Weird iPhone 7 Concept Inspired by Apple Watch

Another year, another iPhone. But before all the rumors and leaks start surfacing, artists have been hard at work coming up with ideas about what the next iPhone could look like. But this concept takes the cake. In a video uploaded to its YouTube channel, ConceptsiPhone showed off an iPhone 7 with a bizarre feature borrowed from the Apple Watch - the Digital Crown.

Added to the right side of the phone above a volume button is the knob from the Apple watch. Presumably, you'd rotate it to navigate the proposed iPhone 7, and the dial would also house the Touch ID fingerprint sensor and act as a home button. In place of the traditional home button below the screen is a proposed Sense Button, which ConceptsiPhone describes as a set of sensors that catch your gesture and movements.


The rest of the video describes other aspects of the proposed iPhone 7, such as a so-called Retina HD+ (2560 x 1440) display, thinner-than-ever 6.9 mm profile and purported A9 CPU and M9 motion co-processors. Other than the addition of the Digital Crown, the concept iPhone 7, designed by Antonio de Rosa, looks largely similar to the iPhone 6.


ConceptsiPhone more recently put out a video of what it thinks iOS 9's lock screen could look like. The conceptualized OS features a lock screen that groups your notifications and lets you carry out actions such as reply to a text, add and edit your reminders or return a missed call.

The Apple Watch has proven immensely popular despite its high starting price, and the company has already received close to a million pre-orders for the device. But while people may like the Apple Watch and its features, we're not sure they'll enjoy having a large, protruding knob on the side of their sleek smartphones. Thankfully, this is all just a concept and seems very unlikely to come to pass.

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Posted at 11:55 PM |  by Unknown

Google Project Fi vs Other Carriers: What’s the Best Deal?

Google is shaking things up with Project Fi, its newly announced wireless service for smartphones that could put a scare into both major and discount carriers. With a tantalizingly low cost (starting at $30 per month), the combined strength of two cellular networks as a backbone (Sprint and T-Mobile), international texting and the ability to enable calls and texts across devices, Project Fi offers plenty of incentives for customers to jump ship. Plus, Google will give you a credit for unused data, as opposed to just rolling it over to the next month like T-Mobile and AT&T.


Smartphone Selection
Google Nexus 6
Dozens, from flagships to budget options
Dozens, from flagships to budget options Dozens, from flagships to budget options Dozens, from flagships to budget options Dozens, from flagships to budget options Dozens, mostly mid-level options
3, starting at $29

Data Overage Costs
$10 / 1 GB (or $1 / 100MB
$20 / 500MB
None
None (data drops to 3G speeds) $15 / 500MB
None (data drops to 3G speeds) None (data drops to 3G speeds) None (data drops to 3G speeds)


* Calculations based on plan with unlimited talk, text with 1GB of data; Sprint plan provides unlimited data with $50 monthly fee available for iPhone users; Boost's most comparable plan offers 2GB of data while Cricket offers 2.5GB.


** $45 cost is for phones bought through Verizon Edge; otherwise, the monthly fee is $60 for Verizon


Simply put, Project Fi is a wireless service provider from Google. So instead of seeing AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile or Verizon's operator logos on your phone, you'll see the Fi Network. Google's service will ride on T-Mobile and Sprint networks, switching between the two depending on which signal is stronger. Project Fi also taps into more than 3 million Wi-Fi hotspots, and Google says that its integrated encryption will keep your data safe.


Project Fi also lets you send and receive texts and calls from your Google account on any device with Hangouts installed, such as your laptop or tablet, if you opt-in to this feature. You'll also get unlimited international texting to and from 120-plus countries as well as free international data roaming.

Keep in mind that for now the Nexus 6 ($649 or $27.04 per month) is the only smartphone that’s compatible with Project Fi. It’s a solid flagship handset, but the huge 6-inch display certainly isn’t for everyone.
Google Fi vs AT&T and Verizon

Both AT&T and Verizon are more expensive up front, at $65 and $45 ($60 if you don't sign up for Verizon's early-upgrade plan Edge) respectively. While AT&T does offer free international texting, Verizon doesn't, and data roaming comes at extra cost. Both major carriers also charge overages when you exceed your allotted bandwidth, whereas Project Fi just charges you a dollar for each 100 MB you've used.

