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Welcome
EDITORS LETTER
Contents
Welcome
C O N T E N TS
Editors letter
8
25 essential Android apps
Our guide to what to download rst
54
Antivirus round-up
Protect your Nexus with these apps
60
16
Rated
Nexus 5
64
Our rst look at the new Google phone
Do more with
your Nexus
Get KitKat features
Dont have KitKat? You dont need to...
30
Nexus 7 2013
68
A brilliant bargain buy like the original?
34
Nexus 10
Does it still have what it takes?
42
Apped
72
Welcome
Contents
Welcome
Welcome
22
Nexus
phones:
a history
Android wouldnt be Android
without the Nexus and it
changed the phone landscape
he Nexus range is a result of heavy
collaboration. Google has never
actually made a piece of Android
hardware, but through the Open
Handset Alliance which joins
together worldwide mobile
operators, handset manufacturers,
software companies and
semiconductor creators a number of important
partnerships have been formed in pursuit of making
Android the best OS it can be.
In the Nexus line, Google has partnered with HTC,
Samsung and LG to produce five generations of Nexus
phones, all of which serve as a showcase for the latest
and greatest version of Android, receive updates before
other handsets that are tied to particular mobile
operators, and which usually showcase improvements to
hardware as well as software.
Whats more, Nexus devices share the Android ethos of
freedom. They are always sold SIM-unlocked and
standalone, so anyone with a SIM can pick one up and
get experimenting. There also seems to be a drive to
produce Nexus phones at the lowest possible price, and
youll usually find the Nexus line to be the best value
handsets on the open market. So join us as we roll back
the years all the way to murky 2008, and see how the
Nexus story began
The specs
Released October 2008
Manufacturer HTC
Release OS Android 1.0
CPU 528MHz Qualcomm
MSM7201A
GPU Qualcomm Adreno 130
RAM 192MB
Storage 256MB
(with micro SD slot)
Battery 1,150mAh lithium-ion
Display 3.2-inch 320 x 480 TFT
Camera 3.15MP rear
HTC Dream
The first Android handset isnt strictly Nexus
y todays standards, the HTC Dream
also known as the T-Mobile G1
and Era G1 is something of a
phone dinosaur, rocking a tiny HVGA
screen, a minuscule battery, and a
slide-out form factor with a full QWERTY
keyboard. And although it isnt by rights
a Nexus, it is still very important in the
evolution of Android phones. Its a relic of
the earliest days of Android, when Google
and the Open Handset Alliance had only
just taken charge of the mobile OS, and it
reflects its Linux operating system roots,
right down to the trackball.
The Dream was pitched as the ultimate
mobile web solution, and it coincided with
10
The specs
Released January 2010
Manufacturer HTC
Release OS Android 2.1 Eclair
CPU 1GHz Qualcomm Scorpion
GPU Qualcomm Adreno 200
RAM 512MB
Storage 512MB
(with micro SDHC slot)
Battery 1,400mAh lithium-ion
Display 3.7-inch 480 x 800
AMOLED/SuperLCD
Camera 5MP rear
Nexus One
One small step for a phone. One giant leap for phonekind
TCs Nexus One launched the
Nexus series in style, with a tight
package containing the sort of
features youd expect on a high-end
smartphone of the time: a multi-touch
capacitive screen, a three-axis
accelerometer, and a Trackball? More a
carry over from HTCs days producing
own-brand Windows Phone handsets,
this is the last time a trackball appeared
on a Nexus device. Earlier Nexus models
like this one sported capacitive touch
buttons rather than the software buttons
in evidence on todays range.
The Nexus One, initially known by its HTC
Passion codename, is also the only Nexus
11
The specs
Released October 2010
Manufacturer Samsung
Release OS Android 2.3
Gingerbread
CPU 1GHz ARM Cortex-A8
GPU PowerVR SGX 540 200MHz
RAM 512MB
Storage 16GB
Battery 1,500mAh lithium-ion
Display 4-inch 480 x 800
Super AMOLED
Cameras 5MP rear, 0.3MP front
Nexus S
S for Samsung? More like S for this is a Galaxy S, isnt it?
amsungs first foray into the Nexus
smartphone realm saw it make
some big changes in hardware,
not least of which was dropping the
Qualcomm chipsets, which had powered
previous phones, in favour of an ARM
cortex CPU of its own manufacture and
a PowerVR GPU the same hardware it
had used on its Galaxy S handset. In fact,
this phone doesnt stray far from the
Galaxy S model, bar the omission of
external SD card support and the
addition of NFC technology.
Perhaps the most impressive thing about
the Nexus S is its screen, an innovative, slightly
curved, Super AMOLED panel dubbed by
12
The specs
Released November 2011
Manufacturer Samsung
Release OS Android 4.0
Ice Cream Sandwich
CPU 1.2GHz dual-core
ARM Cortex-A9
GPU PowerVR SGX 540 384MHz
RAM 1GB
Storage 16/32GB
Battery 1,750-1,850mAh
lithium-ion
Display 4.65-inch 720 x 1,280 HD
Super AMOLED PenTile
Cameras 5MP rear, 1.3MP front
Galaxy Nexus
While Google and Apple squabbled, a leader emerged
arly press for the Galaxy Nexus,
which was Samsungs second Nexus
handset, dubbed it the Nexus
Prime, and that name certainly seems
fitting when looking at its soft-edged
form factor, which has all but defined the
overall look and feel of the two Nexus
models since.
Its almost a relaunch for the Nexus line;
while the Galaxy Nexus carries over the curved
glass of its predecessor and once again
plumps for the Cortex/PowerVR CPU/GPU
combo, it also cements features such as the
on-screen buttons, active noise cancellation
through dual microphones, and an internal
barometer and three-axis compass. Thats
13
The specs
Released November 2012
Manufacturer LG
Release OS Android 4.2 Jellybean
CPU 1.5GHz quad-core
Qualcomm Krait
GPU Qualcomm Adreno 320
RAM 2GB
Storage 8/16GB
Battery 2,100mAh
lithium polymer
Display 4.7-inch 768 x 1280 IPS
Cameras 8MP rear, 1.3MP front
Nexus 4
LGs first entry into Nexus: fantastic but quickly eclipsed
TC has had its time. Samsung has
made a pair of awesome handsets
in the Nexus name. The Nexus 4
designed primarily by Googles
engineers rather than being a new
version of an existing smartphone was
LGs chance to step up to the plate. Given
the publics interest in Googles flagship
phones by this point, the fact that the
entire launch stock of the Nexus 4 sold
out within 30 minutes was not really a
great surprise.
