www.littlegreenrobot.co.ukCheck our website for even more game reviews

Star Wars: Tiny Death Star

Monster Loves You!

Papa Pear Saga

83

Star Wars has undergone

a pixelated revival in Tiny

Death Star, as you work

with the Emperor to defeat the

Rebel Alliance once and for all. To

do so, you need to build fl oors of

the Death Star, with each one

having a different purpose. The

range is pretty varied and fi ts in

well with the Star Wars theme,

even if a few are quite samey. For

each fl oor you create, youll also

need to hire citizens to manage it

and earn credits for you. Theres

30 different species to choose

from, including Ewoks and Droids,

and each looks brilliant in their

pixelated design.

There are side quests that give

you credits and keep the

gameplay varied, such as

Star Wars: Tiny Death StarIn a pixelated galaxy far, far away

Price Free Designed for Phone and tablet Requires Android 2.3.3

quickhits

Add new fl oors when you have credits Characters look pixel perfect

capturing rebels spies and

completing the evil schemes of the

Emperor. Fans of the iconic Tiny

Tower series and Star Wars franchise

will feel right at home here.

Monster Loves You! is an interactive story where

you live the life of a monster and need to make

life or death decisions that will ultimately save or

lead to the demise of Monsterkind. The game links in with

fairy tales and provides the players with a range of choices

to enhance their monster in a variety of ways. For

example, do you choose to protect Goldilocks when the

three bears discover her? Or do you turn a blind eye?

Its a surprising amount of fun and the choices you

make ultimately develop your character in different ways,

and with over a dozen endings, theres plenty of replay

value. Monster Loves You! is a game that many people

wont take notice of, but it offers one of the most truly

individual gaming

experiences that

Android users

should certainly

be checking out.

Monster Loves

Price 1.78/$2.88 Designed for Phone and tablet Requires Android 2.2

Shape Monsterkinds destiny

The choices you make determine the outcome of your character

You!

Instead of actually fi ghting, Tekken Arena gets you to customise characters and earn

power-ups by taking part in tournaments around the world by watching animations. Its time-consuming and hard to play without using in-app purchases.

Tekken Arena Free

Alhambra Game 3.79/$5.99Based on the traditional board

game, Alhambra requires you to gather currency and build new land. Youll need to brush up on your fi nances to succeed.

Treasures of Mystery Island 2 3.79/$5.99

After being transported into the past, you need to help Alex and Lisa fi nd their way home by fi nding objects and clues.

Drift Mania: Street Outlaws0.60/$0.99

Sporting 3D graphics and a great control system, Drift Mania is a strong contender to Asphalts racing crown.

With over 400 playable clubs spanning 21 leagues, Champ Man is a fantastic football

simulator. Its detailed enough to keep all football fanatics happy without being too diffi cult for new users to get stuck in to and guide their team to glory.

Champ Man Free

Give every car a clean and a new lick of paint that comes through your car wash. Although

specifi cally aimed at kids, its a fun little game when you have a few minutes to spare. Just dont expect any engaging storyline or real longevity.

Car Wash & Design Free

As far as puzzle games go, Papa Pear Saga is as

crazy and colourful as they get. The premise is

simple enough, with you needing to launch Papa

Pear at a bunch of pegs with points being accumulated for

every peg you manage to hit. To get past each level, you

need to accumulate a certain amount of points, and it

follows in the same vein as Angry Birds, using a three-star

system to give you a performance rating.

As you progress through the game youll unlock

power-ups and additional items that can help give you a

points boost when needed. With levels getting quite

diffi cult near the end to complete, these added boosts

are too few and far between for our liking. Theres also the

usual plethora of in-app purchases on offer, but the game

can be completed

with ease

without ever

needing to

purchase one.

Papa Pear Saga

Price Free Designed for Phone and tablet Requires Android 2.3

Ping your pears to glory

The more pegs that hit the buckets, the more points you earn

http://www.littlegreenrobot.co.uk

84

Reviews

Motorola Moto GThe budget Moto G from Motorola sets new standards for low-cost phones W

hen the budget is tight and you want a

smartphone, its easy to think that you

are going to get a very much lesser

handset if you dont have lots of money to spend.

Motorola has set out to dispel that idea with its

Moto G, which offers some extremely tempting

features for a handset that costs less than 150.

Well, thats not quite true the bit about the

Moto G costing 150. There are actually two

versions of this phone. Theyre identical in every

respect except for their built-in memory. For

150 you can have 8GB. Up your spend to 174

and you can have 16GB. Make your choice

carefully as theres no micro SD card slot. On

our review handset an 8GB model, there was

5GB of free storage space.

If you are hunting down a thin and attractive

phone this might not be the place to look. At

11.6mm thick, the Moto G is a bit chunky, and it

is heavy too. It feels somehow heavier than its

143g. But really, dont let those things bother

you as this is a great phone.

