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.
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
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
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
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
Samsung introduced the world to large screen phones branded as “phablets” back in 2011. While many people didn’t think this approach to phones would work in the long run, it actually did. Now if you look around in the phone market, you rarely find a phone that has a screen less than 4.5 inches. In 2015, most phones have the large screen that was once the Note’s biggest feature. So, the big question is: “Does the Note 5 still have the competitive edge in a large screen world?”
When I reviewed the Samsung Galaxy S5 back in 2014, the one thing that stood out to me was just how horribly designed Samsung phones were. The plastic design was actually the focus of a lot of negative reviews directed at Samsung phones before this year. Samsung picked up on this and completely redesigned their handsets to incorporate premium materials, such as metal and glass. The result is a beautiful phone that feels solid in the hand. The front of the phone looks similar to other Samsung phones, but the real design marvel is the curved glass on the back. The back glass not only looks amazing, but it also creates a more comfortable surface to hold. The chamfered edges on the side of the metal enclosure look nice, but, just like the iPhone, do not hold up to long-term wear and tear. Continue Reading
The OnePlus 2 is a paradox. On one side, it is a phone that compares itself to flagships like the Galaxy S6 or the iPhone 6. Conversely, the OnePlus 2 is half the price of those very same phones. The OnePlus 1 was a wildly popular phone in 2015, so the question is: “Does the OnePlus 2 have what it takes to be the 2016 flagship killer it claims to be?”
The design of th OnePlus 2 isn’t very exciting. The main frame of the phone is made of aluminum, a material now commonly used on flagship phones. This design decision makes the OnePlus 2 feel really solid, it’s unbelievable that this phone costs less than $400. The phone comes with a removable plastic back that features a rough matte finish that feels somewhat like sandpaper. This texture actually gives you more grip and prevents you from dropping your phone. If the matte black finish isn’t your style, OnePlus will sell you a different back, including a real wooden one, for $27. Continue Reading
Last week, we gave Lew from UnboxTherapy an unreleased iPhone 6s back housing. If you missed Lew’s findings, here is a recap
Just like rumors suggested, the iPhone 6s casing is slightly taller, wider and thicker. Some people suggested that this minor enhancement was to accommodate the hardware needed for Force Touch, but it actually might be more than that. The iPhone 6s casing measures 138.26mm by 67.16mm (versus the 138.09mm by 66.91mm iPhone 6), so the iPhone 6s has become slightly taller and wider. A bigger change is the internal strengthening of the casing, Apple has actually increased the thickness along the power and home buttons up from 1.14mm to 1.9mm. These changes make the iPhone 6s casing as a whole a lot more rigid than the iPhone 6 casing.
As promised, we are back this week with a much more in-depth look at the iPhone 6s back casing.
Not only has Apple physically strengthened the iPhone by adjusting dimensions, they also use a new grade of aluminum to make it even stronger. The iPhone 5 through iPhone 6 used a grade of aluminum from the series 6000 family. Now, they have upgraded to the same alloy found on the Apple Watch Sport, series 7000 aluminum. Apple describes why they chose this alloy for the Apple Watch Sport on their website: Continue Reading
The Ford Mondeo has certainly taken a long time to be released to the public. It was first previewed back in late 2012 to be released soon after, but due to several delays, it actually took until the 2014 model year to be released in the European markets. So, how does the 2015 Ford Mondeo stack up to it’s other mid-size competitors, and was the long delay worth it?
The Ford Mondeo has matured a lot since the previous generation. The exterior and interior design has been completely revised compared to the older Mondeo, and for the most part, these are really welcome improvements. The Mondeo is, for the most part, almost indistinguishable from the 2012 United States Ford Fusion, which could be a good or a bad thing depending on ones taste. Like most of Fords lineup, the Mondeo shares elements with other Fords, like the Focus. The front looks aggressive and sporty, and looks surprisingly similar to that on an Aston Martin. This gives the Mondeo the look of a much higher class of car. The back of the car looks a lot like the previous generation Mondeo, but more refined and less bulbous. The shape of the car is a lot more aerodynamic and is following its German competitors by looking more like a 4 door coupé than a sedan. This styling, combined with additional underbody panels and active grille shutters, contribute to a 10% drag reduction, which not only helps improve fuel economy, but also reduces interior noise.
