LG G4: Everything You Need to Know

Those that are regular readers will know how highly I think of the HTC One Series but my loyalty has been sorely tested by the LG G4.

I’ve been testing the G4 over the last few weeks as part of the LG tester programme and my review is below.

Design and First Impressions

The phone possesses a large 5.5" screen but as the design is squarer than other phones it fits comfortably in my hand and the curved back is beautiful. It's an truly sleek design.

The slight curve of the phone allows it to fit tightly into a pocket, which is rare for the larger phones, and also comfortably in a hand. The phone isn't the thinnest, but it's not far off and the weight is impressive for a large phone.

There will be those for which a larger phone doesn't suit them, but I'd urge the rest to try it out. Other aspects of the phone have been designed around the larger screen, as with the LG G3, the on/off button and volume located within easy reach on the centre-rear of the phone. This is intelligent thinking from LG.

Despite having a removable back/battery, the phone feels unibody which means you get the benefits of changing the back of the phone and battery as well. The battery strength is good but not spectacular however I've found that under moderate use it extends to 1.5 days which is competitive for modern smartphones.

My only initial issue is that the set-up theme is pretty vile and the theme options are limited, but don’t let that put you off - after all, it's down to preference.

Under the Bonnet

The whole experience using the phone has been a pleasure. The interface is clean, the transitions are beautifully executed and the 3GB RAM takes everything in it's stride. The 5.5" screen is packed with a 2560 x 1440 resolution (538ppi) which is pretty staggering to look at.

I've been using the 32GB model, which is the minimum that new phone users should be looking to get, especially with apps becoming heavier and heavier. There is a removable 128GB option too, so you won't have any issues over storage.

Everyday Use

Under the everday uses, the LG G4 performed extremely well. It slotted into my life quite seemlessly.

That's not to say I haven't had issues. Volume positioning does cause problems when the phone is lying on its back. I've found the stock predictive typing far less intuitive than competitors (it means I have to actually be accurate...). Some of my favourite apps still have bugs but these will likely be sorted shortly.

The battery comfortably gets me through a day on moderate-heavy use through the 3000mah battery. If necessary, the charging is lightning quick. Also, it's removable anyway so you can just carry a spare should it become an issue.

LG have adopted HTC's double screen tap to wake up the phone, of which I'm a big fan. It's also a necessary addition given the positioning of the on/off button means that its inaccessible when lain on its back.

Camera

The camera is a make-or-break feature to me in a phone, and the LG G4 certainly doesn't fall down here. The 16MPs are well utilised and the output is stunning (especially when viewed on LG's gorgeous screen). When given time to shoot, the camera is close to flawless.

Under pressure though, I found the camera to lag on occasion, especially when opening the app. The auto-focus was good for everyday images but limited for someone like myself who enjoys more control over the image. The burst-shot mode was another disappointment - when it worked, it was great but it was mostly unreliable.

The manual settings are much better - as long as you 'know' photography, with far more options for control compared to other phone cameras out there. Allowing control over ISO, shutter speed, aperture value, white balance and exposure lock is great fun. LG offer a superbly fast f/1.8 aperture, with 60% more light than the iPhone 6, that means you can make the most of faster shutter speeds, less processing to achieve exposure, thus avoiding the worst of image noise and processing.



I've always been a fan of post editing photos and the options LG provide are a dream come true. Compared to other set-ups, the post editing is certainly more complex, yet it offers a far greater level of options. The user is able to edit every element of a photo, to a far greater extent than other stock cameras. 'Selective Editing' which allowed the user to edit different parts of a photo separately had become a key tool for me and certainly given me the opportunity to improve my photo output. That was all good until the editor was removed which is an issue I'm picking up with LG.

It's a pretty good 'selfie' camera too, with 8MP being found on the front. There's a new feature that allows the user to close and open their palm to set-up a timed photo.

All in all, on day-to-day use, the LG G4 camera is strong and I've had several great snaps come from it.

 

  

Key Features

• LG's 'Smart Tips' are useful and interesting for the first few occasions but they are far too regularly featured and quite repetitive. If you switch these off after a week or so, you won't regret it too much.
• LG's dual screen offers promise but doesn't quite deliver, mostly through the lack of compatible apps. It's fine for Email and File Manager, or Mail etc, but when jumping between other apps, it's rendered useless.
• QSlide is a new feature that allows pop-up, quick action apps to appear over what you're doing, such as video, calculator and messages.
• Finally, LG have enabled the standard three Android menu buttons to be upgraded to five, including QSlide and QMemo+. 

So, where does it rank?

There are a lot of good phones out there, but very few manage to tick all the boxes as an everyday phone. The LG G4 does.

The G4 is beautifully crafted but doesn't substitute functionality for design. It's designed for the user to enjoy with comfort, yet also for the user to show off with style.

One of the biggest compliments I can pay to LG with the G4 is that they've clearly thought about the phone and how it works for the consumer. Sounds simple, but it's something a lot of manufacters forget when chasing big numbers and shiny new features.

To be able to boast power, a stunning screen and decent battery life as a fearsome trio is quite something, and all of that whilst making a 5.5" screen feel manageable is a feat in itself.
     I love to find a killer flaw with a phone, but there just isn't one with the LG G4. It's not just a jump above it's predecessor, the G3, it's a jump above it's rivals.

My love affair with the HTC One series has finally been broken.

HTC One M9: Everything You Need to Know

HTC are releasing the latest in the One Series to the public in late March. I'll get my hands on it for a user review closer to the time but should you hold out to buy it? Let's have a look at everything you need to know about the HTC One M9.

