Bloc Québécois members quit over new leader Mario Beaulieu

New Bloc Québécois Leader Mario Beaulieu is already on the defensive just a day into his leadership, standing by contentious comments made during his acceptance speech as two party members threaten to resign over his election.

Former Bloc leader Gilles Duceppe took issue with some comments made by Mario Beaulieu during his acceptance speech on June 14, 2014. (CBC)

Beaulieu was voted in as leader of the separatist party on Saturday with 53 per cent of the vote.

Beaulieu took the time during his acceptance speech to denigrate the efforts of former Bloc leaders over the past 20 years. He also invoked a phrase, “Nous vaincrons,” closely associated with the FLQ, the group responsible for Quebec’s October Crisis in 1970.

Now he is defending his choice of words.

“'We will conquer, we will win,' there were all kinds of slogans being yelled. I did not make the link between ‘nous vaincrons’ and the FLQ,” Beaulieu said in an interview with Radio-Canada, adding that he does not consider himself to be a radical.

Gilles Duceppe, who was the Bloc leader for 15 years starting in 1990, was incensed by Beaulieu’s comments at Saturday’s party convention.

“I can’t associate myself with people who yell, ‘Nous vaincrons.’ We know what that means. It’s completely irresponsible, unconscionable,” Duceppe said. “It’s not by chanting slogans that we achieve sovereignty; it’s in being determined.”

Party members leave over Beaulieu’s win

None of the sitting MPs supported Beaulieu’s run for leader, instead putting their weight behind the only other contender, Richmond-Arthabaska MP André Bellavance.

Bruno Grenier quit his role within the Bloc Québécois after Mario Beaulieu's election, calling him a "clown" who relies on invoking anti-English sentiment to appeal to the Bloc's membership base. (CBC)

There are currently four Bloc MPs in Parliament.

Within the first 24 hours of Beaulieu’s leadership, two members of the Bloc voiced their displeasure with his election and vowed to resign.

Jerry Beaudoin, the president of the Hochelaga Bloc association, announced he would quit the party, saying he could not defend Beaulieu’s positions on a number of issues.

He was closely followed by Bruno Grenier, who said he would quit as a Bloc executive committee member and councillor in the federal riding of Laurier-Ste-Marie.

'Quebec independence, that has to be fought for in Quebec, not in Ottawa.'

Grenier posted a comment on Facebook Sunday announcing his imminent resignation on Monday, saying that he could not fight his own party on following Beaulieu, who he called a "clown."

“Independence will happen through openness or not at all,” Grenier’s comment read. “We have to protect this concept of openness and the inclusion of everyone in our French Quebec.”

He told CBC News on Sunday afternoon that he has been a separatist since he was 15 years old, but was so disappointed with Beaulieu's election he felt he had to leave the party.

He said he disagreed with Beaulieu's statement that the Bloc had accomplished very little over the past two decades.

Bruno Grenier's comment on Facebook. (Facebook)

"I’m not ready to say the Bloc Québécois did nothing over the past 20 years, that it didn’t do its job. The Bloc defended Quebec’s interests. Quebec independence, that has to be fought for in Quebec, not in Ottawa," Grenier said. 

Another Bloc member, Marc-André Roche,took to Facebook before the June 14 election, encouraging his fellow members to support Bellavance over Beaulieu.

He said Beaulieu is known to rely on issues around insecurity and language, as well as promote anti-English and anti-Canada sentiment, instead of approaching Quebec sovereignty with a spirit of openness.

Political scientist Bruce Hicks said it's exactly why Beaulieu was elected.

“The drama I think took everybody by surprise. This victory, though, less so, in that the only people who are left in that party are the die hard nationalists, the true ardent separatists," Hicks said.

Beaulieu backpedals

On Saturday, Duceppe said he was offended by Beaulieu’s comments about Bloc leaders from the past 20 years not doing much in the way of pursuing sovereignty.

"[It’s insulting] to me, to Lucien Bouchard, to Michel Gauthier, to Daniel Paillé. [Beaulieu said] all the predecessors lost their time, didn’t do their job,” Duceppe said.

Beaulieu responded to Duceppe’s comments on Sunday, saying that he was not disparaging the work done by former Bloc leaders.

“All I’m saying is, it’s now that we have to bring sovereignty to the forefront, in all of our actions,” Beaulieu said, adding, “Mr. Duceppe was a great leader who accomplished a lot.”

The Bloc lost 45 seats in Parliament in the 2011 federal election.

Best Wrinkle Cream

Best Wrinkle Cream

One of the most common concerns for those who shop for beauty products is how to find the best wrinkle cream that will effectively battle the signs of aging. With so many anti wrinkle creams on the market making a number of different claims, it can be difficult to know which wrinkle cream or serum is the most effective. While many people are on the lookout for a face lift in a jar, the truth is that the best wrinkle cream is the one with the most revolutionary ingredients at the highest concentrations. Moreover, it comes down to the ingredients that will benefit your specific skin type and individual skin concerns.  In this article, we discuss what causes wrinkles, how wrinkle creams work and highlight the best wrinkle cream in 2014.

