Author: chris eilers

A new Microsoft smartphone has just been leaked online with some renders. This phone appears with a beautiful design, along with many great specs and features: 12MP cam, all-in-one button, and more!

New Microsoft smartphone: 12MP cam and titanium panel

After eliminating the Lumia series, it seems that the big US software Microsoft is working on a new phone. This new Microsoft smartphone has just shown up online with some renders. The design is made by Irvan (Mr_vero). At first glance, this phone has a stunning design. It has a titanium body with no bezels, four corners of the handset are rounded. The home button is added on the small bottom front panel.

This new Microsoft smartphone will have a 5.0 inch AMOLED display. It’s such a pity that this beautiful phone just come with an HD (1080 x 720px) display. This 5-inch screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3. On the back, there is a 12MP Carl Zeiss sensor camera with LED flash. The phone also sports an 8MP selfie snapper. It will run on Windows 10 OS.

One of the special features of this phone is the button which is under the main camera on the back. This is a multi-functional button. This means that you can use this button to do many things. It is both a fingerprint scanner and a volume control. To volume up/down, you just need to put your finger on it and scroll up/down. It is also a power and lock screen button. Push and hold it to turn the phone on/off. Just push to unlock and push one more time to lock.

New Microsoft smartphone: Surface Phone?

According to some sources, Microsoft will focus on Surface Phone after killing off Lumia handsets. Now, this new device is leaked online. So, is this phone a Surface phone? We don’t know yet. We also have no idea about the name of the handset, as well as its price and release date. If you’re interested in this phone, just keep following our page. We’ll inform you of further updates!

DxOMark is a famous benchmark that measures the quality of camera devices, including smartphone cameras. According to the latest update from the site, here are the top camera smartphones!

1. Apple iPhone 7

First of all, we have Apple iPhone 7. This phone lands at no.3 on DxOMark’s top camera smartphones. Talking about the camera, iPhone 7 carries a 12MP main snapper with f/1.8 aperture, phase detection autofocus, optical image stabilization and quad LED flash. The shooter on the front supports 7MP resolution, f/2.2 aperture and panorama selfie.

Other iPhone 7 specs are also impressive. According to Antutu, this phone is currently the most powerful handset in terms of performance, thanks to the A10 chipset and 2GB RAM. Regarding the memory, there are three variants: 32GB/128GB/256GB. Besides, the phone packs a 4.7-inch retina display (750 x 1334) and a 1960mAh battery. iPhone 7 price starts from $649 (RM. 2684).

2. Sony Xperia X Performance

Another phone on DxOMark’s top camera smartphones is Sony Xperia X Performance. This phone gets 88 points thanks to its combo of 23MP/13MP cameras. Moreover, with 3GB RAM and a Snapdragon 820 chipset, this phone offers great performance as well. In terms of ROM, there are two variants: 32GB and 64GB (both expandable by up to 256GB). Other Sony Xperia X Performance specs include a 5-inch full HD display and a 2700mAh battery. Sony Xperia X Performance price reaches $750 (RM 3101).

3. HTC 10

Sharing the same position with Xperia X Performance on DxOMark’s top camera smartphones is HTC 10. This phone gains 88 scores because of its 12MP main shooter, which is equipped with OIS, f/1.8 aperture, laser autofocus and dual LED flash. Other highlights of this phone are the SND 820/4GB RAM combo and the 5.2-inch quad HD display. Other HTC 10 specs are also noticeable: 32GB/64GB (+maximum 256GB), 5MP selfie snapper and 3000mAh battery. HTC 10 price is around $620 (RM 2564).

4. Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge

The “best camera smartphone in 2016” also receives 88 scores on DxOMark’s top camera smartphones. S7 Edge houses a 12MP main camera with f/1.7 aperture, phase detection autofocus and optical image stabilization. Just like HTC 10, this phone comes with a combo of 4GB RAM/SND 820 chipset, which is very powerful. There are also two variants of ROM: 32GB and 64GB (both can be expanded by 256GB max). Other Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge specs consist of a 5.5-inch 2k display, a 5MP selfie shooter and a 3600mAh battery. Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge price is about $730 (RM. 3019).

