Sony Xperia E5: Review

INTRODUCTION
After the popularity of my last phone review, I have looked in-depth at my latest handset – the Sony Xperia E5. After two years with the trusty EE Kestrel, I finally upgraded to a new model – and overall, I am very pleased. There is intense competition in the £130-200 range when it comes to smartphones. However, for around £140, the Sony Xperia E5 is good value.

KEY FEATURES
First of all, this is of course part of the Sony Xperia range. This is not a brand you would be ashamed of showing off, with in my opinion Sony handsets proving the most attractive Android phones on the market. While the E5 is the budget version in the Xperia range, on appearance, it is difficult to distinguish from its parent models. The camera, as you would expect, is impressive. The rear camera is 13MP, with the front camera offering 5MP resolution. There is 16GB internal storage, which can be supplemented with the use of an SD card. With 1.5GB in RAM, there isn’t much waiting around, the processor is very quick and offers a strong user interface. The Android system runs seamlessly on the phone.

INTERFACE
The E5 follows the interface of the Xperia model. The Android operating system runs, meaning Google runs prominently. The phone can be synchronised with your Google account, which is useful. The Google Play store offers many applications to run. There is easy access to key areas of the phone, with the homescreen editable to make it personal. Following the rest of the Xperia range, it has a fantastic, easy-to-use interface.

INTERNET BROWSING
Since upgrading to the E5, this was certainly one of the areas that I have noticed the biggest improvement in. Internet browsing is both quick and easy. Google Chrome is built in, while there is also a native browser. 4G is enabled, meaning loading times are typically quick. This is definitely one of the key areas of the E5.

COMPETITORS
In many E5 reviews, it is suggested that just for a few pounds extra, you can get the Motorola Moto G. While this is commonly seen as the market leader for the budget smartphone range, there are some drawbacks. Following the iPhone, the Moto G continues to get bigger, and while the E5 is large, it doesn’t get out of control. By all means the Moto G appears to be an impressive phone, but I would take an Xperia over it any day. There are also a range of cheap smartphones coming over from China and Japan. These are both impressive and offer good value. These are likely to come to the fore more in forthcoming years. Of course, Lumia’s, the ever-improving Wileyfox and Huawei offer further choice. Then there is the EE Harrier – the natural successor to the EE Kestrel.

DRAWBACKS
You get a lot for your money, there is no doubt about that. Perhaps the one area that could’ve been improved was battery life. Battery life was supposedly one of the strong points of the phone, however I have found that the battery isn’t too impressive. And while 16GB storage is ample, some phones at this price range offer 32GB – double. Aside from these two concerns, it is a very good choice.

CONCLUSION
Overall, this is a very good phone. The Sony Xperia range is an impressive one, and is highly fashionable too. It is a highly competitive market that this phone is in, but it is a sound choice. A stylish, powerful phone with a strong interface – this is a very good option to take. I hope you’ve found this review helpful.

Rating – 4.5/5

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Acer Aspire Switch 10: Review

INTRODUCTION
With hybrid tablet/laptop devices very much in fashion at the moment, for anyone looking to purchase a reasonably-priced option, the Acer Aspire Switch 10 is one worth looking at. Available at below £300 and capable of completing a high amount of tasks, this is a strong option.

DESIGN
With the detachable keyboard included, it means that this can work as both a laptop and a tablet. Removing the keyboard is very easy, as is applying it. The tablet is average size in line with what is expected, with the keyboard slightly smaller than a general laptop keyboard, but the spaced out keys and optimal design are impressive and allow easy adaptability.

WINDOWS 8.1 & MICROSOFT OFFICE
Perhaps what is most interesting is that it offers a full, 32-bit version of Windows 8.1. Having this operating system works well on the tablet. Any x86 application can be ran, with another huge plus having Microsoft Office included – something that can cost over £100 on its own. With Intel included, it results in a strong performance.

PERFORMANCE
While I mentioned that Intel plays a part in the tablet, there is only a certain amount it can do. Compared to other hybrids such as the Microsoft Surface, there is a noticeable difference in the two. The battery is strong, with 3-4 hours in reality. The tablet can sometimes struggle to complete too many tasks at once – it certainly isn’t a laptop, that is something to remember. If you are someone who wants to work on multiple tasks at once, this probably isn’t the most sensible option for you. The media element is very strong for the tablet, with streaming of high quality.

FEATURES
As mentioned, Microsoft Office – which includes Excel, Powerpoint, Word and OneNote, comes pre-loaded on the tablet. A downside is some Acer bloatware, which takes up some of the 32GB of data. But with this hybrid comes a high quality device which is sure to entertain.

PRICE
Under £300, with the general price between £270 and £300. Available from a wide range of stores and online, including John Lewis and Amazon.

VERDICT
The Acer Aspire witch 10 is certainly not a laptop or computer, and it is far away quality-wise from the Microsoft Surface. However, this is a hybrid that is highly portable, excellent value for money, and useful for the casual user of a laptop. I am yet to encounter a problem with it and would highly recommend this product.

