HTC Butterfly S: A Better Smartphone for Social Content Sharing

When the HTC One was announced, it offered quite a bundle of new experiences for smartphone users. From the gapless aluminium body construction to the front-facing stereo speakers and the bold Ultrapixel camera, HTC One makes me shoot more and create awesome video content easily using HTC Zoe and Video Highlights.

With the Butterfly S, HTC continues to leverage on these key features and include more competitive features to entice the demanding consumers.

Go read my review on the HTC One where I elaborate on the unique features available only to HTC - how the BlinkFeed delivers news, daily activities to let you browse and read easily; how the front-facing stereo speakers make video watching a lot better, louder, clearer; how the Ultrapixel camera delivers good image quality for social network sharing; how the HTC Zoe produces moving images; and how HTC Video Highlights creates 30-second clips with synchronised edits with the background music.

The HTC Butterfly S carries the same user interface as the HTC One, and I get the same positive experience when using it. The apps loading and animations are smooth with no random freezes or crashes. The HTC Sense 5 works differently from Android stock UI or other manufacturers so it takes a little getting used to. And unlike other manufacturers, the HTC Sense 5 UI seems to be put together well-thought rather than just some random functionality. The power button continues to double up as the infra-red transmitter, which, when used with Remote TV app, controls your TV and cable set-top box channels with ease.

Above All
If you are already interested in HTC One, here are the reasons why you will prefer the Butterfly S.

1. Expandable micro SD card. Many people loved the HTC One, but they cringe when they realise there is no expandable memory option. The HTC Butterfly S saves the day.

2. Larger 5-inch full-HD screen. Consumers who so crave for a larger screen can now be satisfied with the HTC Butterfly S. Excellent screen quality without over-saturated details, wide viewing angles with minimal contrast deviations.

3. Standard Android 3 touch buttons. I am one of the many who am not used to the 2-button implementation on the HTC One. HTC Butterfly S puts back the usual Android buttons so that you can access them without relearning. And because the 3 buttons are outside the display screen, the phone does not waste any space with displaying the menu bar.

4. Increased processor speeed to 1.9GHz. To make the HTC Butterfly S even more irresistible, the processor is pushed up to Quad-core 1.9GHz with Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 so that all your apps and games can run a little more faster than competitors, whether you can can actually feel the difference or not.

5. Larger built-in battery of 3200mAh. I have reviewed so many smartphones over the years, and finally the HTC Butterly S lasts me the entire work day without requiring any re-charging at all. If you need a smartphone that lasts longer than your current phone, then there is no other than the HTC Butterfly S.


So does that mean one should totally disregard HTC One? Certainly not, if you prefer the premium design and a smaller device. The HTC Butterfly S glossy plastic may not be everyone's cup of tea. The hard truth is that the HTC One feels stunning while the HTC Butterfly S looks stunning, especially the red one.

Pitting Against the Competitors
When comparing the earlier HTC One with competitors like Samsung Galaxy S4, there were a few feature gaps that prevented consumers from swinging over. Now with the launch of HTC Butterfly S, it has become a lot more attractive to consider the HTC. But still, the Galaxy S4 may hold its fort due to some features that Butterfly S could not overcome:

1. Low megapixel-count. No matter how HTC markets the UltraPixel, it is still of fewer pixels than the competitors. Throughout my review, I have never felt the Butterfly S 4-megapixel camera is inferior. I also never pixel-peep because most of the photos I took are for social sharing, which make sense to have a lower pixel count. In fact, it saves me data bandwidth when I often upload the photos I took to cloud storage or email attachments. Despite, no one will reject high pixel counts, even if they do not really need it.

2. Non-removable battery. Another psychological barrier that could put the brakes on the purchase of Butterfly S. Even though the Butterfly S can last me an entire day, there is no reprieve if I do not have access to charger. A removable battery allows me to swap a fresh pack and continue using the phone, but at this age, more people bring a USB battery pack rather than an extra battery for your device, the latter costing cheaper than the original battery.

3. Heavier and larger. For consumers who prefer their smartphones to be smaller or lighter, the Butterfly S is neither. Having said that, my personal opinion is that it is neither too big (like the phablets) nor too heavy (like the phlabets). The Butterfly S still fits easily on your palm, in your pockets, and the density provides a good feel as compared to the Samsung Galaxy S4 which felt too featherweight to be taken seriously (although I must admit it is an engineering marvel, kudos to Samsung).


The Social Sharing Enabler
Too often than not, every new smartphone offers hardware upgrades to increase smartphone speed, increase camera pixel count, bundle new apps that may already be available in the app store.

In my HTC One review, I concluded that the device makes me capture more and share more. The HTC Butterfly S continues this vision and adds popular hardware features like larger battery and microSD slot to overcome some mental barriers of consumers who worries about battery life and insufficient storage capacity.

And if I haven't said enough, the HTC BlinkFeed helps you get constantly connected with your friends and the social network, the HTC BoomSound lets you enjoy content comfortably with front-facing speakers, the HTC Zoe captures video images and compiles into Video Highlights (within seconds) that easily wows your peers.

From picking up the phone to taking the shot in less than 3 seconds. Taken with HTC Butterfly S and processed with Instagram filters. Using other smartphones would have led to missed moments.

The HTC Butterfly S is not just another higher-spec smartphone. It is a gateway to your social network, and enables you to create photo and video content effortlessly. The HTC Butterfly S remains the most enjoyable phone I have used for capturing photos and videos.


HTC Butterfly S Specs:

• 5-inch Full HD 1080x1920 pixels
• 1.9GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 600
• 2GB RAM, 16GB user memory
• 4MP Ultrapixel F2.0 28mm rear camera
• 2.1MP front camera
• 3200mAh non-removable battery
• 144.5 x 70.5 x 10.6mm
• 160g
• Android Jellybean 4.2
• Supports LTE (4G), Bluetooth 4.0, DLNA, NFC, GPS, MHL, USB-OTG, IR, 
• Uses microSIM card
• Supports external microSD card slot up to 64GB

This article is also published on XINMSN and StarHub Community Portal.

Useful Accessories for Your Samsung Galaxy S4: Galaxy S4 Dock

The Galaxy S4 is one of the best smart phones out there. It comes with an amazing array of features and abilities which make using it a most enjoyable experience. You can surf the internet, receive and send e-mails, play all sorts of games, listen to your favorite music and videos, keep in touch with friends and colleagues through Facebook, twitter, internet messaging programs, SMS, MMS, audio and video calls, etc. The best thing about the Samsung Galaxy S4 is that you can take it with you anywhere you go because of its small and long battery life. Because of the huge several people using this device and loving it, there are a great number of S4 accessories on the market, to meet all your needs, some of which are quite essential if you want this device for its portability. In this article, we aim to present to you a couple of things about some of the more important accessories that you can search for your phone.

Chargers

 The Galaxy S4 chargers are some of the most basic, yet indispensable accessories for your S4.

One of the best solutions out there when it comes to chargers is the Galaxy S4 dock USB charger, a great choice for all smart phone enthusiasts, as it allows you to quickly power up your phone and at the same time synchronize it. It's elegant, and very easy to use. All you need to do is connect the USB cable to your computer, plug-in the USB adapter in the dock, insert the S4 in the dock and then it will let you know when your phone is fully charged. And if you don't want to connect it to your computer, the Galaxy S4 dock USB charger comes with an AC charger.

But if you're on the road most of the time or simply often forget to recharge your phone before going to work, then maybe the Galaxy S4 Car Charger is the choice for you. It's quick, easy to use, and always at your disposal - so you are sure that you won't run out of battery in the middle of an important call. Offering an elegant design, the Galaxy S4 Car Charger is also affordable and perfect for those who love using their S4 a lot throughout the day.

Cases

Galaxy S4 cases offer the protection that your phone needs. If you like your screen clean, and your phone scratch free, then you should consider buying a case for your phone. You can also consider getting a foil for the generous touch screen display. There are a great number of types of cases on the market, made from plastic, metal, silicon or leather.

