WhatsApp for iOS updated; offers ‘pinch to zoom’ while playing videos, share content from third-party apps

WhatsApp for iOS has been updated to the version 2.12.14 that brings in support for a host of new features.

The highlight of the update is the ability to now share photos and videos with your contacts from sources beyond your camera gallery. Yes, the new update lets users share content from third-party apps and notably storage apps such as Microsoft One Drive, Google Drive, Dropbox and so on. The screenshot below shows the 'choose from another app' option right below the Gallery.

"You can now share photos or videos from other apps installed on your phone, like Google Drive, Dropbox, or Microsoft OneDrive. When you open "Photo/Video Library", just tap "Choose from another app…", the page reads.

The update also introduces an improved design for browsing photos and videos. Another update is the ability to zoom into video while they are playing. The update also brings the option to choose from solid colours as your background. The 72.5MB update requires an iPhone running iOS 6.0 or above. The update is now available for download from the Apple App store.

Recently, WhatsApp also announced that sometime this year it will be withdrawing support for BlackBerry devices (BB10 included), Symbian 40, Symbian 60, Android 2.1 and 2.2 devices and Windows Phone 7.1.

Tags: Drive, Dropbox, Pinch to zoom videos, Solid colours, Third Party Apps, Whatsapp, WhatsApp for iOS, WhatsApp update

Source: WhatsApp for iOS updated; offers 'pinch to zoom' while playing videos, share content from third-party apps

Microsoft kills app for porting Android apps to Windows

That essentially allows developers familiar with the older language to build mobile apps without having to learn all-new languages, hire new developers, or build the same app three separate times.

What would perhaps be one of the most demanded features of all, Office apps are now integrated with your device's built-in camera, so you can capture images, crop and insert them directly into your documents on Windows and Android phones and tablets. This year, the company is also building a bridge for Win32.

According to Kevin Gallo, Director of Software Engineering in the company, it was completely unnecessary to have two bridge technologies working together to bring code from other OS to Windows Mobile, which is why the company pulled the plug on Astoria. The company has also said that it will now focus only on the Windows Bridge for iOS. For whatever reason, since that initial announcement, rumors and other signs from Microsoft have pointed to the Android bridge - codenamed "Astoria" - being killed off in favor of the iOS bridge - codenamed "Islandwood".

Microsoft notes Xamarin has 15K+ customers (including over 100 Fortune 500 firms) and claims the support of 1.3M developers. In the meantime, what do you think of Microsoft's efforts to bring Android apps to their Windows 10 Mobile users? The purchase of Xamarin may ease Project Astoria's death, though. That's something the company will talk more about during its Build conference at the end of next month.

Microsoft is urging developers who were waiting on Astoria to take a look at its iOS Bridge, and its recently acquired C# porting tool, Xamarin. This strengthens Microsoft's strategy as a major player in the cloud industry with C# and Visual Studio as fundamental pillars.

However, considering Windows' (and, more crucially, Windows Mobile's) unsafe shortage of applications on its virtual market and iOS apps' general superior quality (although there are definitely exceptions to the rule), it may turn out to be the best idea for Microsoft. It's just that Microsoft didn't want to inadvertently fragment its Java and C++ developers across multiple tools.

Jailed Bollywood actor released earlyBut the Maharashtra state government and Dutt's lawyers say the decision was made "according to normal procedures". Dutt will offer obeisance at the famous Siddhivinayak temple in Mumbai to seek blessings of Lord Ganesha.

Source: Microsoft kills app for porting Android apps to Windows

Sony Xperia M5 review: middle class problems

The Sony Xperia M5's cameras are clearly its strong point. The main camera delivers high-contrast, sharp images in 21.5 MP and the selfie camera produces pleasing wide-angle shots in 13 MP. The Quick Start function wakes the phone from standby directly into the camera app.

Sony has equipped the M5 with a similar sensor to the Xperia Z5. / © ANDROIDPIT

The cameras are the selling point for the otherwise unremarkable Xperia M5. Sony has, therefore, provided the phone with one the best sensors on the market. The Exmor RS is distinguished by its fast autofocus, which takes only 30 milliseconds. Thanks to face- and smile-detection technology, you can shoot your selfies without even having to press the shutter button.

As with most Xperia smartphones, Sony has also built in a physical camera button on the Xperia M5. If pressed while the smartphone is in standby mode, it instantly wakes the device up and opens the camera app.

Unfortunately, the front-facing camera lack a flash. / © ANDROIDPIT

The Sony Xperia M5, although gifted with excellent camera sensors, has not, unfortunately, been equipped with a great flash. Dual LED flash is now a common feature on smartphone cameras, with a second, more reddish flash ensuring skin tones don't appear faded and people's faces in flash shots look more natural. Meanwhile, there are also numerous smartphones with flashes on the front for low-light selfies. The Xperia M5 does not have either of these features - only a simple white flash on the back.

Under poor artificial light, the M5's camera produces no visible noise. / © ANDROIDPIT The main camera's sensor produces pleasing light sen sitivity / © ANDROIDPIT Macro images also come out well-focused. / © ANDROIDPIT The autofocus is more than capable of capturing moving ob jects. / © ANDROIDPIT The M5's camera is also capable of decent night shots. / © ANDROIDPIT

Sony's default camera app is quite complicated to use. In low-light conditions, you are forced to adjust the settings, and this sometimes takes a long time; the autofocus is also much slower in darker environments.

However, when we tried some alternative camera apps, we were able to take better shots in the dark. Overall, the M5 camera is a reliable and powerful tool, but, as it's the phone's biggest selling point, it could still be better.

Source: Sony Xperia M5 review: middle class problems

Lava V5 review: Lightweight, slim and easy to handle

Domestic handset maker Lava has launched another budget smartphone, V5. The smartphne is priced at Rs 11,499.

The newly launched device comes with pretty standard specifications in the over-crowded budget smartphone segment. The 5.5-inch display smartphone carries a quad-core processor and a 13MP rear camera.

Looks

The Lava V5 smartphone is a big phone with a 5.5-inch display, but in spite of that it will not slip out of your hand easily. The plastic back cover gives the device a good grip and the metal rim gives a premium finish. The smartphone features curved edges, is quite slim and easy on the hands.

The volume and power keys are placed at the right edge while the 3.5mm port and micro-USB port are fixed at the top. The back has a camera lens, LED flash, speaker grill and the branding. The plastic rear panel is removable, which reveals two micro sim card slots, and a microSD card slot along with a removable battery.

The front of the device houses an 8MP selfie camera and an LED flash. There are also three Android buttons on the screen to move through home, options and return functions. The rear panel sports a 13MP rear camera accompanied with dual LED flash and a speaker grille at the bottom.

Display

The V5 sports a 5.5-inch HD display with 1280x720 pixels resolution and is protected with a coating of Corning Gorilla Glass 3 (protecting it from scratch and damage). The display has a decent pixel density and the colour reproduction is also sharp with good viewing angles. It offers good visibility under bright sunlight.

Performance

Performance wise, the Lava V5 works smooth. It is powered by a 1.3GHz quad-core MediaTek processor. The 3GB RAM gives an edge over other smartphone and glides through your everyday requirements. The phone offers a 16GB onboard storage where only 11.23GB is available for users. The external storage can also be expanded up to 32GB using a microSD card. 

The device runs on Android 5.1 Lollipop operating system that will get an Android 6.0 Marshmallow update soon. Lava has its own customised user interface called Star OS 2.0., which is clean and easy to use. Though the UI has some additions such as gesture control and smart wake up. Gesture control helps you interact with the phone with just a flip to mute, shake the phone to answer incoming calls, slide fingers to capture screenshots and more.

Apart from that, the smart wake up lets you launch apps directly through the lock screen. For instance, you can draw 'M' to open music player or 'e' to start flash light. While using these gestures were not very smooth and we encountered difficulty while using them. Though we did not experience any lag while navigating through the menu, browsing the web and scrolling inside apps.

Moving on to the sound, the external speaker offers loud sound output with average quality. The outlet is located at the back so the sound gets muffled when the phone lies at its back. But the sound through the headphones and call quality was good.

Camera

The device comes equipped with a 13MP rear camera with dual LED flash and an 8MP front with LED flash for selfies and low light photography. Lava claims that the camera is the main highlight of the smartphone, but there is nothing special with the performance. The images captured during the day were pretty decent with the 13MP camera and the colour reproduction was also quite sharp. But the images captured indoor and low light conditions was not that impressive. The photos had too much noise. However the camera app offers various modes such as HDR, multi-angle view, GIF mode and others.