Motorola has thought carefully about how to

make its G stand out, and has come up with the

clever idea of allowing you to personalise the

phone. There are fl ip shells which are fi tted by

removing the rather tight-fi tting rubberised

backplate and replacing it with a textured back

that is hinged into a front cover.

Saving moneyYoud normally expect to pay at least double

for a device of this spec

Android 4.4Well, not quite yet,

but an upgrade to

Android 4.4 is

promised and should

be hitting quite soon

Good screenBright and high-res,

the screen is

impressive. 720p was

previously unheard of

at this price

Memory mattersThe Moto G comes in

8GB and 16GB

variants. Theres only

5GB free on the

former, with no micro

SD slot

EDITORS CHOICE

goodfor...

85

Review

VarietySpice things up with coloured fl ip covers for a

personalised look

SpeedThe lower-end quad-core processor is able to

handle most tasks fairly comfortably

Not being disturbedMotorolas built-in software can silence the

ringer at set times

There are also grip shells that fi t around the

back of the handset and add some protection

and some colour to the Moto G. There are plenty

of colour choices in both cases so you can

spruce up the device from time to time when

you feel it is looking a little old and dowdy.

The Moto G goodness doesnt stop with

shells. For a low-cost handset is it quite

remarkable that Motorola has been able to make

it water resistant. Theres no coveted IP rating

here, but still, we think it should be puddle-proof,

and defi nitely rain-proof. The battery is sealed in

place to help protect it from water splashes.

One area where low-cost handset makers can

often make the wrong decision to compromise

on features is the screen. Motorola has not

made a mistake here. The 4.5-inch screen has

1,280 x 720 pixels, making it good enough for

ebook reading, video viewing, web browsing and

other date-intensive activities. The viewing angles

are good enough, and Motorola has used Gorilla

Glass 3, which isnt something we see on every

low-cost smartphone.

Android has been left alone for the most part,

but Motorola has added in an app called Assist,

which can turn the phone to silent mode at set

times, even checking Google Calendar to fi nd out

when you are in meetings. Itll let persistent

callers through the barrier so emergency calls

should be catered for. You get an FM radio as

well, plus a handy tool for migrating your data

from your old handset.

The 1.2GHz Snapdragon processor is very

effi cient in both speed and power, and theres a

big kick in the teeth for other low-cost handset

makers in that Motorola has built the Moto G

around Android 4.3, with a promise of an

upgrade to 4.4. Android 4.4 is only currently

available on Googles Nexus devices and

doubtless the reason Motorola can offer it so

early is that Motorola is now owned by Google.

Most budget handsets launch with an outdated

version of the OS and stay there.

We cant help wondering if through Motorola

Google is trying to do with the Moto G at the

lower end of the market what it has done with

the Nexus 5 at the higher end offer a superb

handset that really gives the competition a hard

act to follow. If thats the strategy, wed say it

has been implemented well.

Dont look anywhere else if youre on a budget. The Moto G sets a new standard for entry-level phones

Verdict

ZTE Blade V

issue 032

None

worse thanbetter than

Motorola Moto G

Value for money Simply unrivalled. About half the price youd expect to pay

Features Not many extra features, but the quality of those here is high

Design Slightly chunky. Feels more solid than most budget devices

Performance Offers solid mid-range performance and good battery life

Operating system ...............Android 4.3 Processor ................................... Snapdragon 400,

1.2GHz quad-core

Memory .......................................1GB RAM, 8 or 16GB storage Dimensions ..............................129.9 x 65.9 x 11.6mm Weight ..........................................143g Display size ...............................4.5-inch Display resolution ...............1,280 x 720 pixels Expansion slot .......................None

technical specs

Price 148 More information www.motorola.co.uk

information

Motorola Moto G

Battery life

The battery seems a bit small but is still able to get you through a full day without a top up reasonable well

Flip coversThe Moto G doesnt

support the same

comprehensive

customisation options as

the Moto X did, but you can

still change the look of the

with a range of different

covers and shells

Theres a big kick in the teeth for other low-cost handset makers in that Motorola has built the Moto G around Android 4.3, with a promise of an upgrade to 4.4

Android 4.3

http://www.motorola.co.uk

Reviews

Kogan Agora HDThe Kogan approach to budget Android handsets is to give you a quad-core processor and a fi ve-inch screen. We put the Agora HD through its paces to see how it fared

Kogan is a well-known brand in Australia, and

it launched in the UK earlier this year. It

specialises in selling at a low cost, and its

fi rst smartphone, the Agora, was a dual-SIM

supporting, fi ve-inch screened model for a little

over 100. We didnt hate it, but we didnt think it

was fantastic, even at that price.

Kogan has pushed the boat out again with the

Agora HD, again a fi ve-inch handset that can

accommodate two SIMs, and which this time

has a quad-core processor among its top

features. At 149, it is more expensive than the

earlier model.

There is a lot of good news about this

handset. Theres been a reasonable amount of

attention paid to the build, and the rubbery

backplate is useful in a handset that is this large

as it helps you get a fi rm hold. The curved edges

are attractive and the Agora HD is nicer to look

at than Kogans earlier model.