5. Google Pixel

And now here comes the “king” of DxOMark’s top camera smartphones. Google Pixel achieves 89 scores with its 12MP camera, which is assisted by PDAF, laser autofocus and dual LED flash. The camera of the front supports 8MP resolution. Other Google Pixel specs are also worth the money. This phone carries a Snapdragon 821 chipset and 4GB RAM. For storing purposes, there are two variants: 32GB and 128GB. In terms of display, you are offered with a 5-inch screen with full HD resolution. As for the battery, this phone houses a 2770mAh one. Google Pixel XL price is $780 (RM. 3225).

Top camera smartphones rated by DxOMark: 23MP, 4GB RAM and more

So those are the 5 DxOMark’s top camera smartphones. What do you think about them? Do you have any other recommendations? If not, make sure to follow our posts to not miss any upcoming charts.

It looks like Samsung Galaxy S7/S7 Edge are no longer the best camera phones of 2016. According to DxOMark – a famous camera benchmark website, the camera of one phone has scored even higher: Google Pixel camera.

Google Pixel camera: The new best phone camera!

To be more specific, Google Pixel camera has scored 89, which is the highest rating DxOMark has ever given. Samsung Galaxy S7/S7 Edge, Sony Xperia X Performance and HTC 10 all share the second position with 88 points. iPhone 7, which is launched at the beginning of this month, lands at no.3 with 86 points only. After that, Google Nexus 6P and iPhone 6s Plus both stand at the forth place on the chart with 84. So what makes Google Pixel camera the leading phone camera in the industry?

According to the camera specifications of Google Pixel, we can see a camera beast lying inside the phone. Although 12MP is not a massive resolution, the pixel size and the sensor size of Pixel’s main camera are extraordinary: 1.55µm and 1/2.3″, respectively. Moreover, with the combination of phase detection autofocus, laser autofocus and broad-spectrum CRI-90 dual-LED flash, it’s unlikely that this phone will let you down in capturing your precious moments. It is also capable of recording 4k videos (30fps) and full HD videos (120fps).

In case you want to know more about other Google Pixel specs, let us show you a brief. Under the hood, there is a powerful combo of Snapdragon 821 chipset and 4GB RAM. In terms of display, this phone carries a 5-inch screen with full HD resolution. As for the storage, there are two versions: 32GB and 128GB, both non-expandable. Regarding the battery, a 2770mAh one is available to fuel the system. And last but not least, this phone runs Android 7.1 Nougat!

Google Pixel camera: Hands-on review is coming

With this report, it seems that Google Pixel is a camera phone to wait for! Although, at this point, it’s understandable if you are still not convinced because you haven’t seen the Google Pixel camera review with real-life photos yet. However, we won’t keep you waiting for long. Make sure to stay tuned, as hands-on camera review is coming!

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 considered as safe mode has been reported to explode recently for the second time. So, where did this explosion happen?

Samsung Galaxy Note 7: the next victim

Samsung has been involved many scandals and come in for a lot of criticism which relate to Note 7 explosions. In case you don’t know, Hui Renjie, a user from China – where Note7 is labelled “safe”, has just reported that his Note7 has exploded while in use, burning two of his fingers and damaging his Macbook nearby. That incident was really a shock and collapsed the customers’ trust towards Samsung.

This time, the explosion happened when passengers were boarding a flight Southwest Flight 994 to Baltimore. Brian Green is the unlucky owner of this exploded Note 7. According to the report, the smartphone was put in his pocket, and its battery level was at 80%, which means the phone was in normal condition. Suddenly, it overheated and began to emit smoke. Brian hurriedly throw it to the carpet. Luckily, there was just a little damage to the carpet, and no injuries were reported.

When the smartphone emitted smoke, it was not on charge. Green also said that since he bought that Note 7 he just used wireless charging feature. Until now, the reason that caused the device explosion is under investigation. The Verge also said that the smartphone is being kept by the Louisville Fire Department.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7: when explosion scandals end

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 soon became a hit when it came out. But series of its scandals seem don’t stop. Is there any news involving Samsung smartphones explosion in the future? All incidents have deteriorated Samsung reputation somehow. It is expected that Samsung will soon take prompt action to give efficient solutions.

