Nexus 5 vs. Sony Xperia Z2

Nexus 5 vs. Sony Xperia Z2

The LG-made Google Nexus 5 has been a big hit, with many choosing a Nexus handset because of the pure vanilla Android experience. It released in November last year but recently we’ve seen a plethora of new high-end flagships announced. Today we’re looking at the Nexus 5 vs. Sony Xperia Z2 in a specs breakdown.

It’s worth noting that the Xperia Z2 is likely to be popular with consumers but so far its limited release rollout has been a bit of a letdown, with the phone only arriving in some regions so far. Recently for example, it was reported that potential buyers of the phone in the US will only be able to purchase it unlocked direct from Sony, rather than on a carrier with subsidies, although at least it has been confirmed for an arrival in the summer. We’ll compare the key specs of each to see what they have to offer.

Processors

The Nexus 5 has a 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor and Adreno 330 GPU. The Xperia Z2 is powered by a 2.3GHz Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor and has the same Adreno 330 GPU as the Nexus 5.

Display

The Nexus 5 has a 4.95-inch True HD IPS+ display with resolution of 1920 x 1080 and 445 ppi while the Xperia Z2 has a 5.2-inch IPS LCD display with resolution of 1920 x 1080 and 424 ppi.

RAM and Storage

There’s 2GB of RAM for the Nexus 5 and it comes in internal storage options of 16 or 32GB (non-expandable).

On the other hand the Xperia Z2 has 3GB of RAM and is a 16GB phone, expandable via microSD to 128GB.

Camera Set-up

The Nexus 5 has an 8-megapixel rear camera with autofocus, LED flash and optical image stabilization with 1080p@30fps video capture. It also has a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera.

The Xperia Z2 has a 20.7-megapixel rear camera with autofocus, LED flash and video capture of 2160p@30fps, 1080p@60fps, and 720p@120fps. It has a 2.2-megapixel front-facing shooter.

Battery

The Nexus 5 has a 2300 mAh battery.

The Xperia Z2 has a 3200 mAh battery.

Connectivity

The Nexus 5 features LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, DLNA, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, and microUSB (SlimPort) v2.0, USB Host and USB On-the-go.

The Xperia Z2 has LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, and microUSB v2.0 (MHL 3), USB Host and USB On-the-go.

Operating System

Android 4.4.2 KitKat is the choice of operating system for the Nexus 5.

The Xperia Z2 also runs Android 4.4.2 KitKat. However, as a Nexus device the Nexus 5 will be among the first to receive the latest Android updates.

Dimensions and Weight

The Nexus 5 measures 137.9mm x 69.2mm x 8.6mm and weighs 130g.

The Xperia Z2 measures 146.8mm x 73.3mm x 8.2mm and weighs 163g.

This comparison doesn’t take into account all of the many features of these handsets or their builds, but it seems fair to say that on specs the Xperia Z2 has the measure of the Nexus 5. Just some of the benefits of the Xperia Z2 include more RAM, expandable storage, better camera capabilities, and a higher-capacity battery. The Z2 also has the advantage of being dustproof and water-resistant.

However, the Nexus 5 still has plenty to offer, and for many users nothing can beat a stock Android experience. It also has a cheaper price tag and the smaller form factor and lighter weight will also be preferred by some users

If you were to choose right now, would you opt for the Nexus 5 or the Sony Xperia Z2?

Nexus 5 vs. Sony Xperia Z2

Nexus 5 vs. Sony Xperia Z2

Nexus 5 vs. Sony Xperia Z2

Xperia Z Android 4.4 update on track for release

Xperia Z Android 4.4 update on track for release

Owners of older Sony Xperia Z are getting closer to receiving a new version of the Android operating system, and now we have news that the Sony Xperia Z Android 4.4.2 KitKat update is on track for release in the coming weeks.

Earlier this month Sony revealed that a number of older Xperia devices will begin seeing the Android 4.4.2 KitKat update during the month of May. We have already seen a version leaked for the Sony Xperia Z, but now the new firmware has been certified for a number of devices.

These include the Xperia Z, Xperia ZL, Xperia ZR, and the Sony Xperia Tablet Z with all the devices having the same build number of 10.5.A.0.227. This is the same build as the recent version that was leaked for the Xperia Z, and the date of this certification should mean that Sony can keep to its earlier release timeframe promise.

Other companies could learn a thing or two from Sony regarding firmware updates. Do you agree?

Sony Xperia Z Android 4.4 update on track for release

Xperia Z Android 4.4 update on track for release

Xperia Z Android 4.4 update

Xperia Z Android 4.4 update on track for release

Sharepoint Interview Question and Answer

Sharepoint Interview Question and Answer

Q. What are WebParts?

Ans. Web Parts are self-contained packages of user interface that can be dropped onto a SharePoint Web Part page to provide discrete set of functionality to the users. They can simply be described as re-usable Code units.

