Google has just heavily reduced its Google Drive storage plans to just $1.99 a month for 100gb of data storage. This limit works across all Google Products including your photos and gmail.
Apple’s iCloud storage costs seem very expensive in comparison. 50gb of data costs £70 a year. That’s not even 100gb. Apple really needs to amend its pricing structure before it loses everyone to Google.
Above photo courtesy of @evleaks and additional info below from GSM Arena.
So GSM Arena have stated the following – the specs known so far are – The HTC One (2014) will measure 146.36 x 70.6 x 9.35, making it a little thicker than its main rivals. Weight is set at 160g. The screen will indeed be a 5″ 1080p unit. The processor is quoted to be a quad-core 2.3 GHz Snapdragon 801, while the battery capacity will be 2,600 mAh. The SIM is said to be of the nano variety (like on the iPhone 5, 5c and 5s, Moto X, etc.) and there will be a microSD card slot to compliment the preloaded 16 GB of storage (10GB of which will b e user available). There’s no world on the camera resolution but the rest of the specs appear the same as last year’s model – 1/3.0″ size, f/2.0 aperture, 2µm pixel size, etc. suggesting the resolution could again be 4 MP. According to the leaked guide the video capture is still 1080p and not 4K. There will also be a rapid improvement in the front-facing camera which will now pack 5MP sensor. A Barometer is also said to be on board, but FM Radio is a no-go.
So the second camera is for changing the focus after the shot and 3D effects.
BUT. The standout points that concern me is the phone only having 10gb user free internal storage. The memory card slot doesn’t solve where to save large apps and games or data that can only be stored in the internal memory. I hope there is a 32gb model like there was last year with the memory card expansion. I do wonder if this move to lower internal memory is a decision made with networks to force people to buy higher data contracts as they will need to use cloud services more and more.
The second concern is the main rear camera. If it’s the same 4mp affair as last years then I will be disappointed unless they have worked out how to get decent amount of pixels into a photo. This becomes more apparent with landscape shots. On screen they looked fabulous but as soon as you tried to crop or zoom there the image became pixelated due to lack of pixels. If you want to recap on my mega HTC One 2013 review click here.
Otherwise the HTC One 2014 is shaping up to a decent device.
A few days ago my Samsung Note 3 updated to kitkat.
All had been going ok apart from yesterday with 2 massive lock ups with Chrome and Play Music. I uninstalled an app I installed the other day and so far all is ok. But then the lock up happened again.
However, my podcast app Pocketcasts couldn’t download my latest podcasts to the memory card due to the app being refused access to the memory card. Each app now needs to create its own folder with theadded permission, and if you delete the app it also deletes the folder on the memory card and its content. This is part of the additional security in kitkat.
Hopefully developers updates their apps to allow for this new behaviour will micro sd cards.
I received the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact thanks to Clove Technology.
It’s official specifications are-
-Operating System – Android 4.3
– Processor 2.2 GHz Quad Core Qualcomm MSM8974
– Expansion Slot MicroSDXC up to 64GB
– RAM 2GB
– ROM Capacity 16GB (~11B user-accessible)
– Touchscreen Size 4.3 IPS LCD
– Resolution 1280×720, Pixel Density 342 PPI
– TRIMLUMINOS Display for mobile with X-Reality
– GSM/GPRS Frequencies 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz
– 3G/HSPA Frequencies UMTS HSPA 850 (Band V), 900 (Band VIII), 1700 (Band IV), 1900 (Band II), 2100 (Band I) MHz
– 4G Frequencies Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20
– Bluetooth Version 4.0
– WiFi and DLNA
– MicroUSB 2.0 plus OTG cable
– 3.5mm headphone jack
– Video Out MHL via microUSB
– IP55/IP58 Protection Rating
– GPS A-GPS Yes
– Camera Megapixels 20.7MP
– Flash Pulsed LED Flash
– Camera Lens G Lens: 27 mm wide angle lens with F2.0 aperture, Burst mode, HDR, 8x Digital Zoom, Image Stabiliser, Object Tracking, Red-eye reduction, Scene recognition, Superior Auto (setting adjust), Panorama, Touch to focus and more.
– Front Facing Camera 2MP 1080p
– Sensors G-Sensor, Proximity Sensor – Digital Compass and Gyro
-Light Sensor
– Audio Formats MP3, 3GPP, MP4, ADTS, AMR, SMF, XMF, OTA, RTTTL, RTX, iMelody, WAV, OGG, FLAC
Recording 3GPP, MP4, AMR
– Video Formats 3GPP, MP4, M4V, MKV, AVI, XVID, WEBM
Recording 3GPP, MP4
– Near Field Communication
– FM Radio
– Battery Capacity 2300 mAh with STAMINA mode
– Call Time GSM Up to 18 hours, 3G
Standby Time , GSM Up to 670 hours
3G
– Dimensions 127 x 64.9 x 9.5 mm
– Weight 137g
Above due to IP58 waterproof and dust rating flaps are used for the micro usb connector, sim card and memory card slots. The headphone jack is specially coated so doesn’t need a cover. The rear of the phone reveals the 20.7MP camera.
You can also see the large power button with the volume controls underneath it.
