Moto X vs Galaxy S4: Do you care about specs or experience?

Moto X vs Galaxy S4: Do you care about specs or experience?

The Moto X is finally official, and that means phone buyers will have to figure it into their calculations. The current king of Android by most measurements is the Samsung Galaxy S4, which just came out late in the spring. Let’s see how these two phones stack up, and if the first real Google phone is able to take on Samsung’s flagship.

Staring you right in the face on both phones are AMOLED panels. This technology is a favorite of Samsung and Motorola because they use no power on black pixels and are extremely thin. Motorola chose to go with a 4.7-inch 720p AMOLED screen, which is unusual for a headlining device these days. The Samsung has a 5-inch 1080p Super AMOLED.


GS4

Even at 720p the Moto X manages 317 pixels per inch. That’s respectable, but Samsung’s flagship clocks in at 441 pixels per inch. The Samsung device is going to be crisper, but it will also suck up more juice.

Inside, these devices have similar origins, but take different approaches to provide a smooth user experience. The Moto X uses the new X8 mobile computing platform, which is a combination of a dual-core Snapdragon S4 Pro and a pair of special processing cores elsewhere on the board. The natural language and contextual computing processors enable the always-on software features and save battery life.

Samsung went with a faster ARM chip — the quad-core Snapdragon 600 (in the US). This is a better option in terms of raw power, but it lacks the neat always-on features. Still, it makes the GS4 a powerful device. If the Moto X with its optimized software can keep up, it might have the edge here. Both phones are equipped with 2GB of RAM.

Motorola chose to go with a 10MP camera with an RGBC sensor for better low light performance. The Galaxy S4 does OK in low-light, but its 13MP camera takes incredibly detailed images. It might edge out the Moto X in daily use.

x green

As for software, Samsung relies on its enormous mountain of features, some of which work well and other not so much. You have to hand it to Samsung for being innovative with features like Smart Stay, Air Gesture, and all the other “Smart” stuff. This phone runs Android 4.2.2 with a fairly heavy skin designed by Samsung. Some users are okay with it, but other find it a bit garish.

The Moto X runs software that could easily be confused with stock Android, but it isn’t quite. Motorola made very few changes to the UI and fundamentals of Android. The magic comes from the custom silicon and the extra feature that enables. The Moto X can pull up voice search any time it hears you say the trigger phrase — even while it’s asleep. The AMOLED display is also used to display notifications while the phone is asleep.

Aesthetics are highly personal, but the Galaxy S4 has a reputation for feeling rather cheap and slippery. It’s made of slick white or black plastic, with a handful of other colors available in limited markets. The Moto X is well-put-together and can be purchased in a wide variety of custom colors.

X Colors

The Samsung Galaxy S4 and Moto X are going to cost $199 on-contract for the 16GB version. There are occasional sales on the GS4, so you might be able to get a deal there. It’s a close call, but the Moto X deserves some serious consideration, even though the GS4 has slightly better specs

Nexus 7 Leaks Spills Almost All the Details

New Nexus 7 Leaks Spills Almost All the Details

 We didn't get any new hardware back at Google I/O, but we've heard plenty about a new Nexus 7 on course to be announced sometime this month. Time is running out, but now Engadget has gotten some leaked details that confirm almost everything we've heard so far.

According to the leaked spec sheet screenshot, the new 7's will come with (obviously) a 7-inch screen, a quad-core 1.5GHz CPU, front-facing and external cameras, Android 4.3, wireless charging, and a Slim Port for throwing 1080p content up on your TV.

