#4 smartphone

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E.L.O Everything Live On

http://www.everythingliveon.com/acers-liquid-x2-smartphone-ends-power-struggles-with-its-4000mah-battery/

Acer's Liquid X2 smartphone ends power struggles with its 4,000mAh battery

Until we get the oft-promised alchemic perpetual motion carbon nanotube smartphone battery, we’re going to have to make do with taking a charging pack with us wherever we go. But Acer’s just presented an alternative.

The company’s new Liquid X2 smartphone includes a whopping 4,000mAh battery – a revelation which was met with a collective gasp from assembled journalists at the company’s New York press conference yesterday.

To put that figure into context, the iPhone 6’s battery weighs in at 1,810mAh, while Samsung’s Galaxy S6 boasts 2,600mAh. Even the hulking Galaxy Note 4 only has a 3,220mAh battery within. Acer has soared past those figures and potentially given us the kind of multi-day battery life we’ve only seen in rare, usually very specialised devices.

Acer kept the full spec sheet out of sight, but we know a few of the Liquid X2’s core stats – and they’re promising, for sure. A 5.5in screen is backed by a 64-bit octa-core processor, and the phone has 13-megapixel cameras on both the front and back. Like the HTC Desire Eye, it’s a top-shelf selfie shooter.

As far as really unique features go, however, the large battery isn’t alone: the phone also has a trio of SIM slots, so international travellers can quickly switch networks. It’s a perfect feature for someone living on the Luxembourg-Belgian-German border.

A final nifty addition is a specially-designed case with a vertical slot, which gives an at-a-glance view at your battery life, or quickly powers up the device’s flashlight. It’s a little like HTC’s Dot View case, but with more potential for interaction.

The phone was kept behind glass at Acer’s launch event, so we’ve got no idea how much it weighs (nor were there any views of it without the case, curiously), and there’s no getting around the fact that extra power requires more battery mass. Acer also hasn’t quite established itself as a smartphone brand, and the company admits that it’s going against the tide here.

But there’s a hell of a lot to be said for hours of extra web browsing and picture snapping, not to mention easy border-crossing while staying connected. Stay tuned for more details as they’re released.

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E.L.O Everything Live On

http://www.everythingliveon.com/the-lg-g4-will-officially-have-an-enhanced-version-of-the-g3s-display/

The LG G4 will officially have an enhanced version of the G3’s display

With LG’s next flagship (almost certainly called the G4) set to be revealed late this month, there’s been some speculation that the company will shift away from the 5.5in IPS LCD seen in last year’s sensational G3. But that’s officially not the case.

LG Display, the division of the company that quite obviously makes the screens, has announced the first details of the display panel that “will be used in LG Electronic’s forthcoming flagship smartphone.” On the surface, it all sounds quite familiar: a 5.5in QHD screen – an LCD with IPS tech – running at 1440×2560 (538ppi).

But it’s all about the fine details here – fitting, seeing as we’re talking displays. LG says the display is dramatically improved over the G3, offering richer and more realistic colours thanks to a 120% colour gamut – higher than the usual 100% on typical screens. The contrast ratio is also said to be 50% higher than other QHD displays, and the screen will be 30% brighter without added power usage.

Also, by implementing advanced in-cell touch (AIT) – which means the touch sensor is built into the LCD screen instead of placed atop it – the display will be more sensitive to taps and touches. Meanwhile, new photo-alignment tech taps into UV light to align liquid crystals and reduce light leakage, allowing for deeper blacks and more vivid colouring.

“The company has maximized the essential display functions for mobile devices from touch to colour gamut by using the latest technology and accumulated expertise,” said Byeong-Koo Kim, LG Display’s vice president of the IT/Mobile Development Group. “LG Display will continue to develop products that can offer the best user experience not only for smartphones, but also for tablets and notebook PCs.”

And keep in mind that all of these improvements are on top of what was already an excellent 2K display. After all, last year we said, “With 2560×1440 pixels adorning its IPS+ panel, your peepers are going to get one heck of a treat.” Now that Samsung’s Galaxy S6 has positioned itself as the king of the smartphone screens, we can’t wait to see LG’s new display in action.

[Source: LG Display]

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E.L.O Everything Live On

http://www.everythingliveon.com/its-happening-lg-g4-launch-event-set-for-28-april/

It’s happening: LG G4 launch event set for 28 April

Look what we woke up to this morning – a freshly-pressed invite straight from LG, for a 28 April event in London. The G4 is nearly upon us, folks.

We’ve seen relatively few G4 leaks compared to the amount we were drowning in this time last year. LG’s 2015 flagship could have anything from a Snapdragon 808 or 810 processor, to a metal, plastic or now (judging by the invitation) a leather body.

We could see Note 4-like metal sides with a faux leather rear, and if that is the case then there’s a strong chance that LG’s sticking with its removable battery and microSD slot, which could result in an influx of Android power users who have felt a little lost since the Galaxy S6 ditched both of those options.

Rumours have also pointed to a 5.in 2K screen, a 16MP camera and an 8MP front-facing snapper for souped-up selfies, which should all stack up nicely against its HTC One M9 and Samsung Galaxy S6 rivals.

