Sony Xperia Z Ultra Review

SCREEN IF YOU WANT TO GO LARGER

The Z Ultra's screen will pamper your eyeballs with 6.4 massive inches of full HD loveliness. Like an overzealous Furby, it'll demand attention the second you turn it on, and you'll be more than happy to oblige.

Despite having a lower ppi count than smaller 5 in 1080p smartphones, it still crams in more pixels per inch than the iPhone 5s. E-books and website articles are sharp and easy to read, and the sheer size of the screen means you can browse the full-fat internet without ever having to tap around with zooming in and out.

HD videos and games look stunning too, and colours remain punchy and vivid without being too over-saturated and unrealistic.

Viewing angles are also miles better than the Xperia Z and Z1's displays, which both appear washed out the minute you tilt them even slightly. Blacks are also very decent for a non-AMOLED screen.

There are however, one or two niggles. The Z Ultra's display isn't quite bright enough for our tastes. Even at full brightness, we're left craving some extra lumens, and you might struggle to use it in very bright sunlight.

The second issue we've found with the screen is that the whites are a bit creamy.

You'll only really notice it when comparing it to the Dazz-like whites of phones such as the iPhone 5s and LG G2, so stay clear of any comparisons and let your brain strategically forget all about white levels. Ignorance is bliss.

Those two problems aside, the sheer size of the Z Ultra's screen, coupled with its sharpness and excellent colours, will make you very happy indeed.

Is the display good enough to fill the role of a primary small tablet? Absolutely.

A PHONE SO LARGE IT'S GOT ITS OWN GRAVITATIONAL PULL

The Z Ultra is Big. Seriously Big. It'll fill your pockets with total disregard for anything else, and it'll make you the centre of attention (in a bad way) the minute you hold it to your face for a phone call.

People will laugh. Babies will cry. Your friends will cross the street, denying they've ever seen you before. Stick to taking calls through a headphone's in-line mic. It's for your own good.

It's not all bad, though. Big it might be, but our pockets still swallow up the Z Ultra with relative ease, thanks to its wafer-thin 6.5mm thickness. That's more than a millimetre thinner than the size-zero iPhone 5s, which is impressive in its own right.

AS FOR ONE-HANDED USE...

Let's put it this way: if your name is Shaquille O'Neal then congratulations, there's a good chance you're a very rich retired basketball player with a gargantuan 12in hand span. Your fingers will happily tap dance all over the Z Ultra's 6.4in screen like Michael Flatley on Ireland's street cred.

If you're not Mr O'Neal then we're afraid to say that this is definitely a two-handed device.

Sure, you can try delicately balancing it while texting, but do you really want your gorgeous glass-clad gadget bumping nasties with a rough concrete pavement? The answer, of course, is no. No you don't.

POWER (IT LIFTS)

The Z Ultra costs around the same as quad-core tablets such as the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1, and it's looking to kill two birds with one stone by being the only portable device you'll ever need.

Those two factors demand power – and plenty of it – to justify the price tag and do-it-all purpose, and we're happy to report that the Z Ultra delivers.

Its quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor and 2GB of RAM innards burn through apps and 3D gaming like napalm through paper, while Android 4.3 runs as fluidly as we've seen it.

It's all we could want from a tablet/smartphone hybrid - you will not be disappointed.

Sony Xperia Z Ultra tech specs

~Operating system - Android 4.3
~Processor - 2.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad core
~RAM - 2GB
~Screen - 6.4in TFT with 1920x1080 resolution (342ppi)
~Camera - 8MP front, 2MP rear
~Storage - 16GB (microSD expandable by up to 64GB)
~Connectivity - Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0
~Battery - 3050mAh
~Dimensions/weight - 179x92x6.5mm/212g

IT'S GOT THE BRAINS, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE LOOKS?

Relax; if you spring for the Z Ultra then you're getting beauty as well as brawn.

At first glance you'll think someone took a rolling pin to an Xperia Z. If you know what an Xperia Z looks like, then you'll realise this is a compliment.

CHECK OUT OUR FULL SONY XPERIA Z ULTRA GALLERY HERE

Slathered in glass on both sides with a pleasantly solid power button on the side, the Xperia Z Ultra is a commanding slice of solid tech that oozes premium class.

