LG releases 60-second video for its new Watch Urbane

LG releases 60-second video for its new Watch Urbane

LG announced last week that it would be unveiling a new smartwatch at MWC 2015 in Barcelona. Named the LG Watch Urbane, the Android Wear powered timepiece is the manufacturer's luxury timepiece with an all metal build, and a thinner design. Available in a gold or silver finish, the device offers the same 1.3-inch P-OLED display as the one on the LG Watch R. That means it will feature a resolution of 320 x 320 for a 245ppi pixel density.

The manufacturer has released a 60-second video showing off the Watch Urbane. LG says that with its new smartwatch, contemporary and classic unite. We also get a chance to see how some of the different watch faces look on the wearable in both gold and silver designs. Additionally, the video displays several of the strap options available for the watch.

Online retailer Expansys has started taking pre-orders for the LG Watch Urbane, although the $410.50 price is strictly a guess. We will know more about pricing and availability when LG officially unveils the Watch Urbane next week. Until then, you can check out the official video to get your fill of the device. Source

Living with the Apple iPhone 6: long-term review

Living with the Apple iPhone 6: long-term review
Introduction
It’s been nearly four months since Apple released the iPhone 6 in September, and in the meantime one thing has become abundantly clear: the new iPhone is breaking sales records and is extremely well received. After the initial lines and short supply, the iPhone 6 is finally well-stocked and available for everyone to buy. What this means is that it is about time for a long-term review of Apple’s dearest.

I have been using the phone off-and-on for months now, but in the past month I've dedicating myself to four weeks of intense exploration of all of its hidden avenues. It's above all a personal journey: I have been put off by Apple's decision to stick with small screens prior to the iPhone 6, and in the past couple of years, my list of daily drivers consists of Android devices solely. A larger iPhone, however, calls for a deeper look back at Apple's ecosystem and all its different aspects.

In this iPhone 6 long-term review you'd find a summary of my most essential personal impressions from this four-week intensive exploration of Apple's latest flagship. Read on.

Design can make or break a product

The iPhone 6 is a result of the adamant focus and discipline that Apple has imposed on itself throughout the years. After spending a few months with Apple’s iPhone 6 darling, I can say that the new aluminum-body design has withstood the test of time and comes out as being very practical and good-looking at the same time. Multiple factors intertwine in a singular feeling of premium experience with the iPhone 6: the thinness of the phone makes it stand out (only the Sony Xperia Z3 comes close to the slim profile, all other phones seem terribly chubby in comparison), the exquisite color options and the extremely stylish gold version in particular make it very desirable, and the attention to all the little details is admirable (the well-crafted and responsive volume buttons, the presence of the useful mute switch, the lock key that is positioned conveniently right next to your thumb).

Apple’s reality distortion field is said to funny effects on people, but I can't say this widespread admiration is unjust: every time I pick up the iPhone 6 after using most any other phone, I felt wowed by the thinness and the sturdy design. I've felt in a similar way about few other devices in the past: the HTC One S was one such phone, and in most recent years, the HTC One (M8) has taken a special place in my heart also, but it's a place reserved for few phones, and the iPhone 6 seems to have found it. I've also found the aluminum of the iPhone 6’s back not as prone to scratches as on the 5s and earlier 5. I'd still prefer carrying the phone with an ultra-slim case when I know I'll be on the run and I am afraid it might slip out of my pocket, but I did find myself poaching it out of its case not once to have a more direct contact and appreciate its thinness. In those cases, I made sure I placed it in a pocket where it won’t mingle with keys and other pocket lint. After a month of intense use, the iPhone 6 still looks brand new, without a single scratch. Source

LG G Flex 2 shows up for pre-order at Carphone Warehouse with free QuickCircle case and Bluetooth speaker

LG G Flex 2 shows up for pre-order at Carphone Warehouse with free QuickCircle case and Bluetooth speaker

Are you anticipating the LG G Flex 2 as fiercely as we do? Gosh, that Volcano Red color is so striking! Not to mention the smartphone itself is a powerhouse, even if its user interface seems to be in need of some polish. Anyway, a pretty good pre-order offer just popped up for those of you in sunny England! Carphone Warehouse has put up the topsy-curvy smartphone (only the black version, alas) for predorder on a £24 per month plan with a £310 down payment. Although that's not cheap by any means, especially compared to US subsidies, the retailer is throwing in a free Bluetooth speaker and a QuickCircle case, which makes for a far better deal - the two are worth £150 alone! But if you aren't up for a downpayment, you can have the G Flex 2 for free on a contract starting from £34.50 per month.