Praised for both its build quality and
affordable price (launching at 239/$299
for the 8GB model), the Nexus 4 was not,
however, without its criticisms, including a
14
The specs
Released November 2013
Manufacturer LG
Release OS Android 4.4 KitKat
CPU 2.3GHz quad-core
Qualcomm Krait 400
GPU Qualcomm Adreno 330
RAM 2GB
Storage 16/32GB
Battery 2,300mAh
lithium polymer
Display 4.96-inch 1,080 x 1,920 IPS
Cameras 8MP rear, 1.2MP front
Nexus 5
It might not herald a new generation but its the best today
he latest Nexus smartphone apes
its tablet cousin, the Nexus 7, in
terms of looks. It also apes LGs
G2 in terms of many of its specs. And,
realistically, its simply a step change
from the older Nexus 4 (opposite)
rather than a whole new horizon of
smartphone technology.
However, the Nexus 5 has brought the
Nexus line into the present with a whole
selection of top-notch components, meaning
that the latest handset isnt just an Android
operating system showcase its an Android
technology showcase.
For example, its packed with sensors and
the latest radio modules, it ups the RAM, and
15
Taking
a break
16
Speak up
Googles been tinkering with voice control
for a couple of years on its Android phones
but with the launch of the Motorola X
phone earlier this year, it took things a step
further, offering always-on voice recognition.
The trick has partly been repeated in the
Android 4.4 OS, in so far as when youre on
the homescreen or in the Google Now app,
you merely have to say OK Google to do
anything from sending a message to starting
the music player all without even pressing
a button.
Of course, this feature is going to be pretty
dependent on which phones will be
listening on the homescreen (its currently
only the Nexus 5) but always-on voice
recognition will come to many high-end
handsets in 2014 and probably a number of
the devices already launched this year, too.
The HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4 are
17
Feeding fitness
Despite needing an additional sensor,
(which manufacturers will be happy to
add into their hardware to improve
functionality), Google is supporting the
fitness fad and without cost to your
battery. Essentially, it does this by
storing all the information from internal
sensors to track your movement and
then ships it to the CPU in bulk,
meaning the main engine of the phone
isnt running all the time.
This will be critical for manufacturers
looking to take advantage of the trend
towards opening up daily movement
data, as well as helping Google Now
improve massively, with additional
information on your movements and
location available with the new process.
19
KitKat doesnt
require a lot of power,
hence the ability to
launch on every
handset in 2014
20
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Inside the
Nexus 5
Everything you need to know
about the guts of the latest
flagship phone
imply looking at a
smartphone doesnt really
tell you very much. The
Nexus 5, for all its smart,
sleek curves, is just a black
rounded rectangle its
pretty, but it doesnt reveal anything
to you directly. Even a cursory glance
through the spec list wont tell you
the whole story.
Our full review of the Nexus 5 on
page 122 will give you an objective
run-down of the package as a whole,
but weve decided that it was also worth
22
Price
Many people wont care about the
internals. If its a phone, and it works,
theyll be happy. Many people,
conversely, care only about the
power inside the case. Both parties
will be happy here. When the Nexus
4 touched down, its price tag really
made waves, offering up a
surprisingly well featured
smartphone for the cost of a lowto mid-end handset. The Nexus 5,
Front camera
Selfies are catered for with a reasonable
1.3MP front camera of decent quality. You
wouldnt want to take anything serious
with it, but its fine for video chat and the
bathroom mirror. The rear camera can
competently take 1080p videos at 30fps,
while the front camera can only manage
720p. Its a case of balance do you want a
more expensive phone running an inferior
OS, which has a few more pixels in its
camera, or are you happy with the best
overall package on the market, and pictures
that wont disappoint?
23
Other radios
Screen
LGs technical wizards have chosen a heck
of a panel for the new Nexus 5, coming in
at a smidgen under 5 inches, running a
full 1080p resolution at 445ppi, a density
that surpasses even the Samsung Galaxy
S4 (at 441ppi) and the iPhone 5S (at a
positively archaic 326ppi).
It uses IPS technology for the display,
which is comparable to many high-end
desktop monitors. IPS stands for in-plane
switching, and uses LCD crystals aligned in
several coloured layers, all but removing
the viewing angle problems of panels
from previous generations. Its not really
surprising that IPS was used rather than,
say, Samsungs fancy and similar PLS
technology, given that LG is the worlds
biggest manufacturer of IPS panels.
LG is constantly
working on
thinner, brighter
panels, which
help phones such
as the Nexus 5
retain a
slim profile
Cellular radio
The Nexus 4 had an LTE radio in it, but it
only supported Band 4 and, at least
officially, it didnt even support that, being
locked down by default and requiring some
insider knowledge to fire up. The Nexus 5
comes LTE-enabled so youll be able to get
next-gen cellular data access wherever you
are in the world. There are slight differences
between international versions buy it in
the States, and youll get CDMA support,
seven-band WCDMA and coverage over the
nine LTE bands used in the USA, while the
version sold elsewhere in the world has
six-band WCDMA and six-band LTE. The
international version isnt hobbled its just
that the extra connectivity isnt required.
Screen power
Theres a slight power disadvantage with
IPS, given that it draws from the battery
slightly more than other competing
technologies, but the Nexus 5 has a huge
lithium polymer cell, which helps to
compensate for this.
24
Battery
Lithium bursts
into flames when
exposed to air,
so theres some
serious science
involved in keeping
your battery in
one piece
Processing package
Lets not beat around the bush the
Qualcomm chipset in this handset is
pretty much the best processing package
going. Its the same as LG put in its G2
this is about as far removed from that
phone as youre going to get, although a
bit of internal cross pollination is only to
be expected.
Essential chips
The main processor is a Qualcomm
Snapdragon 800, which breaks
down into several critical
components. The Krait 400 CPU
module is a quad-core beast
running at 2.26GHz, manufactured
with a 28nm process to ensure it
stays reasonably cool even under
pressure. Theres an Adreno 330
GPU, which supports all the latest
mobile graphics technologies. But
there are little, considered
components in there, too for
example, a dedicated DSP, the
Hexagon, runs at 600MHz and
offloads tasks with low power
requirements, such as music
playback, to ensure your battery
lasts as long as it can. Finally, the
processing package is backed up by
2GB of RAM, a large amount for a
smartphone, which should ensure
that buttery smooth OS interface
stays greasy even once youve
installed a bunch of apps.
Charging
Of course, the really exciting development
is Qi wireless charging, previously seen on
Windows Phone handsets, which uses a
system of electromagnetic induction to
charge your phone without needing to
plug it in. This is significant for several
reasons, not least of which is that the
charging port of your Nexus 5 will take a lot
less wear and tear than it would without
using a charge pad. Its slower than wired
charging, and youll need to buy a charge
pad to take advantage of it, and you cant
really use your phone while its juicing up in
this way, but hey this is properly cool tech.
25
Positioning
Dimensions
Thanks to its larger display, the Nexus 5 is
longer and wider than its predecessor, but
it has managed to shave off some depth.
Its vital statistics run at 137.84mm tall,
69.17mm wide, and a teeny 8.59mm thick.
