iPhone SE 2 & iPhone X

June 1, 2018

 

Back in 2016, Apple launched the iPhone SE, a phone meant to please the crowd disappointed by the increasing screen sizes of iPhones and not willing to let go off of their older iPhones. And since then, Apple has been hush about any potential successors to the SE.

Today, courtesy of Sonny, we might have a new piece of information on the iPhone SE 2. Sonny tweeted out an image earlier today that supposedly shows off the screen protector for the upcoming iPhone SE alongside the screen protector for the iPhone X

Talking about the similarities, the screen protector for the SE has a cutout for the infamous notch just like the iPhone X. And the aspect ratio of the screen looks somewhat similar to the X.

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Callaway GBB Epic Driver Review

February 11, 2018

If you know me, you know I love golf. When it comes to the best in the game, there is only one name that matters. Callaway. For the past couple of months there’s been a lot of chatter in the pro-golf scene about a driver that is supposed to be a “game changer.” The new driver is equipped with technology that is apparently revolutionary and golfers are excited to see the new tech. The mystery driver is none other than the Callaway Great Big Bertha Epic. I was ecstatic when Callaway reached out asking me to try it out, actually getting goosebumps when I received the message. There has been a great amount of hype surrounding the Callaway Great Big Bertha Epic line of drivers since rumors began some time ago. Much of this has to do with Callaway touting their breakthrough “Jailbreak Technology” as a huge jump in driver performance. There are two models in the line, the Standard Great Big Bertha Epic, and the Great Big Bertha Epic Subzero. Both Clubheads feature the coveted new Jailbreak Technology as well as Callaway’s premier Exo Cage Construction, which allows Callaway to incorporate more carbon fiber support into the design of the clubhead. This allows for weight to be redistributed to different areas of the clubhead in order to boost performance.

The standard Great Big Bertha Epic driver features a sliding track movable weight system which can be used to alter ball flight. The sliding track is similar in design to what was offered in Great Big Bertha from 2015 with a few slight differences. Namely, the weight in the track has been increased from 10 grams in the previous version, to 17 grams in the new version. The heavier weight will increase the effect it has on the ball flight, allowing for more correction for people who tend to miss left or right. The placement of the track has been changed as well. The 2015 version had the track positioned more in the heel compared to the new Epic, and it was great for golfers who missed to the right. The problem was that there really was not a setting that worked well for golfers whose miss was to the left. The placement of the track in the new Epic driver is more neutral, with equal heel and toe settings. This allows for similar heel settings to create the same draw biased ball flight from the previous model, while also providing an option for a toe setting that will create a fade biased ball flight. A heavier weight in the track, along with repositioning the track will help the new Epic Driver fit a wider range of golfers. This driver is available in clubheads that have 9, 10.5, and 13.5 degrees of loft. All utilize Callaway’s optifit hosel, which has different loft settings ranging from -1 to +2, along with a neutral and draw lie angle setting. Combined there are 8 different OptiFit settings to help further dial the player in.

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A Look at Apple’s Design Sketch For the iPhone 8

August 7, 2017

It is 2018 and Apple has recycled the same design for its iPhones right from the beginning, at least on the front anyways. The iPhone desperately needs a refresh and if the latest rumours to be believed, we are going to get exactly that with the 2017 iPhone.

This leak comes from none other that Sonny, who has been a trusted source in terms of Apple leaks. In his latest video, Marques Brownlee (a.k.a MKBHD) goes hands on with what is supposed to be the iPhone 8 model. This prototype is what case manufacturers get to design the cases for upcoming phones. And it there are high chances that the upcoming iPhone might have the exact design and dimensions

Talking about the design, this model sports an edge to edge display with a cutout at the top for the front facing camera, the earpiece and sensors. This goes in line with what we have seen in the recent iPhone silhouette found in the Home Pod firmware. And that’s not all that is new with the design. The back of the phone is now made out of glass, accommodating the vertical dual camera setup with the flash in between the two lenses.
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Apple to Debut Siri-Enabled Smart Speaker at WWDC 2017

April 27, 2017

With the advent of smart speakers coupled with digital assistants, it’s only a matter of time that major tech companies get into this segment of smart home devices. We have already seen an implementation of it by Amazon. The Amazon Echo was released a couple of years ago and since then, there hasn’t been any new development in this segment.

