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Three days with the iPhone 6 Plus
I've now had enough time with the iPhone 6 Plus to really get a feel for the device, so I thought I'd follow up Friday's "quick look" with a more detailed look at what's to like or dislike about the big new iPhone. Battery Life The folks at iFixit took apart a 6 Plus immediately after they first started rolling out the doors in Australia on Friday, and they found a massive 2915 mAh battery inside the phone. How big is that? Consider that the iPhone 5s battery has a capacity of 1560 mAh. The 6 Plus battery pack is 86.8 percent larger than the one in the iPhone 5s. So what does that mean for the average user? Over the weekend, my battery never got below 50 percent. This from a guy who normally sees that ominous red bar on the little battery icon and evening warnings about "You have less than 10% battery left." Does this make me happy? Heck, yeah. Does this mean I'll be able to skip my usual purchase of a Mophie Juice Pack? Yep. How does this translate to benchmark results? Anandtech showed that the iPhone 6 Plus can get about 13.7 hours of web browsing done on a single charge. The iPhone 5s, on the other hand, maxed out at about 9 hours. Display I can't say enough good things about the display. As a nearsighted person who is on the downhill side of his fifties right now, I found that with my earlier iPhones I was constantly pulling my glasses off and putting the phone close to my face so I could actually read what was on the screen. Now it's possible for me to just look at this screen and actually read everything clearly. Being able to read emails in landscape orientation on the iPhone 6 Plus made me very, very happy. I also found that it's much easier to see what's on the screen in broad daylight; taking pictures with the 6 Plus is a joy... and speaking of that... Camera Two things make me very happy about the iPhone 6 Plus camera. First, focusing is incredibly quick. No more waiting on the camera to focus, and when shooting video and doing zooms, the video is almost always in sharp focus. On earlier iPhones, it would drift out of focus frequently so I never really wanted to shoot a lot of video. That's going to change. The other thing? The new time-lapse function. I've used other apps (three of them to be exact) to shoot time-lapse video in the past. I've deleted all three. I kept Hyperlapse just because it's so cool. I haven't really had a chance to test the Optical Image Stabilization in the 6 Plus so I'll just keep quiet about that for now. I did some side by side shooting on Friday with the 5s and the 6 Plus. Here are some of those images, and I've also uploaded the full-sized originals to a slideshow for inspection. First, I took two shots of the same flower and then zoomed in to see the details. The iPhone 5s image (always on the left) seemed to have more visible pixelation. The 6s photo showed more saturated color and much more details in the shadows. Next, under identical conditions from the same spot, the iPhone 6s image (right) was slightly darker overall, once again with much better color saturation. Contrast in the cloud/sky barrier was much improved as well. To my eyes, though, the iPhone 5s photo was a much better representation of actual lighting and colors. Next was a shot looking towards the sun, with some flowering rabbit brush in the foreground. Once again the iPhone 6 Plus shot (right) was a bit darker and more contrasty in the sky, with more color saturation. Other than that, not too much difference between the overall look of the photos. Finally, another shot of those beautiful wild shrubs. In this one, the detail in the background seems to be sharper for the iPhone 6 Plus, and once again we see slightly darker tones, more saturation of the colors, and higher contrast in the sky and clouds. If you wish to look at the photos close up, please feel free to use this slideshow: For the most part, I think the biggest positive changes in the iPhone 6 Plus for photography are the fast focus and easier-to-view display. I do like the additional saturation, although it can make some photos appear slightly dark to my eyes. Size The most frequent question I get from people: "Is it hard to hold a phone that big?" The answer is no. I don't have big hands, yet I found talking on the iPhone 6 Plus to be quite easy. The sound from the ear speaker is much clearer and louder to my ears than on the iPhone 5s, and people I was talking to said that my voice was coming in much louder -- probably due to the length of the phone bringing the microphone closer to my mouth! I like the reachability mode when using the phone one-handed. A double-tap (not click) on the Home button moves items at the top of the screen down to the middle where they're reachable. This was a brilliant move on Apple's part for the big screen iPhones. One thing I'm not fond of The location of the sleep/wake button has moved from the top of the phone to the right side. I find myself still instinctively going to the top of the phone to put it to sleep. Overall impression after three days If I had any doubts about how I'd like a larger iPhone, they're totally gone. The size is entirely a positive to me, both in terms of the excellent battery life and the clear and incredibly readable display. The speed of the device in impressive, and the ability to do things on this phone I've never been able to easily do -- like actually edit and publish TUAW posts -- makes it the most useful iPhone I've owned. Owners of the iPhone 6 or 6 Plus: I'd like to hear your comments and what you think about your new iPhone. Leave your comments below.