It'll happily join you in the bath, too, if that's your thing, thanks to its covered microSD, microSIM and microUSB slots, which give it the power to take a dip in up to 1m of water for 30 mins – a feature that very few smartphones or tablets can match.

The only complaint we have is that the black finish is a fingerprint magnet, but keep it as polished as grandma's silverware and you'll soon bathe in the oohs and aahs of admirers. Once they've stopped mocking its size, that is. Damn them.

A CAMERA ONLY A MOTHER COULD LOVE

Oh dear, this isn't good.

If you're out in bright sunlight the 8MP snapper does a decent job, but anything else (even everyday indoor conditions) and you'll be laughing. Or crying. Or crying with laughter. Either way, you won't be happy.

Not only that, but there's no flash. No LED, no Xenon, no nothing.

It goes without saying, then, that low-light performance is pretty much non-existent.

But for once that might not be a massive deal breaker. The Z Ultra is big enough to be classified as a mini tablet after all, and we all know the rules about people who take photos with tablets, don't we? That's right - they should be clipped around the ear and sent to bed with no supper.

And yet.... the Z Ultra is also a smartphone (albeit one with a growth hormone problem) and that means it's likely to often be the only camera you've got on you on a night out, and it'll be a guaranteed let down on the following morning you go to look at all the fun you thought you'd captured the fuzzy night before.

ANDROID TWEAKS

The Xperia Z Ultra isn't running Android 4.4 KitKat, which is a big shame given that it’s been available for a rather long time now.

Still, Android 4.3 is no slouch, and we're fans of the minimalist tweaking that Sony approaches its UI with.

While there's very little of the stock Android experience left, Sony hasn't plastered the Z Ultra with the cartoon-like icons of Samsung and LG, and for that we're very grateful.

That's not to say that there isn't any Sony bloatware installed, and while some of it, such as PlayStation Mobile, is useful, it would be nice to strip away any pre-installed apps that you don't really want.

VERDICT

The Xperia Z Ultra is a sleek, well-built super-phablet that blends together power, a premium build and a superb display to create a device that really can act as both a small tablet and smartphone.

Once you get used to its huge size (and learn to not answer calls without a headset), you'll find that it largely offers the best of both worlds.

Its camera lets it down, though, and while we suspect that many people in the market for a device this size don't rate the snapper as the highest priority, it's still a flaw that can't be ignored.

And that's the primary reason for the Z Ultra missing out on a 5-star rating. Feel free to restore the fifth star (in your mind, rather than by hacking our website) if you couldn't give a hoot about the camera, but still make sure you also take a peek at our Samsung Galaxy Note 3 review before taking the plunge. To our minds that's still the phablet to beat.

SmartBand from Sony - the innovative fitness and lifestyle wristband

“At CES 2014, I introduced SmartWear Experience as representing emotion as well as motion – moving, and being moved” said Kunimasa Suzuki, President and CEO, Sony Mobile Communications. “Now we can reveal exactly what this means, as we bring our first products to market this spring – SmartBand and its innovative core extend beyond fitness tracking, to add colourful, fun entertainment experiences to users’ lives. Entertainment is a part of Sony’s ethos – it’s our culture.”

SmartWear Experience is a new user experience that makes life more fun and entertaining. It is built around three key pillars – “Lifelogging”, “Wearing Smart” and “Life tools”.

Lifelog application – Communication and entertainment, staying on top of the things that matter to you

Sony’s innovative new Lifelog application binds the SmartWear Experience together, enabling you to discover your past, enjoy your present and helping inspire your future. Together with SmartBand, the Android app enables you to effortlessly capture life and entertainment – places visited, music listened to, games played, books read – and presents it a beautifully visual interface.

You can see how active you were, where you went, what pictures you took and how you have been communicating with your world. Lifelog will also help you set activity goals, monitor your progress and make recommendations to help inform future decisions.

Connection to SmartBand and the core is effortless – a simple “one-touch” to pair via NFC or Bluetooth®, the sign-in using a Sony Entertainment Network account.

Flexible style – Technology you can wear your way, and use your way too

SmartBand’s core module is a 24/7 wearable device; fully waterproof (rated IP582) despite its exposed Micro-USB port. It’s light, unobtrusive and the independent core means it can be carried or worn as you wish, to fit your lifestyle.

