A comparison of the Samsung Galaxy Note II and Apple iPhone 5

Samsung's new flagship phone, the Samsung Galaxy Note II, became available yesterday. Hardware.Info put Samsung's latest Android device next to Apple's iPhone 5 to find out how the current top-of-the-line smartphones compare to each other. Samsung is positioning the Galaxy Note II above the Samsung Galaxy S3.

They both have the same quad-core Exynos 4412 processor, but in the Note II it runs at 1600 MHz instead of 1400 MHz. The GPU has also been boosted from 400 to 533 MHz, and the RAM was increased from 1 GB to 2 GB. These hardware improvements should provide a noticeable performance-increase.

It's still too early for a full review, but it is interesting to find out how the Samsung Galaxy Note II compares to Apple's new iPhone 5. It's challenging to compare the two since they run on two different operating systems, but a number of benchmark programs are available for both Android and iOS. Hardware.Info created a benchmark comparison between the two phones.

So here they are, the cold, hard numbers behind Samsung's and Apple's latest pride and joy. Hardware.Info took a look at the performance of the browsers, 3D rendering, and the performance of the processors and memory. To see the benchmark results, head over to the article on Hardware.Info.

APPLE'S IPHONE 5 REVIEW

The iPhone 5 is the best iPhone yet, but it's ultimately an evolutionary phone, not a revolutionary one.

Design

The iPhone 5 may look somewhat similar to the iPhone 4S, but it's not until you pick it up for the first time that you realise this is a very different beast. It's an almost identical shape to its predecessor but is significantly lighter and thinner despite having a taller screen.

The biggest design change is the glass back that was a highlight of the theiPhone 4 and iPhone 4S. It's been replaced by an anodised aluminium backing that is flanked by two glass strips at the top and bottom of the phone, creating a two-tone look. Most buttons are in the same place — volume keys and a silent slider switch on the left, a lock/power button on the top and a home button on the front below the screen. Even though the home button appears the same as previous models, it feels slightly more responsive to press than the one on the 4S.

The featherlight 112g weight is one of the best features of the iPhone 5. Apple deserves a huge amount of credit for managing to make the phone significantly lighter while increasing its overall footprint. The end result is a device that almost feels inviting to hold and one that's comfortable to use single-handedly. At just 7.6mm, the iPhone 5 is also one of the thinnest smartphones on the market.

Despite its light weight and thin casing, the iPhone 5 certainly doesn't feel hollow or cheap. The bevelled edges on the sides, the machine drilled speaker and microphone holes at the bottom and the glass panels at the top and the bottom of the back are typical Apple touches. There's an extraordinary attention to detail in the construction of the iPhone 5 and it's something that most competitors lack.

However, the anodised aluminium used on the back and the edges of the iPhone 5 seems to be easily scratched and marked, particularly on the black model we reviewed. The blemishes are hard to see in photos, but our review model picked up two scratches on the back and a number of small chips on the edge of the right side, towards the back.

Although these scratches and chips are relatively minor and not immediately noticeable, they are very hard to avoid. On a device that commands a significantly hefty price tag, wear and tear from a few days of careful use shouldn't be acceptable.

What's new

There are a few key changes on the iPhone 5 if you're upgrading from previous iPhones. Firstly, the device uses a new SIM card called a nano-SIM. It's even smaller than a micro-SIM and it's thinner too, which makes it more difficult to cut down your old SIM to size.

Most Australian telcos will provide you a nano-SIM free of charge, so the change isn't going to be an issue for most people. The nano-SIM is accessible by using a supplied pin to pop open a SIM tray on the right side of the iPhone 5, a method no different to previous models.

Apple has moved the headphone jack on the iPhone 5 from the top to the bottom. We aren't a fan of the change but it doesn't have a significant impact on the overall use of the phone, aside from the need to put the phone in your pocket with the bottom facing up when you're using headphones. Whether you like the change or not will ultimately be a personal preference.

Of much more significance is Apple's decision to change the dock connector on the iPhone 5. Gone is the standard 30-pin connector that Apple has used in most models of its iPod, iPhone and iPad devices. Replacing this is a much smaller, 8-pin dock connector that Apple calls 'Lightning'.

