About the Sony Xperia Z4, which was presented on April 20? Then company representatives showed exclusively the Japanese version of the future flagship, but announced plans to show the international version. This happened! On May 26 in London, Sony Mobile presented a new product - Sony Xperis Z3+. Oh, this fashionable trend nowadays is to do everything with a plus sign.
The smartphone is a complete successor to the previous model of this line in terms of design. Everything is in place: the curled edges, and the combination of metal and glass. It looks expensive, high quality, stylish and familiar!
The emphasis in this flagship is precisely on the camera capabilities:
- Cyber-shot and Handycam technology for both cameras
- Main camera features Exmor RS™ sensor for mobile devices and BIONZ™ processor
- 25mm wide angle lens G L ens (relevant for group selfies)
- “Best auto tuning” mode ( recognizes 52 scene types and automatically optimizes settings for the current th moment)
- "Food" mode "helps you create food photos (we've all been waiting for this!)
- new mode "Portrait in style" and "AR Mask"
- high photosensitivityISO12800 and 1/2.3 large matrix
- HDR mode can be used for both photos and videos
- front camera with Exmor R™ sensor
- SteadyShot™ with Intelligent Active Modecompensates for camera shaketo ensure smooth video
- possibility of shooting in 4K format
The main changes concern the camera and physical characteristics of the smartphone. They can be compared in the table below.
| Length | Width | Thickness | Weight | |
| Sony Xperia Z3+ | 146,5 | |||
| Sony Xperia Z3 | 146,3 | 71,9 |
The manufacturer also focuses on sound quality. DSEE HXTM Technology coupled with High-Res Audio allows you to achieve high sound quality. A new codec has appeared in the smartphone Sony LDAC TM, which transfers data via Bluetooth three times faster, allowing you to listen to music in Hi-Res Audio format in wireless headphones. When you connect any headphones, the Z3+ automatically detects their type and characteristics, and then adjusts the settings to ensure the best possible sound quality. Most likely, the list of presets is limited to headphones from Sony, but, of course, you have to try.The developers couldn't ignore the gaming functionality of the smartphone, and here there is the PS4™ Remote Play function 2, allowing you to play PS4 games from anywhere in the house via Wi-Fi.
Also, some technical characteristics of the smartphone have changed. There have been no global changes - the improvements are clearly evolutionary in nature (marked in red). You can see what is available below.
| Sony Xperia Z3+ | Sony Xperia Z3 (D6603) | |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 (MSM8994, four cores 2 GHz, four 1.5 GHz, 64 bit) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 2.5 GHz(4 cores) |
| Video accelerator | Adreno 430 | Adreno 330 |
| RAM | 3 GB | 3 GB |
| Built-in memory | 32 GB | 16 GB |
| Memory card support | microSD (up to 128 GB) | microSD (up to 128 GB) |
| Display | 5.2’’ IPS, 1920 x 1080 pixels (423 ppi) | |
| Main camera | 20.7 MP | 20.7 MP |
| Front-camera | 5 MP | 2.2 MP |
| Battery | 2930 mAh | 3100 mAh |
| OS | Android 5.0 (Lollipop) | Android 4.4.4 (upgrade to 5.0 available) |
| cellular | 2G, 3G, 4G (LTE Cat 6, Cat 4 for dual SIM model) | 2G, 3G, 4G |
| Interfaces | Bluetooth 4.1, Wi-Fi (a/b/g/n/ac), NFC, aGPS / GLONASS, DLNA, OTG, USB 2.0 | Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi (a/b/g/n/ac), NFC, aGPS / GLONASS, DLNA, OTG, USB 2.0 |
| Protection from moisture and dust | IP65 and IP68 | IP65 and IP68 |
It is stated that the battery provides up to 2 days of battery life. This was made possible thanks to the built-in screen with Full HD resolution. The Japanese did not chase the meaningless horsepower of dot density; the installed display consumes significantly less energy.
The device has support for fast charging (Quick Charge 2.0), but again, only for the version with support for a single SIM card. 10 minutes of recharging with energy using a proprietary charger (UCH10) and the device will stay afloat for up to 5.5 hours, 45 minutes will give the smartphone a chance to work for a whole day.
All Xperia Z3+ users also get access to Xperia Lounge Gold, which gives you complete control over the Sony entertainment world and allows you toparticipate in competitions and offers, download new apps, watch movies new items , TV series and listen to music.
The Z3+ model is available in four colors : classic white and black, as well as copper and new color aquamarine. Sales of the Xperia Z3+ smartphonein versions with one or two SIM cards are launched all over the world, starting at the end of June 2015. Interestingly, the device will for now be sold exclusively in the company’s online store. Most domestic retailers have refused to sell, and, accordingly, purchase this gadget at the indicated price.
On sale since the end of June 2015 Price: 46,990 rubles
The compact version of the flagship smartphone Sony Xperia Z3 turned out to be even more interesting than its older brother - it is worth considering as a purchase if you do not need a device with a large display.
Design, construction
I received this smartphone just before a September trip to Munich, a friend and I went on a classic trip - look at the queue, drink festive beer (Oktoberfest was just beginning), buy an iPhone 6, have a delicious breakfast in a cafe near the market and go home. I took the Z3 Compact with me, I had the idea of broadcasting on YouTube, but in the end I didn’t have the strength in the evening, and the idea fell through - but you should know that the smartphone also has this very nice option. And throughout the trip, the Z3 Compact haunted my friend; he really liked it, he constantly asked to look at it, twirl it in his hands, and tell me what functions and features it had.
It would seem that the iPhone 6 has been awaited for so long. What do you care about a small Android smartphone? But, as practice shows, the Z3 Compact really evokes positive emotions in people and almost instant addiction. It is small - and very thoughtful. When I first saw it, I still didn’t want to come to terms with the fact that this “compact” did not have a metal frame; it was replaced by polymer. After a month of use, I can confidently say that there’s nothing wrong with it. It looks good, doesn’t slip, you can lift the device off the table simply with your fingertips (unlike the Z3), what else do you need?
The device is also very photogenic, each photo received a bunch of likes everywhere possible. For example, here's a photo.
As many as 161 likes! And here is a photo where the Sony Xperia Z3 is in full combat equipment, with a microphone, next to it is a noise-cancelling headset, all these accessories are supported, since it uses a five-pin 3.5 mm connector. And the sound quality is very good. And the speaker is very loud, about as loud as an iPhone 5S.
In addition to white, there are also black, mint and red color options. It seems to me that the Z3 Compact should be bought in some difficult version, black is too boring.
But the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact is an emotional thing; it’s hardly worth putting it on a par with other Android smartphones. Samsung and LG don’t have such smartphones, I don’t even know what to call them. These are fashion devices, fashionable in terms of design, materials, a certain emotional charge - the buyer of the Z3 Compact receives a smaller version of the flagship, but not only. There is also the feeling of a thing with a capital B. This is very pleasant. Girls really like the device, it fits well in a small hand, while men are pleased with the functionality. Water protection? Yes. Good camera? Yes. Interesting accessories? Yes. Can I increase the memory? Yes. Powerful processor? Yes. All these are words for an advertising video, but this is exactly how many people choose their gadgets.
Let me remind you that there is a very detailed video, where there are several colors of the device and a fairly detailed story about the smartphone.
Well, let's go back to the traditional review. I like the way the smartphone looks when viewed from the front. They tried to remove the frames, the polymer ends are rough, and the device as a whole fits better in the hand and is easier to take out of your pocket. The buttons are well made, and despite the compactness, they left the camera button. Like the flagship, there are rounded inserts at the ends. Neat plugs, the 3.5 mm jack without protection supports work with all branded accessories for this pinout, the device is protected according to the IP68 standard.
It's a pity that summer is over and all Z3s will go on sale in the fall; the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact would look great somewhere on the beach. Although the winter holidays are coming soon, and many will fly to warm countries. So, don't forget about this little smartphone.
