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Author: The Editor

  • Apple iOS Vs Android Vs Microsoft Windows Phone 2016

    hyp4mhz
    To start of 2016 we decided to once again compare the 3 main mobile phone operating systems again to see what's changed and to assess our own views on which is the best system to get. Apple iOS is used only for Apple's iPhones. Many are familiar with the system over the years and it is one of slickest systems out there. It is limited by the hardware it runs on and Apple's inability to innovate functionality further than the basics. Flaws are getting bigger too especially when official Apple accessories do not work with current models and problems with iTunes is half only half of it, for 2016 it's probably gone backwards overall in terms of ease of use. iOS also requires the latest hardware to run properly. We also hate the notification system downloading Apple biased news. Gone are the days when iOS was the most efficient its now sluggish on any model other than the latest. Android OS is used by every other manufacturer and many are familiar with the way it works. Android is a slick as iOS in default mode used but the Nexus models. Although Google develops the core other manufacturers have taken to modifying it with wildly different results. The best implementation is arguably Sony but it needs to cut back on 'Sony' experience Apps which can be combined into 2 apps not 6 or more as it is now. Samsung's Android version is the next best experience with genuinely useful mods however it makes it the interface not as slick as the others. The bare bones Nexus is probably the next best as it requires a number of other apps before it can be fully utilised which is arguably the point. Most models have microSD expansion which means longer life and easy data transfers and added to the ability of Android to play any movie, music file for example is brilliant. Unfortunately the amazing functionality of Android can still make it confusing to first time users. Windows Phone OS is very good no question. Easily the slickest and easiest to use on any sort of hardware. Just plug it into any Windows PC and you can manage your content. Lots of new features have improved usability and speed. We think it will thane the world a little longer to realise how good it is. The biggest problem is still the lack of Apps  but give it a little more time. We think Android and Windows Phone have advanced the most since the last time we reviewed them and should be your next choice in mobile phones.  

  • Telstra 4GX Buzz review

     2015_gx4buzz_1
    Welcome to the 2015 Telstra 4GX Buzz review.  It's been awhile since we last reviewed a Telstra branded ZTE phone but finally a new model worth a look! The main selling point is that the 4GX is arguably the cheapest 4G/LTE capable phone in Australia albeit locked to the Telstra network. You can buy the Telstra 4GX as a pre-paid phone selling for under $80. In terms of construction the 4GX is typically average for an all plastic phone. It doesn't look anything special or feel it. Mind you that is not unexpected for the price. In terms of hardware the 4GX has the specifications of what we call an entry level smartphone in December 2015. The earphone sound quality is very raw and could do with better volume. The lower resolution screen is also set back in the case which indicates the age of tech. There is nothing to boast about except for the 4G connectivity. Yes times have changed very quickly in the smartphone class since the last review. In terms of use thanks to the low resolution screen the CPU doesn't strain its self too much so 4GX Buzz  is reasonably nice to use when not running high performance apps. Speaking of which there are also plenty of apps to choose from so should keep you happy for another year. Since it is capable of 4G speeds the CPU especially in the browser works fine but you can tell that it needs a faster CPU to make use of the faster download speeds and perhaps more RAM too! In that respect it reminds us of how the iPhone 4GS works with iOS9 installed but the 4GX is a faster and arguably a better experience. To conclude the Telstra 4GX Buzz is a decent cheap smartphone for those on a budget. There are plenty of better basic Android based phones but nothing with 4G capabilities and at this price! Specifications
    • Telstra 4GX Buzz
    • Network Tri-band 4G/LTE Tri-band GSM Tri Band 900/1800/1900 Dual-band 3G 850/2100
    • Design Touch screen
    • L134 x W67.5 x D10.3 mm
    • Weight 150 grams
    • Display/s 4.5 inch 480 X 854 pixels
    • Camera 5MP LED Flash
    • Video Camera 480p high definition 30FPS main video camera
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V4
    • CPU 1.2 Ghz Quad core Separate Graphic CPU
    • Memory 1Gig RAM Up to 8Gig for user Up to 32Gig micro-SD expansion
    • Features A-GPS, Accelerometer, Light FM Radio
    • Li-Po 2200 mAh battery Up to 300 hours Standby Up to 10 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Under $80 AUD December 2015 (Pre-paid)

