1. Apple iPhone 6 Plus

The Good The bigger battery means great battery life, and the 5.5-inch screen is not only big but bright and high-contrast. Optical image stabilization improves low-light photography.

The Bad The big footprint of the iPhone 6 Plus is not for everybody, and it's less visually distinctive in overall design than previous iPhones. Also, apps that haven't been optimized yet look blurry and have big keyboards.

The Bottom Line The iPhone 6 Plus is too big for everyone to love it, but it's Apple's best phone this year. If your budget and your pocket can make room for it, give the iPhone 6 Plus serious consideration.

Price: $299.99 - $749.76

More information about iPhone 6 Plus.

2. Samsung Galaxy S5

The Good Samsung's Galaxy S5 excels at everything that matters -- Android 4.4 KitKat OS; a bright, beautiful display; blistering quad-core processor; and an excellent camera experience. In addition, Samsung's efforts to streamline its own custom interface and reduce pre-installed bloatware pay off.

The Bad The Galaxy S5 is a only small upgrade over the Galaxy S4. The fingerprint scanner can be confusing to use, and the heart-rate monitor is a niche feature at best. In some regions, the Galaxy S5 costs significantly more than rival top-rated handsets.

The Bottom Line Subtly improved and smartly refined, the Samsung Galaxy S5 is a superior superphone that hits every mark but the sharpest design.

Price: $199.99 - $749.99

More information about Samsung Galaxy S5.

3. Sony Xperia Z2

The Good The Sony Xperia Z2 has a glorious screen, tonnes of power, a great camera and a beautiful design. It's waterproof too, so it won't conk out when you drop it in the bath.

The Bad It's expensive, its regular autofocus adjustments during shooting can spoil videos, and the camera resolution is throttled when using the full automatic mode.

The Bottom Line Sure, it costs a bundle, but the Sony Xperia Z2 is everything you should expect from a top-end phone. Its impressive performance rivals the Samsung Galaxy S5 for smartphone top dog, but the Z2's slick glass and metal design trumps the S5's plastic body. If you're looking for both style and substance from a phone, you've come to the right place.

Price: $530.00 

More information about Sony Xperia Z2.

4. LG G3

The Good The LG G3 has solid call quality and LTE data speeds, a great camera, a brilliantly sharp display, a snappy quad-core processor, and a flat UI that makes Android 4.4 look good. LG's flagship has also improved on the previous model -- the new G3 comes with a removable battery and microSD card slot, both things the G2 lacked.

The Bad The new QHD display with its 2,560x1,440-pixel resolution is quite a power hog, so the phone will barely last you a day without a charge.

The Bottom Line Possessing the right blend of features and design, the G3 finally gives LG the right phone with which to challenge Korean rival Samsung.

Price: $199.99 - $629.99

5. iPhone 6

The Good A bigger, crisp display, improved LTE and Wi-Fi speeds, better camera autofocus, bumped-up storage capacities to 128GB at the top end, and NFC Apple Pay mobile wallet features on the horizon.

The Bad In early tests, the iPhone 6's battery doesn't fare any better than last year's model. Some Android phones fit an even-larger 5-inch screen into the same size frame. It lacks the optical image stabilization of the bigger, more expensive 6 Plus.

The Bottom Line The iPhone 6 delivers a bigger screen while remaining easy to handle, with plenty of features to satisfy everyone -- and the promise of Apple Pay on the horizon to potentially sweeten the deal even further.

Price: $199.99 - $649.92

6. Nokia Lumia Icon

The Good The feature-packed Nokia Lumia Icon has a gorgeous screen, a fast processor, and a proven 20-megapixel camera. Low-light image quality is excellent.

The Bad Its flat, slab design is uninspiring, and the Icon is a little heavy and thick. Call quality was mediocre, and media hounds won't be able to expand storage with a microSD card.

The Bottom Line Buy the Nokia Lumia Icon for its beautiful display and well-rounded features, but skip it if you require gobs of storage, are on a budget, or prefer a power user's OS.

Price: $149.99 - $599.99

7. HTC One M8

The Good The HTC One M8's sumptuous aluminum body makes a beautiful background for this top-flight smartphone's brilliant 5-inch display. It runs on a powerful quad-core processor and Android KitKat, the stereo speakers deliver excellent sound, and the depth-sensing camera brings a ton of useful features.

The Bad The One M8’s battery is not user-removable, making it harder to replace once the battery inevitably wears out. The phone's sealed chassis is not water-resistant, and the One M8's photos look less sharp than competitors'.