That mostly lines up with the other rumors we've seen, including the actual updated model that made its way out into the wild the other day. Apparently the new versions will be a little more expensive, at $230 (16GB) and $270 (32GB) a pop, and the only missing peice is whether or not there's a resolution bump to help ease that little hike. Google's got an event coming on the 24th though. You can bet we'll find out soon. [Engadget]

Sony Xperia Tablet Z Review : one of the best tablet of Sony

Sony Xperia Tablet Z Review: Sony Finally Gets One (Mostly) Right

In a time when tablets are becoming increasing similar, it's rare that you pick up a device and have one of those, ""Whoa!"" moments. You relish them when they come, because it means that creativity and innovation still exist in a world of look-alikes. After years of trying and failing with Android tablets, Sony has finally delivered one of those moments.

What Is It?

It's Sony's latest (and definitely greatest) attempt at making a tablet. The company has had some near-hits, like the Xperia Tablet S, and some colossal, bone-breaking failures, like the Sony Tablet P. But finally, at long last, Sony got it together and built itself one excellent piece of hardware. It's of the 10-inch, Android Jelly Bean (4.1, not 4.2) variety. It's got a 1080p screen, Qualcomm's quad-core 1.5 GHz Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, two 2GB of RAM, a micro SD card slot, an IR blaster, and oh yeah, it's freaking waterproof! It can stay in up to three feet of water for up to half an hour. Movie time and bath time, together at last.

Sony Xperia Tablet Z Review: Sony Finally Gets One (Mostly) Right
Design

Oh, hello, gorgeous. Simply put, when you first pick up Xperia Tablet Z, you'll think, ""There's no way this thing actually turns on or does anything."" It just feels impossibly thin and light. At 0.27 inches (6.9 millimeters), it is the thinnest tablet in the world (the iPad Mini is 7.2 millimeters, for comparison). At 17.46 ounces (495 grams), it's the lightest full-sized tablet we've seen (the current generation iPad is 23.35 ounces). Not only that, it's perfectly balanced. You can comfortably hold it one-handed in landscape mode. It's even thinner than the Samsung Galaxy S4 (see above), which is one of the thinnest phones out there.

Sony Xperia Tablet Z Review: Sony Finally Gets One (Mostly) Right

The tablet is almost a perfect rectangle, with just barely rounded corners. The back is a matte, brushed plastic, that has an excellent grip to it. It's not going to accidentally slide off your lap on the subway. Sony also did something pretty ingenius with the speakers, too. A lot of tablets stick the speaker holes on the bottom-edge of the tablet, where your lap will muffle them if it's resting on your legs, or they stick the holes on the sides, where your hands will muffle them if you're holding it. Sony put the speakers on the two bottom corners (when holding it landscape), but it put the holes for the speakers on the bottom and the sides, so even if you're covering two of the holes the sound can come out through the other two. Smart, though we still definitely prefer the front-facing speakers on Google's Nexus 10.

Sony Xperia Tablet Z Review: Sony Finally Gets One (Mostly) Right

On the side, it shares the same nubby buttons as the Xperia ZL phone, but while they were kind of ugly on the phone, they're perfectly pleasant on the tablet. They're easy to find, and easy to press. Down on the bottom there are two panels behind sealed doors. One is for the micro SD card slot, and the other is for the micro USB / micro HDMI port, which you can use to change your tablet and/or stream HD video to your TV. There's also an 8MP rear facing camera, which we would encourage you to ignore.

Sony Xperia Tablet Z Review: Sony Finally Gets One (Mostly) Right
Using It

The Xperia Tablet Z is running Sony's custom skin on top of Android. On the plus side, the tablet version of this skin is extremely intuitive to use. Dedicated buttons for Google Now, Voice Search, adding apps/widgets, and the remote control are all very easy to understand. Sony also put in some power management tools that gives you standby times to the tune of many days. Essentially, it turns off your data connection when the screen is off, but you can whitelist apps (like Gmail, for example) so you get important notifications. It's very nicely done.

Sony did, however, put more than a dozen of its own apps on the tablet, many of which are either inferior replacements of the standard Android apps (Sony's Album < Android's Gallery), or services you really don't need (Wi-Fi Checker? Consumers were clamoring for that?). It managed to build a remote control app that works better than any we've used, but it failed to integrate a guide to what's on, like HTC and Samsung did. Sony has an app for that, but it's only compatible with networked devices. Not very helpful.