Headline specs
HTC's older younger brother to the M8 sports a familiar 5" 1080px screen, but an increased Snapdragon 810 OCTO-core processor. That's all supported by 3GB of RAM which will make the device lightning quick.

Storage also remains the same as the One M8 but HTC appear to have dropped the 16GB edition of the handset - a smart move in my experience. Obviously, the expandable storage option still remains, with a further 128GB optional addition via microSD.

The battery has been given a slight boost too, going up to a competitive 2840mAh. That’s more than Samsung’s Galaxy S6 and far more than the iPhone 6 which only holds 1800mAh.

Design
In more or less every way, the M9 looks identical to the M8. That disappointed me. It's not that the M8 isn't a gorgeous phone - far from it. I've got it and marvel at its beauty when I remove the case.
For me, it's the same problem that's plagued the iPhone and Samsung Galaxy range. The M9 feels old already. It seems uninspiring and lazy. HTC cannot afford to be lazy - especially when their smartphone share is being attacked from all sides, and I just can't understand why they've left it.

Build
Since the beginning of the One series, HTC has been relatively flawless in terms of build quality and the HTC One M9 is unsurprisingly no different. The beautiful curved back has remained, with HTC boasting that its creation is a 70-step process. There's a minor difference in the side-on profile from the One M8 where the unibody appears to have been altered, but this doesn't affect the feel or quality one iota.

Camera
One of the few significant changes with the HTC One M9 is the abandoning of the rear-facing UltraPixel camera in place of a monster 20 megapixel shooter. It's a sensible move given they never managed to communicate the UltraPixel lens to consumers. They've not abandoned it completely though - it still appears in the front facing 'selfie' camera.

The rear camera video has been upped from 1080p to 4k, and the front boasts a 2 UltraPixel sensor.

Personalisation
The HD screen shows off HTC’s seventh edition of their Sense UI. The UI has been updated to be more reactive to stimuli around you. Your home screen will now reorganise based on the time of day. Alarms, apps and wallpapers, will react to the time of day. If you cycle to work, you’ll get notifications to charge your lights before heading home in the evening. It will be interesting to see how it dovetails with Google Now.

What Else
HTC’s Dot View case has been upgraded as well, and now, for some reason, you can play games like tetris on the front. Utterly pointless, but quite clever.

HTC’s ridiculously named 'BoomSound' speaker system for the One Series has been upgraded once again. This time, Dolby have taken over from Beats to provide a 5.1 surround sound to the phone. Thanks to Harman Kardon, a three-finger swipe can send the music out to speaker systems in the house.

Overview
HTC have upgraded the best phone of 2014. It's no mean feat to achieve but that’s where it ends. As I’ve said before, we seem to have reached a smartphone impasse. I’m disappointed to see HTC nudge the bar – but not raise it.

The HTC One M9 is still a stunning phone, and one that no-one will regret purchasing. Then again, I’d argue there’s little point in paying for the M9 when the HTC One M8 is cheaper, and 99% of the M9.

Have we really reached a smartphone impasse?

It seems so.

For the first time in several years, smartphones stepped back from the frontline at CES and that's no surprise. Sure, many manufacturers are looking to MWC for smartphone announcements, but over the last two years, we've seen less and less revolutionary changes in smartphones, and more performance tweaks.

Why?

It's a boring phrase, but 2015 IS the year of the wearable tech. Perhaps not for consumers, but certainly for the top-tier manufacturers. The endless wearable uses were shown at CES, and its all focusing around the clamour for that first 'hit' in the wearables market. Of the glasses, watches and fitness bands, no-one has managed to truly capture the public's imagination.

So where does that leave smartphones? Well, the new kids on the block are catching the others but offering little new to market. Look at Xiaomi; impressive company, impressive growth, but are they changing the smartphone? No. They are offering available features in a different shell and at a more affordable price.
     And it's that last point which is important. The price of smartphones is being driven down and less margin available for manufacturers. Given the impasse, consumers are seeing less reason to upgrade on an annual basis, and even sticking with devices for 2-3 years. Smartphones are becoming less of the cash-cow they once were. The annual performance updates and optimisation are in place to save the manufacturer money, and maintain face within the saturated market.

MWC is coming up, and both Samsung and HTC have announced launch dates for their new devices. We expect to see the evolution of Samsung's Galaxy Edge, which is a nice idea, but not greeted with rapture by consumers so far, and HTC will be likely to finely tune the M8. We are confident in neither bringing a drastic update to the smartphone market, but the opportunity is there for a surprise. Let's wait to see about that impasse but the signs are there.

Chances are, we should ignore the HTC One M9, and Samsung Galaxy S6, as that impasse has been reached.

Big challenges await Xiaomi

There's no doubt about it. The new kids on the block are here to stay.

Xiaomi had a standout 2014. Sales of 61.12m smartphones in 2014 brought the company into third place in the smartphone market, only behind Samsung and Apple. In fact, they outsold Samsung and Apple in China during 2014. However, the path they are about to walk isn't a downhill stroll from here, and plenty of obstacles still stand in the way.

Firstly though, how have they managed to jump straight into the race with the top two? Simply put, through targeting emerging markets with a strong pricing model, and getting the right balance of smartphone innovation with consumer-desired basics.

At this point, you might be thinking: "I've never heard of Xiaomi". Well, if you're in a 'Tier 1' nation, then don't be surprised if you don't know much about Xiaomi, or if you've never seen a Xiaomi phone. Also, don't be surprised if that doesn't change soon. Hugo Barra, VP at Xiaomi, said that it'll be a little while before Xiaomi is in a position to take on the UK, the US etc. That's a sensible route forward. To take on the Tier 1 markets, it's all about the brand - and eastern 'budget' brands typically find it harder to break into the market.

