Samsung's Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge reinvigorated the flailing smartphone brand giving it a new lease of life with a fresh design and some brand new features.
Samsung is going to have to do a lot of work to be able to repeat the trick again, but there's much more that can be improved upon in the new phone.
We don't expect to see the new handset until early 2016 though – usually Samsung takes time out in early March to announce its flagships at MWC in Barcelona, so we expect it to be the same again this year.
However, rumors are already beginning to roll in for the new phone so here's everything we've heard so far.
Cut to the chase
What is it? The next flagship phone from Samsung's Galaxy S line.
When is it out? We expect early in 2016, potentially MWC in late February
What will it cost? Expect expensive – it's bound to be one of the more costly phones to buy next year.
Samsung Galaxy S7: The techradar concept
When it comes to the new Samsung Galaxy S7, we want to see Samsung departing from the usual design of a standard, blocky phone.
What we want now is something innovative, something that pushes the boundaries and takes into account all the awesome technology Samsung keeps promising.
So here's how we think it should shake down – techradar's Galaxy S7, complete with all the technology Samsung has talked about… and some of our own desires too.
The main difference is, again, the screen. If Samsung is going to make a success of the Gear VR, it needs a better screen, and leaping forward to 8K will make shoving the phone on your face a pin sharp experience.
The other big thing we're hoping to finally see is the iris scanning technology that supersedes the fingerprint scanners we're seeing everywhere. With dual hi-res scanning cameras on the front, with enhanced aperture, simply turning the phone screen on will prove who you are.
The edges of the super sharp screen are now properly pushed to the side of the phone, with the notifications now showing properly either side – the S6 Edge has the curves as decoration, but now they're actually going to be used.
And bass-rich speakers on the top and bottom will utilise Samsung's omni-sound technology to make the phone a true media marvel – no more backwards-facing tinny sound here.
Samsung Galaxy S7 release date
A rumor from the South Korean website Newsis apparently cites insider sources who claim that Samsung started work on the Galaxy S7 about 2 to 3 months ahead of its usual schedule.
If this is true (and that's a big if, as the sources of this rumor are unclear and unverified), it could just mean that Samsung is eager to start work on the S7 as soon as possible to give it a longer development period.
However some people are getting excited because it could mean that Samsung is gearing up to launch the Galaxy S7 early, we might see a second Galaxy S flagship handset in 2015. In fact December has already been mooted as a potential Samsung Galaxy S7 release date, while another source points to a more vague late 2015 date - although we reckon that's highly unlikely.
Traditionally, Samsung usually releases one Galaxy S and one Galaxy Note flagship device a year, so it would be a big departure if it released the S7 in 2015. This rumor could just be a case of getting lost in translation, so we'd recommend caution when taking it at face value.
Samsung Galaxy S7 design
Given that Samsung has only just overhauled its flagship design for the Galaxy S6 we're not expecting massive changes in the Samsung Galaxy S7.
One rumour has suggested it's going to be much bigger than the Galaxy S6 with a 5.7-inch screen - we're taking that with a big pinch of salt though as it sounds quite out there.
On top of that the Galaxy S7 may be built of a different type of metal. Sources claim the company is experimenting with magnesium based alloy that will make the phone stronger whilst keeping it light and allows the heat out when the processor is working hard.
A slim metal and glass build seems likely and whatever we get it's likely to be premium, especially as there's a rumor that the battery won't be removable specifically because making it so would compromise the design.
Samsung Galaxy S7 screen
Interestingly there's talk that Samsung could offer the Galaxy S7 in two different sizes. One with a 5.2-inch screen and one with a 5.8-inch one and supposedly at least one of them will have a 4K display. Given there's already the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ though we wouldn't hold our breath for a phablet version of the S7.
Then again a benchmark believed to be for the Samsung Galaxy S7 claims it has a 5.7-inch display, so maybe it will be growing. It lists a 1440 x 2560 QHD one though rather than 4K.
Another rumor states that the Galaxy S7 may be coming with a curved screen. According to supply chain sources the phone will be launching with a flexible display after Samsung put in some big orders with Taiwanese manufacturers. It may end up being a separate version of the Galaxy S7 much like with the Galaxy S6 Edge, but it's interesting all the same.
A new trademark filing suggests Samsung is working on its own new super-strong display technology called Turtle Glass. It's set to replace Corning's Gorilla Glass 3 and we may see it launch on the Galaxy S7.
There's even talk that Samsung will go further and deliver a foldable phone, but this seems incredibly unlikely. Even if the technology is in place (which is a big if) it's doubtful that Samsung would risk something so new and untested on its flagship.
Samsung Galaxy S7 rivals
In recent years HTC has been a significant rival to Samsung, launching similarly impressive phones at around the same time, so we'd expect the HTC One M10 could be a Samsung Galaxy S7 rival. Very little is known about it yet but it's sure to be stylish and likely to be very powerful.
Other than that there's the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus, which are likely to still be selling very well by early 2016, while the Sony Xperia Z6 or whatever Sony's cooking up next could steal some attention away from Samsung too.
Samsung Galaxy S7 camera and battery
An AnTuTu benchmark shows a phone believed to be the Samsung Galaxy S7 as having a 16MP rear camera and a 5MP front-facing one. Those are the same camera specs as the Galaxy S6, but that has one of the best smartphone snappers around so that wouldn't be such a bad thing.
Another AnTuTu benchmark has also leaked showing a duo-camera on the phone in a similar vein to the HTC One M8.
There's no word on what size the battery will be yet but according to one rumor it won't be removable as it's apparently not possible to have a removable juice pack without compromising the design. Given that the Samsung Galaxy S6 has a sealed battery this doesn't really come as any surprise.
