Apple iPhone 6 Plus vs Samsung Galaxy S5

The iPhone 6 Plus is one of Apple's newest iPhone which is the successor to the iPhone 5S. It was unveiled on September 9, 2014 in Cupertino, California. These newest iPhone smartphones were released in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, Germany, Singapore, France, and Puerto Rico on September 19, 2014.

According to reports from Apple, they hit a record 4 million iPhone units in the first 24 hours in pre-order sales. On September 26, 2014, the new iPhones will be available in 20 more countries like Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Portugal, UAE, and others.

In a separate article, I compared the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus vs iPhone 5S. In this article, I will compare the iPhone 6 Plus vs Samsung Galaxy S5. Let’s see how these two giants stack up:

Operating System: the iPhone 6 Plus runs on Apple's brand new iOS 8 operating system. Apple has made some significant improvements in this new mobile operating system like improved notifications and search functionality. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy S5 runs on Google's Android KitKat 4.4 operating system with the TouchWiz user-interface. Comparing these two different operating systems is a matter of choice.

Processor: the Samsung Galaxy S5 comes equipped with a powerful quad-core 2.5 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor compared to Apple's dual-core 2.0 GHz Apple A8 processor alongside with an M8 motion co-processor in the iPhone 6 Plus. Generally speaking, based on research, quad-core processors are better for multi-tasking, whereas a dual-core coupled with an M8 is expected to perform faster. Also, bear in mind that the new iPhones have 1 GB of RAM compared to the 2 GB RAM in the Galaxy S5.

Display & Screen Resolution: for the first time since the launch of the iPhone, Apple has introduced two sizes (4.7-inch and 5.5-inch). The iPhone 6 Plus has a 5.5-inch screen LED-backlit IPS LCD display with 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution (401 ppi). the Samsung Galaxy S5 features a 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display with 1080 x 1920 pixels screen resolution (432 ppi). Both these displays are Full HD resolution, but the iPhone has a wider display giving users a slight edge on screen real estate. Though an important point to make is that the blacklit displays (in the iPhone) consume more battery life compared to AMOLED display in the Galaxy S5.

Memory & Storage: the iPhone 6 Plus comes in three memory storage models, 16 GB, 64 GB, and 128 GB, whereas, the Samsun Galaxy S5 comes in two models, 16 GB and 32 GB. However, the Samsung Galaxy S5 also is equipped with a microSD slot (up to 128 GB) whereas the iPhone 6 is not. In terms of RAM, the Samsung Galaxy S5 has 2 GB of RAM compared to 1 MB on the iPhone 6 Plus.

Size & Weight: The dimensions (WxHxD) of the Samsung Galaxy S5 are 2.85 x 5.59 x 0.32 inches as compared to 3.06 x 6.22 x 0.28 inches of the iPhone 6. As you can see, the iPhone 6 Plus is slightly larger and slimmer compared to the Galaxy S5. Therefore, the iPhone 6 Plus also weighs more (172 gms) compared to Galaxy S5 (145 gms).

Cameras: The Samsung Galaxy S5 is equipped with 16 MP rear camera which has better resolution compared to the 8 MP iSight camera in the iPhone 6 Plus. Also, the front-facing in the Galaxy S5 has higher resolution (2 MP) compared to that of the iPhone 6 Plus (1.2 MP). Both smartphones are capable of recording 1080p HD quality video.

Battery Life: The iPhone 6 Plus has a non-removable Li-Po 2915 mAh battery compared to the Li-Ion 2800 mAh battery in the Samsung Galaxy S5. Based on preliminary tests, the iPhone seems to perform better when it comes to overall battery life compared to the Galaxy S5. The iPhone 6 Plus comes out with approximately 11.5 hours of battery life on Wi-Fi browsing compared to just over 10 hours on the Galaxy S5. In terms of 3G talk-time, the iPhone gives approximately 24 hours of battery life compared to 21 hours on the Galaxy S5.

Price Comparison: in the US the suggested retail price for the iPhone 6 Plus is $299 (16 GB model), $399 (64 GB model), and $499 (128 GB model) with a two-year contract. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy S5 is available as low at $79.99 (16 GB model) on Amazon.

Overall, as you can see, both, the Samsung Galaxy S5 and the Apple iPhone 6 Plus are top-of-the-line smartphones in their own respect. However, based on my opinion, overall the Samsung Galaxy S5 still has the edge, though the iPhone has a more premium look and feel to it. Check the video review below to see an in-depth comparison of Samsung Galaxy S5 vs Apple's iPhone 6 Plus which covers some other details like the operating systems, cameras, picture and video quality, and other specs.

Apple Unveils New iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus

The much anticipated launch date of Apple’s new iPhone finally arrived today September 9, 2014. In fact, there were two new smartphone models unveiled: the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. Both these new Apple smartphones have bigger screens compared to their predecessor, the iPhone 5S, as well as a few new features which we will explore in a moment.