Headsets

The preferred option these days seems to be the Galaxy S4 Bluetooth Headset, which replaces the wired hands-free systems. Bluetooth headsets allow you to communicate wirelessly, anywhere and at any time. One of the greatest things about this device is that it allows you to take incoming calls and make calls using the hands-free option, which is particularly useful when you are driving. The Bluetooth sets also means there are no tangled wires to worry about, so you have complete freedom of movement. So, if you want to drive safely and still talk on the phone, the Bluetooth Headset is a great option for you.

Whether you want to buy a Galaxy S4 Car Charger, a Galaxy S4 Dock USB charger, a Galaxy S4 case or a Bluetooth Set, keep in mind that there are many options available out there, and it's easy to find the best one for you.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shelia_Z_Smithson


- Samsung Galaxy Accessories - 

Predators game for android

Based heavily on the popular movie franchise of
the same name, Predators sees you test your
wits against several of the world’s most deadly
humans. To succeed, you need to take advantage of the
Predator’s full armoury and skill set.

Each level sees you
pitted against a mercenary, assassin, sniper or other killer,
and then leaves it up to you to decide the best way to kill
them. Despite the

RPG Battle Game for Android

Ayakashi aims to
re-innovate the card
battle genre, by adding
all the glitz and glamour that’s
missing from many of its rivals.
Things don’t get off to a good
start with some rather bland
menus, leading you through even
more bland menus as you get
your fi rst deck of cards.

In total there are one hundred
cards to collect through the
game, with each of them
containing a hand-drawn anime
character

The Hobbit Game for Android

Journey back to Middle
Earth as you begin a
memorable quest to help
build and rule your own city, against
the constant threat of goblins. From
the outset you can choose to play as
either the Dwarves or Elves, and
even though the storyline isn’t vastly
different for either race, you’ll fi nd a
lot of the building and modifi cations
you make to your city will look
different depending on which race

Doodle Army game for android

This one isn’t for the faint hearted, and includes
a generous helping of fl ying limbs and a
splattering of blood. As part of the Doodle Army,
it’s your job to rescue civilians and soldiers behind enemy
lines, while also getting rid of any enemies you come
across along the way. To do so you’re given an arsenal of
weapons to salivate over, an array of different battle zones
and various vehicles to

Free simple puzzle game for android

Glass Fort
is a simple
enough
puzzle game, in
which you must
systematically
remove the blue
blocks from a tower
of glass blocks. The
game is controlled by
a variety of touch
controls, giving you a full 3D effect as you play. Although
on paper it sounds an easy enough challenge, you need to
account for gravity and physical collisions that could send
the tower toppling. Smash enough blocks and it’s

A Detective Story game for android

Take on the role of
private investigator Nick
Chase in this Twentiesstyled
point-and-click game as
you try and solve the trace of
puzzles left by the man you’re trying to uncover, The Collector. Each
scenario is beautiful hand drawn,
and you get a real sense of the fi lm
noir landscapes throughout. The
subtle mix between puzzles and the
point-and-click aspects is pleasing, and makes sure not to

Pool games for Android

Surprisingly, snooker and
pool games are few and far
between on the Google
Play store, so if done right, Pool King
has the potential to be a massive
hit. As you’d expect, the main crux of
the game is playing pool, with the
added bonus of various game modes
to keep things interesting.

The Time Mode puts you against
the clock to clear as many balls as
possible before the timer runs out,
whereas

Pudding Monsters Cut the Rope Game

From the creators of
the brilliant Cut the
Rope comes a new
puzzle game that’s as
addictive as its predecessor. The
pudding monsters require you to
save them from the evil fridge owner,
by piecing them together to create
the ultimate pudding.
To do so, you need to slide each
piece of pudding in to one another in
as few moves as possible, and
without going off the screen. Once
connected, your

Temple Run 2 for Android

The original Temple Run
was a massive hit on
the Google Play store,
and after only a few
weeks of release, the second
installment had already hit 10 million
downloads. Temple Run 2 sees you
returning to the jungle as you
navigate cliffs, mines and zip lines as
you try and outrun the monster
chasing you.

In essence, the game has the
same charm that made the original a
joy to play. It’s as

Monster game for android

Tower defence games are
in abundance on the
Google Play store, so for
developers to try and fi nd a unique
twist is a diffi cult job. Where Beat
the Beast aims to be different is with
its 3D graphics. The world you play in
is presented entirely in 3D, enabling
you to control how you play through a
series of finger gestures, but they
aren’t implemented very well.

The game itself sees you

Real-time strategy game for android

Ironfell is a real-time
strategy game that aims
to combine the
elements of time travel and war in
to a single game, and boy does it
work. You start off as an explorer
who must gather resources, build
units and structures to defeat
enemies. As you progress through
the story, you’ll move on to bigger
terrains, and need to conquer
enemy troops and strongholds to
gain the upper hand. The further
you

Free zombie game for android

When a radiation leak turns many of the local
citizens into zombies, it’s up to you to take out
your crazed compatriots. To do so, the game
provides you with fi ve unlockable characters to combat
the zombie hordes, and each has their own set of skills for
you to exploit.

There are no levels as such, and instead the
game is constantly changing to provide new challenges.
As you complete challenges

Free Racing 3D game for android

Steampunk Racing 3D has a very distinctive
industrial feel to it. From the cars, tracks and
menus, everything has been given a gritty look.

Instead of being a normal racing game, Steampunk Racing
3D gives you a whole arsenal of weapons to dispose of
your opponents. Weapons are activated by collecting
steampiles along your route, and the more you collect, the
more explosive the weapon. Each

Free action games for android

If you’ve seen the new A
Good Day To Die Hard
blockbuster, then you’ll
notice that several scenes have
been recreated in this offi cial
tie-in to the movie. The game is an
endless runner that needs you to
blast your way out of the
radioactive ruins of Chernobyl,
while also collecting coins to
unlock new weapons and armour.
As you progress you’ll come
across a number of balaclava
wearing Russian

Horse racing games for android

The portfolio of Kairosoft games is rather
impressive and its latest foray into the micro
management genre is Pocket Stables.

From the
off you’re thrown into the world of horse racing and it’s
your job to hire and manage jockeys, while also taking care
of your current crop of race horses. As with any Kairosoft
game, the main driving force is progression and your lowly
horse and jockey will start

Treasure hunt game for android

The basis of Sela The Space Pirate is simple –
shoot as many things as you can until they
explode. Instead of collecting treasure as you
would expect with any pirate themed game, you instead
need to collect the coins that are dropped by your alien
foes.

The action is very fast and it can take a little while to
get used to how the game works. Apart from the ‘shoot
everything and everyone’ aspects

Electrifying fun game for android

The follow-up to the hugely
popular Cordy sees our
electrical friend come back
to rid the world of the evil Boogaloo
and his various Boogie Bots.
Fundamentally, the game works in
the same charming way as its predecessor did, with a
combination of a simple
platformer action mixed in
with a great side story you
can follow along with.

This time around, Cordy
has the ability to unlock a
range of new

The simpsons game for android

The Simpsons is the
latest franchise to
release a tie-in game to
its popular TV series.
The game tells the story of Homer
accidentally setting off a nuclear
explosion in Springfi eld and it
becomes your job to rebuild it how
you see fit.

There’s a fantastic tutorial that
guides you through the various
elements and menus of the game.
It’s surprising how much detail it goes in to, so make sure you

Mystery Game Secret of Bryce Manor

If you were under the preconception that a
spider exploring an abandoned mansion to fi nd
out why it’s empty is a stupid idea for a game,
then chances are you’ll want to stay well away from
Spider: Secret of Bryce Manor.

The game is a mixed
bunch of genres and puts you in control of a spider hero
as he explores Bryce Manor to uncover the mysteries of
why it was abandoned. To do so he must

RPG mystery game for android

Games don’t come much bigger than
Ravensword: Shadowland and it truly is a game
of epic size. At its core, Ravensword is a
traditional RPG that enables you to explore the kingdom of
Tyreas and the mysteries it holds. Ravensword’s kingdom
is massive and the exploring aspect means you’ll never
know what you’ll fi nd around the corner.

