LG Teases Brighter, More Colorful Screen for Their G4 Smartphone

lg g4 teaser video quantum display smartphone news somegadgetguyOn a video released yesterday, LG claims “You deserve this”.

What you deserve is apparently a brighter and more colorful phone display, which would be a welcome addition to one of their flagship phones. It’s been one of my more consistent criticisms of LG devices, that while their screens are high resolution, they’re a bit dimmer than their Samsung, HTC, and Lumia counterparts which affects outdoor view-ability.

Is this a killer app for you? Are you looking forward to the G4 reveal on the 28th? Drop us a comment and watch LG’s teaser video below!

4K Smartphone Camera Review: Real World Video Samples from the Samsung Galaxy S6 on AT&T (UHD)

Samsung has been on a roll with their camera tech. Does the Galaxy S6 continue their record of delivering excellent optics? Does it live up to the hype? Let’s run this flagship smartphone though our slate of real world video tests!

Shop the Galaxy S6 on Amazon: http://goo.gl/Ii0Qg1

Google Properly Kills Softcard in New Update. Google Wallet Reigns Supreme.

softcard google wallet app dead somegadgetguysoftcard isis google wallet android app dead somegadgetguy nfc mobile paymentsI’ve already written a cranky editorial about how frustrating it’s been to watch Google and the Carriers repeatedly shoot themselves in the foot over mobile NFC payments. Thankfully, with Google buying out Softcard, we can maybe see some more progress in the retail arena.

My Note 4 just got an app update this morning for the pre-installed Softcard service, which now labels “Google Inc” as the developer. Upon opening the app, what did I find? You are no longer able to create a new Softcard account, and are now directed to use Google Wallet.

It’s dead Jim, and I can’t say I’m sorry to see it go.

Long Term Review: Samsung Gear S on AT&T – The Smartwatch to Beat?

Apple would have you believe smartwatches are brand spanking new, but Samsung has already released three generations of Gear products. The Gear S represents the company’s most ambitious push in migrating data services to your wrist. Does it live up to the hype? Let’s take a look!

Shop the Gear S on Amazon.

Moto 360 Smartwatch Gets a Price Drop!

android wear motorola moto 360 price drop google somegadgetguyWas it my favorite Android Wear Watch? Nope. But it still represents one of the most stylish entries into the world of wearable tech, and now you can get it for a LOT less.

Originally launched at $249, you can now find it for $165 on Google Play before tax and shipping, or $179 on Amazon for you Prime folks. Not a bad piece of kit at around half the price of the Apple Watch. You can catch our full review below.

4K Video Showdown! LG G Flex 2 vs Nokia Lumia 930 (Icon)! You Decide the Best UHD Video!

I could blather on about the pros and cons of each camera, or I could just let each camera speak for itself! I spent a lovely day at the Los Angeles Zoo with the LG G Flex 2 pitting it against my old favorite, the Nokia Lumia 930/Icon.

Which phone shoots the best UHD video? Well that’s up to you!

Shop the LG G Flex 2 on Amazon.
Shop the Nokia Lumia Icon on Amazon.

I Ask You: How Should I Produce an iPhone vs LG Camera Comparison?

I NEED YOUR HELP!
I want to do a video quality showdown between the iPhone 6 and the LG G Flex 2, similar to the recent LG vs Nokia video we just published. Now, I think you should always produce the highest quality samples that a phone can shoot, but that means 1080p video on the iPhone and UHD video on the G Flex 2. I don’t want to produce four different videos to compare these two phones, so what makes the most sense for a SINGLE comparison video?

I’m taking this poll VERY seriously as whatever the general winner is here, will influence how I shoot and produce a comparison video. These videos often take me a couple DAYS to shoot and edit. Beyond just voting, comments and sharing will be GREATLY appreciated, as I want this to be as professional a comparison as I am able to create.


Samsung Responds to SquareTrade “Bendgate” Galaxy S6 Edge Video

Recently, gadget insurance company SquareTrade made some waves showing off a stress test of the Galaxy S6 Edge, claiming it had bending issues similar to the iPhone 6 Plus, and that it wasn’t as “bend resistant” as the HTC One M9.

Samsung today replied with a video showing how they test the durability of their phones, comparing it to the amount of force necessary to snap five pencils.

While a three point test is certainly dramatic, what’s concerned me about phone durability, since the release of the iPhone 6, has been deformation over time, especially uber-thin phones utilizing aluminum shells.

It’s all well and good that a phone can bounce back from one brief instance of extreme force, but how does it hold up to months of lower pressure “influence” exerted by pockets and the contours of the human body. In that regard, having a glass back plate might actually be a benefit, and we’ve seen (anecdotally) that the Gorilla Glass 4 shell seems pretty durable.

Does this response from Samsung assuage your concerns over claims of another “Bendgate”? Drop us a comment, and you can read Samsung’s full response below.

Continue reading “Samsung Responds to SquareTrade “Bendgate” Galaxy S6 Edge Video”