What is the Best Wrinkle Cream TodayOur favorite wrinkle cream is Advanced Dermatology because of the high concentration of wrinkle fighting pep tides. But before you shop, you need to understand what causes the wrinkles you have and which ingredients will give you the results you’re looking for. There are thousands of products that  claim to be the best wrinkle cream, and turn back the clock without surgery. Unfortunately, most of these wrinkle creams contain poor formulas that were developed over a decade ago, and do little more than hydrate the skin. We know that ingredients like pep tides, stem cells, growth factors and antioxidants can smooth out wrinkles, and turn back the clock. Whilst there are a handful of products that combine these cutting edge ingredients, they most fail to incorporate a high enough concentration due to the high cost of these ingredients. However, there is one range that features the most cutting edge ingredients at highly active concentrations. Click Here to find out more about our favorite anti wrinkle range.

Far more than a wrinkle cream, this revolutionary range regenerates the skin at the deepest layers to target all the visible signs of aging. Have you tried anti wrinkle creams that don’t work? Did you know that most wrinkle creams contain a mere 2-5% active ingredients? This revolutionary range contains 80%+ active ingredients to target even the most tenacious wrinkles.  You can try there products risk free with their 30 day money back guarantee.  They offer free shipping in the US and Canada.

The Causes of WrinklesPeople who are on the lookout for the best wrinkle cream on the market often end up buying product after product because they purchase creams and serums that are not made for the wrinkles they are trying to get rid of. In order to prevent this, you should understand what’s causing wrinkles so that you can target them more effectively. For example, fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes are usually caused by laughing, frowning, and other facial expressions that stretch the skin and cause it to fold and wrinkle over time. Forehead wrinkles are often created in this manner.

Wrinkles are also caused by the natural aging process, when skin begins to thin out and lose collagen. Elastin, a natural protein in the skin, also begins to disintegrate, causing sagging skin and wrinkles on the hands and neck. The best wrinkle creams contain a high concentration of active ingredients that target the skin at the deepest layers to regenerate the skin at a cellular level.

How Wrinkle Creams WorkWhen you’re considering the best wrinkle cream for your skin type, you should also understand how the ingredients work. Avoid products that claim to “boost elastin growth,” as the human body is believed to stop elastin production just before puberty. Instead, look for products that combat dryness, which is major contributor to wrinkles.

The best wrinkle cream for fighting fine lines and wrinkles will use a number of ingredients, such as vitamin C, to help the skin boost collagen production so that the body fills them in on their own, without costly or painful injections. Keep in mind that the best wrinkle cream will be one that gives you steady results over a long period of time, not one that works just overnight.

The highest rated wrinkle cream in 2014 contains up to 80% active ingredients and is proven to smooth out even the most tenacious wrinkle .

Wrinkle Cream IngredientsOne of the most effective ways to comparison shop and find the best wrinkle cream is to read the ingredients list on the label. Less expensive wrinkle creams will usually have a smaller percentage of anti aging ingredients, older formulas hydrate skin but are unable to boosts collagen production. Stem cells also encourages new cell production, which helps skin look younger.

Another way to ensure that you’re purchasing the best wrinkle cream is to buy one that contains peptides. These chains of amino acids replace lost collagen by sending chemical signals to the body that increases the protein production. Keep in mind that wrinkle creams that contain these ingredients are likely to cost you more.

Wrinkle Cream Side EffectsDon’t forget that even the best wrinkle cream may have some side effects, so it’s best to consult your dermatologist and discuss your medical history before you start to use a treatment. Some side effects that are common with these creams are stinging, temporary redness, peeling at the application site, and itching. Shopping for the best wrinkle cream may seem daunting at first, but when you understand how wrinkles form and which ingredients will best combat them, you’ll be able to treat  them more effectively.

More About Wrinkle CreamsWrinkles are progressive. The longer you wait, the worse things get. And the more difficult it becomes to reverse facial wrinkles. Can wrinkle creams really help smooth out and repair wrinkles? The short answer is yes. Wrinkle creams and other anti aging products, such as serums. have come very far in the last few years. There are many products that are proven to work. But while wrinkle creams offer some in reversing visible signs of aging,  experts caution that there’s no miracle wrinkle cream out there to automatically turn back the clock.

We often hear: “I suffer form deep wrinkles on the face and neck but more specifically around the cheeks, forehead, eyes, mouth and lips.  What what is the best wrinkle cream for my face? What is the top anti wrinkle product in 2013? Which anti aging creams target all signs of aging? Which ingredients in anti wrinkle creams should we avoid? What if I have sensitive skin? What are the highest rated treatments? What are peptides? How do I know which ingredients are effective? More on that later”. First, let’s look at the common causes of facial wrinkles. Wrinkles are caused by a combination of factors – the sun, genetics, diet and facial movements- however, the main culprit is the breakdown of collagen or elastin. A combination of these factors cause wrinkles to appear on the face. You’re probably here because you want to find the top wrinkle cream and use a cream that is proven to achieve good results. A visit to those shelves at your local Macy’s or Sephora or drug store, and you’re guaranteed to feel overwhelmed by the number of wrinkle creams.