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Life After Life: An Interesting read

Having just completed Raymond A. Moody’s timeless classic “Life After Life”, I feel more philosophical than ever! Life After Life was first published in 1975, focusing on the endless question – what happens when we die? With the advancements of Science in recent times, the practice of religion seems to be on the decline. With many believing that there is no life after death, this book gave me plenty to think about. The book is essentially recounting the stories of over 100 people who have technically been declared “dead”, only to have gone on to lived.

Some of the more interesting accounts from those considered “dead”, included being able to see their lifeless body. One of the best accounts was of a patient who had been aware of an item placed on a cupboard after they were given anaesthetic. The patient was due to have an operation – the question was how did the patient see the item if they were out cold. The patient said that they had been floating above their body.

Many other accounts included being able to see a “bright light” or a “tunnel.” This is something often heard – that when a person “dies”, they often see a bright light. Many also spoke of the peace they felt – it certainly sounds nice. Others revealed that they also saw their deceased loved ones. Perhaps what was most remarkable was how consistent the stories were with each other.

Of course life after death is something we will never know certainly exists. Many sceptics call the idea of Heaven a “coping mechanism” – an idea pioneered by Sigmund Freud. Although there seems to be a lack of belief of the afterlife – the stories in this book are enough to get anyone thinking about the ideas explored. Near death experiences are fascinating to hear about – this groundbreaking book is a must read for anyone interested in philosophy!

“It is research like Dr Moody presents in his book that will enlighten many and will confirm what we have been taught for two thousand years – that there is life after death.”
-Elizabeth Kubler Ross

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EE Kestrel: Review

INTRODUCTION
With the 4G mobile network becoming increasingly popular – the EE Kestrel is becoming a much more popular choice for consumers. It is known to be the cheapest 4G phone on the market. While it may not have the appeal of the latest iPhone model or Sony Xperia – it still has a lot going for it – making it a very suitable choice for anyone considering a new phone.

KEY FEATURES
Perhaps the biggest draw to the EE Kestrel is the fact it supports 4G. The phone is available on Pay-as-you-go for as little as £90 – making it a very cheap 4G option. The phone is also available on contract from £12.99/month – a much cheaper option than the iPhone. There is a camera on both the front and back of the phone – with the back camera ideal for scenic shots with its 5mp shot – while the front camera is still ideal for the use of close-up pictures, including “selfies.” There is approximately 3GB of storage for the user – which offers plenty of space for all sorts of applications. The loading times of applications are impressive also – it is a very quick phone. Although the battery isn’t anything to write home about, it is still impressive and will allow the phone to run for many hours before the need of charging. There are also different battery settings – such as “endurance” mode for when the battery is low.

INTERFACE
The Kestrel is easy to run – with this one of the easiest smartphones to function – also making it ideal as a first smartphone. There is no set homepage, with the menu easily accessible to the left, with the easy “swipe” function. However if this doesn’t suit the user, then the easy customizing option helps to set the phone up just how the user wants it. There is easy access to messaging services, Google applications and any downloaded applications from the user.

INTERNET BROWSING
One of the big draws to the Kestrel is the positive Internet browsing experience. The Kestrel offers both a native browser, plus Google Chrome. Both browsers work very well, making it easy to operate on both. The advancements in phone browsing can be summed perfectly by the Kestrel – with the two browsers very simple to use.

COMPETITORS
The market for low-cost 4G phones is highly competitive. However, the Kestrel seems to be easily winning the battle at the moment. Its main competitors are the Motorola Moto G, Nokia Lumia 520 and the Huawei Ascend G6. Although all three of the mentioned phones work well, the Kestrel trumps them for 4G performance – however all three do act as suitable alternatives for anyone looking for a cheap 4G phone.

CONCLUSION
Although it isn’t the most fashionable smartphone – the EE Kestrel is a very good phone to use. With the offer of 4G and plenty of internal memory, the phone can cater for many audiences. Anyone who wants a cheap smartphone should look no further than this phone.

Rating – 4.5/5

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The Simpsons: Simpsorama

The latest episode from the long-running TV series was “Simpsorama” – a crossover between The Simpsons and Futurama. For 26 seasons now The Simpsons has been running, even to this day it still has a large cult following. This was the 558th episode of The Simpsons, the first to feature a crossover with Futurama. Matt Groening created both series. The episode saw the two sets of characters join forces to save the future of the world.

As a fan of both series, I personally was pleased to here of the two combining with each other for the one-off episode. There were the usual comedic elements that both shows are famed for, while it was also interesting to watch the two sets of characters alongside each other. As mentioned, the Futurama characters had to come back in time to try and put the future back in order. The two sides succeeded together, before the Futurama characters went back to the future. Futurama has finished as a series, but The Simpsons is still going strong.

I also wanted to discuss The Simpsons as a TV program. It is remarkable that after all this time – and well over 500 episodes, that the series is still excelling so well. There aren’t many more programs that have made as many people laugh as The Simpsons has done. They come up with new material every time and although they continue to provide humour for those watching the show. It looks as if there isn’t much stopping The Simspons – it will continue to entertain for years to come. In its 26th season, there is no timetable for it to finish, with the possibility that many more seasons are to follow. Whatever happens, The Simpsons will always be considered one of the greatest TV shows of all time.

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