Smartphone apps are designed to help users get the most out of their devices. The apps make use of the smartphone device’s capabilities to provide solutions that make users more efficient in conducting whatever it is they assist in.  

However, users usually find themselves in a dilemma when forced to choose between Android or iOS devices. If you are among the growing number of users who have devices operating on both platforms you will find that having a few apps that work on both platforms will save you from having to waste time recreating the same material on each device. You can easily sync data on these apps and therefore enjoy seamless transitions between them during usage for convenience purposes.

Let’s take a look at some of the available apps that you can use on both Android and iOS platforms in 2015.  

Wanderu

This app is designed for regular travellers. It helps in finding the best deals when it comes to booking tickets for bus and train travel. It is aimed at making travel booking as effortless as possible while saving the user cash as well. The app can also be used for mobile boarding, where it acts as a ticket. This function however must be supported by your carrier.

Alfred 

Over the years, many people have accumulated iPads, iPhones and iPods they rarely use. Alfred is designed to help you make use of these devices at home. The app converts all these old devices into cameras that can be used to stream live video to your phone. This not only puts your old devices to work but helps you keep tabs on pets and even kids.  

Evernote

This is one of the most useful apps you can find that works on all platforms. The app can be used to save internet research pages for review later. The app can also serve as the central location to which all other information aggregating apps save the information to. No matter which platform you are using, Evernote is a powerful must have app.

Feedly

If you find a lot of value from working with RSS feeds, then Feedly is a must have app. It converts your Android or iOS device into an efficient news gathering tool. It also comes with an efficient and responsive users interface that helps you get through heaps of feeds in the least amount of time. 

Spotify

Music is an important part of our lives and we all need that steady stream of good music. Spotify is an awesome app that connects you with music subscription service, available in both iPhone and Android. It does come with a small monthly fee to enjoy their range of songs

Our co-founder Albert was interviewed by TWIA (This Week In Asia). Check out the video above for the interview. The original article can be found here: http://thisweekin.asia/?p=1395

HDMI output is being used for almost all the audio and visual products used for entertainment specifically. ‘HDMI output’ products have earned a decent place in the market of electronics. The customer reviews for these products prove that they are in high demand. The range of products which give a HDMI output is huge. Let us discuss some of the uses of ‘HDMI output’ in different types of electronic products.

Personal computers

It is obvious that personal computers are not the sources of audio and visual entertainment entirely. One would imagine why a personal computer with HDMI output is required if the computer is used for professional purposes only. But this statement is not true. Even if the Personal computers are used for professional purposes only HD experience is worth appreciating. A person can enjoy the experience of high picture quality and the excellent clarity in sound. This is the reason why graphic cards are an important feature of all the laptops and other personal computers. In 2010 several companies which manufacture personal computers have started using HDMI for all their new designs. List of the vendors and display makers for Personal computers are Intel, Dell, Lenovo, Samsung and LG.

HDMI can be used with older television

HDMI output is not only possible through HD televisions but even the older televisions can be made HD enabled. The traditional TV’s which used analog ports can be easily changed into a TV providing ‘HDMI output with the help of a scaler. A scaler is a digital to analog converter. Therefore, your existing equipment can also be turned into HD with the help of the new technologically enhanced equipments.

Digital cameras and camcorders

Now a days even digital camcorder and cameras give ‘HDMl output’. These camcorders have an in built mini HDMI connector. HDMI enhances the quality of the pictures and videos. Professional cameramen prefer to use these camcorders and even for the people who are beginning in this profession appreciate the technology. This new technology has been very popular in the year 2011 and the future of these products is also impressive.

Tablets

Tablets are replacing both phones and Personal computers to some extent. All the reputed brands which have launched tablets recently have made sure that their products support HDMI output.  Samsung’s new Galaxy tab 10.1 can adapt to HDMI and USB cables. Motorola zoom the new product and Black berry’s Playbook both give ‘HDMI output’. Even one of the most reputed brands Apple has introduced ‘HDMI output’ with its iPad 1 and iPad 2. These products use a 30 pin port for their HDMI.

High Definition DVD players

These HD DVD players have a huge demand in the market. The audio and video quality of these equipments is not comparable to others. Multichannel LPCM can be transferred over HDIM. Some of the most affordable products with ‘HDML output’ have also been launched recently.

The iPhone is backed by the most comprehensive list of apps; you can find an app for just about anything for the iPhone. Every other week you will find a variety of new apps on the iTunes store. All these are aimed at getting users to get the most out of their devices and make life easier. In 2015, there have been a number of apps produced for the iPhone. Below we will look at the latest and most useful apps available for the iPhone.   

RunKeeper

This app lets you make use of your device’s GPS properties to track your exercise routes when it comes to running and cycling. This useful fitness app also allows users to examine maps and fitness related details such as the calories burned and their pace. This app is provided for free, and is available to all users.

Storehouse

This app is designed to appeal to those who digest information better using visual media. It allows users to tell their stories using pictures and videos. This is a useful app for the iPhone given that it has one of the most, if not the most capable camera of all smartphones today.

Calorie Counter

With fitness being a big issue these days, many people who are dieting find the need to keep track of their calorie intake so as to ensure they adjust their workout regimen accordingly. Calorie Counter comes with a wide range of food items to help users keep track of their calorie intake.

Instapaper

If you regularly search for information online you will attest to the fact that there is always too much to read within a limited time. Instapaper allows internet users to save webpages so that they can read them later. Now when you come across content that you would like to read but don’t have the time to, just save it and get back to it later.

Evernote Scannable

The iPhone is built for business as much as it is built for communication. The variety of apps that convert this impressive piece of hardware into a scanner speaks volumes of this. This app allows you to scan documents when placed on a surface that provides enough contrast and then share them over a variety of services.

You will be able to get more functionality from the iPhone using the above list of apps in 2015. 

