Wednesday, August 26, 2015
iPhone 6s Logic Board
The iPhone 6S release date is still unconfirmed, but several reports indicate that Apple will host a media event on September 9, and given Apple's regular annual update cycle, a new iPhone announcement — presumably including both the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus — seems all but guaranteed. Though it's hard to say exactly what will be included in the next-generation iPhone, purportedly leaked information about its hardware, software, and more have been passed around Apple rumor blogs in recent weeks. We've reviewed the information to identify realistic new features from the unlikely ones, and based on our observations, here's what we think you can expect from the next iPhone:
What will the new iPhone look like?
The next iPhone will likely have the same casing as the current model, the iPhone 6. Most experts predict that it will include faster processor and more RAM in addition to a brand new operating system, iOS 9, first previewed earlier this year at Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC). The updated operating system will position Apple to compete directly against Android’s unique functions like Google Now predictive search and Samsung’s multi-window feature.
Apple will put Siri’s new predictive search functions—called Proactive—front and center on the new operating system as well. Swiping right on the home screen will bring users to a Siri Suggestions section that will show users friends they may want to contact, relevant apps, nearby restaurants, and more. The updated operating system will also bring a much-needed update to Apple Maps. On the iPad, iOS 9 will allow people to run two apps at once and also have picture-in-picture functionality.
How much better will the new iPhone hardware be?
In addition to the new operating system, Apple is expected to update the rear-facing camera of the iPhone. Although the camera has been championed as “the world's’ most popular,” it has still failed to perform as well as the latest crop of Android phones in a number of independent camera tests. Apple is expected to increase the camera quality to 12 megapixels (from 8 megapixels in its current generation), which would put it on par with the type of specifications seen in phones such as the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6.
The iPhone camera's specifications have remained unchanged since the iPhone 4S, which was released back in 2011. The company squeezed great performance from the 8 megapixel camera sensor using software to add sharpness and color clarity. Apple upgraded its front-facing camera to 1.2 megapixels in the iPhone 5 in 2012. Instead of increasing pixel numbers the next year, the iPhone 5s increased the pixel size from 1.4µm to 1.5µm and brought better low-light performance with dual LED bulbs. The iPhone 6 added video functions such as time-lapse and the ability to shift focus while recording. Although it’s widely known that more megapixels doesn’t mean better performance, many iPhone users will welcome the increase.
An all new input option for iPhone users
Force Touch is a feature that debuted with the Apple Watch in April. It allows a touchscreen or touchpad to determine the amount of force exerted. Because it can differentiate the amount of force applied, the touchscreen or touchpad can interpret different pressures as different functions. For instance, a hard push could be used as a right click on the iPad.
Since its initial rollout with the Apple Watch, Apple has added Force Touch to the newest Macbook computers that were unveiled at WWDC in April. Now that two of Apple’s newest products have Force Touch, many experts (and fans) expect the company to bring that function over to its best-selling device, the iPhone.
Sony Xperia Z3+ Review
Introduction
We remember waiting for the Sony Xperia Z4 as the rumors about it kept piling up over each other. Yet, as the handset's surprisingly “soft” launch finally commenced, we came to understand that the Sony Xperia Z4 is actually more of a Sony Xperia Z3+, complete with the same branding for markets outside Japan. Thus, we couldn't help, but wonder – has Sony's strategy of upgrading its flagship smartphones twice a year, incorporating incremental improvements while overlooking opportunities for major changes, finally gotten the best of them? We won't spoil the provocative question by answering it just yet, but our review will give you the verdict, along with our quick opinion on whether it's worth upgrading from the Xperia Z3 to the Z3+.
Package includes:
Xperia Z3+ smartphones
microUSB cable
Charging adapter
Earphones
User guides
Design
Wow, it's the best same-looking Sony Xperia Z handset ever!
Even if you've seen or held the Sony Xperia Z3 before it, it takes a cold and rational mind, one free of emotion's grip and governed entirely by the principles of logic, to not be impressed by the Sony Xperia Z3+'s look and feel. But what needs to be said has to be said - the Xperia Z3+ is virtually identical to its predecessor. It has the same metal and glass build, one of the best in class, but entirely predictable at this point. The omission of the magnetic charging port is welcome, however, for it was neither particularly useful, nor elegant-looking. On the Xperia Z3, the charging port was covered with a flap, while the one on the Z3+ is wide in the open, and still waterproof – an unquestionably better design. But the camera shutter button on the Z3 was slightly less wobbly and nicer to press.