In addition to its curved shape, the LG G Flex 2 boasts a 1080p resolution display and cutting edge internals, such as the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, 3GB of RAM, a 13MP camera with OIS and laser auto-focus, a self-healing back cover, and a 3000mAh battery. Stuffed full of technology, the smartphone is heading towards Sprint and AT&T in the USA sometime in mid-March. Source

The best and worst HTC smartphones we've ever reviewed

The best and worst HTC smartphones we've ever reviewed

Last week, we showed you the best and worst Samsung devices that have ventured into our office for a full and thorough review. As HTC is one of the larger and more popular manufacturers, it has churned out a hefty amount of devices during the years. As you might imagine, many of these have passed through our hands.

While a lot of HTC devices have successfully wooed us with their design (the HTC One & One M8), certain features (the Desire EYE with its potent selfie shooter), or simply by being well-honed and polished devices as a whole, many products that bear the HTC logo have turned out to be quite disappointing and under-performing in one or many areas.

Below you'll find five of HTC's Android-powered devices that we've rated the highest and another five that have received the lowest ratings in our reviews. Check them out and feel free to discuss in the comments section right below!

The Best Of HTC

HTC EVO 4G

Back in the day, we hardly found any cons for the device despite its slightly thicker silhouette and the not-so-impressive video recording quality. On the other side, we commended this 2010 phone for its A-class build quality, good performance, and impressive 4.3-inch display.

HTC One

The "father" of the HTC One (M8), 2013's HTC One was truly a phone to behold. Its stunning aluminum design, display, performance, and front-facing speakers secured it a pretty high review rating. As a whole, the device was close to perfect, though the UltraPixel camera that debuted alongside it was somewhat dragging it back.

HTC Droid DNA

The 2012 HTC Droid DNA is among the devices HTC aced. Save for the non-expandable on-board storage and the hardware keys, the device was as good as it got. Definitely one of the trend-setting Android phones from 2012, it was unfortunately a bit over-shadowed by Samsung's equally-impressive Galaxy S III.

HTC Amaze 4G

What else to say about the HTC Amaze 4G apart from praising its build, display, and commendable performance (as per 2011's standards)? Well, we have to be fair and mention its downsides: the sub-par battery life and the under-performing camera. 

HTC Sensation 4G

The Sensation 4G is another notable HTC device that suffered from certain issues (unimpressive battery life, sub-par viewing angles, and somewhat bulky build), but is still among the better phones the Taiwan manufacturer has released.

The Worst Of HTC

HTC Desire 200

As a device released in 2013, the HTC Desire was quite a disappointing offering. Yes, we should mention that it was an entry-level device, but its single-core Snapdragon S1 chipset and outdated Android OS that shipped by default (Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich) were quite disappointing. 

HTC Salsa

HTC so-called Facebook phone did not live up to the hype built around it and turned out to be, well, a flop. Sporting a dedicated Facebook button and integration for the popular social network, the device was marred by issues that prevented it from being the smartphone HTC had certainly hoped with would be.

HTC Tattoo

Welcome to 2009, when HTC decided to re-invent the "low" in low-end and released the HTC Tattoo, a device that was nothing to write home about. On the contrary, the limited amount of available apps and dissatisfactory resistive screen were quite a let-down.

HTC Desire 601

Although the 601 was a mediocre handset that does the job, it failed to impress us with anything, yet generally disappointed in almost any area. Indeed, we are dealing with a mid-ranger, but this should never justify the existence of such unimposing handsets.