The Tier 1 consumer is sceptical of budget brands - and this, matched with a desire for ever-progressive and top range electronics, means that budget isn't a particular selling point. I've said before, phones like Project Ara are commendable, but will struggle to break down the Tier 1 markets on mass. This is because of the same desire for latest technology and brand-new electronics.

This is what Huawei have tried to do, but have stalled in doing so. The brand-strength is not resistant to the stresses of Tier 1 consumers, and brand-presence is the same. Learning from the mistakes of Huawei, and adding a premium effect to the Xiaomi brand is vital in breaking into the Tier 1 markets.

As we saw in 2014, the mid-range pricing was the force when the Tier 1 markets swung. The successes of HTC's Desire range highlighted this, and it's similar with the likes of the iPhone C. Mid-range smartphones, with low-line or sim-only contracts are where Tier 1 has settled for the time-being.

This doesn't fit with Xiaomi as yet.

2014 was a big year for Xiaomi - and there is no doubt that 2015 will be as well. However, there are big challenges awaiting Xiaomi when they want to push into Tier 1. The main one - can they make the Xiaomi brand resonate with a Tier 1 market? We'll have to wait and see.

Do you agree/disagree? What do you think of the Xiaomi branding, positioning and short-term future?

HTC - Here's To CHA-CHING

Okay, well perhaps the headline is a bit misleading, but it works, right...?

It appears HTC have managed to shore-up their finances - for now at least. The new year brought news of December wrapping-up a third successive profit quarter for HTC, after a seemingly relentless string of negative news for the company.

As I reported at the beginning of last year, HTC were looking to their mid-tier smartphones to drag them out from peril, and it seems to have worked. The reduction in reliance on their top-tier models was in keeping with pressures from a plateau in smartphone innovation at the top-end, allowing a shrinking in the distance between premium and the budget markets - pushed in particular by the Eastern manufacturers. 

The HTC One M8, much like the HTC One M7, was critically acclaimed as industry leading, but HTC's flagship wasn't the hero to drag them out of the fire. It was actually Robin, the next-level down, that HTC can thank. Handsets such as the returning Desire range have performed well in emerging markets.

Companies such as Xiaomi and Huawei are eating away at the market share of the big two (Apple and Samsung) but more importantly, they have been making life extremely difficult for those sharing the 15% left. Xiaomi in particular, are eating away at all the competition with 61m handsets last year, and outsold Apple in Q42014 - not too shabby for a company that started just three years ago. 

It's good to see HTC getting their heads out of the water for the time-being. Moving back to focusing on the quality of products is crucial. This pressure from other manufacturers will only intensify in 2015, and HTC will have to pull something special out of the bag to retain quarterly profits in 2015.

What do you think of HTC's 2015 position? Will it be a similar story this time next year? Comment below or contact me on Twitter: @tomkelk

HTC's Re Camera: The GoPro for no-one

My first post in a while - so apologies for that.

A slightly odd one to return with. Many expected HTC's 'something a little different' was an entry into the wearables market with a smartwatch, so it surprised a few when HTC came out with the launch of 'RE', a new portable camera.

Seemingly designed via a combination of the Men in Black memory eraser, an inhaler and ..., HTC's RE Camera has been touted as a Go-Pro challenger - but one to be used by the 'no-pros'. Catchy, right..? But where does it fit against it's competition? Go-Pro are a formidable opposition; with the brand image, aspiration factor and user-base already nailed down. So HTC are quite wise to be openly stating that they are not trying to compete with that market. An HTC exec quite happily shared that if he was going down white water rapids, then he would use a Go-Pro instead.

This then begs the question: is there actually a market for these cameras amongst the everyday population?

And I'm not so sure. I'd argue that people will be thinking 'why buy something like that to achieve the same as my phone'... Fair point. The HTC RE camera doesn't do selfies any better.

So who would actually want this? It sits very comfortably in the 'nice to have' category, and at the $200 price point, that's a problem. It's a significant amount of money for something that hasn't got a particular USP - and looks a little silly to be honest.

Perhaps the live-streaming option (when launched) will make a difference. Still, I'm not sure that's enough of a draw, especially when our phones can do the same thing.

When HTC promised something a little different, they delivered. But that's the problem. It's only a little different. That's just not enough.

Also - don't even get me started on the name...

Thoughts? Agree or disagree? I'd love to hear in the comments below - or get in touch via Twitter: @tomkelk

The HTC One M8: Everything you need to know

So, HTC have launched their follow-up to the highly-acclaimed HTC One by launching the HTC One M8. In the words of HTC ‘The Best Got Better’, but exactly how true is that? I went hands on with the M8 over the course of a week to find out.

What’s new?

The externals
It's now a 5" HD-screened phone, which is certainly on the larger side. It shows off the screen beautifully, but in the same breath it can take two hands to operate at times. It’s bigger (by 0.3”) and noticeable in appearance but not in feel. The screen is even more shown-off than the HTC One and every comment from peers mirrors this. It's stunning.

I'll look at the appearance a bit more later in this review, but HTC have stuck largely with the shell of the M7 with a few tweaks to the front chassis by removing the off-screen buttons and rounding-off the edges. In short, the most beautiful phone on the market has been given a six-pack and a tan!

Under the bonnet
HTC have made a few upgrades in this department. The processor has jumped to 2.3GHz from the 1.7GHz on the One M7. It has also been boosted to 2GB RAM and now includes the new highly-rated Snapdragon 801 processor. Believe me, this thing will deal with anything you throw at it with the utmost of ease.