A fi ve-inch screen is not to be sniffed at, and

at 1,080 x 720 pixels, it delivers enough

resolution to show video and text to good effect.

The IPS panel delivers good colour depth too.

The screen isnt perfect, but for the price it is

perfectly adequate.

That quad-core processor is far from the

leading edge, running at around 1.2GHz, but we

found it responsive and it was able to handle

what we asked of it. Android 4.2 is here in its

raw form. Kogan has added just a couple of

extras. Theres an FM radio and a couple of apps

a fi le manager, to-do app, notes app, and

Backup and Restore, which uses a micro SD card

for backing up. There are also a few useful tools

to let you take advantage of the two SIMs.

Money savingThis low-cost handset is priced in an

affordable bracket

86

Auto-sleepAmong a few

software tricks is

one that enables you

to set the phone to

go off and come on

at set times to

conserve the battery

Big screenThe fi ve-inch screen is

nice for the price, and

the HD resolution is

very welcome too

Two SIMsWith support for two

SIMs, a cheap local

SIM when you are

abroad can be

accommodated for

goodfor...goodfor...

87

Review

TravelWith support for two SIMs, this is the ideal

phone for travellers

VideoThe large, fi ve-inch screen is good for

watching video

WebWebsites look good on the Agora HD thanks to

its decent pixel count

If you only have one SIM then the handset

wont mind itll work as normal. If you do have

two then when you switch on the Agora HD you

are immediately offered preset default settings

for voice calls, video calls, messaging and data

connections, and you can change these right

away or at any time. And, of course, you can

then override your settings in the dialer by

picking whatever SIM you want to use on a case

by case basis.

Why might you want two SIMs? Well you might

travel abroad and want a cheap local SIM, or you

might have a second SIM for work-based calls,

for example. Be aware that, as is the norm, only

one of the SIM slots is 3G, while the other is

stuck at 2G.

the phone off in the wee small hours, but come

back on in time to sound your wake-up alarm.

The other annoyance is the amount of

onboard storage. The headline fi gure is 4GB. That

would be a fairly small amount if it were whats

free after the operating system has taken its toll.

But it is the before amount. The after amount

is just 2.6GB. Given that you cant store apps on

micro SD cards with Android as was once

possible, you should only consider this handset if

you are not that into third-party apps.

Its hard not to like what Kogan has done with

the Agora HD, but we do wish it could have

found room for more internal storage.Very good value if you can live with the Agoras serious lack of useable storage

Verdict

Value for money Good bang for your buck, albeit with some limitations

Features Some neat features including dual-SIM. Real lack of storage

Design Quite plain but okay build. Nicer than the previous model

Performance Not bad for the price, although there are limitations on what apps you can use

Operating system ...............Android 4.2 Processor ...................................1.2GHz quad-core Memory .......................................1GB RAM, 4GB storage Dimensions ..............................144 x 74 x 11mm Weight ..........................................153g Display size ...............................Five-inch Display resolution ...............1,280 x 720 pixels Expansion slot .......................micro SD

technical specs

Price 149 More information www.kogan.com/uk

information

Kogan Agora HD

Battery life

Youll need to be careful about your usage if youre to get through a whole day without needing to recharge

Nice designThe design is quite

attractive, and theres

a grippy rubber fi nish

to the back

That quad-core processor is far from the leading edge, running at around 1.2GHz, but we found it responsive and it was able to handle what we asked of it

Four coresThe unnamed quad-core

processor is not the fastest

weve ever experienced,

but it was nippy enough for

normal day to day tasks

There are two cameras. The back-facing one

shoots stills to eight megapixels. It is nothing

special, though you might like playing with the

time-lapse shooting mode. The front two-

megapixel camera is perfectly good for making

video calls.

However, two things drive this handset down

in our estimation. One is the battery life. The

Agora HD has a 2,000mAh battery and its

probably only going to keep the phone alive for a

day if you are a light user.

We do really like the little software feature

that lets you set the Agora HD to turn itself on

and off at set times. You could use this to turn

ZTE Blade V

issue 032

Motorola Moto G

issue 033

worse thanbetter than

Kogan Agora HD

http://www.kogan.com/uk

88

Reviews

Advent Vega Tegra Note 7

Dixons own-brand Advent made a big splash when it released the original ten-inch Vega. Can it repeat the feat with its new device?

Many of our readers will remember the

original Advent Vega, which launched just

over three years ago. Yes, three years ago.

It arrived at a time when ten-inch tablets were

expensive and underwhelming, bringing with it a

rock bottom price tag, support from a top UK retailer

and a powerful Nvidia chipset. Throw in a high

degree of hackability and it was exactly what the

market needed it sold in huge numbers and to this

day is fondly remembered among Android fans. The

successor has been a long time coming and while it

shares some key features with its predecessor a

Nvidia processor is still on board and its still very

competitively priced it has also changed to refl ect

how the tablet market has matured since the

original was released.