Let me remind you that it uses nanoSIM, you will need to change your large SIM card - but for iPhone 5S users it will not be difficult to switch to Sony's new small flagship.
Regarding the reliability of the glass panels on the front and back: the device fell once from a height onto a stone floor in the kitchen, I did not find any damage. Fingerprints and scratches are invisible on white, so keep this in mind when purchasing.
If the end cap annoys you, use magnetic charging. However, you will have to buy it separately. And one more complaint about the assembly - everything is very cool here, glass panels and all that, but the buttons move a little. This is especially noticeable on the volume button.
Display
The diagonal of the IPS display is 4.6 inches, resolution is 1280 x 720 pixels, everything is not bad with brightness and viewing angles. I like how the fonts have been changed here, pay attention to the branded clock on the screen in standby mode, it’s done well. And in general, the fonts are chosen interestingly, but the icons seem too large. On the other hand, they are clearly visible on a small screen, you immediately select the desired program, and you don’t have to look around the screen.
In the display settings, you can enable the “With Gloves” mode, select white balance, and there is a function to activate the device by double-tapping on the screen when the smartphone is turned off. Previously, this feature was only available on large flagships. The smart backlight function is supported - the screen remains on while the smartphone is in your hand. You can choose the brightness yourself, or trust the automation; I prefer the first option.
This is not entirely related to the display, but the proximity sensor did not always work adequately for me; during a conversation, I opened the quick settings menu with my cheek several times, turned on the flashlight, etc. If you have the same problem, tell me in the comments.
I would like to note one more point. Small screen - small keyboard. Writing large SMS or long messages on Facebook here is a real pain, I’m already used to turning my smartphone over and writing with two fingers. But the keyboard itself is not bad.
Contents of delivery
I want to say this separately - I still wouldn’t advise Sony to skimp on things; many people are upset that there is no headset, stand or any other accessories. The “you can buy this separately” strategy is good, but even Apple tries to give the user everything they need to use a smartphone. And Sony has always pleased us with interesting “extras”. I would like to believe that in the Sony Xperia Z4 everything will return to normal and at least a headset (preferably with noise cancellation) will be included.
Performance
It uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor with a clock frequency of 2.5 GHz, an Adreno 330 video adapter, 3 GB of RAM, the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact has 2 GB of RAM, but you don’t need more, the display diagonal is smaller. 16 GB of memory is installed, you can use microSD, cards with a capacity of up to 128 GB are supported. All devices work very quickly, this also applies to the E3. Android 4.4.4 is installed, but of course there will be an update to the latest version. Branded wallpapers are used, icons have been redesigned, the clock widget has undergone changes, the hour numbers have become thicker - or rather, the font has become thicker, the minutes have remained unchanged. We'll see how the software changes by the time the devices hit the market.
Wireless interfaces are typical: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC. It uses a five-pin connector, like on the Z2, and supports all new accessories that require power from the gadget, such as a microphone and a noise-canceling headset. There will probably be other things as well - for example, headphones with support for Hi-Res audio. The magnetic stand on the end allows you to charge the Z3 without using the microUSB connector. If you get tired of the plug, we recommend purchasing a docking station. By the way, the headset will be removed from the package of all Z3s; you will have to buy it separately.
In his review of the Sony Xperia Z3, Eldar told everything about performance, I recommend reading the article.
There is also a separate article about the features of the Sony interface, I recommend reading it.
Among the pre-installed programs there is Deezer, a music service (its usefulness is questionable),
Already in November of this year, a very interesting feature will appear for the entire Z3 family, called Remote Play. The firmware for PS4 will be released, the Z3 Compact will have a function, and what will happen? Here's what: you can connect a smartphone or tablet via Wi-Fi to the console and use the device's screen to play together with the DualShock 4 joystick. The display ceases to be touch-sensitive; the image from the console is transferred there. To put it into words, the Z3 Compact turns into a miniature TV. There will be a special holder for the joystick; you can put a smartphone or tablet there. For now, all this will only work within the home Wi-Fi network, but they promise to expand the possibilities - for example, in Berlin I could turn on the console using the Z3, launch BF4, put the smartphone in the joystick and quietly play for an hour before going to bed. But in the case of the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact, there is a question of whether this should be done, given the size of the display.
Yes, the Z2 will not have such functionality.
Camera
The camera is 20 MP, the front one is 2 MP, there are a number of new effects, for example, you can draw something like graffiti in the air, the drawing will freeze and become three-dimensional, you can hold the camera at different angles and examine the resulting something. This is also very, very unusual. There is a video recording of what is happening on the screen, which will appeal to authors of reviews of applications and Android games, and there is an online broadcast on YouTube. There are other effects, see the video at the beginning of the article for more details. The quality of the images, as they say in the company, has not changed or has become better - in my opinion, there are few differences from the Z2. In his review of the Z3, Eldar spoke in detail about the camera and effects, I recommend reading his article.
I note that the default quality is not the best and I advise you to play with manual settings, the Z3 Compact is capable of a lot. A separate shooting button plays a very important role; you can quickly launch the camera and take the first frame. And it works like a camera: press the button - focus, press all the way - shoot.
Nutrition
The smartphone uses a 2600 mAh battery, they promise a battery life of up to two days even without Stamina mode, and you can use any microUSB cable for charging. Here's an observation: if you use a watch with Android, then in Stamina mode no notifications will be received on the watch; one friend complained that the Moto 360 paired with the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact simply turns into a watch - until you activate the smartphone, nothing happens is happening. And Stamina should be turned on, as it seriously affects the operating time. For example, with my quiet use, the device lives quietly for a couple of days - in this sense, the smartphone behaves much better than flagships with huge displays.
And besides the simple Stamina mode, there is an UltraSTAMINA mode, only phone and messages work. If you suddenly find yourself in a situation where there is 30% charge left and you know that you won’t be able to charge your smartphone for a long time, feel free to turn on UltraSTAMINA - you’ll last until the evening (you’ll last a very long time). Pay attention to the screenshot: battery charge is 56%, approximate operating time is 10 days 16 hours. Not bad, right? I personally often find myself in this situation; I have to carry external batteries with me.
conclusions
The smartphone retails for about 23,990 rubles, the price seems quite reasonable to me - behind the “cute” appearance lies a functional and powerful device that can serve you faithfully for years. After all, many people still use Sony Xperia Z, we have such a person in our editorial office - why not, if everything suits you? Likewise, the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact can become your faithful companion. Interesting design, good display and camera, protection from water - and not just protection, you can literally wash yourself with your smartphone. It's a shame that there aren't any accessories included, but you can buy a noise-canceling headset or a stereo microphone if you want to get good concert videos. The fonts in the menu are well chosen, there are really interesting camera effects, if you are sitting in a group and have nothing to do, turn on the AR Effect and enjoy. The speaker, as I already said, is quite loud, there are no complaints about the quality of reception. LTE is supported, everything worked perfectly with Beeline and MegaFon.
The quality of speech transmission is at a good level, unlike the Z2, there is no effect when you catch the sound from the speaker with your ear - one of the latest firmware for the Z2 corrected this bug, everything is fine in the Z3 Compact. There are also no complaints about the volume of the speaker in the Z3 Compact.
There are no films. This is also a huge plus.
In times of huge smartphones with large screens, finding a quality small smartphone turns out to be very difficult. It is gratifying that Sony is following the previous path, when the miniature version of the flagship is identical in characteristics and has its own features. What would I like in the Z4 Compact? Maybe they will do without frames altogether, add a good headset to the set, make the frames out of metal - after all, users love metal, so what? They will completely get rid of plugs while maintaining protection from water. What else do you dream about regarding small Sony flagships, write in the comments.
If you're looking for something small and functional based on Android, be sure to take a look at the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact. There are many advantages, there are also disadvantages, but the advantages outweigh. In my opinion, this is one of the best smartphones at the end of 2015, you can safely buy it.
