Review: 2014 Mazda 6 GT

I’ve recently been on a run with reviews. The most recent being an invitation from a local Mazda dealer to drive a Mazda 6 mid-sized sedan for a day. The variant I got was the GT version which came with every option checked. The big news is the inclusion of Mazda’s SKYACTIV technology? What is that? Mazda isn’t a proponent of hybrids or electric vehicles because they feel that the internal combustion engine has a ways to go in terms of development. Thus they’ve looked at the engines, transmissions, body, and chassis so that you the driver could get more fuel economy but still get the “Zoom Zoom” that they’re known for. In this case, I got a car with a 6 speed automatic transmission with a four cylinder 2.5 L engine that put out 184 horse power and 185 pound feet of torque. Those of you with V6 based mid-sized cars will scoff of that, and I know that I did at first until I drove it. This car feels quick off the line, quick when passing, and never wanting for power. If for whatever reason this isn’t enough car for you, Mazda does have a diesel version in the works that will have a pile of torque on tap. Oh, if you’re looking for a V6, don’t. There’s isn’t one planned. The Mazda 6 is not only quick, but it feels light on it’s feet. From a suspension standpoint, it feels firm but not punishing. When I took it onto highway 401 it was comfortable and on city streets it soaked up most of the bumps that I encountered.

“Zoom Zoom.” Check.

Exterior wise, it looks sharp. If the goal was to make the Mazda 6 look anything other than an appliance from Honda or Toyota, mission accomplished. It looks fast standing still and has styling that will make people say “that’s a Mazda?” Interior wise, the car is well put together. Everything is well laid out when it comes to the controls. The seats are exceptionally comfortable, and the back seats are huge with plenty of legroom and head room. The only place where this falls about is the screen in the center console. It’s not only small, but the navigation system (which I found to be powered by TomTom) is confusing at times when it comes to the user interface. It also look kind of primitive when compared to the Garmin powered Uconnect systems that Chrysler has started to use in their cars. It is otherwise competent in terms of finding locations so it’s not all bad. The trunk is huge and is well designed with shrouds to keep the hinges from crushing items underneath them. That’s a nice touch as I tend to see that sort of thing on luxury cars. Safety tech includes a rearview camera and rear backup sensors, blind-spot monitoring system with cross-traffic alert. Not to mention 6 airbags, traction control, stability control, and ABS. In terms of comfort, it comes with dual zone climate controls and voice commands. I’ll also point out that this car is very quiet. Unless you really thrash the engine, you don’t really hear anything.

Now I didn’t have the chance to fill the tank as I only had the car for a few hours, but I drove it for over 100 KMs and the fuel usage was minimal based on the movement of the fuel gauge. Not scientific I know, but a good sign. It is rated for 7.6 L/100 KMs city and 5.1/100 KMs highway. Given how overly optimistic those ratings tend to be, it means that I should get somewhere between 7/100 KMs and 8/100 KMs in real world usage which would be quite good for a car this size.

My bottom line? The Mazda 6 GT is an exceptionally good mid-sized car. So good in fact that if you get Accord and Camry drivers to try this car, I think this would make them switch. Not only that, they won’t miss the V6. That tells you how good this car is. If you’re looking for a mid sized car, this one should be on your shopping list.

Review: Sonos PLAYBAR And Bridge

This week, I got a chance to look, or more accurately hear the Sonos PLAYBAR in my condo. If you recall my In Depth look at the PLAYBAR, you’ll know that Sonos products are wireless and allow you to customize them to fit your needs so that you can get totally amazing sound. Now the PLAYBAR that Sonos provided came with one added accessory. The Sonos Bridge was included to allow me to connect the PLAYBAR to my network wirelessly (rather than run a long Ethernet cable into the back of the PLAYBAR). More on why that matters in a moment.

In terms of set up, it went something like this for me:

1. Plug the Bridge into my home network and provide it with AC power.
2. Plug in the AC power of the PLAYBAR.
3. Plug in an Toslink cable from the PLAYBAR to the back of my TV. The cable is included in the box by the way.
4. Download the Sonos Controller app for iOS onto my iPhone.
5. Follow the directions on the app to set everything up making sure I had the remote controls that I use with the TV handy.
6. Declare victory and have a beer while enjoying the fruits of my labors.