  • Oppo R7 and R7 Plus, N1 Mini, Mirror 5s, Find 7a Review

    2015_oppo_1
    Welcome to our first group review. we decided to put this together as it was clear that every Oppo branded phone impressed us with their version of Android or general usability. Although Oppo is still a unknown phone brand in most parts of the world but we don't think that will be the case in a few years. The key selling point for Oppo is that it is a manufacturer of highly specified phones at relatively cheap prices compared to the competition. In terms of construction every model was put together very well. Even the N1 with its rotating camera felt solid and more importantly build to last more the a few months. That said none of the Oppo models truly felt like premium model in the vein of the industry leading Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge. All the Oppos where more like a couple generations in terms of construction. In terms of hardware the screen on every Oppo, despite screen resolution looked great! All models have extra RAM so you can expect and do get decent performance regardless of what App you're running. Only your network's internet data speeds will effect your experience which is the way it should be. It is missing a few features we'd really like but a features like dual SIMs are worthy of note. In terms of use the Andriod OS has been customised but to an extent that it does not hinder performance. We thought the menu navigation in particular was slicker than what we've seen on many 'higher' spec'd phones. There are problems though and they are support and Andriod OS updates. However the availability of the Android Play App does help security and system problems but updating the entire OS is safest option, which Oppo does not seem to do very often. To conclude, the entire Oppo range for 2015 are very good choices. There is no particular model that we'd choose over the other except for screen size. Australia pricing of the Oppo range can vary but the following is the price guide at the time of this post: Oppo R7 Approx $450 Oppo R7 Plus Approx $599 Oppo N1 Mini Approx $320 Oppo Find 7a Approx $400 Oppo Mirror 5s Approx$250

  • Apple Watch review (2015)

    Finally here’s the Apple Watch review. We would have posted it sooner but the reason will become clear soon.

    In terms of construction and design: The Apple watch is a very well made price of kit. It has got a nice weight to it and materials regardless of price is actually very good. The rear panel looks much better than the front which is a design flaw in our opinion. The two screen sizes is an interesting design choice but the square look and lower screen resolution tech is simply old. Speaking of the front design it is a disappointment as it is too thick and not very stylish to look at. Changing the bands on the Apple watch does lift the appearance but not enough to make it look like a designer watch. The best thing about the Apple watch is that it does have a small speaker and microphone which most other smart watches do not have.

    In terms of use the Apple watch interface is a little awkward as the icons are on the small side and enlarging them using one finger is annoying but the additional crown functionally does help. The apps work fast enough and mostly smoothy but it’s no iPhone.  The display it’s self is nice but some information displayed can be confusing to look at. It is as good as say the LG G watch in terms use but certainly not better.

    Having more sensors on the Apple watch would have made it better at health monitoring functions rather than just basic heart rate and measuring steps. The Microsoft band is the leader in this area. In terms of battery life the Apple Watch does last a full day time aka 12-18 hours. It really does need charging every night – unless you have disabled every notification or only use it to tell the time which defeats the purpose of a smart watch.

    Biggest problems with the apple Watch are:

    Blacked out screen most of the time.
    Interface that is difficult to use.
    No features that other smart watches don’t have.
    Lacking tech like a thermometer or even a GPS.
    It really isn’t anything special to look at.

    The Apple watch is not for those who value fashion or even those aspiring to be fashionable. Let’s face it in 2015 a Casio digital watch especially those from the 1980’s are more fashionable than the Apple watch. For health fanatics it an alternative to any Fitbit model or example and those who simply want the next Apple device. The Apple Watch is not a geek accessory it’s for people who rather not take their phone out to check stuff  – we’re guessing. We really felt that Apple Watch simply copied the features of Android Wear interface but made it worse like the menu system which really does seem tacked on. The Apple watch does not lead the class in anything but marketing and PR spend to be completely honest.

