The Pebble Steel

The Pebble Steel

Introduction

It’s hard to imagine, but the best smartwatch you can buy isn’t from Apple, or Google, or Microsoft, or Samsung.
It’s from tiny Pebble, a hardware startup that so captured the hearts and minds of gadget fans in 2012 that it shattered Kickstarter records on its way to millions in crowdsourced funding. The first Pebble watch, released almost exactly a year ago, finally made the smartwatch accessible to regular people. At $150, it’s almost cheap, it works, and it doesn’t try to do too much: it flashes notifications about texts and emails and phone calls from your smartphone, and if you’re feeling particularly saucy you could control music playback on your wrist. Compared to wildly ambitious but unfocused competitors like the Samsung Galaxy Gear and the Metawatch, the Pebble is an object lesson in doing more with less.
There’s only one problem: it’s kind of ugly.
The new Pebble Steel changes that. For $249 you get virtually the same internals as the original Pebble inside a tighter, smaller metal case that comes with metal and leather bands. There’s also an all-new app for iOS and Android, and a new Pebble app store that makes customizing your watch easier than ever. The little company at the front of the wearable market is pushing forward with design and software while it still has the lead — but the big question is whether it can move fast enough to keep ahead.

Design

The original Pebble was subtle and understated but, sporting an all-plastic design, it didn’t exactly exude class. The Pebble Steel may sport the same internal tech, but it’s squarely aimed at the higher end of the market – it retails for £180 compared to the standard Steel’s £100. The cheap-feeling plastic is replaced by brushed stainless steel, lending the watch a more sophisticated appearance. This is accentuated by a genuine leather strap, and there’s also another variant which comes with a metal strap.
Despite its upmarket look, the Pebble Steel shares the same 5 ATM water resistance rating as its cheaper relation. There’s no touchscreen – something which sets it apart from other smartwatches on the market – so four buttons are used to navigate the interface and make selections. There’s a single button on the left-hand side which acts as the “back” button and three others on the right-hand edge. The top and bottom of these move you up and down through the intuitive on-screen menus, while the middle button acts as the “accept” command.

Screen

The screen is also somewhat low-tech when compared to the latest Android Wear devices, being as it is a monochrome display, rather than a full colour model. Described by Pebble as “e-paper”, it calls to mind the e-ink display of e-readers like the Kindle but is in fact a type of LCD. However, it uses a particularly clever type of LCD that acts similarly to e-ink in that it draws very little power, particularly when no pixels are changing.
At 1.26-inch across and with a 144 x 168 pixel resolution it is around half the resolution of the top Android Wear watches but it is easier to read outdoors in direct sunlight, though again it isn’t quite in the same class as e-ink. It has a backlight, too, and this can be triggered simply by flicking your wrist.
The watch has an internal battery which is topped up using the proprietary connector cable. This latches to the side of the watch magnetically and uses a standard USB plug, which means it can be used with most wall chargers or pretty much any device which offers a powered USB port.
The only downside of this system is that if you happen to lose this cable, you have no means of recharging the watch unless you purchase another; in the past, we’ve seen Sony’s smartwatches use the now-ubiquitous Micro-USB port, which is a better option in this regard as most people have countless spare leads dotted around their households.

Pebble App

The other big pieces of the Pebble Steel puzzle are the updated Android and iOS apps and the new app store. I wasn’t able to try the Android app since it isn’t ready yet, but the new iOS app is far superior to the original. The app store works well — you can quickly find new apps and watch faces and send them to the Pebble, where they’re listed at the bottom of the main menu.
There are eight open slots for third-party apps on the Pebble, and when you remove things from the watch they go into a “locker” in the phone app; swapping things around just takes a few taps. It’s not a perfect system — most of the coolest Pebble tricks like remote camera operation require their own companion apps on your phone — but it’s simple, it makes sense, and it works. (And it will all work with the original Pebble as well.)
Pebble’s launching the new app store with a bunch of independent developers and a handful of flashy launch apps: I was able to try apps from Foursquare, Yelp, and ESPN. The results were mixed: checking into Foursquare from my wrist is definitely a little piece of the future, but pressing buttons eight to ten times while squinting at a low-res black and white display feels like a big piece of the past. I have no idea why I’d look for a bar on Yelp using the Pebble instead of my phone, but the idea is certainly nice. And the ESPN app can show you scores, but there you are, clicking away at your wrist again.