The various
villains and monsters you come across come in

Pac-Man Game for Android

PAC-MAN is one of the
most iconic characters
in the video game
industry and his latest foray on to
the Google Play store looks to
take players back to his roots.
This is classic PAC-MAN and
includes all 256 levels as the
original arcade game did back in
the day. Alongside this is a new
tournament mode that enables
players to compete against each
other for real prizes. It’s a nice
blend of both

Zombie game for android

Any game that involves
zombies, Minesweeper
and a love story is going
to be a winning
combination, and thankfully Zombie
Minesweeper is just that. You’re put
in the shoes of a girl on her way to a
date with her boyfriend, but there
seems to have been a pesky zombie
outbreak and mines have been
littered all over the place.

In essence, the game works in the
same way as the classic
Minesweeper game

Google Nexus 7 with Android 4.3, dual cameras to go on sale July 31?

The second iteration of Google's Nexus 7 tablet will officially go on sale on July 31, according to reports late on Friday.

A tip sent to Engadget claimed the device will hit US retailer Staples on the last day of the month, with stock arriving next Wednesday.

Earlier in the afternoon a separate leak lifted the lid on more potential modifications of the Google's best-selling, multi-award-winning 7-inch slate.

A leaked photo of an on-screen specs list offers evidence that the device will now have a 5-megapixel camera on the rear, to accompany a 1.2-megapixel front facing snapper.

The photo, also leaked to Engadget, suggests that, as expected, that the device will be fitted with the new Android 4.3 operating system out of the box.

It'll also be compatible with wireless charging accessories and boast a slim port that will support 1080p HD content, when hooking the device up to a television set.

Expectations are that Google will lift the lid on the new slate at its 'breakfast with Sundar Pichai' event on Wednesday evening (UK time).

There we hope to see Android 4.3, which leaked again on a Nexus 4 on Thursday night, revealed in its glory.

However, it isn't thought that the company will take the opportunity to expose the heavily-anticipated Moto X phone.

Where can I buy the HTC One Mini? Retailers point at release date and price

The HTC One Mini was yesterday unveiled as the 4.3-inch sibling to the flagship HTC One, with a number of networks and retailers already confirming their plans to stock the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini rival in the UK.

While high street chain Phones 4u was the first to confirm its plans to stock the HTC One Mini, a raft of further retailers and network providers have since jumped on the bandwagon for the metal clad mid-market handset. A scaled down version of its flagship sibling, the HTC One Mini boasts a 4.3-inch display with a 720p HD resolution. It runs a 1.4GHz dual-core processor alongside 1GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage.

Helping you answer the question of where can I buy the HTC One Mini?, we have collated all the stockists and networks set to offer the dual-core device.

MobileFun

Already offering HTC One Mini pre-orders, online retailer and accessory seller MobileFun has also pointed at the HTC One Mini price and release date, two bits of information yet to be confirmed by the Taiwanese manufacturer.

“Mobile Fun are happy to announce that we’ll be offering the HTC One Mini sim-free and unlocked, for £379.99,” an official blog post by the online retailer has confirmed. “The phone will be available from August.”

An official spokesperson for the company added: “We’ll also be offering a full range of HTC One Mini accessories for the new phone, including the leading brands of HTC One Mini cases like Case-Mate, Cellular Line and first-party HTC.”

Where can I buy the HTC One Mini? MobileFun

Phones 4u

Allowing wannabe owners to register their interest in the UltraPixel camera hosting HTC One Mini now, Phones 4u has revealed it will offer the phone from launch. HTC One Mini pricing has yet to be confirmed by the retailer which will offer the phone on a selection of leading networks.

“The HTC One mini will be joining the wide range of HTC smartphones available at Phones 4u stores and online, and will be strengthening our already extensive variety of 4G devices.” Scott Hooton, Chief Commercial Officer at Phones 4u said.

“The HTC One mini is an opportunity for HTC to bring their smartphones to a different set of customers – it’s the smartphone made for those that want the best bits of the HTC One, but in a smaller more compact package.”

Where can I buy the HTC One Mini? Phones 4u

EE

Although not yet allowing consumers to pre-order or register their interest in the phone, an official EE spokesperson has confirmed the network will also offer the HTC One Mini from launch. What's more, the network will make use of the handset's 4G connectivity options, offering it on ultra fast speeds.

"Just to confirm that EE, the UK’s only 4G network, will be stocking the HTC One mini," the company stated.

Where can I buy the HTC One Mini? EE

O2

Confirming its intentions via Twitter, O2 has announced it will back up its stocking on the flagship HTC One by supporting its sub-sized sibling too. "You WANT? We GOT. HTC One Mini, coming to O2 soon," a Tweet from the official O2 UK Twitter feed stated.

Where can I buy the HTC One Mini? O2

Vodafone

The red hued network is not to be left behind, announcing via an official blog post that it will also play host to the HTC One Mini.

The company declared: "The HTC One mini will be landing at Vodafone in August, so stay tuned to Vodafone Social for more information."

Second person reportedly electrocuted by charging iPhone

A 30-year-old man in China has reportedly become the second person in a matter of days to have been severely electrocuted by a charging iPhone.

Said to have been in a coma for 10 days, the man is reported to have been charging his iPhone 4 with a third-party charger earlier this month when he received a serious electric shock. Earlier this week it was announced that a Chinese woman had died after been electrocuted by a charging iPhone 5.

According to reports from the Beijing Evening News, a Mr Wu Jian Tong was “suddenly shocked” by his iPhone 4 when attempting to plug it in to charge using a “counterfeit” charger. The Chinese government recently warned residents over the risks of a recent raft of potentially questionable third-party smartphone accessories that have been doing the rounds in the country.

A translation of reports has suggested that Mr Wu shouted “I’m getting shocked” as he connected his phone and was round unresponsive and not breathing when attended to by medical teams at the scene. Having required CPR, Wu is said to have been in a coma for ten days.

With the man’s doctor quoted as stating: “It was no doubt an electric shock,” Wu’s sister has relayed the events to reporters in China.

Describing how she attempted to unplug the device, she said: "I then felt needle-like pains on my fingertips. The current was running from my finger, through to my arm and body, and to the foot."

On Monday it emerged a 23-year-old woman had died last month after trying to make a call using her charging iPhone 5.

In an official statement earlier this week, Apple confirmed that it would fully cooperate and work with authorities to help investigate the claims of the iPhone electrocutions.

"We are deeply saddened to learn of this tragic incident and offer our condolences to the Ma family,” an official spokesperson for the iPad mini manufacturer stated. “We will fully investigate and cooperate with authorities in this matter."

iPhone 6 release date, news, rumours and price

There are few, if any, products in the world that spark as much consumer interest and press coverage than an update to the iPhone. The next iPhone is on its way but will it be called the iPhone 6, or the iPhone 5S?

The question on everyone's lips is will it be an iterative update using the same chassis as the iPhone 5, just like the iPhone 4S was to the iPhone 4 or the iPhone 3GS was to the iPhone 3G.

Besides wanting to know whether the iPhone 6 will be coming this year, many of the questions surrounding the iPhone 6 launch include whether it’ll get BlackBerry Messenger, whether it’ll get a bigger screen and whether it will follow in the footsteps of Sony’s Xperia Z and be waterproof.  

Some of the most fanciful rumours making the rounds centre on the iPhone 6 having a projector, being transparent and having a hologramatic screen. It’s highly unlikely any of these will transpire in the next iteration of the iPhone but concepts and patents filed by Apple fuel the rumours.

We’ll be updating this article regularly but here’s everything we know about the iPhone 6 so far, including how it'll differ from the iPhone 5.

iPhone 6 release date

Apple is sure to unveil its next iPhone later this year. Since 2007 when the first iPhone was released, every year has seen a new iPhone outed.

The release schedule of previous iPhones shows a very clear pattern too – Apple plans its launches with incredible precision.

iPhone – June 2007
iPhone 3G – July 2008
iPhone 3GS – June 2009
iPhone 4 – June 2010
iPhone 4S – October 2011
iPhone 5 – September 2012

The early days of the iPhone series were all about summer launches, but these days Apple has skipped a few months back. Its last two phones were unveiled in September or October.

And, naturally, we’re highly unlikely to see an iPhone 6 arrive in July given we’re already in the thick of it. A September launch is likely.