Gesture functions whilst the phone is sleeping:
A big change from HTC is the inclusion of a multi-gesture wake-up. This can be done from a double-tap and swipes left, right, up and down. All produce different results

I found the swipe to be a little redundant to be honest but this was because of the force of habit to simply swipe to unlock – not open to a new destination. A bit of customisation though, alongside training your mind to head straight to different areas of your phone, will make this feature quite handy.
      A great addition was the double-tap to wake. I’ve used this all the time as it feels like a natural movement and with a phone that's on the larger-side, not having to switch on from the top makes a difference. Another great addition is the quick photo gesture when the phone is in landscape mode and the user presses volume down.

Camera Functions
HTC have added a plethora of new post-edit options for the camera, and these all focus around the brand new, headline-grabbing ‘Duo Camera’ that brings a depth-sensor to a mobile phone for the first time. This depth sensor allows for one of the camera’s new headline features – ‘U-Focus’ which allows the user to post-focus an image to the foreground or background.

In addition to this, HTC have added ‘3D Dimension Plus’, which provides a slightly pointless ability to make a image 3D. It’s good fun, and one of those things you show-off once, but there really isn’t any use for it.

     I look at the Duo Camera as primed for developers to take it to a different level. HTC have started the job – the hardware is great but the result is probably a little gimmicky, but gives 3D developers, for example, a chance to use this and we could see some wonderful results. 

HTC have also added a new camera navigation that’s nice and simple. The quick choice between six options is a welcome upgrade to the unnecessarily convoluted M7 layout:

What's Improved?

Appearance
Let's not forget that the HTC One M7 was widely acclaimed for its appearance. It was regularly seen alongside titles of "Best Looking Phone". So how do you improve on that? At the launch event, HTC Head of Design, Daniel Hundt, said that the aim for this phone was to appear premium, yet approachable. Well it’s certainly premium. The beautiful brushed metal finish is spectacular and isn’t as slippy as expected – partly due to the lovely weight of the phone. 90% of the body now consists of the metal body, compared to 70% on the M7, and this allows for a lovely feel that sits comfortably in the hand as the sides have been further curved. 

Battery
Battery-life is up 40% according to HTC and after testing it's certainly improved, if not to quite that extent. The One M8 will still need charging every night at moderate-high use but that is to be expected in the modern-day smartphone market. HTC have improved on their power-saving mode however. The new 'Extreme Power Saving Mode' (inventive progression of name) only allows five essential functions on the phone (phone, SMS, mail, calendar, and calculator) to operate, which gives an impressive 30 hours of standby time in return for just 10% battery. This has been a lifesaver so far - really useful.

Camera
In addition to the new camera features, there have been upgrades on last year as well. Firstly, the autofocus and shutterspeed is now lightning quick, and more effective. This is aided by the depth sensor and the Ultrapixel technology that allows further light into the sensor. The main improvement has been in low-light, where all smartphones have struggled in recent years. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not perfect, but it’s markedly improved.

I’ve seen a bit of negativity about the camera in strong light, like blazing sunshine, but this wasn’t my experience. The camera operated superbly. HTC have stuck with the Ultrapixel technology (this allows more light into the sensor and provides more stability to an image) that seems to make sense on a technical level but hasn’t translated to consumers.
      Any complaints on the camera for the M7 were misplaced as it really is one of the best on the market – the M8 only improves on that opinion. 

BlinkFeed
BlinkFeed has improved. It now possesses customisable themes and allows for more content feeds such as Instagram. HTC have also opened it up to developers, which is exciting. BlinkFeed offers that short sharp snacking of content, and this works but can still improve. The open API will only help this. However, if BlinkFeed isn’t for you, then don’t worry – you can get rid of it.

HTC Sense 6
The smaller updates have followed on with HTC’s next version of their Sense UI. It’s now a bit cleaner, simpler, flatter and has a brighter appearance. This is only a good thing for HTC as they’ve moved more in line with the stock Android layout.

What's Returned?

MicroSD is back! A superb move from HTC who have listened to public opinion and included a hugely popular feature. This allows the storage of the M8 to be boosted from either 16GB/32GB to 128GB. This is something that I really missed on the One, and the One X, so I'm delighted to see it return. This isn't the only feature to come back. The multitasking windows button is apparent once more after it was replaced by a double-tap on the home button in the One M7. The buttons have now been moved onto the screen.

What's Disappointing?

Always Listening
I'm disappointed to see the 'always listening' Google Now feature not included in HTC devices. It's a real plus point to the Moto X. That being said, it takes a split-second to flick on Google Now and say 'Ok Google' to get rolling.

Nano Sim
Personally, I think the use of a Nano sim is frustrating. I know it doesn’t take a moment to sort out but I’m not that sure why HTC decided to switch to a Nano Sim when their previous phones have been consistently Micro-Sim. There appears to be no discernable benefit other than size – and let’s be honest, that’s not at a premium.

The Gallery
The Gallery is becoming a bit confusing. In HTC’s desire to make the Gallery a professional entity, they’ve focused more upon Zoe (which I’ve never been convinced by) and less on the simple folders that users want. In reality, I believe users just want to access a gallery of their photos easily – HTC seem keen to take consumers to a place they don’t seem to want to be.

Name
Name: Why? The HTC One M8? Just not a fan. No.

Headphone Jack
Finally (and this is definitely a case of personal preference) I'm not a fan of the headphone jack now appearing on the bottom. It works well on the top of the M7 - why change it? It just feels unintuitive. 