                

It’s Value

The value of the Pebble is that it can provide information in a much faster, less disruptive manner than a phone; trying to give it the same functionality as a phone seems like a step in the wrong direction. Pebble’s great strength is that notifications work so well; the next step should be taking common actions and putting them a glance and a discreet tap of the wrist away, not adding another computer to your body. You’ve already got one of those in your pocket.
Realizing that potential isn’t just up to Pebble, though. As an extension of your phone, it’s also naturally an extension of your phone’s operating system. On Android, where anything goes, people have already written all manner of apps and utilities that extend the Pebble experience in strange and interesting ways. Responding to a text or email with quick canned responses from your wrist is possible if your Pebble is connected to an Android phone, provided you take the time to find the right apps and set it all up.
But those things are locked away on iOS, tucked behind Apple’s tight control of its platform. The basics of using a Pebble are better than ever with iOS 7, which now natively supports sending notifications to Bluetooth devices; basically anything that pops up on the lock screen appears on your wrist. If you have a lot of apps that notify you, it can be a flood: I got notifications from Trello, HipChat, Google Hangouts, iMessage, and Gmail all in one five-minute period. Managing all of this is a lot easier on Android, but there’s no such facility on Apple’s platform. It’s all or nothing, unless you’re willing to turn off your phone notifications as well. And Pebble simply has no ability to add features like replying to texts or emails until Apple decides those features are worth it. Pebble’s software ideas are great, but the challenge is figuring out ways to extend its platform beyond super-obvious things like iMessage replies that will require Apple’s help. I’m not sure this new app store will accomplish that task all the way, but it’s a solid beginning.

HTC One M8 for Windows

Launched earlier this year the HTC One M8’s design, performance, and usability make it one of the best, if not the best, Android phones released this year. It’s an iconic flagship that holds together the rest of HTC’s lineup. And now HTC has released a variation of the One M8 that’s the same on the outside, but wholly different on the inside. The One M8 for Windows has the exact same hardware and design as the original M8, but in place of Android 4.4 KitKat, it’s running Microsoft’s Windows Phone 8.1.

The One M8 for Windows comes with Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1, the latest version of the platform from Microsoft (you could also call it Windows Phone 8.1.1, which is way easier to understand). The new software includes a notification center, folders on the start screen, and Microsoft’s virtual personal assistant Cortana. Save for the new folders, it’s not very different from Windows Phone 8.1, which we covered in depth earlier this year.
Yet despite the advancements in Windows Phone as a platform, it still falls short in the third-party app department, and this becomes painfully obvious when you compare the Windows M8 next to the Android version. Though Microsoft has worked very hard to expand the Windows Phone store’s options to over 300,000 apps and has gotten some big-name apps on the platform, such as Instagram and Uber, the Windows Phone versions are almost always inferior to their Android or iOS counterparts. For example, while Instagram for Android and iOS has had the ability to record video and tweak images extensively for some time, the Windows Phone version of the app offers neither of those features. You get the basic filters and nothing more. The same can be said for Twitter, Facebook, and many others.

HTC has worked to develop its own apps for Windows Phone, so the M8 for Windows is able to take advantage of its special hardware features and HTC’s services. Sense TV, which offers an interactive guide to what’s on TV right now and lets you control your entertainment system with the M8’s IR blaster, has been rebuilt for Windows Phone. BlinkFeed, HTC’s news reader and social aggregation service, has also been brought over to Windows Phone, residing in a live tile on the start screen. It looks and behaves just like BlinkFeed does on Android, and it doesn’t really conform to the Windows Phone style of design. But it works just fine and I actually prefer it as a tile on the start screen rather than hidden behind another home page as it is on Android.
But the most important thing HTC did for the M8 for Windows was build its own camera app to support the M8’s unique depth-sensing Duo Camera. With HTC’s camera app, you can control things like exposure and filters, or refocus your images and create 3D-like effects after the fact. The interface is exactly the same as it is on Android, which is mostly a good thing, and it’s fast and easy to use (and the Android design doesn’t really clash with Windows Phone here). The only thing that’s really missing from HTC’s camera app is the ability to record Zoes, short movie clips that can be shared to HTC’s social platform. Unfortunately, the camera itself isn’t any better on Windows than it is on Android, with many images lacking the sharpness found on other smartphones. If pictures are a number one priority for you, you’re still better off going with one of Nokia’s Windows Phone options.

