Category: Android

SmartPhone Spotlight: Sony Xperia XZ
The Xperia XZ Premium features the new Motion Eye a camera so advanced it captures motion that the human eye can’t see. And with its unified design, astonishing 4K HDR display, and intelligent features, it’s Sony’s most groundbreaking smartphone to date.

The Great
- Nice HDR Screen
- Good Power
The Not
- No 4k Content
- Lot of Bezels
- Poor design
The Conclusion

The square corners won’t appeal to everyone but if you want to watch 4K video and review your photos in as much detail as possible, this is a great phone.

Sony’s 4K-screened phone sounds like a gimmick, but the display is packed with so much technology that it impresses despite that. The color reproduction and pixel quality is superb, and the camera really rewards those that make an effort to get the best out of it.

Battery life

The XZ Premium does pretty well given how many pixels it’s driving on that 4K screen. It’ll last you a full day with a little more to spare on moderate use, thanks to some dynamic screen technology that actively alters how much is being used.

Camera

Sony’s got this new camera gimmick called the Motion Eye. The Motion Eye™ camera with Super slow motion records video at 960 frames per second, for playback four times slower than any other smartphone. Predictive Capture stays one step ahead of the action, as it starts buffering images even before you press the button. I will say the pictures are impressive

Screen

This is the only phone out there with a full-blown 4K screen, and it also comes with HDR tech. The amount of HDR content for mobiles is increasing all the time, but even without that this screen makes even the most mundane image look brighter and more colorful, and the rest of the phone is impressively powerful.

Quick Spec Look
- Weight: 195g |
- Dimensions: 156 x 77 x 7.9mm
- OS: Android 7
- Screen size: 5.5-inch
- Resolution: 3840 x 2160
- CPU: Snapdragon 835
- RAM: 4GB
- Storage: 64GB
- Battery: 3,230mAh
- Rear camera: 19MP
- Front camera: 13MP
The Final Thought

This is one of the top 20 smartphones on the market for 2018. It has its moments of wow, it also falls short in every category next to an iPhone or even top tier android. If a deal and a steal comes your way, Sony’s new phone won’t disappoint and will take you through the next year and half but upgrading will always be on your mind.
April 3, 2018
Smartphone Spotlight: Galaxy Note 9
The 128GB Galaxy Note 9 can be purchased through carriers including AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, Verizon Wireless and Xfinity, along with Best Buy, Costco, Sam’s Club, Straight Talk Wireless, Target, Walmart, Samsung.com and the ShopSamsung app.

The Great
- Slamtastic Screen
- Instalike worthy camera
- Adequate long battery
- Interesting new S-Pen tricks
- All the Specs needed
The Conclusion

The Galaxy Note 9 is Samsung’s Ultimate cry for tech geek attention. It has all the specs, a gigantic, magnificent, Fortnite worthy screen, a Bluetooth-powered S Pen, and a headphone jack… you know just all the essentials on the checklist for the kind of Android user that Samsung is targeting with a Note update. It’s a Phablets lover’s dream come true!

I’m sure we all remember the note 7 scandle, but that is all history for the Galaxy Note brand. That was two years ago, this is the Note 9 we are talking about today.

Galaxy Note 9 puts powerful technology in the hands of the tech geeks and gamers who demand more powerful and more screen from their smartphones. It certainly boast Innovative features and design make it the only phone to keep up with the next generation of users. Yes the rumors we have been telling you are true. Packed with a huge battery, a massive screen, and a powerful stylus, the Note 9 has more of everything than any other phone on the US market.

How does it look and feel

It’s large, I mean this phone is obscenely large. And when you put it in a case, it will become a liability. This is not a one-handed phone for any but the largest hands. Samsung moved the fingerprint sensor so no longer will the Note 9 fit into Note 8 case. On the bright side no more inadvertently smudging the camera lens.

The Galaxy Note 9 has a 6.4-inch quad HD Super AMOLED curved screen, and USB-C and standard headphone jacks, it is IP68 Waterproof. We have been through this, the checklist of required wants and needs are covered. Not only that but it is stunning, think Charlene Theron on the red carpet elegant.

