The Amazon Fire Phone is officially available today — here's what you need to know!

SMARTPHONES

By Phil Nickinson | Jul 25 2014 | 10:52 am  | 60 COMMENTS

It's ... different — but there are still some compelling features in the new Amazon Fire Phone

Today, the Amazon Fire Phone is officially on sale. Those who preordered it should already have them in their hands, however, and that includes us. Nobody's expecting the Fire Phone to revolutionize smartphones, but there are more than a few interesting features that deserve mention.

So here we present you the short, short version of what you need to know about the Amazon Fire Phone.

Wait, so what is this thing again?

The Amazon Fire Phone, like the Kindle Fire HD tablets, is an Android-based device (Android 4.4.2, to be precise), running Amazon's custom software. It's got a 4.7-inch display at 720p resolution and is powered by a Snapdragon 800 with 2GB of RAM. It's got a 13-megapixel rear camera, 2.1MP front-facing camera, and four crazy lenses around the display that we'll get to in a minute.

The back has a glassy feel to it, not unlike the Nexus 4 or original LG Optimus G.

You can find the full specs here.

Where can I buy the Amazon Fire Phone?

It's officially available today from Amazon (naturally), and from AT&T online or in stores.

Off-contract it'll cost $649. You can get it on the AT&T Next for as low as $27 a month, or do a typical two-year plan and pay $199 for the phone up front.

So it's an Android phone? With Android apps?

It runs Android apps, but it doesn't have access to the Google Play Store or any traditional Google services. (It uses Microsoft's Bing for search, even.) You'll be downloading from the Amazon Appstore (or elsewhere, we suppose). But you won't be able to use apps you've already bought from Google Play. (Not without some hacking, anyway, and you know that it's going to happen.) You can sideload apps just like on any other Android phone, though.

What makes it so special then?

For one, it's Amazon's first public try at a smartphone. And while the Fire Phone is similar to Amazon's tablets in that it completely integrates Amazon's stores and services, most folks use their phone far more than a tablet. So it gets Amazon in front of them that much more.

That's important to remember when you're thinking about the Fire Phone. Its intended purpose is a little (or a lot, maybe) more focused. Get Amazon to you. Buy things. Buy lots of things. Do other stuff, sure. But buy things from Amazon.

OK, so what's up with all those cameras on the front?

Those are part of this crazy user interface that looks at you. No, really, it's looking at you. It sees your face and can tell when you're looking at it straight-on. But turn the phone ever so slightly, and hidden information appears on the screen. It's actually kind of a neat way to hide the status bar on the home screen, and to show tooltips when you're doing other things. It also allows for some cool — but gimmicky — 3D graphical effects.

All those cameras also make the front of the phone look a little silly. And if anyone's making accessories for this thing, they're going to have to look out for the lenses.

And this Firefly thing?

Being able to use a camera to scan products to get more information is nothing new, but Amazon's done it really well here with its "Firefly" feature. Start it up, and point the phone at anything and everything. If it's recognized, you'll quickly get an Amazon listing, and from there you can buy it. If it doesn't recognize that thing, you can help Amazon build up its database by submitting the picture and info.

It's pretty cool, actually. And also a little scary.

Anything else I need to know?

This phone won't be for everyone. If you're not way into Amazon's cloud services our buying all the thingsfrom them, you'll probably want to look elsewhere. It's not like it's all that difficult to download any one of Amazon's apps to get to the same stuff. (Save for Prime Instant Video. C'mon, Amazon!) But we get why Amazon's done the Fire Phone. It brings Amazon that much closer to consumers.

It's different. It's a little weird. And in the context of your traditional Android smartphone, you'll probably want to look elsewhere. Amazon know this, though. We'd expect the Fire Phone to be much more of a long play than Facebook's two attempts at phones. Amazon has actual content and services people use.

Does that require a full phone? Nope. But unlike the other niche phones we've used over the years, Amazon's Fire Phone has a lot more to offer.

10 things new LG G3 owners need to know

SMARTPHONES

By Richard Devine | Jul 13 2014 | 1:00 pm  | 129 COMMENTS

If you're just getting a new LG G3, we've got some tips to help you on your way

For some lucky souls around the globe the LG G3 has been in their hands for a few weeks now. For lucky folks stateside, the fun is just about to begin with the four major carriers getting them in hands real soon, if not already. It's a really great smartphone – coming a close second in our recent look at the best Android phones you can buy — and it's going to have plenty of folks running out to pick one up.

