Understanding the difference between AMOLED vs LCD

Display technology is often a key battleground when it comes to top of the line handsets. But it’s not just display resolution and screen size that you’ll find on a spec sheet, manufactures also list different display types to choose between as well. Often you’ll find that manufactures stick to a particular display type, such as Samsung with its AMOLED technology or HTC opting for LCD, citing certain benefits over the competitions’ technology.

So let’s find out if really there’s a noticeable difference between these two displays technologies, if there is what sort of differences we can expect, and if the company marketing hype is to be believed.

The technology

First things first, let’s quickly go over the technological differences between the two display types before we delve into how this affects the consumer experience.

We’ll start with LCD, which stands for Liquid Crystal Display. The properties of this liquid crystal are a little complicated, but the important thing to know is that liquid crystals untwist when an electric charge is applied to them, which affects the frequency of the light transmitted through it. Combine this will two polarized panels and you can control the flow of light by twisting and untwisting the crystal molecules.

However, these liquid crystal materials don’t emit any light of their own, so a backlight is used behind the filter layer in order to generate light. A grid of integrated circuits is then used to control each pixel, by sending a charge down into a specific row or column. Colors are created by the use of red, green, and blue filters, known as sub pixels, which are then blended by varying degrees to produce different colors.

The construction of a red LCD pixel

AMOLED, on the other hand, uses lots of tiny colored light emitting diodes (LEDs) to produce light and different colors, which sounds quite a bit simpler. By adjusting the voltage, and therefore the brightness, of each of these red, green, and blue LEDs you can create a wide range of colors, or lack of colors (blacks).

The showdown

The most noticeable difference between these two screen types is the range of colors that can be displayed. The available colors that can be displayed are known as the color gamut, which is a portion of all colors that can be seen by the human eye.

Most types of media fit into the standard RBG color gamut, which most LCD screens aim to match. This is often why LCD screens are considered to be the most natural, but that’s simply because it most closely matches the color range used by other sorts of media. AMOLED displays offer a much larger gamut than LCDs, which can cause images to look much more vibrant.

The reason for the large differences lies in the way that these technologies work. Because LEDs can be individually controlled to a much greater extent, and development isn’t so concerned with the quality of filters as is the case with LCD, it allows the display to produce a wider gamut due to superior blending of primary colors. Another benefit of AMOLED is the greater control over blacks, which is achieved by dimming or turning off individual LEDs.

A gamut comparison between the Galaxy S4′s AMOLED display and the HTC One’s LCD display. The curved shape represents the visible spectrum, the black triangle is the sRGB gamut, and the white line is each display’s gamut. Notice the additional greens and blues with the S4.

However, a wider range of colours isn’t always better, as it can lead to images look oversaturated and can cause pictures to end up looking a tad distorted in extreme cases.

The strange thing here though is that LCD manufactures often aren’t satisfied with the look of their displays. In an attempt to make their displays look more vibrant, possibly just to keep up with the marketing of AMOLED displays, some LCD device manufactures often mess around with the levels of saturation, which can also end up ruining the color balance. If you’re looking for vibrant colors, then you’re probably better off with an AMOLED display with a decent colour balance, rather than an oversaturated LCD display. If you’re interested in a closer look at AMOLED/LCD saturation, then I highly recommend this video by Erica Griffin.

But it’s not all bad news for AMOLED displays, the technology does have some advantages over LCD. For a start the viewing angle tends to be a bit wider, as light can only travel through the LCDs crystal molecules and polarized panels at a limited angle, although this does vary from handset to handset. LEDs also react faster to changes in voltage than crystal molecules, which means that response times are often faster on AMOLED displays too.

One final point to consider is power consumption. As LCD displays are constantly powered by a backlight they tend to draw more power than OLED based displays, which can turn off LEDs when displaying darker images. However, different colored LEDs have different levels of power consumption, so energy draw is more consistent and predictable when used LCD technology.

This chart shows the lifespan of different colored PHOLEDs. Although the technology is a little different to AMOLED, the difference in colour lifespans is typical of all LED based displays.

The different LED energy levels can also shorten the lifespan of the displays. The blue pixels in LED displays require the most energy to power, but that also means that they can burn out faster. After a long time this can result in a slight tinting over part or all of an AMOLED display.

So which display wins

I know it’s a cop out, and you might here this a lot, but in the end it really is down to personal preference. Even within the same display types there are varying levels of saturation, gamut, and differences in calibration, so picking the best display type for yourself isn’t really an exact science. You could like HTC’s LCD displays but absolutely hate the look of LG’s. Typically, those looking for more vibrant displays will be better off with AMOLED, but well built and properly calibrated LCDs may provide a more realistic look.

On top of that, each technology has its own advantages and disadvantages that are also worth considering. If you’re looking for a long lasting display then you might be better off with LCD to avoid pixel degradation, whilst consumers looking for a better battery life and a wide range of colors could be better off with AMOLED. - source

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Super AMOLED Vs Retina Vs OLED Vs LCD Vs IPS: What’s the Difference?

There’s no denying that there are LOTS of different Android phones on the market, and what there also happens to be lots of are different types of displays. I don’t know about you guys, but I think it can get pretty confusing hearing about Super AMOLED, Retina, OLED, LCD, and IPS displays, so I thought I would do my best to explain some of the key differences between all of the different types of displays you can find on smartphones.

LCD

LCD displays start with a backlight that’s always on, and require light in order to create black, white, and colors. High end LCD’s have the reputation for creating the most accurate colors and “grays”, but are often calibrated (on purpose) to produce weaker red, blue, and purple colors to keep power consumption down. LCD screens also age slower, and can easily withstand thousands of hours of use.

OLED

This particular type of screen requires no light in order to produce black, but only needs it to produce white and colors. Because of this, it can be considered as a battery saving display. OLED displays are often brighter, but can often suffer from oversaturated green colors. They also age a lot faster than LCDs, with red and blue colors deteriorating faster than green. That might not sound like a big deal, but it can cause the color balance to suffer over time. OLEDs are also more expensive to make, which has caused many manufacturers (HTC for example) to switch from AMOLED to LCD displays.

Super AMOLED

Don’t let the title “Super” fool you. This is simply Samsung’s proprietary name and approach to making OLED displays. In other words, Super AMOLED=Samsung OLED. Super AMOLED, Super AMOLED Plus, and HD Super AMOLED only really have one major difference: sub pixels.

Screen pixels are generally made up of red, green, and blue sub pixels that combine to create other color combinations. For example, Samsung’S Super AMOLED uses Samsung’s PenTile layout, and the same pattern of red, green, blue, and green sub-pixels, which typically has fewer sub pixels than the layout used in LCD displays. The larger sub pixels are effective in letting in more light, which lead to brighter and smoother images, which is seen on the Galaxy S2, Samsung Droid Charge, and the Samsung Infuse 4G. Super AMOLED HD is simply the same PenTile Super AMOLED display, but with a higher resolution of 1280 x 720. These screens are featured in the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, Galaxy Note, and the new Samsung Galaxy S3.

IPS and Retina

IPS , which stands for “in plane switching, is actually a premium LCD technology that’s known for having a wide viewing angle and clear picture. You can find this display in the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S. The “Retina Display” that Apple uses is based on IPS technology, and if you’ve ever seen an iPhone in action, I’m sure you can attest to how great the screen is. The Transformer Prime features an IPS display, and I can personally attest to how great the colors are. The newly announced Transformer Infinity will feature a "Super IPS" display 1920 x 1200.

And the best display is?

So which type of display is best? There’s no real answer for that, as it will most likely boil down to personal preference. I personally prefer IPS and Super AMOLED displays, but that certainly doesn’t mean that any one display is better than the other. They all have their strengths and their weaknesses, with some having more textured and brighter colors, while others produce colors differently to reduce battery consumption.