No 5g on The Galaxy Note 9

We have talked about 5G coming next year, Don’t get hung up on that; it will be another year before 5G is widespread and before chipset makers work out the power-management kinks that come with new wireless data systems. Yes write that down you are hearing it here first. Next year’s Note 10 will be 5G. Wanna wait that long? Anyways, The existing X20 modem get speeds up to 700Mbps with the right carrier setup, showing there’s still plenty of room in 4G. That’ll do, That’ll do just fine.

Sounds and Stuff

The Note 9 brings the S9+’s dual speakers to the Note line. The two speakers are by the earpiece, and along the bottom. Compared to the previous Note 8’s single bottom speaker, the speakers here aren’t much louder but clarity and treble are off the charts. Outside of the iPhone X I don’t think I have heard a better device speaker.

The Biggest Difference

The Galaxy Note 9’s biggest upgrade is its enhanced and gargantuan 4,000mAh battery hit it with a 10-hour battery test video. Yes you know the one where I leave it on the10 hour loop of He-Man singing 4 non blondes “what’s going on”. Results, 13% left, astounding. This leads me into projecting screen-on battery life out to 12 and half hours. That Destroys all other flagship smartphone on the market. The battery is significantly larger than the one in the Galaxy S9+ (3,500mAh, 10+ hours), the Galaxy Note 8 (3,300mAh, 6 hours), or the Galaxy Note 5 (3,020mAh, 8 hours and 30 minutes).

Quick Speck Look
- Graphics Mali-G72 MP18
- Processor Octa core (2.7 GHz, Quad core, M3 Mongoose + 1.7 GHz, Quad core, Cortex A55)
- Architecture 64 bit
- Ram 6 GB
- Audio Features Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus
- Display Type Super AMOLED
- Aspect Ratio 18.5:9
- Screen Size 6.4 inches (16.26 cm)
- Screen Resolution 1440 x 2960 pixel
The Final Thought

If this thing doesn’t explode in our face we have a monster here. The screen alone will improve your Fortnite results instantly giving you an unfair advantage over any other player on a regular smartphone. It’s the battery though, it’s just too good to be true. Add in their shaky past and it’s something to be weary off.
March 31, 2018
Google’s Wear OS Watch Previewed.

Weeks after Google changed the name from Android Wear to Wear Os, a developer preview for Wear OS is out. One of the major changes that the preview brings to Android wearables is it’s efforts to preserve battery life. Until now, Wear OS, had no battery consumption patterns or give the user ability to manual preserve the battery. However, that’s all soon to change with the upcoming update.

The New News.

Google unveiled the first preview of its new Wear OS wearables which is set to replace the Android Wear brand mentioned earlier this month. Along with preserving device battery life, the re-brand also brings the software in line with the new functions of Android P, the newest update to Google’s MOS, coming in later 2018. Other major changes include restricted Wi-Fi while the watch is not connected to any Bluetooth device. The new update also features Limited background activity along with Low-power mode. With the Wear OS, the background activity of apps will be restricted. In its developers’ blog, Google explains, “To improve power, apps will no longer be allowed to run in the background unless the watch is on the charger.” This is all an effort to increase and extend the battery life a little longer.

Having cell/data connection or Bluetooth switched on over extended period can also lower the battery on smartwatches. After the new update, Wear OS will automatically turn off Bluetooth, WiFi, and cellular connection when users are not wearing the smartwatch. The watch is programmed to know when it is not being worn by the consumer and will automatically shutdown after a short period. Google has not specified the exact time lapse before the feature kicks in, but we can probably assume within a few minutes or less. The Wear OS will restrict smartwatches from immediately switching on WiFi connection after Bluetooth is switched off by users. It will connect to WiFi only if users want to or when it is being charged. This is actually a great little feature to further assist the lazy consumer or the one who forgets to be attentive to such things.

The Summary.

Google will release the finalized version of the Wear OS in the fourth quarter of 2018 and hopefully all the kinks and issues can be resolved by then. Im interested to see exactly how user friendly can get the software. Who knows, could be a real home run for the company on this ambitious new endeavor.