The iPhone 6 was a massive success for Apple. The only minor problem it had was something dubbed Bendgate. Now, a year later we have a hands-on look at the iPhone 6s casing. What’s changed in the design, and do these changes help stop the iPhone from bending? We gave our good friend Lew from UnboxTherapy an unreleased iPhone 6s case to answer those very questions.
Just like rumors suggested, the iPhone 6s casing is slightly taller, wider and thicker. Some people suggested that this minor enhancement was to accommodate the hardware needed for Force Touch, but it actually might be more than that. Lew measured the iPhone 6s casing with a digital caliper that has an accuracy of .01mm. The iPhone 6s casing measures 138.26mm by 67.16mm (versus the 138.09mm by 66.91mm iPhone 6), so the iPhone 6s has become slightly taller and wider. A bigger change is the internal strengthening of the casing, Apple has actually increased the thickness along the power and home buttons up from 1.14mm to 1.9mm. These changes will most likely make the iPhone 6s casing as a whole a lot more rigid than the iPhone 6 casing, We will be providing more in-depth coverage in the near future, but in the meantime, if you want to see Lew’s video, check it out below! Continue Reading
Today we have an exclusive look at the iPhone 6s back housing. On the outside, the 6s casing looks exactly like the iPhone 6. Like all “S” release devices, the changes are mostly internal and the iPhone 6s casing is no different. The first thing that we noticed upon inspection is that the screw mounting posts are in slightly different locations, this most likely points to a new logic board in the 6s featuring an A9 chip. The other revision we noticed was the thickness of the metal around the volume and power buttons. Besides that, the case is very similar to the iPhone 6. Check out the pictures below and stay tuned for more part leaks in the future! Continue Reading
It’s time to take a look at some parts for the upcoming iPhone 6s. The first part that we have acquired is the display. The front of the display is almost identical to the one on the iPhone 6 except for one small detail, the front camera cutout. The camera cutout on the cover glass is slightly bigger than the one on the iPhone 6, pointing to a front facing camera upgrade this year. The major change to the display is on the back. On the upper portion of the EF shielding, there is a cutout allowing for some sort of sensor to pass through it. This is most likely a pressure sensor for force touch. Apple is rumored to be bringing force touch to the iPhone 6s this fall and is expected to use it to make navigating through iOS easier.
Our team also was able to get a look at several flex cables designed for the iPhone 6s. The first two are the lightning/headphone flex cable and the Touch ID sensor, both these parts are visually identical to their corresponding iPhone 6 flex cables. One change was the flex cable for the volume buttons and mute switch. On the iPhone 6s, the volume flex cable and the power flex cable have been combined into one part that features power, volume, mute and the secondary microphone. Continue Reading
LG is somewhat of an underdog in the mobile phone world. In a mostly saturated market, Apple and Samsung seem to be the ones that sell the most phones; however, the LG G3 was a solid competitor last year. So the question remains: does the LG G4 improve upon the G3, or is it just another phone that will fade into the shadows?
The design of the LG G4 isn’t very special and is actually a step down compared to other 2015 flagships. The whole phone is made of plastic, and nothing about it looks premium. The good news is this can be fixed by replacing the removable plastic back with the leather one, which can be purchased from LG for $69.99. One other design decision that is a bit odd is the placement of the volume and power buttons on the back. It isn’t very natural to use and requires some getting used to. However, don’t let one strange design decision deter you from buying this phone. Continue Reading
We’ve heard many rumors about Apple planning to add one more model to its current iPad lineup. This new iPad is being referred to as the “iPad Pro.” It’s expected to measure somewhere in between 12.2 to 12.9 inches, meaning it will be larger than the iPads currently available. We’ve been able to get our hands on some cases that claim to be made for Apple’s new tablet. The iPad Pro seems to resemble the current iPads with the addition of stereo speakers that are located on the top and bottom of the device. None of its other components such as the iSight camera and Touch ID button seem to have moved position.
