Mid-Range and Water-Resistant Samsung Galaxy A Unveiled

Posted on by Brighthand Staff

Samsung Galaxy A smartphones

Samsung has announced its latest smartphones, the Samsung Galaxy A series. These are the first smartphones the company has introduced since the battery problems with the Note 7 in 2016.

The Galaxy A is a premium smartphone available in 4.7, 5.2, and 5.7 inch screen sizes. It also comes in four colors, including black, gold, blue, and peach. Design-wise, the outside of the phone has a metal frame with a “3D glass” backing.

A front- and rear-mounted camera is a major feature on these new smartphones. Both have autofocus capability, and are designed to work well in low-light conditions. For low-light selfies, the camera uses its screen to act as a flash. The camera even has a new “Food Mode”, to enhance the look of whatever you’re eating.

The Samsung Galaxy A7 in Peach Cloud

The Samsung Galaxy A carries an IP68 rating against water and dust resistance, matching the company’s flagship Galaxy S7 smartphone. This rating means the Galaxy A is fully resistant against dust, and can be submerged in water up to 1.5 meters deep.

The Galaxy A has a microSD card slot, with support for cards up to 256GB in size. The expandable storage is a notable advantage over the competing Apple iPhone 7, which offers internal storage only.

The Samsung Galaxy A uses the reversible USB Type-C port for charging. (Take a look at our features: USB Type-C: Do You Need It Now?). This is a feature we’d expect to see in a new smartphone. The Galaxy A also has an always-on display so you can see the time and calendar without waking the device. This should help preserve battery life. In the event you need to charge it, the Galaxy A supports Samsung’s Fast Charge, at least some models. Samsung didn’t specify how long it takes to charge the device.

Last on the Galaxy A’s major feature list is support for Samsung Pay, a Near-Field Communication (NFC) technology, a competing alternative to Apple Pay.

The Galaxy A will be available in three models, all of which will be powered by the Android 6.0.16 Marshmallow operating system. Other common features include 802.11ac and Bluetooth v4.2 wireless support, plus a fingerprint reader.

The smallest Galaxy A model is the A3, with a 4.7-inch Super AMOLED screen. It’s powered by a 1.6GHz Octa Core processor, 2GB of RAM, and 16GB of onboard storage. (As noted, all of the Galaxy A series smartphones have a microSD slot for cards up to 256GB, should you want to expand the storage.) The front-facing camera on the A3 is 8-megapixels, while the rear is 13-megapixels. A dual SIM card capability is also available on all models.

Besides a larger 5.2-inch display, stepping up to the A5 model nets you a faster 1.9GHz Octa Core processor, 3GB of RAM, and double the onboard storage to 32GB. The cameras are also higher-resolution than they are on the A3, with a 16-megalpixel rating for both the front and rear.

The flagship A7 model has a 5.7-inch display, and most of its other features and specs carried over from the A5. The A7 has a larger 3,600mAh battery, relative to the A5’s 3,000mAh.

Samsung Galaxy A Availability and Pricing

The Galaxy A will be available in Russia starting in early January, and become available in global markets after the fact, but Samsung didn’t say exactly when it would hit other shores. Pricing also hasn’t been disclosed.

The post Mid-Range and Water-Resistant Samsung Galaxy A Unveiled appeared first on Brighthand.com.

Samsung Gear VR (2016) Review

Posted on by Brighthand Staff

With the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 now in stores, the mobile giant has decided to release a rehashed version of its virtual reality headset, the Samsung Gear VR. Not all the much has changed, though. Of course the headset is outfitted with a USB Type-C port to accommodate Samsung’s newest flagship, but the peripheral also ships with a micro USB dongle, making it compatible with a wide swath of Samsung’s Galaxy lineup; including the Samsung Galaxy Note 7, S7, S7 Edge, S6, S6 Edge, S6 Edge Plus, and Note 5.

But the new Gear VR isn’t a pure carbon copy. The company has issued some quality of life design changes and Oculus’ ecosystem has only become more robust since we last looked at the application.

Is the new Samsung Gear VR worth taking the plunge into virtual reality? Read the full review to find out.

Build and Design

Samsung Gear VR front 1At first glance it appears not all that much has changed with the new Gear VR. It still looks the part of a virtual reality headset, and by that, we mean headset closely resembles a pair of bulky ski goggles, as noted in our review of the original Samsung Gear VR. The general design is the same with a plastic finish, cushioned lining, and black Velcro straps in the rear. However, the headset is sporting a cleaner looking black plastic finish  that leaves the mobile VR headset looking a lot more like its PC counterparts (the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift).

The two pairs of black Velcro adjustable straps make it easy to quickly adjust the headrest to fit comfortably. The gray inner foam lining is a bit thicker than in the previous model offering the Samsung Gear VR a comfortable and cushioned feel.

On the top of the device is a focus adjustment wheel. While on the left-hand side sits a home and back buttons, a square control touchpad, and independent volume controls. Finally on the bottom left side of the headset there is a USB Type-C port. The headset also ships with a small dongle that transforms the USB Type-C port into a micro USB port.

Samsung Gear VR side viewThe home button is a new addition and makes navigating the Oculus application a bit easier, especially without a gamepad. The touchpad has also been redesigned. Gone is the compressed controller touchpad design in favor of a plain indented touchpad with a braised dot in the center. It’s a small change, but it’s much easier to get a feel for where you are on the pad now than with the older model. Again making the Samsung Gear VR far more user-friendly.

The Samsung Gear VR houses a proximity sensor along with two glass eyepieces on the interior of the headset. The field of view has been increased to a full 110 degrees from the original 96 degrees, allowing for the even larger field of vision.

The front of the device houses a removable protective plastic plate, that takes the place of the smartphone while the headset is not in use. The right hinge slides out locking at a 45-degree angle allowing the protective cover or phone to removed. Pushing the right hinge in causes it to snap back into position holding the Galaxy smartphone place. The left hinge also rotates a full 45 degrees to make it easy to fasten your smartphone to the attached connector. Of course, the most notable feature of the rehashed Gear VR is the ability to remove the micro USB connector and swap in a USB Type-C plug. Both dongles ship with the new Gear VR and are easily interchanged via the guiding rails of the left hinge. Simply unlock the dongle and quickly slides off the hinge. Attaching the phone proves just as easy as the dongle as the phone quickly locks into place.

Performance

Regardless of which Galaxy model you’re using the smartphone locks securely into place once attached. Just like with the last version of the headset, the Gear VR does a fantastic job of creating an immersive environment. The black lining along the sides and top of your field of vision is minimal, and the headset blocks out all surrounding light. NBR tested the headset directly under powerful overhead lighting without any issue.

However, the real reason that consumers would want to purchase the Gear VR over Google’s cheaper cardboard alternative is the additional sensors. Unfortunately, Samsung hasn’t upgraded any of the tech that we saw from the previous version, but I guess they went with the mantra: if it’s not broken why fix it? The sensors are fairly smooth with head tracking making it easy to navigate a full 360 degrees with relatively smooth tracking. The tracking doesn’t quite match the impressive technical marvels of the Oculus Rift or HTC Vive, but it’s good enough that it’s never going to take you out of the moment while moving around. Though to be fair both of those headsets require powerful gaming PCs that costs thousands of dollars, while the Gear VR connects wireless to your everyday handset. All things considering it performs quite well.

Oculus Gear VR and Content

Samsung Gear VR UIPerhaps our favorite aspect of the Gear VR is the plug and play nature of it. The first time attaching your smartphone you’ll be asked to quickly setup the Oculus Gear VR application. The whole process takes a total of five minutes including the useful intro tutorial that teaches you how to navigate the application’s UI and use a connected gamepad. After that, you’re ready to go.

The Gear VR does operate as a walled garden though (at least sort of), which means all of the applications, games, and content you view will filtered through the Oculus ecosystem. Recently Google Cardboard applications were made available on the Gear VR, though it does require a bit of a workaround. Additionally, there is a Gear VR app that will allow you to browse the web in virtual reality. Still, most of the content that you view will come from Oculus’ ecosystem.