Though the M8 for Windows has the same processor and RAM as the Android model (it’s a 2.3GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801, for those interested), it doesn’t perform as smoothly or as quickly as its Android counterpart. Everything feels a little slower on the Windows version for some reason, with animations that stutter and hesitate. It’s a bit out of character for the M8, which is a very fast and responsive Android phone, and for Windows Phone in general, which is usually snappy and responsive on even the most basic hardware. Perhaps HTC has some tuning to do to make Windows run better on the M8’s hardware.

Fortunately, the M8’s solid battery life is as good or better on the Windows version. I was able to get through a full day of moderate usage without having to charge it, and if I used it less often, getting the M8 to last into day two wasn’t an issue. The battery life on the M8 is as good or better than any of the recent Nokias I’ve used, including the gargantuan Lumia 1520.
Fortunately though, the One M8 for Windows does have a lot of good qualities, and if HTC is able to improve the few performance issues I saw via software updates and fixes, it could be a compelling option for a select number of people interested in Windows Phone but looking for something other than Nokia’s offerings.

Lumia 930

Introduction

The Lumia 930 replaces the Nokia Lumia 925 as the new Lumia flagship while also looking to take on other rival flagships, namely the Sony Xperia Z2, HTC One M8, LG G3 and the Samsung GALAXY S5. The Lumia 930 comes equipped with the latest Windows Phone 8.1 OS and is the actually the first high end device to come with Windows Phone 8.1. In the new Windows Phone 8.1 OS the shortcomings of its predecessor have been fixed-app and call volume will no longer be adjusted as one-week views has been added into the calendar-and a prettier interface with even more tile sizes.

The Design

One thing that the Lumia 930 has nailed is the build quality. The rear panel which is non removable by the way has a soft-touch feel and exudes quality. The Lumia 930’s silver color metallic band encases the whole device and appears to be a single piece helping it in keeping up the quality aesthetic. When you

compare it with the HTC One the Lumia 930 won’t feel as premium or well designed but it stands its ground when compared to the Xperia Z2 or the GALAXY S5. At dimensions of 137 x 71 x 9.8mm the Lumia 930 is chunkier than it’s rivals but credit can be given to it for not being as tall thanks to relatively thin bezels.

The Display

The display on the Lumia 930 has also been improved from its predecessor. It now offers a better 5-inch AMOLED panel with an increased resolution of

1920×1080 which means that it can go head to head with the 5.1-inch GALAXY S5, 5-inch One M8and 5.2-inch Xperia Z2 even though none of these can match the LG G3’s 5.5-inch Quad HD display with a resolution of 2560×1440.

The Camera

The Nokia Lumia range has been known for it’s excellent camera’s and the Lumia 930 keeps up the trend with it’s 20-MegaPixel Pureview camera with dual LED flash, OIS-Optical Image Stabilisation and Carls Zeiss Lens.
The Nokia camera app will greatly appeal to people

who just want a point and shoot app because of its simplistic user interface.
For your selfies and Skype video calls there is a front facing 2-MegaPixel camera.

Samsung GALAXY Note 4

Introduction

As it has been doing on a yearly basis ever since the release of the first Samsung GALAXY Note, Samsung has put on a huge event in Berlin that coincides with IFA trade show to announce the GALAXY Note 4 the successor to their premium flagship phablet the GALAXY Note 3. The high-end handset stole the show with it’s improved new S-Pen features.

This time around the updates have primarily been in the hardware department with the Note 4 donning a new aluminium chassis that replaces the old plastic faux metal chassis on the GALAXY Note 3.