Samsung Galaxy S7 OS and power
The Samsung Galaxy S7 will almost certainly launch with Android Marshmallow. In fact snaps of supposed internal Samsung documents regarding its Android Marshmallow update have made their way onto social networking site Weibo, and appear to confirm the rumored Galaxy S7 codename 'Jungfrau' and a key spec of the upcoming flagship.
That spec is Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 processor, which is expected to launch later this year and is set to feature in some of the biggest phones of 2016. That Snapdragon 820 rumor has since been echoed by other sources and in a benchmark.
The fact the Snapdragon 820 chip is being linked to the Galaxy S7 is interesting, as Samsung ditched Qualcomm's offering for the Galaxy S6, instead exclusively using its own Exynos processor. Samsung didn't disclose the reasoning as to why it opted to do this, but the current top-tier Qualcomm chip - the Snapdragon 810 - has been plagued by reports of overheating and patchy performance.
Perhaps this is a sign of Qualcomm's return to form in the chipset market, although it's too early to confirm either way. However while Qualcomm has been touted as the maker of the Galaxy S7's chip, other benchmark results have leaked onto the internet that claim to show Samsung's next SoC, the Exynos M1, could potentially power the new Galaxy.
These benchmarks show the hardware used to make the Exynos M1, and it looks like it uses a series of custom ARM cores. Intriguingly the benchmarks also show that the Exynos M1 is much more powerful than the Snapdragon 820 in almost every aspect.
While we'd advise taking these benchmarks with a pinch of salt it would mean that the Samsung Galaxy S7 could be a more powerful handset if it again shuns Qualcomm's hardware. Whatever processor we get we're expecting to see 4GB of RAM, not least because the Galaxy S6 Edge+ has that already.
Samsung Galaxy S7 other features
The Samsung Galaxy S7 is bound to have a fingerprint scanner, just like the Galaxy S6. There's also a rumor that Samsung will add a microSD card slot to next year's phone, but internal storage may take a hit, with only 32GB and 64GB models currently rumored.
Samsung Galaxy S7 cost
There's no word yet on what the Samsung Galaxy S7 will cost but we can tell you right now that it will be very expensive. While a price cut would be nice we'd be surprised if Samsung launched it for any less than it initially charged for the Galaxy S6. If we had to guess we'd say it could start at up to around £600 / $650 / AU$1,100.
1. Better battery life
Our biggest gripe with the Galaxy S6 was the battery – we found with moderate usage you could get between 17 and 18 hours. That is the average day if you're on a normal sleep pattern but do you really want to be walking that tight rope thinking if I watch a film my phone it's not going to last the whole day?
Samsung need to do better than this with the Galaxy S7; even sacrificing a little of its new found design credentials to thicken up the handset and stick in a bigger cell would have been worth the extra life. Next time let's hope it understands functionality takes precedence over design.
2. Bring us to the Edge
We loved the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge – in fact we think everyone did – it just did something entirely different to the rest of the competition.
We want the same again, but maybe something completely off the bat. If the rumors of the flexible display handset turn out to be true we could end up seeing something similar to the S6 Edge come Q1 2016.
3. Another step into VR
When Samsung revealed the Galaxy S6 it also announced there would be a new Gear VR headsetdesigned to go alongside the new phone.
Next time around we want Samsung to keep focusing on VR but up its game even further for the Galaxy S7 – whether it be more sensors, more games or a new way of doing it altogether we just want more of a focus on VR.
Samsung is one of the few companies doing Virtual Reality right at the moment and there's no better way to keep that going than innovating on an already good product.
4. A price drop
Samsung's devices aren't the cheapest on the market. One of our criticisms of the latest handset came at the price tag attached to the phone and it'd be nice to see it drop down a little as soon as possible. At the moment Samsung's devices are even in a similar price bracket to Apple.
It may mean we lose a couple of the superfluous features on the phone but taking it down a little would be really nice. Come on Samsung, you can buck the trend and do it with the Galaxy S7.
5. Drop the fingerprint magnet
If you've got a white S6 you're laughing, but if you've got one of the darker options you're probably finding yourself wiping it with your t-shirt a lot thanks to all the fingerprints showing up on the rear.
The white option is the best for avoiding this but we shouldn't expect our phones to be covered in grubby marks within a matter of minutes. Let's sort it out ready for the Samsung Galaxy S7.
6. Something brand new
The S6 Edge really showed us something different and we want to see that same inspiration again from the South Korean company.
In the meantime we may not actually know what we want to see, but something to change up the phone market a little and give it a little kick up the bum it needs.
7. More robust design
Almost everybody agrees Samsung nailed the design of the Galaxy S6, but one big feature was missing. The Galaxy S5 had the addition of a water and dustproof design so when the Galaxy S6 was announced it was quite a shock the feature had been taken out.
Fingers crossed Samsung will see fit to return it to the Galaxy S7, but this time in a much nicer design.
8. Slight camera tweaks
It's no secret we loved the Galaxy S6's camera, but there are a few little issues with it we'd loved to see be improved on the next handset.
Slow motion video can look a little sketchy on the handset so we'd love to see some improvements there to see it compete with the glory of the iPhone 6's slow-mo mode.
It'd also be nice to get a few more downloadable camera modes thrown in on top as well - we love the fact they're not clogging up the device with useless modes but there's not enough of them right now to justify the store Samsung has created.
9. Even more power
Not that the Galaxy S6 wasn't powerful enough, but in a year we're going to have a bunch of new processors doing the rounds and we want to see the biggest and best in the Samsung Galaxy S7.
Whether it be an in house created Exynos processor or a jump back to Qualcomm, we don't mind, we just want the best the company can find. Is that too much to ask?
See More: http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/samsung-galaxy-s7-what-we-want-to-see-1293401/1
In what appears to be a repeat of last year's problems, some customers say the update to Apple's mobile software, iOS 9, has hurt battery life and caused apps to shut down.
