Android 5.0 Lollipop – A sweeter mobile operating system?

 

Android 5.0 Lollipop

ANDROID 5.0 is the biggest update to the mobile operating system since 2011, when Android 4.0 unified the smartphone and tablet versions. This new version is designed not only with those devices in mind but also smart watches, smart TVs and even smarter cars. That’s leaping a little too far ahead, though, as so far we’ve only tried Android 5.0 on the HTC-manufactured Nexus 9 tablet and the LG-made Nexus 5 smartphone. Not all third-party apps work perfectly yet, but Google has done sterling work on the latest version of the OS, making numerous improvements across the board.

FIRST LICK

The first new feature doesn’t take long to surface, as Android 5.0 asks if you want to restore the state of another Android device on this one. This means it can install all your apps, add your shortcuts and widgets and place them exactly where you like them on the homescreen.

The OS presents a checklist of all your apps. We cut down the 101 apps installed on our Nexus 5 to a neater and more tablet-appropriate list of 13 to be installed on the Nexus 9. Grey versions of the icons appear on the homescreen in a similar position to those on our phone, and fill with colour as they install. If you reset a device, you can also use the same feature to restore it to its last state.

Other than that, setup is as easy as ever. Just enter your Gmail address and password and you’re ready to go. Android even remembers Wi-Fi passwords from device to device, so any network details on your previous phone or tablet are passed over to the new device.

For security, Android 5.0 lets you lock and unlock your device using another device. Its support for Bluetooth and NFC devices means your Android device will unlock instantly in the presence of your chosen item. You can also use a PIN or screen lock pattern in case you lose or forget your chosen unlock device.

 MATERIAL GIRL

Major trends in graphic design don’t come along every day, so it’s no surprise to see that Google has followed Apple in making an operating system that looks flatter. Icons have been simplified rather than looking like little 3D objects. Colour is also in vogue, with colourful icons, a greater variety of colours and more unusual combinations.

The operating system still does 3D rendering, but each object – which Google calls a piece of ‘Material’ – is flat like a piece of paper. These can move up and down off the homescreen, cast shadows and be dragged over other objects, but they don’t have any depth themselves.

Google has been working on its new style for some time, so icons for Chrome, YouTube, Google+ and others look no different in version 5, but they match the new icons for things such as Calculator, Calendar, Clock and Downloads, as you can see below.

Those colours stand out against a new white background. White was once a bad idea for mobile operating systems, as all that brightness eats battery life, but such things are less critical than they were, and white looks a lot more approachable than black. The main example is the app tray, which now presents all your apps in a white window, rather than hovering over a soft-focus version of your current wallpaper.

This new white design hasn’t just appeared from nowhere – it has been in the pipeline for some time in the form of Google Now. More and more of Google’s OS is beginning to look and act like the little cards of useful information that make up the Google Now service. Notifications appear on a white background, for example, and the recent apps buttons brings up a Rolodex of cards, one for every app.

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

The Android homescreen hasn’t changed much in practical terms, but then it was always flexible compared with that of its main rival. You can still put app shortcuts wherever you want, drag them into folders and mix and match them with widgets from a huge number of apps, many of which you can resize to suit your needs.

Our Nexus 9 has a 6x5 grid on each homescreen to position these on, with six extra spots in a dock for apps you use most often. New homescreens are created to the right when required, and Google Now sits to the left. Google Now has a new two-column layout but otherwise is the same as ever, with the usual topical and seasonal header graphics.

 MENU BAR AND NOTIFICATIONS

The menu bar has the usual split of notification icons on the left and handy indicators, such as network status and battery life, on the right.

Swipe down on the screen, though, and you’ll see an all-new combined settings and notifications menu, which consists of white cards over a darkened homescreen.

You can tap each card to open it in the appropriate app, and drag down to see further details, if they exist. Some cards also have instant actions you can take, such as replying to emails or snoozing an event reminder. This works much the same as it did before, apart from its appearance and some slick animation.

