Author: chris eilers

Microsoft Lumia 950 vs Google Nexus 5X vs Sony Xperia Z5: NEWEST smartphones launched in the H2 of 2015

It is easily to recognize this second half of the year has seen many strong new flagships, but today, we will only look at three ones that contain number “5” in their names: Microsoft Lumia 950, Google Nexus 5X and Sony Xperia Z5.

So, they all come from big mobile manufacturers in the world and have been drawing a lot of attention from people recently. Speaking more specifically, Microsoft Lumia 950 seems to be the youngest when just announced on October 6, 2015 along with its sibling Microsoft Lumia 950XL. Then, we have Google Nexus 5X launch happening not long before the Lumia 950, September 29, 2015 to be exactly, and Sony Xperia Z5 to be the elder, introduced at IFA 2015 on September 2, 2015. Though, all of them are three of the latest smartphones on the market now, beautiful and powerful!

Microsoft Lumia 950 vs Google Nexus 5X vs Sony Xperia Z5: Which one wins the specs battle?

Despite being the newbies in their own houses, these phones sport most TOP specifications nowadays. According to Microsoft, Lumia 950 and Lumia 950XL are probably “the most productive phones you’ve ever picked up.” Well, we wonder if it is still so once compared with other flagship phones like Nexus 5X and Xperia Z5.

In order to give you a fuller view on how the Lumia 950 can be in such an interesting comparison. Here is a table of detailed Microsoft Lumia 950 specs put next to Google Nexus 5X specs and Sony Xperia Z5 specs:

Comparison:

So in the list, we have for you all smartphone-size devices (5.2-inch display), and there is 2 Android smartphones and 1 Windows phone. Then, what do you think about the Lumia 950 when sitting next to the other flagships? Is it persuasive enough for you as well as other people to buy? Tell us your choice 😉 !

At the moment, we are looking forward to Xiaomi Mi5, the flagship successor to Xiaomi Mi4, to be launched in this half of the year. Besides, we feel excited with many Xiaomi smartphone concepts having been spotted on the internet so far. Say, the Xiaomi Redmi Trace we are going to talk about in the next parts is…

These phones are named Xiaomi Redmi TX1, Redmi TX2, Redmi XR1 and Redmi XR2, respectively.

As we know, the sub-brand Xiaomi Redmi (also aka Hongmi for sales within China), introduced in 2013, mainly releases smartphones with average specs and budget-friendly prices. Its latest device, Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 debuted in August, 2015, has been receiving a lot of positive feedback from consumers. And that is a good signal for the future of the Xiaomi Redmi series.

Lately, we have noticed a new concept for a Xiaomi Redmi handset which is so beautiful and strong that we want to share with you guys. If this comes true, we think it has potential to be as successful as the Redmi Note 2. Yes, the one we are going to introduce is called Xiaomi Redmi Trace, designed by Mladen Milic. Moreover, this time, the designer has created an entire series of Xiaomi Redmi Trace. Check it out!

In general, the series has 4 variants and they are said to include different CPUs, screen sizes, RAM capacities and cameras, depending on the model. However, some details about their specs have been revealed. Two one will come with side speakers and the other two with back speakers. There are 4.7-inch HD models with quad-core CPUs, and 5MP or 8MP rear cams. In addition, 32GB of internal storage and 3GB RAM will be on-board as well. Higher end models with 5.2-inch Retina HD screens, 13MP or 20MP snappers and powerful 4GB RAM are also created for those who want strong machines for heavy use.

So, those are for the Xiaomi Redmi Trace specs. What about Xiaomi Redmi Trace design? Basically, the phone is put in black and white only, yet it is still gorgeous, right?! We find the Mi logo placed on the front surface quite interesting, and the back looks totally different from the one we usually see in Xiaomi smartphones, but in a good way. That could mark a new chapter for Xiaomi design indeed. 