Apple's new iPhone and iPad software comes with better battery life and a new Siri interface. It might also come with bugs.
Apple customers are reporting on Twitter and other online forums that apps on their mobile devices are crashing when they update the operating system to iOS 9. iOS 9, the latest version of Apple's software for iPhones and iPads, rolled out to consumers on Wednesday.
"iOS 9 was cool, but now all my apps keep crashing so now I hate it," tweeted Isaac Miltimore.
The problems bring back memories of Apple's iOS 8 update last year, which caused certain devices to experience buggy Wi-Fi and decreased battery life. Subsequent updates to fix the software ended up creating their own problems. These problems aren't rare -- Apple pulled its WatchOS update for its Watch because a bug, and issues often arise with the introduction of new software.
"The big picture here though is that this is the standard environment for a new operating system launch," said Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster. "There are always going to be a spectrum of bugs but they should be solved within a few days."
Since Apple's official iOS 9 launch, the adoption rate of the new operating system is a little more than 20 percent, according to Mixpanel, a third-party mobile analytics firm. So far, the latest version is being adopted at a faster rate than previous operating systems.
Munster expects numbers to keep growing despite the reported bugs, which would allow the Cupertino, Calif., company to solve them more quickly. "Apple can't get an OS to be stable until they have the full force of their base using it," he said, noting that any glitches are likely the result of the combination of apps and hardware on users' phones. As users send diagnostic information back to Apple after downloading the iOS 9 upgrade, Apple will be better able to fix the bugs.
Yet customers didn't hesitate voicing their grievances. Here are a few more related tweets:
- "This iOS 9 update... App crashing and ugly fonts." --@stephayson
- "Y'all updated to iOS 9 for the extra hour of battery but you'll regret it when it starts getting laggy and crashing" --@Nycphoria_186
- "Outlook app is crashing after iOS 9 update. Had to uninstall and reinstall the app to get it to work again." --@bananza
- "Does anyone else have apps that keep crashing after you got IOS 9???" --@emm_zeddis
iOS 9 incorporates changes that make iPhones and iPads more able to predict an owner's needs and interests. For example, based on user habits, a device can load up music selections ahead of a regular morning runs, or automatically suggest apps. iOS 9 also improves battery life and gives the Siri voice assistant a new interface, allowing it to remind a user of appointments without being told to ahead of time.
See More: http://www.cnet.com/news/apple-customers-complain-of-apps-crashing-with-ios-9-update/
The new hardware includes a $50 tablet and an updated Fire TV set-top box. Amazon's strategy differs from Apple's high-end approach but puts the two giants in more intense competition than ever.
SAN FRANCISCO -- David Limp, Amazon's devices chief, puts two tablets on the table. One is a 10.1-inch Fire HD, among the e-commerce giant's newest tablets. The other is an Apple iPad Air. The Fire HD has a few battered edges; the iPad's screen is shattered.
Both went through stress tests at Amazon's lab in Sunnyvale, California, Limp said, and the Amazon tablet emerged relatively unscathed.
The setup is more than a comparison of durability, though. It also symbolizes Amazon's growing rivalry with Apple.
On Thursday, Amazon unveiled four new tablets and three television-related devices. This is the lineup Amazon will use to lure consumers during the all-important holiday-shopping season. Among the tablets, there are two new HD, or high-definition, devices, a $50 budget tablet and a "Kids Edition" tablet with a heavy-duty case. On the TV side, the new products include a $100 4K ultra-HD TV set-top box, a game controller and a video-streaming device with a remote control that does voice search.
"In the TV space, I think we go very much more head-to-head with Apple," Limp said during a press briefing here Wednesday.
This is a rivalry, but not in the way you might expect. Apple and Amazon are attacking the consumer electronics world in very different ways. Apple does it with high-end, pricey devices. Its cheapest tablet is $270. Amazon courts a more budget-conscious consumer. Its least-expensive tablet costs $50.
For Amazon, the goal of selling hardware is to get people to spend money in its marketplace on items like movies, books, music and clothes. For Apple, the goal of selling expensive hardware is selling expensive hardware. That's where Apple makes its money, but it also ties people to Apple's world of software and services -- where people also buy music and movies.
"It's a growing rivalry at the services level," said Tim Bajarin, president of the market research firm Creative Strategies.
The TV wars
Here's something else that highlights the difference between the companies.
Apple unveiled its new TV products during a live broadcast last week from San Francisco's 7,000-seat Bill Graham Civic Auditorium.
For its product launch, Amazon brought reporters to a rented house in the city's North Beach neighborhood. The hilltop home had Amazon's smiling logo on the door and a sweeping view of the San Francisco skyline. The goal: showcase the Fire TV in its natural habitat -- a living room.
All of Amazon's new TV products, from the remote control to the video game controller, will have built-in voice control by early next year for navigating menus or for playing or resuming a program. The devices make use of the company's Alexa software, which Amazon introduced last year as part of its Echo speaker. The software, similar to Apple's Siri, Microsoft's Cortana and Google's Google Now speech-recognition programs, can do tasks like tell you the weather forecast or the news.
Amazon isn't the first company to bring voice search into its TV products, of course. Apple last week demoed an updated version of its set-top box, with Siri as a central feature. Google's Android TV platform also has voice-search.
Tablets: Oranges and, er, Apples
When it comes to tablets, Limp downplays the competition. Each company's tablet customers "don't really overlap," he said.
At a high level, however, both Amazon and Apple are trying to do the same thing with tablets: lead a resurgence in an ailing market. Shipments of the devices are expected to decline 8 percent this year, according to market tracker IDC.
