Meizu m2 [year]

Meizu m2 2026

February 22, 2016 Richard Gomez 0

Meizu might have some way to go before establishing itself as a serious player in India, but it's fairly well established in its home market China. In the business of smartphones since 2008, Meizu is one of the top 10 manufacturers in China. Following a heavy infusion of capital investment from Alibaba in February, the company announced plans to launch in India a month later and finally launched the m1 Note in May.
The latest product from its stable to launch in India is the Meizu m2. Priced at Rs. 6,999, the m2 offers a solid set of specifications and features, while keeping the price competitive. We explore the device in our in-depth review.
Look and feel
The Meizu m2 has a distinct look, which follows the same design philosophy that the company has used with all of its devices. It apes Apple's designs to a certain extent, especially the front which has only a single physical button. While this might look good, the button has to serve as both the Home and Back keys, since i..

Nexus 5X [year]

Nexus 5X 2026

February 22, 2016 Richard Gomez 0

Google's Nexus line has always been about showing off the best of Android. Frustrated with its partners' insistence on developing custom UIs and loading up their phones with bloat, Google decided to create a showcase collection of devices to hopefully serve as inspiration. After a string of mainstream successes, Google went high-end last year. The Nexus 6 was the largest (and most expensive) of all Nexus smartphones till then, and not everyone was thrilled.
This year, Google is putting out two models: the Nexus 5X and the Nexus 6P. This allows it to show off a flagship-class all-metal phone with a massive screen as well as serve the mainstream market which needs more of a workhorse. Google is of course pushing these out to demonstrate just how it thinks Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) devices should look and feel. They both come with Nexus Imprint; Google's native Android fingerprint recognition framework, which is a headlining Android 6.0 feature.

Today we're reviewing..

Street Fighter V [year]

Street Fighter V 2026

February 22, 2016 Richard Gomez 0

If we wanted to set the record for the world's shortest review all we have to say is that unless you're a big fan of the series, you should not be buying Street Fighter V right now.
However since you're here expecting a review and not just a “tweet”, you'll need a whole lot more to go by.
Street Fighter V, as the name implies, is the latest in the long-running series of fighting games. It has an eclectic set of characters, a number of varied stages, and a more than competent soundtrack that complements some of the most addictive gameplay around.
From detailed backgrounds complete with Bollywood movie posters, to hilarious belly physics on obese (but surprisingly powerful) fighters, the production values we've come to expect and love from the series are present, for the most part. The game's single-player story mode is bookended with water-coloured panels between matches. These do a decent job of conveying the plot, but they pale in comparison to the ..

China's Huawei Backs Apple in Fight Over Encryption

China’s Huawei Backs Apple in Fight Over Encryption

February 22, 2016 Richard Gomez 0

China's Huawei said it backed Apple's chief executive Tim Cook in his stand-off with the United States government over breaking into an iPhone, but stopped short of saying explicitly it would adopt the same stance.
“It is very important, we agree with that,” Richard Yu, chief executive of Huawei's consumer business group, told reporters in Barcelona gathered for the Mobile World Congress. “Privacy protection is very important for Huawei, we put a lot of investment into privacy, and security protection is key, it is very important for the consumer.
“Apple is resisting US government demands that it unlock an iPhone used by Rizwan Farook, who along with his wife, Tashfeen Malik, shot and killed 14 people and wounded 22 others at a holiday party in San Bernardino in December.
(Also see: Why Even the FBI Can't Hack the iPhone)
“Tim Cook spoke up for that (privacy) … for us it is really very important,” Yu said. “I think it's good letting the government understand ..