Q. What are Features?

Ans. Features represent a set of functionality (code) that can be activated and de-activated at various levels in SharePoint. Using Features, you can do everything from adding a link to the Site Settings page to creating a complete fully functioning Project suite that can be added to any SharePoint site. Developers can scope feature to the following level -

• Web


• Site


• WebApplication


• Farm

Q. What are Solutions?

Ans. Solutions are the container packages for Features. Solution basically, is a cabinet (.cab) file with extension .wsp which contains various components needed to be deployed(features, webparts, custom forms etc) along with files that describe some important metadata about those Components. Once a Solution is installed on a server in the farm, you can deploy it to any webapplication from your Solution Management.

Q. What is a .ddf file and what does it have to do with SharePoint Solution creation?

Ans. A .ddf file is a data directive file which describes the files need to be deployed and their destination (in SharePoint). .ddf is used when building the SharePoint solution. This file is a parameter to makecab.exe which outputs the wsp file.

Q. What is the difference between a site and a web in SharePoint?

Ans. A site in sharePoint is a site collection. It is an object of SPsite class in sharepoint. A Web however, is simply a blank site within that site collection. Web is a Part of SPweb class, thus represents a site within a site collection.

Q. What is CAML?

Ans. CAML stands for Collaborative Application Markup Language and is an XML-based language that is used in Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services to define sites and lists for E.g. fields, views, or forms etc. Developers mostly use CAML to write Queries to retrieve data from Lists\libraries.

Q. What is Custom action?

Ans. Represents a link, toolbar button, menu item, or any control that can be added to a toolbar or menu that appears in the UI. For e.g. “New Folder” button in your document library is a custom action or “View All Site Content” in your Site Settings is a custom action.

Q. What are Master pages in SharePoint?

Ans. These are the pages that provide a consistent layout and appearance (look and feel) for SharePoint sites. A master Page consist of a Site logo, Top navigation, left navigation(some cases) and a footer. In SharePoint Master Pages are stored in _catalogs folder or Master Page Gallery from UI.

Q. What are Layout Pages in SharePoint?

Ans. A Layout page defines the Layouts(structure including Webpart zones) of a content page in SharePoint. Layout pages are not same as Master Page. A Layout Page is contained inside the content area surrounded by mater Page.

Q. What is a SharePoint Theme?

Ans. A Theme is a group of files (CSS, images) that allow you to define the appearance (look and feel) of content pages in SharePoint. A Theme defines the design of various components for e.g. Content Page background-color,button color,webpart title color etc to give a different look and feel to your site.

Q. What is a web part zone?

Ans. Web part zones are what your web parts reside in. Each webpart zone can contain number of webparts and can be positioned in a specific way to create a webpart Layout Page.

Q. What is Business Data Catalog or BDC ?

Ans. It is a shared service that enables Office SharePoint Server 2007 to display business data from various back-end servers into a SharePoint page. Business Data Catalog or BDC provides built-in support for displaying data with various webparts and list\list columns that can help in easy creation of dashboards with data from your SQL, web services, SAP, Siebel, or any other line-of-business (LOB) applications.

Q What is a Site definition?

Ans. A Site definition is a collection of Files such as ONET.XML which defines the Site template for e.g. Team Sites used to create a Site in SharePoit. All the out-of-box site Templates like Blog,Wiki,Team Site etc can be found in C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\web server extensions\12\TEMPLATE\

Q What is a Site Template?

Ans. Any Site along with the content can be saved as a template. If a site is saved as a Template it is stored in Site templates folder as a .stp file. This template is then re-used to create a new site which will have the pre-saved settings.

Q. What are content types?

Ans. A content type is a flexible and reusable template of type list item or document that defines the columns and behavior for an item in a list or a document in a document library. For example, you can create a content type for a Requirement document with a columns such LOE,Version,Approver,Date Created,Date Revised etc and this can be re-used in various document libraries.

Q. what is Central administration?

Ans. This is a site used by admins to mange and configure settings for SharePoint web applications or the whole farm.

Q. What are event receivers or event Handlers in SharePoint?

Ans. Event Receivers or Event handlers are created to handle the basic actions or events against an item,list\library, a web or a site. There are two kinds of events in sharepoint.

Synchronous Events: Like Itemadding (not added yet), Uploading (document not uploaded yet) etc.

Asynchronous Events: ItemAdded (after item is added), Uploaded(after a document is uploaded)

Events receivers can be written to override an event for e.g. ItemAdded event to change the name of an Item once it is added.

Q. What is stsadm?

Ans. It is a Command-line tool used for administration of Office SharePoint 2007 (or MOSS 2007) servers and sites. Basic operations like adding a solution or installing activating and feature is usually done by stsadm.

Q. What permissions are required to perform stsadm operations?

Ans. You need to be a member of WSS_ADMIN_WPG group to perform deployments for sharepoint server. Also, you need to be added into administrators group on a computer on which SharePoint Server or WSS 3.0 is installed. In addition to this you definitely need access to the required sharepoint databases so that you should not get errors while deploying sharepoint solutions.

Q. Where is it located?

Ans. You will normally, find it under C:\Program Files\Common Files\ shared\web server extensions\12\bin.

Q What is a DWP?

Ans. Its a webpart file extension.

Q What is the GAC?