A July release date was speculated earlier in the year, the source being a leaked document from a Japanese network, but that just goes to show you can never trust rumours.

The first we hear of the Apple launch is likely to be when the invites go out, which could be as late as two weeks before the event itself. However, previous Apple events have been revealed after having their venue booking details leaked. We’ll be back as soon as any such leaks happen.

The next iPhone will launch alongside iOS 7, which was revealed at WWDC 2013 in June, again pointing towards a possible mid-September unveil – Apple says it’ll arrive in the ‘Fall’.

However, if the next iPhone turns out to be the iPhone 5S, it’s likely that we’ll have to wait until 2014 to see the iPhone 6.

That said, there is a third possibility. Some suggest that the long-rumoured ‘low-cost’ iPhone will be called the iPhone 5S, and that the next full-fat iPhone will be the iPhone 6. In that case, both may launch this year.

However, this creates some most un-Apple-like series continuity issues – namely that the iPhone 5 would have higher-end construction than the iPhone 5S.

iPhone 6 price

Apple has a strict approach to pricing. It almost never cuts its prices mid-cycle, only lowering prices when an iPhone goes from being the ‘current’ model to an older legacy phone.

It’s not into doing anything that’ll devalue its products.

This policy is likely to mean the next iPhone costs roughly the same amount as the current one – which starts at £529 for the 16GB model.

The price escalates to £599 for the 32GB model and £699 for the 64GB phone.

iPhone 6 specs

When assessing a phone’s power, there are three main elements to consider – the CPU, the GPU and the RAM.

In pure figures terms, Apple’s iOS series CPUs have never sounded that impressive. They stuck to dual-core chips while Android rivals moved onto quad-core CPUs, but they have actually been quiet trailblazing of late.

The iPhone 5’s A6 processor uses a custom system architecture rather than the ‘off the shelf’ type seen in the vast majority of phones.

However, as our Galaxy S4 vs iPhone 5 feature showed, Apple needs to play catch-up in this area. The iPhone 6 is likely to feature a quad-core processor, rumoured to be clocked at 1.2GHz. 2GB of RAM is also likely.

This would make the iPhone 6 the very first quad-core Apple mobile device. At present, the most powerful in the iOS family is the iPad 4, which stuck with a dual-core main processor.

However, it is rumoured that the iPhone 6 will use the same GPU – the graphics chip – as the iPad 4, the PowerVR SGX554MP4.

This may sound like a disappointing improvement given the iPad 4 was released in 2012, but consider the difference in screen resolution – the iPad 4 screen has over 3 million pixels, the iPhone 5 under one million.

A lower-resolution screen needs less power to render visuals of the same perceived quality.

iPhone 6 Colours

One of the most interesting changes we’ll see in the next-generation iPhone is the introduction of a bit of colour. Claimed leaked prototypes suggest we’ll see five colours, including green, blue, pink and yellow.

Colour joined the Apple family – which has traditionally been all about black, white and silver – with the last iPod touch. You can get the aluminium rear of the music player cast in more-or-less the same shades we expect to see in the next iPhone.

This was only really made possible by the design switcheroo made by the iPhone 5. The previous two generations of iPhones prior to this one were topped with glass on both sides, and creating colour editions would have been a serious manufacturing challenge. Now that the rear of the phone is aluminium, colour editions will be much easier to produce.

However, there have been suggestions that the papped colourful iPhones are the long-rumoured ‘budget’ iPhone.

iPhone 6 software

If the iPhone 6 arrives in 2013 rather than 2014, the phone will definitely run iOS 7. This software was unveiled in June and will power all new iOS devices following its release alongside the next iPhone.

Although the software is not publically available, it has already been released to developers. We know exactly what it looks and feels like already.

iOS 7 is Jonathan Ive’s redesign of the system – he was at the helm of the design team for most of Apple’s iconic products including the iPod and MacBook.

A new look is one of the most important changes. Icons are sharp rather than rounded and other aspects of the interface have taken some cues from Android.

For example, the drop-down notifications menu gives you control over phone features.

However, the system still doesn’t offer home screen widgets, which are what many iOS detractors have been asking for.

iPhone 6 screen

One of the most speculated-about elements of the iPhone 6 is its screen. Will it be bigger? Will it be higher-resolution?

In early 2013, there were rumours that Apple was planning to release two phone in 2013 – a 4-inch phone and a larger 4.8-inch one, the latter most likely to be dubbed ‘iPhone 6’.

iLounge’s Jeremy Horwitz clarified the rumours with his own sources, saying that while a 4.7-inch device was in prototyping stage, it’s “certainly not expected in 2013.”

Horwitz wrote in January that the iPhone 5S will arrive in 2013, will have a 4-inch screen like the iPhone 5.

It is also possible that the next-generation iPhones will use Sharp IGZO screens rather than the Sharp IPS displays used in the iPhone 5. These offer more efficient power consumption than the current type.

iPhone 6 camera

The next iPhone is likely to use a Sony camera sensor similar to those seen in the Sony Xperia Z and Samsung Galaxy S4, if the iPhone 6 is to follow the series’s current direction.

Both the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 use an 8-megapixel Sony sensor – much as people may think Apple only uses its own components, it does not. Using the same sensor for three generations of iPhones is highly unlikely.

Most of this year’s top phones, including the Galaxy S4, use 13-megapixel Sony-manufactured camera sensors.

The two most notable exceptions are the 8.7MP Nokia Lumia 925 and HTC One, but both of those use rather different technologies to make their cameras stand out.

It’s unlikely that the iPhone 6 will make the same moves. The iPhone 6 is likely to be too slim to fit in the OIS components needed to copy the Lumia 925, and using a low-resolution, high pixel pitch sensor like the HTC One’s is a move that could misfire marketing-wise.

We expect the iPhone 6 to use a higher-resolution sensor and a familiar LED flash. Improvements in image quality are likely to be down to an improvement in lens construction and better noise reduction algorithms in the camera’s software.

There are clear improvements to be made in the iPhone 5’s camera lens too. It’s a reasonable f/2.2 construction, but beaten by several others these days, including the F/1.9 Lumia 720 and f/2.0 HTC One.

These figures are the cameras’ f-stop rating, which is the ratio between the diameter of the lens aperture and the focal length of the lens. The lower the figure the better – indicating that it’ll let in more light within the same exposure time, therefore giving the potential for faster shooting in good light and better low-light performance in gloomy situations.

iPhone 6 rumours

The rumour mill is always flying around the launch of another iPhone but what are the rumours to look out for?

Fingerprint scanner

The integration of a fingerprint scanner in the iPhone 6 has been heavily rumoured. Apple patents suggest it could be hidden within the phone's bezel.

Plastic iPhone

Could the iPhone 6 be made of plastic? Not likely but there are plenty of rumours suggesting a budget iPhone may be launched on the same release date as the iPhone 6.

Summer release date

In June pics of the iPhone 6 or 5S were reportedly snapped on a production line. If that's the case and production is already underway we could see an early release date in August.

iPhone 6 – Worth the Upgrade?

If we assume the iPhone 6 is to arrive this year, it’s unlikely to be a huge upgrade. All the rumours point to a sensible rather than hugely dynamic generational shift. We’ll get more power, a more advanced screen and updated software – although all recent iPhones will get the latter.

If the iPhone 6 is to land in 2014, it could well be a more dynamic device that, like the iPhone 5 did, changes the form of the device altogether by adding a larger screen. However, it’s too early to tell, especially given Apple is unlikely to have finalised the design of a product more than a year in advance.

Top 10 Best Email Apps for iPhone

Are you obsessed with trying to make it to “inbox zero?” Are you tired of using the standard Mail app on iOS? Here's a list of email apps found on the app store that could satisfy your inbox OCD.

1. Mailbox

Since its beta release, Mailbox has been the most popular third-party email client on the iOS App Store.

Users can add up to five Gmail or Google app accounts to their Mailbox account. Swipe messages and them to archive or trash. Scan entire conversations, snooze emails, and get push notifications for new messages.

You can download Mailbox from the App Store here.

