iOS 11 for iPhone Review

Posted on by Ed Hardy

iOS gets updated every year, but Apple has settled into a pattern in which the iPad gets the lion’s share of the improvements one year, and the next year is for the iPhone. Sorry iPhone users, the focus is on iPad in 2017, but that doesn’t mean this new version has nothing for smartphones.

iOS 11 for iPhone:

Siri has been improved, iOS 11 offers a redesigned Control Center, and the Notification Center and Unlock Screen have been merged. A Do Not Disturb While Driving setting has been added. The new Files app is something  people have been requesting for years, while the Notes and Maps applications have many few features, and the App Store and Podcasts have been redesigned. There are also Camera improvements. To top it all off, there are many tweaks throughout the operating system, with bolder fonts and redesigned buttons.

We take a closer look at these changes, and evaluate how bug-free iOS 11 is at this point.

iOS 11 and Siri

Apple has put a lot of effort into making Siri sound more human, and as a result it’s a wee bit more expressive, and less likely to mispronounce words, whether you choose the female or male voice, with American or British accent. Even so, Siri still sounds fairly mechanical, but progress is being made.

iOS 11 for iPhone:

iOS 11 Siri Translate

There are a number of new features in iOS 11 that Apple credits to Siri that don’t immediately have a clear connection to it. For example, make several web searches for “Ukraine” and the News application will suggest you start following this country as a topic. The app will say this suggestion came from Siri, even if none of these searches were done by talking to your iPhone.  This because Apple considers Siri a personal assistant whose reach extends throughout the iOS, so anytime your phone learns something about you from your actions, that’s chalked up to Siri.

Like any assistant, Siri is always watching what you’re doing, hoping to be helpful. For example, it’s supposed to suggest adding a Calendar entry for appointments made on the Web. Or web searches for a movie title should put that title in QuickType suggestions. At this point, however, we have yet to see any of this happen on our test device.

An addition to Siri with serious potential is the ability to translate English speech into French, German, Italian, Mandarin Chinese, and Spanish. Just say “Hey Siri, translate I need a menu into Spansh” and Siri will say “Necessito un menú”, and give you the option to easily play this audio clip again the next time the waiter comes around. The limitation is that Siri currently can’t translate any of these languages back into English, so you’re on your own if the waiter says “El menú está en la pizarra.”

iOS 11 for iPhone: Control Center

iOS 11 for iPhone:

iOS 11 Control Center

The completely redesigned Control Center could have been one of the best improvements in the iPhone version of iOS 11, but Apple screwed it up instead.

Let’s start with the good part. All the major functions now appear on a single page, broken up into groups by categories. A Force Touch of some of these brings up additional options. For example, hard pressing on the group with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc. opens a sub-window with controls for AirDrop and Personal Hotspot.

Go to the Settings app to add some additional buttons to the Control Center, and some previously standard ones can can taken out. Just a few of the new options include links to Apple Wallet,  Magnifier, Low Power Mode, and an Apple TV Remote.

But with iOS 11 it’s two steps forward, one step back. When Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are deactivated in the Control Center, they aren’t actually turned off. Apple thinks it knows better than you, and is sure you don’t really want to turn off these wireless features because then you can’t use AirDrop, Handoff, or communicate with an Apple Watch. So turning off Wi-Fi just sets it so it won’t connect to any hotspots, and Bluetooth is set so it won’t connect to non-Apple accessories.

As a result of this “feature”, you can’t use the Control Center to deactivate these wireless functions to save battery power. Instead, you have to go into the Settings app to actually turn them off.

iOS 11 for iPhone: Notification Center/Unlock Screen

iOS 11 for iPhone:

iOS 11 Notification Center/Unlock Screen

Previously, the Notification Center and the Unlock Screen had overlapping functions. With iOS 11, pulling down from the top of the screen now brings up the Unlock Screen, and the separate Notification Center is no more. The Unlock Screen is essentially unchanged, and stroking to the right from this screen still brings up a page of widgets.

We consider this a welcome move, as the screens did almost the same thing in slightly different ways, and that’s not good interface design.

iOS 11 and Do Not Disturb While Driving

If you just can’t resist checking incoming texts while behind the wheel, then Do Not Disturb While Driving is for you. All notifications will be held until you are no longer driving, and any incoming texts will get an auto response informing the sender that you can’t talk right now. That latter feature is one we’d like to be able to turn off or customize, but that’s not possible yet with iOS 11.

You can completely turn off this feature when you’re in the passenger seat and not driving.

iOS 11 and Files

iOS 11 for iPhone:

iOS 11 Files

Apple frequently draws complaints for not including a file system in iOS that iPhone and iPad users can access. This is a case of the company choosing simplicity over flexibility: you’ll store you’re files where Apple says they go so you can’t misplace them. Still, the company has finally created something that can take it’s place, as least partially.

The new Files application replaces the old iCloud Drive app, and it now allows users to organize the contents of iCloud Drive however they wish. Gone are the days when, for example, all the documents from Apple Pages had to be stored in one folder called Pages.

Apple Files can also access the contents of rival online storage systems, including Microsoft OneDrive, Dropbox, and Google Drive. It still can’t access anything stored directly on the iPhone (or iPad), however.

The biggest beneficiaries of this new feature will be iPad users, as they frequently use their tablet as a laptops and so need to work with more files, and more types of files.

iOS 11 for iPhone: Notes, Maps, App Store, and Podcasts

Just about all of the applications that come bundled on iPhones have been tweaked in iOS 11, but some have received more significant changes.

Apple has been slowly improving Notes for years, and the newest version gains support for inserting tables into a note. In addition, handwritten text is supposedly now recognized and searchable. This feature was not at all a success in our tests, as Spotlight and Notes’ own  search engine couldn’t find written words in our embedded sketches.

iOS 11 for iPhone:

iOS 11 App Store Home Screen

That means that probably the most important change in this particular application is the document scanner. This can embed a scanned document into a note, or export it as a PDF. This document can also be marked up. Our tests showed that this feature works well enough that it will likely take the place of nearly all third-party iOS software that uses the phone’s or tablet’s camera to scan a document.

After a rocky start a few years go, Apple Maps is getting close to parity with Google Maps and other top navigation software. The latest iteration finally gets lane advice, and it can display the current speed limit. It doesn’t warn the user when they are speeding, however.

With iOS 11, the homescreen for the App Store has become less of a collection of application icons and more of a magazine about third-party software, with articles that discuss different types of apps. At this point, it’s not clear if this is a way for Apple to highlight the best options available or if it’s just another for-pay advertising venue.

Podcasts has received a redesign that’s a bit unusual for Apple: it now offers several different ways to organize the same content. While this gives users more flexibility–do you want to see your podcasts by how recently they’ve been updated, or in a set order?– it also means you should take some time figuring out the best arrangement for you.

iOS 11 for iPhone: Camera

iOS 11 for iPhone:

iOS 11 Live Photo

Although the changes to the Camera app aren’t profound, the iPhone used used so often to  take pictures that even small changes have big results.

Fans of Live Photos will be happy to learn that they can now choose which frame of the mini-movie they’ve recorded is used as the still image. You can also crop off unwanted parts of the moving portion. Live Photos can also be set to loop, or play backward and forward.

There are also improvements for those with an iPhone camera that supports Bokeh images–ones with the foreground in focus but the background is blurred, which Apple confusingly calls Portrait images. They work better in low light now, or a flash can be used. There’s also optical image stabilization for the first time.

iOS 11 for iPhone: Should You Upgrade?

There are some nice improvements in iOS 11, so should you immediately go install it? We’ve been extensively testing the Golden Master, final official version, for week now, and it still has quite few bugs. The one that has gotten the most press prevents business users who use Microsoft’s email services from sending messages, but this isn’t alone. Admittedly, none are anywhere near as bad as that one, but they can be irritating. We’ve some display problems, quirks with personal hotspot, etc.

Apple is hard at work on iOS 11.0.1, which should fix some of the issues that slipped through this summer’s extensive beta testing. It might be better to wait until that’s released.

All of that said, If there’s a new feature described above that you find really enticing, you won’t have major problems with iOS 11 … as long as you don’t need to use email from Outlook.com, Exchange, etc. If you don’t mind a few bugs, go ahead, visit Settings > General > Software Update.

The post iOS 11 for iPhone Review appeared first on Brighthand.com.

Apple iPhone 7 Plus Review: Evolutionary, But Still Great

Posted on by Ed Hardy

The iPhone 7 Plus is Apple’s latest flagship, and it’s a super-size version of the iPhone 7. It has a lot in common with its immediate predecessor, the iPhone 6s Plus, but still controversial because of design decisions Apple made; namely, leaving out the headphone port.