The best feature the Lightning port brings to the iPhone 5 is the ability to plug in the cable either way up, unlike the old dock connector or the industry standard micro-USB port. However, the new port means that the iPhone 5 is no longer compatible with any accessories that use the old dock connector.

Apple sells two Lightning adapters to make most of your old accessories compatible with the iPhone 5, but they aren't included in the box. In Australia, it will cost you $35 for a regular Lightning to 30-pin adapter or $45 for a Lighting to 30-pin adapter with a 0.2m cord. Despite the 'Lightning' name, the iPhone 5 doesn't charge quicker than the iPhone 4S, nor does it transfer data to and from a computer any faster than the previous dock connector.

Display

The iPhone 5 has a larger 4in screen, but it's the same width as the screen on every other iPhone, only taller. Apple says the decision to keep the phone at the same width ensures that the span of a user's thumb can reach all the way across the display when using the phone single-handedly. The iPhone 5 is definitely more comfortable to use with one hand than many of its bigger rivals, including the Samsung Galaxy S III and theHTC One X.

The iPhone 5's screen has a resolution of 1136x640 but keeps the same 326ppi pixel density of the previous iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S. In a side-by-side comparison with the iPhone 4S, the iPhone 5's screen is slightly brighter at the full brightness setting. It also displays deeper blacks, most notably when watching video content. These improvements aren't groundbreaking and are even less pronounced when compared to devices like the Galaxy S III, but there is no doubt the iPhone 5's screen is one of the best on the market.

The taller display means Apple has added an additional row of iOS app icons on the iPhone 5's home screen. You can also see an extra few emails in the list view and more phone numbers in a contacts list but the increased screen real estate means that developers need to update their apps to take advantage of the extra space. Apple's default apps like Safari, Mail, Calendar and Reminders obviously already take advantage of this, but many third-party apps are yet to be updated.

Apps that aren't updated remain the same size as the old iPhone, with black bars at the top and bottom of the screen. They aren't too noticeable on the black iPhone 5, but they're easily seen on the white model and they're pretty annoying. Oddly, when you're in an app that hasn't been optimised for the iPhone 5 and a notification arrives, the notification will still appear on top of the app rather than over the black bar. This issue will become less of a problem over time once apps are updated, but for now, it's not the most ideal use of that extra space.

Camera

The camera on the iPhone 5 remains at 8-megapixels, but it captures excellent photos with great detail. It's one of the best cameras we've ever used on a smartphone and many of the shots produced are comparable to some dedicated point-and-shoot digital cameras.

During testing, we found that the iPhone 5's camera consistently produced more accurate colours than the iPhone 4S. Macro performance is excellent, and the lens is quick to focus on close range subjects — an issue we found on the 4S. The biggest improvement on the camera is the ability to take better quality photos in low light conditions, though these images are still noisier than most good point-and-shoot cameras. Video performance is impressive, particularly the stability of video during movement.

Perhaps the biggest improvement is the front facing camera. It now supports 1080p video and its performance in video calling apps like Facetime, Skype and Tango is significantly better than previous models. There's still a fair bit of noise in these apps, but there is much more detail on show and the overall image is clearer.

Software and performance

If you've used an iPhone before, you'll have no trouble using the iPhone 5. It's a very similar experience to previous iPhone's. Apple says its new iOS 6 software, which comes standard on the iPhone 5, has added over 200 new features to the platform. Most of these are minor, but there's are a few that particularly stand out.

The most significant change is the abolishment of Google's Maps application, which has been replaced with Apple's own Maps app. At this stage it's a change for the worse as the Maps app appears to be a half-baked, unfinished solution that lacks both the detail and the accuracy of the Google Maps app it replaced. Apple says it expects the Maps app to improve over time but since has gone to the extraordinary step ofapologising for the app, even going as far as suggesting consumers use alternatives until it improves.