P.S. Many people ask whether it is worth replacing the first generation Compact with the model reviewed. It seems to me that you shouldn’t do this, the old one is also cool and if the thing works and makes you happy, then there is no need to look for good from good.
The very fact of this Sony release did not surprise anyone, and yet the presentation was eagerly awaited - if only to finally find out whether the characteristics corresponded to the leaks. And, apparently, not in vain: no matter how much Sony is criticized for the monotony in design, in terms of hardware, everything is, as usual, at the highest level.
Sony's device release policy has not changed: again we have a new flagship 6 months after the release of the previous one. What's good about the Xperia Z3? Let's take a closer look at it.
Design
Whether it's good or not, there are some changes in appearance. And if the reduction in the thickness of the case from 8.2 mm to 7.3 mm is unlikely to be to anyone’s liking, then we cannot speak for sure about the rounded corners, because the design feature of the series has always been an almost ideal rectangular shape.
Otherwise, the changes are extremely pleasant: the weight has dropped from 162 grams to 152 compared to the previous flagship, and the standard of protection against dust and moisture has risen to IP65/IP68. This means that the smartphone can spend at least half an hour in water at a depth of 1.5 meters without receiving any damage. The aluminum frame on the sides has become traditional for this series, and the front and back panels are protected by a layer of tempered glass.
The smartphone will be available in four colors: white, black, copper and silver-green.
CPU
Unlike the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 presented at the same exhibition, the Xperia Z3 received not Snapdragon 805, but the previous chip model - Snapdragon 801 with a clock frequency of 2.5 GHz. This means that Sony will not be able to implement some of the features available to the Samsung flagship. For example, the 805 processor model allows the use of technologies such as Chroma Flash (taking two frames in low light - one with a flash, the other without it - and then combining them into one photo to make it as natural as possible), Action Shot and OptiZoom (you just need to touch an object while shooting so that the camera focuses on it even while moving). You shouldn't expect anything like this from the Xperia Z3.
There is 3 GB of RAM, and 16 GB or 32 GB of built-in memory, depending on the version. In both cases, expansion is available with micro SD cards. As for the battery, it has suffered a little from the thinner case - 3,200 mAh in the Xperia Z3 has become 3,100 mAh in the current model.
Camera
The flagship received the now traditional main camera with a 20.7-megapixel matrix. The difference from previous models is the use of a wide-angle G Lens with a diameter of 25 mm, which will increase the viewing angle compared to a similar camera without a G Lens. And for those whose hands constantly shake when trying to take pictures, Sony has implemented a SteadyShot option that will significantly improve image stabilization.
Display
Major improvements in image quality were not mentioned in early rumors, so few were surprised when company officials announced during the presentation that Quad HD will not be included in this model.
So, we have an excellent 5.2-inch display with a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels. TRILUMINOS technology, by replacing white diodes with blue ones, will increase the color range of the smartphone. Additionally, Sony claims it has the "brightest display in a smartphone."
Price and start of sales
Sony turned out to be real partisans, and when asked about the release date, they evasively answered that sales would start this fall. There is also no word on the price yet, but given Sony’s policy on this issue, analysts call the figure €569 (~ 27,700 rubles) for Europe. In addition, a dual SIM version will be released.
Xperia Z3 Compact
Mini-versions of flagships, in Sony’s understanding, are not mid-range smartphones with a design similar to a flagship, but are practically equivalent to older versions of the model, but with a smaller display diagonal. The same thing happened with the smaller version of the Xperia Z3.
Here's a full list of features that make the Z3 Compact different from the Z3:
- Display: 4.6-inch with a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels
- Thickness: 8.6 mm
- Weight: 129 g
- Back panel colors: orange, green, white, black
- Battery capacity: 2,600 mAh
There really aren't that many differences. The release date is the same vague “Autumn 2014”, but Sony’s UK page shows its price. You will have to pay £429 (~ 26,000 rubles) for the mini-flagship.
At its annual developer conference WWDC, Apple announced the latest version of its mobile operating system, iOS 13. The new mobile operating system comes with many new features and performance improvements. Chief among the many new features in iOS 13 are the inclusion (as previously expected by analysts and users) of a system-wide dark mode, an all-new photo app, support for quick text input, a “sign in with Apple” option, and much more. Read on to find out what else is new in iOS.
The announcement of the release of iOS 13 from Apple took place at the developer conference at WWDC 2019.Apple today announced iOS 13 in San Jose, California, with a long list of new features for mobile devices. The technology company clearly talked about many of the new features of iOS 13 that were expected to be seen, as well as many new additions that fans of the iOS system had not previously had access to. Below are some of the major improvements and new features in iOS 13.
Dark Mode (aka "Dark Mode")
iOS 13 includes a dark mode, which by default has a dark background in most apps.
Yes, dark mode is finally here in iOS 13. Users have been waiting for dark mode in iOS and Cupertino developers have finally created it. Apple also showed off some apps in dark mode, and they all look amazing.
Dark mode works across the gadget's entire system, across all native apps, and can be scheduled to turn on automatically at sunset or any other time. Update to follow.
Swipe to enter
In Apple iOS 13 system, the built-in keyboard supports the speed dial feature, which will certainly make it easier for iPhone phone and iPad tablet users to quickly type, so mobile gadget users no longer need to use a third-party keyboard just to get this convenient feature on their device.
Apple's text keyboard now supports a type of gesture that Apple calls Quick Path.
Updated applications
iOS 13 also comes with updated apps, including a new Mail app that supports desktop-level formatting options, including support for rich fonts, and a completely redesigned Reminders app that comes with smart features including natural language recognition.
Security with iOS 13
Users can now grant apps access to location data as needed and prevent apps from collecting location data using Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
Apple also introduced its own universal login service available across all websites and apps. Sign in with Apple doesn't track users online like other services. Real names or email addresses are shared only with the user's explicit permission, and Apple optionally generates a unique email address for each app that redirects to the user's real email address, keeping the real email address private.
More about iOS 13 features: What's new and what's changed
The history of iOS 13 functions is not yet finished, we will now add more information on CarPlay, HomePod, Reminders, Text Editing, Messages, Siri, AirPods, Voice Control, Files, Health, Notes, QuickPath.
Apple's revolutionary iTunes app is expected to be "shut down." This is not the end of the multimedia era! Instead, the tech company has already created separate apps for music and video content - things for which the iconic iTunes digital store once served as a giant service. Apple co-founder Steve Jobs first announced iTunes in the 2000s, which is when iTunes was released. After which the service successfully took over the world of multimedia content, starting to massively sell music in MP3 format.
Latest IT news: Apple may announce the shutdown of iTunes.Already on Monday, all eyes interested in technology news will be directed towards Apple to see what the company will announce at its WWDC conference. At its annual Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple is expected to make a final decision on the development of its 18-year-old iTunes platform. Company executives typically use the multi-day event to officially unveil new versions of its iOS operating system for the iPhone, iPad and iPod.
According to Bloomberg's source, the new changes will allow iTunes to be divided into three stand-alone applications:
Music platform;
- Platform for television;
- Podcast platform.
According to experts, not much will change in the music application. However, there is a chance that there will be a closer connection with the Apple Music streaming service. With the advent of streaming media content (streaming), analysts in the technology world are predicting the end of the iTunes era within the next few years.
Features of iTunes and its alternative
Over the years, the iTunes service has grown rapidly, changed and developed in its own way, at some point even looking towards social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and news feeds. But with the advent of popular streaming sites like Spotify, Apple's dominance in the multimedia market began to wind down. Next, alternatives to Apple's iTunes are likely to appear after the official announcement at WWDC later this year.
For the better part of two decades, iTunes has been an indispensable and influential piece of software that has radically changed the way users consume music. Not to mention the fact that iTunes provided a digital alternative to such popular sites as Napster, which at one time had a controversial influence on the development of the music industry. Free sharing of MP3 files was causing the recording industry to panic.