Anyone who has talked about a walled garden ecosystem will tell you that’s a double edged sword.  On the one hand, there’s quality assurance and ease. Everything is getting filtered through Oculus so you can be sure that it’ll work and everything is easy to find. However, that also means that content is somewhat restricted. While there is a great deal of content for you to explore via the Oculus store, it pales in comparison to the millions and millions of applications available on the Google Play store.

Samsung Gear VR CirqueThat being said there’s still a great deal of content available. The main draws are going to be games and video applications, but there’s also neat additions like  panoramic vistas and 3D artwork. There’s loads of video content, including apps such as Milk VR, Oculus Video, Netflix, and Twitch. But our favorite has to be the tailored videos such as the Samsung 360 video content, which are shot with the medium in mind.

Games can run anywhere from as low as $1.99 up to $15 and more. Most of the games tend to run at $4 and above, though, making them a bit more premium than the traditional games you’ll find on the Google Play store. Whatever your gaming tastes you’ll find them in the store, including role playing games, endless runners, rail shooters, action titles, simulations, and more. For the more mechanically demanding games such as shooters and action titles, you’ll likely want a gamepad, but most titles are playable without one.

Truthfully while there are more titles on the store than the last time we looked at the Gear VR, the content really haven’t progressed all that much. They’re fun little immersive experiences, but the Gear VR still hasn’t found it must have app. There’s plenty to enjoy here, but we can’t really point to a single must try app.

Conclusion

The refreshed Samsung Gear VR only offers a few incremental changes, but they’re all positive ones. The design changes are brilliant, the extra padding, the addition of the home button, and the improved touchpad all make the Samsung Gear VR easier to use. The ability to quickly switch between USB Type-C and micro USB means not only is the device future proofed for newer Samsung Flagships, but it will work with all of your old devices as well. The ability the use Google Cardboard apps on Samsung Gear VR, though a bit troublesome to access, is a huge boon. Oculus’ ecosystem offers even more great content.

However, for all of its improvements, the Samsung Gear VR still feels like a novelty item. It’s a fun novelty item with tons of interactive immersive apps, but there’s not much I could truly see myself returning to time and time again.

The Samsung Gear VR is still a great buy for those looking to get into the VR without the pricey investments needed for higher tech alternatives like the HTC Vive. Additionally, the Gear VR is a welcomed companion to the new Samsung Galaxy Note 7. However, to those that already own the old version of the Gear VR. There’s not enough here to warrant an upgrade.

Pros:

  • Samsung Gear VR front 2Improved lightweight design
  • Cordless and easy to use
  • Diverse array of content

Cons:

  • Gamepad greatly improves the experience
  • Walled Garden
  • No killer app

The post Samsung Gear VR (2016) Review appeared first on Brighthand.com.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 and Gear VR Preview: A Closer Look at the Specs

Posted on by Brighthand Staff

The Galaxy Note 7 might be Samsung’s newest and hottest smartphone thanks to a premium materials and an advanced feature set that includes the enhanced S Pen and the new Gear VR powered by Oculus. That said, shoppers might be surprised to find out the Galaxy Note 7 isn’t packed with the latest high-performance hardware. We took a closer look at what Samsung did and didn’t include with the new Note 7.

Build and Design

From the outside the Galaxy Note 7 features quality craftsmanship with a symmetric edge design that encases the curved QHD Super AMOLED screen and makes the front and back of the phone feel almost identical in your hand. The QHD screen is the showpiece of this device, enabling you to stream HDR video with brighter colors and deeper blacks.

The curved screen offers improved durability with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 while the Edge Panel provides one-tap access to applications, news, contacts, calendar or the selfie camera.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7

Samsung Galaxy Note 7

The next most impressive design feature of the Galaxy Note 7 isn’t immediately visible … unless you drop the phone in a toilet. The Note 7 is highly water resistant and IP68-compliant, meaning the device will continue to operate even after submersion in up to 5 feet of water for up to 30 minutes.

When it comes to the ports, the biggest change with the Galaxy Note 7 is that Samsung has finally switched from microUSB to the newer USB Type-C standard. This not only allows for potentially faster data transfer rates and faster charging over USB, but the Type-C port means you won’t have to worry about plugging in the cable upside down. The cable, like the phone, is symmetrical.

Thankfully, you won’t have to worry about buying a microUSB-to-USB Type-C adapter if you own other microUSB devices. Samsung includes an adapter at no extra charge. On that note (pardon the pun), the Note 7 includes the new S Pen at no additional cost and includes a storage and charging port for the S Pen at the bottom of the device next to the USB Type-C port.

Impressive Specs … Mostly

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 microSD card slot

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 microSD card slot

Despite the list of improvements we are surprised to see the new flagship uses the same dual-pixel sensor technology introduced on the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge. Not only is the camera unchanged, but Samsung decided to use the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor for the Note 7 here in the US rather than the newer Snapdragon 821 or 823. Sure, the processor and camera tech still deliver great results, but we expected to see a spec bump here rather than being forced to wait for the next generation Galaxy S and Galaxy S Edge in the spring of 2017.

On the bright side the built-in storage capacity is now 64GB and the Galaxy Note 7 also features expandable storage via microSD with support for up to an additional 256 GB card. The Galaxy Note 7 is equipped with a 3,500 mAh battery and charges quickly using the new USB-C port or wherever wireless charging is available.

New and Improved S Pen

Samsung S PenThe enhanced S Pen that comes with the Galaxy Note 7 is more than just a writing tool thanks to improved features and sensitivity that is a result of Samsung’s partnership with Wacom.  You don’t even have to unlock the screen to record a short memo and pin it to the Always On Display. The S Pen also allows users to quickly create and share GIF animations from a video file or still images using the Smart Select feature. In addition, the new Translate function has been added to Air Commands so users can immediately translate any written words simply by hovering over the word with the S Pen. Samsung also streamlined the process for recording and finding a variety of notes with the new Samsung Notes app collecting handwritten notes, sketches and memos in one location.

While those new features are nice, the two hardware changes to the S Pen that impressed us the most were the smaller 0.7mm tip and IP68 water resistance to match the waterproof nature of the Note 7. The smaller tip makes using the new S Pen feel much more like using a standard ballpoint pen and the water resistance means you won’t have to worry about writing on the screen when it’s wet.

Samsung S Pen

Samsung S Pen

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Specifications

  • Display: 5.7” Quad HD Dual edge Super AMOLED 2560 x 1440 (518ppi)
  • OS: Android 6.0.1 (Marshmallow)
  • Network: LTE Cat.12 / LTE Cat.10 / LTE Cat.9
  • Dimensions: 5 x 73.9 x 7.9mm
  • Weight: 169g
  • Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 Quad Core (2.15GHz Dual + 1.6GHz Dual), 64 bit, 14 nm process
  • Memory: 4GB RAM (LPDDR4) , 64GB (UFS 2.0)
  • Cameras: Rear Dual Pixel 12MP OIS (F1.7), Front 5MP (F1.7)
  • Battery: 3,500mAh, Fast Charging on wired and wireless Wireless Charging compatible with WPC and PMA
  • Payment compatibility: NFC, MST
  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5GHz), MU-MIMO(2×2) 620Mbps, Bluetooth v 4.2 LE, ANT+, USB Type-C, NFC, Location (GPS, Glonass, Beidou)
  • Sensors: Barometer, Fingerprint Sensor, Gyro Sensor, Geomagnetic Sensor, Hall Sensor, HR Sensor, Iris Sensor, Proximity Sensor, RGB Light Sensor
  • Audio support: MP3, M4A, 3GA, AAC, OGG, OGA, WAV, WMA, AMR, AWB, FLAC, MID, MIDI, XMF, MXMF, IMY, RTTTL, RTX, OTA
  • Video support: MP4, M4V, 3GP, 3G2, WMV, ASF, AVI, FLV, MKV, WEBM

DSC04174New Gear VR

Of course, a new Note 7 means an opportunity to upgrade the Gear VR as well. Samsung’s updated Gear VR headset powered by Oculus allows users to experience virtual reality content anywhere. The Galaxy Note 7’s Super AMOLED screen makes the viewing experience on the new Gear VR noticeably better than the current Gear VR. The new headset also features extra padding (less pressure around your eyes), and a wider field of view increased from 96 degrees out to 110 degrees. The new Gear VR comes in black rather than just the classic white and includes adapters to work with both microUSB and USB Type-C.