AT&T and Verizon both offer plenty more smartphone options than Project Fi does, and each company has a larger 4G footprint than Sprint and T-Mobile, covering most of the United States. Verizon also came in first for speed in New York City, Chicago and San Francisco in our 4G tests in major cities, while AT&T placed third in San Francisco, NYC and Chicago, and second in Los Angeles. Since Project Fi picks the stronger network between Sprint and T-Mobile and leverages Wi-Fi when available, though, carrier speeds might not be that big of an issue.


Google Fi vs Sprint

On Sprint, you can pick an unlimited data plan for $60 a month or sign up for a 1GB Share Pack plan as an individual, which will cost you $15 more than it would on Project Fi. While Sprint's unlimited plan is a compelling value, keep in mind that its plodding network may drive you up the wall. The carrier ranked last in three out of four of our 4G performance tests in major American cities, although its Spark-enhanced LTE service helped it secure second place in Chicago. But Spark only reaches about 100 markets right now.

Though Project Fi does harness Sprint's channels, it also uses T-Mobile, so you'll have the power of two networks. Sprint offers free international text and data roaming for qualified customers and caps overseas data at 2G speeds, whereas Project Fi's international data goes up to 3G.

Like T-Mobile, Sprint will pay your early termination fees if you're switching over, so those who are locked into a contract and want unlimited data may want to consider Sprint.
Google Fi vs T-Mobile

T-Mobile's basic Simple Choice plan starts at $50 for unlimited talk and text with 1GB of data, which is $20 more than the same plan on Project Fi. But the Uncarrier packs a lot of goodies into its lines, such as unlimited free music streaming, unlimited international texts and free data roaming.

While Project Fi also offers unlimited international texts and international data without roaming fees, data speeds will be capped at 3G rates outside the U.S. T-Mobile's option offers 4G speeds where available as well as free international W-Fi Calling on compatible phones.


T-Mobile also has plenty of phone options, which is another advantage over Fi, and it will pay your early termination fees if you switch over from another carrier. Google will not pay your switching fees. But over the long term, Project Fi can save you money.
Google Fi vs MetroPCS

Same price, same data allowance -- Project Fi and MetroPCS are almost identical in their 1GB offerings. But Google gives you money back for your unused data, meaning potential cost savings over time. And when you exceed your data allowance, you can pay for more 4G data instead of being dropped to 3G speeds on MetroPCS. But at least Metro doesn't have overages.


Only 3 phones are compatible with MetroPCS's low-tier package, however, and they're lower-power, entry-level options (LG Optimus L70, Kyocera Hydro Life, Alcatel Onetouch Fierce 2). Project Fi is only compatible with the Nexus 6 ($650) right now, and you can buy one from Fi either at full price or over 24 monthly payments of $27.04.
Google Fi vs Boost Mobile and Cricket Wireless

Prepaid carriers Boost Mobile and Cricket Wireless both offer more data than Project Fi does at the $30-$35 level. Boost gives you 2GB for $30 a month, Cricket offers 2.5GB for $35, and both plans come with unlimited talk and text. That's at least twice the 1GB you get on Project Fi for $30. You'll also find a wider selection of phones from both companies, with Boost even offering such flagships as the Galaxy S6.

But neither Boost nor Cricket offer unlimited international texting, and you have to enroll in both carriers' automatic bill payment service to qualify for these prices. After reaching your data limit, both Boost and Cricket drop your data transmissions to 2G speeds.

Boost's $30 for 2GB deal is only valid if you sign up before May 31, 2015.
Bottom Line

If you want the flexibility of using your phone number on all your devices and you travel a lot, Project Fi could be the carrier for you. Its costs and data allowances are comparable to plenty of packages already available. However, if you’re fond of your existing phone, you may want to stick with your current carrier: Project Fi is available only on the Nexus 6 for now.

Data sharks on a budget may be better served with Cricket Wireless's $35 plan with 2.5GB of high-speed bandwidth. Frequent travelers who want better data speeds abroad should consider T-Mobile But if you’re looking for a lower-cost alternative to AT&T and Verizon -- and you’re okay with carrying a big phablet -- Project Fi could be worth a look.