So where does the phone stand in the grand-scheme of things?

When I looked at the rumours before the launch, I'm not afraid to admit that I was a little disappointed. Each year we tech geeks look for something revolutionary - game changing. It just didn't feel like the M8 was that phone, and to be fair, it's not. However, when you look at it in context, its difficult to criticise.
      The biggest compliment that can be paid to the HTC One M8 is that it is better than its younger brother. The M7 was one hell of a phone. Without doubt the best phone on the market, and without the M8 it still would be. HTC have succeeded in refining the phone and taking it to the next level. That takes some doing, and they should be commended for achieving it. The M8 is not without fault - but it is as close to perfection as you will find in the mobile market.

So, what’re you waiting for? It went on sale straight away.

Everything you need to know about Android Wear and wearables

There was one obstacle between wearable technology and success - and that was style.

Now, thanks to Android Wear and the commitment from manufacturers, we've overcome that obstacle. On Tuesday 18th March, Google announced the first OS that makes wearables (smartwatches) really appeal to the consumer market. The OS (as seen below) maximises Google Now and we can now see how Google see Google Now in the long run.



Here's what Google say about Android Wear:

• Useful information when you need it most. Android Wear shows you info and suggestions you need, right when you need them. The wide variety of Android applications means you’ll receive the latest posts and updates from your favorite social apps, chats from your preferred messaging apps, notifications from shopping, news and photography apps, and more.

• Straight answers to spoken questions. Just say “Ok Google” to ask questions, like how many calories are in an avocado, what time your flight leaves, and the score of the game. Or say “Ok Google” to get stuff done, like calling a taxi, sending a text, making a restaurant reservation or setting an alarm.

• The ability to better monitor your health and fitness. Hit your exercise goals with reminders and fitness summaries from Android Wear. Your favorite fitness apps can give you real-time speed, distance and time information on your wrist for your run, cycle or walk.

• Your key to a multiscreen world. Android Wear lets you access and control other devices from your wrist. Just say “Ok Google” to fire up a music playlist on your phone, or cast your favorite movie to your TV. There’s a lot of possibilities here so we’re eager to see what developers build.

Despite only being announced on Tuesday, we've already seen exciting devices launched by Motorola and LG. We could also be looking at HTC's first entry when they launch the HTC One 2014 on Tuesday (which I'll be live Tweeting from) and we know for sure that Samsung and ASUS are soon to join the party.

So what have we got so far?

Moto 360

Launched by Motorola, the Moto 360 is perhaps the most exciting Android Wear launched this week.



Aside from being your everyday time-telling watch (and not a bad-looking one either), the Moto 360 will display everything Google Now would usually inform on: weather, live-scores, meetings and locations. Not only that, the Moto 360 will have Google Maps integrated and be able to provide turn-by-turn instructions, as well as delivering normal messages such as email, text and Google Hangouts.

Alongside Motorola, LG also joined the fun by announcing the LG G Watch.

LG have been very general on the details of the G Watch so far but here's what Dr Jong-Seok Park, LG CEO, said:

"The opportunity to work with Google on LG G Watch was the perfect chance for LG to really pull out all stops in both design and engineering.

With the LG G Watch, LG is continuing the milestones we’ve set in wearables following in the foot-steps of the world’s first 3G Touch Watch Phone in 2009 and the Prada Link in 2008. We’re confident that a well-designed device has the potential to take the smart wearable market by storm.”

Going off what we can see - LG seems to be heading along the lines of the Pebble and the Gear with the rectangle design. We can only assume that the OS will function in a similar way to the Moto 360 and Google Now integration.

Further additions to the Android Wear amoury will be added shortly and I'll update you when they're announced. 

To summarise all of this - the beauty of Android Wear (and in particular the work of the manufacturers) has suddenly made the smartwatch a desirable item. That's a big step.

MWC 2014: The age of mid-range smartphones

Not long ago, HTC announced that it was to pursue a line of mid-range smartphones to help stem the tide and turn around its business. At Mobile World Congress, they've officially announced the 610 and the 816 - the latter of which looks extremely promising for a mid-range device.

So, have they stolen a march on the opposition? No. Not at all. They certainly aren't alone in heading down that road. We've already seen mid-range smartphones from LG (G2 Mini, F70 and F90) and Sony (M2). This is sure to be added to by Huawei, Samsung and Nokia.
      Now I hear what you're saying, "All manufacturers are releasing mid-range smartphones". Yes, but there is a whole weight of more emphasis on these devices this year. The point is, in 2014 these devices have stepped up a notch and are operating at a vastly different level - and the manufacturers are pushing them that way. It's a competitive market where you could buy any of the aforementioned phones and be over the moon with it.

I suppose the real question to answer is whether there is actually a market for the high-end phone in 2014? Manufacturers are going to have to work especially hard in convincing the consumer to part with that little bit extra. The Samsung Galaxy S5 is a poor attempt at this...

Thoughts?

HTC market saturation - dejavu in practice and result

There's a touch of dejavu about the latest reports around HTC's decision to begin the production of cheaper smartphones as a priority with the reported Desire 8 (pictured below) a starting point. The problem is that the last time they pushed in this direction, it was from a position of great strength - not desperation, as they currently find themselves. 