Initially available in Black, a variety of vibrant colour styles will be available after launch – including a special limited edition to celebrate the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Life tools – Smart, subtle, intuitive notifications

The wearable technology in SmartBand SWR10 talks to Lifelog app and your Android smartphone via Bluetooth® and NFC. When out of range (up to 10m) from the smartphone, a vibrating alert will prompt you to let you know. SmartBand will also measure your sleep cycle, to wake up you at the optimum time. And, once calls, messages, Likes or tweets are received, SmartBand will vibrate to notify.
It can also be used to play, pause and skip tracks in WALKMAN app by pressing the button, and tapping the band.

Open hardware and software ecosystem – matching external creativity with in-house prowess

SmartWear Experience is built on open principles and Sony is engaging with creatives from across the fashion, design and developer spectrum to broaden the range of experiences and offer consumers more choice – more details will follow in the coming months.

SmartBand SWR10 and Lifelog application will be available worldwide from March 2014.

Samsung Gear Fit: Smartwatch Review

The Samsung Gear Fit is not just a fitness tracker, or a smartwatch — it's both. The device, which costs about $200, combines smartwatch features, such as call and alarm notifications, with the functions of a more traditional fitness tracker, such as the ability to track daily steps and calories burned. It even includes a heart rate monitor that works when you're at rest or exercising. But is this hybrid better                                                                                       than a normal tracker? I tested the device to find out.

Design/Comfort

The Gear Fit stands out among smartwatches for its design. It has a sleek, slightly curved, rectangular screen that's big enough to read, without feeling bulky. An adjustable strap lets you fit the device snugly on your wrist. A single button will turn the display on and off, but the screen will also light up when you twist your wrist to look at the display, so you can see the screen even if your hands are full.

Since it is a smartwatch, wearing the device is like having a minicomputer or smartphone on your wrist. The display is colorful, and you can view different icons by swiping the screen. You can also pick from more than a dozen wallpapers to use as the screen background, so it's easy to color-coordinate the smartwatch with your outfit, if you're so inclined. (The wristband also comes in three colors: black, orange or grey.)

Features on the device include a timer, stopwatch and pedometer. It also provides a way to track your sleep and exercise (including walking, running, cycling or hiking), and check your heart rate. (The Gear Fit does not continuously track your heart rate, except during exercise sessions.) You can view most of your data on the Gear Fit itself. For example, selecting the pedometer icon shows you how many steps you walked; you can see a history of your daily steps over the last week, too.

You can also set the device to receive notifications, including alerts of incoming calls, emails or alarms. The watch will sync wirelessly with your phone, though it only works with Samsung phones.

User-friendliness

Using the smartwtach itself is fairly straightforward, but I encountered a number of frustrating moments while setting up the device and working with the accompanying apps.

First, if you use the smartwatch with a phone as old as or older than the Galaxy S4, you'll have to install not only an app to manage the device (the Gear Fit Manager), but also a separate app to view your data (the Fitness with Gear app). I didn't realize at first that I needed to take this extra step. If you have a Galaxy S5 phone, you can use the watch with the S Health app, which comes installed. Regardless of the version of your phone, you'll have to create a Samsung account. (Note: The Galaxy S4 does have an older version of the S Health app, but for some reason, you are not prompted to pair the Gear Fit with this app.)

The Fitness with Gear app had some bugs. At first, I could not see the details of my data because the app told me I needed to "sync with my Samsung account," even though I'd already done that. No further instructions were provided. Eventually, I was able to see these details, which included information like my total average steps and a monthly history of my activity. But the app would occasionally give me error messages, and I'd just have to try again later.

The S Health app is much nicer and does not have the same bugs. But it's still not particularly user-friendly. For one, it does not automatically sync with the pedometer on your Gear Fit. Instead, it uses the phone's built-in pedometer. To sync with your Gear Fit's pedometer, you have to select Pedometer in the S Health app, then the three-dots menu button, then select "Phone data to view" and then choose the Gear Fit device. This is not particularly intuitive.