Swipe down again – or swipe with two fingers – and you’ll see a handy panel with shortcuts for various settings. There’s a brightness control, although strangely the auto brightness toggle is stuck in the main settings menu, and with that turned on, the slider only seems to work intermittently. We played with it at length and couldn’t see any logic to it. We’d rather have an auto brightness control next to the slider that we could use to tweak the level selected by the sensor.

Also in the settings shortcut panel is a Wi-Fi strength indicator, which also shows the name of the current connection. You can tap to switch connections quickly. There’s a Bluetooth control, as well as buttons for Aeroplane mode and auto-rotate, a built-in flashlight, a button for turning location sharing on or off and a cast screen button that lets you connect to a Chromecast easily. You can see how much charge your battery has left and also an estimate of how long a full charge will take.

Tapping the volume control brings up a menu that lets you decide who you receive

notifications from. You can quickly set this to ‘All’ for no filtering, or limit incoming calls and email alerts to a small set of ‘Priority’ contacts – basically those starred in your contacts list. You can even turn off notifications altogether or set downtime so that, for example, you set up a rule that allows only priority notifications to come through in the evenings. It’s a little confusing at first and requires careful management of your contacts list to work well, but it’s still a welcome extra.

 BENEATH THE WRAPPER

Android hasn’t changed radically on the surface with 5.0, but it’s a very different beast under the hood. The headline feature is its support for the new 64-bit mobile chipsets, such as the Nvidia K1 chipset used in the Nexus 9 or the forthcoming 64-bit Snapdragon chipsets – most notably the 808 and 810.

Switching to 64-bit should bring significant performance gains when dealing with complex tasks, where the processor’s larger registers can handle bigger numbers. It will also raise the memory limit above the current 4GB ceiling, although that’s not really an issue for today’s mobile devices.

The operating system now runs and compiles code in a different way too, using the new Android Runtime (ART). We should see performance and battery life benefits from the new system, which compiles code to be executed on installation, not when the application launches.

Google has also taken steps to improve battery life by making numerous tweaks under the name Project Volta. This aims to reduce unnecessary battery use during basic tasks such as waking from standby and checking for emails and other updates. The operating system is more efficient in how it deals with such housekeeping tasks, and developers have been given better tools to manage their battery usage. Tests on the developer version of Android 5.0 have shown around 35 per cent improvement, and we were impressed by the 16 hours of video playback we got from our review sample of the Nexus 9.             

There’s also a battery saver mode that you can start manually or set to kick in at a certain battery level, say five per cent. This throttles performance (the SunSpider benchmark score more than doubled to a sluggish 2,156ms) and limits radio usage, so apps don’t update unless you open them. It looks handy, stretching out your last hour of battery life without the usual dance of disabling Wi-Fi and mobile internet. You know when it’s running, as the menu bars turn orange to warn you.

TEETHING ISSUES

Android 5.0 didn’t give us much trouble, but we had problems with some of our favourite apps such as iPlayer, which wouldn’t download programmes or stream them at anything more than passable quality. We couldn’t load the Amazon Instant Video player, either, although that’s a tortuous process when attempted through the main Amazon app anyway.

These issues can’t be laid at Google’s door, but it’s worth remembering that it’s early days for the OS and some app providers simply aren’t up to speed yet. If having all your apps working is more important to you than the new features, we’d recommend waiting a couple of months before upgrading.

WORTH A POP?

Android 5.0 Lollipop looks great, with a new design that’s a breath of fresh air. All the built-in apps we use regularly have had major facelifts and most have been improved in the way they work too, becoming easier to understand and with better tablet-landscape layouts.

Beneath the hood the OS is certainly much better too. Battery life looks to be excellent, although we’ll need to do before-and-after testing on a wide range of devices before we can confirm this. Support for 64-bit was a must, of course, but it’s still welcome.

It’s early days, so inevitably there are problems with some apps, but we’re happy to say that for most Android users an update to 5.0 is something to look forward to. It’s the best version yet and although the changes are incremental, it’s still an important step forward.