In the present market there are 21 distinct iPhone 5C, iPhone 5 and iPhone 5S depending on the different model number, the network variant and other factors, which apparently look almost the same with naked eyes. But with a more detailed analysis, there are certain specific differences that can be found out on the models. The differences are listed as follows;

One of the major identifiable differences that can be spotted by simply viewing the different models is the home button of iPhone 5S not square like the iPhone 5 or 5C. The 5S consists of a less concave touch identification sensor on the home button instead of a pass code. 

The external model comes along with black glass front and the backside is made up of black aluminum or a white glass front along with sliver aluminum back. For the iPhone 5S, the medium colored gray aluminum is present that is similar to a gun metallic color that the company refers to as “Space gray”. On the other hand the iPhone 5C model comes up with a polycarbonate approach over a steel body that is present with 5 colors. 

Considering the cameras, all the three devices have 1.2 megapixel sensors for the front camera, but the iPhone 5 comes with 1.75 micrometer pixels while the iPhone 5C and 5S consists of 1.9 micrometer pixels that are present with “iLounge”. The primary cameras of all the three models are 8 megapixels but with the iPhone 5S, it consists of 8MP camera along with 1.5 micrometer pixels for much more clarity. 

In case of the batteries, it has been observed that all the three models provide 40 hours audio playback, 10 hours of Wi-Fi and 10 hours of video playback. But on other usages it has been estimated by Apple that 8 hours of 3G talktime, 8 hours of continuous internet or Wi-Fi is provided by iPhone 5, whereas in case of iPhone 5S and 5C, it provide 10 hours on continuous internet or Wi-Fi. Thus, in case of battery, the 5S and 5C is better than its predecessor. 

For the internal differences it must be said that the iPhone 5 and 5C are powered by 1.3 GHz dual core Apple A6 processor along with a RAM of 1GB. On the other hand, the iPhone 5S comprises of the 64 bit Apple A7 processor along with “M7 motion co processor” which is far better that the 5 or 5C models presented by Apple. The internal storage models of Apple iPhone 5 and 5S models are 16 GB and 32 GB; while on the other hand, iPhone 5C models have only 8 GB internal memory. 

Coming to the iOS support differences, it must be mentioned that, all the iPhone 5 models completely support the iOS 6, 7 and also the iOS 8 versions. But the iPhone 5C and 5S models only support the iOS 7 or iOS 8 and they are not compatible with the previous versions of iOS. Irrespective of the operating systems, the face time audio do not work on the Chinese models. 

Samsung has worked hard over the years and emerged as one of the most successful companies in the smartphone and phablet segment. Ever since the year 2011, when they launched the Galaxy Note, Samsung have made it their business to chart the way forward when it comes to this segment, producing revolutionary iterations of their phablet flagship. The previous iteration, the Galaxy Note 4 was not much of a revolution, but the Note 5 is expected to be a game changer that will get the market excited again and further reinforce the brands position as a market leader. Let’s look at what is in store for buyers come this September, when the Note 5 is released.

Design

The Galaxy Note is expected to take the on-going trend on minimum bezel smartphone to the next level. Rumors state that Samsung could be the first manufacturer to produce a phone without a bezel. Users may be treated to an all screen front face. Smooth curves are also another major part of the expected design. It is also expected that the Galaxy Note 5 and Note 5 edge will not have the same design differences as seen on the Note 4 and Note 4 edge. Following the use of a metallic body for the Galaxy S6, it is expected that the Note 5 will feature the same appealing metallic build for a solid feel.  

Display

The rumor mill is proposing some tantalizing possibilities when it comes to the display. The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is rumored to sport a 5.9 inch Quad UHD AMOLED screen that will get its resolution up to 4K with more than 660PPi. For protection, the screen gets the Corning Gorilla Glass 5! This could all seem like a dream but if the rumors are to be believed buyers have a lot to look forward to.

Performance Specs 

Most users are more interested in what the Galaxy Note 5 sports under the hood, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Octacore processor seems to be the trend for emerging smartphones with memory being increased to 3GB. Buyers and Samsung fans alike can expect more from the Galaxy Note 5. It is rumored that the in house Exynos processor is going to rival anything on the market right now at 10nm. This is expected to bring the 4K-resolution into a reality.

With HTC being the market leader in terms of audio capability, the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is expected to push for tighter competition between the two. You can expect stereo speakers in the front as well. 

When it comes to buying a new phone, it is always vital to have an idea of the warranty cover provided by the manufacturer. Phone manufacturers are supposed to provide high quality products that can match buyer expectations, warranties are supposed to provide free repairs or even replacements in case the phone does not match the quality intimated by the manufacturer. This means that most warranties only cover any damage or defects sustained on the device as a direct result of manufacturer defects or those sustained during manufacturing.

As the most popular smartphone brand in the market currently, iPhone is deemed as the option offering most users the expected value. Let’s take a brief moment and evaluate the value offered by their warranty by looking at the things not covered by the warranty provided.  

First and foremost, it is important to state that Apple offers a one year warranty on all iPhones. This year commences straight after the phone is registered as sold and the buyer registered as the warranty owner. During that year Apple will repair free of charge all defects covered under the limited warranty. So the question becomes what is not covered by the Apple warranty?

• The Apple warranty does not cover any damage or defects sustained on the device as a result of an accident during use. This means that if you were to accidentally drop your phone and resultantly damage it, the damage is not covered under Apple warranty. You need to contact iPhone repair specialists.
• The Limited warranty on your iPhone also does not cover any damage sustained by any unauthorized modifications. Jail breaking your iPhone springs to mind at this point. Any damage sustained during such modifications is not covered.
• Disassembling your iPhone device is also not covered under the limited warranty provided by Apple. This is rather obvious.
• As most people have found out, water damage is also not covered under Apple’s warranty on the iPhone. This means that if you were to spill any drink on the iPhone or totally submerge it under water, the damage suffered is yours and yours alone to deal with. Apple usually uses the water damage indicators to know whether damage is induced by water. This is because sometimes water damage can take up to months to affect your phone.

Where owners find that the damage on their phone is not covered under the manufacturer’s warranty, they can still get it fixed at a price under the Out-of-Warranty (OOW) Service. 