The Galaxy S5 phone has a way to check your heart rate as well, and every time you open the Heart Rate section on the S Health app, it prompts you to place your finger on the phone's heart rate sensor. If you're interested in viewing the heart rate information you collect with the Gear Fit, you'll want to look at the heart rate Log section of the S Health app. Also, the Exercise section of the S Health app keeps a log of the calories you burn in a workout, and your average heart rate, but not your steps.

Although the older Fitness with Gear app has a section to view details about your sleep data, the newer S Health app does not. So if you track your sleep with your Gear Fit, you'll only be able to view the data on the Gear Fit device itself, unless you download a separate app called S Health Sleep. Three apps for one tracker (Gear Fit Manager, S Health and S Health Sleep) seems a bit much.

Finally, although the Gear Fit device has a pedometer, it does not start counting your steps until you hit the Start icon on the device. Once you do, it will always count your steps, unless you hit Pause on the pedometer.

Value of Information

The Coach section of the S Health app on the Galaxy S5 provides some information to put the data you're tracking into context. In this area, you can perform an assessment of your exercise, food and sleep habits, as well as your stress level and weight. For example, if the assessment finds that you are not exercising very often, Coach will suggest that you increase the number of times you exercise a week, also offering specific "missions" that you can carry out to accomplish your goal, such as taking a speedy, 20-minute walk twice a week or upping your steps to 10,000 per day.

Information from the workouts you track with Gear Fit or the Galaxy S5 itself will automatically go toward completing these missions/exercise goals, or you can simply tell Coach that you completed a goal that day.

If you're interested in improving your sleep, Coach will suggest tips such as "dim your lights two hours before bedtime to create a soothing environment that promotes sleep." It also explains that light before bedtime "keeps your brain active." However, the device does not actually use the information from your Gear Fit to see how well you've been sleeping. On the Gear Fit itself, you can track your total sleep time and "motionless sleep," but as previously mentioned, this data does not sync with the S Health app (only with a separate app).

Although both the Gear Fit and Galaxy S5 measure heart rate, neither device explains why knowing your heart rate is useful (such as how you could use it to improve your exercise habits).

Finally, if you have an older phone and are using the Fitness with Gear app, you don't get the information from Coach, so you're left with a bunch of numbers (your daily steps, time spent asleep, etc.) and no context for them.

Enjoyment/Inspiration

The design of the smartwatch itself, including the colorful screen and interactivity, made me want to wear it every day — to use it as a watch, if for no other reason.

The tips from the Coach section of S Health app and the ability to track progress toward my goals provided some motivation to keep using the device. If you complete all five assessments in Coach (exercise, food, sleep, stress and weight), you'll get an overall "lifestyle score" (out of 100), providing a ballpark measure of your health.

However, unlike some other fitness trackers, the Gear Fit and S Health app don't provide you with motivational messages or tell you when you're close to completing your goals.

Conclusion:

The pros of the Gear Fit include its sleek design and interactive display, the ability to receive notifications, and the inclusion of a "coach" in some versions of the tracker app that provides tips on how to live a healthy lifestyle.

The cons of the Gear Fit include the need for multiple apps to manage the device and view data, bugs in the app used on older versions of the Galaxy phone, and a lack of motivational messages.

Sony Xperia M2 Review: A good-looking mid-range smartphone

Sony is focusing on consolidating its mid-range line-up with the launch of the Xperia T2 Ultra and the Xperia M2 Dual. While the former targets consumers who prefer big-screen displays, the Xperia M2 sports a more standard smartphone form factor and embodies the same premium design seen in Sony's high-end smartphones. But is Xperia M2 one of the best mid-range phones? We find out in our review.

Build & Design

Sony Xperia M2 features the same understated OmniBalance design that we've seen in Sony's other Xperia phones, including the Z, Z1, Z1 Compact and Z Ultra. To be honest, we're a bit tired of seeing the same design. Having said that, there's no doubt that the Xperia M2 exudes a premium feel and looks better than most phones in the same price segment. But this phone is not water and dust resistant unlike Sony's premium devices.

Also, unlike Sony's high-end phones that sport an aluminium frame, Xperia M2 features a light-weight plastic frame (to cut costs) and has a glass panel at its back. It looks very similar to Xperia Z1 and Z1 Compact. The phone weighs 148gram and has a thickness of 8.6mm.