We’ve extensively tested this high-end model. Is it any good? Read this Apple iPhone 7 Plus review to find out.

Build & Design

Apple iPhone 7 Plus

Apple iPhone 7 Plus

The Apple iPhone 7 Plus is not a significant redesign from its recent predecessors. This look premiered with the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus in 2014, and then was used again on the 6S series in 2015, and now here it is again. There are tweaks in the new version, but anyone looking at this new model could easily confuse it for one released two years ago. It’s a fine design with rounded corners and moderate screen bezels, but Apple is reportedly putting all its design efforts into next year’s model, and seems to be coasting a bit with this one.

To demonstrate, the iPhone 7 Plus is exactly the same size as the 6 Plus: 6.23 x 3.07 x 0.29 inches. Still, this has advantages, as some cases won’t have to be redesigned, though ones made for last year’s model will have a superfluous headphone jack (more on that later). The new device is actually just a hair lighter: 6.63 vs. 6.77 ounces, but that’s not a noticeable amount.

There are a couple of new color options: black and jet black, in addition to silver, gold, and rose gold. Space grey is no longer an option, but it’s close to black anyway.

The 5.5 inch screen is what makes this iPhone a “Plus,” but it brings drawbacks. This is undoubtedly a big phone, and makes a noticeable bulge in a front pocket. Anyone carrying one in a back pocket risks breaking it by sitting on it. It’s more hassle to carry around than most of its rivals.

Apple iPhone 7 Plus colors

The iPhone 7 Plus is available in five different colors.

It’s waterproof, and that’s a welcomed change. But don’t go overboard with it… literally. This model is IP67 standard, which means it is protected against dust and can withstand immersion in water up to one meter deep. Basically, that means there’s no worry about the iPhone 7 Plus getting rained on, and it will survive an accidental drop into the pool. However, it’s hard to use the touch screen when it’s wet, and no one should even try using this phone underwater.

Display

The Apple iPhone 7 Plus display is the same 5.5 inch size and 1080 x 1920 pixel specs as its predecessor. Apple typically keeps phone screen resolutions the same for several years so third-party application developers don’t have to modify their apps with every new model. And Apple did increase the maximum brightness by about 30%, and improved the color range. This makes it easier to see outside than any of its predecessors; we were even able to read an ebook in direct sunlight with no problems.

Although Apple didn’t increase the pixel density past 401 ppi, one could argue that it didn’t need to. While the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 has an even higher pixel density topping 500 ppi, Apple’s offering already has so many pixels per inch than the human eye can’t make out individual pixels viewing it from an average distance, and therefore sees text and images displayed as smoothly and evenly as possible.

At nearly 13 square inches, the display in the iPhone 7 Plus has over 35% more screen area than the iPhone 7. We find the iPhone 7 Plus to be a better option for watching video or playing games. People who need reading glasses can turn on options that will increase font sizes without overcrowding the larger display. Those who use their phone as their only mobile computer, rather than sporting both a phone and a tablet, owe it to themselves to consider whether they need the extra room.

No phone supports the Apple Pencil; that’s reserved for the company’s iPad Pro line of tablets.

Ports, Buttons, & Speakers

Apple iPhone 7 Plus camera

The Apple iPhone 7 Plus has two rear-facing cameras.

Easily the most controversial change Apple made with the iPhone 7 series is removing the dedicated headphone port, with the Lightning port taking over. A set of Lightning earbuds comes with this phablet, as well as an adapter so older headsets can still be used. There have been some complaints about the audio quality of the adapter, but we weren’t able to discern a difference between an MP3 played on the iPhone 7 Plus and the same file played on an iPhone 6S.

The Lightning port continues to be the only charging and data port. As Apple won’t put memory card slots in its phones or tablets, users will need to turn to third-party options, like the ones from SanDisk and Lexar.

Continuing with the controversies, the Home button on this new device isn’t really a button; it’s a capacitive area on the front, so it doesn’t move when pushed. There’s a slight vibration instead. This takes a small bit of getting used to, but not much. That said, using the phone while wearing gloves just got a bit more challenging.

This “button” still functions as a fingerprint scanner for the Touch ID security system, taking the place of passwords for many functions, including unlocking the phone. This is generally quite reliable, correctly identifying proper fingerprints, and rejecting others. The exception is when the fingertip is wet; almost any amount of water severely downgrades the performance of this biometric scanner.

Apple used the extra space freed up by removing the headphone port to add a second speaker. This offers stereo playback, but the speaker separation is tiny. Still, it does mean this device is capable of putting out a lot more sound than its predecessors. We had no problems hearing a TV show in a moderately noisy area, or using the speakerphone while driving.

Camera

The Apple iPhone 7 Plus has two 12-megapixel rear cameras, while the smaller iPhone 7 does not. One of these has a wide-angle lens with an ƒ/1.8 aperture, while the second has a telephoto lens with a ƒ/2.8 aperture. The inclusion of the second camera allows for a 2x optical zoom, which results in sharper images than the digital zoom provided by just about all other smartphones.

Apple iPhone 7 Plus camera specs

Dual rear cameras on the iPhone 7 Plus

One of the best photo effects isn’t available yet. Apple demoed a portrait mode in which the person being photographed is in focus but their background is blurred out, an effect typical of more expensive DSLRs and interchangeable lens cameras. This feature has been promised in a software update coming later this year.

The rear camera supports 4K video recording at 30 fps, and there’s optical image stabilization for video and still images.

The iPhone 7 Plus’ shooter functions well in dimly-lit areas, even with the flash off. The new quad-LED flash is brighter than the ones in previous iPhones, and does a nice job of lighting up dark areas.

The front-facing camera is 7 MP with an ƒ/2.2 aperture, which is better than most main cameras from a few years ago. It supports 1080p video recording.

Sample Pics
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Performance

The iPhone 7 Plus is built around the A10 Fusion, Apple’s first quad-core smartphone processor. This includes two 64-bit 2.34 GHz CPU cores, along with a second slower pair dedicated to less demanding software, extending battery life.

We ran the just-released Geekbench 4 test, and the score was 5590 on the multi-core test. This is the highest score of any Apple product, solidly outperforming even the 12.9-inch iPad Pro’s 4750. The iPhone 7 Plus also beat the new Samsung Galaxy Note 7 and Galaxy S7 on this test.

iPhone 7 Plus benchmarks

Real world use bears up the benchmarks: the iPhone 7 Plus offers as good a performance as anyone can expect from a mobile computer.

One of the controversies surrounding this model is the reports that some iPhone 7 models have an odd hiss when performing demanding tasks. This might be emitted when the new processor when strained, but we haven’t experienced this on our test unit.

The iPhone 7 Plus has 3GB of RAM, a fairly generous amount. The smaller iPhone 7 has 2GB, and the only iOS device with more is the 12.9-inch iPad Pro.

Apple offers the iPhone 7 Plus with 32GB, 128GB, and 256GB of built-in storage. This is another welcome change, as it’s twice as much as its predecessor for the same prices. We feel that 32GB is plenty for people who don’t want to carry around a lot of multimedia files, but those with many MP3s or videos should choose the 128GB one at least.

Specs

  • Display:
    5.5-inch (diagonal) LED
    1920-by-1080-pixel resolution at 401 ppi1300:1 contrast ratio (typical)
    625 cd/m2 max brightness (typical)
  • Dimensions:
    6.23 x 3.07 x 0.29 inches (158.2 x 77.9 x 7.3 mm)
    6.63 ounces (188 grams)
  • Processor:
    Quad-core A10 Fusion, with dual 64-bit 2.34 GHz cores
    Embedded M10 motion coprocessor
  • Camera:
    12MP wide-angle and telephoto cameras
    Optical zoom at 2x; digital zoom up to 10x
    7-megapixel front-camera
  • Wireless:
    GSM/EDGE, UMTS/HSPA+, DC-HSDPA, CDMA EV-DO Rev. A (some models), LTE Advanced (up to 450 Mbps)
    802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi‑Fi with MIMO, Bluetooth 4.2
    GPS and GLONASS
    VoLTE
    NFC
  • Battery:
    2,900 mAh
    Up to 21 hours of talk time, Up to 16 days of standby
    Up to 15 hours web browsing on Wi‑Fi, up to 13 hours on LTE, up to 13 hours on 3G
    Up to 14 hours video playback
    Up to 60 hours audio playback

Software

This device debuted with iOS 10, the latest version of Apple’s operating system for phones and tablets. An in-depth discussion of all the new features in this version is outside the scope of this hardware review, but we will say that the iPhone 7 Plus’ 5.5-inch display makes it an outstanding platform for the new iMessage features, like stickers and hand-drawn comments.

ios10

Apple bundles its iWork suite of productivity applications with all new models, as well its iLife suite.