I attended the Apple event via live streaming and it went longer than I expected it, I guess because Apple also unveiled their new Apple iWatch. On this blog post, I will just focus on the new iPhone models that Apple unveiled and cover some of the key aspects or specifications. At the end of this blog post, you will find a comparison chart comparing the iPhone 5S vs the iPhone 6 vs the iPhone 6 Plus.

Operating System: the new iPhone models are equipped with Apple’s new iOS 8 operating system which Apple claims to be the “world’s most advanced mobile operating system”. This new mobile OS offers advanced functionality like using Siri to control devices at your home, as well as communicating directly with doctor via health and fitness apps using your iPhone. iOS8 will be available for download on Sept 17, 2014.

Processor: apart from the new operating system, Apple has introduced their new 64-bit A8 processor with an M8 co-processor. This is another upgrade from the iPhone 5S which came with the A7 processor and M7 co-processor. This is supposed to translate into 25% more CPU power while providing 50% more GPU muscle.

Display & Screen Resolution: the iPhone 6 comes with a 4.7-inch Retina HD display, while the iPhone 6 Plus comes with a 5.5-inch Retina HD display. It is an LED-backlit widescreen multi-touch display with IPS technology. Given that both the iPhones have larger screen sizes, their screen resolutions have changed: 750 × 1334 pixels (326 ppi) for the iPhone 6; and 1080 × 1920 pixels (401 ppi) for the iPhone 6 Plus, compared to the 640 × 1136 pixels (326 ppi) on the iPhone 5S.

Memory & Storage: besides the 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB memory capacity models, the new iPhones will also come in a new 128GB model. I didn’t see any mention of RAM, so I’m assuming that there is no change to the 1GB RAM on the new Apple smartphones. Also, as usual, there is no microSD slot on the new iPhones.

Size & Weight: the new Apple smartphones are slimmer compared to the iPhone 5S. As Apple put it “iPhone at its largest and thinnest.” The dimensions (WxHxD) on the iPhone 6 are: 2.64 x 5.44 x 0.27 inches; and iPhone 6 Plus: 3.06 x 6.22 x 0.28 inches. Comparatively, the dimensions on the iPhone 5S were 2.31 x 4.87 x 0.30 inches. Basically, the thickness of the iPhone 6 is 6.9 mm, the iPhone 6 Plus is 7.1 mm, and the iPhone 5S was 7.6 mm.

Cameras: though the iSight camera still remains at 8MP, Apple claims that it is new and improved iSight camera. It has autofocus with Focus Pixels providing the camera sensor with more information about the image, thereby increasing the speed of the autofocus. Additionally, the 8MP camera will provide the option to capture video in 1080p Full HD resolution at 60fps (frames per second). Also, FaceTime comes improved face detection, as well as optical image stabilization for the iPhone 6 Plus.

Battery Life: the new iPhones come with a built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery providing improved battery life. The battery life on the iPhone 6 is expected to be up to 14 hours (3G talk time), and up to 24 hours (3G talk time) on the iPhone 6 Plus. Comparatively, the iPhone 5S has a battery life of 10 hours.

Wireless: the new iPhones will have improved wireless capability with 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi compared to 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi on the iPhone 5S. Also, the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus will have built in NFC (Near Field Communication) technology which is designed to work with the new ApplePay payment system (currently only available for the US market).

Besides the built-in apps, the iPhone will include free apps like iMovie, Pages, Keynote, Numbers, iTunes U, GarageBand, Apple Store, Remote, Find My iPhone, and Find My Friends.

The new Apple iPhones will come in silver, gold, and space grey colours. The iPhone 6 is priced at $199 (16GB model), $299 (64GB model), and $399 (128GB model) with a two-year contract. And the iPhone 6 Plus is priced at $299 (16GB model), $399 (64GB model), and $499 (128GB model) with a two-year contract. Pre-orders of the new iPhones begin on Sept 12, 2014.

Overall, based on the above comparison of the two new iPhones smartphone models, looks like Apple has made some significant improvements. If you’ve always been an Apple fan, but wanted a bigger iPhone with a few more bells and whistles, then one of these new iPhones will surely fit the bill.

Below are is a specifications comparison chart for the iPhone 5S vs iPhone 6 vs iPhone 6 Plus:

Watch the video below for a first look at the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus:

Apple iPhone Image Credit

Apple to Announce New iPhone 6

The rumored launch of the new Apple iPhone smartphone, in September 2014, has created a lot of buzz online and among Apple fans. It has finally been confirmed, by Apple, that they will indeed be holding an event for the media, on September 9, 2014, at Flint Center for the Performing Arts in Cupertino, California.