So next time you’re browsing around the shop looking at different phones, try to see if you can spot the differences in the displays. Keep in mind that this article was only to provide a brief overview of the key differences of the displays, as there are obviously other technical factors that come into play with their individual construction. With some you might see nothing, but for others you might notice a considerable difference. The infographic that we made back in early May (below) tells you which types of displays are featured in 7 popular Android phones, and could help to provide a bit of an overview of which phones carry which displays. - Source

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IPS vs AMOLED vs SLCD – smartphone displays explained

You’ll spend most of your time looking at the display more than anything else but what are smartphone display panels made of?

As with any technology, smartphone display panels are a mega business on their own. Japanese component and notebook giant Toshiba has had to brush aside rumours that Apple was planning to invest in a new production line built by Toshiba Mobile Display, such is the demand of high-quality, high-resolution display panels.

But when you start looking at the specs of smartphone displays, it can get very confusing very quickly. You might think you’re just looking at a bunch of pixels but how those pixels are created can affect everything from the price of your phone to how long the battery lasts.

The type of display your smartphone has is typically described by an alphabet soup – LTPS, AMOLED, SLCD, Super AMOLED and TFT LCD all represent different technologies used in the production of display panels. Knowing what each type does, its benefits and drawbacks will help you understand just how good (or not) your phone is.

LTPS – Low-temperature polycrystalline silicon

If you see these written as a display type, forget it – LTPS is a description of a manufacturing process, not a display technology. Low-temperature polycrystalline silicon can be used to make different types of screens – AMOLED as well as standard LCDs. It’s a way of creating tiny silicon crystals that go into making the pixels of a display. The “low temperature” part is important because it means this process can create screens using low temperatures, allowing low-cost substances such as plastics to be used as the backing material on which the display panel is infused or created. As a result, it also means you can create more flexible display panels.

AMOLED – Active-matrix organic light-emitting diode

Okay, this is a type of screen technology. OLEDs or organic light-emitting diodes have been around for a while now and they have one significant benefit: to produce black, you simply turn an OLED off. To produce a light colour, they have to produce light. So they have huge potential for power savings in mobile devices.

The “Active matrix” describes how each OLED is addressed or controlled. The alternative is a passive matrix display where rows or columns of OLEDs are addressed rather than individual pixels. As a result, AMOLED displays are not only brighter, use less power, they’re also faster.

The problem is that AMOLED panels are in high demand, with that demand exceeding supply.

The other issue with AMOLEDs is that because of the fabrication process, they can be difficult to see if viewed in direct sunlight. AMOLED panels are typically three layers, the AMOLEDs, the touch-panel sensor layer made of glass and then the top glass protective surface with air in between each layer. The diffusion of light through all three layers causes the AMOLED light to be diffused and difficult to see.

AMOLED panels are used in a number of phones including Google’s Nexus One and early versions of the HTC Desire.

Super AMOLED

So Korean giant Samsung decided to come up with a different method that combined the top glass layer and the touch-panel glass layer into one.

This promotional video gives you a brief overview of Samsung’s Super AMOLED technology.

By reducing the number of layers and removing one air gap, light dispersal is reduced, making these AMOLED displays easier to see in bright light.

Samsung uses the Super AMOLED panel in its Galaxy S phone and is expected to use it inside the upcoming Nexus S.

SLCD – Super liquid-crystal display

LCD has been the mainstay for display panels from PDAs to notebooks to TVs over the last 15 years or so. What makes Super LCD so super is said to be improved light bleeding so that blacks actually look a bit more like black than they typically used to, giving better overall contrast. In comparisions with AMOLED, some reviews suggest that SLCD gives warmer colours than AMOLED. However, battery life appears to be worse with SLCD displays.

SLCD shouldn’t be confused with S-LCD, which is the name for the Samsung/Sony joint venture for manufacturing LCD panels.

Smartphone maker HTC began using SLCD panels in its Desire smartphones in August 2010 due to shortages in AMOLED panels from Samsung. If you have an early Desire, it’ll more likely have an AMOLED panel whereas those manufactured after August 2010 will have an SLCD panel instead.

IPS – In-plane switching

Apart from poor contrast ratios, the other issue with LCD panels is poor viewing angles. The further you move of the centre axis of an LCD panel, the worse the image becomes until you begin to see the reflected negative of that display. In-plane switching is a more expensive solution to the viewing angle problem by changing the direction in which the liquid crystal molecules move. So instead of the normal right-angle or perpendicular switching, IPS panels switch molecules in the same plane as the panel. It means light transmitted through the molecules can be seen at (almost) any angle.

IPS technology is most often used in LCD monitors – and usually at prices three times the going rate. It’s the technology behind Apple’s Retina display in the iPhone 4.

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Best Way on Testing Laptop Backlight (CCFL) and Inverter

We will be concentrating on LCD Inverter and CCFL bulb.

Laptop with black screen problem is commonly caused by:

1. a defective backlight, which is the cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) bulb malfunction
2. defective laptop’s inverter board
3. no video output going to the LCD Screen

It is not an easy job repairing laptops specially if we don’t have parts that we can use to replace to the parts we are suspecting to be the culprit. So now, we will going to try to make our own tools for testing a bad CCFL backlight of a laptop.

Tools Needed For this Project:

1. 9volts battery
2. 9v battery connector
3. known good CCFL inverter from any laptop or LCD monitor.

Once you have the tools that we needed, we can continue to the next procedure.

About The Video Output:

If the laptop is equipped with an external monitor connector, we can easily check if the problem of having a black screen is caused by a faulty video card or GPU within the laptop or maybe the problem resides inside the LCD which is the inverter and CCFL bulb.

Connect an external monitor to the VGA Port of the laptop and check if there is a video output to the monitor.

There is some model of laptop that requires you to press a FN key plus a key with a picture of a monitor to switch between the LCD laptop to external monitor.

Then now, if you get a video on your external monitor then you now know there is a LCD screen, CCFL bulb and inverter board problem. If the external monitor doesn’t get any video at all, then suspect a video (GPU) or video cable problem.

Checking the CCFL Bulb:

On checking whether your CCFL bulb if it is still functional, we can use our own known good inverter to test the CCFL bulb is still working or in good condition.

Using the Known Good Inverter:

Now, with our known good inverter, connect the CCFL bulb. And next, supplies a power to it using our 9v battery. A laptop inverter is usually powered by 12v and up but with our 9v battery, it is just enough to start the circuit of an inverter.

Connect the black probe from our battery source to the yellow wire, which is usually the 12v supply coming from laptop circuits, but to find more accurately the connection of the power source of an inverter, all you have to do is to find where is the connection of the SMD fuse in the circuit of the inverter. And the black probe to the ground screw hole of the inverter board.If our CCFL bulb lights up like in the picture below, then we now know that our CCFL bulb is good and working and now we can suspect that our inverter board is bad.

Checking Inverter:

Since that our known good inverter have able to light up the LCD Screen, and then connect the inverter of the laptop back to its position. Then we are going to conduct a test to it using the procedure we did to our known good inverter. And if it won’t lights up the CCFL bulb, then we can suspect that our inverter is defective and needs to be replaced to a new one or simply you can check it if the fuse is open. If it is open, try to make a jumper through the fuse using a thin wire to serves as our fuse, then redo the testing again with same procedure as we use on our known good inverter.

Checking the Power Supply Line:

If our known good inverter light up our CCFL bulb and the Laptop’s inverter also lights up using the 9v battery as its power source, then we are going to suspect the 12 volts power supply line from the laptop’s motherboard.

Let us get our multitester/multimeter and set it to DC Volts.

Plugged our AC Adapter and turn on our Laptop.

Put the black probe to the ground screw hole on the motherboard and the red probe to the yellow or the supply line and see if you have a voltage reading on that connection.

