Nikon Df review

Nikon has expanded its flagship D range with a model that mixes retro looks with modern tech. But does it deliver? Here's our Nikon Df review

The Nikon Df DSLR sports a distinctive retro design that's based on the maker's old 35mm film cameras, such as the Nikon FM. The f in Df stands for 'fusion' between old design and new tech, with the thoroughly modern spec list featuring the same 16.2-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor and EXPEED 3 image processor found in the maker’s flagship pro camera - the Nikon D4. This means that it sits somewhere below the D4 and above the Nikon D7100 in the brand's lineup and is aimed at pros, 'enthusiasts' and those who just want an insanely cool-looking camera. One of the Df's strong points is the inclusion of collapsible coupling lever means that you can use the camera with with vintage non-Ai lenses as well as Nikon's current selection of lenses. Nikon Df: Size and build Made from magnesium alloy, the camera body feels reassuringly weighty and doesn't feel like it's going to topple over the second that you attach a lens, like many compact system cameras do. However, it's actually the lightest of Nikon's FX-format cameras. The handgrip is modestly proportioned but very grippy and comfy, so the camera feels safe in your hands. The leather-look rubbery finish extends around the camera body, contributing to the retro aesthetics, along with the pyramid shape over the lens, and the throwback Nikon font. We've seen quite a few brands using retro designs as inspiration for their latest Compact System Camera models - step forward, Fujifilm X20, Pentax Q10 andSamsung NX300), but this is the first time we've seen it on a DSLR. The fold-out handle on the battery compartment is a nice touch that means the door shouldn't accidentally open itself in your bag - something that sometimes tends to happen on cameras lower down the range, like the Nikon D3200.

Fujifilm XQ1 review

Want a premium, pint-sized digital compact camera that takes excellent photos and fits in a pocket? Check out our Fujifilm XQ1 review

Compact cameras are getting more feature-packed than ever in order to offer an effective alternative to the smartphone. The Fujifilm XQ1, which is the brand's smallest retro designed X series camera to date and falls into the category of premium compact camera, is no exception. A pocket-sized thing of diminutive beauty in either black or silver body, it's a near identical size match for competing devices, including the Canon PowerShot S120 and Panasonic LF1, even if it does omit the latter's teeny eye-level viewfinder. It is, however, cheaper than the Canon, with the Fuji retailing for a manufacturer's suggested £349.99. The Fuji XQ1 featurest a 12-megapixel resolution from a 2/3-inch CMOS sensor, double the size of the chips in your standard £150 point-and-shoot. Lens spec is also a cut above the norm - though a match for its rivals - in offering a bright/fast f/1.8 maximum aperture (the lower the number, the greater the amount of light allowed in by the lens). Indeed this camera lets more light in than most; the majority of pocket zoom cameras offer a maximum f/3.5 aperture. This partly ensures that the image stabilised Fuji can cope with handheld shots in failing light, as well as providing shallow depth of field effects at its widest setting for more interesting portraiture. In short we can do a bit more with the XQ1 than your standard credit card-sized snapper, and it looks good too. Focal range in 35mm equivalent terms stretches from a wide 25mm to 100mm at maximum zoom, and the camera comes with the failsafe of a manually activated pop-up flash neatly incorporated into its chassis. Attendant features of note are a blink and you'll miss it 0.06-second auto focus, up to 12fps continuous shooting, Light sensitivity settings ranging from ISO100-12800, plus a Wi-Fi button for sharing pictures with a smartphone via Fuji's Camera Application app. Even though this is one of the more affordable options in its premium class, we still have the ability to shoot maximum quality Raw files plus regular JPEGs, and, naturally Full HD video clips. Fast, well built, and with a bright lens and a bigger than average sensor the XQ1 looks good on paper. So how does it fare in practice?

Nokia's android phone

Nokia X budget Android smartphone leaked 

Nokia's long-rumoured Android phone, believed to be dubbed Nokia X (codenamed Normandy) has been leaked again in live images, this time revealing design of the alleged device.