The Design

It’s been obvious that Samsung has been listening to the complaints of the build quality of it’s devices feeling flimsy and plasticky. In response it has released the premium GALAXY Alpha and now improved upon the already premium design of the GALAXY Note 3 and added an aluminium chassis on

the Note 4. The Note 4 feels premium in hand and definitely better and lighter than last year’s Note 3. The back of the device has also been improved with the stitching on the Note 3 removed and only the Faux leather finish kept. The design upgrades are definitely welcome and give the device a more luxurious feel.

The Display

The first thing you will come to know about the Note 4 is it’s 2K display(2560×1440) that gives a mind blowing pixel per inch count that is 515. It’s slightly below the LG G3’s pixel count which similar to the Note 4 boasts of a 2K 5.5inch display. There is no difference in resolution between the LG G3’s display and the Note 4’s display but there is a quite a bit

difference when it comes to differentiating on the basis of color. The main and obvious reason for this is that the LG G3 uses an LCD Panel while the GALAXY Note 4 uses Samsung’s Super AMOLED display. The Note 4 uses the same Adaptive Display technology found on the GALAXY Tab S range which simply means that it will automatically adjust its colors according to the warmness and brightness of the ambient light.

The Camera

Another of the major improvements in the Note 4 over the Note 3 is in the terms of the camera. In the Megapixel count it’s jumped up to 16-MegaPixels from 13-MegaPixels on the Note 3. The camera also clocks in f1.9 f stop meaning in layman’s terms that the lense takes in 60% more light than the Note 3’s

camera paving the way for better quality images. The

camera can also be used in unision with the S-Pen where a new feature called Snap Note allows you to take a picture of a pice of paper or in fact any thing that has text on it allowing you to change color and size of the text and even editing the text.

HTC One M8

Introduction

The new HTC One M8 improves upon last year’s HTC One M7 by improving upon the flaws and carrying on the good things. Undeniably the One M8 is the best HTC device that has graced store shelves. Similar to

its predecessor it brings a beatiful and refined Sense interface with speedy performance that wrapped into a beatifully crafted eye-catching aluminium body. Aesthetically the M8 runs rings around the Samsung GALAXY S5 both on the hardware and software fronts.

The Design

When the original HTC one was unveiled last year everyone was stunned with it’s sophisticated all-metal unibody chassis. It was not only sturdy and comfortable to grip but its polished edges, matte finish and metal body gave it an unprecedented level of luxury.

The One M8’s alluringly reflective bezel convincingly conveys that you are holding a premium luxury device. Designwise the One M8 has set the bar very high for any flagship smartphone to be released from now on amd even for it’s sucessor. It’s  really good looking and better than it’s rivals the Xperia Z2 and the Galaxy S5. Even though it has a larger display than last year’s One the device has remained royghly the same size, thickness and weight. Weighing at 5.4 ounces (154.2 grams), the M8 understandably stands a little taller yet is just slightly heavier than the older One (5.04 ounces/142.9 grams). It’s heavier than the Galaxy S5, too (5.1 ounces/145 grams) even though the it lacks the extra hardware such as the heart-rate monitor and fingerprint scanner found on the GALAXY S5

The Display

From the moment you’ll pick up the HTC One M8, you’ll know its big 5-inch screen is high-quality. While it can’t produce the same deep blacks and vibrant colors conjured by the OLED displays you’ll find in Samsung Galaxy handsets such as the Note 3 and GS4, the M8’s IPS LCD has a lot going for it. Specifically these are admirably wide viewing angles, a pleasing amount of brightness, plus rich colors.

With a full HD resolution (1,920×1,080 pixels),

photos, video, and text were also crisp on the phone’s screen even if it has a marginally lower pixel density than the original One (which had the same number of pixels on a smaller 4.7-inch screen). All this adds up to a display that does justice to any visual content you choose to enjoy on the M8.

The Camera

Duo Camera is a clever new touch, but we also needed to see improvements to HTC’s UltraPixel tech; hardware that’s just as easy to hold as it is to admire; and other new features that show us the company is changing the game again this year as

much as it did in 2013. The 4 UltraPixel camera clicks good pictures but lacks the details found in it’s rivals cameras. It does however perform better than it’s rivals under low light conditions.