Battery

The Apple iPhone 7 Plus includes a 2,900 mAh battery, which Apple says is good for up to 15 hours of web browsing over a Wi-Fi connection. We put this model through our own grueling battery test, asking it to continuously stream video from Hulu over Wi-Fi with the backlight on 50%. The 7 Plus lasted 7 hours 43 minutes before the battery hit 0% and the device shut down. This is a “torture test” and is close to the shortest amount of time one can expect this model to last with extremely heavy use.

In our real world use, even on the days we heavily used our Apple iPhone 7 Plus review unit during the testing period, we never once ran out of of power, or even got below 38%.  Days with lighter use typically ended with the battery at about 60%, indicating to us that this phone could go two days without needing to be charged, as long as it was used fairly moderately.

Apple still refuses to support wireless charging for its devices, so the only way to power up the 7 Plus is to plug in a cable. Unfortunately, this model doesn’t charge particularly quickly. In our testing, a hour of charging increased the battery level by approx. 35%, so a full charge takes about three hours.

Value

The retail cost of the iPhone 7 Plus is $769 for the version with 32GB of built-in storage. For comparison, last year’s iPhone 6s Plus with the same capacity is now $649. On the other hand, the list price for the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 with 64GB is between $850 and $880.

Although the iPhone 7 Plus is about $100 less than one of its top rivals, this has to be regarded as a very expensive product. Still, it is Apple’s flagship, and the best iOS phone on the market. Those who want top-of-the line will usually be willing to pay for it, but there are more affordable options.

Conclusion

Apple iPhone 7 PlusApple’s decision to forgo the headphone port has drawn the most attention, and controversy. However, there’s a lot to like in this model, such as a long battery life with speedy performance, an innovative camera, and water resistance. The new Home button takes some getting used to, though.

An unusual issue with the iPhone 7 Plus is it’s competing with a model that hasn’t even been announced yet. Rumors about the 10th anniversary iPhone are already making the rounds, and it is shaping up to be a more revolutionary model than this one, which is very evolutionary. Those who can wait might consider holding off until 2017 to see what Apple has to offer.

Pros:

  • Outstanding performance
  • Very long battery life
  • Water resistant
  • Excellent cameras

Cons:

  • No headset port
  • Expensive

The post Apple iPhone 7 Plus Review: Evolutionary, But Still Great appeared first on Brighthand.com.

Google Takes on Apple with Powerful Pixel and Pixel XL Phones

Posted on by Ed Hardy

Google just took the wraps off a pair of cutting-edge Android phones: the Pixel with a 5-inch AMOLED display, and the Pixel XL with a 5.5-inch display. The two seem squarely aimed at the new iPhone 7 models from Apple.

pixel

Pixel Highlights

The Pixel has a 1080 x 1920 screen resolution, giving a pixel density of 440 ppi. The XL model’s display has a 1440 x 2560 resolution, so it’s at 534 ppi.

Internally, these are nearly identical. Each is built around a Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor that includes a pair of 2.15GHz cores and a second pair of 1.6GHz cores, an arrangement intended to combine performance and battery life. They have 4GB of RAM, and will be available with 32GB or 128GB of storage.

The Pixel phones are debuting with Android 7.1 Nougat, and Google has committed to making operating system updates available for them as soon as possible. This is in contrast to typical Android models that generally don’t get OS upgrades for months, if at all, as the new versions have to flow through their device manufacturers.

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Other Hardware

Both include a 12.3 megapixel rear camera, with an f/2.0 aperture. A gyroscope-based video stabilization is being strongly touted, as well as quick image captures. All images and video taken with this camera can be backed up on Google’s servers at no charge. It also shoots 4k video.

The Pixel sports a 3,450mAh battery, while the XL has a 2,770mAh battery. Google is promising extremely fast recharges: up to seven hours of use after being plugged in for 15 minutes.

Other features include USB-C, a fingerprint scanner, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Casings are aluminum and glass, available in black, silver, and blue. HTC is producing the hardware.

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Pixel vs. iPhone 7

Comparisons between the just announced Pixel phones and the recently-released iPhone 7 series are inevitable, as these are flagship products with prices that start about $650. In addition, both Google and Apple offer their respective models in two sizes, and directly distribute operating system updates. Each device maker emphasizes the camera capabilities of their phones.

Google is especially pushing the Pixel’s HDR capabilities, which result in richer photos, and smart burst shooting, which automatically selects the best shot in a quickly-shot series. According to DxO Mark, an industry group focused on photography, the Pixel phones are the highest scoring smartphone cameras of all time, with a score of 89, ahead of the iPhone 7 (86), and new Samsung Galaxy S7 handsets (88).

Prices and Availability

A Google Pixel with 32GB of storage is $649, and can be pre-ordered now. The 128GB version is $100 more. The 32GB Pixel XL is $769, and the 128GB XL is $869.

U.S. residents already reaching for their wallets should be aware that the Pixel series is mostly going to be a Verizon exclusive, but it will work with Project Fi.

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The post Google Takes on Apple with Powerful Pixel and Pixel XL Phones appeared first on Brighthand.com.

Water Resistant Apple iPhone 7 and 7 Plus Ditch Headphone Jack, Bring More Storage & Better Cameras

Posted on by Ed Hardy

The new Apple iPhone 7 and Apple iPhone 7 Plus are official. These have twice the storage capacity of last year’s models at the same prices, improved cameras, a redesigned Home button, water resistance, and faster performance. They look the same as the other flagship iPhones since 2014, with one difference, Apple ditched the dedicated headphone jack.

What’s Changing

Apple iPhone 7 and 7 Plus

Easily the most controversial change is the removal of the 3.5mm headset port, in favor of headphones that are either wireless or connect to the Lightning port. Apple claims this frees up room inside the iPhone for better speakers, cameras, and performance elements. To ease the transition, both new iPhone models will come with a Lighting-to-headset adapter.

At the heart of both versions is the A10 Fusion, Apple’s first quad-core mobile processor. This includes a pair of high-performance cores that are up to 40% faster than the A9 chip, previously found on the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus, and a second slower pair designed to extend battery life, according to Apple.

Apple put an upgraded 12-megapixel camera into the back of the iPhone 7, with optical image stabilization and a quad-LED flash. The iPhone 7 Plus has two 12MP cameras, one wide-angle and the other telephoto. This enables a 2x optical zoom effect. An upcoming software update will allow for advanced focus effects on both devices, particularly shallow depth of field. In addition, the front-facing camera is being upgraded to 7MP.

In both these models, the Home button is no longer be an actual button; instead, it’s a touch-sensitive area with haptic feedback. This won’t affect  how current functions work, and it will still function as a fingerprint scanner, but opens up the possibility for new capabilities thanks to what Apple is calling a Taptic Engine.

The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus are IP67 standard certified. This means both are protected against dust, and can withstand immersion in water up to one meter deep. Apple is positioning this is meaning the iPhone will survive an accidental drop in the pool, but don’t take it swimming.

This new devices will come running iOS 10, which includes a dramatically enhanced iMessages app, as well as improvements to the Siri virtual assistant. The general release of this new version for most current Apple phones and tablets will be September 13.

Apple is moving on from the 16GB model. The new iOS smartphones will be available with 32GB, 128GB, and 256GB of capacity.  These will sell for $649, $749, and $849, respectively, and will be available September 16. Preorders begin Friday.

Apple iPhone 7 and 7 Plus with AirPods

Apple iPhone 7 and 7 Plus with AirPods

Not Changing

The general look and feel of the iPhone 7 will remain the same as the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S, and the dimensions aren’t changing.  Black and jet black color options are the only new design elements.  The same holds true for the Plus version.

The screens will be 25% brighter, and offer a wider color gamut, but will remain 5.5- and 4.7-inches, along with the same resolutions and 3D Touch.

A Change of Strategy

The moderate changes in the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus have helped foster the rumors that next year’s model, the tenth anniversary iPhone, is going to be dramatically different from its predecessors.