2. Boxer

Boxer is an email client developed by Taskbox. Similar to Mailbox, users can use swipe gestures to read through new messages. See who your emails are from with profile pictures shown in your inbox. Use “like” to acknowledge a friends message, and use "quick" replies to send common responses while on the go.

Boxer supports Exchange, Gmail, Yahoo, and iCloud.

You can purchase Boxer from the App Store here.

3. Gmail

With Google's official Gmail app, users can easily manage and organize their Gmail inbox. Get notified of new mail, see profile pictures as part of the conversation, and read email with threaded conversations.

Organize your mail by archiving, labeling, starring, delete, or report as spam. The new tab system has 5 different categories including primary, social, promotions, updates, and forums. Easily switch between 5 email account. If you don't like the new version, you can always switch back to the classic inbox.

You can download Gmail from the App Store here.

4. Yahoo Mail

Yahoo! Email is an email app developed by Yahoo! Instantly receive notifications for new messages. Scan messages in your inbox and swipe to delete, flag, move, mark as read and more. Attach photos while composing a new message, and preview photos at the top of the message. Auto complete email addresses when you type.

You can download Yahoo! Email from the App Store here.

5. Triage

If you're struggling to keep up with your email accounts inbox, you may want to check out Triage by Southgate Labs. When you login to your email account, new messages will appear as a stack of cards. Flick messages down to keep them in your inbox, or flick messages up to archive. Triage supports Gmail, iCloud Mail accounts, and Yahoo! Mail.

You can purchase Triage from the App Store here.

6. Dispatch

Dispatch is an email client app for iOS that makes it easy to organize, delegate, and archive your email.

Being a Mailbox competitor, Dispatch has its own unique benefits for those with inbox OCD. The app allows snippets, allows users to respond to emails with common responses, and even customize settings based on the account being used. There is great integration with other third-party apps 1Password, Due, Omifocus, Evernote, and more. For now, the app doesn’t feature push notifications or a unified inbox, which may be a dealbreaker for some.

You can purchase Dispatch from the App Store here.

7. Mail Pilot

Mail Pilot is an app that turns your inbox into a to-do-list. With Mail Pilot, new messages arrive in your inbox as incomplete. When you finish a task, mark the message as complete, and it will automatically be archived by Mail Pilot. Easily collect messages from multiple accounts at once, and manage newsletters, social media notifications, and upcoming events. Mail Pilot works with Gmail, iCloud, AOL, Yahoo, and other email service providers.

You can purchase Mail Pilot from the App Store here.

8. Group Email

Group Email is for users who frequently send...wait for it... group emails! This app makes it very simple to create distribution lists from your contacts, create and send email templates, and easily add photos, videos, and other files from cloud storage services such as Dropbox and SkyDrive.

You can purchase Group Email from the App Store here.

9. FindIt

Findit is a very simple file and email searching app that integrates with Gmail, Dropbox, and Google Drive.

Findit uses a very visual and minimal interface to search for items through filters. It can even search through several unique Gmail, Dropbox, and Drive accounts. Hopefully the developer will integrate with more services in future updates.

You can download FindIt from the App Store here.

10. OWA

If you have an MS Office 365 subscription, you have the benefit of downloading and using Microsoft’s OWA app, which brings all of the live panel goodness of Outlook on Windows Phone 8 to the iPhone. OWA for iPhone has all of the inbox and calendar features that are expected from Outlook. If you are an Outlook power user and an Office 365 subscriber, you can download OWA from the App Store here.

Free fun game for android

Cut the Rope has
always been at the
pinnacle of
physics-based gaming on
the Android OS and this next
instalment doesn’t change
that at all. You still play as
Om Nom, but in this edition
you must travel through six
different eras and still
collect all the candy you
come across.

As usual you
also need to cut the ropes at the correct time and in the
correct sequence to make sure they arrive in Om

Horror game for android

The premise of Eyes is
simple – you need to
venture into an
abandoned house to collect
various valuable objects before making it back to the exit. Problem is
that there’s a spirit that wanders the
same house and doesn’t take kindly
to trespassers. Armed with just a
very basic map and a torch you need to fi nd all the valuables while
avoiding contact with the spirit.
By using the eyes button you

Fun game for android

Following up on the
success of the original,
They Need To Be Fed 2
looks to bring more of the same
360-degree platformer action but
with a few added twists thrown in.
The gameplay is ultimately the same
as before, as you guide your
character through different worlds by
using gravity to help you traverse
various levels and avoid the many
monsters. The 360-degree aspects
really mix up the gameplay,

Free battle strategy games for android

Frontline Commando is
a 3D third-person
shooter that sees you
travel back to WW2 to
tackle the German army. It isn’t an
unfamiliar scenario for most console
games, but there’s a distinct lack of
this type of game readily available for
Android users.

To have a chance of survival, the
game starts you off with a rifl e and a
few grenades, with more weapons,
ammo and added extras available to
you as

Cool Travel Gadgets

Gadgets
on the go, Going travelling? Be sure to
pack these portable gems

PowerBolt
» Price £19.99/$24.99
» More information www.kensington.com
This tiny in-car charger can be used in conjunction with any
standard USB adapter to provide a quick charge of your
devices. Its small size means it can easily be put away, but its
plastic body can heat up a little if left plugged in for a prolonged

Samsung Galaxy S4 screen protector

With a screen as big as the Galaxy S4, it’s always recommended to apply a
decent screen protector to help stop any scratches appearing. The
InvisibleSHIELD does exactly that, offering a perfect edge-to-edge fi t for the
Galaxy S4 without being too much of a nuisance to apply. You will still fi nd the
occasional air bubble appears when you apply it for the fi rst time, but this is a
common

Wireless surround sound system in a small package

For its small stature, you’ll be surprised with the power of the four speakers
that line the inside of this wireless speaker. Each side is covered with a thin
mesh that houses a speaker, meaning you get a true 360-degree sound no
matter where you are.

There’s no fuss when connecting your phone to the
Jongo via Bluetooth and streaming your music across is also very easy.
Although the unit works

Wood Portable keyboard

Portable keyboards are in abundance nowadays, but few include the overall
quality of the Orée Board Maple. Despite being solely made from one piece of
sustainable maple wood, the Orée Board looks and feels like a usable
keyboard that just happens to be easy on the eye.

Each key feels solid and
the high-quality fi nish used throughout means you won’t fi nd any sharp edges
that are likely to

Pebble Smart Watch

Back in April last year an
American startup revealed its
forthcoming Pebble Smart
Watch on the Kickstarter
crowdfunding website, with the aim
of raising $100,000 of funding to put
the $150 device into production.
Less than six weeks later, nearly
70,000 enthusiastic backers had
pledged over $10 million. Fast forward
a year and Pebble has shipped the
watches to its backers and are now
fulfi

Prestigio MultiPhone 4500 review

Despite coming from a largely unknown
company, the Prestigio MultiPhone looks to
really cement itself as one of the premier
affordable devices. As you unbox the MultiPhone, the
white exterior is certainly eye catching, even though
you can tell the device’s chassis is entirely made of
plastic before you’ve even touched it. The bezel is
surprisingly large on both the top and bottom, but the

Huawei Ascend G510 Review

Huawei is slowly starting to make a name for
itself in the world of Android and the G510 is a
great example of showing that you don’t need
a big name to produce a good device. In hand, the
G510 feels very solid and it has some decent weight
to it without being overly heavy. Despite being the
cheapest out of the group, the G510 arguably feels
the most well-made and Huawei has really put
together

Acer Liquid E2 review

Although Acer has had fairly good success with
its Iconia tablet range, the same cannot be
said about its smartphone range, which has
struggled to make an impact. Regardless, the Liquid
E2 has a lot going for it, not only in terms of its price,
but also in several other areas. As soon as you get
your hands on the Liquid E2, it feels solid and well
made. Despite its plastic exterior, there’s no

Free strategy games for android

Although Rocket Island is a
strange mix between the
puzzle and strategy
genres, the idea of needing to
evacuate as many of your island
inhabitants as quickly as possible is
a great one.

