I don't carry a point and shoot camera and rely on my smartphone for photos, probably more than I really should. Last month we read that the Chicago Sun-Times fired its photographer and I agreed with statements that great photos are about more than just having a camera available.

Great photography requires practice, skill, and proper technique and can indeed be performed with cameras on smartphones. Microsoft recently partnered with the folks at We Are Juxt to engage in a Windows Phone challenge where Nokia Lumia 920 devices were used exclusively to capture photos and showcase the results.

As you can see in the Flickr library these photographers were able to capture some amazing images using the Nokia Lumia 920. After viewing these photos, my feeling that great photography is more than just the camera was confirmed.

To help those of us who want to improve on our ability to capture good photos with our camera phones, you can find several tips for Windows Phone articles on the We Are Juxt site. One of my favorites is this tutorial that shows how to edit a shot with various applications available on WP. BTW, one of my favorite Windows Phone photo applications is Camera360, available for free.

PCMag conducted extensive real-world testing around the country using three Ford hybrid-electric vehicles with eight identical Samsung phones to test out the four major carriers. They were focused on wireless data and did not test call quality, dropped calls, or coverage areas. I don't make many calls myself and find wireless data to be more essential for my smartphone usage.

It's pretty clear that AT&T wins when it comes to LTE speeds while Verizon tended to win in the reliability testing. T-Mobile's LTE network is new and fast where you can find it, but they do have one of the fastest backups with their 42Mbps HSPA+ network. Sprint didn't win in any cities, but their LTE coverage is expanding.

30 cities were covered by the testing team and you can read the specific results for each city and by regions around the country. AT&T and Verizon are the most expensive carriers, but as you can see in the test results you get what you pay for in most cases.

T-Mobile is my primary wireless carrier and I love that I only pay $130 per month for five phones with the flexibility to buy the phones I want when I want. I've been saving for a Nokia Lumia 925, but T-Mobile just announced that the Sony Xperia Z is coming soon and that phone looks like an excellent option as well.

Other carriers have Xperia Z variants, but T-Mobile will get the Xperia Z as an exclusive in the next couple of weeks. There is no pricing information available yet, but it will be offered on the Simple Choice Plan with no contract.

The Sony Xperia Z has a 5-inch 1080p HD Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2 technology for enhanced brightness and clarity, a 13-megapixel camera with Exmor RS for Mobile, and water-resistant design.

I am still a huge fan of my T-Mobile HTC One and that design is tough to beat. I hope to test the Xperia Z and bring you some hands-on experiences.

Related stories

• T-Mobile HTC One: World's best smartphone on US best value major carrier

• T-Mobile's new Simple Choice plans cut my monthly 5-line plan by $80

• T-Mobile's non-subsidy strategy stops the $20/month carrier scam

• T-Mobile USA kills traditional cell contracts in subscriber boost bid

• T-Mobile USA launches rapid LTE expansion across US

• iPhone finally arrives on T-Mobile USA: Better late than never?

As you can see in the following comparison screenshots, the iPhone version of Office Mobile offers the exact same functionality as Windows Phone. I don't have a WP8 device at the moment and understand it has been updated over the WP7.8 device I used so it looks the same as the iOS version of Office Mobile. I personally find the UI elements to actually be improved on the iPhone. Performance is excellent on both platforms while the iPhone continues to lead in display performance for things such as pinch to zoom.

While it is great to see an official Microsoft Office Mobile client for the iPhone, other applications are still more functional and powerful. I wrote about several Office alternatives and prefer Quickoffice Pro and the Apple iWorks suite (Pages, Numbers, and Keynote).

Office Mobile for the iPhone, and for Windows Phone too, isn't really designed for you to create lots of native Office documents on your phone. However, the software is well designed for basic editing of existing documents without destroying the original document format and design. You won't find things like bullets and numbering in Word or original PowerPoint creation, but these things can be edited when you start with an existing document.

I look forward to seeing if Microsoft offers an improved Office Mobile experience for the iPad where we have a larger display with external keyboard solutions.

After a photo and more details of the HTC One Mini appeared last night, I posted some thoughts on these new small Androids and speculated that we might be seeing a trend to people using a smaller phone and a compact tablet. A short time later, Reuters posted that Apple could be considering 4.7-inch and 5.7-inch displays for the next iPhone.

