Apple iPhone 5S Is the Fastest Phone, benchmarks suggest

Apple iPhone 5S is named the fastest smartphone beating out rivals like LG G2 and Samsung Galaxy S4 in Which? magazine’s independent speed tests using Geekbench benchmark tests. Apple iPhone 5s was tested using Geekbench in single core and multi-core performance benchmarks, where the iPhone outperformed other smartphones.

In the single core benchmark test, Apple iPhone 5S managed to score 1401 compared to 882, 687 and 643 for LG G2, Galaxy S4 and HTC One, respectively. In the multi-core test, Apple managed to gain the top spot with a score of 2561. The second and third spots were captured by LG’s flagship with a score of 2355 and Samsung Galaxy S4 with 1939. These figures are way below the results for iPhone 5S, which makes it the fastest smartphone on the planet right now.

Here are the complete results for the devices that were tested with Geekbench.

Apple iPhone 5s: 1410 (single core score), 2561 (multi core score)
LG G2: 882 (single core score), 2355 (multi core score)
Samsung Galaxy S4: 687 (single core score), 1939 (multi core score)
HTC One: 643 (single core score), 1805 (multi core score)
Apple iPhone 5c: 711 (single core score), 1281 (multi core score)
Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini: 649 (single core score), 1135 (multi core score)
HTC One Mini: 477 (single core score), 880 (multi core score)

This doesn’t mean that other smartphones mentioned in the list are not fast, they are fast and can perform tasks quickly. However, the experience on the iPhone 5S appears to be better compared to rivals during heavy usage.

Official Android 4.3 Update for Samsung Galaxy S4 (GT-I9500) Released

Samsung Galaxy S3 On Sale

www.ayosdito.ph/Samsung-Galaxy-S3

Samsung promised at the Unpacked Event held in Berlin that Samsung Galaxy S4 will get the taste of Android 4.3 Jelly Bean by the end of October alongside Galaxy S3 and Note 2. It seems that the Korean OEM fulfilled their promise and released Android 4.3 version for Samsung Galaxy S4 (GT-I9505) yesterday.

Earlier today, the unofficial Android 4.3 update was leaked for the Galaxy S4 GT-I9500, but it seems like Samsung is done with all the leaks and released the official Android 4.3 update for Galaxy S4 GT-I9500 variant.

The Android 4.3 update for Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is not available in all regions at the moment. The roll out process is gradual and it may take some time for the update to reach all the devices. Currently, the update is only available in Russia (at the time of writing), but it will be rolled out for other regions as well.

The update brings several new features including support for Galaxy Gear smartwatch, OpenGL 3.0 support, Samsung KNOX Implementation, new Samsung keyboard and more.

Here’s the complete change log:

- OpenGL 3.0 Support
- TRIM Support (Makes the device much faster)
- ANT+ Support
- Samsung KNOX Implementation (KNOX bootloader and dedicated application)
- Samsung Wallet comes pre-loaded
- Improved RAM management
- Improved Display colour reproduction (Display looks much sharper than before)
- Improved TouchWiz Launcher (Much less launcher redraws and less lag)
- New Samsung Keyboard
- New Samsung Browser (Full screen by default, new tab interface and more)
- New Reading Mode (Optimises display for reading, used by only a few specific applications)
- New Camera firmware
- Minor UI tweaks (Contacts app, Flashlight Widget, dialog boxes etc)

THe update should hit all the devices within the next few days. If you want, you can manually check for the update by navigating to Settings > More > About device > Software Update > Update. We checked our Galaxy S4 and there’s no sign of the update at the time of writing this, but we will update you as soon as it’s available.

HTC One Max becomes official

 
Not to be left behind in the phablet arena, HTC is the latest to follow the ‘bigger is better’ mantra. Meet the cornfed giant known as HTC One max.

The HTC One max is basically a larger version of the award winning HTC One and at the opposite end of the scale to the One Mini.
You’ll get all that lovely stuff such as the performance and sleek design of the HTC One, albeit in a larger package.
This means that HTC BlinkFeed, HTC Zoe and HTC BoomSound will all be present and that will all rest on the spanking new HTC Sense 5.5 which aims to deliver the best overall smartphone experience – on a larger screen, of course.
Your eyes will love the HTC One max’s 5.9-inch Full HD 1080p display. It should be pretty good for enjoying photos, videos and movies whenever you are on the move. Powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor buddied with a quad-core 1.7GHz CPU, it should be able to handle all high graphics intensive apps without so much as batting an eyelid.
The HTC One max will also arrive with 16GB or 32GB of storage space on-board, that can be augmented via a microSD memory card slot – something that the regular HTC One doesn’t have.
Oh yeah, did you know that HTC One max owners will also be able to pick up 50GB of additional free Google Drive online storage?
This is in addition to updates to HTC’s Video Highlights functionality and a new Dual Capture camera feature, which allows people to capture memorable moments and their own reaction to these with a photo or video simultaneously.

