Introducing Files - a file management app for Windows Phone 8.1

We all encounter a number of files in our daily lives across the various devices we use. And often times we need ways to manage these files and share them with others – even on our phones. We’ve heard your feedback loud and clear that managing files needs to be easier to do on your Windows Phone and Joe Belfiore announced earlier this month during a Reddit AMA that we would address your feedback with an official file manager app. Today, we are releasing that app. It’s called Files and it makes it easy and intuitive to manage your files on your device running Windows Phone 8.1. You can download it free from the Windows Phone Store here.

The Files app allows you to access all the files stored on your phone. If your phone supports expandable memory with an SD card, like the Lumia 1520, you can use the Files app to access files on the SD card as well. You can browse through files and folders, open and search for files that are on the phone or on SD card storage. You can create new folders and arrange your files across those folders using move and copy functions and you can also rename and delete your files. And you also have the ability to share one or many files on your phone with your friends, family or work colleagues.

We appreciate the feedback you are sending us on how to improve our products and experiences. Please continue to do sohere on UserVoice, leaving a comment here on this blog post, or via the Files app.

Samsung Galaxy K Zoom lands in UK stores today

The camera - keen Samsung Galaxy K Zoom goes on sale in the UK today online and in selected stores.

The Samsung Galaxy K Zoom has gone on sale in the UK today, offering budding photographers a whopping 20.7MP camera with a 10x optical zoom.

The 4G Android phone also packs a 4.8-inch 1280 x 720 Super AMOLED display and a "Hexa core" processor that is made up of 1.3GHz quad-core and 1.7GHz dual-core processors.

It sports Android 4.4 KitKat out the box, 2GB of RAM and has 8GB of internal storage with a microSD card slot for extra storage.

Unlike last year’s sluggish Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom which also sported an impressive camera, the new one aims to offer a more complete device.

"We’re excited to introduce the Samsung Galaxy K zoom to the UK market, giving our customers the convenience and connectivity of a Galaxy smartphone with a professional grade camera for a unique, all-in-one mobile experience," said Simon Stanford, vice president of Samsung UK's IT and mobile division.

The camera’s professional qualities are obviously the main selling point for any one that is looking to take high quality photos/videos on-the-go.

The rear also includes a xenon flash to illuminate scenes more brightly than a vast majority of other smartphones that use LED flash units.

The Samsung Galaxy K Zoom is available today from the official Samsung Experience Stores and other high street stores including Carphone Warehouse.

You can grab the Galaxy K Zoom for free on monthly contracts starting at £38 per month and it’s also available SIM-free for £400 from the Samsung eStore.

Watch our Samsung Galaxy K Zoom video below.


Source: t3

iPhone 6 leak shows plastic coated rear shell

Apple's iphone 6 has been cropping up online in a series of leaks recently with the latest photo revealing the purported rear shell of the 4.7-inch version.

Australian website MacFixit originally posted the photo of the iPhone 6 rear shell in a green protective coating.

Although on further analysis, you can see that the metal underneath is either silver or gold, which matches up with previous rumours that have suggested those variants.

The photo above is said to be the the 4.7-inch version of the iPhone 6, whilst Apple also plans to release a larger 5.5-inch version that has the same design.

The shell looks to support other leaks and descriptions that have reportedly come from somewhere in Apple’s supply chain, such as curved sides like the iPhone 5c.

Apple is obviously keeping all details under wraps for the meantime whilst it builds anticipation for its latest flagship phone, although that hasn’t stopped leaks coming from all directions.

The company's Worldwide Developer Conference is next week although it’s doubtful that anything iPhone 6-related will crop up – instead Apple will likely be revealing the iWatch instead.

The iPhone 6 is expected to be announced in September, Apple’s usual release slot for its phones.

Source:t3

Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 press images leaked

Samsung’s unannounced Galaxy Tab S 10.5 (SM-T800 / SM-T805) just appeared in a set of press images - not long after we saw the device in a few live photos (here and here).