Appreciate and use iTunes while you still can.
No doubt the news that iTunes is leaving will touch a few nostalgic hearts. We can consider the departure of the old with the advent of the new - renewal.
The update will highlight Apple's efforts to expand its media offerings to the likes of Amazon and Netflix, including its recently announced streaming service Apple TV Plus, which will include original TV shows and movies starting in the fall.
Will Apple officially shut down iTunes with the next operating system update?
As sales of iPhone handsets slow in the face of competition, Apple may want to change the public's perception of what the company does. Apple's iPhone and iPad mobile devices have long forgotten about iTunes; you can use standalone applications to watch videos, music and podcasts. There is a chance to become not just a manufacturer of fashionable devices, but also a provider of media content that the user enjoys in everyday life. The Apple Music streaming service has been the default on mobile devices for some time now. Only Mac computers still use the iTunes media platform.
Perhaps the goal of the update will be to make the Mac desktop closer to what the company already uses for its iPhone mobile and iPad tablet devices. These gadgets already have separate Podcasts applications, as mentioned above, Apple Music (music), and TV (television). You can expect that bringing the interfaces into line with each other will significantly simplify the exchange of files between gadgets.
A source told Rolling Stone: "By splitting its music, TV and podcast offerings into three separate platforms, Apple will emphasize itself as a diversified entertainment provider rather than a company that sells hardware through one of its many apps."
iTunes History:
iTunes debuted in 2001 and flourished in the 2000s as a virtual jukebox where people could store their 99-cent MP3 purchases from an online music store. Apple initially marketed the platform as a tool for burning custom mixes to CDs, and then as a playlist organizer for the recently released iPod. The iTunes platform eventually expanded to include podcasts and TV shows (since 2005), as well as movies (since 2006). Users have sometimes complained about clunky iTunes integration and syncing features. Ultimately, the developers of the iTunes media platform came to the conclusion that it contains the Genius algorithm, which can create playlists based on the tastes of users.
Time will tell to what extent Apple will finally abandon iTunes.
Urgent addition to the news about iTunes:Redditors and MacRumors have noticed that Apple has cleaned up its iTunes pages on Facebook and Instagram. Records, all photos and videos were deleted. The Twitter account is still intact.
iPhone media phone users may finally get dual Bluetooth support for audio signals when they buy the iPhone 11. Perhaps after getting rid of the headphone jack, Apple has made wireless audio a priority for the iPhone 11. A new report from Mac Otakara mentions that the newest phone The iPhone can have dual Bluetooth output, allowing two people to start sharing music from two different AirPods at the same time.
Apple multimedia phone rumors and news: iPhone 11 may debut with dual Bluetooth audio and other specifications.Technically, current iPhone software allows you to connect multiple Bluetooth devices, but audio signals can only go out to one of them. Some Android multimedia phones already have this capability, but usually suffer from synchronization issues. For experimenters, to support the new feature, you only need to update your iPhone to the latest version.
Apple is now exploring ways to transmit two audio signals to a single iPhone. Having multiple audio streams means a user can connect two pairs of AirPods to one iPhone. You can also connect your phone to the speaker's Bluetooth system without disconnecting your Bluetooth headset. There's a lot of room here, but wireless audio still has room for improvement.
Wireless charging of AirPods with iPhone.
It is also expected that in addition to dual Bluetooth for audio, the iPhone 11 multimedia phone will be released with two-way wireless charging. In this feature, iPhone users can charge their AirPod by placing the case on the back of the iPhone, drawing power from the phone's battery.
Bluetooth 5.0 in multimedia phones.
Samsung smartphones already have this feature, but they require Bluetooth 5.0 to work properly. Apple could implement dual audio in the same way, since many older iPhones already support Bluetooth 5.0.
What kind of Bluetooth is needed for audio transmission?
Thus, iPhone owners will need Bluetooth 5.0 technology to enable Dual Bluetooth Audio communication, which can be extended to older phone models such as the iPhone XS, iPhone XR, iPhone 8 and iPhone X through a software update to Apple's iOS mobile system.
Will there be 5G connectivity on the iPhone 11?
However, all iPhones in 2019 will not receive 5G technology, as there is a chance that this is now being pushed back to 2020.
Installing Touch ID and Face ID on iPhone 11.
Finally, the iPhone 11 could bring back Touch ID. A new report says Apple plans to introduce Touch ID along with Face ID to create dual biometric security.
iPhone 11 release date.
Technology news is expected that the new iPhone 11 line will be announced by Apple in the fall, in September (presumably).
It seems technology corporation Apple is moving on to something bigger and better. It's possible that those on the fence about buying an iPhone may finally have the latest version of the iPhone.
Live Home 3D is the successor to the Live Interior 3D program from the developer BeLight Software. And is powerful yet user-friendly home design software that allows you to build your dream home right on your Apple Mac or Microsoft Windows computer. It doesn't matter whether you are a homeowner who is planning some upcoming home improvements or a professional interior designer trying to bridge the gap between ideas and visualizations. Multilingual Live Home 3D can help you.
3D software news: Review of Live Home 3D, the best program for creating home design.Creating 3D models of houses is becoming popular. Live Home 3D is an advanced program for creating 3D home design. For those who have ever dreamed of designing their dream home on a computer (Mac, Windows) or tablet with the iOS platform. The Live Home 3D app and program can do this. Live Home 3D software as a tool can help both homeowners planning to renovate their home and various levels of interior design professionals who want to visualize current projects in 3D format. In addition to providing advanced home design tools, Live Home 3D Pro has remarkable export quality and viewing mode.
Video review of Live Home 3D: Introduction.
Overview of Live Home 3D editor functions:
- Work in 2D and 3D environments;
Live Home 3D, as a multi-functional program for creating 3D house plans, will help you create detailed 2D floor plans and automatically build the structure in 3D. You can trace an imported floor plan or start from scratch using the software's smart tools.
- Apply materials and add furniture;
You can design and decorate your interior by optimizing furniture placement and making smart color schemes. Live Home 3D makes decorating a room fun.
- Rich collection of 3D objects;
A program for creating a 3D model of a house allows you to fill out the interior. You can choose from the built-in 3D library of many sofas, chairs, kitchen sets, appliances, doors and other items. What's more, integration with Trimble 3D Warehouse (a popular search service and 3D model hosting repository) allows you to download thousands of free 3D models from an online repository.
- Creation of 2D house floor plans;
Start your interior design project by drawing a 2D floor plan using intuitive drawing tools. Measure rooms and walls in just a couple of clicks. Add furniture, doors and windows. Set up cameras and film tracks to capture interior design.
- 3D rendering in real time;
What else can a program do to create a 3D house model? Switch between views to see and walk around the structure in 3D. Make changes to your home design in a simple drag-and-drop workflow. Arrange furniture, paint walls, adjust lighting and create realistic, beautiful 3D environments in real time.
- Collections of furniture and materials for the home;
Know the furniture layout and color scheme of any room before you start painting or order paint. Drag and drop furniture, decorations, doors and more from a 3D library of over 1,500 items and easily change fabrics, colors and finishes using over 2,100 included materials.
- Export a 3D house project.
Creating houses in 3D is a fascinating phenomenon. Design work lives both inside and outside of Live Home 3D. You can make changes to your 3D design and share the results with clients, colleagues, friends and family.
Video tutorial on Live Home 3D for Windows: Creating a floor plan.
Educational video review of Live Home 3D for iOS: Creating a floor plan.
Live Home 3D for Windows video tutorial: Creating a floor plan
According to the Live Home 3D project manager, it became known that the next version of Live Home 3D plans to add landscape functions and physical shading. The development of the program is ongoing, and there is no exact time for the release of the new version. Our readers will be among the first to hear news about the Live Home 3D program.