Ans. Global Assembly Cache folder (or assembly) stores the strongly typed signed assemblies for webparts or other sharepoint components(which require full trust) for services to share them.

Q. What are Application Pages, Site Pages and Content Pages?

Ans.

Application Pages – An application page is deployed once per Web server and cannot be customized on a site-by-site basis. They stay in 12 hive folder structure, mostly under layouts folder.

Site Pages – These are pages that make up the site interface and are specific to one site or site collection.They mostly get stored in the content database of the site collection.

Content Pages – Site Page which contains webpart or other custom components. This Page is stored in database. They mostly get stored in the content database of the site collection.

Q.What are the Permission levels in SharePoint?

Ans. Permission levels in SharePoint are -

* Limited Access – They can view Application Pages, Browse User Information, Use Remote Interfaces, Use Client Integration Features etc.

* Reader – Limited Access permissions plus: View Items, Open Items, View Versions, Create Alerts, Use Self-Service Site Creation, View Pages.

* Contributor – Read permissions plus: Add Items, Edit Items, Delete Items, Delete Versions, Browse Directories, Edit Personal User Information, Manage Personal Views, Add/Remove Personal Web Parts, Update Personal Web Parts.

* Design – Contribute permissions plus: Manage Lists, Override Check Out, Approve Items, Add and Customize Pages, Apply Themes and Borders, Apply Style Sheets.

* Administrator – Has full control of the Web site.

* Full Control – All permissions.

Q. What are Site Columns?

Ans. Site columns are pre-defined data columns(along with default values) which are re-used in various content types. A Content type is usually a collection of site columns. For e.g. you can create a site column “Category” with a choice datatype along with the pre-defined values “It”,”Hr”. This column then can be added to any content type in your list or library.

Q. What does each individual Site collection offers?

Ans. An Individual Site collection offers following :

For the Users:

• Dedicated Recycle bins
  


• Dedicated usage Reports
  


• Distributed administration (site collection administrators)
  


• Dedicated search scopes, keywords, and best-bets
  


• Custom feature deployments
  


• Dedicated language translation maintenance
  


• Dedicated galleries for web parts, master pages, content types, site columns, site templates, and list templates
  


• Dedicated shared libraries, such as site collection images and site collection styles
  


• Dedicated real estate (Self Containment)

For the IT Administrators:

• Site quota templates


• 
  Distributed administration
  


• Site locking
  


• Database maintenance options
  


• Backup / Restore abilities
  


• Content Deployments
  


• InfoPath forms services global template targeting

Q. When would you use a Different Site Collection for you new site?

Ans. We would prefer to make our new site in a seprate site collection for the following are the reasons:

1. Site quotas is one of the reasons. The issue is the recycle bin is based on site collections and the quota for a site collection. If everyone shares a site collection, then they share the recycle bins storage size.

2. Delegated Security and distributed administration is the next big thing. For eg, you have a IT department that doesn’t know who should be able to see what content, besides how it should be organized. This is the job of the content owners and users. SharePoint site collections offers IT the ability to create a site collection for a project, team, department, document, or whatever the needs are, then assign an owner and hand it off to them.

3. In addition to these two if you need to separate the content between databases because of space issue.

Sharepoint Interview Question and Answer

Sharepoint Interview Question and Answer

Sharepoint Interview Question and Answer

Sharepoint Interview Question and Answer

Sony Xperia Z Android KitKat ROM leaked

Sony Xperia Z Android KitKat leaked ROM

It is always nice when older Android hardware gets treated to a new version of the operating system as it can often bring a new lease of life to devices. Now the Sony Xperia Z Android 4.4.2 KitKat update is downloadable ahead of an official release.

A few days ago the Android KitKat update was spotted for the Sony Xperia Z while yesterday a bunch of screenshots appeared with talk that the leaked firmware build could see an early leak. Now that promise has been kept via XDA user DooMLoRD who has released the leaked software.

The firmware has the build number of 10.5.A.0.227 and has originated from a developer device, and to download the software you will need an unlocked bootloader, but it has to be remembered that the firmware is not the final official build so may not perform perfectly.

It should work with both the C6602 and C6603 Sony Xperia Z variants and can be found here.

Will you download this software or wait for the official release?

Sony Xperia Z Android KitKat ROM leaked

Samsung Galaxy S5 - Features And Things You should Know

Samsung Galaxy S5 – Features And Things You should Know

1. One-handed operation

The Samsung Galaxy S 5 is a big device and Samsung knows this. Fortunately there’s a one-handed mode. A quick swipe from the side of the display to the centre and back will shrink the on-screen display making it easier to reach all points with one thumb.

Even better, if you do it from the left, it moves to the left, if you do it from the right, it goes right. It’s a feature lifted from the Galaxy Note and you’ll find it in settings, sound and display, one-handed operation.

2. Toolbox

The Toolbox is a clever floating shortcut app menu you can enable on the SGS5. It’s hiding in settings, sound and display, under Toolbox.

All you have to do is add your favourite apps – up to five – and you’ll get a small floating button that’s always on display. It means you can be reading a message and dive straight to the browser, or any other app you want.