Published by @evleaks, the press images confirm that the new tablet has a perforated (dotted) back plate, just like the Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphone. We can also see that the Tab S 10.5 is really thin (although its exact dimensions aren’t known), and comes with Samsung’s latest Magazine UX.

As previously reported, the 10.5-inch display of this Galaxy Tab S is an AMOLED one with 2,560 x 1,600 pixels. Undoubtedly, the tablet is a high-end one, allegedly featuring an octa-core Exynos 5420 processor, 3GB of RAM, and fingerprint sensor.

The Galaxy Tab S 10.5 should be announced on June 12, alongside the Galaxy Tab S 8.4. These two will be Samsung’s first AMOLED tablets since the Galaxy Tab 7.7 that was launched back in 2011. The Tab S 8.4 probably looks just like the Tab S 10.5, but smaller.

Until we hear more on this, check out the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 in the slideshow below, and let us know if you like what you're seeing.

Source:phonearena

BBM coming soon to Windows Phone; messaging app to be pre-loaded on Nokia Lumia 630?

After Facebook offered $19 billion for WhatsApp, BlackBerry CEO John Chen had an epiphany. Realizing that BBM might be a hidden jewel inside BlackBerry, and understanding that WhatsApp was valued at $42 for each subscriber, he opened up BBM to iOS and Android subscribers. It was a smart idea, since it added a large number of new users for BBM, thus raising the value of the messaging app.

The executive also has promised Windows Phone users that they too, would be allowed to subscribe to BBM. And while this has yet to take place, earlier speculation had the app opening up to Microsoft's mobile OS platform between May and June. The timing then, couldn't be better for a photograph posted by a Reddit account holder. The picture shows that BBM should soon be available on the Windows Phone Store. In addition, BBM is supposedly going to be offered as a pre-loaded app on the Nokia Lumia 630.

The reason why this is so important for BlackBerry, is that BBM could eventually be a source of cash if things get tight. And as previously noted, the higher the number of BBM subscribers, the more the platform will fetch in a sale. John Chen has also started to monetize BBM by signing up major advertisers for sponsored discussion groups with BBM   Channels. In addition, a recent update to BBM added the BBM Store, where users can purchase BBM Stickers.

BBM is not worth anywhere near the $19 billion that WhatsApp fetched from Facebook, at least not yet. But BlackBerry is doing all the right things in pumping up the value of BBM. And soon, iOS, Android and Windows Phone users will be able to use BBM Video which might add even more members to the messaging app.

Source: phonearena

Update brings some Samsung Galaxy S5 features to the T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3

One of our loyal readers owns the T-Mobile version of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3. He was generous enough to send us screenshots, showing us that his trusty phablet had just received an update that includes some features from the Samsung Galaxy S5. One of these is the Download Booster. This allows files of 30MB or larger, to be quickly downloaded by using a combination of Wi-Fi and the carrier's LTE network at the same time. Just remember that when Wi-Fi calling is being used, this feature is disabled.

Another update borrowed from the Galaxy S5 is Kids Mode. With a special Kids Store, free and paid apps can be downloaded. To prevent Junior from buying $500 of games in five minutes, parents can set up a PIN number that can be used to verify purchases. There is plenty here to keep your average pre-teen entertained for hours.

T-Mobile's web site has no changelist for the update, but if you do receive notification that it has arrived on your phone, your best bet is to download it while connected to a Wi-Fi network. And make sure that your batteries are at least 50% charged.

BlackBerry Z3 Review

A durable, full-featured device built for BlackBerry's biggest fans.

The BlackBerry Z3 is the latest BlackBerry 10 device and was built exclusively for Indonesia. This is the first product of the Foxconn / BlackBerry partnership worked up by John Chen. The time from inception to production on this device was just a matter of months, so it already looks like the deal is paying off.

At launch, the BlackBerry Z3 smartphone will be available in a limited edition model — the BlackBerry Z3 Jakarta Edition — featuring the inscription “Jakarta” on the back of the phone to commemorate the launch of the first BlackBerry smartphone built specifically for the Indonesian market. BlackBerry is all about the people, so the Z3 invites these users to “Be part of We.”