Mac security options everyone should know

 

Mac security options

Enable the OS X firewall

The firewall in OS X is a network filter that allows you to control which programs and services can accept incoming connections. While classic firewalls do this on a per-port basis, OS X’s can work on a per-application or per-service basis, giving you more flexibility.

To set up your firewall, go to the Security & Privacy system preferences, click on the Firewall tab, and then unlock the preference pane, after which you will be able to click the Turn On Firewall button. This basic option is the best for most purposes, but you can also click the Firewall Options button to see the specific settings for each application, as well as access some extra features, such as stealth mode and an option for blocking all connections.

The firewall is a good option to enable if you’re connected to a public Wi-Fi network, such as one at a cafe, library, or other hotspot. For home networks, you can usually rely on your router’s firewall for protection, though, enabling the OS X firewall for added security generally won’t cause additional problems.

Enable FileVault

FileVault is the full-disk encryption routine in OS X that will secure all files on the drive. To enable it, go to the FileVault tab of the Security & Privacy system preference, unlock the preference, and click Turn On FileVault. When you do this you’ll be asked to choose the user accounts that are authorized to unlock the disk. Click Continue and your Mac will begin encrypting your drive.

Full disk encryption is primarily useful for protecting a stolen Mac. When your drive is unlocked, files on it can be read. However, before it’s unlocked, all data on the drive will be scrambled. This prevents data recovery by unauthorised third parties, who might try to access it using Target Disk mode on your Mac or by removing your Mac’s hard drive and attaching it to another computer.

Password management

If you use numerous online services regularly, then you will (or should) have different credentials for each one. These may be difficult to remember. In OS X, you have a built-in alternative for managing passwords called the keychain.

The keychain is enabled by default to store your various passwords for online services, email accounts, and other authentication routines. Whenever you see a checkbox for saving your password, or in a drop-down menu when using Safari, this is OS X asking you to store these passwords in an encrypted file called the login keychain.

This can be managed using the Keychain Access utility (/Applications/ Utilities). In most cases, there’s little need to use this. Instead, use the option to save your passwords and OS X will automatically enter them when needed.

Locking and locating

A final couple of options for protecting your Mac include securing your computer and enabling remote access to it – not only to interact with it from afar, but also to track and lock it down, if needed.

You set up the first of these options in the General tab of the Security & Privacy system preference. Just enable the Require Password option and choose Immediately or five seconds from the pop-up menu and you’ll be required to enter a password to use your Mac after it’s gone to sleep or the screen saver has started. The shorter the time interval you use in this feature, the better. Just close the lid to lock the system.

For Find My Mac, if your system is ever stolen you can log into iCloud.com or use the Find My iPhone app on an iOS device to locate your device, send it a command to lock it down unless a password is supplied, have it issue a sound (also a great option for locating a misplaced iOS device), or remotely wipe the device.

Overall, while Apple can do very little to prevent your computer from being stolen, OS X does its best to protect the data it holds as well as offers a chance that you can pinpoint its location. With these options enabled, you can be sure your Mac’s data is as safe as possible, with little to no inconvenience for you. when you have to leave it unattended

Cauliflower toasts give the poached eggs something to sit on and add texture without the need for bread

Poached eggs with cauliflower toasts, kale and dukkah

Ingredients :

• 1 whole caulifower
• 2tbsp olive oil
• 2tbsp dukkah spice mix or lightly crushed cumin seeds, plus extra to serve
• 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• ½ medium red chilli, finely sliced (optional)
• 6–8 large kale or cavolo nero leaves, centre stalks removed
• 4 poached eggs and squeeze lemon juice, to serve

Method :

Heat the oven to 200°c/fan 180°c/gas 6 and line a baking tray with baking paper. cut the cauliflower across into 4 slices about 1.5–2cm thick, drizzle with 1tbsp of the olive oil, then sprinkle over the dukkah or crushed cumin. put the cauliflower in the prepared tray and roast for 30 min or until golden.