March 31, 2018
RED the Smartphone

In 2017, the cinema camera making company RED announced it was working a smarthphone with a holographic screen Consumers were unsure what this meant until September 2017. Essentially, the phone would provide a 3D viewing experience on screen, projecting things like buildings and landscapes in an interactive map. A user could essentially take a virtual tour via the phone screen, looking around, above, behind, or in-between various objects.

The RED smart phone is currently available for pre-order, for the fairly hefty price tag of $1,195. No official release date has been announced, but the company says its Hydrogen One smartphone will ship this summer. Jim Jannard, RED’s CEO and founder, gave the update in January. RED says that the Hydrogen One phone is still months away from being released. But it does at least have a timeline: the phone is supposed to enter mass production and then ship sometime this summer.

What Is It?

There have been a few basic details about the phone around since last July, and Jannard has now revealed a few more: it’ll run a Snapdragon 835 processor (Jannard writes that it’s an “835x,” which doesn’t currently exist, so it’s unclear if that’s a typo or some upcoming variant), have a dual SIM slot, and include a 4,500mAh battery, which is relatively huge. (The Note 8, for comparison, has a 3,300mAh battery.) The downside to this phone being released a full year after it was announced is that, while the 835 is a top-of-the-line chip, it’ll be succeeded by the Snapdragon 845 by the time the Hydrogen One actually makes it to market. That’s not necessarily a huge deal, but for a phone this expensive, it’s not great, either.

This 4V — or ‘four view’ — tech is what makes the Hydrogen One exciting on paper. With it, the phone can handle normal 2D media, stereo 3D, augmented reality, virtual reality and augmented reality, without additional glasses or headsets. The company hasn’t been forthcoming in explaining how this will work, although it did offer a slightly bemusing description in its update: “The 4V files match the pixel resolution of a traditional 2D file, which is great for downloading. The resolution perception is just different. The horizontal resolution of 2D is now split into depth layers. It gives a completely different feeling. All the pixels are there… but instead of ‘looking at’ a pic, you are immersed in the image. It is quite spectacular.” RED is best known for its high-spec camera, so if it pulls this off, it certainly will be quite spectacular. At least both skeptics and supporters will only have to wait a few months to find out.

The Final Thought

Alot of anticipation, hesitation, and skepticism are surrounding the. good be peaches, could be lunch meat we wont know till this summer. Ill with hold any true judgement until then, stay tuned.

March 30, 2018
iPhone X vs Galaxy S9 Plus
It seems like smartphones are always improving and new versions are constantly coming out.
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There are so many options out there and it can be hard to decide on which one is really the best. Below is a comparison of the two most popular smartphone brand’s latest and greatest, Apple iPhone X and Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus.

Apple iPhone X: $999+

iPhone is always a top pick when it comes to smartphones. The latest version is a creation to celebrate iPhone’s tenth anniversary. It is almost a whole new phone, not to mention the most expensive phone ever on the market to date. The major difference everyone is intrigued about in this exclusive new phone, is that Apple has taken away the home button and switched to a face identification feature. Rather than a touch identification to unlock your iPhone, this phone will use a 3D face map to identify you and unlock your phone.

A few more things to note about this phone:
- The front and back are glass- so you will definitely want to invest in a protective case.
- This iPhone supports wireless charging.
- Like all previous iPhones, the iPhone X also comes with a single nano-SIM card slot.
- The camera placement is vertical rather than horizontal. Both camera sensors get optical image stabilization.
- There is not a headphone jack, so wireless headphones or an adaptor would be needed.
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Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus: $839.99+

Another popular choice when it comes to choosing a smartphone, the Galaxy S9 Plus has some great updates. It is pretty similar to last year’s S8 Plus…but the main improvements are the cameras and the large screen. The camera take quality photos thanks to the low-light and noise-defeating powers that take this smartphone to the next level. Not only is the new screen bigger, the curved display now takes up 90% of the front of the phone.