Google Pixel is the latest flagship of Google. This phone is one of the best devices in the market. Google Pixel specs are really great like SND 821, 4GB RAM, 12MP… However, this handset still doesn’t have some features which would make itself much more awesome. Let’s have a look!

1. Optical Image Stabilization (OIS)

Google Pixel has just been launched recently. Immediately, this phone becomes one of the best camera phones in the market. It even surpasses iPhone 7 and Galaxy S7 to become the phone having the highest DxOMark score ever – 89. iPhone 7 has the score of 86 while S7 has 88 DxOMark scores. If you don’t know, DxOMark is a reliable industry benchmark to measure and rate camera quality.

This new Google phone sports a 12MP main camera on the back with f/2.0, autofocus, and dual LED flash. This camera even has a big 1/2.3″ sensor size and 1.55 μm pixels. These features will give you the great and beautiful photos. However, there is no optical image stabilization feature on this camera. Without this feature, the photos may not be as sharp as the ones from camera phones with OIS.

2. Wireless charging

The second feature which is missed on Pixel is wireless charging. The Google handset is backed up with a 2770mAh battery. This capacity is supported with fast charging. Although supported by quick battery charging, Pixel is not equipped with wireless charging. This is kinda weird because Google Nexus 4 has it. Maybe the US giant doesn’t want their battery phone to get damage in the long-term.

3. Better Water resistance

Water resistance is one of the most wanted smartphone features recently. That’s why many brands have added this feature to their products. Sony is the first company to start this trend with many waterproof phones. Samsung, after that, also brought waterproof features to their Galaxy lineup. Apple even follows the trend with the first waterproof iPhone 7. To be fair, Google has also equipped Pixel with certification IP53. However, this level is quite underwhelming for a high-end device like Pixel, compared to other competitors.

4.  Stereo speakers

Like its siblings – Nexus 6 and 6P, Pixel was also built by HTC. Speaking about this Taiwanese company, we will remember the flagship HTC 10. This is the first phone of the brand to have stereo speakers. With the two previous Google handsets last year, HTC equipped them with this kind of speakers. However, this 2016 Google phone lacks this feature. It is a huge missed opportunity.

5. Slimmer bezels

This new Google phone is considered like an Android iPhone. It is designed by Google and runs on an OS which is created by Google. Even the look of the phone is quite similar to the first generations of iPhone. The bezels of the phone are kinda thick. If only these bezels were slimmer, Pixel would have the best of both worlds: beautiful design and strong specs.

Google Pixel: 5 features we wish it would have

Those are the 5 things we wish Google Pixel could have. The latest flagship of Google is already a strong device. However, it could be more powerful and appealing than that with those features above. Are you satisfied with what Google Pixel offers?

Are you using more than two email platforms or two different email accounts? If the answer is yes, you must be sometimes annoyed at switching between the 2 mail applications or 2 accounts right? In that case, here comes the solution for you: Alto – an Android mail organizing app.

Alto – one of the best mail organizing apps for Android users

The first great thing about Alto is that it is a platform where you are allowed to log in with different mail accounts. As a result, you are able to control all of your mail accounts in just one place. This app works with almost every mail platforms, including iCloud, Yahoo!, Hotmail, Outlook, Gmail, AOL and so on! Moreover, you will receive alerts whenever there are new important updates such as flight delay, hotel booking changes.

Another great feature that Alto offers is email sorting. To be more specific, you can organize your mails in diverse categories, not just the common ones like Unread or Snoozed. The good thing is that this app will do it automatically for you by basing on the content of the mails. You can even set up a Personal folder where you only see mails from your friends, co-worker or family members. If you don’t agree with the way this app arranges your mails, feel free to switch to manual mode and start organizing your own platform.

One more good thing about the Alto’s sorting system is that you can find the email or the attachment you need without having to type the keyword or opening each email. There are folders for attachments, for photos, for travel, for shopping, etc. So you only have to remember the topic of the message you need and tap on that folder – a very simple step right?