What HTC need, and are looking for, is market share. They're hoping that producing cheaper phones will be a quick fix to keep pace with the likes of Nokia, LG and Huawei in the fight for the final 20-30% of market share left by Apple and Samsung. However, what HTC need is brand loyalty, and they're not going to get there by producing cheap phones. The HTC One is critically regarded as the best phone around. HTC simply need to be better with their marketing. If they don't market one 'phone of the year' well enough, how an earth are they going to get it right when marketing a series of them? After all, they haven't got a great record with trying market saturation. That's the consumer view. The trouble is, in the eyes of their investors, they need to turn a profit and that pressure is crippling the company. HTC are making quick, snap changes to try and find a quick solution. Unfortunately, I just can't see it working.

Can you?

The end of the road for HTC?

Here's my first post of 2014 (I know, I've been lazy - sidetracked with moving house). Hopefully you all enjoyed a good Christmas and New Year break.

Shame to start 2014 on a negative note, but HTC announced their Q4 2013 finances a short while ago and it makes for pretty grim reading.

Now, HTC underperforming is no new thing after the last couple of years - and their still in profit - but real worry for HTC is their market share. A few years back, HTC were producing 1 in 10 phones sold. Now HTC hold just a 2.2% share of the market, and this will only be squeezed further by the likes of Huawei. Even more worrying for HTC, is that they've done the hard work and still failed. The HTC One is widely regarded as phone of 2013 (Im typing on one now and it's by far the best phone I've ever used), and in some quarters it's regarded as the best phone of all time yet that isn't enough. The marketing department is falling short, and HTC are floundering.

I like HTC. I've made no secret of that. I've had many HTC phones and they've served me particularly well. My concern is, I don't see how it can get any better. The chances of HTC producing something significantly better than the One, are minimal, and that can only serve to damage their market share further. The HTC One 2 (I really hope that isn't their marketing name...) has been leaked, but there won't be a radical change, just small updates. Frankly, that's not good enough.

I wrote before about the perils of attempted market saturation in relation the HTC's case. The turning point in their development as a company, was the period of mass-producing low cost technology. This damaged their long-term image for short-term false gain. When people look back on the rapid rise and fall of HTC, this will be seen as the turning point. BlackBerry have had their day, and now sadly, so have HTC.

Thoughts?

The Tech & Musing Christmas Guide: Phones

In the build up to Christmas, I thought it would be interesting to see where tech stands at this time of year (and maybe even offer some advice along the way). If you're looking for phones, tablets, laptops, contracts or even smartwatches, this is the place to be. If your questions aren't answered below, please get in touch.

On the cheaper side: Nexus 5

At £300 up front on Google Play, and generous contract offerings, the Nexus 5 really packs a knockout punch for its price.

LG did a brilliant job on the Nexus 4, and they've managed to go one better with the recently launched older brother. A large, glossy 5" screen shows off Android 4.4 (KitKat) in beautiful HD quality, and the 2.3GHz quad-core processor alongside 2GB RAM allows the Nexus 5 to challenge the very top in the smartphone market, let alone the cheaper ones. The camera is not the best but it's difficult to fault, and the ever-evolving feature of wireless charging is a great addition. 

Have a look at the pricing options for the Nexus 5, where for £32 per month you'll find the phone alongside unlimited data and texts, plus 1000 mins of calls. Or, you could buy the phone outright and purchase a cheaper sim-only deal - but trust me when I say, it's difficult to find a better alternative to the Nexus 5.

Mid range: Moto X

Motorola have exploded back onto the smartphone scene in 2013, and the fresh boost from Google has clearly helped this rejuvenation. 

The best of the Motorola 2013 offering, comes in the form the Moto X which boasts a 4.7" HD display that is backed-up by 2GB RAM and plenty of processing power. Making the most of Android KitKat's (v4.4) 'always listening' feature, Motorola have created an impressive, hugely customisable device that should be considered by all buyers - I haven't even mentioned the 10MP camera! Literally 'designed by you', buyers are able to design their version of the phone before purchase, and wider knowledge of this could produce a winning selling point. Whether or not the brand is fashionable enough to dent the market remains to be seen.

Coming down to price, the Moto X will appear on generous contracts, ensuring that the user isn't disappointed with the phone, or their deal. Unfortunately, this isn't available in the UK as yet, but it is reportedly on the way soon - UK users should have a look at 'Unlucky to miss out' at the bottom for other ideas.

Top range: HTC One

Widely regarded as 'Phone of the Year', stretching to 'Gadget of the Year' in some quarters, the widely acclaimed HTC One has topped my list of 'must buy' tech this year. The brilliance (and beauty) of the phone cannot be underestimated. A glorious HD screen, great audio, a superb camera and impressive battery life make the HTC One a serious contender for 'best smartphone of all time', let alone 2013. 

Perhaps 'Top Range' is slightly misleading as the HTC One certainly won't break the bank. When taken on contract, users can be looking at just over £30 per month for unlimited texts, unlimited internet and plenty of calls. Interested in the HTC One? You should be.

Unlucky to miss out and worth keeping in mind this Christmas:

• Sony Xperia Z1
• Samsung Galaxy S4
• iPhone 5
• Nokia Lumia 720
• Samsung Galaxy Note 3

That's the guide to the best phones out at the moment. If you've got any suggestions for alternatives, or want an opinion on other phones - get in touch.

Keep an eye out for the next in the Tech & Musing Christmas Guide series - Tablets...

Mobile phone sizes, just what is too big?

I've recently been using the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 in order to review the Galaxy Gear and after switching back to my beloved HTC One (if you're wondering why, then I'd like to mention that the switch is no reflection on the Note 3, instead it's indicative of the brilliance of the HTC One. Anyway I've been a bit bemused by the switch in size. Suddenly everything felt fiddly, and to be honest, I missed the Note 3 - not especially because of the phone itself, more of its size.