Indonesians are “ultra” BlackBerry users, and as such, BlackBerry is giving a bit back in the form of an exclusive device, just for them. The Z3 Jakarta Edition doesn’t have the latest or greatest specs, but it holds down what BlackBerry users do most — communicate. The Z3 makes the latest hardware accessible to the masses of people that just want to stay connected. It won’t turn out to be a mainstream device by any means, but it will provide those in Indonesia and similar regions the ability to have an awesome BlackBerry 10 phone at a great price with no big compromises.

BlackBerry Z3 video walk-through

BlackBerry Z3 Specs and features

Low end, but not low performance

The BlackBerry Z3 doesn’t have the newest hardware inside, but it has what it needs to keep the BlackBerry 10 OS running smoothly. Behind the 5” glass LCD screen lies a 1.2GHz Qualcomm processor, 8GB of flash memory and 1.5GB of RAM. A big 2500mAh battery powers it all — and it does so in grand fashion. I was able to stretch over a full day on the Z3, though I wish I had more time to test it out for the long haul. Also good to note is that there is no LTE in this model. The Z3 is being targeted toward Indonesia and other parts of Asia (hence the Jakarta name) and LTE isn’t available in most areas where this particular variation of the device is to be sold.

All the standard fare is here — Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and even Miracast support. The back camera is a mediocre 5MP, while the front-facing lens is just 1.1MP. It's not the worst camera we’ve seen in a BlackBerry (yes, Bold 9900, that’s you) but it still not great. It did however take some decent shots providing the lighting was good.

To me it feels like the Z3 is a good amount lighter than the BlackBerry Z30 (to which we’ll be making plenty of comparisons), though that’s not the case. At 164g, the Z3 comes in at just a touch lighter than the Z30’s 170g. It’s smooth all around and actually feels really good in the hand. It’s not slippery at all thanks to the textured back, and it’s not too slim to lose hold of. In fact, it may even prove a bit too wide for those with smaller hands. The Z3 slides right in and out of my pockets, but it does have a bad habit of showing off screen smudges in all their glory.

The Z3 also has BlackBerry Natural Sound, just like we saw (or heard) on the Z30 to give a much more realistic listening experience in things like BBM Voice. A built-in FM radio tuner also allows for radio without having to use a network connection.

I also had a bit of trouble at times using the swipe gestures from the top and bottom bezels. It wasn’t often, but when it happened it was certainly frustrating. Lots of swiping with no reaction. I assume it’s just due to the way the display is designed and all flow together, but I’ll see how much it happens and/or annoys me going forward.

Overall the Z3 feels extremely solid. It’s essentially one big piece from head to toe, and it doesn’t feel at all “cheap” or that it won’t last. It’s made with durable materials and it in for the long-haul.

BlackBerry Z3 hardware

Sleek, durable and definitely BlackBerry

The Z3 fits right in line with other BlackBerry 10 devices. The big 5” glass screen looks great on the front, and the flying B logo sits in the middle of the textured back. There’s no removable battery door on the Z3, so that gives it smoother lines and just feels like it flows better all around. The hardware looks basic (which it is) but it still looks good. It’s not too flashy, but it’s got a great look to it at the same time — though it’s not meant to be a high-end device with a high-end look.

Without a removable back, that leaves the SIM and SD card slots on the right side of the device, under a flimsy little door. I’m not a fan of these type of flaps, but there isn’t really much choice on this one. On the left are the power and volume buttons. I’m not a big fan of the power button placement and would have rather it been on the right side or top of the device, but it’s just something to get used to.

On the top is the lone 3.5mm headphone jack, on the bottom the microUSB port. I like this placement because it means that we could see a dock of some sort for the Z3, though it’s unlikely and we'll probably just be stuck with standard chargers for a while. Also note that there’s not microHDMI port as on some other BB10 devices — but again, not a deal breake

The BlackBerry Z3 is of a “what you see is what you get” design.

