LG G3 Review

LG surprised us all with last year's LG G2. Today the company faces a bigger challenge as it's got to keep that momentum going with an even more impressive successor - the LG G3.

We've searched the web for all the juicy gossip and rumors and  put it in one place to start to imagine a picture of the LG G3.

First of all, it looks like the handset LG G and  will indeed be called the LG G3, as LG has applied to trademark 'G3' and has referred to it as the LG G3 in its Q1 2014 financial results.

What is it?                                    The sequel to 2013's excellent LG G2
When is it out?                            The launch is planned for May 27
What will it cost?                         It may be slightly cheaper than direct rivals

LG G3 release date and price

LG has sent out save the date cards for an event on May 27, which is highly likely to be the announcement of the firm's next generation smartphone.

LG is holding events in San Francisco, New York, London, Istanbul, Seoul and Singapore .

There's no word on what it might sell for yet, but this is a flagship phone, so it will cost a lot. However LG's flagships have tended to slightly undercut Samsung and HTC rivals, so keep your fingers crossed.

LG G3 display

The LG G3 will apparently have a 1440 x 2560 QHD display. It's said to be 5.5 inches in size, which if true would amount to 534 pixels per inch.

The rumors surrounding the high-resolution display have since ramped up with LG telling PC Advisor that it will launch a Quad HD smartphone in the second half of 2014. Could it be referring to the LG G3? Quite possible.

1080 x 1920 is the current go-to resolution for flagship phones such as the Samsung Galaxy S5 and Sony Xperia Z2, but if the LG G3 intends to stand out from the crowd a QHD screen could certainly help, and based on the rumors so far a Quad HD screen looks all but guaranteed, at least on one version of the handset.

LG G3 processor and RAM

The LG G2 has a 2.26GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor, which is still pretty impressive, but early rumors hinted at LG using its in-house Odin processor and an octa-core version of it is tipped for the LG G3.

While the speed of the processor hasn't been confirmed, reports claim that the octa-core version will have four cores clocked at 2.2GHz and the other four clocked at 1.7GHz, which should give it a sizable boost over the LG G2.

Indeed that could happen again here as other recent reports have been toned down to a more believable 2.3GHz quad-core offering, although reports of the G3 only using the Snapdragon 800 chipset and not the 801 which appears in the Galaxy S5, Xperia Z2 and One M8 are a little disappointing.

The LG G3 is being tipped to come with 3GB, up from 2GB in the G2 and keeping it inline with its direct rivals. Though what might be a variant of the phone has now appeared on AnTuTu with just 2GB of RAM. Apparently it'll also sport 32GB of internal storage and a microSD slot.

LG G3 operating system

A benchmark for a mystery Android handset believed to be the LG G3 due to its model number of LG-D830 (which is similar to the G2's D802 model number) showed that it ran Android 4.4 KitKat. No surprise there, this is a flagship after all.

LG is tipped to be overhauling its smartphone UI especially for the G3, with a screenshot appearing online claiming to be the firm's next generation interface.

If legit, you can expect the LG G3 to sport a flatter user interface which looks less childish than the overlay on the G2, while the clock and weather widget has an air of Samsung's TouchWiz about it.

According to a Phone Arena source the new LG G3 will have advanced personalization features, allowing it to learn your usage patterns and adapt the interface based on your needs at any given time.

That sounds similar to features we see on Samsung, Sony and Motorola handsets which can trigger certain settings at particular locations or time of day, but it looks like LG might be taking things a step further on the G3.

According to leaks, the features are part of what's being called a "concierge service," which also provides contextual information to help you throughout the day. An example given is that when checking the weather forecast the G3 could point out that "you may want to take an umbrella, since rain is expected this afternoon."

The same leak shed more light on the G3's new-look interface, showing circular icons and a new notifications menu, with toggles for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, mobile data and access to the Q Remote.

LG G3 camera

Initial rumors coming out of ZDNet Korea pointed towards a 16MP sensor, but more recent leaks suggest a 13MP one.

What will probably be the first of many photos supposedly taken on the handset appeared the other day. The picture was an impressively detailed image of a cat and had a resolution of 4260 x 2342 according to the EXIF data.