Then when we checked the 8MP front camera the LED flash in the front, which was bossed so much by the company, is not of much help, and the low-light selfies are blur and full of colour saturation. Lava has integrated some beautification features for selfies, which work fine.

Battery

As for the battery, the smartphone is loaded with 3000mAh battery. The dual-SIM smartphone last through the day if the usage is minimal. A full charge can keep the phone going for 7-8 hours with phone calls, gaming, videos, web browsing and messaging. The device comes with several preloaded apps and on connectivity font it supports 4G, 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS.

Verdict

The Lava V5 4G comes with a price tag of Rs 11,499 and if the performance is concerned the handset is pretty decent. Though the camera is a major setback, which is a little disappointing. The V5 has some tough competition in the budget category who can deliver better performance like Lenovo K3 Note, Moto G Turbo Edition and the Xiaomi Mi4i.  You can also opt for Coolpad Note 3, which is cheaper, at Rs. 8,999, also with a fingerprint scanner.

For latest news on mobile and tablet, download IndiaTV Android app and iOS app. Also like IndiaTV's official Facebook page and follow us on Twitter to stay tuned to latest news.

Source: Lava V5 review: Lightweight, slim and easy to handle

Asus ZenFone Zoom Review: The smartphone camera to beat?

We don't see "experiment phones" as often as we used to. Smartphone design is largely homogenizing around a limited range of design options and aesthetics. Whenever a company takes a risk, targets a specific niche, it's always exciting to see what might arrive. Asus is doing just that for the camera crowd, building a phone around one specific feature. This isn't just a "camera phone", the clue to their targeted demographic is in the name of the device.

Immediately we can drop any pretense of this being an "all rounder" phone, but who is this device actually for? Does the Asus ZenFone Zoom succeed in its experiment? Here's our full review!

Hardware and Design

The ZenFone Zoom is a big phone, and it feels like a big phone in the hand. This is understandable as the camera module requires quite a bit of space, but this introduces challenges for other hardware components. The 5.5" IPS LCD is respectably bright for outdoor reading, it has very good viewing angles, but bezel snobs will be disappointed by the screen to front face ratio here. There's a lot of bordering plastic, a large forehead, non-backlit capacitive hardware navigation buttons, and a separate chin piece. Ultimately the screen only takes up around 65% of the front face, and that's how we arrive at a phone bigger than an LG V10, with a screen about the size of an LG G4.

The whole affair is powered by an Intel Atom Z3580 Quad Core, which was initially released around the same time as the Qualcomm 805 which powered phones like the Note 4. Our review unit came equipped with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of built in storage, with a 3000mAh battery.

The overall design is attractive and practical. The removable back plate is leather, and as the phone is camera focused, includes a handy little ridge to help hold onto the device. The edges are aluminum, which recalls devices like the Note 4, and corners are rounded similarly to what we might find on an HTC M9.

The back is removable, granting access to MicroSD and SIM card slots, but the battery is not user replaceable.

The focus on camera performance also influences button arrangement. Like a Lumia, all controls are on the right side of the phone, which makes operation much easier if the phone is ever mounted to tripod. The volume rocker doubles as the zoom rocker. There's a two stage shutter button for launching the camera app and shooting stills, and a dedicated button to shoot video. The bottom left corner holds a lanyard strap port, a handy addition to prevent accidentally dropping the ZenFone. It'd be nice if more phones, even non-camera focused phones, had this option.

From an aesthetics perspective, it's one of the best balancing acts we've ever seen marrying smartphone to point and shoot camera.

Software

The ZenUI launcher default settings recall the juicy colored efforts of LG circa the G2. Happily, this launcher is easy to customize, with similar options found on third party launchers like Nova. If granular settings aren't your thing, you can also theme directly through the Asus store, with plenty of free and premium options to customize your phone.

Like previous Asus phones, there's quite a bit of custom software pre-installed on the ZenFone Zoom. Happily, less of that seems to come from third parties, only Trip Adviser, Amazon Kindle, and Clean Master. The number of management apps feels unnecessary though. Asus provides a mobile manager which monitors battery, RAM, and data usage. There's a separate app for monitoring battery and performance modes. Clean Master also claims to help you save battery by killing background apps, and monitoring RAM. All three of those management apps work separately from the built in settings and processes built into Android.

The ZenFone Zoom is still running on Android 5.0, but during our two weeks using the device we have received to small patches. While we don't know when we might receive an update to Lollipop or Marshmallow, we are at least receiving support to fix bugs.

Camera

Our Real Camera Review will give you the most in-depth look at the ZenFone Zoom's camera performance available on the internet.

Here's the real meat and potatoes of this review. Asus is betting on the camera, and has created one of the most undeniably cool solutions for incorporating a zoom in a phone. Instead of stapling a phone to a point and shoot camera lens ala the Galaxy K Zoom, the Asus utilizes a series of periscope-like prisms that allow the entire lens assembly to be mounted vertically in the camera housing. Nothing protrudes from the rear. The actual zoom feature works surprisingly well, giving you a 3X optical reach which doesn't degrade your images like software "cropping" zoom solutions on other fixed lens phones.

The issue facing potential customers is that the rest of the camera experience feels compromised. We have a 1/3 inch 13MP image sensor, paired with OIS and laser autofocus, but actual output from this setup falls far behind other similar camera sensors. Images are a bit dull, detail and color often feel smeared. While you do have options to adjust post processing, changing a setting like sharpening, one adjustment step often feels like too much or too little.

We run into compromises. The ZenFone doesn't start with a particularly wide aperture of f/2.7, but as you zoom, it closes down to f/4.8. This is common for a zoom lens, but it does mean that the zoom will be trickier to use indoors and at night. Also, The smaller sensor size and aperture combo means this won't deliver the prettiest background blur.

Video performance is also disappointing. We see similar dull color and contrast, and a general lack of clarity. The Asus will top out at 30FPS 1080p video, but the frame rate will drop in low light to 20FPS. Indoor and night time video will look streaky or blurry.

If you look at the lenses produced for DSLRs, it can be really difficult to create a clear, sharp zoom lens at an affordable price. A good short zoom will often cost almost as much as a low end camera body. The engineering feat of building a zoom lens into a phone is impressive, but it comes at the expense of clarity, bokeh, and low light performance.

Performance

Intel's Atom processor hasn't been a popular chipset for mobile phones. Sliding through the UI, loading social media apps, and streaming HD media, you'll rarely encounter lags or stutters. We should be able to take this for granted in this day and age, where mid-range and low-end phone processors handle the basics reasonably well. Having 4GB of RAM on tap meant fast recovery times for apps, once we backed off the manager apps killing background services.

Taxing this hardware with some games, we see this chipset struggle. Older titles like Skyforce 2014 play fluid and smooth. Moving to Riptide GP2, we start to see the occasional dropped frame or lag, but it's still an acceptable gaming experience. Playing more demanding titles like Marvel Future Fight, game play becomes choppy, even on medium graphics settings. It does feel like the kind of performance we would have expected from a year old flagship, and depending on what titles you enjoy, can still be outperformed by a Note 4.

Battery

Battery performance on our review unit was a bit disappointing. When used for basic communication, it's an easy phone to push through dinner time. Incorporating any multimedia throughout your day will hit this battery hard. On a video streaming test, 30 minutes of HD video playback at 50% screen brightness, the ZenFone Zoom drained 12% of its battery, making it one of the worst performers we've run through similar tests. By comparison, a Galaxy S6 with a brighter, higher resolution screen and smaller battery only drained 10%. If you engage in a little light gaming, you'll probably need to top off the battery before dinner. The combo of firing up the camera sensor and keeping the screen bright for outdoor photography will also drain juice quickly.

Quick charging helps take some of the sting off, and you can count on around a 60% charge after an hour plugged in.

Audio

Call quality is a bit lean from the front speaker, but there weren't any complaints from callers about the audio quality being sent. The noise reduction mics did a fine job during outdoor calls.

The rear speaker is plenty loud for alerts, notifications, and ringtones, but falls a bit flat for video, music, and video gaming. Dull reproduction, lack of clarity, and there's just not enough room on a single speaker to introduce more bass.

Headphone playback is somewhat poor. There's a general air you can hear in moments of silence. It's not quite a hiss, but is an observable noise floor. Bass lacks oomph, and the highs feel more magnified than they need to be. On live classical recordings, this actually kind of works, but rock and electronica felt shrill and tinny for any elements in the higher EQ.