If you are can’t read any voltages from the connector then let us suspect a problem on the motherboard itself and this needs a lot of knowledge and experience on repairing Laptop.

At this point, we will have to bring the unit to a technician who have the knowledge of repairing a complicated problem of a Laptop.

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How-To Safety Hard Reset : Easily Master Format SAMSUNG GALAXY V (DUAL G313HZ)

Tips and solutions for solving problem at SAMSUNG GALAXY V (DUAL G313HZ). I want to have smaller LCD screen then SAMSUNG GALAXY V (DUAL G313HZ) is one options to choose, because it have 4 inches LCD screen and the processor is standard single core 1.2 Ghz clock speed. The price for SAMSUNG GALAXY V (DUAL G313HZ) is cheap, but it still have good camera with 3 megapixel using CMOS sensor and this phone also already have Light LED flash for help us get more better photos at low light conditions. SAMSUNG GALAXY V (DUAL G313HZ) have VGA front camera, we are recommended to use this resolutions for having video call or make avatar or picture profile, but of course the front camera of SAMSUNG GALAXY V (DUAL G313HZ) is not recommended for having important documentations.

What is Advantage of SAMSUNG GALAXY V (DUAL G313HZ) Specifications:

• GSM 3G HSDPA Dual Sim (GSM GSM)
• LCD 4 inches
• Internal memory 4 GB
• RAM 512 MB
• External memory microSD, up to 64 GB
• Main Camera 3.15 MP, 2048 x 1536 pixels, LED flash
• Front Camera for video conference
• Processor Single-core 1.2 GHz
• Operating system Android OS, v4.4.2 (Kitkat)
• Battery Li-Ion 1500 mAh

How to Fix or Problem Solving for Recovery SAMSUNG GALAXY V (DUAL G313HZ) hang or not responding or malfunctions or stuck or freezing or bricked ?

SAMSUNG GALAXY V (DUAL G313HZ) have 4 inches LCD screen use TouchWiz Essence UX for give the users good experience using Android Kitkat operating system. There are also some native factory default applications which has already installed at this phone. However, we still can install more applications like Chatting Whatsapp, BBM, Line Messenger, Kakaotalk, Skype, Wechat and social media applications like Facebook, Twitter, Path, Instagram and something similar like that. But we have to becareful while install not popular application from Google Play Store, because some of them are face apps that contain malware and virus, some of them also can make our SAMSUNG GALAXY V (DUAL G313HZ) become freeze or hang or stuck or bricks or blank and the LCD touch screen not responding. IF we get this problems, we have to force soft reset or reboot or force shutdown to stop not appropriate applications and remove the temporary files or cache from internal memory. If the problem still happen then we have to hard reset or master format our SAMSUNG GALAXY V (DUAL G313HZ). If we have important data, then please try to backup all data first, because doing hard reset will remove or wipe all important data and additional installed applications.

How to Force Shutdown or Force Soft Reset or Reboot or Restart SAMSUNG GALAXY V (DUAL G313HZ) ?

If our SAMSUNG GALAXY V (DUAL G313HZ) get trouble like freeze or stuck or hang or LCD touch screen not responsive with our finger touch, then we have to force shutdown or force soft reset or restart to clean cache and temporary files. The easiest steps to force soft reset or force shutdown is by remove the battery of SAMSUNG GALAXY V (DUAL G313HZ) after open the back case caver and wait about 5 seconds before we put again the battery at the right positions. Press POWER button to turn on this phone again. The soft reset or restart also can be process when our phone still at normal situations, by press and hold POWER button until pop-up menu appear, choose Reboot / Restart / Power off. Do not worry to do soft reset or reboot anytime we want, because this procedure will not remove any important data from our SAMSUNG GALAXY V (DUAL G313HZ).

#Option 1, How to Hard Reset SAMSUNG GALAXY V (DUAL G313HZ) with software menu:

1. Turn on SAMSUNG GALAXY V (DUAL G313HZ)
2. Make sure SAMSUNG GALAXY V (DUAL G313HZ) battery already charge properly
3. Go to menu: Setting > General tab > Backup & Reset > Factory data reset > Reset device
4. Choose Erase Everything
5. SAMSUNG GALAXY V (DUAL G313HZ) will do the process to Master Reset to Factory Default

#Option 2, How to Hard Reset SAMSUNG GALAXY V (DUAL G313HZ) with Hardware key button:

1. Make sure the battery of SAMSUNG GALAXY V (DUAL G313HZ) charge properly
2. Turn off SAMSUNG GALAXY V (DUAL G313HZ)
3. Press and hold together : Power Button + Volume Up + Home Button
4. If the button at number 3 not work, we can try with press and hold together Power Button + Volume Up Button
5. If we see the menu at LCD screen, choose Wipe Data/Factory Reset with Volume Button to select and use Power Button to ok or enter.
6. The SAMSUNG GALAXY V (DUAL G313HZ) will doing the process of restoring to factory default.

How to Restore and Reinstall Clean Android Operating system / firmware at SAMSUNG GALAXY V (DUAL G313HZ) (Reformat) ?

Android Kitkat is the first factory default SAMSUNG GALAXY V (DUAL G313HZ) operating system and firmware when the first time release to market. We have to know that the file source of factory default Android Kitkat operating system already saved safely inside SAMSUNG GALAXY V (DUAL G313HZ) ROM. Actually at normal conditions, we can not access this files so it will be safe. If our SAMSUNG GALAXY V (DUAL G313HZ) operating system start get trouble or not work properly or corrupt because applications crash, then we have to reformat or reinstall or restore clean factory default from file source location, so we do not need to copy from other gadgets. Just follow the steps to hard reset above, then the clean factory default Android operating system or firmware from SAMSUNG GALAXY V (DUAL G313HZ) ROM will be reinstall automatically.

How to Unlock or Fix or Bypass or Solutions for SAMSUNG GALAXY V (DUAL G313HZ) forgot password code or security lock screen pattern or pin (lost password)?

We always suggest all Android users give more security protections to protect our confidential data. There are several options that we can choose for give default security protection without install anything from Google Play Store. Usually we recommended to use screen lock pattern protections because it is more easy and fast to open, but some users also like to use other security choose like password pin protection. The problem happen when we forget SAMSUNG GALAXY V (DUAL G313HZ) security protection answer. Do not worry, because Android already have simple steps to bypass or unlock forgot security protections using Google account or Gmail username and password. Please try to give several time wrong answer continuously until SAMSUNG GALAXY V (DUAL G313HZ) freeze or locked about 30 seconds. At this time we can find Forgot Password / Pattern button, please press this button, then we will find field for type our Google username and password that we have already signed in before. If we can not access our Google account, then we have to do hard reset or master format.

How to Improve Performance SAMSUNG GALAXY V (DUAL G313HZ) to make run more faster?

Why our SAMSUNG GALAXY V (DUAL G313HZ) become slowly? Mostly this problems happen because there are too many applications run in the background. We have to aware that SAMSUNG GALAXY V (DUAL G313HZ) RAM is not too big, this phone only have 512 MB RAM. This RAM will easily insufficient if we install and running some applications together. Although we never run many applications, but some chatting or social media applications will keep run in the background because they have to wait for data update or wait for some command. Please try to reduce some installed applications to give more free RAM and processor resources. If we want to make performance of SAMSUNG GALAXY V (DUAL G313HZ) run more faster again like new, then we have consider do hard reset or reformat to factory default.

Is That Any Secret Code for Doing Format SAMSUNG GALAXY V (DUAL G313HZ) ?

We can try to use secret code for doing hard reset SAMSUNG GALAXY V (DUAL G313HZ) is *2767*3855#. But please remember to always be careful typing that code, because the SAMSUNG GALAXY V (DUAL G313HZ) will doing hard reset and remove all data and installed applications.