Motorola Moto X(2014)

Introduction

Last year when Motorola announce the Moto X it made it’s aim pretty clear it aimed to build smarter smartphone than the flagships it would be competing with. The company succeeded too but the only snag there was that it didn’t make sense for those people who just wanted more oomph from there money. It’s been more than a year and with the release of the new Moto X(2014) it has become apparent that

Motorola has learnt and improved upon the mistakes of the previous flagship the Moto X(2014). Even so the new Moto X(2014) isn’t great with a camera that never fails to frustrate you occasionally and a average battery life when compared to it’s main rivals. Even then the Moto X(2014) is the closest Motorola has managed to reach the perfect spot and it deserves a spot among the best smartphones.

 

The Design

Similar to it’s predecessor the Moto X(2013) and the HTC One M8, the Moto X(2014) sports a curved back rendering it extremely comfortable to hold. The curved back also makes it more ergonomically holding than the straight-edgedSamsung GALAXY S5 and its arc bends deeper at the centre than the HTC One M8 making it fit cozier in the hand. All this just makes sure that even people with petite grips also

won’t have much trouble flicking thorugh and maoeuvering the device with their thumb.

With its larger 5.2-inch display, the phone now measures 5.54 inches tall, 2.85 inches wide, and 0.39 inches thick at its deepest (140.8 by 72.4 by 9.9mm). And at 5.08 ounces (144 grams), it’s a tad heavier than its predecessor.

The Display

The new 2014 Moto X features a bigger Corning Gorilla Glass 3, 5.2-inch OLED display with a resolution of 1920×1080 or a pixel density of 432 ppixels per inch. It’s definitely sharper and better than last year’s Moto X’s(2013) 720p AMOLED screen. The 2014 Moto X’s display is at par with the 5.1 inch Samung GALAXY S5 and the 5-inchHTC One M8’s displays in terms of both clarity and richness, however the LG G3’s display still trumps all three with it’s massive 5.5-inch display with a QUAD-Hd

screen at 538 pixels per inch. In general it can be said that the display looks vibrant and brilliant with images, videos and games. Another plus point is that it has a wide viewing ang;e and at maximum brightness it’s easily readable outdoors in sunlight. The display is responsive to touch and it’s countours down to the edge keep all swiping and flicking on the display smooth.

The Camera

Till now, Motorola has done an excellent job of fixing all of the Moto X(2013)s shortcominngs but the camera exerience is still one department that requires an upgrade. The new Moto X features a 13-MegaPixel camera surrounded by a dual LED flash ring which is definitely better than last year’s 10-MegaPixel ClearPixel sensor. It clicks shot’s with

punchy colours and plenty of detail provided the sun’s out or you are in well lit areas especially with HDR mode on. A bit of grain is to be expected in all shots except for those taken in extremely well lit conditions. It’ quite a frsutrating experience however to wait for the camera to focus properly and it’s best to take matters into your own hands by enabling manual focus and exposure controls. In events where you need more light photons and have to fire up the flash you’ll notice that the ring around the LED’s smooths out the harsh light

Samsung GALAXY Alpha

Introduction

The Samsung GALAXY Alpha is extremely thin and light and seems to be Samsung’s reply to Apple’s recently announced iPhone 6. The first thing that you will be probably noticing about the GALAXY Alpha is that happens to be very good looking with the sheen from the polished edges and the lustrous Super AMOLED display all helping it in making a good first impression. Some devices look better in photos than reality with the G Watch R as an example but the Samsung GALAXY Alpha being the exact

opposite. There is only one way when you will appreciate its slick and refined look and that is when you see it in person. Everything is well proportioned with 4.7-inch screen size feeling just right for one handed use. Those who liked the Moto X(2013)’s display and are feeling sad that the new Moto X features a 5.2-inch display can find solace in Samsung’s compact GALAXY Alpha. This is a phone that’s almost perfect and ergonomically a delight to hold.

