Moto 360 Unboxing & First Impressions. Moto 360 at IFA Berlin 2014. Sony Xperia Z3 versus Xperia Z2 | Android Central. Sony's six-monthly refresh cycle for smartphones shows no sign of stopping, with the recent announcement of the Xperia Z3 at IFA 2014. It's a minor upgrade of the Xperia Z2 in terms of pure specs, but the Z3 also represents a further evolution of the company's "OmniBalance" design language, while tweaking its 20.7-megapixel camera and introducing some subtle software changes.
Read on to learn how these two premium handsets compare. Since Sony's Z series started out in early 2013, the Japanese manufacturer's has quietly iterated upon its flagship smartphone designs with each generation. The Xperia Z3 is another such device — if you're a Z1 or Z2 owner you'll spot the differences straight away, but for those unfamiliar with Sony's Android lineup the subtleties are harder to pick out. Sony's managed to trim down Z3's thickness and weight, going from 8.2 to 7.3mm. It's also noticeably lighter lighter — 152 grams compare to the Z2's 163.
Multitasking on the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 | Android Central. As we said in our hands-on feature with the device, Samsung isn't reinventing the wheel (or the S Pen) with the newly announced Galaxy Note 4 — instead it's refining the great many features that are already there. One area that's received special attention this time around is multitasking — before split into three different (and largely disconnected) methods, Samsung's multitasking setup now lets you jump freely between minimized, maximized and windowed modes, with hooks into the redesigned recents menu to boot. Read on to find out how you'll juggle your apps on the Galaxy Note 4. The Note 4 lets you hop between split-screen, windowed, full-screen and minimized modes.
The first thing Android fans will notice about the Galaxy Note 4's multitasking setup is its close resemblance to the new 3D recents menu in the upcoming Android L. Each recent application is represented by a card, and you an swipe to the left or right to dismiss an app, or tap to switch back to it. First look at the Huawei Ascend G7 | Android Central. Huawei had two brand new devices to announce during its IFA 2014, and both of them were metal.
While we've already looked at the Ascend Mate 7, next up it's the turn of the Ascend G7 to step in front of the camera. Where the Mate 7 is firmly positioned towards the higher end, the G7 fits into the mid-tier market while still offering a premium feeling experience. Like the Mate 7, the G7 is constructed from aluminum, though it's a little smaller. It has a 5.5-inch 720p IPS display, which despite the size doesn't look too bad. Inside is a Snapdragon 410 CPU – a change from Huawei's own chips inside it's higher end models – 2GB of RAM and 16GB of onboard storage. On the software front the G7 is running Android 4.4.4 with EMUI 3.0 over the top of it, exactly the same as the Mate 7. Check out the photo gallery below for more first hands-on images. HTC Desire 820 hands-on | Android Central. At IFA 2014 in Berlin today, HTC unveiled its latest mid-range flagship, the Desire 820.
Building on the Desire 816 — a phone barely six months old — the 820 slims things down, improves the design with a new plastic construction style with bright, prominent accents. It's also a landmark for HTC and Qualcomm, being the first handset to use a Snapdragon 615 SoC — a new octa-core, 64-bit capable chip. From the outside, the Desire 820 is clearly identifiable as a member of HTC's mid-range family of devices.
Like its predecessor it's flat and rectangular with wide, rounded corners, and HTC's trademark BoomSound speakers flanking a 5.5-inch 720p display. And while the pixel density is relatively low compared to current high-end stuff, colors are plenty vibrant and the display is extremely bright when maxed out. The chassis itself is a mostly glossy plastic affair with HTC's new "double shot" styling, which adds bright secondary colors to the whites, pinks, greys and reds of the main body. Video walkthrough: The Asus Zenwatch | Android Central. Earlier this week Asus unveiled it's first foray into the Android Wear space, the Zenwatch.
From our initial hands on we've been left really impressed with it, and we're looking forward to it going on sale in October to get some real, quality time with it. We're still on the ground at IFA 2014 in Berlin, so we're back with a little more Zenwatch goodness. We didn't see much of anything on the software front since like so many others the demo units were all locked in retail mode.
But it's a nice watch deserving of a quick video. And here it is. Hands-on with the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact. Hands-on with the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact. Completing the trifecta of new Android devices Sony announced today at IFA 2014 is this, the Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact. The name is a mouthful but the tablet certainly is not, as it's a smaller tablet this time out. It's an 8-inch effort that packs the same 2.5GHz Snapdragon 801 CPU and 3GB of RAM as the Xperia Z3 smartphone, the same 16GB of internal storage with a microSD car slot, the same Android 4.4.4 based software and the same PS4 remote play capabilities.
Where it differs mainly from the phones is the plastic back and the lower resolution 8.1MP rear camera. It's IP65 and IP68 rated for dust and water resistance, it has a pretty nice if unremarkable looking 1920x1080 resolution display and oh, it's insanely thin and insanely light. At 6.4mm thin and 270g in weight the Z3 Tablet Compact could blow away in a stiff breeze. Sony has announced three devices, but the bigger story is that it announced a line of flagship devices. Check out a quick hands-on video below. Hands-on with the Sony Smartwatch 3 with Android Wear | Android Central. Sony took us by surprise a little today by announcing the Smartwatch 3 with Android Wear. Previous reports had Sony execs claiming the company was committed to doing its own thing, and yet, here we are. The Smartwatch 3 changes up other things too from its predecessors, most noticeably the design of the band.