With Rocket Island slowly sinking
and natural disasters appearing all
over the place, it’s your job to get as
many people off the island and on to
your moon refuge in as little time as
possible. To do so, you

Free golf games for android

After the popularity of the original game, Super
Stickman Golf 2 has some big boots to fill, but it
does it with near perfection. The arcade golf
game has a new range of fiendishly difficult courses for
you to navigate and don’t be surprised if you’re ripping
your hair out after just a few minutes of playing. Despite
the high difficulty level, the game still offers the addictive
gameplay we found

First Look: Nokia Lumia 925

It's been more than a year since I reviewed a Windows phone. Back in 2012, it was the Nokia Lumia 800. Today, I was handed with the Nokia Lumia 925 that is launching tomorrow (20 July) in Singapore.

Within the span of the 2 Windows phones, I have reviewed numerous other Android devices. As I held the Lumia 925 for the first time, fond memories flowed back to me.

On first impression, a few things stand out from the Nokia Lumia 925:

1. Premium touch. Nokia cleverly designs the phone with an aluminium frame around the sides while opting for polycarbonate rear face.

2. Straightforward layout. Instead of positioning the connectors and buttons all around the phone, the Lumia 925 puts all the buttons - volume, power, camera - on the right, while the SIM card slot and headset jack on the top.

3. Size. The Lumia 925 has a squarish dimension (70.6 x 129 x 8.5mm) which is more friendly on the hand and for typing in both portrait and landscape compared to most other modern Android smartphones.


I'll be sharing more detailed experience on the new Nokia Lumia 925 over the next few weeks. While I am not a Windows Phone user, I will try not to compare too much with other mobile OS. I am already finding some great stuffs on this new smartphone, and can't wait to share my thoughts.

The Nokia Lumia 925 retails for S$799 in Singapore, available in white, black and grey.

Switch between ROMs on Nexus 7

Do you love to try out different
ROMs on your Nexus 7? There
are lots of custom ROMs out
there and while it is fun to try them
out, it can certainly get a bit
frustrating fl ashing backwards and
forwards between new ROMs and
your daily driver.

There is an easier way, however.
MultiROM enables you to have
multiple ROMs installed on your
device and gives you the ability to
switch between them at

A brief history of Android Cameras

In Android’s five-year history the
camera has gone from a feature
that was nice to have but largely useless, to one that has
decimated the market for
compact cameras. We take a
look at the landmark moments
in Android cameras, from its
inauspicious origins to the
latest high-power devices.

2008
T-Mobile G1
Android got off to a
pretty suspect start with
the G1. 3.2 megapixels,
poor quality and no

Make any TV a Smart TV

Smart TVs are becoming a prominentfeature in many living rooms, so the PocketTV aims to bring the full Android experienceto any HDMI-compatible TV you may own.
 The USB pen-sized unit slots into the HDMIport on your TV and starts up a full AndroidIce Cream Sandwich 4.0 experience andbring your TV to life.

Anti-loss accessory for your wallet

Losing your wallet is one of the most infuriating things
ever, but with the SmartWallit accessory you’ll never
misplace it again.

The small SmartWallit unit attaches to
the inner casing of your wallet and connects via Bluetooth
to your Android smartphone.

Through the accompanying
app, your phone will vibrate if you’ve left your wallet
behind. You can even attach it to other objects and keep

Bluetooth-controlled open source robot

As far as Android robots go, BERO is by far one of the best
we’ve seen.

BERO is controlled by Bluetooth on any
Android smartphone, enabling users to get BERO to
perform a wide variety of tasks and functions.

As well as
being able to do some silly things like dance and talk, BERO
can also be used to update your social media feeds and
act as a Bluetooth speaker. It can even be hacked for
more

Create your own Kickstarter

Follow these top tips
to make sure your
project gets funded
1 Make sure you’ve made all the
correct calculations for putting the
project together and paying
Kickstarter fees.
2 Projects that include videos tend to
get funded more, make one!
3 Ask yourself: would you buy it? If the
answer is anything but a resolute yes
then you should go back to the
drawing board.
4 Keep communicating with your

3 stages of Kickstarter: Production

How useful was
Kickstarter in garnering
interest in the amp?
It was very useful in
garnering interest and
proving there was a demand. We hope to
release our products without the aid of
Kickstarter in the future.

Were you surprised with how many backers
you received?
We hoped for more! No, in reality the
response we received from the Kickstarter
community was perfect. We really did not
expect to

Vacuum tube amplifier with Bluetooth

With a finished BlueTube unit fetching close to a $1,000,
BlueTube Audio is an example that even high-end products
can also get the necessary crowdfunding required via a
successful Kickstarter page.

Working as a vacuum tube amplifier
means that true audio fans can enjoy silky smooth tunes, and when
you take a look at the speakers that accompany it, you know you’re
investing in a premium

Electrical thermometer for smartphones

Thermodo is a small thermometer that fi ts into the
audio jack in your Android smartphone. The unit itself
uses the audio jack to send a signal through to the
temperature sensor, where it can then measure the
exact climate conditions and distribute it to the
corresponding app. It doesn’t need any extra tools to
get working and instead takes its power directly from
the device it’s connected to.

The next generation of Android PC

As well as being a compact Android computer
that turns any monitor or TV into an education
and entertainment station, MiiPC enables
parents to stay in complete control over the things
their children get up to online. Running Android 4.2
means that users can download apps, surf the web,
watch videos and even chat with friends.

3 stages of Kickstarter:
Getting funded
Frank Pesek, chief architect

Kickstarter solar charger

Solar chargers tend to be a very mixed bag, but the ReadySet looks to
change this. The unit can charge up to ten devices at the same time,
including any smartphones or tablets you may own.

What makes ReadySet
a remarkable unit, however, is
how it deals with renewable
energy. The unit adapts its
charge based on what
sources you have available to
you and you can charge your
devices via solar

Create a video game

Game design is made easy with Pixel Press. Use the free sketch kit to draw
out your own platformer game, while making sure to follow the design
guide when applying any details, including spikes, jumps and obstacles.
You can then take your Android phone or tablet and bring your game to life by
scanning the sketch paper with the specifi cally designed Pixel Press game. After
the game has been added

3 stages of Kickstarter: The concept

How did you originally come up with the concept of
Pixel Press?
My friends and I drew video game levels growing up in the
Eighties – we were so fond of the experience that we’ve
found ourselves reminiscing about it fairly regularly. I guess
in some magical story, lines merged into what Pixel Press is today – a pretty
spot on version of how my friends and I drew video game levels coupled with
some

Kickstarter Watch with voice command technology

With voice command technology
being greatly improved
recently, it’s no wonder that
Martian Watches managed to get
funding. Their unique high-end watches
blend in smart Bluetooth and voice
capabilities to provide a truly
interactive, and wearable, piece of
technology. By connecting one of the
watches to your Android smartphone,
you can subsequently answer incoming
calls, manage SMS messages and

Wireless Charging For Galaxy S4 Receiver Review

The official Samsung Galaxy S4 remote charging unit is costly and doesn't work with generally Galaxy S4 cases, however a $27 Galaxy S4 remote charging recipient is thin enough to slide inside the existing Galaxy S4 back so you can utilize remote charging and cases.

 

With a small amount of examining I discovered a Galaxy S4 remote charging connector that associate inside the once again of my Galaxy S4 without including any observable mass. This is a Qi remote charging collector that retails for only $27 on Newegg and is not difficult to institute.

This Samsung Galaxy S4 remote charging recipient is intended to unite with the same contacts the official Galaxy S4 remote charging back does. Clients can uproot a minor sticker to join the Galaxy S4 remote charger to the electric cell, or clients can depend on the force of the case to hold it set up. I didn't utilize the sticker throughout my survey, and like that there is sufficient force to keep it set up, on the off chance that I have to switch electric storage devices down the lin

Sony Xperia L Review

Sony’s Xperia devices always tend to be on the
stylish side and despite its lowly price tag, the
Xperia L follows suit here. The entire device has
a nice curved feel to it and the screen is raised up
slightly from the base of the phone. Around the back
is a matte plastic which feels good in hand, but the
oddly placed speaker can be covered up by your fi nger
as you hold it. What really stands

Review: HTC Desire 600 Dual SIM Android Smartphone

There is something unique about HTC smartphone designs that blend style with quality. The recent review units that I received from them, HTC Butterfly s and HTC Desire 600, are good examples.

