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Sony Xperia ZR – Use it Anyplace, Anywhere, Anytime

– May 18, 2013Posted in: Post

Sony recently introduced the Xperia ZR and it’s probably the most durable smartphone ever to be made. The main selling point with the Xperia ZR is that it boasts the highest waterproof rating a smartphone has ever had. That means you’ll be able to take pictures and record HD video underwater without worrying about damaging your most prized possession, your smartphone! Sony claims that you’ll be able to take the Xperia ZR up to 5ft deep for 30 minutes at a time. The Xperia ZR gives you great hardware specs and durability against the most harshest environments. It looks to be a great smartphone for the “outdoorsy” type or for professionals that are usually “out in the field”.

What you should know:

Snapdragon S4 Pro Quad Core 1.5GHz processor and 2GB of RAM
720p 4.6″ HD Reality Display w/ Sony Bravia Engine 2 and OptiContrast technology
13MP camera w/ Exmor RS technology and dedicated camera key.
Dustproof (IP55)/Waterproof (IP58) and Shatter proof sheet on scratch-resistant glass
LTE/UMTS HSPA+/GSM GPRS/EDGE
Android Jellybean

Looks like Sony has found a niche with these dustproof/waterproof smartphones. They seem to be raising the bar when it comes to using your smartphone anyplace, anywhere, anytime. Be on the lookout for it in the 2nd quarter of this year.

Tags: Android, OptiContrast, Sony, Sony Bravia Engine 2, Xperia ZR

Nokia Lumia 928 – Xenon Goodness

AaronG

– May 15, 2013Posted in: Post

Finally, Nokia has brought back Xenon! Nokia has finally released a Windows Phone good enough to make you consider making a switch from Android and iOS. Although the Lumia 928 isn’t rocking the same 41MP camera found in Nokia’s 808 PureView, it still has PureView technology. Nokia claims the Lumia 928 makes it easy to capture great looking photos that are bright and blur-free, even in low lighting conditions. And I believe them. I still have a Nokia N82 (one of the best smartphone cameras ever made) and it still beats out most smartphones today when it comes to pictures. A big part of that has to do with the Xenon flash. Nokia also built in three high-audio-amplitude-capture microphones that are able to capture sound that is rich, clear, and distortion free. To go with the high end camera and sound capturing, the Lumia 928 also boasts one of the most advanced loudspeakers that’s capable of reaching 140db (equal to the sound of an airplane taking off).

Some specs worth noting:

4.5″ 72oP HD OLED display w/ a 334 ppi pixel density and CBD technology
1.5GHz dual core Qualcomm processor w/ 1GB of RAM
PureView 8.7MP Carl Zeiss Tessar camera w/ Xenon Flash
Wireless Charging, Three (HAAC) microphones, Advanced loudspeaker.

For $99 on a two-year contract, you’ll basically be getting a Lumia 920 with a Xenon flash. I’ve been waiting for another smartphone with a Xenon flash and it’s here as a Verizon exclusive. But before you make the switch, make sure you do some research on the Nokia EOS rumored to be released by August 2013.

Tags: Lumia 928, Nokia, Verizon, Windows Phone, Xenon

Sony Xperia TL – Overlooked, Forgotten and Underrated

AaronG

– May 10, 2013Posted in: Post

Overlooked, forgotten and underrated. Three things that come to mind when I think about the Sony Xperia TL. I recently had the chance to spend two full weeks with the Xperia TL and although it’s been out for awhile it’s probably one of the best options in the Android world. Before you think I’m nuts, I say that because of what you get for the price in hardware and software. It’s a package that most smartphones can’t match. When people talk Android they talk Samsung and HTC. And for some reason Sony doesn’t ever come up. I find that really odd, especially after my experience with the Xperia TL. In my mind, Sony is ahead of HTC and very close to challenging Samsung when it comes to Android devices. And although there have been Xperia devices out, the TL is the first one that Sony got right. And I’ll tell you why.

“I think Sony is on the right track.”