In terms of day to day usage, we generally threw it in a backpack (usually with no protection) and it was light and thin enough that we literally forgot it was there multiple times and tossed our bag around more roughly than we would have. After a week of such abuse the tablet doesn't have a scratch on it, though we'd definitely still recommend getting a case. We also verified the waterproof claims, taking it into the shower with us and then leaving it submerged in a bath while a video played. One of the Tablet Z's slick tricks is that the touchscreen will actually work reasonably well when wet. You couldn't game with it like that, but it was good enough for controlling basic functions.

Sony Xperia Tablet Z Review: Sony Finally Gets One (Mostly) Right
Like

On the hardware side of things, it's really almost all like. The lightness and thinness really are killer features, and the thing just feels amazing to hold. The 1080p screen with Sony's Mobile Bravia Engine 2 produces some of the most vibrant, and yet most accurate colors we've ever seen on a tablet, especially for things like flowers and landscapes. Battery life was fantastic with Stamina Mode enabled. HD games (such as Dead Trigger) played extremely well, without so much as a hitch.

We absolutely love the waterproof element. It's not a gimmick. It actually makes us feel safe using it pretty much anywhere, in virtually any condition. Because it's dust-proof, too, this is the only tablet we'd want to take with us to the beach, a construction site, or, y'know, Burning Man. A micro HDMI port and an IR blaster are features all tablets should have, and what's not to like about a micro SD card slot?
No Like

While Sony's skin looks very good, it really slows things down. There is noticeable jutter when swiping through home screens, and apps are simply slower to launch than they should be. This is clearly bad optimization, because when we installed Nova Launcher everything got silky smooth. The Snapdragon S4 Pro is an excellent processor (though not as good as the more recent Snapdragon 600 and the upcoming 800), and it should tear through your homescreens with no problems at all, especially since the introduction of Project Butter in stock Jelly Bean (Android 4.1). Speaking of Android 4.1, why is this tablet launching with a version of Android that's a year old? 4.2 has been out since November. Totally unacceptable, and Sony doesn't have the best track record with speedy updates, either.

While we liked the colors on the screen, the blacks are more like grays, and the whites can skew a bit orange. It's also not as bright as other high-end Android tablets (though it was good enough for a bright day), and it's not as high-resolution as the Nexus 10 or the latest iPad, though it's by no means bad. While we praised the implementation of the speakers, the sound is really tinny and just generally crappy. Sony should just buy speaker components from a company that knows how to make good speakers. Y'know, like Sony. Oh... that's weird.

Sony Xperia Tablet Z Review: Sony Finally Gets One (Mostly) Right
Should I Buy It?

Gripes aside, this is our favorite tablet we've used in a long time. The $500 price point, gives us a bit of pause, though. It's more expensive than the Nexus 10, but it has better guts and performs better (once you get away from the home screen). It's cheaper than the latest iPad, though, and while it doesn't have quite as many tablet optimized apps, that gap is a lot smaller now, and the Xperia Tablet Z's form factor is more impressive than any other tablet out there. Hands down.

While we've really come to value smaller tablets like the Nexus 7 for their portability, watching movies and reading websites is certainly a more pleasurable experience on a 10-inch tablet, and the waterproof/dustproof specs are very tempting. We wish the guts and the software were a little more current, but for the majority of consumers, this is an excellent tablet, and if you've got 500 bucks to spend, there are certainly worse ways to spend it. [Sony]
Sony Xperia Tablet Z Specs

Network: Wi-Fi
OS: Android 4.1 with Sony's UI
CPU: 1.5 GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro
Screen: 10.1-inch 1920x1200 TFT LCD (224PPI)
RAM: 2GB
Storage: 16GB or 32GB + micro SD up to 64GB
Camera: 8MP rear / 2MP front
Battery: 6000 mAh
Dimensions: 10.47 x 6.77 x 0.27 inches
Weight: 17.46 ounces
Price: $500 for 16GB version / $600 for 32GB

Key To Never Forgetting Your iPhone's Charging Cable

The Key To Never Forgetting Your iPhone's Charging Cable

Key-shaped USB flash drives have guaranteed we never forget to bring our important files ever again. And taking the same approach, Bluelounge's Kii guarantees you always have an emergency iPhone or iPad charger on hand-as long as you remembered to lock your home and bring your keys.