We also ran into some issues with the two different audio processing modes on the ZenFone. Moving between the Asus processing and Android's native processing can crash the EQ plugin.

Pros

+Practical build quality with premium materials+Camera-centric ergonomics+Innovative camera zoom design

Cons

-Lackluster photo and video output-Mediocre battery life for multimedia and content creation-Large footprint for medium sized screen

Price and Availability

The unlocked ZenFone Zoom sells for $399 through online retailers like B&H.

Conclusion

This is always painful.

We want to reward daring design. We want to celebrate when companies take risks. The ZenFone Zoom is an incredible feat of camera design, but the crown jewel feature of this phone in many ways compromises the camera that the zoom lens is supposed to enhance. That unfortunately becomes the end of the review. When a company places so much responsibility on one feature, it's exceedingly difficult to ignore that feature for any kind of objective comparison with other phones. It's the ZenFone Zoom, we can't rightfully say "but ignoring the camera…".

There's a market for every device, but the ZenFone Zoom is a niche of a niche. The consumer here needs to care enough about photo features to value the zoom, but isn't as discerning when it comes to photo and video output. Otherwise, there are a number of devices around this price point which can outperform the ZenFone, or cheaper devices that can hang with it.

Source: Asus ZenFone Zoom Review: The smartphone camera to beat?

10 Google apps and services you had no idea you needed

Google is a search company. It's an advertising company. It's a mobile company, a futuristic R&D lab and even, perhaps, an automaker. Google is a lot of things and because it's so giant, it's easy to miss some cool stuff in the shuffle. What you probably don't realize is that a lot of the things you missed could end up being your favorite Google apps and services.

There are dozens upon dozens of Google apps and other products out there that are worth checking out. Sure search, Gmail and Google Calendar are must-haves, but Google's utility extends far beyond its core products.

Earlier today, we told you about a secret Google search feature every Android user should know about. Now, in this post, we'll take a look at 10 lesser-known Google products you really need to check out.

UP NEXT: Here's Apple's long-awaited legal response to the FBI

Chrome Remote Desktop

Remote desktop software can easily cost $50 or more — a lot more if you want a popular and secure solution. Of course, you can also get a secure solution for free if you're a Chrome user.

Chrome Remote Desktop allows you to remotely connect to your computer from a smartphone or tablet. You will then see your computer's screen on your mobile device and you can control it from anywhere in the world.

All you need to do to use it is install the Chrome Remote Desktop plugin for Windows or Mac from the Chrome web store, and then install one of the company's free mobile apps.

Download Chrome Remote Desktop for Android

Download Chrome Remote Desktop for iOS

Panoramio

I asked several people about the Google apps and services I planned to include before putting this post together, and at least one or two people had heard of most things I mentioned. But not a single person knew that Panoramio existed.

This nifty site lets you explore the world through the eyes of complete strangers. It plots user-captured photos on a world map, giving you a completely unique perspective on things.

Google Sky

While Panoramio focuses on the ground, Google Sky is a fantastic tool that lets you explore outer space.

Who's Down

Did you even know that Google had a mobile app called Who's Down? This app is invite-only for the time being and it's a new way for friends in the same area to get together spontaneously.

From the app's description: "Instantly see which of your friends are free to hang out, right when you are. With one slider, let your friends know you're down to hang out. Start a chat and get together. It's that simple."

Who's Down is a free mobile app for Android and the iPhone.

Download Who's Down for Android

Download Who's Down for iOS

Project Sunroof

Project Sunroof is a brilliant tool that uses Google Earth imagery to tell you whether or not your home is a good candidate for a solar panel installation on your roof. It will even use your home address and local weather patterns to estimate how much money you might save by installing solar panels.

One Today

Google's One Today app is a terrific way to support a wide range of nonprofit charities. The app highlights different charities each day and makes it simple to support them with a small donation.

Download One Today for Android

Download One Today for iOS

Google Translate

Most people have likely heard of Google Translate. If you use the Chrome browser, Google automatically asks if you're like web pages translated when they're in different languages. But have you tried the Google Translate mobile app?

Even if you answered yes to that question, you definitely need to revisit the app if you haven't tried it lately. Google has added tons of new functionality, making this app one of the most helpful travel tools on the planet. You can speak into the app and have your translated words spoken aloud, you can point the camera at signs and have the text translated on screen, and so much more.

And best of all, it's free.

Download Google Translate for Android

Download Google Translate for iOS

Google Scholar

If you're doing research for something important, it's probably not the best idea to rely on the user-generated information you'll find on Wikipedia. Try Google Scholar instead and you'll be able to search only more reputable sources like medical journals, patents and legal documents.

Build With Chrome

This is a fun little joint project created by Google and LEGO. Visit the Build With Chrome website on your computer and you can use virtual LEGO pieces to build anything you can imagine. You can also explore things other people have built.

Gmail

Gmail? Huh?

Yes, just about everyone on the planet who has ever touched a computer has heard of Gmail, but not everyone uses Gmail for their own email. Now, you can use Google's terrific Gmail mobile app to enjoy many of the service's best features even if you don't have a Gmail account.

You can learn more in our earlier post on these recent updates.

Download Gmail for Android

Download Gmail for iOS

Older StoryPrevious Newer StoryNext
Source: 10 Google apps and services you had no idea you needed

App Deals: Need A Faster Burst Camera For Your Android?

Today's best deals include Fast Burst Camera for Android, Relight for iOS and Eye Trainer for Windows Phone. Deals end without warning, so be quick!

NOTE: This is a hand-picked list of apps that we think are worth checking out, but we do not endorse them in any way, nor have we reviewed them.

We separate productivity/lifestyle apps and games. Otherwise, the apps are not listed in any particular order. Some apps may require in-app purchases for extra features or levels, so check before purchasing or installing.

Android APPS

• Fast Burst Camera for $1.23 (normally $4.99)

• Point By Point Diet for $2.10 (normally $2.99)

• Couch to 5K for $2.81 (normally $4.49)

GAMES

• Stack for free (new)

• School Bus Driver 2016 for free (new)

• Castle of Illusion for $8.99 (normally $12.99)

iOS APPS

• Relight — Better Photos for $1.49 (normally $4.99)

• CLZ Comics Database for free (normally $16.49)

• Matter for free (normally $2.99)

• Money Pro for $0.99 (normally $6.99)

GAMES

• HoPiKo for free (normally $2.99)

• Totems: Game of Conquest for free (normally $4.99)

• DEATHSMILES for free (normally $14.99)

• Don't Die In Dungeons for $2.99 (normally $1.49)

Windows Phone APPS

• Eye Trainer for free (normally $1.79)

• myWeather for free (normally $1.19)

• Readia for free (normally $2.39)

GAMES

• Tower in the Sky for free (new)

• Evo Explores for $1.19 (normally $2.39)

• Sengoku Jidai for free (normally $1.19)

App Deals is a daily roundup of notable new, updated and discounted apps. Know of any other awesome deals? Are you a developer and want your app listed here? Contact us.

Have you subscribed to Gizmodo Australia's email newsletter? You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
Source: App Deals: Need A Faster Burst Camera For Your Android?

LG X Cam hands-on: This phone is all about the camera

Correlati

China deploys fighter jets to contested island in S. China Sea

Lumia 650 and 650 Dual SIM Official Specs, Hands-On Video, Price Stocks erase an early loss and manage modest gains Record-equalling Curry leads Warriors, LeBron stars for Cavs

The camera array is designed slightly differently on the rear of the X cam in comparison to the flagship G5 but the same idea applies.

It's easy to choose which camera to capture with thanks to LG's camera app, which has a simple button on screen that lets you alternate between the two. One camera is the main 13Mp snapper, while the second one sitting right beside it on the rear of the phone is 5Mp but can capture a lot more in one thanks to its wide angle, ideal for landscapes. There's no way everything can be included at a lower-price point, so in this case LG just tried to focus on the camera.

It takes a little extra oomph to quickly toggle between the two camera lenses, which is why the X Cam has an octa-core CPU and 2GB of RAM. It's technically a mid-range or even entry-level device, but LG felt that those sorts of phones should also come with some of the features found in flagships. It comes in titan silver, white, gold and pink gold. There is also a 5.2-inch Full HD display on board, but unlike the X cam's sibling - there is no secondary screen on this device.

This isn't the first time we've sen a screen just like this on an LG phone.

You'll notice that the back of the X cam sports the dual camera in a very slightly protruding portion in the centre of the phone, while the X screen has a little portion of additional touchscreen at the top, right beside the front-facing camera.

