Review Highlights from the Latest Phones – HTC One M8, S5, Z1 Compact

Below are the quick links to reviews I have written from the latest phones available at present. If you click the menu bar above, and select reviews phones, there are another 20 plus phone reviews to read.

Samsung Galaxy S5 review

HTC One M8 review

Sony Xperia Z1 Compact review

Samsung Note 3 review

Sony Z Ultra views and Camera Samples

Motorola Moto G review

Sony Xperia Z1 Review

Nokia Lumia 1520 review

Nokia Lumia 1020 review

Nokia Lumia 925 review

Harmon Kardon Onyz Studio Wireless Speaker – Half Price today with code – details

O2 stores in the UK are selling the Harmon Kardon Onyz Studio Portable Wireless Speaker for half price at £99. This started life as a $400 speaker.

More info here Harmon Kardon

This is a bad boy of a speaker. Bluetooth. Powered by mains or battery which lasts 5 hours.

To get this deal you need to be with O2 Priority Moments. Next open the O2 Priority Moments app on your smartphone and the speaker should appear. Get the code. Then head off to your local store.

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Samsung Galaxy S5 – updated views

I have had the S5 for about a week now, and it has grown on me. The hardware is not as sexy as the HTC One M8, but it is easier to manage as it fits nicely in my hand. I do wish it was marginally slimmer, like the HTC One M8, but you cannot take away the fact it is comfy in the hand.

Unlocking by the fingerprint scanner is a pain in the a*se. So I have now switched it off. Even holding the S5 with 2 hands it was never consistent enough and often took several attempts. Apple really have nailed this particular process.

The complexity of the options actually make it a very good phone with all the settings and options you could wish for. Once you have set up what you want and how you want it to perform, you then can just go about your way enjoying the S5.

It does frustrate me though. The camera is like marmite. You either get blown away with the photos or left disappointed. Talking of camera, somehow the settings got changed from shooting at 16mp to 6mp, and I don’t recall changing them myself.

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The lockscreen has coloured dots for my pattern unlock, TV remote controls and camera shortcut. Rather nice homescreen.

Bluetooth Audio – I connected the S5 to my Sony SBH80 stereo headset. Great music clarity and bass. Good voice etc… no issues here.

Clearly the S5 is meant to appeal to everyone and in that regard it succeeds, but if you want something special there are plenty of other options and choices out there.

EBay wants us to come back

eBay says that from May 13th it’ll allow UK users to list up to 20 items every month completely free of charge. Listings can include any item, as long as it’s not a car.

Free listing but then a huge fee after selling and then a commission charge by PayPal.  And less protection for sellers against dodgy buyers.

No wonder people are looking elsewhere.

Have a look at PSC Forum where you can sell or swap with no fees. Just your normal postage costs.

Despite mixed reviews the Samsung S5 appears to be selling like hotcakes – info

Phones 4U has said that launch day sales of the S5 were double that of the S4.

Pre-orders alone were escalating significantly ahead of those for S4 last year ahead of the launch, and the Galaxy S5 made up 40% of all contract sales at the retailer on April 11.

Samsung also achieved moderate queues outside its new Samsung Experience Stores throughout the UK at the early launch on April 10. Just shows how strong the brand is becoming.

Press Release -LONDON, UK, 16 APRIL 2014: We’re thrilled to announce that Phones 4u has seen record success with the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S5, with sales on the first day alone being double that of the Samsung Galaxy S4 during the same period.

Since its global unveiling the Samsung Galaxy S5 has continued to thrive at Phones 4u – pre-registrations for the newest Galaxy smartphone reached over five figures ahead of the pre-order launch, with official pre-orders escalating significantly past those of its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy S4.