That equates to 9.6MP at a 16:9 aspect ratio, which would mean the camera should be capable of taking 13MP photos at a 4:3 ratio.

The photo was posted on the ortud.com forum by someone going by the name 'Geek'. The poster claimed their friend was testing the phone and that it had a 13MP camera with optical image stabilization plus (OIS+) and that it's very similar to the snapper in the LG G Pro 2.

The posters megapixel claims match those revealed by the EXIF data, but that's something that's very easy to fake.

Phone Arena also received a User Agent profile from an anonymous source which showed a device going by the name LG D830 (the same device as appeared in benchmarks) as having a 13MP camera along with support for 4K video playback and 120fps slow motion video.

The LG G3 will have a 13MP camera, along with a dual-LED flash.

Meanwhile the front-facing camera is being sports at 2MP.

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Apple CarPlay

Imagine you're already running late and suddenly realize you forgot how to get there. Thankfully, you have Apple CarPlay running, so you can simply ask Siri to pull up directions. 

The set-tup as it was left much to be desired and was rudimentary at best. Siri was way off base when it responded to voice commands, and the app offering is limited. A few more apps are due down the road, including Spotify and Podcasts, but for now CarPlay is stuck with Maps, Phone, Messages and Music - the barest infotainment essentials.

It's cool to ask your car to pull up directions to some unfamiliar destination, but CarPlay neither felt absolutely necessary or the best option I could have turned to for my navigation, music or communicating needs.

Too Simple plugins

CarPlay requires users to plug their iPhones into the car. It's as simple as that; you're basically tethering your iPhone and accessing a few of its (very basic) apps through your car's system.

My demo involved an iPhone 5S standing up in a disc-shaped port near the cup holders, but, a manager of embedded software at Mercedes-Benz Research & Development, said one day users will likely connect their iPhone via a Lightening cable coming from inside the car's center console. That way, you could store your iPhone in the console without worrying about it falling on the car floor or spilling a drink on it.

Once your iPhone is hooked up, CarPlay boots up and is ready to rumble. Sound channels through your car's speakers and its interior microphones relay your voice commands.

Siri is not a good co-pilot

One of CarPlay's selling points is that drivers have a co-pilot(!) in voice-controlled Siri. Let's just say that in my time with the digital companion, I would have kicked it to the curb.
To be fair, tech demos on location can often be hindered by poor connectivity and other environmental factors, so sometimes miscues can be forgiven.
Still, Siri was laughably inept at understanding basic voice commands.
A request to find coffee initiated a response of, "I couldn't find a place called 'Call me.'" This was just one of several potholes Siri found itself stepping in.

Knob improvements to come

The plan is to eventually optimize when voice commands are used and eliminate touch as much as possible. They told me that Mercedes plans to implement touchscreen controls in the main control knob you use to control CarPlay, but that feature isn't available yet.
Mercedes' dashboard CarPlay display doesn't support touch either, and they explained that at least in its case, the company felt it was too distracting to be gazing at and leaning forward to fiddle with a screen at eye-level. Instead, the car maker wants drivers to have a screen they can glance at comfortably while controlling it from a "lean back and drive" position.
The knob itself is sleek and shiny. Twisting and pressing the dial makes selections, and differently timed presses do different things. For example, if you're deep in the Music app, a short press will take you back one step while a long press will take you back to the main menu.

Calls, texts and the Maps

I found CarPlay's call and text capabilities to be fair, but there's a lot of interaction and a little too much lag time to send a text.
Messages can be read aloud, and then you have the option to reply or leave it alone. I suppose CarPlay got the communications job done, but it all felt slightly cumbersome and as though Apple didn't put much effort into optimizing the exchange for the car.
We never hit the road with Maps, but with Siri's inability to decipher vocal commands and Apple Maps' shoddy reputation, I wouldn't trust the system to get me where I needed to go, at least not to start.

One nice feature is that a thumbnail image of your Maps route stays fixed to the upper left-hand corner of the tablet screen if you move into other apps. It's a pleasant reminder CarPlay hasn't forgotten it's directing you where you're steering to.

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HTC One M8 Review

HTC has launched his premium smartphone of this year. HTC  has launched some great smartphones - last year's HTC One being the most obvious example. But none of them have really managed to become popular.