This might change with Apple’s entry into the market, though. Sonny, the man famous for leaking details regarding unreleased Apple devices, has leaked several details regarding Apple’s upcoming smart speaker. According to him, The Cupertino based company is working on finalising the design of it’s upcoming speaker, internally know and “B238”. The speaker is rumoured to run a version of iOS and is going to be marketed as a Siri/AirPlay device. The device will also reportedly include Beats speaker technology along with Alexa-like functionalities.

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The inside story behind P1 & P2: How Apple picked what came to be the iPhone

January 11, 2017

To understand the iPhone today, and how it has shaped Apple and pushed the world forward, it’s important to have a sense of perspective. A critical part of that is understanding how it all started – where the iPhone of today got its roots. Back in the beginning, there were two iPhone projects, the P1 and P2. Tony Fadell had the clout of being “Godfather” of the iPod, but Scott Forsall had been working with Steve since NeXT. The iPhone P2 is what came to be known as the original selling model of the iPhone, paving the foundation of where we are today, 10 years in the future.

Now, where does this concept of multiple projects fit in Apple’s process? P series devices are the first step of any product. They are the earliest stage of real prototyping, they hardly ever get out of Apple, and are the hardest devices to find. They often make hundreds of small little iterations but rarely have finished materials on them. These iPhones, being P devices, have plastic screens, raw bezels, and unfinished home buttons, and do not usually function as complete finished projects. Think of them as Apple’s proofs of concept. Continue Reading

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Exclusive Video and Photos: The iPod-based interface that lost out to iOS for the iPhone

January 6, 2017

While it has always been known that Apple considered a variety of ideas when they were deciding to enter the mobile phone market (with ex employees discussing it behind closed doors, as seen in this Cult Of Mac article, not much was known about alternate versions of the iPhone until now.

Much like the first production iPhone, the prototype features many of the same features including an aluminium chassis, multi-touch compatible screen, 2G connectivity and WiFi radios. However, despite carrying a similar design, the phone itself is extremely different from the iPhone we know today.

Instead of the modern touch-driven interface we now call iOS, it featured an operating system dubbed “Acorn OS” (this was an internal code name, and it unclear if it would have kept that name if it had been released), which is derived from the acorn shown on boot. It presents an on-screen click wheel, which took up the bottom portion of the screen, and on the other half of the screen, a UI identical to the one found on the beloved iPod, with options such as “Dial”, “SMS”, “Music”, “Contacts” and “Recents”, however lacking a browser option. The interface is interacted with in the same way an iPod would be operated. Continue Reading

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2015 Volvo XC90 Review

February 21, 2016

Volvo makes luxury cars. Awkward to see in writing, I know. But one of Volvo’s latest offerings redefines what it means to have that Volvo logo, up front on the grille. Volvo’s new XC90 is the company’s second-generation luxury SUV. The new XC90 runs on Volvo’s Scalable Product Architecture which is a modular chassis developed by the company. The XC90 contains the very best of what Volvo has to offer in terms of performance, styling, safety, and tech.