Enjoying Android apps on your device is always enjoyable as they are primarily designed for mobile devices, however, it can be quite interesting to run your favorite Android apps and games on your computer instead of smartphone. As you might know, it is not possible to run android apps directly on your computer no matter the operating system used. However, with the right software, it is possible to run these apps seamlessly on your laptop or desktop. If you are thinking about running Android apps on your desktop, then you have come to the right place. We will look at how you can be able to enjoy your favorite iOS and Android apps on your computer below.

There are different simulators available that make it possible to run iOS and Android apps on our smartphone; however, since we cannot look at all of them, we will only consider two of the most reliable.  

Run Android Apps on PC using ARC Welder

ARC Welder is a tool introduced by Google for use by Android app developers. The tool is developed for Chrome, it allows app developers to test run their projects in an Android environment. However, this app is not limited to developers alone, regular users can use it to run existing Android apps on their PCs. For this you will need to have the latest version of the Google based browser, Chrome, ARC Welder and an APK file of the app you wish to run. It is important to note that ARC Welder only runs one app at a time; every time you wish to run a new app you will need to delete the previous one.

How to Run iOS Apps on Your Computer

On the other hand, if you are an Apple fan, then you will need and iOS simulator to run the apps on your laptop or PC. One of the most reliable software to use here is iPadian. This is a free Adobe AIR based simulator designed to create an iOS environment for your favorite iOS apps. With this simulator you get to enjoy all Apple based perks including email client, web browsing and music among others.

The downside when using these simulators, especially the Apple based option is that user experience is compromised since the computer is not the same as the touchscreen Apple devices. The simulator also comes with limited capabilities.

When the battery of your iPhone 4 has come to the end of its useful life, you need to get it replaced. Those who have proper technical knowledge, patience and a steady hand, can actually replace the battery on their own; however it is advised to have professional iPhone repair specialists. to replace the batteries. If you are the tinkering type, and like to learn how to do it, here is a guide for you.

First, you need to get the right parts. If you are unsure which iPhone model you have, then it can be easily identified by a specific model number that is listed at the back of the phone at the bottom end. In addition to the serial number, each and every iPhone can be looked up on the internet for the identification of the iPhone models by the EMC numbers and Order number which are also referred as “model” from the iOS as well.

Sometimes it becomes difficult to identify the difference between the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S, but they are not identical and the batteries look different. If you have been opting for the replacement of your iPhone’s battery by yourself, you must make sure that you purchase a new battery for the specified model. 

Though it might seem a bit difficult for some of the newbies who have not tinkered with their iPhone 4 batteries, in comparison to the previous models this is not really difficult. The steps are as follows:

• The first thing is to switch off the iPhone and make sure that it is completely switched off.
• Then you will have to unscrew the two screws that are present on the bottom of the phone. These screws are either of Philips or Five point Torx.
• After that, you will need to slide the glass back up carefully and until you hear the “clips” getting disengaged, do not try removing the back.
• Carefully note the grounding of clips under the screws that fixes the battery to the board and how it is again fixed to the board for reinstallation before the battery is disconnected. Remember that the orientation needs to be exactly the same as it was originally installed.
• Now you can unscrew that single screw which connects the board and battery of the iPhone 4.
• Disconnect the battery by using a nylon pry tool.
• Depending the amount of adhesive, it can take some time, but do not be impatient and never make use of a screw driver for disconnecting the battery.
• The next step is to get the replacement battery and look out for the proper orientation and
• positive and negative terminals of the battery.
• Place the battery according to the clips and reassemble the phone by fixing the screws again.

There are thousands of people who break their phones in a crowded street, at their workplace or simply in their homes. Accidents can happen anywhere. Fortunately, repairing your phone without waiting for it to be sent to service centre and waiting for it to come back, has become much easier with self-help tutorials. So do not get disheartened if your Samsung S5 screen gets cracked. It is easy to fix and requires only a handful of inexpensive tools. Go through this tutorial and you will see it for yourself. Let us see how to do this in the convenience of your home.

Tools you will require:

Small Phillips driver (PH00 or PH000 will do), Heat gun, Pry tool

Procedure:

• Remove the battery and all the screws of the back panel.
• The home button pop connector has a plastic cover on it. Remove this cover and unplug it.
• Using your heat gun, heat the front side of the phone just enough to be able to separate the cracked display. You will need to detach it from the flex cable. There is a key cable which you have to move away from the lens. If you remove it completely, you will have to replace it. So be extremely careful in this step. Note:  Do not try to use anything other than a heat gun to heat up your phone. Some sources will simply not provide enough it and some may overheat your phone and you will then have to replace much more than just a damaged screen.)
• Remove any dirt in the open case now. Also remove the leftovers of the adhesives.
• Put the newly purchased screen in place of the new one. You are require to put in the adhesives
• Reassemble the phone by reversing these steps. Be careful not to break any small parts, lose them or misplace them.

Did you ever think that a DIY tutorial to replace your Samsung S5 screen could be this easy? Well now you know it is. If you do not think you can go ahead with this process, you always have the option to approach our Samsung phone repair service. Also remember to buy a strong case for your phone so that you can reduce the chance of breaking your screen again.

Ever since Microsoft and Nokia parted ways there have been several Lumia smartphone releases; these begun from late last year, into early 2015. It is obvious that the folks at Microsoft have been busy given the expectations on the yet to be released Lumia 940. Most reviewers have it as the first smartphone to make use of Gorilla glass 4, as well as supporting high performing specs expected to establish it as one of the main contenders in a smartphone market which is already highly populated with other competing brands. It is however, important to point out that all this is hearsay and readers can expect some features to be present or missing. But it is highly likely that it is not far from the truth, with most of the features being possible.

Display 

The Lumia 940 is expected to have a 1080p resolution on a 5 inch screen. The screen is expected to be protected by Gorilla glass 4. This is well and good, and should provide great touch response and even better colors; however, Gorilla glass 4 does not exist at this point, and if the Lumia does use it then it will be among the first phones using it.