After 20 min, heat the remaining olive oil in a medium, lidded casserole over a medium heat. Add the garlic and chilli (if using) and stir for 30 sec, then add the kale or cavolo nero, along with a few tablespoonfuls of water. cover with the lid and braise for 10 min, stirring occasionally. You may need to turn the heat down or add a little extra water if it’s cooking too furiously.

Divide the cauliflower toasts among 4 warmed plates and top each with a poached egg. serve the blanched kale or cavolo nero alongside, sprinkled with a little extra dukkah or cumin and a squeeze of lemon juice.

prep 10 min cook 30 min

SONY Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact(New)

SONY Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact

THE SONY XPERIA Z2 Tablet has long been our favourite Android tablet, thanks to its stunning thin design and superb performance. The Z3 Tablet Compact fortunately shares a lot in common with its larger predecessor.

Sony has yet to announce a 10in Z3, so it may concentrate on 8in models from now on. We find 8in models are becoming increasingly popular as a good compromise between portability and screen size, but some may still prefer the 4:3 aspect ratio of an iPad or Google Nexus 9, which makes a tablet feel more natural to use in portrait mode.

There’s no doubt the Z3 Compact looks great. It’s amazingly slim at just 6.4mm, and weighs 270g, which is 140g less than the 8in Tesco Hudl 2. The difference in weight can easily be felt: the Z3 Compact is supremely comfortable to hold in one hand thanks to its thin chassis and even weight distribution.

The Z3 Compact is waterproof and resistant to dust, so you can safely use it to take snaps in fresh water for up to 30 minutes at a time, although only to depths of 1.5m and as long as you close all the port flaps.

Impressively, Sony has done away with the need for a flap to seal the headphone connection. Forgetting to close such a flap could well be the cause for your tablet’s watery demise, as it’s so regularly used and easy to forget about. There’s also a magnetic charging dock connector on the side, which disrupts the Z3 Compact’s clean lines.

The Z3 Compact is available with 16GB (£329) or 32GB (£379) of storage. You can also buy the 16GB version with LTE (4G) for £429. Each model is available in black or white.

Like the Xperia Z2, the Z3 Compact has a display resolution of 1,920x1,200 pixels, although these are packed into a smaller 8in screen. This gives it a pixel density of 275ppi to the Z2’s 224ppi, making the pixels even less discernible and text and images incredibly sharp. Colour accuracy is one of the Z3 Compact’s strong points, with the display able to produce an astonishing 98.2 per cent of the sRGB colour gamut. This is one of the best readings we’ve seen on a tablet, eclipsing the Kindle Fire HDX 8.9’s 88.7 per cent accuracy and the Google Nexus 9’s 93.8 per cent. To our eyes, however, the Z3 Compact has a subtle blue cast that gives the screen a slightly cold colour temperature. This didn’t affect our enjoyment of the tablet, though.

Although colour accuracy is impressive,the Z3 Compact’s black levels don’t quite reach such dizzying heights. The tablet managed black levels of 0.62cd/m², which isn’t as deep as we’d like. We were similarly disappointed with its contrast ratio of 875:1, which isn’t as high as the Google Nexus 9’s. The Z3 Compact does have an exceptionally bright screen, however, with our calibrator measuring white levels at a searing 546.8cd/ m², meaning the display is easy to see even when outdoors.

Sony has yet to announce a 10in Z3, so it may concentrate on 8in models from now on. We find 8in models are becoming increasingly popular as a good compromise between portability and screen size, but some may still prefer the 4:3 aspect ratio of an iPad or Google Nexus 9, which makes a tablet feel more natural to use in portrait mode.

Although the Z3 Compact shares the same resolution screen as its predecessor, it has received a substantial performance upgrade through its quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 system-on-chip running at 2.5GHz – a 200MHz speed increase for each core. This is paired with a very generous 3GB of RAM. The tablet felt highly responsive when we were navigating around Android 4.4, with apps and menus opening in a swift manner and the tablet never stuttering under the load of image-heavy or complex websites.

