LATEST SMARTPHONE, TABLET AND APP REVIEWS
ANDROID
ISSUE
05
ADVISOR
QUAD HD
LG G3 The best smartphone you can buy
+
THE BEST DEVICES STILL TO COME
PLUS:
8Rc 7D66 BZMh \^]Rh ΄ 2QQ 7ZMbV c^ =Wc=Mc ;]bcMZZ IVMcb2__ ^] M cMOZRc ΄ 2]Q \^aR͟
Welcome... W
e thought we’d already seen the best of what Android has to offer the smartphone world in 2014. The Samsung Galaxy S5, HTC One M8 and Sony Xperia Z2 are outstanding devices, but there’s little to separate them. Three important things happened this month in the smartphone world: first, LG announced the first Quad HD smartphone in its G3; second, previously unknown startup OnePlus entered the arena with its high-performance, low-cost One device; and third, someone finally stole the best budget crown from the Moto G — you’ll never guess who. The OnePlus One has specs to match 2014’s flagship Androids, but costs around half the price. We grab a hands-on with the OnePlus One on page 78, and check out that gorgeous true-to-life display from LG on page 40. As to who stole the budget crown — well, it was Motorola, of course. We compare the Moto G and £89 Moto E on page 58. Of course, we’re only at the end of May, and it’s just possible that things will get even better still. Read on for news of upcoming devices such as the Google Nexus 8 (page 3), Samsung Galaxy S5 mini (7), S5 Active (9), S5 Prime (14) and Galaxy K Zoom (16), the Sony Xperia Z3 (19), and the HTC One M8 Prime (22) and Ace (24). As always, we hope you’ve enjoyed this issue of Android Advisor. Please send us your feedback via Facebook (facebook.com/AndroidAdvisorUK) or email us at
[email protected].
2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
Coming soon: Google Nexus 8 With Google’s I/O conference scheduled for late June, could we see a new Nexus tablet and new Android?
T
he Nexus 8 is set to be Google’s next new Android tablet. It will follow on from the Nexus 7, which is still one of the best tablets around, and could be here within the next few months.
Release date The Nexus 8 release date is somewhat up in the air, with initial rumours citing an unnamed Dublin-based Google employee and suggesting the Nexus 8 would be announced in July, not at Google’s forthcoming I/O developer conference. ;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
The original Nexus 7 and the 2013 revision both launched in July, so this would follow tradition. However, rumours that the Nexus 8 will be unveiled at Google I/O, which kicks off on 25 June, still abound. According to the Wall Street Journal, the tablet, which is part of ‘Project Tango’, “could be released ahead of the company’s annual developer conference, scheduled for the end of June”. We think Google I/O is the most likely time for the device to be introduced, and this is fuelled further by the inclusion of an unknown tablet shown on the website for the event (pictured on previous page).
Price The rumour mill has yet to spit out any information on the Nexus 8’s price. With the device expected to be slightly larger than the Nexus 7, which sells for £199, and to come with improved specifications, we wouldn’t be surprised if there is a small price 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
increase, although Google will still be keen to undercut its rivals. Google doesn’t look to make a profit on its hardware, rather the software and content available through Google Play. However, pricing will also be largely dependent on the materials used to make the Nexus 8, and whether it is metal or plastic for example is still unknown.
Specification
“
The same source who revealed the July release date said Google will no longer produce a 7in tablet, instead moving things up to 8in. This change would mean the Nexus 8 will more closely rival devices such as the iPad mini, LG G Pad 8.3 and Samsung
Google doesn’t look to make a profit on its hardware, rather the software and content available through Google Play Galaxy Note 8.0. The big question is who will make the Nexus 8? Digitimes originally reported that Google will partner with Asus for the Nexus 8, having built both versions of the Nexus 7. However, it now claims Google has changed its mind and plumped for HTC, which is a strange move, given its limited experience with tablets. Meanwhile, Google has also been tipped to be partnering with LG on a Nexus tablet, although this could well be the next version of the Nexus 10. The Wall Street Journal claims the Nexus 8 will be equipped with two back cameras, infrared depth
”
;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
sensors and advanced software that can capture precise three-dimensional images of objects. Android Pit reports that the Nexus 8 will follow Apple’s lead and feature a 64-bit processor. It’s rumoured that Google will ditch Qualcomm and its reliable Snapdragon chips for Intel’s Moorefield, which is clocked at 2.33GHz and features a PowerVR G6430 GPU.
Software New Nexus devices are often launched alongside a new version of Android. So, along with the Nexus 8 we could see a new version of KitKat, or a version of Android that uses the next letter in the alphabet — L, and expected to be ‘Lollipop’.
2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
Coming soon: Samsung Galaxy S5 mini Samsung’s Galaxy S5 has been with us a few months now, so where’s its little bro got to?
T
raditionally, Samsung unveils a compact version of its flagship device shortly after its launch. If you like the look of the Samsung Galaxy S5, but want something a bit smaller and more budget-friendly, the Galaxy S5 mini could be just the smartphone for you.
Release date There’s no official word from Samsung on a Galaxy S5 mini launch event or release date, but the smartphone is rumoured to be arriving in the second quarter of 2014. This means we should see it before the end of June – possibly at Samsung’s 12 June Galaxy Premiere event.
;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
Price
“
Pricing information for the S5 mini is based on pure speculation for now. The Galaxy S4 mini came in at around £380 on a SIM-free basis, and we expect the Galaxy S5 mini to follow suit. Our money is on £399.
The Galaxy S5 mini will feature a 4.5in Super AMOLED screen with a 720p resolution Specification More concrete details on this compact smartphone’s spec have leaked. For example, SamMobile reports that the Galaxy S5 mini will feature a 4.5in Super AMOLED screen with a 720p resolution. That’s a reasonable amount smaller than the 5.1in screen found on the full-size Galaxy S5 and an improvement on the quarter-HD resolution of the Galaxy S4 mini. The Galaxy S5 mini will come with Android 4.4 KitKat and be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon processors. Which chip is unclear, but it’s likely to be the Snapdragon 400, according to SamMobile. Samsung is reportedly packing the Galaxy S5 mini with 1.5GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, an 8Mp rear camera, 2Mp front camera, an infrared transmitter and a 2100mAh battery. It’s a similar spec to that of the Galaxy S4 mini, but the phone is tipped to come with an IP67-certified dust- and waterproof design. The S5 mini is unlikely to come with the S5’s fingerprint scanner and heart-rate monitor.
2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
”
Coming soon: Samsung Galaxy S5 Active The S5 is already dust- and waterproof, but apparently it still isn’t rugged enough for some users
W
hen Samsung released the Galaxy S4 it followed up the popular handset with four slightly different versions that appealed to a range of users. We had the S4 mini, a more compact, less powerful handset that also came in at a slightly cheaper price; we had the S4 Google Play Edition, which ran a vanilla Android OS; there was the S4 Zoom, which featured a 16Mp camera; and then there was the S4 Active, a dustproof, waterproof, rugged version of the standard Galaxy S4 designed for those with an active lifestyle. ;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
The Galaxy K Zoom has already been announced, and there have been rumours of an S5 mini (see previous article) and a new S5 Prime (see next article). But we had assumed, given the Galaxy S5’s dust- and waterproofing credentials, an Active version would not be required. Isn’t the Samsung Galaxy S5 already a rugged smartphone? We were wrong, it would appear, according to several videos posted on YouTube by TK Tech News.
Release date Samsung’s Galaxy Premiere press event is scheduled for 12 June in New York. We wouldn’t be surprised to see the Samsung Galaxy S5 Active make its appearance at this event, making it likely that the S5 Active will be available to buy in the UK by the end of June. After all, at last year’s Premiere event we saw the appearance of the S4 mini, Active and Zoom. 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
Price Amazon lists the Samsung Galaxy S4 Active’s RRP as £580, although it is currently selling there for £285. By comparison, the standard S4 has an RRP of £629, yet sells for £310. The S5, meanwhile, has an RRP of £599 and sells for around £495. Following this pattern, the Samsung Galaxy S5 Active will probably have an RRP around £550, and quickly be discounted below £500.
Design The only major differences between the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S4 Active were its slightly sturdier (by this we mean slightly chunkier, taller and heavier), water- and dustproof body, lower camera resolution
;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
(8Mp vs 13Mp) and underwater photography mode, plus three plastic hardware buttons on its front. From the videos we can see the Galaxy S5 Active retains the Galaxy S4 Active’s hardware buttons, plus you can see S5-specific features such as the heartrate sensor. Once again, it looks a little larger than the standard version, and features a metal (possibly aluminium) chassis with hard rubberised corners to protect against damage. The rubber waterproofing seal is deeper than that of the standard S5, suggesting it will survive longer underwater.
Specifications As is seen in the video, the Samsung Galaxy S5 Active is running Android KitKat 4.4.2 and has the model number SM-G870A. A device known as the Samsung SM-G870 is listed in the GFXBench results database, where it is said to be running a 2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor with 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
Adreno 330 graphics, 1.8GB of RAM and 11GB of storage (that’ll be 16GB minus KitKat and Samsung’s additional software), which are in line with the Samsung Galaxy S5 itself. However, GFXBench suggests it has a 5.2in (1920x1080) screen and a 15Mp rear camera (the standard S5 has a 16Mp model). These are promising specs, given that the previous S4 Active featured a lower-quality LCD screen and its camera halved the number of megapixels offered by the standard S4. TK Tech News believes both to be AMOLED screens. In the GFXBench T-Rex test the S5 Active scored 28fps, and it managed 12fps in Manhattan. These are identical to our own results for the Samsung Galaxy S5, which again suggests not much has changed on the hardware front. In the Geekbench 3 test, TK Tech News has shown the Galaxy S5 Active scoring 952 points in the singlecore test, and 2,878 points in the multi-core test. This is actually very slightly faster than our own benchmark results for the Samsung Galaxy S5.
New features Although the hardware specs remain largely the same, the Samsung Galaxy S5 Active does have another feature in addition to the standard Galaxy S5: an Activity Zone and dedicated Activity Key. According to yet another video posted by TK Tech News, the Activity Zone holds features exclusive to the S5 Active, including a shortcut to S Health and access to the phone’s compass, barometer, stopwatch and torch features. The Activity Key button itself can also be used to snap a photo with a long press. ;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
Coming soon: Samsung Galaxy S5 Prime A common complaint of the Galaxy S5 is its plastic build. A metal-clad Prime version could fix that
S
amsung is set to launch a Prime version of its Galaxy smartphone. It’s thought to be a higherspec handset with a brushed-metal finish.
Release date Samsung has made no reference to the Galaxy S5 Prime, yet the device is thought to be coming in June – perhaps at Samsung’s 12 June Galaxy Premiere event.