How to Upgrade SAMSUNG GALAXY V (DUAL G313HZ) to Android Lollipop Official Update ?

As far as we know, Samsung will not give official Android Lollipop firmware update for SAMSUNG GALAXY V (DUAL G313HZ), because the specifications are limited. However, using Android Kitkat is enough to run daily activity. Maybe some other community have information to install Android Lollipop custom ROM, but we not recommended to do this, because sometime not all features run properly with custom ROM and some wrong steps to install will make our SAMSUNG GALAXY V (DUAL G313HZ) become corrupt and can not use anymore.

How to Improve Battery Life Longer of SAMSUNG GALAXY V (DUAL G313HZ) For Solving Battery Drain Faster Problem (Battery Saving / Extent Battery Life)?

First we have to know that if we run more applications at our phone then this phone will consume more battery power, that is why when we install too many applications and run together, the battery life will become shorter. There are some tips for extend the battery at SAMSUNG GALAXY V (DUAL G313HZ). Please try to turn off some not use connection like Bluetooth / Wifi / GPS. We also recommended to set manually the LCD brightness as low as possible.

How to Deal with Insufficient Internal Memory at SAMSUNG GALAXY V (DUAL G313HZ) (not enough memory) ?

SAMSUNG GALAXY V (DUAL G313HZ) will need some free space of internal memory. If our internal memory already less then 300 MB, then we can not update or install new applications from Google Play Store because not enough internal memory. Using external microSD card will not help to give more free space for install applications, because all applications by default will install to internal memory. Therefore we have to reduce the installed applications by uninstall some not use apps.

The information from this page describe about forgot password G313HZ,Samsung 313 g hard reset,samsung galaxy v g313hz hard reset. If you need another resource for hard reset, use search function at this homepage or find from our related posts.

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How-To Safety Hard Reset : Easily Master Format LENOVO A850

Tips and tricks for solving LENOVO A850 problem. When we need Android smartphone with big LCD screen and reasonable price, then LENOVO A850 is the answer. Because LENOVO A850 have 5.5 inches LCD screen width IPS capacitive touch screen. If we like to take pictures a lot, LENOVO A850 will help you to fulfill that need by using 5 megapixel digital camera and also have LED flash to help taking better photo in low light conditions.

What is Advantage of LENOVO A850 Specifications:

• GSM 3G HSDPA Dual SIM GSM-GSM
• LCD 5.5 inches touch screen
• Internal memory 4GB
• RAM 1GB
• External memory microSD, up to 32 GB
• Main Camera 5 MP, 2592х1944 pixels, autofocus, LED flash
• Front camera for VGA for Picture and Video conference
• Processor Quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7
• GPU Mali-400MP2
• Operating system Android OS, v4.2.2 (Jelly Bean)
• Battery Li-Ion 2250 mAh

How to Fix or Problem Solving for Recovery LENOVO A850 hang or not responding or malfunctions or stuck or freezing or bricked ?

Having big LCD screen Android will make us feel so happy to play games or install other applications from Google Play Store. But we have to know that not all applications will run smooth in Lenovo A850 because some creator does not make their applications in good functions, especially for Lenovo A850. In this case, if we force to install unnecessary applications, sometime it will make our smartphone become hang or stuck or bricks or frozen or blank or LCD touch screen not responding. If we get this problem, we need to try doing soft reset or reboot or restart Lenovo A850 to delete cache and temporary files. If Lenovo A850 still get the same problem, we need to do hard reset or master format.

How to force Soft Reset or Reboot or Restart LENOVO A850 ?

When we use Lenovo A850 and get hang or stuck or frozen problem in the middle of using applications, we can try to force reboot or restart Lenovo A850 by pressing POWER BUTTON for several seconds. If the POWER BUTTON can not work, then try to remove the battery of Lenovo A850 by open back case cover and unplug the battery for about 5 seconds. After that we can plug it again in the right positions and turn on Lenovo A850 to finish the restart or soft reset step. In normal situations, doing soft reset or reboot can be done by pressing POWER BUTTON for several seconds until the pop up menu appear, then choose Restart or Reboot to soft reset Lenovo A850. Doing soft reset is safe, because this step will not erase or wipe any important data like contact or photo or files from Lenovo A850.

How to Hard Reset LENOVO A850 with Hardware Button key:

1. Confirm and make sure that LENOVO A850 Battery is fully charge or not empty
2. Turn off LENOVO A850
3. Press together : POWER + VOLUME UP about several second, that the warning will appear at the LENOVO A850
4. Choose: Reset Device or Wipe data or Clear eMMC
5. Make sure we already sure than we know that our application and data will be loose or clear while Resetting LENOVO A850

How to Restore and Reinstall Clean Android Operating system / firmware at LENOVO A850?

LENOVO A850 using Android as operating system, in the first production when ship to store, LENOVO A850 use Android Jelly Bean version 2.2 which run very smooth in this smartphone. After using several month and install many applications, sometime the operating system could damage or broken. In this case maybe we need to reinstall or restore clean and factory default Android operating system or firmware. The source file of factory default Android operating system already saved inside LENOVO A850 rom. We do not need to copy any data for preparing the reinstall step. Just follow the hard reset step above, then the clean and factory default setting Android operating system will be reinstall by itself. The time to reinstall will take less than 5 minutes. Please make sure all data already backup before doing reinstall or hard reset, because all data will be wipe or removed from internal memory.

How to Unlock or Fix or Bypass or Solutions for LENOVO A850 forgot password code or security lock screen pattern or pin (lost password)?

The recommended options to give security protections for LENOVO A850 is using screen lock pattern. Some user still also like to use password pin protections. We can easily choose and change how to secure our LENOVO A850 data when the phone away from us, but using screen lock pattern is faster to open then using password in some situations. The problem happen when we forget the answer of that screen lock pattern or password pin protections. We do not need to worry, because Android have option to bypass or unlock forgotten screen lock pattern or password pin protection. Please do several time wrong answer for that security protection continuously until the phone frozen or locked for several seconds. In this time, we will see Forget Password / Pattern button to help us unlock protection using Google account or Gmail account. If we can not use or Google account at this phone, then we need to do hard reset or master format.

How to Improve Performance LENOVO A850 to make run more faster?

Running LENOVO A850 for Games or doing office activity will be fun if the phone does not have problem. But some user have problem with their LENOVO A850 which run more slowly then before. As far as we know, if the phone run slowly, because there are many applications run in the background and the processor LENOVO A850 performance will be working more hard when that applications doing update or work in progress. That is why we are really recommend for uninstall not use applications, especially which run in the background. If we can not find out which applications that make problem, and need to tweak LENOVO A850 performance run more faster again like beginning, then we may need to perform hard reset or master format to clean anything from our phone and run with factory default applications. After that we can carefully choose and install only specific applications that we use everyday.

Is That Any Secret Code for Doing Format LENOVO A850?

There is no secret hidden code for LENOVO A850 to make it back to factory default. Do the options above to hard reset it.

How to Upgrade or Update LENOVO A850 operating system to Kitkat ?

By default the shipping ROM of LENOVO A850 is Jelly Bean version 4.2.2. Base on the specifications, the LENOVO A850 can be upgrade to Android Kitkat version, but unfortunately until we write this articles, there is no official upgrade for LENOVO A850 to Android Kitkat version. However, there are some other unofficial Kitkat ROM for LENOVO A850 from other community homepage, but if we are not sure how to upgrade it, please do it carefully, because it could make our LENOVO A850 broken or can not use anymore. Using official Jelly Bean at LENOVO A850 is still recommended to use everyday without problems.

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GJ8018LCD : My Latest Portable SMD BGA Reworks Station

My latest SMD BGA portable reworks station with LCD display another comparison with SAIKE 8858.