Total time: about 20 minutes. It wasn’t that hard for me.

Once it was set up, the difference between the built in speakers in my HDTV and the PLAYBAR were stark. The highs and lows were much better defined and I could pick up detail that I wasn’t used to hearing. For example, I could pick up the sounds of skates while watching game seven of the Leafs/Bruins first round playoff game in which the Leafs collapsed in an epic manner…. Not that I’m bitter.

I was also able to pick up the sounds associated with the graphics on Hockey Night In Canada which I never heard before (confirmed when I switched back to my HDTV’s speakers). But what really got my attention was watching Zero Dark Thirty via Rogers On Demand. Every aspect of the audio was enhanced from the speech of the actors to gunshots and other random sounds in the battle sequence at the end of the movie. It was very much like being in a theater, which is of course the whole point of course.

Now, back to the need to use the Bridge to hook the PLAYBAR up to my network. I can use the Sonos Controller app on my local network to do the following:

• Tweak the audio settings to suit my tastes. Including activate a night mode that cuts that volume so you can watch TV without disturbing your spouse.
• I can stream music from my iPhone to the PLAYBAR. I should note that the audio quality was impressive regardless of what I played from my iPhone.
• I can stream music from a rather long list of music streaming services.
• I can organize my Sonos products into groups. For example, if I have a system in my TV room and another in the den, I can set those up and control them independently.

I should note the app is available for Android as well. There are also versions for the PC and Mac too. One other thing about using the Bridge, as you expand the system there are no wires needed. Nice!

Now this is the part of the review where I nitpick things. I could say that while the lows were much better defined, it lacks the low-end punch of a subwoofer. I could also say that the PLAYBAR does not do the sort of stereo separation that a home theatre in a box does. The fact is that if all of that is important to you, Sonos can help you with that with their line of audio products such as the the Sub as well as other products that provide the items that I just mentioned. If you don’t need any of that, you will not be disappointed with what you get with the PLAYBAR.

Now all of this doesn’t come cheap. If you want a PLAYBAR, it’s going to set you back $750, plus $59 for the Bridge. But here’s the thing: If you want much better audio from your HDTV, plus give yourself a few extra tricks, and no wires as you expand beyond the PLAYBAR if that is your intention, you need to look at the PLAYBAR. This is ideal for a condo such as the one I live in. But I know that it would work equally as well in a larger space as well. Try it out at a dealer near you, I think you’ll be putting down your hard earned cash for one.

In Depth: RingCredible

Early this mooring (as in 6AM) I had a conversation with Hans Osnabrugge who is the CEO of a company called RingCredible which makes a VoIP alternative that promises super affordable long distance calls with excellent sound quality from your smartphone over 3G, 4G or WiFi. In fact, Mr. Osnabrugge spoke to me via RingCredible and the sound quality was pretty good. Plus it shows confidence when you’re willing to use your own product in a media demo.

Now, someone reading this is going to say “what about Skype?” For starters, Skype has a bunch of features other than long distance calling such as voice calling and peer to peer calling. RingCredible doesn’t do any of that as it is strictly focused on long distance voice calls. The reason being that in Canada like many countries, long distance calling is expensive. Let’s take Canada for example. As I’ve said on many occasions, even though there are three big telcos in the form of Bell, Rogers and Telus, rates for telecom services are higher than they should be thanks to the oligopoly that exists in this market. Now Skype does bring that cost down a bit, but RingCredible is even cheaper than Skype. If you take a look at their rates, you can get as low as $0.01 a minute. Thus this makes RingCredible a disruptive force in the same way that an app like What’s App has done to text messaging.

The RingCredible app is available for iOS, Android, Blackberry, and for Windows. I’ll be downloading a copy and writing a review in the next week. Stay tuned.

