iPhone 6/ 6 Plus impressions

Impressions and Thoughts

The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus were announced last week and will be available to those on the 19th of September 

This is the first time that Apple has released two different sizes to choose from. Previously this had not been done.  But let's get on with the specifications of the two iPhones:

iPhone 6 Specs

• Dimensions 138.2 x 67.1 x 6.9 mm
• Weight: 128g
• Display : 4.7 inch LCD, 750 x 1334 pixels , 326 PPI
• Battery: 1800 mAh
• Processor: 64-bit A8
• Ram: 1gb
• Storage: 16gb / 64gb / 128gb
• Colour: Silver/ Gold / Space gray
• Data: LTE, HSPA+ etc
• Simcard: nanosim
• Camera: 8MP iSight Rear - 1.2mp front facing
• Sound: loudspeakers
• Platform: Apple IOS, IOS 8

iPhone 6 Plus Specs

• Dimensions 158 x 77.7 x 7.1 mm
• Weight: 172g
• Display : 5.5 inch LCD, 1080 x 1920 pixels , 401 ppi
• Battery: 2915 mAh
• Processor: 64-bit A8
• Ram: 1gb
• Storage: 16gb / 64gb / 128gb
• Colour: Silver/ Gold / Space gray
• Data: LTE, HSPA+ etc
• Simcard: nanosim
• Camera: 8MP iSight Rear  with OIS- 1.2mp front facing
• Sound: loudspeakers
• Platform: Apple IOS, IOS 8

Impressions

Generally the biggest change to iPhones has been on the outside and the size. The iPhone has become more rounded and now the colour or finish takes over the whole back instead of just the middle. The camera module actually protrudes out compared to the previous models. Now, this many not be a bother if you have a case on, but having a phone naked with a camera that protrudes out seems just a bit silly. This is the danger of making a phone slimmer and improving the camera at the same time. Although Apple seems adamant that the new camera is worth it. But just how well will this hold if you, like me, like to play your phone rear side down on hard surface. Time will only tell. I would suggest getting a case.

Now Apple fans have a dilemma with two different phone sizes a 4.7 inch and a 5.5 inch screen. Personally, 5.5 inch for me is way too big. The 4.7 inch is the perfect size which is the same as the HTC ONE M7. It's comfortable to be held with one hand and big enough to watch videos with. Now, the screen sizes aren't the only differences, but the resolution as well. The 6 Plus has a better resolution as well bigger battery, OIS on the camera and possibly a bigger RAM. Everything else between the two are the same. 

In my opinions the two difference are very minimal and with most people, it wouldn't be noticed. Although the battery has improved in both models, the iPhone 6 battery stats which were shown on the unveiling, showed minimal improvements. This is probably due to the bigger screen and the amount of power it needs. The iPhone 6 Plus however, has great battery life.

I thoroughly expected people to go for the iPhone 6 over the Plus, but it seems that the Plus is much more appealing to the fans. This is because most Apple fans always believed that their screen size were fine as it was and always secretly poked fun of Android users with how big some of their phones were. But it seems everyone wanted a bigger screen. I think the screen size change has put Apple right back in with its competitors and it is what they needed to do. Although this is the first step, this step will gain many new fans or returning customers to give the iPhone a try.

If you have an iPhone 4 or  4s this would be a great upgrade, however, if you have a 5S and maybe a 5, this upgrade will be minimal. Unless the screen size is a factor that you most desired then by all means, go for it!

Today Apple also announced that has sold or preordered 4 million iPhones 6/Plus in the first 24 hours. That is an incredible feat! It seems the screen size does play a big factor and many were waiting for it.

Edit: A lot of people seem to hate the new iPhone design, but I believe it is one of the better phone designs and much improved over the previous model. However, it definitely does not beat HTC when it comes to design.

Game review: Persona 4 Golden

Persona 4 Golden 

Platform: PS Vita

Now, I may be late to the party, but I have recently finished this wonderful game. Initially I started this game on the PS2. Yes it was released on the PS2 first but I never finished it. When I heard that they re-released the game with new content to the Vita I decided that I had to finish it! The story revolves around a small town called Inaba and you are a transfer student staying there for a year with your uncle. This small town eventually becomes an area of murderous crimes and it is up to you and your team to discover why and who the culprit is. With the use of your Personas, you defeat monsters whilst trying to find answers. It also has a pokemon-esque style of playing with its turn based attacks and finding new personas (or Pokemons).