Well, what do you think about this Xiaomi concept smartphone series? And if Xiaomi really considered this one for their next Redmi device, what would Xiaomi Redmi Trace price in Malaysia be? Share with us your opinions 😀 !

Officially launched on October 6, 2015, Lumia 950XL is the latest Microsoft smartphone in the high-end category. There are so many reasons why people get excited about the device. But you will get into details when you read through our post. For now, there is one thing that can wrap up what this Microsoft smartphone has to offer. According to Microsoft, the Lumia 950XL and its sibling Lumia 950 are probably “The most productive phones you’ve ever picked up”

Running on Windows 10, Lumia 950XL specs features some of the latest trends in our market today. With 5.7” display, Lumia 950XL is a high-end phablet with 3GB RAM, 20MP Pureview camera with triple LED flash and 3340 mAH battery.

To give you a fuller view on how the Lumia 950XL in comparison with other current flagships in our market today, here is a table of detailed Lumia 950XL specs put next to: LG V10, Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and iPhone 6S Plus.

So in the list, I have for you all Phablet-size devices (5.5 inch display and bigger). And there is 2 Android smartphones, 1 Windows phone and 1 iOS phone so you have a broader sense of them all. What do you think about the Lumia 950XL when put among other flagships? Will it manage to convince people into buying?

The mobile industry has bee stirred up recently, especially the Android devices since Android 6.0 Marshmallow is available. One thing we are glad to hear is that besides recent Nexus devices, a number of 1st gen Android One smartphones will be receiving a speedy update treatment as well. So, are you owning one of them? Cheer up!

According to news sources, lately Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating system has been spotted on Micromax Canvas A1 and Myphone Uno, and hinted that the rest of the series are likely to be on the way, too. On the other hand, the update has already reached some devices in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Then, we really hope that an OTA (Over The Air) update will be soon released in the upcoming days.

Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating system has been spotted on Micromax Canvas A1 and Myphone Uno

For those who are having a Micromax Canvas A1 or Myphone Uno, if you do not want to wait for an OTA notification, you can choose to download the following flash-able .zip file and install it yourself. Nonetheless, you should pay attention to some necessary precautions and make backups for everything before flashing files.

* MicroMax Canvas A1

* Myphone Uno

To recap, Android 6.0 Marshmallow is the newest OS of Google at the moment and we hope that all the Android smartphones will be able to be updated with it, even including Android One devices. In case of noticing any other Android One handset running on Android 6.0 Marshmallow, please share with us as well as other users 😉 !

Semiconductors and displays are the main factors that help Samsung revive. Their shares increased with the highest rate since 2009…

According to some analysts, Samsung Electronics could generate profit below market expectations due to its unimpressive performance of the mobile unit. However, recently, Samsung has released a profit report which proved them wrong.

Specifically, Samsung’s shares increased 8.7%, which is said to be the biggest jump since 2009. Though the whole results were not totally announced, just looking at the operating income that rose to $6.3 billion can tell how great the company has done. That is a HUGE 79.8% jump if compared to the same period last year. Good job, Samsung!

In addition, semiconductors and displays are the ones that help Samsung become so strong. They contributed much to the success of many recent Samsung Galaxy flagships that are competing well with Apple iPhones together with Chinese and Indian devices. Moreover, the semiconductor business of Samsung is gaining profits from providing components for Apple iDevices. And if Samsung just keeps doing well, they will be able to stand still at the top place among semiconductor producers, making it five quarters in a row.

Also for the mobile division, analysts’ expectations are 24% rise compared with the last year (which is around $1.9 billion). And this time, Samsung will be able to see the year-on-year rise for the first time in sever quarters.

However, that is for the third quarter of 2015 when Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and S6 edge Plus were launched one month earlier than Apple iPhone 6S and 6S Plus. In addition, Samsung smartphones have to fight with many high-end but cheaper handsets and low-end ones from Chinese and Indian makers. Note that the sub-$200 phones are mainly responsible for increasing the sales

Apart from such an impressive report, we wonder if Samsung can continue to do that in this Q4 once Samsung Galaxy S6 shipments are dropping “significantly” according to an IBK Securities analyst. He also adds that the Average Selling Price in September dropped 14%.