After persistent rumors in the news, Apple has finally updated the iPod Touch multimedia player model, introducing the world to a new 2019 model. Over the past few months, rumors about a seventh-generation iPod Touch player have given it a chance to hit the market. The new iPod Touch's hardware has been upgraded with a faster A10 Fusion chip (but the same chip used in the iPhone 7). The memory capacity has been expanded and now reaches up to 256 GB (a memory record for an iPod), and the price for the new product from Apple starts from 249 Euros or from 199 US dollars.
Apple gadget news: Apple remembers fans of the iPod Touch player and has released a new iPod for the first time since 2015.With the new A10 Fusion chip, iPod Touch supports augmented reality and FaceTime group calling for the first time. The hardware platform update, which, combined with innovations introduced in the iOS platform, will allow iPod Touch users to use it in the same way as a gaming platform. The debut of the Apple Arcade service is planned for the fall (the company announced it back in March).
New features of the iPod Touch player
The iPod Touch's screen remains a 4-inch Retina resolution, with thick bezels at the top and bottom, similar to the iPhone 5S. The design and the Home button without the Touch ID function are also preserved.
The Cupertino-based company claims the A10 Fusion chipset offers 2x the CPU speed and 3x the GPU speed of the previous generation iPod. Thanks to the new chip, iPod Touch now supports ARKit apps for augmented reality apps and Group FaceTime.
Another small hardware update. The camera compartment includes an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 1.2-megapixel front camera for FaceTime. The declared battery life of the player can reach 40 hours when playing audio and 8 hours when playing video.
The weight and thickness of the iPod Touch are 88 grams and 6.1 mm, respectively. iPod touch's ultra-thin and lightweight design has always made it ideal for music, gaming and more, wherever you go.
The new iPod Touch also includes EarPods with a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Apple Vice President of Product Marketing Greg Joswiak said: "We've enhanced the lower-cost iOS device with twice the performance of before, augmented reality and Group FaceTime."
A little history about the iPod.
There is one interesting story behind the Apple iPod connected to its popularity. In 2008, iPod sales were at their peak. More than 55 million players, approximately how many Apple sold them back then. New sales of players are coming and a new history of iPod Touch versions begins.
What colors does the iPod Touch have?
Apple confirms that the new iPod Touch variant is now available for purchase in Pink, Silver, Gold, Star Grey, Blue and Red.
Sales of the new iPod Touch and prices in the store.
In twenty-seven countries, starting Tuesday, the updated iPod touch is available for online ordering. The new iPod Touch has a lower price than most iPhones on sale. In particular, official prices are set as follows:
For a model with 32 GB of memory - from 199 dollars or 249 euros;
- For the version with 128 GB of memory - 299 dollars or 359 euros;
- And for the version with 256 GB of memory - 399 dollars or 469 euros.
Whether you play in a group or for yourself, all musicians need a good ear for harmony, melody and rhythm. Using songs from your music collection, the professional Capo program from developer SuperMegaUltraGroovy Inc. guesses the rhythms, chords and keys of songs quickly enough to help the musician break them down into separate parts. Capo's unique technology helps musicians quickly learn their favorite material, improving their hearing.
News of programs and applications for musicians: The Capo training program will help you master your favorite songs without musical tabs (tablature) or notes.So, the music program Capo SuperMegaUltraGroovy will help you, as a musician, learn to play songs by ear from your music collection. With sophisticated and easy-to-use features, you'll learn to play more songs in less time.
Capo, as a program for beginning musicians, allows you to play your favorite songs in a special way so that they can hear the notes and learn how those notes sound.
Capo also uses a combination of advanced signal processing and machine learning to help you learn songs by ear. The program's powerful, easy-to-use tools allow you to drill down into the details of your recording so you can learn to play songs more accurately and in less time.
The main functions of the Capo music program:
- Listen to notes more clearly.
Slow down, solo instruments and listen to quickly played notes frozen in time.
- Start playing songs faster.
Automatically detected chords and rhythms will give the musician a huge advantage when learning new tracks.
- Start from where the musician left off.
SuperMegaUltraGroovy Capo projects store changes a musician makes to chords, cyclic regions, and even the location of the playback point to return to.
- Work with the tab, hear every note.
Use your computer mouse to draw notes inside the spectrogram. As you click and highlight each note, hear it play as the tablature is automatically generated for you. Now there's no need to keep a notepad handy for solo transcribing!
More details about the program for musicians, Capo:
Capo can open, play and analyze songs, tunes purchased from the iTunes Store, as well as WAV and AIFF audio files, as well as M4A and MP3 files.
- Get chords.
Capo, as an advanced software SuperMegaUltraGroovy, analyzes songs uploaded by a musician by “listening” to them, and then displays all the chords that he hears. In addition to naming chords, Capo can show diagrams for guitarists, ukuleles, banjos, mandolins and 4-6 string bassists. Everyone makes mistakes and when Capo software misses a chord or makes a mistake, you can easily correct the detected chords and your changes will be saved with the song. You can specify alternative chord voices, and a left-handed mode. Yes, this music program has left hand mode.
- Change speed.
Slow down (or speed up) your music without changing its pitch, so musicians can practice recording at a comfortable pace. The computer program has a high-quality time dilation mechanism. It ensures that music sounds great at any speed. You can export the adjusted songs for use in other applications or on other electronic devices.
- Metronome and counter.
Practice like a pro and improve your timing by playing along with the song's synchronized track. Use the counting feature to give yourself a bar or two to take a deep breath before rocking out to your favorite songs.
- Change the key.
Quickly change the music to a different key so you can play or sing along with it comfortably. Chords and chord diagrams immediately update to reflect the new key as you drag the pitch slider.
- Repeat playback.
Loop sections of a song for practice or sharing by creating regions. Simply drag the waveform to create looping regions that are time-locked and time-locked to the original recordings. Label the looping areas or color code them to keep them organized. Or export your parts for use in other applications.
- Removing or eliminating instruments and vocals.
Thanks to Capo's advanced SuperMegaUltraGroovy isolation effect, a musician can more easily hear parts of the song they're trying to learn by simply adjusting a few sliders. Extract the sound of one instrument or vocal to hear it more clearly, or exclude it to create your own backing track.
All your work while learning a song (such as editing chords or creating loops) is saved while working in the Project. When you open this song again, you'll be ready to pick up where you left off. You can also share your projects and collaborate with students, friends, or classmates using email, AirDrop, messages, or simply copying the project to another Mac computer.
- Exchange projects between devices.
Easily shares your work between an Apple Mac computer and an Apple iPhone phone or iPad tablet when the musician also has Capo touch (this is a mobile application for the iOS system, it is purchased separately in the Apple iTunes App Store). With Apple's iCloud cloud service, any changes you make to your songs are kept up to date across all your devices, so you can be ready to pick up where you left off, regardless of whether you made changes on yours. computer or while traveling on the road.
- Create tablature.
Record the notes you hear in the song simply by using your mouse to click on the notes you see on the spectrogram. You no longer need to keep a notepad handy to transcribe a solo because your transcriptions are saved when you go back to study or play a song.
- Add a "virtual Capo" or select alternative settings.
It is possible to quickly audition the chords of a song using different scales and alternative tunings so that the musician can learn where to play most comfortably or to best suit the instrument. By setting the fret to accommodate the "virtual Capo", the computer program automatically adjusts its chord diagrams to display them comfortably.
Video review of the Capo program for Mac and iPhone, iPad:
Learn music, practice, play on your own.
JPG To PDF is a free Windows and Mac OS program to convert JPG to PDF format. Apart from simply converting every single JPEG image to PDF files, the portable converter also has the ability to convert multiple JPG files into a single PDF file. This means that with this free utility you can make your own PDF photo album or PDF e-book!
Software news: The issue of how to convert JPG to PDF was quickly resolved. Now the JPG To PDF program can do this.So, JPG To PDF utility is a very tiny program for Windows or Mac OS that allows you to convert all your JPG files to PDF files. Files can be modified in several ways and merged into a PDF. This can be one at a time, or you can turn all JPG files into one PDF file. The program opens up many options as you can create your own PDF e-book or photo album.