 

In Depth: AppGyver Steroids ToolBelt

Recently I had a look at a rapid application development environment called AppGyver which allows someone to  quickly build, test, preview and deploy fully functioning HTML5 mobile apps that are totally indistinguishable from native ones. AppGyver Co-Founder & CEO  Marko Lehtimaki walked me through developing an application. From my standpoint, the process is very easy. Using a tool called AppGyver Steroids ToolBelt, development of apps on both iOS an and Android can be simple, quick and dare I say enjoyable process. Here’s a video that shows you how the environment works:

One key feature is that will interest iOS developers is that you don’t need to get a Mac to develop for iOS. This can open up app development to people who would normally be on the sidelines. Also, if you’re using a product using PhoneGap to develop your apps, Steroids ToolBelt is completely compatible so that you can leverage your existing PhoneGap projects.

ToolBelt is in a private beta at the moment. You can sign up here. If you’re developing or interested in developing apps for iOS and Android, you need to look at AppGyver Steroids ToolBelt. It’s very much worth a look.

Review: Belkin Ultimate Keyboard Case For iPad

If you have an iPad, you could use this tablet as your main computer. But to really do so, you likely need a keyboard. Also, you likely need a case to protect it as well. Belkin can help you with both of those areas with their Ultimate Keyboard Case for iPad. Now this case is versatile. You can use it like a laptop and you can use can fold it out of the way and use just the tablet. How’s the keyboard? It feels nice. From a typing perspective, it doesn’t feel that different than the keyboard on my MacBook Pro or the stand alone keyboard on my wife’s Mac Mini.There are cutouts for all the ports, buttons, and camera. But one neat trick is that Belkin also built in a channel that redirects the rear-facing speaker so it projects audio towards you. Nice! Also, when you close the case, the iPad shuts down. Nice! When using the keyboard, you can set it at three viewing angles so you can find the angle that works for you. The keyboard connects via Bluetooth, and pairing it to your iPad is easy. Belkin claims that the Ultimate Keyboard case should last for up to 6 months of use on a single charge and it can be charged via a micro USB port on the keyboard. How about protection for you iPad? I’d say that this case has that covered. While I would not recommend dropping it, the case will protect your iPad from dings and bumps.

Gripes? I have one. It adds weight to your iPad. A fair amount of weight. Now if you’re used to lugging around a laptop, this won’t be a big deal. But if you like to pack light, this might annoy you. The flipside to this is that this weight likely makes this a case that can take a hit as I mentioned earlier.

The Belkin Ultimate Keyboard Case is compatible with the iPad 2, third-gen iPad, and fourth-gen iPad. It makes a good addition to the accessories list for any iPad user who needs a keyboard for their iPad. Expect to pay $100 USD for one.

Review: HTC One – Part 3

The HTC One has the usual array of front and rear cameras. But let me put that aside for a second and talk about a interesting feature called Zoe. This is a third shooting mode that takes a three-second video whose frames you can selectively retain as stills. That way you can make sure you get the perfect shot. You can also create longer videos by stitching them together, or e-mail a short clip. This is a unique feature that sets this phone apart from the rest with the exception of perhaps the BlackBerry Z10.

Now back to the camera. Forget everything that you know about digital cameras because HTC has flipped that on it’s head. Meet UltraPixel. What’s that? Here’s how HTC describes it:

For years, a misconception among most consumers is that the higher the megapixel count, the better quality of images. Actually, the number of megapixels is only one of many factors that determine picture quality, with sensors and image processors each playing a critical role.

However, year after year manufacturers try to outdo each other with higher megapixels. How? By reducing the size of the pixels to cram more in, which often decreases image quality. That’s because the smaller the pixel, the less light each one collects. This results in more visible noise and other defects in both still images and video.

The more light a digital camera can capture, the more information it can record, resulting in better pictures in more varied conditions and lighting environments.

HTC’s approach is to offer larger pixels in the new sensor that can capture 300% more light than many of the 13 megapixel cameras on the market. Because larger pixels record more light and data, our photos display more shades and greater color accuracy.