 

Three fingered scanner

Something else that the HTC One max has that the ‘normal’ sized One doesn’t is a dedicated fingerprint sensor. Unlike the more conventional (ok, logical) home button location of the fingerprint sensor in the iPhone 5s, the One max’s sensor is located on the back of the device, near the camera.
The sensor is activated via a swipe and can be programmed to recognise three different fingers. Each finger can be tied to a different function, allowing quick access to frequently used apps. One finger, for example, can unlock the phone, while another might open up the camera.
While that sounds useful in theory, reviews of the HTC One max have likened its fingerprint sensor to little more than a gimmick – Hmmm… pretty much like the iPhone 5s then.
One failing seems to be that the One max fingerprint sensor only works after you’ve awoken the phone from sleep.
There has also been complaints that you end up swiping the camera lens as well as the sensor. Until I actually get hands and fingers on with one, I shall reserve my judgement.
Pricing details have yet to be announced, but you can be sure that the HTC One max will roll out worldwide from the end of October onward.

Save 1,000 Calories Per Week With Emmi Skinny Latte

Save 1,000 Calories Per Week With Emmi Skinny Latte

Coffee lovers cutting calories need not go without their morning fix thanks to Emmi's Iced Skinny Caffe Latte with just 90 calories!

You wouldn't eat a doughnut everyday if you were trying to lose weight, so why would you consume the same amount of calories  in a high street speciality coffee? 

With a distinctive favour and enhanced creaminess thanks to a hint of honey, Emmi's Caffe Latte is the perfect swap. You could save between 82-200 calories per serving by making the swap and over the course of a week you could save anywhere between 410-1,000 calories! All this without compromising on flavour. 

Made with the finest Arabica coffee beans from Rain Forest Alliance certified farms, which are then roasted, ground, brewed and blended with fresh Swiss milk, Caffe Latte is then chilled and waiting for you in the dairy isle of most good supermarkets for around £1.19. (I picked mine up from Tesco!).


This iced coffee is perfect for a refreshing lift on warm sunny mornings and summer commutes. You could even use it to mix up a reduced calories summer cocktail for summer BBQ's!

How about the 'Skinny Rumba' cocktail for just 180 calories, featuring a delicious combination of rum, Caffe Latte and banana! 

To make it you'll need:

35ml golden rum
1/2 cup Emmi Caffe Latte Skinny
1/2 Banana

Simply blend all the ingredients together in a blender and pour into a tall glass with a pretty garnish and enjoy!

Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus launches in Taiwan

The Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus, the refreshed version of the two-year-old Galaxy S2, finally gets priced and lands in Taiwan.
 
We previously reported that the Galaxy S2 Plus is almost similar to the Galaxy S2 except for the following specs:
• 32nm Exynos 4 Dual-Core processor
• Hyperglazed plastic back cover similar to the Galaxy S3
• Android 4.1.2 Jellybean
• Nature UX
• Optional NFC for some models
• New color variations (Chic White and Dark Blue)
The Galaxy S2 Plus is on sale in Taiwan for TWD13,900 or almost Php20,000. Any takers?

Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini to arrive in four versions

 
There has been a leaked photo which reported to be of the new Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini. Following that up, it appears that the device may come in four flavours.

Samsung released the S III Mini a few months after the Galaxy S III, so it was expected that news of an S4 Mini should start leaking about now as there’s plenty of S4 news bouncing around.
As if by magic, news that it has arrived online under the code GT-I9190 has set the interwebs alight.
Not only will it sport a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED qHD display with a resolution of 540 x 960 pixels, word is that it will have a 1.6GHz dual-core under the hood running Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean.
It looks like there will be a dual SIM version of the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini, an LTE version of the S4 Mini, a version specifically for China and a HSPA+ version of the handset.
There are also rumours being whispered that it may come in both dual and quad core guises.
The Galaxy S4 Mini reckoned to be launching around June or July, as yet there’s no specific date.

China Builds its Own National Operating System Around Ubuntu

The Chinese government is building an operating system based on the open source OS Ubuntu. The software department of the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, announced that Ubuntu would be a new reference architecture for an OS targeted at the Chinese market. Working with Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu, the authorities plan to release the Ubuntu 13.04-based Kylin desktop OS next month, with plans to extend the Kylin OS to other platforms at a later date. The first release of the Ubuntu Kylin OS will include features and applications that cater for the Chinese market. Features include Chinese input methods and Chinese calendars, a new weather indicator and Chinese music search. Future releases will include integration with Baidu maps and shopping service Taobao, payment processing for Chinese banks, and real-time train and flight information ..
The announcement is part of the Chinese government’s five year plan to promote open source software and accelerate the growth of the open source ecosystem within China. The coordination with the global Ubuntu project will ensure it is familiar to local software and hardware vendors, and useful for export products made by Chinese companies. The Ubuntu Kylin team is now working with Kingsoft Office, the most popular office suite in China, and is creating photo editing and system management tools which could be incorporated into other flavours of Ubuntu worldwide. During 2007, the Chinese government released an earlier Kylin OS, a system that was designed to be hardened against malware available at the time, in what was perceived as an attempt to block attacks by foreign governments.
Ubuntu Linux is entering the smartphone market,
China might becomes the turning point. China also plans to expand beyond the desktop and use Ubunutu for mobile devices, cloud and servers. This could go some way to combat the dominance of Android in China, after the expressed of concern at Android’s control of its smartphone market. Now the Chinese government has made changes to alter the desktop computing and mobile landscape in the country, but what we believe the most important factor still rely on software developers. Can Ubuntu easily install most of the multiplayer online role-playing games from China ?