As a comparison the Z1 Compact is similar in size to the iPhone 5S. It is also one of the first mini sized android phones that has a high level of specification from the 20.7MP camera, Snapdragon 800 processor and waterproof and dust rating. If opening the flaps to charge the phone is a pain, the Z1 Compact also had a magnetic charge point on the side.
One of the stand out features of the Z1 Compact is the battery life. 2 days from a charge is normal. But turning on Sony’s power management mode you can get alot more.
As the phone is a Sony a number of apps are added by Sony but it’s not as over the top like a Samsung phone.
Basically Sony include all their Sony Playstation and Entertainment Services with special offers via the Privilege app. As an unusual inclusion in the box apart from the usb lead and power adapter, there was a screen protector and a USB OTG adapter.
The Z1 Compact features a anti shatter screen protector that you then put another screen protector over. This has the effect of dulling down the screen which is a shame.
So out of the box you can connect for example a memory stick or your PS3 Dual Shock Controller. Via the Playstation app I was playing games with the controller. Rather neat.
Audio. The loudspeaker doesn’t possess lots of bass but if you turn on the speaker EQ options it does improve the quality.
Several tests were carried out comparing the speaker to that of the iPhone 5S and Note 3 and the Z1 Compact maxed out at 82db. This was identical to the other phones tested. But it was a tinnier sound. However, plug in some decent headphones and get ready for some quality sound. You can use the equaliser to fine tune the sound.
In terms of the Android experience Sony use their own skin which I didn’t mind. It didn’t slow down the device. In fact the Z1 Compact with its Snapdragon 800 processor and 720p screen zips along.
The other key feature of the phone is its camera and the 20.7MP lens. The camera has many modes from auto to manual and loads of settings to fine.
Some of the more unusual modes is AR.
With this mode you select the style and it superimposes a live image over what you’re seeing. When you like the combined image you press the camera shutter. So for example below is a dinosaur on Dartmoor.
Of course you may just want to take normal photos. In the next post are some normal photo samples. The camera seems to take some very good photos and capture motion fairly well. I wasn’t happy using the flash as it seemed over aggressive so I switched to manual mode and the night scene.
So in summary the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact is a mini android phone packing a decent punch. Good camera and battery life and full of whizz.
Available from Clove Technology and my thanks for their wonderful service.
Following on from my review of the Z1 Compact below are some photo samples.
My thanks again to Clove Technology.
Vodafone UK is the latest to announce pre-order details for the Sony Xperia Z2. The device is now available to pre-order from Vodafone , with launch day scheduled for April 10.
Vodafone is offering a range of price plans, but the cheapest monthly contract offering a “free” Xperia Z2 is a £42 per month 3G plan with 1GB of data. Switching up to 4G, a £47 per month plan gets you 3GB and a free Z2.
And to sweeten the deal — for early customers, at least — Vodafone is offering a free 32-inch Sony Bravia Smart TV for the first 3,000 Xperia Z2 pre-order customers. Remember nothing is really free in life!
Source Vodafone UK
Apple has released iOS 7.1 with plenty of new features and fixes, along with some graphical changes.
The standout features so far for me are the new bold keys on the on screen keyboard for the iPad Air. Also the iPhone 5S now has HDR Auto mode to ensure you get the best photo possible without any effort.
Of course if you buy one of the latest Ferraris then you will have access to CarPlay too.
Siri in the UK has male and female voices. Both new. The male voice sounds a bit gay.
I am hoping the springboard crashes are a thing of the past.
Has there been anything distinctively better or worse for you?
Yesterday Samsung released the official OTA Kitkat update for unlocked UK Samsung Note 3 users.
After the update the phone is as follows –
The update screen provided the following info –
But what else is new.
The font has changed slightly. The status bar is all white. Pen window has more apps and is editable. Using the S Pen in handwriting mode moves the keyboard option to the bottom from the top. Speed of launching apps and camera is faster.
What else have you noticed?
Finally.
Go to settings and manually check. KitKat will download.
Details of the UK Kitkat BTU firmware-
The new range of handsets are about to be unleashed but below are my current top new 5 phones to be aware of for April and May 2014.
1. All New HTC One – with its unibody design and new 2 camera lenses for the rear. This will be one fast and great camera phone.
2. Samsung Galaxy S5 – release date 11th April. The kitchen sink of specs. Fingerprint scanner, heart rate monitor, fast auto focus camera and so much more. Plastic fantastic.
3. Sony Xperia Z2 – waterproof and dustproof. Looks gorgeous and comes with a 20.7mp camera. One to watch for sure.
4. Motorola Moto G – this has been around for a while but just can’t be ignored as it’s low priced but a decent phone.
5. iPhone 5S – Apple is about to release iOS 7.1 which will add more functionality and fix some bugs. A very strong phone offering and a decent easy to use camera.
6. Sony Xperia Z1 Compact – a full fledged mini phone without compromise in specifications and the first small sized android phone to really take on the iPhone. With a 20.7mp camera and snapdragon 800 processor it sure is a beauty.
Of course there are some phones already released that are well worth looking at. First up the Samsung Note 3, LG G2 and Nexus 5. In fact, the Samsung Galaxy S4 will be heavily discounted so well worth a look too.
And if you want a bit of window phones love with the venerable Nokia Lumia Carl Zeiss camera optics then look no further than the Lumia 1020 or 1520.
Are there any other phones on your hit list.
Gavin's Gadgets & Photography 