It is rumored that the new Apple iPhone 6, among other new Apple products, will be unveiled at this event. There has been no confirmation on the specs of the new Apple smartphone, however, a lot of speculation and leaked photos of the new device have been floating around in the internet world.

Last September, Apple launched its iPhone 5S and 5C models with some new features like the new iOS 7 operating system, the new A7 dual-core 64-bit processor, and fingerprint recognition system. Globally, iPhone sales in 2014 were over 125 million units. I guess, we will have to wait and see what the actual specs are, but listed below I've provided a table with the comparison of the iPhone 5S with the new iPhone 6. I will update this chart once the actual specifications are released.

Comparison Chart iPhone 5S vs iPhone 6 Rumored Specifications

In the past few weeks, iPhone users have been using trade-in sites in anticipation of the new iPhone launch. Trade-ins of older model iPhones have been increasing because once the new iPhone 6 is launched the trade-in prices will not be as attractive. Amazon is one such site on which you can trade in your old iPhone. For example, an iPhone 5S (16GB) is trading-in as high as $394.

Below you check the video from CNET (Apple Byte) with rumored specs of the new iPhone 6:

How to Trade-in Your iPhone at Amazon

Apple unveiled its latest smartphone models of the iPhone earlier this September 2013. There were two new models unveiled, namely, the iPhone 5c which is available on pre-order.

While the iPhone 5s will be released on September 20, 2013. Both these new iPhone models will come with the new iOS 7.0 and have a 4-inch capacitive LED-backlit IPS display.

The Apple iPhone 5c is a cheaper model and comes in six different colors: Black, White, Pink, Yellow, Blue, Green and is made of plastic which will be available for $99 (16 GB) and $199 (32 GB) with a wireless contract. It has the A6 dual-core 1.3 GHz processor and 1 GB of RAM. It has two cameras: 8 MP rear, and 1.2 MP front-facing.

The iPhone 5s is the more expensive model and comes in three colors: silver, gold and grey with the premium Apple feel to it. It comes in three memory storage models: $199 (16 GB), $299 (32 GB), and $399 (64 GB) on contract. It is equipped with the new iSight auto image stabilization 8 MP reare camera, and 1.2 MP front-facing camera. The iPhone 5s has the new A7 dual-core 1.7 GHz processor which is supposed to be twice as fast as the A6 processor.

With the launch of the new Apple iPhone smartphone models in September 2013, several resale sites have seen a surge in trade-ins of older iPhone models. Amazon is one such site which allows consumers to trade-in or sell their old iPhones via their website.

In terms of the iPhone Trade-in this is how it works: visit Amazon’s iPhone Trade-in website, select the iPhone model to trade in, get a free shipping label, and get an Amazon gift card. Alternatively, if you wish you sell your old iPhone model for cash, you can visit Amazon’s Sell Your iPhone website, list your iPhone, and once it sells, Amazon will deposit the payment into your bank account. If you trade-in your old iPhone at Amazon by October 15, 2013, you can lock in your offer as per Amazon’s website.

Firefox Browser Review 2013

Firefox 23 is the latest Rapid Release version of Mozilla’s internet browser which was released in August 2013. Mozilla has been releasing these web browser updates approximately once every six weeks. 

In 2013, they have released seven upgrades so far, and I’ve used every one of them. In most of these upgrades, we see several fixes to bugs, including security vulnerabilities. Some of the notable new Firefox browser features and changes implemented in 2013, are discussed below: 

Mixed Content Browsing is a security feature introduced in FF23 to protect users when using HTTPS pages. Some of these HTTPS sites include mixed content which are essentially unencrypted HTTP through which hackers can get access to sensitive information when visiting such sites. A warning signal will be displayed to users when such sites are visited and mixed content is blocked. 

Mozilla had introduced a sharing / social API feature in Firefox 17. This feature enabled to integrate social media platforms like Facebook directly in any website, on the right sidebar. This feature was enhanced and made available to all developers. Social sites like Facebook, msnNOW, Mixi, and Cliqz are currently available via this social API. 

Through WebRTC (Real-Time Communication) Firefox users can now effectively communicate via video, voice, and text without requiring to install add-ons to do so. Essentially, all the 3 components (getUserMedia, PeerConnection and DataChannels) of WebRTC have now been enabled by default. 

The Do Not Track (DNT) feature was implemented in May 2013. This DNT feature allows enables FF users to opt-out from being tracked from a behavourial ad tracking perspective. Users can choose from one of three options in terms of controlling how websites track their browser usage behaviour. 

We’ve seen some performance enhancements too. For example, enabling “asm.js optimization” module, via OdinMonkey has optimized JavaScript performance. In Firefox 21, we saw the introduction of the Firefox Health Report to help track and enhance browser performance. 