A few more things to note about this phone:
- The fingerprint sensor has been better-placed and now is aligned in the center on the back of the phone.
- Wireless charging is an option with this glass phone.
- This phone features face unlock and iris scanning.
- Lack of a headphone jack is not an issue with this phone, plug them in!
- The stereo speakers on this phone are outstanding and loud.
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The Bottom Line

It all boils down to pricing and preference seeing as both phones have very similar new features. Both phones have a facial identification feature, wireless charging is an option, outstanding cameras and loud, quality speakers. The main differences are the iPhone no longer has a touch identification and you are not able to plug in your headphones directly to the phone. Whichever phone you choose, you’ll be sure to love your new smartphone!
March 29, 2018
Muse Speaks to Me While I Drive
Speak Music’s Muse is terrific way to bring Alexa voice commands to your car. Plug the Oreo-sized accessory into your car’s USB port or lighter socket and connect it to your phone via Bluetooth and you’ll be able to order Alexa to play and control your music, get the weather, add items to your to-do list, control your smart home device
The Great
- Small
- Inexpensive
- Easy setup
- Lets you stream music
The Not
- No turn-by-turn directions
- Lacks Spotify integration
- Alexa slow to respond
The Conclusion

This small Bluetooth dongle lets you use Alexa while you’re driving, but the voice assistant could respond faster.
I Said To Myself

Do you have no one to talk to while you drive? Have you ever said to yourself I wish I could bring Amazon’s versatile voice assistant to your car and say goodbye to boring commutes or fumbling with the phone. Be productive and entertained while keeping our eyes on the road and hands on the wheel but no one was there to listen to you? Well Now there is

Muse Auto is a small Bluetooth device that brings the power and convenience of Amazon Alexa to the car. Just plug it in, pair with your smartphone and say “Alexa”.

How Does It Do

Like other in vehicle Alexa peripherals this needs to link to your phone and use your phone’s data through the Muse app. I found connecting to the Muse by Bluetooth plus using cellular data chews through my battery super fast. I end up closing the app when I leave my car and restarting it each time I get in the car. I also plug in my phone to keep it from dying. Pretty easy workarounds.

For voice commands you need to say the wake word, wait a few seconds until you hear a low sound, give the command, then you hear a second sound that the command was received. My trouble is the first sound is too quiet and not distinctive so I can’t always tell if the Muse heard my wake word.

Very easy to install. Downloaded the app and it walked me right though it. The device is small and I mounted mine on the driver’s side of my center console where only I can see it. Yeah I’m stealthy like that. When I want to interact with Alexa I just set the car audio input to Bluetooth, a one button push in my Ford, and it works. It’s pretty cool to be able to “talk” with Alexa in my car. The kids like to play 20-questions and I get the news read to me on the way to work. There is a short delay between calling out “Alexa” and hearing the soft tone which indicates the device is listening to you, but I got the timing down after a few tries and now she obeys my every command! I’m king of the car again

The Final Thought

Overall the Muse is adequate if you don’t mind yelling “Alexa” a whole bunch, or plugging in your phone, or fiddling with an app when you start or leave your car. Not ideal for quick trips but if you’re taking a long trip or have a substantial commute it can be worth setting it up before the trip. Most of the issues can be handled with software updates so I’ll hang on to it. And there is something cool about turning up the thermostat when I leave work then pulling in the driveway saying “I’m home” and having the lights turn on. So there is a little Alexa magic. It’s just not seamless yet.
March 14, 2018
Huwaie P20 Rumors and Speculations
Huawei is releasing the new P20 at the end of this month. This is turning out to be a tumultuous year for Huwaie who was poised to make a big splash and become a major player. The Huawei P20 may be the follow-up to the 2017 Huawei P10 and become the flagship of the Huawei line.

Here are press renders of the Huawei P20, P20 Lite and P20 Pro smartphones that will be announced officially later this month. This also shows camera specifications of the phones and display notch for all where the earpiece, sensors and the front camera are present. The fingerprint sensor is present on the front for the P20 and the P20 Pro, but it is located on the back on the P20 Lite.