Design
The black HTC Desire 600 I had for this review uses a rough matt material finishing for its rear removable cover, offering slip-free, grease-free, fingerprint-free experience. It may be small and lightweight, but it offers 4-core 1.2GHz speed, adequate for daily use.

Upon removing the tough rear cover, you will find the 1860mAh removable battery and slots for 2 micro SIM cards and microSD card. Power button is on the top of the phone, a placement that I do not like as it is hard to reach to turn on the phone with one hand.


Hardware
The 8 megapixel camera with f/2.0 26mm lens provides adequate resolution for image clarity, though images turn out slightly under-exposed and flat. Fans of HTC Video Highlights will be pleased to find that HTC Desire 600 can produce the same 30-second video clips easily for sharing, though you can't capture HTC Zoe with this camera.

Just like HTC One, the HTC Desire 600 comes with dual frontal stereo speakers that easily trumps other brand phones. The 4.5-inch 960x540 "Super LCD 2" screen, however, isn't stellar. After getting too used to high ppi screens, one might notice the on-screen text are not as polished. The colour tone is also slightly cooler compared to the HTC Butterfly s. While the built-in 8GB storage might not be sufficient for many, microSD card up to 64GB may be added to expand the storage space.


Software
The HTC Desire 600 runs on similar HTC Sense 5 as the highly-acclaimed HTC One, with identical 2 soft buttons, so you get to experience the higher-end device. The HTC BlinkFeed is a convenient way to receive news feeds from the customised sources you pick, including your own social sites. It also displays your daily calendar information so you don't miss your appointments.

Transferring content from your old phone to the HTC Desire 600 is simple, thanks to the built-in "Transfer Content" feature that offers wizard guides and software to get you up to speed with your new phone.


Dual SIM
Of course, the star feature of the Desire 600 is the dual SIM capability. Unlike many dual SIM devices in the market, the Desire 600 allows both SIMs to be active at the same time. Call management is easy after you specify a unique slot name for each SIM (e.g "Work", "Pers"). You can easily select which SIM to make the outgoing call or send SMS on the respective call or SMS screens. You can assign different ringtones for each SIM card. Call logs can be filtered by individual SIM in case you want to track separately.

Dual SIM smartphones are not popular in Singapore compared to other countries even though many consumers hold multiple mobile numbers, and one major reason could be the variety of devices. While I would prefer to carry 2 devices for redundancy, having 2 numbers in one phone has immense benefits for people who needs simplicity in their life - simplicity of having just one device for their personal and office contacts to reach them. However, it might drain the battery a little faster, and fortunately for Desire 600, you can get extra batteries to last the day if needed.


In a Nutshell...
If you want a dual SIM smartphone that is not run-of-the-mill, then HTC Desire 600 could be the one to get. It offers the stellar features of the HTC One with the benefits of dual SIM at an affordable price. It won't blow you away with its humble hardware specs but it is certainly no pushover. With the HTC Desire 600, you can finally own a decent dual SIM smartphone without sacrificing quality and looks.


Size: 134.8 x 67 x 92.6mm
Weight: 130g
Display: 4.5" qHD super LCD 2, Gorilla Glass 2
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Quad-core 1.2GHz
User Memory: 8GB
RAM: 1GB
Dual SIM: HSPA, EDGE
Connectivity, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0 with aptX, Wi-Fi, DLNA
Camera: Rear 8MP, f/2.0 28mm. Front 1.6MP


Retailing for S$498, the HTC Desire 600 is available at independent electronic outlets.


The article is also published on XINMSN.

Modern Combat Games

The Modern Combat
games have long been
established as the
premier shooter series
available for Android users. Sporting
a refreshed new look and a refined
multiplayer system, Modern Combat
4: Zero Hour delivers more of the
fast-paced action we’ve become
accustomed to.

Zero Hour sees you lead a small
group of elite soldiers against a
terrorism unit looking to cause havoc
across the world. Armed

This Is Home - Singapore National Day Song

Come August, Singapore celebrates National Day, which gives me pleasure to share a National song that I produced 2 years ago, with vocals by Bevlyn Khoo, a local songwriter with several albums to her credit. Unlike other covers online, our version offers equal melodic weightage on both piano and vocal.

There is no better song like "Home" (家) (1998) to capture the emotions that I have for my Motherland. No one can write this better than Singapore songwriter Dick Lee. No one can sing this better than Singapore songbird Kit Chan. I hope our cover version does justice to the song.

Please share if you like it. Photos featured in the videos by Chester Tan (that's me).

Specs of Sony Xperia Honami leak, 20 MP camera confirmed

The Sony Xperia Honami will reportedly sport a 5-inch display of 1080p resolution. The smartphone is going to be powered by a 2.2 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor and feature 2 GB of RAM. The 20 megapixel Exmor RS main camera will feature Sony G-lens and BIONZ image processor, but its sensor will measure 1/2.3" rather than the previously rumored 1/1.6".

The impressive snapper will be joined by a 2 megapixel front facing snapper. The smartphone will have 16 GB of expandable storage to save all those shots and will draw its juice from a 3,000mAh battery.

Sony Xperia Honami is said to be IP57 certified, which it is completely dust-protected and it will withstand a meter of water for 30 minutes. The Xperia Honami reportedly measures 144 x 73.9 x 8.3mm and will come with a great set of connectivity options along with latest version of the Android OS - 4.2. The upcoming flagship smartphone from Sony is expected to compete against the likes of other camera-phones such as Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom and, more importantly, the Nokia Lumia 1020.

Sony is set to unveil its Honami smartphone at its press event on September 4 at the IFA expo in Berlin.

AT&T announces 'Next' program for yearly smartphone upgrades

AT&T has announced its new upgrade plan called "AT&T Next". The latest program from the carrier allows you to purchase a brand new smartphone or a tablet once every 12 months.

The new device is available with no activation fee, no down payment, no upgrade fee or any financing fees. To be eligible for this offer you have to pay a monthly fee for 20 months and you will have the option to trade in the device once every 12 months. After trading in your old device, the installment cycle for your device ends and a new cycle for a period of 20 months begin.

The plan also allows you to opt out of upgrading and you can pay out the full 20 months fee that varies based on your smartphone or tablet model. Check out the source link below for more information on the terms and conditions.

Samsung Galaxy S4 LTE-A is now available in two new hues

Samsung launched its Galaxy S4 LTE-A smartphone in Arctic Blue and Aurora Red color options and now, the device is getting two new shades - Black Mist and White Frost.

Samsung has already shipped 150k Galaxy S4 LTE-A units in its homeland in just 14 days after its launch and its hoping to continue the trend. The addition of new hues is expected to help the powerful smartphone maintain the good performance.

To recap the specifications of the Samsung Galaxy S4 LTE-A, it comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor rather than the Snapdragon 600 on the international version. However, the rest of the hardware remains identical to its sibling.

Is this our first glimpse of HP's return to the smartphone game?

The news that HP may make a return to the smartphone business is refusing to die down and we now have a render to cast our eyes over, although its origins are unclear.

HP hasn't exactly shied away from a potential return to the phone sphere, with the firm's CEO revealing it was working on a smartphone last year. That was followed by similar comments from another exec in February and a senior director earlier this month.

PhoneArena has now got hold of a render which claims to show HP's Android smartphone, but the tipster who passed it over didn't present any information on the device.

In terms of design the handset in the picture appears to borrow its shape from the iPhone 5, while the centralised notification light below the screen is reminiscent of the Nexus 4.

Dock me

No clues were given as to how the tipster came about the render, or how well connected they are so we're taking this leak with a sizable pinch of salt for now.

Another hint that HP is working on mobile solutions has come via a patent application picked up by Patently Apple, which documents an ultrabook with a dock for a mobile phone built into it.

This phone, however, is said to be powered by Windows and not Android allowing it to seamlessly integrate with the computer, suggesting HP may develop handsets to run on Windows Phone as well as Google's offering.