The Z3 really does feature a plain and simple design. The Z30, Z10 and Q10 all have various design elements to make them more appealing, but much like the Q5, the Z3 is more of a “what you see is what you get” design — but one that I happen to like. It’s also very durable and will stand up to constant use. It’s not “plastic” or cheaply made — it’s a solid device that will last for years to come.

Display

Overall the Z3 has a nice display. the LCD screen lights up bright on all 5” and I don’t really have any complaints. The only issue I ran into was using the device in direct sunlight, but that’s something you’ll run into on a lot of devices. Colors are sharp, whites are bright and everything looks good. The pixel based resolution of the Z3 is 540×960 but through the magic of upscaling, the scaled resolution is the exact same of that of the BlackBerry Z30 which is 720×1280. The glass also stretches from edge to edge thanks to the design of the Z3, giving you more screen and less bezel.

Battery Life

I wish I would have had more time to run the Z3 through a good battery test (I only had about 4 days) but overall the 2500mAh battery did a great job. I was able to get through a day with no hiccups, and I’m sure I could stretch to near two should the need arise. The battery is more than enough to keep things going on the Z3, so I don’t foresee any issues on that front. Of course, part of that comes from the fact there’s no LTE on this model, though a version with LTE is planned for future release.

Camera

One place where the Z3 falls short is the camera. It’s obviously not built as a photo-taking machine, but it still could stand to be a bit better. The 5MP rear camera does an okay job of getting decent images providing the settings are right, but the 1.1MP front camera really isn’t good for too much — especially taking good photos. Both will serve their purpose of snapping quick images or using video chat however, but sadly you won’t be getting any masterpieces from the Z3 camera. The camera does have Time Shift mode and some great filters though, so that definitely adds some points — and hey, at least it’s got auto-focus.

A quick shot from the Z3 and Z30 for comparison 

Blackberry Z3

 Blackberry Z30

BlackBerry Z3 software

The same BlackBerry 10 you know and love

The Z3 is running OS 10.2.1 out of the box, so that means it’s on par with the current BB10 devices. All the latest updates are there — BBM stickers, quick settings, Priority Hub and the ability to install Android apps OTA (over the air). The BlackBerry OS 10.3 update will be along soon, which will also bring even more new features to the Z3 as well as other BlackBerry 10 devices.

We won’t dive too much into the OS itself, but you can check out every bit and piece of OS 10.2.1 in our recent BlackBerry 10 review - 2014 edition..

BlackBerry Hub & Sharing

BlackBerry 10 Hub on the BlackBerry Z3

The BlackBerry Hub is the centralized location for all of your notifications on the Z3, and it’s accessible anywhere, anytime. A simple swipe to the right from the homescreen and you’ll see the Hub where you can view your email, text messages, phone calls, social notifications, BBM chats and more. New features like BlackBerry Priority Hub and pinch gestures allow for even deeper use of the Hub as well. The Hub is really one of the big selling points of BlackBerry 10 and proves to be extremely useful and powerful for multitasking.

Sharp Sharing makes it faster and easier for you to share nearly anything on your device. When choosing to share an item, BB10 will offer suggestions on who and how to share pictures, files, links, and documents based on your past activity. It adapts automatically to learn where and what you share most, so as you share more and more, the options you want are right there when you open the share menu.

Typing

Being a device for Indonesia, Bahasa Indonesia is ready to roll on the Z3 keyboard. Thankfully the BB10 keyboard is awesome so you can easily add in English (or any other language) and seamlessly switch between them while typing. The Z3 is also equipped with local dialects as part of the language, i.e. Basa Jawa and Basa Sunda, which enable the keyboard to understand the words in those two local dialects. As a result, you will be able to type in multiple languages such as English, Bahasa Indonesia and Basa Jawa or Basa Sunda simultaneously.