And so, without further ado, here are 10 things new owners need to know about the LG G3.

1. That display and how it affects battery life. Or not.

The LG G3 display measures in at 5.5 inches diagonally, with a QHD resolution – that's 1440 x 2560 in pixels. And it is stunning. There's not much else you can say without always coming back around to it. As our own Alex Dobie pointed out in our review, "It looks absolutely amazing," and after a month or so of use the novelty still hasn't worn off.

Sure, it's probably a little too much for most of the apps, games, movies and photos you're going to be viewing on it, but that doesn't mean it's any less impressive. In fact, check out the Quad HD video content LG pre-loads onto the G3 and you'll really get a sense of what the display can do.

There have been some instances where text can be over-sharpened and look a little odd, but most of the time you're going to look at probably the best display ever put on a smartphone to this date. Better yet, all those pixels — 543 pixels per inch, if you're counting — don't seem to have had a detrimental effect on battery life. We're still easily getting through the day, and we can't ask for a whole lot more than that.

2. How to take a screenshot on the LG G3

Whether you're an Android pro, new to the platform or somewhere in between, you're going to want to take a screenshot at some point. On the G3 there are a couple of ways to do it using either the buttons on the back or LG's QMemo feature. Hit up the link below for the full rundown

• How to take a screenshot on the LG G3

3. You can customize the on-screen buttons

With the G3, LG offers up the standard Android fare of on-screen back, home and recent apps buttons. But it doesn't end there, not at all. Not only can you change the background appearance you can also move about the order of the buttons and add some others that tie in to some of LGs custom features. You can't get rid of the default buttons, but you're free to add to them.

You can also make the on-screen buttons hide completely in certain apps which is a nice added touch.

• How to customize the LG G3 on-screen buttons

4. Don't like smart bulletin? Turn it off

When you're using the stock launcher on the G3 you'll see that way off to the left there's the smart bulletin screen — labelled by a "G." What it does is display smart tips and the information from the LG Health application. If you don't like it, you can just turn it off. Real simple.

Be aware though, if you want to use LG Health you'll need to leave it turned on. For some strange reason LG decided not to put a shortcut to it in the app drawer.

• How to get rid of the LG G3's extra 'G' home screen

5. There's still a legacy menu button if you need it

On the G2, LG went with a legacy menu button instead of recent apps. While things have changed with the arrival of the G3, LG still left in that legacy menu button should you ever really need it. It's easy to use but not immediately obvious where it is — you long press on the recent apps button — and is a handy extra to have on a phone with a 5.5-inch display.

And after all, you might not always want to go up to the top to get into the menu.

6. Control the TV with your phone

It still remains one of those underrated features, but with the infrared port and built-in QuickRemote app, the LG G3 can control your TV. It's ridiculously easy to set up, has support for a huge variety of TVs and set-top boxes and honestly, it's a pretty awesome universal remote to have around.

LG has also put some serious work into QuickRemote for the G3 and it looks a lot nicer than its previous incarnation on the G2. Same features, great new look.

And it's still a great way to mess with your friends.

7. Knock Code is a great way to lock your phone

LG first brought us Knock Code with the G Pro 2 and some of its other devices announced at Mobile World Congress. And it's a pretty awesome way to lock your phone. Building on the Knock On feature that came with the G2, Knock Code lets you replace a PIN code or pattern lock with a pattern of taps on the lock screen. There are thousands of different combinations but so long as you don't tell anyone which you chose, it's plenty secure.

Find out more about Knock Code here

8. It's a big phone, but you can use it one-handed

At 5.5 inches the G3 is a big phone. Yes, LG has worked wonders with the overall size and form factor – and having those buttons on the back helps with that – but you can't escape that it is quite large. For most things you'll be using two hands but there are some times that you just have to manage with one. Be it calling, texting, or even just unlocking the phone, sometimes you can't spare the extra digits.

Fortunately LG has included a one-handed operation mode that kicks in on the lock screen, the stock LG keyboard and the phone dialler. Just to make it a little easier for you.

• Using one-handed operation mode on the LG G3

9. Keep things quiet when you really need them to be

Android doesn't yet have a do-not disturb mode baked in – though it is coming – so LG has included one for you. It's called quiet mode and it's pretty customizable to make sure that you're not bothered when you really don't want to be.

You can also make exceptions, so if there are folks or situations where you want calls to get through, they can.