Still, these are very minor gripes to have with a design as sleek and understated as Sony's. A more serious complaint would be the complete finger magnet of a glass used for the handset's front and back panel, and while we're at it, the volume buttons feel quite anemic, lacking width and travel. But on the side of good news, the Xperia Z3+ is 0.016 (0.4mm) thinner than its predecessor, coming in at just 0.27in (6.9mm) of thinness, and is also 0.28oz (8 grams) lighter, at 5.08 oz (144g). Overall, the handset measures 5.76 x 2.83 x 0.27 inches (146.3 x 71.9 x 6.9 mm), making for a rather big device.
Consider the repositioning of the microSD and SIM slot to the left, and this concludes the list of obvious differences between this and last year's model. There are more subtle, almost imperceptible nuances on the surface that make the Xperia Z3+'s build seem ever so slightly tighter – the frame is more flush with the body, the front-facing speakers now occupy the very ends of the top and bottom bezels, and the microphone has been moved to the frame's top side.
On the dual-SIM version of the device, the combined microSD and SIM card slot houses one microSD card and up to two nanoSIM cards simultaneously. Usually, dual-SIM handsets limit users to having either two SIM cards, or one SIM card and one microSD card at the same time, so Sony has to be commended for this bit of clever engineering.
Apple iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus rumor round-up: specs, features, price and release date
In 2014, Apple made the biggest upgrade to its iPhone lineup: it finally introduced a larger iPhone. And there was not just one new device, but two models: the 4.7" iPhone 6 and the 5.5" iPhone 6 Plus.This year, in 2015, rumors agree that Apple will stick to these two devices and preserve the design, but make some big changes to the internal hardware and the software.
With rumors flying from all kinds of sources, it's time to round up the picture around the 2015 Apple iPhones: the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, as most analysts expect them to be called.
Force Touch
A feature that allows the device to know the difference between a slight tap and a longer, more forceful touch on the display, Force Touch was first introduced on the Apple Watch and quickly spread to the new Macbook. These days, pretty much all rumors agree that Force Touch is coming to the new iPhone 6s family of phones.
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Another implementation is said to be in the Music application, where a strong touch on a song listing gives users the option to add the song to a playlist, or hold on it to save it for offline listening. A third possible feature would have you Force Touch on a contact to go directly to voice mail. These are just some things that Apple is allegedly testing right now, and we'll see the full stack of Force Touch uses on the iPhone 6s in the near future, if this indeed becomes a feature of the new iPhone.
Keep in mind that Apple is working hard on making the physical response to Force Touch a consistent one, no matter when and where it is employed on the iPhone. It's also very likely to see the Force Touch option be made available to developers via an API in the near future for use in third-party apps.
Samsung Galaxy Note5 Review
Introduction
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Riding high on that momentum, Samsung is one of the first major players out of the gate to announce and deliver its phones for the second half of the year. Last year, the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 managed to receive universal acclaim for its superb specs sheet, all-around performance, and most importantly, its utility for being the Swiss Army knife of smartphones with its rich features set. In the world of Android phablets, Samsung’s Note line has yet to see any sort of threat – so there’s always reason to be excited about a successor.
And that, folks, is where we find ourselves with theSamsung Galaxy Note5. Even before its official announcement, we all knew that another major redesign was coming – not surprising, considering that the S6’s premium design has been widely received by consumers. While it’s almost certain that the Note5 (are we the only ones who like 'Note 5' better?) is going to be yet another solid offering, we’ve seen a shift in the space of late that points us to the direction of these value-conscious phones that pack impressive qualities without the hefty pricing attached to them. As more and more carriers phase out contract pricing, it’s only going to be more crucial for high-end phones to justify their worth, as devices in general are being bought full-priced or financed.
Perhaps, the Note5 can muscle the competition to prove that it’s one of the undisputed pound-by-pound champions?
The package contains:
- Samsung Galaxy Note5
- microUSB cable
- Wall charger
- Stereo headphones
- SIM removal tool
- Quick start guide
- Warranty card
Design
While there are compromises to its arsenal, the Note5 is the best-designed phone in the series to date.