3. You can finger it sideways

There’s a fingerprint scanner on the SGS5 embedded into the home button. The phone shows demos of a straight swipe to unlock, but that’s impossible to do when you’re gripping the phone in one hand.

Fortunately, you can register your fingerprint sideways. Just set-up the scanner to register your finger or thumb gripping the device as you normally would and it should all work fine.

4. Apps tray folders

To keep your apps tray tidy, you can create folders in the apps tray. This will save scrolling, letting you group together things like productivity apps or games.

To create a folder you have to open the apps tray and hit the menu button top right and opt to create folder. You can then open this folder and add the apps you want into it.

5. Live HDR mode

The camera has a “live” HDR (high dynamic range) mode. It’s just like normal HDR modes, but it shows you the results before you press the capture button.

This means that it will balance out the scene in front of you, lifting foreground shadows and adding contrast to skies, for example, and you’ll see the difference as soon as you engage HDR in the camera.

6. Display your steps on the lock screen

Samsung is making a play for fitness in the Samsung Galaxy S5 with its new S Health 3.0 app. There’s a pedometer onboard to count your steps, but a great feature is that it will show your steps on the lock screen.

This means you’ll get at-a-glance step information every time you look at your phone.

7. Two finger swipe for quick settings

There are some hardware shortcuts in the notifications bar, but if you want to get to a fuller list of feature toggles, use a two-finger swipe down to access a huge list.

This is actually a standard Android feature, but Samsung as taken it to the max so you can quickly toggle on and off the features you want.

8. Multi windows means multitasking

There’s a multi window feature on the SGS5 that apes that found on the Galaxy Note devices. You can select the apps you want to open and pick how much space each gets.

Even better, it remembers your options. With multi window turned on, you can have it open a link in Twitter in the Chrome browser and split the screen. Instagram links no longer feel like a pain, as you can keep scanning Twitter while it loads on the bottom half of the display.

9. Where’s the bloatware?

Samsung has left a lot of the bloat out of the Galaxy S5. Unlike previous devices, Samsung hasn’t piled it all in to the SGS5 from the get go. However, there’s a shortcut to the Galaxy Essentials selection in the apps tray menu.

Hit this shortcut and you’ll be taken to the Samsung Apps store where you’ll be able to download lots of additional Samsung apps to get you connected, like WatchOn, Samsung Wallet or S Note.

10. Navigation has changed

There’s been a change to the buttons configuration on the bottom of the SGS5. There’s the central home button as always, but it’s now flanked by a recent apps button and a back button.

The menu button is gone. Instead, you’ll have to use the in-app menu button instead, which is a change from the SGS4 and previous devices. We prefer it: it’s as Android intended, bringing more consistency to the app experience across devices.

11. Galaxy S5 Privacy Mode -

You can hide certain documents or pictures that only become accessible with a certain unlock pattern. To hide such documents, just go-to settings, select which file(s) you want protected, and then enter a special unlock pattern or pin code. When you or anyone else unlock your phone, the person won’t have access to the file(s) thereby the person won’t be able to see those files unless that special unlock pattern or pin code has been entered correctly.

12. Increased Touch Sensitivity, a Pencil would even write on it -

The Galaxy S5′s screen is so sensitive to touch that you can use an actual pencil to write on it. Although, no one would want to scratch their screen and simultaneously stain it with lead, but other pencil-like items would of course be useful especially when using Apps like S-Memo on the Galaxy S5. All you need to do is dig into the menu settings and increase the device’s touch sensitivity.

13. Galaxy S5 Kids Mode -

Ever since my little Brother dropped my Galaxy S3 on the floor and got its screen damaged, I’ve stopped giving any of my valuable gadgets to kids but who knows if you’re a Mr nice guy who loves giving Kids everything to play with, then your little ones will definitely enjoy your Galaxy S5. All you just have to do is download the Kids mode app and when you do, you can turn your Galaxy S5 into a more child-friendly, cute multimedia device for your little ones. It features a simplified, cute design that is easier for children to navigate, special applications that you can download only for kids, app permissions that you set and you can even set a time limit for how long they can use the phone.

14. Virtual Tour Mode, Shot & More –

The Galaxy S5′s camera now allows you to create .gif like images that help you to create a “virtual tour”. You take multiple photos of different areas to combine a type of “tour” to show your friends and family. Pretty cool panoramic stuff. Shot and more just allows you to edit your pictures and add effects immediately after you take them. Although, there are so many Photo App that lets you do this but its still nice to have these features directly on the Galaxy S5 own camera.

15. Tilt to make a playlist -

Yes! You heard me right, if you’re listening to a certain type of song and then tilt your Galaxy S5 horizontally, it will automatically look for songs that are stored in your phone that are similar to the one you’re listening to. This makes setting the perfect music for the perfect mood an easier endeavor.

16. Access Camera directly on the LockScreen

You can start using the Galaxy S5 camera right from the lock screen by swiping the camera icon to the side. Doing this will take you straight into camera mode, saving you a bit of time to capture that perfect moment before it eludes you. This particular feature is available on some other Smartphones too and it is also on the S5.