We also hear questions like: Which anti aging products really work and which don’t?  Which products are safe? Which products are dangerous? What are the consumer reports and reviews saying? What is a good outcome from an effective anti aging product? How do over the counter wrinkle creams from the drug store compare with prescription anti aging products? What are the top anti aging products dermatologists recommend? Are you looking for instant results or do you want something that repairs the skin for more long term results?

Neutrogena promises “Fade the look of stubborn deep wrinkles, including crow’s feet, forehead & cheek wrinkles” so that “in 4 weeks wrinkles are reduced.” L’oreal claims to “address 3 dimensions that visibly age skin: 1. Fight Wrinkles 2. Re-Firm Contours 3. Replenish Facial Volume” Olay claims to “Reverses the look of up to 10 years of wrinkles”. Roc “combines 3 powerful anti-wrinkle technologies to boost cell regeneration* and to reduce the appearance of even deep wrinkles”. Clinique claims to “Help rebuild elasticity and firmness, helps visibly smooth out “laugh lines”.

Today, dermatologist and skin care experts do not recommend many products marketed as wrinkle creams because of a lack of scientific evidence. In fact, most of these professionals recommend prescription products and very few dermatologists recommend over the counter products. However, there are many proven wrinkle creams available today, and in the last few years there has been significant development in products that can stop breakdown of and replenish collagen or elastin.

Are you looking for a wrinkle cream that has been scientifically tested and really works? Are you looking for a list of the highest rated anti wrinkle creams for both men and women? Do you suffer from deep wrinkles on the forehead, eyes, cheeks and neck and want to know what the best wrinkle cream is? If you have tried various face creams for wrinkles then you probably know most of these facial products are more hype then science. We’re happy to guide you through your search for the best anti wrinkle creams and top anti aging skin care products. With thousands of anti wrinkle products available online and at your local store it really can be daunting task identifying the best wrinkle creams and top anti aging products for the face and neck.

So what is the best wrinkle cream in 2014?

Wrinkle creams: Your guide to younger looking skin

Many wrinkle creams and lotions sold in department stores, in drugstores and on the Internet promise to reduce wrinkles and prevent or reverse damage caused by the sun.

Do they work? That often depends on the specific ingredients and how long you use them. Because these over-the-counter (nonprescription) wrinkle creams aren't classified as drugs, they're not required to undergo scientific research to prove their effectiveness.

If you're looking for a face-lift in a bottle, you probably won't find it in over-the-counter wrinkle creams. The benefits of these products are usually only modest at best.

Common ingredients in anti-wrinkle creams

The effectiveness of anti-wrinkle creams depends in part on the active ingredient or ingredients. Here are some common ingredients that may result in slight to modest improvement in the appearance of wrinkles.

• Retinol. Retinol is a vitamin A compound, the first antioxidant to be widely used in nonprescription wrinkle creams. Antioxidants are substances that neutralize free radicals — unstable oxygen molecules that break down skin cells and cause wrinkles.
• Vitamin C. Another potent antioxidant, vitamin C may help protect skin from sun damage. Before and between uses, wrinkle creams containing vitamin C must be stored in a way that protects them from air and sunlight.
• Hydroxy acids. Alpha hydroxy acids, beta hydroxy acids and poly hydroxy acids are exfoliants — substances that remove the upper layer of old, dead skin and stimulate the growth of smooth, evenly pigmented new skin.
• Coenzyme Q10. This ingredient may help reduce fine wrinkles around the eyes and protect the skin from sun damage.
• Tea extracts. Green, black and oolong tea contain compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Green tea extracts are the ones most commonly found in wrinkle creams.
• Grape seed extract. In addition to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, grape seed extract also promotes wound healing.
• Niacinamide. A potent antioxidant, this substance is related to Vitamin B-3 (niacin). It helps reduce water loss in the skin and may improve skin elasticity.

Nokia XL Review: The Experiment Continues

Nokia XL Review: The Experiment Continues

In our review of the pioneering Nokia X nearly a month ago, we said we were uncertain of the Android-based platform's future. Considering the fact that Microsoft was, at the time, just about to gain complete control over the Finnish phonemaker, it seemed odd that the software giant would embrace something fundamentally dependent on its biggest competitor's work.

Since then, the Microsoft-Nokia acquisition has been finalised, and not only has the Nokia XL been launched, but rumours of an improved second-generation Nokia X line are growing stronger. On the other hand, the Nokia X has received a hefty price cut and is already selling for around 25 percent less than its initial launch price.

Despite its obvious shortcomings, there's definitely a place in the market for the Nokia X, even with strong new competition in the form of the Motorola Moto E. Things aren't quite as clear when it comes to the Nokia XL, a larger and more expensive variation of the X. In terms of features and specifications, the two are almost identical, which means the XL is at a disadvantage in a market already crowded with relatively modern Android and even Windows Phone devices.

The Nokia X line was meant to sit below the Lumias and attract entry-level customers to the Nokia brand, in the hope that they would someday graduate to a more expensive device. However, the XL is more expensive than the Lumia 525 and is just about the same price as the brand new Lumia 630 Dual SIM. Interestingly, while the 630 is a bit more powerful, it doesn't have a front camera, flash, or some of the other niceties that the XL does. We'll examine this curious state of affairs along with our evaluation of the XL on its own merits.