Theres good news as well in terms of the
weight, with the Nexus 5 shedding 9g
from the fourth generation, tipping the
scales at 130g (4.59 oz) making it lighter
than the HTC One, Sony Xperia Z1 and
Nokia Lumia 925.
Materials
The Nexus 5 echoes the new Nexus 7
tablet in terms of looks and thats not a
bad thing at all. Yes, we know theres no
fancy premium metal case, and the
mesmerising glass back of the Nexus 4 has
fallen by the wayside, but the soft-touch
finish of the white or black rear of the
Nexus 5 doesnt exactly feel cheap wed
put it a notch above the Samsung Galaxy
S4 in terms of the pleasure it gives us in
the hand.
26
Edges
The sides of the phone are different
depending on the colour scheme you go
for. The white version has shiny sides, which
follow on nicely from the screen, while the
black one has matte edges, mirroring the
finish on the back. The white version also
feels slightly less rubbery on the back,
because the rear of the case is made from
moderately different material.
Sensors
Given that the Nexus is the Android
showcase phone, its no surprise that LG
has managed to throw in a few decent
sensors. We expected the gyroscope,
accelerometer, compass, proximity/
ambient light sensor, and pressure sensor,
because all have been carried over from
the previous models and, in the case of
the pressure sensor, from the Samsung
Galaxy range. It also includes a hall effect
sensor this analyses local magnetic
fields, so we presume it will be able to be
used for smart covers and fancy docks.
Whats missing?
A phone at this price point wont have
absolutely every top feature going. It would
be a little unfair to judge its audio
capabilities against the HTC One, for
instance, or its stock Android performance
against the gimmick-heavy skills of the
Samsung Galaxy S4. So whatever we say
here is a little moot, but well say it anyway:
theres no IR blaster, which for some would
be a completely irrelevant feature, but
utterly crucial for others. The battery is
not as beefy as the 3,000mAh initially
rumoured, which is simply us being greedy
and nothing more the equipped battery is
more than capable. Really, the Nexus 5 is a
fantastic phone. It doesnt push as many
boundaries as it might, particularly as it
seems more like a step change from the
Nexus 4 than a brand new killer phone, but
theres little thats missing here. Q
27
28
Welcome
Welcome
Do more with
your Nexus
Get KitKat features
30
Dont have KitKat? You dont need to...
Protect yourself for free
Locate, lock and wipe lost devices
34
29
GET KITKAT
FEATURES
If your Android device is still stuck on Jelly Bean, these apps
can replicate some of KitKats best features
{ AT A GLANCE }
SKILL
Anyone can do it
TIME NEEDED
15 minutes
SUITABLE FOR
All Android phones and tablets
1 Communicate
with Contacts+
Contacts+ is an all-in-one phone,
contacts and messaging app, which
gives you a taste of whats on offer in
KitKat. For instance, Googles new
phone app can sort your contacts
according to how often you talk to
each of them, and Google Keyboard
enables you to express yourself
visually in messages using colourful
icons called Emoji.
30
your contacts
2 Sort
Sorting your contacts by
who you talk to most is easy with
Contacts+. Switch to the central
contacts tab, expand the basic menu
options using the button at the right
of the top bar, and select Display
options. Plump for the Frequency
setting and, while youre here, it makes
sense to customise things such as icon
style and layout.
1 Download
PlayerPro
With KitKat, you can play music and
still enjoy full-screen album art and
playback controls on your lock screen.
Pretty nifty, though the PlayerPro
music player app can give you almost
identical results on Jelly Bean. Not
only that, but its also one of the most
comprehensive music apps available
in the Play Store
your style
3 Set
Unfortunately, PlayerPros
album artwork doesnt fill the whole
lock screen, but you can set the
background to feature a full-screen
image of the artist currently playing.
Set this by selecting Background
from the Lock screen settings and
opt for Artist picture. The Greyscale
option is nice if youd like the
background in black and white.
the new
3 Emoji:
emoticons
Spicing up your texts with some
emoji icons requires the free Emoji
for Contacts+ add-on app. Once
installed, start composing a text
message in Contacts+ and youll
notice a smiley face next to the text
input box. Tap this to reveal hundreds
of new emoji, from your average
smiley and sad faces to objects and
even flags.
a lock
2 Choose
screen widget
To set up your lock screen to emulate
that of KitKat, click on an album and
then open PlayerPros main menu
using the button in the top-right of
the screen. Select Settings > Lock
screen > Widget and go for the
PlayerPro Large (4x4) option this
gets you closest to the KitKat look.
Next, scroll down and ensure that Full
screen is ticked.
missing
4 Find
album art
If an album is missing artwork,
PlayerPro can download it. Just go
back to the apps main Albums tab,
press and hold on an album and then
select Manage artwork. The Get it for
me option usually does the trick. You
can use the same method on the
Artists tab to download an artist
image, but this time pick Manage
picture from the menu.
whos calling
4 Know
Receiving a call from a number
you dont recognise can catch you
off-guard, so KitKats phone app
automatically attempts to match an
unsaved number with a Google-listed
business. Truecaller does much the
same thing, but has a huge
crowd-sourced database of over a
billion numbers, and it also enables
you to block spam callers.
31
dynamic
1 Highly
HDR or High Dynamic Range
technology gives your photos great
highlight and shadow detail, even
under harsh lighting. The Nexus 5s
HDR+ mode snaps a series of shots
and combines the best bits into a
single photograph, but its a trick
many current Android phones and
tablets can also pull, without the
need for KitKat.
your shot
3 Take
Activating the apps HDR
capability is as simple as tapping the
mode button located alongside the
main shutter icon, and selecting HDR
from the menu. The app now snaps
several consecutive photos to capture
as much highlight and shadow detail
as possible. It even cleverly re-aligns
each image to compensate for any
camera movement.
app?
2 Which
Your standard camera app
may already be packing an HDR
mode. Samsung hides it in the
Shooting Mode menu, HTCs version
comes under the Camera Scenes
heading, while Sony often includes
something similar in the apps main
settings. Alternatively, the excellent
A Better Camera app gives you this
HDR tech on any Jelly Bean device.
and tune
4 Tweak
Once youve got your HDR
image, four editing options control
the overall exposure, contrast, colour
saturation and detail intensity. If you
fancy a bit more control, drag down
the top bar, select More settings >
Shooting modes settings > HDR and
youll discover extensive options to
fine-tune the image capture
sequence and HDR processing.
32
resources
1 Restore
Google is keen to emphasise
optimisation
2 Auto
Satisfy your need for speed by
powerful
1 A
ofce app
OK, so although Quickoffice has been
available for Jelly Bean for several
months, KitKat is the first version of
Android to include it as standard. If
you havent encountered Quickoffice,
its certainly worth trying because it
enables you to create and edit
Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint
files with no converting required.