Description :

• This product is yet another innovative industry technology breakthrough that bypassing the traditional diaphragm pump air supply and transformer power supply
• And the use of LCD digital display hot air temperature, and its sophisticated design, superior quality

Technical parameters:

• Model GJ8018LCD
• Operating voltage AC220V Operating Current 2.5A
• Power consumption: 450W, Hot air temperature：Condition temperature 450 ℃ (Max.)

Features:

1. Beautiful shape, easy to use and carry space saving operation
2. The quality of imported motor and heating elements, natural and gentle wind, air heat distribution. Easy to adjust the operator to precisely control the temperature and air volume.
3. LCD display hot air temperature, digital thermostat, the operator uses an intuitive, blowing welding handy
4. No way solder contact pads may dispense parts displacement and thermal shock
5. Welding QFP and SOP type IC, welding and soldering can be selected according to requirements of different nozzle
6. Suitable for most surface mount soldering and rework parts, such as: SOIC, CHIP, QFP, PLCC, BGA, etc.
7. For desoldering various shielding box cover board
8. Shrink Heat Shrink Tubing, PVC film and polyethylene materials with metal connections

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Sony A77 Snap Review – So close yet so far

Last week I had a very brief hands on with Sony’s new A77 SLT camera and the new 16-50mm f2.8 lens. I was at the Dali international photo festival in southern china and one of the other photographer’s there had a PAL model A77 on loan from Sony. This much anticipated camera has some significant new features that warrant discussion.

This is not a full review – simply some brief observations about how the camera performs in video mode.

The A77 with 16-50 f2.8 SSM lens

The A77 is Sony’s latest prosumer stills camera with enhanced video features and the Alpha (formerly Konica-Minolta) lens mount. It has a 24 megapixel APS-C size sensor and can shoot HD video at 1080P in AVCHD 2.0. It also has a MPEG movie mode. Frame rates go up to 50fps, but I only tested 25fps in the time I had. (The US NTSC model does 24 and 60 frames per second instead).

The main feature that has excited some shooters is the inclusion of a fast autofocus (AF) system in video mode. This is made possible with the use of Sony’s SLT technology – a fixed semi transparent mirror which passes most of the light to the CMOS imaging sensor while diverting a little to fast AF sensors while still recording video. On a more conventional SLR system the reflex mirror with AF system behind which flips out of the way when shooting – forcing the use of manual focus or a slower contrast detect AF.

The problem I immediately found was that in order to use the AF system you had to set the camera’s video mode to Program exposure Manual exposure is simply not possible in combination with AF it seems. For me that is a deal breaker, I need to control my shutter speed and aperture in video.

So after a minute or two I switched to manual focus and turned on the A77′s focus peaking function. This is a really nice feature that tries to show what is in focus by turning edges red in camera’s display. You can fine tune the amount of edge enhancement in the menu. I found it quite effective but did not get 100％ sharp shots the whole time – maybe I would improve with time using this feature.

The A77 rear LCD screen in action

The flip out screen is a welcome innovation too. Instead of flipping out to the side of the camera it can be flipped so it sits on the top so you can look down on it and easily cradle it like a prosumer camcorder. Combined with the peaking feature this is a very nice handheld solution if you like shooting from belly height.

Over the top - a new way to use your LCD screen

Another lovely feature is the OLED EVF which replaces the conventional pentaprism and works not just for stills but video too. It is much higher resolution than the rear LCD display and makes shooting in bright conditions a breeze if you are holding the camera to your eye. I hope this quality of EVF becomes the standard in all digital cameras very soon.

Where the A77 is seriously lacking as a video camera is the audio side. Like many other stills cameras Sony have decided that the A77 should have no manual audio control. There is a 3.5mm mic jack for external mics but recording level is completely automatic. Why Sony don’t implement manual audio levels in the way the Canon does on the 5DmkII I have no idea.

The Sony 16-50 f2.8 SSM seems well constructed

The 16-50mm f2.8 was the only lens I tested and it seems to have excellent image stabilization when used with the A77. The smoothness of the shots of myself where I spin the camera around just in my hand are impressive to me. (newspaper video folk may recognize a certain Mr Chuck Fadely from the Miami Herald in the video with me) The lens felt quite solid and the manual focus is one of the smoothest I’ve tried on an autofocus stills lens. I can see it making a great run and gun lens when used with the LA-E2 adapter for the FS100.

The camera’s menu and the controls were a little alien to me and I found them to be confusing. That said maybe that’s simply because I am so used to a canon.

Another negative is I believe that the video image is also permanently cropped not just top and bottom by the 16×9 window, but also side to side due to the sensor based image stabilising system. I was unable to establish the crop amount in the time I had but it seemed that wide angle lenses were really not as wide as they should be. Again this could be a real issue for news shooting where there is little time to change between lenses.

I also found that at the end of each video clip I recorded on the camera I had to wait a second or two while the camera finalised the recording. This was very annoying and I could see it being a real problem in a fast moving new situation.

I was able to quickly shoot the footage above and discovered quickly that the image quality at the 24Mb/s highest bitrate settings was not what I had hoped for. On the positive side I saw no sign of the dreaded jello or rolling shutter effect (check out the part where I spin around with the camera), but there is sadly significant jagged edges on lines of high contrast and fine detail. Moire patterning seemed to be less of an issue but will require more scientific tests before reaching a final conclusion. Overall the results were also little less detailed than I would have expected, certainly not up to the standard of cameras like Sony’s own FS100.

The video samples are shot handheld in standard settings at 25P/24Mbps with manual focus and exposure (locked at 1/50th) and an ISO of between 320 and 400. Sadly I had no time to test higher ISOs. The files were bought directly into Final Cut Pro X and then exported to H264 (apologies – I spent an age trying to get a higher res file but couldn’t upload it to Vimeo). Apart from that nothing has been done to alter the files in any way. I had literally 20 mins with the camera the shots are not perfect. White balance may be off on a few shots and you can attribute that to user error on my part. (Please don’t try an read too much into the Vimeo version of these clips, I will try to find a way to post some original files later).

The A77 can easily be used to put yourself in the frame

So would I switch to the A77? As a Canon 5DmkII shooter I can see little to tempt me over to using the A77 right now. The only reason I might consider this camera is if I was a Sony FS100 shooter using alpha lenses (with an adapter) and looking for a cheap second body. The A77 with it’s AF and flip screen does do a fine job of making handycam style video for consumers easier – but for serious use it is not going to need to get better. This article is written by Dan Chung and posted by blogger guest.

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Sony Alpha SLT-A99 Review

The Sony SLT-A99 is the Japanese camera maker's flagship model, aimed squarely at DSLR enthusiasts who will settle for nothing less than a full frame sensor in a rugged body with a plethora of external and customizable controls. It arrives almost four years after its predecessor, the A900, the company's first full frame DSLR. You'd certainly expect significant new features given such a long gap between products and Sony has lost no opportunity to equip the A99 with every bit of electronic expertise they've incorporated into their NEX and SLT models in the interim. Whereas the A900 was a defiantly conventional SLR that would have been immediately familiar to Konica Minolta film-camera users, the A99 is something of a technological tour-de-force.

This (Sony supplied) diagram shows very clearly how the SLT-A99's imaging and focussing systems are implemented (the camera shown here is the SLT-A77, but the system is identical). Light coming in through the lens is split by the fixed, semi-transparent mirror - a portion feeds the phase-detection AF sensor, and the majority hits the main imaging sensor for live view and image capture.

Start with a dual chip AF system, live view focus peaking, tiltable rear LCD, built-in GPS and 1080p60 movie recording plus the ability to output uncompressed video, and the contrast to the stills-only A900 couldn't be more stark aside from the A99's identical 24MP resolution. And then of course, there's the fact that with the A99 Sony has opted for an electronic, versus optical viewfinder. From a features standpoint, it's clear that Sony was out to rethink its approach to the enthusiast market and attempt to lure would-be DSLR shooters with a surfeit of technology while broadening its appeal to videographers.