17. Check Callers Info while talking on the Phone

You can check the information of a caller while you’re already talking with them on the phone. So any communication you’ve had with them, their email address, or whatever info you have saved on your phone can be displayed at any time without being forced to hang up.

18. Priority Sender

You can set your priority contacts with “Priority Senders”. Those you message most in your messaging app can be set to the top, so that you’ll have faster and easier access to the ones you reach out to most.

19. Galaxy S5 Call Notification Pop-ups

The “Call Notification Pop-ups” feature on the Galaxy S5 is not really a big deal as far as am concerned, just that it lets you receive an in-call pop up while you’re using another application, without having to exit the app.

Samsung Galaxy S5 - Features And Things You should Know

Moto G The best budget handset around

Moto G The best budget handset around

Motorola’s back, and it’s kicking off its global smartphone revival with the keenly priced Moto G handset. A mid-range handset with a low-end price tag and Android KitKat – okay Moto, I’m listening.

First things first then, the Motorola Moto G price. You can pick the handset up in two storage sizes – 8GB and 16GB. The former will set you back just £135/$175, while the larger size is still a very palatable £159/$199.

And here’s some more good news: both Vodafone and Tesco Mobile in the UK have got the phone on offer, coming at £100 (with a £10 top up) for the former, and £110 from the latter – man, that’s cheap for what you’re getting.

So where does this place the Moto G in the market? Well at that price it has the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Fame, Nokia Lumia 520 and LG Optimus L3 2 for company, but dive into the spec list and you’ll note the Moto G wipes the floor with them.

In terms of design the Moto G takes most of its cues from the firm’s first, post-Google takeover handset, the Moto X.

It’s hardly groundbreaking in terms of looks, but the soft, curved edges of the Moto G make it relatively attractive and the swath of plastic feels solid and well built.

Weighing in at 143g the Moto G has a pleasing, well balanced presence in the hand without being overbearing, and while it may measure 11.6mm thick in the middle the tapered edges make it feel thinner than it is.

Couple that with a rubberised rear plate which slightly hugs the side of the handset too, and the Motorola Moto G fits comfortably in the palm, providing a decent level of grip.

The Moto G features a water repellent coating which means you’ll be able to whip it out in the rain without fear of a short circuit, but it is not waterproof – so no jumping in the pool with it.

You can even take the rear cover off and swap it for a different color, which Motorola is pushing as a big customizable feature of the phone. In reality however it just reminds me of my Nokia 3310.

Sure, changing covers is fun for all of five minutes, but the novelty soon wears off. Not to mention the back cover is also pretty tricky to remove – you need to really dig your nails in at the base of the handset to get it free.

In fact, so much strength needs to be employed to free the cover from the Moto G I feared on more than one occasion that the thin plastic would snap – thankfully it never did.

Motorola did make a point that the younger generation like the ability to “customize” their handsets and this particular feature, along with the rock bottom price, reinforces the Moto G’s credentials as a handset which may land in the laps of many teenagers.


The left side of the Motorola Moto G is devoid of any features, while the top of the handset only sports a centralized headphone jack. Both the power/lock key and volume rocker switch are located on the right of the G and these are easy to reach and responsive to the press.

On the base is a microUSB port, while under the removable cover is a microSIM port – but no microSD slot. That means if you want to expand the onboard storage you’ll have to take to the cloud.

The 2070mAh non-removable battery housed inside the Moto G is claimed to give you all day battery life, and I put that to the test – skip ahead to the battery life and connectivity section to see how it got on.

The Moto G comes with a 4.5-inch, 1280 x 720 display and boasts a 329ppi pixel density. To put that in some perspective that’s a bigger, higher resolution and more defined display than the iPhone 5S – not bad for a handset which is a third of the price.

Of course a HD display isn’t the only key factor in a smartphone, but Motorola has managed to equip the Moto G with a 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor and 1GB of RAM.

In terms of specs then the Motorola Moto G is actually giving the HTC One Mini, Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini and Nokia Lumia 820 a run for their mid-range, dual-core money – and once again the screen is bigger than these rivals. The Motorola handset even beats the Samsung and Nokia when it comes to resolution.

The camera on the rear of the Moto G is only 5MP and this is trumped by the S4 Mini and Lumia 820 and their 8MP snappers.

All in all the Moto G finds itself in no-mans land, with a complete disconnect between its price and spec list. This, of course, isn’t a bad thing and on paper it offers outstanding value for money.

The proof however, is in the pudding, so let’s see how the Moto G got on in real life.

Moto G The best budget handset around

Four apps that can transform our Android device into Galaxy S5

Four apps that can transform our Android device into Galaxy S5

These free apps from the Google Play store can bring some of the most talked about Galaxy S5 features to your Android device.

1. The Runtastic Heart Rate app,


2. Lens Blur,
   


3. App Lock, and


4. The Kids Mode app from Zoodles.

There has been a lot of talk about Samsung’s latest flagship smartphone. The Galaxy S5 is filled with new and exciting features, which have helped make it one of the hottest products available today. Whether you’re not eligible for an upgrade or simply aren’t interested in the Galaxy S5, there is still a way to get some of Samsung’s coolest features on your current Android device

Heart rate sensor

The heart rate sensor located on the back of the Galaxy S5 is one of the devices most noticeable features. Opening the S Health app and placing your finger on the sensor will give you a fairly accurate reading of your beats per minute.