Before an actual iPhone announcement, there will be a ton of speculation, and it is not unexpected that Apple is looking at all sorts of different sizes and designs. The iPhone 5 has a 4-inch display and I personally find the size nearly perfect for one-handed use while still being large enough for apps to be very usable.

I do like large phones and would probably purchase a larger iPhone, but there is still something to be said for having a device small enough to use with one hand and fit into the pocket of any person. I am not convinced that Apple will jump from 4 inches all the way up to 4.7 or 5.7 inches.

Apple already has a solution for those looking to spend more time browsing the Internet and enjoying video content on a larger display in the iPad Mini. If Apple decides to launch a large display iPhone, I think they need to still offer a 4-inch model.

I personally would like to see improvements in the camera (better low-light performance), longer battery life, NFC, and continued metal construction. Actually, it is tough for me to come up with too many improvements in the iPhone, but I would love to hear what else people think can be done to improve Apple's smartphone.

Sometimes we see things and have discussions that are under NDA, but I have no information on this rumored HTC One Mini. That said, I am pleased to see such a product since I think there is a market for these smaller, more pocketable devices.

The iPhone 5 is very successful and it is one of the smallest smartphones available. It wasn't that long ago when we thought 4.3 inch devices were massive and now we see 4.8 to 5.5 inch smartphones launching as flagship devices.

I carry an HTC One daily and it fits my hand and pocket perfectly so I won't be buying an HTC One Mini. However, my wife finds the HTC One a bit too large and I think the Mini, along with the Galaxy S4 Mini, may appeal to women and those with smaller hands.

The HTC One Mini looks a lot like the HTC One with dual front-facing stereo speakers and metal body. The display may be 720p rather than 1080p, likely matching the resolution of the HTC First. There may not be an IR port, which is something I use daily on my HTC One, and the processor may be a dual-core model.

As the popularity in smaller seven and eight inch tablets increases, we may be seeing a trend to smaller phones with the tablet being used for data and the phones for communication needs. I just sold my Note II as I found it was just too big to be carried in my pocket daily and I think sub-5 inches is my preference.

Apple Insider has a post describing the new iOS 7 camera and photo features and I wanted to offer a comparison to what is available now on the HTC One since that Android phone is also focused on the imaging experience.

Camera applications

As the Apple Insider article states, Apple is adding the ability to apply nine image filters to the camera before photos are taken. On the HTC One there are 15 available image filters and some of these have slider bars to customize the affect of the effect. iPhone 4 and 4S owners who upgrade to iOS 7 can only apply these filters later in the Photos app and not in the camera app.

In addition to still images and video, one reason I use my HTC One more than my iPhone 5 is for the Zoe 3-second video clips that capture more of the moment. There doesn't look to be any of this type of capability in iOS 7.

Another function in the HTC One is the wide angle front facing camera that is quite handy for including yourself in images. We may see such a camera in the next generation iPhone so the imaging experience with iOS 7 may partially depend on the hardware to be announced.

Photos/Gallery applications

Apple also improves their Photos app by grouping photos according to date and location with the intent to make it easier to find photos in your image gallery. The HTC One Gallery app also does this with organization via albums, some automatically created, events, and locations. I primarily keep my Gallery with the Events toggle on since HTC does a good job of grouping photos with date, location, and time frame data so that distinct events accurately reflect my life.

Beyond just grouping photos into these distinct events, the HTC One automatically creates Highlight Videos composed of photos, Zoes, and videos that you can easily share with family and friends via Facebook, YouTube, and more. You always have the option to manually create specific events to generate custom Highlight Videos as well. I expected Apple to come up with something like this since this feature has had a major impact on my decision to use the HTC One for most all of my photo and video needs.

In addition to advanced photo organization and automatic content generation, the Gallery editing tools on the HTC One are much more advanced than what you find in the iOS Photos app. iPhoto approaches what the HTC One does natively (iPhoto is a paid app), but take a look at my photo editing comparison to see how much more you can do on the HTC One.