Like its predecessor, the SLT-A99 enters a full frame DSLR playing field still dominated by the 'big two', so the camera's success will depend not just on its advances over the A900, but how well it competes against the Canon EOS 5D Mark III and Nikon D800. Sony may have chosen not to challenge the 36MP Nikon D800 for pixel count - somewhat of a surprise given that the D800 houses a Sony-made sensor - but has opted instead for a unique dual sensor AF system that promises more precise subject tracking along with a 6fps continuous AF burst rate.

Sony has gone to great lengths to stress the work that has gone into improving the camera's image quality. The latest 24MP sensor has been designed so that more of each photosite is light-sensitive. The electronics in front of this light sensitive region have been slimmed-down to increase the angle from which each site can receive light. These changes, combined with a design that provides a short and high-capacity path between the sensor output and the image processor, and the addition of 14-bit Raw output, should mean improved still image quality.

The rapid adoption of DSLRs by video professionals has made HD recording with manual exposure control a stock feature in even mid-range models. With the A99 though, Sony leverages its considerable video expertise by combining 1080p60 video capture with SLT-enabled phase-detection AF along with the ability to output uncompressed video over HDMI (a feature we first saw in the Nikon D800). Another well-implemented nod to the needs of run-and-gun videographers can be found in the inclusion of a 'silent controller' that allows for adjustments to made while recording without the attendant button clicks.

Sony SLT-A99 key specifications:

• 24MP full-frame CMOS Sensor with on-chip phase detection AF
• Fixed-mirror design SLT
• 2.4M dot OLED electronic viewfinder
• 14-bit Raw output
• ISO 100-25,600
• Up to 6 frame-per-second continuous shooting with AF
• ISO-compatible flash hotshoe with 'multi interface' expansion connector
• Pull-out three-hinge tilt/swivel 1.23m dot RGBW LCD screen
• Top panel LCD
• Microphone and headphone sockets
• Built-in GPS
• AF Micro Adjust

SLT design

The A99 is based around Sony's SLT design - a variant on the DSLR concept that uses an electronic viewfinder (EVF), rather than an optical one. Instead of having a mirror that has to flip out of the way to to take a photo, it uses a fixed semi-transparent mirror that redirects light (with negligible luminance loss) to a DSLR-style phase-detection autofocus sensor. This means live view and autofocus are always active and that the A99 can offer a consistent shooting experience whether you use the flip-out screen or the EVF. It also means the conventional 19-point phase detection focus sensor is always illuminated, along with the 109-point on-sensor array. This puts the A99 in the unique position of having dual phase-detection focus systems available at all times - an unusual feature that Sony has developed several features to exploit, including 'AF-D', its depth-map assist continuous AF feature.

The decision to build a full-frame SLT camera will certainly be controversial among enthusiasts who equate a 'serious' camera with an optical, rather than electronic viewfinder. It's worth pointing out though that the A99 sports the same 2.4M dot resolution OLED 'Tru-Finder' EVF whose performance we found so impressive in our NEX-7 review. And the benefits that an EVF provides, including exposure and white balance preview, focus peaking and a customizable information overlay, all without removing the camera from an eye-level shooting position, may be enough to sway those who spends even a little time actually using it.

Preview video

This video, shot at the Photokina trade show earlier this year is taken from our previously published preview of the Sony SLT-A99.

More info at dpreview.com

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Alcatel One Touch Inspire 2 Snap Review

I was able to get a hands on with the Alcatel One Touch Inspire 2, an affordable Android smartphone from Alcatel. Just a little trivia, Alcatel is a mobile phone brand co-owned by TCL Communication (makers of TCL LCD TVs) and Alcatel-Lucent of France. The OT Inspire 2 looks a lot like the OT Soleil even on the specs. One difference is the Inspire 2 has single core 1GHz processor while the OT Soleil has a dual core 1GHz processor.

Alcatel One Touch Inspire 2 specifications:

• 1GHz Single Core MediaTek MT6575 processor
• 512MB RAM
• 4GB internal memory expandable via MicroSD up to 32GB
• 4 inch WVGA LCD display (480 x 800 pixels)
• 5 megapixel rear facing camera
• VGA front facing camera
• 3G, WiFi, WiFi hotspot, Bluetooth
• GPS, A-GPS
• 1,400 mAh battery
• Android 4.1 Jellybean
• P4,990 SRP
• Free on Smart Postpaid All-In Plan 500

Likes:

• Design – This is one nice looking device. It has a premium and solid feel when holding it.
• Affordable – Its below P5,000 mark
• Android 4.1 Jellybean – Its surprising to know that this device only has a single core processor. Good thing because the device is running Android Jellybean, lags are minimal.

Dislikes

• Limited RAM- it only has 512 RAM. You cannot play games even those medium sized ones like Candy Crush.
• Single Core processor – There are even more limitations with because of its single core processor. Many apps in Google Play Store works best with at least a dual core processor. Facebook, Twitter, or any social networking and chat apps will work fine here.
• Small screen – a 4-inch screen is already small in today’s standards.
• Camera – The rear facing camera lacks flash and autofocus which is already a standard for a smartphone at this price point. Pictures taken from the 5 megapixel camera looks good on decent lighting but it could be better if it only has autofocus and flash.

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HTC Launches Windows Phone 8X and 8S

Nokia and Samsung aren’t the only phone makers embracing Microsoft’s next-generation mobile OS. Today, HTC unveiled a pair of colorful handsets that have Windows Phone 8 in their names. Dubbed the HTC Windows Phone 8X and Windows Phone 8S, both devices have HTC’s high-speed camera chip, Beats Audio and come in wide range of bold colors. The 8X will be available on AT&T, T-Moible and Verizon.

HTC Windows Phone 8X

HTC’s new flagship Windows 8 handset features an attactive 4.3-inch, Super LCD 2 screen that operates at a 1280 x 720 resolution for a PPI of 341.54, a bit better than the 4.5-inch Nokia Lumia 920′s 332 PPI. Inside, the 8X is powered by a 1.5-GHz, dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor with 1GB of RAM and a 16GB eMMC storage. An 1,800 mAH hour battery promises reasonable endurance while Beats audio with 2.5-volts of amplification offers loud, accurate music playback and NFC chip will allow the device to work with mobile payment systems and tap-to-share applications.

The Windows Phone 8X’s camera features the same speedy “ImageChip” as HTC’s One phones, but none of the custom imaging software that HTC bundles with its Android handsets. Because of the ImageChip, the both the 2-MP front and 8-MP back cameras can fire up and shoot an initial picture under a second while also supporting burst mode. With a f/2.0 aperture and BSI sensor, the rear-facer promises sharp images with strong low-light performance that’s designed to compete with Nokia’s Lumia 920 and its PureView camera.

However, the Windows Phone 8X’s design is the real star of the show. Available in bright Flame Red, California Blue, Limelight Yellow as well as Graphite Black, the .39-inch thick handset has an angular shape that looks nothing like most Android devices, but reminded us of Nokia’s Lumia 920. At just 4.5 ounces, the 8X is a full 2 ounces lighter than the Lumia 920 as well. In a brief viewing, we were particularly impressed by the dark blue Windows Phone 8X, which an HTC rep told us is the device’s “halo color.”

The Windows Phone 8X will support LTE and be available on Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T in the U.S. There’s no word on pricing, availability or what carriers will get what colors.