Straight to the point, this is the best-designed phone in the series to date! The design is undoubtedly revolutionary for Samsung, as prior phones in the series were primarily constructed out of plastic. Last year’s Note 4 was notable for its stark redesign as well, shedding the all-plastic construction with a slightly more sophisticated one that involves a metal frame surrounding the sides of the phone. With the Galaxy Note5, however, Samsung followed in form by employing the same design language they’ve raised eyebrows already with its S6 line.
We won’t deny the attractiveness of the Note5’s premium aesthetics – one that combines metal with glass once again for that ultimate fusion, though in the process, they’ve shed the utilitarian look of the Note series for one that’s more fashionably stylish. Our eyes are once again mesmerized by the dazzling show produced when light bounces off its glass surface for a shimmering effect – allowing the phone’s color to be more profound at certain angles. What's more, the metal trim bezel adds integrity to the phone’s construction. However, while we applaud its solid construction and eye-catching looks, the glass makes the phone a little fragile, prone to fingerprints, and slippery. Trust us, you’ll want to be extremely careful handling it, since minor drops can probably do a number to it.
Beyond the aesthetics, we’re astounded by how they’re able to trim out the fat even more from its body. For a phone with a ginormous 5.7-inch display, the Note5 bears a smaller footprint than its predecessor (6.03 x 3.00 x 0.30 inches versus 6.04 x 3.09 x 0.33 inches) – while also weighing less as well (171 g versus 176 g). All of this points to obvious improvements in making the handset slimmer, lighter, and somewhat easier to handle. Sure, two-handed operation is still preferred, but the curved edges around its rear help to give it a more ergonomic feel.
Although the design isn’t necessary original per se, it’s something that meshes well in giving the phone its premium qualities. The overall package is undeniably beautiful.
The Note series has always been known to be the Swiss Army knife of smartphones. That claim is still reasonable because it’s fashioned with several amenities you don’t get with most phones. In particular, it features rapid charging via its microUSB 2.0 port, built-in wireless charging, heart rate sensor, and a finger-print sensor.
The latter is worth noting because it employs the same, hassle-free operation brought on by the S6 – one that only requires us to gently rest our finger over the sensor, as opposed to the swipe down method offered by the Note 4. Without question, it’s significantly easier to operate than before, and in our experience, it seems faster too with its recognition than the S6. In addition, it’s going to come in handy when Samsung Pay officially launches.
At the same time, there’s a drastic change to the Note5’s arsenal – one that’s generating a lot of concern for some folks who are used to seeing it on previous iterations. Gone are classic staples in the series such as a removable battery, microSD card slot for storage expansion, and an IR blaster. We’re told from the Samsung folks that the latter has been omitted because they found out that customers rarely use it. To an extent, we can agree with that argument, but the other two items are just tough to overlook. Whatever the reasoning behind it, the Note5 forgoes having them in favor of a design that’s more premium, slimmer, and lighter. That’s the obvious tradeoff!
S Pen
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Fortunately, the S-Pen continues to be one of the Note5’s integral features, so its availability continues to make it unique in the space. With this year’s offering, Sammy changes things up a bit in the way the S Pen is accessed. It’s still tucked away in the lower right corner of the phone, but it employs an auto-eject mechanism – one that’s spring assisted to give it a clicky pen-like feel. For us, this new way of accessing the S Pen feels unnatural, and the process adds just an extra step over last year’s implementation. And why’s that? It’s because we have to eject it with our finger, then proceed to pull it out – whereas before, it was a single step process.
We also feel that its placement would’ve been better suited in the upper right corner, since the ejection process would feel a bit more natural there. Whatever the case, it just means that we’ll need to adjust to this new particular method, which should feel a bit more natural over time. Technically speaking, this S Pen is slightly longer when its spring-assisted end is extended and it’s skinnier, but gone are the groove marks that gave the previous S Pen a grippy feel. It’s smooth all throughout the pen, which thankfully enough, doesn’t hinder its operation.
Just like before, too, the tip is sensitive to recognize varying degrees of applied pressure. Therefore, it’s able to distinguish light presses from firm ones – it’s a useful thing that truly gives this particular stylus an accurate feel. While it can be used for jotting things down quickly and drawing something, it also acts as a useful navigational tool by hovering it over the display. No one does the stylus like Samsung, that’s just the undeniable reality! We’ll talk more about its new features later on.
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