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Posted at 11:53 PM |  by Unknown

Xiaomi Mi 4i Is Slim, Colorful and Just $200

Xiaomi's new Mi 4i smartphone is officially a real phone, and it's looking pretty snazzy. Launching this month for roughly $205 unlocked, the super-affordable Mi 4i packs a 64-bit processor and a 13-MP camera into its slim and colorful body.

While the Mi 4i serves as a more wallet-friendly little sibling to the company's Mi 4 flagship, its design and specs are still compelling on their own. Xiaomi seems to have taken some inspiration from the iPhone 5c's vibrant color options. The 7.8-millimeter-thin Mi 4i comes in pink, baby blue and yellow, in addition to white and black. The handset is covered in a matte, anti-grease coating for better grip and fewer fingerprints.

Xiaomi Mi 4i

On the inside, the Mi 4i is powered by a 64-bit, octa-core Snapdragon 615 CPU with 2GB of RAM, and touts an Adreno 405 GPU for intensive mobile gaming. The phone's 5-inch, 1080p display promises a 95-percent color gamut. Its 3,120-mAh battery is built to provide 11 hours of HD playback, and a whopping 59 hours of music playback. 

The Mi 4i utilizes a 13-MP Sony/Samsung camera for photos, complete with two-tone flash for natural colors in low light. There's also a 5-MP selfie cam that offers a tool called Beautify, which offers 36 profiles for sprucing up your photos. The new handset runs Xiaomi's MIUI software, which adds a slick, iOS-inspired layer of gloss over the phone's Android 5 Lollipop backbone.

The Mi 4i is shaping up to be one of Xiaomi's most attractive and affordable handsets yet, and could resonate with smartphone shoppers who want powerful Android device dressed-up as an iPhone. The handset launches April 30 in India, though there's no word yet on global availability

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Posted at 11:50 PM |  by Unknown

Samsung Galaxy S6 Camera Defeats iPhone 6

Round 1: Daylight Still Life

We start with the easiest test — shooting objects that don't move under sunlight, albeit diffused sunlight owing to gray New York City skies. Photos from both cameras look great. The iPhone 6 Plus photo (at right) shows a hint of extra green, yielding slightly fluorescent-looking greens in the apples. The Galaxy S6 photo puts a bit too much blue in the image, giving the apples a slight purplish tint. But this is nitpicking. Both show crisp detail, though the Galaxy S6 photo is a tad sharper, owing to its 16-megapixel sensor, compared to the 8-MP chip in the iPhone 6 Plus camera.

Round 2: High-Color Still Life

We saw a clearer difference in these shots of brightly colored flowers, mostly under cloudy sunlight, with a bit of fluorescent lighting from the vendor's stall. The Galaxy S6 photo, at left, has a pleasing higher color saturation. It also shows more detail — due not only to higher resolution but also to better contrast, which brings out fine shading in the petals. The iPhone 6 Plus photo has a hazy appearance. We sometimes see this due to the camera's tone mapping, which tries to pull back areas that are overexposed. It goes too far here, producing a flat image.

Round 3: Daylight Portrait

Both cameras capture the skin tone of our colleague Dave pretty well. The iPhone 6 Plus image makes his face look brighter and clearer, though; whereas it looks a bit flat in the Galaxy S6 photo. The iPhone 6 Plus pic also shows a stronger black in his coat. It's a close call, but the iPhone 6 Plus does better overall.



Round 4: Indoor Still Life

Low-light performance is a strong point for the iPhone 6 and a priority for the Galaxy S6. This photo shows that Samsung has not only closed the gap but actually pulled ahead. Not surprising is that its higher-resolution camera captures more detail, as in the label on the Captain Morgan's bottle. But further, the Galaxy's default real-time high dynamic range (HDR) produced a better exposure, not only bringing up the shadows but also capturing more detail in highlights.

That, as much as resolution, makes the text on the frosted Absolute Mandarin bottle sharper. The Galaxy S6 captures more and brighter highlights, too, as on the brown rum bottle at the left. The clear bottles show complex reflections and diffractions in the S6 photo that appear at best as blobs in the iPhone image.

Round 5: Indoor Portrait

Both phone cameras captured nice photos of our co-worker Valentina in a dim hallway with mixed fluorescent and LED lighting. However, the iPhone 6 Plus photo appears a bit flat compared to the higher-contrast Samsung image, and it doesn't capture the reddish highlights in her hair.

