AT&T this morning dropped word that the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear will be available online and in stores this Friday, Oct. 4. The Note 3 runs $299 on contract; same price for the Galaxy Gear smartwatch.
Image credit: XperiaBlog
It's been over a month since we heard anything of the Sony "Itsuki" rumored to be a smaller version of the Xperia Z1 with similar specs. Originally rumored for a September unveiling alongside the full-sized Z1, the device was a no-show at IFA in Berlin earlier this month.
But today brings further evidence of the miniature Z1's existence, in the form of a brochure leak from Japanese carrier NTT Docomo obtained by XperiaBlog. In it, the Sony XperiaZ1 f is listed alongside the regular Z1, with a full spec sheet and renders to boot. The Z1 f is shown in black, white, pink and lime green, with a 4.3-inch, 720p display, a Snapdragon 800 CPU, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. It also seems the Z1's20.7 Exmor RS camera has made it across to the smaller version, along with that handset's IP58-rated water and dust resistance credentials. Powering the Z1 f is a 2300mAh battery, according to the spec sheet.
The specs fit with earlier rumors that the mini Z1 wouldn't sacrifice raw horsepower in order to fit into a smaller chassis, though with a thickness of 9.4mm, it looks like the Xperia Z1 f might be a good deal thicker than earlier Z-series phones. For now, we'll have to wait and see if the Z1 f will see release outside of Japan, but it's encouraging news for those looking for top-level specs in a smaller handset.
Source: XperiaBlog
Just as Samsung has released big-screen phones without hefty, high-end price tags, LG looks set to adopt a similar strategy with a new phone due to launch in Russia soon, the LG G Pro Lite Dual. Images obtained by Russian site hi-tech.mail.ru show a device similar to the Optimus G Pro we're more familiar with, only with a built-in pen and reportedly less spectacular hardware running the show.
In addition to a 5.5-inch qHD IPS display, the device runs an unnamed 1GHz CPU with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage, expandable via microSD. There's also an 8-megapixel camera with BSI sensor and a 3140mAh battery, and according to today's report the device runs on Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean. So we're clearly not dealing with a high-end phone here, but interestingly, the "Lite Dual" does appear to come with a capacitive stylus, something not bundled with the original G Pro. Both the leaked images and the name suggest it'll have dual SIM support too.
We'll have to wait and see whether this device ever sees release outside of Russia, but we're not holding our breath for the moment.
Source: hi-tech.mail.ru; via: GSMArena
The Hudl, UK supermarket Tesco's low-cost Android tablet, is now available to buy from the official website, at tesco.com/hudl. The tablet sells for 119, packs a 1.5GHz quad-core CPU, a 1440x900-resolution display and Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean in addition to coming in four color options.
In accordance with last week's announcement, the Hudl should also start popping up in brick-and-mortar Tesco stores from today. For more info on the tablet, check out our hands-on coverage from last week's launch event.
Source: Tesco
We've received some information that the loophole everyone jumped on last night, where users were able to use a subsidized upgrade without losing their unlimited data, has been officially closed by Verizon HQ.
If you don't keep up-to-date with this sort of thing, users on Verizon that wanted to keep the old unlimited data plan are unable to sign an new agreement and get their new phone at the subsidized rate. Last night, folks started taking advantage of a recent "glitch" in the system that allowed you to get the contract price, sign a new two year agreement, but still keep the unlimited data.
Now that the issue has been "fixed" by Verizon, there's no telling how they are going to deal with the users who took advantage of the bug this weekend. If you grabbed a phone this way, you'll want to pay very close attention to any and all communication from Big Red.
Thanks, Anon!
It happened to Palm. It's happening to BlackBerry. Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Samsung might be insulated by their revenue from other businesses, or they might not. No company stays on top, or even in the game, forever. So, we interrupt our usual programing to get Kevin Michaluk of CrackBerry.com back on the line so he can explain to us what the hell is happening with BlackBerry. The reaction to the iPhone, the detour of the PlayBook, and the launch of BB10. No. Holds. Barred.