Word
3 Editing
documents
Open a Word document for editing
and youre met with basic but useful
options for altering text and
paragraph structure, font size and
colour. Its also possible to insert a
table or image, though you cant
choose how text wraps around these
objects. Otherwise, its an easy-to-use
app, with intuitive menus and a
handy spellchecker.
3 Comprehensive
control
See the menu icon in the top-left of
the System management screen?
This displays extra tabs, where you
can control other speed-sapping
features, such as screen brightness, as
well as setting the volume for calls,
media and notifications. Theres also
integrated areas for uninstalling apps,
or moving them to an SD card.
le manager
2 The
Quickoffice includes its own
file manager, where you can browse
files stored on your Android device
and Google Drive account. Youre able
to create and delete folders, while
files can be renamed, cut and pasted.
The interface is even more userfriendly on a tablet, because in
landscape format there are three
browser panes rather than one.
a slideshow
4 Create
for PowerPoint
Tapping the + icon at the top of the
file manager is all it takes to open a
new PowerPoint presentation
template. Dont expect the sexy
transition and animation effects from
the full-blown desktop version to be
in this 14MB app, but simple layout
and content controls are great for
tweaking an existing presentation. Q
your
4 Preserve
battery
Now your apps are under control,
Jelly Bean should have got some of its
mojo back. But when you also need
to get the most from your battery,
check out Super Optimizes Battery
Management section. Here youll
find the apps eco mode, which
automatically disables Wi-Fi and
Bluetooth, as well as reducing data
synchronisation frequency.
33
PROTECT YOURSELF
FOR FREE
Discover how to use a free service from Google to locate, lock
and wipe stolen or lost smartphones and tablets
{ AT A GLANCE }
SKILL
Anyone can do it
TIME NEEDED
5 minutes
SUITABLE FOR
Android 2.3 and later
ADM
2 Activate
Click the little-used Google
Settings icon in your devices apps list.
Among other things to do with apps
and connected games, this enables
you to activate Android Device
Manager. Click this and tick the
Remote wipe and reset button. Grant
administrator rights to Android Device
Manager by clicking Activate.
devices visible
1 Make
Only devices that are visible to Google Play can be protected using
Android Device Manager, so open a browser on your mobile device or PC, surf
to http://play.google.com/settings and log in with your Google username and
password. Ensure that the devices to protect have a tick in their entry in the
Visibility column.
34
into ADM
3 Log
From a PC or other connected device, open a browser and surf to
www.google.com/android/devicemanager. For speed in an emergency, you
can bookmark this page. Log in if necessary using your Google account name
and password, and a map appears. If your device has its GPS receiver switched
off, the location is unavailable.
it ring
5 Make
If you happen to mislay your smartphone, hearing it ring can help you
locate it. As long as the device is switched on, you can make it ring at full
volume for five minutes by clicking the Ring button in Android Device
Manager. It uses a default ringtone and can be silenced by hitting the
smartphones power key.
up non-GPS devices
4 Set
You can still use Android Device Manager to help protect devices that
do not have a built-in GPS receiver, such as many cheaper models of tablet
computer. Simply go into your settings and select the Location services
section. Ensure that Googles location services is selected and then use the
tablet to surf.
your device
6 Lock
If your smartphone or tablet is stolen, you might worry that the current
password isnt strong enough. To strengthen it, click the Lock button in ADM.
Now enter a seriously long temporary password and confirm it to upload it to
your device. Remember to write it down because youll need it if the phone or
tablet is recovered.
your device
8 Protect
Finally, set up a password that
needs to be entered to unlock your
Android device. You dont have to
keep it password-protected in safe
locations such as your home, but
when out and about, you need to
protect it. If you dont, and your
device becomes lost or stolen,
all your secrets are accessible until
you can get to a web browser to
wipe the device. Q
the device
7 Wipe
For complete peace of mind, its a good idea to reset a stolen phone or
tablet to its factory condition before it becomes cracked, by removing all of
your pictures, videos, messages and settings. This is the job of the Erase button
in Android Device Manager. If the device is switched off, it will be erased when
it next boots up.
35
TRACK STOLEN
DEVICES
Keep tabs on your lost Android device and its
wrongful owner with the Cerberus app
{ AT A GLANCE }
SKILL
Anyone can do it
TIME NEEDED
10 minutes
SUITABLE FOR
Android 2.2 and above
USE CERBERUS
1 Install
The Cerberus app is available
on the Play Store and can be tried for
free for a week, after which it requires
a one-time licence fee of 2.99. You
can also download a hidden version of
the app, which masks Cerberus as
System Framework, from www.
cerberusapp.com/download.php.
36
device admin
2 Make
When you launch the app,
youre asked to create a user account
on the apps servers. After logging in,
youre prompted to give admin rights
to the app. If you dont do so, some of
the features, such as remote wipe and
password lock, wont be available.
SIM checker
3 Enable
To enable the app to notify
you when it detects a new SIM card,
you can provide it with up to three
phone numbers, where it will send
the alerts. You can also ask the app to
optionally send you other details
about the new SIM card and the
location of the device.
your device
5 Track
To control a stolen device, head to www.cerberusapp.com. From the
dashboard, you can select the missing device using a pull-down list. Cerberus
then connects to your device, enables the GPS and points out its current
location in Google Maps.
conguration
4 More
After the initial setup, launch
the app to configure its features. You
can use the remote wipe feature to
zap particular directories on the SD
card that hold sensitive data, for
instance. The app also enables you to
tweak the options for stealthily
capturing a photo of the user.
tabs
6 Keep
Use the Command pull-down menu to run an action on the device. You
can find more details about the perp by using the devices camera and
microphone to take his picture and record audio and video clips. You can also
see his recent call and SMS logs.
control
7 Remote
If you want to embarrass the
perp and make him suffer, you can
sound a siren or read aloud a custom
message. You can also lock the device
with a password and even reboot it.
You can also make it dial a number
with the speaker turned on.
wipe
8 Remote
If the data on the device is more valuable to you than the device itself,
you can ask Cerberus to remotely wipe your tablet or smartphones memory as
well as the data on the SD card. But remember to enable these features first,
before losing the device. Q
37
PROTECT YOUR
ACCOUNT
WITH 2-STEP
VERIFICATION
Keep all your les safe with this clever new feature from
Googles brainiest security bons
{ AT A GLANCE }
SKILL
Anyone can do it
TIME NEEDED
5 minutes
SUITABLE FOR
Any device
started
1 Get
Googles 2-Step Verification has to be enabled on the web. Go to www.
google.com/landing/2step and click on the Get Started button (which youll
see in a couple of spots on the page). It can be set up using many different
browsers, and from a variety of devices.
38
in again
2 Sign
On the next screen, click the Start setup button. Youre asked to log in
with your Google account. Youre still asked for it even if you think you are
logged in already for example, if your browser stores your account details on
a personalised homepage.
