Have a look at the DxOMark Mobile ratings for smartphones. (http://www.dxomark.com/Mobiles) In first place is the Sony Xperia Z5, followed by the Samsung S6 Edge, Google Nexus 6P, LG G4, Samsung Note 4, Moto X Style, Sony Xperia Z3+, iPhone 6 Plus , iPhone 6 and then the iPhone 6S in 10th place.
The only phones I have not used are the Z3+ and Nexus 6P. I have used the Z3 Compact though. All I can say is that DxOMark scorings in my opinion are a nonsense.
I would place the S6 Edge Plus/Note 5/LG G4 near the top followed by the iPhone 6S Plus. Depending if video or photo was more important to you could tweak the results marginally one way or another. I would then place the Sony phones below all of the above and all the older iPhones. The Moto X Style takes good photos overall too.
Now in my testing the Z5 doesn’t take poor shots, it is just not at the same standard unless you switch to manual modes and take full control of the shooting parameters. Well, if I use third party apps with the iPhone 6S Plus same thing happens too – incredible shots. But that is not real world usage.
So how would YOU rank the phones scored by DxOmark?
Welcome to my review of the August SE20 Mini Radio and Portable Stereo System.
The August SE20 is a rather cute device with lots of versatility and a new release from August International. The specifications are –
Specifications
– Bluetooth V3.0 + EDR
– Speakers: 2 x 3Watts
– Frequency Response: 80Hz – 18KHz
– Separation: 40dB(1KHz)
– S/N: 70dB
– USB and SD card port: up to 16GB card or USB in FAT format
– File format: MP3
– Battery: Rechargeable Li-ion 3.7v 800mAh
– Working Time: Over 7 hours
– Charging Time: 3 hours
– Charging voltage: DC 5V
– Dimensions: 150 x 125 x85mm
– Weight: 320g
The rear has the connections for the SD, mini USB/DC5V and usb connections.
Key Features/Usage
– Play Music Wirelessly from Bluetooth Devices
– Handle for carrying it from room to room
– FM Radio with 12 Channel presets available
– 2 x 3W Speakers – Delivers powerful sound
– SD Reader, USB port and AUX In – Play your tunes from any other device
– FM Radio with 10 Pre-set Channels – Quickly tune to your favourite stations
– Internal Li Ion Battery – Over 7 hours playback between charges
– Track control panel gives you the freedom to adjust the volume and play/pause tracks direct from the speaker.
– 24 Clock Functions
Sound Quality
The FM Radio was able to pick up radio stations really easily and sounded good too. Switching modes is simply. Just press the M for Mode. Pairing via bluetooth was a breeze too. The SE20 allows you to control the volume, tracks and play / pause of the connected device which is really handy.
Conclusion
The August SE20 is a cracking little device which offers many ways to connect devices via bluetooth, SD card or USB. It also doubles up as a clock and FM radio all for around £34.95, although at time of writing it is on offer at Amazon UK for £20.
Welcome to my review of the August EP650 Bluetooth stereo headphones. This is the last August Bluetooth I am reviewing and as the expression goes, I have left the best to the last. Out of all 3 this is my personal favourite. More on why later. First the key specifications.
Specifications
– Bluetooth V4.0 with aptX® Technology
– Operating Range: Up to 10m
– Frequency Response: 60Hz – 20KHz
– Speaker Output: 30mW
– SNR: ≥85dB
– Distortion: ≤1.0%
– Battery: 3.7V/220mAh Built-in Li-ion Battery
– Working Time: 10 Hours
– Charging Time: 2 Hours
– Standby Time: 30 Days
– Weight: 235g
– Dimensions: 176.6 x 188.6 x 71mm
Key Features/Usage
The August EP650 Bluetooth Wireless Headphones are packed with all the functionality of the smaller EP636’s which I reviewed a few days ago. The EP650 improve upon the EP636 with more comfort due to the 12mm ear piece cushions and padded headband. In addition the headphones features apt-X and can connect to non bluetooth devices with a standard 3.5mm audio cable (provided). The retail price is normally £67.95, but there is currently an offer on Amazon UK saving nearly £30.
Other key features include –
– Microphone for Hands-Free Calls
– Bluetooth Range up to 10m
– NFC Ready – Tap to Connect
– 11 hours Battery Life
– Adjustable Headband
The August EP650 have larger cushions than the smaller EP636’s and consequently are really comfortable. Add in APT-X for better sound quality and the ability to use a 3.5mm audio cable (provided) for non bluetooth devices or when the battery has gone flat and you have a really versatile good quality headphone.