Specs

The smartphone is expected to be quite powerful judging from what the leaked information states. The phone is expected to have a 2.7 GHz Quadcore Snapdragon processor paired with 3GB RAM. This means that it will be able to handle anything regular users can be able to throw at it including heavy games as well. Buyers can expect seamless performance without any drag in speed. It is expected to run on the yet to be released Windows 10 platform. This is definitely enough to have many users salivating on the user experience to be created by this tantalizing combination.

Cameras

The Lumia 940 is also expected to come with one of the most capable cameras on the smartphone front. The phone will come with a 5MP front facing camera for great selfies. The rumored 24MP PureView rear camera will capable of recording a 4K resolution video at 60 frames per second. Camera lovers will definitely want to maintain their attention on this front and see whether this does materialize.

All the above is supposed to be squeezed into an attractive 149 gram package which will be 8.9mm in thickness. If the rumors are anything to go by, buyers have a lot to look forward to.  

If you are looking to buy a used iPhone or want to trade in your older model to the iPhone dealers and get a reduced price on a current device, you will need to know how to check whether the device has any liquid damage. Since these phones have a non-removable cover, it can be quite difficult to know whether it has been submerged in water or not. Water damage can render the device useless and should therefore be easy to detect so as to ensure that no one deals in a damaged phone.  

iPhone designers thought of this and fitted a liquid contact indicator around the ear phone jack as well as the dock at the bottom of the phone. This is for all iPhone iterations before the iPhone 5. For the iPhone 5 however, the indicator is located in the Nano SIM slot. All iPhones also have a liquid damage indicator inside the cover, positioned on the SIM card slot.

To detect any liquid damage on the iPhone, you will need to take a look at the liquid damage indicator. To check the indicator, just shine a flashlight on the slot or any other port that the indicator is supposed to be. The indicator is supposed to be red or pink in phones that have sustained water damage. A magnifying glass and light can also be used to check the indicator as well.

It is however important to note that the indicator has been known to turn red or pink when exposed to high humidity. In such cases, this does not amount to water damage. A phone whose indicator changes color due to high humidity levels in the environment is still in good condition and is accepted at Apple dealer stores for trade-ins. However, where the ports have any rust the phone is not accepted for trade-in.

Water damage is usually not covered under the iPhone warranty. Any damage to be fixed would be on the user’s expense. If your phone does happen to get submerged in water, follow the instructions below for DIY (Do It Yourself) repair. This may or may not work depending on extend of the water damage.

• Remove it from the water and switch it off. Do not try to turn it on. Remove the SIM card and wipe off all the water using a piece of dry cloth.
• Dry the charging port and the headphones jack as well.
• Insert the phone in a bag of raw rice. If you have silicone bags insert them in the bag of rice with the phone as well.
• Retrieve your phone after two days and insert the SIM card. Turn on the phone and hope for the best!

If the above does not work, contact your trusted iPhone repair professional. They will repair it by disassemble the phone and dry all the inwards components using professional tools. If there are damaged chip, some work needs to be done to repair the chips in the motherboard. The repair may not work if the water damage is severe.

iPhones and iPads  are Apple products. The first iPhone came into being in June 2007. There have been many developments and new models have come up since then. In total, there are eight generations of iPhone released so far and each of them is assisted by their own versions of iOS. iPads are the tablet version of the Apple product. iPads have multi-touch screens assisted with virtual keyboards. They come two forms: WiFi only and Wifi+cellular models. Over the years, there have been several modifications in iPads. iPad mini is a smaller version of the popular series. iPad mini2 comes with retina display.

You may need to know the model number of your Apple device for various purposes. For example, if you attempt to fix a broken screen of your iPad or iPhone at home or you want to replace its battery, you may be surprised at how many versions are available in the market. For your smart device’s case, its cover, internal parts, etc. there are unique pieces that will fit just right for the particular model you have. Considering this, we have created a list of model numbers for your Apple device. Take a look.

To Find out Model Number for your iPhone

iPhones come with their model numbers on the back of the phone. Each model number starts with A and has 4 digits that follow. So when you look at the iPhone model, it should be something like “AXXXX”. Here is a list of all models. You can also check the model number using the following list that gives the model number of different iPhones.

A1522 - iPhone 6 Plus

A1524 - iPhone 6 Plus

A1549 - iPhone 6

A1586 - iPhone 6

A1533 - iPhone 5s

A1530 - iPhone 5s

A1457 - iPhone 5s

A1453 - iPhone 5s

A1532 - iPhone 5c

A1529 - iPhone 5c

A1507 - iPhone 5c

A1456 - iPhone 5c

A1428 - iPhone 5

A1429 - iPhone 5

A1442 - iPhone 5

A1387 - iPhone 4S

A1431 - iPhone 4S

A1349 - iPhone 4

A1332 - iPhone 4

A1325 - iPhone 3GS

A1303 - iPhone 3GS

A1324 - iPhone 3G

A1241 - iPhone 3G

A1203 – iPhone

To Find out the Model Number of your iPad

Similarly, to find out the model number of your iPad, you can refer to the following list. The list also gives some features to identify the device. However, some of these identification features are common to different models as well. For example, the old-30 pin is present in the simple i-Pad (generation 1). However, the second generation iPad also sports it. The next in line is the lightning port, which is also easy to identify. It is present in the middle and higher generation phones. Further, iPad minis can be easily identified with their smaller body compared to the traditional models. It is important to note that the models numbers for tablets with the additional cellular functionality (traditionally tabs only have the wifi functionality) are different. So you can find two types of model for each type of tablet.

iPad (also known as iPad 1)

A1219 (Wi-Fi only)

A1337 (Wi-Fi + cellular)

How to identify it: This tablet comes with an old 30-pin port at the bottom. It does not possess any camera apertures.

iPad 2

A1395 (Wi-Fi only)

A1397 or A1396 (Wi-Fi + cellular)

How to identify it: iPad 2 also has an old 30-pin port.

iPad (third generation)

A1416 (Wi-Fi only)

A1430 or A1403 (Wi-Fi + cellular)

iPad (fourth generation)

A1458 (Wi-Fi only)

A1459 or A1460 (Wi-Fi + cellular)

How to Identify it:  This tablet has a lightning port at the bottom

iPad Air

A1474 (Wi-Fi  only)

A1475 (Wi-Fi + cellular)

iPad mini 1

A1432 (Wi-Fi  only)

A1454 or A1455 (Wi-Fi + cellular)

How to identify it: They have a lightning port too and are comparatively smaller.

iPad mini 2 (with Retina display)

A1489 (Wi-Fi only)

A1490 (Wi-Fi + cellular)

So now you know how to look for the model number of your iPhone. You simply have to look at the back of the phone and tally the model with one of those listed here.