A free app from Runtastic, the company behind the popular GPS running app, offers similar functionality. The Runtastic Heart Rate app uses the camera sensor on your smartphone to measure your heart rate. Believe it or not, the results weren’t too far off from those taken with the Galaxy S5′s heart rate sensor. And I was pretty amazed as this app even gets installed on my old Samsung Galaxy Y GT-S5360 and gives desired result. pretty awesome hunhhh….

Selective Focus

The Galaxy S5 and HTC One M8 are both capable of refocusing photos after they have been taken. The M8 achieves this with a second depth of field sensor located above the camera, while the S5 does this entirely through software.

The newly released Google Camera, which is available for devices running Android 4.4 or higher, has a similar feature known as Lens Blur that allows you to adjust the amount of background blur on a photo.

Private Mode

Whether it’s an inappropriate image or a secret document, we all have personal items on our devices. The Private Mode feature on the Galaxy S5 hides personal content away from others that you have designated as private. The content is only visible when the feature is toggled on, which requires you to scan your fingerprint, or enter a password or pin.

App Lock, a free app on the Google Play store, offers similar (and in some cases more) functionality to Samsung’s Private Mode. You can set it up to require a pin to access a designated app, change system settings, uninstall programs, answer calls, and more.

Content can be locked based on the time of day or even your phone’s locations, while a photo and video vault feature allows you to stash away those pictures and videos you may not want others to find on your device. You can also set up different user profiles for guests, kids, or that friend who always borrows your phone.

Kids Mode

A Kids Mode app on the Galaxy S5 makes the device safe for young children. The app gives parents the ability to restrict their kids from accessing certains apps and media content. It also transforms the device’s user interface to a more child-friendly layout with new icons and a new wallpaper.

Parents can create restricted profiles for kids on an Android 4.3 tablet, however there is no option built directly into Android for smartphone users. The App Lock app mentioned above can be used to restrict access to various content and settings on your phone, but I recommend parents check out the Kids Mode app from Zoodles.

With over 10 million downloads, this free app, which also offers in-app purchases, is one of the most popular parental control apps on Android. In addition to providing free games and content that is appropriate for young children, such as a paint tool, the Kids Mode app allows parents to set up different profiles and restrict access to any app they feel isn’t appropriate for their kids. Similar to the Galaxy S5, the app also changes the devices user interface to be more appealing to younger users

Four apps that can transform our Android device into Galaxy S5

Sony Xperia M2 detailed specifications

KEY SPECS

Display :4.80-inch                Processor : 1.2GHz

Front Camera :Yes              Resolution : 540×960 pixels

RAM : 1GB                              OS : Android 4.3

Storage : 8GB                        Rear Camera : 8-megapixel

Battery capacity : 2300mAh

Sony Xperia M2 detailed specifications

General
Release date	February 2014
Form factor	Touchscreen
Dimensions (mm)	139.60 x 71.10 x 8.60
Weight (g)	148.00
Battery capacity (mAh)	2300
Removable battery	No
Colours	Black, White, Purple
SAR value	NA
Display
Screen size (inches)	4.80
Touchscreen	Yes
Touchscreen type	Capacitive
Resolution	540×960 pixels
Pixels per inch (PPI)	229
Colours	16M
Hardware
Processor	1.2GHz  quad-core
Processor make	Qualcomm Snapdragon
RAM	1GB
Internal storage	8GB
Expandable storage	Yes
Expandable storage type	microSD
Expandable storage up to (GB)	32
Camera
Rear camera	8-megapixel
Flash	Yes
Front camera	Yes
Software
Operating System	Android 4.3
Java support	Yes
Browser supports Flash	No
Connectivity
Wi-Fi	Yes
Wi-Fi standards supported	802.11 b/ g/ n
GPS	Yes
Bluetooth	Yes, v 4.00
NFC	Yes
Infrared	No
DLNA	Yes
Wi-Fi Direct	Yes
MHL Out	No
HDMI	No
Headphones	3.5mm
FM	Yes
USB	Micro-USB
Charging via Micro-USB	Yes
Proprietary charging connector	No
Proprietary data connector	No
Number of SIMs	1
SIM Type	Micro-SIM
GSM/ CDMA	GSM
2G	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 – all models
3G	Yes | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 – D2303 HSDPA 850 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 – D2306 HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 – D2305
4G	Yes |LTE 800 / 850 / 900 / 1800 / 2100 / 2600 – D2303 LTE 700/1700/2600 – D2306
Sensors
Compass/ Magnetometer	Yes
Proximity sensor	Yes
Accelerometer	Yes
Ambient light sensor	Yes
Gyroscope	No
Barometer	No
Temperature sensor	No

 

Sony Xperia M2 detailed specifications

Sony Xperia M2 vs HTC Desire 610

Sony Xperia M2 vs HTC Desire 610 : Which is best?