    In the end the Apple watch does work really well as a notification device and tells time along with the various basic health monitoring but so does any other current smart watch. Until they work out how to make the Apple watch unique or to do something really special it is just like the Apple Newton.

    Key Apple Watch specifications: 

    • Digital Crown
    • Retina display with Force Touch
    • Heart rate sensor, accelerometer and gyroscope
    • Ambient light sensor
    • Speaker and microphone
    • Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n 2.4GHz) and Bluetooth 4.0
    • 205mha Battery
    • At least 1 day
    • Water resistant
    • Height: 38.6 mm or 42.0 mm
    • Width: 33.3 mm or 35.9 mm
    • Depth: 10.5 mm
    • Case weight : 25 g  or 30 g
    • Band weight : 47 g  or 51 g

     

  • HTC Desire 820 Review

     2014_htc820_2
    Welcome to the HTC Desire 820 quick eview . We haven't looked at HTC phones for a little while but that changed with the release of the One M9 the cheaper Desire 820. The Desire 820 is the next step down in the price bracket and essentially where all the action is these days as consumers are realising that these phones do everything the top end phones do often matching or exceeding the prior ten top end models. The Desire 820 and variants are priced under the $450 market and decreasing as the model was released 12 month ago (2014). In terms of construction, the Desire 820 is all plastic but it is well put together it is essentially two main pieces. It feels good to hold but we feel you'll be looking for a new transparent case to show it off. There multiple colours but we prefer the one with the matt finish as the shiny one will look old in no time. We think the Desire 820 looks a little like a prop form a sic-fi movie in a good way. In terms of hardware the HTC 820 packs all you'd expect in a mid-range phone and exceeds it! There is a Octa-core CPU and explains why it works do smoothly. The 1080P screen looks good and the loud stereo speakers help differentiate against other phones. The HD screen is nice to look at for a mid-range. Apart for these features it's mostly mid to high spec. In terms of use the HTC Desire 820 like most new Android based phones works really well. It is smooth with minimal background tasks to slow down the interface. That said, dependent on the speed of your phone network may cause update pauses. The Octa-core CPU really lifts the 820 beyond existing models The HTC Desire 820 is a very impressive phone in late 2015. The only real flaw of the 820 is probably the overly plastic body which look good when new, but over time can deter potential buyers. Ignore it and you will get a year or two of great experiences, until its time for another upgrade. The HTC Desire 820 compared to say, the current Samsung A series phones which look great but not as nice to use, we'd still get the 820 and a decent 3rd part case. Specifications
    • HTC Desire 820
    • Network Quad-band 3G 850/900/1900/2100 Quad-band 4G 700/1800/2300/2600
    • Design Touch screen
    • L157.7 x W78.74 x D7.74 mm
    • Weight 155 grams
    • Display 5.5 inch 1,280 x 1080
    • Camera 13MP auto-focus LED Flash 8MP 2nd forward facing camera
    • Video Camera 1080p high definition 30FPS main video camera 2MP Video phone camera
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V4 USB
    • CPU Octa-core 1.5 Ghz Separate Andreno 405 Graphics CPU
    • Memory 2Gig RAM Up to 16 Gig for user Up to 128Gig micro-SD expansion
    • Features A-GPS, GLONASS, Compass, Accelerometer Stereo speakers Ring tones: MIDI, MP3, Video, vibration and others FM Radio Google Play store Li-Po 2600 mAh battery Up to 425 hours Standby Up to 22 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Under $450 AUD late 2015 (Outright)