Alto  – Availability

With such wonderful features, how much do you think Alto costs? In fact, it doesn’t cost a single penny! This app is now available for FREE on Google Play Store, without any in-app purchase! So we don’t see why you should not download this app and try it right now!

According to Zauba, Samsung is working on a new smartphone carrying a model number of SM-J727V. It is suggested that this will be the Galaxy J7 2017. So let’s have a look at what we know so far!

Galaxy J7 2017: alleged specs

Because of the very little information about Galaxy J7 2017, let’s begin by flicking through its predecessor – Galaxy J7 2016. The J7 2016 has 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display. This Samsung phone is equipped with a 16GB internal storage and a 2GB memory capacity. In addition, it mounts a combo of 13MP with 5MP cameras. It is also packed with a 3300mAh battery. Overall, the 2016 version of Galaxy J7 has been very well-received for a mid-range smartphone.

According to our source, the Galaxy J7 2017 will be powered by an Exynos chipset. Although we don’t know the exact generation of chipset, we expect it to come with the Exynos 7870 Octa, as do the Galaxy J7 2016 and J7 Prime. The mobile will also come with a 5.5-inch display that has a 1920 x 1080 pixel (Full HD) resolution. In terms of memory capacity, Samsung will equip this handset with 3GB RAM. Unluckily, we don’t have any information about the internal storage yet.

Now, let’s consider other Galaxy J7 2017 specs! For selfie function, it is claimed that the smartphone will exhibit a 5MP snapper. On the other side, it will boasts a 13MP primary camera. This new handset will receive its power from a 3,000mAh battery. As a result, the device is capable of lasting about a day between the two charges.

Galaxy J7 2017: price and availability

According to Zauba, the Galaxy J7 2017 will be available at RM. 850 ($205) in India. However, the market price can fluctuate a little. Sadly, we don’t have any official announcement about the launch date of the mobile. Don’t worry, we will update you of any new information about this phone, so stay tuned!

Gionee P7 Max vs Moto Z Play is the battle between two 3GB RAM phones. Gionee P7 Max has been launched recently with a budget price. Meanwhile, Moto Z Play is a modular phone from Lenovo. Let’s find the winner!

Gionee P7 Max vs Moto Z Play: 3GB RAM phones battle

First, let’s see about the processing power of this Gionee P7 Max vs Moto Z Play battle. As mentioned, both smartphones come with 3GB of RAM. They also sport 32GB ROM. Moto Z Play ROM can be expanded by up to 256GB via MicroSD card, while it is not known if Gionee phone ROM can be extended yet. The Moto Z phone runs on 2.0Ghz octa-core SND 625 processor while Gionee P7 Max is powered by octa-core MediaTek 6595.

Next, Moto Z Play features a bigger battery of 3510 mAH capacity. On Gionee P7 Max, you’ll find a 3100 mAH battery. Both smartphones share the same 5.5-inch screen size, however, Moto Z Play screen is better with full HD resolution, compared to HD resolution on Gionee P7 Max. Also, both handsets are running on Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS out of the box.

If you are a photo lover, both smartphones are good choices. On the front of two devices, you’ll find a 5MP camera for selfies. However, the rear cameras of both handsets are different. Gionee P7 Max sports a 13MP main shooter with LED flash. On the other hand, Moto Z features a 16MP primary cam with f/2.0 and dual LED flash. We can see that Moto Z Play has the better rear camera.

Gionee P7 Max vs Moto Z Play: Price comparison

Before picking the winner, let’s see which is the cheaper phone? About Moto Z Play price, it falls at $375. Meanwhile, Gionee P7 Max price is cheaper, around $210. So, Moto Z Play comes to this battle with a bigger battery, a better screen, and a bigger rear camera resolution. However, Gionee P7 Max specs are not too far from Moto Z Play’s. Most importantly, it is cheaper. So, which is your winner?

Factory reset is sometimes a really important step to bring your Android smartphone back to normal after it has stopped working. Today, we will show you how to factory reset Samsung Galaxy S7.