2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
Price We’re speculating on the price, but with an improved build and specifications over the standard S5 you’ll need deep pockets. Right now you can buy the S5 SIM-free for around £495, and even when it launched it was available some £50 below its £599 RRP. We expect the S5 Prime will cost closer to £600, with an RRP possibly around £650.
Specifications When we reviewed the Galaxy S5 we criticised its plastic build – and we weren’t the only ones to do so. Rumoured to feature an aluminium chassis the Galaxy S5 Prime could address this problem. Leaked photos have surfaced online that show a brushed-metal frame, but a similar perforated rear to the standard S5. LG has just unveiled its Quad HD G3, and Samsung may well do the same for its S5 Prime — albeit on a smaller 5.2- rather than 5.5in screen. Other possible hardware specs for the Galaxy S5 Prime include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor, an Adreno 420 GPU and 3GB of RAM. These are all upgrades compared to the Samsung Galaxy S5, which has a Snapdragon 801, Adreno 330 graphics and 2GB of RAM. It’s thought that the Galaxy S5 Prime will come preloaded with Android 4.4.3 KitKat and, no doubt, Samsung’s TouchWiz user interface. Based on the leaked photos, the Galaxy S5 Prime will retain the fingerprint scanner and heart-rate monitor of the standard S5. It also has a flap covering the microUSB port, so it looks as though it’s also dust- and waterproof. ;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
Coming soon: Samsung Galaxy K Zoom A variant of the Samsung Galaxy S5 with a monster 20.7Mp camera is available to pre-order now
T
he Samsung Galaxy K Zoom is available to pre-order now, and will ship on 29 May if bought SIM-free through Samsung, or within the second week of June when purchased on a contract via the Carphone Warehouse.
Price You can pre-order the K Zoom through the Carphone Warehouse, with the handset available free with a £28 per month contract. Alternatively, a SIM-free version costs £400 from Samsung’s e-store.
2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
Camera Like the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom, the K Zoom is hybrid device, melding an Android smartphone with the bigger lens of a point-and-shoot camera. The handset has a camera with a 10x optical zoom, using a 20.7Mp backside-illuminated CMOS sensor for better low-light photography. Auto focus functions, filter settings and object tracking are among the additional features built into the device, along with a so-called ‘Selfie Alarm’. The Galaxy K also comes with a front-facing 2Mp camera. In terms of video shooting, the phone can record at a 1920x1080 full-HD resolution at 60fps. ;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
Design and specification Outside of its camera functions, the Galaxy K Zoom has a similar look to Samsung’s flagship S5, with the same textured rear. The Galaxy K Zoom, however, has a smaller display at 4.8in, with a resolution of only 1280x720 pixels. The phone doesn’t have the fingerprint sensor found in the S5, but it does feature the same Ultra Power Saving Mode to help prolong battery life. Inside the handset is a Samsung ‘hexacore’ chip that uses both 1.3GHz quad-core and 1.7GHz dual-core processors. The phone has 2GB of RAM and only 8GB of internal storage, but there’s a microSD slot for expansion. As a hybrid device, the phone retains much of the thickness of last year’s Galaxy S4 Zoom, bulging at 20.2mm. But the phone weighs 8g less at 200g.
2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
Coming soon: Sony Xperia Z3 Sony isn’t one to hang around, and having only just launched the Z2 it’s already thinking about the Z3
U
nlike Samsung, LG and HTC, Sony isn’t one to hang around a year to upgrade its flagship smartphone. In February last year we saw the arrival of the Sony Xperia Z, which was replaced with the Xperia Z1 in the September of that same year. Six months later we saw the arrival of the Z2, unveiled at Mobile World Congress in February and on sale in the UK by March. So what’s going to happen in August/ September 2014? We’ll give you three guesses.
Price Let’s have a look at how much Sony has charged in the UK for its previous Xperia smartphones to enable us to take a realistic guess at what the Sony Xperia Z3 will cost. The first Z-series model, the Xperia Z, has an RRP of £549 and now sells for £277. Sony got greedy with its successor, the Xperia Z1, setting an RRP of £599. That phone now sells for £363. It must ;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
It’s not a lot to go on, but this could be the Sony Xperia Z3’s metal frame
have learned from that handset, though, as the latest in Sony’s Z-series line-up, the Z2, went on sale with an RRP of £559. The Z2 costs around £538 SIM-free. So, what does this tell us? Sony knows it can’t get away with charging circa-£600 for its flagship Xperia smartphone, but it’s not prepared to drop much lower than £550, even several months after its launch and its rival, the Samsung Galaxy S5, is now available SIMfree below £500. And let’s not forget that by the time August/September comes around, both the Galaxy S5 and HTC One M8 — and the soon-to-be-released LG G3 — will cost much less still. How much will the Sony Xperia Z3 cost in the UK, then? Our guess: £550- to £575. 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
Design
“
Early rumours of the Sony Xperia Z3 stem from photos leaked on Chinese website Mobile.it168, and there’s been no confirmation from Sony that they are genuine. Regardless, let’s look at what we can glean about the Sony Xperia Z3 from the leaked photos. The Sony Xperia Z3 is equipped with a metal frame, which reportedly has a PVD coating that creates an attractive mirror-like finish akin to that of stainless steel. We suspect the Z3 will follow the square-ish design of earlier Z-series handsets, but this one will be both thinner and stronger than ever, more resilient to accidental damage from bumps and scrapes.
The Z3 will follow the square-ish design of earlier Z-series handsets, but this one will be thinner and stronger than ever Specifications The website also reports that the Sony Xperia Z3 will be significantly faster and more powerful than its predecessor, packed with a 2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor that uses the Krait 450 architecture, 3GB of RAM and Adreno 420 graphics. As was the case with the Sony Xperia Z2, we’ll see a 20.7Mp camera on the rear of the Sony Xperia Z3. However, rather than follow in LG (with the G3) and Samsung (with the Galaxy S5 Prime)’s QuadHD footsteps, the website claims that Sony will concentrate primarily on performance and stick with a full-HD display.
”
;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
Coming soon: HTC One M8 Prime Smartphone screens just aren’t big enough these days. HTC is stretching to 5.5in with its One M8 Prime
T
he HTC One M8 Prime is HTC’s replacement for the HTC One Max: a large-screened phablet with a beautiful display, intended to replace both your phone and your tablet. According to the internet rumour mill, fuelled principally by generally credible HTC-watching sites such as EVLeaks, HTCSoku and GSM Arena, the HTC One M8 Prime will have a massive 5.5in display, with a 2K full-HD resolution. Expect a super LCD3 capacitive touchscreen boasting 16M colours, with a massive 534ppi pixel density. On the design front it will supposedly be made of a combination of aluminum and liquid silicone. Matching the Galaxy S5 and Xperia Z2, it will also be dustand waterproof. Performance is also likely to be immense: expect 3GB of RAM to be paired with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 805 or 810 CPU.
2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
The HTC One M8 Prime is tipped to launch on Android 4.4.3, although we’ve also seen Android 4.4.2 quoted. Given that the standard HTC One M8 runs Android 4.4.2, this may be more likely. The device will be the first to come with HTC’s Sense 6.5 interface. We expect the HTC One M8 Prime to feature an updated UltraPixel camera: the word is that the HTC One M8’s UltraPixel camera will be upgraded from 4- to 5Mp. We’ve also read suggestions that the secondary camera will be a 18Mp unit, although that seems outlandish at this stage. Other things to expect: the HTC One M8 Prime will be a 4G-capable GSM, HSDPA, LTE handset that takes a nano-SIM. It will feature Cat 6 LTE. Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi will of course be present, as well as NFC. You’ll sync and charge via USB 2.0. We expect the now-standard 16- and 32GB onboard storage flavours, with a microSDXC card slot able to take up to 128GB cards. Expect Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass and barometer sensors, and a huge but nonremovable battery.
Release date We expect the Prime to launch globally in the third quarter of this year — perhaps in October 2014 to kick off the Christmas buying season, and to match the launch of the HTC One Max.
Price There’s no word on pricing, but we can make some assumptions based on the cost of components and the price of the HTC One Max when it launched. Expect the HTC One M8 Prime to cost £550- to £600. ;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
Coming soon: HTC One M8 Ace We’ve seen bigger and better, now let’s see cheaper. The Ace is a plastic version of the M8 with similar specs
P
hotos of the HTC One M8 encased in a plastic shell have been spotted online, first at ifanr and ePrice, and then new front and rear shots were posted by evleaks. Could this be a cheaper, plastic version of the HTC One M8?
Release date According to ePrice, the HTC One M8 Ace is on the verge of an official release. Following the spectacular PR job HTC did with the One M8, the HTC One mini 2 was confirmed via a press release, so this really wouldn’t surprise us. Indeed, according to the website, the HTC One M8 Ace could go on sale in June.
Price Despite its £549 RRP, you can buy the HTC One M8 for around £520 SIM-free. We’re still waiting for HTC to confirm the official UK pricing of the HTC One mini 2, but we expect it to cost around £350 (you can still buy the original HTC One mini SIM-free for £313). The HTC One M8 Ace will fall somewhere in the middle of these two devices, with the high-end specs of the HTC One M8, but the 13Mp camera of the HTC One mini 2 and a plastic rather than 90 percent metal chassis. 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
So how much will the HTC One M8 Ace cost if it makes its way to the UK? Our guess: £400 to £450.
Hardware and performance Both ePrice and ifanr are agreed that, just like the HTC One M8, the HTC One M8 Ace will feature a 2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor — and, we suspect, Adreno 330 graphics and 2GB of RAM. We can therefore assume that performance will be the same, which is to say very good. The two sites are also agreed that the HTC One M8 Ace will feature the same 5in full-HD screen as its more expensive sibling. However, the HTC One M8 will cut down on costs first by losing the One M8’s 90 percent metal case, and secondly by swapping its Duo Camera with the 13Mp model with BSI sensor and f/2.2 lens found on the HTC One mini 2. Like the smaller HTC, the One M8 Ace should be capable of full-HD video recording.
;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
Coming soon: Google Glass Google Glass is causing a stir in the technology world, but it is difficult for just anyone to get hold of a pair
G
oogle has announced that after previously keeping a tight reign on Glass sales — and although the prototype product remains in beta — anyone can now buy a Google Glass headset, in the US. So long as Google has stock it is on sale. Google said it is still looking for early adopters, also known as Explorers, while engineers continue to work on the hardware and software and third parties add
2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
to the ecosystem of apps. But that it is opening up sales. For now, the Google Glass headset is available for sale only in the US, where it costs $1,500, although the team noted that they hope to make Glass more widely available “in the future”. Right now, UK purchasers will need to get a US friend or relative to buy their headset, and then ship it over. It’s possible Google Glass headsets will now appear on eBay, too. In the past when purchasers had to be invited Google prevented such sales. Glass is expected to come out of beta and be officially available for sale sometime this year. Expect the UK to be the next market targeted by Google.
