The Nokia X: *snickers*

Shield your eyes folks cause here we go!

It seems that Nokia made true to their work and delivered to us a baby that can only be described as ".....is this really necessary?"

Enter the Nokia X, X+ and XL; it's what happens when Android and Windows sleeps together. I mean look at this thing:

It burns my eyes.

Like many Nokia phones, this one is pretty much the same as the rest. The only real difference is that metro, Window's look is being powered by Android instead of what should be Windows Phone 8; and by god does Nokia really sin with this Android skin.

While it will still remain possible to side load Play Store apps, the exclusion of the Google Play Store in favor of Nokia's own botched app store is a pretty big downside. While of course their own app store will have a lot of good apps (I hope), the idea that users will have to rely on a third party app store is kinda chilling.

Instead of widgets, you get individual colored tiles that you can shape to your liking. It's pretty much what would happen if Microsoft ever got the idea to put widgets in Windows Phone 8 (Not that it's a bad idea).

However, what people should realize is that this is actually a combination of two OS types. You have the Window's like screen then you have Nokia's own Asha Fastlane; which is basically the same concept as HTC's Sense home screen.

The only problem is that you get the flood of apps owned by Windows with your package; Skype, a variety of office apps, that Mix radio thing along with a load of others. Clogging the already tiny amount of storage space

Obviously, this phone isn't intended for high end users. This is low end beyond anything. Here are the specs of the base Nokia X model

• 1 GHz Dual Core Snapdragon Processor
•  An 800x480, 4 inch display
• Dual SIM
• 512 MB's of RAM
• 4 GB's of internal storage (With expandable microSD storage up to 32 GB's)
• A 5 megapixel camera
• 1500 mAh battery

I mean, at least it comes in 6 different colors, right?

For North American users, you will most likely never see this phone in the market as Nokia intends to sell this one to developing markets in Asia, The Middle East and parts of Central and South America.

Of course, I have a feeling that sometime in the future; perhaps soon, we will see these kinds of phones pop up in our markets.

So brace yourselves....Windroid is coming.

The Galaxy S5

Reminds me of the original backing for the Nexus 7 (From Android Central)

We've been all waiting for this device and now that it's out; I have to say that I'm kinda "meh" about this one.

The Galaxy S5, the successor to the Galaxy S4 (one of the best selling smartphone out there) was announced not too long ago at the Moblie World Conference. This new device seems to be similar in design to the S4 with an exception to what's under the hood and of course, that new back plate.

Since when did Samsung start taking ques from Google? Isn't that very similar to the back plate for the original Nexus 7? A golf ball, soft texture design? I'm not saying that this is a bad thing; it's certainly better than a slippery plastic back but I would have really liked the textured back plate found on the Note 3 to make a return. Other than that, this is certainly a good design choice.

So, what about specs? Well here's the official spec list from Android Central:

Samsung Galaxy S5 Specifications


Network: LTE Cat.4 (150/50Mbps)

Display: 5.1" FHD Super AMOLED (1920 x 1080)

Processor: 2.5GHz quad-core application processor

OS: Android 4.4.2 (KitKat)

Camera: 16MP (rear), 2.0MP (front)

Video: UHD@30fps, HDR, video stabilization

Video Codec: H.263, H.264(AVC), MPEG4, VC-1, Sorenson Spark, MP43, WMV7, WMV8, VP8

Video Format: MP4, M4V, 3GP, 3G2, WMV, ASF, AVI, FLV, MKV, WEBM

Audio Codec: MP3, AMR-NB/WB, AAC/ AAC+/ eAAC+, WMA, Vorbis, FLAC

Audio Format: MP3, M4A, 3GA, AAC, OGG, OGA, WAV, WMA, AMR, AWB, FLAC, MID,
MIDI, XMF, MXMF, IMY, RTTTL, RTX, OTA

Camera Features: HDR (Rich tone), Selective Focus, Virtual Tour Shot, Shot & More

Additional Features: IP67 Dust- and water-resistant Ultra Power Saving Mode Download Booster S Health 3.0 Quick Connect Private Mode Kids Mode

Google Mobile Services: Chrome, Drive, Photos, Gmail, Google, Google+, Google Settings, Hangouts, Maps, Play Books, Play Games, Play Newsstand, Play Movie & TV, Play Music, Play Store, Voice Search, YouTube

Connectivity: WiFi: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac HT80, MIMO(2x2), Bluetooth: 4.0 BLE / ANT+, USB 3.0, NFC, IR Remote

Sensors: Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, Hall, RGB ambient light, Gesture(IR), Finger Scanner, Heart rate sensor

Memory: RAM: 2GB

Internal Memory: 16/32GB

microSD: slot up to 128GB

Dimensions: 142.0 x 72.5 x 8.1mm, 145g

Battery: 2800mAh

Standby time: 390 hrs / Talk time: 21 hrs

The big thing that shot out to me was the updated microSD slot reader. 128 GB's of extra storage? Count me in! It fits nicely with SanDisk's announcement of a 128 GB microSD HDXC card. The heart rate sensor is also an interesting feature, but not practical by any means. I can't see myself having a phone that reads my heart rate; same goes for the fingerprint sensor. I'm sorry, but a fingerprint scanner can be just as dubious as a password.

The 5.1 Super AMOLED display is nothing to shout about either. Though I do enjoy the Super AMOLED display on the S4 and even on the Moto X; this doesn't seem like a big improvement. While the pixel density is vastly better, the display is far from being picture perfect; just your standard super HD display with bright colours. Honestly, we don't really need a super powerful display anyways; something that Motorola understands perfectly with the Moto X and the Moto G. Practical screens can sometimes win over super powerful screens.