We’ve heard rumors of the iPad Pro is being equipped with multiple ports just like some of the very early iPad 1G prototypes and as it seems the cases we have show that the iPad will in fact have two ports, one at the bottom of the device and one on its side. It’s still unclear whether they will both be Lightning ports or USB-C. Continue Reading
For my first car review, I thought it would be cool to try and dispel some old stigmas associated with car brands. In this case, Volvo. You see, in the past the word Volvo was always associated with the color beige, and taxes. It really didn’t make my heartbeat faster, or my pants any tighter that say an Audi, Benz, or Bimmer did. Volvo’s never really did anything for me, because I always felt that they were boring cars; not something that a young, lofty kid like me would ever be associated with.
The S60 Polestar is Volvo’s (mighty) attempt at a stylish, sport sedan that can take on the Germans head on; specifically the Audi S4, Mercedes C400 and BMW 335i. With it’s edgy, rebel blue paint job, oversized sport rims, and plethora of Polestar badges and logos, this hot Swede sure looks the part. This is certainly a Volvo that WILL NOT put you to sleep by its sight. It’s a proper, sport sedan without all of the “fluff” that we’ve become so accustomed to. There is a rear diffuser, 2 exhaust outlets, and a front splitter that actually do something! In the case of the front lip, it provides added down force to front, which assists in high-speed maneuvering. In no way does the exterior interject the performance that this car packs, but that doesn’t mean it’s boring. It’s a perfectly executed sleeper. Continue Reading
Our friends over at Feld & Volk have provided us with some exclusive pictures of the iPhone 6’s logic board that confirm this year’s iPhone will be equipped with NFC. After two years of rumors claiming that the iPhone 5 would be equipped with NFC, the iPhone 6 will finally receive it.
The photo below shows us the iPhone 6’s motherboard, equipped with chips such as the AVAGO and the Apple A8 chip which is said to be 2GHz dual-core 20nm 64-bit A8 CPU and much faster and smaller than the 1.3GHz 28nm A7 chip. Continue Reading
A big misunderstanding broke out last night when I published a tweet saying the following.
There are about 200 security officers trying to catch those who dare to sell i6 accessories.
— Sonny Dickson (@SonnyDickson) May 30, 2014
Let me straighten things out.
In HUA Qiang North Market, the heart of Asia’s electronics market, there is a building called YuanWang Digital Mall.
There are dozens of iPhone 5 & 6, iPads, and Macs. These units are either real or fake. The real units and all their accessories are being showcased and traded throughout that mall, and later sold and distributed around the whole world. Almost all the goods there are smuggled goods from HK, due to 17% tax at China customs, so smuggling to avoid the high tax is very profitable.
On May 27th, Shen Zhen Customs (Shenzhen anti-smuggling governing body), and Hua Qiang street authorities stormed the YuanWang Mall to try to catch some of those smugglers and whoever was rumored to sell Apple/Samsung/Nokia/etc units, or fake Apple/Samsung/Nokia units. More than 120 government officials are involved in this operation. Continue Reading
Recently, pictures of the iPhone 6 Mockup have been circulating throughout the web. I’ve gone ahead and compared the mockup to older generations of the iPhones and the iPod Touch 5G, as well as the HTC One M8 and Samsung Galaxy S5. As you can see, the iPhone 6 represents a large jump in screen size compared to previous generations. Apple has decided to ditch the sharp, angular lines of the 5 and 5s and replace them with a more friendly, curved body. The iPhone 6 is also smaller than both the HTC One M8, as well as the Samsung Galaxy S5. Continue Reading
If you’ve been keeping up to date with the latest iPhone 6 news, you’ve probably already seen Unbox Therapy’s iPhone 6 – How Thin? video.
We’ve gone ahead and compared the purported iPhone 6 cases to the current iPhone 5S and the iPod Touch 5th generation. As you can see in the video and in the images below, it seems like the next gen iPhone will have a similar design to the current iPod Touch. It will be much thinner than the current iPhone 5S, the sleep/wake button will be moved to the side, and as reported by trusted sources, the iPhone 6 will feature a larger 4.7-inch display with 1,704 x 960-pixel resolution.
Take a look at the pictures below and tell us what you think. Will you be waiting in line for the iPhone 6? Continue Reading
With the “iPhone 6” quickly approaching, amid many rumors of a larger screen coming to the device (from a variety of sources with varying credibility), we’ve got our hands on some of the first cases designed for the new device!
While it’s true that anyone could make a case and claim it’s for an “iPhone 6”, the source who produced this case has an excellent track record. We’ve also got some exclusive information coming soon that should make you offer this case more than just a passing glance!