The BlackBerry 10 virtual keyboard on the BlackBerry Z3

The virtual keyboard on BlackBerry 10 is still one of the best on mobile. Here you’ll find plenty of options for auto-correct and word prediction, and you can take full advantage of the swipe features that we’ve loved since we first saw them.

Apps

The good thing about the Z3 is that there are already loads of apps available. Any app with a Z30 variant will be fitted to the Z3 and ready to roll. So that means thousands of apps can be used right off the bat. BlackBerry World has all of the latest apps that Z3 users will be looking for. Apps for travel, lifestyle, music, video, games and news are all there.

Thanks to BlackBerry OS 10.2.1 there is now an even greater set of apps available for the Z3. Android apps can be installed OTA (over the air) directly to the device, eliminating the need to hook up to a PC to sideload. That means popular apps like Instagram, Path or other that aren’t available in BlackBerry World can be used on the BlackBerry Z3 with no noticeable differences. You’ll still have to seek out the APK files for these apps, but there are some great resources available as well as third-party apps stores like Snap that help out in that area.

BBM

The Z3 is rocking the latest version of BBM, so that means BBM Channels & stickers are ready to go. Indonesian users love stickers, so having them ready to roll out of the box will be a huge benefit. The users that will be buying the Z3 are doing so for the communication factor (more so than gaming, apps, photos etc) and having so many communication features within BBM will be a huge bonus. Out of the box the Z3 has BBM chat, voice, video with screen sharing, groups, BBM Channels and stickers. An exclusive Indonesia sticker pack will also be available at launch for a limited time from local artist Susiyo Saptoadi representing Punakawan Characters.

Browser

The BlackBerry 10 browser is still one of the best there is, and browsing on the Z3 is awesome. The big 5” screen leaves plenty of room to check out your favorite pages. Browsing is fast and smooth and extremely intuitive. Share features are always just a few taps away, and of course you can access the Hub from within the browser for quick reference. The BB10 browser still features Adobe Flash as well.

Instant Previews

Instant Previews are new to OS 10.2 and really add a lot to the notification experience. Rather than just having an audible alert and LED, Instant Previews allow for some notifications to show a short dropdown banner across the OS, letting you know just what message has come in. These previews work for email, Twitter, SMS, Facebook and BBM. Messages like even allow for quick replies right from the notification, without having to leave whatever app you’re currently using.

BlackBerry Z3: The Bottom Line

A low-end device that wins high praises

Overall I really do like the BlackBerry Z3. It’s not sporting the highest specs, but it doesn’t have to be. For the markets in which it will be available, the Z3 will be a great upgrade for many users. OS 10.2.1 runs great with no slowness or lag, and the battery life is more than enough to stay powered through even the longest of days. The biggest drawbacks I found are the low-resolution cameras (both front and back). Some may not like the plain design of the Z3, but the fact that it’s so durable and not “cheap” (which could be said about the Q5) should outweigh the design choices.

Z10 users should welcome the upgrade, but I can’t say that those using a Z30 will want to change things up to a Z3. The Z3 doesn’t have the internal specs of the Z30, but it’s still got a great look and feel. You’d be trading off a bit of speed (though not really noticeable) and camera quality. Long story short, it’s a great upgrade from BBOS and maybe the Z10, but if you’re already using a Z30, the Z3 probably won’t phase you at all.

I think the Z3 will be a big seller in Indonesia. Those users are big communicators and pride themselves on having the latest tech, and the Z3 will cover those bases well. We’re still not sure if we’ll see an LTE version land in North America or other areas, but for now I don’t think it matters much with other devices already on the roadmap. Many people won’t see the Z3 as a good upgrade or even a good move for BlackBerry having those lower specs, but considering the market and the quickness from inception to finished product, the Z3 is a very well-rounded device overall. The Z3 is available starting this week in Indonesia, and should be arriving in other regions of Asia soon as well.

Conclusion

When it comes down to it, the BlackBerry Z3 is a good — not great — device. The specs are on the lower end, but it still performs extremely well. It's not a powerhouse like the BlackBerry Z30, but it's geared toward those that are looking for pure communication, which is what BlackBerry is all about. It's durable, has amazing battery life, and will certainly find a place amongst BlackBerry fans.