Gear VR for Galaxy Note 7 Specifications

  • Samsung Galaxy Note 7Dimensions: 207.8(W) x 122.5(L) x 98.6(H)mm
  • Weight: 345g (312g without Front Cover)
  • Field of View (FOV): 101°
  • Sensors: Accelerometor, Gyrometer, Proximity
  • Colors: Blue and Black
  • Compatibility: Galaxy Note 7, S7, S7 edge, Note 5, S6, S6 edge, S6 edge+ (USB Type-C and Micro USB connectors). USB-C pass through power and data support.

The Galaxy Note 7 goes on sale in the United States on August 19; preorders begin August 3 with exclusive offer for a free Gear Fit2 or 256GB microSD card. In the U.S., the Galaxy Note 7 will be available in Blue Coral, Silver Titanium and Black Onyx. AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular and Verizon Wireless will carry the Galaxy Note 7 in stores beginning August 19, with pre-orders starting on August 3, 2016.

The new Gear VR will be available beginning August 19, with pre-orders starting on August 3, 2016 through select channels.

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ZTE Zmax Pro Hands-On Preview: A lot for a little

Posted on by Brighthand Staff

ZTE Zmax Pro backThere’s no question ZTE has been setting their sights on the high-end smartphone market. With the company’s latest flagship the ZTE Axon 7 — set to officially release later this month in the US — the world’s fourth largest smartphone manufacturer looks poised to take on the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S7 and iPhone 6S. However, it wasn’t an impressive spec list or flawless design that helped ZTE to make such impressive inroads in the US market. Instead, it’s been the company’s relentless pursuit of value. The ZTE brand has become well known for its quality affordable entry-level smartphones. Earlier this week marked a return to form for the Chinese manufacturers as they introduced the ZTE Zmax Pro.

The 6-inch Android phablet looks to blend affordability and performance running on the latest version of Android Marshmallow (6.0) ) OS, with an impressive 1.5 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 chipset, 2GB of RAM, and 32GB of built-in storage for only $99 (after instant rebate). Add in the 13MP rear-facing camera, fingerprint scanner, and  Type C USB 2.0 fast charging port and you have one heck of a deal.

Looking at the complete package it’s hard to believe that the ZTE Zmax Pro only costs $100. Given the impressive spec list, NBR was a bit worried that ZTE may have skimped on build quality to help bring the cost of the handset down. Luckily those fears were unfounded.

First Look: Build & Design

ZTE Zmax Pro frontThe ZTE Zmax Pro sports an attractive glossy black plastic with relatively thin bezels along the front of the device. A cobalt colored textured plastic sits at the back of the device. The contrasting look helps to tie the aesthetic together, and the textured surface makes the phone easier to grip. Still at 6-inches  with a 0.35-inch thickness the phone may prove a bit unwieldy for some users, especially when trying use the device with a single hand.

The ZTE Zmax Pro features a 6-inch FHD 1920 x 1080 resolution (367 PPI pixel density) LCD display. The protective Gorilla Glass 3 coating helps to protect the screen from impact and scratches. The screen itself appears serviceable (especially given the $100 price tag), with clear crisp images and text. However, we couldn’t help but notice that the max brightness on the display was a bit dim. It’s likely that the limited brightness could cause issues with outdoor performance in direct sunlight, and also cause colors to appear washed out when viewing the device from wide angles.

As we mentioned NBR was more than satisfied by the spec sheet offered in the ZTE Zmax Pro. Armed with an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 processor, 2GB of RAM, and 32GB of built-in storage, the ZTE Zmax Pro is more than capable of handling the basics of web browsing and running your standards suite of apps. The smartphone may struggle with more demanding tasks, such as graphically intensive games or comprehensive productivity apps, but it will be difficult for NBR to make a definitive judgment till we spend more time with the device. Still, for its sub-$100 price point, that’s impressive, matching competitors such as the Honor 5X, which is currently listed at double the price.

The ZTE ZMax Pro also has a number of premium features including a 13MP rear-facing camera, along with a 5MP front-facing camera. The Zmax Pro houses a fingerprint scanner directly below the rear-facing camera. The location makes the scanner easy to access and use. The phone utilizes a Type C USB 2.0 port for fast charging and has a removable storage microSD slot next to its sim card capable of expanding the memory an additional 128GB. That’s a lot of extra bells and whistles for an entry-level device.

ZMAX PRO Side 2Even though our time with the ZTE Zmax Pro was limited, it’s hard not to love this device. It may not be the most impressive handset on the market, but ZTE is offering a remarkable value with this device. Sure there are some flaws. The display can be a bit glossy indirect light, and the specs aren’t intended for more demanding tasks, but you will not find a better bang for your buck.

Instead, the bigger issue is the carrier restrictions. Currently, the ZTE Zmax Pro is only offered through MetroPCS. In fact, part of the reason the cost is so low is Metro is offering a $100 instant rebate, which allows the device to hit that elusive sub-$100 price point.

The ZTE ZMax Pro is a great device and an unbelievable value, but it’s unlikely that consumers will want to change carriers, just to get their hands on an excellent entry-level handset.

The ZTE ZMax Pro is currently available for preorder and will be made available for purchase starting on August 1st at MetroPCS for $99 (with a $100 instant rebate).

 

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Apple iPhone SE Review: An Old But New Smartphone

Posted on by Brighthand Staff

This year’s unveiling of the iPhone SE smartphone felt like a mediocre trip down memory lane. Nevertheless, Apple’s $399 iPhone SE might just be one of the most important releases for the iPhone line in the last three years. At long last Apple has delivered an attractive new iPhone with the perfect combination of new features and low cost to tempt those customers who are still using old iPhones that are long overdue for an upgrade. More to the point, Apple finally has an iPhone that competes directly with Android smartphones that retail for between $350 and $500.

The iPhone SE might be small and looks like an old iPhone but it brings some impressive updates to the table. If you’re looking for a smartphone with better battery life, snappier performance, and abundant storage capacity that won’t break the bank then the iPhone SE probably belongs on the shortlist for your next upgrade. Read more of this Apple iPhone SE review to find out why.

Apple iPhone SE

Apple iPhone SE

Build and Design

We forgive anyone who struggles to spot the difference between the new iPhone SE smartphone and the iPhone 5S from 2013. The simple truth is that Apple leveraged the existing chassis of the 5s to create a new iPhone at reduced cost. The only “obvious” differences between the exteriors of the iPhone 5s and the iPhone SE are the different color options. The newer iPhone SE is available in Silver, Space Gray and Gold but the classic White has been replaced with Rose Gold.

The iPhone SE retains the aluminum frame, chamfered edges, and even weight and dimensions of the iPhone 5 and 5S; weighing just 3.99 ounces, and measuring 4.87 x 2.31 x 0.3 inches.

Once again, the Home button located beneath the 4-inch display features an integrated fingerprint sensor for both password authorization with Touch ID and compatibility with Apple Pay. The backside of the iPhone SE has a subtle upgrade to the main iSight camera, which now has a 12-megapixel image sensor, True Tone flash and supports 4K video recording (3840 x 2160) at 30 fps.

Display

The iPhone SE 4-inch LED-backlit widescreen multi-touch display with 1136 x 640 resolution. This is technically a “Retina display” with 326 ppi but it lacks the visual impact of higher resolution AMOLED displays like those found on the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge.

DSC03694DSC03703

The older screen technology is both a blessing and a curse for the iPhone SE. The iPhone SE’s smaller size makes the device easier to operate with a single hand than the Galaxy S7 edge and, as previously mentioned, the lower-resolution Retina display is less expensive. Text is still sharp, pictures and video both look good for a small screen and the touchscreen surface is extremely responsive and accurate.

The box contents for the iPhone SE.In the Box

The iPhone SE smartphone ships with a standard 5W USB power outlet adapter, Lightning-to-USB cable, and earbud headphones. The headphones are Apple’s iconic EarPods with in-line remote and microphone. You won’t get anything else (other than the phone) inside the box but we aren’t surprised given Apple’s track record of including the bare minimum accessories with your purchase.

