at all, but mostly because when dealing with a totally new form-factor, it’s easy to keep an open mind.
My only real complaint about Samsung’s design choices here are the fixed capacitive buttons and home key. Although it’s nice to have the extra screen real-estate from the lack of navigation bar, the fixed buttons get in the way when holding the device in portrait mode. It feels a bit like being treated like an iOS user “You’re going to use this the way we want you to use it, and any other way is wrong.” They could redeem themselves in the next model if they added invisible navigation buttons to all four sides of the bezel and only allowing which ever side of the bezel is currently at that the bottom light up or respond to touch.
After a week or so of use, the device had lost most it’s grandeur. I all but stopped using it for pleasure and only picked it up when I had to work the go. It is the best Android-powered solution for mobile work productivity. It seems that a screen this size is the first place multi-window and split screen apps have really found a home. I am able to have Gmail and Hangouts open sharing half of the screen and Chrome working on the other half, with the small movable Swype keyboard, working was a dream, and each app had plenty of real-estate to be able appreciate all of it’s features and see all text.
I didn’t find myself reaching for the S-Pen often because Swyping is much faster for input, and for some reason the links in Chrome would tend to get confused when the S-Pen was out and stop responding to finger touches, so I was never able to get a proper taste for it.
Overall the Note Pro is great for productivity, but that’s about all. It’s fun to see apps on the bigger screen, but since displays this size aren’t common, developers haven’t yet started catering to this size. Most of the time, you’re just going to be looking at a magnified version of what you’re used to seeing on your 10.1 inch tablet.
Hardware
If you’re familiar with the 2014 Note 10.1, the hardware looks exactly the same, but larger. The top center, directly above the Samsung logo you’ll find the IR blaster, to the left are the volume rocker and power key. On the right hand side of the device the S-Pen can be removed from the top corner above the the right speaker. Then the USB 3.0 slot in the center, above a MicroSD slot and SIM slot. The bottom side is smooth and clean. The left holds only the 3.5 mm headphone jack directly opposite the S-Pen above the left speaker.
The front of the device is a black slate with the capacitive multi-tasking button to the left of the hard home key and balanced by the capacitive back button. Even thought they’re backwards, at least Samsung has taken a step in the right direction replacing the menu button with the multi-tasking key.
Software
As I said, TouchWiz doesn’t feel overbearing on this device, but mostly because you can’t be sure what to expect from such a device, so Samsung had free reign to set the bar wherever they wanted. Their stock keyboard feels great, and with the screen-size, you’ll feel like you’re actually typing on a full-sized keyboard for the first time on an Android tablet.
They didn’t try hard enough to jack up the resolution, so a icons, apps, fonts and settings all tend to feel large and toy-like. the worst offender is the notification shade in portrait mode, it takes up the entire screen like a phone.
Verizon LTE
If you read my review of the Verizon LG G Pad 8.3 LTE, you’ll recognize this, but as they are both Verizon devices, I can’t rightly publish the review without touching on the data connection!
Let’s talk about having 4G LTE on your tablet. I admit, up until I reviewed this unit, I was one of those people who preached against tablets with dedicated data lines. “Just use your phone as a hotspot!” I would say. But I have to say, having that data connection all the time has won me over. How best to do this? Numbered list!
Reasons to have a dedicated Verizon data line on your tablet
No hotspot set-up
Lower drain on your phone’s data plan (might even be able to save money by switching plans)
Lower drain on your phone’s battery
If you don’t have a Verizon phone, your tablet will get data when your phone might not.
Verizon’s LTE speeds have improved a lot (33 Mbps down 3 Mbps up)
Basically, if you’re a tablet user, and you constantly find yourself switching on your phones hotspot, but don’t use the hotspot for much else, this could be a great alternative for you.
The Note Pro is huge, but so is the price. At $750 with a 2-year activation and $850 outright, I can’t say I would recommend this device to anyone who didn’t know for a FACT it was worth the money for them, or have a very good reason why this is the tablet they need.
When you first pick the device up, before turning it on, you’ll swear it’s no bigger than any 7 inch tablet you’ve used before. Just know that your mind is playing a trick on you, or you’ll be truly surprised when you turn on the tablet and you’re greeted by the gorgeous 8.3 inch, full HD display.
Hardware
A slightly taller slate than the 7 inch tablets to which we’re accustomed, this version has the Verizon badge top center on the front balancing the LG symbol at the bottom. The device has a flap on the top under which you can find the SIM card and insert a 64 GB or lower microSD card.
Aside some the Verizon badges, the hardware is basically identical to that of the original G Pad. The software seems to be the same as well. Although it’s still on Android 4.2.2, the device has a lot to offer. My personal favorite feature from the LG G Flex, knock to wake, is present here as well. Only, on a tablet, when carrying it without a case, the screen will almost always pop on due to contact with my palm or fingers. The software is strikingly similar to that of the G Flex, only bigger. The back of the device is cool metal with a Verizon badge top center, their 4G LTE symbol 2 inches below and the LG symbol toward the bottom. The right hand side about 2 inches from the top and bottom you’ll find the stereo speakers, and one inch in from the left side all the way to the top is the 5 megapixel camera, which performs rather well for a tablet.