Look and feel
The Nokia XL is a magnified version of the Nokia X in every way. It has exactly the same proportions, lines and angles, and is even available in the same retina-scalding palette of primary colours. The main differences are the addition of a flash on the rear panel and a camera on the front. The only other changes are inconsequentially minor: the 3.5mm headset socket is in the centre of the top edge rather than to one side, and the speaker grille has evolved from a small patch to a long slit.

There's still only a single capacitive button on the front face, and it's still not backlit. The front-facing camera sits next to the Nokia logo, leaving the rest of the front pretty bare. There are no status or charging indicators, but Nokia has included its Glance screen tech which lets you see the time and notification alerts even when the phone is in standby.

The power and volume buttons are on the right side, and the left edge is blank as is the case with most Nokias now. The brightly coloured shell extends around the sides of the phone itself, giving the front face a distinct border, but also adding bulk. Beneath the shell, you'll see the removable battery and slots for two Micro-SIM cards and a microSD card.

The XL is pretty hefty and unwieldy. The hard corners are even more of a problem than they were on the X because you'll need to stretch to reach the corners of the larger screen with your thumbs. At 190g, this phone is noticeably heavier than nearly everything else of its size on the market today.

Construction quality is absolutely top-notch. The Nokia XL's finish is just as good as that of any of the more expensive Lumias. You won't see rough edges or cheap materials anywhere. The white and black variants actually feel pretty premium.

Specifications and features
If you were hoping that Nokia would redefine value at this price point, you'll be disappointed. The Nokia XL is built around a rather arthritic Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Play processor; a two year old dual-core model that runs at 1GHz. There's 768MB of RAM; a paltry 256MB improvement over the Nokia X. There's 4GB of internal storage space, of which less than 2GB is available to users. You'll have to buy a microSD card, and at least the XL supports capacities up to 32GB.

The screen measures 5 inches across diagonally, compared to its smaller sibling's 4-inch screen. It doesn't sound like a huge difference, but it is. Sadly, the screen's resolution wasn't scaled up with its size, so it's still the same 800x480 grid, except that it looks a whole lot worse. This works out to 186.6 pixels per inch, which is the lowest density we've seen in a very long time - most phones around this price range and especially this screen size are at least 960x540, if not 1280x720.

Connectivity is adequate - the XL supports 3G data only on the primary SIM, but there's also Wi-Fi b/g/n and Bluetooth 3.0. There are a few sensors - an accelerometer, proximity sensor and ambient light sensor - but nothing fancy.

The software is identical to that on the Nokia X, which you can read about in great detail here. Android fans will find a lot of familiar sights below the surface and it's all still fairly easy to use, but the Nokia XL is ultimately limited by the underpowered hardware. The single back/home button is also still annoying, as is the somewhat unpredictability of whether you'll end up on the home screen or Nokia's Fastlane screen of notifications and recently used apps. There are also no shortcuts and no dock for frequently used apps such as the phone dialler. Of course you're free to customise the experience and experiment with grafting on the missing parts of the Android experience.

Nokia's excellent Mix Radio and Here maps are complemented by a large number of preloaded apps and games: Bookmyshow, Facebook, Twitter, PicsArt, Plants vs Zombies, Danger Dash, Bejeweled 2, Astro File Manager, Opera, Vine, BBM, WeChat, NewsHunt and Sony Liv, amongst others.

A Cleanup app shows you a list of recently used applications that you can close with a single tap, as well as a display of the amount of RAM currently used. It's nice to have since there's no other way to switch between running apps or close them.

Performance
The Nokia XL performed very slightly better in our tests than its smaller sibling did, which is probably down to the marginal increase in the amount of RAM available. Since all other hardware is the same, there's nothing else we can attribute this result to. That's still not saying much, as both sets of scores are amongst the lowest we have on record.

The interface is quite laggy, but we didn't see quite as many "Please wait" screens as we did on the Nokia X. There still isn't much hope for video playback, though. Even 720p videos were laggy to the point of being unwatchable. Audio was loud enough, but not clear.

We had no problem with call quality, though there was at least one place in which 3G reception dropped out and we were forced to fall back on EDGE even when other phones on the same network were fine. Battery life was extremely disappointing - the Nokia XL lasted just 4 hours, 35 minutes when looping a video, which makes us uncertain whether it can even survive a full day of moderate usage without needing a recharge.

Camera
For all its other shortcomings, the Nokia XL has a fantastic camera. It's almost unbelievable how good our test photos were. In daylight, images were crisp and accurate without any clue that they had been taken with a low-end phone. The camera had a bit of trouble judging exposure levels in tricky scenes with light and dark elements, but other than that the results were fantastic. Low-light shots came out quite well, but the flash was a bit disappointing, and gave photos a somewhat artificial quality.

You can set the contrast, sharpness, saturation, ISO and white balance, and there's also automatic face detection, touch-to-focus, and a few simple colour filters. We were impressed to see options for exposure metering and manual focus control, though these are buried in the settings menu. The front camera is also pretty good, but you have far less control over it.