Check out this excellent analysis of the new case, which we provided to Unbox Therapy for their official YouTube channel – his insight on the case, especially in relation to the iPod touch, is spot on!
Stay tuned to SonnyDickson.com for the latest developments – this is merely the first wave of a massive new series of exclusive reveals! Continue Reading
We’ve heard numerous amounts of rumors about Apple’s next-gen iPhone, the iPhone 6. We’ve gotten our hands on some great photos of the iPhone’s rear casing in Space Grey– and just as always, it looks absolutely astonishing.
As some rumors suggest, the screen will in fact be bigger. The design will be like a cross between the current iPad Air and the iPod Touch. As shown in the pictures below, it will be definitely thinner than the current iPhone 5S. I’m not 100% sure this is the real back housing, but I’ll be updating it as I get more information regarding it. Continue Reading
There’s been a leaked document floating around showing off Samsung’s latest Galaxy device, the Galaxy S5. This design has been sent to companies to create cases for their upcoming device.
As mentioned above, this is an official document meaning the Samsung Galaxy S5 will be as displayed in the picture. The phone will have a 5.25-inch display which is a little bigger than the current S4’s screen. Besides the small changes in the screen size, it seems like Samsung has decided to keep much of the phone the same. The main design difference is the reduction of the roundness of the edges. This means that Samsung is moving away from their “pebble” shaped phones, and replacing them with more utilitarian designs. The Samsung Galaxy S5 is expected to be released on Feb. 24, but until then, stay tuned for more info! Continue Reading
I have been quite silent on technology since the launch of the iPhone 5s and the iPhone 5c. 2013 was a great year with technology but 2014 will be much better. As you know, I’m more interested now in fashion and cars, but doesn’t mean I will completely abandon the technology scene. I am still an Apple enthusiast, and am hoping to bring you sneak peeks every now and then of their latest products.
With the dawn of a new year will come the dawn of a newer, stronger, more diverse version of SonnyDickson.com. Just as one year evolves into the next, we also have evolved – and I think you’re really going to love the results of that evolution.
Technology is changing, as always – it’s one area of human development that’s guaranteed to change, often so quickly that it leaves even technology veterans’ heads spinning. New products are being developed, some will be leaked and some you will see here. Continue Reading
We had a pretty great year in 2013, at least as far as Apple-related leaks are concerned. Many of our photographic part leaks represented the first time the world had truly gotten a look at Apple’s new iPhone and iPad designs for 2013. To sum the matter up, we’ve broken down each of our leaks by category – First iPad, and then iPhone – to show you how we did.
Towards the end of 2013, Apple released the iPad Air and the iPad Mini with Retina. A month before iPad Air’s official release, I had received a couple of pictures of what was said to be the shell of the unreleased iPad Air. Its design was much similar to the iPad Mini. The iPad Mini was also shown two months before its released. I was able to get some pictures of its shell in Space Gray.
Here’s the full breakdown, month by month. Continue Reading
We’ve already seen numerous leaks of various next-gen iPad hardware, but much of it has been relatively low quality up to this point. We’ve gotten our hands on a number of sharp high-res images of the Space Grey 5th-gen iPad casing and front panel. Notably, it shows off the highly anticipated slimmer iPad-mini like design it is expected to launch with. We have also compared the Space Grey 5th generation iPad shell to the silver one for comparison. The design differences compared to the 4th generation are both apparent and extremely welcome, and we can’t wait to get our hands on one in person. Take a look at the full gallery below, and let us know your thoughts by sounding off in the comments! Continue Reading
We’ve already seen numerous leaks of various next-gen iPad hardware, but until now, we haven’t gotten a serious look at the new color options for the upcoming 2nd-gen iPad mini. We’ve gotten our hands on some great photos of the new iPad mini’s rear casing in Space Grey (introduced with the iPhone 5S) – and just as we imagined, it looks absolutely incredible.
As expected, it also shows off a design extremely similar to the current iPad mini, suggesting that most of the changes will happen to the device’s internal hardware rather than its physical design. One interesting design revision is the removal of the “polished on” Apple logo. This method has been replaced by a polished insert that fits in a cutout of the case. Take a look and see for yourself! Would you buy an iPad mini in Space Grey? Let us know in the comments!
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