The main display is 4.93-inches with a HD resolution on the X screen, while the secondary display is 1.76-inches with a 520 x 80 pixel resolution.

The user experience as a whole is founded upon Android 6.0 Marshmallow, but as part of 2016 iteration of LG's heavily skinned user interface overlay, elements like the apps drawer have completely disappeared; a divisive design choice more often than not. It means if you want a smartphone with a dual camera, or a dual screen, you can still have that without having to spend over £500.

Recente

Bayern Monaco, Vidal ci ricasca: scappa dall'hotel alle 2 di notte

Shooting kills Colorado sheriff's deputy, wounds 2 others

Valerio Scanu a Le Iene: vi svelo le mie misure, video

Appalto per ristrutturare un asilo, indagato parroco nel Casertano

FC Midtjylland eyeing "miracle" at Manchester United

Spotify is moving its data to Google's servers

Adele dominates BRIT Awards with four wins

President Obama Approves of Plan to Close Guantanamo Bay

Source: LG X Cam hands-on: This phone is all about the camera

Lava V5 review: Could have been so much better

Indian handset maker Lava launched yet another budget smartphone V5 in India. Priced at Rs 11,499, Lava V5 is the company's latest flagship smartphone. Lava V5 comes with a 5.5-inch display, 3GB RAM, 13MP camera and quad-core processor, which are pretty standard for any other budget smartphone available in India, in this bracket.

We reviewed the device to see where it stands in the over-crowded budget smartphone market. This is our review of the Lava V5 smartphone.

Design and Display

Lava V5 is a sleek smartphone, which flaunts a 5.5-inch HD display. The smartphone features curved edges and is surrounded by a metal rim, which gives it a premium look. The front of the device (besides the large display) houses an 8MP selfie camera and an LED flash for low light photography. There are also three capacitive keys on the screen to jog through options, home and return functions. The rear panel of the handset sports a 13MP rear camera accompanied with dual LED flash and a speak er grille at the bottom. The volume rockers and power button are placed on the right side, whereas the audio 3.5mm headset jack and micro-USB port are placed at the top and bottom edges, respectively. The back cover of the device is made of plastic. This can be removed to insert the sim and microSD cards.

The Lava V5 features a 5.5-inch HD display with 1280x720 pixels resolution. The display offers decent pixel density and the colour reproduction is also sharp. The touch screen is responsive and provides good visibility under bright sunlight. The display is big enough to offer a great gaming experience to the users. Moreover, the viewing angles are also fine and you will not have any complaint about the display of the handset. The screen is also protected with a coating of Corning Gorilla Glass 3, which protects it from getting damaged.

Read alsoLava V5 smartphone's first imp ressions

Performance and Camera

TheLava V5 runs on Android 5.1 Lollipop operating system and it will also get an upgrade to Android 6.0 Marshmallow. The interface is clean and easy to use. There is an app drawer where you can place all your apps. Our software experience was quite nice and we did not face any issues.

On the hardware front, the Lava V5 is powered by a 1.3GHz quad-core MediaTek processor paired with 3GB of RAM. The internal storage of the device accounts to 16GB out of which only 11.23GB is available for the user. The storage can also be expanded up to 32GB using a microSD card. The handset also delivers lag-free performance. Over that, the large display makes the gaming experience a complete delight. Moving on to the voice and sound, the quality was fine on headphones, but not that great on loudspeakers. The call quality was good even in low signal reception area.

Skipping to the camera, the Lava V5 comes equipped with a 13MP rear camera with dual LED flash and an 8MP front snapper with LED flash for selfies. The company claims that the camera is the main USP of this smartphone, but we were not happy with its performance. The images captured using the 13MP camera during the day was pretty decent; the colour reproduction was also sharp. However, the images taken in indoor and low light conditions failed to impress us. There was too much noise and blur. The camera app is simple and it offers various modes such as HDR, GIF mode, multi-angle view and others.

Just like the rear camera, the 8MP front camera is also not great. The LED flash in the front is not of much help, and the low-light selfies are not good enough, too. There is a lot of colour saturation and one can easily see a lot of noise in the images capture d using the front shooter. The company has also incorporated some beautification features for selfies, which work fine.

The Lava V5 performs well in terms of gaming, but camera is surely not the high point of the device.

Verdict

The Lava V5 4G comes with a price tag of Rs 11,499. The device offers a 5.5-inch HD display and runs on Android 5.1 (upgradable to 6.0 Marshmallow). As far as the performance is concerned the handset is pretty decent. However, it has a major setback in terms of camera, which is a little disappointing.

Those looking for alternatives can consider going for the recently launched Coolpad Note 3 Lite, which costs Rs 6,999 and is an excellent performer. The smartphone features a 5-inch display and is also powered by a quad-core processor. Coolpad Note 3 Lite also has a 13MP rear camera that delivers good shots.

Source: Lava V5 review: Could have been so much better

Best app deals of the day! 10 paid iPhone apps on sale for a limited time

Everyone likes free apps, but sometimes the best ones are a bit expensive. Now and then, developers put paid apps on sale for a limited time, but you have to snatch them up while you have the chance. Here are the latest and greatest apps on sale in the iOS App Store.

These apps normally cost money and this sale lasts for a limited time only. If you go to the App Store and it says the app costs money, that means the deal has expired and you will be charged. 

Related: 200 Awesome iPhone Apps | The best Android apps for almost any occassion

Source Code Camera

View gallery

.

Turn your photos into Source Code style pics with real-time Matrix effects.

Available on:

iOS

Magnetic Ball

View gallery

.

All you have to do in this game is match three or more balls of the same color.

Available on:

iOS

QScanner Pro

View gallery

.

Turn your smartphone into a scanner that can create PDFs or photos of your documents, books, receipts, and more.

Available on:

iOS

iCal Widget

View gallery

.

Why unlock your phone just to see your calendar events? With this new app, you'll have a day-long or week-long timeline view to see all your iPhone calendar events from the notification center.

Available on:

iOS

Element Mash

View gallery

.

You have to save Earth from an asteroid field in this exciting game — build a shield containing five layers using energy from the elements of earth, fire, wind, water, and yes, life itself.

Available on:

iOS

My Nearest Places

View gallery

.

Need to know more about your surroundings? Check out My Nearest Places, which identifies your current position and lets you choose the nearest gas station, bank, hospital, and more.

Available on:

iOS

Recorder MINI

View gallery

.

Simply put, one of the most user-friendly and powerful recorders on the App Store.

Available on:

iOS

Instant Cocktail

View gallery

.

Turn yourself into everyone's favorite party guest with this app of over 6,000 cocktail and drink recipes.

Available on:

iOS

PicMe

View gallery

.

This simple, easy-to-use photo editor is the most straightforward interface out there. No ads or in-app purchases make PicMe the easy pick.

Available on:

iOS

ayball

View gallery

.

Challenge your friends to a game of ayball on the Game Center, and just don't let the ball escape.

Available on:

iOS

Also watch: Chase the Best Actor Oscar as a 16-Bit Leonardo DiCaprio Please enable Javascript to watch this video

Daily iOS app deals: Get these 8 paid apps for free now

These attractive apps are currently on sale in the iOS App Store

Best app deals of the day! 8 paid iPhone apps on sale for a limited time

Information Technology

Technology & Electronics

iOS App Store

Android apps

Source: Best app deals of the day! 10 paid iPhone apps on sale for a limited time

LG G5 camera module demonstration

The LG G5 has been causing quite the stir in the Android world so far, and it's only been official for about a day now. LG decided to try something new with this year's flagship and include the ability to swap out different hardware modules, opening up a big world of possibilities as to what this device can accomplish.

Related: LG G5 feature focus: modules and peripherals27

One of the first modules, or 'Friends', that LG is making available for the handset is the LG CAM Plus, which gives users the ability to add finer controls to the G5's existing camera functionality. On top of that, it provides some additional grip and some extra battery power. We've already talked in great length about the G5's camera in our hands-on and camera feature focus videos, so you should check those out if you want more info on the camera itself. Today we're going to talk about how to remove and replace modules on the G5, and how to use the LG CAM Plus.

First, you'll need to make sure the device is turned off. Once that's done, locate the small button on the lower left of the device's edge to disengage the locking mechanism. You'll then be able to pull off the bottom of the G5's body, and the battery should come with it. Once you pop the battery off of the base, snap it onto the CAM Plus module. You can then attach the CAM Plus to the G5's body. Once you hear a snap, you should be all ready to boot up your device.