Gaming performance is strong, too. The Z3 Compact maxed out our Ice Storm Extreme test and managed a respectable 18,077 in Ice Storm Unlimited, which runs at a fixed 720p resolution to help compare different chipsets. This isn’t as high as the Google Nexus 9’s or Nvidia Shield Tablet’s figures, which are the Android gaming power champions, but the Z3 Compact will certainly handle graphically complex games such as Assassin’s Creed: Pirates with high detail levels. All this power doesn’t come at the expense of battery life; in our video playback battery test, the Z3 Compact managed 16 hours, 51 minutes, which is one of the best scores we’ve seen.

The tablet’s gaming credentials don’t stop there. If you own a PlayStation 4 you can use the Z3 to play PS4 games over your network using the Remote Play service. This means you can use your PS4 controller to play games all over the house on your tablet, helping avoid arguments when the TV is in use. You’ll need both the PlayStation 4 and Xperia Z3 connected to the same wireless network.

Sony has its own Camera app for the 8-megapixel rear and 2.2-megapixel frontfacing cameras. This app has features such as Background Defocus, which replicates the background blur effect from DSLR cameras. There’s also AR Effect, which uses augmented reality to add virtual characters such as Spiderman to your shots. This is fun but probably not something you’ll use often once the novelty wears off. The Panoramic Sweep and Manual modes are much more useful.

Photo quality is only average; the camera captures a decent amount of detail in good light, but images are still grainy and lacking in sharpness, and colours are subdued. Low-light performance is also poor, with a lot of noise.

The Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact is a premium tablet, and it has the price to match. Its build quality is fantastic and it’s razor thin, and the water- and dust-proofing is useful. Its performance is also top-notch, and Sony has said it will upgrade the Z3 Compact to Android 5 Lollipop early in 2015.

If you want a compact Android tablet, the choice comes down to this or the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 (Shopper 320). The Galaxy Tab S has a superior higher-resolution screen, but can’t match the Sony’s build quality, 3D performance or battery life. We think the Samsung’s amazing screen makes it just pip the Z3 Compact overall, but Sony’s tablet is a better bet to use on the move. However, bear in mind that Apple’s iPad Mini 2 has dropped in price to £239, making it a strong 8in alternative to the Z3 Compact.

Specifications :

• PROCESSOR -----------  Quad-core 2.5GHz Snapdragon 801
• SCREEN SIZE -------- 8in
• SCREEN RESOLUTION ------------ 1,920x1,200
• REAR CAMERA -------------------------  8.1 megapixels
• STORAGE ---------------------------------- 16/32GB
• WIRELESS DATA ------------------- 4G +£100 (16GB model only)
• SIZE -----------------------------  213.3x6.4x123.6mm
• WEIGHT -------------------  270g
• OPERATING SYSTEM -------------------- Android 4.4
• WARRANTY -------------------- One-year RTB
• PART CODE ---------------------------- SGP621GB/W.CEK

APPLE Mac Mini (2014)

APPLE Mac Mini (2014)

THE MAC MINI has always been a popular choice for those who want to buy their first Apple Mac computer. It has typically been the cheapest desktop Mac, and remarkably the new Mac Mini we review here is even cheaper than the one it replaces.

In design terms, there’s little to separate the old and the new, as the 2014 Mac Mini uses the same chassis as its predecessor. Encased in a 36mm-thick aluminium uni-body

chassis, the Mac Mini is sleek and attractive. It’s made from a single block of aluminium, and its beautiful curved edges and the lack of joins make it look exceptionally modern and elegant. The Mac Mini isn’t as small as some compact PC systems, such as the Cyber power Fang Mini Pro (see Reviews, Shopper 320), but it’s small enough not to get in the way.

Other than an Apple logo on the top of the Mac Mini, a small white LED on the front and an infrared receiver, the Mac Mini’s front, top and sides are bare. The connection ports are all hidden away tidily at the back, which could prove inconvenient if you’ll regularly connect USB storage or use SD cards. Also at the back are four USB3 ports and two super-fast

Thunderbolt 2 ports, as well as an SDXC card reader and a Gigabit Ethernet port. The 2014 Mac Mini also benefits from built-in 802.11ac Wi-Fi, although you’ll need to use it with an 802.11ac-compatible router to get the best speeds. As for graphics outputs, you can use either the HDMI port or one of the two Thunderbolt 2 ports.