(Click to see full size)

Photos are taken at 1600x1200 by default, but the resolution can go up to 2592x1944, and there's also a wide aspect ratio 1920x1080 option. Picture quality is set to "superfine" by default, which explains the sharpness and low levels of noise. You can also choose between H.264, H.263 and MPEG4 encoding for videos, for some reason, but videos are recorded at the pointlessly low resolution of 352x288 unless you change this manually.

Verdict
Performance that was just about acceptable from a phone costing Rs. 8,500 is more than disappointing from a phone that costs Rs. 11,500. Not only has Nokia acknowledged that the original X was overpriced, but fresh competition in the form of the Moto E has made it even tougher to recommend. That means the Nokia XL is even worse value right now.

Sure, you get a big screen, but it's comically low-resolution and there's no advantage to it whatsoever unless you really love the Nokia X platform and have poor eyesight or extremely large fingers. The flash and front camera are also nice to have, but definitely not worth the premium.

Despite all its charms, we cannot recommend the Nokia XL, simply because there are far better phones at its price in the market today - one of which is Nokia's own Lumia 630. In a battle between the two, the XL would have the better cameras and potential compatibility with Android apps, but the Lumia 630 would tie or win on pretty much every other count, including performance, battery life, screen quality, construction quality, ease of use, practicality, and weight.

On the Android side of the fence, the Moto E is cheaper and the Moto G is only slightly more expensive. There's also the Lenovo S660, Samsung Galaxy S Duos 2, Sony Xperia E1 and HTC Desire 210, plus a whole raft of choices from Indian brands.

The Nokia XL's only saving grace is that some people value large screens above everything else. We expect a hefty price cut down the line, so even if you're tempted now, we'd suggest holding off.

Bush's toxic legacy in Iraq

Bush's toxic legacy in Iraq

                                          

 New America Foundation 

 ISIS, the brutal insurgent/terrorist group formerly known as al-Qaeda in Iraq, has seized much of western and northern Iraq and even threatens towns not far from Baghdad.

From where did ISIS spring? One of George W. Bush's most toxic legacies is the introduction of al Qaeda into Iraq, which is the ISIS mother ship.

If this wasn't so tragic it would be supremely ironic, because before the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, top Bush officials were insisting that there was an al Qaeda-Iraq axis of evil. Their claims that Saddam Hussein's men were training members of al Qaeda how to make weapons of mass destruction seemed to be one of the most compelling rationales for the impending war.

The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency had by 2006 translated 34 million pages of documents from Hussein's Iraq and found there was nothing to substantiate a "partnership" between Hussein and al Qaeda.After the fall of Hussein's regime, no documents were unearthed in Iraq proving the Hussein-al Qaeda axis despite the fact that, like other totalitarian regimes, Hussein's government kept massive and meticulous records.

Review of SonyXperia Z2

Review of SonyXperia Z2

Sony Xperia Z2: Features

As we've already mentioned, the Z2 is now totally waterproof (to IP58 standard). This is an improvement on the Z1, which was resistant to water, but not entirely waterproof.

The Z2 also packs built-in digital noise cancelling - the world's first in a smartphone, according to Sony. This works to great effect with Sony's compatible earphones, which will be bundled with the UK version of the phone. The noise cancelling wizardry won't work to full effect with other headphones other than those provided, which is a bit of a shame.

Sony Xperia Z2: Screen

The new handset sports a 5.2-inch full HD screen, which is only very slightly larger than the Z1's 5.1-inch display. Sony has made the frame around the screen thinner so that the space is used more effectively.

Like the Z1, the screen boasts Sony's Triluminos and X-Reality technologies, ported over from its TVs. The new phone also features a new version of Live Colour LED, which is designed to boost the colour range of the screen even further. IPS has also been added to the mix, which gives the the Z2 a far better viewing angle compared to the Z1. It also means the new, more vibrant colours keep their punchy hues even when you're not directly in front of the screen.

Sony Xperia Z2: Camera

The Z2 has some neat additions to its camera, including a new creative effects mode, plus a background defocus mode for taking those effective shallow depth of field shots.

Sony has also taken time to perfect the video capture, porting across a few features from its Handycam camcorder range, including its SteadyShot image stabilisation. In our hands-on with the phone, this tech worked especially well.

The Z2 also features 4K video capture. To see the full benefit, obviously you'll need to view your footage on a 4K TV like the Sony KD-65X9005A, rather than on the phone's full HD screen. However, it does mean that it'll still look extremely sharp on a full HD display.

Sony has also added a timeshift mode, as found on the iPhone 5s, and its ridiculously fun AR mode - which enables you to add dinosaurs and other stuff to your images - can now be used on video as well.

Sony Xperia Z2: Performance

The Z2 runs Android KitKat (4.4) and comes with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon processor on board, so it runs as smoothly as you'd imagine. We had a play with the UI and there was no noticeable lag when navigating around the onscreen menus.

Sony Xperia Z2: Verdict

The Sony Xperia Z2 looks set to be a worthy successor to the Z1. We like the improved screen and we were also particularly impressed by the boosted video capabilities. The addition of 4K video capture, while it may not be that useful at the moment, is a statement of intent and also a neat piece of futureproofing from Sony. Stay tuned for a full review.