Photo services

With the iPhone and iOS you can view photos you capture or sync to your iPhone from your computer, shared photos, and albums, but there is no place to show photos from other services. To view photos on other services, such as Flickr and Facebook, you have to launch those specific applications. You can configure services like Dropbox to save your photos to their servers and I recommend that you do since there are storage limits on iCloud that require manual management to avoid automatic deletion.

With the HTC One, other Android and Windows Phone devices too, you can configure photo services so that these photos also appear in your image gallery. I prefer this so that I can easily enjoy and further share photos from family and friends. I was hoping to see some service integration in iOS 7, but from what we have seen so far that is not coming.

It is great to see Apple improving the Camera and Photos applications in iOS 7, but there is still a lot of work to do. If you have a focus on imaging and photos, there are other better choices available and I would argue that the HTC One is one of the best imaging-focused devices available today.

Related ZDNet HTC One articles

• An HTC One without Sense is not an HTC One
• T-Mobile HTC One: World's best smartphone on US best value major carrier
• HTC One review
• HTC One uses Windows Phone panorama UI in an elegant way
• HTC One: Zoes and highlight videos may be best HTC innovation ever (videos)
• HTC Sense 5 includes BlinkFeed, Zoe, and TV (screenshot gallery)
• Mophie Juice Pack for HTC One provides protection and 2,500mAh: Gallery
• HTC One Car Kit brings its sleek design and functionality to the road: Review
• Get Started with the HTC One; easy phone setup from your computer

Samsung makes some great Android handsets, but IMHO they put too many gimmicky features in their devices and then play commercials acting like the gimmicks are easy to use and reliable.

I found it interesting to see Apple including some of these features in iOS7 and wonder if Apple will see people using them past the two-week novelty period.

In the Galaxy S4 we see a huge number of functions available beyond what is provided by the Android OS, including Screen Mirroring, Multi-window, S Beam, Air View, Air Gesture, Smart Stay, Smart Scroll, and S Voice. I have a Galaxy Note II with many of these features available, but I only use the multi-window function -- thanks in large part to the huge 5.5-inch display.

In the upcoming iOS 7 release, we see Apple adding new colorful icons like we see in TouchWiz; a control center similar to that found at the top of Samsung devices; an interface that "tracks" your movements; AirDrop that lets you wirelessly share things with other iOS users in your proximity; an improved version of Siri; and more.

These improvements are nice to see in iOS 7, and I expect that Apple will do a better job than Samsung has at making sure these unique functions work reliably. I do wonder, though, if there should be so much effort put into these kind of features rather than improving the core user experience.

For example, I would love to see some service integration in iOS in things like the photo gallery and contact database. I love how I can have my Facebook photos appear in my Android gallery and have my contact caller ID photo change automatically as my selected service for that contact changes the image. I am not saying I want iOS to copy Android and Windows Phone, but I would like improvements in some core capabilities rather than fluff features that are fun for a week or two.

Retail box and initial impressions

BlackBerry sent me the AT&T version to test out, but I don't see any AT&T branding on the device and there is no AT&T bloatware installed on it. The retail box looks a lot like the Z10 box with the name prominently displayed on the front. Inside you will find the Q10, a battery, USB cable, USB A/C adapter, wired stereo headset, and Quick Start Guide.

I pulled the Q10 from the box, inserted the SIM card and the battery, and then started charging it up. I previously had a BlackBerry Bold 9900 and have to say I am very impressed with the hardware quality of the Q10. The Z10 is a solid device, but unremarkable. On the other hand, the Q10 is probably the best QWERTY BlackBerry I have ever tried out.

The keyboard is well designed and well constructed, the glass weave back feels fantastic, the metal volume and power button feel great, and the 3.1 inch OLED display looks brilliant. I honestly can't think of what BlackBerry could have done more with this QWERTY device.

Hardware and specifications

It is rare to find a hardware QWERTY device today, which makes the Q10 even more distinctive. Let's take a look at the specifications:

• Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 1.5 GHz dual-core processor
• 2GB RAM, 16GB flash, and microSD card
• 3.1 inch 720x720 pixels resolution Super AMOLED display
• 8 megapixel rear camera and 2 megapixel FFC
• 802.11 a/b/g/n WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0 LE
• 2100 mAH removable battery
• Dimensions: 119.6 x 66.8 x 10.35 mm and 139 grams

BlackBerry 10 is responsive and I did not notice any lag on the device, even with several apps loaded on the device. The QWERTY keyboard is well designed with good button spacing, angled buttons to optimize text entry, and solid backlighting.