When it comes down to smartphones, it isn’t about cpu benchmarks and gimmicky features that nobody uses. It’s all about the experience and that’s where the Xperia TL really shines. Unlike Samsung’s Touchwiz or HTC’s Sense, Sony chose to go with a skin that isn’t too far from a vanilla Android experience. And I think that’s way cool. Xperia Home (Sony’s custom skin) is fast, clean and easy. With Androids latest software Jellybean now available for the TL, the whole experience runs better than ever. Adding shortcuts and widgets to the home screen has never been easier. And the overall look with the transitions and animations make it the most pleasing custom skin by a smartphone manufacturer. It’s an experience every Android fan should enjoy. It doesn’t try to change Android too much and I think that’s cool. There are features in the Xperia Home a geek would really love like the built in power manager app and “small apps”(calculator/timer/notes/voice recorder) that pop up and overlay on the screen. I feel like it gives you the right amount of “geekery” so you don’t have to spend hours customizing it yourself or risk bricking your phone by installing a custom rom. Between HTC’s Sense, Samsung’s Touchwiz and Sony’s Xperia, Sony has the best skin out of the three.

No doubt about it Sony’s HD Reality Display powered by Bravia Engine is legit. Watching HD videos on a mobile device has never looked this good. I even tested a 5GB mkv file and the Xperia TL handled it with ease. The technology is real and it’s very satisfying. Watching a video on this device is one of those things you show off to your friends and family and the first thing you’ll hear is “That looks really good!” The 720P HD Reality Display and Bravia Engine is one of the few things that Sony has to differentiate themselves. And it makes using the phone that much better than the competition. Although the viewing angles are limited, it won’t matter because most of the time you’re looking at it straight on anyway. And what can I say other than it’s beautiful. The combination of a retina type display and Xperia Home make you feel like you’re touching water. You have to see it in person to really enjoy it. The screen just feels alive.

“It doesn’t feel like a toy.”

If there’s one thing you can count on when you buy a Sony product it would be Quality. Despite being made mostly out of plastic, the Xperia TL doesn’t feel as cheap as the Galaxy S3. It doesn’t feel like a toy. There are two hardware designs that stick out in my mind. First, there is a slight raised edge on the frame of the Xperia TL so if you place the phone down on the screen it doesn’t scratch it. Secondly, the rubbery type material on the bottom and top of the phone. It’s a nice touch to the physical design and it’ll most likely save your device from drops that might otherwise crack the screen. With the Xperia TL you get a feeling that it’s a premium phone. And that’s important for a lot of people. SonyXperia TL feels like quality because Sony has always been about quality. I call the Xperia TL the Subaru of smartphones. No one really talks about them even though they are quality products.

One of the main hardware features that doesn’t get much attention is the dedicate camera button. Nothing beats a dedicated camera button and a lot of current Android devices don’t have them. It’s nice to see Sony include it into the Xperia TL and that really goes a long way for me.

The Xperia TL’s camera quality is really good compared to it’s competition. Compared to the Galaxy S3, the Xperia TL wins in the stills department with most photos being in focus. The flash on the Xperia TL was surprisingly good but it’s no Xenon flash. The Photo editor app had some really fun options and viewing GPS tags when flicking through the photo Album was pretty cool. It would pull up an icon on the bottom of the photo and it would zoom out “google earth” style so you could see where it was taken. Probably the best implementation of it on any Android device. On the other hand, when it comes to recording video on the Xperia TL the quality was average at best. The auto focus was really bad. It was so sensitive it would change focus every few seconds and that was annoying. That’s too bad considering you can’t take full advantage of recorded videos on the HD Reality Display.

Here’s a photo while in favorable lighting:

Some areas of concern for the Xperia TL include:

There were times the device would get extremely hot. So hot you felt like something was burning on the inside. Maybe it was because of the thin rubbery matte plastic on the back. It didn’t get too hot that it was uncomfortable to hold.
Battery life is weak like most Android devices in this range. It could last you a whole day but you would be charging it as soon as you got home.

Here is what you would be getting spec wise if you were to pick one up.

4.6″ 720p HD Reality Display powered by Mobile BRAVIA Engine w/ a 323ppi pixel density
1.5 GHz Dual Core Processor
13MP HD fast capture w/ dedicated camera button and 1080p HD video recording
Removable Storage up to 32GB
LTE (AT&T), NFC, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm audio jack (CTIA), aGPS, Bluetooth (A2DP) , DLNA, MHL
Android Jellybean

“The Xperia TL is the start of something great for Sony!”