As one of the more popular brands in the mobile phone market, LG has in the past found it quite difficult to penetrate the massive smartphone market where competitor brands are making inroads. The main drawback here was the fact that LG did not have a distinct flagship that captured the market’s attention and got it hooked. Well that seems to have changed with the launch of the LG G Flex 2. The smartphone is an iteration of the G Flex which failed to capture the market’s attention owing to its above average size and unsatisfactory screen size and performance, aspects that the LG G Flex 2 remedies perfectly.

Design

The 5.9 inch long, 3 inch wide and 0.3 and 0.4 inches thick phone weighs just 152 grams. It comes with a sleek curved design for an ergonomic grip. Users will be impressed at how the phone can be straightened out when pressure is applied on the back while lying face down. It regains its curved design once the force is removed. The phone also comes with a scratch resistant body, meaning that it will survive normal wear and tear and maintain its polished appearance.

Display

The LG G Flex 2 comes with a 5.5 inch screen reduced from 6 inches in the previous model. This reduces the PPI to 403 but with the jump from 720p in the previous iteration to 1080p, the display is clearer and much better than before. Viewing in daylight with maximum brightness is satisfactory while response is much better. The picture and video viewing experience is aided well by the curved display as well.  

Performance Specs

The LG G Flex 2 comes with a more capable processor in Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Octacore processor. You can get 2 or 3 GB RAM, while the internal memory options include 16 or 32 GB. The memory can be expanded to an impressive 2TB. However, even with this superior external memory support, most users can only get it up to 128GB as finding a 2TB micro SD card is more or less impossible; no one is mass producing those.  

Camera

The G Flex 2 has an average camera rated 13MP. Zooming in and out retains a respectable amount of detail while the auto focus is helpful provide it locks on to a target. The camera might be good enough for regular photos but demanding users will definitely find it lacking. 

How to repair your own iPad cracked screen? First, you will have to collect some of the tools and parts required to do this. It includes a pair of tweezers, a PH000 screwdriver, a suction cup, a case opening tool, etc. Once you have all of this with you, you also need to get a replacement screen 

Once you have all the necessaries, here are the step to replace the screen:

1. If the screen is too shattered, cover it with a plastic adhesive so that small parts of it do not come off when you try to force it open.
2. Next, heat up the screen a bit to melt its plastic adhesive. You are going to need some prying and finally the suction cup to take it off.
3. Next you need to undo three screws that hold the metal part covering the flex cables.
4. There are 6 screws holding the antenna ad 3 screws holding the metal bar. Unscrew them and keep them safe.
5. You will come across some adhesive that you need to carefully remove by peeling it off slowly.
6. There is a screw under it that you need to undo.
7. Again there are two screws in the bracket that you should remove.
8. Now is the time to remove the complete antenna module after disconnecting it.
9. You will find a flex cable connecting the front facing camera. Undo this and remove the unit.
10. Next you need to disconnect the headphone jack by detaching the flex cable.
11. Remove the two screws in this bracket of the headphone jack.
12. Undo the screw under this bracket.
13. Finally, you can remove the jack assembly. Remember that it is risky to remove the motherboard and the battery. It will also be hard to reassemble considering you do may not have the right equipment or expertise to do so.
14. Replace the screen and reverse the steps to reassemble the iPad.
15. As you can see in this tutorial, it is not that difficult to replace a cracked iPad screen by yourself. You can do it in the comfort of your home at a much lesser price than taking it to Apple. Further, you will also not have to wait for your product to be shipped back home.

If you still find it difficult to go through this tutorial, or you think it is best for you to let an expert do it for you, you may be pleased to know that you can also go for iPad repair services. They are affordable and help you replace your tablet’s screen in no time.

The battle between Android and iOS has been raging on for years. Ever since the emergence of the smartphone, consumers have been forced to make a choice between the best platforms for their devices. This battle is best described by the rivalry that has been shown by two of the leading smartphone brands, iPhone and Samsung. These brands represent the two largest companies with the largest shares of the smartphone market. The best part of it all, their devices use one of the two most popular operating systems, iOS and Android. When comparing both, it all boils down to the operating system.

The main area of comparison when it comes to both Samsung and Android, devices comes in the level of customization the operating system allows. Android devices are known to offer much more freedom when comes to making personalized user settings. Android OS allows Samsung to customize it using its own Firmware referred to as TouchWiz. TouchWiz is preferred by most Samsung fans due to the forward thinking apps and properties it uses. The firmware also allows the manufacturer to get users to enjoy the best features of the hardware on the smartphone.

On the other hand, Apple’s iPhone comes with the support of the highest number of apps of the two. The iTunes store is populated by apps for just about anything you may want to do. Users usually find that the apps are also among the easiest to use. This is due to the fact that they do not allow for detailed customization as is the case with most Android apps. The personalization steps make it more complicated to set up and apps on Android.

The design is also another big difference when comparing Samsung and iPhone devices. Except for the Samsung Galaxy S6, all other iterations of the manufacturer’s flagship are designed with flimsy plastic cases that are out shined by the polished metallic iPhone cases. The iPhone comes with a non-removable battery, something that Samsung introduced with their latest S6 model. This is an advantage for Samsung devices as they tend to have low capacity batteries that require regular charging hence the need for replacements, while iPhone devices on the other hand are known to go for days with a single charge.