The Bottom Line Elegant style, raw power, and sophisticated features make the HTC One M8 an excellent smartphone choice for anyone but the most exacting photographer.

Price: $149.99 - $820.00 

8. Samsung Galaxy Note 3

The Good The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 has a gorgeous and massive screen, screaming quad-core processor, and refined S Pen skills. It also has long battery life, makes clear calls, and takes great pictures.

The Bad The Note 3 is expensive, large, and its faux-leather styling is crafted from cheap plastic.

The Bottom Line Though its plastic skin doesn't do its high price justice, Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 makes the most compelling case yet for a supersize phone.

Pricec: $49.99 - $799.99 

Article Reference:www.cnet.com

Apple on Wednesday released the latest version of its mobile operating system - iOS 8 for iPhone and iPad users. Some new features include support for third-party keyboards (such as Swype), Touch ID for third-party apps, and new widgets for quick app alerts in the notification center. 

iOS 8 is compatible with any iPhone that's 4S or later, the fifth-generation iPod Touch, or any iPad released from the second generation on. Some features are specific to the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, including Apple Pay. The mobile payments service, which works with the NFC chip in the new iPhones, will launch through an iOS 8 update for the 6 and 6 Plus in October.

You can download the software by going to the settings app (Settings > General > Software Update) or by plugging your device into iTunes. Apple on Friday also will be shipping iOS 8 on its new iPhones, the 6 and 6 Plus.

iOS 8 marks the second major release of Apple's mobile operating system under the guidance of head designer Jony Ive and new software head Craig Federighi. Apple CEO Tim Cook fired the prior iOS cheif, Scott Forstall, in October 2012 in part for refusing to take responsibility for Apple's Maps fiasco. Ive spearheaded a complete redesign of iOS 7, the first major overhaul since Apple introduced the software with the first iPhone in 2007.

iOS 7, announced at last year's WWDC, featured different typography and color schemes from previous versions of the operating system, as well as a flatter design concept. iOS 7 also added useful features such as automatic updates to make everyday use easier, AirDrop, and iTunes Radio, and a new control center that gives quick access to most-used features. The iOS 7.1 update im March incorporated CarPlay -- a way for the iPhone (5 and newer) to power a touchscreen on a compatible car's dashboard -- among other bug fixes and tweaks.

iOS 8 takes Ive's design efforts a step further, but it focuses more on functionality than visuals. With iOS 8, Apple is bringing a laundry list of features that many fans have desired for years. Most importantly, the new software tackles long-standing issues with iOS' notification system, its tie-ins with Apple's desktop OS X software, and device- and file-management software iCloud, and its native SMS client Messages. It extends Apple's reach into the health and home automation space, too, with a suite of new "Kit" apps and developer tools.

A new addition to iOS 8 includes Handoff, which allows you to start a program -- such as writing an email or composing a text -- on an iPhone and then finish it on an iPad or Mac. iCloud Drive creates a device-agnostic way for you to store files similar to Google's Drive offering and software maker Dropbox. And a new feature of Apple's Messages app, called QuickType, features a predictive keyboard software enhancement that will learn how you talk to different people to allow for quicker auto-correct and fill-out suggestions.

Apple also is purposefully cracking the veneer of its closed-garden philosopy. You can now install third-party keyboards, and TouchID fingerprint scanning -- which accounts for 83 percent of purchases in Apple's App Store -- will now work with third-party apps. Additionally, widgets from independent developers will be available for download from the App Store and will function within the Notification Center.

Along with the iOS features, Apple also launched two new initiatives, called HealthKit and HomeKit. HealthKit serves as a data repository for health-related information, such as how many steps you take and how much you eat. Other apps can draw from that information and send data collected on their apps back to HealthKit.

HomeKit provides a similar service for the smart home. It will allow developers to integrate controls for door locking, light dimming, and other home automation gadgets and features in iOS apps for the iPhone and iPad. That means you can control various connected devices from one spot -- even using Apple's digital voice assistant, Siri -- rather than switching back and forth between different apps. Initial partners include thermostat-maker Honeywell and smart lock-maker August.

Article Resource: www.cnet.com

The days of Android fanboys and fangirls mercilessly mocking the 4-inch Apple iPhone screen are over. The 5.5-inch Apple iPhone 6 Plus(and to a lesser extent the 4.7-inch iPhone 6) smash the iPhone screen record, and in doing so, start competing toe-to-toe with today's top big-screen phones.

LG's 5.5-inch G3 and Samsung's freshly unveiled Galaxy Note 4  rise to the top in terms of stature and specs. Here's how Apple's iPhone 6 Plus compares.