In terms of call quality, these sounded ok. The caller at the other end had no issue hearing me. I listened to a large number of tracks and a range of musical genres from classical, jazz, blues, pop and more. The EP650’s lean slightly towards the bass which reduces the sound stage and slightly overpowers the treble. The 650’s are best described a fun and comfortable headphone to listen too. During quiet classical pieces you can hear a slight hiss.
Conclusion
The August EP650’s are available in a range of colours and at their price point, comfort, quality and versatility offer good value for money. Recommended.
Let’s start off with another change of heart. iCloud Photos and iTunes Match is binned forever. Neither works for me and are both pointless and a PITA.
I am never going to use iTunes Match. It provides a copy of my music at a lower bitrate than what I have encoded. It once again uses my broadband which is not as fast as using a cable.
Apart from the sync issues of iCloud Photos, I kept getting a phantom photo that was always waiting to upload. I thought I had solved this by finding the single photo that was the culprit, deleting it, but only for the problem to resurrect itself a few days later. Turning off iCloud Photos didn’t solve the phantom photo. Also, if you turn off iCloud Photos on your Mac you need to reboot your Mac for the changes to work.
So I to remove the phantom photo. I wiped my iPhone clean and started again as a fresh device. Another PITA. However, I now have a solid phone which gives me up to 2 days battery life.
Despite all of the above the iPhone is a joy now to use, except the Apple Watch is actually annoying me over how it is designed to notify you. Basically, whilst wearing the Apple Watch, with your iPhone screen off, you won’t hear any notifications of any kind except if you receive a telephone call. Now you can set the Apple Watch to make a ping or taptic vibration, but the ping is just the same sound and impossible to differentiate between the different app notification tones. There is no option as far as I can see to allow the iPhone to makes sounds even if watch is on your wrist. I have missed several taps on my wrist and consequently the notification. Apart from that the Apple Watch is good, not brilliant. Sometimes Siri is slow to respond and apps can take an eternity to load. The Apple Watch is despite its flaws a stunning piece of kit.
I am also in the process of testing the iPhone 6S Plus for low light and the results are astoundingly amazing, much better than any review I have read recently. I am hoping to have this test completed over the next week or so.
For your chance to win a pair of these headphones see comment at the end of this review.
Welcome to my review of the August EP610 In-Ear Bluetooth Stereo Sports Headphones.
The August EP610 have been designed to be lightweight, yet provide extra grip along with incredible as a sports utility products on the market. The weight it kept down by using plastics. The August EP610 earbuds come in 3 sizes and with 4 stabilizers to help you adjust them to your ear shape. The in-ear controls allow you to answer phone calls and adjust the volume. The EP610 retail on Amazon at £27.95.
Specifications
– Bluetooth Version: v4.0
– Frequency Response: 200Hz~20kHz
– Output Power: 10mW x 2
– SNR: ≥ 80dB
– Distortion: ≤1% At 1KHz
– Battery: 40mAh x 2 Polymer Lithium Batteries
– Working Time: Up to 5 Hours
– Charging Time: Approx. 1 Hour
– Standby Time: 180 Hours
– Produce Weight: 15g
Key Features
– Wireless Earphones for Bluetooth Devices
– Microphone for Hands-Free Calls
– Built-in Rechargeable Battery
– Micro USB Charging Port
– Bluetooth Range up to 10m
– Bluetooth v4.0
– 5 hours battery life
Sound Quality/Usage
My ears are different to yours. As is the next person. That’s why it was good to see August had supplied different ear buds and 4 different size stabilisers. Whilst the in-ears look big, they are so comfortable and only 15g in weight.
Call quality was ok and playing music provided an enjoyable listen.
For the music test, I listened to several different genres over hours and hours. Below are my findings from a selection of 5 tracks.
“The Sound of Yo-Yo-Ma, The Score – Oh My Love, Ellie Goulding – On My Mind, The Martian – Movie – Emergency Land, Cassandra Wilson – Come On in my Kitchen”.
Across the music spectrum everything was reasonable and not over played. However, I did notice a slight background hiss which was more noticeable in quieter tracks and classical music.
Conclusion
Just shows how far technology is moving forward. In-Ear Bluetooth headphones for £27.95, and currently on offer at Amazon too. This price 2-3 years ago would not have been possible versus the quality. Not only that the August EP610 sound reasonable and are comfortable. Recommended.
Welcome to my review of the August EP636 Bluetooth headphones.