In the end it’s a great phone and it just comes down to flavor. For the price you cant go wrong. AT&T offers the Xperia TL for $49.99 on a two year contract. In my mind the Xperia TL is a great alternate to the Samsung Galaxy S3. With Xperia Home on board and a pretty good hardware spec package the Xperia TL gives you a “high tech” feel for chump change. I can honestly say it’s a great smartphone. The best thing about this phone is that its good enough to have for the next year or so without breaking your wallet.

Tags: Android, Smartphone, Sony, Xperia TL

Facebook Home – Not Ready To Move In

AaronG

– April 22, 2013Posted in: Post

After one day of using Facebook Home on my Galaxy Note 2 I reverted back to my normal launcher Nova. Not because Facebook Home sucked, but so I could get shit done. Having to go through Facebook to get through anything on my phone was too distracting. I ended up forgetting what I was going to do after opening up the lock screen and instead went through my news feed!

Normally, I barely spend more than 10 minutes a day on Facebook. But with Facebook Home installed I spent more than half the day on Facebook! And that’s what they want. I didn’t go to any of the apps I normally go to like Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest etc… I didn’t even check my Gmail. All I did was go on Facebook. And I think that’s “genius” on Facebook’s part.

But it also became annoying. I was a Facebook addict flicking through photos, commenting on every post in my feed and liking everything that came across my lock screen. Facebook was too much in my face and I wasn’t ready for that. It should be called Facebook Jail. That’s what Facebook Home really ended up feeling like.

One thing I did find awesome was Facebook’s Messenger. And even though I’ve disabled Facebook Home, I’ve kept Messenger running. And it works perfectly without Facebook Home. Pop Up Chat Head is so awesome that when you don’t have it up you go looking for it. It’s got to be the best way to handle conversations on a mobile device. I’m all in with Pop Up Chat Head!

From afar, Facebook Home was the next logical step in its evolution. Most people spend their time through apps on their phone. Making Facebook the central part of a phone (the launcher) ensures people will continue to use Facebook. And why not? If you really look at it Facebook is how we communicate in the 21st century with family and friends. That’s what it’s all about. Having access to it right when you unlock your screen is what it should be about. Why else do you use your smartphone? You use your phone to connect with your Family and Friends. What difference does it make that you do it through Facebook? Other than calling someone (an activity nobody does anymore) you go on Facebook to contact someone. You go on Facebook to post a photo or check out your friends photos. You go on Facebook to Invite or accept invites to events. Everyone you care about is on Facebook and that’s why you go on it.

Despite my friend telling me that Facebook is for old people now, I don’t think that’s going to keep people from going on Facebook. Most of us have other social networks that we go to but we still use Facebook. Mainly because our parents or relatives are on it. And that just means everyone uses it. Are you going to teach your mom or dad (old people) how to use Instagram or Twitter? How about Google+? Probably not. They’re already comfortable with Facebook. And that’s okay. They don’t need to know about those other sites because old people only care about their family and friends. Facebook isn’t going anywhere.

And with the HTC First I can definitely see why a smartphone like that would make sense for some people. It’s perfect for my mom. Facebook is how she communicates now and I think that’s awesome. Don’t forget about teenagers. Most teenagers don’t care about having a super powered smartphone. They just want a decent one. And what could be better than a smartphone that’s all about Facebook? Unless your kid already thinks they’re too cool for Facebook!

Facebook needs to make Home feel a little less “in your face!” They also need to work on the rest of the launcher. Facebook Home is great, but when you get to the back of the house (apps/shortcuts) it feels like they half-assed it. For now, Facebook Home is for people who live and breathe Facebook. Most people won’t be ready to call it home.

Tags: Android, Facebook, Facebook Home, Pop Up Chat Head

Samsung Galaxy S3 – One Year Later

AaronG

– April 15, 2013Posted in: Post

After reading David Chartier’s After Further Review: iPhone 5 post I thought I’d write some post thoughts on the Galaxy S3. I didn’t want to get all “techy” with this post so I made it more about what I thought about the Galaxy S3 after being with it for about a year.