Apple Watch vs. the competition: Is it worth the wait?
Long rumored and eagerly awaited, the Apple Watch is now a reality. It's certainly not the first smartwatch on the block, but could it be the best? The features look impressive, but we'll still need to get one on our wrist and write a full review. In the meantime, there's always the specs to look at. How does the Apple Watch fare against some of the other wearables on the market? Just take a look below to see where it stands against notable smartwatches like the Pebble Steel, Moto 360 and the Samsung Gear Live.
iPhone 6 Plus vs. the competition: Bigger is better, right?
Phones have been getting bigger and bigger, with many consumers embracing large handsets even as their screen sizes start to brush against the 6-inch mark. But those who prefer a larger screen have really only had Android as an option -- until today. The larger iPhone 6 Plus is here, and it's beautiful. While time will tell whether the iPhone 6 Plus has what it takes to challenge its more-established competition, we can still take a look at its specs versus the Galaxy Note 4 and LG G3 to see who's coming out of the gate with the strongest start. Want to see how it compares to other phones, both big and small? Build your own specs comparison with our compare feature!
The iPhone 6 vs. the competition: Can it stay ahead?
By now you're aware that there's an iPhone 6 and you've seen what it has to offer. But are all those new bells and whistles (like Apple Pay) enough to make you choose it above other phones? It's always hard to tell what features will work out, but in the meantime there's always cold, hard specs to look at. We've stacked up the new iPhone against the latest and greatest its competitors have to offer, so check out the numbers and other internals of the iPhone 6 versus the Samsung Galaxy S5 and the HTC One (M8) for Windows. Of course, you can also pick whatever devices you want and pit them against the iPhone 6 with our compare feature!
Compare this Resident Evil remake screen to this one
As your resident Resident Evil re-remake optometrists, we're here to give you a quick exam. Since Capcom announced a new version of the first game in the series earlier this month, due to arrive in 2015 for Xbox One, PS4, Xbox 360 and PS3, some were anxious to see if they could spot the differences between the remakes. Capcom Unity offered screens from the upcoming re-remake of the game as well as the Wii port of Resident Evil's 2002 remake. So, tell us: Does screen A look better, or screen B? Is screen C sharper, or screen D? What about screen E versus screen F? Share your Resident Evil remake vision screening results below, providing you're able to find the comments. [Image: Capcom]
How different is Modern Combat 5 on a iPhone 4s and a 5c?
Modern Combat 5 has finally hit the iTunes store, bringing fiery action to your iOS devices. There's just one question you may still be asking yourself: how will it run on my phone. The folks at AppSpy have put together a comparison video showing how the title plays on the iPhone 4s and the iPhone 5c, and the answer is remarkable. While the 5c version is noticeably sharper than the same title running on a 4s, the graphics on the 4s are still incredibly impressive considering the title is running on a device nearly three years old. You can watch the comparison video below.
iPad vs. Samsung tablets visualized
Having just launched a new pair of iPad competitors last week, Samsung's tablet arsenal seems to be growing at an exponential rate. To get a better idea of just how many weapons Samsung is stockpiling in its attempt to lure customers away from Apple's much more popular tablets, I gathered a list of all the Samsung tablets launched in the past 18 months. Here they are, compared to the tablets that Apple has launched in the same amount of time. In case you're wondering, here's the list of Samsung tablets shown in the graphic. Galaxy Tab S 8.4 Galaxy Tab S 10.5 Galaxy Tab 4 7.0 Galaxy Tab 4 8.0 Galaxy Tab 4 10.1 Galaxy Tab Pro 12.2 Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1 Galaxy Tab 3 Lite Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 Kids Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 Galaxy Note 8.0 Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014 Edition) This is compared to the iPad Air and 2nd generation iPad mini, which are the only two new tablets Apple launched over the same period. So why isn't Samsung dominating Apple in tablet sales? Well, if I were in the market for a new tablet and was considering Samsung's hardware, my first question would be: How could anyone possibly choose?
