IRL: the Samsung Galaxy Round is a curved Note 3 that costs way too much

Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we’re using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment.

IRL: the Samsung Galaxy Round is a curved Note 3 that costs way too much

Flat smartphones are so early 2013; concave is the new hotness. At least, that’s what Samsung and LG might have you believe: both companies have brought new curved displays to a limited market for an extremely high price. The Samsung Galaxy Round and the LG G Flex probably won’t be on most people’s wish lists, as each one costs well above $900 in Korea. Still, we have a feeling we’ll be seeing plenty more (for a lower price) in the not-too-distant future. If this is indeed a sign of things to come, why shouldn’t we want to spend more time with the phone that started the whole craze? Fortunately for us, our friends at Negri Electronics — an online retailer which sells the Galaxy Round and G Flex — offered us the chance to use an imported Korean version for a few days. Take a look at the galleries below and read on for some detailed impressions.%Gallery-slideshow122862%

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IRL: Another look at the LG G2

Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we’re using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment.

IRL: Another look at the LG G2

It’s been just about 10 months since an LG device has showed up in “IRL.” That was back in January, when our Canadian editor Jon Fingas took the Optimus G for a spin on Rogers. Now he’s back to test the G2, though he’s still waxing a bit sentimental about the ol’ G. So how does it stack up? Let’s see.

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IRL: Wahoo’s Blue SC speed sensor for bikes

Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we’re using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment.

IRL: Wahoo's Blue SC speed sensor for bikes

Smartphones, tablets, smartphones, repeat. We tend to come back to the same sorts of gadgets here in “IRL,” but this week we’re shaking things up with a fitness device. Associate HD Editor Ben Drawbaugh is one of the few mountain biking enthusiasts on staff, which means he was one of the only people qualified to test out a bicycle computer, something we normally wouldn’t review. After the break, find out if a $60 Bluetooth Low Energy sensor is worth the investment.

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IRL: Another look at the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3

Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we’re using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment.

IRL: Another look at the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3

So you say a phone’s too big to live with? Challenge accepted. In this week’s issue, Jon takes the Galaxy Mega 6.3 for a spin to see if it’s prohibitively large, or just stupidly so.

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IRL: Testing the Nokia Lumia 1020’s optional camera grip / battery case

Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we’re using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment.

IRL: Testing the Nokia Lumia 1020's optional camera grip / battery case

If you’re going to buy the Lumia 1020 for its 41-megapixel camera (and if not that, what the heck did you buy it for?) you may as well spring for the $59 camera grip too. That’s what Philip told himself, anyway, after picking up the phone on AT&T.

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IRL: Mad Catz’s Rat M portable gaming mouse

Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we’re using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment.

IRL: Mad Catz's Rat M portable gaming mouse

We suppose if there are folks who’d prefer a gaming laptop as their primary PC, then there must also be a market for portable gaming mice. But would you pay $115 for one?

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IRL: JBL PlayUp speaker and the BlackBerry Q5 on Telus

Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we’re using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment.

IRL: JBL PlayUp speaker and the BlackBerry Q5

Is it pandering to have one of our Canadian writers play with every new BlackBerry? Perhaps — not that we could’ve stopped him anyway. In this week’s issue, we have Mr. Jon Fingas sharing his thoughts on the Q5 and its physical keyboard, while Philip splurges on JBL speakers to match his new Lumia 1020.

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IRL: Sony’s NEX-5N interchangeable lens camera and Mailplane 3

Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we’re using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment.

IRL: Sony's NEX-5N interchangeable lens camera and Mailplane 3

It’s been a while (four months, actually) since we’ve featured a camera in “IRL,” but today we’re breaking that dry spell as we explain what it’s like to live with Sony’s NEX-5N. Meanwhile, Mailplane 3 is great for Gmail power users (or so says Darren), but you’ll need to own a Mac — and, you know, feel OK spending $25 for the update.

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IRL: Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight and the PowerPlant portable battery pack

Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we’re using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment.

IRL TK

Does our own self-professed book collector Dan Cooper need an e-reader? No, but he might get one anyway. And do you need a portable charger with 3.6 times the capacity of an iPhone 5? Yes, or at least that’s what Darren tells us.

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IRL: Motorola’s Droid RAZR M and the SignEasy digital signature app

Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we’re using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment.

IRL TK

You can ask Dana which phone she uses, but don’t act all surprised when you find out it’s a $99 mid-ranger. You can also ask Darren what he thinks of SignEasy’s digital signature app, but he might talk your ear off. Straight ahead: lots of talking, and one long defense of a phone with a mediocre camera and tiny little battery.

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