Some others new features that were implemented were Private Browsing per window through which users can browse privately on one window, while still browsing regularly through another window. Also, Firefox simplified how downloads are managed without having to open a new window. For a detailed look at changes that were implemented on each of these Rapid Release versions, visit Firefox Reviews 2013. You can check the YouTube video review of the latest Firefox 23 browser below:

Firefox is definitely one of my favourite browsers, but Google Chrome has come to the forefront in the past year or so and taken over from Internet Explorer and Firefox, in terms of Global Usage share. As you can see from the Top Internet Browsers chart below, courtesy StatCounter as at August 2013:

From the results of the latest Peacekeeper Browser Benchmark tests that I ran, you can see below that Google Chrome continues to outperform Firefox in terms of overall performance:

Image Credit: Firefox Logo Used Under Creative Commons CC Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

Google Chromecast Unveiled

Google Chromecast was introduced by Google on July 24, 2013. Chromecast is a neat HDMI stick that lets you stream online video, as well as music, to your high-definition TV from your smartphone, tablet, or computer.

This new device is compatible with Android, iOS, Chrome for Windows, and Chrome for Mac. Essentially, you can play online video from online platforms like YouTube, Google Play, and Netflix. Also, you can stream media via Google's Chrome browser.

As you can see, the Chromecast device is similar to a flash drive, but it plugs into the HDMI port of your TV. You then connect it to your Wi-Fi network and stream media from your smartphone, tablet or computer, to your HDTV. Google's Chromecast priced at $35 makes it affordable, especially when compared to online media streaming devices like Roku ($80) and Apple TV box ($99).

When purchased, the package includes the Chromecast device, an HDMI extender, a USB power cable, and a power adapter. With the launch of Chromecast, Google offered a free 3-month Netflix subscription for a limited number of purchases. This offer has now expired and no longer available. To learn how to set up Google Chromecast, check the video tutorial below:

Vulnerability in Android Smartphones

If you’re an Android smartphone user, you may want to pay attention to this security vulnerability which was first reported by Bluebox Security.

Essentially, with this Android vulnerability, hackers are able to take control of any app installed on your smartphone and turn it into a malicious Trojan. And all this activity takes place under the radar without being detected even by the Google App Store because this vulnerability enables the app APK code to be modified without detection. Having done so, the hacker gets complete access to the exploited smartphone(s).

According to Bluebox, this security vulnerability was reported to Google in February 2013. To protect Android smartphone users, it’s manufacturers’ responsibility to provide firmware, however, this is not a consistent process and could leave users vulnerable to security breaches via their smartphones. So Android users are encouraged to be proactive and protect the security of their smartphones.

One thing you can do is beware of the types of apps you download to your smartphone. Secondly, check the Android apps you’ve already got installed on your phone and the settings for automatic updates. Some users may have hundreds of apps installed and therefore opt into the automatic app updates. This can leave your mobile phone vulnerable to updates that may contain malware and spyware. You can check the video below to learn how to disable the auto-update app feature.

Also, Bluebox has come up with a free app called “Bluebox Security Scanner” which can be downloaded at the Google Play (Google’s app store). Basically, this app will check to see if your smartphone is vulnerable; if your phone settings allow non-Google apps to be installed; and will identify specific apps installed on your smartphone that may be attempting to take advantage of this security vulnerability.

 

New YouTube Features

YouTube has made some recent changes in the past couple of months so viewers and YouTube users can have a better experience. Some of these changes include more relevant videos in the Home Page feed for viewers who are signed-in YouTube. You can now better organize your video content into various sections as well as showcase different Playlists.

One of these changes includes  the introduction of a new “responsive” layout. YouTube content consumers use various types of digital devices with different screen sizes like TVs, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. The new responsive One Channel YouTube layout will make it possible for YT content to shrink and fit into all these different screen types.

To help YouTubers implement these changes and leverage from these new features, the YouTube Creator Academy organized a free online course. This two-week course, Maximize Your Channel, and was held between June 3 to June 17, 2013. I attended this online course and found it useful. I’ve already implemented many of things I learned during the course and am in the process of implementing others.

Some other new features that YouTube has implemented recently are: you can now receive an email notification once your video has completed uploading to YouTube. Also, the new Publish button helps you hold off on publishing your video until you’re ready. Until, the video is published, it will show as a private video. This is a good feature because you may not want the video to be public until you’ve completed filling out all the other information pertaining to the video.

YouTube has also implemented a pilot program to help some YouTube Partners offer paid channels. All these paid channels, currently have a 14-day free trial. In late May 2013, YouTube also announced the Social Star Awards which will be presented to the most popular in social media.

I like most of these changes, especially the ones related to the new One Channel YouTube layout. You can take a look at my channel by visiting AJGodinho’s YouTube Channel, to see some of the new One Channel layout features.

Bubblews Review

Bubblews is an online community which was introduced in mid-2012. It is a combination of a social network and blogging platform put together. I came across this online writing community in early May 2013, via a Google+ post, and was intrigued by this growing online website. 