The Advent Vega Tegra Note 7 is, as the name

suggests, a seven-inch tablet. The release of the

Nexus 7 another Nvidia device changed the

tablet market completely. Prices dropped,

practicality increased and the device was a runaway

success. With the 2013 Nexus 7 moving to

Qualcomm internals, you could argue that the Vega

device is that devices spiritual successor too.

Overall, the Vega packs good specs, albeit lacking

in some areas compared to its main rival, the

aforementioned 2013 Nexus 7. At the heart of the

silky smooth, while the speakers draw you in

GamingThe powerful processor and GPU make gaming

Great soundWhy do other companies put speakers

on the back of their devices? No such

problem for the Vega. The speakers are

loud and clear, even if they dont quite

go up to 11 for intense gaming sessions

Portable sizeThe Vega is 9.4mm thick and weighs

320g. Its very similar in size to the

original Nexus 7 and in that regard, its

surprisingly pocketable particularly

when using the optional ultra-thin case

Stylus functionalityIf a tablet with an in-built stylus is a

must, your options are pretty

limited only the Galaxy Note 8 offers

similar functionality and its a lot more

expensive. The DirectStylus is a high

point of the device it feels great

Connectivity portsThe micro USB power socket on the

Vega is on the top, alongside the micro

HDMI port, 3.5mm headphone port

and the power button, which has a

nice fi rm click to it. The volume

buttons and the micro SD socket are

on the right of the device

Weak screenThe 1280 x 800 IPS screen is the

weak point the colours dont

pop like they do on some of its

rivals. The screen has a fairly

wide bezel but the tablet is still

easily held with one hand

goodfor...

89

Review

Bluetooth controllersChoose a case with a good stand to prop the

device up, and its great fun

DrawingThe stylus is more useful than you think. Grab

Sketchbook Pro from Google Play and create!

Taking picturesIts not going to replace your point and shoot,

but the included app is one of the best

Nexus 7 2013

issue 029

worse thanbetter than

Advent Vega Tegra Note 7

Value for money While the device falls behind the class leaders, it represents excellent value

Features Software is relatively pure Android, but the core hardware features are comprehensive

Design Its a slab of black plastic. Some nice detail on the back, but the front is bland

Performance The Tegra 4 processor is highly capable and will handle anything you throw at it

Operating system ...............Android 4.2.2 Processor ...................................Nvidia Tegra 4 1.8GHz quad-core Memory .......................................1GB RAM, 16GB storage Dimensions ..............................120 x 190 x 9.4mm Weight ..........................................320g Display size ...............................Seven-inch Display resolution ...............1280 x 800 pixels Expansion slot .......................micro SD

technical specs

Price 179.99 More information www.pcworld.co.uk

information

Advent Vega Tegra Note 7

Nvidias background is in gaming and the Vega is a great gaming tablet

Battery life

Nine to ten hours of normal use is achievable, but gaming will shorten the lifespan considerably.

The Advent Vega is a worthy follow up to the original. Its not the right tablet for everyone, but if it fits your need, its well worth a look

Verdict

Asus MemoPad

HD

issue 032

device beats a Nvidia Tegra 4 heart a quad-core

CPU and a very powerful GPU ideally suited to the

most demanding of games. 1GB of RAM is onboard

(surprisingly, given the trend towards 2GB of RAM

on devices now) and 16GB of storage. A micro SD

slot, something that is arguably essential as many

games grow to well over a gigabyte in size,

supplements this. The usual array of connectivity is

present micro USB, micro HDMI for connectivity

to a TV, Bluetooth 4.0 and, of course, Wi-Fi. A

fi ve-megapixel camera is included if you need it,

together with a VGA front-facing camera for video

calling and selfi es. The camera itself is acceptable

for a tablet, using SmugMugs Camera Awesome

as the camera app.

The screen on the Vega is a 1,280 x 800 IPS

unit. Its not bad, but it feels a lot like last years

screen both in resolution and clarity. It certainly

pales next to the new Nexus. The new Vega, as

with the original, is a device thats engineered to a

budget price point some compromises are

evident and this is one example.

Nvidias background is in gaming and the Vega is

a great gaming tablet. As well as the powerful

hardware and expandable storage, the device

includes dual front-facing stereo speakers. With

PureAudio technology built in, they crank up to a

decent volume and its an often-overlooked

feature that really contributes to an immersive

gaming experience.

The Vega has one more party piece up its sleeve

and the clues in the name. The tablet ships with a

stylus and a silo in the device to put it in. The stylus

itself has a great weight to it and an angled, spongy

tip that lets you vary the thickness of screen input

dependent on the pressure you put on it. The

bundled apps for use with the stylus are fairly

basic, but with the Google Play store on board,

plenty of alternatives are available.

Out of the box the Vega includes Android 4.2 in a

very stock Android style. A handful of game demos

are included and a couple of Nvidia Tegra specifi c

apps, but if you like your Android pure, you wont

fi nd much here to offend. Performance is silky

smooth and battery life is good, although heavy

gaming can deplete it quickly, as with any device.