A 30-pin dock connector version of the Kii, available in black only, is the cheaper of the two at just $20. But if you've got the latest generation iPhone or iPad, you'll need to cough up twice that amount-$40-for the black or white Lightning version.

We're assuming you're helping to cover Apple licensing fees for the new connector, but even at $40 it's still worth every penny if it means you're not scrambling to borrow someone else's Lightning cable, or dimming your device's display to near unusable levels just to max out its dwindling battery. Besides, it's also just another way to confuse the heck out of any dumb robbers. [Bluelounge via iLounge]

First Look at a Colorful Budget iPhones

This Could Be Our First Look at a Colorful Budget iPhones

 Just the other day we saw a beautiful budget iPhone backing that we're hoping is real, and now we're catching a glimpse of its colorful twin. Same sweet design, same heap of skepticism, but we just love imagining an incoming family of these colored bad boys.

Just like last time, the photos come from one Sonny Dickson, and we don't know much about him or where these supposed cases supposedly came from, so take these shots with as many grains of salt as you can stomach. We've reached out to Sonny to get his story.

We've had some fun imagining what the rumored budget iPhone would look like with a splash of color on it, and these shots are more food for iPhone daydreams. Consider it a thought experiment.

Dickson's questionably real case boasts a shade of lime green that's a bit less pastel than other imaginings, but one that still looks mighty fine. With a whole rainbow, we could be in for a nice break from that sleek but predictable black and white dichotomy.

It's still anybody's guess what the next iPhone announcement will really bring, and these unvetted shots don't do much to tip the scales one way or the other. But man, they are fun to think about. What do you think? Is this a peek into September's bounty? [Sonny Dickson via BGR]

LG Made a Retro Wood-Panelled LED TV with Knobs and Everything

LG Made a Retro Wood-Panelled LED TV with Knobs and Everything

As companies like Apple and Samsung are heralding the end of the button, LG is taking its design in a different direction. This new "Classic TV" features a wood-panelled front complete with tuning knobs and buttons to create what LG describes as a "classic Scandanavian-style design that emphasizes simplicity, modernity."

The 32-inch LED TV is only retro on the outside. It comes with full HD, plenty of peripheral ports and a free "coffee machine with cute design." Okay, when the TV costs 840,000 won ($754) the coffee machine isn't exactly free, but it's a nice gesture. Unfortunately, the classic TV is currently only available in South Korea, though with style like that it's probably worth the price of shipping. [LG via Engadget]

Leaked Photos of Sony's Lens Cameras That Piggyback on Your Smartphone

Leaked Photos of Sony's Lens Cameras That Piggyback on Your Smartphone

 As far as the cameras built into smartphones have come, they still can't quite compete with a dedicated shooter in terms of image quality and control. But Sony thinks it's found the solution. Instead of waiting until they can cram the capabilities of a DSLR or a mirrorless camera into a phone, these convincing photos from SonyAlphaRumors reveal the company might be releasing a pair of accessories that work alongside a smartphone to vastly improve its photographic capabilities.

The DSC-QX10 and the DSC-QX100-as they're claimed to be be called-look like camera lenses, but they'll actually be full-on cameras packing sensors, a Bionz processor, Wi-Fi and NFC wireless capabilities, and even an SD card slot. What they'll be missing, however, is an LCD display and controls, but that's where your Android or iOS smartphone will supposedly step in, providing a large touch screen for settings and previews.

