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Saturday, September 27, 2014

One (M8) comes last, Note 3 first in Consumer Reports bend test

"It’s not a real “****gate” scandal in the tech world until Consumer Reports weighs in. The respected consumer protection organization did it in 2010, when it confirmed that the iPhone 4 had a “death grip” issue, and now it’s literally weighing in on the new iPhones and several Android smartphones to see exactly how much force is needed to bend one."

How much does an iPhone 6 really cost? (Hint: It's way more than $199) |

To paraphrase Mark Twain: There are lies, damned lies, and smartphone prices. Every review I've read of the new iPhone 6 this week says the price starts at $199. That's not true. The total prices that buyers pay for smartphones on two-year contracts from American carriers will shock you.

NYTimes: $199 Apple iPhone 6 Is Fiction, if Not Fantasy

Friday, September 26, 2014

iPhone 6 Plus vs. Samsung Galaxy Note 3: Decision time - CNET

"Basically what I'm saying is that I really can't make up my mind. If I had to choose one it'd be the Note, because maximizing productivity on a mobile device must be my top priority. However, if I had the means, I'd keep them both. Running off to a meeting? I'd grab my Note. Heading out for a night on the town with some friends? iPhone all the way. And, if I were jetting away for a business trip, I'd keep the pair -- the iPhone full of media, games and distractions, the Note full of email, reminders and other boring stuff.

That's not to say the iPhone can't be a serious productivity tool, or that the Note 3 doesn't do a fine job at whittling away idle moments. Both are excellent all-rounders. It's just that one each feels more optimal for one suite of tasks than the other.

So, if you're making this difficult decision yourself, it might help to think of things this way: business, or pleasure?"

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Kindle Paperwhite Review: If Only Every E-Book Reader Was This Good

"The 2013 edition of the Kindle Paperwhite is, hands down, the best dedicated e-book reader out there. The display is clear and bright, the available content library covers all the bases, the battery life remains high, and the user interface is easy to use and doesn’t get in the way once you start reading.

There are other options available, but if you are looking for an e-book reader and are happy to spend the money, it would be hard to fault the decision to buy the Kindle Paperwhite."

Make sure you get the 2013 version of the Kindle, the one with the large Amazon emblazoned on the back.  It has significantly better lighting to the physically identical 2012 model which many stores carry at the same price of $119.00. If you have older eyes the difference is well worth the search.

iPhone 6 Plus vs. Samsung Galaxy Note 3

"So that's a problem, but beyond that, I don't find myself missing anything else on the Note. The screen may be the same resolution, but the increased contrast of the iPhone 6 Plus makes it look better when out and about. The battery life of the Plus seems superior to the Note in how I use it, and every app that I use on the Note I'm also able to find on the Plus. As an Android user this is hard for me to admit, but almost all of those apps look and work better on iOS than on Android.

But there's one big exception: keyboard. Though my favorite keyboard, SwiftKey, is now available on iOS, it isn't nearly as pleasant to use there as it is on Android. How so? Why, stay tuned for the next installment, where we'll cover that very topic."