The Specification
– Bluetooth v 4.0 + NFC
– Operating Range: Up to 10m
– Frequency Response: 80Hz – 20KHz
– DSP: CVC6.0 Noise and Echo reduction
– Speaker Output: 20mW
– SNR: ≥90dB
– Distortion: ≤1.0%
– Battery: 195 mAh Built-in Li-ion Battery
– Working Time: 14 hours
– Charging Time: 2.5 hours
– Standby Time: 480 hours
– Charge port: Micro USB
– Weight: 126g
– Dimensions: 165.7 x 161.5 x 50mm
Over the course of this week I will be reviewing 2 other bluetooth headphones from August International, the EP50 and in ear EP610. I will also be reviewing their Portable Radio with Bluetooth Speaker SE20.
The August EP636 Bluetooth headphones are one of the new releases from the company. In the box you get the headphones and micro usb lead. Pairing the headphones is easy. You can either pair in the usual manner of use the inbuilt NFC. Once connect you can use the controls on the headphones to take calls, control your track list and volume. I have the black version, but they are available in 3 other colours. The headphones retail at £34.95 although at the moment there is a special price on Amazon UK, making these a real bargain.
The Sound Quality
Before I cover the music quality, I tested these for call quality. The calls were clear and the caller at the other end had no issue hearing my voice. It is really handy having all the necessary controls on the headphones as per my photos.
For the music test, I listened to several different genres over hours and hours. In fact, I am listening to the headphones as I type this review. Below are my findings from a selection of 5 tracks.
“The Sound of Yo-Yo-Ma, The Score – Oh My Love, Ellie Goulding – On My Mind, The Martian – Movie – Emergency Land, Cassandra Wilson – Come On in my Kitchen”
The August EP636 have a distinct musical quality. Firm bass, clearish vocals and mids. Actually, considering their price, I was somewhat surprised at how good they sounded for £34.95 and how much bass they could produce given their physical size. The sound stage is not very wide, slightly closed in to be honest. In terms of comfort, these fitted well and were not heavy. In fact, I used them for a run with my dogs and they stayed on my head no problem whatsoever.
Conclusion
I really like these headphones. Good sound quality and bass and superb value for money. There is also a choice of colours too.
Today I will be looking at some photography options with the iPhone 6S Plus that I have achieved so far. I will also list the apps I use as well. Many of these apps are available on android too. All the photos shown are available to view full size if you click on the photo. Where possible, when I have mentioned any accessories I have made them active links to Amazon.
First up is the problem you get when shooting buildings and the walls aren’t straight. Now the best solution for this is something like Adobe Lightroom 6. See how the walls of the church are slightly warped.
Now using an app called SKRWT, you can fix this and make it look a lot better.
Now what about shooting in RAW format. The default camera app on the iPhone does not permit this. But I use Camera+ which has so many features both from shooting to editing, it really is a great app. It also has 3D Touch enabled. So below is a macro shot in RAW. Note the file size is up to 7 x larger than normal shots. If you view the full size version of the berries the amount of detail is huge.
Again using Camera+ macro mode you can get really close up. So the flower shot first, then the macro.
What about using something like an Olloclip lens attachment for macro. This is what you get. Notice the bokek.
The Olloclip 4 in 1 does wide, fisheye and 2 levels of macro. I also have the Olloclip Macro Pro kit. Whilst these lenses are fun, the quality is poor. They are best used for macro if anything at all. First you can’t use a case or screen protector, and the photos goes soft on the edges. But they are great fun. Below was a photo taken in fisheye mode and then straightened using SKRWT. More info , click here Olloclip 4-in-1 Lens
The Olloclip softens the photos too much in wide mode on the edges. FYI the version for the iPhone 6/6 Plus according to Olloclip works with the new 6S and 6S Plus. Details on Amazon Olloclip 4-in-1 Lens
My recommendation is to use Camera+ for macros with a small tripod. For wide shots use the standard pano mode. You can get photos like this. For this shot below I only took half a panorama as it was not necessary to move across the whole screen. Sometimes 3 or 4 frames are just enough.
However, sometimes the full panoramic is ideal and this is where the iPhone works really well.
In terms of apps, I use the default Photos app. The editing is non destructive. From within the Photos app editing I can access my following apps – afterlight, adobe photoshop express, camera+ and diptic. Also in the Photos app I can import a photo into VSCO Cam or use an app called ViewExif to view the exif details. So apart from the apps mentioned I also have installed Slow Shutter, Flickr, Playmemories, Photogene, Color Splash Pro, Snapseed, Nightcap Pro, Cameratamo, Phoster, Camera360 and Waterlogue.