2-Step Verication
a verication code
3 Send
Youre asked to provide a phone number, which Google will use to send
your phone
4 Verify
On the next screen, youre asked to enter the number that should have
you a verification code. The box should already be populated with your phone
number if that information is stored in your Google account. Otherwise, type in
your number and press Send code.
come through to your phone as a text message containing six digits. Type the
code into the box and click Verify. If you didnt get the text message, click
Didnt get the code? and follow the instructions.
this computer
5 Trust
If you lose your phone, you might be able to access your account from a
trusted computer without needing a code. On this page, you can make the
machine youre using a trusted computer by keeping the box ticked. Only do
so if you trust everyone who can access it. Click the Next button.
back-up phone
7 Add
Because youve opted for higher security, Google recommends that you
add a back-up phone to avoid being locked out of your account. Click Add a
phone number, then type in a new number on the next screen remember to
choose a country code from the drop-down list then press the Save button.
veried
8 Youre
You can now access your account on untrusted devices. To rescind trust
of a computer, perhaps because youre replacing it, go to http://security.
google.com/settings/security. Click Edit next to 2-step verification, and choose
Remove it from your list of trusted computers under Advanced. Q
39
BACK UP YOUR
SMARTPHONE
Backups are a dull but necessary part of life. Heres how to
automate them to avoid disaster
{ AT A GLANCE }
SKILL
Anyone can do it
TIME NEEDED
15 minutes
SUITABLE FOR
Android 2.3 and later
40
MyBackup
1 Install
Search for MyBackup in
in root mode
2 Run
If MyBackup discovers that it
a local
3 Make
backup
a backup
4 Restore
Click MyBackups. Select the
backups
5 Manage
You can examine the content
a backup
6 Schedule
To automate backups, click
backups
7 Disable
You can disable the current
apps
8 Manage
You can clear the data stored
41
INSTALL FREE
ANTIVIRUS
Comprehensively protect your smartphone or tablet
using the bundled features of a free antivirus package
{ AT A GLANCE }
SKILL
Anyone can do it
TIME NEEDED
15 minutes
SUITABLE FOR
All Android phones and tablets
42
the app
1 Install
Open Googles Play Store and
2 Activation
Click the Open button and the
malware
3 Update
scanner
Before running an initial scan of the
device, you need to make sure you
update its virus definitions and
scanning engine. To do so, click
Protection and then click Update
Now. This action downloads any new
data and program updates that may
be available from AVG, and ensures
that you have the latest versions of
everything you need.
5 Investigate
any threats
the device
4 Scan
At the bottom of the main
menu, click Scan Now. The scan takes
a couple of minutes to complete. If it
finds anything it suspects of being
either malware or an insecure system
setting, a big red cross appears with
the number of threats it has found.
6 Congure
Auto-Scan
data use
7 Monitor
If your data bill is high, or you
your data
8 Wipe
If you ever decide to sell your
43
{ AT A GLANCE }
SKILL
Anyone can do it
TIME NEEDED
15 minutes
SUITABLE FOR
Android 4.1 onwards
your enemy
1 Know
AirPush adverts are ads that
appear as text-based notifications on
your smartphone. Generally, the sales
pitch is short and sweet, and they link
you to an external website. Theyre
indiscriminate and are generally
welcomed on to your Nexus if you
download an app that contains them.
44
is
2 Prevention
better than cure
If youre being besieged by AirPush
apps, youll naturally want to get rid of
them. The problem is, it isnt easy
working out which app is causing the
problem. It could potentially be any
one in your collection. As you read on,
well explore extermination, but first
lets discuss prevention.
hooky apps
3 Avoid
The most unscrupulous app
at reviews
4 Look
To help spot apps that might
at the apps
5 Look
permissions
Before you download an app, youre
given a list of permissions the app
wants. These are basically phone
features that it wants you to let it
access when its running. Its good
practice to read this list carefully and
questioningly. Why does that torch
app need access to the internet?
Avoid apps that demand any
unnecessary permissions.
air
7 Download
blocker
If you dont fancy finding and
entering all those details, you
can nuke ad-pushing apps by
downloading either AirPush Detector
or New Airpush Detector from
Google Play. Theyre free sniffer apps
that probe your phone for bad apps.
Try both, because when one fails the
other might sniff out the culprit.
out from
6 Opt
AirPush
One way to stop AirPush adds is to
register on the makers opt-out
register. To do this, nip off to www.
airpush.com/optout. There you can
enter your phones Electronic Serial
Number, International Mobile
Equipment Identity, and Mobile
Equipment Identifier. You might find
it easier to use a PC to do this job.
and delete
8 Scan
Both apps pack a similar
button labelled Scan. Tap it and in a
few seconds youre presented with a
list of apps which are guilty of
drawing in ads. Tap on one and then
youre taken to Androids own app
uninstall option. Tap on the source of
your problems, and then on OK.
Youre done! Q
45
Apped
46
Welcome
Welcome
Apped
Apped
Top 25 free-to-play games
48
We run through our favourite free games
25 essential Android apps
Our guide to what to download rst
54
Antivirus round-up
Protect your Nexus with these apps
60
47
Apped
Top
25
Free-to-play
games on
Android
48
Apped
W
1Reaper
Runner:
Football Dash
4 NFL
Apped
Find the clues to get through the locked door in You Must Escape
Simpsons:
Tapped Out
8The
9Real Racing 3
Learning
the free-toplay lingo
As youll no doubt have noticed, there are
quite a few odd phrases and words that
crop up when it comes to playing some of
the many free-to-play games that are
available to download from the Google
Play store. Some games have an endless
runner template, or theyre a city builder.
Some games have a distinct Trials-like
quality, and so on.
However, not everyone has played all of
these games, so to make the references
clearer, weve compiled a guide to a few of
the most common words youll come
across in free-to-play jargon.
50
1 Microtransaction
A word youll come across quite often.
Microtransactions exist to provide extra items and
unlock items that are inaccessible or only available
further into the game Many games include an
in-game currency (dollars, coins, gold and so on),
which exists to give you just enough free cash to
whet your appetite for further purchases.
runner
2 Endless
Endless running is a term first attributed to
the 2011 iOS game Temple Run. Designed by Keith
Shepherd and Natalia Luckyanova, it became a
massive hit on iOS, Android and Windows Phone.
Its even spawned many an imitator, including
Temple Guns, Temple Jump and Pyramid Run (to
name just three).
Apped
11Jetpack Joyride
3 Trials-like
The popular Trials games were originally a
builder
4 City
The city building genre goes way back into
5 Tile-swapping
Tile-swapping or tile-matching is a
sub-genre of gaming thats just as old and wizened
as city builders. Games such as Tetris (1984) and
Puzznic (1989) were some of the first to build
gameplay around a system of swapping coloured
tiles or bricks. Later iterations like Bejeweled (2001)
paved the way for titles such as Candy Crush Saga.