There are a few nice features in Maps, the highlight of which is an admittedly impressive Flyover mode that shows selected, major metropolitan areas from the air with 3D views. The issue here is that Apple appears to have settled for style over substance. While it's undoubtedly cool to flyover a 3D view of Sydney on the iPhone 5, wouldn't it be better if the Maps app knew where the Apple Store in Sydney was? If you could find Sydney University? If it knew where Sydney's M4 motorway is? If you could search for the SCG instead of the Sydney Cricket Ground. If you could distinguish between the Domestic and International terminals at Sydney Airport? You get the picture.

There are a few other improvements in iOS 6 that add to the overall user experience. Integrated Facebook information means you can now post status updates directly from the notifications screen, while contacts and calendar information from your Facebook account can be added to your phone (and easily turned off if you wish). A new share menu presents a list of options in a neater arrangement, while you can pull to refresh your email inbox in the Mail app.

We also liked the addition of a panorama camera mode (though panorama images can only be taken while holding the phone in portrait mode), the do not disturb mode that silences incoming calls in a selected time period and the ability to reject a call by SMS when you can't answer it. However, all of these features have been available in competing operating systems like Android for some time now, so Apple is merely playing catch up.

The iPhone 5 is a fast smartphone with next to no lag or slowdown. General performance is excellent, opening and closing apps is almost instant and switching between apps is slick and fast. If you're coming from an iPhone 4S you won't notice the increase in speed too much in day to day use. However, the faster speeds can be seen when you open the camera app from the lock screen, as one example.

4G speeds

If you're using the Telstra, Optus or Virgin Mobile networks in Australia, you'll be happy to know that the iPhone 5 is compatible with the 1800MHz LTE network band. That means you'll get 4G mobile coverage where it's available.

4G coverage is still fairly limited at the time of writing but when you are in a coverage area serviced by LTE with the iPhone 5, you're in for a treat. We managed to achieve download speeds of up 35 megabits per second (Mbps) on Telstra and up to 32Mbps on Optus when 4G was available, though the speeds you'll get will widely vary depending on location, time and network congestion. Unfortunately, Vodafone users are out of luck right now as the company isn't launching its 4G network until sometime in 2013.

Battery life

Apple says the iPhone 5's battery will last for up to eight hours on 3G and LTE Internet use and up to 10 hours of Wi-Fi, while talk time is listed at up to eight hours. However, during testing we experienced far less battery life than Apple's stated figures, regularly having to charge our review unit well before the end of the day.

LTE appears to be the biggest battery drainer but even when on 3G the iPhone 5 didn't achieve the best results. As an example of the poor battery life we experienced, on a regular Tuesday morning our review unit was down to 57 per cent after just one hour and 35 minutes of usage and three hours and 17 minutes of standby.

Obviously your battery life experience will vary depending on your usage patterns, your location and the signal strength of your carriers mobile connection (especially when in a 4G area), but it was certainly disappointing for us.

Conclusion

If you're a current iPhone user, if you've invested heavily in the Apple iOS ecosystem and if you're happy with the way the iPhone works, you'll more than likely be very pleased with the iPhone 5. It's thinner, lighter and faster than previous models and has a large screen and an outstanding camera.

However, if you're not a current iPhone owner but are looking for a smartphone, the choice is more difficult. If you want a larger screened device and more flexibility than an Android phone might be a better choice for you. The iPhone 5 is without a doubt one of the best and most polished smartphones on the market, but whether Apple's rigid albeit slick user experience is beginning to tire will ultimately be a personal choice.

100 YEARS OF INDIAN CINEMA

When Dadasaheb Phalke, the father of Indian Cinema, released his epochal feature film Raja Harishchandra on 3rd May 1913, it is unlikely that either the exhibitors or the pioneer film maker realized they were unleashing a mass entertainment medium that would hold millions in sway for the next hundred years. The French might have introduced the concept of moving images, but little did anyone know that India would one day become the largest film industry in the world. It's a miracle that Indian cinema has withstood the test of time despite the vast cultural differences in the past 100 years.

Indian cinema has an identity that is very unique and unmatched. We have moved from the black and white silent films to 3D, but our cinema continues to retain its basic essence - to thrill. Even as internet downloads and television continue to cannibalize the theatrical revenues of Indian films, the lure of the 35 mm is something else altogether. It was Phalke who introduced India to world cinema at a time when working in films was taboo. After the success of his film 'Raja Harishchandra', several filmmakers in Bombay and Madras began making silent films. By the mid 1920s, Madras had become the epicentre for all film related activities. Raghupathi Venkaiah Naidu, SS Vasan, AV Meiyappan set up production houses in Madras to shoot Telugu and Tamil films.