Well, anyway, we would like to congratulate Samsung on their results in Q3 and hope that they will remain the same or even develop more at the end of the year.

Sharp has just launched a phone called RoboHon. Perhaps it is because it looks like a robot and…

Sharp introduced three new smartphones coming along with EDGEST design and super slim bezels a few days ago. Spec-wise, they feature a Snapdragon 808 hexa-core chip and Adreno 418 GPU. But, Sharp did not stop there! They has just released their RoboHon with a very strange design. Actually, it does not simply look like a smartphone but a robot. The design was done by professor Tomotaka Takahashi.

In general, Robohon is said to be the closest device to an actual “android”, working as a smartphone and digital assistant. Yet, of course, you can use it to do many basic things like making calls and sending emails.

https://youtu.be/HQtIlxe_ZkY

As for the Sharp Robohon Specs, it owns a 2-inch QVGA (320×240) screen, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 SoC chip, 3G LTE support and Wi-Fi antennas. Besides, due to being a robot phone, it cannot be as thin as other smartphones. Instead, it measures 19.5 cm in height and 390 grams in weight.

Though Sharp has not revealed the OS yet, the machine seems to run on Android OS since its home and back UI buttons look similar to those on an Android phone, and the notification bar reminds us of Google’s mobile OS. So, let’s wait and see!

This is really an interesting product made by this Japanese producer, not only to kids but also to many adults in fact. However, we wonder how we can put it in our pocket 😀 ! That is quite a problem, isn’t it?

For the Sharp RoboHon price and availability, it is planned to be sold at the beginning of 2016 in Japan first. Though, we have no idea if the phone will go on sale in other countries or not. Personally, we hope it will come to Malaysia soon 😉 !

Microsoft Surface Pro 4 has recently been launched, coming with a bigger screen, a thinner body and 50% stronger than Appel MacBook Air. Isn’t it so great?

Microsoft Surface Pro 4 Specs:

Conclusion:

Microsoft Lumia 950 and 950XL launch happened on October 6, 2015, introducing these two Windows phones with a lot of improvement and upgrades… 

Microsoft Lumia 950 and 950XL Launch

Microsoft Lumia 950 Specs and Lumia 950XL Specs: Things you need to know

Microsoft Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL really look like the leaked designs we have seen before. They have a triple flash on the back surface to support the 20MP PureView camera, just exactly like what we heard. Specially, the phones also sport a button only used for taking photos.

Speaking more specifically, the rear shooter comes with a 1/2.4-inch sensor, OIS (5th gen), and Carl Zeiss lens (f/1.9), able to record 216p videos with Hi-Fi sound. In addition, the duo have 5MP front-facing cam on each one, which is good enough for a beautiful selfie, right?!

According to Microsoft, Lumia 950 is “the most productive phone you’ve ever picked up.” We think it hints that both Lumia 950 and 950XL will help you work, relax and do other things very effectively. And it seems right since this Lumia couple is equipped with the Continiumm function, allowing you to connect and use a phone like a destop with basic office apps. All of them will be supported by the Display Dock set consisting of a HDMI and 3 USB ports. Besides, they even feature the phase-change liquid cooling technology from the Surface tablets. As a result, you may not need to worry much about heating issue on Lumia 950 and 950XL.

Other Lumia 950 Specs include a 5.2-inch 2K screen and a Snapdragon 808 chip while Lumia 950XL Specs have a 5.7-inch 2K screen and a Snapdragon 810 chip. Both come with 32GB of expandable storage, 3GB RAM, and a USB Type-C port. Apart from those, we notice that quick-charging support is also available, enabling the 3,000mAh battery of Lumia 950 and 3,340mAh batt of Lumia 950XL to get 50% of the capacity in just 30 min.