Look and Feel
HTC's aesthetic is still miles ahead of the competition, though. The M8's front face is minimalistic and clean, with only a small silver company logo breaking from the dark glass and metal. There are grilles above and below the screen for HTC's trademark BoomSound speakers, and the notification LED is as usual hidden behind the upper one. Thanks to a switch to on-screen buttons, the M7's awkward two-button setup has been dispensed with.

Features and specifications
The M8 comes with Qualcomm's latest and greatest Snapdragon processor, the 801. This is a slight speed bump over last year's flagship Snapdragon 800.
Interestingly, the M8 in India has a higher clock speed; 2.5GHz as opposed to 2.3GHz in other markets. HTC says this is because Indian consumers are more concerned about specifications.
The HTC One (M8) comes with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of built-in storage, which can be expanded to 128GB  using a microSD card. The battery is rated at 2,600mAh, which is adequate. Wi-Fi b/g/n/ac and Bluetooth 4.0 are standard, and there's also an infrared emitter and receiver, FM radio, and the usual array of sensors.
The 5-inch 1080x1920-pixel screen is noticeably larger than the M7's 4.7 inch.
 The M8 runs on latest Android 4.4.2, with HTC's Sense 6 interface on top. This version of Sense is definitely more minimalist than previous versions.

Dual camera
HTC doesn't say much about the specifications of the second camera, and indeed you can't record pictures or videos through it. It's much more of a sensor, and is included in order to add extra context to photos taken with the primary camera. You won't get stereoscopic 3D effects on photos, but you will be able to make some very neat edits, which aren't possible with regular cameras or even regular PC software.

HTC is also still sticking to its UltraPixel technology , which capture more light per pixel. By ordinary metrics, that means the One M8's camera has a piddly 4 MP sensor compared to the 16 MPof its competitors, but in practice, there is merit to HTC's approach.

The 5 MP front camera was a bit of a letdown, considering it's actually capable of taking larger photos than the rear one. Images weren't always well exposed, and there was a lot of compression. As far as video goes, 1080p is a big step down from 4K, which the M8's prime competitors offer. Video is quite clean and smooth, but not spectacular.

The dual-camera tricks only come into play when editing photos. The possibilities are quite impressive, and make for excellent demonstrations, but after a while we're left wondering how often we'd actually use them. The most impressive is the copy/paste feature, which lets you extract people from backgrounds and rearrange them in other photos.

Performance
This is our first opportunity to benchmark a device based on the new Snapdragon 801, since Samsung launched only the Exynos-based variant of its Galaxy S5 in India. While the Exynos has four high-powered and four low-powered cores, the Snapdragon has only four, but more powerful and running significantly faster.
The Galaxy S5 and the One (M8) showed different strengths, it was the M8 that came out on top. Qualcomm's advantage over other ARM-based processor vendors has so far been graphics, and we saw that continue to be the case despite Samsung's impressive work with its in-house processors.
Verdict
The HTC One (M8) is not a radical departure from last year's HTC One. It's a solid update, but isn't new or exciting, and definitely isn't worth upgrading to if you currently use any of last year's premium phones.
The M8's major competition will come from Sony's Xperia Z2 and Samsung's Galaxy S5, both of which offer similar or better specifications. The M8 will have to rely on its premium build quality and camera gimmicks to appeal to buyers, and perhaps a price cut sometime mid-lifecycle. Meanwhile, Samsung and Sony are experimenting with waterproof bodies, heart rate sensors, 4K video recording, fingerprint readers, smart accessories, and much more.
Ultimately, despite being a fantastically crafted phone that works really well, the M8 will appeal only to those who either place a high value on design, or seriously dislike Samsung and Sony. We're less enthusiastic about the M8 than we are about the inevitable price cut the M7 will receive. HTC seriously needs a reinvention, and the One (M8) is not it.

Price Around Rs.49990

Key Specification:
Display                                                       5.00-inch

Processor                                                   2.5GHz

Front Camera                                            5-megapixel

Resolution                                                1080x1920 pixels

RAM                                                         2GB

OS                                                             Android 4.4.2

Storage                                                     16GB

Rear Camera                                           4-Ultrapixel

Battery capacity                                      2600mAh

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Exclusive : LG G Flex

Flexible materials have been showcased and prototyped, but the last few months have seen the first few commercially available devices that sport flexible materials including a flexible, curved display.