Apple has long followed a strategy of coming out with redesigned models every other year, with the alternate years being slightly enhanced versions their immediate predecessors; the iPhone 6 included a new design, but the iPhone 6S was slightly tweaked. Following that schedule, the iPhone 7 should have had a new form factor, but Apple Is supposedly saving up new features for next year’s offering.

The next model, which most currently refer to as the iPhone 8, might have an edge-to-edge display without side screen bezels, and further speculation indicates that the Home button could be integrated into the main display.

The post Water Resistant Apple iPhone 7 and 7 Plus Ditch Headphone Jack, Bring More Storage & Better Cameras appeared first on Brighthand.com.

Samsung Galaxy S7 vs Apple iPhone 6s

Posted on by Ed Hardy

Apple and Samsung have long vied for US smartphone market supremacy, and in 2016, each has a mid-sized flagship in its arsenal: the Samsung Galaxy S7 and the Apple iPhone 6s.

Despite the obvious Android and iOS differences, these models have similar designs and feature sets. We already compared the larger Samsung Galaxy S7 edge and Apple iPhone 6s Plus. So for those that want something smaller, which is the best?

Build and Design

The Samsung Galaxy S7 has a slightly larger screen, so it’s not surprising that it’s a bit bigger and heavier than the iPhone 6s. But the differences are so slight that they don’t affect real world use.

The Samsung Galaxy S7 has a slightly larger display and build.

The Samsung Galaxy S7 has a slightly larger display and build.

Apple offers its iPhone 6S in silver, gold, space gray, and rose gold, while Samsung offers the S7 in silver titanium, gold platinum, and black onyx (some US carriers don’t offer the silver S7).  Both devices look fashionable, and depending on color look appropriate for a board room or a nightclub.

They share one unfortunate feature: each smartphone has a slick casing that makes it hard to grip, and makes it easy for it to slide off a desk of table. That’s why we strongly recommend a case that can add some traction.

The Galaxy S7’s most significant design advantage is that it’s IP68 rated, meaning it can technically survive in as much as 5 feet of water for up to 30 minutes. But as we stated in our S7 preview, this feature is better suited for spill resistance and surviving a rain storm.

While not waterproof, the Apple iPhone 6S seems more durable. This is backed up by smartphone warranty company SquareTrade. It found Apple’s flagship survived its tumble test unscathed thanks to its casing made out of 7000 series aluminum, and had just cosmetic screen damage after being dropped on one corner 10 times from six feet up. The Galaxy S7 didn’t survive the tumble test nearly as well, sustaining “significant damage” to its back panel and minor cracks in the display. This device’s screen also cracked after being dropped on its corner 4 times. Both the iOS and Android devices resisted bending at 170 pounds of pressure.

Display

The Apple iPhone 6s has a 3D Touch display that sets it apart.

The Apple iPhone 6s has a 3D Touch display that sets it apart.

The Galaxy S7 has a slightly larger screen: 5.1 inches to the iPhone’s 4.7 inches. This isn’t a dramatic difference, but to many people even a modest increase in display size is welcome.

The Galaxy S7 also has a higher resolution at 2560 x 1440 and a higher density at a whopping 577 pixels per inch. The iPhone 6s has a 1335 x 750 resolution, resulting in a 326 ppi count. Apple’s claim here is that the iPhone’s pixel density is at the point the human eye sees the display as a continuous surface, not as bunch of tiny dots. This raises an important point: at some point increased pixel density is overkill, and the S7 is well past it. Text and images on both these screens are very sharp, and all the extra pixels on Samsung’s phone do not improve things.

On the other hand, the S7’s Super AMOLED display looks much nicer. This is a technology in which each pixel glows on its own, rather than depending on a backlight, which results in vivid colors. Our review of the Android model said its display is “real beauty,” and the “colors are deep and well saturated.” This isn’t to suggest the iPhone 6S LCD is ugly, but it’s not as good as the S7. Here it’s the difference between great and wonderful.

The Apple smartphone’s pressure-sensitive screen, a system called 3D Touch, is a highlight. This enables the user to press hard on the screen to bring up a convenient menu of frequently used options, which can be a real timesaver.

Ports, Buttons, and Speakers

Users can increase the Galaxy S7’s storage by up to 200GB with a microSD card. Apple continues its refusal to put an equivalent memory card slot in any of its iOS devices.

The Apple iPhone 6s' fingerprint reader is especially reliable and consistent.

The Apple iPhone 6s’ fingerprint reader is especially reliable and consistent.

Apple iPhone 6s users looking for additional storage capacity can turn to flash drives and microSD card readers that connect to the device’s Lightning data and charging port, but this serves as more of a workaround than an equivalent. Samsung’s offering has a microUSB port, which can be also used for flash drives and card readers, and Samsung’s excellent Gear VR.

Both smartphones include a large home button below the displays that serves double duty as a fingerprint scanner.  We’ve long been pleased with Apple’s biometric security system as its proven consistent, reliable, and fast.  We described Samsung’s as “finicky” on the S7.

The S7 also has a pulse reader, which can be handy for those who want to use their phone as part of their fitness regime.

Both models have the usual power buttons and volume controls, all in the usual places.

Specs

iPhone 6s

  • 5.44 x 2.64 x 0.28 inches
  • 5.04 oz
  • 4.7 inch LCD display, 1334 x 750 resolution, 326 pixels per inch
  • 16, 64, or 128GB  storage
  • 2GB RAM

Galaxy S7

  • 5.61 x 2.74 x 0.31 inches
  • 5.36 oz
  • 5.1 inch Super AMOLED display, 2560 x 1440, 577 pixels per inch
  • 32GB storage
  • 4GB RAM

Performance

The S7 supports microSD cards, giving it expandable storage up to 200GB.

The S7 supports microSD cards, giving it expandable storage up to 200GB.

The iPhone 6s is built around a 64-bit, 1.84 GHz, dual-core Apple A9 processor, with 2GB of RAM.  The US Galaxy S7 has 4GB of RAM and is powered by a 64-bit Snapdragon 820 processor that sports one pair of cores clocked at 1.6GHz and a second, faster pair at 2.15GHz.

The result is that the Galaxy S7 performs better on the Geekbench 3 multicore benchmarking test, which Samsung netting a score of 4980 to Apple’s 4330.

Because benchmarks never tell the whole story, neither device is a slouch when it comes to real world performance, handling even the most demanding applications easily. Day-to-day functionality is essentially instantaneous on both.

Apple offers 16GB, 64GB, and 128GB versions of its flagship, while Samsung offers only a 32GB version. That said, the Galaxy S7’s microSD slot allows users to add up to 200GB of additional capacity, so Apple’s advantage here is slight.

Software

At the time of this writing, the iPhone runs Apple iOS 9.3 while the Galaxy is on Android 6.0 Marshmallow. For a more in-depth feature on the differences, see our Android vs iOS comparison.

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Samsung tweaks Android with its TouchWiz UI to include some features the company thinks are missing from Google’s version. Most notably, Samsung includes its split-screen multitasking system, which is nice in theory but has limited usefulness on a 5.1-inch screen. This is much more effective on a tablet.

The iPhone generally has less bloatware, applications for services that manufacturers insist on putting on devices that most people don’t want and can’t delete. The amount of this varies from wireless carrier to carrier, though. Our Verizon Galaxy S7 was loaded down with bloatware, with five apps from Samsung and a handful of Verizon services. Out of the box, the OS and preloaded software takes up about 9.5GB with the Galaxy S7, and a bit less than 5GB on the iPhone 6s.

Wireless

No advantages here, as both the iPhone and the Galaxy are very well supplied with 4G LTE as well as all the latest Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac dual-band) and Bluetooth (version 4.2) standards.

Apple, Google, and Samsung each have their own competing wireless payment systems that make use of NFC, but adoption of these by retailers is still in its infancy. However, Samsung Pay supports MTS readers, meaning it can be accepted at just about any swipe card reader, regardless of NFC.

Camera

Apple Live Photos add video and audio with a still image.

Apple Live Photos add video and audio with a still image.

There’s a 12-megapixel camera that’s capable of taking sharp, beautiful pictures built into both of these phones, and each has an advantage over the other. With the S7, it’s outstanding performance in low-light conditions and fast focus. The S7 has an LED flash, but it barely needs it. The iPhone 6s supports Live Photos, an Apple system that includes short videos along with each picture, bring motion and audio to them.

Again, both have 5MP front cameras. In this case, though, the advantage is all for Apple: the iPhone’s display glows white at full power when taking a selfie, which acts as a basic but effective flash.