The front of the phone features a 4.8-inch display, with the front camera lens, sensors and notification LED placed above it along with the Sony branding. There's a thin LED strip below the display that lights up in select situations.

The right edge features a round aluminium power/screen-lock button towards the middle, along with the volume rocker and camera keys, both made of plastic. The location of the power/screen lock key makes it convenient to lock and unlock the phone but the other keys are too thin and flimsy for our liking. These keys offer just average tactile feedback. Above the power button, there's a plastic flap that hides the two micro-sim card slots.

Thankfully, the slots don't feature the flimsy sim-card trays we've seen in a number of Xperia phones, and instead feature a push mechanism.

The left edge features the micro-USB port and a flap that covers the microSD card slot. The phone's speaker grill is located at the bottom edge, while the 3.5mm headset jack sits at the top.

The back sports a shiny glass panel which is susceptible to smudges and scratches. You can perhaps install a scratch guard even at the back if you want to avoid scratches. The back features an 8MP camera lens along with an LED flash, and some minimalist Sony branding.

Overall, the Xperia M2 offers the classy, understated look seen in Sony's high-end phones, in a comparatively compact and light-weight form factor.

Display

Sony Xperia M2 features a 4.8-inch TFT display (540x960p, 229ppi pixel density). We wish Sony would have included a 720p display but the optimum brightness levels and vivid colours offset the poor display resolution to some extent.

The display offers good viewing angles and decent sunlight legibility. Text and graphics look nice, but not as sharp and crisp as they do on 720p displays. The display is also prone to smudges and gets soiled easily.

User Interface

Sony Xperia M2 ships with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, an old version of the operating system. It's not known if the phone will get updated to Android 4.4 KitKat in the near future. Sony has skinned the operating system with its own Xperia UI. The UI skin, which we've seen on other Xperia phones, including Xperia Z1 and Z1 Compact, is not heavy and doesn't hog on system resources.

The UI elements, including the notifications tray, app launcher and settings menu have been skinned and look good. The transition effects visible during launching and minimising apps are also pleasant to look at. Xperia M2 features Sony's Xperia keyboard which offers a fast typing experience and even offers a Swype-like mode for entering words by sliding fingers across keys.

Sony has also added its own apps for music, videos and gallery which it calls Walkman, Movies and Album. The Indian edition of the phone also comes with additional content stores, Sony Music and Sony Liv, for downloading music and streaming TV shows.

Sony also includes several other pre-loaded apps including BIGFlix (Indian movie streaming service), Box (cloud storage), File Commander (file manager), McAfee Security, Pixlr Express (a photo editing app), Sketch (sketching app), Wisepilot (navigation app) and X4 Video Player (to play four videos simultaneously). We didn't find all the apps useful and feel Sony should reduce the number of pre-loaded apps.


The app switcher button also gives access to small apps, which can float on top of other running apps. The phone ships with some small apps,including a browser, notes app, timer, calculator and voice recorder. One can download additional small apps from the Play Store, or even turn a widget into a small app. While small apps are useful on large screens, they make the screen look crowded on smaller phones. It's good that Sony still offers an option to users.

We've found Sony's UI skin less intrusive and well-balanced. It's among our favourite Android skins.

Camera

Unlike high-end Xperia phones that feature large sensors, Sony Xperia M2 comes with a modest 8MP rear camera which has an 'Exmor RS for mobile' image sensor and a VGA front-facing camera.

The Camera App

The Camera app offers a plethora of settings in addition to Sony's Superior Auto mode that chooses the best settings as per the ambient light and takes photos in 5MP. We recommend the Superior auto mode for taking pictures unless you want to control granular settings. In that case, you can use the Manual mode.

You also get different scene options and the ability to switch the resolution of the pictures. Scene modes also include night mode, anti-motion blur, high sensitivity and backlight correction HDR, among others.

The other modes that the app offers include Timeshift burst, Sweep Panorama, AR Effect, Portrait retouch, Social Live and Picture Effect.

The quality of pictures taken outdoors in adequate light was good with accurate colour reproduction and decent contrast. However, pictures shot indoor in artificial light were grainy and lacked detail. Pictures captured in low-light conditions looked good thanks to the processing that removes noise (along with details).

 

As with Sony's other phones, we noticed that sometimes the images looked over-processed.