Software

I previously looked at BlackBerry 10 in detail and posted several articles on different features and functionality. The Q10 comes loaded with the BB 10.1 update that includes Type N Go Universal Search functionality, improved BlackBerry Balance, keyboard shortcuts, dark theme, mnemonic phone dialer, and more.

To be honest, I never really use Universal Search on the Z10. It feels much more natural on the Q10 and every day I was pounding away on the keyboard to quickly contact people, post to Facebook, set alarms, and more.

I am a fan of BlackBerry Hub and appreciate the user interface of BB10. There is a learning curve, but once you get used to it then you start swiping on other devices.

Experiences and daily usage

It has been quite a while since I used a hardware keyboard device, but I have to say that so far it is pretty refreshing. I have heard people say they can type faster on the Z10 and optimized software keyboard, but I can still fly faster on the hardware keyboard. I also find it a bit more rewarding to get physical feedback as I enter text on the Q10 and am have a good time with the device.

I get another week or so to use the Q10 and look forward to checking out the camera, playing games, and seeing if the keyboard is something I prefer over a larger display. If you use your Z10 a lot for media and games, then the Q10 may not be for you. However, if you use your Z10 for communications, then the Q10 may be just what you are looking for.

Related stories

• BlackBerry aims to show it can keep popular apps updated

• BlackBerry Z10 US release week: Is there enough in BB10 to attract new buyers?

• BlackBerry Z10 accessories roundup (review)

• BlackBerry Z10 is an efficient communications-focused device

• BlackBerry Q4: Lives to die another day?

• BlackBerry Z10: Daily driver, thanks to these 10 apps and shortcuts

• BlackBerry 10 and the Z10: 10 things I like and 5 things I don't

• BlackBerry 10 is the first BlackBerry to fully support BYOD

• BlackBerry Z10: Daily driver thanks to these 10 apps and shortcuts (screenshot gallery)

The battery is different than what you find in the Z10.

The glass weave back feels great in your hand.

The Q10 fits well in your hand and is one of the most compact smartphones available.

The Z10 and Q10 side-by-side.

The left side of the Q10 keyboard.

The QWERTY keyboard is well designed.

Volume button and voice activation button.

microUSB and HDMI port are found on the left side.

The headphone jack and power button are found at the top.

The BlackBerry logo is present in the glass weave back.

Multi-tasking screen on the Q10.

App launcher on the Q10

Type N Go to post to Twitter

Type N Go to post to Facebook

Type N Go to find contact details and related updates

The Q10 supports auto correction with the QWERTY keyboard.

You can enable predictive text and then tap one of the three choices as you enter text.

A couple weeks ago, Evernote added reminders to the iOS platform. Today, they revealed they are rolling out reminders for Android and I couldn't be happier.

I use Evernote quite a bit and with their recent security update, I have even more confidence in their service. I did jump to using my iPhone last week because I find the reminder functionality key to using Evernote for my task list.

My HTC One never left my pocket, but this Evernote Android update (version 5.1) makes it even more compelling. We are starting to see apps and updates come to Android much quicker than we did in the past and I find no real app gap between Android and iOS.

I previously pointed out that the there were major limitations with the 16GB Samsung Galaxy S4 since less than 10GB was available for apps and the microSD was irrelevant for apps. Thankfully, Samsung took it upon themselves to fix something Google broke and is reportedly issuing an update that enables moving apps to the microSD card.

Previous versions of Android had this capability, but that was changed in later versions (I believe it started with Ice Cream Sandwich). People who root and customize their phones can get this capability back, but the majority of people do not do this, so the number of apps they could install was restricted.

Some games today run 1 to 1.5GB in size so gamers were really feeling the pinch on the Galaxy S4. There are 32GB versions of the S4, but they are limited by carrier.