The Mac Mini comes without any peripherals, so you’ll need to provide your own keyboard and mouse, as well as a monitor. You can order Apple-branded keyboards, mice and monitors if you buy the Mac Mini from Apple’s online store.

When ordering, you can configure the Mac Mini with a dual-core 1.4GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM and a 500GB hard disk for £399. At the top-end is a dual-core 2.8GHz Intel Core i5 with a 1TB fusion drive and 8GB of RAM for £799. We reviewed the mid-spec model, which has a dual-core 2.6GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of memory and a 1TB hard disk and costs £569 at the time of writing. Every system has an Intel Haswell processor, and you can configure the two higher-end models further with an SSD and more RAM if you need them

.

It’s worth noting that, unlike with previous models, the Mac Mini (2014)’s memory can’t be upgraded later, as the modules are now soldered to the motherboard. This is a shame, and means you’ll need to be sure how much memory you require at the time of purchase.

The 2.6GHz dual-core i5 processor can Turbo Boost up to 3.1GHz, and the Mac Mini scored 62 overall in our PC benchmarks. That’s pretty good and shows that the MacMini is powerful enough for most desktop tasks, even basic video-editing and music production. The result compares well with that of the similarly priced Zotac ZBox EN760 Plus, which scored 47 overall. Our review sample had a 1TB hard disk, and although its boot up and shutdown speeds were decent, it’s worth upgrading to an SSD or the 1TB Fusion Drive if your budget will stretch to it.

Our usual graphics benchmarks don’t work on Mac OS X, so we used our Mac-compatible Call of Duty 4 benchmark to test the Mac Mini’s integrated Intel Iris graphics processor. With the benchmark running at a resolution of 1,920x1,080 with 4x anti-aliasing and High graphics quality, the Mac Mini managed just 20fps, which is poor. Once we’d turned off anti-aliasing, the frame rate increased to 40fps, but you’ll need to reduce the resolution to 1,280x720 to experience a very smooth 60fps. Call of Duty 4 is an old game now, so don’t expect to play the latest 3D games at high quality settings – if at all. However, you should be able to play older games and you’ll have no trouble using 2D applications.

The Mac Mini comes with OS X Yosemite, the latest version of Apple’s operating system. Some of its new features will be better appreciated by those who own other Apple devices, such as an iPhone. Continuity, for example, allows you to answer calls sent to your iPhone from your Mac, and also send and receive SMS messages. Handoff, meanwhile, lets you sync your app’s current state between your Mac and iOS device, so you can pick up where you left off. This works with most of Apple’s apps, and developers can build compatibility into their own apps.

The Mac Mini (2014) is a worthy follow up. It’s kept what made its predecessor good and reduced the price. It’s a pity you can’t upgrade the memory and other components yourself, but that’s the trade-off you make for having such a compact and fashionable PC. If you want to switch to Mac OS X but don’t want to spend a fortune, the Mac Mini is a great buy.

Specification :

• PROCESSOR -----Dual-core 2.6GHz Intel Core i5-4278U
• RAM -----8GB
• FRONT USB PORTS------ None
• REAR USB PORTS ------ 4x USB3
• TOTAL STORAGE ------ 1TB hard disk
• GRAPHICS CARD -------- Intel Iris
• DISPLAY ----------- None
• OPERATING SYSTEM ---------- Mac OS X Yosemite
• WARRANTY --------------- One-year RTB
• PART CODE ---------------- Mac Mini A1347

Five reasons you need Apple Watch

Apple Watch

Apple Watch is coming. At this point, if Apple’s ‘early 2015’ announcement is still on track, we’re probably just two months away from getting a solid release date for the fashion-focused wearable. And when it does eventually make its way into Apple stores and boutiques across the world, you can be sure that the product will be extremely difficult to get hold of for at least a few weeks. If you’re one of the people sitting on the fence when it comes to whether or not to pick one up, waiting until the day after the launch will be too late. So, to help you make your mind up, here are the five major reasons that you should throw caution to the wind, pull out your credit card and get in that queue.