HTC Desire 310

By far, the worst HTC device to ever venture past the front door of our headquarters. Blame it on the awful display, the misshapen concoction that HTC called an user interface, an inferior rear camera, and the excessively-high and totally uncalled for price tag of roughly $220. We hope HTC never releases a device of the Desire 310's ilk. Source: Phonearena

Acer to announce a Windows 10 smartphone at MWC 2015, plus a new Android-based Jade handset

Acer to announce a Windows 10 smartphone at MWC 2015, plus a new Android-based Jade handset

While Acer is far from being one of the world's leading smartphone makers, in the last few years the company (best known for its laptops and desktop PCs) has constantly released various handsets, most of them running Android. Acer also made a few Windows Mobile smartphones (before Windows Phone existed), but those weren't exactly successful. This year, however, Acer will try its luck again - with a Windows 10 handset.

According to Focus Taiwan, Acer will announce its first Windows 10 smartphone at MWC 2015 next week. While there's no word on what specs the new smartphone will have, we heard that the device might be a low-end, or mid-range one.

Of course, since Windows 10 won't be properly released before summer (as Microsoft still has to polish the OS), Acer's new Windows-based handset is expected to be available starting the second half of the year.

In addition to announcing a Windows 10 handset, Acer also plans to unveil a new Android smartphone from its Jade series at MWC next week, plus a new wearable device. We'll let you know more about Acer's upcoming products as soon as they're announced.

P.S.: what you're seeing above is a mock-up based on the Acer Liquid Jade S (which in reality runs Android, not Windows, as our quickly made mock-up is suggesting).  Source

1st-gen Moto G and 2nd-gen Moto X getting Android Lollipop updates in Canada

1st-gen Moto G and 2nd-gen Moto X getting Android Lollipop updates in Canada

Motorola has launched its Lollipop update rockets towards its first-generation Moto G and second-generation Moto X. The information comes out of Canada, where a wide release of Android 5.0.2 Lollipop for the 1st-gen Moto G on Virgin, TELUS, Koodo, Videotron, WIND, and unlocked devices is happening. Meanwhile, Android 5.0.1 is heading towards Moto X (2014) owners on WIND after a small number of devices were affected from a botched initial Lollipop update.

As of now, owners of the first generation Moto X and the Moto E are the ones left without Lollipop updates, but Motorola will attend to the matter. In addition, the Lenovo-owned company may be about to release its second-generation Moto E smartphone on Verizon soon, and the phone could launch with Lollipop out of the box,

Motorola's release notes for the Moto G (2nd gen) and Moto X (2nd gen)'s Android 5.0 Lollipop updates are quite extensive, so if you are not in touch with all the enhancements and changes contained within them, click here if you have a Moto G and here if you have a Moto X. Source

How to disable KnockON (double tap to wake) on the LG G3 and other LG Android phones

How to disable KnockON (double tap to wake) on the LG G3 and other LG Android phones

No phone is perfect. From the basic feature phones to the smartphones of the highest caliber, they all have their flaws. The LG G3, while being one of the best phones we've reviewed in 2014, is no exception. You see, its maker has loaded it with a feature called KnockON, which allows one to wake or lock the phone with a double-tap on its screen. It's a feature that's both clever and convenient... most of the time.

But for some of us, KnockON does not work as flawlessly as it should. On rare occasions, the feature gets triggered accidentally while the phone is in a bag or pocket, which could lead to anything from battery drain to pocket dialing. One possible solution to the issue is to disable KnockON manually. Doing that, however, might not be a straight-forward procedure since the option to do so is not present in the settings menu of every LG G3 variant. In the phone's current software build, KnockON's switch may be placed in a hidden menu instead.

To disable the LG G3's double tap to wake function, you have to access the phone's service menu, which is done by inputting a code in its dialer app. The tricky part is that this secret code varies between LG G3 models. For example, the code is 3845#*855# on the international variant of the device (model D855), while the AT&T's model (D850) requires the code 3845#*850# entered.

Regardless of which LG G3 model you have, try inputting 3845#*XXX# where XXX are the digits from your LG handset's model name. So if you have purchased your LG G3 from T-Mobile, you have to enter 3845#*851# as D851 is that particular variant's model name.

Using the same formula, you should be able to access the service menu on other LG Android phones as well, as long as you know the model's name. Verizon's LG G3 is the only exception that we know of as it works with code ##228378 + send.

Once in the service menu, scroll down until you find "Knock on/off setting". In our case, it was the very last item on the list. Tap it and you'll be given access to the switch that disables KnockON. And that's it! If you ever feel like turning the double-tap-to-wake feature on again, just follow the same steps.  Source