What is Google Glass? Google’s Project Glass is the next step in wearable technology from smartwatches. In simple terms, Google Glass is the technology behind a smart pair of glasses. Right now only Google makes Google Glass hardware, but in the future it expects
;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
spectacles manufacturers to make the hardware using Google’s own software and third-party apps. The current, Google-made glasses don’t have lenses, but instead feature a battery powered headsup display (HUD) that sits just above the right eye. You simply glance upward to view what’s on the display. It’s a bit like having your smartphone built into a pair of glasses, and in the future prescription glasses wearers will be able to add Google Glass to their bins. Google’s Project Glass was announced in 2012 as a concept which many pigeon-holed as ‘vapourware’, something that would never come to fruition. It was given the unofficial name of ‘Google Goggles’. However, Google has continued development and is well on the way to launching the final product. 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
“We think technology should work for you — to be there when you need it and get out of your way when you don’t,” said Google. “A group of us from Google X started Project Glass to build this kind of technology, one that helps you explore and share your world, putting you back in the moment.”
What can Google Glass do? With the combination of the HUD, a camera, microphone and GPS, Google Glass can carry out various tasks – much like a smartphone. To get a list of options you say “Ok Glass”. From here on you can use your voice to operate Google Glass. For example, it can take a picture if you say “take a picture” or send a message that you dictate. It can also record video, provide information via a Google search, give directions, translate your voice and perform a Google Hangout video call. Additionally, with Google Now, Google Glass can provide information before you even attempt to search for it. For example, it can provide details of a flight. Developers are also creating apps for Google Glass so there’s plenty of potential for other functions.
Does it work with normal glasses? The Explorer edition of Google Glass isn’t compatible with regular glasses. However, Google
;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
has launched its range of prescription frames that includes two ‘twist-on’ sunglasess. It’s called the Titanium Collection and consists of four different ‘feather-light’ styles — thin, bold, curve and split. The prescription frames are priced at $225 on top of the regular price of Google Glass.
Is there a Google Glass app? Yes. Google has launched an app called MyGlass to go with Google Glass. It requires Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich or later. It can be used to configure and manage Google Glass.
What colours of Google Glass are there? Google Glass will be available in five colours: Charcoal, Tangerine, Shale, Cotton and Sky. In other words, black, orange, grey, white and blue.
2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
The future of apps for smartglasses Experts explore the future of apps for smartglasses, from cooking and fitness to apps for surgeons and engineers
T
here has certainly been a buzz surrounding wearable tech in recent months, but most of the spotlight has been taken by wrist-worn smartwatch devices. However, the other type of wearable tech that’s emerging from companies including Google and Sony is smartglasses – head-mounted displays that are generally controlled using voice commands. Smartglasses aren’t exactly mainstream yet. Arguably the most famous of the bunch is Google
VELA
;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
SONY
Glass, but the prototype is still available only in the US and costs $1,500 (around £900). Sony’s venture into the smartglasses market is the Sony SmartEyeglass, which is also still in prototype form. Other notable smartglasses include the ReconJet, Vuzix M100 and GlassUp. With all these devices currently being tested and improved, it’s not going to be long before we begin seeing them released for businesses and consumers to use, but what exactly are we going to be using smartglasses for? We spoke with three experts from app design agencies already investigating smartglasses apps.
Will anyone actually use smartglasses? Matt Pollitt, director at digital design agency 5K, which is currently working on a sailing app for smartglasses, suggests that the technology will
2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
eventually be as popular and game-changing as smartwatches, if not even more so. “Smartglasses will not just be a scaled-down add-on to existing devices, but an augmentation of a user’s primary sense,” he tells us. “It will open up an entirely new market of wearable devices and their corresponding apps, which we are really excited about.” Right now, one of the major things holding smartglasses back is the way they look, but Pollitt has high hopes for the future. “As with all mobile technology, it will minaturise, become more discreet and sophisticated, and therefore more popular,” he says. “However, at the moment one of the main barriers we feel as being currently prohibitive to wide-scale adoption is the fact that the technology is still so prominent on your face.” GOOGLE GLASS
;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
“
“Unfortunately, no matter how cool tech-wise some of these products are, when it comes to wearing one for 10-16 waking hours of the day I would feel like a complete wally,” he adds, and we have to agree. “Once this barrier is removed, with the introduction of smart contact lenses or some other non-obtrusive way of having a HUD (head-up display), we really think they will become something people will use all the time.” Richard Goodrum, COO of Race Yourself, a fitness app designed for Google Glass, also believes smartglasses will be popular in the long term. “Smartwatches have for now taken centre stage. However, given that the technology is there and
No matter how cool some of these products are, I would feel like a complete wally wearing them that so many companies are working on smartglass technologies, I believe it’s only a matter of time.” “We are likely to see smartglasses break into industries first, so I believe we’ll see the technology being used in areas such as engineering, surgery and also in labs before it hits the high street,” adds James Deakin, technology director at service design company Fjord. “It is going to take time for smartglasses, in their current form, to break down social conventions and reach critical mass.” “Currently smartglasses are little more than a notification system for your smartphone, and until we start to see real everyday benefits for this type
2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
”
RECON JET
of technology, whether that be in a corporate setting or for consumers, it is going to be hard for people to understand the benefits,” Deakin explains.
What kinds of apps will smartglasses run? If smartglasses do eventually take off, it’ll be largely because of the apps that they can run. After all, the hardware is nothing without the software to make it useful. There are many different types of apps that can work well with smartglasses. So far, we’ve seen everything from maps, games and photography apps to fitness, home automation and cooking apps. “It’s an exciting time for smartglasses and their apps,” says Pollitt, adding that it’s a completely different kind of app that needs to be built for smartglasses, as they have parameters that are so vastly different from any other device on the market. “Exploring new technologies that can change the way people react with content is always a fantastic thing,” Pollitt continues. “Only by taking on these new challenges can you start to push the boundaries of what’s possible. Glasses and HUDs ;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
are just another platform with specific environmental and contextual considerations for delivering new and exciting digital experiences.” Goodrum adds that it’ll be practical applications that offer the end user real value that’ll be successful for smartglasses. “For example, when I use Google Glass, I particularly love the directions and cooking apps,” he explains. “It’s incredibly useful to be hands-free during both activities and not having to look down at my phone.” It is a little early to tell exactly which apps will be successful and which will be complete failures. “Smartglasses aren’t accessible to all, so it’s hard to predict how they will be used and what consumers will demand from smartglasses,” says Deakin. “We see sport and fitness as a massive area,” Goodrum goes on to say. “Both amateur and VUSIX M100
2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
GLASSUP
professional athletes are huge fans of fitness apps, however the reality is that they can be dull and do little to motivate. We’re looking to change that in a big way with visual real-time feedback.” “The possibilities are vast,” agrees Pollitt. “There are new avenues to explore with regards to a wholly hands-free experience. Voice activation for example and a truly barrier-free augmented reality with seamless integration of real and virtual worlds leads to hundreds of new possibilities.” “We are building a digital fitness platform across mobile and wearables,” says Goodrum as an example, referring to the Race Yourself app. “Our games and challenges motivate racers to achieve their personal best by allowing them to live-race a three-dimensional avatar of themselves (previous run/cycle), their ;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
“
friends, celebrities, or even flesh eating zombies pursuing at their target pace. Race Yourself will provide you with real-time on-screen encouragement during your exercise.” Meanwhile, Pollitt’s app, VELA, is designed for sailing enthusiasts. “It’s a sailing tool that sits across your tablet and the Recon Jet to provide a connected ecosystem for the sailing community, both on and off the water. The tablet experience allows you to plan, share and sync your sailing activities, giving you access to live information through the Recon Jet glasses as you sail.” “The reason we chose to use Recon Jet as the smartglass platform is that it is designed for a specific
There are plenty of situations where voice commands aren’t appropriate or are even quite rude use case – sporting activities,” Pollitt continues. “The glasses are designed to be used when performing a specific task, so it doesn’t interfere with general social interaction and becomes a really focused experience, augmenting existing aides.” “Coupled with the fact that the Sony Xperia tablet is waterproof, it seemed like a great marriage. However, it’s important to note that the glasses are not the whole story,” he notes. “They extend the eco-system we are trying to evolve with the VELA community as a whole, allowing them to attach pictures they have taken to the adventures they go
2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
”
“
No-one wants to sit next to the crazy guy on the train ranting to himself and repeatedly tapping the side of his head on and giving updated weather and nautical information in a way that lets them keep their hands free and focused on the sailing.” There are limitations that come with smartglasses, though, all of which can make developing apps for the wearable technology particularly challenging. “The most obvious one is battery,” says Goodrum. “For example, Google Glass can last up to one day with careful usage, however the reality is that it can drain much faster than this.” Pollitt thinks that the biggest challenge is how people actually interact with smartglasses. “Google have chosen voice commands but there are plenty of situations where this isn’t appropriate or potentially even quite rude. Cultural acceptance is key to wide scale adoption of technology. No-one wants to have to sit next to the crazy guy on the train ranting to himself and repeatedly tapping the side of his head.” We’ve only just become accustomed to people talking on their phones using their microphoneequipped headphones, so it’s likely to take a long time for us to feel comfortable around those talking to their glasses. “I am hoping that other control methods can be developed, such as non-obtrusive controls on your wrist or in the palm of your hand,” adds Pollitt.
”
;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
Hands-on with the Quad HD LG G3 It might be late to the party, but LG’s G3 has made a grand entrance with a stunning Quad HD screen
T
he LG G3 is the follow-up to our favourite smartphone of last year, the LG G2. At just 8.9mm the G3 is thinner than the 9.1mm G2 — an impressive feat, given the extra tech LG has squeezed in. At 75x146mm in size, however, the G3 is a large phone. LG has done a great job in reducing the bezel and squeezing in a 5.5in screen. Nevertheless, we find the Sony Xperia Z2 somewhat unwieldy and the G3 is in the same category, even if LG says the handset’s ‘floating ark’ shape makes it easy to use the phone one-handed.
2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
It’s no surprise that the G3 has gained some weight — but not a great deal, at 149g up from 143g. A big design shift is the move from a plastic- to a metal finish, although this is just a skin and not real metal as seen in the HTC One M8. This brushedmetal-effect case looks and feels nice, but we’re less enamoured with the white version. The G3 is available in black, white, gold, burgundy and violet. As before, LG has placed the phone’s physical buttons on the back next to the camera. We weren’t sure about this when it was introduced on the G2, but you quickly get used to it and it makes a lot of sense. While some devices on the market are dust- and waterproof, the G3 is not. LG didn’t want to make the device bigger and heavier to gain this feature.