Choosing between the platforms can be quite confusing as the devices mostly serve the same purposes, in most cases it is all about user preference. 

With Android tablet trailing the Apple iPad, the Sony Xperia Z4 has made up quite some ground on catching up with its rival. The tablet is the successor to the Z2 tablet which left quite a lot to be desired. However, as you will see below as we go through the finer details of a tablet named as the best in the Android camp, it has made a lot of improvements. Sony has also tried to push their latest tablet to rival laptops with a business side to its capabilities. The Sony Xperia Z4 is expected to be available worldwide sometime in June 2015, but some markets will definitely see it a lot earlier. Read on to find out whether there is anything to be excited about. 

Design

The Sony Xperia Z4 is designed to be sleek, light and easy to hold. The design has definitely been upgraded as this iteration of the Sony Xperia tablet is slimmer and lighter. To be more specific, the tablet is 6.1mm thick and 392 grams in the weight department. The back of the tablet is designed with premium material to better compete with Apple’s sleek metallic design. The polycarbonate material used to make the tablets back cover is admittedly a major improvement, offering a better feel and grip.

Display

The tablet comes with a 10.1 inch screen with 2K display supported by the 2560 x 1600 pixel resolution. You will have a great image viewing experience as compared to the 1080p display in its predecessor, the Xperia Z2 Tablet.

Performance

Performance is the main determinant of the value offered by any tablet, the Sony Xperia Z4 included. This tablet does not disappoint with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 810 Octacore processor handling all your processing needs. This is accompanied by a 3GB RAM and 32 GB of internal storage at the bare minimum. This storage can be expanded to 128GB with a micro SD card.  

Camera 

The Sony Xperia Z4 comes with a rear camera and a front facing one as well. The rear camera is nothing to write home about with 8.1MP. It is capable of taking 3264 x 2448 pixel images, but achieving this threshold can be quite challenging. The front facing 5.1MP camera is however more impressive. It has the ability to take wide angel shots for crisp video call quality.

Other Features

Any accessories will connect to the tablet via wireless Bluetooth as there are no connecting ports. On the battery front, Sony states that the 6000mAh battery can last up to 17 straight hours of video watching. 

As smartphones become part of our lives, manufacturers are pushing for better performance and designs to get even more consumers to buy their brands. HTC is one of the well-known brands when it comes to premium smartphones designed for the high end market. The HTC One M9 is definitely an upgrade on its predecessor, the M8. It comes with a better design and upgraded internals as well as a far better camera; certainly a case of strengthening on their known strengths. However, for this, consumers will have to part with more cash to own this high performing premium smartphone.  

Design

As the smartphone market grew in terms of competition over the years, more research and development was poured into the design of high performance devices. However, this performance seems to have reached its peak with manufacturers focusing on creating attractive designs; this seen in the HTC One M9. The design is referred to as the “Jewelry Grade” by HTC. Each case is hand-finished by craftsmen for a premium look, something that most buyers in this price range will definitely appreciate. The phone gets an upgrade in the looks department with a one piece metal case being used. The power button shifts to the right hand side of the phone for a more natural way of activating and deactivation the screen.

Display

The HTC One M9 comes with the same 5 inch Super LCD display protected by Gorilla glass. It is a 1080p screen that delivers sharper colors and accurate touchscreen control when compared to its predecessor. This is assisted by the fact that it is rated at 441PPI. HTC does agree that there is no upgrade on this part, explaining that there is no need for higher resolution on a screen this size, and the extra power draw would not be needed.

Performance

Under the hood, the HTC One M9 is powered by a Snapdragon Octacore Qualcomm processor mated to the Adreno 430 GPU, while the RAM is boosted to 3GB. Internal memory is maintained at 32 GB from its predecessor, with 21GB being available to the user. The micro SD slot however, supports an extension up to 128GB. The phone uses Android 5.0 Lollipop.  

Camera

On the camera front the HTC One does get an upgrade; the UltraPixel rear camera on the M8 is transferred to the front for crisp selfies in limited light situations. The rear Camera on the M9 is 20MP, with the Dual LED flash being maintained.

Lastly, the phone comes with a higher capacity battery moving from 2600mAh to 2840mAh. It easily lasts a couple of days on a single charge and remains non-removable. 

The Samsung Galaxy S6, the interesting smartphone, is here and from we can see it demonstrates the way of the future for the popular smartphone manufacturer. Samsung have always brought their A-game when it comes to designing highly capable top of the range mobile devices. This is seen in the fact that they are among the most popular with smartphone users. However, the plastic design on their devices has always been a cause for criticism. They however, did decide to continue with it up until the Galaxy S5. For latest iteration, a high quality metallic build has been used to blow the competition right out of the water.

Design

The Samsung Galaxy S6 sports the most interesting design that the manufacturer has ever produced, by far. The cheap-looking plastic case has been replaced by a premium metallic case. The front face still bears the characteristic Samsung layout, while the rear side has a redesigned camera and flash with a distinct metallic finish. The headphones jack, Micro USB port and loud speaker have all been moved to the bottom end of the phone. However the micro SD slot users have become used to, is surprisingly missing. This is by far the most comprehensive design change Samsung smartphones have gone through and is thought to indicate their design for the future.  

Specifications

On the performance front, the Galaxy S6 has definitely received some upgrades. The smartphone is powered by a powerful in house Exynos quadcore processor clocking in at 2.1GHz. This is mated to a Mali T760 GPU and 3GB RAM. Users are now treated to one of the most powerful Samsung smartphones. Playing even the most demanding videogames on the phone is seamless. Slowdowns and app crashes have also been dealt a huge blow by this combination. This also shows a departure from the market standard of choosing the Qualcomm Sanpdragon processors, in favor of their in house design. Since there is no micro SD slot, users will have to make the correct choice from the available 32, 64 and 128GB internal memory options.

