Hasta La Gadget!

Google has just launched the Nexus 5 smartphone, which is going to be the company’s flagship handset to show what a “pure” Android experience should be. The Nexus smartphone is always popular for several reasons: 1/ its price per performance is usually unmatched 2/ OS updates come faster since Google itself is managing them 3/ they are free of carrier-specific software and locks. Since we named the Nexus 7 tablet a “killer product”, the question is: can Nexus 5 reach the same heights in the smartphone space?

As expected, the Nexus 5 fulfills those promises, but you will see that details do matter and that it is extremely difficult to offer the absolute best experience, at half the price. Hardware-wise, the Nexus 5 is the fruit of a partnership between Google and LG, just like Nexus 4 was. As such, Nexus 5 looks a lot like the LG G2, but you will see that it is not quite an equivalent phone like Optimus G and Nexus 4 were. In this review, I will give you a sense of how it is to use the Nexus 5 in the real world. Ready? (more…)

Nexus 5 Review original content from Ubergizmo.

Despite featuring an original design and gathering good reviews, including from our own team, the first Surface (RT) had a hard time finding a market. As a result, Microsoft had to write down a substantial amount of money, but has decided to soldier on because abandoning the tablet market is just not an option. Microsoft needs Surface to show the way for other OEMs, and to do just that, Surface 2 has arrived.

This second edition still runs on an ARM platform: the NVIDIA Tegra 4 to be precise (the original Surface RT had a Tegra 3 chip). This hardware update and potential optimizations in Windows 8.1 bring a much faster machine,  to the market, and that translates directly into a better user experience. At the same time, the Windows Store apps quality has risen, especially for “top apps” from companies that have the engineering resources to handle many platforms. So, how is it to use the Surface 2 in the real world? Read on… (more…)

Surface 2 Review original content from Ubergizmo.

Fujifilm announced its point-and-shoot XQ1 and its mid-tier X-E2 earlier this month as two products that help expand its popular X Series. This past week, Fujifilm attended PhotoPlus in New York City, and lucky for us, they brought bot the XQ1 and X-E2 along for the ride to show off exactly what both cameras are made of. So without further ado, let’s take a look at how both cameras performed from our short time with them. (more…)

Hands-On: Fujifilm XQ1, X-E2 Review original content from Ubergizmo.

We saw the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 for the first time at IFA in Berlin when it was unveiled alongside the Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch. Now the device is available this month for 299.99 from all four carriers, and we spent some real-world usage time with a retail unit from Sprint.

Samsung has come a long way since the release of the original Galaxy Note 1 in 2011. Then, most people made fun of me when I was placing calls from this “ridiculously big phone”. Fast forward to 2013, it looks like the Galaxy Note smartphone lineup is taken very seriously now, and Samsung has sold over 30 million Galaxy Note 2. Ultimately, the Korean giant started the “large display phones” trend in the mobile industry and recent flagship smartphones such as the LG G2, feature over 5-inch displays while they are not even categorized in the phablet segment anymore. 5” is the new normal.

The most notable feature upgrades in the Galaxy Note 3 are the full HD 5.7inch AMOLED display, the new powerful processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 (2.3 Ghz), 3GB RAM, an improved S-Pen and the new design language with a faux-stitched leather back that replaces the overly criticized plastic body of the Galaxy Note 2.

On the software side, the most interesting innovation is the Air Command menu that works with the S-Pen and gives access to five practical productivity features that we will describe in the review. (more…)

Galaxy Note 3 Review original content from Ubergizmo.

Samsung never used to be a big name in film cameras but has become one of the leading brands in digital photography. Ironically, its popular Galaxy smartphones are helping to dig a grave for point-and-shoot cameras – including Samsung’s own. In response, the company is following an idustry trend by focusing on “compact-system cameras,” which feature interchangeable lenses and promise the performance of a grown-up SLR in a small and light-weight body.

The NX300 is Samsung’s flagship model of this kind, aiming at ambitious photographers who want more than just megapixels. Because sure, even smartphones snap pictures now that are big enough to print a real-life wallpaper – but if you want a good zoom, play with depth-of-field, and generally go beyond the simple “click!” you may still want to consider a real camera with extra talents.

Or so the makers hope. But they’re willing to meet you half-way: if you like to post your favorite shots on the Internet this very second, straight from the camera, the NX300 can play along. Wi-Fi Internet is built in, and Samsung claims that its camera’s specialty is to “shoot fast, share faster.” True? Well, let’s see… (more…)

Samsung NX300 Camera Review original content from Ubergizmo.