Distinctive designIts unashamedly black plastic, but a textured back

and distinctive design make the Vega interesting to

look at and to hold. An optional smart case and

stand with automatic wake and sleep functions

slides into a groove on the devices side

Camera AwesomeThe camera itself may not be awesome, but it

uses the Camera Awesome app to take

pictures, and it is one of the best, most

functional and easiest to use camera apps for

the Android platform

http://www.pcworld.co.uk

Reviews

HP Slate 21

90

HPs all-in-one device gives you the full Android experience in a

21-inch display. What could possibly go wrong?

As its name implies, the HP Slate 21 has a

21-inch screen. It runs a mobile OS and is

located in the Tablets section of HPs

website, yet it weighs 4.85kg and runs off the

mains. Is it really a tablet, then, or is it a desktop

replacement? Or something else?

When you fi rst set the Slate 21 on your desk

it feels as though it should be used as a

desktop computer with a keyboard and mouse.

With three USB ports, plus Bluetooth, you can

attach them, or you can tilt the screen right

back on its hinge and use the device almost fl at.

Trouble is Android isnt really optimised for

Media centreBig screen and loud speaker equals above-par

multimedia performance on Android

Hefty bezelWe dont mind the

bezel so much, but the

fact that it sits half a

centimetre above the

screen makes some

gestures diffi cult to

execute

Ports galoreThere are loads of

connectivity ports round

the back, including

three USB, one SD and

even Ethernet

Refl ective screenThe screen is of great

quality but we found it

to be quite refl ective.

Keep it pointing away

from windows

Loud speakerThe speaker below the

screen is very loud and

produces good quality

audio. Theres even 100

volume levels to give

you precisecontrol

goodfor...

91

Review

A nice try but essentially a flawed concept. Android simply doesnt suit a device of this size

Verdict

None

issue 003

None

issue 003

worse thanbetter than

HP Slate 21

Value for money Okay price but youd surely be better off with a tablet

Features Software compatibility is mixed. Lacks anything to tie hardware and software

Design Hinge works well. Chunky bezels obscure some of Androids gestures

Performance Fast but software is not optimised for this form factor

Operating system ...............Android 4.2.2 Processor ...................................Nvidia Tegra 4 1.66GHz Memory .......................................1GB RAM, 8GB storage Dimensions ..............................530.9 x 353.8 x 67mm Weight ..........................................4.85kg Display size ...............................21.5-inch Display resolution ...............1920 x 1080 pixels Expansion slot .......................SD, 3 x USB

technical specs

Price 329 More information www.hp.com

information

HP Slate 21

Battery life

The Slate does not have an emergency backup battery, so the device needs to be plugged into the mains at all times

keyboard and mouse, so you invariably fi nd

yourself needing to prod and swipe anyway.

Android isnt especially well optimised for a

21-inch display either. The soft keyboard is

hilariously oversized (not to mention surprisingly

laggy) while the status bar is overly small. This

means the standard gesture of swiping down

from the top-left of the screen to open the

notifi cation pane becomes excessively fi ddly,

and is not helped by the fact that the screen is

inset about fi ve millimetres below the bezel.

We also encountered numerous apps that

had problems. From those designed only to run

in portrait mode so ran pillarboxed with black

bars either side, to word-processing apps whose

default font sizes had been set with much

smaller screens in mind, to games that needed

tilt controls. Even the browser is set up to use

mobile websites rather than the full versions.

Once we were fully set up and had started to

gain an understanding of where the Slate 21

would work and where it wouldnt, it became

somewhat useable. It never felt like anything

other than a kludge, though, rather than a

perfect marriage of hardware and software.

Which is not to say its all bad, just that the

strong points are all hardware related. The

1080p IPS screen is outstanding. It is bright and

crisp and has pretty much unlimited viewing

angles. The speaker below the screen was also

impressively loud. Between them they made the

Slate 21 a decent media centre. And when we

did fi nd apps that worked well there was some

fun to be had in the big screen we especially

enjoyed a spot of zombie bashing in Dead Trigger

2, even if it did make our arms ache.

On the design and build front we were fans of

the large rear hinge that enabled us to position

the screen at any angle we wanted. We were

less keen on the very plasticky build not a

major problem for a desktop computer but much

less appealing for something that invites you to

touch it. The Slate has no battery, so requires

access to mains power at all times, making it a

defi antly non-portable device.

With a beefy Tegra 4 processor clocked at

1.66GHz performance was good, although we

would have preferred more than the 1GB of RAM.

The AnTuTu benchmark test of processor and

graphics performance put it up with the Galaxy

Note 3, currently the most powerful Android

device, and the Vellamo test of HTML5

performance put it ahead of everything. Of

course, were comparing it to Android phones

and tablets. The Slate 21 may look like a

desktop computer but neither the hardware nor

the software are up to the task of replacing an

actual PC for anything approaching a task that

would be regarded as demanding.