Sony Xperia Z2 release date: March 2014

Sony Xperia Z2 price: TBC

Samsung Galaxy S5 review

Samsung Galaxy S5 review

What is the Samsung Galaxy S5?

 

 

Key Features: 16-megapixel camera; 5.1-inch 1080p Super AMOLED screen; Android 4.4 with TouchWiz Manufacturer: Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S5 review

What is the Samsung Galaxy S5?

The Samsung Galaxy S5 is the most anticipated Android phone of the year. It has rivals, but no other Android has managed to summon quite as much excitement as this one.

It offers plenty of upgrades over its predecessor the Galaxy S4, including a much-improved screen, redesigned software and a slightly better camera. However, there are some parts that aren’t quite perfect too. We’re not in love with the design, the new heart rate sensor will be a bit pointless for many and the fingerprint scanner is fiddly.

Want to know the core specs before we dig deeper? The Galaxy S5 has a 5.1-inch 1080p Super AMOLED screen, up 0.1 inches from last year. It uses a 2.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor and has a 16-megapixel camera with an all-new Samsung-made sensor.

These may sound like slight upgrades to some of you, but these small step-ups are what you'll also see in the Sony and HTC rivals. We think the Galaxy S5 is a great alternative to those phones, as long as you can live with the lesser styling and the foibles of the Samsung TouchWiz interface.

Samsung Galaxy S5

Don't fancy reading our in-depth review? Watch our quick video review below to get a closer look at the phone.



MORE: Best Samsung Galaxy S5 cases 2014

Compared to HTC One M8...

The HTC One M8 looks and feels a lot better than the Galaxy S5. With a metal body and attractive design, there’s no contest here. Parts of the phone’s interface also look and feel a bit better. Not every part of the S5’s TouchWiz interface is perfectly designed.

Where the Galaxy S5 wins, though, is in other core elements of the phone – the screen and camera. The OLED display is better in virtually every respect, thanks to Samsung’s fine-tuning of the tech behind it. The HTC One M8 screen isn’t bad, but the S5 really has a best-in-class display.

We also think the S5 camera is better. It’s more reliable and produces far more detailed photos. That said, while both phones have a blurring out effect for portraits and the like, the HTC One M8’s version of it is loads better.

Read more: Galaxy S5 vs HTC One M8

Compared to Sony Xperia Z2...

The Xperia Z2 is a little more stylish than the Galaxy S5. Its glass-on-metal design is a bit less attention grabbing, and much closer in look to its predecessor than the S5, but that slim and severe Xperia look is pretty strong.

The Xperia also offers a bigger battery and slightly better waterproofing. It is certified to withstand water jets and being submerged in water for longer than the S5. However, for most people that’s not really an effective upgrade – who deliberately dunks their phone in water for most than half an hour?

These phones use the same core processor too – but the S5 is clocked a little faster – and the Xperia Z2 has more RAM, 3GB to the Samsung's 2GB. This should in theory make it slightly better at multitasking. The Xperia also has a higher-resolution camera, and DXOMark rates it as the highest-quality sensor in a mobile. However, the Galaxy S5 screen still has the edge for pure image quality. 

Read more: Galaxy S5 vs Xperia Z2

Samsung Galaxy S5: Design

Samsung has done its best to make the Galaxy S5 look quite different from the S4. It has a dimpled back, while the Galaxy S4 is smooth and glossy. There is one thing that brings the two phones together, though.

Where the Sony Xperia Z2 and HTC One M8 try to use expensive feeling, or looking, materials throughout, the Galaxy S5 is almost entirely plastic. And it is not plastic that's happy to look like what it is. The sides of the phone are trimmed with metallic plastic that an onlooker might mistake for metal. But the feel of plastic is unmistakeable in-hand.

The new-design sides are ribbed too, which looks worse than the flat style of the S4. The look is not a wholesale improvement.



The in-hand feel is better, though. It has a rather unusual, slightly soft-touch textured and pitted finish. This ensures you won't mistake the Galaxy S5 for any other phone one the market (unless another phone maker nicks this style), but the phone is nowhere near as good-looking as the HTC One M8.

Functionally this back cover style is perfectly fine, though. It won't leave your purring at the expensive feel of the expensive phone you just bought, but it is grippy and has a soft-touch finish that feels a bit better than Samsung's old glossy plastic mobiles. The finish is not consistent across the phone's colours, though - the white Galaxy S5 feels a lot cheaper and less 'soft' than the black version, for example.


Samsung is likely to offer the Galaxy S5 in a whole rainbow of colours before the phone slips into obsolescence in 2015-2016, but at launch there are four shades to choose from. We're looking at the black version, which is actually a very dark grey, and the other options are blue, gold and white.

Picking a colour is naturally a personal preference, but having seen them all close-up, gold seems to be the dud. Where Apple and HTC have successfully judged their recent gold models, using a fairly muted 'Champagne' shade, Samsung's has the bling'y vibrance of a £10 plastic handbag.

The dimensions of the Galaxy S5 are, as is common for Samsung flagships, impressive. It's just 8.1mm thick and despite having a slightly larger screen and a load more tech inside, it's just a couple of millimeters wider than the Galaxy S4. The screen bezel isn't quite as skinny as the LG G2's, but Samsung has put some effort into making such a large screen reasonably easy to use.