Microsoft Lumia 950 Price and Lumia 950XL Price: Less than Apple iPhone 6S and 6S Plus

At the launch event, their prices were also revealed. Lumia 950 is priced at $549 (RM2,366 as the Lumia 950 price in Malaysia) and Lumia 950XL at $649 (RM2,797). In general, the prices are less than the new Apple iPhone 6S ($649) and 6S Plus ($749), so they can be strong competitors among latest flagships on the market now!

Conclusion

Finally, Microsoft has released the Windows 10 phones Lumia 950 and 950XL with packages of strong specs and beautiful designs. Hopefully this duo will bring the company more success this year 😉 !

Before an official smartphone debuts, usually we see their its concepts first, which is very beautiful and glossy. However, it hardly ever comes true! So, in this post, we would like to introduce 5 best smartphone concepts we wish were real!

1. Samsung smartphone with a bendable display

Samsung smartphone concept with a bendable display

In 2013, Samsung really surprised people when announcing that they would produce devices with bendable displays. It means that you could fold the phone and put in your pocket. Besides, the bendable display tech was also said to be last longer than other current techs.

There was time that people believed Samsung would soon release a Galaxy Note equipped with a bendable display at the end of 2013. Though, eventually, it turned out to be Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and somehow made consumers disappointed. Yet, fortunately, Samsung Galaxy Note edge and Samsung Galaxy S6 edge have been able to regain people’s trust and we hope that the bendable display will come true some time in the near future.

2. Samsung Galaxy S5 Prime

Last year, the flagship Samsung Galaxy S5 did not bring much success to the Korean giant. Therefore, many Samsung fans built up another variant of Galaxy S5 called Samsung Galaxy S5 Prime. Basically, Samsung Galaxy S5 design would come with a glossy metal cover, completely different from the plastic one on the original Samsung Galaxy S5. And of course, the Samsung Galaxy S5 specs were also more powerful. For example, the phone would sport a Snapdragon 805 chip, 3 GB RAM and a 2K screen. At that time, some said that Galaxy S5 Prime would be a great response to LG G3.

Nonetheless, the Prime did not get launched, but we think that Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 edge introduced this year have done better, instead.

3. Lumia 1030/McLaren

After a lot of mid-range smartphones running on Windows OS, it seemed like users really wanted a high-end handset with an awesome camera to come last year. As a result, Lumia 1030 (aka McLaren) concept was born. Accordingly, the Lumia 1030 would own a PureView snapper capable of up to 50 megapixels, much higher than Lumia 1020 in order to satisfy those who love taking photos.

Moreover, Lumia 1030 would also support short-pulse LED flash 4th generation instead of Xenon. It would help you capture things better at night. Sound good?

Unfortunately, Microsoft claimed that the Lumia 1030 project was officially canceled after that.

4. HTC O2

After the failure of HTC One M9, leaked information about HTC O2, a new sub-brand of HTC, has started to spread away. It was also predicted that the company was planning for a debut of a flagship sporting top specs, which would help increase their competing ability on the market.

In terms of HTC O2 Specs, there would be a Quad HD screen, MediaTek Helio X20 deca-core chip, 3GB or 4GB RAM and a camera with f/1.9 and OIS support.

Nevertheless, at the moment, some sources say that the HTC O2 plan has been stopped without specific any reasons. And no one knows if it can be continued in the future or not. Perhaps the appearance of the mid-ranger HTC One A9 with plastic design is a replacement. Don’t you think?

5. Sony Xperia Z4 Ultra

Last but not least, we have Sony Xperia Z4 Ultra. It was phablet planned to be launched last year. Moreover, many experts were so sure that Xperia Z4 Ultra was worth waiting most this year due to the amazing Sony Xperia Z4 Ultra Specs and super thin bezel design.