Screen The screen is the most important update to LG’s flagship smartphone. It’s the first phone to offer a Quad HD resolution – full-HD is the standard. ;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
Whereas the Samsung Galaxy S5, Sony Xperia Z2, HTC One M8 and other top-end smartphones’ screens max out at 1080x1920, the LG G3 cranks things up to a whopping 1440x2560. It’s named Quad HD because it’s four times the resolution of 720p. The LG G3 has a 5.5in display (a little larger than the G2’s 5.2in), resulting in a massively high pixel density of 534ppi. The previous record holder was the original HTC One with 469ppi. This display looks absolutely stunning when compared to full-HD. LG says the display is comparable to a high-quality photobook. The only down side is the negative impact a large, high-resolution screen might have on battery life. LG fits a 3,000mAh removable battery and says it’s countered excessive drain with adaptive framerates, clocking and timing control, but we need to get the G3 into our lab and run some tests to be sure.
Processor and RAM There were rumours of an Octa-core processor, but LG has plumped for a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 chip, matching rival handsets on this front. The chip is clocked at 2.5GHz and includes an Adreno 330 GPU. The 32GB version of the LG G3 has 3GB of RAM, while the 16GB model has 2GB. Unsurprisingly performance is smooth and nippy; we’ll be able to provide benchmarking results once we’ve spent some more time with it. 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
A drawback of LG’s last flagship smartphone was a lack of expandable storage, but the firm has fixed this problem with the G3, now providing a microSDXC slot that can accept cards up to 128GB in capacity.
Connectivity The G2 had strong connectivity options with dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 LE, NFC and an IR transmitter. It also supported 4G LTE, which the G3 takes a step further with LTE-Advanced, plus it supports the latest 802.11ac Wi-Fi and wireless charging. The G3 sticks with USB 2.0 because a 3.0 port is bigger and uglier, plus LG says consumers don’t use it much anyway.
Audio The LG G2 pleased audiophiles as the first smartphone to support 24bit/192kHz playback. ;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
LG has improved things on this front with a 1W speaker and a ‘boost amp’. Our only quibble in this department is that the speaker is rear-facing.
Cameras The resolution of the G3’s main camera is still 13Mp, but a number of improvements have been made. For starters, there’s a dual-LED flash, which should come in handy in low light situations. More impressive is the inclusion of 4K-resolution video recording. And while 4K isn’t a new feature in smartphones, the G3’s ‘Laser’ auto focus is. The G3 also includes optical image stabilisation technology to keep shots shake-free, plus something called ‘Touch & Shoot’, which removes unnecessary buttons so you can concentrate on getting the right shot. At the front is a 2Mp camera that LG refers to as a ‘Selfie camera’. It can shoot full-HD video and automatically capture an image following a hand gesture. The pixels are larger than those of the rear
2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
camera, the angle has been optimised for selfies and the screen can be used as a makeshift flash.
Software
“
The LG G3 runs Android 4.4 KitKat and the firm’s latest user interface and software features, including KnockCode, which lets you wake and unlock the device with a user-defined knocking pattern. KnockON is here, too, able to wake or turn off the screen with a double-tap. New features include ‘Smart Notice’, which is similar to Google Now. In essence the G3 will make suggestions and offer tips based on the status of
The camera angle has been optimised for selfies and the screen can be used as a makeshift flash the device, taking into account your location and behaviour. For example, the G3 will ask if you want to uninstall apps that haven’t been used in a while, if you want to call back someone from whom you have a missed call, and if you want to switch on Wi-Fi when you arrive at the office. A slim keyboard can be size-adjusted and supports new gestures. It automatically adjusts the detection area as you type and you can swipe the space key to move around the cursor. Overall the interface is simpler and cleaner. LG says it has removed all unnecessary visual elements and apps are colour-coded so you know where you are. It’s flat and the colours used are mature, says LG.
”
;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
LG G3 vs Samsung Galaxy S5 The S5 has a huge fanbase, but is it actually the best phone you can buy? We think not
H
ere at Android Advisor we are big fans of the LG G2, naming it ‘the best smartphone you can buy’ and allowing it to sit undisturbed at the top of our best smartphones chart for the best part of a year. It’s safe to say the G3 has a lot to live up to. Meanwhile, Samsung has such a huge worldwide following it could slap a Galaxy label on a sausage and people would buy it. But does the tech giant have anything to fear when its flagship Galaxy S5 goes head to head with the brand-new Quad HD LG G3? We compare the specs to find out.
2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
Price and UK availability Announced at MWC in February, Samsung’s Galaxy S5 has been available for a few months now and is already available more than £100 below its £599 RRP SIM-free. The LG G3 was unveiled at the end of May, and it’s unlikely to go onsale before the end of June. LG hasn’t yet confirmed UK pricing, but Clove lists the G3 at £499. So, there’s a difference of just £4 between S5 and G3, although we expect the Galaxy S5 will come down still further in price by the time the LG goes on sale. SIM-free prices are less relevant when you buy a smartphone on a contract, and it’s too early to see what monthly charges UK mobile operators will command. However, if you have the cash to buy the Samsung Galaxy S5 or LG G3 upfront, you can save yourself a considerable amount of money over the life of your contract. We’ve compared the best SIM-
;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
only deals on page 85 to help you get the Samsung Galaxy S5 or LG G3 at the best price.
Design and build Both these handsets are plastic, yet LG has applied a metal-effect skin to the G3’s rear for a touch of class, while Samsung has plumped for a perforated texture that supposedly feels more natural and aids grip in the hand. Neither are as nice in design as, for example, the metal-clad HTC One M8, but both are sufficiently stylish for high-end smartphones. The rear covers on each phone are removable, allowing you to access the also removable battery and microSDXC slot. The screen is a key difference between this pair, and LG really knows what it’s doing in this department. It’s managed to squeeze a 5.5in screen into a chassis barely larger than that of the S5, which has a smaller 5.1in screen. The LG G3 measures 146.3x74.6x8.9mm, whereas the Samsung Galaxy S5 is 142x72.5x8.1mm. The LG G3 is also only slightly heavier, at 149g versus the S5’s 145g. 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
While buttons for power and volume are found on the S5’s sides, LG places them on the back of the handset. This seems odd at first, but you quickly get used to it — and KnockCode means you don’t need the power button to turn on and off the screen, you just tap the G3’s display. On the S5 you’ll also find a fingerprint sensor built into the Home button, plus a heart-rate sensor. Samsung has added IP67-certified dust- and water protection to the S5, allowing it to be submersed in water with no ill effects. You do need to be extra careful that the rear cover and microUSB port cover are securely in place, however. Both handsets are available in black, white and gold; the LG G3 will also come in burgundy red and violet, while the S5 comes in electric blue. ;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
Display LG shows Samsung who’s boss when it comes to the display. Not only is the G3’s screen larger than that of the S5, at 5.5in versus 5.1in, and without the handset size becoming unwieldy, the resolution is also Quad- rather than full-HD. Indeed, the LG G3 has a staggeringly high pixel density of 534ppi against Samsung’s 432ppi, making it the ultimate phone on which to watch video, view photos and play games. This really is a stunning screen. The LG employs IPS panel technology, whereas Samsung uses Super AMOLED. Both handsets have very good viewing angles, with the Samsung offering vivid colours that pop and very good contrast, and the G3 majoring on a crystal-clear, true-to-life quality. Samsung’s screen also uses Smart stay software to prevent the screen switching off when you’re looking 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
at it, while the default Adapt display automatically adjusts elements such as colour gamut, white tone and contrast depending on the amount of available light. We found the Samsung Galaxy S5’s screen is more easily readable outdoors than most, and it’s simple to quickly alter the brightness setting in the notification bar.
Hardware and performance The LG G3 is available in 16- and 32GB models with a slightly different spec. The 16GB model matches the spec of the Samsung Galaxy S5, with a 2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, 2GB of RAM and Adreno 330 graphics. The 32GB G3 has 3GB of RAM. Samsung’s S5 is reported to also be available in a version that has 32GB of storage, while both handsets employ support for microSDXC, allowing you to add an extra 128GB of storage. We haven’t been able to run the LG G3 through our usual benchmarks just yet — and in any case remain wary of the fact some manufacturers employ benchmarkboosting software — but its performance should be more or less in line with that of the S5. We measure performance using Geekbench 3.0, SunSpider and GFXBench 3.0. In Geekbench the ;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
Galaxy S5 scored 926 points in the single-core test, falling behind the HTC One M8 and Sony Xperia Z2, but led the pack in the multi-core component with 2,869 points. In SunSpider the Galaxy S5 recorded 824ms, and in GFXBench we saw 28fps in T-Rex and 12fps in Manhattan.
Audio The G2 pleased audiophiles as the first smartphone to come with 24bit/192kHz audio playback, to which LG has now added a 1W speaker with a boost amp to improve sound quality. Unfortunately, the G3’s speaker is rear-facing. The Galaxy S5 might not support high-res audio, but sound quality is acceptable. Plus Samsung has several software tricks up its sleeve when it comes to audio, including SoundAlive EQ presets, Smart volume (which keeps the volume consistent across 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
tracks), and Adapt sound (which tunes the EQ to the performance of your headphones).
Cameras Whereas the Samsung Galaxy S5 packs a 16Mp rearfacing camera, LG doesn’t at first appear to have moved on from last year’s 13Mp snapper. In fact it has made a few tweaks here. Both Samsung and LG claim to have super-fast autofocus capabilities that can take a photo in around a quarter of a second — faster than you can blink, says LG. However, we found the S5’s Camera app can take a couple of seconds to launch, which can mean you still miss that crucial shot. Regardless, Samsung has once again tweaked the software to offer a few extra bells and whistles. We
;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
like the ability to alter the focus point after a photo has been captured, for example. Photos shot on the Samsung Galaxy S5 are generally nice and sharp, and among the best we’ve seen from a smartphone, although we did get a few blurry shots. This is something LG hopes to prevent with its advanced optical image stabilisation and Touch & Shoot mode, but we’ll be able to see whether these are successful once we’ve spent some more time with its camera. The Galaxy S5 and LG G3 are both able to record 4K-resolution video using their rear cameras, while full-HD video is available from the S5’s 2Mp and G3’s 2.1Mp front cameras. The G3’s front camera is also primed for selfies, with larger pixels and an improved angle, while the screen is able to act as a makeshift flash and a hand gesture can trigger an auto timer.
2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
Connectivity Whether you choose the LG or Samsung, your phone will come with the latest in connectivity tech. That means 4G LTE (LTE Advanced with the G3), Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, NFC and dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi. Samsung also specifies MIMO technology and offers a unique Download Booster that combines the power of 4G LTE and 802.11ac Wi-Fi to deliver downloads at a theoretical max of 400Mb/s.