Does it work? Yes. Here’s a few examples that I took along Toronto’s waterfront. Click to see them in full size:

These images are vivid and sharp. It’s better than the iPhone 5 by far. Now how about video. For that I went to the TTC Russell (Connaught) Streetcar Carhouse to shoot a video of TTC streetcars being rolled into the yard after their morning rush hour runs. Make sure to pick 1080P and go to full screen to see the quality:

Two things to note. One, you’ll notice that in the first few seconds the camera is trying to auto focus. Once it does that, the images are sharp and the colours are vivid. Second, the sound quality is excellent. You can pick up the sounds of the streetcars perfectly, the cars passing by, even the car radio which I had thought I had turned down to a level where you wouldn’t hear it. Impressive.

Now, let me tie up a few loose ends. The battery life is impressive. I got three days plus with a single charge. That includes heavy GPS usage and video and audio usage. Also, I would also say that even though the phone is easy to hold, I’d recommend a case as the phone has a nice finish and I think once you see it, you’ll want to keep it that way. Finally, with the exception of the BlackBerry z10, this is the easiest phone to set up an e-mail account on. The process took seconds and was painless. I was very impressed by that.

My final verdict? This is an impressive phone. It’s easily the best Android phone that I’ve tested. It is fast, it has the camera I’ve tested, and it has an impressive feature set. The only place where it falls down is in the navigation system. But other than that, this phone is from the top shelf. If HTC fixes the lack of Google Maps speaking the street names, this phone would be pretty much perfect. Now HTC does have challenges at the moment in terms of competing with Samsung and Apple. But with a phone like this, they won’t have challenges for long. They simply have to get the word out and I guarantee that people will by the HTC One in spades.

Review: HTC One – Part 2

This part of the HTC One review covers the software that comes with the phone. There are things that stand out. For example it has a kid mode that allows a parent to hand their HTC One to their kids knowing that they won’t be doing things that they shouldn’t. Plus it helps to put age appropriate games on the smartphone. That’s a nice touch. What isn’t a nice touch is the navigation system. Being an Android phone, it’s powered by Google Maps and it offers turn by turn navigation. However, it doesn’t speak street names. That’s a bit of a fail because it forces you to look at the phone to figure out exactly where to turn. While driving, that’s dangerous. I have to admit that I find it to be even stranger if I consider that my copy of Google Maps on my new iPhone speaks street names. Perhaps it’s a different group within Google that’s responsible for this, or HTC didn’t pay Google enough money? Whatever the reason, this is a major oversight.

Another feature is BlinkFeed. BlinkFeed is an active home screen that aggregates content from different providers such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Updates can be downloaded automatically on a set schedule or BlinkFeed can be refreshed manually. This is slick. This smartphone also have HTC TV which acts as a TV guide as well as control your TV and cable box using the built in IR port. It looks slick, it easy to set up, and works quite well.

Other than that, it’s just like any other Android phone. That’s not a bad thing by the way as most owners are going to put their own software on the phone the second they get it. Though I will note that a DropBox client, as well as Polaris Office which allows you to edit Microsoft Office docs on your phone are present.

In part three of this review, I’ll cover the camera as well as wrap up a few loose ends.

Review: HTC One – Part 1

This week I am reviewing the HTC One which runs on the Telus network. This is HTC’s flagship phone and as you go though this three part review, you’ll see why. It runs Android 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean) and comes in a slim package that is a bit longer and wider than the iPhone 5. The phone is made of aluminium and is easy to hold. One thing to note is that it feels solid and not cheap. This puts it on par with the iPhone 5 in my books. It also feels good in your hand which is a surprise as I thought the phone would be too big in my hand.

The first thing you notice about the phone is the screen. It’s simply stunning. It’s 4.7 inches and is capable of displaying in 1080P. Everything is sharp and clear. One thing that I noticed is that it doesn’t seem to be as prone to attracting fingerprints the way that other phones I’ve tested. That impressed me. What also impressed me was the sound. Phone call sound was outstanding and so is music playback with or without headphones. You can thank BoomSound as well as Beats Audio for the latter.