Performance

We would love to describe thae iPhone SE as a smaller, less expensive iPhone 6s but that’s not an accurate description. The iPhone 6s and 6s Plus have better front-facing FaceTime cameras and they both support 3D Touch; two features absent from the iPhone SE. The iPhone SE also lacks a built-in barometer for elevation.

That being said, the iPhone SE has many similarities to the iPhone 6s when it comes to raw performance. Both phones use Apple’s 64-bit A9 processor with embedded M9 motion coprocessor along with 2 GB of system RAM. That dual-core processor runs at 1.84 GHz and is backed up with support for the latest LTE and Wi-Fi standards. In short, you’ve got an affordable smartphone with flagship-like speed.

iphoneSEThe single-core Geekbench score for the iPhone SE was 2539 and the multi-core score in Geekbench was 4420. Those scores are slightly better than what the iPhone 6s produced, although the iPhone SE uses a newer update of iOS 9 and probably had an easier time with the rendering portions of Geekbench since the screen resolution is lower. The single-core score from the iPhone SE is better than the score from the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge but the multi-core score from the S7 edge is better than the iPhone SE.

We only have two complaints that we feel compelled to mention in the performance section. First, the entry-level iPhone SE only ships with 16 GB of storage capacity and there is no option at the time of this writing to upgrade to 32 GB of storage. If you want more than the paltry 16 GB you’ll have to pay for 64 GB of storage. This seems like an obvious money grab by Apple since 32GB would be a perfectly reasonable middle ground between the lowest and highest capacities.

Second, we found that the iPhone SE smartphone delivers noticeably inferior voice call quality compared to the iPhone 5, iPhone 6s and even the ancient iPhone 4s. Granted, an ever increasing percentage of smartphone owners rarely use their phones for voice calls. Still, if your device has the word “phone” in its name then people expect the phone portion to work. We regularly experienced problems getting people to hear anything we said unless the phone was set to speaker mode. We felt like the Verizon guy from 10 years ago constantly asking people, “Can you hear me now?”

Ports, Sensors, and Connectivity

You don’t buy an iPhone because of its stunning array of ports and the iPhone SE is no exception. The right-hand side of the iPhone SE only includes the slot for the nano-SIM card The top right corner is where you’ll find the physical button for on/off/sleep/wake. The left-hand side of the device contains the switch for ringer/silent and volume up and volume down buttons.

DSC03685DSC03682

The big things that the iPhone SE lacks are all those extra sensors you’ll find on the latest Android-powered flagship smartphones and no microSD card slot for upgrading the internal storage after purchase. You don’t get the heart-rate sensor built into the back panel like the Galaxy S7 edge and, as previously mentioned, if you don’t pony up the big bucks for the iPhone SE with 64 GB of internal storage then you’re going to fill up the iPhone SE’s 16 GB storage capacity very quickly.

The list of supported cellular and wireless connectivity options varies based on the model of iPhone SE that you purchase (Model A1662 or A1723) but all models support 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2 and NFC. The cellular options run the gambit from LTE, TD-LTE, TD-SCDMA, CDMA EV-DO, UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA, and GSM/EDGE.

Location services are supported via GPS and GLONASS, digital compass, Wi-Fi, Cellular and iBeacon microlocation.

Camera

As previously mentioned, the rear-facing camera inside the iPhone SE is the same backside-illuminated 12-megapixel image sensor inside the iPhone 6s and it’s a significant upgrade over the image sensor inside the iPhone 5s.

If you’re stepping up from an old iPhone 4s or 5s one of the first things you’ll notice is that this camera focuses faster and makes it easier to grab snapshots of quick action. The combination of the f/2.2 aperture lens and the 12 MP sensor captures more than enough detail to let you crop photos and still have a large image for full-screen display or printing. Color accuracy is great and the “True Tone flash” does a reasonably impressive job capturing accurate white balance as long as the shooting environment isn’t filled with a terrible mixture of differently colored lights.

Sample images:
12MP Macro12MP standard image
12MP HDR12MP Flash image

Arguably the best camera feature in the iPhone SE smartphone is the support for 4K video recording at 30 fps. What really makes this a standout feature is that you can capture an 8-megapixel (3840 x 2160 pixels) still photo even while you’re recording 4K video.

Granted, the image quality of the 8 MP still images taken from the 4K video isn’t as noise-free or detailed as the 12 MP still images, but if you’re trying to capture images and video of a once-in-a-lifetime moment then it’s nice to have to option to just shoot 4K video and grab your still shots from there.

Of course, if you’re planning to use your iPhone to record 4K video then you really need to pay for the 64 GB storage capacity since 16GB will fill up before you’ve had the chance to record more than a few minutes of footage.

The front-facing FaceTime HD camera is actually a step beck from the 5 MP sensor in the iPhone 6s; the new iPhone SE features the old 1.2 MP image sensor. This is still perfectly adequate for 720p HD video calls. And 1.2 MP is enough resolution to check your hair or makeup using the FaceTime camera, just don’t expect to capture selfies with stunning amounts of detail if you’re using the low resolution of the front-facing camera.

ios9point3Software and Features

Of course, one of the main reasons that people purchase iPhones is the reliability of Apple’s iOS software. The iPhone SE ships with iOS 9.3, which we covered in-depth in a separate review. All models of the iPhone SE come with 33 built-in apps ranging from FaceTime and Safari to iCloud Drive and the Apple Watch app. If you purchase the iPhone SE with 64 GB capacity Apple also preinstalls iMovie, Pages, Keynote, Numbers, iTunes U, GarageBand, Apple Store, Trailers, Remote and Music Demos.

The single biggest advantage that iOS brings to the table, other than the wide variety of 3rd-party apps available in the App Store, is that Apple doesn’t include the bloatware common to many Android smartphones and you can easily uninstall any carrier-specific apps if your service provider preinstalled anything you don’t want.

Battery

Our team of editors was worried that the new iPhone SE would deliver terrible battery life compared to the iPhone 6s due to the fact that both phones use the same processor but the smaller iPhone SE runs on a physically smaller battery with lower total capacity (1624 mAh in the iPhone SE vs 1810 mAh in the iPhone 6S).

Much to our surprise, the iPhone SE and the iPhone 6s deliver virtually identical battery life thanks to the lower power consumption of the smaller display and lower resolution. The Geekbench 3 battery life benchmark showed the iPhone SE lasted five hours and 32 minutes. That’s roughly 16 minutes more than the iPhone 6s but it seems less impressive when you compare those battery life numbers to the old Samsung Galaxy S6 (6 hours and 49 minutes).

Apple claims the non-removable Lithium-polymer battery inside the iPhone SE smartphone will last for up to 240 hours in stand-by mode on a 3G network and deliver up to 14 hours of talk time. If you’re just using your iPhone as a glorified iPod the you can expect to play music for up to 50 hours according to Apple.

Apple iPhone SE Review Conclusion

Our editors were initially quite skeptical heading into this Apple iPhone SE review. Sure, there are people who want a low-cost iPhone with many of the latest features in a smaller package. However, the low-res display and tired exterior design seems to run counter the position that Apple iPhones typical hold in the marketplace: premium smartphones that serve as luxury items and status symbols.

At the time of this writing Apple CEO Tim Cook claimed during a recent quarterly earnings call that Apple failed to anticipate the “overwhelming demand” for the iPhone SE and Apple can’t make them fast enough. Honestly, it has been a few years since Apple experienced a supply shortage with new iPhones and that might be the single best indicator that Apple has a hit on its hands.

The single biggest advantage that the iPhone SE delivers is lower cost … both in terms of the total cost of design and assembly for Apple and in terms of delivering a high-performance phone with a low cost per GB of storage.

Sometimes you don’t need the absolute best of everything in a smartphone. Apple’s iPhone SE proves it’s possible to strike a balance between excellent performance and affordability.

The box contents for the iPhone SE.Pros:

  • Great performance
  • Excellent battery life
  • Lowest price per GB for a new iPhone

Cons:

  • Unimpressive display
  • Looks identical to the iPhone 5S
  • Voice call quality spotty at best
  • No 32GB option: Starts at 16GB and jumps to 64GB

The post Apple iPhone SE Review: An Old But New Smartphone appeared first on Brighthand.com.