When I first started using the 5.95" Note 3, the size frustrated me. I could get it in my pocket, but not particularly easily, and writing a text or email one-handed whilst standing on the tube was nothing short of a nightmare. However, slowly the size of the phone, and particular the 5.7" screen begun to win me over.

Everything looks great on a screen like that. Browsing the net, Twitter etc is all a pleasure and feels more productive. I think that a phone can be too big, the Samsung Mega for example, now that is too big. To be overly simplistic, between 6" and 7" is territory that should not be trodden between a phone and a tablet. I'm not suggesting that the HTC One is too small, far from it, it's still a 4.7" screen. But in fact, I've now understood the appeal of a phablet where I hadn't previously. It's not about being practical all the time, it's about being more practical 90% of the time you are using it.

These phones won't be practical for everyone, but before you write off purchasing a phablet then just have a go with one. You may well like it...

The latest iPhone launch shows that Apple has lost its mojo

Today is the day that Apple launch two new phones, yet would you know it? In previous years, the launch of the new iPhone was a huge event, it garnered conversation for weeks. However, this time something is different. There's no public fanfare. There's no mystery. No, the once 'masters of the launch' have seemingly lost their mojo.

Why is this? Surely it can't have all been Steve Jobs? Well, his bullish attitude, and absolute refusal to accept lower than perfect certainly are being missed, but that's not necessarily what's changed.

     Before the iPhone 5 was launched, Apple still could vociferously argue that the iPhone was the best phone out there - or was at least going to be. True, it had taken a big knock from the Galaxy SIII, but the fanboys were still in good voice, and the hope of a revolutionary iPhone 5 kept this spirit alive. What happened? Well, it was a huge disappointment. Speed upgrades, and very minor cosmetic differences just didn't cut it - not for the 'innovative' Apple. Since then, we've had a year of stewing dissatisfaction with the iPhone, and Android have gripped hold of the market with flagship models like the Samsung Galaxy S4, the HTC One and the Sony XPERIA - the worst thing for Apple is that most consumers aren't looking back.

So what about now? We have the next iPhone! Wow wow wow! Not quite. Many details have been leaked, and they disappointing once again. Guess what - the 5S will be a touch quicker, ever so slightly thinner and have some colour (maybe even gold..). I know, mindblowing, right...? 

(Leaked iPhone 5S box - shows new home button)

The biggest rumoured innovation is the fingerprint scanner. (Reminder - Apple used to poke fun at Samsung for novelty extras). Lets not forget the iPhone 5C, the 'iPhone Cheap', which is simply a desperate attempt to retain market share. This will no-doubt sell well, but will it fend off the critics? Highly unlikely. Not only that, Apple's 'premium' feel, almost exclusive aura, is about to be shattered, and that's perhaps Apple's biggest USP. It's a dangerous route to take.

It's quite staggering how little they've learnt. Consumers want Apple to succeed; they like the iPhone. Apple, however, are strangling themselves. They're not allowing consumers to fall back in love with the iPhone because they're too stubborn to change, or perhaps have just run out of ideas. A radical design change (as I said this time last year) would at least show some willingness to try and fight for the fanboys, but as it stands, they're just stuck in the past thinking that the iSheep will just carry on bleating and continue buying.

Times have changed, and it appears Apple haven't.

HTC are teasing "The Next Big Thing"... (but we think we know what it is)

Over the last few days, HTC have been sharing teasers about something new... Something big, and have partnered this with the hashtag #HTChange

Here's To Change. #HTChange https://t.co/6ybebD4iFO
— HTC UK (@HTC_UK) August 6, 2013

I'm not sure I 'get' the generator idea to be honest. It doesn't really achieve anything...

Now, we know it's not going to be a new flagship phone - the One was only released earlier this year - but we think they're talking literally. By that, we think they're referring to the HTC One phablet (the HTC One Max) that's been mooted around - perhaps the first real challenge to the Galaxy Note...

We know very little about what's 'under the bonnet' of this, but thanks to leaks, we have an indication of appearance (basically, similar to the One, just a lot bigger...)

Another bit of news coming out from HTC, is that they are releasing a blue version of the HTC One, that will add to the current silver, and red, options.

WARNING - This is good looking...

Moto X: Everything but the official launch

Motorola have done a spectacular job of making sure there are no surprises come August 1st when the Moto X is officially launched to the public. @evleaks and The Unlocker have acquired pretty much everything there is to know about the X, and there's some good stuff to tell! Now, everything you need to know about the phone is out and about, so let's take a look at this long-awaited mystery phone.

The X certainly doesn't go against Motorola's styling preferences - but it looks very good, indeed. It's a sleek, clean phone that takes elements from the S4, and HTC One. Not a bad thing at all. It's not as good looking as the One, but then again, what is!?

In true Motorola style, they've focused upon build and battery. The 2,200mAh battery should be impressive in life and the rear shell is made with the Motorola favourite, Kevlar, which is customisable. The phone also, unsurprisingly, will run stock Android, which is always a nice addition. This will be run on a slightly dated dual-core Snapdragon chip with a solid 2GB RAM/1.7GHz processor and a 4.5" screen to boot. (pixel density has yet to be leaked.) There's also the nice surprise of a 10.5MP camera - very competitive. I've seen reports criticising the 4.5" screen but I can't understand that. I think it's almost the optimum size for the general consumer and will certainly not be a turn-off.

We've got a few rumoured pricing structures for the X and they suggest it could well challenge the pricing on the Nexus 4 - a bold move. Prices floating around are $299 pay as you go, and a 32GB version for $349. On contract, the prices are likely to be between $99-$150 for a couple of year contracts. Whilst these haven't been confirmed, they seem fair accurate guesses anyway.