Software Samsung and LG are known for cramming in a lot of software into their smartphones, and not much has changed in this regard with these two Android 4.4 KitKat smartphones. LG has cleaned up its interface somewhat, colour-coding apps and removing unnecessary ;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
visual elements. It also includes such features as KnockCode, with which you can create a custom knocking pattern to wake and unlock the screen, and Smart Notice, which is very much like Google Now, suggesting you switch on Wi-Fi when you get to the office or call back someone from whom you have a missed call, for example. There’s also a new smart keyboard with which you can adjust the size and use gestures to type more quickly and with fewer errors. Samsung, meanwhile, is often accused of being the king of bloatware, but only Dropbox and Flipboard are preloaded alongside its own and Google’s apps. Plus, while some features are decidedly gimmicky, others can be very useful. To go alongside its heart-rate monitor is the S Health app, for example. Samsung has also cleaned up its interface, with round icons in the notification bar and Settings menu. Its Magazine interface offers a feed from news and social media to the left of the main home screen, and Samsung has also added to the S5 a PIN-controlled Kids’ mode and a Private mode for storing personal content. 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
Battery life Although the LG G3 has a larger-capacity 3,000mAh battery than the Samsung’s 2,800mAh cell, it also has a larger, higher-resolution screen that you can expect to quickly drain the battery. However, LG claims it has tackled this issue on three fronts: through adaptive framerates, adaptive clocking and adaptive timing control. We won’t know until we’ve spent some more time with the G3 whether LG has been able to sidestep the screen issue in this manner, but we are pleased to find the LG G3 supports wireless charging, and that its battery is removable — if you wanted, you could carry a spare. Samsung’s battery is also a removable component, giving these two phones an advantage over the competition. We found the Samsung Galaxy S5 would have around two thirds of its battery capacity remaining at the end of a full working day, so should last most users two days. The S5 has an Ultra Power Saving mode, which ekes out every bit of life (up to 24 hours) from the last 10 percent of juice by turning off all unneccessary functions and using a greyscale display.
Verdict We’d happily own either of these two similarly specified smartphones, but with just a few pounds between them the LG G3 looks to be the more impressive device. Whereas the S5 offers a fingerprint reader and heart-rate sensor, the G3 boasts a larger, significantly higher-resolution display that is simply beautiful, plus support for high-res audio. We’d rather use media and play games on the G3, which should be every bit as fast as the S5. ;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
Best budget phone: Moto G vs Moto E The Moto G and Moto E are two of the very best budget phones you can buy, but which should you choose?
H
ere at Android Advisor we’re massive fans of the Motorola Moto G. It’s not the fastest, nor the most feature-packed smartphone you can buy, but it does all the essentials and a lot more for as little as £129 (8GB 2013 model). It’s the best-value smartphone we’ve ever seen and, accordingly, has been topping our budget smartphones chart for a while now. Until yesterday, that is, when in stepped Motorola with the even cheaper £89 Moto E, plus an upgraded £149 version of its Moto G with 4G and microSD support. Now with a £60 difference between the two, Motorola could well
2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
have just stolen its own budget smartphone crown. We compare the Motorola Moto G and Moto E spec for spec to see which is the best budget smartphone.
Pricing and UK availability The new 2014 Motorola Moto G should launch in the UK by the end of May. Right now you can buy the original Motorola Moto G from Amazon for £129 (8GB model), but note that it lacks the 4G and microSD support of the 2014 Motorola Moto G — and, for the sake of £20 and a few weeks’ wait — it may be worth biding your time. The 2014 Motorola Moto G will launch at £149, while the new Motorola Moto E costs a tiny £89 and will be available this week from all major phone retailers. ;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
Design and build The Motorola Moto E looks very similar to the Moto G, with the same curved rear cover and palmfriendly pebble-shaped design, although its bezel is ever so slightly raised on either side of the screen, compared with the Moto G’s edge-to-edge display. Both Moto G and Moto E let you fit interchangeable rear coloured covers (available for around £9), and feature a splashproof coating. The Moto E is smaller and lighter than the Moto G, yet chunkier — that’s not unexpected for a budget smartphone. While the Moto G measures from 6to 11.6mm in depth, the E is a slightly fatter 6.2- to 12.3mm. You won’t notice the difference in weight — the Moto G weighs in a whole gram heavier than the 142g Moto E, but it’s also half a centimetre taller, at 129.9mm versus the Moto E’s 124.8mm.
Display There is a good reason for the Motorola Moto G’s extra length over the Moto E: the screen. Whereas
2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
Motorola fits a 4.3in display to its Moto E, the Moto G has a 4.5in panel. And here’s where the marketing talk might catch out some consumers: the Moto E has a ‘qHD’ panel, which sounds good, right? Not really. If you think so then you’re probably muddling up ‘Quarter-HD’ and ‘Quad-HD’. Indeed, at 540x960 pixels in resolution, the resulting pixel density of 256ppi is lower than the Motorola Moto G’s 1280x720 ‘HD’, or 329ppi, panel. Both screens are pretty decent, especially that of the Moto E given its price, but with the larger, higher-resolution panel the Motorola Moto G in the clear winner in this category.
Processor, graphics and performance Don’t be fooled by the fact both Motorola Moto G and Moto E run 1GB of RAM and Qualcomm Snapdragon chips clocked at 1.2GHz: there is a big ;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
difference between the quad-core Snapdragon 400 used by the Moto G and the Moto E’s dual-core Snapdragon 402. You’ll also see a difference in the graphics oomph provided by the Moto E’s Adreno 302 and Moto G’s Adreno 305. All that said, in our time with the Motorola Moto E we found switching between apps and home screens fast and fluid, with no lag. And while it might not be as fast as the Motorola Moto G, we wouldn’t really expect either smartphone to be what we think of as ‘fast’ below £150. We haven’t been able to run benchmarks on the Moto E just yet, but we did run the 2013 Moto G through our usual Geekbench, SunSpider and GFXBench tests, and we expect to see similar performance from the 2014 Motorola Moto G. In Geekbench 3’s single-core test we recorded 334 points, and 1,162 points in the multi-core test. In SunSpider we saw 1504ms, putting it above handsets such as the Google Nexus 4, Asus Padfone 2 and Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini. Lastly, in GFXBench’s Egypt
2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
test the 2013 Motorola Moto G managed 27fps, which is faster than that of, for example, the Huawei P6 and HTC One X+.
Storage Storage was once a sore point for the Motorola Moto G, with just 8GB onboard. Now Motorola has added support for microSDHC cards, you can add up to 32GB — plenty for all your apps and a pretty decent media collection. With just 4GB onboard storage is even more of a low point for the Moto E, although this is standard for a budget smartphone. What’s less standard is that it, too, has support for microSDHC. Sorted! Just be sure to factor in the cost of a microSDHC card when making your purchasing decision: you will need one.
Cameras Both Moto G and Moto E feature 5Mp rear cameras, which the Moto G pairs with an LED flash and 4x digital zoom. Neither is going to replace your DSLR, but we’ve seen some pretty decent outdoor shots captured with the Moto G, and both do the job for more casual scenarios. Both phones can capture 720p video footage at 30fps. If you ever use Skype or are particularly fond of shooting selfies, it’s worth noting that only the Moto G has a front-facing camera — here a 1.3Mp model. ;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
Connectivity The main difference in connectivity is support for 4G networks — but only if you buy the 2014 Moto G model, since the 2013 Moto G is restricted to 3G connectivity. 4G can offer Wi-Fi-like speeds, but it can cost extra (depending on your tariff), and it’s not available everywhere. Both Moto G and Moto E support Bluetooth 4, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi and GPS.
Software Both Motorolas run the latest version of Android, 4.4 KitKat, and will be upgraded when the next version of Google’s mobile OS is released. Both feature a fairly plain implementation of Android, although Motorola does stick in a few of its own apps. The Moto E comes with existing Motorola apps such as Motorola Migrate, Motorola Assist, the firm’s camera software and an FM radio app. A new app, which will initially be exclusive on the Moto E, is Motorola Alert. This can let people know you’ve arrived safely somewhere, you can use it to help meet a friend and there’s an emergency mode.
Battery life Although the Motorola Moto G has a slightly larger-capacity battery than the Moto E, at 2,070mAh versus 1,980mAh, it also has a larger, higher-resolution screen that will more quickly drain the juice. Motorola claims both
2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
will last 24 hours with mixed usage. We’ll verify those claims once we’ve had a chance to do some more in-depth testing.
Verdict Clearly the more expensive Motorola Moto G is going to best the £89 Moto E on the hardware front, but while the Motorola Moto G has the better specification, the Moto E’s hardware is sufficient that it will be a great fit for many users — and especially so when you consider that those in the market for a budget smartphone don’t expect to get ultimate performance. The Motorola Moto E might not have as good a screen or as much storage or processingand graphics power as the Moto G, nor its support for 4G and microSD expansion. But it does do everything most people will require, and at a staggeringly good price. It truly looks to be the best budget smartphone money can buy. ;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
HTC One mini 2 vs HTC One M8 HTC One M8 too big? We see whether the more compact mini 2 is as good a buy as its bigger brother
H
TC has unveiled its HTC One mini 2 smartphone, a 4.5in-screen smaller version of its HTC One M8 flagship Android phone. Here we compare the HTC One mini 2 and HTC One M8 spec for spec to find out which is the HTC smartphone for you.
Pricing and UK availability HTC’s One M8 is available now, and its price has already fallen from its £549 RRP to around £523
2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
SIM-free. You’ll get it cheaper (relatively speaking — see best SIM-only deals on page 85) on a contract, of course. The HTC One mini 2 will go on sale on 16 June at £498 SIM-free from Amazon (via HTC) or, confusingly, Phones4U lists it at £359. EE has the exclusive on the Amber Gold One mini 2 in the UK, and will be accepting pre-orders from 23 May on both this version and the Gunmetal Grey mini 2. It’ll be charging £29.99 per month.
Design and build The flagship HTC One M8 features a unibody brushed-aluminium design. Its curved rear, rounded corners, reassuring 160g weight and primarily metal (90 percent) chassis make this feel like a true premium smartphone in the hand. The HTC One mini 2 is simply a more compact, lighter version of the HTC One M8, with the same metal design. ;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
Given its 5in screen you can expect the HTC One M8 to be larger than the 4.5in-screen HTC One mini 2. Indeed, it’s the best part of a centimetre taller at 146.36mm versus the One mini 2’s 137.43mm. The more expensive Android is also wider, at 70.6mm versus the One mini 2’s 65.04mm, but thinner, at 9.35mm versus 10.6mm. The HTC One mini 2 is significantly lighter at 137g. Both HTC One M8 and HTC One mini 2 will be available in Gunmetal Grey, Glacial Silver and Amber Gold.