It still looks like a Sony Smartwatch of old a little, but it's quite different when you get beyond that. All the units on display at the launch event at IFA 2014 were stuck in demo mode for Android Wear, so what we saw on the software front is very little. Sony is promising that you'll be able to use this without a phone, though, for navigation using the built in GPS and for and music playback with Bluetooth earbuds. The display is the par for the course 320x320 resolution panel at 1.6-inches and while it's not horrible, it doesn't stand above any of the other Android Wear watches we've already seen. And that would be our biggest criticism of the Smartwatch 3. New Samsung videos show off Galaxy Note 4, Gear Live S features | Android Central. LG G Watch R hands-on | Android Central. If all the hype around the Moto 360 in recent months tells us anything, it's that tech enthusiasts want smartwatches that look good. LG's first Android Wear device, the G Watch, was little more than a vessel for Google's wearable OS.
There really wasn't much hardware to talk about, just a rectangle on your wrist, and a window onto Android Wear. For its second Android wearable, the LG G Watch R, the Korean manufacturer has focused much more strongly on the design of the physical hardware. And the result looks less like a smartphone on your wrist and more like a traditional analog watch. There's a gulf in build quality between the G Watch R and an expensive high-end timepiece, but like the rival Moto 360, it represents an important step in the right direction for smartwatch design. The LG G Watch R boasts a bold design — one two years in the making according to the company's designers. The internals haven't changed much, but the screen is vastly improved. More: LG G Watch R in pictures.
HTC One M8 for Windows Review. Nokia Lumia 830 vs Nokia Lumia 930 / Icon: spec to spec. Now that the Nokia Lumia 830 is official as a supposed high-end smartphone for a low-end price, it’s time to start comparing it to phones we already have recognized as true flagships in our full reviews. First up on our list of comparisons, the Lumia 930 / Icon, which we reviewed and called the best Windows Phones to date at the time. Now it’s time to compare the battle-worn soldier to the new kid on the block, in Nokia Lumia 830 vs Nokia Lumia 930 / Icon. This result is disappointing, but most definitely an expected outcome. The Lumia 830 loses out in everything, so if you have the extra cash, we suggest ponying up for the Lumia 930 / Icon – it’ll be getting the update to Lumia Denim and all of the cool new apps too, anyway.
When it comes to the display, the 830′s 720p panel loses out to the superior 1080p unit found on the 930. Moving onward to the processor speed, the 930 is a full gigahertz faster. Anton D. Nokia Lumia 830 hands-on. It’s the affordable flagship, according to Microsoft. But, as our specs post suggests… maybe not. There’s nothing like real hands-on experience though, and that’s exactly what Taylor Martin has brought us from within a press event in Berlin, Germany. Our Nokia Lumia 830 hands-on video is now live, and within it our initial impressions of the phone. The 830 looks like a phone that will let you distinguish from the crowd, and you can even swap backplates to take on a new look every now and then. The final word will have to wait for when we give the phone a full review, but for now, this will have to suffice as the extent of our coverage. Check out our Nokia Lumia 830 hands-on below, follow our continuing IFA 2014 posts stream here, and check out our other Nokia Lumia 830 posts here (including comparisons to other high-end Windows Phones).
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Hands-On. Samsung Gear S Hands-On. Watch?v=OSog4Fj5JLs&feature=youtu. Sony SmartWatch 3 and E-Inck SmartBand Talk are Officially Announced. Continuing with the barrage of news from IFA from all the big name OEM’s, we have news coming from Sony about their two new wrist options. Sony has announced two new devices to grace the smartwatch scene and both are uniquely different from past devices and from each other. The SmartWatch line from Sony traditionally ran their own version of software. With the new SmartWatch 3 though, Sony shifted its efforts over to Android Wear. The Sony SmartWatch 3 brings a 1.6-inch 320 x 320 TFT LCD transreflective display. The SmartWatch 3 is clearly geared towards the more active lifestyles with its colorful bright color options.
The second device they announced is the SmartBand Talk. Both devices will utilize Sony’s LifeLog app that is free in the Play Store. Source: Sony Mobile Developer Blog | Sony Press About the Author Stormy Beach I am the proud father of three, 3, 9, and 12. More articles by Stormy Beach+ » Samsung Gear S hands-on. We are running around IFA getting you all the goodies, and there is no way we can leave Berlin without giving you a good look at the new Samsung Gear S. Just like you, we were eager to get our hands all over this standalone smartwatch. Does it feel as good as it looks? It is certainly a very unique device. Our first impression was that it looks very much like a Samsung Gear Fit, with a curved display and body that seem to gracefully wrap around your wrist.