One of the best things about the S3 is the design. Even though it’s made out of plastic, holding it naked (without a case) feels really good. The S3 is very slim and light. And since it’s so slim and light, you’ll probably end up dropping it. I know I did a few times. Even Larry Fitzgerald would drop it! So don’t be a fool and get a case. It’s just a matter of time before you drop it.

Some reviews get too “techy” and dismiss what a smartphone is really about. Sms, email, phone calls, web browsing and social networking are all tasks the S3 handles with ease. It’s not just the hardware (even though the hardware is really good) that makes it possible, but a lot of it has to do with Samsung’s Touchwiz. Touchwiz makes using an Android easy. Touchwiz stays out of your way when you operate the phone. If you’re one of those geeks that complain about Touchwiz’s font, ui colors, or think it’s too ugly compared to stock Android then you’re missing the big picture. Only geeks care about animations, transitions and customization. Geeks know what they want and usually end up installing custom ROM’s anyway. While most people want a smartphone that’s simple like the iPhone. The S3 along with Touchwiz comes pretty close to doing just that. They’ve kept the user interface simple. I think that’s why Samsung has been so successful with the Galaxy S series.

Why else would Samsung be the most successful with Android compared to Sony, HTC and LG? All of their flagship smartphones have the same hardware specs across the board. But only Samsung seems to have any kind of real success.

On a side note, Android has come very far in the app department. And if an iPhone user wanted to do the switch they wouldn’t be disappointed. That’s very important. When it comes to developers, Apple has them all. So to have have an experience “app” wise comparable to the iPhone is huge. Having Instagram is huge. Add in all of the Google apps available and Android becomes even more attractive. The Galaxy S3 is the iPhone alternative people have been looking for.

Media consumption on the S3 is top notch. Whether it’s Netflix, Youtube, Play Music, DLNA, or Allshare the S3 does it right. The pop up video feature pushes multitasking to a new level on smartphones and works fairly well. Also, viewing your video library with live thumbnails looks awesome on the S3. You can even lock the video controls by pressing the power button which comes in handy if you have kids. And as long as you have the right apps installed you shouldn’t have any issues playing or sharing media.

While the S3 has some cool features like S Beam and Smart Stay, there are a bunch of them you end up not using at all. There are so many motion features you kind of forget about them. As for the whole “touchy thingy” feature, it works fairly well. But only if you remember how to do it. If you don’t normally do it you end up trying to remember how to do it. Which then takes too much time and defeats the purpose of being able to share files easily. And if S Beam isn’t activated, then you end up having to go an extra couple of steps to share a file. Which is dumb because there is no quick toggle to turn it on. It’s annoying.

The camera is decent but not the best. Too many out of focus shots even when you stand completely still. I think that’s horrible. Most photos look decent but there are times you can tell it’s out of focus. I could care less about contrast and saturation as a normal user. I just want the photos to be sharp and in focus. My wife would complain to me about her photos being out of focus all the time. She’s an ol’ school Nokia vet so she’s know what a good photo looks like. At first I kept telling her she doesn’t know how to take photos! But after doing some research about her complaint I realized she was right. The lack of an actual shutter button is one of the main reasons the photos are out of focus. There’s slight movement every time you touch the shutter button on the display when taking a photo. Thankfully you can use your voice to take photos to minimize any shake. Don’t get me wrong, the photos you take on the S3 are pretty good. But I shouldn’t have to be a tech guru to take really good photos. That should just happen out of the box.

Battery life is weak. Plain and simple. The bare minimum for Android phones need to be at 3100 mAh or better. Otherwise it’ll be dead after a full day of work and normal usage. You can make the battery last a whole day if you tinker with it. But if you’re a normal user you shouldn’t have to do that. Consider an extended battery if you’re a heavy smartphone user.

With the Galaxy S4 release nearing, is it worth getting the S3? I think so. Considering you can get it on the cheap with a contract or even free if you’re a lucky up-grader. The S3 can realistically last another two years. And in “smartphone years” that’s really good!

Tags: Android, Galaxy S3, Samsung, TouchWiz

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