• How to use quiet mode on the LG G3

10. If you're looking for a case, definitely give the QuickCircle a look

A development from the QuickWindow case that came with the G2, the QuickCircle offers a circular window through which certain apps can be accessed without having to open the case and unlock the phone. You get access to things like the phone app, camera, stock LG Email app and more, all through that little circular window.

Better still, LG is opening it up to third-party developers. So there's a good chance down the line your favorite apps might also be accessible through the QuickCircle.

The only thing you really need to do is find them. There are different variations, one clips over the existing back and one replaces it entirely, but retail availability seems a little hit-and-miss at the moment. Online retailer Expansys currently has both available in different colors for $46 and $61 depending on which you want – a replacement back naturally bumps the price a little – but if you can get your hands on one it's definitely worth a look.

• Hands-on with the LG G3 QuickCircle case

Bonus tips

We're lucky enough to have had the G3 in our hands for a little while now so we've really started to deep dive into all its features. There's plenty to look at, and we're keeping it all together at a couple of handy portals. We've got one dedicated to all the G3 help and how-to content and another for absolutely everything you'll ever want to know about the phone. Hit the links below to find it all.

• The LG G3 topic page
• LG G3 help, tips and tricks

HTC One E8 review

By Alex Dobie | Jul 25 2014 | 9:18 am  | 38 COMMENTS

HTC swaps metal for plastic in this re-imagining of its 2014 flagship

Over the past year, HTC has made a name for itself with high-quality metal smartphones in the HTC One series. Flagships like the HTC One M8 and before it the M7 elevated smartphone design and build quality to new heights, even if the impact on HTC's financials haven't been as pronounced as the company might have hoped.

Enter the HTC One E8 — a high-end HTC phone in a polycarbonate shell, designed to hit a lower price point while still delivering many of the benefits of HTC's current flagship. The spec sheet mirrors the M8's almost exactly, while the chassis aims to recreate the striking look of a high-end HTC phone using less exotic materials.

The E8 has only been announced for China, India and Russia at present. Nevertheless, we're going to put this intriguing new device through its paces in a full review. Read on to find out how it shapes up.

About this review

We're publishing this review after a week with an unlocked Asian HTC One E8 (MEC_UL) on the EE network in the UK. This device doesn't support all LTE frequencies used in the UK — or any of the main U.S. LTE bands, in fact — but it does support Band 3, which is the important one for EE 4G coverage.

Our review unit is a matte grey E8 running software version 1.09.707.1; the phone also comes in glossy red and white versions. While a dual-SIM version of the phone is available in some countries, we're reviewing the single-SIM HTC One E8. Asian E8s like ours run a 2.5GHz Snapdragon 801 processor; in other territories a slightly slower 2.3GHz SoC is used.

HTC E8 video walkthrough

More: Our first impressions of the HTC One E8

HTC E8 hardware and build

As a smartphone reviewer, it's tricky not to describe the HTC One E8 in terms of about a half-dozen other HTC designs — that's because it's a sort of mish-mash of every HTC flagship since the original Butterfly. That's not a bad thing, though, as the E8 incorporates many of the best design features of the past two years of HTC smartphones.

Perhaps the most noteworthy thing about the E8 is what it's missing — it's the first HTC One phone for a couple of generations to eschew a metal-backed chassis in favor of good old-fashioned polycarbonate. As such, it's priced a tier or so below HTC's premium aluminum offerings. But this isn't cheap-feeling plastic by any means — as HTC showed us with devices like the Droid DNA and 8X, it can craft premium hardware out of plastic as well as metal.

THE E8'S BODY IS PLASTIC, BUT NOT CHEAP, NASTY PLASTIC.

We've been using the matte grey HTC One E8; glossy white and red versions are also available, and we'd expect these to look more flashy out of the box, but perhaps to be a little more prone to collecting fingerprints and scratches over time.

On the inside, it's a familiar high-end spec sheet, accounting for most of what you'll find inside the One M8, HTC's mainstream (and more widely available) flagship. There's a Snapdragon 801 processor — 2.3 or 2.5GHz depending on where you buy — backed up by 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, a 2,600mAh battery and microSD expandability. Significantly, the M8's Ultrapixel main camera and depth-sensing Duo Camera have been cut, meaning depth-sensitive effects are off limits on this device. Instead there's a single 13-megapixel shooter with single LED flash, the same camera module used in the HTC One Mini 2and Desire 816.

And selfie enthusiasts will be pleased to see that the E8 is yet another HTC phone with a 5-megapixel front-facing camera, though you'll have to make do without the M8's wide-angle lens.