Why do you need a JPG to PDF converter?
Need to convert JPG to PDF? No problem! There are several reasons why a user would want to convert files.
- This is an interesting e-book converter.
Since e-books are getting good popularity, this would be an ideal way to create them. Make a book with your JPG materials. And you no longer have to think long about how to change the JPG format to PDF, just download the free converter;
- Free PDF creation.
Often users need a PDF creator. JPEG or TIF files that have been scanned can become PDF files. And for this, the program will be able to convert the scanned TIF or JPEG into a PDF document, and then save it on the computer;
- BMP compressor.
Some users need to compress BMP files into a single PDF or convert them into multiple PDF files. Large BMP files can be easily compressed into one or more PDF files;
- PSD Protection.
Sometimes it is important to convert PSD to PDF to protect the original PSD files. With this program, original PSD files can be quickly protected when changed to PDF format;
- Need to create a PDF photo album from JPG photos for free?
Well, there's a photo album maker for that. JPG images can be turned into albums, and doing this at home will be a great way to make gifts for family and friends. Now it is very easy to combine JPG files into one PDF file.
It is also possible to create a multi-page PDF document, brochure, catalog, archive, portfolio, book, presentation.
What features does the free JPG To PDF program have:
- Fast conversion.
The converter typically converts hundreds of JPG images into a PDF document in a few seconds. Even if you have large JPG files, the developer claims that the program will work 300% faster than other converters. You can't imagine how quickly the transformation happens, it can happen while you decide to use the software to set up a new task;
- Without installing Acrobat.
This converter comes with a standalone conversion engine that works without Acrobat PDF or other PDF transfer software;
- The most popular image formats are supported.
Thanks to the built-in image analyzer, the program can convert JPG, BMP, TIF, GIF, as well as PNG, ICO, TIFF, PSD, and JPEG into PDF documents;
- High quality PDF.
Don't worry about the quality of your file conversion. The converter will save a small result of the PDF conversion for saving, but for reading it will be of high quality;
- Free JPG To PDF program is easy to use.
With just a few clicks of the computer mouse, this tiny application will quickly start the conversion task. Or simply drag and drop JPG files into the program and convert without any extra steps. Yes, it's that easy to reformat to PDF;
- Portable JPG To PDF version.
The converter has a portable version (the file size is about 808 KB, the program is zipped in a ZIP file on the official website) that allows people to convert JPG files to PDF files anywhere.
What developments await the JPG To PDF program?
According to Woody Wu, software developer, "When a new version of the program is created, he will strive to achieve even better quality results."
The history of the creation of the program from the developer JPG To PDF:
Woody Woo (Independent Software Vendor):
"There are many image to PDF converters on the internet, but I have tried most of these converters and they do not have good conversion speed. So I thought I might be able to create one that can convert JPG and other image formats to PDF documents faster.
The core of the JPG To PDF program is written in the programming language - pure C, and that is why this program converts images to PDF so quickly. "
This is such a fast, portable, small and free JPG To PDF program.
Cupertino-based technology company Apple may have just "confirmed" its three new iPhone models, according to the latest Forbes report. The multimedia phones, which have long been rumored in the tech world and will be announced this fall, are believed to be codenamed iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Max and iPhone XR2. The iPhone 11 release date will most likely officially fall in the traditional September of this year.
Latest Apple news for today: 11 2019 iPhone mobile phone models appear in the Eurasian database.Eleven unreleased iPhone models are registered. The "confirmation" comes after Apple publicly submitted model numbers for three new smartphones to the Eurasian Economic Commission (EUA) regulatory framework. This was first discovered by Indian source My Smart Price. Model identification numbers shown are A2223, A2221, A2220, A2219, A2218, A2217, A2216, A2215, A2161, A2160, and A2111.
The three models designated "A21" are expected to be the iPhone XR, which will come in three sizes. The "A22" models will have different storage sizes between the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Max.
There are many listings, as Apple is expected to sell different variants of the phones in different places, all of which vary in compatibility with cellular frequencies.
These devices are expected to be part of the 2019 iPhone lineup, which the company plans to unveil later this year. Probably the iPhone 11 with improved internal characteristics will not join the ranks of 5G phones.
iOS updates and iPhone changes
According to a Forbes source, tech giant Apple is expected to unveil iOS 13 at its Worldwide Developers Conference next month, while the new phones are expected to include camera upgrades with 3D scanning capabilities (such an update would bring significant AR capabilities). reality for high-end smartphones), larger OLED screens and will become slightly thicker. There will also be some aesthetic changes with the iPhone XR2. This multimedia phone is expected to have a frosted glass design and will come in six body colors, including two new colors: green and lavender.
Whatever the iPhone XR update is called, it will likely be similar to the iPhone XS successor. It will likely have a dual camera system on the back rather than a single lens.
For the first time, Apple can offer an ultra wide-angle camera and a telephoto lens. According to the latest data, the Sony sensor is best suited for this. It can be located next to the LED flash, in the upper left corner of the back of the phone. Well, Apple's A13 Bionic chip will almost certainly play a central role in updating each of these mobile devices.
iPhone presentation date and prices.New phones will be presented to the public as usual at the autumn (this is approximately the beginning of September), Apple's official event. In addition to various technical specifications, the event is also expected to announce the price of the iPhone XR2, as well as the iPhone XI (11) and iPhone XI Max models.
Hot news in the world of mobile technology. Huawei is in talks with Aptoide about a possible replacement for Google Play's app catalog, and has reportedly asked developers to publish their mobile apps on the AppGallery. For inexperienced phone users, it is worth explaining that Aptoide is an alternative marketplace for mobile applications running on the Android operating system. What is AppGallery? This is Huawei's official app store, which a user can use to download hundreds of Android mobile apps.
Chinese manufacturer Huawei will likely no longer be a licensed partner of Google's Android system. This means that Huawei may have to rely on AOSP (Android Open-Source Project) builds for future mobile devices to create its own mobile operating system. Due to the fact that there is a chance to no longer have access to pre-release versions of the commercial version of the Google operating system.
New Huawei smartphones and tablets may no longer have access to Google Play services or other Google applications, and existing ones may only be supported until the Huawei IT company updates their firmware.
Even though restrictions have eased for Huawei for now, there may not be enough time to enjoy this respite. Because plans to replace Android with its own operating system may take longer than experts expect.
Your own application store for Huawei
Huawei plans to support the development of its own app store, known as AppGallery. Meanwhile, the Chinese tech giant is consulting with third-party marketplace Aptoide to provide mobile app users with an alternative to the Google Play Store. According to Portuguese publication Dinheiro Vivo, mobile app catalog Aptoide is ready to seize the opportunity and is already in talks with Huawei.
Aptoide alternative for Android mobile apps.About the Aptoide app store
Aptoide Android application store is independent, it allows you to configure and manage your own Android store. Aptoide contains over 900,000 apps with nearly 200 million users. Apart from repositories like APK Mirror, Aptoide is one of the most popular sources for downloading Android apps, even if it is not officially supported on the Google Play Store.
At the same time, Huawei is trying to attract developers to publish their apps directly on its own AppGallery app store. This will allow the company to bypass the restrictions. Although Google apps such as Google Maps or YouTube and many other services will still be unavailable for Huawei mobile users.
Huawei AppGallery alternative for Android applications.About the AppGallery app store
The application, downloaded from the official Huawei AppGallery store, works perfectly with any smartphone running the Android operating system, but to work properly, the Huawei mobile services application must be installed on the smartphone or tablet. According to a Bloomberg source, “Huawei claims that by the end of 2018, the AppGallery application catalog served 50 million users.”
In Europe, where Huawei has a significant share of smartphone users, it is trying to encourage telecom operators to pre-install AppGallery. This move could be beneficial for the Chinese manufacturer of mobile gadgets.