In addition to microSD card management, Samsung is enabling HDR video recording and more fixes with this update. It is rolling out now in Germany and there is no word when US variations will get the update. I would also love to see this update appear on my Galaxy Note II.

The upcoming LoJack solution for Android devices is the kind of solution that Schneiderman is asking for, and I hope to see this in cell phones other than the Galaxy S4 in the near future.

There are a number of software solutions that let you wipe or track your iPhone, Windows Phone, BlackBerry, or Windows Phone. But after a hard reset or wipe, a thief can take your phone to be sold or used. Something more effective is needed to stop this crime that affected about 1.6 million Americans last year.

Unlike a software solution only, the Absolute Software LoJack system is both a hardware and software solution. Starting with the Samsung Galaxy S4, Absolute's persistence technology is built into the firmware of the S4 and cannot be removed, even if the device is restored to factory settings.

The Galaxy S4 has the technology built in now, but the necessary Absolute software solution is not yet available. When it is available, you will be able to remotely lock your device, locate it, erase the data from the device and storage card, or have the Absolute Investigation and Recovery Services Team attempt to recover it.

The Recovery Team is made up of experts from law enforcement, the FBI, the Marines, the US Army, and other government positions. To date, they have recovered 28,000+ devices (laptops and PCs) in over 95 countries.

The service starts at just $29.99 for a one- or four-year subscription. If you live in an area where smartphone crime is rampant, then you may want to consider a S4 and this LoJack service.

As LoJack continues to support more devices, or manufacturers step up to the plate, let's hope smartphone crime becomes a thing of the past.

As Jack wrote yesterday there looks to be no slowing down for Android in the smartphone world, but another non-Apple company is predicted to make major advancements in the next four years.

While forecasts in the mobile space are difficult to make since things move so fast, I find it encouraging to see Canalys predict that Windows Phone will rise to secure third place and even closely match Apple and the iPhone by 2017.

We have seen Apple's market share stay fairly flat for some time, likely because a single, very expensive iPhone is released once a year while we see devices across the pricing and quality spectrum running Android and Windows Phone.

I wrote about the falling average selling price and the flip from feature phones to smartphones this year and moving forward. We will see growth from the four major smartphone platforms moving forward, but Windows Phone is predicted to have the largest change in market share.

Windows Phone has taken nearly three years to get to about 3 percent, but with things like Halo for Windows Phone, flagship devices on major US carriers, and low cost, full-featured phones Microsoft is doing the right things to position themselves for success.

We will approach nearly 1 billion units in 2013 and as smartphones pass up feature phones there is no looking back as smartphones become the mobile handset of choice. We even see growth in smartphone sales in emerging markets with a reported 64.8 percent of all smartphone shipped appearing there, up from 43.1 percent in 2010.

Smartphone average selling price (ASP) was $443 in 2011 and in 2013 it is down to $372, with predictions of it dropping to $309 by 2017.

Ryan Reith, program manager for IDC's Mobility Trackers, states:

Smartphones have become increasingly common in emerging markets and it is often the first affordable means of computing for these markets. These are markets where average personal income is far less than in developed markets, and therefore vendors have been forced to create smartphone computing experiences for the low end of the market.

Smartphones today are more powerful than all of our computers just a couple of years ago and as Ryan stated they are now the primary computing platform for many folks around the world.

I appreciate LTE speeds as much as the next enthusiast, however 3G data is just fine for the majority of tasks on a smartphone and this is where manufacturers are still able to cut costs and pass along the savings to consumers.

Back in 2010 when Windows Phone 7 launched many of us believed they should have launched with a Halo game for the platform since it is the game that defined the Xbox. Finally, three years later we are going to get Halo: Spartan Assault for Windows Phone 8, along with Windows 8.

I have been thinking about picking up the Lumia 928 on T-Mobile when it launches and that decision is now made with Halo coming to Windows Phone. I think Halo on the phone may appeal to many more people and this could be a huge factor in popularizing the excellent Windows Phone platform.

Halo: Spartan Assault will be a single-player top-down shooter game that will sell for $6.99. It fits into the overall Halo storyline between Halo 3 and Halo 4. You can view the trailer embedded below.