I do use Live Photos and really like it. Sadly at the moment, I can’t share this with any of apps or services other than within the Apple eco system. I hope this changes soon. However, I do turn it off when I know the shot will make no difference with Live Photos enabled. But it does make moving through the camera roll a bit exciting.
iMovie is used to finish off videos and add photos if needed.Talking about video the video capture is absolutely stunning. 4K, 1080p and other modes like timelapse work so well. I have created a few videos. Ignore the iMovie editing on the timelapse video at the start, that was my fault cutting a frame too agressively at the very beginning. So first up a 4K recorded clip, in 1080p and then a timelapse.
First up time lapse mode. For the 360 degree movement I use Veho VCC-360
on my tripod. My phone is attached to the Veho using a ShoulderPod S1 Grip
.
Then 4K video with a sweep at the end of the view from the summit of Staple Tor. This had no post processing in iMovie.
The best accessory I have used with all my phones is the ShoulderPod S1 Grip as this is the most rock solid way to attach your phone to a tripod!
Anyway that is all for Part 1. If you have any tips or apps or any accessories you like using please leave a comment.
Welcome to my review of the Acer Liquid Jade S smartphone.
Basics
The key specifications –
– MediaTek Octa-core 1.50 GHz
– 5″ (1280 x 720) screen
– 13 Megapixel (Rear Camera) f/1.8, 5 Megapixel (Front Camera)
– 2 GB RAM, 16 GB storage (nearly 12gb available)
– 7.78mm thin
– Gorilla Glass 3
– LTE 150Mbps
– Dual sim
– Micro SD support up to 32gb
– Android 4.4.4 (software OTA arrived for lollipop 5.1 after a few days)
– Bluetooth 4.0
– NFC excluded
– 120g weight
The Acer Liquid Jade S was kindly loaned to me for this review. Removing the Acer Liquid Jade S from its box and I thought for a moment the battery needed to be fitted as it felt too light. In fact, the battery was inside the phone, it just weighs a mere 120g. It is also narrow and thin at 7.78mm and with its 720p 5 inch screen a good phone sized phone. Being so thin did have an impact on battery life, with the end result of just making it through a working day. However, the plastic back did feel a little slippery and with the power button on the top, not an easy position to keep reaching especially with the back being so slippery.
After reviewing a few Acer devices a pattern emerges with the same mix of apps added. The Liquid Jade S is no different. It includes Acer’s BYOC (bring your own cloud) suite of apps, Acer NAV (a rebadged TomTom) and a whole range of extra apps, some of which are more bloatware than anything else. It does include a FM radio, a torch light app and polaris office 5. Otherwise it is stock android, albeit android 4.4.4. NFC is not included. Now I mentioned it came with android 4.4.4 but after a few days lollipop 5.1 OTA arrived at a download size of 0.9mb. However, you need a micro SD card in the phone to download and then install it.
Other extras include DTS HD Premium sound, with further EQ adjustments. These can be used with headphones and the loudspeaker. On screen gestures exist, 4 in total eg. drawing a Z opens the music app. L unlocks. There is also an option for a scheduled power on and off.
The 720p is clear and bright with good viewing angles. Call quality was reasonable and cell signal seemed ok too.
So apart from its thinness at 7.78mm and weight at 120g and overall smallish profile, what else is special about the phone?
Camera and Audio
Now let’s talk about the camera. The rear camera is a 13mp with an impressive f/1.8. The camera app includes a whole range of shooting modes from HDR, panorama, beautification, best shot, bright magic, smile shutter, picture with sound, multi angle view, presentation, dual shot and gourmet. Then you have scenes from auto, landscape, night, portrait. You can shoot with 4 different effects – mono, sepia, negative and aqua. You can operate the camera via voice control as well. Video offers a time lapse mode too with 1, 2, 5 and 10 second intervals. Fine tuning is available for ISO, white balance, saturation, contrast, colour and exposure. If you want to be in the photo as well, a timer with 5, 10 or 15 seconds delay is available. Video electronic stabilisation is available too, with 1080p recordings. Other options are also available, however I must admit the camera app is not laid out as logically as I would have liked, nor is it quick to switch between different modes. So let’s take a look at some camera samples.
I thought some of the camera shots looked slightly over exposed, and there is soft focus on the edges of some the photos in places. Low light and macro shots were a struggle. What do you think? Tap on each photo and select full resolution.The front camera also slightly over exposed shots.
The loudspeaker is on the rear and can be easily covered by accident. It sounds tinny and is not the loudest out there. The sound via headphones was quite reasonable. USB Audio is not supported.
Conclusion
The Acer Liquid Jade S is an unusual phone and bucks the trend in many ways with its slim and light weight design. With its recommended retail price of £199, it finds itself with tough competition that offers more and often for less money too.
Gavin's Gadgets & Photography 