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Let’s start off with performance. The XC90 is no slouch for an SUV, delivering 316 horsepower from its supercharged, and yes, also turbocharged 2 liter engine coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission. With the power you can feel inside the SUV, the XC90 would definitely not lead you to believe it had a 2 liter engine underneath as Volvo managed to eek out maximum performance from this highly-tuned piece of machinery. A truly remarkable feat that can only really be enjoyed inside the cabin. The ride you get with the XC90 is quite configurable, with adjusting the steering as easily available as adjusting the seats. This demonstrates the fun, playful side of the XC90, as well as the performance seeking “naughty”, other side. Continue Reading

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First iPad Air 3 Cases Leak

January 29, 2016

It’s a brand new year, which means brand new Apple Products. The iPad Air 3 is rumored to be released at the first Apple Event of the year, most likely taking place on March 15th. The first cases and schematics started to leak late last week, and the team at SonnyDickson.com decided to share our thoughts on them.

As you can see, the iPad Air 3 combines the form factor of the iPad Air 2 with the features of the iPad Pro. The iPad Air 3 case shows that the same dual stereo speakers from the iPad Pro, however, we doubt the output levels of the Air 3 will match the iPad Pro due to the lack of internal space on the Air.

Another notable addition to the iPad Air 3 that was seen on the leaks is the addition of an LED flash. Even though taking photos with an iPad is slightly undesirable, lots of people still do it, so it makes sense for Apple to add a flash for improved low light shots. Continue Reading

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iPhone 6s and 6s Plus Review

September 25, 2015

Every other year, Apple comes out with their S line of phones. While these phones look almost completely the same from the outside, they bring major improvements internally. These improvements go on to be defining features for future iPhones. The 3GS brought video recording, the 4s brought Siri (which went on to be one of Apple’s biggest features across their product line), and the 5s brought Touch ID security. Once again, Apple has released an iPhone that looks almost exactly the same on the outside, but do the new internal features make this a radical step forward for the iPhone?

The design of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus is almost exactly the same as the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The iPhone 6s is one of the best smartphone designs ever. The edges of the device are rounded, there is not one hard angle on the main body of the phone, which makes it feel really good in the hand. The glass extends from the border of the screen and slopes down into the metal casing of the phone. The antenna bands extend over the sides over to the back, creating a rounded trapezoid shape on both the top and bottom of the back. The Apple logo is the main highlight of the back of the phone. It has been cut from a piece of polished stainless steel, and then inserted into the cutout in the casing. This creates a two-toned transition between the sand blasted aluminum and the polished stainless steel. One problem with last years design was the use of series 6000 aluminum. This, unfortunately, made the extremely thin iPhone 6 and 6 Plus susceptible to bending. This has been fixed in the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus with series 7000 aluminum. Pure aluminum is now mixed with zinc and magnesium, which creates a very strong alloy. Another material upgrade is the dual ion-exchange glass, which is the most durable glass used on a smartphone ever. Rose Gold joins the existing Space Grey, Silver, and Gold. I would describe this color as a metallic peach more than Rose Gold, but I still like the color regardless. Continue Reading

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Motorola Moto X Pure Edition Review

September 15, 2015

Motorola recently has been creating some really impressive low and mid-range phones. Starting in 2013 with the original Moto X, they have tried to perfect the ideal Android smartphone that doesn’t break the bank. Motorola almost got the formula right back in 2014, however lackluster battery life and cameras made it hard to compare the phone to flagships such as the iPhone and the Samsung Galaxy. So the question is, does the 2015 Moto X Pure Edition perfect the mid-range smartphone?

The design of the 2015 Moto X reflects the newer design language that Motorola applies across all of their phones. The swooping lines and curved back make it really easy to hold the phone. These details actually look more inviting and friendly than some other phones that use straight edges. The structure of the phone is made of anodized aluminum and this makes the Moto G feel really solid. The back plate can be customized to use plastic, leather, or wood, and the leather and wood options add a bit of class to an already handsome phone. The two major design changes over previous versions of the Moto X are, first, the camera trim, which has been redesigned to be a little less intrusive and second, the bigger screen. The screen got a sizable bump from a 5.2 inch Full HD AMOLED to a 5.7 inch Quad HD LED display. While the screen is nice, it’s not anything special, however the colors and clarity are perfectly fine for the price. Continue Reading

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