The silent era came to an end when Ardeshir Irani produced his first talkie, 'Alam Ara' in 1931. If Phalke was the father of Indian cinema, Irani was the father of the talkie. The talkies changed the face of Indian cinema. Apart from looks, the actors not only needed a commanding voice but also singing skills, as music became a defining element in Indian cinema. The year also marked the beginning of the Talkie era in South Indian films. The first talkie films in Bengali (Jumai Shasthi), Telugu (Bhakta Prahlad) and Tamil (Kalidass) were released in the same year

The forties was a tumultuous decade; the first half was ravaged by war and the second saw drastic political changes all over the world. In the middle of the Second World War in 1945 came 'Kismet' starring Ashok Kumar which became one of the biggest hits in the history of Indian cinema. It had some bold themes - the first anti-hero and an unmarried pregnancy. It clearly showed that the filmmakers of the era were bolder than the times in which they were living in. A close relationship between epic consciousness and the art of cinema was established. It was against this backdrop that filmmakers like V.Shantaram, Bimal Roy, Raj Kapoor and Mehboob Khan made their films. In the meantime, the film industry had made rapid strides in the South, where Tamil, Telugu and Kannada films were taking South India by storm. By the late 1940s, films were being made in various Indian languages with religion being the dominant theme. 1940s to late 1950s was also the golden era of music. Shankar Jaikishan, O.P. Nayyar, Madan Mohan, C. Ramchandra, Salil Chaudhury, Naushad, S.D. Burman - all had their distinctive style. Each vied with the other to produce some of the most unforgettable melodies India has ever known

50s and 60s were considered as the Golden Age of Indian cinema. Filmmakers like Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak, Guru Dutt, Bimal Roy, Mehboob Khan, K Asif, Raj Kapoor, KV Reddy, L V Prasad and Ramu Kariat made waves in their respective film industries and they went on to make classics like Pather Panchali, Madhumati, Do Bheega Zameen, Shree 420, Awaara, Pyasa, Mother India, Mughal E Azam, Mayabazar and Chemmeen among many other films. In the south, N.T. Rama Rao, M. G. Ramachandran, Sivaji Ganesan, Rajkumar, Prem Nazir dominated the film industry for more than three decades before making way for the next generation of actors like Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Mammootty, Mohanlal, Chiranjeevi and Balakrishna.

The 70s completely changed the way films were made, especially in Hindi film industry. Changing social norms and changing economies influenced movies and the companies that made them. The narrative style changed. The story structure changed. Characters changed. Content changed. Masala films were the demand of the time. The genre promised instant attraction and had great entertainment value. It was the age of the angry young man and Amitabh Bachchan rose to prominence thanks to the success of Sholay, Zanjeer and Deewar. While Dev Anand, Rajesh Khanna, Jitendra and Dharmendra continued to bask in the glory of back to back hits, the actresses were not far behind. Right from the time of Savitri, Vyjayanthi Mala, Nargis, Waheeda Rahman and Sharmila Tagore to Sridevi, Rekha, Smita Patil, Hema Malini, several actresses became heartthrobs of the nation.

While Indian commercial cinema enjoyed popularity among movie-goers, Indian art cinema did not go unnoticed. Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Ritwik Ghatak, Aravindan, Satyajit Ray, Shyam Benegal, Shaji Karun and several other art film directors were making movies that gave India international fame and glory.

The eighties saw the advent of women film makers such as Vijaya Mehta ('Rao Saheb'), Aparna Sen ('36- Chouwringhee Lane', 'Parama'), Sai Pranjpye ('Chashme Baddoor', 'Katha', 'Sparsh'), Kalpana Lajimi ('Ek Pal'), Prema Karanth ('Phaniamma') and Meera Nair ('Salaam Bombay'). It was also the decade when sultry siren Rekha wooed audiences with her stunning performance in 'Umrao Jaan' in 1981.