I checked out the website and read many of the articles or bubbles (as they call them) posted by various Bubblews' members to get a sense of what the website was about. I have to admit that, initially, I was not too impressed with many of the post because I saw a good deal of plagiarism and copyright issues on many of the bubbles. However, I also found many serious online writers who were posting good quality content. Also, I saw many familiar faces from other online communities like Squidoo, Wizzley, and people from my social networks. So skeptical as I was, I decided to join.

On May 2, 2013, I joined Bubblews and started posting articles or blog posts, mainly from a "testing the waters" perspective. According to Bubblews' TOS (Terms of Service), you are allowed to post up to 10 bubblews or posts in a 24 period, and each post should include a minimum of 400 characters.

So what makes Bubblews different from other social networks and blogging platforms? Well, Bubblews shares 50% of its advertising revenue with its members. When members' account reach the $25 threshold, they are allowed to cash out via their PayPal account. So is Bubblews legitimate? Well, I've seen my Bubblews account being credited with money, however, I've not been active enough and have not posted enough to reach the redemption yet. However, I've come across many members who have cashed out and have received their payments.

My goal is not to just publish as many articles as I can, but rather to do so at a pace I'm comfortable at, since I'm busy working on other projects. On average, I've posted less than one bubble per day and I'm ok with that. At some point, I may increase my postings on Bubblews as I go along and find more time. 

Overall, I think that this new online community has a lot of potential to grow, but more importantly, I'm impressed by the commitment of the CEO, Arvind, to improve the site, as well as take care of the plagiarism and copyright issues. You can take a look at the Bubblews' Video Review I posted on YouTube and see how easy it is to create a Bubblews article:

Facebook Home, HTC First Smartphone, & Privacy Concerns

Facebook Home was unveiled, by Mark Zuckerberg, on April 4, 2013. It is basically a user interface (UI) designed for Android smartphones to replace home screens on Android mobile devices.

As per Mark Zukerberg, Facebook Home “is designed around people, rather than apps”. With Facebook Home activated on your smartphone, your home screen becomes a cover feed displaying updates from your Facebook Newsfeed. It acts like an automatic slideshow with users being able to interact with their updates.

With FB Home, you can now get notifications, not only from FB, but others apps like Gmail and other social networks. And finally, Chat Heads is a messaging system, via Facebook, which allows users to interact with friends via SMS messages. Though FB Home is your main screen, you can get to your other apps, however, it’s one extra step.

Facebook Home comes pre-loaded on HTC First, a phone specifically designed to provide an optimal user experience with Home. Though, the Facebook Home App is available for download on Android devices via Google Play. The HTC First is a mid-level smartphone with a 4.3-inch multi-touch capacitive display, equipped with a 1.4 GHz dual-core processor, 1 GB RAM, and weighs 124 grams. It has a 5 MP rear camera and a 1.6 MP front-facing camera. The battery life of the HTC First smartphone is approximately 14 hours. The HTC First is not designed to compete with premium smartphones like the Apple iPhone 5 or Samsung Galaxy S4, rather it's meant to be an affordable mobile phone, which is exclusively available through AT&T.

Check the video below to see the HTC smartphone specs and Facebook Home in action on the HTC First:

When talking about Facebook, one has to raise the question regarding privacy concerns. In the past, Facebook has faced numerous complaints with regards to user’s privacy. For users who use Facebook Home as their main screen, given that Facebook Home will constantly be on, it raises the concern that advertisers will be able to track FB user’s every actions as they interact.

Many Android apps today get access to a lot of the data on the user’s smartphones, however, it doesn’t stop Facebook from data-mining FB user’s information so advertisers and Facebook can benefit from it. I know many users, especially those who are addicted to Facebook, will enjoy this new user interface. I don’t know about you, but I’m not too comfortable letting Facebook Home take over my smartphone and my life.

So I will not be using this app. In response to user’s privacy concerns, Facebook responded “doesn’t change anything related to your privacy settings on Facebook, and your privacy controls work the same with Home as they do everywhere else on Facebook”. Here is the link to the Facebook’s Official Response to Privacy Concerns.

How to Choose the Right SD Memory Card

In this digital world, at some point or another, most of us have used a digital camera or video camcorder. Most digital cameras or camcorders, require memory cards to store pictures and videos. These memory cards look quite similar to one another but come in different specifications.

If you take a closer look at the specifications listed on the labels of memory cards, you will notice several abbreviations and numbers. All these specifications mean something and it's important to know how to choose the right SD Memory Card for your digital camera or camcorder.

Generally speaking, the best thing to do before buying an SD card, is to check your owner's manual for the recommended SD cards for your digital device. In order to keep things simple, what you should know about memory card specifications are: SD card size, SD card Class, and SD card memory capacity.