So where does it fit in the flagship pecking order? Well, not especially high to be honest. In most aspects, this phone others little to place it above its competitors. It's a solid phone, and that's probably the best compliment for it, and Motorola. Its the sort of phone that will help Motorola, slowly, begin to claw back a small percentage of market share, which is what Google will keen on. A market share will allow Google to further develop Motorola's wearable technology targets, and we should all be excited about that.

Anyway, quiet, you didn't hear any of this hear... Remember, the phone hasn't been launched yet...!

Firefox OS is finally a real thing - but faces a limited road ahead

I'll be honest, when I heard Mozilla were bringing out an OS and even flagship phones to partner Firefox, I didn't take it particularly seriously. To be honest, I still don't.

Firefox is a popular OS, it's not on the same level as Chrome.

Source: StatCounter Global Stats - Browser Market Share

As you can see from recent stats, Chrome is dominating the market share and thus justifies a Chrome OS. Has Firefox reached this point? No. But still, after releasing their initial prototypes for public consumption, they've now taken the next step.

Mozilla publicly released phones running its new Firefox OS in Spain on Monday.

The ZTE Open and Alcatel OneTouch Fire are very basic phones with 3.5", 320x480px screens (1/4 pixel density of the Galaxy S4). They both have 3.2mp cameras and 1GHz processors backed up with 256mb RAM. (Told you they were basic).
     At least the price reflects that: Telefonica will sell the ZTE Open in Spain starting July 2 for 69 euros. Mozilla, as a nonprofit company, is trying to shake up the typical closed app ecosystems by using open Web standards which it will appeal to Web developers who can start creating HTML 5 apps for the phones.

Mozilla holding a reasonable share in the European or American smartphone market is unthinkable. They would be focusing upon the lower price range, but by doing so they would be running head-first at Android and the specs simply do not match. Not only that, if the rumoured cheaper iPhone is on the cards they'll be running at that as well. Furthermore, with the contract market continuing to grow in Europe and the US, people are willing to pay a bit more per month for the flagships like the S4 or HTC One. So for those reasons, Mozilla are being realistic and are focusing on markets that are still dominated by feature phones, and in this respect are challenging the remaining Nokia and BlackBerry strongholds - whilst also going toe to toe with Windows Phone's targets. Initial locations are reported to be Spain, Poland, Colombia, Venezuela and eventually Brazil but with this you can see Mozilla's ambitions are limited. I just don't see any handset success in these markets translating into the major global smartphone markets.

As a geek, and a fan of Firefox, I love the idea of a Mozilla phone, but that is my heart talking. My head would steer me well clear and I worry that the majority of consumers will agree, even in the developing markets.

What do you think? Would you consider buying Mozilla? Disagree about the phones uptake? I'd love to hear from you.

HTC and Samsung begin a Twitter-war; LG jumps in to keep the peace

HTC and Samsung were at loggerheads on Twitter on Friday after the Mobile Awards. @HTC_UK won the deserved title of "Hottest Phone of the Year" and duly rubbed it in the faces of @SamsungMobileUK:

Last night we won the 'Hottest phone of 2013' at the Mobile Awards #HTCOne twitter.com/o_reilly_garre… Ouch @samsungmobileuk
— HTC UK (@htc_uk) June 7, 2013

Samsung responded well, in my opinion, with a funny dig back at HTC:

@htc_uk That's okay guys, our arms were full with the other three awards we took home last night. You can have that one!
— Samsung Mobile UK (@SamsungMobileUK) June 7, 2013

HTC bit at this one, and probably went a bit too far by mentioning the articles that Samsung reportedly paid students to write in a bid to derogate the competition:

@samsungmobileuk all those students you paid to write fake reviews of your competitors finally paid off. Pay rise, maybe?
— HTC UK (@htc_uk) June 7, 2013

I'm all for brands interacting like this on social media. It adds a personality to the brand. I do think the HTC tweet about the paid writers was a little unnecessary and petulant, though. Interaction like this should be light-hearted - and LG are the real winners in this 'social media battle' with their mediation tweet:

@htc_uk @samsungmobileuk lg.com/uk/mobile-phon… twitter.com/LGUK/status/34…
— LG Electronics UK (@LGUK) June 7, 2013

It's all fun and games of course, and great to watch brands be willing to loosen the reins on social media! Who do you think came out on top here? Was HTC's tweet a bit petulant or did they get it right?

Apple continues to slide - drops to 17% Q1 smartphone market share

Apple's worryingly fast drop in sales continued through Q1 2013 as Android platforms relentlessly chip away at the market share of iOS.

(Source: Apple Insider)

Some will point towards the Android saturation of launches in Q1 and they would be correct, but with most release dates being in March/April, these sales won't have had a significant impact upon the IDC results. Samsung Galaxy S4 sales are reported to be record-breaking and HTC are pleased with the progress of the One, Android will tighten the grip on the market before the end of Q2. With Apple reportedly stalling on a release of the iPhone 5S, and planning it for late Q3-Q4, the damage could be significant. Despite impressive, immediate sales of the iPhone 5, Apple seem unable to retain these levels of unit sales under pressure from rivals. This won't help share prices either!
     We must also credit Windows Phone for their quiet, but steady rise in market share. This will be helped by the release of the Nokia Lumia 925 and 928. They are playing the game patiently, and effectively.

The importance of Apple demonstrating the innovation they were once famed for, is becoming ever more paramount. However, if the iPhone 5S is the 'saviour', they could be in serious trouble.