BioShock Collection Headed to PS4 and Xbox One: Report

BioShock Collection Headed to PS4 and Xbox One: Report

February 22, 2016 Richard Gomez 0

The entire BioShock franchise is already in development for backwards compatibility on the Xbox One, but you might be able to purchase the game for both current gen-consoles if reports are to be believed.
(Also see: Microsoft Changes How Xbox One Backward Compatibility Titles Are Released)
The series found life in 2007 on Windows PCs and Xbox 360, and has since then been released for PlayStation 3 among other desktop OSes and iOS devices. But on Friday, the Ministério da Justiça – Brazil's ministry of justice – rated BioShock: The Collection as “not recommended for minors under 18” for all major video game platforms, including PC, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4, and Xbox 360 and Xbox One; it was first spotted by video gaming blog VG247. What this can mean is that the series has been remastered for today's consoles, and might see release in the near future.
At the same time, one needs to be wary of any rumours regarding 2K Games and BioShock. That's considering BioSho..

Review: ViewPad 10 features Windows and Android

Review: ViewPad 10 features Windows and Android

March 18, 2016 Richard Gomez 0

Viewsonic's new tablet has a unique solution for consumers who are still clinging to Microsoft's Windows, even as Google's Android operating system gains traction: It offers both.
The ViewPad 10 is a dual-boot unit. It can launch either Windows 7 or Android as you start the computer.
Out of the box, the specs are impressive. The ViewPad has a 10.1-inch display, which is larger than the iPad's 9.7 inches. It weighs less than two pounds, has built in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and is stuffed with a relatively fast Intel 1.66 GHz processor. It costs $599 for the 16-gigabyte version, and $679 for double the memory.
The ViewPad has a built-in camera. The resolution is just 1.3 megapixels, well short of what the iPhone and other smartphones offer. So, don't expect great images.
The device also features a mini VGA port, a standard audio jack, two USB ports and a MicroSD card slot. It's pretty full-featured for a tablet.
The computer comes with Windows 7 Home Premium ins..

HTC Flyer [year] Review

HTC Flyer 2026 Review

March 16, 2016 Richard Gomez 0

Introduction
Introduced at the Mobile World Congress in February HTC took a different approach towards tablet design. The Flyer was unique amongst its Android brethren from the moment of inception, featuring a 7-Inch display, Android Gingerbread instead of Honeycomb, and a stylus.
The question is, do these make the Flyer a better tablet device in comparison to the competition?
Packaging and Content
Device presentation has always been HTC's forte and with their flagship tablet HTC pulls all stops. Normally, tablets are pricey and don't come with a decent amount of usable accessories. But HTC provides a suave leather case for the device, lined with felt-like micro-fibers, headphones, the HTC Magic Pen, the USB cable, the charger and the Flyer itself.
Hardware and Styling
The Flyer features a uni-body design,which is immensely classy. If you happen to miss the large HTC logo on the rear, you could easily mistake it for an Apple product. The back is covered by a layer of aluminum..

Review: HP TouchPad makes a mediocre tablet

Review: HP TouchPad makes a mediocre tablet

March 9, 2016 Richard Gomez 0

A year after Hewlett-Packard Co. purchased flailing Palm, the technology behemoth is rolling out the first tablet that uses Palm's webOS operating system.
The July 1 release should be a triumph for HP, showcasing its ability to compete in the increasingly crowded tablet market. Yet while the TouchPad's software is beautiful and intuitive, overall the tablet is more of a “meh-sterpiece” than a masterpiece.
The TouchPad looks a lot like its peers: It's black and shiny with just a few buttons dotting its frame. The screen, 9.7 inches at the diagonal, is the same size and resolution as Apple's iPad.
At $500 for a model with 16 gigabytes of storage or $600 for one with 32 GB, the price is essentially the same, too. The device I tested used Wi-Fi to connect to the Internet; HP says a version will work on AT&T Inc.'s wireless network later this summer.
At 0.54 inches thick, the TouchPad is fatter than the iPad. It's heavier, too, at 1.6 pounds. With its rounded ..