Video compares Grand Theft Auto 5's PS3 and PS4 trailers
Sony introduced Grand Theft Auto 5 for PS4 with a brief trailer during its E3 2014 press conference last week, and now Digital Foundry created a video to compare it with similar footage from the game's PS3 version. Some of the side-by-side trailer's more stark contrasts include crashing waves, more animals moseying about and some instances of enhanced lighting and details on items like factories and vehicles in the PS4 version. GTA 5 may have been part of Sony's press event, but it will also launch on Xbox One and PC this fall after first arriving on PS3 and Xbox 360 in September 2013. Take-Two shipped 33 million copies of the game on the previous-generation systems as of mid-May. Aside from updated visuals, it will receive a video editing feature designed for "advanced movie-making" on PC. [Image: Rockstar Games]
The HTC One M8 is an Android phone made for iPhone lovers
Last week, I upgraded my Samsung Galaxy S4 to the new HTC One (M8), and I can confidently say that if Apple's iPhone was somehow wiped from the face of the earth tomorrow, the new HTC One would be the next best thing. It is, in short, what I imagine Apple would build if it built Android phones. I can feel your confusion already; "What the hell is he talking about? Isn't this an Apple site?" you're wondering. And that's fair, so let me explain. As an Apple devotee, I keep my primary phone line on whatever the latest, greatest iPhone model happens to be. But I have a second phone line -- a phone line I keep secret from my Apple brethren; it's a phone number nobody knows and on that line I use an Android phone. I don't upgrade it with the same regularity with which I update my iPhone, but every 18 months or so I use the discounted upgrade option and grab whichever Android handset is the new hotness. I keep an Android phone around simply because I like to have a handle on the non-Apple mobile scene, and it's a great way to compare Apple's upgrades with the existing crop of competing devices. I've never been particularly impressed with the Android hardware I've picked up in the past. I find the vast majority of Android phones feel like toys, with plastic casing and a too-light hand feel, not to mention largely horrendous battery life. I'm an Apple fan and, to me, the iPhone has long been the untouchable pinnacle of smartphone design. So with that in mind, here's how the new HTC One stacks up. Design Easily the biggest selling point for anyone who loves the iPhone 5/5s is the HTC One's design. Symmetrical, solid, and weighty, it's almost as though HTC was attempting to guess what the iPhone 6 would look like. The HTC One ignores many Android trends and follows Apple's lead with things like a non-swappable battery. The tradeoff is a much more hearty hand feel with no bendy back cover or creaky, twistable frame that you'll find on many of its Android counterparts. For as much as Samsung tends to be "inspired" by Apple, HTC has managed to nail the iPhone's build quality far better than any Galaxy phone ever has. Much like Apple's always impressive iPhone build montages, HTC likes to brag about what it calls the "zero gap" design of the HTC One, and it's an accomplishment worthy of the seemingly manufactured hype. The three-panel casing, which was carried over from the previous year's model, does feel a bit "lifted" from Apple's iPhone 5 design manual, but it certainly wouldn't be the first time the iPhone has set the tone for future smartphones. The screen measures 5 inches, making it a full inch larger than the iPhone 5/5s. Switching between the two devices feels strange at times, and the screen on the One might be even a little too big for my mitts. If the rumors of a 4.7 inch iPhone are true, that might be a more ideal size, but the One's display is still gorgeous and useable with one hand. Verdict: It's the first Android phone I've ever held that I could mistake for an Apple product. That's the biggest compliment I could ever give. Camera Much like Apple, HTC hasn't fallen victim to the "cram all the megapixels" movement with the One's camera. Instead, the phone uses what HTC calls "UltraPixels" which is just a fancy word for a camera that sacrifices a huge number of megapixels in favor of low light capabilities. The iPhone 5s regularly takes flak for not having mind-blowing camera specs, only to shame the competition in blind photo "taste tests," and that's the lead that HTC is following. The