Battery

Our benchmark testing shows that the iPhone 6s has a longer battery life than its rival. The exact amount of difference varies depending on how the devices are being used — web browsing, phone calls, video, etc. — but Apple’s offering consistently came out at least a bit ahead. That said, both devices can make it through a typical day of moderate use on a single charge, but neither is up to multiple days unless they are used very little

An advantage for Samsung is its quick-charging technology, as well as built-in wireless charging. These simplify the process of converting a phone with a low battery into something useful.

Conclusion

The Samsung Galaxy S7 is a slightly better smartphone.

The Samsung Galaxy S7 is a slightly better smartphone.

Based on our experiences with Apple’s and Samsung’s mid-sized flagship smartphones, we give the Galaxy S7 a narrow victory. It has a somewhat nicer screen, moderately faster performance, it’s water resistant, and it has a microSD card slot.

This isn’t to suggest the iPhone 6s is a slouch. It stands up to punishment better than its rival, has a generally longer battery life, and comes with more built-in storage options.

Samsung’s victory isn’t dramatic enough to encourage iPhone users to switch over, and the iPhone 6s doesn’t offer enough for any Android-to-iOS converts. Both are quality devices, and users will be pleased either way.

Value

The retail price for the iPhone 6s starts at $649 for the 16GB version, while the 32GB Galaxy S7v ranges from $600 to $700 depending on the carrier. Neither really comes out ahead in this category.

Whether these two are a good value in general is another question. Flagship phones are always the most expensive, and are therefore intended for people willing to pay extra to get the latest and greatest. The older iPhone 6 and Galaxy S6 are almost as good as the latest models and sells for roughly $100 less.

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How To Use 3D Touch on the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus

Posted on by Ed Hardy

Smartphone screens have been touch sensitive for many years, but Apple’s latest smartphones are also pressure sensitive, so they can tell how hard the user is pressing on them. This new ability, called 3D Touch, actually simplifies the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus.

On the homescreen, you can press on the icon for many applications and bring up a menu of commonly used actions without having to open the app itself. For example, a hard press on the Camera app lets the user quickly take a selfie, take a photo, record video, or record slo-mo.

Most of Apple’s own applications support this feature including Mail, Messages, Maps, Calendar, Photos, Music, Podcasts,  iBooks, App Store, News, and Game Center. Third-party software is also starting to embrace it, such as Facebook and Twitter.

3D Touch 1

Learning to use this feature, which Apple has dubbed Quick Actions, takes a  little bit of practice — it’s easy to not press hard enough and accidentally start moving icons around on the homescreen. If problems persist, go to Settings > General > Accessibility > 3D Touch to adjust how much pressure is required to activate.

Peek and Poke

When 3D Touch is used in applications, it’s called Peek and Poke. Perhaps the best way to explain these is by example: in the Mail app, pressing lightly on a message in the list of emails will bring up a preview of that message. Pressing harder will then open the message.

Another example is in the Safari web browser. Pressing on a link will open a preview of the web page being linked to, and then pressing harder will open that page.

Peek and Poke can be used on an address shown in any application to get a preview of it in Maps, or to jump to that address in Apple’s navigation software.

3D Touch 2

This feature is also available to get previews in the Photos app, and to open Live Photos.

Looking Ahead

Currently, 3D Touch seems like a gimmick, but it has the potential to really change the way phones and tablets are used. There have already been unconfirmed reports that this feature will allow the iPhone 7 to eschew a physical Home button, making room for a larger screen.

Although 3D Touch may be a much more important part of the iOS experience in the future, right now Apple has to go slowly because just the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus have it. If radical changes were made then only a small percentage of iPhone users could take advantage of them.

The post How To Use 3D Touch on the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus appeared first on Brighthand.com.

How To Use Live Photos on the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus

Posted on by Ed Hardy

On its latest devices, Apple looked for a way to take pictures to a new level. Its solution was to merge them with videos so that still images can also move.

When taking a Live Photo, along with the still image the camera will also record three seconds of video with sound. The overall effect is a bit Harry Potter (the Daily Prophet newspaper front page, at least), but it can be quite a bit of fun.

Taking a Live Photo is straightforward. In the Camera app, there’s a bullseye at the top of the screen. Tap this so it turns yellow and a small note saying “Live” appears. With this setting on, all pictures made are both still images and short videos, whether the front- or rear-facing camera is used. With it off, just regular pictures are taken.

Tips for Taking Good Live Photos

iPhone6s FeatureViewerBecause they are different from both still images and videos, a bit of practice is necessary to get the full benefit of Live Photos. We recommend you do some playing around with this feature to get the timing right before trying to capture anything important. This is necessary because the video portion will begin a second or so before the shutter is pressed.

Here’s an example of how this plays out. If you want a video of your child saying “I love you very much!” and you press the the shutter button when she says “I” then the Live Photo will include a second or so of her waiting for you to press the shutter, then cut off before she gets to “much.” It’s counterintuitive, but the right time to press the shutter is when she says “you”. As we said, some practice is required.

Also, there’s sometimes a tendency to press the shutter again to end the recording, which just results in another Live Photo being taken.

This may sound obvious, but Live Photos works best on subjects that won’t stay still, like children or pets. Pointing a camera at an adult generally makes them freeze into place, which makes for a poor moving image. But puppies, kittens, and kids work much better.

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If what you want is a good still image, then it might be best to just take a regular picture. Thinking about getting a good short video — which is what a Live Image really is — tends to distract the mind away from also getting the picture you really want. Similarly, if you really want a video, take a video.

Viewing and Sharing Live Photos

All that’s necessary to see the video portion of a Live Photo you’ve just taken is to go to the still image in the Photos app and then press on it. The image will blur, then the video portion will play.

screen322x572Only the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus can take this type of picture, but they can be viewed on any device running iOS 9, like an iPad where they can be seen better. Getting the images onto the other device isn’t as easy as it could be, however. Using Apple’s AirDrop was the best method we found, as Live Images that had been emailed did not arrive with the video portion still attached.

Developers have also stepped up with iOS apps designed for turning Live Photos into animated GIFs. Live GIF by Priime is one that caught our eye, and there will be certainly be others. This can also be done on the desktop with animated GIF makers. Both Facebook and Twitter support animated GIFs, and as of this writing, Apple claims Facebook will support Live Photos. There is no word on whether Twitter will do the same.

It’s possible to access the video separately from the still image, but only by using a laptop or PC. When we connected our iPhone to a Windows computer and viewed the contents of the mobile device, we found that every Live Image was accompanied by a MOV file of the same name. This video can be copied and played on any device.

Once again, it’s important to note that Live Photos are stills accompanied by a short video clip (about 45 frames at 15 frames per second), not just a burst of stills. This means that they occupy about twice the space as regular photos. Especially those with 16GB iPhones will want to think twice about leaving this feature on by default.

 

The post How To Use Live Photos on the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus appeared first on Brighthand.com.

Apple iPhone 6 Plus vs. Samsung Galaxy Note5: Battle of the Business-Minded Behemoths

Posted on by Ed Hardy

While there are quite a few super-size phones to choose from, the two most popular are the Samsung Galaxy Note5 and the recently released Apple iPhone 6s Plus. Both these devices are loaded with features, which isn’t surprising considering they cost even more than many high-end tablets.

We’ve compared them head-to head, hoping to make it easier for those who can’t decide which is the best for them.

Build & Design

Both devices look professional, but the Note5 is a fingerprint magnet.

Both devices look professional, but the Note5 is a fingerprint magnet.

The iPhone 6s Plus and Galaxy Note5 are quite similar and size and weight; while Apple’s offering is 0.2 inches taller and 0.1 in. wider, these really mean nothing in day-to-day use, especially as both weigh 0.4 pounds. There’s no doubt that these are large devices, as you don’t get a 5.5- or a 5.7-inch display in a tiny package. What matters in a comparison is that nether is much smaller or lighter than its rival.

While many aren’t fond of the term “phablet”, it describes these two well, as they feel like something larger than a phone but smaller than a tablet. They also feel very slick, and both could probably use a case that makes them more grippable.

Both devices look professional, but the casing of the Samsung model is something of a fingerprint magnet, making the device appear less clean than its rival.

Display

Both for its size and the use of AMOLED, the Note5 has the better display, but 3D Touch has much potential.

Both for its size and the use of AMOLED, the Note5 has the better display, but 3D Touch has much potential.

Samsung used an Active Matrix Organic LED screen in the Galaxy Note5, and it gives this phone an advantage. AMOLED displays offer sharp, vivid colors, and are easier to see outdoors than standard LED screens, like the one in the iPhone 6s Plus.