Display There’s just half an inch separating the screens on these two HTC smartphones, but the One mini 2 also has a lower 720p resolution in comparison to the HTC One M8’s fullHD panel. This results in a difference in pixel density of 115ppi, which sounds like a lot but both the HTC One mini 2’s 326ppi and the HTC One M8’s 441ppi are above that magical number Apple quotes for ‘Retina’-quality displays — indeed, at 326ppi the HTC One mini 2 matches the iPhone 5s. While the HTC One mini 2’s screen is smaller than that of the HTC One M8, however, it’s really not
2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
what we might consider ‘small’. At 4.5in it’s a very decent size for watching films, playing games and, importantly, for smaller fingers to actually be able to reach the furthest corner of the screen during onehanded use. Dare we mention the iPhone 5s again, it’s also larger than Apple’s 4in panel.
Processor, graphics and performance The HTC One M8, fitted with a 2.3GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor and 2GB of RAM, posted some of the highest performance scores we’ve ever seen from a smartphone. Indeed, the HTC One M8 tops our charts in Geekbench 2 with 4,171 points, and in the singlecore test of Geekbench 3 with 962 points. In the same test’s multi-core component it is beaten by the Samsung Galaxy S5, Sony Xperia Z1, Z2 and Google ;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
Nexus 5, posting 2,761 points. Also see: what’s the fastest smartphone 2014: processor, web and graphics performance compared. The HTC One M8 sits in third place below the iPhone 5s and Samsung Galaxy S4 mini in SunSpider, at 583ms; in second place below the iPhone 5s in GFXBench’s T-Rex benchmark, where it scored 30fps; and in third place below the 5s and Sony Xperia Z2 in GFXBench Manhattan, with 12fps. So, the HTC One M8 is a staggeringly fast — one of the very fastest — smartphones we’ve ever tested. If the benchmarks can be believed, of course. In our own subjective tests we judged the HTC One M8’s performance to be excellent, and the HTC Sense 6.0 interface seemed to cause no problems with lag. The HTC One mini 2 is not going to be able to compete with the HTC One M8 on the performance front, but that doesn’t mean it’ll be slow. Its 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 chip and 1GB of RAM match the spec of the Motorola Moto G, which remains one of the very best budget smartphones you can buy.
2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
Storage Storage is identical for the two HTCs, with 16GB onboard and the ability to add a microSDHC card up to 128GB in capacity.
Cameras HTC has taken a different tack with the cameras on its two 2014 Android smartphones. The larger HTC features two cameras at the rear, and is known as a Duo Camera. One camera is used to take standard shots, while the other captures depth and lets you alter the focus even after images are shot. The main camera is just 4Mp — it’s the same UltraPixel camera found in the HTC One M7, but can shoot faster and capture sharper images — but it has larger pixels than its rivals, making it a decent camera for use in low-light situations. ;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
The HTC One mini 2, meanwhile, features a 13Mp with a BSI sensor and f/2.2 lens, putting it more in line with the best smartphones of last year. Like its bigger brother, it’s capable of full-HD video recording. Both HTC phones have a generous 5Mp frontfacing camera for selfies and video chat.
Connectivity The HTC One M8’s Wi-Fi connectivity stretches to the latest 802.11ac standard, and it includes support for MHL and IR. Other than that, both support 4G, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0 with aptX, dual-band 802.11a/b/ g/n Wi-Fi, DLNA, GPS, Glonass and HTC Connect.
Sound Just like its larger sibling, the HTC One mini 2 is equipped with BoomSound technology, dual frontfacing speakers and the same amplifier. HTC says it, too, can deliver “powerful, crisp and clear audio that has never been more brilliant. The One mini 2 delivers rich tones from bass through to treble, producing high-quality, immersive sound”.
Software Both HTC One M8 and HTC One mini 2 run the latest version of Android, 4.4 KitKat. HTC has also applied its Sense 6.0 skin, which debuted with the HTC One M8, to the One mini 2. Key features of HTC Sense include BlinkFeed, which aggregates social-media feeds in an attractive tiled window on your home screen, and Zoe, which lets you create and share videos captured on your HTC with your friends and family. 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
Battery life
“
The HTC One M8 has the larger-capacity battery of the two HTC phones, at 2,600mAh versus 2,100mAh — but it needs it, with a larger, higher-resolution screen and faster processor. In our real-world tests the HTC One M8 lasted roughly 24 hours, and it has an Extreme Power Saving mode that turns off all features save for phone calls, texts, emails and the calendar and calculator
The One mini 2 delivers rich tones from bass through to treble, producing high-quality, immersive sound apps, letting the M8 keep going for 30 hours once the battery hits 10 percent capacity remaining. We enabled it with 9 percent battery remaining and found there was still some charge left a full 24 hours later. The info we have suggests the HTC One mini 2 doesn’t benefit from the same Extreme Power Saving mode. However, HTC claims the One mini 2 will last up to 556 hours in standby, or 16.2 hours of talk time.
”
Verdict The HTC One M8 either bests or matches the HTC One mini 2 in every category we cover here. And the difference in price isn’t enough to make it a good deal in comparison. For those really looking to save some cash on an Android smartphone the best deal will most likely come from the £149 2014 Motorola Moto G or £89 Moto E. ;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
Review: Huawei Ascend P7 Huawei’s best smartphone is sleek and affordable, but let down by software issues ΄ VdMfRW͙P^\ΧdY ΄
T
he Ascend P7 is Huawei’s latest flagship smartphone, and at first glance looks a lot its predecessor, the P6. The main difference between the two is that the P7 has a larger screen – 5in compared to the P6’s 4.7in. It retains the rounded edge at the bottom, with Gorilla
2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
Glass 3 both the front and back. As before a brushed aluminium frame runs around the edge. For a phone with a large screen, it’s amazingly light and easy to use. We like the spun metallic finish on the rear, made from seven layers. This effect goes outward, centred on the Huawei logo, when light is reflected in the right way. Beside the black/blue model we tested, it’s available in white and pink options. Unfortunately, the glass rear cover has the same problem as Google’s Nexus 4 – it’s prone to scratches.
HD display Like every other flagship we’ve seen this year, the Ascend P7 has a full-HD screen. This looks great and has excellent viewing angles, although its brightness needs setting at the top end of the scale for comfortable viewing, especially when outdoors.
;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
Inside is a 1.8GHz Kirin 910T quad-core processor coupled with 2GB of memory. We found the P7 runs smoother than the P6, but it’s not a completely silky experience. The interface often juddered when we pulled the notification bar down, and generally things got a bit sticky when running several apps and tasks. We also had issues such as the P7 refusing to open Twitter by tapping the icon – we could only access it by way of recent apps for a good period of time. The device is dual-SIM and one of the drawers doubles up as a microSD card slot. You can either have two SIM cards or just one with some extra storage. Internal storage is an Android-standard 16GB.
Camera The P7 has a 13Mp camera at the rear, with a fourth-generation Sony sensor, and it’s a cracker. It’s capable of taking high-quality photos in bright sunlight or indoors in candle light. You can double 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
press the volume key to launch the camera and take a photo from sleep, or switch it to a shutter button. An 8Mp front camera has a five-piece lens and Huawei has coined the phrase ‘groufies’ (group selfies) for a group panorama taken with the front camera. It’s a central photo, then one either side after turning the phone. Huawei has loaded the Ascend P7 with Android 4.4.2 (KitKat), adding its Emotion UI on top. This skin doesn’t have an app menu, so the home screen is similar to that of an Apple iPhone. It seems much nippier than before, though, which was the main downside to the P6 as a smartphone. What we like about Emotion UI is the amount of customisability on offer. There are lots of themes to choose from and you can further tweak aspects to personalise the software. These include home screen panel transitions, icons and fonts. Echoing the Samsung Galaxy S5, the P7 has an ultra power-saving mode, supposedly to make the phone last 24 hours on 10 percent charge. Just like the S5, you get a black-and-white interface and basic functions such as text and calls. Most users will need to charge their P7 every night. When we used it for emails, a few photos and social networking, it was nearly empty by evening. On a flagship device such as this we expect more.
Verdict Huawei has produced a stunning smartphone in the Ascend P7, that’s good value if priced as expected. There’s some decent hardware on offer here, particularly the camera, but the P7 is let down by software performance issues. ;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
Hands-on: OnePlus One This customisable Android phone has a great spec and an even better price
T
he 64GB OnePlus One went on sale at the end of May. With the ability to purchase the smartphone through invitation only, and review models incredibly scarce, whether or not to take the plunge and buy a OnePlus One phone could be a tricky decision. We managed to get a bit of one-onone time with the OnePlus One phone and reveal our thoughts here.
Specifications The OnePlus One has captured the world’s attention by matching — and in some cases besting — the specification of 2014 flagship Android smartphones including the Samsung Galaxy S5, HTC One M8 and Sony Xperia Z2, and at around half the price. The OnePlus One runs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor clocked at 2.5GHz, Adreno 330 graphics and 3GB of RAM. Other OnePlus One specs include a 5.5in full-HD 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
(1920x1080, 401ppi) IPS display, 16- or 64GB of internal storage, plus support for 4G LTE, dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0 and GPS. There’s a 13Mp camera on the rear, plus a 5Mp snapper at the front. CyanogenMod 11S OS runs the show, while a 3,100mAh battery keeps it all going.
Design and build The 5.5in-screen OnePlus One feels pretty wide in the hand, but it’s thin, light, beautiful and very similar in design to a flattened-out Nexus 5. Available in black or white, a chrome trim runs around the edge of the handset. A power button is found on the right edge, and a volume rocker on the left. It weighs in at 162g, and measures 152.9x75.9x8.9mm. ;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
The OnePlus One’s onscreen navigational buttons are customisable within the Settings menu, and you can even define gestures such as a short tap on the Home button or a double-tap on the screen. “The minute I picked up the OnePlus One, I really liked what I saw: a thin, polycarbonate chassis; a vibrant, almost edge-to-edge high-resolution display; and a fluid, customisable interface. It’s a beautiful device, and surprisingly light to hold,” writes our colleague Florence Ion.
Performance We’ve yet to get the OnePlus One into our lab for in-depth testing, although we spotted no issues with performance during our hands-on. Given the hardware it’s running, there really shouldn’t be any bottlenecks. The closest smartphone we have for comparison is the Samsung Galaxy S5, which runs the same processor clocked at the same speed, and the same graphics. However, the S5 has less RAM, at ‘only’ 2GB, and it runs a standard version of Android KitKat, whereas the OnePlus One runs CyanogenMod 11S. Not only could these differences allow for a variation in performance, the fact some manufacturers are thought to be running benchmark-boosting software can skew results. However, as a guide, in our benchmarks the Samsung Galaxy S5 scored 926- and 2869 points 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
in Geekbench 3’s single- and multi-core tests respectively, 824ms in SunSpider and 28fps in GFXBench’s T-Rex test.