More: HTC One E8 versus M8: What's the difference?

ON THE INSIDE, THIS IS BASICALLY AN M8.

The E8's plastic chassis is more angular than many of HTC's 2014 products, with boxy, flattened sides not unlike the One M7. Ports and buttons find themselves similarly placed — power up top, though situated centrally, not off to one side. The microUSB and headphone ports live down below, and on the right edge you'll find the volume rocker and microSD slot, opposite which sits the nanoSIM slot.

Despite the various external changes, the E8's design heritage is unmistakable — it displays a familiar HTC profile from the front and rear. And the black bezel around the display tapers gently towards the sides — as if the screen has been poured into the mold. Around the back there's a subtle, hand-friendly curve that'll be familiar to anyone who's used a Droid DNA.

Just as the E8 retains the M8's hardware muscle, the audiovisual experience of HTC's flagship is also intact. The E8 sports a 5-inch 1080p display, and that's flanked by "BoomSound" front-facing speakers, which sound just as boomy as before. HTC hasn't skimped on the display either — the E8's screen looks just as bright and vivid as its big brother's, no small achievement given that the M8 has one of the best displays we've seen on a phone.

The rear of the E8 has been left relatively untouched — aside from an HTC logo, camera and LED flash (accented in gold on our device), there's not much to see around the back. On our grey model it's furnished in very soft soft-touch plastic; as mentioned, you'll get a glossier finish on the red and white versions.

So it's not as outwardly flashy as the M8, but the HTC One E8 is just as capable in most areas, and the use of a grippier plastic shell does make the E8 lighter and considerably easier to one-hand than its aluminum brother.

HTC E8 software and features

If you're familiar with Sense 6 on the HTC One M8, that's 99 percent of the experience you'll find on the E8. HTC's latest UI is built atop Android 4.4.2 KitKat, and it remains one of the smoothest, fastest implementations of Android available on any phone. Unsurprisingly given the almost identical internals, it's just as speedy as Sense 6 running on an M8.

As we've said in previous reviews, Sense 6 maintains a healthy balance between visual flair, simplicity and performance. Flat UI designs are all the rage in 2014, and the latest HTC Sense exudes a clean, modern look with a variety of colored themes to let you put your own spin on the UI.

SENSE 6 MAINTAINS A HEALTHY BALANCE BETWEEN VISUAL FLAIR, SIMPLICITY AND PERFORMANCE.

The vast majority of our favorite software features are alive and well here. There's the BlinkFeed launcher experience, which adds an optional scrolling pane to deliver news updates, app content and social updates directly onto your home screen. And while you do get the full suite of HTC gallery and camera features, including instant video highlight reels, the lack of a second rear-facing camera means you won't be able to apply depth-sensitive effects to your photos.

Besides that, the only major omission is HTC Sense TV, on account of the E8's lack of an IR blaster. That's most likely a cost-cutting measure designed to allow the E8 to hit a lower price point. It's not a change we're losing any sleep over, though — TV controls are a far from an essential feature.

More importantly, HTC's Motion Launch feature is alive and well, giving you an easy alternative to reaching up and pressing the awkwardly-situated power key. Double-tap to wake the phone, or swipe in various directions to launch BlinkFeed, your home screens, the voice dialer or the app you were previously using.

So with the exception of Sense TV and the Duo Camera software, this is essentially a carbon copy of Sense 6 on an HTC One M8, with all the benefits you'd expect from Sense running on high-end hardware. You'll find a full breakdown of HTC's software experience in our HTC One M8 review.

HTC E8 cameras

The HTC One E8's camera setup is where you'll find the biggest internal hardware differences compared to the M8. Instead of a 4-megapixel "Ultrapixel" setup, with a second depth-sensing camera, you'll get a more run-of-the-mill 13-megapixel shooter, the same module HTC uses in the Mini 2 and Desire 816.

Around the front it's the same sensor as the M8 — a 5-megapixel unit — but behind HTC One Mini 2-like optics with a 2.79mm focal length and f/2.8 aperture. As such, image quality in selfies closely matches that of the M8, through you'll struggle to fit quite as many people in the shot due to the lack of a the M8's wide-angle lens.

HTC's Ultrapixel camera is a point of contention among smartphone fans, and even a few of the ACeditors. Some of us love its superior low-light performance and fast capture speeds, others bemoan its below-average daylight performance. So with the move to a standard 13-megapixel sensor, there was hope that the HTC camera experience would become better aligned with the competition. Sadly, though, that's not the case.