Apple’s screen is no slouch though. At 5.5 inches and a 1920 x 1080 resolution, its pixel density is 401 ppi, so at a normal distance from the eye each pixel is so small it blends into every other one.

The Galaxy Note5 has a 2560 x 1440 resolution, giving its 5.7-inch display a 518 ppi pixel density. While the use of AMOLED technology gives this model a benefit, it’s harder to say whether the extremely high screen resolution does so as well. The iPhone 6 Plus has pixels too small to see, and the fact that its rival’s are even more impossible to see is of limited value, while the processor has to work with all those unnecessary pixels.

Samsung went with a larger screen, and both devices have a 16:9 aspect ratio, which means that the Galaxy Note5 comes out slightly ahead in this area as well, especially as the casing of GN5 is slightly smaller than Apple’s.

The display in the iPhone 6s Plus sets itself apart from its rival by being pressure sensitive, a feature Apple calls 3D Touch, which is also found on the iPhone 6s. This allows the device to sense how firmly the user it pressing on the screen to bring up a collection of quick options. 3D Touch is new and is just being integrated into the iOS, so it can’t yet be called a significant advantage.

Both for its size and the use of AMOLED, Samsung’s offering has a lead in the display category, although 3D Touch has real potential for the future.

Pen/Stylus

Want a stylus? Then go with the Note5.

Want a stylus? Then go with the Note5.

The Galaxy Note5 not only has an S Pen stylus, a great deal of work went into integrating it into the device.  Taking the pen out of its silo brings up an on-screen icon that allows the user to select from a range of applications, most notably the S Note app where users can combine sketching and typing.

The S Pen itself is nicely designed, and relatively comfortable to hold. Even better, it’s able to detect 2048 levels of pressure, so just pressing harder on the screen can result in drawing a thicker line.

By contrast, the iPhone 6 Plus does not have a stylus, and Apple made little or no effort to integrate this type of input.  There are third-party styli on the market like the excellent Just Mobile AluPen Digital, and iOS drawing applications, but there’s no doubt that Samsung has the lead in this area.

Buttons, Ports, and Speakers

Both the iPhone 6s Plus and Galaxy Note5 have large Home buttons that double as fingerprint scanners. These biometric security systems can be used to unlock the devices and to take the place of typing in passwords in a range of applications, including ecommerce apps. In our tests, Apple’s scanner is quicker and more reliable, as Samsung’s will not infrequently take two attempts to recognize a finger.

Neither device has a removable memory card slot; Apple has never supported these but it’s a bit surprising that Samsung decided to eschew one on such a high-end phone.

The Galaxy Note5 has a micro-USB port on its bottom edge, and additional storage can be added through USB drives designed for this port. There are even microSD card readers that can be connected. On the other side of the coin, a number of companies also make external storage drives that can be connected to the iPhone 6s Plus’ Lightning port, including SanDisk.

Both Samsung and Apple placed a single speaker on the bottom edge of their respective products, not an ideal location for getting the most volume out of it. Each of these speakers is roughly capable of putting out the same amount of sound with mostly adequate audio quality. Those who are planning on watching video on one of these — and that’s a popular reason for getting a phablet — should consider investing in a good pair of headphones. Samsung provides some very detailed audio controls on its device, certainly more than Apple.

Using a phone to to monitor health is one of those extras that both the Galaxy Note5 and iPhone 6s Plus support. The Galaxy Note5 goes the extra mile with a built-in heart rate sensor, though.

Performance

Samsung put an octo-core processor in the Galaxy Note5 while Apple uses just a dual-core chip in its iPhone 6s Plus. The Exynos 7420 in the GN5 has two quad-core sets, one running at 1.5 GHz and a second at 2.1 GHz. The Apple A9 processor, by contrast, is a dual-core running at 1.85 GHz.

In the past, Apple has proved skilled at making its processors run very efficiently, and this appears to be the case again, as the GeekBench 3 benchmarking tool gives the iPhone 6s Plus a 4338, slightly higher than the 4307 pulled in by the Galaxy Note5, despite the faster clock speed of Samsung’s chip. That said, both scores are at the top edge of any phone available today.

In real world use, our steady use of these two phones shows they have outstanding performance, and can take on any type of application, from games to productivity.

Samsung put 4GB of RAM in its device, while Apple went for 2GB. There are 16GB, 64 GB, and 128GB versions of the iPhone 6s Plus, versus 32GB and 64GB versions of the Galaxy Note5. As mentioned, neither has a removable memory card slot.

Overall performance is a tie, while kudos are due to Samsung for putting in more RAM, and to Apple for offering a 128GB version.

Software

Android or iOS. Take your pick.

Android or iOS. Take your pick.

At the time of this writing, the Galaxy Note5 runs Google’s Android 5.1.1 Lollipop operating system, while the iPhone 6s Plus has Apple’s iOS 9.02. We could construct a 10-part series comparing the two mobile operating systems and still not cover it all, so hopefully it will suffice to say that Google’s offering tries to give users more options for controlling the appearance of devices, while Apple favors simplicity. Generally, both accomplish the same things, but in slightly different ways.

Apple always releases system software updates for as many of its devices as possible at the same time, so iPhone 6s Plus users can expect to get iOS 10, iOS 11, etc. Samsung, on the other hand, will generally provide at least one major Android upgrade for its most popular models, but not much more than that.

As discussed earlier, the S Pen stylus that’s included with the Galaxy Note5 is accompanied by a suite of software, and there isn’t much comparable on the iPhone. The best example of this is the note taking app that automatically launches when the phone is off and the pen is removed from its silo.

Both Google and Apple offer free applications that can work with Word, Excel, and Powerpoint files, and Microsoft offers full versions of Office for iOS and Android.

The Galaxy Note5 includes Samsung’s Split View technology, which allows two applications to run side by side. While this can be handy on a full size tablet, it’s much less useful on smaller screen, and though the GN5 is large for a phone it’s very small compared to something like the Galaxy Tab S2 9.7.

Wireless

The iPhone 6s Plus and the Galaxy Note5 are both available from all of the “Big Four” U.S. carriers: AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon. The devices have 4G LTE and WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac. Each can function as a mobile hotspot for other computers. There’s also Bluetooth 4.2, GPS, and NFC in both.

No advantage on either side.

Camera

The iPhone 6s Plus has a 12-megapixel camera, but the Galaxy Note5 boasts a 16MP shooter. High resolution cameras like these are generally overkill for quick shots of the kids, but can be handy for those who want to show their pictures on large HD televisions. In addition, they enable users to shoot 4K video.

The highlight of the iPhone 6s Plus’s camera is the new Live Photos feature, which can make pictures into two-second movies. The Galaxy Note5 can do something similar with moving GIF images but the process is a lot more complicated.

On the other side of the coin, Samsung built into its phone the ability to livestream to YouTube, something Apple did not.

Aside from these gee-wiz features, both rear cameras are roughly similar. They take outstanding still images and videos, and can do panorama, slo-mo, and time lapse shots. They have decent LED flashes that are capable of lighting up nearby objects with reasonably good color.

Each of these models has a roughly equivalent 5MP front facing camera for taking selfies. Apple built in a clever feature that uses the phone display’s backlight to allow people to take pictures of themselves in low light.

Neither device comes out strongly ahead in this area.

Battery

The point of having two sets of four processor cores in Samsung’s chip is to give phones running it longer battery life, as the device can run on the slower set when there’s no need for the faster set. However, battery benchmarks show that the Galaxy Note5 only marginally benefits from this.

According to Geekbench 3, the iPhone 6s Plus will last for 7 hours 43 minutes of heavy use on a single charge, while the Galaxy Note5 is up to 8 hours and 7 minutes.

Samsung’s offering has very a narrow advantage in battery life.

Conclusion

Want a big phone? Can't go wrong with either.

Want a big phone? Can’t go wrong with either.

Those who are looking for a large phone with an emphasis on handwriting notes and sketches should definitely get the Samsung Galaxy Note5; they won’t find a better fit.

Anyone who just wants a large phone, on the other hand, wouldn’t go wrong with either the Apple iPhone 6s Plus or with Samsung’s offering. Both devices have similar sizes and performance, and aside from the S Pen, nothing makes one significantly better than the other.

While the AMOLED display on the GN5 is beautiful, it’s not sufficiently better than the iPhone to make it the sole reason to buy this model.

Value

The base model Galaxy Note5, with 32GB of storage, varies between $696 and $739.99, depending on which wireless carrier is offering it. The 64GB version costs $792 to $839.99.