HTC Windows Phone 8S

The mid-range HTC Windows Phone 8S has more modest specs, but a design that’s just as attractive, if not more so. With a 4-inch, 800 x 480 resolution Super LCD 2 screen, the 8S doesn’t provide as rich a visual experience and its 1-GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 CPU is also a bit slower than its big brother’s while it provides half as much RAM (512MB) and a quarter the internal storage (4GB). However, at just 4 ounces, the Windows Phone 8S is lighter than the 8X though it is the same thickness.

The Windows Phone 8S does not have the ImageChip and has a lower-res rear-facing 5-MP camera with a shallower f2.8 aperture lens and only the ability to record 720p video. There’s also no front-facing camera at all so forget about video chat. And though the 8S also has Beats Audio, it does not have the same 2.5-volt amplification as the 8X.

That said, we really like the vibrant two-tone design of the Windows Phone 8S, which has one color on its front and a second color on its back with small panel of the front color as a back accent. Available in yellow / gray (High-Rise Gray), dark red / light red (Fiesta Red), blue / black (Atlantic Blue) and white / back (Domino), this mid-range phone really stands out in a crowd.

There’s no word yet on pricing or availability for the Windows Phone 8S, though we expect it to cost significantly less than the high-end Windows Phone 8X. We also don’t know whether it will support LTE or not. - source

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Samsung Galaxy S4 vs iPhone 5

If you’ve ever found yourself in the middle of the impossible decision of choosing between iOS and Android for the first time, you see just how exciting a time it is for the mobile industry. Samsung and Apple seem to be the heavyweights right now, and the new Galaxy S4 is more than enough to give Apple something to worry about.

Apple and Samsung both have phones that exist on nearly every network in the world, but for the purposes of this comparison we’re going to be looking at the Verizon Wireless variant of the iPhone 5 and the Samsung Galaxy S4 just to make sure things are as fair as possible. These two LTE superphones are easily the best of their breed, but which of the two offers the best overall experience?

Are you case sensitive?

We’ve reached a point where smartphone manufacturers are unable to sell a smartphone solely using its spec sheet. The experience offered by the operating system, the app ecosystem, and whatever exclusive features are what drives competition today. That doesn’t mean that specs don’t matter at all, especially when you are looking for a phone to perform well throughout a whole day, offer superior functionality on a WiFi or mobile network, or be able to function with the current and next generation of accessories. Out of context, a spec sheet isn’t helpful anymore. When you compare phones that are able to offer similar features, however, the spec sheet could be what acts as the final push to choose one over the other.

If you are looking for the best phone to fit in your pocket (or in your hand if you’ve got small hands) the iPhone 5 is undoubtedly better than the Galaxy S4. It’s lighter, thinner, and the display just over an inch smaller overall on the diagonal. The iPhone 5 was the first 4-inch phone Apple released, even though the rest of the mobile industry has been leaning towards larger and larger phones. The Galaxy S4′s 4.99-inch screen makes the whole phone noticeably larger than the iPhone 5, but it is also just slightly thicker.

The Apple’s case features an aluminum body with a slightly textured coating, while Samsung’s is a glossy plastic, again with a slight texture. These handsets both look and feel very different — Apple’s glass-and-metal mix vs. Samsung’s high-tech polycarbonate.

Specs absolutely matter

Under the hood, Samsung and Apple are nothing alike. Apple’s dual-core A6 processor clocked at 1.2GHz certainly feels like more than enough for the handheld computer, but Samsung’s 1.9GHz quad-core Snapdragon 600 is an incredibly powerful chip capable of much more. Samsung also includes twice the RAM as the iPhone, while the GPUs offer a comparable experience in daily usage. Both of these phones also offer the highest quality mobile radios, capable of a diverse collection of network types. Their Bluetooth and storage options are identical, though the Galaxy S4 allows for an additional 64GB of storage.

The only other area on the spec sheet Samsung and Apple differ is the inclusion of an IR blaster and the availability of 802.11AC for the S4.

More than Retina, for what it’s worth

The screen is typically the most important part of a smartphone, and in this area Samsung and Apple have always been different. Apple’s LED-backlit IPS LCD and Samsung’s Super AMOLED displays each offer an amazing experience, but nothing ever really looks exactly the same on these displays. Apple’s LCD technology washes out in direct sunlight, but offers an unparalleled experience in terms of viewing angles. Samsung’s screens are amazing in direct sunlight, and their rich colors and deep blacks offer a great viewing experience, but their use of the PenTile display matrix is often off-putting for many.

Galaxy S4 vs iPhone 5

Whatever your thoughts on the screen technology, there’s no arguing which is the more impressive experience. The iPhone 5′s 1136 x 640 resolution Retina display offers 326 ppi. On that 4-inch screen, Apple’s software makes everything look amazing despite the low resolution. Samsung’s latest display is 1920×1080 (that’s 1080p) at 441 ppi, which is a significant increase over any display currently being used by Apple. The Super AMOLED display in the Galaxy S4 is the first of its kind, and stands proud next to the iPhone 5′s smaller display.

The more powerful processor, and larger screen size undoubtedly takes its toll when it comes to battery life. Apple’s phones aren’t exactly known for being able to get you through a whole day without the need to charge, the iPhone 5′s 1440mAh battery is more capable than most. Samsung’s 2600mAh battery is a bump from last year’s model, but there’s still a lot going on that can drain the battery. Fortunately for S4 owners the battery is removable, and a larger battery can be installed. In contrast, Apple’s phones are sealed, which helps the design, but means you’re on your own when the battery gets low.

Ecosystem and Apps: It’s all about preference

Access to apps is incredibly important, but we’ve pretty much reached a point where Apple and Google are able to offer the same app experience. Both of their stores are growing at an exponential rate, and most companies release apps for both platforms on the same day. There are a few outliers, and depending on what you do that may make all the difference in the world, but most people can pick up either an Android phone or an iPhone and get by pretty easily.

What makes both the iPhone and the Galaxy S4 unique are the experiences that only they offer. Apple’s exclusives are pretty well known. If you get roped into iTunes, iCloud, Siri, or any of Apple’s exclusive apps, you’ll have a hard time finding anything like them on another platform. Samsung’s exclusives are pretty new, and not really all that well known. The Dual Camera modes offer one of a kind photography and video experience, making it possible to use both the front and the rear camera simultaneously. If you’ve got multiple people using Galaxy S4s, you can link them all together and play the same song simultaneously. All these small features might not sound like much on their own, but in combination Samsung has built a powerful array of software into this smartphone.

Both phones offer a wireless streaming system, and while Miracast and Allshare are more functional than Airplay, Samsung can’t compete with how easy it is to set up Apple’s offering.

In the end, the experience you create on these phones is all about choice. Samsung’s Galaxy S4 is clearly the more powerful phone, and the hardware is clearly designed to remain relevant for quite a while. The iPhone 5 is just barely 6 months old, and Apple is already far behind in the hardware game — Samsung’s previous model, the Galaxy S3 , was enough to compete with the iPhone 5. As long as you aren’t tied to the Apple ecosystem already, the Galaxy S4 will be able to offer you much more than the iPhone is capable of.

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Lenovo A850 Snap Review

Lenovo has strengthening its position on smartphone market and the A850 model is not an exception. Providing middle quality of 5.5 inch IPS LCD screen resolution with 200 ppi, the device is advanced in capacity.

Battery of 2250mAh allow to have up to 28 hours of talks in 2G while the quad-core Cortex-A7 processor is responsible for convenient performance. Additionally, the smartphone is equipped with dual SIM option that make it more even more attractive for people wondering to divide private and work life.

The Lenovo A850: A Smartphone To Reckon With

Lenovo, a long time Asian tech market favorite has done it again. The stylish and functional Lenovo A850 smartphone features an incredible 5.5-inch widescreen display for seamless surfing, video viewing or gaming.