Amazon's new $50 tablet is telling of its low-end strategy. You can even buy five of them and get the sixth one free. They literally come in a six-pack casing, not unlike beer. Apple, by contrast, last week unveiled its most expensive tablet yet: a supersized screen aimed at workplace employees. The iPad Pro starts at $800 but jumps to more than $1,000 if you want a keyboard and stylus.
Other than the $50 option, Amazon's new lineup includes a 10.1-inch HD tablet priced at $230 and an 8-inch tablet priced at $150. The $100 Kids Edition tablet comes with access to a child-friendly version of the Web, where users are only allowed to go to a collection of 20,000 age-appropriate websites and YouTube videos. Amazon also showed off a speed-reading tool called Word Runner, built into the tablets' reading apps.
While Apple's iPads have dominated the top end of the tablet market, Amazon has carved out a leading place for itself in tablets thanks to its focus on budget devices. Its tablets don't have the high-end features and metal-and-glass bodies of Apple's product, with customers instead getting good-enough features and plastic backs on several models. However, its lower-tier strategy has helped Amazon capture millions of customers who'd rather pay a fraction of the cost of an iPad.
See More: http://www.cnet.com/news/amazon-fire-tablets-tv-apple-rivalry/
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| 17 September 2015 |
The basic technology underpinning the Bitcoin virtual currency could be used by some of the world's biggest banks.
Nine banks, including Barclays and Goldman Sachs, may adopt the blockchain system that logs who spends which virtual coins in an ever-expanding computer equivalent of a ledger.
The banks want to use the blockchain method because it is hard to fool - making fraud more difficult.
It could also speed up trading systems and make deals more transparent.
The project to test blockchain-like technology is being led by financial technology firm R3 which has signed nine banks up to the initiative.
The other seven are JP Morgan, State Street, UBS, Royal Bank of Scotland, Credit Suisse, BBVA and Commonwealth Bank of Australia.
Technical meetings with the banks had prompted discussion of how it could be used within banks' trading arms, said David Rutter, head of R3 in an interview with Reuters.
For Bitcoin, the blockchain acts as a globally-distributed ledger that logs transactions. Everyone involved with the virtual currency contributes to the way the blockchain verifies each deal. The sheer number of people involved makes it very hard for one bitcoin user to get fraudulent deals verified and approved.
Despite this, Bitcoin has been hit by a series of scandals and thefts although most of these came about because hackers exploited weaknesses on exchanges where coins are traded or in digital wallets where they are held.
Mr Rutter said the banks were most interested in the technical architecture underpinning the blockchain that could be adapted for their own ends. The first place the blockchain was likely to find a role was as a log of who bought which stocks or shares, he said.
By adopting the technology banks could cut the cost of reporting transactions and working out who bought what and when, he added.
No timetable has been given for when technical trials of the blockchain-like technology might begin.
See More: http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-34278163
There are not many companies that have mastered the art of getting their users visibly excited about an operating system update. Once again workplaces across the land will be full of people sharing war stories of the iOS 9 upgrade experience today.
People on iPhones in offices throughout the world frantically repeated the process of heading to "General" in their device settings, and clicking "Software Update" until someone excitedly shouts out “It’s downloading” only to admit sheepishly a few minutes later that they have run into problems.
Once you have made a little room for the impending download and the mad rush starts to fade, it will become your turn to see what’s going on under-the-hood. The release of an Apple operating system is turning into a social event of sorts where fans scour forums looking for little useful changes that can make them a little more productive or even a good old-fashioned smart ass.
The size of the upgrade prevented some eager fans from getting a piece of the action forcing them to take drastic measures that flirted with the law of unknown consequences.
What’s actually in it for me? You could be forgiven for thinking, so let's take a look at some of the new features that could save you time, energy and considerable embarrassment over the next few weeks.
Although, we are all led to believe the update is full of shiny new features that will revolutionise our life, the truth is that all smartphone users are united by one common enemy, and that’s managing their battery consumption.
Power conscious users might appreciate the new widget from the Notification Centre that will show the remaining charge of your iPhone or connected Apple Watch. This can be accessed by scrolling to the bottom of the Today pane and simply tap edit to add the feature. If you navigate to Settings > Battery>Battery Usage you will also find interesting data on exactly what apps are draining your juice on a Thursday afternoon.
There is also new handy feature in the Calendar app for those that attend a large volume of meetings or appointments in various locations. When creating a new appointment, you can scroll to “Travel Time” which will send a notification with the estimated travel time to the location of your next appointment so you will know exactly what time to leave.
Meanwhile the unsung hero of apps known as Notes now offers check-lists and sketching tools to give your personal productivity a little boost. The revamp gives this app added value and feels slightly reminiscent of the popular Evernote application.
As News Stand takes a bow and exits stage left, a shiny new pretender called Apple News steps into the spotlight to offer an all you can eat news service.The only problem is the feature is only available in a handful of countries and most people are quite happy with apps like Flipboard anyway which will leave many thinking this offering is too little and too late.
Apple Wallet has been carried away by moths into the sky and officially replaced by Apple Pay with options to store more cards and extra membership ship options. More and more people are slowly embracing the idea of paying for items with their phone as the concept stops feeling weird and becomes the norm.
Now that we store our whole lives in a smartphone, we all need to start taking our security a little more seriously. A device with no security pin could end up a very costly mistake when you leave it in the back of your last Uber ride, but Apple are now taking security a step further.
When you now try to change your unlock pin on an Apple device, it will insist that you change to a 6 digit pin rather than the 4 digits users are used to. Why? A humble 4 digit pin represents 10,000 possible permutations and with the right software can be hacked in only 18 minutes. However a 6 digit pin has one million. Throw in a fingerprint option too and you are one of the few understand you are better safe than sorry when it comes to online security.
Have you ever handed your phone to someone to to show them a holiday photo, cute baby pics or funny internet meme, only to look on nervously as they start scrolling through your pics? This embarrassing first world problem can now be avoided and you can actually hide multiple photos from your camera role within a few taps.