The base model iPhone 6s Plus with 16GB of storage is $749, the 64GB version is $849, and the 128GB one is $949, no matter which carrier is offering it.

The 16GB version of Apple’s device probably doesn’t have enough storage for most people, and prices for the 64GB versions of these two models are close to each other, although Samsung’s model has a marginal advantage.

Apple iPhone 6s Plus Pros:

  • Large, beautiful screen
  • Outstanding performance
  • Long battery life

Apple iPhone 6s Plus Cons:

  • Bulky phone
  • No microSD card slot
  • High price

Samsung Galaxy Note5 Pros:

  • Best display available
  • Good performance
  • Very long battery life

Samsung Galaxy Note5 Cons:

  • Bulky phone
  • No microSD card slot
  • High price

Bottom Line

The S Pen in Samsung’s Galaxy Note5 makes this an ideal choice for mobile note takers. That said, someone just looking for a large smartphone for web, video, or games would be just as satisfied with Apple’s iPhone 6s Plus.

The post Apple iPhone 6 Plus vs. Samsung Galaxy Note5: Battle of the Business-Minded Behemoths appeared first on Brighthand.com.

Apple iPhone 6s Review

Posted on by Ed Hardy

It’s iPhone season, which means it is time for a new phone from Apple, with the iPhone 6s being this year’s offering.

Although this isn’t a complete redesign of last year’s iPhone 6, there are some improvements. It is the first model to debut running iOS 9, but the two most important new features are 3D Touch and Live Pictures, which Apple hopes will help convince millions of people to upgrade to this new version. A faster processor and more RAM will help as well.

The iPhone 6s is available now, starting at $649 for a version with 16GB of storage.

The iPhone 6s is close to the same size as its predecessor, but not exactly.

The iPhone 6s is close to the same size as its predecessor, but not exactly.

Build & Design

The iPhone 6s is close to the same size as its predecessor, but not exactly. It’s 5.44 x 2.64 x 0.28 (138 x 67 x 7 mm) and 5 ounces (143 g), which makes it 0.01 inch thicker and half an ounce heavier. Those really looking for it will be able to tell that the new device weighs a smidgen more, but it certainly won’t affect day to day use.

After the release of last year’s iPhone models, there were scattered complaints from users that these devices were too flimsy and easy to bend. Apple used a stronger type of aluminum for the iPhone 6s and tweaked the design to make the casing sturdier. The unit we’re testing isn’t easily flexed, and comes across as sturdy as such a slim product can be.

The edges are all very curved, and the all-metal casing is quite slick, which makes the iPhone 6s comfortable to hold, but raises the possibility that it might be too easy to drop. A case that adds a rubberized texture might be appropriate.

Display

The standout feature of the iPhone 6s’ screen is 3D Touch, which is Apple’s way of indicating that it is pressure sensitive, with it able to detect if it is being touched, pushed on lightly, or pushed with more force. This feature is integrated into the iOS in a way that’s reminiscent of right clicking on something with a mouse — it can bring up a convenient menu of options.

The best example of how this works is in Mail: pressing lightly on a message brings up a preview of it, then pressing harder opens the message. In addition, icons for a number of apps on the homescreen can be pressed on to bring up an option menu. Pressing on the Camera icon gives the user the option to quickly take a selfie, take a regular photo, record a regular  video, or record a video in Slo-mo.

Although 3D Touch could come across as a gimmick, there are places where it feels genuinely useful.

Although 3D Touch could come across as a gimmick, there are places where it feels genuinely useful.

Although 3D Touch could come across as a gimmick, there are places where it feels genuinely useful. Our favorite is tapping and holding on a link to a website to get a peek at the page that would open, with a harder press going ahead and opening the page. Drawing software will be able to take advantage of it too, but with just three levels of sensitivity its usefulness to real artists will be limited.

3D Touch is an definite improvement, if not a radical one, and it can make using this phone quicker and easier. But it’s not required, and can even be turned off.

Aside from this new feature, the screen on the iPhone 6s is identical it its predecessor: it is 4.7 inches and has a 1334 by 750 resolution, with a pixel density of 326 ppi. Each pixel is so small that text and images look clear and smooth. Some rival devices have gone for even higher pixel densities though, like the Samsung Galaxy S6 which is at 576 ppi. There’s reason to doubt whether having that many pixels per inch is actually an improvement, however.

A 4.7-inch display is a good compromise: it’s large enough that’s it’s not impractical for ebooks, casual games, and even video, but a screen this size isn’t so big that it makes the whole phone unwieldy. And using the on-screen keyboard is easier than on Apple’s old 4-inch displays, and it’s dramatically better than a 3.5-inch one. Those who want a somewhat larger iOS model can opt for the new 5.5-inch iPhone 6s Plus.

Buttons, Ports, and Speakers

In our tests, the iPhone 6S scanner worked 100% of the time, always recognizing fingerprints.

In our tests, the iPhone 6S scanner worked 100% of the time, always recognizing fingerprints.

Apple has stuck with the same design standard since the first iPhone, so the Home button remains, and it continues to play a major role in controlling this latest device.

Like the last few Apple models, this button does double duty as a fingerprint scanner for the Touch ID security system. This gives users the benefits of secure access to their phone without the hassle of typing in a password every time they want to use it. In our tests, the scanner worked 100% of the time, always recognizing the fingerprints it was trained for and never giving false positives.

Some things never change, so the iPhone 6s has Apple’s proprietary Lightning charging/data port, and it doesn’t have a microSD memory card slot. That said, there are a number of flash drives that can be plugged into this device’s Lightning port, like the SanDisk iXpand and the Leef iBridge, to add additional storage capacity.

The volume up and down buttons are on the left side of this model, along with a mute switch.

There’s a single speaker on the bottom edge. This is capable of putting out a considerable amount of sound, loud enough for the device to be used in moderately noisy environments. But much of the volume is wasted because the speaker doesn’t  point toward the user.

The post Apple iPhone 6s Review appeared first on Brighthand.com.

Apple iOS 9 for iPhones Review

Posted on by Ed Hardy

A new version of Apple’s mobile operating system has launched, and it makes the iPhone more efficient, while also being more proactively helpful. Plus there are tweaks to a wide range of areas in iOS 9.

iOS 9We put this this latest version to the test and bring you our results.

There are some new features in this update that are only for the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus, but these haven’t been released yet, so this review covers iOS 9 on the models that can be upgraded: the iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPhone 5C, iPhone 5S, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus.

The many of iOS 9’s improvements are for Apple’s tablets, but this review concentrates on iOS running on phones. For a review of it on iPad head to our sister site TabletPCReview.

Performance Improvements

Apple has added Low Power Mode, which aims to increase the time between charges by turning off background features like getting email, app refreshes, and other automatic downloads.

Apple has added Low Power Mode, which aims to increase the time between charges by turning off background features like getting email, app refreshes, and other automatic downloads.

To understand one of the major features of iOS 9, it’s necessary to think back last fall: the release of iOS 8 was something of a debacle. Apple was required to rush patches out to fix numerous bugs. The fixes worked, but iOS 8 still was inefficiently written. Newer models could power their way through with high-speed processors, but older ones like the iPhone 4s chugged along.

iOS 9 is much more efficient, as demonstrated by the fact that the iPhone 4S runs the new version more quickly than it did iOS 8. Another demonstration is that the iPhone 6 running this update has a longer battery life than it did with the old version. Apple claims that the increase can be as much as an hour, but in our tests we found that that was overly optimistic. Still, even a marginal increase is welcome.

Speaking of lengthening battery life, Apple has added Low Power Mode, which aims to increase the time between charges by turning off background features like getting email, app refreshes, and other automatic downloads. It’s useful, but turning this mode on isn’t as easy as it could be, as it’s buried in the Settings app. Recharging the phone will automatically turn Low Power Mode off.

Siri Suggestions

iOS 9 includes a new feature that’s clearly designed to take on Google Now for Android phones: Pressing the homescreen and dragging to right brings up a window that includes a list of people contacted recently, apps frequently used, a way to search Maps for nearby gas stations, coffee shops, etc., as well as articles from the News app that Apple thinks are relevant.

One of the most useful aspects of this new feature is its ability to check traffic conditions and preemptively warn users when they need to leave for upcoming calendar items. It can also automatically add information about airline flights mentioned in emails.

iOS 9 includes a new feature that's clearly designed to take on Google Now for Android phones, Siri Suggestions.

iOS 9 includes a new feature that’s clearly designed to take on Google Now for Android phones, Siri Suggestions.