The Sony Xperia M2 and the HTC Desire 610 are the latest affordable Android smartphones aiming to emulate what the Moto G achieved in 2013.

Motorola’s best-selling handset ever re-defined what was possible for a smartphone that didn’t cost almost the same as a HTC One or a Samsung Galaxy S4.

Can these two 4G smartphones cause a stir in 2014? We compare the specs to see what they are made of.

Sony Xperia M2 vs HTC Desire 610: Design

Sony Xperia M2 : 8.6mm thick, matte plastic body
HTC Desire 610: 9.6mm thick, weighs 143g, matte and glossy plastic body

Like the Xperia M and the Desire 601, their successors channel the look of the more expensive HTC One and Xperia Z1. The 610 looks like the HTC One from the front, albeit it swaps an aluminium frame for a more predominantly plastic body. With matte on the sides and a glossy back the 610 doesn’t have a removable battery. It does make room for HTC’s Boomsound speakers despite lacking the Beats Audio technology to make the most out of them.

Similarly, the Z2 adopts the same ‘OmniBalance’ design used in the Xperia Z1 and now the Xperia Z2 minus the aluminium frame. Available in black, white and purple, the M2 weighs 148g and measures in at 8.6mm thick, making it slimmer and only marginally heavier than the 610.

Sony Xperia M2 vs HTC Desire 610: Screen

Sony Xperia M2: 4.8-inch qHD 540 x 960 display (229 ppi)
HTC Desire 610: 4.7-inch screen qHD 540 x 960 display (234 ppi)

One area where things feel very mid-range are the displays. While screens have got larger, with the Xperia M2 hopping up from a 4-inch display to a 4.8-inch one, resolution and pixel density are evenly matched.

A 960 x 540 resolution doesn’t fill us with much optimism especially as this is far from a major improvement from the distinctly underwhelming displays in both of the previous handsets. When you consider the Moto G manages a 720p HD camera we are entitled to expect more.

It’s a similar story with the Desire 610′s screen. It has the same resolution but the screen is just 0.1 of an inch smaller.

Sony Xperia M2 vs HTC Desire 610: Camera

Sony Xperia M2: 8-megapixel main camera, 1080p HD video recording, HDR mode on videos
HTC Desire 610: 8-megapixel main camera, 1.3-megapixel front facing-camera, 720p video

Cameras tend to suffer at the lower end of the smartphone scale, so HTC and Sony have both tried to rectify this. The 610 doesn’t use the same UltraPixel camera used in the HTC One and the One Mini unfortunately. This was the sensor that cut resolution in favour of incorporating larger sensor pixels to generate better low-light performance. What you will find on board is an LED Flash, the ability to shoot HDR images and 720p HD video recording. Taking care of selfies and video calls is a 1.3-megapixel camera. One of the most notable omissions is an autofocus to help prevent photos being a blurry mess.

The M2 also packs an 8-megapixel main camera with a front-facing shooter that Sony has yet to reveal precise details about. The good news is that it uses the Exmor RS for mobile image sensor to help shoot better low-light photography and has digital image stabilization to prevent things from looking jittery. Other notable features include the fact that the HDR mode can now be used for video, new camera modes like Social Live broadcasting and Full HD 1080p recording.

Sony Xperia M2 vs HTC Desire 610: Software, CPU, RAM and Battery Life

Sony Xperia M2: Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, 1.2 GHz Snapdragon quad-core processor, 1GB RAM, 2,300mAh battery
HTC Desire 610: Android 4.4 KitKat, 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 quad-core processor, 2,040mAh battery

Like every Desire phone, the 610 runs on Android and the good news is that’s it bang up to date with Android 4.4 KitKat. With HTC’s Sense UI overlaid on top you’ll also have access to the socially-driven Blinkfeed home screen and an all-round sharper, cleaner-looking operating system like you can expect to find on the HTC One.

To keep things running slick, there’s a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 quad-core processor, although that’s accompanied by just 1GB RAM which might affect its multitasking prowess.

The Xperia M2 effectively matches it for processing power and RAM although runs a lightly skinned version of Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. That’s not an entirely bad thing as 4.3 Jelly Bean is still one of the cleanest versions of Google’s mobile OS and Sony doesn’t dramatically overhaul the experience.

In the battery department, the M2 packs a 2,300mAh battery compared to the 610’s 2,040 battery, so both should be in the stamina realms of the Moto G. Sony claims you can expect up to 14 hour talktime and just over 8 hours of video playback. With Battery Stamina mode also on board, it should help keep Sony’s mid-range smartphone going for longer, though the slightly lower capacity is a small concern at this stage.

Sony Xperia M2 vs HTC Desire 610: Connectivity and storage

Sony Xperia M2: 3G and 4G LTE, 8GB internal storage with microSD card support up to 32GB
HTC Desire 610: 3G and 4G LTE, 8GB internal storage and microSD card support up to 128GB

Where both handsets trump the Moto G is the fact that they support 4G. This means you can enjoy the faster data connections and download speeds if you plan to spend a little more on your contract. The connectivity similarities do not end there with the M2 and 610 both offering NFC, DLNA and Bluetooth 4.0 wireless streaming. Whether it’s sending music to a speaker or syncing data from a fitness tracker they have got it covered.