Software
Key things to note would be, even though there is a navigation bar, they’ve replaced the multi-tasking button with a menu key (long-pressing home summons the recent apps.) There is a very basic alternative app launcher which you can activate in the notification menu called “QSlide” through which you are able to launch movable window versions of the Calender, Video, Email, Richnote, Voice Mate, File Manager, and Calculator apps. At the top of each, you can control the opacity or elect to maximize the app. The bottom left corner allows you to change the window’s size.
Overall, the software is very well done, if it does feel a bit familiar to Samsung users. I really enjoyed how intuitive it is.
Verizon LTE
Let’s talk about having 4G LTE on your tablet. I admit, up until I reviewed this unit, I was one of those people who preached against tablets with dedicated data lines. “Just use your phone as a hotspot!” I would say. But I have to say, having that data connection all the time has won me over. How best to do this? Numbered list!
Reasons to have a dedicated Verizon data line on your tablet
No hotspot set-up
Lower drain on your phone’s data plan (might even be able to save money by switching plans)
Lower drain on your phone’s battery
If you don’t have a Verizon phone, your tablet will get data when your phone might not.
Verizon’s LTE speeds have improved a lot (33 Mbps down 3 Mbps up)
Only $99 on a 2 year contract ($299 without)
Basically, if you’re a tablet user, and you constantly find yourself switching on your phones hotspot, but don’t use the hotspot for much else, this could be a great alternative for you.
In summary, I would recommend this device to anyone who either knows they want a tablet with its own data plan, or is opened to the idea of switching over. The G Pad 8.3 is a wonderful size, and it my opinion, a size that should have been common before 7 inch displays became popular. The device is plenty quick, with a gorgeous display that makes even complex games look great, and Verizon’s 4G LTE is the icing on the cake. Highly recommend this tablet.
16/32GB internal storage with expandable storage up to 128GB
3.5mm headphone jack, microUSB port
Bluetooth 4.0, DNLA, Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac) GPS, NFC
nanoSIM
IR Blaster, Boomsound, Blinkfeed 2.0
Hardware
The HTC One (M8) will be available in Gunmetal Gray, Glacier Silver, and Amber Gold, all sporting the ever-popular metallic unibody. What’s more, is that the M8’s body is actually 90% metal, with a brushed metallic texture on the back. They’re keeping the same general look of the device with two front-facing speakers on the top and bottom of the phone, but adding on-screen navigation buttons this time around.
The battery has gone through some huge improvements, offering a 40% longer lasting battery on daily use. HTC also added an Extreme Power-Saving Mode, that can give you up to two full weeks of standby time. You can still access phone calls, text messages, and other basic functions of the phone while in this mode, but for the most part, functionality is pretty limited.
Camera
HTC added another camera on the back, dubbing it the Duo camera. It’s still the HTC UltraPixel camera that we’re used to, just with a second “depth camera”. The second camera is used to focus pictures after they’re taken and added improved focusing abilities. All you need to do is tap the photo and let it re-manage the focus for you.
They’ve also included a new camera layout, updated camera switchers, and improved speed. Slow-motion video capture has also been added, with the ability to slow down certain parts of the video after it has been taken.
A bit more on the camera interface is an updated image gallery with Image Mash, which recognizes peoples’ faces in photos and can tag them automatically.
HTC is opening up the camera API to developers to focus on depth software to see what new features others can bring to the table.
They’ve also added a simplified Zoe mode, where all the user needs to do is tap to shoot a photo and hold down the screen to take a video. Also, you’ll now be able to add personalized music to your Zoes after they’re created. And while we’re talking about Zoes, you will soon be able to upload your Zoes to the cloud to share and connect with other Zoe users. The new Zoe cloud feature will be available for Sense 6 sometime during the summer.
Software
A bit has changed with the software and Sense 6.0 with the addition of some new gesture features and Blinkfeed 2.0.
You can now personalize Sense 6.0 with custom colors, making it a more personal experience. They also included a new Motion Launch feature, allowing you to swipe into Blinkfeed and recent apps, among others. You can simply hold the phone and press the volume down key to launch into the camera, as well as double-tap the screen to get a quick view of the time. Also, you can hold the ringing phone up to your ear to answer a phone call. More on Motion Launch to follow.
Blinkfeed 2.0 brings easier readability, custom feeds, and developer support. There are some new partners announced with Blinkfeed, including 4square and FitBit, integrating their services more fluently.
They’ve worked on improving the speakers this time around, adding a multi-band amplifier, resulting in clearer audio that is 25% louder than the original HTC One. We’re happy to see Boomsound made it to the phone, and that it will continue the great audio experience that we love about HTC products.