So after many hours of it, I finally finished it. I have to admit, it has got to be one of the best games I have ever played in my life. For starters, it wasn't just about fighting or killing the end boss of each level. This game integrates a beautiful story line, with fighting, socialising, hanging out with friends, romance and even  exams!

What makes the game so good? It's the story and the feels you get when you play through it, you will come to love each and everyone of the characters that you meet. You find out more about them , you talk to them, you hang out with them and you can romance them.

The music is fantastic as well , although you may get sick of some of the repetitiveness of a particular song (heartbeat...heartbeat...heartbeat).

Overall, this game is a masterpiece and I wish I had finished it sooner. The dungeons are very linear and the monsters do not vary much except in colour and levels haha. Also some people may find the social aspect to be tedious, but I certainly enjoyed the banter with other characters and the feels when you come together.

There is also an animated version of this as well. But do play the game first before watching as it will spoil the story!

+ Amazing story
+ lots of content
+ Great music and combat
+ Personas are cool
+ Long game

- Dungeons are linear
- repetitiveness
- not much variety of monsters

Rating: 9.5/10

A tip to make your Android faster!

Just a quick tip to make your Android faster

Did you know that you can turn off animation? - Well you can! It's really simple and it'll make your older android phones much faster.

Here's how to do it:

Step 1:

Go into settings of your chosen Android Device.

Step 2:

Now you may have already have the developer option enabled but if not do not fret! It is really simple to enable!

Scroll down until you find  the ABOUT tab.

Click on the tab then click software and find the build number (this could be in more)

Tap the build number (7) times and around the 3rd time it will say tap four more times to enable developer options. 

Tap it four more times and voilà! You have enabled developer edition!

Step 3:

Now go back and tap of developer options. Scroll down to find advanced - then find animation!

Here you can either uncheck the animation to make it very zippy or you can just reduce it like I do (Around .5).

This is a really simple way to make your older phone faster! This should work with most android phones! I did this with my HTC ONE (M7).


I hope this helps!

Game review: Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragments

SAO: Hollow Fragments

Platform: PS Vita

If you have watched the anime then you will know what this game is about. Of course, it is about the world of SAO! This game was localised and released digitally last month of the PS Vita and it would be classed as an offline MMORPG action game.

You play as Kirito or the main protagonist of Sword art online. This game takes place after level 75 ( where the anime stops) but instead of being released from the death game, they are in fact stuck in the game still and have to complete the last 25 levels. For the  fans of the anime, this game will be a great buy, but for the ones that haven't seen it,  I would suggest watching the anime up to episode 14, just so you know some story and the characters that appear in the game.

The combat in this game, is like an MMORPG, you have skills and you can press buttons to perform these skills. The combat isn't terribly difficult, but it does take time getting used to. There are many skills to learn and many weapons to try out. You fight monsters, you level up, you gain  skill points to use for new skills.

Now the story has two sides, there is completing the 25 floors of Aincrad or you can go into the hollow area where you will meet a new character called Philia. This hollow area is the new content added and is not in the anime. Again, in this area you have to find out about the place and explore around just like an MMORPG.

This game is very fun, the combat feels slow but it is very fun once you get used to it. The story doesn't really exist from where I am now currently. But it's being  a fan of SAO I can appreciate the little bits of the game such as the characters, the sword skills and the environment and UI of the game. Similarly, I think non-fans will also enjoy it as it is a different type of game that you get on the PS Vita.

The game has so much to offer and it does feel like I am playing an MMORPG. The max level currently is 200 and I am only at 117 with so many hours played. The new patch coming soon will bump this up to 250! I have hardly advanced floors as I always get side tracked doing other stuff. You can unlock costumes for you partners and you can romance them as well. You can hold their hands, you can hang out with them and in doing so, you will unlock achievements. You can also customise Kirito if you don't want to look like him too. ( I prefer him as  default Kirito)

However, there is a big flaw with this game. The English translation or localisation is abysmal. Although I can understand it, the standard is not up to scratch. But I can live with that. The game sometimes feels really grindy too and areas feel very similar.

+ Great for SAO fans
+ Lots of content
+ Lots of levels
+ Cool Sword skills

- Bad translation
- Grindy

Rating: 8/10