Other features on the smartphone include a 16MP rear camera and a front facing 5MP camera. The phone runs on the latest Android software, Lollipop. TouchWiz has received a lot of criticism in the past but Samsung chose to stick with it. This time around it gets a much needed trimming down to ensure effortless functionality.  

Disappointingly, the phone comes with a 2550mAh non-removable battery. The battery does not fare any better than the Galaxy S5’s. 

This article first appear in Tech In Asia

Samsung was still the world’s top smartphone brand in 2014 – though only by a small margin. The Korean tech giant is under assault from Apple’s popular iPhone 6 at the top end of the market and from a veritable militia of new phone makers across Asia at the low-end to mid-range. The latest Samsung Galaxy S6 is putting up a strong fight with its more premium design, but 2015 could still be the year that Samsung’s statue is toppled.

The simple fact is that Samsung is in a precarious position. IDC estimates that about 1.5 billion smartphones will be shipped globally in 2015 – up from 1.3 billion last year. Many of those will go to markets like China and India where homegrown brands – Xiaomi and Micromax, respectively – have recently surpassed Samsung in terms of sales. Even in nations where Samsung still reigns, like Indonesia and Thailand, there are numerous new brands that look like a real threat to the current smartphone king. Those newer phone makers are aiming to get consumers hooked on their own keenly-priced but strongly-specced devices – ones that sell for about half the price of a comparable Samsung phone. Apple has its Mercedes-like brand cachet that helps it pull in wealthier consumers, but Samsung is very vulnerable.

Let’s look at 14 of the strongest new contenders across Asia. To quote a Bob Marley song: If you are a big tree, we are a small axe – sharp and ready, ready to cut you down.

China

1. Xiaomi

Xiaomi, which came out with its first phone in 2011, has expanded beyond China into India and several parts of Southeast Asia, making it a massive regional threat to Samsung, HTC, Huawei, LG, and any other Android-based phone brand. Its next step is into Mexico and South America, which will likely happen later this year. Wherever it expands to next, Xiaomi is aiming to produce and sell 100 million smartphones this year.

What’s Xiaomi’s secret? Its smartphones sell for about half the price of Samsung’s comparable phones, yet the strength and versatility of its Android skin (called MIUI) makes them feel like quality products. Xiaomi keeps costs low by selling the majority of its phones online, and the rest via telco partners. It doesn’t have any stores, but it does have service centers.

The Chinese startup (if it’s not too large for that moniker) has single-handedly brought the price of a strongly-specced phone down from about US$600-$700 to just US$320 – the price of its Xiaomi Mi4.

After starting out with a very minimal product line-up, Xiaomi is now expanding quickly into smart gadgets like the Mi Band fitness tracker, which it sells for just US$15 compared to price-tags of around US$100 for comparable screen-less fitness bands.

Flagship phone: Xiaomi Mi Note has a 5.7-inch 1080p HD screen; Snapdragon 801 processor; 3GB RAM; 13MP rear and 4MP front camera. Price starts at about US$370, but it’s not yet available outside of mainland China. Check out our Mi Note review.

2. OnePlus

OnePlus, China’s newest big-bang phone-maker, burst onto the scene in 2013. Inspired by Xiaomi, it sells only online, and has strong hardware at a satisfyingly low price. Unlike Xiaomi, OnePlus is going global from day one.

The new brand has run into troubles recently after a falling out with CyanogenMod resulted in OnePlus having to come up with its own Android skin, which it calls Oxygen. Now OnePlus must go through a difficult transition to Oxygen whilst trying not to leave customers feeling short-changed by losing the much-loved Cyanogen.

Flagship phone: OnePlus One has a 5.5-inch 1080p HD screen; Snapdragon 801 processor; 3GB RAM; 13MP rear and 5MP front camera. Costs US$299 (16GB) or US$349 (64GB) unlocked. Check out our OnePlus One review.

3. Oppo

Oppo gave birth to the spin-off OnePlus brand, but the parent company is not doing so well as OnePlus in making international headlines. Nonetheless, it’s trying hard with a wide array of strongly-specced phones that are solid – if quirky – alternatives to Samsung’s phones or to the OnePlus One itself.

Oppo is aiming at a variety of fast-growing Southeast Asian markets like Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia as part of a broader push to go global.

Flagship phone: Oppo Find 7 has a 5.5-inch 2K HD screen; 2.5GHz Snapdragon 801 chip; 3GB RAM; 13MP rear and 5MP front cameras. Costs US$499 unlocked.

4. Coolpad

Coolpad is actually China’s least cool smartphone brand, but its huge success at the low-end of the market and in the Chinese countryside proves that the bargain basement is a lot more lucrative than you’d imagine. The phones won’t win any design awards and won’t blow your mind, but only 13 percent of Chinese people will buy smartphones that cost over US$330 (that’s the psychologically important RMB 2,000 barrier) so the smartphone-as-a-basic-tool market is not to be ignored.

After tens of millions of sales last year, Coolpad was China’s fifth biggest phone brand in 2014, according to data from IDC.

Coolpad has been an OEM for several telcos around the world (producing stuff like the MetroPCS Quatrro 4G phone for T-Mobile in the US), and that’s still part of its business. But Coolpad wants to stand on its own brand overseas, and it’s targeting Southeast Asia as a first step. However, a security scare last year over a built-in backdoor shows that the company – along with its staid brand – has a lot of hurdles to overcome in expanding beyond China.

Flagship phone: Coolpad Halo has a 7-inch 1080p HD screen; MediaTek processor; 2GB RAM; 13MP rear and 5MP front cameras. Priced at about US$350.

India

5. Micromax

India’s Micromax is not taking the fight from Xiaomi lying down. It’s gradually shaking up the (occasionally unsatisfactory) quality of its hardware and smoothness of its UI. Plus, it has partnered with Google to make a cheap Android One phone, and set up a hipper Yu sub-brand in conjunction with CyanogenMod with online-only sales in order to go after Xiaomi’s younger demographic.

Micromax already has traction on its side. It’s now India’s top smartphone brand, says a report by Canalys, after surpassing Samsung towards the end of 2014. IDC disputes this and says that Samsung is still ahead, so we’ll have to wait a while for a second confirmation on that.