The CAM Plus module adds an extra 1200mAh to the G5's 2800mAh battery for a total of 4000mAh. The module is also pretty grippy which makes it very easy to hold.

On the CAM Plus module, you'll find a physical shutter button, a dedicated video button, a dial for zooming in and out, as well as an LED light and a power switch. When your device is powered back on, simply press the power switch on the module and you'll be launched right into the camera app. To take a picture, you can press the physical shutter button down halfway to focus on your subject, then press it all the way down to take the photo.

All in all, this is a cool idea. We're really excited to see what modules will be made available in the future. Plus, LG is opening up the module design to third-party manufacturers, so we'll definitely see a lot more add-ons for the G5 in the next few months.

Alright, now that you've seen it in action, are you a fan of the LG G5's modular design, or do you think it still has a way to go before it's worth trying? Let us know what you think in the comments!

Check out more LG G5 coverage from MWC 2016:

Source: LG G5 camera module demonstration

'Siri Is Stupid': Cyanogen CEO Says Mods Will Finally Make Smartphones Smart With Supercharged Apps

BARCELONA, Spain – Ask Apple's digital assistant Siri to take a selfie and it may open the camera app, but the iPhone's rear camera will be shown and you still have to press the shutter button yourself. Do the same with a smartphone running Cyanogen's latest software and the whole operation will be done automatically. This is a snapshot of how Kirt McMaster and his team are hoping to revolutionize how smartphones work, by making apps and services integrate in a way which isn't possible with software today.

"Siri is stupid" McMaster tells International Business Times in a meeting room off one of the vast halls in Barcelona's Fira Gran Via, which is hosting Mobile World Congress this week. Cyanogen, a Silicon Valley startup that is attracting a lot of interest, has launched its latest innovation called Mod, which McMaster describes as a way of supercharging smartphone apps.

"iOS and Android are fundamentally the same thing," McMaster says. "The value comes from ecosystems and the new kinds of services and this is what we want to enable with Mod."

The example shown to IBT is how Cortana, Microsoft's answer to Siri, can be integrated into the phone's camera app to allow that selfie to be taken using just your voice. Another example shown is adding Skype directly into the phone's dialer app, allowing you make Skype calls without having to open a different app. "I could be talking to my girlfriend on the phone, we both hit a Wi-Fi hotspot and move seamlessly into a video call," McMaster says.

Cyanogen, which to date has raised $80 million in funding from the likes of Microsoft, Tencent, Andreessen Horowitz and Qualcomm, is an enhanced version of Android, offering all the normal Google services like Maps, search and access to the Play Store but with additional features not available from Google's version of the software.

It has around 50 million users globally, including those who bought phones with the software pre-installed and those who updated their Android devices with the software. At Mobile World Congress two more smartphone makers announced devices running Cyanogen, John Sculley's Obi Worldphone and Indian manufacturer Intex.

McMaster says there are many more to come in 2016 and has previously indicated it would be launching "big devices that are going to be iPhone and Galaxy-slayers" this year. The new mod program has been met enthusiastically by developers, according to Cyanogen's head of engineering Stephen Lawler, because it will help drive discovery of their apps as well as potential new revenue streams.

"Think of something like Uber or Lyft as an engine, a transportation API, what that could mean to other apps and services, it opens up new worlds of revenue and services for those companies," McMaster said. One of the core partnerships for Cyanogen to date has been with Microsoft and as IBT exclusively revealed last year, it has deeply integrated Cortana into the operating system, making it a powerful tool to attract both developers and customers.

With growth in the smartphone market slowing dramatically and innovation in terms of design and hardware slowing to a crawl, Cyanogen could present a way for manufacturers to differentiate themselves from the competition.

One of the ways manufacturers could do this is by creating region-specific versions of Cyanogen which integrate mods of services popular in those areas. For example, it could include Spotify, Sky and Hailo in the UK; Pandora, HBO Go and Uber in the U.S.; and Hungama, Hooq and Ola in India. "We would optimize for that local eco-system, we would create an eco-system of mods," McMaster said.

The Cortana Mod will allow users take advantage of the natural language processing of Microsoft's digital assistant in other apps. Photo: Cyanogen

A developer program and a "mod shop" will launch later in the year, with Cyanogen itself curating the mods.

Mod, which is the first phase of Cyanogen's plan to revolutionize the smartphone market, will be used as the mass consumer-facing brand instead of Cyanogen and McMaster hints that in time, Cyanogen could be removed from the equation entirely.

"There may be a point in the future where the mod platform is not dependent on Cyanogen OS, it could be injected into any version of Android so that opens up the opportunity even more significantly." He would not expand on this but it could see manufacturers offer the mods as an extra feature on its smartphones without having to pre-install Cyanogen.

Source: 'Siri Is Stupid': Cyanogen CEO Says Mods Will Finally Make Smartphones Smart With Supercharged Apps

This is how Microsoft is integrating its Android apps into Cyanogen OS

These mods will be rolled out next month on devices running Cyanogen OS 13 and above. The new platform - dubbed Cyaonogen MOD - will enable deeper integration into the mobile operating system of apps and services that were previously isolated. Third-party apps will be able to take advantage of Cyanogen APIs.

Microsoft and Cyanogen have been quite chummy as of late, with the Redmond giant partnering to bring their apps and services on Cyanogen OS phones. The Cortana mod is particularly interesting, since it allows users to call out to Cortana and do more than the version available on the standard Google Android.

Recently, Cyanogen has expanded its efforts to distinguish its own branch of Android, leading to many spectators claiming it is trying to steal it away from Google. The company's partnership with Microsoft has resulted in the introduction of a Skype mod that can be integrated into the phone's native dialler for VoIP calling functionality. With mods , barriers to deeper integration are removed and developers can now unleash the full potential of their applications across the OS. Other Microsoft products, including OneNote, are already ripe for inclusion. The PDK will consisit of all the necessary important components one needs to launch a device that is MOD-enabled.

As AndroidPolice.com (where I first saw mention of Cyanogen's MWC announcement) notes, today's Cyanogen MOD program has nothing to do with the CyanogenMod Custom ROM. The evolution to MOD is the next chapter in this journey, enabling our customers to choose the services they love and have them natively integrated on the device. From its inception, CyanogenMod, as it's still known in in its open source version, started with the goal of building a better Android without compromising performance by adding bloatware or ugly skins. There are also True caller and social lockscreen mods available from Cyannogen's other partners. The Hyperlapse Mod will be built in to the native camera app. It will allow you take fast action videos and also let you edit them by altering the speed, save and share on social media. The MOD program sounds similar to the "Scopes" concept of Ubuntu Phone as both systems seek to blur the distinction between "system" and "app" to achieve the universal aim of letting users do more with their phone. Cyanogen is reimagining mobile computing, giving power to the people to customize their mobile device and content experiences.

Cyanogen's branding of this feature is rather confusing. For more information, visit Cyanogen's website, MOD website, Google+, Twitter, and Facebook.

 

German Shorthaired Pointer wins Best in Show at WestminsterAnd if there's anything more calming than the sight of a dog sleeping like, well, a dog, I'd like to hear about it. We always say he's an old soul. "From the moment he was born, he walked across the room and we thought: 'Oh, boy".