In terms of SD card sizes, they come in standard sized SD cards, miniSD cards, and microSD cards. Standard size SD cards are used in most cameras and camcorders. Whereas, miniSD and microSD cards are used in smartphones and tablets. Having said so, miniSD and microSD cards can also be used in cameras and other digital devices with an adapter.

In terms of SD card Classes, there are mainly 5 classes: Class 2, 4, 6, 10 and UHS (Ultra-High Speed). The Class is used to determine the read/write speed of the memory card. Essentially, a Class 2 SD card has a minimum write speed of 2 MB/s. The higher the Class, the faster the transfer speed.

In terms of SD card memory capacity, there are mainly three types: SD, SDHC (High Capacity), and SDXC (Extended Capacity). The memory capacity determines the memory storage capacity, for example, 2GB, 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, 32GB and so on.

The lower end Class 2 SD cards are good for standard definition and still photography. Whereas, the ones above Class 4 to Class 10 (SDHC and SDXC) are good for high definition (HD) video and continuous HD still photography. The UHS Class SD cards are good for professional level Full HD video and photography.

If you'd like to learn more about SD cards, visit SD Cards 101. If you're ready to buy SD cards, you can visit Amazon's secure shopping website by clicking any of the SD card banners below:

SanDisk SD Cards for Digital Photography

SanDisk Extreme SD Cards for Digital Photography

Lexar SD Cards for Digital Photography

Kingston SD Cards for Digital Photography

Transcend SD Cards for Digital Photography

You can also get Wi-Fi enabled SD memory cards which allow you to transfer your pictures and videos to other digital devices via a Wi-Fi network. You can learn more about Eye-Fi SD cards.

Laptops, Tablets, Ultrabooks Comparison

With rapid advancements in technology, we’re seeing faster, lighter and more efficient computing and wireless devices in the market. The influx of new and advanced computers and tablets, can leave the consumer confused in terms of what is best for their needs.

Advertizing can be deceptive and luring to the consumer leaving the consumer with a device that may not match their needs. Therefore the very first step in buying any laptop or tablet is determining the need. Once you have determined your need, you will have to decide whether a tablet, laptop or ultrabook will suit you best.

You can learn more about the difference between laptops and ultrabooks. Essentially, ultrabooks are faster, lighter and more portable compared to laptops. Also, they cost a little more than traditional laptops, so in some cases, the consumer will benefit from owning a laptop including their lower and reasonable prices. I believe that as ultrabooks become cheaper, they will ultimately replace traditional laptops. 

Tablets and laptops are quite different though, and serve a different purpose for the consumer. Tablets are much more portable than laptops or ultrabooks, and are mostly used for consumption of information. Contrary to tablets, laptops and ultrabooks are used for content creation and data processing. One of the big differences between tablets and laptops is that the latter has a physical keyboard and most tablets have a virtual keyboard. 

If you are looking for the top tablets in the market, you can visit Tablet Comparison Guide where you will find information, specifications, and video reviews of some of the best tablets. The Apple iPad was among the first tablets to be introduced in the market in 2010. However, the competition has been fierce with introduction of popular Android tablets, at much more reasonable prices. 

If you are looking for the top ultrabooks in the market, you can visit Ultrabook Comparison Guide where you will find information, specifications, and video reviews of some of the best ultrabooks in the market. In 2012, Intel introduced ultrabooks which have become popular. You can expect to see better, more efficient and more reasonably priced ultrabooks in 2013.

Amazon Kindle e-Readers in Canada

Amazon's popular Kindle eReaders are finally available in Canada via the Amazon.ca website as of January 23, 2013. So Canadians can now order them online without hassle and may be eligible for free shipping.

Amazon eReaders were first introduced in 2007 and became very popular as they evolved and prices dropped considerably with the arrival of tablets. These new and improved Amazon Kindle eReaders are fifth generation Kindles, released in September and October 2012.

These new Amazon Kindles come in three models with Wi-Fi connectivity, and the top end Kindle model comes with free 3G connectivity. These eReaders are very light-weight and have a 6-inch display screen. Priced between $89 and $199, Amazon has made them very affordable to the consumer. The Amazon Kindles are designed for reading and can hold over 1,000 books and you also have access to Amazon's cloud storage.

The $139 and $199 Amazon Kindle models have a built-in light which helps reduce eye fatigue. The brightness of the built-in light can be adjusted and uses less power.

With the Kindle eReaders, users can shop online at the Amazon stores and these devices also have an experimental web browser which enables users to search the web using Wikipedia or Google search. Below you will find a Kindle specifications chart comparing the three Amazon Kindle eReader models:

Shop for Kindle eReaders at Amazon.ca:

• Amazon Kindle Wi-Fi = $89
• Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Wi-Fi = $139
• Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Wi-Fi + 3G = $199

 Apart from the Kindle eReaders, Amazon has also launched their popular Amazon Kindle Fire Tablets at competitive prices.