Spec-wise, the device would feature Qi wireless charging and Exmor RS 20.7MP sensor with 26,500 ISO, including recording 4K videos. Though Sony stated that they would get rid of the microSD card slot and increase the internal storage to 32GB.

Interestingly, at that time, the phone was rumored with the pretty name Sony Lavender, but in fact, Lavender is coded for the current Sony Xperia C5 Ultra. It shows that the Sony Xperia Z4 Ultra would never come to life.

Actually, there are a lot of phone concepts existing nowadays and some of them are super cool and potential enough to come true, like the Nokia Swan, ASUS ZenFone 3, etc. So, hopefully we will be able to see it someday.

Recently, we have been informed of the ranking list of the best brands in the world – the Interbrand 2015. Check it out!

2015 Interbrand Best Global Brands Report

Accordingly, Apple is still the one that leads the game and Google is still the runner-up, which is not really surprising to be honest. Basing on the list, we also know that the brand value of Apple increases 43% (or more than 170 billion dollars) this year. Though Google cannot be ranked first, they are also able to increase 12% (more than 120 billion dollars).

In terms of growth, the 2015 Interbrand Best Global Brands Report records that the brand value of Facebook is able to become the one that has developed fastest with 54% increase, reaching more than 22  billion dollars. On the other hand, Microsoft with some positive changes gets 11% increase and more than 67 billion dollars, ranking at the fourth place.

Besides, we have IBM coming in fifth, Samsung seventh, GE at eighth and Amazon at tenth. Looking at the entire top 100, we see that Volkswagen loses their position, compared to last year. They had to deal with many problems, so falling from the 31st to the 35th can be understandable.

According to Jez Frampton, Interbrand’s Global Chief Executive Officer, “The Best Global Brands report examines what it takes for brands to succeed in today’s hyper-fragmented world. As people demand immediate, personalized and tailored experiences, business and brands need to move at the speed of life. Many of the brands in this year’s Top 100 are so intuitively aligned with people’s priorities, that they are able to seamlessly integrate into their everyday lives.”

Apple continues leading the game!

In general, most technology giants are listed in the top 10 of Interbrand 2015. Some familiar and famous ones like Apple, Google, IBM, Microsoft, Samsung, GE and Amazon have succeeded in standing still in the list. Bravo!

As we mentioned before, besides OnePlus 2, the company will release another phone before the year ends with a more affordable price. It is known as OnePlus Mini, which hints that the device will be smaller in design and price. But, how about the OnePlus Mini Specs? One latest leak has revealed it all.

OnePlus Mini Specs: Less powerful or not?

It is said that the Mini will sport a 5-inch Full HD screen paired with 2.5D Gorilla Glass. The processor powering the machine will be a MediaTek chip, Helio X10 MT6795T 2.2GHz octa-core to be more specific.

As for the camera, there are a 13MP Sony IMX258 rear snapper with f/2.0 aperture and a dual-tone LED flash, and a 5MP front-facing one with wide angle. It means that you can cover many people in your selfie. Isn’t it so great?

Other OnePlus Mini Specs include 2GB RAM, 32GB of expandable eMMC 5.0 storage, 3,000mAh or 3,100mAh battery, a fingerprint scanner, and a USB Type-C port. Interestingly, quick charging support will be also presented in the Mini, unlike its bigger brother OnePlus 2. In additionally, a 1.2W speaker on the front surface, an FM radio, and IP67 rating for water and dust resistance get included

OnePlus Mini Design: All-alloy or Plastic?

Until now, there is no official word as well as leak unveiling how the Mini will look like. Nonetheless, we heard that its shell will be made of plastic, not metal. Well, what do you think about that? Should OnePlus change to be more premium with a metal cover for their products?

OnePlus Mini Price and Availability: Affordable but how much exactly?