The Design

Just like the iPhone 5s the GALAXY Alpha feels lighter than it should actually be. If you would just extend the iPhone’s height and width to the size of 4.7-inch you will get a device very similar in design to the Samsung GALAXY Alpha. The chamfered metal edging remains the same and is prone to scratching and

comfortable to fit in the hand. Smasung has finally managed to produce a phone that is appeasing to the eye and the touch in a bid to raise it’s game against Apple’s oncoming assault with the iPhone 6. The Samsung GALAXY Alpha may not be the South Korean company’s best overall phone because of the 1,850mAh battery but it still gets the crown of the best designed Samsung product.

The Display

The premium look of the Samsung GALAXY remains unmatched when it comes to the screen mainly because of Samsung’s decision to put a 720p screen on the device.There’s still 4.7 inch Super AMOLED screen on board and boasts a dissapointing resolution of 1280 x 720
This quite lower than the resolution’s found on theSamsung GALAXY S5 and the LG G3. Still since it is a Super AMOLED screen the colours are atleast pinging like they should.

The Camera

There’s a 12MegaPixel camera onbaord the rear and 2.1-MegaPixel camera onboard the front that’s better than the GALAXY S5’s front facing camera.

The clarity in the images taken was superb and like

the S5 you can have a shortcut to the camera straight from the lockscreen.

All the modes you expect from Samsung’s camera are on board, including HDR, Dual Camera, Beauty Face and Panorama. And you can also shoot 4K video to playback on any compatible television.

LG G3

Introduction

This is LG’s flagship for this year. Well, so the question arises is this worth the money?? Well yes. It’s one beast of a phone with its Vivid Quad HD display, Solid Performance, Great Camera  and to top it all good battery life.

It offers a variety of features with the most feature being that bloatware on the device has been kept to an absolute minimum.

The Design

The LG G3 is a large phone with the screen size the same as the Galaxy Note 2 (5.5 inch) but somehow manages to feel only a little bit large and quite small when compared to the Galaxy Note 2. The slim

bezels and the tapered design have helped the LG G3 feel trim when held. For such a big phone the LG G3’s ergonomics are great. The rear power buttons and volume buttons which made their first appearance in the LG G2 are back and they are even better than before. The plastic back on the G3 comes with a thin metallic coating making the phone grippier to hold and a premium look.

The Display

As must have come to know by now that the LG G3 comes with a QUAD HD Display. That’s a resolution of 2,560×1,440, or 534 pixels per inch. The G3 is not the first phone with screen of this resolution but it’s the first from a big name manufacturer. It looks absolutely stunning and even better than the highly

praised AMOLED display on the Samsung GALAXY S5. Though while navigating menus the  Quad HD display

 

is not noticeable and looks like any other HD display. The only shortcoming is that it lacks apps and multimedia content optimised for QUAD HD displays.

The Camera

Well the main talking point other than the 13-MegaPixel sensor has been the infrared laser focus system. This has been something of a first that has been done by LG and no other device maufacturer has included it in their phones. According to LG however, it’s basically a technology they developed to theor robot vacuum cleaners from banging into the walls. Apparently the conical laser can focus the camera in a mere mindblowing 220 mili-seconds, leaving it’s main competition far behind.(The Samsung GALAXY S5 and the HTC One M8). According to LG these handsets take up to 300 mili-seconds. Practically the camera does focus and take pictures quickly. Though if no one would have told you, you most probably won’t have noticed it. As to the pictures themselves they are very impressive with only a few lighting situations such as when the sun is in the shot or at dusk that the pictures look washed out. In other lighting conditions however the camera performs pretty well especially in low light conditions.

Performance

“Simple is the new smart” has been LG’s punchline for the new LG G3. And, simple it definitely has kept things with very less bloatware going around. The main concern for the LG G3’s performance and battery life is the power hogging Quad-HD display. A very small amunt of delay is also noticed sometimes while flicking around the menus. Everything opens quickly but there is a slight lag between the menu moving and your finger.

HTC One E8

INTRODUCTION

The HTC One E8 is a device none of us had imagined would exist. However, soon after the premium metal clad M8 had been released rumours were around of a lookalike device wrapped in a polycarbonate shell. Device makers usually introduce Mini versions of

their flagship devices which are actually just compact, under powered versions of their flagship. But it’s rare when we get to see a device of the same capabilities wrapped in a less premium form factor on offer at a much lower price.