At the outset we asked whether this was a

desktop computer or a tablet. In truth it took us

about ten minutes with the Slate 21 to fi nd the

answer: its neither. It is too large and unwieldy

to be a tablet, and runs software not suited to a

desktop. It is an interesting idea, a kind of logical

next step on from Asus Transformer series of

tablet/laptop hybrids. The main difference being

those devices work as either/or, unlike the Slate

21. HP suggests it is ideal for the kitchen or

bedroom; we cant see why a proper tablet

wouldnt serve you better in either case.

TVLoad up a few streaming TV apps like BBC

iPlayer or Netfl ix at will

MapsSwiping your way around Google Maps and

Street View is awesome on this device

OrganisingPut a few choice widgets on the home screens

and you can get organised easily

http://www.hp.com

92

ReviewsThe worlds first Android powered compact system camera has reached new heights of connectivity, but can it take great photos as well as download apps?

The rise of cameraphone photography has

created an obsession with sharing shots as

soon as possible after taking them. Were

now too impatient to wait until we get home before

uploading our photos to the internet and want to

keep everyone updated in real-time while were on

the go. Of course, the problem is the lower quality

of smartphone snaps that restrict you from

showing off your photography skills in all their glory.

Never one to miss an opportunity, Samsung has

stepped into the breech with what it is heralding as

the most connected compact system camera in

the world the Samsung Galaxy NX. This

Android-powered interchangeable lens camera has

both Wi-Fi and a SIM slot, so you can share your

photos exactly as you would on any smartphone. It

also means that you can surf the web,

communicate with friends and download apps

onto the camera. And although you cant actually

make phone calls, you can still keep in touch via

apps that enable internet calls, email and even text

should you want to.

The Galaxy NX runs Android 4.3 with Samsungs

TouchWiz UI in a version that is basically the same

Sample photos

BulkyThe camera body is bulky

but comfortable to hold,

and also relatively

lightweight at just 495g

with the battery

Large sensorThe 20.3-MP APS-C CMOS

sensor is on hand to produce

high-quality images that are

sharp and vibrant. Even at

ISO 3200, images are crisp,

clear and true to life

Samsung Galaxy NX

as weve seen on most of its 2013 phones. This

includes a number of photo-oriented apps and

functions. Photo Studio enables you to access huge

libraries of images taken by others based on your

location, giving you inspiration for composing your

own travel shots, while Story Album organises,

reframes and resizes your images to create photo

books that you can display and print.

Built-in creative filters such as Vignette, Fish Eye

and Sepia are also immediately on hand to help you

produce arty shots, and you can experiment with an

array of Smart Modes including Panorama, Multi

Exposure and Sound and Shot for recording audio

with still images.

Something else the Galaxy NX has in common

with the rest of the Galaxy range is the large

4.77-inch touchscreen. The display takes up the

entire back of the camera and is fantastic for

reviewing images. Unfortunately, this also means

that there is no room for any physical buttons to

control the camera, so almost everything has to be

controlled by touch. This is not good news if youre

not a touch-control fan, but it doesnt slow down

operation too much, and in fact makes selecting a

Detail is good and with the large sensor

you can control depth of field well

Colours captured are bright and vibrant,

without appearing over-saturated

Plenty of detail is captured up until ISO

3200 where images gradually lose quality

Android poweredThe Galaxy NX is powered by

the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean

operating system, meaning

that you have access to

thousands of free and

paid-for apps on the Google

Play store

Lens systemThe 18-55mm kit lens

performs well, but there

are also 12 other

compatible lenses for the

NX system. These include

a 3D lens, 20mm prime

and 60mm macro lens

93

Review

focus point much easier. The mode dial on the top

of the camera is blank and is simply used to scroll

through the digital mode dial on screen, plus if you

are using a lens with Samsungs i-Function

technology and press the iFn button, it can be used

to change your exposure settings too.

Although we didnt fi nd using the screen too

diffi cult in bright sunlight, you can also frame your

shots using the electronic viewfi nder. It

Of course, what really sets the Galaxy NX apart

from a smartphone or tablet is the image quality.

The large 20.3-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor is

the same as the one found in the superb NX300

and produces crisp, detailed images, even in low

light. Noise doesnt appear until ISO 3200 and only

becomes a major issue at ISO 12800 and above.