To see quite how much bigger the S5 is, check out our Galaxy S5 vs S4 comparison

The Galaxy S5's power button sits on its right side, in reach of your thumb, and the combo of thin body and reasonable phone width play their part in making the phone easy to deal with. However, as with every 5-inch screen phone, reaching from one end of the screen to the other with a thumb just isn't going to happen. If you're thinking of upgrading from an iPhone, you must have a feel first-hand before buying.

There's also an unfortunate knock-on effect of Samsung's dedication to making slim phones. The camera lens housing sticks out from the rest of the back by around 0.5-1mm, making it more prone to scratches than a flush one. The Galaxy S4 has this kind of lens arrangement roo. In this case it's a practical issue caused by having to fit in a 6-element lens camera system into a 8.1mm body, and that's behind a screen and top glass layer too.



Like the previous Galaxy S phones, the Galaxy S5 uses an ultra-thin removable plastic back cover that hides a microSD memory card slot supporting cards up to 128GB. There are 16GB and 32GB versions of the phone, and the 16GB edition will be by far the most common in the UK.

Samsung has also packed a bunch of new hardware features into the Galaxy S5. The ones we'll deal with in this section of the review are the water resistance, the fingerprint scanner and the heart rate sensor.

Samsung Galaxy S5: Water Resistance

The Galaxy S5's water resistance works just as it does on other recent water resistant phones. There are rubber seals on the plastic cover and on the flap that sits over the USB port on the bottom. This is one of the few phones to use an oversized micro USB 3.0 socket, also seen in a few other Samsung phones including the Galaxy Note 3, and it makes the bottom flap fairly large.



Crucial to the convenience of the water resistant design, the headphone jack doesn't need a flap as it's coated internally to avoid letting any water in,

Samsung has managed to add water resistance without any obvious increase in the bulk of phone, and after charging the phone throws up a reminder to close the flap – which is handy (but not dismissable as far as we can tell, and therefore sure to become annoying).

However, there are some slight concerns about the longevity of these ultra-slimline waterproofing systems. The waterproof rubber border is less than a millimeter thick, and feels very slight. It may not last for ever. We like to think of these phones' waterpoofing as a form of insurance, not an excuse to drop your phone in your pint at every opportunity.

The actual specification of the Galaxy S5's water resistance is IP67. This means the phone is impervious to dust and can be submerged in water for up to half an hour. This is not quite as good as the IP55 and IP58 ratings of the waterproof Xperia Z2. That phone is certified to stay underwater for longer and withstand water jets. The difference won't matter for most people, but the key point is that the Galaxy S5 is 'water resistant' while the Z2 is genuinely waterproof. Our feature, 'Waterproof Phones: IP Ratings Explained', goes into a great deal more detail on the topic.

Samsung Galaxy S5: Fingerprint Scanner

Samsung's new fingerprint scanner is more interesting. We've seen a few different fingerprint scanners in mobiles over the last 12 months. The iPhone 5S's TouchID is a great success, the HTC One Max's rear scanner a flop.

The Galaxy S5 sits in a similar position to the iPhone scanner, but in use feels a little more like the HTC One Max one.

Rather than resting your finger over the button, as with an iPhone 5S, you swipe a finger over it.  The sensor sits under the central select button, but you need to swipe over the very bottom of the touchscreen too as there's an element under the screen that activates the scanner.

You can teach the Galaxy S5 up to three fingers, letting multiple people get on-board.

 

The Trusted team has had mixed experiences with the fingerprint sensor, but I didn't find it particularly easy to use. A swipe-based mechanism like this requires quite an exact, smooth movement, and this is at odds with the casual, care-free way most of us use our phones. Compared with the iPhone 5S TouchID sensor, it's a bit of a pain.

To call upon a metaphor, where the TouchID sensor asks you to stand still, the S5 scanner demands you walk in a dead straight line. And that's fine at times, but not when you're in a rush, have just woken up or are inebriated and desperate to find out when the last train home leaves.

After the Galaxy S5 has failed to recognise your fingerprint three times, you're booted out to a more traditional password. And I had to use this password more often than not for the first few days. The performance boosted a little after the scanner was recalibrated a few times, but at best the hit rate was about 50 per cent.

If you want to do more research on the fingerprint sensor, it's based on Synaptics Natural ID technology. For more detail, read our Galaxy S5 Fingerprint Scanner vs iPhone 5S Touch ID comparison.

Samsung Galaxy S5: Heart Rate Sensor

Perhaps the most conspicuous of the new hardware elements is the dedicated heart rate sensor, because it adds new sensors to the LED flash area on the back of the phone. The camera area on the pack looks positively gadget-packed now.

 

This is the first phone to use a dedicated heart rate sensor, but it uses fairly familiar technology. It lights-up your finger with a red/IR light, and monitors the visual changes caused by the circulation of your blood.

It works well, and takes about eight seconds, but there are two obvious questions – is it actually useful, and can you get this functionality elsewhere? At present, you can only use the Galaxy S5's heart rate sensor in the S Health app (although it appears to be part of the Samsung Bluetooth LE SDK, so should be able to be used in third-party apps), where it makes a graph of your previous results.