Windows 10 Continuum: Don’t Throw Your PC Away Just Yet

Posted on by Brighthand Staff

 

Smartphones have come a long way since inception. Email, word processing, as well as video recording and editing: the list of the modern day handheld’s functionality is impressive. It begs the question: when will these devices be capable of replacing our PCs?

Microsoft says your phone is good enough to be your PC.

Microsoft says your phone is good enough to be your PC.

That day may be rapidly approaching with Microsoft’s Continuum for phones. Continuum is a software feature that allows Windows Phone devices to connect to a display via a wired dock or Miracast. It can be used to simply port the data over to a larger display, or offer dual-screen functionality. It all sounds rather simple, but mirroring the handhelds data onto a more work-friendly form factor (complete with keyboard and mouse) could have huge implications.

As the team at NotebookReview explored, the potential for Continuum is certainly great there are some caveats to consider. The first being that Continuum in its current stage does nothing to bolster the performance of smartphones, it’s merely mirroring content onto a larger display. While phones have made great strides in performance, the average handset will struggle to put together a professional PowerPoint presentation or solve a demanding spreadsheet calculation in a timely manner. HP believes it may have a device that’s up to the task, but NotebookReview has its reservations.

This could be your next desktop PC … if you don’t need to use older software.

This could be your next desktop PC … if you don’t need to use older software.

It’s worth noting that Continuum doesn’t allow smartphones to run desktop applications, it’s just porting the handset’s apps onto a larger display.  That means that a large selection of the applications users enjoy on their Windows PCs (namely legacy software) will not be available. App selection will be resigned to what is offered in the Windows 10 App Store, which has long been criticized for its lack of content.

The process of turning your phone into a fully functioning PC is also an expensive endeavor. Continuum may be baked into the Windows Phone software, but all the peripherals aren’t. Of course, you could opt to simply use the screen on your handset, but staring at a 5-inch or 6-inch device can become straining. To port your phone over to the big screen you’re going to need a dock or a Miracast enabled display, along with a keyboard and a mouse. Not to mention all of the Windows Phone apps you’ll need to purchase, considering PC applications won’t work on your smartphone.

The biggest problem for Windows phones is almost no one uses them.

The biggest problem for Windows phones is almost no one uses them.

That brings us to another issue. To get access to Continuum, you will need to switch over to Windows Phone. Microsoft has managed to convert a small selection of loyal fans, but the platform currently ranks a distant third with Google’s Android and Apple’s iPhone accounting for 96.2 percent of the U.S. smartphone market.

Continuum is dependent on Windows Phone applications and app developers have very little incentive to currently create apps for the platform when the lion’s share of users exists on Android and iOS.

Continuum is a bold idea, but there is still a great deal of kinks to be worked out. A lot of ifs need to be answered before it can help transform our handsets into our primary productivity devices.

That’s not to say that the day won’t come. But for now, PCs still have their place.

For the full conversation on Continuum be sure to check out our editorial on NotebookReview.

The post Windows 10 Continuum: Don’t Throw Your PC Away Just Yet appeared first on Brighthand.com.

HP Elite X3, The Smartphone that Wants to be Your Next Laptop: Hands On

Posted on by Brighthand Staff

After nearly a two year absence, HP is returning to the mobile market with the Elite X3, a Windows phone designed for business users. The high-end phablet may be exactly what Microsoft needs to attract new users to the underpopulated platform. HP doesn’t just want the Elite X3 to replace your smartphone, but your PC as well. To put it plainly the X3 is a bold move. Armed with an array of high-end specs including Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 processor along with Windows 10’s Continuum feature, the Elite X3 may just be able to make that bold idea a reality.

Built for Business

HP Elite X3The Elite X3 runs large for a handset, the 5.96-inch screen offers a great deal of real estate, but it also may be a bit unwieldy for some users (especially when using the device one handed). It’s one of the largest displays on the market, dwarfing the sizeable 5.7-inch Samsung Galaxy Note 5. While the Elite X3 is quite the behemoth, HP doesn’t waste any space, the device is nearly all screen with incredibly thin bezels.

As expected of business-oriented device provides clean understated aesthetic. The face of the device is made of  black metal, while the back is coated in a matching polycarbonate cover. The bottom face of the phone houses a silver Bang & Olufsen speaker grill. The silver grill adds a nice bit of flare to the otherwise plain looking X3, without making it look to flashy.

As a device that prides itself on unbridled mobility, the Elite X3 is built to stand up to wears and tears of the road. The phone has been designed to stand up to 810G military spec. testing. The Elite X3 is also waterproof up to IP67, which should protect the device from the occasional downpour or spilled glass of water.

Elite Specs

Considering that the Elite X3 wants to be more than just a handset, it shouldn’t come as a big surprise that the device is packing some serious heat under the hood. The Elite X3 is currently designed to be the most powerful Windows phone on the market. Running on Windows 10 Mobile the handset is powered by a Qualcomm’s newest chipset the 2.15GHz Snapdragon 820 CPU. The device also features a Qualcomm Adreno 530 GPU (integrated into the Snapdragon 820 chipset), 4GB of DDR4 RAM, and a sizable 4,150mAh battery. The device houses a USB-type C connector along with 64GB of on-board storage that can be expanded to 2TB via microSD.

The 5.96-inch display is no slouch either boasting a QHD (2,560 x 1,440) resolution. Considering the size of the display that will give the Elite X3 a slightly lower pixels per inch count than other leading handset, but from our brief time with the device we didn’t see a noticeable drop in image quality. The AMOLED panel actually looks pretty great offer vibrant colors and solid contrast. Additionally the screen is protected by Gorilla Glass 4, helping to protect from scratches and impacts, bolstering the already impressive level of durability offered by the X3.

The Elite X3 also offers a solid imaging capabilities as well, with a 16MP rear facing camera. The front of the device is also equipped with a 8MP sensor that is capable of capturing two images simultaneously and combine them to create an HDR like image. The X3 also boasts a few security features including a fingerprint scanner and an iris scanner on the front of the device.

It’s a Phone, It’s a Desktop, It’s the Elite X3

x3 in pc modeWhile the Elite X3 is a solid handset in its own right, the defining characteristic of this device is the ability to seamlessly transform between handset and PC. HP is attempting to tackle this herculean feat with the help of Continuum, a Windows 10 feature that allows Windows smartphones to plug into a display and function like a Windows computer with full keyboard and mouse functionality.

It’s an attractive idea, the prospect of being able to keep your files and data with you at all times on a singular device, but there are a few caveats. The most important being that Continuum doesn’t allow smartphones to run full desktop apps. Luckily HP does have a solution, the company is building in software for running apps from the cloud. Unfortunately this functionality will need to be installed by an IT department, locking in the phone’s identity as a business-grade device, this isn’t a device for the average consumer.

Truth be told the HP Elite X3 is still more of proof of concept at this point. The company is still working on the software streaming aspect, which undoubtedly is going to play a large part in how successful the Elite X3 is. However, from what little we have seen, using continuum to switch between smartphone and desktop modes is pretty seamless.

HP is planning on selling a pair of accessories alongside the Elite X3 that help make the transition between phone and PC even easier. The Desk Dock is a compact chrome dock with a small collection of ports in the back (two USB ports, one USB-C, DisplayPort and Ethernet connector) to provide users with all the connectivity expected of business-grade pc. We got a chance to briefly test out the X3 while using the dock and while the device is still in early development, it did work quite well. Both the keyboard and mouse attached to dock worked without a hitch, they were responsive with no noticeable lag. However, what impressed us most was just how quick and easy it was to hook the phone up. Within seconds of plugging the device into the dock it was up and running.

x3 laptopIn addition to the dock, HP will also be releasing what is essentially a hollowed out laptop called the Mobile Extender. The accessory isn’t actually a laptop as it doesn’t have any computing components of its own, meaning the laptop is only functional when tethered to the Elite X3, which can be enabled via Miracast and WiGig technologies. Unfortunately, HP didn’t have a working model on-hand, but the peripheral will ship with a 12.5-inch 1080p display, physical keyboard and working trackpad.