The Advanced Hybrid Autofocus system also

performs well, combining phase detection and

Streets ahead of your smartphone camera, of course, but the price is simply too high to be able to recommend

Verdict

Value for money Although the Samsung Galaxy NX is at the height of connected camera technology, it is still very expensive

Features As well as full manual controls and plenty of handy built-in functions, you can also download apps to extend your shooting, editing and sharing possibilities even further

Design The body design is ergonomic but also feels quite cheap and very bulky for a CSC, with a size similar to that of a DSLR

Performance Thanks to the large sensor, image quality is superb, with accurate colours and lots of detail. It performs well at high ISOs and focusing is quick

Operating system ...............Android 4.2 Processor ................................... 1.6GHz quad-core, DRIMe IV

imaging processor

Memory .......................................2GB RAM, 16GB storage Dimensions ..............................136.5 x 101.2 x 25.7mm Weight ..........................................495g with battery Display size ...............................4.77-inch Display resolution ...............1,280 x 720 pixels Expansion slot .......................micro SD

technical specs

Price 1299 More information www.samsung.com

Samsung Galaxy NX

350 shots with the NX, although it does depend how heavily you use the other features

The 20.3-MP sensor is the same as the one found in the superb NX300 and produces crisp, detailed images, even in low lightautomatically switches on when you put your eye

up to it, however, it can be a little slow in doing so

and is easy to accidentally switch on by moving

your fi nger in front of it.

Although a compact system camera, the size is

more akin to that of an entry-level DSLR due to the

chunky grip and large viewfi nder protruding from

the otherwise slim-line body. It is comfortable to

hold for long periods however, and although it feels

rather plasticky, this also means that it wont weigh

you down too much.

Situated inside the large grip, there is a similarly

large battery that is necessary if you plan on using

the camera to surf the internet or play Angry Birds.

It doesnt drain too quickly but it does depend on

what you use it for. Next to the battery are two

slots, one for a SIM card and one for a micro SD, an

unusual sight on a dedicated camera. You also get

16GB of internal storage and 50GB of free Dropbox

storage for backing up your shots.

contrast AF to deliver sharp shots quickly and

effortlessly, although it does struggle a little in low

light. The only thing that will really slow you down is

the series of painfully drawn out welcome screens

that appear every time you start up the camera.

Once you are switched on, going in and out of

stand-by mode by pressing the on/off button is

instantaneous, but powering down the camera

completely could mean you miss an unexpected

photo opportunity waiting for it to slowly spring

back into life.

Despite this slow start up and the rather

unattractive design, the Samsung Galaxy NX is a

fantastic bit of kit for those who want to take

high-quality images and share them instantly.

However, as it is so technologically advanced, it

also comes with a rather eye-watering price tag.

Until this falls dramatically, it is likely to only end up

in the hands of Android enthusiasts with plenty of

disposable income.

RAW shootingThe Galaxy NX gives you the

choice of shooting in JPEG

and RAW, and you can

process images in-camera

Touch onlyThe external controls are

sparse, but they are just

enough to get by alongside

using the touchscreen

1299www.samsung.com

information

Battery life

Youll get around

http://www.samsung.comhttp://www.samsung.com

Accessories

Netatmo Urban Weather Station

You can be forgiven for being a

little bit suspicious of the real

use of the Netatmo Urban

Weather Station and it isnt until you

really explore the units capabilities

that you appreciate its benefi ts. The

weather station consists of two

sensors, one which you situate close

to your Wi-Fi router, while the other is

placed outside in a safe and secure

place. Thankfully the tough aluminium

exterior of both sensors means they

can pretty much handle any weather

elements thrown at them.

After then installing the Netatmo

app on your Android device, you can

begin to track the weather conditions

in your local area. Although being able

to track the weather conditions is a

nice feature, its the various other

features on offer that make the Urban

Weather Station a very interesting

piece of kit.

Theres scope to track humidity

levels both in your home with the

smaller sensor and outside, as well

as tracking CO2 and noise levels.

After prolonged use, you can begin

looking at creating your own tracking

system using the sensors to measure

the things that really matter to you.

The customisation is really impressive

and the level of detail you can go into

on your Android smartphone is

superb. To take it a step further, you

can also use the free app to set up

notifi cations to notify you of when

theres a massive change in the

weather conditions.

Despite being a very niche product,

the Netatmo Urban Weather Station

really is the best piece of kit weve

ever seen for tracking the weather

and other conditions in your local

area. Theres no denying that the item

itself is for a very niche audience but

it certainly manages to do the job it

sets out to complete.

Weather fanatics will fi nd exactly what they need

Performance

Value

specification

More information www.netatmo.com

verdict

Price 139/$179

Design

The most detailed weather report of all time

ChargingThe two sensors are

charged in different ways.

The smaller indoor sensor

can be charged via the DC

power unit that comes with

it, whereas the larger

outdoor sensor is powered

by four AAA batteries

Manage dataAll the data thats picked up via both

sensors is automatically added to

the Netatmo app on your Android

phone. Its also added online to the

Netatmo servers, which you can log

in to and see whenever you want

Real-time notifi cationsSeasoned users will

want to check out the

notifi cations feature,

which enables users to

create custom

notifi cations that will

alert them to drastic

changes to the current

climate in their area

Braced for all weatherBoth sensors are quite heavy and encased in a

thick coating of aluminium. We tested both

sensors in the midst of a storm and neither

sensor had a scratch on them by the time we

were done

94

http://www.netatmo.com

being poor upscales of current Android versions.