LG G Flex is the second phone after Samsung Galaxy Round to boast of this unique form factor. The phone features the curved from top to bottom and offers some amount of flexibility.

Build & Design
LG G Flex's unique design catches your eye the very first time you look at the phone. The phone is curved at the back in a concave form, vertically (top to bottom). In addition to being curved, the phone can be flattened out to a limited extent by applying pressure when it lays on its front. LG has reduced the flexibility of the phone and it bends as long as the pressure is applied.

The front is dominated by a 6-inch OLED display with a 720p resolution,  a 2.1MP camera and the sensor array placed just above the display. The right edge is barren while the left edge features the micro sim card tray.
The back reminded us of the LG G2 as it features the volume rocker and power keys, just below the 13MP camera lens and LED flash..

Camera
LG G Flex sports a 13MP rear camera and a 2MP front-facing camera. The camera modules are similar to that of the LG G2 except that the G Flex doesn't include Optical Image Stabilization or OIS which means that the phone is more sensitive to shakes while taking photos.

User interface
LG G Flex runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, which was a bit disappointing as new phones are shipping with Android 4.4 KitKat, the latest iteration of the OS at this time.

LG G Flex includes its own voice assistant in addition to Google Now. It was able to understand our accent and was handy for tasks like launching apps, setting a reminder and checking the weather.

Performance
LG G Flex is powered by a 2.26GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor coupled with Adreno 330 graphics and 2GB RAM.

The phone offers 32GB internal storage. Unfortunately, you can't expand the storage as the phone doesn't come with a memory card slot. It offers NFC, Bluetooth, WiFi and GPS connectivity options.

Verdict
At a price of nearly Rs 70,000, it is difficult to recommend LG G Flex over other top-of-the-line premium smartphones. The only novelty that the phone offers is its curved display. However, we feel it's still not ready for prime time as LG is not able to offer any significant use case for it. The self-healing back also has its limitations.

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Moto X : First Impression

Moto X from Motorola brings you a unique Google experience on a budget with all the power of a high-end device intact. The Moto X is designed with a slight curve to fit perfectly in your hand, making it easy to access and text on when you are on the move.

Voice Control

The Moto X responds to spoken commands preceded by OK Google Now, essentially providing you with a virtual voice assistant to perform functions without touching the phone. You can train the device to recognize your voice with Crystal Talk that ensures that it detects your commands even in a noisy room.

Active Display

The Moto X brings all notifications right to the lock screen to ensure that you are always in the know as to what notifications you have to check. You can drag the notification up for more information and to open the app or drag it down to dismiss it. The device also detects when it is face down or in your pocket and saves up notifications for when the screen is active, allowing for great battery management.

Camera

The primary camera comes with 10 MP and is capable of capturing full HD videos. It is armed with Auto HDR technology and Panorama and burst options as well. The Clear Pixel technology ensures that ample light is captured in each frame for more clarity, regardless of what lighting you have. You can also launch the camera with Quick Capture by twisting your wrist twice, thereby saving time and capturing fleeting shots in a jiffy. The 2 MP secondary camera that can be used for video chatting is also capable of capturing full HD videos.

Processor

The Motorola X has a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor that comes with a 1.7GHz Dual-Core Krait CPU and a Quad-Core Adreno 320 GPU. With the support of a 2 GB RAM, the device gives you speedy performance and has exemplary gaming capabilities.

OS

The Moto X comes with Android  KitKat  4.4.2 that is one of the most advanced operating systems in the world. It gives you great text input and smarter notifications and has an interface that is also fluid and smooth. With access to Google Play Store and support for further software updates, the phone strives to give you a truly Android experience.

Display

The device sports a 4.7 inch AMOLED screen that has 720p HD resolution to present crisp and sharp visuals which don't strain the eye - with the Moto X, entertainment is immersive. The screen also comes with a water-repellent coating.

Storage

A storage capacity of 16 GB allows you to store all your apps, music and photos without running out of memory. The Moto X also comes with an extra 50 GB of storage on Google Drive.