  • iPhone 5c Review

    iphone5c_1
    Welcome to the Apple iPhone 5c review. This review is a little late after all the 5c has been for sale since 2013. Mobile phone tech sets new benchmarks every 12 months and you just have to check out our older reviews just to see how the model we raved about then no longer can compete against the latest models. In this context we wrote this review. Furthermore since there are few note worthy models at this time of the year we decided to up this review. In terms of construction the iPhone 5C feels good for a plastic backed phone. The color and feel though show that Apple went too far in trying to make a cheap iPhone since it looks and ultimately feels as cheap as the cheapest non-Apple mobile phone but without the truly cheap price tag. We don't think that Apple needed to downgrade the construction if you want to make a cheaper model than the regular 5. But it does prove how difficult it is to make a plastic look and feel good. Only Nokia has managed to do that so far. In terms of hardware the iPhone 5C uses a slower CPU and GPU then the regular 5 but it is faster than the 4S. Everything else in 2015 terms the 5C ranks slightly lower than existing 2015 mid range phones in terms of specification. The bonus you get is 4G or LTE capability which is still not a universal feature in this part of the market BUT a tiny screen. Furthermore the lack of memory in the basic '8 Gig' model in reality comes with less than 5Gigs  for data and Apps is a joke really. The iPhone 5C is not a 5 or 5S, more like a slightly upgrade 4S. Clearly it's not close to the iPhone 6 in terms of performance. In terms of use the iPhone 5C is just like any other iPhone except a little slower. Teens and those in their 20's will notice the relative slowness but won't complain too much because they are little embarrassed having just spent a lot money on something that's quite dated. Older folk will also know the difference if they already own a new iPhone. Overall smooth to use but the interface is starting to show Apple trying to pack in features that require user intervention to tweak to maximise and mostly turn off. The need for Apps to do many things is annoying and honestly they are mostly Advertising App driven interface is quite annoying. It's not bad to use but a 2015 Windows phone is easier to use. Overall the iPhone 5C is a bit of strange model. It's not cheap because any recently superseded iPhone will always be a better option and value for money in to terms of speed, feature and 'status' only for those in certain countries. The best thing about the iPhone is still the number of Apps available and that's the only saving feature in the 5C model. It's a triumph of PR over reality the 5C so we'd save for the regular 5 or 5S version for longevity, the slightly bigger screen, more memory but optioned with at least 32Gig for the sake of usability. In the end we would definitely prefer a Windows Phone like the run out Lumia 930 before considering the 5C. Specifications
    • Apple iPhone 5c
    • Network Quad-band GSM Tri-band 3G 4G LTE
    • Design Touch screen
    • L124.4 x W59.2 x D9 mm Weight 132 grams
    • Display/s External 4 inch TFT 640 x 1136
    • Camera 8MP LED Flash
    • Video Camera 1.2 MP 30 fps
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V4
    • CPU Dual Core 1.3 Ghz Graphics: PowerVR
    • Memory From 8-32Gig
    • Ring tones Purchase or iStudio only
    • Features A-GPS, GLONASS, Accelerometer, Gyrometer Compass, Proximity sensor, Multi-touch screen Battery 1510 mAh Up to 250 hours Standby Up to 10 hours Talk Time
    • Price history From $529 AUD 2015 (Outright 8G)

  • Microsoft/Nokia Lumia 830 Review

     nokia830_1
    Welcome to the Nokia Lumia 830 review. The Lumia 830 was released in early 2015 is one of the first branded as Microsoft mobile phone. The Lumia 830 recommend retail price has dropped into the $300 - 400 range (outright) at the time of this review which we think is the current sweet spot in terms of pricing. If it can't sell at this price there is clearly more to selling phones than price. Of course you can also purchase a 830 with a phone plan at minimal cost. In terms of construction the Lumia 830 is very well made. It's real metal surround with real glass screen. The removable back has been designed really well and you would't expect that it could be taken off. Overall the 830 looks pretty good, not quite top end but better than it's price suggests. It feels substantial in your hand without the feeling delicate so common these days. In terms of hardware specifications the Lumia 830 is well equipped with a decent spec camera, CPU, battery, 4G capability and fantastic screen for a reasonable price. The screen is notable in that the images are sharp and its black and very bright when colours are displayed. The picture quality is better than most in the price range too.  The only issue 'may' be the seeming mere 1.2Ghz Quad-core CPU but in reality it is smooth as and fast enough. In terms of use like all Windows phones the Lumia 830 works well, quickly and smoothly, easy to use and logical controls. There is nothing to complain about the way the system is designed. Sure the availability of Apps is still limited but all the key ones and there. It is simpler than the iPhone and Android. To conclude we like the Lumia 830 and think it is one of the best specified and value mobile phone currently available (mid-2015). Easily recommended if you still haven't got a smart phone yet... The 830 is also a great accessory if you have an Xbox! In fact we highly recommend it above the other entry level Lumia or Andriod and even iPhone purely for ease of use, it is the value for money choice at the moment! Although the recommend retail price for the Lumia 830 is quite high you can easily find one for less than $350. Specifications
    • Nokia Lumia 830
    • Network Quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900 Dual-band 3G & 4G (Dependent on country)
    • Design Touch screen
    • L139.4 x W70.7 x D8.5 mm
    • Weight 150 grams
    • Display/s 5 inch External 1280 x 720 pixels
    • Camera 10MP
    • Video Camera 720p pixel main video camera 30FPS
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V4
    • CPU Quad core CPU 1.2 Ghz Adreno GPU
    • Memory Up to 16 Gig on board Up to 15G cloud storage Up to 128GB MicroSD
    • Ring tones MIDI, MP3, Video, vibration and others
    • Features Micro-SIM, wireless charging, MS-Word, Excel and Powerpoint A-GPS, GLONASS, Accelerometer HERE maps Free off-line navigation FM Radio with RDS
    • Power Li-Po 2200 mAh battery Up to 22 days hours Standby Up to 14.9 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Lumia 830 Approx $380 AUS 2013 (Outright)