When it comes to the Aptoide store, there are two possibilities on how Huawei could leverage its popularity. The Chinese company can either pre-install the Aptoide app store on Huawei smartphones or integrate its functionality into the Huawei App Gallery. However, Aptoide is not an official software marketplace. The store is often used to download paid apps for free, this can mean that mobile apps are rarely downloaded by the developers themselves, which can be a concern for app developers and Google. How Huawei handles this will be something we will know in the long run.
Opinions from Android developers about the benefits of publishing an application not only on Google Play, but also in alternative application directories Aptoide and AppGallery:
Sergey Lukyanov (Apps4business, director and founder):
"Developers lay out (upload) applications where they can be laid out (if it is their business or marketing product) and upload applications to markets where the customer has registered accounts!
Previously, there were markets where we were asked to upload our applications, so that the markets were replenished with quantity (App Store and Google Play also started simply with the number of applications), then they began to pay attention to quality, and so on. The appstore just sometimes loses its head with the restrictions! "
- Pavel Andreevich (WiteBox Studio, head of development department):
"I don’t see much benefit for developers as such. Rather, there will simply be a larger market for Huawei. After all, the more places where you can find an application, the higher the likelihood that it will be found!
For developers, the moment of placing an application is also important, because Google Play has its own requirements for applications, but if Aptoide and AppGallery also have their own requirements (standards), then this will do more harm than good for developers! "
- Yuri Korkhov (Hix.one, head):
"...It’s only a plus for us as developers; this doesn’t bode anything bad. The Chinese market is huge and you can and should enter it :)"
- Ivan Gel (Dex, head of the company):
"Developers always strive to simplify and automate the process. We are already using cross-platform development technologies that allow us to create applications for several platforms at once. This reduces the financial burden on a business that wants to launch on multiple platforms simultaneously.
And the developers themselves will only benefit from the new “mobile wars”. New operating systems and stores are additional work for us. And we are not afraid of difficulties! :)
Everyone should benefit from the emergence of new technologies and players in the market. Competition is the engine of progress. "
- Anatoly Babushkin (Soft Jet, mobile application development expert):
"The benefit for the application developer in publishing the application not only on GooglePlay, but also in other application directories is certainly a larger audience reach.
For example, Google services are blocked in the Chinese market, and, therefore, to reach the audience of some countries, including billion-strong China, it is simply necessary to publish applications in the appropriate directories. In addition, taking into account the situation around Huawei, even in Russia there may soon be a multimillion-dollar audience that does not use GooglePlay. And whoever manages to rise to the TOP of these catalogs first will receive a significant influx of audience in their applications.
Therefore, application developers simply need to explore the available directories and take their place in them. "
- Evgeniy Valkov (Start Mobile, director):
"This question is relevant not only for an Android developer, but for any developer in general. Programming is difficult and expensive. Therefore, it is always beneficial for both individual programmers and development companies to cover as many platforms as possible with a common code base, if the cost of an additional platform pays off the potential coverage (that is, it is cheaper than attracting additional traffic in alternative ways).
For this reason, we write in React Native, and not in two separate Swift + Kotlin languages, since without losing quality we get coverage of two platforms with one code base.
The situation with alternative exotic app stores is twofold. On the one hand, there are few people and little traffic. On the other hand, they don’t pay much attention, so the competition there is also low. For this reason, bringing an application to the top may be cheaper. In general, you need to test and calculate the ratio of additional costs and the resulting effect.
Most likely, the efforts to publish in alternative stores will not be very large, and the additional coverage will be more or less noticeable. Therefore, it is certainly worth a try. It is easier and cheaper for private small developers to carry out such experiments than for large companies. Take heart, comrades! "
When will Huawei get an app store update?
There have been no official announcements about such a partnership yet. The companies are likely still negotiating a product combination. However, since it will reportedly be possible to run an Android application on Huawei's operating system, we can predict not a simple temporary solution, but a promising and long-term cooperation.
Summarizing Huawei news
Google will stop cooperating with the Chinese manufacturer and the denial of access to the Play Store is forcing Huawei to look for an alternative solution in the form of a partnership with another application store. We will follow the epic transition to an alternative to Google Play services and update you on the solution to the Huawei issue. Stay tuned, friends!
The robot monitors movements in the room and controls how engineer James Bruton moves his arms, armed with a sword and shield, to deflect the robot's blows. Engineer Bruton worked on a virtual reality (VR) project with final year computer games students on the faculty at the University of Portsmouth. The robot's hardware is controlled via a serial interface. In fact, the team created a virtual reality game that controls the robot, so when you get into virtual reality, you get hit by the robot in real life.
James Bruton's new robot is an impressive attempt to bring virtual reality to life.The robot tracks and operates in virtual reality using Vive trackers, so it remains synchronized in real time. The concept and software were created with the help of engineering students in the computer games program at the University of Portsmouth. The Verge's source reports that the new robot is not available to mass users - a virtual game and the robot was custom-made, but is a spectacular embodiment of virtual reality in real life. In short, the robot was just part of a student's thesis project; don't expect to see it in stores anytime soon.
Developers are trying to make virtual reality more immersive. Many people love technologies that make virtual reality more like real life. Perhaps some boxers would like to try this virtual game with a real robot in a headset. However, talking to a robot from the University of Portsmouth may not be enough. It's clear that when you hit this robot in virtual reality, it hits back in real life. Without being able to test the system, it's unclear whether hitting a real robot will result in the feeling of being knocked out.
Several companies are working on gloves that provide haptic feedback and realistic resistance when grasping virtual objects. Google has a patent for motorized shoes that will allow virtual reality users to walk in-game without crashing into walls in real life. Let's not forget the world's first multi-sensory mask, Feelreal, which allows players to smell in games. The sensor mask also vibrates and blows air or mist onto the player's face to make the virtual reality experience even more immersive.
For the most part, spectacular virtual reality technologies should be useful. But James Bruton may be going too far by developing a robot that can actually fight people while they play in a virtual world. Why not just take off the headset and fight the robot for real?
The robot has a wooden base with wheels and two pneumatic arms with boxing gloves, which it uses to punch the player. The Arduino Mega serial interface powers the robo-gladiator. Vive sensors track the robot's arms, as well as the player's baton and guard, and the actions are synchronized with a custom VR game in real time.
Below, watch a video review of a robot that will beat the player in real life while the player fights the robot in virtual reality.
Video review of James Bruton's robot: Robot versus human combat
James Bruton is an electrical engineer and YouTube content creator who has been posting videos of his robotics designs for the past few years. Write if you liked his latest video demonstrating a new robot.
Subscribe to:Sony Xperia Z3 Compact is a smaller version of the Xperia Z3, which entered the market a little earlier. The most striking differences lie in the size of the devices, as indicated by the Compact prefix in the name. The model's release date is autumn 2014. However, this phone also has its own characteristics, and this review will tell you about them and other details.
Model release date: autumn 2014
Specifications
| Display | Screen diagonal: 4.6 Display resolution: 1280×720 Matrix type: IPS |
| Manufacturer | Sony |
| Model | Xperia Z3 Compact |
| Announcement date | year 2014 |
| Dimensions | 127 × 64.9 × 8.6mm Weight: 129 g |
| SIM card | One SIM card |
| operating system | Android 4.4.4 |
| Communication standard | 3G (WCDMA/UMTS) 2G (EDGE) 4G (LTE) |
| Memory | OP: 2GB; VP: 16GB; Memory card support: micro-SD up to 128GB |
| Camera | Main: 29.7 MP Flash/Autofocus: Yes/Yes Front: 2.2MP Flash/Autofocus: No/No |
| CPU | Name: Qualcomm Snapdragon Video core: Adreno 330 Number of cores: 4 Frequency: 2.5 GHz |
| Wireless technologies | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n Bluetooth 4.1 |
| Battery | Battery capacity: 2600mAh Fast charging: no Removable battery: Yes |
| Connectors | Charger connector: micro-USB Headphone Jack: 3.5mm |
| Navigation | GPS: Yes A-GPS: Yes Beidou: No GLONASS: Yes |
| Sensors | Proximity sensor Light sensor Compass Accelerometer |
Options and packaging
The smartphone is delivered in a small and quite stylish cardboard package.