Metal versus plastic

Apple's iPhone continues to favor aluminum craftsmanship, while the Note 4 adds a metal frame. The LG G3, meanwhile, sticks with a lighter plastic construction for its phone housing.

Screen resolution

One of the major differences among these phones comes down to the screen resolution. The iPhone 6 Plus has the same 5.5-inch display size as the LG G3, but is the only one of the three to use a 1080p resolution display instead of the more pixel-packed Quad HD resolution of 2,560 x 1,440 pixels.

As a result, the iPhone 6 Plus' pixel density is significantly lower than both those of the Note 4 and the G3. When we hold the screens side by side we expect to see that difference on content that supports ultrarich detail, like 4K videos and photos. With such high sreen resolution, it must be wonderful to watch iTunes HD movies on them. 

Camera

The megapixel war rages on among most handset makers, pushing up the number of pixels captured to 13 and 16 megapixels. Apple (and separately, HTC) takes a different tack, keeping megapixels steady at 8 for the rear camera and 1.2 for the front.

Any camera buff will tell you that megapixels don't matter nearly as much as other photo-processing elements, like how well a camera handles light, noise, and focus. Apple is certainly banking on this, though we'll have to analyze image quality in a full-blown camera test.

Optical image stabilization, rather than digital, is another big deal, one that makes smartphone cameras a lot more like dSLRs. All three supersize phones use it (but not the smaller 4.7-inch iPhone 6.)

Price

It's a little trickier to compare pricing without all the details (Samsung Galaxy Note 4), but it's safe to say that it should cost about the same as last year's Note 3 -- about $250 or $300 on-contract in the US and $600 off; about £400 in the UK, and AU$1,000 in Australia.

The LG G3 is likely the most affordable of the bunch, offering some pretty enviable specs in the process.

Article Reference: cnet.com

There are times in life when you find yourself having to use something other than your first choice out of necessity. This is true for computer operating systems too.

Most Windows users will probably come into contact with Mac OS X at some point in their lives, and most of them will never have used it before. Luckily we’ve put together a quick start guide for any Windows users daunted by the sight of an Apple operating system.

Basic Differences

Mac OS X doesn’t have a Start menu (or screen), but instead uses a dock that by default runs along the bottom edge of the screen. Applications are found on the left side, folders and minimised windows appear on the right. Applications that are already running have a dot or line next to them, as you can see in the screenshot below.

At the top of the screen is the menu bar, and this is where you will always find the familiarFile, Edit, View options for any currently active application. Most of the functions of the Windows system tray can be found in the top-right corner of the menu bar, such as the battery meter, clock and Wi-Fi toggles.

Search For Everything

Mac OS X has an excellent search engine in the top-right corner of the screen called Spotlight, so if you’re ever wondering where something is then all you need to do is search for it. At any point, hit command+spacebar to reveal Spotlight or click the magnifying glass icon in the corner. Type whatever it is you’re looking for – an application, document name, system setting and so on – and let OS X do the work for you.

Once you’ve found what you’re looking for, you can reveal its location in Finder by holding the command key while selecting it.

Keyboard & Mouse

The command key now performs much of the tasks the Windows key did on Microsoft keyboards, option is equivalent to Alt and there’s no backspace key – just a delete. If you’re used to a non-US keyboard, you’ll have to adjust to the @ symbol now being above the number 2. Instead of using alt+tab to cycle applications, Mac OS X uses command+tab.

You can still right-click on a Mac, and if you’re using a mouse that’s exactly where you’ll find it. Those of you on a laptop or Magic Trackpad can use a two-finger click (ensure two fingers are making contact and click with one) or hold the control keyboard button while clicking.

If you’re using touch-based input, there are a number of gestures to master – like scrolling using a two-finger swipe, or revealing installed applications by pinching with four fingers. Find the full list under Trackpad settings (search for it).

Finder, Files & USB Drives

Finder is the Mac equivalent of Windows Explorer, and you can access it by clicking the smiley-face icon to the very left of the dock. On a Mac, there’s no way to “cut” a file by default – you have to copy it first (command+c) then hold the option key while pasting (command+option+v) to turn “copy” into “move”. If you want to rename a file or folder, first select it then hit the return key.

There are links along the left-hand Finder sidebar to quickly access common locations likeDocuments or Downloads, and if you scroll to the bottom you will find any connected USB flash media, external, network and optical drives too. If you have any problems writing to USB drive, it may be formatted to NTFS which your Mac is unable to write to by default. 

Applications & Settings

The three buttons in the top left are close (red), minimise (yellow) and expand (green). The green one is used to fit the window to the content, rather than maximise the entire window as it does on Windows. Note that when you close a window on Mac OS X using the red button, the application is very likely still open – denoted by a small light dot or line in the dock.