  • Samsung Galaxy A3 and Galaxy A5 Review

     2014_note4
    Welcome to the 2015 Samsung Galaxy A3 and A5 review. This is going to be a short review because there are only a few differences including the best build and design compared to any other Android based phone in the same price range. The Galaxy Alpha series phones are about style expected in a mobile phone but for those who missed out on the Galaxy S3 in its heyday. The Galaxy A5 is priced around the $550 mark and the the Galaxy A3 $350 for outright purchases. In terms of construction both A3 and A5 share the same design as the Note 4 except for the removable rear panel. The fit and finish is top of the class. While the design is not leading edge they look and feel good. They are the arguably the best built phones in the current mid-range class. In terms of hardware both Galaxy A3 and A5 have the acceptable specifications, that is quad core CPUs memory and graphics with 4G capability. Both also feature a 5MP selfie camera which is a unusual but excellent selling point in range. The results of the camera sn video look great for a mid-range model too! The only point worth complaining about is the resolution of the main screen of 1280x720 pixels on the A5 and mere 540x960 pixels on the A3. That said both screens still manage to look good. The icing on top at that both have microSD card expansion slots for additional memory despite having metal cases. In terms of use the Galaxy A3 and A5 are the same. Thanks to the customisable nature of Android OS you can have the simplest phone to use or something fully customised. It's the freedom to use in a phone that can't be matched in 2015. Either phone would be a good choice for those who value size and design over top range hardware specs. The industry standard for mid-range phone in 2015 is arguably the quad core for 1.2 CPU and even screen resolution is standard but equipped with AMOLED so gives them colour punch very few phones have in the price range. Both work smoothly with what ever Apps we tried to run on them overall both work really well and amongst the best if not the best choices in the price range that we've tested - not withstanding the slow internet speeds we get in this country. However when you can buy the relatively old and superseded Galaxy S4 for the same price of a A5 it becomes a tougher choice. Specifications
    • Samsung Galaxy A3 and A5
    • Network Quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900 Tri-band 3G 850/900/2100 Tri-band 4G 899/1800/2600
    • Design Touch screen
    • A3 - L130.1 x W65.5 x D6.9 mm - 110 Grams A5 - L139.3 x W69.7 x D6.7 mm - 123 Grams
    • Weight 131 grams
    • Display A3 - 4.5 inch 1,280 x 1080 AMOLED A5 - 5 inch 1,280 x 1080 AMOLED
    • Camera A3 - 8MP auto-focus A3 - 13MP auto-focus LED Flash 2nd forward facing selfie/video call camera 5MP
    • Video Camera 1080p high definition 30FPS main video camera
    • Connectivity Wi-Fi Bluetooth V4
    • CPU Quad core 1.2 Ghz Separate Andreno 306 Graphics CPU
    • Memory 1.5 Gig RAM Up to 32 Gig for user Up to 64Gig micro-SD expansion
    • Features A-GPS, GLONASS, Accelerometer, Geomagnetic, Hall, RGB, FM Radio A3 - Li-Po 1900 mAh battery - Up to 4 days Standby - Up to 12hours Talk Time A5 - Li-Po 2600 mAh battery - Up to 5 days Standby  - Up to 15 hours Talk Time
    • Price history Galaxy A3 Approx $450 AUD late 2015 (Outright) Galaxy A5 Approx $550 AUD late 2015 (Outright)

  • Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge review

    2015_s6

    Welcome to the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge review. All new for 2015 , the S6 and S6 Edge in particular are two of the most advanced and innovative mobile phones on the market. The iphone it's arch competitor has none of the amazing tech features of the S6 yet the stil copying remarks persist. Samsung deserves appluse and your money for making the most advanced mobile phone on the market in 2016. The iphone has nothing new it is a reskin of the last model with a faster CPU and a larger screen so in essence your are being ripped off!  Anyway the Galaxy S6 is priced around $990 RRP for the 64Gig model and under $900 for the 32Gig model which is noticeably more expensive than the last model.

    In terms of construction the Galaxy S6 is excellent. It's made of glass and metal and the design works look good. The S6 Edge on the other hand even better than the it is literally jewel like. Makes all other mobile phones look cheap and yes especially the iphone. The S6 and S6 Edge are the best looking and feeling phones in th world right now.

    In terms of hardware the S6 and S6 Edge have the latest high specifications available there's not real point of repeating the details. Beats all existing phones to date by a fair margin apart from the Galaxy Note 4 that is. It is unfortunately that claimed leading but clearly small minded bloggers completely fail to point this out. That said the only things missing are a removable battery and expandable memory slot and FM radio which a decreasing number of people require in this type of phone thanks to streaming and online storage. The S6 Edge with the 'additional' screen size is very special in a class which are primarily made up of slab style phones with rounded edges.

    In terms of use the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge have all the advantages and disadvantages of Android OS. Hence they can be as easy or as complex as you would like your phone to be and able to reflect your personality. The ability to customize the interface is optional but it is the representation of freedom we need to embrace. Apart from that the interface is slick despite the so called professional bloggers claim as 'bloatware' it all makes the experience better. Low tech Infra red in particular is a great addition for simple to use TV, cable box and stereo system control. Sure its been trial and error for Samsung to get the interface right but that's the point of being innovative. Regardless if standard functionality is missing there's always an app for it.

    The conclusion of this review is simple - the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge especially deserves respect. Both models are better than their predecessors and of the best mobile phones in the world you can buy at the moment. Mind you the prior range topper the S5 is now a very appealing thanks to the $200 price drop!

    Specifications

    • Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge
    • Network
      Quad-band GSM - All
      Tri-band 3G - All
      Tri-band 4G - All
    • Design
      Touch screen
    • L143.4 x W70.5 x D6.8 mm
      L142.1 x W70.1 x D7.0 mm
    • Weight 138-132 grams
    • Display
      5.1 inch
      2560 x 1440 QHD AMOLED
    • Camera
      16MP auto-focus
      LED Flash
      2nd forward facing video call camera 5MP
    • Video Camera
      4K UHD 30FPS main video camera
    • Connectivity
      Wi-Fi
      Bluetooth V4
    • CPU
      Octa core 2.1 and 1.5 Ghz
      Separate Andreno 330 Graphics CPU
    • Memory
      3Gig RAM
      Approx 32-128 Gig for user
    • Features
      A-GPS, GLONASS BEIDO, Compass, Accelerometer, Gyroscope
      Proximity, Ambient Light, Humidity, Temperature
      UV, Barometer, NFC, Fingerprint
      Google Play store
      Free Google Navigator (requires data plan)
      Li-Po 2550-2600 mAh battery
      Up to 370 hours Standby
      Up to 17 hours Talk Time
    • Price history
      Approx $980 AUD April 2015 (Outright)