Fitness

The built-in heartbeat sensors, pedometer and barometer combine to make Apple

Watch the ultimate fitness companion. The watch will feature its own built-in fitness app that will sync with the iPhone so you can track exactly how you’ve performed each day. But this isn’t just another fitness band – the software will learn from how you exercise, recommending goals for you to reach and reminding you to get moving on lazier days.

Apps, apps, apps

Now that WatchKit has been launched for developers, they’ve started working on their own third-party apps for Apple Watch – and, as we showed in last month’s issue, they’re excited about the possibilities. If the iPhone and iPad have taught us anything, it’s that third-party apps are the cornerstone of an outstanding product.

Getting personal

This is the first Apple device that you will wear on your body, making it inherently more personal than anything you’ve used before. But Apple is working hard to take it further than just wearing – the built-in Taptic engine will gently vibrate to alert you whenever new information appears. Plus, the new ways to communicate with other Apple Watch users, including sending your heartbeat or a small sketch, are much more intimate than a text message.

Apple Pay

The service may not have debuted outside of the US at the moment, but Apple Pay took just 72 hours to become more popular than all other contactless payment competitors combined. The new payment system is fast, easy to use and has the support of a huge number of banks – when it rolls out elsewhere in the world, you’re going to want to be onboard.

In control

Apple Watch is the remote you can never lose. Whether it’s controlling your iPhone by sending messages and emails without having to pull your mobile out your pocket, or controlling your home with apps like Philips Hue, Apple Watch is insanely adaptable. It might be a small device, but it crams in more features than you can shake a stick at.

Design And Features SamSung Gear S

SamSung gear S

Big in all areas: design, features and, unfortunately, price Samsung really wasn’t keen to go with the crowd with its smart-watches. The gear S doesn’t use the popular Android-based Wear software, but Samsung’s own Tizen one. its style is a bit different.

Which brings us to the style of the watch itself, which is a bit of a sci-fi-tinged eyeopener. With a giant watch face and curved glass layer atop a sharp, vivid Super AMOLED display, it’s not even trying to pose as a normal watch. it’s a big, attention-grabbing gadget of the future.

Don’t want a wrist-dominator? Walk away now. however, if you can stomach this and the price, the gear S is one of the more complete feeling watches you can buy. you see, it’s less reliant on a phone for its features, and even has a Sim slot in the back to let the watch get its own mobile data source. it really can stand on its own to an extent, where Android Wear watches can’t.

 

In true Samsung fashion, the gear S also has more sensors than you’ll know what to do with. As well as monitoring your jogs with GPS, counting your steps with an accelerometer checking your heart rate while you’re exercising, there’s even a UV sensor to tell you whether you need to slap on some sunscreen. Overkill? Probably.

For all its advanced elements, though, the gear S can feel limited. it’ll only hook up with certain Samsung phones, still needed for notifications and the like, and is unlikely to get anywhere near as much app attention as rivals in the future. Samsung may think Tizen watches are the way forward, but we’re not sure anyone else is convinced.

The battery life is better than some other colour watches at around a day and a half, but still annoyingly short. if the Samsung gear S was the same price as the competition, it’d be much easier to recommend. But at almost twice the price, it’s a tough sell.

Specification :

• SCREEN--------- 2-INCH CURVED SUPER AMOLED, 360x480
• CPU -------- DUAL-CORE 1GHz 
• STRAP -------- PLASTIC, FIXED
• CONNECTIVITY ------- HEART RATE,3G, GPS, UV, LIGHT CENSOR
• SOFTWARE ------ TIZEN
• STORAGE ------- 4GB
• BATTERY -------- 300mAh BATTERY 300mAh
• CHARGER ----- CLIP-ON DOCK