rear camera actually features two lenses, allowing for Lytro-like depth data to be included in the photo. After a photo is taken you can adjust the focus and even view a faux 3D rendering of the picture. It's pretty impressive and it works fairly well. It's definitely a different approach and while the rest of the smartphone world is trying to turn their devices into DSLRs, HTC and Apple have seemingly declared that they'd rather try to add new functionality on top of already impressive photos. Verdict: The HTC One's new camera features are offbeat and unique, and while I'd still take the iPhone 5s camera -- and its similarly unique slow-motion video capabilities -- if I were forced to choose, the One isn't far behind. Music Apple loves music. HTC loves music. Apple most recently exhibited its love of music by reinventing the modern earbud. HTC most recently exhibited its love of music by turning the new HTC One into a portable boom box. Like the previous year's model, the One includes two "BoomSound" stereo speakers on its face. This year's hardware is improved from the previous year with heartier construction, and it definitely shows. The One is loud -- and not just loud; it actually sounds really great when cranked all the way up. While you might need to toss your iPhone in a ceramic mug to amplify your tunes, you could carry the One along a busy city street and still hear your music without earbuds. Verdict: This is one thing about the One that I don't think Apple would ever attempt with an iPhone, but it's a well executed feature that many have tried and failed at, making it feel like an accomplishment you'd see from Cupertino. OS Android is still Android, and while you can make it look a bit more like iOS through various launchers and visual tweaks, Apple's mobile OS is still untouchable in my opinion. However, HTC's own skin -- called HTC Sense -- is superior to similar efforts from Samsung and Sony. HTC Sense 6.0 comes preinstalled on the new HTC One, and along with the social news feed feature called BlinkFeed, it emphasizes new touch functions that would feel right at home on an iOS device. For example, with the absence of a physical button on the front the phone, you can wake the device by simply tapping on the screen twice. You can launch specific apps by swiping in a specific direct on the lock screen and even activate the voice command system without having to unlock the phone, much like Siri. Verdict: If you don't like Android, the version that comes with the new One isn't going to change your mind, but HTC's own functionality tweaks make things much more streamlined and intuitive, which iPhone users would feel right at home with. Overall I love my iPhone, and unless Apple seriously stumbled on a new version of its iconic smartphone, there's no way I'd change teams. With that being said, the new HTC One is as close to an iPhone in fit, finish, and functionality as I've ever seen from an Android device. The iPhone is still the pinnacle, but HTC's latest effort is scaling the peak.
The Nexus Telegraph: Is WildStar a World of Warcraft clone?
No. That was quick, so we can all -- oh, wait, no, I need to write more. Also saying we can all go home is pointless; most of you are reading this from home. All right, we'll start over. This is one of those things that gets trotted out every time a new game comes along, and in WildStar's case it comes out twice as regularly, since it's the first game in history to use colorful and stylized graphics other than World of Warcraft, except that it isn't. It's kind of ridiculous, and it's a bit of a pet peeve. As someone who has played World of Warcraft extensively, I find the list of similarities between the two pretty shallow, and it comes across more as a way of dismissing the game without bothering to learn about it. So let's talk about where WildStar does take its cues from Blizzard's game, where they differ, and why saying it's just a clone is absurd.
Four weather apps, four radar experiences
Other than checking the temperature or the forecast, I often use the radar function of weather apps. I like seeing radar in motion, so I can guesstimate what's going to happen in the future. In the video below, I tried the radar experience in four apps: The Weather Channel, Weatherbug, Yahoo Weather and My Radar Pro. The only app you'll pay for up front is My Radar Pro at US$1.99, and I feel it's worth it. Let me know your favorite weather radar app in the comments.