GameStick

Price 79.99/$79.99 More information www.gamestick.tv

Price 75/$99

More information www.jays.se

The a-JAYS Five earphones have a few features that lift them

above the norm. First, theyre tangle-free. The cord is fl at and

rubberised and is literally impossible to get tangled no matter

how carelessly you throw them into your pocket. Its also

quite heavy as a result, and longer than average too, and

wearing them dangling in front constantly felt as though they

were being gently tugged from our ears. Next up is an Android

app that enables you to confi gure the phones, including the

performance of the button and various audio settings. The

remote control works perfectly well without the app, and we

tended to use the equalizer settings in our audio app of

choice to tweak sound. On the whole we found the audio

output to be very good if not spectacular it was certainly

good enough for streaming music. Finally the Fives feature

MEMS technology for improved speech quality, and here it

did indeed perform very well. These earphones come

beautifully packaged and look great. A good buy.

with their own Android app

The Parrot Zik headphones are not cheap, but for the audiophile

they are worth the price. The design, by Philippe Starck, is

gorgeous theyre large but light and perfectly weighted. The

materials and build quality are brilliant. The headset connects to

your phone via Bluetooth but does not forgo the added

connectivity you get with a wired unit. The right ear piece has a

built-in controller that enables you to skip tracks and adjust the

volume, and theres also a sensor in one of the earpads that

detects when you remove the headset. The accompanying

Parrot Audio Suite app gives you control over your music,

including what the company calls the Parrot Concert Hall effect.

This expands the sound, although despite its rather grandiose

name we didnt feel it to be a must have and were quite happy

listening without. On the whole though theres little to quibble

about headphones dont get too much better than this.

Treat yourself to a truly premium audio experience

Parrot Zik

Price 299.95/$399.95 More information www.parrot.com/zik

After numerous delays, the GameStick is fi nally upon us and despite several changes, its

sole aim is to provide a solid gaming experience powered by Android. The GameStick

plugs directly into the HDMI port on your TV and is controlled by the controller that comes

free of charge, even if the odd controller shape wont please everyone. Setting up the

console is easy enough and the selection of games on offer is fantastic. Its hindered

with lag issues throughout, which sometimes make games unplayable. Theres also

problems with certain games not playing at the correct resolution, with some simply

GameStick looks to become the Android gaming king

Tangle-free earphones

a-JAYS Five

Acce

ssorie

s

Headphones dont get too much better than this

EDITORS CHOICE

http://www.gamestick.tvhttp://www.jays.sehttp://www.gamestick.tvhttp://www.parrot.com/zik

9696

Super smartphoneGive your device a battery boost with one of these handy portable chargers

The fl at build of the TYLT Syncable stops any

tangles and tears from happening, with the thin

rubberised coating being tough and durable.

Although we only tested the smaller 12 inches,

which happened to be more than enough for

charging all Android devices, there are longer

versions of the cable

available if required.

Price 25.00/$29.99

More information www.tylt.com

TYLT Syncable

MobileLite Wireless Price 55.19/$59.99

More information www.kingston.com

Despite the primary use of the MobileLite

being a superb SD and USB reader, it also

has a great charging function for users to

check out. Its a bit slow at getting devices

to full battery life, but the other things the

unit is capable of make the MobileLite a

very useful piece of kit. Its also noticeably

thinner than many other portable chargers

and lightweight enough for you to keep

on you at

all times.

Kit: Emergency charger Price 34.99/$55.99 More information www.mobilefun.co.ukThe small size of the Kit will please a lot of users, and with the necessary cables folded into the

chargers design, its easy to carry around on your person. Out of the group, the Kit has the smallest

battery life, meaning youll need to charge it often. Unfortunately this does also mean it takes a long

time for it to get your phone fully charged and the LED lights that line the front of the charger to notify

of charging levels tend to be misleading. Although its size works in its

favour, the Kit has little else going for it.

Accessories

Price TBA/$69.99

More information www.global.

power-skin.com

What really makes the PoPn

charger completely different to

the other chargers on test here

is that its suctioned front

means you can stick it to the

backplate on your phone and

charge it at all times. It does

add a fair bit of bulk to your

device, but the speedy

charging process makes up for

that. One problem with

prolonged use of the PoPn is

that youll soon notice the fl ex

in the plastic casing, which

really detracts from the

otherwise stellar performance.

PowerSkinPoPn

http://www.tylt.comhttp://www.kingston.comhttp://www.mobilefun.co.ukhttp://www.global.power-skin.comhttp://www.global.power-skin.com

http://www.salomshop.comhttp://www.maxell.euhttp://www.kensington.com

NEXT MONTH

23 Jan

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All your Android annoyances, and how to fi x them

Your amazing Android snaps

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Taken a great shot with your Android phone or camera? Send it to us at:

From John M. Edmond

Used HTC Desire C

From Robert Harris

Used HTC One

From Alan Negus

Used Samsung S4

From Russ Lewis

Used Samsung S III

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