Source:crackberry

Did you know that your smartphone had hidden menus?

Hidden menus and codes on cell phones are anything but new. Back in the days, even the old-school brick phones had these, allowing people who knew about them to access service options and software information. Today, a "secret" menu exists on most (if not all) popular smartphones, and to get to it, you just need to input the right code.

What code, you ask? Well, you've probably heard of *#06# which you type in your dialer, as if you were about to "call" it. When this particular code is entered, and it should work on any cell phone, the device's identity number (IMEI) is displayed. A smartphone's hidden menu can be accessed with a code that looks pretty similar to this one.

On iPhone, for example, you enter *3001#12345#* in the Phone app and then hit the call button to get to the field test menu. There's not much going on there, however, unless you're a technician. You can view SIM card information, details on the cell network's status, and all sorts of other cryptic numbers. It is interesting that signal strength in displayed in decibels while in this menu, not represented by circles.

Hidden menus and codes on Android phones may differ, depending on the device's make and model. This one, however, should work on most – *#*#4636#*#* (or *#*#INFO#*#*). It takes the user to a testing menu where network information is displayed, along with details on battery status and app activity. Be warned: don't change anything and don't press any buttons in this menu unless you know what they do! On a side note, this particular menu was used to "enable" 4G LTE in Canada on the Nexus 4.

And if you own a Nokia Lumia smartphone, try dialing ##634#. This will take you to an on-device diagnostics tool where the phone's hardware can be tested from. It will also let you see your phone's battery consumption in real time.

Source: phonearena

Quad HD vs 1080p vs 720p comparison: here's what's the difference

You can see the maths behind this at the bottom of the article, or you can just take a look at the GIF also below that visually demonstrates how far away from a phone you need to be start noticing pixelization. Screen size and distance are in inches."

The new generation of Quad HD smartphones is coming. Quad HD is the common name for the new super-sharp smartphone resolution: after 720p phones’ arrival in 2011 and the jump to 1080p smartphones just last year, in 2014, we’re already bracing ourselves for the first wave of Quad HD smartphones. A few Quad HD smartphones are actually already on sale in China, but it seems that LG’s G3 will become the first truly massive smartphone with the new ultra-sharp resolution.

So what is Quad HD all about and what are the benefits it brings? As with any improvement in screen resolution, Quad HD will make smartphone screens clearer, “sharper”. The practical benefit of such a sharp display is that your eye will be able to make out the tiniest of detail in images and videos, as well as read the tiniest of fonts.

But some may ask: wasn’t that the whole point of ‘Retina’ displays way back in 2010? Hadn’t we already reached that retina-perfect picture on our devices? We’ll answer this question right away.

Screen resolution and display size: are we there yet?

Let’s first start with the iPhone 4, a smartphone that first claimed it comes with a ‘Retina’ display so sharp that the eye of a regular person no longer sees jagged pixels. The iPhone 4 was a device with a resolution of 640 x 960 pixels, but resolution alone does not tell us much about the sharpness of the display itself. After all, if you put the same resolution that looks clear on the iPhone on a 50-inch screen it would suddenly start looking not sharp at all. So instead of looking at resolution alone, it makes much more sense to look at a metric like pixel density, calculated using both screen size AND resolution.

The iPhone 4, for instance, featured pixel density of 326 pixels per inch (ppi, but some would also say dots per inch, or dpi).

Not long after, though, higher resolutions and pixel densities started to appear. Here are the pixel densities of some popular phones since then:

• Apple iPhone 4-5s: 326ppi
• Samsung Galaxy S3 (4.8-inch, 720p): 306ppi
• Samsung Galaxy S4 (5-inch, 1080p): 441ppi
• Samsung Galaxy Note III (5.7-inch, 1080p): 386ppi

By looking at these different phones, we can again see how screens with the same resolution have different pixel densities, and thus different sharpness.