Resident Evil 4 HD screens compare PC port to SD original
Anxious to see just how purty Resident Evil 4's textures will be on the PC when the game makes its HD return to the platform? Capcom-Unity has released some comparison screens showing the greater detail afforded by the new port. Capcom has added a lot more detail to Leon's jacket as well as the many trees littered around Resident Evil 4's rural Spanish setting. Wooden boards have more defined textures too, and the HD version supports maximum resolutions of up to 2560x1600 and 2560x1440. Resident Evil 4 first launched on the PC in 2007 from developer Sourcenext. The original PC port, screens for which you can see in our gallery below, included multiple widescreen resolution options along with bonus content previously only available through the PS2 version of the game. Capcom issued only one post-launch patch designed to correct issues around Resident Evil 4's problematic shadows and lighting on PC. Resident Evil 4 HD, compatible with Windows PC, launches on Steam next month, on February 28 for $20. Resident Evil 4 HD is also available on Xbox 360 and PS3.
Assassin's Creed 4 on PS4: We demand a next-gen shrubbery
As I mentioned in my review of Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag, shrubs are a necessity for stealth, at least while you're on foot in the Caribbean. Since you spend so much time looking at jiggling leaves, then, it's nice to have three-dimensional plants that lift up and glisten as you slither beneath them. The graphical differences between the pirate adventure on current and forthcoming versions (PC, Xbox One and PS4) are minor, especially in Black Flag's massive scope and structure, but I'll cover the most visible ones in case you're splitting hairs over which console has the best corsairs. I have yet to play Assassin's Creed 4 on Xbox One or PC. I completed the entirety of Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag on a PlayStation 4, which brought several expected benefits over current consoles. Assassin's Creed 4 runs at a native resolution of 1080p (1920x1080), Ubisoft says, and also uses high-resolution textures, clearly apparent in the vivid colors of historic Havana, the only city in the game that even approaches opulence. Jagged edges persist on thin objects like ropes and mast lines, which is unfortunate for a game filled with ships. The single-player game runs at an unflinching 30 frames per second, even during some of the more complex naval entanglements (which often led to hectic boarding sequences and fighting), as does the multiplayer portion.
Sci-fi ship chart compares size of ships from EVE, Star Wars, and more
Have you ever been curious about the size comparisons between an Amarr Avatar-Class Titan from EVE Online and a Universe-Class Mass Conveyor from Warhammer 40K? You have?! Well, you're in luck because DeviantArt user ~DirkLoechel has been assembling one of the largest and most comprehensive size-comparison charts for sci-fi ships. The chart, which is still an ongoing project, spotlights the ship sizes from many of the most popular sci-fi universes out there, including Star Wars, Star Trek, Babylon 5, Battlestar Galactica, and more than a dozen more. Heck, it even has the Red Dwarf on there. Head over the ~DirkLoechel's page to see more from this monstrous chart. [Editor note: Dirk Loechel has expanded on the original done by Dan Carlson.]
Seen@PAX Prime: Nintendo 2DS in 3D
Nintendo had a few of its recently announced 2DS systems at one of its play lounges at PAX Prime in Seattle. Naturally, we cradled the system in our hands, then took a few photos of it, one with our Nintendo 3DS. Check out our 3D photo of the 2DS after the break.
LG G2 vs. the competition: flagship Android smartphones square off
Now that the LG G2 is official, the battle between mid-2013 Android flagships is fully underway. But which wins the war? We've pitted the new smartphone against its biggest competitors in the US -- Samsung's Galaxy S 4, the HTC One and the Motorola Moto X -- to understand which device most deserves a place in your pocket. Based purely on the spec sheet, the G2 is the frontrunner. Its larger 5.2-inch screen, quicker 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 and image-stabilized 13-megapixel rear camera will please those who want a media powerhouse. Its extra-large battery and 24-bit / 192KHz audio are also unique in a category where longevity and sound quality tend to play second fiddle. If all you want is the most technically capable device, look no further. Yet each of the G2's competitors has an advantage that's harder to quantify. The GS4 has a full set of hardware nav keys (for those who prefer them), air gestures and a slightly tougher plastic build. The One claims superior low-light photography and dual speakers. And the Moto X partly makes up for its lackluster speed through design customization and helpful tricks like Touchless Control. To us, that puts LG in an awkward middle. While the G2's performance is almost beyond compare, many of its software features aren't all that unique -- those who aren't sold on its performance could easily be lured away.