Factory reset Samsung Galaxy S7

First of all, what is factory reset? It is a step that erase all the data and setting in your Android phone. In order word, after this step, the software of your phone will be the same as when you first bought it. We often do this factory reset whenever our phones are performing badly due to faulty apps or because of viruses. We also do this before someone else buys or takes over our phones. And now, we will show you how to factory reset Samsung Galaxy S7.

There are two ways to factory reset Samsung Galaxy S7: using the menu setting and using the buttons. First of all, when the phone goes bad but still functions, factory reset is super simple to do. All you need to do is go to Setting -> Backup and reset -> Factory data reset -> Reset phone -> Erase everything. After this step, it will take a while for your phone to run the startup. Then until you see the launcher, you can start restore your files.

The second way to factory reset Samsung Galaxy S7 is using buttons. In case your phone has too many errors to start, try this: First you hold the home button, the volume up button and the power button at the same time. After a few seconds, your phone will enter the recovery mode. In this more, you use the two volume buttons to move to the options across the menu. Until you move to the Wipe data/factory reset, you press the power button to activate and then hit Yes to confirm the process. After this process finishes, you will see the menu again. At that time, move to Reboot system now and use the power button to activate.

Factory reset Samsung Galaxy S7: Round-up

Those tips are very easy to do right? Just a simple steps and you will be able to bring your phone back to where it started. However, as this step erases everything in your phone, make sure that you already back up all your personal files to your computer or to the cloud (if possible) before you resort to factory reset.

In Google event on 4th October, Google has brought users some big surprises. In this event, the company unveiled two new Pixel smartphones and some other impressive products. Let’s take a look at all of them.  

1. Google Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones

The biggest highlight in Google event is the new Pixel brand. Through their event, Google introduced to users two new smartphones: Google Pixel and Google Pixel XL. As the company confimred, both smartphones will run on latest hardware and software. They will be powered by SnapDragon 821 processor and running on Android 7.1 OS. Besides, both handsets are all coming with 4GB of RAM and two ROM options, 32Gb and 64GB. The cameras are also the same, with 12.3MP main camera + 8MP selfie shooter.

To be more specific, Google Pixel comes with 5.0-inch Full HD screen. On the other hand, the Google Pixel XL comes with a bigger screen of 5.5-inch in size. Also, the Pixel XL phone has a bigger battery of 3450 mAH. On Pixel phone, you will find a 2770 mAH battery. As for Google Pixel price, it costs $649 for 32GB ROM version and $749 for 128GB ROM version. Meanwhile, the Google Pixel XL price is higher, with a price of $769 for 32GB ROM version and $869 for 128GB ROM version.

2. Chromecast Ultra

In Google event, the company also brings users a new Chrome cast Ultra. This is a useful device that can transfer data from your laptop or smartphone to television. With this device, you can play video or music on the large screen of TV. Compared to the old version, the new Chromecast Ultra comes with some big enhanced features. It can transfer data faster. Especially, this device can handle 4K videos. Chromecast Ultra price starts at $69.

3. Google Wifi

Also in Google event, we heard some information about Google Wifi. This is a new method in transferring wifi from Google. Google Wifi comes with a new router system, which lets you access to Wifi connectivity from quite a far distance. Besides, there is an additional app that helps you control the WIFI access of your children. A Google Wifi router costs about $129.

4. Google Home

Google Home, which was unveiled in Google event, is a big rival of Amazon Echo. General, this is a smart system that can help control some smart devices in your house. Honestly, this system is… a large speaker, which can hear and respond your requests from a far distance. Specifically, it allows you to turn on the music, access to the internet, play television, etc. It can also cleverly answer your questions. Google Home price starts at $129.

5.  Andromeda OS

In Google event, the company also leaked its new Operating System – Andromeda Os. This new OS is built for Google Pixel table and the Google Pixel Laptop. As the company unveiled, this OS is a combination of Android OS and Chrome Os, which is promising a better performance. Andromeda Os is reported to be launched in Q3 2017. From some recent reports, this new OS will be on the new Google laptop – Google Pixel 3.