A Wonderful Idea, but is it Plausible?

x3 in dockThis isn’t the first time that a company has tried to deliver a phone that can replace a PC, but the Elite X3 is an ambitious idea that might come closer than any of those previous failures. With Continuum and its own suite of virtual apps, HP may have found one of the most compelling reasons for business users to consider the switch to a Windows phone. However, there are still a number of issues that need to be addressed before HP can make that a reality. The first being that Windows currently finds itself a distance third in the market behind both Apple and Android among developers. The app market is sparse compared to its competitors, so HP is taxed with picking up a lot of the slack via its virtual apps for software that runs on the Windows desktop.

The second (and perhaps more important) issue is whether the Elite X3 is powerful enough to fill in as your full-time PC? There’s no question that the X3 is incredibly powerful for a mobile handset, but how will the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 face off against more demanding productivity apps? Sure HP will be virtualizing a lot of the software, which should help to offset some of the workload, but until we see some benchmarks and real-world performance the X3 should be treated with guarded optimism.

There are some questions that still need to be answered, but the Elite X3 is an interesting prospect to say the least. It’s hard to really gauge at this point how successful the X3 will be, but we’re excited to see the product continue to develop. Considering that the HP Elite X3 is so early in development, the company has yet to set a price point or release date, but the company is shooting for a Summer release.

The post HP Elite X3, The Smartphone that Wants to be Your Next Laptop: Hands On appeared first on Brighthand.com.

The LG G5 Impresses with Brilliant Modular Design and VR Headset: Hands On

Posted on by Brighthand Staff

LG’s latest Android flagship is a show stopper. With a clean effortless aesthetic, strong specs and a brilliant modular design the LG G5 is the complete package. What’s even better is that LG can continue to add new functionality and features via the modular design. Having revealed a cornucopia of new accessories alongside the handset, it’s clear that LG is serious about supporting the G5 with new peripherals, and the team at NotebookReview can’t wait to see LG comes up with next.

Premium Feel

The LG G5 is a modular Android smartphone.

The LG G5 is a modular Android smartphone.

We can’t resist the urge to start talking about the way the LG G5 looks and feels given all of the insane changes coming to LG’s newest flagship. But sometimes it’s the simplest things that can have the biggest impact. LG has moved away from some its more unique elements to opt for a more traditional metallic unibody design. While some may miss the leather back of the LG G4 (I personally don’t), the G5 unquestionably feels like a high-end device.

Measuring 149.4 x 73.9 x 7.7mm with a 5.3-inch display, the LG G5 fits comfortably in hand, making it easy to hold and navigate. The beveled glass on the face of the phone flows cleanly into the body. There are no disruptive lines or noticeable breaks, save for where LG has implemented its new modular design component. Similar to the Nexus 6P, the LG G5 has a fingerprint scanner on the back of the phone just below its dual-mounted cameras. As with the 6P, the LG G5’s scanner also doubles as a power button when compressed. Users will also have a full selection of colors to choose from as the LG G5 will be made available in Silver, Titan, Gold and Pink. All of this results in a full metal body design looks smooth, simplistic and elegant.

The Power of Modular Design

Thanks to the modular design, the LG G5 has a removable battery.

Thanks to the modular design, the LG G5 has a removable battery.

Despite looking like a traditional high-end flagship, the LG G5 is anything but. One aspect that truly sets the LG G5 apart from other flagships on the market is its new modular design. The bottom portion of the phone’s body can be removed to access things such as the phone’s battery (which is removable) and card slots.

While that in itself is great, it’s the additional modular add-ons or “friends” as LG is calling them, that really excite us about this phone. Adding in additional components may sound overly complicated, but everything snapped in quickly and it only took a few seconds to attach or remove, during our time with the “friends” on display at Mobile World Congress.

The first plug-in module that LG showed off was the LG Camera Plus, which acts as an external camera grip, making it easier to take photographs with your phone. Additionally the plugin also comes equipped extra battery power, expanding the battery from 2,800mAh to 4,000mAh.

The LG Hi-Fi Plus is an audio-focused "friend."

The LG Hi-Fi Plus is an audio-focused “friend.”

The camera accessory comes complete with a physical shutter button, a dedicated video recording button, an LED indicator and zoom device. This add-on isn’t necessarily game-changing, as you’re still using the same cameras embedded in the device, but it certainly improves the overall use, making it easier to hold and use the phone as a camera and helping to expand its battery life by 6 to 8 hours, according LG.

LG also showed off the LG Hi-Fi Plus, an external 32-bit DAC and amplifier combo unit, which was developed in collaboration with Bang & Olufsen. While this modular unit doesn’t change the physical dimensions of the device, it does upscale the audio (from any app producing sound)  and ships with a pair of H3 Bang and Olufsen earphones.

The partnership with Bang & Olufsen is potentially the first of many, as LG has opened its modular component to third party developers, meaning that it’s likely that consumers can expect similarly branded modules over the next few months.

Always-On Display

The LG G5 has an always-on display.

The LG G5 has an always-on display.

The LG G5’s display is actually a bit smaller than its predecessor at 5.3-inches, but manages to offer the same QHD (2,560 x 1,440) for a pixel density of 554ppi. The screen looks great and held up really well under the heavy lights on the Mobile World Congress showroom floor. However, the most impressive feature of the display is its always-on functionality. Similar to Samsung’s newly announced Galaxy S7, the LG G5 will be able to constantly illuminate a small part of the screen, making it possible to check the time or receive updates without powering on the full display.

The Power to Back it Up

In addition to its clean aesthetic and flexible modular design, the LG G5 packs quite a punch. We only had a few minutes with the handset, but it performed incredibly well. Applications loaded instantly and navigation was smooth without a hitch. That doesn’t really come as a surprise though, consider the LG G5 is powered by Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 820 SoC, with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of on-board storage with up to 2TB of microSD storage. The device runs on Android 6.0 and the default battery is 2,800 mAh. The device also sports of pair of new cameras. One has a 75 degree Field of View (FoV) and a 16MP sensor, while the other has a 135 degree FoV and a 8MP sensor. The cameras can be used independently, toggled between on the fly or used simultaneously.

Complete with VR

The LG 360 VR is a slim mobile VR headset.

The LG 360 VR is a slim mobile VR headset.

The LG 360 VR headset also caught our attention. Unlike other mobile VR solutions such as Samsung Gear VR, the LG 360 VR headset is a fully separate head-mounted display. The headset is tethered via a USB-Type C cable, where it feeds the data directly to two 1.88-inch 960 x 720 displays. The display offer easy turn-style calibration so that users can adjust them perfectly to their sight. Despite having a difference design from the Gear VR, the experience is actually somewhat similar. Users can navigate by turning their head or using the directional buttons located along the top right of the visor. The headset has been developed in partnership with Google, meaning that YouTube 360 and other Google Cardboard apps work right out of the gate.

The LG 360 VR is also comfortable to wear.

The LG 360 VR is also comfortable to wear.

The biggest selling point for the independent design is size and weight. Because the LG 360 VR doesn’t have to hold a smartphone, it’s a lot slimmer and more stylized than the Gear VR. At only 100 grams it’s actually quite comfortable to wear.

We’re blown away by the LG G5. With a clean aesthetic, brilliant modular design and powerful specs, it delivers a complete package. The one thing that may be a bit worrying is the slightly smaller battery. The always-on display feature should help to augment battery-life provided users turn to it instead of powering on the device, but we’re still skeptical. The good news is that the battery is removable, so a beefier battery “friend” is all it takes to fix the issue.

Unfortunately LG has yet to set an official G5 release date, or provide specific pricing details.

The post The LG G5 Impresses with Brilliant Modular Design and VR Headset: Hands On appeared first on Brighthand.com.

BlackBerry Priv Review

Posted on by Brighthand Staff

Hardware keyboards adorned early smartphones because of one name: BlackBerry. The Canadian company, then known as RIM, dominated the market with secure phones that sported keyboards, letting people hammer out emails at lightning speeds. Phones like the Sidekick, Nokia N900, HTC G1 and the Motorola Droid all followed the course set out by BlackBerry, but none of their keyboards could compare.

The BlackBerry Priv looks just like a BB handset, but runs Android.

The BlackBerry Priv looks just like a BB handset, but runs Android.