51
Apped
to move
1 Drag
Once the first whistle is blown and play is
to pass
2 Tap
Even at the slower pace of this Android
to shoot
3 Swipe
The one gesture everyone wants to know.
defensive!
4 Get
This is football, after all, so you wont have
14 Bejeweled Blitz
16Temple Run 2
17FIFA 14
Me:
Minion Rush
18Despicable
Apped
Feel the Force as you play as the Old Republic or the Empire in Angry Birds Star Wars II
disappear the moment you begin
moving the dot. Memorising the perfect
route is the key to success.
19
Angry Birds
Star Wars II
& Furious 6:
The Game
24 Fast
20Downhill Extreme
23Stickman Downhill
25Neon Motocross
Tricky Training
21
Apped
25 essential apps
GET STARTED:
25 ESSENTIAL
ANDROID APPS
If you dont know what to download
from the Play Store rst, look no further
38106
25 essential apps
ndroid is a terrific
mobile operating
system, but it can be a
bit confusing to know
where to start. And
once youve mastered the basics,
youll want to install some apps.
But there are so many thousands of
third-party apps available, its hard to
know what to download first. So
weve put together this list of top
apps to make it easier to decide what
you should be using. Theyre not all
for everybody, but all 25 have two
things in common they work really
well, and are from developers who
Chrome
Apped
Winamp
Swype Keyboard
Maps
55
Apped
25 essential apps
Evernote
Spotify
Dropbox
10
WhatsApp
Messenger
14
56
it
1 Download
Once youve found WhatsApp in Google
Play, touch Install to get the app on to your device.
Then tap Accept to agree to the apps permissions
and start your download. You need to give the app
permission to access your contacts, because its
these that WhatsApp uses otherwise you cant
use the app to communicate with anybody.
your contacts
2 View
Tapping Contacts enables you to see who
else you know is using WhatsApp. Any new
WhatsApp users also appear here, and they can
see that you are using WhatsApp, too. You can tap
any of them to begin a chat, which looks like the
screen here as you can see, youre able to send
and receive pictures as well.
25 essential apps
Feedly
11
Flickr
12
Apped
Last.fm
13
a message
3 Receiving
When you receive a WhatsApp message, it
to chats
4 Add
You can attach images to your chat using
your chats
5 See
Finally, you can view your past chats in the
Chats screen. The Chats screen shown here has
quite a few chats already yours will have none.
Your conversation history appears here any time
you chat with someone. To create a group chat,
press the Menu button and select New Group,
before giving it a subject or title.
57
Apped
25 essential apps
Kindle
15
Play
1 Introducing
Open Google Play from your Nexus devices
apps
2 Choosing
This is the main apps screen. Again, there
OnLive
16
Yelp
17
58
a magazine
4 Read
There are hundreds of magazines to browse
through on Google Play, and all are arranged by
category as well as popularity. They cost the same
or a little less than they do in the shops, but you
can subscribe, too, so youll never miss an issue of
your favourite title.
Endomondo
18
19
25 essential apps
Apped
Layar
20
WordPress
22
Google Play
Music is a
good-looking
aural treat
Google+
24
Foursquare
21
TED
23
TED provides
edifying talks
from the worlds
finest minds
25
Apped
Antivirus round-up
Avast! Mobile
Security Premium
2 per month or 12 per year Manufacturer www.avast.com
Includes Antivirus scanning, anti-theft, backup, app locking, privacy advisor,
SMS and call filtering, firewall, network monitor
+++++
TrendMicro Mobile
Security & Antivirus
14.95 Manufacturer www.trendmicro.co.uk
Includes Antivirus scanner, data theft scanner, anti-theft, parental controls,
SMS and call filtering, 50Gb of cloud back-up space
60
+++++
Antivirus round-up
Apped
AVG Antivirus
Security Pro
9.49 Manufacturer www.avg.com
Includes Antivirus scanning, anti-theft including camera trap, SMS and call
blocking, web filtering, performance monitor, power saving, app passwords
+++++
Norton Mobile
Security
30.74 Manufacturer www.norton.com
Includes Antivirus scanning, anti-theft,
backup, web protection
+++++
61
Rated
62
Welcome
Welcome
Rated
Rated
Nexus 5
64
Our rst look at the new Google phone
Nexus 7 2013
68
A brilliant bargain buy like the original?
Nexus 10
Does it still have what it takes?
72
63
Rated
Nexus 5
Nexus 5
The best Android smartphone on the market today? Well, theres not a lot against it
Price 299 / $339
Manufacturer
www.google.co.uk/nexus/5/
Operating system
Android 4.4. KitKat
Screen
4.95-inch IPS LCD
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 2.26GHz
RAM
2GB
Storage
16GB/32GB
Cameras
8MP with OIS/1.3MP
Battery
2,300mAh
Video
Full HD 1080p (30fps)
Connectivity
Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac,
dual-band, NFC, 4G
Sound
3.5mm headphone
DIMENSIONS
Height
137.9mm
Width
69.2mm
Depth
8.6mm
Screen
4.95-inch
Weight
130g
THE GOOD
Low price
Fast processor
Latest OS
THE BAD
Suspect battery life
No external memory
Plastic build
64
Nexus 5
Rated
Three apps
for Nexus 5
MX Player
A superb video player that
can handle all manner of file
types, plus it has easy-touse controls.
PlayerPro
A more visual music player,
offering lock screen widgets
and clever album
art grabbing.
Real Racing 3
Console-quality graphics on
your phone really push the
powerful Adreno processor
in the new Nexus.
65
Rated
Nexus 5
Sound hound
Media is also a key consideration for Google,
given that this phone is subsidised mostly to
allow users to gain easy access to its Google
Play store, buying lots of content to bolster the
search giants coffers.
The music and video apps on the Nexus 5
arent the most powerful or easy to glide
through to get to your content, because theyre
so deeply fused with videos and music gleaned
or streamed from Google Play.
However, in a way, thats the beauty of
Googles naked Android offering you can
choose to use the basic on-board apps, but
Is it a must-have?
The Google Nexus 5 should be right at
the top of your list when considering
buying a top-end smartphone, and not
just because it comes with a really low
price although 299 for a phone that
rivals the iPhone or HTC One for power
cant be sniffed at.
The latest version of Android is a really
good step forward, refining an already
polished OS and giving users of HTC
and Samsung, with their heavier skins,
something to think about. This is a light
and refreshing user interface, and while
its slightly devoid of functionality in a few
places (not being able to restart the
phone from the power button, for
example), its slick and easy to navigate.
The icons and design updates, including
transparent bars at the top and bottom,
make the user experience much more
holistic, and the improved speed through
hardware and software is stunning.