A French publication, No Where Else, has posted three images of the alleged Nokia X which purportedly show the device. One of the leaked images of the alleged Nokia X phone shows the front panel housing a Nokia logo on the top of the panel. Another leaked image shows the rear panel of the rumoured Nokia X, and appears to be made of plastic, similar to the material found on Asha devices, while the third leaked image shows the side panel housing a physical button for power and a volume rocker.

The alleged Nokia X aka Nokia Normandy is expected to be introduced at the upcoming MWC 2014 event held in Barcelona, starting from 24 February.

On Wednesday, a new leak via Browsermark 2 benchmark's database purportedly revealed the alleged Nokia X phone to comes with model number RM-980.

Unfortunately, the listing did not reveal any details about the device, but includes an image that purportedly showed Nokia X wearing Nexus 5's wallpaper and home screen icons. However, the current image contradicted earlier reports that claimed that Nokia, following the lead of Amazon, has been working on a fully-tailored or forked version of Android, like the software on the online retail giant's Kindle Fire tablet range.

The alleged Nokia X was recently listed at a Vietnamese online retailer that revealed most of the specifications, including a 4-inch TFT display with a resolution of 480x854 (FWVGA) pixels; a 1GHz dual-core Snapdragon 200 processor; 5-megapixel rear camera; microSD card support and Android 4.4 KitKat. Further, the listing seemingly confirmed that the rumoured Nokia X would come with dual-SIM support, while connectivity options include 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPRS, EDGE, AGPS and Micro-USB. Other specifications include 4GB of inbuilt storage and Adreno 302 GPU. Notably, the listing claimed that the alleged Nokia X supports Google services like Google Play store, Google Search, Google Now, Google Maps, Calendar and YouTube.

LG G Flex review

The G Flex. Here's our hands-on review of the LG G Flex.

The G Flex is LG's first curved screen smartphone and goes up against local rival, the Samsung Galaxy Round. It's got a bendy or flexible screen which is fixed in a set curve. The smartphone is launching globally this year but we don't have details on when it will arrive in the UK. It will cost around £700 SIM-free. 

LG has opted for a 6in POLED screen for the G Flex putting it in the phablet category with devices like the HTC One Max, Nokia Lumia 1520 and Sony Xperia Z Ultra. It makes the fairly large LG G2 look quite small!

The display only has a 720p resolution which is a bit surprising – it doesn't look as crisp as the Full Hd resolution on offer elsewhere. On the plus side, it does mean you can run two apps on the screen at once.

While Samsung has gone for a side to side curve on the Galaxy round, the G Flex does things in the opposite direction. It is curved from top to bottom in a banana like shape. LG says this is all about ergonomics.

The G Flex's shape is designed to fit your face better when making a call and sit more comfortably in your hand. It's also supposed to be more immersive when watching a film or playing a game in landscape mode, just like the curved TVs which are around now.

The smartphone does feel quite nice in the hand and does curve nicely round the face when held up to the ear. However, at 6in in screen size, the G Flex is pretty unwieldy so there are pros and cons. It also suits landscape use such as watching video content but all of these things are luxuries which feel more on the gimmicky side of things rather than a practical benefit. It seems that Samsung and LG are fighting over the innovations because they can, not because consumers need or want a smartphone with a curved screen.

The back of the G Flex looks at lot like the G2 with LG's Rear Key – power and volume keys below the camera lens rather than on the side or top of the device. I like this feature but it's not for everyone.#

On the rear of the G Flex is a self-healing cover which is supposed to remove light scratches from things like coins in your pocket, not the aggressive kind of scrapes from a key which you see in the photo above (that was already there when I picked it up, honest). Weather this works is something which we can only really test by living with the device for a while.

Like the G2, the G Flex has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor and a 13Mp camera – what we'd expect from a top-end smartphone. It's also got an infrared transmitter for controlling devices like your TV and wireless tech such as NFC and 11ac Wi-Fi.

Galaxy S5 to feature fast charging

The Samsung Galaxy S5 will come with a rapid-charging battery – or at least, that is what the latest rumours say.