The Galaxy S6 photo better reflects the color of the lighting. Perhaps this is due to the infrared sensor, but we can't say for sure. The higher-resolution Galaxy S6 photo also shows much finer detail, evident in her scarf.

Round 6: Low-Light Portrait

This is an extreme-low-light test — images taken with only dim overhead light. There are several variations between the two photos: for example, the Galaxy S6 image appears too warm while the iPhone 6 Plus image looks greenish. But the glaring difference is that the iPhone 6 Plus photo shows yellow splotches on her face, such as her forehead and under her eyes. We've occasionally seen the iPhone 6 tone mapping turn overexposed areas yellow, but this is worse than usual.

The Galaxy S6 photo also appears a bit brighter, possibly due to its f/1.9 aperture, which lets in about 30 percent more light than the f/2.2 aperture of the iPhone 6 Plus camera.

Round 7: Flash Photo Portrait

Sometimes, a camera simply needs to use a flash, and here, the Galaxy S6 beats the iPhone in a few ways. It shows far more detail, again evident in her scarf. Colors also appear more accurate in the Galaxy S6 image. The Samsung's flash is perhaps more powerful than some people might want, but the photo is not overexposed.

The most noticeable aspect of the iPhone 6 Plus photo is that there are yellow splotches, especially on her cheek and neck, due to failed tone mapping. The iPhone 6 Plus image also has a worse red-eye effect, but this could just be a matter of chance.

Round 8: Sunny Cityscape

Both the iPhone 6 Plus and Galaxy S6 cameras performed well — as they should — in this cakewalk photo test. People we asked around the office preferred the warmer colors of the iPhone 6 Plus photo, and so it takes the round, but only by a hair. The Galaxy S6 photo is also of high quality.

Round 9: Backlit Street Scene

There was no contest in this comparison. When the subjects were backlit, the whole image appeared faded in the iPhone photo, while the Galaxy S6 photo retained good contrast. We saw similar results in other backlit shots taken with both cameras.

Round 10: Front-Lit Street Scene

The differences between the two phones go away when strong sunlight hits the front of the subject. Here both cameras captured detail well, and the fast phase detection autofocus in both cameras helped each capture a sharp image of the moving subjects. People viewing both photos tended to prefer the iPhone 6 Plus image for its warmer tone, but again, the differences are subtle.

Round 11: Sunlight Group Portrait

The iPhone 6 Plus won our competition in the portraits of Dave under diffused sunlight, and it triumphs again in this very bright photo of Dave, Valentina and our colleague Sherri — with richer, truer colors and far stronger contrast. This is a pattern we have consistently seen between the two cameras in photos under intense sunlight. If you're going to the beach, the iPhone will certainly serve you better.

The iPhone 6 Plus image is far from perfect, though. Tone mapping has flattened out details and produced those characteristic yellow spots on Valentina's and Dave's faces. Because the S6 image retains more tonal detail, it might ultimately produce a better photo after editing. But straight from the camera, the iPhone 6 Plus image looks much richer.

Scorecard

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Posted at 11:45 PM |  by Unknown

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge

Depending on who you ask, one might tell you that the last truly impressive member of the Galaxy S famly was the widely popular GS3. While the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S5 were not bad handsets, their highly derivative nature came under fire, bolstered further by the fact that many of its rivals have since taken to pushing more premium builds made of metal, glass and other similar materials.

With the Samsung Galaxy S6, the Korean giant has finally delivered a truly premium Galaxy S experience, melding a glass front and back with a metal frame. Most tech journalists and even everyday tech enthusiasts agree that the redesign is a welcome one. Of course, Samsung’s new look isn’t without sacrifice, ditching Samsung staples like a removable back and battery. The microSD slot is also absent on the Galaxy S6.

Another major change for the Galaxy S6 is the processing package, with Samsung electing to leave behind Qualcomm, solely offering up its Exynos 7420 processor, paired with 3GB RAM. And finally, the software has also been scaled back a bit with the latest iteration of the Galaxy S.

Like the idea of the Galaxy S6, but hoping for something that stands out even further? The Galaxy S6 Edge offers the same specs, but adds dual-edges and a few special features that take advantage of the phone’s unique design.