3 Camera Pro

he Huawei P20 Pro is their top of the line model which comes with a total of 3 cameras. Im not sure why or what that means but ill check it out. WE know it will be able to take portrait like photos, but i cant fathom a need for a 3rd depth camera.

The P-Series is usually regarded as Huawei’s “fashion-forward” smartphone, with an emphasis on design. We have some big assumptions and guesses as to what we are going to see. Huawei may adopt a controversial “notch” at the top of the display,image files found in the software that help obscure particular areas around the top of the screen. The firmware stated the unnamed device has a 6.01-inch screen with a 2,244 x 1,080-pixel resolution, longer than a traditional 1,920 x 1,080-pixel screen.

Maybe Animojies

While I cant confirm that Huawei face detect and depth camera will be ready for the P20, but if they have have pushed this tech into the P@0 we will most certainly see an Apple like animojies.

Quick Spec Look

Huawei P20 Lite rumored specifications
- 5.84-inch (1080 x 2280 pixels) Full HD+ 2.5D curved glass display
- Octa-Core Kirin 659 processor (4 xA53 at 2.36GHz + 4 x A53 at 1.7GHz) with MaliT830-MP2 GPU
- 4GB RAM, 64GB storage, expandable memory up to 256GB with microSD
- Android 8.0 (Oreo) with EMUI 8.0
- 16MP rear camera with LED flash, Hybrid zoom, secondary 2MP camera
- 16MP / 24MP front-facing camera
- Fingerprint sensor
- Dimensions: 148.6×71.2×7.4mm; Weight: 145g
- 4G VoLTE, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS / GLONASS
- 3000mAh (typical) / 2900mAh (minimum) battery
The Huawei P20 Lite is expected to come in Blue, Black, Rose Gold and Gold colors. The new Huawei P20 series will be announced an event in Paris on March 27.

The Final Thought

Its all speculation and hype so far. While I love the irradecent color and the blue I could never see my self carrying one and Im curious to test the Kirin 659 processor against the Snapdragon 845, that is about where the excitement ends on this. Here is to hoping for something cool we don’t even know about.
March 13, 2018
The Best Preorder Deals for the S9

Finally, the wait to preorder the new Samsung Galaxy S9 is over! Starting this week, customers can preorder the innovative Samsung Galaxy S9 or S9+ through Samsung and other leading cellular retailers. I have personally scoured the web and contacted all my insiders at every vendor I know to find the best preorder Deals for the Samsung S9.

1. Samsung Direct

With a direct order from Samsung, you can take advantage of direct pricing of $719 for the galaxy s9. With a $300 trade-in offer for my Galaxy s7, and samsungs no interest financing option I can purchase the phone for just $18 a month. They are also offering a 12 month upgrade option. Basically, after 12 months, you’ll be eligible to upgrade your phone. Just return the phone in good condition, and they apply a credit to your account for up to 50% of the initial financed amount.

In Short for a little more then the cost of a Netflix subscription I can get the newest Galaxy, every year, on release day for $18 a months.

Net Cost $216 per year

2. Verizon

The big red machine is offering the same $300 off for my galaxy S7, dropping the price from $33 a month to $21 a month. By switching to Verizon they will give me an additional $150 prepaid visa card. The down side to this deal is that Im stuck on Verizon service for 24 months.

Total Net cost : $149 a year for 2 years

3. Xfinity Mobile

This came as a bit of a surprise but The Samsung Galaxy S9 can be purchased for $719 from Xfinity Mobile, and the S9+ can be bought for $839. Two-year monthly installment plans with $30 payments are available. Xfinity Mobile is also offering up to $350 savings on Samsung’s new phones when trading in eligible smartphones, but only $300 for my S7. There is also a promotion to give you a $200 prepaid card for purchasing a Samsung device.

Total Net Cost: $110 a year for 2 years.

March 8, 2018
Jurrasic Park Alive is the AR Game We Deserve

In the key of Pokemon Go, Jurassic World Alive is the AR game we have been waiting for. This game is set to explode in the same way Pokemon Go took over the summer of 2016. Alive is the latest franchise to try their hand on the Pokémon Go formula. Yes, we finally we get dinosaurs unleashed around our local neighborhood.