The HTC One E8 is one such device it takes the best from the company’s flagship M8 and packs it in a much cheaper polycarbonate body.

The Design

In design the HTC One E8 is simply the One M8. In fact the two are so similar that when at the front from a distance you can actually mistake it as the One M8. With the exception of the polycarbonate shell the One E8 carries everything over from the One M8 right down to the comfortable to hold curved back and HTC’s signature BoomSound dual speakers. Except for the thickness even the dimensions of both devices are nearly the same.

At the sides to both the devices are very similar with the power button sitting perfectly in the centre. The red electric crimson version of this device comes in a shiny glossy finish making it slippery to hold on to. The gray and blue version come with a matte finish and make it more grippable.

The Camera

One major difference between the One E8 and theOne M8 is that it loses the 4 UltraPixel camera and instead comes with a 13 MP unit with a single flash LED. The 13MP shooter comes with all the features of the One M8 so you will still be able to click Zoes, HDR shots and lots more without any problems. However it does lose the Ufocus background defocus feature

since it does not have to Duo Camera arrangement.

The front facing camera remains the same and clicks good pictures, so this phone will be a good choice for you if you click truck loads of selfies.The back camera clicks good sharp pictures so there’s nothing to worry about.

 The Display

 The One E8 comes with a 5-inch Full Hd (1920×1080) display that offers great viewing angles. The brightness is also quite high giving good sunlight legibility.

Pictures and text look crisp and sharp.

It also comes with a Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection, so it will be safe from minor scratches.

Performance

It is one of the most powerful devices available in its price range coming with a 2.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor coupled with 2GB of RAM. Due to all the power packed inside there is no lag noticed while switching and multitasking between apps, editing pics watching high definition videos or playing graphics-heavy games.

Samsung GALAXY S5

  Introduction                                        The Samsung Galaxy S5 is Samsung’s flagship for 2014 and the successor to the ever popular Samsung GALAXY S4. The S5 brings onboard some new features as well as losing some of the bloatware found on the S4

The Design

The S5 also improves in design over the S4 but still lacks the premium look of its rival namely the HTC One M8 and the Apple Iphone 5S.
On the front Samsung has not made any noticeable changes in the S5 and indeed if both the S4 and S5 are placed side by side you will be hard pressed to find any difference. The home button now more

capsule shaped also acts as a fingerprint reader. The back panel is however different with a dimpled leather back Samsung calls it the galm design. I found the glam back better than the S4’s plasticky rear since it comes in a matte finish compared to Galaxy S4’s glossy finish. In the end however the HTC One’s premium aluminium encased body feels better.

The Display

While many people assume that both the Galaxy S4 and the Galaxy S5 have the same display just slighly bigger in the latter of the two, rest assured that this is not the case. With the new flagship the S5 Samsung has changed its focus from increasing the (it offers the same 1920x1080p resolution found on the S4)resolution and ppi of the screen to improving brightness levels power cosumption etc.
The new Super AMOLED display indeed feels better offering higher brightness levels, better sunlight visibility, more viewing angles and better colour reproduction.

The Camera

It is often said that megapixels are meaningless in mobile phones but give the 16MP shooter good lighting conditions and it will capture more
detail than other shooters with a lower resolution. It shoots exceptionally detailed sharp images in good lighting conditions but loses out in low light areas. Still the Galaxy S5 packs a more than capable camera that can easily outperform most of the cameras in other rival flagship phones.

Features

As is usual in Samsung’s flagships features are a must. The S5 continues this trend and comes with a dust and waterproof IP67 certified body capable of surviving 30 minutes in water at a depth of 1 metre. The S5 also packs in a useful fingerprint scanner which can be used to unlock your phone. The new S Health app is better and more fitness oriented with a dedicated heart rate scanner embedded with the flash. (The heart rate sensor provides quite accurate results so you may trust it.)

Performance

The Galaxy S5 is one powerful device with a powerful Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor clocked at 2500MHz  coupled with 2Gb of RAM. It is able to perform all day to day tasks easily and switching between apps and playing graphics intensive games is a breeze.