We also noticed that the camera takes a lot of time to process images in the Superior auto mode while capturing images in low light conditions and if you're not patient, you'll get blurred images.

The camera is capable of recording 1080p videos and does a decent job in good ambient light conditions.

The phone's front camera disappoints. In the selfie age, Xperia M2 offers a VGA sensor that takes average quality images.

Overall, the phone's camera is not as good as Sony's other Xperia phones but is better than some of the other phones in the segment.

Performance

Sony Xperia M2 is powered by a 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 (MSM8226) quad core processor with Adreno 305 graphics processor and 1GB RAM. It's essentially the same hardware that powers Motorola's Moto G.

The phone comes with 8GB internal storage out of which 5GB is available to the user. Storing multimedia content is not an issue since the phone supports microSD cards.

We did not notice any lag whatsoever while navigating through the phone's menu, launching apps and switching between them.

In synthetic benchmarks, the phone lags behind the Moto G by a small margin and the Xolo Q1100 by a considerable one. The phone scored 17,250 in Antutu, 8122 in Quadrant and 59.9 in Nenamark 2 benchmark tests. But we'd not recommend a phone based solely on benchmarks as real world performance is different at times.

In terms of multimedia, the phone comes with FM radio, but doesn't offer recording capability. The phone's built-in speaker offers decent sound output and it offers Clear Phase and xLoud settings for enhanced sound quality and loudness.

The default video player supports a large number of multimedia file formats and full-HD videos.

We did not encounter problems while making calls and any other issues while using two sim cards. We were satisfied with the phone's network reception. Voice clarity and loudness levels were also up to the mark. The phone comes with GPS for navigation and maps and was easily able to lock a signal.

Xperia M2 also comes with NFC connectivity to initiate file transfers to other NFC-enabled phones and receive data from NFC tags. It works as promised.

The phone comes with a 2300mAh battery with a claimed standby time of up to 597 hours and talk time of up to 14 hours and 36 minutes on 3G. With moderate to high usage, including about one to two hours of making calls, playing games, clicking some pictures, listening to music and browsing the web, the Xperia M2 will easily last you a full working day, even if you put the screen brightness at the highest level and keep 3G turned on.

You can boost the battery backup by using Sony's Stamina mode that shuts down battery-draining apps and data transfer when the screen is turned off and starts them again when it is turned on.

Gaming

We were able to play games like Temple Run 2 and Subway Surfers without any hiccups. Even while playing graphics-intensive games like Riptide GP2 and Asphalt 8 (with Visual Quality set to high and Engine at 100%), we did not encounter any stutter or frame drops. The hone does get heated up a little during extended gaming sessions.

Verdict

At a price of Rs 21,990, Sony Xperia M2 may be a good option if you're primarily hunting for a phone that looks premium and comes from a well-recognized, global brand. However, if looks are not that important, we'd suggest going for Motorola's Moto G or Xolo's Q1100. Both the phones offer better displays and almost the same (or even slightly better) performance.

If you can spend a little more, do take a look at the Moto X. For users who prefer an even larger screen, the Samsung Galaxy Grand 2 can be another option.

But in itself, and for the Sony loyalists, Xperia M2 is a fairly dependable option.

APPLE IOS IPHONE 6 MOBILE iOS 8 Concept Video: Intelligent iOS for a Big iPhone 6

In a month we will see what Apple has in store for iOS 8, but a new iOS 8 concept shows a gesture and motion sensing update that could deliver a better iPhone experience and could help make an iPhone 6 with a larger screen easier to use with one hand.

iOS 8 is the name for Apple’s next version of the popular iOS software for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. The company plans to announce the future of iOS at WWDC 204 on June 2nd in San Francisco, which is where we expect to see the first look at iOS 8.

We don’t expect to see a new iPhone 6 at WWDC 2014, but some iOS 8 features could hint that Apple is planning a larger iPhone 6 for the fall. Multiple iPhone 6 rumors claim that the device will feature a 4.7-inch display and that Apple is working on a larger iPhone 6 with a 5.5-inch display that will require two-hand use.