Android users will be quick to point out they have enjoyed similar features for some time now, but these tales of one-upmanship are never going to help a situation, so it might be worth remembering that it might be nice to be important, but its more important to be nice before securing any bragging rights.
These are just a few handy items that I have found useful after the latest software upgrade, but I am really interested in what you all like and what you don’t. Please share your thoughts and tips below to help myself and others get the most out from iOS 9.
See More: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-ios-9-can-save-you-time-energy-embarrassment-neil-hughes
We only got the Sony Xperia Z3+ recently, but already the Sony Xperia Z5 has been announced and with a new number there's an expectation that it will be a significant upgrade.
While not everything has changed in Sony's latest the addition of a fingerprint scanner alongside an improved camera and a hefty amount of power should keep fans happy. But it is enough for the Xperia Z5 to go toe-to-toe with smartphone heavyweights like the Samsung Galaxy S6 and iPhone 6?
Design
With a slim 7.3mm thick metal frame and a frosted glass back the Sony Xperia Z5 doesn't stray far from the form factor of previous Sony flagships, but the power button on the side has been slightly redesigned to incorporate a fingerprint scanner.
Sony Xperia Z5
That's a first for Sony and its set to support online payments, as well as being a speedy way to unlock the handset.
Like the Xperia Z3+ the Sony Xperia Z5 is also IP68 certified dust and water resistant, with a capless microUSB port, so you don't have to fiddle with a flap every time you want to charge the phone.
It's a premium if slightly overfamiliar design, finished off with a choice of either plain black or white colours or more adventurous gold or green options.
Galaxy S6
Samsung completely changed things up for the Galaxy S6, but in doing so created a handset which looks a bit like a cross between the iPhone 6 and the Sony Xperia Z5. It has a sleek 6.8mm thick metal frame and a glass back, but the corners are more curved than on Sony's phone and the back isn't frosted.
Like the Sony Xperia Z5 it has a fingerprint scanner, but this time below the screen and unlike Sony's handset it's not dust or water resistant.
iPhone 6
The iPhone 6 has a similarly rounded shape to the Samsung Galaxy S6 and also has a fingerprint scanner beneath the screen. It's almost as slim too at 6.9mm thick, but unlike Samsung and Sony's flagships it has a metal unibody. It's a great design, but all three handsets look distinctly premium.
Display
The Sony Xperia Z5 has a 5.2-inch 1080 x 1920 IPS display with a pixel density of 428 pixels per inch. An anti-fingerprint coating should keep it smudge-free and it's designed with good contrast and vibrant colours in mind.
Galaxy S6
The Samsung Galaxy S6 might have it beat though, with its 5.1-inch 1440 x 2560 Super AMOLED screen, giving it a pixel density of 577 pixels per inch. Not only is it incredibly sharp, but it sports bright, vivid colours and good outdoor visibility.
The iPhone 6 has the smallest and lowest resolution screen of the three, with a 4.7-inch 750 x 1334 display for a pixel density of 326 pixels per inch. But while it's a shame it's not sharper, the display on the iPhone 6 still offers brilliant contrast and colour reproduction.
Sony Xperia Z5
Power and performance
There's an octa-core Snapdragon 810 processor and 3GB of RAM at the heart of the Sony Xperia Z5. That's the same as the Xperia Z3+, but we found performance with that phone was generally smooth, so it's not too much of a worry, though the Z3+ did sometimes heat up.
The Samsung Galaxy S6 has an octa-core Exynos 7420 processor plus 3GB of RAM, which also delivers silky smooth performance for the most part, though waking up the phone from sleep can noticeably take a second or two.
On paper the iPhone 6 is the least powerful of the three, as it has just a dual-core Apple A8 processor and 1GB of RAM, yet as with its rivals it offers generally slick performance in day to day use.
Camera
Sony has done a lot of work on its smartphone snapper, equipping the Xperia Z5 with a new 23MP sensor. Low light photography is supposedly better than it's ever been in a Sony phone, while autofocus happens in just 0.3 seconds, which Sony claims is faster than any other smartphone.
The snapper also supports 5x clear zoom with minimal loss of quality and can shoot video in 4K, using an improved version of Sony's SteadyShot technology for blur-free footage.
The front-facing camera meanwhile is a 5MP one with a 25mm wide-angle lens, so you can fit lots in the frame and it has the same SteadyShot technology as the main snapper.
S6
That all sounds impressive, but the Samsung Galaxy S6 has one of the best smartphone cameras we've ever come across. Its 16MP sensor is highly capable in both bright and low light and while you can easily point and shoot there's also a strong selection of manual controls.
Like the Sony Xperia Z5 it supports 4K video and with optical image stabilisation you can be confident that your photos and footage will come out smooth. Round the front it has a 5MP snapper too and just like the Z5 it can take wide-angle shots.
iPhone 6
The iPhone 6 has a pretty great camera as well. It's only 8MP but it can take impressive photos, helped in part by 'Focus Pixels', which lead to faster autofocus and improved clarity.
It's a strong snapper, with simple, intuitive controls and it's good for video too, supporting slow-motion footage at up to 240fps, though the front-facing camera is just 1.2MP.
OS and features
Both the Sony Xperia Z5 and the Samsung Galaxy S6 run Android 5.1, but the overlays are different and include a handful of special apps and features. The Xperia Z5 for example supports PS4 Remote Play and High-Res lossless audio, with lower quality tracks upscaled to near High-Res quality.
The Samsung Galaxy S6 meanwhile has a heartrate monitor and a Smart Manager app, which shows you the security of your phone, battery life, RAM use and storage all in one place.