The kit will consist of:
- power supply;
- USB cable;
- in-ear headsets
- user manual.
It’s very nice to see headphones included, considering how many manufacturers have neglected this recently.
Smartphone comes with headphones
Video
Appearance and design
Externally, the smartphone is similar to other top models from Sony. The front and back parts are completely covered with glass, and the ends are made of a translucent polymer material that tactilely resembles hard rubber. Due to these sides, the phone lies very comfortably in the hand and does not slip out, even despite the smooth glass panels. And the thickness of the device has increased slightly.
The distinctive features of the front panel include stereo speakers, proximity and light sensors, a front camera, as well as an LED indicator that notifies about various events. On the back panel there is a main camera paired with an LED flash, and an NFC module is hidden under the glass panel. A 3.5mm headphone interface and a noise-cancelling microphone are located on the top end, and on the bottom of the functional elements there is only a conversational microphone and a place for attaching a wrist strap.
Externally, the smartphone is similar to other top models from Sony
On the right side there is a volume rocker, a power/lock button, and a camera button, which can also be responsible for the focusing function during shooting. And on the left side there is a special connector for connecting a Sony docking station, which can charge the phone while the owner watches movies, surfs the Internet or does other useful tasks. On this side there is also a tray for a nanoSIM-type SIM card and a connector for connecting a microUSB-type memory card.
It is worth mentioning that the travel of the function keys is quite rigid, so you will have to get used to it, but over time this no longer causes any difficulties.
Let's not forget that the smartphone is waterproof according to the IP 68 standard, which allows you to immerse the smartphone to a depth of 1 meter for even longer than 30 minutes.
The following colors are available for purchase: white, black, red and turquoise.
Display
The display is a 4.6-inch IPS matrix with a resolution of 1280*720 pixels. The minimum brightness value is 3 cd/m2, and the maximum is 449 cd/m2. Considering the diagonal and screen resolution, the pixel density is 319 ppi. The color reproduction is in no way inferior to the older version. The temperature of the flowers is somewhat high, which may be a little unusual at first. But if you wish, you can adjust the white balance, making the color range more natural.
The viewing angles of the smartphone are satisfactory, with the exception of slight fading when tilted diagonally, but such an arrangement is not often necessary for everyday use.
It is very convenient to control the phone, because... The screen has an oleophobic coating that smoothes out finger movements. Another important function is the ability to operate with gloves, which is especially important in the winter season.
The display is a 4.6-inch IPS matrix with a resolution of 1280*720 pixels
Software
The Xperia Z3 Compact runs on the Android 4.4.4 KitKat operating system with a pre-installed proprietary graphical interface. This shell is very familiar to users of previous Sony smartphone models. But standard Android is practically nothing like this proprietary interface. But there are some positive changes. All kinds of application icons, menu items and fonts have become slightly larger, which improves the overall readability of the information on the display. You can also now restart your smartphone by pressing just one button, rather than holding down the power button several times, as was the case before.
Third-party pre-installed applications include a proprietary Walkman audio player, as well as an application for integration with the PlayStation game console, if available. There is also a very convenient multi-window feature that allows you to display multiple applications on the screen and scale the size of some application windows. A more detailed description of some control features can be found in the attached instructions.
The smartphone runs Android 4.4.4 KitKat
Sound
In terms of multimedia capabilities, things are slightly worse for the Compact version than for the older model. Low-frequency sound has become less expressive. But, if you apply software enhancement of sound quality, you can achieve good sound from the speakers. And for more detailed settings in the branded Walkman player, you can play with the equalizer settings and other parameters, after which the sound, especially in headphones, can pleasantly surprise you.
The speaker provides the required volume level and quality of voice transmission of the interlocutor. And with maximum call volume, you can hear the call in almost any situation.
It’s nice that Sony cares about its customers and equips the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact with a headset whose sound quality, although not the highest, is sufficient for listening to music on the go.
From the point of view of multimedia capabilities, things are somewhat different from the older model
Performance
The quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor is responsible for performance, just like the older model; a description of this CPU can be found on the manufacturer’s website. The maximum operating frequency of each core reaches 2.5 GHz. The Adreno 330 graphics accelerator is responsible for the graphics here. The internal storage capacity is 16 GB, of which about 5 GB is occupied by the system. The RAM module has a capacity of 2 GB, which is more than enough for everyday tasks. If there is a shortage of permanent memory, it can be expanded using a microSD memory card, the volume of which can reach 128 GB.
In the Antutu performance test, the smartphone scores about 44,000 points - this figure is not the highest, but the smartphone does not claim to be a flagship, and considering that there are hardware modules here, as in the regular Z3, the picture looks more than positive.
In the 3D Mark Ice Storm graphics subsystem test, the smartphone achieves a result of almost 20,000 points. And for a clearer understanding, let’s turn to the Epic Citadel gaming test, in which, at the maximum level of graphic settings, an average FPS result of 55 frames per second was shown.
Adreno 330 graphics accelerator is responsible for graphics
In many ways, similar results were made possible thanks to the overall rather high power characteristics.
Camera
The resolution of the main camera module is 20.7 megapixels, and the front one is 2.2 megapixels. The same modules are installed on the older version. The focal length of the rear camera's G Lens is 27mm and its aperture is f/2.0. Some software effects have been added for this phone.
When you turn it on for the first time, the iAuto mode will be activated, which selects the optimal settings for shooting, and the aspect ratio of the images in this case will be 16/9. However, if you wish, you can use a completely manual shooting mode, in which you can independently select certain parameters, be it white balance, sensitivity or exposure. It is worth noting that the “automatic” camera has a maximum resolution of 8 megapixels, so to use the maximum capabilities of the camera module, you should resort to manual settings.
The smartphone has a physical camera launch button, but it is worth remembering that in this case the automatic shooting mode will be activated, even if you used manual mode during the previous launch. And when you launch the camera through the application shortcut, previously made manual settings will be available. The physical button is also responsible for releasing the shutter and focusing, which makes the shooting process more convenient than using a virtual button.
The rear camera's G Lens focal length is 27mm
Video can be shot with a maximum resolution of 4K, but the most interesting option is with a resolution of 1920*1080 pixels, in which the frame rate will be 60 frames per second, making the picture especially smooth.
The front camera cannot boast the same high performance as the main one, but for an ordinary “selfie” or video call it will be quite enough.
Battery
The smartphone is powered by a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 2600 mAh - this figure is not the largest, but it is already larger than that of the Z1 Compact. And if you take into account the 4.6-inch display and the processor, which is not the most demanding in terms of power consumption, you can confidently ensure worry-free use of your smartphone throughout the day. Yes, you can only watch high-resolution videos for about 8 hours, but you can read or “surf” the Internet at a low but comfortable brightness level for about 20 hours. The phone can last no more than 5 hours in performance-demanding games. You can charge the Xperia Z3 Compact battery from 0 to 100% in no more than 3 hours.
Watch high-resolution videos without charging for about 8 hours
Advantages and disadvantages
The Sony Xperia Z3 Compact gives the impression of a solid and small phone, which is essentially a smaller copy of one of the company's top models. Due to this, the smartphone inherited all the basic qualities of the latter. But there were some differences, for example, the form became more convenient, because... polymer side ends have appeared, and the thickness has become slightly larger, which increases the overall level of comfort of use. A special “thank you” should be said to the manufacturer for introducing moisture protection according to the IP 68 standard in this model. There is a sufficient amount of RAM - 2 GB, but the permanent memory is only 16 GB, but it can be expanded with a microSD memory card.
Among the advantages are:
- High-quality materials and assembly;