Lenovo, consistent in offering superior performance - just like fellow Chinese brand ASUS, has complemented its latest phablet with an able 1.3GHz CPU, plenty of memory with 4GB of internal storage (including expandable memory to ensure additional data can be stored for photos, videos and gaming downloads so that you never miss a moment), and as a bonus, Lenovo has provided you with the industry favorite, Android 4.2 JellyBean. Even with major competition from other leading smartphone brands, the A850 has managed to stand out from the crowd with a savvy savings price. Packed with performance and sleek design, we adore the all new A850 for its powerful specifications, coupled with its economical price.

Specification and Features

• Processor: Mediatek MT6582M
• RAM Memory: 1GB
• Storage: 4GB
• Rear Camera: 5 mega-pixels
• Front Camera: VGA
• Operating System: Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean)

Bringing your multimedia to life, Lenovo has endowed their latest flagship with a huge 5.5-inch display. Complete with IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen, with a vibrant screen resolution of 540x940 (200PPI). This wide angle 5.5-inch smartphone allows for a better performance whilst viewing videos, images, web browsing and even gaming. If you're looking for more options when it comes to gaming on your phone check out our great range of Sony Smartphones. Running on your favorite operating system, Android OS JellyBean, it is agile, which guarantees optimal performance. The A850's 1.3GHz quad-core Cortex-A7 processor ensures lightning fast speeds for intense multi-tasking, and a smoother experience for your graphics, which is beefed up by the impressive Mali-400MP2 graphics processing unit. The overall result is clear-cut, sharp and fast images throughout your multimedia endeavors. Including 4GB of internal memory and 1 GB of RAM with additional expandable memory of up to 32GB via microSD card, the A850 phablet is pure perfection.

New Improvements

Weighing in at a comfortable 184 grams, the A850 has impressed us all with a robust battery life, which lasts up to 28 hours of talk time on 2G and 14 hours of talk time on 3G, powered by the Li-Po 2250 mAh replacable battery. It's BlueTooth compatible, and outfitted with the ever popular Dual-SIM, which allows you to mix two worlds into one! Other A850 specs include being the CA satellite controlled GPS will help you find your way around town whether driving or on foot. This feature works in offline mode or when connected to the net. So never fear losing your way again! The primary camera is an autofocus 5 megapixel with 2592x1944 pixels and LED flash, with top notch features like geo-tagging and touch focus. It also comes equipped with a front 0.3 megapixel camera, perfect for video chatting. Take great high resolution HD pictures and videos that will help you remember your most treasured moments.

Worth buying

A true work-of-art, this amazing low/budget phone is top quality and out performs its price class. Lenovo phones along with LG Smartphones truly outshine their class. For those looking for power, speed and versatility, this sleek and sophisticated phablet is the answer. It comes with either 2G or 3G connectivity, depending on network availability. For those looking for an even cheaper option, but less powerful, Lenovo Mobile offers a great range of other smartphones including the Lenovo K900.

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Best Android Tablet Below $200

Everyone nowadays has a tablet PC or desperately wants one. Mini-gadgets are always fun and functional and a tablet PC is no exception. While smartphones allow you to make and receive calls, there's a limit to how much media playback and web-browsing is allowed. Plus smartphones do not have USB ports and cannot be connected to your TV (at least not yet). A killer combination of features and size is a tablet PC with the Android OS. Google's OS for smart and small devices is extremely user-friendly, very handy and nifty with its pinch-zoom ability and very very stylish.

While the tablet wars continue between bigwigs like the iPad, Motorola's XOOM and the BlackBerry Playbook, is there a cheaper tablet model out there? This may seem very surprising but there are good tablet PC's with the Android OS, available for under 200 dollars. Has your jaw touched the floor?

Technology being the diverse medium it is, will not give us just one model. Below are 6 tablet's, 5 under $200, 1 at $200 for your perusing.

I. Coby Kyros™ MID8125

• 8 inch LCD touch screen
• Screen resolution is 800 x 600 with 16:9 aspect ratio
• Android OS 2.3 version
• Use built-in app to enjoy eBooks
• Supports HD playback up to a factor of 1080p
• Connect tablet to your HDTV with HDMI port
• Will connect to Windows XP/Vista/7 and Mac and Linus computers
• Processor: 1 GHz; built-in memory of 4GB; expand memory with microSD slot, up to 32 GB
• Price: $160

II. Augen GENTOUCH NBA7800ATP

• 7 inch TFT touchscreen with 800 x 480 resolution
• High-Definition support factor of 720p
• Supports web browsing, media files playback and ebook reading
• Expandable memory up to 16 GB with SD or MMC card slot
• Media formats supported: MP3/AAC/WMA/JPEG/BMP
• Ebook formats supported: PDF/E-PUB/.TXT
• Processor: 800 MHz, 256 MB RAM and 2 GB hard disk
• Price: Between $140 - $180

III. Zenithink 2 ZT-180

• 10 inch touchscreen
• Android OS version 2.2
• HD playback support with 1080p factor
• Built-in 1.3 MP camera
• HDMI port for connecting to HD device
• USB port supports 3G Internet modem (sold separately)
• Expandable memory up to 32 GB with SD slot
• Media formats supported: DivX/AVI/MPEG/RM/MP3/AAC/WMA/JPEG/BMP
• 1 GHz ARM 11 processor, 512 RAM and 4 GB hard disk
• Price: $190

IV. Ematic eGLIDE

• 7 inch touchscreen
• 2.1 Android OS version
• Supports movie, music playback
• Built-in voice recorder and FM tuner
• Use touchscreen or trackball and embedded stylus
• Connect the eGLIDE to TV or PC with HDMI port and cable to play tablet files in HD
• 3-axis gyroscope for complete rotation and motion sensing
• Use built-in Wi-Fi or connect 3G USB Dongle (sold separately) for high speed Internet
• Media formats supported: MP3/WMA/AVI/WMV/JPEG/FLV
• Ebook formats supported: PDF/LRC/.TXT/HTM/e-PUB
• Can connect to Windows 7, Vista, XP and 2000 OS PC, MAC and Linux
• Expandable memory up to 16 GB with SD slot
• 1 GHz Dual Core processor, 256 MB RAM, 4 GB built-in memory
• Price: Between $160 - $180

V. Archos 7 Home Tablet

• 7 inch backlit LCD touchscreen with 800 x 480 resolution
• Battery life of 7 hours
• Supports HD video playback up to 720p HD factor
• Supported media formats: MP3/WMA/WAV/OGG/FLAC/AAC/JPEG/BMP/GIF/H.264/MPEG-4/AVI/MP4/MOV/FLV
• SD slot allows expansion up to 32 GB
• Compatible with Mac, Linux and Windows machines for PC connection
• Processor: 600 MHz ARM 9 processor, built-in memory 8GB
• Price: $180

VI. Velocity Micro™ - Cruz Tablet T301

• 7 inch TFT touchscreen with 800 x 600 resolution
• Android OS version 2.2
• Built-in Wi-Fi supports 802.11n networks
• Battery life of 6 hours on single charge
• Pre-included apps feature Kindle bookstore and Amazon Appstore
• Media formats: MPEG-4/AVI/MOV/MP3/AAC/WAV and all image formats
• Ebook formats: PDF/TXT/HTML
• 4 GB SD card included free with tablet
• Processor: not mentioned, 256 MB RAM, 4 GB hard disk
• Price: Between $160 - $199

With respect to the price limit of $200, two excellent Android tablets, with a price tag of $199 each, are the Amazon Kindle Fire and the Nook Color from Barnes & Noble. Both tablets have impressive features for a reasonable price.

With a budget of $200, keep your expectations realistic. Don't expect an iPad-like device with just $200. Seven or eight inches is the maximum size in this price bracket. Built-in storage and features will be less in quality and quantity. But for an easy-on-the-wallet choice, such tablet models are ideal. If with just $200 you can get a mobile PC, it is kind of like having your cake and eating it too!

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