MicroSD card support is often a deal-clincher for some and when there’s just 8GB of storage to play with, and the Desire 610 just shades things here as it supports cards up to a remarkable 128GB whereas the M2 is limited to up to 32GB. The M2 does also come with 50GB of free storage via Dropbox rival Box if you want to store content in the cloud, though.

First impressions

When you compare the specs, there is very little between the two mid-range 4G Android phones. The screen is slightly bigger on the M2, but it has the same resolution as the 610. The cameras are almost identical although the M2 perhaps shades it with the extra features and 1080p Full HD video recording. They match each other in the power department, although the 610 runs on Android 4.4 KitKat instead of Android 4.3 Jelly Bean.

The ultimate question is whether they can rival or even beat the Moto G. The Motorola phone has a vastly superior screen and can do almost everything a more expensive phone like the Nexus 5 can do for a fraction of the price. It does lack 4G and if you are looking for something more future proofed this is a clear advantage.

HTC and Sony have yet to talk pricing but we are anticipating that the M2 and 610 will be closer to the £200 price mark than the Moto G. if that’s the case they could well end up being two very viable alternatives to our current cheap phone favourite.

Sony Xperia M2 vs HTC Desire 610

Sony Xperia Z Ultra, Z1 and Z1 Compact get Android KitKat 4.4.2 bug fix

Sony Xperia Z Ultra, Z1 and Z1 Compact get Android KitKat 4.4.2 bug fix

Sony has released a Stability Firmware to Fix Bugs in Xperia Z1, Z1 Compact and Z Ultra.

Sony has started rolling out a new update for its Sony Xperia Z smartphones running Android 4.4.2 KitKat OS namely, the Sony Xperia Z1, Z1 Compact and the Z Ultra.

According to the Xperia Blog, firmware 14.3.A.0.757 will replace the older firmware 14.3.A.0.681 for the Xperia Z devices and fix the sound bug issue. The bug would sometimes cause notifications and calls to be played through the internal speaker instead of the external one, making calls difficult to hear.

The new update is being rolled out in UK, Russia, Germany, China, France, Poland, Israel, Sweden, Philippines, Netherlands, Austria and Slovakia as of now and will expand to other regions over the next few days. The company states that the update is being rolled out in stages, so some of you may not get it right away. Sony is also planning to roll out the Android 4.4 KitKat update for Xperia E1, Xperia T2 Ultra etc.

Sony started rolling out its Android 4.4 KitKat update officially on March 19 for these three devices.

The update includes:

• Improved performance,


• User Interface (UI) Optimization,


• Tweaked Status Bar, and


• Quick Settings

which the company claims are more intuitive and customizable. The update also brings new Xperia Themes, that come with downloadable UI packs from Sony Select.

The Japanese electronics giant has also revamped the Sony native app portfolio to include:

• Messaging,


• Smart Connect,


• MyXperia,


• TrackID,


• TrackID TV,


• Small apps,


• Sony Select,


• Smart Social Camera and much more.

Sony Xperia Z Ultra, Z1 and Z1 Compact get Android KitKat 4.4.2 bug fix

Sony rolls out Android KitKat update for Xperia Z1, Z1 Compact and Z Ultra

Android KitKat update for Xperia Z1, Z1 Compact and Z Ultra

Sony has confirmed the Android 4.4 KitKat update, which updates the platform and brings several other improvements for the Xperia Z1, Xperia Z1 Compact and Xperia Z Ultra. The company has also promised to roll out Android KitKat update for Xperia Z, Xperia ZL, Xperia ZR, and Xperia Tablet Z soon, in the next few weeks. It also plans to Kitkat update for newly-launched Xperia T2 Ultra, Xperia E1 and Xperia M2 in second half of this year.

The update process will take place in phases in India, and users may have to wait as long as two weeks to see the update ready for their phone. Both the Xperia Z1 and Z1 Compact are relatively new in the market and in the past have received Sony’s firmware updates that make the experience better.

Owners of the Xperia Z1, Z1 Compact and Z Ultra can expect speed and performance improvement after the update. The interface has now been optimised to be in line with Android KitKat design guidelines. You can now quickly access customisation settings for the Quick Settings page and Status bar. Sony also packs in some more Xperia themes and claims to have improved native apps including MyXperia, Smart Connect, TrackID, Smart Social, among others.

The changelog also mentions an enhanced email app (not Gmail), a new answering machine option added in the call menu, a “Take screenshot” entry in the long-press Power menu. Sony has also updated the Calendar app, added a cloud-printing option in the settings menu. In addition, users will be able to choose their default SMS app between the native Messaging app or Hangouts or any third-party app. This is in line with KitKat changes. You will also see new battery icon and supposedly improved battery life thanks to a new version of the Sony Stamina mode software.

The update will also bring along Sony Entertainment Network and PlayMemories cloud service integration for the WALKMAN, Album, and Movies app.

Sony rolls out Android KitKat update for Xperia Z1, Z1 Compact and Z Ultra