Back in the day when Apple unveiled the iPhone 4, various reports suggested that anything above roughly 300ppi is good enough for the human eye to perceive as clear and sharp. Why then screen resolutions continued growing and growing until present-day Quad HD devices?

The latest Quad HD smartphones come (or are expected to arrive) with a pixel density as high as (the seemingly unnecessary) 534ppi! Is it really just new technology for nothing?

The ideal viewing distance

To measure the ideal distance between you and your smartphone display, we’ll assume you are one of the rare few who have very good vision. You’d often hear about such vision being called 20/20 vision. A person with 20/20 vision is one who can discern detail of 1 arc minute (1 arc minute = 1/60 of a degree = a circle has 360 degrees, so 1 arc minute = 1/21600th of a full circle). Most people have worse vision than that - for instance someone with 20/40 vision can only discern detail of 2 arc minutes, while the rear few (think jet pilots) with 20/10 vision can discern detail of 0.5 arc minutes. The actual limit of human vision is around 20/8, so again, we’re assuming a fairly optimistic 20/20 vision scenario.

So with all that in mind, how close do you need to be start seeing those pixels and details on even a Quad HD smartphone? And what about 1080p phones, and 720p devices? Take a look below:

• Typical 480p phone (4” display like Galaxy S III Mini): eye starts to notice pixelization from 14.73” (37.4cm)
• Typical 720p phone (4.7” display like Nexus 4): eye starts to notice pixelization from 11” (28cm)
• Typical 1080p phone (5” display like Galaxy S5): eye starts to notice pixelization from 7.8” (19.8cm)
• Typical 1440p phone (5.5” display like expected LG G3): eye starts to notice pixelization from 6.44” (16.4cm)

480p, average person starts noticing pixelization at around 14.7 inches (here - 37.4cm) in a 4-inch 480p phone

720p, average person starts noticing pixelization at around 11 inches in a 4.7-inch 720p phone

1080p, average person starts noticing pixelization at around 7.8 inches in a 5-inch 1080p phone

Quad HD, average person starts noticing pixelization at around 6.44 inches in a 5.5-inch 1440p phone

We've used a ruler with metric units (centimeters, rather than inches)

we’ve used the following formulas to calculate those distances:

VIEWING DISTANCE = 1 / PPI / (2 * Tan (VISUAL RESOLUTION / 2))

PPI = X / sqrt (W ^ 2 / ((Y / X) ^ 2 + 1))), where x = horizontal resolution, y = vertical resolution, w = screen size

VISUAL RESOLUTION = (1 / VISUAL ACCUITY) * (1 / 60)

We’ve assumed 20/20 VISUAL ACCUITY

Conclusion

In conclusion, we ought to put a few disclaimers to all this. We've tried to keep it as scientifically accurate as possible, but we ought to remember that our eyes and our human vision is more complex and the actual way we see things is a lot about how the brain processes images. And that's something that is hard to measure right now.

With this in mind, we'll lay it out in very simple terms: theoretically, you need to look at your 5.5-inch Quad HD from as close as 6.4" for your eyes to start noticing pixelization (if you have 20/20 vision, if not you'd need it even close). At regular viewing distances it's practically impossible to notice the difference in sharpness between say the 1080p Galaxy S5 and the future Quad HD flagships.

Not very encouraging, is it? We, however, can still hope that theory is not all to it, and will put it all to the test very soon as the first Quad HD phones are expected to hit the market in the coming months. Stay tuned!

Source:Phonearena

Samsung Galaxy S5 mini allegedly pictured in the wild, might feature a new Exynos 3 Quad processor

Earlier today, Samsung finally announced the Galaxy S5 Active, but there are still at least two rumored S5 variants that remain to be confirmed: the Galaxy S5 Prime, and the Galaxy S5 mini. We don’t have news on the former at the moment, but the latter seems to have appeared in a few live photos.