They haven't been officially revealed by Sony just yet, but according to SonyAlphaRumors one of the lenses will use the same one-inch sensor as the new Sony RX100 II, while the other will feature an 18 megapixel sensor with a 10X zoom. It's a clever solution to improving a smartphone's photography prowess, but only if you're willing to give up its pocket-ability. [SonyAlphaRumors]

Leaked HTC One Max Press Shots: Yep, It Looks Like a Large One

Leaked HTC One Max Press Shots: Yep, It Looks Like a Large One

There have been rumblings suggesting that HTC is soon to launch a Galaxy Note rival in the shape of the six-inch HTC One Max. Now, @evleaks claims to have unearthed some press images of the montorous new phone.

The images, which are apparently "non-final" but still of high-quality, show that the new phone is, err, just a rather large version of the HTC One. In fact, it's tough to see much difference, other than a shifted camera flash and a slightly broader white stripe around the side.

The leaks comes with no extra spec details, but rumor has it that HTC's possible new giant phone will pack a 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 chip, 2GB of RAM, up to 64GB of storage, and a 3200mAh battery-along with a whopping 6-inch screen. Who knows for sure if it's definitely coming-but maybe it might turn up at Berlin's IFA tech show at the start of next month?

KeyMe for iOS: Keep Your Spare Set of Keys in the Cloud

How many have you found yourself locked out, stuck with a visiting friend who has to wait on the curb cause you aren't able to get them a key yet, left out in the cold with a lost key and locksmith, or any number of other unfortunately common circumstances? As long as people use physical keys-we're going to run into some unfortunate problems. And while KeyMe won't solve all of those, it comes as close as you're going to get for now.

What does it do?

Takes a scan of your house key and generates coded instructions that any locksmith or key maker will be able to read, so you can make a copy of your key anywhere in the world, no matter what situation you find yourself in. The code contains one line that instructs with blank to start with and another line with a series of numbers that dictate the depth of the key's teeth. Once you've saved your key, you can even share the instructions with a friend if need be.

Why do we like it?

Getting in once you've found yourself locked out can be preposterously expensive-but normally you have no other choice but to cough up the dough. Now, though, assuming you have the foresight to store your keys' info, you'll be ready to go without paying a ridiculous price, and you won't even have to spend time waiting for the locksmith. Scanning the key is free, but retrieving the information to make a new one costs $10, which isn't cheap, sure, but it's still a hell of a lot cheaper than calling in a professional. Of course, with something like this there will be safety concerns, but keys aren't really the safest of security devices in and of themselves. Now, this certainly doesn't help the situation, but depending on how often you misplace your keys, the convenience could seriously outweigh the risk, as long as your careful about what you leave lying around.

Upcoming iPad will use light display technology

 Upcoming iPad will use light display technology

 
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the next generation of Apple's iPad will use the same display technology which make the iPad mini so thin and light.

According to "people with knowledge of the matter" the screens for the larger device are already being made by Asian suppliers. The current iPad uses a glass-based touch panel, whereas teardowns have shown that the iPad mini uses a film-based screen to recognise user gestures.

That may sound like a subtle distinction, but film-based touchscreens are thinner and lighter than their glass counterparts, and in a bigger device the difference is even more pronounced. The quoted sources claim that it's the success of the iPad mini which has led to Apple to transfer the technology across into its larger sibling.

Thin film touch screens have been slowly becoming more established as their performance has improved to equal that of glass equivalents. It seems like a fairly natural progression to include the technology in the full-size iPad, given it already appears in the iPhone iPad mini-but it's far from certain that it's definitely the case.

It's unclear when the next iteration of iPads will be announced-their release schedule has become less predictable of recent time-but there's a slim chance they may make an appearance at an event on September 10th. Maybe. Possibly. But don't hold your breath. [Wall Street Journal]