Of course, the Gear S is wider and features a full experience the Gear Fit could only dream of. Turn the device around and you will find a heart rate monitor and a nanoSIM card slot embellishing the back. Tizen OS2-inch Super AMOLED (360x480p)1 GHz dual-core processor512 MB of RAM4 GB of ROM300 mAh batteryIP67 rating Of course, the device can make calls and take advantage of your carrier network. The UI is also very simple. Hands-on with the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact | Android Central. Hands-on with the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact | Android Central. This is the LG G Watch R. The second round Android Wear watch is a looker, but you'll have to wait for it No more teasers.
This is the LG G Watch R — the South Korean manufacturer's second Android Wear smartwatch. It's also the second round entry we've seen this year, the Moto 360 being the other. And it looks like folks are going to have some hard choices to make later this year. Yes, we said later this year. (Which means we fibbed just a bit when we said "no more teasers. ") That said, the LG G Watch R is a looker for a number of reasons. First things first, we're fans of the round Android Wear watch. There's no black bar to distract from the look of this round smartwatch. Then there's the display itself.
For the strap, LG's using a standard 22mm leather band (calfskin, if you must know), and you can swap it out for something else if you prefer. The rest of the internals are pretty much what we've come to expect from this first generation of Android Wear devices. Stay tuned. Key Specifications: Sony Xperia Z3 Compact Announced IFA 2014. New at IFA! The QX1 and QX30 Lens Style Cameras. New at IFA: Sony Xperia™ Z3 Phones, Tablet and SmartWear. Samsung Galaxy Note 4 First Look! Watch?v=gA1aOuK29_8&feature=youtu. Sony Xperia E3 specs. Sony Xperia Z3: the more notable new features. Samsung Galaxy Note 4 gets fancier S Pen from Montblanc. 6 Sony Xperia Z3 features you won't find in the Samsung Galaxy Note 4. Watch all Sony Xperia Z3 series and smart wearables promo videos here. Sony introduces two new QX Cyber-shot lens-style cameras. Sony’s IFA 2014 event is in full swing, but Sony having the varied interests that it does, it got started with some non-smartphone hardware, showing off its latest cameras.
But it wasn’t long before the company transitioned into something a little more up our alley, revealing the latest Cyber-shot lens-style camera accessories for its smartphones and tablets. Yesterday we saw a leak detailing one of these products, the QX1 with its support for removable lenses, and now we see it joined by the new QX30, as well, a model we previously heard rumored earlier this summer. While the QX1 supports Sony’s interchangeable E-series lenses, the QX30 is an all-in-one design, albeit one with an impressive 30-times optical zoom.
That gives it a range equivalent to a 24-720mm lens, with all the powerful features like optical image stabilization that you’d expect from a quality digital camera. Beyond these two new models, Sony’s also planning to release two new color variants for last year’s QX10. Samsung Gear S Specifications. The First Samsung Smartwatch to Support 3G (Sim-Card), Packs a 300ppi sAMOLED Display. Release Date: October, 2014 2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 3G Network HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 SIM Type Nano-SIM 39.8 x 58.3 x 12.5 mm (1.57 x 2.30 x 0.49 in)98 g Type Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 16M colorsSize 360 x 480 pixels, 2.0 inches (~300 ppi pixel density)Multitouch YesUI Android Wear UI - IP67 certified dust and water resistant - Water resistant up to 1 meter and 30 minutes Alert types MP3, WAV ringtonesLoudspeaker Yes, Notifications Sound Only3.5mm jack Yes Card slot No Internal 4 GB, 512 MB RAM GPRS YesEDGE YesWLAN Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/nBLUETOOTH Yes, v4.1 LE Infrared port Yes USB microUSB v2.0 NO Camera included on this device Black, White - S Health, Nike+ Running - SNS integration - MP3/M4A/eAAC+/OGG player - Photo/video viewer - Organizer - Voice memo/dial/commands Li-Ion 300 mAh battery Stand by Up to 2 Days.
Montblanc's Extreme Screen Writer For Use With The Note 4 Is A High End Pen/Stylus. Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Hands-on. Sony details six new devices at IFA 2014. Samsung Galaxy Note 4 officially announced: here’s what you need to know. ASUS Zenwatch official price, specs and info revealed. Samsung Gear S First Look! Galaxy Note 4 vs Galaxy Note 3 quick look. Sony Xperia Z3 officially announced: here’s what you need to know. Sony announces Smarwatch 3, powered by Android Wear. Sony announces GCM10 Game Controller Mount. The Asus Zenwatch with Android Wear is official | Android Central.
Samsung Gear S hands-on. Sony's SmartBand Talk tracks your lifelog and lets you make calls from your wrist | Android Central. Samsung Unpacked - Gear VR and Oculus with John Carmack. Samsung UNPACKED Episode 2 live stream. Sony Xperia Z3 Compact vs its mini rivals: size comparison showdown. The Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact is an 8-inch Full HD Android Tablet from Sony. [IFA 2014] Sony Officially Reveals The QX1 E-Series Lens Mount And QX30 Zoom Lens For Smartphones. Sony announces Smartband Talk.