Specs

• 5.1-inch Super AMOLED with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 577 ppi
• Exynos 7420
• 3GB of RAM
• 32/64/128GB storage options (non-expandable)
• 16 MP rear camera with OIS
• 5 MP front-facing camera with 90 degree wide angle lens
• Non-removable 2,550 mAh battery
• 143.4 x 70.5 x 6.8 mm, 138 grams
• 143.4 x 70.5 x 6.8 mm
  138 grams
• Android 5.0 Lollipop with TouchWiz

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Posted at 6:59 PM |  by Unknown

Samsung Galaxy S6

The Galaxy S6 is the Android phone to beat and the best smartphone overall. The new glass-and-metal design looks elegant and feels sturdy. The Galaxy S6 sports a bright 5.1-inch QHD display that's more colorful and higher-res than the iPhone and a sharper 16-megapixel camera that lets in more light. The front 5-MP camera takes awesome selfies, too. You also get a very fast octa-core processor and built-in wireless charging, plus longer battery life than the iPhone 6.

If you can afford the $100 premium, the Galaxy S6 Edge boasts a curved display that provides quick access to your favorite contacts.

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Posted at 6:53 PM |  by Unknown

Lenovo's new 'Yoga' tablets run Android and Windows, one has a built-in projector

Lenovo's original, kickstand-toting Yoga Tablet was kind of a flop, thanks to a poor display, sluggish performance and heavily skinned version of Android. (Naming Ashton Kutcher as a "product engineer" probably didn't help either.) Not to be deterred, the company is going all in: Lenovo just announced new versions of the Yoga Tablet, including a big-screen model with a built-in projector, and two that run Windows (it's also still available with Android). Starting with that weird projector edition, called the Yoga Tablet 2 Pro, it's not the first gadget we've seen with a built-in lamp, but it's the first we've seen in quite some time. In this case, what we have this time around is a 13-inch Android tablet with a 2,560 x 1,440 screen sharp enough to play movies on its own, though you could also use the in-built Pico projector to create a 50-inch image on the wall.
GALLERY|33 PHOTOS
Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 hands-on

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Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 Pro

Speaking of the sort, the tablet is about as flexible as other Yoga tablets, which is to say it has a rotating hinge that doubles as a kickstand. Here, though, there's also an option to hang it from a wall while you project, if that's somehow more convenient than standing it upright. On the inside, the tablet makes use of an Intel Atom processor, helped by 2GB of RAM. There's also an 8-megapixel rear camera, along with dual 1.5-watt speakers a 5-watt JBL subwoofer. For storage, you get 32 gigs built in, along with a microSD card capable of supporting cards as large as 64GB. The battery, meanwhile, which is built into the hinge, is rated for up to 15 hours of runtime. So is something this innovative worth a second look? Depends: How do you feel about spending $500-plus on your next tablet? We'll give you a few weeks to think on that -- this won't actually go on sale until the end of the month.
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Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 Pro

If you're just fine with a regular tablet, thank you very much, the refreshed Yoga Tablet 2 still comes in 8- and 10-inch sizes, just like the last version. Now, though, it's available with either Android 4.4 or Windows 8.1. All told, this is a pretty iterative upgrade -- the design is fundamentally the same -- though there are nonetheless a few welcome spec bumps. For starters, Lenovo upgraded from a MediaTek processor to an Intel Atom chip, which should hopefully address those performance issues. Two, all of the tablets in the series, even the 8-inch models, now have 1,920 x 1,200 screens, a step up from the 1,280 x 800 on the last-gen models. Additionally, the kickstand is said to be sturdier on the 10-inch model, while all of the models now have that same new "Hang" mode as the Yoga Tablet 2 Pro. Finally, there's a 4G option for all the Android models, along with the 10-inch Windows version.
GALLERY|11 PHOTOS
Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2









If you do buy one of the Windows configurations, you'll also get a free one-year subscription to Office 365. Unfortunately, Lenovo didn't make many changes to the Android version, which is to say it still runs a heavily skinned version of KitKat. In particular, Lenovo's take on Android is so heavy-handed, that it's actually more like iOS in some ways -- there isn't even an app drawer! Just all your apps, hanging out on the various home screens. In any case, if you are interested in the Android version, that's available today starting at $250 for the 8-inch model and $300 for the 10-incher. The two Windows models will arrive throughout the fall, with the 10-inch model going on sale later this month for $400, and the 8-inch edition landing in November for $300.