The iPhone 6 is the odd one out here as it runs a completely different operating system. With iOS 8 on board you get access to Apple's rich app ecosystem at the cost of some of the customisation and freedom you get on Android. Like Samsung Apple has also gone big on health and fitness, equipping the iPhone 6 with an M8 co-processor, tasked purely with keeping track of movement.
Battery
The Sony Xperia Z5 has a 2900mAh battery, which can supposedly last for up to 2 days of use, with a STAMINA mode keeping it going even longer. It also supports Quick Charge 2.0, so you can theoretically get up to 5.5 hours of usage from a 10 minute charge.
The 2550mAh juice pack in the Samsung Galaxy S6 supports fast charging as well, plus it even supports both wireless charging standards, but you're not going to get anywhere near 2 days out of it. You should get a full working day from it, but not much more.
iPhone 6
The iPhone 6 has just an 1810mAh battery but it can keep on chugging for a full day of moderate use. That still leaves it well behind what the Xperia Z5 promises though.
Price and availability
The Sony Xperia Z5 will be hitting stores in October and while no pricing has yet been confirmed we'd expect it will have a premium RRP of perhaps around £500/$650/AU$1000.
S6
The Samsung Galaxy S6 has an RRP of £559/$599/AU$999, while the iPhone 6 starts at £539/$649/AU$999, so they're all expensive, but you don't have to wait to buy an S6 or an iPhone 6, as both are available now.
Verdict
The Sony Xperia Z5 doesn't seem like a massive change from the Xperia Z3+, but with a fingerprint scanner and a new camera it could still be a worthy upgrade.
Those features, combined with its powerful innards, supposedly long-lasting battery and water resistant design should make it a capable flagship. We can't say for sure until we've put it through its paces, but on paper the Sony Xperia Z5 looks to be a worthy rival to both the Samsung Galaxy S6 and the iPhone 6S.
See More: http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/sony-xperia-z5-vs-samsung-galaxy-s6-vs-iphone-6-1303068
Sony needs a new flagship phone: it wasn't the Xperia Z3+ or the Xperia Z4, but it's the Z5 that everyone was calling for.
Launched as a triplicate of handsets, the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium sits at the top of the pile, bringing with it new levels of bling. Why else would you give a phone a mirrored finish, unless it wanted to undeniably be the centre of attention?
Well, thanks to the small matter of a 4K display, there's plenty to look at both on the front and the back of Sony's latest hero handset.
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium display
Let's start at the top, because that's what you want to know about, right? The Sony Xperia Z5 Premium has a 5.5-inch LCD IPS display with a 3840 x 2160 pixel resolution. You probably don't yet have a 4K television in your house, but Sony wants to put one in your pocket.
That resolution gives the Xperia Z5 Premium a pixel density of 801ppi, higher than anything we've seen before. There's been a battleground recently around the 500-600ppi mark and never has anyone said that that pixel density was too low.
What does this mean in reality? It means that the Z5 Premium has the ability to deliver fine detail more accurately than lesser devices. Whether your eyes can see that or not is a different matter.
Many will argue that this is really about Sony showing the world what it can do and we're all for that. We spent some time watching videos on the Xperia Z5 Premium and they look stunning. There's bags of detail, but there's a huge caveat that comes with it: sample content will always look good, that's what it's designed for.
What we can't determine yet is how much of a difference that 4K display will make when set alongside, for example, a 5.5-inch 2K device (like the LG G4) playing the same content. That's something we'll be looking at in detail in our full review closer to launch.
What we can say is that the display is very good. The colours look fantastic, the viewing angles are excellent, there's punch and pop to everything. But at the same time, there's little out there that calls for that level of detail - many games run at 720p or 1080p, most streamed content is the same, and we doubt that any app developers are looking to boost apps to make use of such a high resolution display.
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium 4K upscaling
Sony has said that a 2K display isn't relevant because there's no 2K content and there never will be. There's only Full HD or 4K content, and that fits with Sony's end-to-end 4K story. You can capture, share and view in native 4K on the Z5 Premium.
Of course, there isn't, currently, a huge amount of 4K content either (Netflix and Amazon Instant Video streaming, BT Sport Ultra HD, none of which you can get on a phone). But Sony says that upscaling is a huge part of the equation. Exactly how upscaling to 4K is more relevant than upscaling to 2K we'll never know, but that's something for Sony's marketing department to figure out.
Here the 4K upscaling is handled by Sony's X-Reality engine. If that sounds familiar, that's because Sony has been using X-Reality as a display boost in Xperia handsets for a number of years. Now it incorporates 4K upscaling too.
The upscaling aims to make sure that everything looks better, including YouTube, Netflix and anything else you want to watch.
We'll say this: having spent a long time looking at this phone, X-Reality here really works. Without it, video content just looks ok. With X-Reality turned on, it pops out and is laced with fine detail. The image above is cropped from a photo of the display, but it shows the sort of difference when you turn X-Reality on.
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium design
The Xperia family all exhibit the same design language. It's a minor evolution from the Z3 and previous devices, but sticks to the minimalist approach, sandwiching a metal frame with glass front and rear.
It's a design we're mostly all for. Sure, there's still some space above and below the display that feels a little underutilised, but on the whole, we've come to accept that this is how Sony is doing phones.
The edges now are slightly flattened for a squarer profile than previously. Slimness no longer seems to be the prime concern and we can't say it matters, because the Z5 Premium feels great in the hand, even if the size will be a barrier to some. The Xperia Z5 Premium measures 154.4 x 75.8 x 7.8mm and it weighs 180g.
There's a wonderfully silky anodisation to the edges, which are still softly curved where they meet the glass, so nothing feels too sharp. Xperia is now engraved on the side for a little extra branding. Some might complain, but we think it looks great: there's something hypnotic about tracing your finger along that line of lettering.
While most of the Xperia Z5 handsets have a lovely frosting to the rear, there's only one thing that people are going to be talking about: the mirrored silver finish of the Z5 Premium.