Camera Forget the fancy Duo Camera of the HTC One M8, and the 20.7Mp monster of the Sony Xperia Z2. OnePlus One offers a simple 13Mp Sony Exmor IMX214 camera with a dual-LED flash and f/2.0 aperture that’s both easy to use and takes great shots. It’s capable of 4K-resolution video, and 720p slow-motion at 120fps. The Camera app has been tweaked from the standard Android version, and here supports live face recognition, which works remarkably well, plus live filters. The ability to see how well filters will work even before you’ve finished composing your shot is a real boon. Ion notes that, unlike the standard Android Camera app, Cyanogen’s Camera app “doesn’t require you to do that annoying ‘swipe-up-andup-and-away’ motion to adjust camera settings”. If you like taking selfies or video chatting, the OnePlus One’s 5Mp front-facing camera is ideal.
CyanogenMod 11S The OnePlus One doesn’t run Android 4.4 KitKat as we know it. CyanogenMod 11S is a custom version of KitKat ;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
that supports a great deal of personalisation and has been tweaked to run optimally on the OnePlus One’s hardware. “Cyanogen’s ethos is that you should be able to customise everything, and this proves out, emphatically, with the OnePlus One,” writes Ion. Themes are one part of this, and the OnePlus One has three available by default: Android’s Holo, Cyanogen OneMod and a custom icon pack. You can even mix and match the best bits of the various available themes. Rather than having to browse Google Play to find and download a theme you like, you just flick a switch to apply it. Theme packs include boot animations, fonts, icons, wallpapers, lock screens and ringtones. CyanogenMod 11S is notable for more than just its ease of customisation, however. There’s also a secure messaging feature and Privacy Guard, which helps you manage what access apps have to your data. The OnePlus One also features voice wake and search, 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
learning the sound of your voice so you can search, track and explore even when it’s asleep.
How to buy the OnePlus One When the 64GB Sandstone Black version goes on sale at the end of May, purchases will be by invitation only. By controlling the number of handsets available on day one OnePlus One aims to ensure all those with invites will actually be able to get their hands on the device, avoiding the sort of scenario in which thousands of people camp outside phone shops to be one of the first to get their hands on a brand-new smartphone, but ultimately go home empty-handed as stocks fail to meet demand. Invitations will also become easier to get hold of over time. When the OnePlus One does go on sale it will be available in 16GB Silk White and 64GB Sandstone Black varieties. The 16GB model costs $299/€269, while the 64GB OnePlus One is only slightly more expensive at $349/€299. That’s less than half the price of the Samsung Galaxy S5, Sony Xperia Z2 and HTC One M8, without any compromises in its spec.
;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
Initially, invitations to buy the OnePlus One smartphone will be handed out through competitions, OnePlus’ forums and friends who have already purchased the phone. Each invite lasts 24 hours, after which time it is returned to the sender, who has a period of one- to two weeks in order to find someone who wants to take advantage.
Verdict The OnePlus One phone is almost too good to be true. Its specifications are just as good as those of the Samsung Galaxy S5, Sony Xperia Z2 and HTC One M8, yet it costs half the price. Our only concern is that the invitation-only purchasing process will confuse many would-be buyers, and the virtually unknown startup company will have a very tough job on its hands stealing market share from mega-brands Sony, Samsung and HTC. That it runs CyanogenMod will appeal to enthusiasts, but it could have the opposite effect on the general buying public. 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
Best SIM-only deals: mobile and data SIM deals Monthly contracts let you take home a new phone for ‘free’, but you’ll pay over the odds in the long run
M
onthly contracts are great, letting you take home a high-end smartphone without handing over any cash. But if you stop to work out just how much you are paying over the lifespan of the contract, you’ll find you could save a lot of money buying the phone upfront and getting a SIM-only deal. Here we look at the best SIM-only deals and best Data SIM deals on the market. Take, for example, the Samsung Galaxy S5, which right now is free from Vodafone on a £47/month two-
;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
year contract. Over two years that will cost you £1,128, more than twice the price of the Samsung Galaxy S5 itself (currently available for a little less than £500 at Amazon, depending on your colour choice). That means you’re paying over £600 for the ‘free’ calls, texts and data. You could be paying much less buying the phone SIM-free and opting for a SIM-only deal. Unlike smartphone contracts, which nowadays typically stretch to 24 months, SIM-only deals are much shorter. Most SIM-only deals come with 12-month contracts, but you can also get rolling monthly contracts — sometimes at the same price or just a few pounds more expensive — that are ideal for visitors to the UK. And then there are pay-as-you-go plans, so you can pay just for what you need when you need it, although you can expect these to work out more expensive. The price you pay per month will largely depend on how many minutes and texts and how much data you require, plus whether you need 3G or 4G data, 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
“
and whether your SIM is to go in a tablet (in which case you’ll need only data) or a smartphone (in which case you’ll want minutes, texts and data). You should note that most operators will not allow you to simply take your SIM out of a smartphone and stick it in a tablet in the same way that they frown upon tethering. While 4G is much faster than 3G connectivity (you can expect Wi-Fi-like speeds), 4G data also tends to be more expensive than 3G data. Some, but not all, operators are now charging the same amount for 3G
Just because your phone or tablet might support 4G, it doesn’t mean you have to take advantage of that connectivity and 4G data. However, just because your phone or tablet might support 4G, it doesn’t mean you have to take advantage of that connectivity. For many of us in the UK 4G is not yet available in the areas in which we spend most of our time, such as at home or at work. In such cases, it would be ridiculous to pay extra for a service that you rarely get the chance to use, especially if most of the time you will be within range of a Wi-Fi hotspot. 4G is definitely one to consider for the future, but perhaps not right now.
”
Tablet plans (Data SIMs) As we mentioned earlier, you can’t simply take the SIM out of your phone and stick it in your tablet. You need to get a SIM that uses a data-only plan. How much data you need will very much depend on the activities you intend to enjoy on your tablet, ;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
plus whether you spend any of your time within range of a Wi-Fi hotspot. If you want a SIM just to cover you on the odd occasion that you use your tablet away from home and need to continue to access your email, you certainly don’t need to pay out for a 4G plan. The cheapest plan is this case is Virgin Media’s £5 per month 500MB plan. But 500MB is a very small amount of data, and we wouldn’t recommend going lower than 1GB. For 1GB then, Virgin charges £7 per month, and Three £7.50 per month. By far the best tablet data plans we’ve found are from Three, especially for heavy internet users at £15 per month for 10GB of data. Vodafone’s 10GB 4G plan, by comparison, costs £30 per month, while EE charges £26 for 8GB of 4G data. With such a great deal available from Three, moderate internet users needn’t look elsewhere: they’ll pay around the same amount per month for as little as 3GB of data.
Smartphone plans Pinning down what is the best SIM-only smartphone deal is far more difficult due to the great many
2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
combinations of minutes, texts and data available. However, most people will fall into one of the three camps that we’ll focus on here: those who simply want to make the odd call or text, and use their PC to go online; those who make calls and texts, go online, check emails, use apps and perhaps watch the odd video; and those who are permanently glued to their smartphone. Or, to put that more simply, light-, moderate- and heavy users.
Light use Three offers some of the cheapest SIM-only deals we’ve found. Its Essential Internet SIM 200 plan offers 500MB of data, 200 minutes and 5,000 texts for £6.90 per month, which is ideal if you are a very light smartphone user.
Moderate use And again, Three offers the best deal for moderate smartphone user, with its £9.90 Essential Internet SIM 600 plan offering 1GB of data, 600 minutes and 5,000 texts. It’s worth looking to giffgaff if you need fewer minutes and more data, however. Giffgaff’s £12 Goodybag mixes 250 minutes with unlimited texts and unlimited internet.
Heavy use Giffgaff’s £12 Goodybag could be all you need if you don’t make a lot of calls, but if you are one of those who spends a lot of time doing a lot of things on their smartphone, by far the best deal we found for heavy users is from Virgin Mobile. The VIP Tariff offers unlimited minutes, data and texts for £15 per month. ;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
Android Silver could make Nexus history We explain what is Android Silver and what it means for Nexus smartphones and tablets
A
ndroid Silver is a bit like a stamp of approval that tells consumers they are buying a top-notch smartphone or tablet with pure Google software. Google’s smartphones and tablets are all given the Nexus branding, but Android Silver, which is reportedly in the pipeline, could change all this. It’s not a replacement for the existing range as such, but a set of standards that Google will outline – much like the way Intel defines what is an Ultrabook. It will mean that if a smartphone or tablet meets the requirements, it will be classed and sold as an Android Silver device.
2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
“
Exactly what these standards or requirements will be is unclear. A full-HD screen and a quad-core processor could be minimum specs, for example. But Android Silver devices will be premium phones and tablets with top-end hardware and great build quality. They are also likely to come with the latest version of Android, a stock version such as a Google Play edition, and fewer preinstalled apps. It’s also possible that Google will set a price bracket for Android Silver devices.
Android Silver is a bit like a stamp of approval that tells consumers they’ve got a great device With the Nexus range, Google picks a manufacturer to partner with for that specific device. However, Android Silver will be open to any vendor. As long as the device meets Google’s requirements, the device will be Android Silver-certified. This means there will be multiple Nexus-like devices. As well as getting the Android Silver badge, partners making these devices will reportedly get help from Google with development and marketing costs, as well as making sure software updates are delivered quickly – creating a win-win situation for Google, its partners and consumers. Android Silver-branded devices are unlikely to arrive this year. Right now we’re waiting on the launch of several new Nexus devices, including the Nexus 8 on page 3. If Android Silver goes ahead we expect to hear more about it next year.
”
;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
Build your own phone with Project Ara Imagine being able to have exactly the phone spec you need. Project Ara hopes to deliver this dream
Y
ou may have heard the term ‘modular smartphone’ bandied around, but what does it mean and what is Project Ara? We explain what you need to know about Google’s modular smartphone. Smartphones including the Samsung Galaxy S5, LG G3 and HTC One M8 are great, but wouldn’t it be cool if you could swap individual bits such as the camera for a better one if you wanted? Here we explain how Google Project Ara could enable exactly that, and how it could flip the industry on its head.