A new version of iOS 8 may include gestures and smart actions that allow users to easily unlock and turn an iPhone 6 on without hunting for a power button. The HTC One M8 is a very tall phone, but users don’t need to touch the power button to turn it on because it combines motion and gestures to turn the display on, open up to certain apps and to access a voice assistant.

iOS 8 Concept Video

A new iOS 8 concept from Jiang Hongming shows a more intelligent iOS 8 that could make using an iPhone 6 with a larger screen easier to do with one hand. Hongming describes his Smart Gesture version of iOS 8 as more efficient for the user, better for the home button which can wear out after extended use and better for battery life because it can intelligently turn the display off.
The video above shows off some of these features that could make an iPhone 6 running iOS 8 easier to use. Below are five potential iOS 8 features from this concept that would deliver a more intelligent version of iOS thanks to the M7 motion chip in the iPhone 5s. Apple is reportedly planning an Apple A8 processor for the iPhone 6, that will very likely include an updated version of this chip that can track motion.

Auto Wake from Pocket

When you take the iPhone 6 out of your pocket iOS 8 will realize this using sensors in the phone and automatically turn the display on. Many Android phones can detect when they are in a pocket and the Moto X can wake up when you remove the phone from your pocket and show a lock screen with notifications. It would make sense to show the iOS 8 lock screen when you pull an iPhone 5s or iPhone 6 out of your pocket so that you could see the time and use the other features in this concept.

Auto Sleep

When you place the iPhone down on a table or a desk, the screen stays on for a certain amount of time. Instead of a user pressing the power button, this iOS 8 concept recognizes that the phone is now sitting and not in use and turns the display off.

Shake to Open Messages                                                                                      

                                           When you want to get to the iMessage app or other messaging apps you can shake the iPhone and this version of iOS 8 will automatically pull up Messages and another shake side-to-side shows other messaging apps.

Auto Camera Open

This iOS 8 concept includes a few interesting auto open options for the camera, photos and to auto play a video. In the video these are not well defined as to what would trigger each, but at the very least it would be great to see Apple offer a fast access to camera option that allows a user to lift the iPhone 6 to landscape mode and press a volume button to open the camera app, even if the screen is off.

Lock Screen Gestures

The iOS 7 lock screen is not that useful. It can show missed notifications and allow you to swipe to go to that notification, but many times users are opening the iPhone to go to a specific app. This iOS 8 concept uses something we see on the HTC One M8 right now to swipe to open an app.

This new iOS 8 concept combines gestures and motion for a more intelligent iPhone experience.

A swipe to the left opens Safari, a swipe down opens Photos and there are other gestures to open settings, clock, calculator and more. This small addition could make the iOS 8 lock screen much more useful.

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Brand New " Galaxy 5 "

Galaxy S5: Samsung finally delivers the ideal Android phone (review)

Left : The Galaxy S5 is truly water resistant. Don't try this with your smartphone.

Image Credit : Devindra Hardawar/VentureBeat

I dropped Samsung’s Galaxy S5 in a glass of water as soon as I got it. Not out of malice or clumsiness. I was just eager to test the water-resistant case.

And, yes, it emerged from the glass of water just fine.

The Galaxy S5 may look a lot like last year’s S4, but it represents a completely different Samsung — one that can actually dial down the hype and focus on features you’d actually want.

The Galaxy S5′s water- and dust-resistant case allows it to survive simple spills. It can even withstand a drop in the toilet. It also features the best Android phone camera I’ve ever seen, something that could be enough to entice buyers on its own.


There are fewer useless apps, questionable features, and cutesy sound effects this time around, all of which plagued the Galaxy S3 and S4. And Samsung has even refined its Android skin, so it no longer detracts from Android’s recent visual refinements.


Mostly, the Galaxy S5 shows that Samsung has learned from its (many) past mistakes. It’s a sign that Samsung might actually be able to innovate in future products rather than just follow industry leaders.


By taking a step back, Samsung has crafted one of the best Android phones today. And perhaps most surprisingly, it’s a Galaxy phone I’d actually want to use.

The good: A slew of features you actually want

In my review of the Galaxy S4 last year, I wrote that Samsung desperately needed some taste. With the Galaxy S5, it seems the company has finally discovered the secret to being tasteful — at least in terms of the features it’s offering.