Micromax started its overseas expansion in 2013 by venturing into Russia and Romania, two developing markets that it reckons have a strong desire for more affordable smartphones. But with Russia on the rocks, it’d be wiser to spend this year focusing on the huge potential of its home market.

Flagship phone: Micromax Canvas Gold A300 has a 5.5-inch 1080p HD screen; 2GHz MediaTek chip; 2GB RAM; 16MP rear and 5MP front cameras. It’s priced at US$260

6. Karbonn

Karbonn is also gearing itself up for the monumental battle ahead. It has followed Micromax in creating an Android One phone for around US$100. Karbonn is a bit smaller than Micromax, but both are growing strongly in line with India’s big shift to smartphones from dumbphones.

Flagship phone: Karbonn Titanium Octane Plus has a 5-inch 1080p HD screen; 1.7 GHz MediaTek chip; 2GB RAM; 16MP rear and 8MP front cameras. The price tag is US$160.

7. Xolo

Though smaller than its two compatriot rivals, Xolo is also keen for a slice of India’s low-end to mid-range smartphone market. However, the prices are not as tempting as those of its local rivals.

Flagship phone: Xolo Q3000 has a 5.7-inch 1080p HD screen; 1.5GHz MediaTek processor; 2GB RAM; 13MP rear and 5MP front cameras. It costs US$240.

Indonesia

8. Smartfren

Smartfren is different from the others in this list in that it’s a mobile telco company. It’s pushing forward Indonesia’s shift to Android with its own competitively-priced smartphones.

However, in our experience the cheap components can lead to a laggy and sub-par experience on Smarfren’s phones, so the brand has a way to go before it can challenge the likes of Xiaomi and OnePlus.

Flagship phone: Smartfren Andromax V3s has a 4-inch 720p HD screen; 1.2 GHz Snapdragon; 1GB RAM; 8MP rear and 2MP front cameras. Costs US$155.

9. Himax

Indonesia’s Himax (not to be confused with the Taiwanese chip-maker of the same name) might have learned something from the upstart Chinese brands and is making stronger phones than compatriot rivals like Smartfren and the increasingly clueless Cyrus. Not only are the specs stronger, but Himax is offering lower prices than other Indonesian phone brands and coming up with better looking software too.

Flagship phone: Himax Polymer X has a 5.5-inch 720p HD screen; Snapdragon 615 processor; 2GB RAM; 13MP rear and 5MP front cameras. Launch pending, so no price revealed yet.

10. Mito

Mito sells tablets, feature phones, and smartphones. It’s based in Indonesia but it also operates in India. 80 percent of its sales are low-end, feature phone devices. It sold about two to three million devices in 2013, so it’s not going to sell that many smartphones, but it’s still one to watch as its ratio of smartphone sales increases.

Mito has also ripped off Oppo’s rotating camera for a couple of its flagship phones.

Flagship phone: Mito Fantasy Selfie 2 A18 has a 4.7-inch 720p HD screen; 1.3GHz MediaTek chip; 1GB RAM; 8MP camera that rotates to front or rear. Costs US$110.

Philippines

11. Cherry Mobile

The Philippines has faster smartphone market growth than the likes of Indonesia and Vietnam, making it a country to watch right now. Indeed, the Philippines recently surpassed Vietnam to become Southeast Asia’s third biggest smartphone market.

Cherry Mobile outsold Samsung in the country in both 2013 and 2014, according to the latest data from IDC. The report says Cherry cornered 21.9 percent of the Philippine market in terms of volume of smartphones shipped in 2014, while Samsung’s share declined further to 13.3 percent.

Android One rolled into the Philippines in February, with Cherry Mobile joining MyPhone in making budget phones specced to Google’s guidelines.

Cherry has a ridiculously large and confusing product range that currently runs to 38 separate smartphone models.

Flagship phone: Cherry Cosmos One Plus has a 5.5-inch 1080p screen; 2GHz MediaTek; 3GB RAM; 14MP rear and 8MP front cameras. Priced at US$320.

12. MyPhone

MyPhone is the Philippines’ second largest homegrown phone brand. It’s placed third in the country in terms of smartphone shipments, behind second-placed Samsung.

Flagship phone: MyPhone Infinity has a 5-inch 1080p HD screen; 1.7GHz MediaTek chip; 2GB RAM; 16MP rear and 8MP front cameras. It’s costs US$295.

Thailand

13. I-Mobile

As with several new smartphone brands, Thailand’s I-Mobile is slowly transitioning from being a cloner of other companies’ feature phones to a maker of its own Android devices.

Its IQ range of phones packs in a commendable amount of camera for less that 300 bucks, which is a good idea for a country that’s so crazy about Instagram. However, its flagship phone, the IQ X Ken, is overpriced for what it offers.

Flagship phone: I-Mobile IQ X KEN has a 5-inch 1080p HD screen; 2.2GHz Qualcomm chip; 2GB RAM; 13MP rear camera and a meager 1.3MP front camera. Priced at US$520.

Pakistan

14. QMobile

QMobile is the largest homegrown smartphone maker in Pakistan, cranking out a mix of feature phones, smartphones, and tablets. The company started relatively recently – in 2009.

At the moment, QMobile has a mind-boggling 82 smartphone models listed on its homepage.

Flagship phone: QMobile Z8 has a 5-inch 720p HD screen; 1.2Ghz MediaTek chip; 2GB RAM; 13MP rear and 5MP front cameras. It costs US$200.
Samsung has a lot more to worry about besides those. This is far from an exhaustive list, and there are more grass-roots smartphone makers out there across Asia.

Also, let’s not forget that there are some major rivals in the Android space too. Lenovo and Huawei are chasing Xiaomi and Samsung hard in China and a number of other markets. And there are plenty more, well-established brands keen to be the top shipper of Android smartphones, like LG, HTC, Motorola, to name but three.

Which of our selection look like the biggest threats? Let us know in the comments.