HTC has also added Sense and Blinkfeed to the Google Play Store in order for users to receive faster updates.
Accessories
They’ve also outed an official accessory for the New One – the HTC Dot View case. The case is a flip cover that displays weather information and the time on the front of the case, in a beautiful dot-matrix pattern. Double tap your phone to get information sent to the case, and view calling information instantly. And they will be available to order with your new phone later today.
Availability
At 1PM Eastern, you can order the phone from Sprint, Verizon, and AT&T online, or from HTC’s Official site. For the Verizon customers out there, the phone will be available today in-store and for a limited time, if you purchase one on a two-year contract, you can get a second one for free! It will be available on-contract for $199 or $249, while the unlocked and developer versions are a hefty $649. You can also pick up a Google Play Edition for $699 from the Google Play Store later today.
T-Mobile will have the M8 available in-store and online on 4/11/14. They’re selling it for $0 down and $26.50/month.
Sprint and AT&T should have the phone in-stock before April 10th, but still be on the lookout for more carrier availability to follow in the coming weeks.
I should preface this review by saying, up until now, the biggest phone I’ve used on a daily basis is a Galaxy S 4 with an Otterbox defender case. But since that didn’t bother me one bit, I didn’t dream something this size would throw me for a loop the way this has. Coming from the Blu Life Pure mini which has a 4.5 inch display, it was an even bigger shock.
First thoughts
*HOLY CRAP that thing is huge* *Wait a minute, why is it curved again?* *How do I turn this thing on?*
The phone is, in my honest opinion, too big to be manageable with one hand. But in LG’s defense, they made the device about as small as they could with a screen that size. The quality of the display is lacking, it has a grainy rainbow quality, the likes of which you might see when oil smears on the display.
Hardware
The front is plain with a singular LG badge at the bottom center. There are no buttons on the sides, top or bottom, but the SIM tray is found on the upper left hand side of the device, the microUSB port in the bottom center and 3.5 mm headphone jack directly to its right. Aside from the curved display, the most interesting thing about this device is on the rear. Top center you’ll find the extremely poor performing 13 megapixel camera stacked above the volume up, power/sleep, and volume down keys. The device’s IR blaster is located to the left of the sensor and the LED flash to the right. All hovering over another LG badge. Lastly, at the bottom center, the T-Mobile symbol to the left of the speaker.
Although the display is large, the curved nature does make one-handed use seem a bit easier than the alternative, as you don’t have to reach your thumb quite as far to the top opposite corner. Also due to the curvature, holding the device to your face isn’t as daunting as you would expect from something so large as it seems to cup your cheek much like the banana “phone” you used to answer when your little niece handed it to you ringing.
There are some definite issues with the build style, though. First, the combination of the slick “self-healing” plastic back and the curve makes it so this device will slide off of any uneven surface, so don’t even think about setting it on your lap while driving.
There’s a certain charm to not having any buttons on the sides on the device, but I just can’t get used the the buttons near the camera, I constantly find myself smudging up the lens while trying to elevate the volume.
The obvious draws about the device are the curve and the large display, but aside from the great size, the display is really nothing to write home about, and when you’re in sunlight, the screen makes an odd silver glare which I can only compare to that of looking at a 3D display from an odd angle. But I think these are issues which will be solved with time.
The size is great for YouTube and Neflix, no problems with volume at all, but it’s nigh impossible to utilize the device one-handed while laying down. I found myself trying to smush it against the couch or bed to keep it propped up, and always had issues with my palm hitting things on the screen when I stretch out my thumb.
At the time of writing this review the device is still running Android 4.2.2. Let’s start with knock to wake. Simply tap twice on the screen while it’s asleep to turn it on. This being the first device I’ve used which supported this feature, I will really be sad to lose it. The launcher is practically identical to Samsung’s TouchWiz, the “Apps” button is far right, the weather widget is very similar and the Google search widget is the exact same, even in it’s stock arrangement in the middle of the screen beneath the clock/weather widget. The most notable feature of the launcher will appeal to the neat-freak in you, the ability to create folders within the app drawer.
My only complaint to LG about the software is the fact that, even though the device has on-screen buttons like a Nexus, they saw fit to replace the multi-tasking button with a menu key. To access the task switcher, like most devices with hardware keys, you must long-press the home button. To add insult to that injury, there’s a way to change the order of the buttons and add new ones, but still no multi-tasking button, the only new buttons are “Launch quick memo” and “Pull notification panel down”
However there are a plethora of customization options, from per app color for the nav-bar, down to the ability to swipe the buttons to squish them to the left or right to facilitate one-handed operation.
Overall it feels like another solid, smooth Samsung LG device. Although the technology behind the display wasn’t ready for this high a profile release, and, in my opinion the curve doesn’t serve enough of a purpose to be attractive, this device performs admirably and as long as you aren’t off-put by the form-factor, size and display quality, it will serve you well.