Google event: All things you should know

Those are five impressive products unveiled in Google event. It seems that Google official takes part in smartphone battle with its Pixel smartphones. Let’s see if Google can compete with other big smartphone brands like Apple, Samsung!

Recently, the word “wireless charging” is getting more prevalent. So what is it, and what are its applications? Let’s read on and find out with us!

Wireless charging: what is it?

In simple terms for smartphone users, that means you can charge your phone without having to plug a cable to your phone. Typically in a wireless charging process, there are a device (to charge, i.e your phone), a charger (usually in the form of a pad), and two coils, one in the device and the other in the charger. When two coils are near enough, they will react with the electromagnetic field, which creates a transformer (which acts like the wire in traditional charging), and the wireless charging process starts.

We may question that is it really wireless yet. The answer is yes, to some extent. It’s true that we can’t see any wire between the electric device and a charger. However, there are wires connecting the charger to a energy source. As a result, it’s not a true wireless charging yet!

Along side with some advantages, wireless charging also has flaw. Firstly, it is safer than traditional charging as the internal coils are not exposed to wet environment. Therefore, the likelihood of electric shock can be lower. Besides, it’s also easy to use. However, because of less heat loss, the output of heat is higher than traditional charging. Thus, if you use a wireless charging pad, you should place it on a heat resistant surface. In addition, wireless chargers are more expensive than the traditional.

A promising future!

In US, Starbucks has equipped wireless charging in many stores as well as some McDonald’s restaurants in UK. Today, some smartphone makers integrate wireless charging function in some of their new products. But the potential of this kind of charging is really promising. There are some companies that are conducting experiments on true wireless charging. So, the birth of true wireless charging is now only a matter of time!

AnTuTu is considered as one of the most popular tools commonly used to benchmark Android devices. Many parts of your devices will be tested by AnTuTu benchmark and the results will be given. But, what does AnTuTu benchmark measure on your smartphones, let’s take a look below.

AnTuTu benchmark test UX

UX is the acronym for user experience. UX score is the number you can look at to partly guess how your devices will perform. Therefore, it is the first score in the benchmark to identify end user experience. UX is divided into Multitask and Runtime. The Multitask test shows the ability of multitasking  for a phone with multi-core CPU.  Runtime test, on the other hand, illustrates how the apps are run on Android’s Dalvik runtime.

AnTuTu benchmark test RAM

RAM can be understood as random access memory. It is working continuously on your devices no matter what you are doing. RAM score given by AnTuTu can be used to assess the performance of your smartphones. It is devided into RAM operation and RAM speed. However, there is no clear distinction between those two devisions. Therefore, the total score for both of them is given to evaluate how well your smartphones work.

AnTuTu benchmark test CPU

CPU understood as central processing unit is evaluated to see whether your devices have the capability of running high-end apps or games. It is categorized into CPU integer and CPU float-point. Like RAM, to understand a comprehensive differences between two types is quite complex. That’s the reason AnTuTu give us the final score to help us decide our smartphones’ ability.

AnTuTu benchmark test GPU

The Graphic Processing Unit is known under the word GPU. GPU doesn’t really demonstrate its functionality until it comes to playing games on your devices. GPU performs all the 3D graphics, and speeds up 2D graphics. The score is again devided into 2D graphics and 3D graphics. Of course, AnTuTu will score the two devisions seperately, but we just only need to notice the final result. If you love playing smartphone games, bear GPU score in mind.

AnTuTu benchmark test IO

Input/Output represents the speed of the internal flash storage of your devices. The higher the score I/O gets, the better performance of data transference or apps switch. The I/O score has two parts: Storage I/O and Database I/O. Storage I/O tests assess the speed of reading and writing from inbuilt storage. Database I/O is about the reading from and writing to a database. Similarly to others scores, users just need to know the total score to evaluate your Android devices.

AnTuTu benchmark: a helpful reference

If you are getting lost in a vast choice of Android devices, those AnTuTu scores can be a reliable source to take a look. Comparisons among those criteria would definitely help you to choose the best Android device.