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Yell at us via the Twitter accounts above (or the same names on ADN). Loudly.
The Sony Cyber-shortQX10 is here to fill a need you had no idea needed filled. It mates the improved pictures of a good point-and-shoot camera with your smartphone. Rather than build a phone with a high-powered camera like the Galaxy S4 Zoom, the QX10is a stand-alone unit that works with any Android smartphone. (Or the iPhone, if that's how you roll.)
Using wireless (NFC and WIfiDirect) the QX10pairs with your phone (or tablet if you're into that) and the device's screen becomes the live-view from the lens. It can be a little clunky, and there's some software between the two that allow it to happen. Often-times finicky software. To the point where it's almost easier to forgo the software and shoot blind, unconnected to a phone. Yes, it can do that, too.
To top things off, the QX10 costs as much as a good point and shoot camera does $250.
It's going to have to do two things well to find a place in anyone's gear bag take great pictures, and be easy to use. Hit the break and see if it can do them.
When you consider that the QX10 aims to replace a point-and-shoot camera, it's fairly compact. It's about 2.5-inches in diameter, 2-inches tall (while the lens is closed) and weighs about 4 ounces. It's completely self-containedwith on-board storage via an microSD card slot, and you charge the removable battery through a microUSB port hidden under a flap on the lens body.When it's all buttoned up, there's nothing dangling off to snag your pocket, and it fits nicely into a small bag. If you have room for a standard computer mouse in your satchel of goodies or pocket, you have room for the QX10.
When you want to use the camera to take a picture, your Android comes into play. Using the two spring-loaded jaws to clamp to your phone, you can run an app that allows you to see what the camera sees on your phone screen. At this point, you're probably asking, "Why bother?" You already have a camera on your phone that you can use without any special apps or fiddling with spring loaded clamps.
Because of the image quality. We'll take a long, close look at the pictures you can take with the QX10 further down the page, but for now just be aware that you'll get much better pictures from the QX10 than you will with even the best smartphone camera. Physics and math come into play, and you won't have the sensor size or the lens size and quality or the focal distance in a smartphone even a great big smartphone or one with a big honking hump on the back.
All the fancy hardware in the lens isn't much good if you can't have a way to see what you're taking a picture of. While you can use the QX10 without an Android attached, you probably won't want to. The screen of your device is your link to what the lens sees.
Setting things up is simple enough for most Android devices, just tap your phone to the NFC logo on top of the unit. Usually this works without any app open or even Wifi turned on, but you're better off starting the PlayMemories Mobile app before you get started. Things can be a little finicky, as we'll see later. Once you have a connection, you'll be able to see the camera images on your screen.
You can either use the clamps mentioned above to attach the QX10 to your phone, or hold and maneuver the lens and device separately. The connection seems to be good for about 20 feet. Most times you'll end up attaching things together, but with the QX10 on a tripod and a Nexus 7 in your hands, you can get a little more creative with your shots if you like by getting in the scene.
Once you have your picture properly framed, you can tap the screen to lock focus and tap the shutter button, or tap the shutter button for intelligent auto-focus. The camera will then snap a picture, and dependingon your settings, you'll get a copy to review right on your screen.
You have three shooting modes to choose from Superior Auto, Intelligent Auto, and Program Auto. While in Program Auto you're able to adjust the exposure manually, but things like aperture and shutter speed are not adjustable. The Automatic modes do a good job selecting the right settings, and your pictures will likely look good if you pick one and leave it there. Do experiment though, and find the setting you like. You can also set things like the image size and aspect ratio, or set a self-timer in the application settings.
The images you take are stored on the QX10's SD card, and a copy is sent to your tethered device. You can choose the size of the copied image, and the device settings also have options to transfer the untouched image to your phone, as well as format the SD card.
The app isn't without its problems. It seems to be at its best with the Nexus 7 or the Nexus 4. The farther you move away from "Stock" Android, the more disconnectionsand image lag you'll see. The app doesn't discriminate here Samsung, HTC, LG and Sony devices are affected fairly equally. Be sure to go into your device's Wifi settings and turn off any options that offer "best" Wifi performance or battery-saving connections, as these greatly affect the connection with the QX10.