Then we come to KitKat. Yes, the S5 will have the latest version of Android covered up by everyone's "favorite skin"; TouchWiz. Let's just hope that when this phone comes out, we can install a custom ROM to make things more enjoyable.

Of course, all this is being powered by an overclocked Snapdragon 800 chip set. 2.3 GHz is really good! However, I would really like to see how the S5 can hold up to a 2.5 GHz, beefed up processor; especially with TouchWiz aboard. Maybe I'm just being a pessimist when it comes to Samsung, but I know from experience how poor the TouchWiz experience can be.

The camera is a bright spot on this phone. The inclusion of ISO means that the S5 can take better photos than what's currently out there. It certainly put's my Moto X's camera to shame. Plus, the camera options are now in a simplistic menu so you won't get confused about where everything is. Good on you Samsung! You finally made something in TouchWiz simple to use!

To sum things up, the Galaxy S5 is impressive.....for spec junkies. Not for users like me who prefers the practical over complexity. The S5 is going to be a great phone and will most likely sell like crazy. However, Samsung has done it again and packed their products with features that will be forgotten after a few weeks using the device. Maybe that fingerprint scanner will be one of the few practical features used on the S5, but I doubt people will take advantage of the gesture features that have made a return to the S5. I know people with the S4 that never use those gestures anyways, and I have a feeling that very few people ever use them at all; except to impress friends or co-workers.

So welcome the S5 to the Android family! We still have the Nokia X to laugh at for it's miserable attempt at the Android market; but at least Samsung is popular around people, right?

Windroid: The eventual "Windofication" of Android

Please read this first; it's an article from Android Authority that is a pretty interesting read and is the basis for my article.

Now, Microsoft is a well know computer company that also has a mobile division that is primarily headed by Nokia. The majority of their phones run a modified version of Windows 8 called "Windows Phone 8". Here's what it looks like:

Interesting, non?

Overall, Windows Phone 8 tends to be pushed aside by many users and for good reason. It says Windows and it looks like Windows, but for the most part it is far from being Windows. App support is virtually limited and many apps that iOS and Android users enjoy fail to show up for the fledging OS. Though Windows Phone 8 is far from bad, it doesn't have the staying power that iOS and Android has.

Which is why I believe Microsoft might just start OK'ing Android phones; not to admit that Windows Phone 8 is a failure, but to take the fire away from Android in general.

Have you heard of the Nokia Normandy? If not then you should know that this  range phone has Android built in....but it looks like this:

Looks familiar, non?

This my friends looks very much like the metro, square-y design of Windows 8, and I believe this was done on purpose. This is the beginning of "Windroid"; Microsoft's attempt to get a squeeze at Android's popularity by pissing on Android in the process. This is done by over-complicating Android in general and stuffing it with unwanted material (ie Windows apps and software) I mean....I though Samsung's version of Android was sin enough, this basically is a +100000000000000 on the sin factor.

The phone isn't out yet, so I have no idea how this device will perform with the OS underneath, but honestly from what I'm seeing, everything about it screams "WINDOWSWINDOWSWINDOWS"; hence why it's not really Android, but Windroid.

And I have a feeling this won't be the last time we see Windroid.

Microsoft has a tendency to jump on the bandwagon of popular trends and they might just start pushing trickles of Windroid phones to try and steal away the sweet sugar of stock and other OEM versions of Android. Will they succeed?

Anonymous is a joke

I'm getting sick and tired of these "crusaders"

Anonymous pushes the line quite a bit in their quest for internet freedom and neutrality. Sometimes what they do is understandable. Other times they really screw up and make themselves look like common criminals with no love for the average person as they so commonly "try" to defend.

One such event that they are planning is not to attack some government installation, but a fandom. You may have heard of Bronies; a fandom that associates themselves with the My Little Pony universe. Now read all of this

I really don't understand this group any more. Here we have a politically involved group attacking a fandom which has done nothing to incriminate them; other than the fact that they exist and Anonymous doesn't like them. It's fucking disgusting.

"Death threats" really catch my eye here...now this group is getting mighty close to being a violent terrorist group all because they don't like a particular fandom. I also love their description on who a brony is; they seem to believe that they are a bunch of disgusting pigs with sexual fantasies and girly ways. Despite me myself not being a brony, I can say with absolute certainty that this description is wrong and quite inaccurate. How can you judge an entire fandom over the actions of a few member?

+Anonymous...is this what you really want? You want to attack the innocent because of your hate? You are nothing but cowards that hide behind a cry for justice that's clearly false. You exploit the innocent in your quest for equality and lose all perceptions of humanity in the process. You want people to see you as one? As a machine that destroys everything it touches? You got it! I no longer support your cause and if you wish to attack me for what I am saying, go right ahead, you will only prove my point.

I doubt that this "attack" will succeed. The Brony Fandom is quite large and has a very dedicated fan base. It's just like Anonymous's attacks on the Syrian Electronic Army that ended with Anonymous being fucked by a very dedicated group; believe me when I say that Anonymous is going to have quite the fight on their hands once this spreads. All I can say at this point is sit back and watch this little adventure crumble.

That's all I have to say, and quite honestly; if I see my blog defaced and hacked; I will honestly laugh at it, because it only shows that Anonymous will eliminate freedom of the press in the name of their mission to give "freedom of the press".