To quit an application, right-click (or control-click) its icon in the dock and select quit. Holding the option key will allow you to Force Quit an unresponsive application, or you can launch Activity Monitor (search for it). This is the Mac OS X equivalent of Task Manager and allows you to isolate and kill nuisance processes.

If you need to configure network access, access system settings or simply change your wallpaper you’ll find everything under System Preferences (via the dock or Spotlight).

How Do I Turn It Off?

You’ll find options for shutting down, restarting and logging out of Mac OS X under the Apple logo in the top-left corner.

Article Resource:   makeuseof.com

Do you need to reinstall OS X regularly to keep your Mac running well? No. Are there times when doing so might be a good idea? Possibly. Here’s when.

It’s a truism among Windows users: you should re-install your operating system every year, if not every six months, to keep things running smoothly. This was probably more true of Windows XP than it is of Windows 8, or even 7 – but it’s still something users of Microsoft’s operating system hear, and act on, regularly. (Author’s note: I intended to make it clear that Windows users don’t need to reinstall regularly, only that this is a common myth among Windows users some Mac users might hear and be curious about. I regret not being clear on this point).

Should Mac users do the same thing?

If your Mac is running well, move along – this is mostly irrelevant to you. Many Mac users use the same installation of OS X for years without having any problems (so do many Windows users, for that matter). But if your Mac is running slowly, or crashing constantly, a fresh installation of OS X might be a good idea.

Why Not Just Reinstall Regularly?

You don’t need to reinstall OS X regularly for maintenance reasons – OS X, if treated well, takes pretty good care of itself. For most people, reinstalling means a lot of work with little payoff.

Reinstalling OS X takes time. You’ll want to backup all of your documents, music and more, and ensure you’ve got a way to reinstall all of the software you’ve collected over the years. You couldsimply reinstall and restore from Time Machine, but doing so might restore the problems you’re reinstalling to fix.

Knowing all this, are there any times that a reinstallation is a good idea? Here’s a few we could think of.

Everything Is Just… Broken

This is really the main reason you’re going to want to reinstall OS X: when your Mac simply isn’t working right. You see error messages constantly, software won’t run and your computer is generally unusable. Maybe it won’t even boot.

It’s probably more likely to happen if you’re the sort of person who loves constantly installing new software and playing with hidden settings, but even regular users will occasionally end up with an OS X installation so borked that reinstallation is the best path forward.

If that doesn’t do the trick, you should also try out Onyx, which in addition to giving you access to hidden Mac settings offers all kinds of tools for cleaning up and repairing your Mac. If things are buggy, try this.

But if your Mac crashes often enough to be unusable, and none of this seems to help, a clean installation is a good idea.

When Your Mac Is Slow

Even if your Mac isn’t crashing, you might want to reinstall OS X simply to speed things up. My colleague James offered a bunch of ways to spped up your Mac., and reinstalling OS X completely was one of the steps mentioned.

 “A reinstall will speed things by clearing out all the old crap,” James told me. “Preferences, caches from programs that don’t play nicely.”

It’s a good point, but I’d recommend trying Yasu and Onyx to clean these things out before a full reinstallation. I’d also recommend trying out some of his other tips first, but if none of that works a reinstallation might help.

You’re Selling Or Giving Away Your Mac

It’s no secret that Apple hardware holds value – you can probably sell your Mac five years later for a big chunk of the original value, something unheard of when it comes to Windows PCs.

But if you’re giving your Mac to someone else, you don’t want them to have access to your files. This is why you should securely wipe your Mac's hard drive or solid state drive (there’s an important difference between the two) and reinstall Mac OS X. Doing this means they next owner will have a Mac that runs like new, and that your files will be protected.

You Want To Downgrade OS X

Whether you’ve installed the Yosemite public beta or simply don’t like changes in recent versions of OS X, you might wish you could install an earlier version of Apple’s operating system. After all: on older Macs, newer operating systems may run poorly.

And if you want to do that, your only option is a fresh installation of OS X – Apple does not offer any official tools for downgrading in place.

Also wanna convert latest iTunes M4V movies on your new Yosemite? It does not have to be hard. Just a little converter to try and you can organize them on Mac OS 10.10 as you like.(Tutrorial on it).

Why Else Might You Reinstall OS X?

These are the main reasons we could think of for reinstalling OS X, but we want to know what you think. Are there any good reasons for starting over that we’re missing here? Let’s talk in the comments below, okay?

Article Resource: Makeuseof