SamMobile received said photos from an anonymous source. If they really present the S5 mini, then the handset looks very similar to the regular (and larger) S5, complete with a heart rate sensor below its rear camera, and a fingerprint scanner on the front. According to SamMobile, this Galaxy S5 mini - model number SM-G800F - doesn’t have a Snapdragon 400 processor (as previously rumored), instead coming with an unannounced 1.4GHz Exynos 3 Quad (Exynos 3470) chipset. That aside, the handset should feature a 4.5-inch 720p display, Android 4.4 KitKat, 8MP rear camera, 2.1MP front-facing camera, 1.5GB of RAM, and 16GB of expandable storage space.

The alleged Galaxy S5 mini doesn’t seem to have a flap cover over its USB port, so it may not be water resistant. As always, we'll bring more details on the matter as soon as we get them.

Source:Phonearena

BBM 2.2 update brings simplified sign-up, new emoticons, and more goodies

BBM users on Android and iOS should be looking forward to an update to version 2.2. In fact, Android users can already snag it from Google Play, while the iOS faithful will have to wait a little more. Actually, BlackBerry owners will have to wait the longest, but the company promised they will be in for a special treat. Hopefully, it will be worth the wait.

Anyway, the new release comes with a healthy set of improvements, starting with an easier sign-up process. BlackBerry has liquidated some fields that were considered unnecessary by users. Signing up has been distilled to providing a name, an e-mail, and a password.

Additionally, BlackBerry has simplified the way users add new BBM contacts through e-mail. When one receives a BBM invite in their inbox, all it takes is to click the link - no more PIN invites.

BBM 2.2 also features 16 new emoticons - "from a hotdog, and maracas, to a hacker and a pair of hot lips". Also, the "Updates" tab has been renamed to "Feeds", which better reflects the kind of stuff you'll find there - new posts, status, and profile updates from BBM contacts and channels.

Source: Phonearena

Apple iPhone 6 to launch September 19th says major European carrier

A report out of Germany says that giant carrier Deutsche Telekom has been telling customers that the Apple iPhone 6 will be in its stores on Friday, September 19th. Obviously, we suggest that you take this with a grain of salt. The mobile operator could have simply figured out that the last few iPhone launches occurred on a Friday in the 9th month of the year.

The last pair of Apple iPhone launches have taken place on the 20th or 21st of September. Last year, a poorly kept secret, the Apple iPhone 5c, was released together with the Apple iPhone 5s. This year, there has been quite a bit of speculation about Apple launching both a 4.7 inch model and a 5.5 iPhone phablet. The latest report we have is that the 4.7 inch model will be called the Apple iPhone 6 Air while the 5.5 inch version will be dubbed the Apple iPhone 6 Pro.

While we suggest casting a cynical eye on the report, Deutsche Telekom is a huge German carrier that happens to be the corporate parent of T-Mobile, and could be privy to some important information.

German network reckons iPhone 6 is arriving Sep 19

Wondering when exactly you'll be able to pick up and iPhone 6? One plucky carrier is saying September 19.

It's fair to say there's a wee bit of expectation surrounding Apple's iPhone 6 and any information we can get hold of about when the company plans to reveal it is welcome.

Chances are that Apple will stick to previous years and release the new device in September (or October) as before. However, one clairvoyant German network is prepared to get a little more specific.

Officials at Deutsche Telekom say that they've been told that the iPhone 6 will go on sale on September 19. That's according to a German Apple blog called Apfelpage.de.

The chance of Apple revealing its release date this far ahead of the unveiling seems a little suspect to us - although a mid-September on-sale date does sound about right.

Unfortunately, there's no indication of where the September 19 date has come from - possibly from talkative types over in Cupertino, but then again there aren't many of those.

Still, we'd be remiss if we didn't pass this information on to you. Even if only to give you a bit of ammo for any iPhone 6 sweepstakes you intend to take part in.

And, just a quick reminder: Apple's iPhone 5S launched in the UK (and Germany) on September 20 last year. Nothing like a bit of iConsistency.

Source: T3