Key Features

• Android v4.4 (KitKat) OS
• 1.7 GHz Dual Core Krait CPU
• NFC Support
• Water-repellent Coating
• 2 Years 50 GB Free Storage Google Drive
• Moto X Respond to Voice
• 10 MP Quick Capture Gesture Primary Camera
• 4.7-inch AMOLED Touchscreen with Active Display
• Touchless Control: OK Google Now
• 16 GB Internal Memory
• Miracast Wireless Display

Costs Around Rs.24000

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Sony Xperia T2 Ultra

 

The Sony Xperia T2 Ultra is Sony's second attempt after Sony Xperia Z Ultra at wooing consumers who want an extra large size screen in their smartphones. But unlike the Z Ultra, T2 is not a flagship product. The goal is to sell a device that is value for money and not the one that is fastest, best looking and priciest.

After using the device for a couple of days, we think Sony largely succeeds.  The Xperia T2 Ultra is a good product. However, before we talk about the price and value of T2 Ultra, let's take a look at the device and its specifications.

Build and design

 Xperia T2 Ultra follows the same design that Sony uses in its high-end range of Z smartphones. It is a sleek, slim and good looking device. The difference between T2 Ultra and other high-end Sony smartphones is the build material that is, metal body and a glass back cover. T2 Ultra doesn't have water or dust resistant body.

T2 Ultra is just 7.7mm thick and weighs little over 170 grams. For a phablet, these figures are very impressive. The slim and sleek design makes using T2 Ultra easier even though it is has big screen.

Display

T2 Ultra has a 6-inch TFT screen. The resolution is 1280 x 720 pixels though around 80 pixels at the bottom of the screen are taken by virtual buttons - Home, Multitasking, Back.

The screen with its 720P resolution is not as sharp as 1080P screens that have become common on phones that cost around Rs 25,000. But it is something that you will rarely notice, but if you are reading an ebook or a PDF file you will see not-so-sharp text.

The touch response of the screen is fantastic.

The T2 Ultra screen displays rich and vibrant colours and has very good viewing angles. The brightness, however, is not adequate.

Software

T2 Ultra comes with Android 4.3. It uses Sony's custom user interface (UI). Multitasking, app launcher and installer, even options to customize home screen, are similar to how they are on the stock Android.

The device comes with a few third-party apps like McAfee Security and TrackID TV preloaded on it.

Camera

T2 Ultra has a 13MP primary camera. It is definitely not in the league of the cameras found on high-end Xperias or in phones like Galaxy S4, LG2 or even Gionee E7.

The front camera can shoot images in 1.1MP. It is good enough for video chats.

Performance

T2 Ultra is powered by Snapdragon 400 quad-core processor. The four cores of the processor use A7 ARM architecture, which is meant to be used in mainstream devices. The cores run at 1.4GHz. T2 Ultra has 1GB RAM, 8GB internal storage and support for a up to 32GB microSD card.

GPS in the device works very well. The satellite lock is acquired quickly and is maintained well.

While making calls with T2 Ultra, we found the call quality to be good. The device has two sim slots.

Battery life is the highlight of T2 Ultra. After pairing the device with a 3G connection, we used it for nearly 20 hours before we had to recharge the phone. For a device with a big screen, this is fantastic battery life!

Verdict

With an MRP of Rs 25,990, we feel Xperia T2 Ultra is overpriced. If you are looking for a big-screen device, T2 Ultra is definitely the best one in its class. It is much better than HP Slate 6 Voice Tab, even though the HP device is cheaper by a couple of thousand rupees. But given the performance, hardware and experience it offers, T2 Ultra is not a value for money device.

T2 Ultra is a good phablet but it would have been easier for us to recommend if it was selling for around Rs 21,000 to Rs 22,000. But at a price of around Rs 25,000, we can recommend it to only those who must have a device with six-inch screen or users who need great battery life from their phablets.

Key Features

• Expandable Storage Capacity of 32 GB
• Android v4.3 (Jelly Bean) OS
• 6-inch TFT Capacitive Touchscreen
• 1.4 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8928 Quad Core Processor
• Full HD Recording
• Wi-Fi Enabled
• 1.1 MP Secondary Camera
• 13 MP Primary Camera

 

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