Introduction, design and screenThe OnePlus One is a significant milestone in the mobile industry as it’s the first smartphone to officially run the community driven CyanogenMod out the box.CyanogenMod has been available for Android devices for a while, but it required a certain level of technical smarts to get it on a handset and that’s something many consumers simply couldn’t be bothered with.The process was made simpler with the arrival of the Oppo N1 which plays nicely with CyanogenMod and thus allowing its owners to boot the alternative build of Android onto it. What is CyanogenMod?Any worries about installing a new operating system on your handset, and potentially voiding your warranty, have been put to rest with the OnePlus One as it’s already running the modified version of Android 4.4.2 KitKat.With a price tag of $299, £229 (around AU$320) for the 16GB “Silk White” version it’s easy to dismiss the OnePlus One as another generic mid-range Android handset destined to be lost in the noise.That sort of thinking would be unwise though, as one quick scan of the spec list for the One tells a very different story.The Chinese manufacturer has stuffed the OnePlus One full of impressive components, from the 2.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor, 3GB of RAM and Adreno 330 GPU to the 13MP rear snapper and full HD display.So while the OnePlus One will set you back less than the well priced Google Nexus 5, in terms of specs it’s lining up against the Samsung Galaxy S5, HTC One M8 and Sony Xperia Z2. These are phones double its price.It left me wondering where corners had been cut and concessions made.And to be honest I’m still wondering how OnePlus has managed to […]

IntroductionA mini handset has, inexplicably, come to mean a smaller, lower-spec version of a popular big screen device, which does nothing for those that want a slightly smaller display.So kudos to Sony for taking a stand, crushing down the powerful Xperia Z1 but losing almost nothing on the spec list, giving the Z1 Compact a real chance to fight fight in a fierce market currently dominated by the HTC One Mini and Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini, two devices that launched to critical acclaim but with a poorer spec list.Eagle eyed readers will have noticed that the Sony Xperia Z1’s baby brother hasn’t adopted the traditional “Mini” moniker but rather comes with the title of “Compact”.Yes, Sony has given the Z1 Compact the smaller screen, but it has kicked diminutive RAM and lesser cores to the mobile kerb. Sony has even allowed the Xperia Z1 Compact to keep the waterproof nature of the Z1.A SIM free price of £430 (around $740, AU$850) and free on contracts starting at £27pm makes the Xperia Z1 Compact more expensive than the S4 Mini and One Mini.This higher cost does allow for the inclusion of a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 2.2GHz quad-core CPU backed up by 2GB RAM though – and for the price it’s comparable to a Samsung Galaxy S4.The “Compact” name also alludes to more than just the smaller size; it can be no coincidence that the Xperia Z1 Compact shares its name with the style of camera that it is looking to replace. A 20.7MP Exmor sensor housed behind an award-winning G Lens aims to be the final nail in the compact camera coffin. Unsurprisingly, the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact follows in the same design language that was […]

Hands on Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet reviewSomething odd happens when you try to get to the heart of a tablet when you only get to play with it for half an hour – while the Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet looks great on paper, it’s really hard to work out if it’s actually any good.The fact is the Tablet Z (seriously Sony, why did you have to change the order of the name? I understand it’s more in keeping with the Xperia family, but now I keep having to go back and re-order it every time I mention it) was a great device and one that it would have been hard pressed to improve quickly.We’re a year on and the sequel is upon us: the Xperia Z2 Tablet is a strong device featuring the best that Sony has to offer. The Live Colour screen, the improved speakers, the uprated Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 CPU and the same whopping 3GB of RAM that the Xperia Z2 smartphone is packing.On top of that, the thing is still waterproof (but has the helpful open headphone jack so another annoying cover is lost) and lighter too – at 426g it’s really rather impressive.There are covers over the microUSB and microSD slots, with the former a little annoying if you’re regularly charging the Z2 Tablet, but at least they are easy to remove.The 6.4mm thickness is also class-leading… but, like the heft of thing, it’s hard to feel that things have moved on much.YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9dBOTnsFp8The reason for that is simple: the last tablet was fast, slim and didn’t strain the wrist. Compared side by side with the new Xperia Z2 Tablet, there’s very little difference.Round the back the tablet is still […]

CortanaMicrosoft’s heavily leaked update to Windows Phone 8 became official at Build 2014. Rumors brought promises of a Siri-rivalling, Halo-inspired personal assistant and a new, at-your-fingertips Action Center, along with other improvements.Now that it’s here, does Windows Phone 8.1 live up to the hype? Is Cortana as alluring as the AI character from whence it takes its name? Is the Action Center really a helpful hub, or just another gimmick to ease users into the Windows Phone experience? I went hands on with the new OS, and I left impressed with what Microsoft has put forth. Cortana is, in a word, lovely. She – sorry, it – feels more sophisticated than its Apple and Google counterparts, and it’s only in beta.However, for all its charms, Cortana isn’t all Windows Phone 8.1 has to offer. Courting CortanaI need to start with Microsoft’s new personal assistant as it’s the star of the show. This is Redmond’s answer to Siri and Google Now, and while I didn’t reach the more intimate levels of getting-to-know-you-ness achieved with longer use, I was taken with Cortana’s speed, accuracy and pleasing nature. In our time together, I found myself longing for Cortana over the Google Now installed on my HTC One.Microsoft modeled Cortana after human personal assistants. In fact, the company claimed it spoke with real-life PAs to learn just what their virtual assistant needed to offer. Whatever research Microsoft did, it’s developed what feels like a secretary and search engine rolled into one. Cortana offers place-, people- and time-based information, pulling up directions to nearby restaurants, prompting you to ask someone who calls you about their new car, and reminding you to call your boss in the morning.She’s snappy, with little […]