It will come in handy for measuring your resting heart rate, which is a reasonable indicator of general fitness levels. But it's not much cop for mid-exercise readings, where it would be of more use. Quite simply, holding your finger on the back of the Galaxy S5 while running is not a good idea. For that you really want a wrist-worm device like the Galaxy Fit.

In truth, you can already get a very similar experience with most other Android phones (and iPhones) too. Apps like Runtastic Heart Rate use your phone's LED flash and camera sensor in much the same way. And with the HTC One M8, our tests showed they provide similar results in a similar time frame.

The Galaxy S5 heart rate sensor is less interesting than it initially appears.

Samsung Galaxy S5: Why all the extras?

We're not huge fans of the heart rate sensor or the fingerprint scanner. The waterproofing deserves a nod, but why has Samsung put such a focus on these hardware 'extras' this year?

It becomes obvious when you look at the phone's other specs. Smartphones have plateau'd technologically – it might be temporary, but it affects all the early 2014 flagships. Samsung can't fit in a much larger screen without affecting how it feels to use, the screen is still at 1080p resolution and the Snapdragon 801 processor used here isn't that much more powerful or advanced than the Snapdragon 800 used in some of last year's phones.

Samsung clearly felt the need to put conspicuously 'new' hardware in the Galaxy S5. And some of it is not that good. Yet. This need to separate the Galaxy S5 from the Galaxy S4 in obvious ways also helps to explain slightly odd pitted finish.

Samsung Galaxy S5: Internal Speaker

We would gladly trade away most of these supposed hardware innovations for a better internal speaker. But this is something that – once more – has been relatively neglected by Samsung.

Sound pipes out of a single grille under the backplate, and uses the limited internal area between the outer parts of the cover and the zone blocked off by the rubber seals to somewhat reinforce the sound (to act as a speaker enclosure of sorts).


We have heard worse speakers, and the Galaxy S5 can handle its own top volume without distorting significantly. But the sound is pretty tinny and bass-free. Coming from reviewing the HTC One M8 – which has relatively chunky-sounding stereo speakers – it's a depressing step down. And we'd wager only those with health-themed OCD would prefer a very limited-use heart rate sensor to a decent set of speakers.

The speaker also causes fairly severe vibration in the lower part of the phone's rear. It's the result of essentially using the outer casing as a speaker enclosure, and it is a bit annoying.

 

NEW HTC Wildfire ADR 6225 Android Touchscreen Smartphone For Alltel Wireless

* US SELLER * FAST FREE SHIPPING *30 DAY RETURN POLICY

The HTC Wildfire is a social networking prowess Smartphone. Supported by Android 2.1, this phone
creates faster responses and dynamic performance. One of its great features is where your friend's
caller ID displays their birthday as well as their Facebook status. Aside from that, this phone is
equipped with 5MP camera and a 240x320 capacitive touch-screen that makes your browsing easy and
comfortable. This is indeed a perfect mobile buddy for your everyday use.
Cellular Bands: CDMA 850 / 1900
Condition: This mobile phone is in new cosmetic condition. It appears to be never used. It comes in box with complete accessories. The ESN# is clear and ready to be used on your account. No contract required to purchase the phone.
Purchase Includes:
* HTC Wildfire Phone
* Battery
* Battery Door
* USB Data Cable
*AC Wall Charger
See above for item specifications.

 

 

Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing.

Last updated on  Oct 24, 2013 12:33:35 PDT  View all revisions

Item specifics

Condition:	New other (see details): A new, unused item with absolutely no signs of wear. The item may be missing the original packaging, ... Read moreabout the condition	Brand:	HTC
Cellular Band:	CDMA2000 1X 1900/800	Family Line:	HTC Wildfire
Operating System:	Android	Carrier:	Alltel
Contract:	Without Contract	Color:	Grey
Model:	6225	Camera:	5.0 MP
UPC:	044476815492

Detailed item info

Product Information The HTC Wildfire smartphone comes with a 3.2-inch touchscreen that keeps quick data access at your finger tips. Social networking is made easy, as this HTC smartphone lets you check your Facebook, Twitter, etc., while on the go. No need to keep checking for status updates, as this HTC Alltel Smartphone will flash the birth-date and Facebook status whenever they call. Simply send a link to your friend directly from this HTC smartphone, to share apps from the Android market. A built-in dimmable flash of this HTC Alltel Smartphone makes it easy for you to find your way in the dark. Loaded with Adobe flash players and other supporting software, the HTC Wildfire, lets you enjoy online songs and videos without any hassles. Product Identifiers Brand HTC Carrier Alltel Family Line HTC Wildfire Model Wildfire UPC 044476815492 Type Smartphone Key Features Color Grey Network Generation 3G Network Technology GSM / WCDMA Band CDMA2000 1X 1900/800 Camera 5.0 MP Memory Supported Flash Memory Cards MicroSD Battery Battery Capacity 1300 mAh Display Display Technology TFT Other Features Touch Screen Yes Bluetooth Yes Digital Camera Yes GPS Yes QWERTY Physical Keyboard No Email Access Yes Internet Browser Yes Speakerphone Yes

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