It displays an exuberance from Sony that we don't always see. It's impractical, of course, but there is absolutely no mistaking what you're looking at. It's so offensively bling, an expression of excess, we can't help but want it. Sure, we'll carry a cloth to polish it with too, as it is the absolute definition of fingerprint magnet.
The Z5 Premium is waterproof, with open Micro-USB and headphone sockets. There's no sign of USB Type-C sadly. There's a covered tray for the SIM and microSD card, supporting up to 200GB.
There's also a fingerprint scanner, again, another reason for the flatter sides. It replaces the round power button that has adorned Xperia Z devices since their inception. That's pushed the other controls - including a dedicated camera button - down towards the bottom. That fingerprint scanner is FIDO compliant, so it's ready for future payment services.
The Xperia Z5 Premium fingerprint scanner falls naturally under the thumb when you grip the phone. It should make for seamless and secure unlocking, although we haven't had the chance to use it in anger just yet.
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium specs and hardware
Aside from the display, you'll find that the specs are very much the same across the Z5 family. The Sony Xperia Z5 Premium houses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor with 3GB of RAM. There's 32GB of storage, but you'll need to take advantage of that microSD slot if you've any serious desire to watch 4K content.
Sony assures us that the Snapdragon 810 doesn't overheat - a problem that faced the recent Xperia Z3+ - and we didn't find it warm during our testing time. We even tried recording a good length of 4K video and it didn't heat up. But that's no test for what might happen when you're charging, syncing, and watching a 4K movie. We'll be sure to test that when we get to fully review the phone.
The Sony Xperia Z5 Premium battery life is going to be one to watch. Sony has a good history with battery life and this phone is packed with a 3430mAh battery. It benefits from Quick Charge 2.0 charging and Sony has taken a number of steps to ensure the battery life is long. For example, Sony has added memory to the display, meaning that the CPU can be cut as soon as the display is showing what's needed. This is managed by the microsecond, with Sony saying it helps cut main CPU usage and reduce battery drain.
Sony is sticking to its guns and saying the Z5 Premium battery will last for two days in Stamina mode.
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium camera
There's a new camera module on the Xperia Z5 family. It's now a 23-megapixel Exmor RS for mobile sensor, paired with a closed loop actuation module for image stabilisation and a new 6-element lens. (Pre-production unit photographed, hence the lack of digits under the camera.)
There's a lot new happening in this lens, addressing focusing speed, zoom, low light and handshake. We've seen some demos of stabilised video captured on a bike and the normal vibration and wobble was almost totally smoothed out.
But the real headline is the use of Hybrid AF, which claims a 0.03 second focusing time in good conditions. The aim here is to make sure you don't miss the action because the camera can't focus. Again, this applies to both photos and video, with fast continuous AF in video.
Looking to address the problems with digital zoom, the Xperia Z5 Premium now has something called Sony Super Resolution Technology, offering 5x zoom in higher quality than previously. Sony's tech analyses the pixels in a frame and replicates the patterns to reproduce the detail. The image is output at 8-megapixels, but the idea is to let you use the zoom without losing all the definition.
The test shots we took with the Z5 Premium looked great and the focusing was fast. We can't judge the performance on pre-release software or until we've got it into the real world, but expectations from this camera will be high.
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium software
Sony phones have had similar looking UI for a number of years. There are new themes to match the minimalist looks of these handsets, but there isn't much of a change here. If you're a Sony user, it's all pretty familiar stuff.
Some of the things we complained about previously have been changed, however. Now you're not faced with Sony's What's New service quite so aggressively, but head into the settings menu and everything looks as it did before.
We didn't have the time to drill through the software in great detail, but we didn't spot anything that really utilises the size of the display. LG on the G4 offers split screen functions and Samsung on Note 5 offers a range of multitasking options, something that the Z5 Premium might benefit from.
The Sony Xperia Z5 Premium will launch on Android Lollipop and there's no word on a timeframe for update to Android 6.0 Marshmallow.
First Impressions
There's something about the Xperia Z5 Premium that leaves us a little conflicted. We're not entirely sold on the display resolution being as high as it is. We can't wait to test it in more detail alongside lower res rivals - including the regular Z5 - but we can't help enjoying the fact that Sony is being excessive. Ultimately, this is a great display regardless of the resolution and everything we've seen so far is good.
And we've come to love that mirrored finish. It's brash and offensive and impractical, but who cares? You'll not find anything else like it out there and that's an attractive trait.
There will certainly be those who have doubts about the choice of the Snapdragon 810 chipset for this handset due to its thermal reputation and the performance of the Z3+. That means the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium has more to prove than any other phone of recent times: it has to demonstrate that a 4K display makes a difference; it has to demonstrate that Sony's new camera can beat down strong performance from Apple and Samsung; it also has to do all this while not overheating and not draining the battery ridiculously fast.
We were waiting for a new Sony flagship and now we've got one. Welcome to the new 4K king of bling.
More: http://www.pocket-lint.com/review/135065-sony-xperia-z5-premium-android-s-new-4k-king-of-bling-hands-on
Android 5.0 Lollipop brings a range of changes to Google's OS. Available initially on the Nexus 9 and Nexus 6, but now rolling out to a wider collection of devices, there's plenty of new features to get to grips with.
If you're feeling a little lost, or don't know where to find something, our Android 5.0 tips and tricks will get you started. We've even broken it down into sections to make it easier to find what you're looking for.
Have fun exploring and be sure to let us know any hot tips of your own in the comments below. We will be adding to this list as we see more Android 5.0 Lollipop devices - but bear in mind that manufacturers like HTC and Samsung will change how Lollipop behaves on their devices.