This points to the goal of these Siri Suggestions: to learn what the user needs and provide it without being asked. For example, someone who always listens to music on the way to work will find that they only have to plug in their headphones to start listening when they are driving in the mornings. Work contacts will be listed first on this page during the day, but friends will appear first at night, if that’s the pattern the user communicates with these people.

Spotlight Search doesn’t take the place of the Notifications window, which is why Calendar information isn’t listed. Dragging down from the top of the screen still brings up the Today screen with its overview of current and upcoming events, as well as a collection of notices. The only change is notifications are now listed in the order they were received, not grouped by application.

Note: Spotlight Search isn’t available to iPhone 4S users, but it is on all newer models.

User Interface Improvements

The methods for switching between running applications has been improved in iOS 9. Double tapping on the Home button still brings up a list of running apps, but the way these are displayed looks better. And multiple apps can be closed simultaneously by flicking them off the top of the screen. In addition, an icon to “Handoff” work to a nearby tablet or Mac has been added to the lower left corner.

When an application is opened from the Notifications window, Siri Suggestions, or other app, a small link back to the original app appears in the upper right corner of the screen. This small UI change is convenient but could be a bit more prominent.

News App

Apple created its own version of Flipboard for iOS 9 called News.

Apple created its own version of Flipboard for iOS 9 called News.

Apple created its own version of Flipboard for iOS 9, called News. This lets users specify topics that they are interested in, and then the software presents them these articles in a magazine-like format.

The advantage for users is that articles are stripped down to just their content, although advertisements are often included as well. Just keep in mind that some news sources haven’t really embraced this system and what appears in News for these is just short intros, so reading their full articles requires jumping to their regular website.

Apple Wallet

The Apple Passbook app has been replaced with a new Wallet app. This reflects the addition of support for loyalty cards, so users don’t have to carry around a bunch of these on their keychains any more. Support for this new feature from retailers is still in progress, however.

In addition, double pressing the Home button when an iPhone is locked will now open the Apple Pay window.

Notes App Improvements

Apple has upgraded the Notes app so that images can be included along with text, as well as sketched drawings. The drawing tools are handy, but it’s not likely anyone will be regularly taking class notes even on an iPhone 6S Plus. More useful is the ability to add check boxes, turning any note into a To-Do list.

iPhone 4s users don’t have access to the new drawing feature, but newer devices do.

Miscellaneous Enhancements

The Safari web browser now supports ad blockers, so users can prevent advertisements from appearing on the web pages they access. These blockers have to be purchased from the Apple App Store, and don’t work in the News app, Chrome, or other browser.

For too long the iOS keyboard only displayed letters in upper case. With iOS 9, the keys now show lowercase letters when those are the ones being typed. This is a small but welcomed change.

Although users of iPhones and iPads still don’t have access to their devices’ central file system, Apple did add an iCloud Drive app. This gives people an easier way work with files from a variety of applications, as long as they support iCloud Drive. And these files are available across a range of iOS devices.

Apple’s Maps application is still playing catchup with Google Maps. The latest version adds support for routing on mass transit systems. This is a feature that’s still rolling out though, and is so far not available in many cities.

Apple has made it easier to scroll through large collections of images in the Photos app.

Conclusion

iOS 9 is not a dramatic change for the iPhone, but it signals the direction Apple CEO Tim Cook is taking smartphones: the plan is to make them more like personal assistants that understand what we need and provide it for us. The current iteration of Siri Suggestions is just the first step on this pathway, however.

Other aspects of iOS 9 are equally welcomed, especially the way it sweeps away the kludgy iOS 8. While the new version doesn’t look dramatically different than its predecessor, it runs better, even on older hardware.

The post Apple iOS 9 for iPhones Review appeared first on Brighthand.com.

Why You Should Install iOS 8.1.1 on Your iPhone 4s

Posted on by Ed Hardy

Doubtless some users of the venerable iPhone 4s are nervous about installing iOS 8.1, but our testing indicates that doing so is both safe and practical.

A Safe Plan

Apple iPhone 4s

Apple iPhone 4s

There were quite a few headlines about bugs in iOS 8 in the days immediately after its debut. Fortunately, the worst of the problems were, for the most part, taken care of by the release of the follow-up version.

Which isn’t to say that iOS 8.1 is completely perfect today. However, we’ve found that these aren’t the kind of issues that cause day-to-day problems.

Simply put, installing this upgrade will not significantly impede the performance of your smartphone. Being realistic, the iPhone 4s is three years old and it’s not going to have the same super-fast speeds as a brand-new iPhone 6, but it runs quite acceptably, even with iOS 8.1.

And this can be improved by going to Settings > General > Accessibility > Reduce Motion and flipping the slide or two on. This will remove some of the bells and whistles included in the user interface that generally just slow the device down.

How to Find Room

Many users who haven’t upgraded yet may be worried less about potential performance hang-ups than the fact that they don’t have enough room to take the plunge in the first place. There are a number of solutions for this issue.

One easy fix is to delete hidden and unnecessary system files. These are created by the operating system and some apps, but aren’t always deleted when no longer needed. They can build up over time until they eat up several gigabytes of space. Backing up the device, doing a factory reset, and restoring it will erase these “zombie” files.

Another option is to move large numbers of pictures onto a cloud storage system. Dropbox, Microsoft OneDrive, and others make uploading a whole archive of pictures a simple process.

Apple iPhone 4s

Apple iPhone 4s

People with especially full iPhones should consider removing some of their apps. A game or utility that hasn’t been opened in months can be deleted and then re-installed from the iTunes store at any time in the future.

Similarly, music and books that have been purchased through iTunes can be deleted and re-installed at any point.

Why Do the Upgrade

Apple has built quite a number of new features into iOS 8.1, even for older devices like the iPhone 4s.

The notification system has been greatly improved by allowing users to perform many actions directly in the tray itself. This means that one can write a response to an incoming text in the notification of a message without having to switch apps.

Another notable improvement is QuickType, which is what Apple calls its predictive text system. This places suggested text above the keyboard, speeding up the writing process. And the latest version of the OS supports third-party keyboards, so users can finally install more efficient input methods like Swype.

There are quite a few small tweaks in iOS 8.1 that generally make using the iPhone 4s easier. For example, double tapping the home button brings up a list of recent contacts.

Those who have a recent-model iPad will find other benefits. The iPhone 4s doesn’t have all of the new features that Apple included for cross-collaborating with the tablet, but there are a few. Most notably, SMS text messages sent to the iPhone can be set to appear on the iPad.

Just keep in mind, some of the most advertised features of iOS 8.1 aren’t available to the iPhone 4s. Apple Pay is the most notable example of this.

Apple iPhone 4s

Apple iPhone 4s

Just Do It

Those who have been convinced that iOS 8.1 is safe and useful, and have found room for it on their iPhone 4s, can start the installation by going to Settings > General > Software Update, or alternatively by hooking the smartphone to a computer running iTunes.

Downloading and installing the OS update can take some time, perhaps a couple of hours. It’s best to have the phone fully charged before starting.

Once that’s done, be sure to play around with the new features of iOS 8.1. That’s the best way to learn how to use them.

The post Why You Should Install iOS 8.1.1 on Your iPhone 4s appeared first on Brighthand.com.

Apple iPhone 6 Not Easily Bent, Claims Consumer Reports

Posted on by Ed Hardy

A handful of reports accusing the newly-released Apple iPhone 6 of being easily bent quickly blew up onto a controversy that’s being called “Bendgate.” To add some scientific data to the debate, Consumer Reports compared the rigidity of this new smartphone to other flagships and found little evidence to back up the claims.

Apple iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus slantedThe product-testing service examined the rigidity of the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, LG G3, Samsung Galaxy Note 3, and HTC One (M8), as well as the iPhone 5. It used a “three-point flexural test,” in which the device is supported at two points on either end and an opposite force is applied in the middle. This third force was applied with an Instron compression test machine.

In the tests, the iPhone 6 tied with the HTC One (M8): Both were able to survive increasing amounts of force until they bent at 70 lbs. The iPhone 6 Plus didn’t bend until it reached 90 lbs of pressure.

Consumer Reports found that the LG G3 and iPhone 5 bent at 130 lbs. The most inflexible device in its tests was the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, which survived until 150 lbs of force had been applied.

“While nothing is (evidently) indestructible, we expect that any of these phones should stand up to typical use,” Consumer Reports concluded.

Source

The post Apple iPhone 6 Not Easily Bent, Claims Consumer Reports appeared first on Brighthand.com.