Samsung is no longer trying to attract users with gimmicks like the eye-tracking feature from past Galaxy S phones (which kept the screen from dimming if you were reading something). Now it has features that people actually want, like the aforementioned water protection and vastly improved camera.

Samsung isn’t the first Android smartphone maker to offer a water-resistant case, but it’s the first company to do so for a product with huge mainstream appeal.

The Galaxy S5 sports the same faux-leather case as the Note 3, as well as the chrome-like trim around the edges. Samsung was a bit more playful with the S5′s color options though; the new blue case is the most eye-catching Galaxy cover yet.

Above: Samsung’s Galaxy S5
Image Credit: Devindra Hardawar/VentureBeat

Though it still has a plastic case, the S5′s new backing gives it a slightly warmer feel than its predecessor. It was also less slippery than the glossy plastic case Samsung used last year. The phone’s rear case is also removable, like previous models, allowing you to replace the battery and insert an SD card for additional storage.

The S5′s 5.1-inch screen is another standout. It’s bright and colorful, and it makes just about everything look great. The phone’s OLED screen feels more natural than Samsung’s past screens, which tended to oversaturate colors.

Like the new HTC One, and just about every smartphone coming out these days, the Galaxy S5 is packed with a blazing fast mobile processor (a 2.5GHz Snapdragon 801 chip). The phone definitely felt speedy, but it wasn’t noticeably faster than last year’s Galaxy S4. Apps and games loaded quickly, and the S5 didn’t break a sweat as I juggled multiple apps.

A truly great Android camera

While Samsung and every other Android phone maker have strived to deliver cameras as good as the one aboard Apple’s latest iPhone and Nokia’s PureView camera, few have succeeded. This time around, Samsung may have finally crafted the first truly great Android camera.

Last year, Samsung delivered a pretty solid camera in the Galaxy S4. This year’s Galaxy S5 has an improved 16-megapixel camera, which offers fast auto-focus and 4K video recording.

While I’m well aware that more megapixels doesn’t necessarily make a better camera, it’s hard to deny the quality of the S5′s shooter. Photos taken during the day were crisp and packed in plenty of detail (even though they were slightly oversaturated at times). Photos also looked fantastic on the phone’s luscious screen.

In low light, the S5′s camera struggles a bit more. Photos tended to be murky due to an excessive use of noise filtering, and many shots ended up being a blurry mess.

Despite its weaknesses, I was mostly impressed. The Galaxy S5′s camera is miles ahead of what many other Android phones (including HTC’s One) feature.

The phone also proved plenty capable of shooting high-quality video, though the phone’s lack of true optical image stabilization does tend to make things a bit shaky. It’s nice to have the 4K video recording option, but there aren’t many 4K screens around to display it. You’re better off leaving the Galaxy S5 in its default 1080p video recording mode. 

The bad: Case still feels a bit cheap, fingerprint sensor is so-so 

While the Galaxy S5 is by far Samsung’s most refined phone yet, its plastic case still feels weak compared to HTC’s polished, all-metal One. This time around, Samsung may have a legitimate argument for plastic, since it allows the S5 to be water-resistant while keeping a removable rear cover.

Another disappointing aspect of the Galaxy S5 is its fingerprint sensor, which gives you a simple way to unlock the phone without dealing with a password. The feature is clearly inspired by Apple’s Touch ID sensor in the iPhone 5S, but it isn’t implemented nearly as well.

While both sensors are integrated in the phone’s home button, Samsung’s sensor requires you to swipe your finger down to authenticate, while Apple’s merely has you hold a finger down on the home button. Swiping my finger on the S5 often felt like swiping down the dull side of a knife — it’s not exactly comforting, especially if you have to do it often.

Samsung’s fingerprint sensor is fairly accurate (it worked around 80 percent of the time). 

The verdict: The finest Galaxy yet

After testing both the Galaxy S5 and HTC’s new One, I was surprised to find myself enjoying Samsung’s device a lot more.

The Galaxy S5 can survive any spill, it has a killer camera, and most importantly, it’s a joy to use. It’s the first Galaxy phone I would recommend to anyone without hesitation.

What intrigues me most about the S5 is that its weakest elements aren’t deal breakers — they just pale in comparison to what the phone gets right.

They’re yet another sign that Samsung has come a long way from the half-assed and over-hyped features of its last few devices.