Android 5.0 general tips and tricks
Play Flappy Android: Lollipop's Easter Egg is an Android take on Flappy Bird. Head into Settings > About phone/tablet > Android version. Then tap the Android version repeatedly until it changes to the Lollipop screen. Once you have the full Lollipop wording visible, press and hold. You'll flip into the Flappy Android game. Enjoy!
Tap to wake: Don't reach for the power button, just double tap the display and it will wake up, so long as your device has the hardware to support it.
Search settings: Rather than rooting through everything, you can search the settings. Just open up the Settings menu and hit the magnifying glass and type what you're looking for.
Stop adding new app icons to homescreen: If you don't want new apps you install cluttering up your homescreen, head into Play Store > Settings and uncheck the box.
Add Yahoo! Mail to Gmail: You can add Yahoo! or other mail services to Gmail. Tap the icon to open the sidebar, scroll all the way to the bottom and hit Settings > Add account. You have the option for Google, IMAP/POP3 services (like Yahoo, Outlook.com) and Exchange.
Attach anything to Gmail: It's not new, but tap the attachment button and you can attach local files, things in Drive, Photos, Dropbox files, OneDrive box and so on. It's really flexible.
Limit Drive-enabled apps to Wi-Fi sync only: To save yourself a data bill, head into the Google Settings app > Drive-enabled apps and turn on Wi-Fi only. Alternatively, if you need it to sync on a cellular connection, switch it off!
Customise Google Now: Tap the settings icon that appears in the search bar. Here you can select the content you want to see, as well as change the settings, or place reminders.
Set a metered Wi-Fi network: Head into Settings > Data usage and select Network restrictions from the menu. Here you can set a Wi-Fi as metered, so it will restrict background data and give warnings for large downloads, perfect for tethering or Mi-Fi hotspots.
Turn off backgrounds in Calendar: Don't like the seasonal backdrop in your new calendar? Head into Settings and tap the slider to turn it off.
Turn on 5.1 surround sound: Play Movies now supports 5.1 soundtracks. Head into Settings > Enable Surround Sound. There's even a demo clip so you can test it.
Android 5.0 notifications tips and tricks
Instant access to lockscreen notifications: Just tap a notification twice and it will open up the app. Want to dismiss it? Just swipe it away.
Pinch to expand: Got a stack of notifications? You can pinch to expand them, both on the lockscreen and in the notifications area.
Hide sensitive information in lockscreen notifications: You can have lockscreen notifications without to much information being revealed. Head to Settings > Sound & notification > App notifications, to manage apps with sensitive information.
Then go to Settings > Sound & notification > When device is locked, to change the information revealed. This will then ensure that all apps you've marked up don't give anything away.
To mark an app as a Priority app: Head into Settings > Sound & notification > App notifications and you can set and app as a priority so you always get notifications from that app.
To turn off notifications on an app: Go to Settings > Sound & notification > App notifications. Here you can block all notifications for any app on your device.
Silence notifications: Hit the volume button and then hit None, Priority or All. If you select Priority, only your Priority notifications will be served up.
Suspend notifications: Hit the volume button, select None, then either Indefinitely, or select a time period - ideal to keep your device silent during meetings. You can also opt here to only have Priority notifications for a time period, before reverting back to all notifications.
Quickly switch to vibrate alerts: If you want silence, but are after vibration alerts still, then push the volume button and tap the bell on the pop-up. This will switch to vibrate.
Quick Settings tips
Quickly select a Wi-Fi network: Swipe down for Quick Settings, then click the network name beneath the Wi-Fi icon. This takes you through to the Wi-Fi settings.
Quickly manage Bluetooth: The same applies to Bluetooth. Click beneath the Bluetooth icon in Quick Settings and you'll head into settings to select your device.
Turn on flashlight: There's no need for a separate app, just tap the button in Quick Settings to turn on your flash as a torch.
Cast your screen: Want your Android device on your TV? Just swipe down and tap Cast screen and it will be sent to your Chromecast. Not all apps are supported though.
READ: Android 5.0 Lollipop update: When is it coming to my phone or tablet?
Android 5.0 battery tips and tricks
See your battery percentage: Open Quick Settings with a two-finger swipe. Your battery percentage is displayed here.
Time till fully charged: Charge time is displayed when connected to a charger. Look at the bottom of the lockscreen and in the battery status screen, but it takes a little while for Android to calculate how long charging will take.
See what's eating battery: Swipe down Quick Settings, tap the battery icon. You'll go to the battery status page and see how long you have left and what apps are eating your battery.
Turn on power saver: In the battery status page, tap the menu button, select power saver. You can elect to have to automatically switch on at 15 per cent or 5 per cent battery. The system bars turn orange when it is on.
Multiple user tips
Limit what users can see: Create a restricted profile by tapping Settings > Users > Restricted profile. You can then limit what your children can access, for example.
Guest profile: In the same area (Settings > Users) you can create a Guest profile. While it is setup, you'll get the option to access as a guest from the lock screen.
See how much storage they're using: If you want to know how much space is being used up by another profile, head into Settings > Storage. At the bottom of the list it says how much other profile and the guest is using.
Security
Instant lock: In Settings > Security there's the option to lock the device as soon as the screen goes to sleep. You'll find the option to lock as soon as you press the power button too. These are old settings, but really useful.
Face unlock: Head to Settings > Security > Smart Lock. Here you can have the device register your face, so it will unlock when you look at it. This is in addition to a pattern or password. If it fails to recognise your face, you'll have to enter your password.
Bluetooth unlock: Again in Security > Smart Lock, you have the option to nominate trusted devices, so your Android will unlock when connected to something else. You can nominate Bluetooth devices (like your smartwatch or car Bluetooth) or select an NFC tag.
More: http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/131609-android-5-0-lollipop-tips-and-tricks-get-to-grips-with-a-new-android