Source: This is how Microsoft is integrating its Android apps into Cyanogen OS

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2.0 introduces RAW shooting in-app and more

Samsung's Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge smartphones create global buzzSamsung The Galaxy S7 edge and Samsung Galaxy S7 are water resistant, have an expandable memory and an improved camera . Also, you can use your Galaxy device to edit some previous clips to develop some interesting and meaningful VR content.2/22/2016

Spurs 0-1 Crystal Palace - 6 Things We LearnedHe said: "The draw hasn't been kind to us". "Then you understand this competition and the romance of it". We broke well and the second half, if I'm honest, I was surprised that we handled that so well.2/22/2016

Chelsea thrashes Man City 5-1 to reach FA Cup quarterfinalsDespite Pellegrini's pre-match words, Fabregas said the opposition team-sheet still raised eyebrows in the Chelsea dressing room. Palace's reward was a quarter-final away to second-tier Reading, a club once managed by Eagles boss Alan Pardew.2/22/2016

Leafs continue dealing present for futureThe third-year pro has totaled 33 goals and 66 assists for 99 points in 183 career AHL contests with San Antonio and Lake Erie. The Toronto Maple Leafs found a taker for a forward with modest production, and picked up a few assets in the process.2/22/2016

Virtual reality rules ahead of Mobile World CongressThe images will also be available to view on the LG 360 VR or other smartphones or devices that are capable of 360-degree content. Also on the rear of the phone are two cameras; one standard lens and one 135-degree wide angle lens.2/22/2016

Bubba leads, Dustin and Rory in huntAsked about parallels between his two favorite pastimes, he smiled and said facetiously, "It's wonderful how similar they are". Even with Jordan Spieth missing the cut, there is plenty of star power - and simply power - lined up behind Kokrak.2/22/2016

Reigns punches ticket to WrestlemaniaThe League of Nations were in action and AJ Styles awaited Chris Jericho's response to his challenge for a match at Fastlane . For weeks, the two men went back and forth in promos and tag matches before finally squaring off one-on-one on SmackDown.2/22/2016

Arturo Vidal Says he Rejected Man United to Join BayernThe teams last met in the quarter-finals of the same competition three seasons ago, when Bayern won both legs 2-0. This should be a great game but this is only good bet so I will make a medium sized bet here it should happen.2/22/2016

Protests that led to caste violence in north India near endThe Delhi government has ensured supply of water through tankers to those areas, where water couldn't be supplied through pipes. They have also been blocking national highways and railway lines linking Delhi to the cities of Jaipur and Chandigarh .2/22/2016

China's Li Ling Breaks Asian Record in Pole VaultChina's Li Ling cleared 4.70 meters for an Asian record in the women's pole vault at the Asian Indoor Championships on Friday. Sugandha Kumari brought the third medal for India as she won a bronze in women's 1500m with a time of 4:29.06.2/22/2016

Security is tight at Camille Cosby's depositionCorrection: A previous version of this story reported that a judge delayed Camille Cosby's deposition; but that was incorrect. Cosby's defense said the decision failed to consider the impact of the February 11 ruling, calling it "clearly erroneous".2/22/2016

Ryan Reynolds spoofs Kanye WestWell, it doesn't seem like that is happening, mostly because Deadpool himself doesn't want for him to. "Listen up Lorne Michaels , SNL took my fucking Life of Pablo album without asking".2/22/2016

Trail Blazers' Damian Lillard: Hits for 30 in Sunday's winThe Blazers also obtained Anderson Varejao from Cleveland as part of a three-team deal but promptly waived the veteran center. Stephen Curry scored 31 points despite not playing the fourth quarter for the Warriors , who saw an 11-game win streak ended.2/22/2016

Cruz '92 places in South Carolina Republican primary, Bush drops presidential candidacyHis defeat in SC could have longer term implications for his campaign. "It's handsome - when you win it's attractive ". Now the Republican candidates will go to Nevada and the Democrats head to SC .2/22/2016

" "Donald Trump, "...meet with the Pope anytime he wants".When asked if American Catholics should vote for Trump, the pope did not want to get involved. But, like most popes throughout history, Francis is also a political leader.2/22/2016

Source: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2.0 introduces RAW shooting in-app and more

MWC 2016: Samsung Gear 360 camera, backed by Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg, reinvents the selfie

Video will begin in 5 seconds.

More video Recommended

Samsung Galaxy S7 features revealed

Huawei unveils hybrid MateBook

Features of Samsung's next phone revealed

Dancing with a robot

Help wanted for Google's car project

Replay video Samsung Galaxy S7 features revealed

Mark Zuckerberg touts the virtual reality capabilities of the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, while other features are revealed in Barcelona such as extra fast focus and being waterproof.

PT1M19S 620 349

In 2015, many tech companies unveiled affordable, consumer-grade virtual reality headsets for the first time.

Now 2016 is shaping up to be the year that virtual reality fans will become content creators, as more affordable 360 degree cameras come onto the market.

Samsung is not the first in the game, and its Gear 360 – freshly unveiled at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona – is not the most sophisticated camera either (a Samsung executive admitted it produces "sub HD" footage).

A Samsung Gear 360 camera watches an employee watching himself in VR. Photo: Bloomberg

But Samsung may just have the brand power and sheer economy of scale to get consumers hooked on the concept. Not to mention it also has Mark Zuckerberg.

Advertisement

Facebooking with your face

The Facebook co-founder himself made a surprise guest appearance at Samsung's Unpacked launch event, prompting hysterical audience members to flock to the stage for a quick photograph.

Samsung's Gear VR headset alongside the newly-unveiled Gear 360 camera. Photo: Hannah Francis

The irony was palpable as Zuckerberg, slightly off-put by the onslaught, outlined his vision for the future of selfies: it will be delivered in 360 degree video.

Anyone who owns one of these next generation cameras (there are many brands entering the space, not just Samsung), he mused, now has the tools to make their own VR content, and share it with friends and family with the click of a button. In Barcelona and want to send a virtual postcard? Now it's possible.

The Samsung partnership is not surprising: Facebook owns Oculus Rift, the virtual reality company whose technology powers Samsung's Gear VR, its smartphone-enabled version of a virtual reality headset.

Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg makes a surprise appearance onstage, taking over from Samsung's president of mobile communications Koh Dong Jin. Photo: Bloomberg

To have the Facebook king declare Samsung the maker of "the best mobile technology", however, would have been a major blow to the Korean company's competitors.

The Gear 360 itself is an unassuming little thing: a white sphere of around 5 centimetres in diameter, with two googly eyes on either side and three rounded black legs which serve either as a stand or, when pushed together, a handle.

Cute it may be but the Gear 360 sees all — it records video or still photographs 360 degrees all around, which then can be played back in a 360 degree video player such as YouTube 360, or indeed on Facebook.

When viewed through a virtual reality headset, however, the experience becomes much more immersive.

Sharing VR experiences

The Gear 360 connects to your phone via Bluetooth and an app transforms it into a viewfinder and production studio. From the phone you can adjust settings such as white balance, and view what the camera is capturing in real time — scrolling all around the picture as you do. It's quite spooky.

Once recording is complete, the Gear 360 sends the file back to your smartphone and the app stitches it together into a 360 video or still. This will take about 50 per cent longer than the length of the footage.

Once it's rendered you can easily share your 360 video or still via the regular channels — such as email, YouTube and Facebook.

It's unclear at this stage whether the app will be compatible with anything other than newer models of Samsung's Galaxy smartphone at launch, but with Samsung announcing it will give away free Gear VR headsets with any pre-orders of its new Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge smartphones, there's a lot of incentive to get consumers hooked on its ecosystem.

In a few short years one can imagine 360 camera devices like this one improving exponentially, with "prosumers" able to create ultra-high definition 3D virtual reality content at the click of a button.

There are other more sophisticated cameras already on their way, like Nikon's Ultra 4K KeyMission 360, and the Vuze 3D camera, which is promised to sell for under $US1000 when it's released (pre-orders are due next month).

LG also unveiled its first 360 camera device, compatible with the new flagship G5 smartphone, at MWC.

But when it comes to consumer uptake, brands know that getting consumers hooked on their ecosystem is key, and it may be Samsung's overwhelming reach and sheer economy of scale that kickstart this product category in coming months.

Gear 360 specs

Price/availability: TBA/Q2 2016

Camera: 2 x 15MP fish-eye lenses

Size: 66.7mm x 56.2mm x 60mm

Weight: 153g (including battery)

Connectivity: Bluetooth, USB 2.0 port, Wi-Fi, NFC

Storage: MicroSD slot up to 128GB

Battery: 1350mAh

The writer travelled to Barcelona as a guest of Samsung Australia.

MORE FROM MWC:

Follow Digital Life on Twitter

Source: MWC 2016: Samsung Gear 360 camera, backed by Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg, reinvents the selfie

Camera boost, virtual reality in new Samsung, LG gadgets

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — To revive interest in smartphones, Samsung and LG are improving their cameras and embracing the nascent world of virtual reality.

Samsung's new flagship phones — the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge — promise better photos under low-light conditions, in part with sensors that capture more light. The main camera on LG's upcoming G5 smartphone will have two lenses — one for standard shots, and another with a wider angle so you can capture more of what's in front of you without having to step back.

Both companies will also release several camera-related accessories. Samsung, which unveiled a virtual-reality device for consumers last fall, will now make a 360-degree camera for everyday folks to capture and share VR images. The company will also make smartphone cases with a hole to screw in special lenses, such as wide angle and fisheye views.

LG will have its own VR headset — a lighter version of Samsung's Gear VR — as well as a smartphone attachment that functions as a camera grip with physical buttons to take shots and control video recording. (Incidentally, the attachment is part of LG's new modular approach to design; you'll be able to pop out the phone's bottom and swap in new hardware features.)