Moto X vs the new Droid lineup: fight!
After countless months in hibernation, Motorola has arisen from its deep slumber in a rather major way. The phone maker not only unleashed a full trio of Droid devices last week, it introduced the Moto X, long known as the company's not-so-secret weapon. We've already discussed our impressions of the firstfruits of post-acquisition Motorola, along with its interesting array of color customization options, but we've put together a handy comparison sheet that shows off how the Moto X fares against its Droid-branded brethren. When it comes to components, the suite of smartphones are actually quite similar to each other. Take a look after the break to see how it all breaks down.
New Nexus 7 vs. the competition: battle of the budget 7-inch tablets
The original Nexus 7 launched in a relative vacuum -- there were other low-cost, 7-inch Android tablets before, but few with the full support of a major manufacturer. The 2013-era Nexus 7 is entering a far more crowded marketplace with many recognizable names, and even more aggressive pricing. With that in mind, we've compared Google's latest tablet with three of its newest 7-inch peers -- ASUS' MeMo Pad HD 7, HP's Slate 7 and Samsung's Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 -- to see whether it's as strong a value as its predecessor. Ironically, the new Nexus 7 occupies the high end in this space. It's the most expensive tablet here, with the sharpest display, the fastest processor and the most built-in storage. However, that doesn't mean it's priced out of contention. The $30 you save with the Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 just isn't worth it; Samsung's tablet is a big step down in every aspect outside of expandability. And you're clearly getting what you pay for with the Slate 7, whose low price doesn't excuse a poor display and sluggish performance. The Nexus 7's real competition comes from its own manufacturer, ASUS. While the MeMo Pad HD 7 has a lower resolution screen and a slower CPU, its cameras, display quality, processing power and storage are superb for the price. If you don't crave the Nexus 7's technology or stock Android 4.3, it may be wiser to save $80 and buy the good-enough MeMo Pad instead. Full specifications for all the tablets are available after the break.
Spot the pattern: Nokia Lumia 1020 hangs out with 808 PureView and N8
Since Nokia's released yet another phone with a big camera, we thought it'd be fun to let this Lumia 1020 meet its glorious pixel-loving forerunners. These are, of course, the 808 PureView and the N8 that bucked the trend of phone photography during their time. In terms of sensors, the 1020 comes with a new 1/1.5-inch, 41-megapixel BSI sensor, which is smaller than the 808's 1/1.2-inch, non-BSI offering of the same resolution. Still, both chips are understandably larger than the N8's 1/1.83-inch, 12-megapixel sensor, which may sound less exciting but was well ahead of its time. We'll try and get some sample shots from each of these in a moment for a quick comparison, so until then, enjoy our hands-on photos below. Update: Sadly, we weren't allowed to extract sample shots from the Lumia 1020, but we'll come back to this once we get hold of a review unit. For now, you can check out Nokia's own sample shots. Check out all the news from today's Nokia event at our hub! %Gallery-193633%
Report finds lack of mobile contract choice in the US, better value in Australia
This may come as a shock to our Australian readers, who are so used to getting ripped off, but who are we to argue with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development? In a study of smartphone contracts across 12 countries, it found that Australia consistently offered the best value, whereas the US and Canada penalized low-usage customers and offered just average value to the rest. Admittedly, the analysis had to set some severe parameters in order to benchmark across so many different markets and pricing models, including focusing on two handsets (the 16GB iPhone 4S and Galaxy S II) and a single month of data (February 2012, which was before the anti-subsidy trend began in the US). In any case, bear all that in mind as you read on for a summary of the report's main conclusions.