Now, it’s 2016 and BlackBerry has less global market share then Samsung’s Tizen OS, and software keyboards reign supreme. While BlackBerry 10 (BB10) devices offer quick speeds and innovative features like the BlackBerry Hub, they suffer from a lack of apps and shrinking developer support.

The BlackBerry Priv marks a big change for the Canadian company: Android.  Nixing its in-house OS grants it access to thousands of apps and games from the Google Play Store. So how does it stack up with the rest of the pack? Read on to find out.

Build & Design

This phone just looks like a BlackBerry. And that’s a good thing. While the Priv may appear big at first glance, it actually sits right in the middle of the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus, measuring 5.79 x 3.04 x 0.37 inches, and just a hair shorter and narrower than the Motorola Droid Turbo 2. It weighs in on the heavier side of other flagships at 6.77 ounes, making it feel solid and substantial in the hand without being taxing to hold.

The Priv's soft-touch weave material on the back of the device provides excellent grip.

The Priv’s soft-touch weave material on the back of the device provides excellent grip.

The Priv is a cohesive blend of two distinct pieces: the soft touch plastic back, and the glass and metal front. The left and right edges of the 5.4-inch Quad HD display curve slightly, but not as much as the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge. The sleek build makes it narrower in the hand than its dimensions convey. The display meets the plastic at the speaker grill, which spans the chin of the device.

The flat top and bottom contrast pleasantly with the rounded sides. The top houses the microSD (which accepts up to 2TB capacity) and SIM card trays, while the microUSB 2.0 with SlimPort and the 3.5mm audio jack sit on the bottom of the device. The power button is centered on the left side of the device, and the volume buttons sit a bit higher up on the right side. An unnecessary button in between the up and down volume keys silences incoming calls and notifications; the same functionality exists by pressing the volume down button during an incoming call.

The soft-touch weave material on the back of the device, previously found on the Q10 and Z30, provides excellent grip, making using this large phone fairly easy with one hand. The large 18-megapixel camera protrudes above the center-mounted BlackBerry logo.

Keyboard

The iconic BB keyboard slides out from the portrait bottom.

The iconic BB keyboard slides out from the portrait bottom.

Pushing the aluminum ridge above the speaker up reveals the Priv’s most unique feature: the hardware keyboard. The keys don’t have as must travel as the BlackBerry Classic or older BB7 devices. They look and feel exactly like the keys found on the Passport, a bit shallow with two raised edges on each key. And just like the Passport, you can scroll through emails, webpages and home screens by running your fingers over the touch-sensitive keys.

Strangely enough, scrolling is the best part of the physical keyboard, and, for the most part, it will make fans of the old BlackBerry trackball happy. However, its functionality is inconsistent. For example, scrolling through the email list in Outlook works great, but scrolling in an actual email or email thread doesn’t work. Scrolling both vertically and horizontally works great in the BlackBerry Calendar, but scrolling horizontally doesn’t work in Google Calendar.

Using the keyboard as an actual keyboard is just as inconsistent. Most of the time, it works great, with each key press resulting in a reassuring click. Since finding the symbols on the keyboard definitely slows you down, you can swipe down on the keyboard to reveal a symbols keyboard onscreen. While this is a great shortcut, it initially displays the less used symbols first, requiring another swipe down to reveal commonly used symbols like “?” and “@”.

Quickly pressing the same key twice sometimes only registered one key press. Even though the physical keyboard does benefit from auto correction, the team at NotebookReview found that it didn’t correct many of those missed key presses unless one goes into the keyboard settings and changes the auto correct to the strong setting. Even then, ‘wel’ wouldn’t be corrected to “well’ and “i” to “I”.

The Priv keyboard should feel familiar to BB users.

The Priv keyboard should feel familiar to BB users.

The combinations of amazing word predictive and keyboard technologies like Swype have made software keyboards fast and reliable, making it a physical keyboard less necessary. BlackBerry (somewhat unsuccessfully) has tried to give users the best of both worlds by utilizing the touch-sensitive nature of the keys. First off, word predictions appear above the keyboard like you’d find on a regular software keyboard. In order to access these three predictions, you can swipe up on the physical keyboard below the corresponding word.

Unfortunately, this action proves too unreliable, so you’ll probably just take your fingers off the keyboard and press one of the three predictions. However, the predictions awkwardly sit above the three software keys. Plus, you lose time trying to reposition your fingers to start typing again.

You can also program keys access shortcuts when long-pressed. However, this only work on the homescreen, making pressing the home button, opening the keyboard and long-pressing a key slower than just pressing the home button and clicking an icon on the homescreen.

Inconsistencies like these turn great features into pain points. If you can’t rely on something to work all the time, you end up just not using it or getting frustrated every time you do.

Display

Thankfully, the 5.4 inch Quad HD AMOLED display doesn’t suffer the same inconsistencies as the keyboard. With 540 PPI, text is super crisp, blacks are deep and colors pop, while not suffering from the over-saturated settings that come standard on Samsung Galaxy phones. Some of the team at NotebookReview found the colors a tad bit warm, but that can be easily fixed in the color adjust settings.

As mentioned previously, the left and right edges of the display curve ever-so slightly, while the bezel is actually what curves the most. This makes using the touch screen easier since the curve makes it feel narrower in the hand. It should also be safe from everyday scratches and short drops due to its use of Corning Gorilla Glass 4. 

The post BlackBerry Priv Review appeared first on Brighthand.com.

How To Turn Your Smartphone into a Business Phone

Posted on by Brighthand Staff

Having more than one phone number often makes sense, just like some people have one email address for business and another for personal communications. When it comes to a work-life balance, having separate work and business numbers (each with its own voice mail) is an easy way to let work-related calls after 6PM go directly to voice mail, and similarly defer personal calls during working hours. Also, it can help simplify accounting and billing.

HKJ02504-e1348173605201The question is: can mobile users get an additional phone number to create the effect of two phone lines on one device?

The answer: Yes, you certainly can.

The cost can range anywhere from free to $25 a month and up, depending on what you want, and possibly, how many calls you make.

There’s a wide spread in features and capabilities in services that can offer you an additional phone number. Some services, like Line2 and BusinessCall, supply an additional phone number. For others, like Google Voice and Skype, it’s simply one of many capabilities of the service. In addition to a second phone number, many services also offer related options, ranging from texting to faxing and video calling.

This article looks at some of the services that will give you a “phone number,” meaning it can be called from any phone or smartphone, without the need for another app or account just to reach it, although some services may require an app or access to a web site in order to answer the calls.

Unless explicitly noted, none of these services require any new hardware, though they may require an app or other software.

(Important reminder: these services may not be good for making 911 or other emergency calls.)

Why Get an Additional Phone Number?

Because most, if not all, of these additional-number services use the Internet, they may offer other advantages such as:

  • Allowing a tablet, mini-tablet or other mobile device (like an iPod touch) to act as a phone (as long as it has Internet access either built-in or through a mobile router like a MiFi and a microphone, a plug for a headset, or Bluetooth support).
  • Having a phone number in another city, state, or even country can make it cheaper for customers in those areas to call you.

And for any small business, particularly a “distributed” one with remote employees, you may want a main phone number for your business that can act like a “PBX (private branch exchange) in the cloud,” allowing callers to select and get routed to the right person.

Additional Numbers From Your Carrier

Back in the (analog) day, AT&T and other carriers could actually route more than one phone number to a phone line, each with a “Distinctive Ring” associated with it. However, all out-going calls showed up on Caller ID as coming from the primary number.

This is still available; for example, Verizon FiOS supports up to five Virtual Telephone Numbers, but distinctive rings are no longer available to new customers. Talk to your carrier to explore your options.

Apps and Services

FlypFlyp – iOS and Android App

Available for iOS or Android smartphones, Flyp lets you add up to six different phone numbers on a single smartphone. Cost ranges from zero to $29.99 per year. The first phone number comes free, but you can also add an additional five at a cost of $2.99 per month for every additional number – or at a yearly discounted premium of $29.99.

Especially useful for professionals with more than a few irons in the fire, Flyp gives you the opportunity to juggle your numerous endeavors without getting your lines crossed. Numbers can be used for any mix-and-match variety of purposes, like a general business line for standard inquiries and a separate number for work associates to call you directly.