We expect more information to trickle out ahead of the official launch, so stay tuned for more info, as and when we get it.

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E.L.O Everything Live On

http://www.everythingliveon.com/google-stops-selling-nexus-5/

Google stops selling Nexus 5

The Nexus 5 had a longer-than-usual run, but now it’s officially been sent out to pasture by Google. With the launch of the new Google Store on Wednesday, the company stopped selling the LG-made smartphone from 2013. Of course, you can still find the device elsewhere, but Google won’t be the source.

Typically, Google has stopped selling the last Nexus smartphone when the new one arrives, but with the Nexus 6 being such a large and expensive device – a real break from the ones the preceded it – the company said it would keep the previous model around during Q1 2015. Guess the timer’s up, so if you’re looking for a Nexus 5 at this point, start searching elsewhere.

[Source: The Verge]

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E.L.O Everything Live On

http://www.everythingliveon.com/gadget-ogling-slick-dull-and-outlandish-smartphones-a-powerful-shield-and-invisibility-glasses/

Gadget Ogling: Slick, Dull and Outlandish Smartphones, a Powerful Shield and Invisibility Glasses

Welcome to Gadget Dreams and Nightmares, your trusted mountain guide through the peaks and crevasses of the latest gadget announcements.

With Mobile World Congress having just wrapped in Barcelona, we have a mobile focus this time, with a look at a new BlackBerry, the latest Samsung flagship smartphones, and a colossal Huawei handset.

Also, we’ll check out a set-top box with a gaming focus and an extremely useful pair of glasses for privacy adherents. Phew.

Remember, the ratings relate only to how interested I am in using each item, and these are by no means reviews.

On the Edge

Samsung is trying something a little different while simultaneously positioning its S6 and S6 edge (pictured above) as the market’s dominant Android smartphones.

Sure, they’re faster, smarter, brighter, stronger and more powerful than previous models — as you might expect in a flagship refresh — and that’s all terribly pedestrian.

Still, I love the edge concept. I’m glad to see Samsung continue and expand it, with slivers of the screen bending around both edges of the surface.

What’s most galling about this refresh is the discontinuation of the removable battery and SD card slot. That’s disappointing, since both of those features gave Samsung a slight edge (sorry, sorry) over Apple.

Now those are gone, the S series looks increasingly like the iPhone, albeit a line that runs Android. Thank goodness the edge brings something a little different to the party.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Don’t Push Mes

Leap of Faith

BlackBerry is forging a path for its revival with a new handset, the Leap, aimed at young professionals. It’s perhaps not quite as flashy as the Passport, though it thankfully lacks that phone’s unfortunate squareness.

At 25 hours per charge, the battery life is nothing to sniff at, and the inclusion of Android apps from the Amazon Appstore is welcome as well.

That said, there’s nothing about this that screams at me to pay attention. It’s just another identikit canoe, floating on down the endless river of mediocrity. There is no greater sin in technology than to be boring.

Rating: 3 out of 5 Humdrums

Huawei Goes Large Again

Trust Huawei to swing for the fences with a bonkers idea. This one, however, won’t make it past second base.

The MediaPad X2 is fairly similar to last year’s X1, albeit with (you guessed it) a faster processor and better WiFi. Unfortunately, Huawei hasn’t done anything to reduce that absurd 7-inch screen.

There is no one on this planet or any other who needs a phone with a 7-inch screen. It’s ridiculous. It’d be like strapping a tablet to your face when you want to make a call. Your arm will get tired before you even say “Hello.”

I’d be amazed if anyone who bought one of these opted to take calls the traditional way over a hands-free set or speakerphone. I’d be amazed if anyone bought one.

It’ll be good for watching movies on the go, I guess, but otherwise you can pad out your wallet by not buying this.

Rating: 1 out of 5 Could Sink a Battleships

A 4K Shield

I’ve been consistently impressed by Nvidia’s Shield line, particularly the tablet it released last year. I’m fascinated to see whether the set-top box version will succeed.

It’s an Android media center that both streams and plays stored videos in 4K resolution, and runs all of the gaming content that owners of the Shield Tablet are used to.

That means access to bevy of Android games and those on Nvidia’s Grid streaming subscription service, which offers the opportunity to play more resource-intensive games without an expensive gaming rig.

It seems well-priced at US$200 for the box and a game controller, especially compared with the much less powerful and flexible Ouya at half that price. I’m mightily tempted to pick one up, though I’m concerned my meager home Internet connection won’t play nicely with Grid.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Urban Camouflage

I’ll admit this isn’t a flashy gadget per se, but I had to mention it quickly. AVG (yes, of antivirus software fame) has created a pair of glasses that halt facial recognition software in its tracks. Infrared LEDs around the frame essentially act as a mask invisible to the naked eye.

It’s a neat trick and one privacy advocates might be compelled by. I’m intrigued by the idea, as it’s the suavest eyewear I’ve seen lately that’s not a) smartglasses or b) X-ray specs.

I’m in the market for new spectacles anyway, and these are my kind of style, so if I can grab a pair with prescription lenses, it’s bye-bye Facebook facial recognition for me.