Android | Gear Diary

Get Your Samsung Galaxy Note Edge on November 14th!

One of the coolest new devices I saw while at IFA was undoubtedly the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge. It had a beveled edge on the right side of the main screen which displayed received messages, email, calendar, and other notifications. The Note Edge takes the best qualities of the new Galaxy Note 4, but adds an extra wow feature! The beveled screen will display scrollable messages, “extending the screen with room to do and see more. The Samsung Galaxy Note Edge screen gives access to email, Internet, apps, notifications, news and more without interrupting the content on the main screen.” Users will be able to…

Editorials

NFC, Apple Pay, CurrentC, and Smartphone Competition

Apple Pay rolled out last week, and it’s already hitting some roadblocks as some retailers are blocking or not supporting it. This isn’t because they hate iPhones, it’s because they have a competing product — CurrentC — waiting. A few years ago, companies wouldn’t have dreamed of blocking a new Apple product, but competition has made it easier to say no.

Editorials

Google Announces Nexus 6 – Too Big? Too Expensive?

Google today announced their widely anticipated Nexus 6 Android flagship smartphone. They unveiled two additional devices – one a Nexus 9 – a 8.9″ IPS screened tablet sporting 8MP rear camera, 1.6MP front camera. The other a Nexus Player featuring apps, games and more for your TV. Both the tablet and smartphone will run the latest version of Android 5.0 – now known as Lollipop.

Gear Bits

Roku Rolls Out Screen Mirroring for Android Devices

We love our Roku and use it constantly. It’s about to get far better, though, with a new screen mirroring feature! Android phones running KitKat will be able to beam the screen onto the TV, which will be handy for slideshows and game nights! Look for a full write-up after our Roku gets the update. Via Android Central

News & Features

Consumer Reports Takes On ‘BendGate’ with Science … Finds NO #BendGate

By now anyone who follows technology – and many who don’t – has heard about #BendGate, the term coined after a video showed how easy it was to bend and distort the iPhone 6/6+. Honestly, I wasn’t surprised – they are incredibly thin and light with an elongated aspect ratio. But is #bendgate REAL? Consumer Reports took a scientific look!

Editorials

Top 10 Reasons I Switched from the 5.7″ Galaxy Note 3 back to the iPhone 5

A few weeks ago I bought a brand new Samsung Galaxy Note 3 on a great deal, and wanted to see if it would be possible to use it to replace my iPhone AND iPad, much as I would try to do with an iPhone 6+. As usual I went ‘all in’ with my attempt – and failed. Here is why! Until getting the iPhone 5 in 2012 I had been an Android-only phone user, and had sampled pretty much every new 7″ Android tablet since the Samsung Galaxy Tab. I had a huge library of Android content between Google…

News & Features

Pre-Orders for the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Start Tomorrow

I had a chance to fondle the new Samsung Galaxy Note 4 while at IFA a few weeks ago, and as far as Android devices go — it’s impressive! If you have been waiting to upgrade, then tomorrow is your day. Get ready to pre-order the most advanced and feature-rich Galaxy Note yet!

News & Features

Moto X Pre-Orders Start Tuesday September 16, 2014

Motorola just announced pre-orders of their updated Moto X with 5.2″ 1080p display begin Tuesday September 16. Two versions will be available for pre-order; the first an AT&T model and second a “Pure Edition” which vanquishes carrier crapware and offers an unlockable bootloader. In addition, the Moto Hint (Bluetooth headset) and Motorola Turbo (fast charger) will be available for pre-order.

News & Features

HTC One M8 Update Brings Extreme Power Saving and a Fix for Pocket Resets!

If you have an HTC One M8 on Verizon, here’s great news: the Android 4.4.3 “KitKat” update is out today, and it brings two excellent goodies with it! First, we’re finally getting Extreme Power Saving mode, designed to eke every drop out of a dying battery. Second, they’ve tweaked the lockscreen security app to prevent accidental resets!

Events

What You Missed If You Weren’t at #IFA14 Last Week #Intel2in1 #IntelPartner

This is a sponsored post; we received compensation from Intel, but all opinions are the author’s. I’ve just returned from Berlin and a hectic week at IFA; it was my first time to attend. Perhaps because I went in with zero expectations, I left thinking the show was larger than expected, and I feel pretty comfortable saying that it was a great consumer electronics expo, and I’m glad that I was there.