The next thing you notice is how fast this phone is. Besides having a 1.7GHz quad-core processor and 32GB of storage, it’s on LTE. So when I used the Speedtest.net Android app to test this phone, I got an average of 27390 kbps downstream and 16281 kbps upstream when I tested it. The phone is capable of doing up to 75 Mbps for what it’s worth. Having said that, the phone is not slow. One thing to note, the memory is not expandable. But I do not think that this will be an issue as 32 GB of memory should be enough for most.

The final thing I noticed is the Sense user interface. I found that many aspects of the Sense UI to be improvements over the stock Android interface. It’s clean and gorgeous widgets make this phone very useful. Not only that, it has haptic feedback so it feels like you’re typing on a real keyboard when you type. That’s a nice touch. More on that in the next part of the review. Stay tuned.

Review: Twelve South BookBook Case For The iPhone 5

I’ve recently become the proud owner of a new iPhone 5 and I needed a case for it. I decided on the Twelve South BookBook case. Why? Simple. It looks like a book so it is different than most cases out there. It has the added feature of stealth because it looks like a book. That’s great for security purposes. Next is the fact that I could if I choose to put credit cards and ID along with cash in it. I won’t be doing that, but it’s nice to have the option. Third, it’s a quality case. It’s made of leather (in fact, you can smell it) and it’s well put together. Finally, it is well designed. All the controls are accessible and there’s a hole for the camera. How about drop protection? I don’t really feel like testing it, but I would think that it would survive a drop as the phone is isolated from the edge of the case which creates a bit of a buffer zone.

Gripes? Only one. All the cases that I’ve reviewed recently have included a screen protector. This one didn’t. Is that the biggest deal in the world? No. But when your competition includes a screen protector, you might want to consider doing so. Having said that, if you want a different sort of case, take a look at the Twelve South BookBook case. Oh, if you like this look, they make similar cases for iPads, and MacBooks. That way you can complete a library of sorts.

Review: Samsung Rugby III

Wait a second. The IT Nerd is reviewing a phone that is only a phone? Yes. The question is why would I do that. Simple. For some people out there, it’s more important to have a quality phone rather than a phone that allows users to Instagram their local hangout or update their Facebook status. The Samsung Rugby III is such a phone. What sets it apart is the fact that this phone is designed to be water resistant, shock resistant and dust proof and it’s designed to meet military specs.  Seeing as this wasn’t my phone, I wasn’t going to try dropping it or putting it in water. But picking it up, you can tell that it’s designed to be tough. The phone is extremely solid in terms of feel. For example the hinge (as this is a clamshell type phone) is overbuilt to resist torque. Buttons are clearly designed to have purposeful clicks without letting in water and dust. That makes this phone ideal for construction sites and extreme environments.

The phone itself is an 3G HSPA phone which maxes out at 7.2 Mbps. I couldn’t confirm that, but it did feel fast when I was using the built in web browser. It includes voice control provided by Nuance that worked quite well. One feature that was welcome was noise cancellation to ensure clear conversations. When I tested this, it worked as well as my BlueAnt Bluetooth headset which is excellent at what it does. The audio that I was listening to was crystal clear. So the Rugby III is keeping some very good company when it comes to audio quality. Besides bluetooth, there’s a 3MP camera. Okay, it’s not the top end in terms of camera on phones, but it did take decent photos. Keep in mind that the users of this phone aren’t interested high resolution photos. It also allows you to pop a 32 GB MicroSD card so you can pop your music onto the phone. After all, even those who work in demanding environments need a break from time to time.

This phone is going to appeal to a very limited market. Which is fine by Telus as they have solutions for mobile workforces which includes Fleet Complete which allows companies to track workers, assets and vehicles in real time while gathering information from the field to help improve operating efficiencies and drive operating efficiencies and enhance customer service.

The Rugby III is a quality phone for those who need a phone that will take the hits and keep coming back for more. If you’re a construction worker or someone who needs a phone that is a very rugged phone and nothing more than a phone, this is your phone. IF you need a phone that is tough and allows you to update your Facebook status, there’s always the Rugby LTE that runs Google Android, which Telus also carries.