And then in 90's, it was a mixed genre of romantic, thrillers, action and comedy films. A stark upgrade can be seen on the canvas as technology gifted the industry Dolby digital sound effects, advanced special effects, choreography and international appeal. The development brought about investments from the corporate sector along with finer scripts and performances. It was time to shift focus to aesthetic appeal. And stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Rajnikanth, Madhuri Dixit, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Chiranjeevi, Juhi Chawla and Hrithik Roshan began to explore ways to use new techniques to enrich Indian cinema with their performances.

In recent years, Hindi cinema has undergone a massive change due to the emergence of new age filmmakers like Anurag Kashyap, Rajkumar Hirani, Dibakar Banerjee and Vishal Bhardwaj. Of late, Tamil and Marathi cinema has witnessed similar changes with several new filmmakers coming forth to cater to a niche audience.

As the world has become a global village, the Indian film industry has reached out further to international audiences. Apart from regular screenings at major international film festivals, the overseas market contributes a sizeable chunk to Bollywood's box office collections. Regular foreign Investments made by major global studios such as 20th Century Fox, Sony Pictures, and Warner Bros put a stamp of confirmation that Bollywood has etched itself on the global podium.

To celebrate 100 years of cinema in India, the Government of India, in cooperation with the film industry, has proposed to line up a host of activities between May 3, 2012 and May 3, 2013. It has also proposed to present a tableau of 100 years of Indian Cinema at the Republic Day parade next year. The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has also instituted a centenary award which will be given to a path- breaking film every year at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa. The first centenary award would be given at the IFFI 2012 which will be held in Goa in November this year.

Indian cinema, despite all its peculiarities, has been a reflection of the socio-economic, political and cultural changes that took place in the country. Here's hoping that Indian movies continue to entertain us the way they've been doing since 10 decades.

Hale and hearty in Thailand's resort islands

The island of Koh Samui is located about 35 km northeast of Surat Thani town in the Gulf of Thailand. At its centre is dense mountainous jungle, with the peak of Khao Pom rising to over 2,000 feet. A coastal road, about 50 km in length, encircles the island connecting the various sandy beaches where the resorts that draw tourists in large numbers have mushroomed. 

There are over 260 resorts on Koh Samui, making it the most-invested resort region after Bangkok, and surpassing Phuket. Koh Samui's smaller sister islands -- Koh Phangan and Koh Tao -- are also favoured destinations of the backpacking and beach-partying crowd. This year, the Tourism Authority of Thailand has set itself an ambitious target of attracting more than 20 million tourists. In April alone, Thailand welcomed over 1.6 million visitors.

2013 Audi R8 gets sharper

The new R8 gets aerodynamic tweaks, styling updates and a range topping V10 coupe variant named the 'Plus'

Audi has revealed the 2013 face-lifted flagship R8 with updated styling, carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) parts, a new 7-speed S-tronic dual-clutch automated transmission and the new range topping V10 Plus Coupe variant. 

Prominent design changes on the outside include new LED headlights and tail lamps, single frame grille with horizontal chrome inserts adorning the struts on the V10 variants, bumper, the diffuser which has been pulled upwards and two round glossy tailpipe trim sections.

LED headlamps are now standard across the R8 range, and the diodes for the high and low beams are placed above and below the daylight running lamps. The tail lamps feature a new design, the front and rear indicators  get dynamic displays; essentially they light up from the inside to the outside in the direction that the car is about to turn. LED engine compartment lights are available as an option on all models except the Plus which has them as standard.

The interiors have been spruced up too. The ‘monoposto’, a long arc curve running around the cockpit in the area of the driver, dominates the interior design. New R8 badges adorn the flattened rim of the optional multi-function sports steering wheel, the gearshift or selector lever, at the door sill trims, in the instrument cluster and on the start screen of the on-board monitor. Electrically adjustable sports seats are optional on the V8 variants and standard on the V10. The control and trim elements are either made of subdued chrome strips or painted black; the needles in the instrument cluster and the shift paddles have been slightly modified. The R8 V10 and the R8 V10 plus come with the navigation system plus and the Bang & Olufsen audio as standard on-board features. 