We do think some people will struggle
with only 16GB of on-board storage and
no expandable slot, as apps are getting
larger these days and media is more
popular than ever. You can stream the
latter from the cloud, but users still enjoy
tangibility with their digital entertainment.
But overall, this is something of a
triumph from the LG/Google combination.
A superb processor, low price and decent
build make for a phone that the more
considerate buyer should be thinking
about as a strong alternative to the
Samsung Galaxy S4 or HTC One. Q
Nexus 5
Rated
9 reasons
to buy the
Nexus 5
1 Low price
The bargain price makes it a
no-brainer if you want a
superphone on a budget.
2 Great display
The screen makes movies
look pin sharp and colours
are well reproduced, leading
to impressive performance.
3 Audio output quality
Often overlooked, the sound
is decent here, too, with rich
tones and subtle bass.
4 Up to date
The Nexus range will always
get the latest version of
Android first, so the 5 is a
futureproofed handset.
5 Online storage
Integration with the cloud
makes it easy to attach files
from Dropbox/Google Drive.
6 Android KitKat
The new OS is less obtrusive,
enabling you to focus your
full attention on whatever
youre doing.
7 Going large
Full-screen wallpapers make
the most of the large and
expansive screen.
8 Power play
A strong GPU enables you
to play really high-power
games with a reduction in
the cost to your battery life.
9 Office work
Higher integration with
QuickOffice makes it a good
tool for business users, too.
67
Rated
Nexus 7 2013
Nexus 7 2013
The original Nexus 7 was a brilliant bargain buy can the revamped version keep up?
Price 199 / $270
Manufacturer
Google/Asus
Operating system
Android 4.3
Screen
1,920 x 1,080
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon
S4Pro 1.5GHz quad-core
RAM
2GB
Storage
16GB/32GB
Cameras
5MP/1.2MP
Battery
3,950mAh
Video
1080p
Connectivity
USB, Wi-Fi
Sound
3.5mm headphone
DIMENSIONS
Height
198.5mm
Width
120mm
Depth
10.5mm
Screen
7-inch
Weight
340g
THE GOOD
Easy to hold in one hand or two
Affordably priced
Durable build
Fast performance
Strong battery life
High density display excellent
for reading
THE BAD
Comes with 6GB of space
already occupied
No longer the dirt cheap option
Colours are slightly inaccurate
No 64GB option
68
Nifty Nexus
Its thinner and lighter than before (200 x 114 x
8.7mm and 290g, compared to 198.5 x 120 x
10.5mm and 340g). Eagle-eyed mathematicians
will notice there is a slight height increase, but its
negligible in practice.
On the original Nexus, there was a plastic trim
around the bezel, painted to look like metal; here
its gone. This is an all-black device. The screen
just blends into the sides, which curve round to
create an uninterrupted back panel. And if we
had to find fault, it would be with this bit.
Firstly, the bezels have been shrunk right down
to make the screen almost extend to the edges.
But this fact makes it difficult to hold the Nexus 7,
because the natural act of curling your hand
around the tablet and resting your thumb on
the bezel is now impossible without touching
the screen as well, and causing all kinds of
annoyances. Instead, you have to rethink how
you hold the tablet.
Altogether, this is a solid device. Where the
original Nexus sometimes felt like a compromise
due to the price (issues of light bleed and
creakiness on the left-hand side were common
complaints), this feels like a premium, well-puttogether piece of kit, which should command
more than the measly amount Google is asking.
This is definitely most apparent when you see
the screen. The only word that really fits here is
Fly me a river
As for the performance, boy does this baby fly.
Last time, we got excited by Project Butter a
piece of Android code that would revolutionise
our lives by making everything run smoother
and quicker.
But it wasnt as great as it sounded. Anyone
with a creaking original Nexus 7 will tell you that
Project Butter cant work miracles.
The optimisations of Android 4.3 are a different
matter altogether. Mixed in with that 1.5GHz
quad-core Krait CPU, Qualcomm Snapdragon S4
Pro chipset and 2GB of RAM, there is little you
can do to make the new Nexus 7 stall.
Games and apps load in a flash and you can
swipe between screens, littered with widgets,
and not encounter the slightest stutter. Its
amazing. Multi-tasking is handled with ease its
all done via one of the three on-screen soft
buttons youll find throughout the OS. We had
more than 20 apps open at the same time and
encountered no problems whatsoever. The
Nexus 7 is hard to beat in this respect.
We have to hand it to Asus and Google here. It
may be sorcery we wont pry too much but
they have managed to pull off the impossible
here. They have shrunk the battery size, and yet
seem to have improved battery life compared to
the previous iteration.
From 4,325mAh to 3,950mAh, on paper at
least, we thought theyd taken leave of their
senses. But it just goes to show how much the
software influences the energy spend that the
Nexus 7 seems to just go. And go. And go. And
go. In real-world usage, results will vary it
depends what youre using your tablet for but
we found that when testing, we were using the
Nexus 7 nearly all day.
Storage strife
What you might feel disappointed with, however,
is the storage issue. You wont find a Nexus 7
with anything more than 32GB of space and
remember, Google doesnt do external memory
these days. In its efforts to push us all on to the
cloud, youre stuck with what Google deems to
be adequate.
And as weve become used to with mobile
devices, that 32GB on the box doesnt mean you
Nexus 7 2013
Rated
Three apps
for Nexus 7
Stick Cricket
Super Sixes
Giving the worlds best
bowlers a good tonk to cow
corner never looked better
than on the Nexus 7.
Sky Sports
Mobile TV
Watch your favourite sports
channels with this top app.
BBC Good
Food Recipes
Turn your Nexus into a
domestic deity with this top
app for foodies.
69
Rated
Nexus 7 2013
Snap happy
The camera is obviously an aside rather than a
key selling point for the Nexus 7. In fact, there
are two cameras here: 1.2MP on the front (for
video calls and selfies), and 5MP around the
back. Considering the lack of a rear camera was
one of the criticisms levelled at the original
Nexus 7, the fact that Google and Asus have
Nexus 7 2013
Rated
9 reasons
to buy the
Nexus 7
1 Improved screen
With a whopping pixel
density and full HD panel,
the Nexus 7 really takes the
fight to its 7-inch rivals.
2 Top build
Sturdy and strong, the Nexus
can handle anything you can
throw at it.
3 Better design
The all-black finish means
the new Nexus 7 looks great.
4 Long battery
Even though the new Nexus
is smaller, it manages to pack
an even bigger battery.
5 Smooth Android
Finally, an Android
experience that feels
perfect. A joy to use.
6 Get 4.3
The Nexus is geared up with
the latest Android, and will
be among the first to get
Android 4.4 as well.
7 Google Play
The Nexus 7 brings Google
Plays movies and downloads
to the homescreen and is
great for movie lovers.