What’s a modular smartphone? A modular smartphone in its simplest form is a handset that can be easily upgraded by swapping individual components or modules in a plugand-play style. It can be likened to upgrading a 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
PC with a new motherboard, processor or graphics card – out with the old, in with the new, one component at a time. It’s a bit like Lego. You start with a barebones shell, then add a processor, memory, battery, camera and other modules to create a smartphone that’s perfect for you. It could be the only phone you need to buy because every time an updated part is available, such as a new camera, you can buy that individual part rather than a new device. It could also be possible to opt for a larger battery instead of a better camera, for example. Project Ara is being developed by Advanced Technologies and Products (ATAP), but there are others such as Phonebloks. In the case of Project Ara, the modules slide in from the side and are held in place by magnets. Instead of using unreliable contacts, the device will use wireless ‘capacitive interconnects’. There are three different sizes of module: small square, big square and rectangle. At its first Project Ara
;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
developer conference, Google confirmed that it aims to release the device in January 2015. The base piece, called the ‘gray phone’ is set to be priced at $50. Of course, the individual modules will vary in price. “It’s called the gray phone because it’s meant to be drab gray to get people to customise it,” said Project Ara’s Paul Eremenko.
Challenges You might be drooling on to your keyboard at the thought of a device such as this, but there are some down sides and plenty of hurdles. The way a modular smartphone works means that it’s going to be bigger and heavier than current smartphones. By the time you buy the gray phone and all the modules you want, it’s likely to end up being more 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
expensive than an equivalent pre-made smartphone. Even with clever techniques, it’s possible there will be connection issues between the modules. Then there’s the fact that not all module combinations will provide a good experience. For example, a low-power processor isn’t going to cope well with running a higher-resolution screen or topend camera. Currently, a smartphone’s software is optimised (or should be) to the hardware on which it runs. This is a little different when your components can be completely different to the next person’s. In some ways these problems already exist with Android smartphones, and even little things such as the use of different Bluetooth chipsets means thirdparty products work with only certain handsets. Plus, there’s no guarantee that there will ever be new components released. In the past we’ve seen laptops with interchangeable graphics cards yet, despite promises to the contrary, no upgrades were ever launched leaving users disappointed. There are a lot of potential problems with modular smartphones such as Project Ara, but if they can be ironed out these device could cause a storm in the industry and become the new norm – Build-a-Bear but with smartphones.
;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
How to install WhatsApp on a Wi-Fi-only tablet How to install WhatsApp and bypass its phone number verification system on an Android tablet
A
ccording to WhatsApp, you can’t install and use its instant-messaging service on a Wi-Fionly tablet. Yes, you can. Here we show you how to use WhatsApp on an Android tablet with no 3G or 4G connectivity. If you’re browsing Google Play on a Wi-Fi-only tablet WhatsApp won’t be presented in the search results because it’s not officially supported on your device. To get around this you simply need to download and install the WhatsApp APK file — just Google ‘WhatsApp APK’ and you’ll find loads of download sites.
2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
Before your Android tablet will allow you to install the WhatsApp APK file you’ve just downloaded you’ll need to enter your tablet’s Settings menu, scroll down to and select Security, then enable Unknown sources under Device Administration. You can go back and disable this option once you’ve installed WhatsApp.
You should now be able to simply click on the WhatsApp APK file-download notification in your tablet’s notification bar, then click Install. Once the app is installed press Open. ;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
The next challenge is to bypass WhatsApp’s phone verification system. Enter your usual phone number, then click OK. You will receive a text message on your phone, but it won’t be detected on your tablet. After five minutes WhatsApp will report that SMS verification has failed and you should try voice verification. Tap Call me, then answer the call on your smartphone to get the verification code you need. You can now enter this code on your tablet and get started using WhatsApp. Note that WhatsApp will ask whether you want to restore your message history from its backup, but this didn’t work for us — presumably because none of that data is stored on the tablet.
Using WhatsApp on a phone and a tablet at the same time The only real down side to this method of installing WhatsApp on a Wi-Fi-only tablet is that as soon as you verify your account on the tablet WhatsApp will stop working on your smartphone. That’s because a phone number can only ever be associated with one WhatsApp account. This might not bother 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
you — after all, you don’t really need to view your messages on both your phone and your tablet, and you could simply verify the service on whichever device you’ll have to hand that day. However, you can get around this and use WhatsApp on a phone and a tablet at the same time by using a different mobile number. If you have a second mobile number used for business then you’re laughing. You could also take advantage of the free PAYG SIMs routinely offered by UK mobile operators, although these will expire after a few months if you don’t use them, and as soon as someone else registers that same number with WhatsApp you’ll have to start over. It doesn’t matter which number you use for verification, as long as it is a mobile (rather than landline) number and that you have it to hand in order to answer the call and get the code. If you live in the US it has been suggested that you can use a Google Voice number. We are unable to verify this, since only members with full accounts can receive calls using Google Voice, and that service isn’t available in the UK. Another one for US readers is TextPlus, a free Android app that lets you send and receive texts and make phone calls on a tablet. Just send your phone a text from the tablet to find out what phone number you need to enter into WhatsApp. Again, however, we can’t verify this one. You could also try a service that creates a disposable alias to your mobile number. There are a few free versions out there, but the two Android apps we tried created US numbers that weren’t recognised by WhatsApp. ;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
How to install Flash on Android KitKat KitKat broke our previous workaround for running Adobe Flash on Android, but there is another way
A
dobe may have cut support for Flash in Android Jelly Bean and beyond, but the great many sites and services that continue to make heavy use of the standard suggest it’s far from dead. For those of us relying on an Android phone or tablet as our main computer, and who still want to access Flash content such as catch-up TV, online games and video, it’s a real problem. Here’s how to get around the issue and add Flash to Android.
2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
“
While web developers are slowly moving to HTML5, we aren’t convinced that computing is truly ready for a Flash-free world just yet. If you own a tablet or smartphone running Android Jelly Bean or KitKat, by now you’ll have noticed that many of the things for which you wanted that tablet — watching catch-up TV and online video, casual gaming — just don’t work. In many cases apps are available that add the functionality, but do you really want to install individual apps for every Flash site or service that
We want to continue doing what we want, when we want, in our browser, and not deal with the headache of switching apps to find a solution that works you use? Or turn on the desktop just to catch up with EastEnders on iPlayer? That’s not very convenient. We don’t even want to think about the Flash problem: we want to continue doing what we want, when we want in our browser, and not deal with the headache of switching between apps to find a solution that works. This stuff should be seamless. The good news is that although Android doesn’t officially support Flash, it’s really easy to add it to the OS. Here, we show you some simple tweaks to enable flash on your device.
”
Add Flash to a KitKat phone or tablet Open your Settings menu, scroll down to Security, then enable the box to allow the installation of apps from Unknown sources. It’s worth remembering to turn this off after you’ve followed our guide. ;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
Next you’ll need the Flash installation file, which comes courtesy of surviveland at xda-developers forum. Google has blocked the download of the file from its original path, however, so to save you from reading through 50-odd pages of forum threads you can download the Flash installer for Android KitKat from tinyurl.com/kay5amu. It’s offered as a Dropbox download, so click to save it to your own Dropbox folder or download it to your Android KitKat phone or tablet. We chose the latter. Drag down the notification bar at the top of the screen and tap on the notification that the Flash player file has been downloaded. In the window that pops up click Install, then choose Done. To enable Flash playback in Android KitKat you’ll need the Dolphin browser — free from Google Play. Once downloaded and installed open its Settings menu, ensure Dolphin Jetpack is enabled, then scroll down to and select Web Content. In the next window find Flash Player and ensure it is set to Always On. Flash will now run happily within the Dolphin browser on your Android KitKat phone or tablet. 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
A quick fix A simpler way to add Flash to Android is to install Puffin Browser. Puffin builds in support for Flash, so all you need to do to add Flash to Android is install the browser via Google Play. You don’t have to use Puffin as your primary browser, but you may find it quickly grows on you — not only is it fast, it also has some neat touches such as a virtual trackpad and a gamepad, the latter allowing you to map any keyboard function to its onscreen controls.
There are some caveats, however. First, the Flash support within the browser is only a 14-day trial, and if you wish to continue using it you’ll need to buy the full version of the app (£1.83). More importantly, Puffin’s servers are based in the US, which means some content is restricted by UK websites. BBC iPlayer is one such example, but other Flash content such as Facebook videos played flawlessly. We strongly recommend taking advantage of the free trial to see whether this will create problems with the content you want to view. ;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
Set any song as a ringtone for your phone Create custom ringtones for your Android smartphone using a free app
S
etting a ringtone on your Android phone is easy: you simply open Settings, Sound, Ringtones and add one from the list. But what if you want to choose an MP3 stored on your device as the ringtone or, better still, edit that song so you get just the catchy bit or chorus, not the first 30 seconds, for your ringtone? Here we’ll show you how to edit an MP3 in Ringtone Maker (free), then set it as your ringtone. Loads of free audio editors are available for Android. Here we’re using Ringtone Maker, free from Big Bang, but you can use whichever takes
2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
your fancy. Simply open the Google Play store and search for ‘ringtone maker’, then choose an app and select Install, Open. Upon its launch Ringtone Maker will display a list of tracks stored on your device. If you want to use an MP3 file you’ve purchased from Google Music, AmazonMP3 or similar you’ll first need to download the file using a desktop web browser, then transfer it to the Music folder on your Android smartphone. Once you’ve selected a track just tap on the green arrow beside it and choose Edit. The track will open in the Editor, displayed on a waveform timeline. Tap and drag the Start and End time sliders so the section of the track you want to use is highlighted. Confirm you have the right portion by pressing the Play button below, and use the zoom in and -out buttons to aid fine-tuning. Once you are happy with your selection tap the Save icon. You can choose to save the clipped audio as a ringtone, alarm, notification or music. Hit Ringtone, give it a name, then press Save. Ringtone Maker will offer to make it your default ringtone, or go to Settings, Sound, Ringtones and select it from there. ;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD
Get free money to spend at Google Play Not all Android apps and content are free, but there are ways to increase your spending power
F
ree apps are nice, but sometimes great apps cost money. Fortunately, Google has a nifty program that gifts you various increments of Google Play credit just for answering a few survey questions from time to time, so you can easily rack up cash to help you pay for those apps.
2@5DA;5 25H;EAD ΄ ;EEG6
Download the app Quite frankly, that’s all you have to do. Download the Google Opinion Rewards app from the Google Play store. It’s an app from Google Consumer Surveys, a programme for companies and marketers to get a better handle on their demographics.
Tell it what you think Google Opinion Rewards will ask you a series of demographics questions, such as what is your political affiliation and whether you live in a city or out in the sticks, before it gives you any surveys to answer. This is to help determine which questions are best catered to you. The app says that all the surveys are anonymous, but the app does need you to log into your Google account in order to deposit the Play Store credit. After answering those first few questions, you’ll see notifications pop up from time to time to let you know that a survey is ready for you. If you don’t see any it’s because none is available for your demographic. ;EEG6 ΄ 2@5DA;5 25H;EAD