Sony needs to improve its app. But the good news is that it has a wide-open SDK and the QX10 and QX100are well supported. Camera360 has already announced that it will update its application to work with these cameras, so we'll soon have more choices.
Here's the interesting part. Since this is a camera and not a phone or tablet, the most crucial part of the review is the pictures that it produces. While the QX10 is by no meansintended to replace a "professional" camera a phrase we hear so often it almost has no meaning anymore at $250 it had better take some damn good pictures.
And it does. The QX10 won't turn you into Ansel Adams, but for most folks this is all the camera you will ever need. The images are crisp and clear, and look great both on your smartphone screen or the computer screen. Yes, enthusiasts and professionals have cameras that take "better" pictures. You won't want to use the QX10 if you're looking for a shot to use in a magazine, but you'll certainly have a nice collection of memories to look through or even print.
Look through these random images I've taken in the past couple weeks. Yes, some are better than others (I included an example even if it wasn't perfect), but all of them are pretty darn good. We'll talk about some of the highlights afterwards.
Color accuracy is impressive. A couple examples here will make you feel like you're looking at TouchWiz, but the super-saturated orange color in both the Halloween sign and the center ring on the flower is an accurate representation of real life. Sony does a great job of not only capturing the image data, but assembling it to catch bright colors without blowing out the highlights.
Exposure compensation is very nice as well. You can't always trust the information you get from metering light levels, and it's hard to find any automatic that can get it right the majority of the time. The bright white screen in a dark room is really hard to get a picture of, as is a box of light in a dark arcade. The QX10 does a great job here, and it does it all automatically.
Low-light performance is excellent. The Angry Birds dog toy picture looks better than it did in real life, and yes, the picture on the right was lit with only the tiny 9-wattbulbs in the fake Tiffany-style sport lamps.
With 10x optical zoom, you can reach way out and still get an acceptable picture, even in low light. I looked like an idiot with a tiny orb on a tripod in the Target parking lot, but the results speak for themselves. The zoomed image is far from perfect, but it's a good representation of the clarity and color reproduction you get from zooming in tight under very harsh conditions.
Look, $250 is more than just pocket change. With the latest crop of smartphones, the cameras are better than what we've seen even just a few months ago hello, G2. And you're not getting pictures like you would from a DSLR. These are three very important things to considerhere.
The PlayMemoriesapp also leaves a lot to be desired. It's OK for a staged picture, where you have as much time as you would like to take pictures of things that are not moving all over the place, but getting the lens connected and the app turned on before your kids stop being extra-cute or your dog stops doing that trick isn't always going to happen. And frankly, using the QX10 blind (without a tethered device) is a fool's errand with no viewfinder to frame a shot.
In the end it's also one extra thing to carry and keep charged, costs about the same as a decent point and shoot, and most folks will end up using the camera on their phone anyway. Camera enthusiasts will love this thing because it's a cool new toy. Most folks should probably pass on it though.
That was my sensible side. Here comes my geek-out side.
I love this little gadget, but it fills a very particular need for me. Last year, AC picked me up a Nikon D5100 and a nice assortment of lenses. The package takes great pictures, but it's not something I can slip into my pocket and carry around every day. While most folks can get away with a smartphone that has a good camera, I like to be prepared to grab a picture for Mobile Nations when I'm out and about. Smartphone cameras struggle here.
I've tried various point-and-shoot cameras and micro-four-thirds cameras, but the QX10 is small enough to fit in my pocket, and if I need to grab a picture I can just attach it to my phone and snap away. All my blog posts of late have had pictures taken with the QX10, and my Nikon hasn't left the tripod since I got this.
If you're in the market for something ultra-portable, and don't need to take a lot of action shots or the flexibility you get from manual controls, the QX10 is something you should consider.
If your smartphone pictures are good enough, and chances are that they will be, save the $250 towards your next Android purchase.