8 Top apps
Google Play is really
exploding with some great
new apps, which work
brilliantly on the Nexus
9 Top services
Check out the array of apps
included with the Nexus 7,
and youll see its a true
companion for everyday life
71
Rated
Nexus 10
Nexus 10
Does the relatively ageing Nexus 10 still have what it takes in the cut-throat tablet world?
Price 319 / $399
Manufacturer
Google/Samsung
Operating system
Android 4.2
Screen
2,560 x 1,600
Processor
1.7GHz dual-core
RAM
2GB
Storage
16GB/32GB
Cameras
1.9MP/5MP
Battery
9,000mAh
Video
1080p
Connectivity
Micro USB, Micro HDMI, Wi-Fi,
Bluetooth, NFC
Sound
3.5mm headphone
DIMENSIONS:
Height
263.9mm
Width
177.6mm
Depth
8.9mm
Screen
10-inch
Weight
603g
THE GOOD
Powerful processor
High-res screen
Android 4.2
THE BAD
No 3G/4G option
No expandable storage
Muted colours for media
72
Speeding ahead
The Google Nexus 10s 2GB of RAM is double
that of the iPad 4, Asus Transformer Pad Infinity
or the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1. While its only
a dual-core device, each core is clocked at
1.7GHz, which is just about the fastest weve
come across on a tablet, trampling all over the
poor Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 with its mere
1GHz dual-core processor.
It also comes with Bluetooth 3.0 and NFC
support, although the former spec isnt the
low-power sensor technology we expect to
come on most devices these days.
The Nexus 10 comes with an enormous
9,000mAh Lithium polymer battery, promising
nine hours of video, seven hours of web
browsing, or 90 hours of music.
In theory, that gives it slightly more juice than
a Nexus 7 but possibly slightly less than the iPad
4, with its monstrous 11,666mAh battery.
Unfortunately, much like the iPad 4, the
battery in the Google Nexus 10 cant be
removed. So you dont have the option to swap
in a spare one when it runs down, while if it ever
wears out, youre out of luck.
Following suit from the Nexus 7, the front of
the device is a single sheet of glass, with no
buttons to spoil the lines. Weve mentioned how
jaw-dropping the display resolution is, but its
worth noting that it has superb viewing angles,
too. We tried looking at it in every conceivable
position and from different distances, and the
display was always clear and sharp.
It even fares well in bright sunlight; well, the
brightest we can find in gloomy autumn. It
became harder to see but never became totally
washed out. Plus you can turn the brightness up
high, which helps burn through the glare.
Its not a total victory though, because while
the resolution is unparalleled, the contrast
between colours is a bit muted theyre never as
bright or deep as they could be, especially if
youve seen the amazing Super AMOLED HD
screen on the Samsung Galaxy S3.
Theres a black border around the display that
you can rest your thumbs on and a narrow
speaker running the length of each shorter side.
The 1.9-megapixel front camera lens can be
found in the middle of one of the longer sides,
Nexus 10
Rated
Three apps
for Nexus 10
Stick It!
This app enables you to
watch videos in a window,
while you use other apps on
your Nexus tablet.
Antek Explorer
As an Android user, you
can use file explorers to
manage your tablet
properly, and this one is
the best.
Thumb Keyboard
Type while holding your
Nexus 10 with this superb
keyboard replacement app.
73
Rated
Nexus 10
Premium potential?
Its not just the plastic shell that lets it down,
because the rounded shape makes it look a bit
childish like a my first tablet. And while were
on the subject of the plastic shell, the Nexus 7
was plasticky as well, but the mottled, slightly
soft back on that was far more aesthetically
pleasing than this, and felt nicer to hold as well.
Thats not the Google Nexus 10s only
problem either, because with no micro SD card
slot, theres no option for expandable storage.
Sure, the iPad 4 doesnt have that either, but
micro SD support has always been one of the
key differentiators between Android and iOS
although Google has always been against it
on the Nexus brand, so we werent hopeful it
would pop up here.
Its arguably a bigger problem here than on a
phone, too, because tablets are all about media
consumption, so its expected that youll be
loading it up with films, music and games.
32GB will still probably be enough for most
people, but the 16GB version may quickly start
to feel limiting. In any case, its a not an
unexpected omission, but with such a walletpleasing price tag, its far from a deal breaker.
The Google Nexus 10 has a 5-megapixel
camera, along with a secondary 1.9-megapixel
front-facing snapper. As ever, were really not
sure how useful having a camera on a tablet is.
The front-facing camera makes some sense as
it could be used for Skype and other webcam
stuff, but we have trouble envisaging anyone
taking their tablet out to snap pictures. If
anything, the front camera should get a boost
in quality, even if it meant dropping the
megapixel count on the rear.
Using the Nexus 10 has done nothing to
change our minds about the usefulness of a
74
Play time
Movies and books each have their own
apps, in the form of Play Movies and Play
Books. These are primarily players, but
there are also links in them to the
relevant parts of Google Play for all your
purchasing needs, and they work well.
The Play Movies app displays images
of all your side-loaded videos, along
with information, such as the run time
and a synopsis. It also displays
suggestions for things to buy or rent
that may or may not be a good
thing, depending on your outlook,
but its not very intrusive.
The Google Nexus 10 comes with
a pretty hefty 9,000mAh lithium
polymer battery. But although its a
big battery, its also got a big
screen to power slightly bigger
even than an iPads. Google and
Samsung are claiming that it will
offer nine hours of video, seven
hours of web browsing, or 90
hours of music. Theyre all pretty
solid figures and in general the
performance matched them.
For general use, the battery
performed admirably, seeing
out a day or more with a mix
of web browsing, reading,
listening to music and taking
a few photos and videos.
Thats with it on all day, and
emails and Facebook
updates being pushed to it.
Just what we want. Q
Nexus 10
Rated
9 reasons
to nab a
Nexus 10
1 Screen
With a pixel density of
300ppi compared with the
iPads 264ppi, the Nexus 10 is
the only tablet so far that has
managed to compete with
Apple on screen quality.
2 Speed
The quad-core processor
beating away at the heart
of the Nexus 10 is a real
powerhouse.
3 Google Play
Googles online app store is
thriving, and easily competes
with Apples rival store.
4 Cost
At 80 less than its closest
rival, the iPad 4, the Nexus 10
is a real bargain.
5 Android 4.2
The Nexus 10 comes with
Android 4.2 Jelly Bean out of
the box.
Gorilla Glass
Cornings screen glass is
extra tough, which makes
the Nexus 10 super robust
and likely to survive pretty
much anything.
6
7 NFC
Its really easy to
communicate with other
devices, thanks to the
Nexuss near-field
communication technology.
Good camera
The snapper on the front is
a 1.9MP model, which is
great for when you want to
chat with your friends or
far-flung family.
8
9 MicroUSB
Top connectivity options
mean that you can plug
various USB devices into
your Nexus tablet to make it
even more useful.
75
VOLUME 13
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