The Dinosaur Hunt

Jurassic World Alive puts players in the role of a new recruit in the Dinosaur Protection Group (DPG). Players are tasked with saving dinosaurs from another extinction by tracking them, collecting DNA samples and creating new hybrid species in a lab. Those man-made dinosaurs can be assembled into a team and fight in player-versus-player arena battles, which kind of seems counterproductive to the whole dinosaur protection thing.

“Players discover dinosaurs by locating them on a map and deploying an in-game drone to collect DNA samples,” developer Ludia explains. You’ll also be able to snap a photo with your favorite dinosaurs, level up the beasts you capture, and, unlike in Pokémon Go, you’ll be able to battle them with other players. The game’s map screen, as shown in the debut trailer, even looks a lot like Niantic’s Pokémon AR game. Ludia previously developed a pair of park management-style Jurassic Park games for mobile.

When Can We Play?

Alive is expected to come to both Android and iOS in the spring, putting its release very close to the new film Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, which debuts on June 22nd.

The Final Thought

I hope this is the game that can reach the success in the AR platform. We have all been waiting for the true AR gaming standard and would love to hunt dinosaurs in real simulation. I am overly excited to play this game, more then any grown man should be. I wont be as embarrassed to be walking around playing this as I was Pokemon Go and I know My 4 year old nephew and myself will have hours of fun with this. Lets hope they as John Hammond would say “spared no expense” in the development of this monster and it lives up to the hype.

March 7, 2018
Nokia 8 Sirocco Brings Welcomed News.

At Mobile World Congress today, the Nokia 8 Sirocco made news of its release and the unexpected upgrades it got. The resulting looks are impressive to say the least, and the fingerprint reader has been moved to the rear to reduce the bezels at the front. The entire phone has curved points at the edges, with a design that hides the usual antenna lines. The changes and upgrades appear to make the phone sleek, light, and comfortable.

The Specs

The Nokia 8 Sirocco is equipped with Qualcomm’s 835 processor, 6GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage. At the center is a 5.5-inch OLED display (2560 x 1440). HMD is also using a dual-camera system at the rear with a 12-megapixel primary camera and ZEISS optics. The front-facing 5-megapixel camera also has a wide-angle (84-degree) lens. The software will support HMD’s “bothie” mode. As HMD has switched to a glass device, there’s also wireless charging on the Nokia 8 Sirocco. Unfortunately, HMD removed the headphone jack. You’ll need to use USB-C or Bluetooth headphones, or make use of the USB-C to 3.5mm headset adapter in the box.

More News

“The Nokia 8 Sirocco will be available in April priced at 749 euros ($920). Alongside the Nokia 8 Sirocco, HMD is also launching two mid-range devices. The Nokia 7 Plus has the same camera system as the Nokia 8 Sirocco, but it swaps the exterior for a ceramic coating. The Nokia 7 Plus includes Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 660 processor, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage. The 6-inch LCD display (2160 x 1080) on the 7 Plus is 18:9 so it’s extra-tall. The bezels look similar to Google’s Pixel 2 XL display, and HMD has placed the fingerprint reader at the rear to help with that. HMD plans to make the Nokia 7 Plus available in April for 399 euros ($490). HMD is also introducing a refreshed Nokia 6. The new Nokia 6 runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 630 processor, with 3GB of 4GB of RAM, and 32GB or 64GB of storage. HMD has moved the fingerprint reader to the back of the 5.5-inch (1920 x 1080) device. Additionally they added a 16-megapixel camera at the rear with ZEISS optics. The updated Nokia 6 will be available in April priced at 279 euros ($343).”

The Summary

With all the welcomed upgrades and tech going into the Sirocco, Nokia may be making moves to enter the ring with the big “smart phone” dogs. The companies almost novelty strength of their phones, has kept them relevant for this long so lets see what they got. I am eager to see how this new phone operates and competes against Apple and Samsung.

March 1, 2018