The Mini is reported to have the OnePlus Mini Price to be around $250 (RM1,094 for the OnePlus Mini Price in Malaysia). And the OnePlus Mini release date will happen in November or December, 2015, yet no exact date has been spotted. We also wonder if OnePlus will continue to sell the Mini through invites, which is not really a comfortable way for consumers to get their smartphone.

To recap, honestly, we are not very surprised with the OnePlus Mini Specs and Price. Though, everything has not been confirmed by the OnePlus team. So, take it with a pinch of salt 😉 ! We will come back with more details later!

Technology is developing more and more day by day. Back to many years ago, we thought the idea of just tapping a phone’s screen to call someone was impossible. Though, now we have smartphone to do that and it is still growing non-stop, in terms of both design and feature, which means that we can have a more secure, beautiful, powerful device to help us work and play all day long.

So, for 2015, many modern and advanced technologies also have been introduced, yet which of them are the best. Let’s check out the latest features in the smartphone industry nowadays with us!

1. Much better Selfie Camera

If you are a selfie lover, you may know there are more smartphones equipped with high quality produced this year. It shows that phone makers have started to care about the front-facing cam, not just the rear like before. Besides, we notice some phones even sport dual secondary snapper, or one that comes with the same megapixels as the main, or just one shooter but used as either a main or a selfie one.

It is said OPPO N1 is the handset that began the trend when boasting only one cam, yet it can rotates. After that, we have phones like HTC Desire Eye, Sony Xperia C5 Dual, and ASUS ZenFone Selfie which come with amazing 13MP selfie cams. 13MP is the highest at the moment but we do not know if it is continuing increasing.

2. Bigger Screen Size and Higher Resolution

Even Apple iPhones are getting larger in the screen size, showing that big phones, or phablets, are becoming a real trend now. Actually, it is easy to explain this. A big display will help users work and play on the phone more comfortably, especially when typing a message. Don’t you think?

Furthermore, technology has brought us much prettier displays. Once the Full HD standard was born, we thought it was enough. However, now we are getting used to 2K and even 4K resolution, and the 4K tech is predicted to be more popular at the end of the year. The one that has come with this feature is Sony Xperia Z5 Premium.

3. Curved Displays

When talking about phone display, we do not just think about the typical straight one. It can be curved for real and still work like others. The most famous machines in this trend are Samsung Galaxy Note Edge and its sibling Samsung Galaxy S6 edge Plus. Other smartphone manufacturers also have been considering joining the trend like Xiaomi and perhaps Apple as well (rumor has it 😀 ).

4. Powerful 64-bit Chip 

At this point, we have to mention Apple as the pioneer since they released iPhone 5S using 64-bit chip in late 2013. From then on, a new chapter of 64-bit smartphones has started, including many high-end Android handsets such as Samsung Galaxy Note 4, OPPO R5, HTC Desire 510 and so on.

ASUS ZenFone 2 is the first phone to sport 4GB RAM.

On the other hand, applying 64-bit chipset also has led to bigger RAM capacity like 3GB, 4GB and perhaps 6GB in the near future. Such combination helps the phone run more smoothly, giving people better experience.

5. “Digital life” apps

It is quite clear to see that our lives are involving technology more than before. The idea of having a smart house where most appliances can be controlled by your smartphone will not just appear on sci-fi movies anymore. It is coming!

2015 seems to be a great year for smartphones. You can use them to connect with other digital smart devices or online paying services easily. We guess that next year or very soon, we will only need a “small” smartphone to do everything.

6. Safer security

Last year, there were many cases related to stealing information in smartphones. As a result, this year, people care more about the security. Currently, fingerprint scanner has been applied very commonly since its appearance on Apple iPhone 5S. Yet, we know nothing lasts forever. Another more secure tech will be created to keep your phone safe.

In conclusion, besides these 6 features, we also have other interesting ones. Nonetheless, the above six have been the best of the best so far. So, what do you think about them? Do they work effectively as you expect? Share with us your opinions 🙂 !