Events, News & Features

Why I’ll Probably Wait for the Next Generation Sony Xperia Devices

One of the many things that Dan and I both agree upon is that the Sony Xperia Z2 is the best phone out now. It has an excellent camera, it’s lightning fast, it has expandable memory, and it is a factory unlocked world phone. IFA saw the introduction of the Xperia Z3, Z3 Compact, and the Z3 Tablet Compact.

Events, News & Features

Samsung’s Galaxy Note Edge Was the Coolest Thing I Saw Today

It’s not often that I attend a tech event and leave knowing that I’ve seen something that’s going to change the way I expect to use a device that I already own, but that’s what happened after the Samsung event today. The introduction of the Galaxy Note Edge was by far the highlight of my day, and I’m still wowed.

Reviews

Kogan Agora 4G by BenQ Review: Budget with Benefits

Many would cringe at the idea of spending near $1,000 outright on a smartphone. That’s where quality budget devices step in, offering most of the benefits, without the price tag. The Kogan Agora 4G by BenQ looks to take a slice of the pie, with specifications that on the surface, offer plenty of performance and features for a bargain price.

Editorials

Is ‘Windows CE Syndrome’ Hurting Tablet Adoption?

Somewhere between Apple’s and Samsung’s last quarterly earnings reports, Dan’s review of the Galaxy S5, Dan & Judie’s Sony Xperia X2s, the Ultra, discussions with friends about a variety of tablets we’ve all used, along with the statement by the Best Buy CEO that ‘tablet sales are crashing’ something occurred to me – we’ve been here before — with Windows CE.

Events, News & Features

The Sony Xperia Family Is About to Get Bigger… and Smaller #IntelPartner

Judie is headed to Berlin next week as Intel’s guest for IFA; while there, I’m sure she’s going to see a ton of great new kit. I for one am looking forward to reading her posts. Of all of the new products that will be announced, I think we’re both looking forward to the new Sony Xperia devices the most.

Editorials

HTC One M8 ‘Double Tap to Wake’ Leads to Disaster

The HTC One M8 has a double tap to wake feature, which is great. The One also has a security feature where 10 failed password attempts resets the phone. These two features came crashing together disastrously for me yesterday afternoon, so for now I’ve turned off the ‘double tap to wake‘ feature as a result.

News & Features

Verizon Gets the HTC One (M8) for Windows: Live Tiles on a Former Android

If you love the HTC One (M8)’s design, but you’re totally digging the Windows and Windows Phone environment these days, HTC has something that should definitely catch your attention — their flagship One for Windows Phone is available online starting at noon ET today, or you can pick one up for $99.99 at Verizon stores starting tomorrow.

News & Features

HTC Desire Family Picks Up Two New Members

I love my HTC One M8; the Boomsound speakers, sharp screen, fast processor, and excellent Sense UI skin all make for a fabulous experience. If you’re looking for a similar phone on prepaid services at a reasonable price, then you should check out the new HTC Desire 610 and 816!

News & Features

Here’s Your Chance to Design Your Own Vertu Monogram Constellation

If you’ve ever wanted to see what your initials would look like on a custom Vertu Monogram Constellation, but the idea of walking into a boutique didn’t appeal, then this is for you. Vertu has created an online design tool, and you can use it to customize the exterior of three of their phones to your heart’s content.

Reviews

The Sony Xperia Z2 Case Offerings from Spigen Are Going Back

I’ve long been a fan of Spigen’s various products. They make excellent cases and screen protectors and have slowly been expanding into other accessory lines. That’s why I was excited to purchase a Sony Xperia Z2 case from them. (Three cases actually.) Sadly I’m returning all three cases. Each is a quality case but each has the same fatal flaw.

Reviews

OP/TECH USA Fold-Over Pouch 301 Video Look

I recently picked up a Sony QX10 lens camera. The price had dropped $50 and, now that I am using a Sony Xperia Z2 I figured it made sense. I also went in search of a good way to protect the camera. The Op/Tech USA Fold-Over Pouch 301 seemed like a good option. Let’s take a look.