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Posted at 6:21 AM |  by Unknown

G Flex 2, ZenFone 2, Nexus 6 and iPhone 6 Plus: Top 10 smartphones 2015

Already we've seen big name companies including Samsung, LG and Asus unveil new flagship smartphones designed to entice buyers away from the stream of, still impressive, handsets that arrived in 2014.

In fact, the influx of new hardware, combined with the sea of rumours surrounding many, as yet unconfirmed handsets, such as the next iPhone, have justifiably left many people baffled what is available, what's on the horizon and what's currently fiction.

Here to help we've created a definitive top 10 list of the biggest smartphones currently available of confirmed for release this year.

10) LG G Flex 2
Display technology is an increasingly competitive area in the world of smartphones. Traditionally companies have worked to dominate the space by improving their displays' resolution, colour balance and brightness levels.

LG however has chosen to take a different tactic over the last year and has instead been working to push its curved display technology to the masses.

This started in 2012 when LG unveiled the G Flex and continued at CES 2015 when the Korean firm unveiled its follow up curved smartphone, the G Flex 2.

The G Flex 2's standout feature is its" flexible" 5.5in, 1080p, OLED display, which according to LG is 30 percent more durable and crack proof than its predecessor and can absorbs impacts when it hits a hard surface.

Add to this the G Flex 2's octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor and Android 5.0 Lollipop mobile operating system and LG's latest handset is on paperone of the most advanced smartphones ever seen.

9) Asus ZenFone 2
Asus unveiled its first Android 5.0 Lollipop smartphone, the ZenFone 2, at CES 2015. While the use of Lollipop, which more upgrades to Android than can easily be counted, is pretty awesome, Asus has done a stellar job loading the ZenFone 2 with a wealth of top end hardware.

Chief of these are the ZenFone 2's 13MP rear camera with an f/2.0 wide-aperture lens, Optical Image Stabilsation (OIS) and a 5MP PixelMaster front camera.

PixelMaster is a custom technology designed to improve the ZenFone's imaging performance by adjusting the pixel size and image-processing algorithms to "improve low light performance by 400 percent" and "enhance noise reduction and colour contrast by up to 200 percent".

The ZenFone 2 will also feature an upgraded camera application that allows the manual adjustment of settings like ISO and shutter speed.

The combination of imaging tech and software mean the ZenFone 2 may be one of the best options for avid photographers come its release later this year.




8. Nexus 6

With the Nexus 6 finally unveiled we have to say this is one of the few instances where the run up rumours didn't do the device justice.

Built by Motorola, the Nexus 6 is on paper one of the finest Google flagships ever made and features an impressive array of hardware and software features.

One of the biggest of these is its completely reworked aluminium design. This is a big deal as, while we were fans of the Nexus 5's unassuming design, we found its polycarbonate frame slightly flimsy and the device could break or pick up marks when subjected to even the smallest of bumps.

Even better, within its metallic frame the Nexus 6 houses some pretty top-end components. Chief of these are a sizeable 6in quad HD display, powerful quad-core Snapdragon 805 processor and 13MP rear camera with Optical Image Stabilisation.

This combined with the added allure of Google's latest Android 5.0 Lollipop OS, with Samsung Knox integration and a reworked 'Material design, makes the Nexus 6 one of the best smartphones currently available.


7. HTC One M8
Taiwanese firm HTC is probably the only company in the world that is as focused on design as Apple. As a result it's no surprise its 2014 flagship smartphone, the One M8, is one of the best looking and designed smartphones currently available.

Even better, underneath the One M8's robust, but elegant metal chassis lies a wealth of top end components. HTC's loaded the M8 with a high power Snapdragon 801 processor, high resolution 5in, 1080x1920, 441ppi, Super LCD3 capacitive touchscreen and Duo camera technology.

Duo Camera is a new technology that lets One M8's 4.1MP Ultrapixel rear camera capture spatial information using a second supporting camera sensor. This lets users manually adjust the point of focus and create a depth-of-field effect on a captured image.

The technology also lets the One M8 know the distance of objects in the shot and use the information to selectively ignore items in the foreground when applying filters and make it a great choice for any blogger looking to get creative when shooting photos with their smartphone.




6. Blackphone
Since news of the PRISM spying campaign broke, privacy has been at the forefront of many people's minds. The scandal has made people more concerned than ever about what happens to their data.