Firefox 18 Review

Mozilla released Firefox 18, its latest Rapid Release internet browser version on January 8, 2013.

I’ve been using Firefox web browser for several years now and it’s been my favourite browser, but since I’ve been tried Google Chrome, I’ve definitely found a great alternative. In fact, Google Chrome which was behind Internet Explorer and Firefox, in terms of global usage, has now caught on with Internet Explorer and left Firefox behind.

With the new Rapid Releases being implemented approximately every 6 weeks, Firefox has been making improvements to their internet browser, but still lag behind. Let’s review some of the improvements implemented in Firefox in the last few Rapid Release versions starting with Firefox 18:

First off, there were over 2,900 bug fixes implemented in Firefox 18 including some security fixes. One of the major improvements in Firefox 18 was the faster performance in JavaScript via the new IonMonkey JavaScript engine. For Mac users, Firefox provides full support for OS X 10.7 (and up) high-resolution retina displays. Web Developers will see improvements in terms of support for new DOM property window.devicePixelRatio; improvement in startup time through smart handling of signed extension certificates; and support for W3C touch events implemented, taking the place of MozTouch events. As per the Peacekeeper browser benchmark test results, Firefox performed better than previous Firefox browser versions. However, Google Chrome continues to outperform Firefox, as you can see from the browser benchmark results below:

In Firefox 17, there were over 2,300 bug fixes implemented, though there were no noticeable new features implemented. Firefox 17 upgrade included Social API support which helps integrate social media sites in your browsing experience as well as support for Facebook Messenger in the Firefox sidebar. Another enhancement included were larger icons in the Firefox Awesome Bar which makes it easier to navigate through. The Peacekeeper browser benchmark test results showed no improvement over the previous version Firefox 16. As usual, Google Chrome outperformed Firefox as you can see from the results below:

In Firefox 16, there were over 1,900 bug fixes implemented including a couple of critical security fixes. Firefox 16 included Web Apps support for Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems, and improvement in JavaScript responsiveness. Web Developers were treated to a new Developer Toolbar which includes buttons providing quick access to tools, error count for the Web Console, and a new command line for quick keyboard access. When I ran the Peacekeeper browser benchmark test, the results showed a slight drop in overall performance and Google Chrome continued to outperform:

Other significant improvements made in Firefox, in previous updates, were: optimization of memory usage for add-ons; silent background updates, which is similar to Google Chrome, if you have your browser set for automatic updates; new Pointer Lock API which helps better control the mouse; full screen support for Mac OS X Lion to enhance browsing experience; and new API which stops the screen from sleeping. Overall, Firefox still remains my browser of choice, though Google Chrome is soon becoming one of my favourites. For more detailed information on Firefox Rapid Release updates, visit Firefox Reviews.

Kindle Fire HD Releases Sept 14th

Amazon unveiled its new line of Kindle Fire HD Tablets in late August 2012. These new Kindle tablets include 7-inch and 8.9-inch LCD IPS display devices running on modified Google's Android 4.0 operating system.

Since the launch of the first generation Kindle Fire, Amazon has captured a substantial Android tablet market share in just a few months. With the release of these new Kindle Fire HD tablets, Amazon hopes to capitalize on the momentum.

Consumers will have 7 different options depending on tablet screen size, memory storage, and Wi-Fi / 4G LTE connectivity. Listed below are the expected release dates for the new Amazon Kindle Fire tablets.

The new Amazon Kindle Fire tablets will be released in two phases. On September 14, 2012, Amazon releases the 7-inch Kindle Fire models which include the following Kindle tablets:

• Kindle Fire 7-inch tablet 8 GB Wi-Fi = $159;
• Kindle Fire HD 7-inch tablet 16 GB Wi-Fi = $199;
• Kindle Fire HD 7-inch tablet 32 GB Wi-Fi = $249;

In the second phase, on November 20, 2012, Amazon is expected to release the following 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD tablets in time for the Holiday season:

• Kindle Fire HD 8.9-inch tablet 16 GB Wi-Fi = $299; 
• Kindle Fire HD 8.9-inch tablet 32 GB Wi-Fi = $369; 
• Kindle Fire HD 8.9-inch tablet 32 GB 4G LTE = $499; 
• Kindle Fire HD 8.9-inch tablet 64 GB 4G LTE = $599.

As you can see from the above line-up, Amazon has taken quite the leap with the introduction of these Android tablets providing the consumer with a lot of choice.

For more details on the above tablets, visit Amazon Kindle Fire HD Tablet Review.

Top Samsung Android Smartphones

Samsung has been manufacturing Android smartphones for the past few years now and has been one of Apple's major competitors. Recently the two companies have battled over patent infringement, but Samsung continues to lead Apple in the smartphone arena.

One of the main reasons that Samsung has been able to dominate the Android market is because the company has been able to design smartphones that cater to a broad audience as opposed to just a single product like the iPhone.