The announcements Sunday at the Mobile World Congress wireless show in Barcelona, Spain, come as worldwide smartphone growth has slowed, particularly for high-end devices such as Samsung's S and LG's G series. Many consumers have turned to lower-cost Android devices that sport features considered top of the line just a few years ago.

Frank Lee, a spokesman with LG's U.S. mobile business, said phone launches no longer generate the excitement they used to, so "it's our responsibility to bring some energy."

Phone makers used to guarantee upgrades by making phones bigger and bigger — but phones can't get much bigger for one-handed use. In fact, the new LG phone is shrinking to 5.3 inches, from 5.5 inches last year. Samsung's Edge is getting bigger, at 5.5 inches, but because the sides curve like a waterfall, the phone won't be much wider. The main S7 model is staying constant at 5.1 inches.

With size out of the equation, phone makers have to innovate elsewhere.

That's been crucial for Samsung, in particular, as its chief rival, Apple, largely matched Samsung on size, while boosting the iPhone camera's resolution to 12 megapixels from 8. The iPhone has also gotten better at low-light shots, even surpassing some stand-alone, point-and-shoot cameras in performance.

Realizing that the megapixel count alone doesn't necessarily translate to quality images, Samsung is reducing resolution in the new phones to 12 megapixels from 18. That allows individual pixels on the sensors to be larger, thus capturing more light. The new cameras also allow the camera's aperture to open wider, letting in more light. Together, the shutter needs to stay open for a shorter time, reducing the blurring that sometimes mars indoor and night shots.

Samsung also says its new phones will have a faster focus, which it says will improve performance at low light.

And for the selfie camera, Samsung is turning the screen into a flash, similar to what Apple introduced last fall.

Samsung is restoring the ability to add storage, but the battery won't be replaceable by users, something Samsung had allowed before last year. Instead, Samsung is increasing the battery capacity in both models, though the Edge's larger screen and other new features in both models, including an always-on mode, will sip away power.

The new phones will start shipping March 11, with advance orders to begin this week. In some markets, including the U.S., Samsung is including a Gear VR headset for free to those who order ahead of time. Prices will vary by carrier, but are expected to be in line with last year's models — about $600 for the regular version, and $700 for the Edge.

In a few months, Samsung will start selling its Gear 360 camera, a device with front and back lenses to stitch together 360-degree videos for VR devices and apps. Samsung phones will come with apps for viewing those videos on the Gear VR and sharing them with friends.

VR is still in its early days, with much of the interest coming from hard-core gamers and tech pioneers. Samsung wants to make it easier for everyday people to create VR videos — so that friends will buy VR headsets to view them.

LG, meanwhile, designed the LG 360 VR headset to work with an LG smartphone that's attached by a cable. With Samsung's VR device, the smartphone is inserted at eye level and becomes the headset's display, increasing the weight on the head. LG's version still uses the smartphone to process the images, but instead of displaying them on the phone screen, images get sent to separate, lighter displays in the headset's eyepieces. LG is also making a 360-degree camera similar to Samsung's, along with a spherical robot camera that resembles the BB-8 droid in the new "Star Wars" movie.

Prices and release dates for the LG phone and accessories from both companies have yet to be announced, though the LG phone is expected in the U.S. in April.

Neither VR system will be as powerful as full-fledged VR devices coming this year. That includes the Oculus Rift, Sony's PlayStation VR and HTC's Vive. HTC said Sunday that a consumer version of the Vive will start selling in early April for $799, with ordering to begin Feb. 29. A personal computer is required and sold separately.

VR isn't limited to high-end devices, though. On Saturday, Alcatel announced a mid-range Idol 4S — with packaging that can be folded into VR headset. It's similar to what Google is doing with a low-cost VR headset made of cardboard.

___

AP Technology Writer Anick Jesdanun reported from New York.

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Photos You must be logged in to post a comment.login here

Showing of 0 comments

Source: Camera boost, virtual reality in new Samsung, LG gadgets

How to Make the Right Choice in Buying a Camera Smartphone?

Smartphones have begun replacing the traditional feature cell phones at a rapid rate. In addition to the mass of functions the former provide, they have some features of the ordinary handsets with extra functionalities. The camera is one such feature. Even as most feature phones allow you to just click a shot, the camera in the smartphone not only takes photographs, but also shoots videos. Irrespective of the operating system on the smartphone, you will often find a horde of apps in the app store to help you have a memorable experience when you use the device. While a few smartphones are exclusively noted for the performance of their primary and rear snappers, most of them have reasonably good cameras. It may be interesting to know that there are smartphones that are largely noted for the key functionality of their cameras. The Asus Zenfone Selfie is noted for the excellent selfies it produces. As a smartphone user passionate about getting the maximum out of your camera, the list below has a few attributes checking out.

In addition to the mass of functions the former provide, they have some features of the ordinary handsets with extra functionalities. The camera is one such feature. Even as most feature phones allow you to just click a shot, the camera in the smartphone not only takes photographs, but also shoots videos. Irrespective of the operating system on the smartphone, you will often find a horde of apps in the app store to help you have a memorable experience when you use the device. While a few smartphones are exclusively noted for the performance of their primary and rear snappers, most of them have reasonably good cameras. It may be interesting to know that there are smartphones that are largely noted for the key functionality of their cameras. The Asus Zenfone Selfie is noted for the excellent selfies it produces. As a smartphone user passionate about getting the maximum out of your camera, the list below has a few attributes checking out.

ISO

Well, all of us have heard of this term when it comes to auditing. The ISO in camera parlance has no connection with this. Here, ISO is used to determine the level of your camera's sensitivity to light. The bigger the number, the more light sensitive your camera is prone to be. As a result, a lot of noise gets integrated with the shots you take. This results in grainy output with clarity at stake. Some smartphones offer the ISO control functionality to adjust this value for optimum performance. The end line is to buy a camera with the ISO value as low as possible.

Aperture 

The first thing that you recall when you hear the word aperture is the camera lens. If you have a full-sized camera, then you can change the aperture size. This in turn determines the sensor's light sensitivity. In other words, the aperture size and ISO value are inversely proportional to each other. If your camera has a large aperture, then the ISO value is low and vice versa. So, to get your camera to do a decent job, check out if your smartphone's lens has a wide aperture.

Image Processor

Not all handsets come loaded with an image processor. But, if yours has one, then all that we can say is 'good for you'. Also known as a digital signal processor, this little thing can boost your camera's efficiency and performance to a great extent. Whether you are looking for a way to reduce noise or tone adjustment or auto focusing or tone adjustment, this chip can take care of things and enrich your photo quality. Yet at times, the brightness level does not reach the desired expectations and affect the image quality drastically. Your best bet is the Xenon flash that offers maximum brightness. But if you are planning to use this flash, remember that you are doing so at the cost of draining the juice out of your battery. This is why you will seldom find this flash on any of the popular smartphones in today's market.

Optical Zoom

Since incorporating this feature in your camera can have a direct bearing on the overall size of the smartphone, not all manufacturers readily integrate the optical zoom functionality in their gadgets. With this feature, you can zoom in to focus on the object of interest and take a close up shot without having to worry about putting the image quality at stake.

Flash

Without a second thought, flash has become an indispensable part of the camera. Most smartphone cameras have an LED flash, whilst there are cameras that prefer opting for a dual tone dual LED flash. The other two flash types less talked about are the Xenon flash and the Photo Flash. As the name suggests, the Photo Flash works only for photographs, and is used to light up the background when you take a photo. However, the illumination lasts for a very brief time period. LED flash is a good choice if you are shooting videos.

Finally, here is a point worth bearing in mind. While higher megapixels usually contribute to better quality photos and videos, this need not always prove to be the case. And of course, we wish you happy photo and video shooting with your smartphone camera.

Source: How to Make the Right Choice in Buying a Camera Smartphone?

Huawei Honor 5X review: Worth considering for the budget buyer

Huawei launched the Honor brand in 2014 in India and it has tasted a fair bit of success if the sales numbers of its phones are any indication to go by. This year Honor released the 5X in India, a couple of months after the China launch of the same product. The Honor 5X will replace the Honor 4X, which was launched last year and was among the top sellers for Huawei. So let us see if the Honor 5X has what it takes to be a chart-buster.