So secure communications specialist Silent Circle teamed up with hardware engineers at Geeksphone to create a new snoop-busting Blackphone. The Blackphone will run using a heavily customised, security-focused version of Android, codenamed PrivatOS.

Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) encryption protocol creator and Silent Circle president Phil Zimmermann has lent his support to the phone and promised it will let users securely send and receive data. This all adds up to mean the Blackphone is one of the best choices available for any privacy conscious smartphone buyer.

5. Sony Xperia Z3
Sony continued its rapid-release strategy at the IFA trade show in Berlin at the start of September 2014 when it unveiled its latest Xperia Z3 flagship smartphone.

The firm announced the Z3 a mere six months after its predecessor, the Xperia Z2, and while it doesn't offer huge improvements Sony has made a few important changes.

For starters the Xperia Z3 is thinner than the Xperia Z2 and will run using a more current version of Google’s Android 4.4 KitKat operating system.

Add to this its stellar 5.2in Full HD screen, quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor and 20.7MP rear-facing camera and we can't help but be impressed by the Sony Xperia Z3




4. Nokia Lumia 930
Microsoft made a big deal about Windows Phone 8.1, listing it as the first "enterprise-ready" version of its mobile OS, when it first arrived in the UK.

Having thoroughly tested Windows Phone 8.1 during our full review, we can understand why. Featuring advanced security and productivity features, such as a new Word Flow Keyboard, and mobile device-management support plus all the inherently great mobile applications seen on previous Windows Phone versions, Windows Phone 8.1 is truly fit for business.

As a result it's no surprise the Lumia 930 – which, as well as running on Windows Phone 8.1 also features top-end hardware, including the Finnish firm's hallowed PureView imaging technology – is one of the best phones currently available.

3. The iPhone 6 Plus
Apple claimed for years that users didn’t want big-screen smartphones and there was no need for a handset to have a display any bigger than 4inches. However, given the popularity of big screens in other ecosystems, such as Android and Windows Phone, it’s become increasingly clear this is a false hypothesis.

Finally aware of this, Apple this year unveiled its first-ever phablet, theiPhone 6 Plus. Featuring a sizeable 1920x1080, 401ppi Retina HD display the iPhone 6 Plus is the first ever handset to bring all the inherent benefits of iOS 8 to the big screen.

As an added incentive Apple’s actually optimised its latest iOS 8 mobile operating system to work better on the iPhone 6 Plus’s display. For example, the iPhone 6 Plus's Messaging and Mail apps have a special two-tier horizontal user interface and separate keyboard


2. Samsung Galaxy S5

Samsung handsets' releases always come with a lot of fanfare. Luckily this year the fuss was justified and Samsung unveiled what in our mind is its most innovative smartphone to date, the Galaxy S5.

Featuring a rugged, water and dust proof IP-certified design and wealth of top end components, including a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor and upgraded 16MP rear camera, there is a lot to like about the Galaxy S5 from a hardware perspective.

However, the Galaxy S5's charms don't stop there. Samsung's also added custom fingerprint scanner and Knox security services to the phone.

The fingerprint scanner lets users set the Galaxy S5 to only unlock when the user has proven their identity using it. Knox is a sandboxing feature based on NSA technology that lets users set up work and personal areas on the phone. The work side is password protected and encrypts any data stored on it, ensuring it should remain safe should the Galaxy S5 be lost or stolen.

The combination of top end tech and robust security make the Galaxy S5 one of the best Android smartphones currently available to businesses.

1. iPhone 6

Apple launched its iPhone 5S last September, and according to its own sales stats the handset was another winner. Apple managed to shift nine million iPhone 5S and 5C devices in the first three days of availability.

One year on the firm looks set to continue its success with its latestiPhone 6 smartphone. Unveiled in September the iPhone 6 is in many people’s eyes, including us here at V3, Apple’s most interesting smartphone to date.

Featuring a completely new curvaceous metal design, super-fast A8 processor Apple claims is 25 percent faster than the previous-generation A7 and sizeable 4.7in, 1334x750, 326ppi Retina HD display, coupled with Californian firm’s latest iOS 8 mobile operating system the iPhone 6 is the best smartphone currently available.

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Posted at 7:03 PM |  by Unknown