We'll have to wait and see if these ideas really do come to fruition, but we're intrigued as to what HP may be able to offer the already crowed mobile market.

BlackBerry A10 specs leaked in confidential document

The BlackBerry A10 specs have been leaked in a screenshot from an official and top secret BlackBerry document.

Revealing the hardware for the next BB10 device, the leaked confidential document contains the full specs for the highly rumoured BlackBerry A10 ahead of any official unveiling.

Posted on the CrackBerry forum as a screen grab with the simple comment “I’ll just leave this here”, the specs are part of a confidential BlackBerry document which is only available to those who have signed a Non-Disclosure Agreement.

However, despite the NDA warning, the document dated May 23 2013 has still managed to emerge online, revealing the BlackBerry A10 spec sheet.

Previously tipped to be a ‘big’ full touch phone, the latest leak supports this theory, suggesting the A10 will have a 5-inch OLED Display with a 1280 x 720p HD resolution and 295ppi image density.

This means the screen will be of a lesser quality than the other BB10 devices, the BlackBerry Z10 and BlackBerry Q10.

It will supposedly pack a 1.7GHz dual-core Qualcomm processor with a quad-core GPU and 2GB of RAM.

An 8-megapixel camera in the rear will be paired with a 2-megapixel front-facing snapper. The BlackBerry A10 will also have 16GB of internal storage bolstered by a microSD slot for cards up to 64GB.

The next BB10 smartphone will also pack a pretty powerful 2800mAh if this document is correct, along with a micro USB and HDMI port, DLNA, Wi-Fi, NFC and 4G LTE connectivity to boot.

Many of these specs tally up nicely with the Z10 and Q10, but the A10 may well play host to the new BB10.2 version of the latest BlackBerry operating system.

Currently, all that is available is the BB10.1 version, so 10.2 may bring new features with it.

Apparently, the BlackBerry A10 is set for a November launch, but today’s leak may spur BlackBerry on to release it a little earlier.

New Google Play Web Store rolls out

Google has launched a new version of the Google Play Web Store, bringing it in line with the latest Android version of the app and media store.

The new version of the Google Play Web Store continues the bold design language introduced with Google's latest Android app revisions, including Google Music, Play Movies and the Google Play app itself.

In terms of usability, the key addition here is a handy sidebar, which contains immediate links to Apps, Movies, Music, Books and Magazines, as well as your devices. Previously all media was bunched into an irritating drop-down menu.

The actual design is far more visually arresting, with larger screen shots and artwork for applications and more space granted to descriptions. Google+ recommendations from your contacts for individual apps, movies and other items of media have also been pushed to the fore.

This new Google Play Web Store is a lot smarter, too, with the ability to resize according to your screen size.

Click on the price of an app or any other item and you'll be able to open up a download window, enabling you to select a device and install without navigating away from the page.

There's also a new option within individual app pages to add them to your wishlist - a great way to keep an eye on those apps you stumble upon that are a little pricier than you would like.

All in all it's a massive improvement over what came before. It certainly teaches the sluggish, unwieldy iOS App Store a few lessons.

Stunning strategy game with great Play Games links

If games could be
amazing for their
graphics alone, then
Eufloria HD would be in a class of
its own. The game really is that
beautiful. In essence this is a strategy game, but utilises an entirely
new concept to truly stand out from
the rest of the field.

You play as a small seed that
needs to conquer other plants
around them to expand their empire.At the same time you need to
gather resources

The ultimate social media management app

Are you tired of constantly
switching between social
networking apps? There’s
Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare and
more… what’s an Android user to
do? Scope acts as a social
networking hub, letting you easily
manage your many accounts from
one easy-to-use app. The app
borrows from Flipboard to make
sharing simple. It
would be nice if
you could register
more than one
account if you
have multiple

Texting while driving app

Every year thousands of
people die worldwide due
to texting while driving. Not
only are you putting yourself and your
passengers in danger, you’re also
putting pedestrians in harm’s way.
This isn’t your standard app – it
comes with a device that you place
inside your car. This device can tell
when you’re driving and will stop you
with a warning message if you try to
send an SMS. The
app is very

Easy Transferring files for android

Although NFC has been
around for a while, there
are still only a minority of
people taking full advantage of it.
With FileBeam, you can use your
device’s NFC functionality to transfer
all your Dropbox fi les between
devices by simply pushing two
devices together. The application
enables you to select as many fi les
from your Dropbox account as you
like and transfer
them all over at
the same time.

A surprisingly ingenious app

Nothing is more frustrating
than being interrupted by a
phone call or incoming
message when you’re trying to
browse the internet or watching a
video. With Small Call, however, you
can set a range of settings that will
enable you to continue what you’re
doing without the nuisance value of
calls or messages. As well as
minimising incoming calls, you can
also set Small Call
to send an
automated text

Auto Response app for android

Texting while driving is very
dangerous, and has been
outlawed in many places.
It’s said that texting while behind the
wheel is as dangerous as drinking six
beers and driving – yikes! Otter helps
eliminate the SMS urge and the
distraction. It’s not just a driving app
– it’s perfect while you’re at the
movies, in an important meeting or
having dinner
with the
family. Set
custom
autoresponses
so

Easy way to extend your phone’s battery life

Do you fi nd your Android
device always runs out of
battery at the most
inopportune times? Are
you always on the go without a
charger? Well, worry no more.
Snapdragon Battery Guru is your
battery life-saver. No matter what
kind of Snapdragon-powered
smartphone you have – it won’t work
on devices with other CPU types – it
is guaranteed to prolong the life of
your phone’s battery. This app is as

Easy SMS app for android

Are you tired of the same
old boring text messaging?
Spruce it up with the
Sliding Messaging app. This free app
lets you easily manage text
messages in a visually appealing
way. The app borrows from Google’s
stock messaging app while adding
its unique spin on SMS. Switching
between conversations is as easy as
swiping the sliding menu on the left,
and starting a new conversation is as
easy as

iTunes for Android

There’s no denying the iPod
is one of the best music
players out there and it can
be frustrating when you can’t use it
with your Android device. doubleTwist
with Magic Radio is the next best
thing. It’s so much more than simply
a streaming radio app – you can
listen to over 13 million songs and
download songs
from your favourite
artists. The best
thing is the app
seamlessly lets
you import your

How to make creating music fun and easy

NodeBeat makes creating music fun and easy. Whether you’re a
world-class musician or you don’t have a musical bone in your body,
NodeBeat will have you sounding like a pro in no time. This fantastic
app offers freedom of choice – create your very own tunes in minutes or let
NodeBeat do the hard work and make
music for you.

NodeBeat is perfect for
aspiring musicians of all ages – whether
you’re

The best multi-tasking web browser on Android

With the plethora of web browsing apps available, do we really need
another one? We do when it’s as dynamic as Floating Popup Web
Browser. This app takes tab browsing a step further. It enables you to
have multiple browser windows open on
your home screen at the same time. Not
only that, you can browse websites and
interact with them simultaneously.

The
app is ideal for big screen smartphones

Easy photo sharing app for android

Android users, it’s time
to rejoice – photo
sharing favourite app
fl ayvr is fi nally available on an
Android device near you. The
photo sharing app realm is quite a
crowded space – with players like
Flickr and Google+, fl ayvr is up
against some tough competition.
The app really shines with its
unique features, whether you’re a
professional photographer or you
simply enjoy snapping photos as a

Most popular photography app

Say cheese! If you’ve
never heard of Flickr
you must have been
living under a rock for
the past decade. Flickr is the world’s
most popular photo sharing app and
it’s not hard to see why.

Flickr,
which is owned by Yahoo!,
recently underwent a major
upgrade. It’s upped the ante by
offering 1 terabyte – that’s right,
1TB – of storage. That’s over
500,000 photos that you can store.
This blows its

Fantastic browser app on Android

Let’s face it – there’s no shortage of fantastic
browser apps available on Android devices. So
what sets Next Browser apart from the pack?
Plenty. Next Browser is like a best-of-the-best browser
– it borrows bits and pieces from all your favourite
browser apps. The app has a simple and easy-to-use
interface – your favourite websites instantly pop up
when the app is launched. The app has a slew of