Build and Design: 7.5/10

The Honor 5X makes use of a metal body in construction, and unlike the Honor 4X, it does not have a removable back. It comes in the Sunset gold, Dark grey and Daybreak Silver colour variants of which we got the golden coloured model for testing. There is an elegant brush metal finish on the rear side with some chamfering around the rounded edges. There is a slightly raised chrome lining around the edges when seen from the front, which gives added smoothness.

On the rear side you have the 13MP camera section which protrudes out from the plane of the body. To the left of the camera you have the dual tone LED flash unit. Below the camera you have the rounded square shaped finger print scanner. Honor branding graces the base of the rear side. On the top and bottom edges on the rear side, you have textured plastic parts.

Coming to the edges, you have the SIM card and microSD card slots on the top left hand edge. On the base you have the microUSB charging port in the centre, surrounded by speaker grille openings of which only the right side is the speaker section. The right hand edge has the volume rocker and power standby button. The front has the 5.5-inch display with significantly thick top and bottom bezels.

While the in hand feel of the phone is certainly better than the plasticky Honor 4X, the phone is slippery thanks to the polished metal back. We would have certainly liked less thicker bezels on the top and base. 

Features: 7.5/10

Honor 5X comes with a 5.5-inch full HD IPS display, with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection. The phone houses Qualcomm's Snapdragon 616 system on chip which houses an octa-core processor clocked at 1.5GHz along with Adreno 405 GPU. It is paired with 2GB of RAM and comes with 16GB of onboard storage of which you get access to 10.51GB. You can expand the storage to 128GB using a microSD card slot. Thankfully, the Honor 5X uses a triple slot design which means you can use two SIM card and a microSD card and do not have to sacrifice one for the other. However only of the SIM slots takes in 4G cards.

The phone runs on Android 5.1.1 along with Emotion UI 3.1 skin atop it. On the camera front, you get a 13MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera. You have the regular set of connectivity options such as dual SIM (non-hybrid), Wi-fi 802.11n, Bluetooth 4.1, FM radio, GPS with A-GPS and GLONASS and sensors such as accelerometer, proximity, compass and fingerprint sensor. The fingerprint sensor can be used to unlock the phone, click photographs, answer calls and more. The phone has 3000 mAh battery and it supports the SmartPower 3.0 technology.

Display: 7/10

The Honor 5X comes with a 5.5-inch full HD display with an IPS LCD panel which gives the phone good viewing angles. Due to the thick bezels on the top and base, you have a body to screen ratio coming to around 70% which isn't much and that means one handed use isn't convenient. The phone comes with scratch resistant Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection.

The display is sharp and has a slight bluish tinge to it. We did not notice any pixillation on the text or the app icons. Colours appear natural with respectable black levels. The display controls the reflections quite well with the lamination stuck onto the display. But it is a fingerprint and smudge magnet. Removing that takes care of the smudges, but reflectivity increases. The auto brightness settings isn't that impressive while shooting but when previewing photos, we noticed that the display levels changed dynamically based on the ambient lighting. Something similar to what we have seen with Xiaomi's Mi4i adaptive display.

Software: 7/10

The Honor 5X comes with Android 5.1.1 along with the Emotion UI 3.1 skin atop it. In terms of overall look and feel, the user interface is quite reminiscent of the one we saw with the Honor 6 Plus and Honor 4X. So touches such as the changing wallpapers on every wake up gesture, timeline of recent notifications and sliding left to get to shortcuts has been carried forth.

The Honor 5X comes with a lot of pre-installed apps such as WPS Office, UC browser, InMobi services, Apps Gallery, honor Club, Hi Honor (which takes you to the site), Clean Master among others. You can thankfully uninstall unwanted third-party apps, but system apps such as magnifier, weather cannot be uninstalled.

The HiCare app lets you connect with Honor service centre through an app, which gives you a list of service centres; gives you an option to directly give feeback via mail; call their service hotline as well as visit forums on Facebook. Phone Manager lets you scan your device, clean memory, adjust traffic management, change power saving modes and more. You also get notifications everytime an app is consuming lot of power, letting you close the app from the notification itself. These are little things, but add value to the overall user experience.

Performance: 7.5/10

Huawei is a well known name in the telecom infrastructure department. So when it comes to call quality, you get an excellent performance. The voice was loud and crisp and the phone was also able to hold calls inside elevators which is a definite plus point. Earpiece speaker is loud enough and we did not hear any distortion even at high volume levels.

The Emotion UI 3.1 skin atop the Android 5.1.1 runs generally smooth, but there were some instances where we felt that the phone should have been more speedier. This is particularly evident when it comes to switching apps – there was a noticeable delay between the firing the multi-tasking menu and switching to another app. Swiping through the home screens is quick, but opening folders was slightly laggy in the first couple of instances. Once you enter an app there isn't any issue as such. Hopefully Honor will release future updates to check this lag issue.

We played Asphalt 8: Airborne on the Honor 5X and there was barely any lag in the medium settings. There was no option to switch to the High settings. The phone does get warm on the rear side, but not problematically so. We did not notice the phone heating up while doing regular operations. So the phone manages the heat well.

Audio out on the phone is loud if you are listening to the phone is a single room. There was no noticeable distortion at high volume levels. But it is most responsive in the mid frequency range. 

Fingerprint scanner can take in around 5 fingerprints and takes a couple of minutes to setup. The unlocking was quick with the fingerprint scanner. We even tried unlocking with mildly oily fingers and it worked fine.

Camera: 7/10

The Honor 5X comes with a 13MP rear camera with the Sony IMX214 sensor and is complemented by a 5MP front facing camera. The phone comes with an f/2.0 aperture on the rear camera and f/2.4 on the front camera.

The camera app on the Honor 5X comes with some additional features. For starters, you now have a Good Food and Time Lapse mode which are present along side the Beauty, Photo and Video modes. You can quickly toggle between the five modes. The front camera retains the Beauty, Photo, Video and Time Lapse modes. Hitting that toast notification icon on the the right hand corner brings up more settings menu. In the photo mode you can turn on the HDR mode, Panorama, Best Photo, Slo-mo and other modes. For selfie enthusiasts, there is a Perfect Selfie mode where in the camera app helps you in composing the selfie shot and then doing post processing work on it.

Note: Images have been resized below. To see the high resolution images please click on the images. Alternatively, you can also check out the Huawei Honor 5X album on Flickr

Image quality is quite good for daylight photographs. There was ample detail in most of the daylight photographs. Purple fringing is well controlled but barrel distortion is noticeable. Focussing speeds are quite good in daylight. Also the HDR mode works well without overexposing bright areas. 

While shooting indoors, you can see that the sharpness reduces and at 100 percent viewing, noise is prominently visible. The low light photographs were quite mediocre though as there was a severe loss of detail. Even focussing speed isn't that good.

Battery Life: 7/10

The Honor 5X comes with 3000 mAh battery which is non-removable. The UI keeps giving you prompts if any app is consuming a lot of power in the background, which you can promptly close form the notification itself. The phone supports SmartPower 3.0 which is a variation of the ultra power saving modes that we have seen on other phones, which elongates the battery life in emergency situations, at the cost of shutting down some apps and services.

In our everyday usage scenario which involved two email accounts on sync, messaging, calling, video and audio streaming and little bit of gaming, we could easily get around 9-10 hours of battery life. Honor did not provide us with the charger, so we cannot say how fast the charging is on this phone. In the PC Mark for Android test, we got around 8 hours and 34 minutes.

Verdict and Price in India

The Huawei Honor 5X is priced at Rs 12,999 which puts it in a very fierce price bracket, where competition is quite high. But the Honor 5X manages to hold its own with its overall performance. Sure, it is not a perfect phone and comes with its flaws such as slow user interface in certain use case scenarios, poor low light photography being things that stand out. But the phone also offers goodies in terms of a decent battery life, thoughtful proprietary apps, good call quality, lovely build and so on. The triple slot card arrangement is a good touch as it lets you use both the SIM card slots as well as add on a microSD card.

The Honor 5X is not meant for those who are looking at a clean OS, for them the Moto G Turbo is the best option at Rs 12,499. The LeEco Le 1s at Rs 10,999 is another competitor but we had faced call quality issues with that phone, which is non-existent in the Honor 5X. We have to yet review the Lenovo K4 Note which is also Rs 1,000 less. So wait for that review if you want to know which one offers a better value proposition. 

Tags: Honor 5X battery life, Honor 5X camera, Honor 5X features, Honor 5X India price, Huawei Honor 5X, Huawei Honor 5X India price, Huawei Honor 5X review

Source: Huawei Honor 5X review: Worth considering for the budget buyer