The R8 is offered in two solid colours and four metallic shades. A matte colour option is exclusively offered for the V10 Plus variant. The side blades on the coupé come in eight colours, while the convertible top of the R8 Spyder comes in black, red or brown.

AUDI INDIA TO LAUNCH THE 2013 FACELIFTED A4 SEDAN

With the F30 BMW 3 series sedan readied up for a launch in India in the second half of 2012, Audi India seems to be wanting to make the most of the time between the launch of the new car model and the stock clearance of the current 3 series sedan by preponing the launch of the 2013 facelifted A4 sedan. The 2013 Audi A4 is a facelifted model that comes with a host of changes both on the exteriors as well as the interiors. The German luxury car maker has also tweaked the engines of the 2013 A4 sedan for better performance and efficiency. So, the facelift is a comprehensive one in that sense.

The front end of the 2013 Audi A4 sees a facelift with new headlamps with daytime running lamps, which are a characteristic design feature that Audi first made popular. The front bumper too gets a refresh with the grille getting chromed inserts on the slats. With these changes, the front end of the 2013 Audi A4, while looking unmistakably Audi manages to endow the car with a fresh new appeal. On the rear, the tail lamps get a refresh with the design resembling the ones on the bigger A6 sedan. On the whole, the 2013 Audi A4 does have some similarities to the A6 sedan when it comes to the design of the exteriors.

On the inside, the 2013 Audi A4 sees usage of new materials and the steering wheel design has also been changed. The Audi Multi Media Interface or MMI as it is called, gets a new way of operations with just 4 buttons required to now operate the system, thereby simplifying the usage. This is something that both existing A4 owners and new owners would greatly appreciate as the simpler the system, the more intuitive and better it is to use, especially when the car is moving. So, these are the major exterior and interior changes on the new 2013 Audi A4 sedan, which will debut in the next few days in the Indian car market.

7 Health myths that just don’t seem to die!

In our second myth buster series, we get you another round of health myths around India which refuse to die! Click here to read the first!

Myth #1: Natural foods and herbs are harmless

With a majority of the Indian population giving a thumbs up toAyurveda, naturopathy and anything to do with Mother Nature, this is one of the biggest misconceptions. It is presumed that since the herbs and natural foods are obtained in their pure, unadulterated forms, they are harmless and can be put to use by the layman.

This mentality can prove to be hazardous to health by bringing about undesirable effects if used without enough knowledge about the working mechanism.

For instance, kava-used to treat anxiety and other mental issues, may prove to be injurious to the liver. Many other herbs show adverse effects on health if consumed without proper dosage.

Myth #2: Cracking your knuckles may cause arthritis

Accumulation of gas bubbles between the joints of the fingers, when subjected to pressure, break down and cause a cracking noise. Studies have shown that cracking your knuckles does NOT lead to arthritis. However, repetitive cracking of knuckles may lead to certain joint problems especially for those who experience pain during the cracking.

Myth #3: If you go out with a wet head, you’ll catch cold

Studies show that 40% moms believe that sending their kids out with a wet head is bound to cause cold. The myth persists despite research showing that cold is caused by viruses that invade the human body through close contact with affected individuals.

Myth #4: Sugar makes kids hyperactive

Hyperactivity in children is often linked to excessive sugar consumption, even by qualified physicians. However, in reality, it is the parties and special occasions which get the kids hyper. Generally, the food that is served in such outings is high in sugar which leads many parents to believe that sugar is to blame for their child’s behaviour.

Myth #5: More than 70% of the heat of your body is lost through your head

Yet another myth. The fact is that you tend to lose more heat through exposed parts of your body. You may lose almost the same amount of heat through your head as you might lose through other exposed parts of your body.

Myth #6: Eating fat makes you fat

Fats are essential for the absorption of certain phytonutrients and vitamins in the body. A diet completely devoid of fats may do more harm to your body than good. Also fats tend to make you feel full, thus making you eat less.

Know why fat is important, read here.

Myth #7: Excessive exercise helps you lose weight rapidly

Too much of everything is bad, even exercise. Excessive exercise can put a strain on your muscles and even cause permanent, irreversible problems that you may not have expected.