Quoting sources, PhoneArena says that thesmartphone will come with a new kind of lithium ion battery that can be fully recharged in less than two hours. It is also said to hold 20 per cent more energy than the current Galaxy S4 battery, despite no increase in size. That equates to a jump in battery power from 2,600mAh to 2,900mAh. However, despite the larger size, the battery life may actually be shorter. The Samsung Galaxy S5is rumoured to be loaded with a high resolution 2,560 by 1,440 pixel AMOLED display. That will have a significant impact on the phone’s battery life. So far, rumours have suggested that the S5 will come with the new Snapdragon 805 processor, a 16-megapixel camera and a premium metal body. The new processor has advanced graphics performance over the 800 – something that it and other smartphones will need to keep up with Apple’s iPhone 5S. It is also rumoured that Samsung may be releasing a cheaper, plastic bodied version of the smartphone to compete with Apple’s iPhone 5C. The latest rumours follow comments from a Samsung vice president that all but confirmed that the phone will be unveiled sometime between March and April.

Samsung launching a Windows Phone 8 handset soon?

samsung may be about to launch its first Windows Phone handset in some time

A user agent profile with the model number SM-W750V has been posted on Samsung’s mobile website. It was discovered by Engadget. The profile names Samsung’s Windows Mobile Lab as the team behind the new smartphone. It also states that Internet Explorer is the default browser for the device. That is stronger evidence that the phone will run on Windows Phone. The document also reveals a few other details about the phone, including that it will come with a 1,081 by 1,920 pixel display and support for 4G. A phone with the same model number has also recently been approved by the body that oversees Bluetooth. According to the documentation, it will be sold in North America. It had previously been rumoured that Samsung was looking to re-enter the Windows Phone market. In November last year, blog site SammyToday reported claims that Samsung was working on a Windows Phone handset with a 5-inch screen. If Samsung does launch a Windows Phone handset in the next couple of months, it will be the first since its Ativ range. However, that range has been somewhat neglected while the company focused on its dominance of the Android market.

iPhone 6: Release date, rumours, features and news

pple has only just removed the iPhone 5S’ wrapper, but attention is already turning to next year’s iPhone 6. Here’s what could be in store. 

The iPhone 5S has had its ‘coming out’ party, with Apple unveiling its most forward-thinking phone yet. It’s got a fingerprint sensor for added security and convenience, a retooled camera module, new colour scheme and its most advanced processor yet. From what we've seen thus far, the 5S is looking like more than a match for the current crop of high-end Android phones out there, thanks to the added benefits of iOS 7 and some great looking iPhone 5s apps. Just check out our iPhone 5s vs. Samsung Galaxy S4 to see how it stacks up against the competition. However, as is always the case with Apple, the world is already wondering what comes next? What will the iPhone 6 – expected to be a much more expansive update – bring to the table? iPhone 6 release date Unless Apple dramatically changes course from its release schedule, we’re unlikely to see the iPhone 6 arrive on the scene until September 2014. However, it has been whispered that the company will launch a larger iPhone 6 as a companion to the iPhone 5S. In that case, we would be looking at a release date perhaps prior Samsung’s May/June new Galaxy window. Apple iPhone 6 screen size The latest rumour comes courtesy of 9to5 Mac who claim to have got hold of an image showing an as yet unverified image of the iPhone 6 chasis sporting a thinner body and what could be a larger 5-inch display. The image is blurry to be honest and while CTech have certainly had some legitimate leaks in the past there's no telling whether this is actually an iPhone 6 image or just an early prototype from Apple. If it does prove to be real then it means that the new iPhone would have a significantly smaller body measuring in at around 6.5mm thin. Recent reports from the Wall Street Journal have indicated that Apple is experimenting with screens ranging from 4.5- to 6-inches. Apple had to be dragged kicking and screaming from its classic 3.5-inch handset to the iPhone 5 and 5S’ 5-inch screen, but speculation suggests it is willing to push closer to the 5-inch screens offered by some of its Android rivals. According to MacRumors, one analyst has suggested that Apple could be looking to implement a 4.8-inch Retina+ IGZO screen made by Sharp, which will make the iPhone 6 display thinner, brighter and much clearer – boasting better than HD resolutions.