I'm a fan of the Apple iPhone, however, I'm a bigger fan of Samsung smartphones and especially the customizable Google Android operating system which keeps getting better. I especially like the Samsung Galaxy series mobile phones that the company has been manufacturing since 2009. The Samsung Galaxy Nexus smartphone released in October 2011 was one of my favourites.

With the rapid advancements in technology and fierce competition, we continue to see newer smartphones with better features and a broader choice. Currently, my favourite Samsung Android smartphone is the Samsung Galaxy S3 which I believe is better than the iPhone 4S, of course, it's still a matter of choice.

One of the main reasons I prefer Samsung smartphones is because they have a larger screen and they run on Google's Android operating system. I use my smartphone more for consuming content and using apps, so a bigger screen makes sense. Some users may find the Samsung mobile phones a little too big, especially the new Samsung Galaxy Note. This unique mobile device, with a 5.5 inch display, is more of a hybrid between a smartphone and a tablet.

With the ever growing landscape of smartphones, it can be confusing when choosing the best mobile phone for your needs. If you're in the market for Android smartphones, you can check my reviews on the Top Android smartphones in 2012 which includes smartphones from Samsung, Motorola, HTC, LG, and Sony.

Google Nexus 7 Tablet Comparison

Google launched their first tablet PC, Nexus 7, in late June 2012 thereby further increasing the competition in the world of tablet computing.

This new 7-inch tablet has some good features and runs on Google's latest Android mobile operating systems, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

The Apple iPad continues the dominate the tablet computing landscape along with other popular tablets including Amazon's Kindle Fire.

So how does Google Nexus 7 compare to the competition. Well, let's take a quick peek.

When you compare Google Nexus 7 vs Amazon Kindle Fire, overall the Nexus 7 has much more to offer in terms of features including a comparable price point. First off, Nexus 7 runs on an improved version of the Android operating system. It has a quad-core processor compared to the dual-core in the Kindle Fire. The screen resolution is higher. It has higher RAM and comes in two memory storage models (i.e. 8 and 16 GB). Not to mention, the Nexus 7 has a front-facing camera for video chatting.

However, when you compare Google Nexus 7 vs Apple iPad, the former is not quite a match. The iPad has higher screen resolution with a larger display; comes in 3 memory storage models 16, 32, and 64 GB; has two cameras; has better battery life; and supports 3G / 4G  LTE connectivity. Though, the Nexus 7 does have a couple of features that outdo the iPad like a quad-core processor, much more customizable OS and costs much less.

Having said so, depending on what you're looking to do with a tablet, the Google Nexus 7 maybe the right choice for you. For more detailed information on the Nexus 7 and how to pre-order it, you can visit: Google Nexus Overview.

Firefox 13 Review

Firefox 13, the latest Rapid Release version of Mozilla's browser was released on June 5, 2012. Having upgraded to this latest version and running the Peacekeeper Browser Benchmark test, it's a much better version than the earlier Firefox 12.

In fact, the last Firefox 12 version was one of their worst, as far as I'm concerned. It crashed frequently, especially during the first few days, though it got better later. I reported all the crashes to Firefox with strong critiques and details that they required to fix that issue.

Anyway, lest I digress, Firefox 13 comes with over 1,300 bug fixes, is much smoother, and faster overall. So what did Mozilla do to get Firefox 13 to run better than its previous version? Well, for starters they enabled smooth browsing by default.

The restored tabs that run in the background do not load by default, rather only the current open tab. Once you click on the other restored tabs, they start to load. This increases the start-up time and in the process less memory is used.

SPDY is also now enabled by default. SPDY is a networking protocol, similar to HTTP, which increases browser security and increases web page load time. This feature only affects those websites that use SPDY protocol like Google Search, Twitter, Gmail.

There are a couple of new features in Firefox 13. One of them is the New Tab and the other one is the redesigned Home Page. The New Tab now displays large icons of the most visited and most recent tabs. These icons can be customized by dragging them to different places on the page as well as pinning or deleting them. Web developers will see some improvements as well in Firefox 13.

The new redesigned Home Page now displays your default search engine as well as some menu options as icons like Downloads, Bookmarks, History, Add-ons, Sync, and Settings. If you haven't customized your Home Page, you can click "Home" icon. If not, you can type "about:home" in the browser URL bar to display the default Home Page.

Below are the results of the Peacekeeper Browser Benchmark test that I ran on Firefox 13 and Google Chrome 19. Overall, Firefox 13 did much better than Firefox 12 in all areas, however, Google Chrome still continues to outperform Firefox.

Below is an interesting Global Browser Usage chart which compares the top internet browsers year-over-year as at June 2012. As you can see, Firefox which was in second place has been overtaken by Google Chrome.

Source: StatCounter Global Stats - Browser Market Share