OnePlus Icons [year]

OnePlus Icons 2026

March 11, 2016 Richard Gomez 0

OnePlus was founded in December 2013, though the company first burst onto the scene in 2014 when it launched the OnePlus One. The self-proclaimed “flagship killer” promised top-end performance at entry level prices. Now, OnePlus is making a push into the audio space as well, and the brand has launched its second pair of earphones, the OnePlus Icons. While the OnePlus Silver Bullet earphones were priced fairly affordably at Rs. 899, the Icons, at Rs. 2,999, are clearly at the upper end of what can be called “budget”.
The OnePlus Icons are a nice looking pair of in-ear headphones, but are they comfortable enough and most of all, do they sound good enough to justify the price tag? Or should you consider spending as much or a little more to buy something nicer, or save your money and pick up a cheaper pair?
(Also see: Best In-Ear Headphones for Every Budget)
Design, specifications, and comfort
The design of the Icons is eye catching. The angled earpieces look nice and help ensure a good..

Absentia Tesseract VR First Impressions: A Promising Start, but Lots of Room to Improve

Absentia Tesseract VR First Impressions: A Promising Start, but Lots of Room to Improve

March 7, 2016 Richard Gomez 0

The competition for virtual reality headsets is heating up, and there are some clear frontrunners emerging – the Oculus Rift, whose Kickstarter project sparked the fresh wave of interest in the category is going to launch next year, while HTC just clarified that the HTC Vive will be available from April. Sony's PlayStation VR will also release next year, and on the mobile front, the Samsung Gear VR is already on sale.
One problem that is shared across all the different gadgets in this space is that they're all going to be pretty expensive – the Gear VR is the cheapest, at $99 (approximately Rs. 6,600), but it only works with certain high end Samsung phones – which, coupled with the limited exposure to VR means that the technology will remain a niche for some time, particularly in countries like India.
However, there are plenty of new headsets under development as well, including the Tesseract by Absentia, which is tentatively going to be priced at Rs. 12,000 for the HD vers..

Sony MDR XB950BT [year]

Sony MDR XB950BT 2026

March 7, 2016 Richard Gomez 0

If you're an audiophile who wants the purest and clearest reproduction of the source being played, then it's likely that you're not interested in Sony's XB (extra bass) headphones. We tried out the Sony MDR XB950BT – the top of the XB line, which also supports Bluetooth playback. That's a combination which has probably sent purists running for the hills, but the results are surprisingly decent.
Available only in bright red, and at Rs. 12,990, these headphones are clearly not for everybody, but all things considered, they are actually pretty reasonably priced. If you're not interested in bass-focused headphones, then the XB950BT doesn't really offer anything that will change your mind, but if you've heard and liked any of the headphones in the XB family before, then you'll be pleased to know that this is one of the better offerings from Sony within this line.
Design
The Sony MDR XB950BT looks eye-catching – some would call it tacky, with it..

MWC 2016: Samsung, LG Improve Smartphone Cameras, Turn to Virtual Reality

MWC 2016: Samsung, LG Improve Smartphone Cameras, Turn to Virtual Reality

February 22, 2016 Richard Gomez 0

South Korean tech giants Samsung Electronics and LG unveiled Sunday new smartphones with better cameras and turned to virtual reality to boost interest in their headsets at a time of slowing sales.
Samsung launched two versions of its flagship phone, the flat screen Galaxy S7 and the curved screen Galaxy S7 Edge, with cameras that can take better pictures under low-light conditions.
The company, the world's number one smartphone maker, also debuted its first 360 degree camera, the Gear 360, in Barcelona where the mobile industry is gathered for the start of the Mobile World Congress on Monday, in its latest attempt to remain ahead of Apple.
The camera is designed to make it easy to take all-around photos and videos that can be uploaded to Facebook and YouTube, or viewed as immersive experiences on Samsung's virtual reality Gear VR headsets which went on sale in November.
(Also see: Samsung Galaxy S7 vs. iPhone 6s vs. LG G5 vs. Sony Xperia Z5)
“User generated 360 degree photos..