In addition to separate phone numbers, the Flyp app also manages voicemail, texts and other notifications. Flyp also offers you the ability to set up custom area codes for each individual number, which can make it easier for contacts in certain parts of the country to reach you without having to dial long distance.

Interested in having six new numbers? Read our Flyp review.

Google Voice

Google Voice is a PBX-like front-end service which includes a phone number (either a new one or an existing mobile number) that can route calls to one or multiple phone numbers including a home, office, cell, or VoIP phone. When somebody calls a Google Voice number, Google rings all the phone numbers at the same time until you pick up on one of the devices, or it goes to voicemail.

Google Voice features include online voicemail, auto-transcription of voice messages to email, and inexpensive calling (free within the United States). One useful feature lets you listen to a message as the caller is leaving it. (Some features do require you to have “ported” your mobile phone number to be your Google Voice number.) If you have a Google number, Google’s Mobile
Voice app shows the Google number as the phone number you’re calling from.

If you don’t want customers or business partners to have to keep track of several phone numbers to reach you, Google Voice is a good choice. Google offers mobile apps for Android and iOS. Except for calling outside the United States, Google Voice is free.

Read our Google Voice review to learn how well it works with business.

Grasshopper

Grasshopper is a “virtual PBX” for managing and routing your incoming calls and is ideal for entrepreneurs, startups, mobile organizations and small businesses.

GrasshopperThere’s no hardware or software; when someone calls a Grasshopper phone number, it auto-answers, lets the caller select who they want to talk to (“Press 1 for Sales, 2 for Support, 3 for our Buzz guy…”), and routes the call to the correct person.

Grasshopper is for in-bound calls; there’s no “dial tone” for making outgoing calls. If you want to call somebody and have the recipient’s caller ID see your Grasshopper number, you’ll need to use Grasshopper’s mobile app.

Grasshopper offers the kind of features expected from a business-oriented phone system. In addition to a local or toll-free phone number, Grasshopper has a “main greeting” (which can be customized for a modest price). Other features include call hold/transfer/conference, conference calling, voice mail transcribe-to-text, and Call-Announce, which has the caller record their name so you can hear who is calling.

Grasshopper is a good choice for small companies, since it uses one main number, rather than a list of employee’s home or cell phone numbers, and makes it easy to manage an employee phone directory.

Plans start at $12 per month, plus per-minute call usage, for a phone number and a raft of features.

Learn more about this popular business phone service in our Grasshopper review.

Line 2Line2

Line2 allows for a second phone number that lets you send and receive calls on a compatible device like a smartphone, tablet or computer. You can install Line2 on multiple devices, although only one device can use a Line2 account at a time.

Line2 features include call forwarding, call waiting, transfer, conference, visual voice mail, voice mail by email, and optional auto-attendant.

If you’re looking for a way to have an additional phone number on your smartphone to both receive and make calls from, Line2 is a good choice.

Line2 has three plans starting with the free app for iOS and Android, which is only good for calling other Line2 users, the personal plan for $9.95 per month, and a business plan for $14.95 per month.

Read our Line2 review for more on this possibly free solution.

OneSuite Business

OneSuite Business, among other things, lets you have a phone number on iOS and Android devices by installing the OneSuite app. The OneSuite mobile app also integrates with your smartphone contacts.

OneSuite features include call history, three-way calling, call waiting and more. OneSuite Business can be just for you, or you can set up sub-accounts (up to 999), e.g., for multiple employees. All service is pre-paid, so there’s no danger of running up surprise big OneSuite bills (pay attention to any applicable data charges or overseas calls, though!)

Pricing starts at $2.95 per month, plus per-minute charges for outbound calls and any data charges incurred on the user’s monthly wireless plan.

Check out our OneSuite Business review, and learn about a better alternative.

evoiceeVoice

Among a legion of business phone number apps that service both iOS and Android users alike, eVoice distinguishes itself through a logically laid out UI, a host of simple but powerful menu options, and affordable monthly rates that range in scope for sole proprietors to small businesses.

In addition to assigning users a secondary business phone number, the app features include a call history log, speed dial, and outbound caller ID that displays the eVoice phone number being used. Incoming calls can be programmed to go directly to voicemail or to forward to another phone number.

The initial app download is free, as is the ability to use eVoice to determine if it works well enough for business purposes to pay the recurring monthly rate. Upgrading to the pay plan costs $12.99 per month, which allots a total of 300 monthly minutes, two extensions, auto attendant features, conference calling, voicemail transcription and more.

Learn more in our eVoice review.

BusinessCall

BusinessCall is available for both iOS and Android users and comes by way of a freely downloadable app that gives you a second line on your smartphone for calls and texting.

businesscallYou can download the app for a free seven-day trial. After that, plans start at $5.99 per month for 100 minutes or 200 texts. It offers a pay-as-you-go option which lets you add additional minutes if you run out. The unlimited plan, which imposes no limits to calls or texts, will run you $12.99 per month. You can choose a new number with a specified area code anywhere in the country, or you can transfer an existing number.

You can set BusinessCall’s after-hours mode to establish those previously discussed business boundaries. In addition to calling and texting, the service brings a separate call log for the assigned business number, a welcome greeting, auto attendant, and visual voicemail. Incoming calls also display any notes you’ve entered in about specific callers.

Calls and texts are limited to the U.S. and Canada. One thing to note about BusinessCall is that it’s defined as a “shared minutes program” that operates alongside your existing cell phone service. All calls placed via BusinessCall will count against any limitations on your carrier plan. Any texts that you send and receive via BusinessCall do not count against your carrier’s text limits.

Read our BusinessCall review.

RingCentral

RingCentral is a cloud-based alternative to the traditional phone PBX system. It can makes sense for business owners with employees at one or multiple locations, especially employees with iOS, Android and Blackberry mobile devices. Business owners will appreciate RingCentral since it integrates with Oracle, Office 365, Google, Dropbox and more.

Starting at $24.99 per month for a single user with 1000 minutes, RingCentral offers a complex cloud platform that may not be the right choice if you’re just looking for a second phone number. However, if you want to move your company into phone features galore, you’ll find it has robust offerings, albeit at a higher price.

Check out RingCentral review to learn more about its features.

SkypeSkype

Probably everyone has used Skype to make free video calls. Offering support for iOS and Android devices, you can use the Skype app on your smartphone or tablet to connect remotely without being tied down to your computer. But Skype isn’t just about placing video calls to relatives in distant places. You can also use Skype as a secondary business line by subscribing to a Skype number.

Skype numbers can be assigned area codes in any location in the U.S. For example, if you live in New York but the vast majority of your clientele or business partners live on the West Coast, you can get a Skype number with an area code that will not charge them long distance. International numbers are also available.

Skype numbers cost $18 for a three-month subscription, or $60 for 12 months. Discounts are sometimes offered, but take note: Skype doesn’t offer refunds if you decide to cancel your phone number before it comes up for renewal. If you want to cancel your three-month subscription one month after signing up, you will not receive a prorated refund.

In addition to being able to get a Skype phone number, you can configure Skype to forward incoming calls to a landline or mobile at a per-minute rate. You don’t need to have a Skype phone number in order to be able to do this.

Learn more about Skype for Business in our review.

This article was originally published in September 2013 and has been updated by Vince Font.

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BlackBerry Passport and Classic are Heading to AT&T

Posted on by Brighthand Staff

AT&T recently announced that it will offer the BlackBerry Passport and BlackBerry Classic to its customers.

The slightly rounded BlackBerry Passport

The slightly rounded BlackBerry Passport

The Passport is slightly modified from the one we reviewed last fall. Although the phone will largely stay the same, the AT&T-exclusive model will have rounded edges, where the original Passport didn’t. Other than that, the new version will also include a 13-megapixel camera and 32 GB of storage (which can be expanded).

The Classic is smaller than the Passport, and only has an 8-megapixel camera. However, the phone will start at $50 with a two-year contract, which could be an attractive price to many who want to try a newer BlackBerry.

Both devices will run BlackBerry OS 10.3.1. The official launch date wasn’t announced, however consumers can likely expect to find the Passport and the Classic sooner rather than later through AT&T’s online store and in its retail branches.

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