FYI, WPCentral confirmed that the game will play on WP8 devices with just 512MB RAM (Lumia 520, 620, etc.) and Windows RT devices so low cost smartphone buyers can enjoy Halo as well.

There are 25 missions, 40 in-game achievements, and parts that you can unlock in the Windows Phone game that will be reflected in your Halo 4 Xbox experience. Like I have wanted to see with cross platform from Microsoft, you can pause Halo on your phone and then pick up where you left off on your PC or tablet. I cannot wait to play on my new Lumia 925 and Surface Pro.

I don't know about you, but I am very excited about this game release and my Windows Phone is turning into my primary gaming platform with solid game titles. Microsoft now has to keep this exclusive to Windows Phone and Windows 8 to help make it compelling to get onto this platform.

I have written a number of articles on the fantastic HTC One and it gets better weekly with Google and HTC updates. Great news today for folks on Verizon as Verizon Wireless confirmed on Twitter that the HTC One will be available later this summer. In a great move for HTC, it sound like it might even launch as an HTC One rather than something like an HTC Droid Incredible One 4G LTE.

We don't have any more specific information on this model of HTC One coming to Verizon and whether or not we will see it in 32GB and 64GB variants. Given the late summer release, I hope it launches with the 4.2.2 update that includes other tweaks and fixes as well.

You won't be able to buy a Verizon HTC One without Sense since the Sense-less version is only being sold on the Google Play Store as an unlocked GSM model. As I stated before, the HTC One is a better device with Sense anyway so I don't consider this a problem and you shouldn't either.

Related ZDNet HTC One articles

• An HTC One without Sense is not an HTC One
• T-Mobile HTC One: World's best smartphone on US best value major carrier
• HTC One review
• HTC One uses Windows Phone panorama UI in an elegant way
• HTC One: Zoes and highlight videos may be best HTC innovation ever (videos)
• HTC Sense 5 includes BlinkFeed, Zoe, and TV (screenshot gallery)
• Mophie Juice Pack for HTC One provides protection and 2,500mAh: Gallery
• HTC One Car Kit brings its sleek design and functionality to the road: Review
• Get Started with the HTC One; easy phone setup from your computer

• Kevin is testing out an unlocked Sony Xperia ZL
• Google has 2 Chrome events scheduled in June: what could they be for?
• Microsoft giving free Touch/Type Covers with RT. Probably a newer model coming soon but is it worth a look at this price?
• First, Samsung, now HTC going with stock Android. What does this mean for Nexus program and will there really be big demand for these?
• Moto X confirmed. Will the "handful of other devices" include an updated MOTOACTV?

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UNO & Friends

Platform: Android

Price: Free

We still play lots of board and card games in my family and one of my favorites is UNO. The new Android UNO & Friends game lets you play friends and fans around the world through Facebook Connect (Google+ support is coming).

(Image: UNO & Friends)

UNO & Friends

Platform: Android

Price: Free

The game is a blast on my HTC One with BoomSound speakers and fun special effects. I have played a couple games so far and am now hooked. Card animations are slick and gameplay is fast with timed turns so you won't have to wait ages for grandma to lay down her card.

(Image: LevelUp)

LevelUp

Platform: Android

Price: Free

I go out and purchase lunch about once a week and one of my favorite places to go is a local fantastic teriyaki joint. I saw that they support a wireless pay method, LevelUp, and installed it on my Android device last year. You get $5 credit for signing up and then use a QR code to pay for your meal.

(Image: LevelUp)

LevelUp

Platform: Android

Price: Free

You have the option of adding a tip to your bill by sliding the tip bar at the bottom and the QR code changes to match that percentage. The more you pay with LevelUp, the more reward credits you earn for cash discounts. You can share the app with others and earn $5 for yourself each time too.

(Image: 1Password)

1Password

Platform: iOS

Price: $8.99 (regularly $17.99)

I heard a lot about 1Password, but always just tried to remember my passwords or place some of the information into Evernote. With a current 50% off sale, I decided to finally give it a try and really like the design and security. It is much easier to just remember one password and then get access to your other passwords and much more.

(Image: 1Password)

1Password

Platform: iOS

Price: $8.99 (regularly $17.99)

You can enter all of your vital data, such as credit card numbers, bank accounts, passport data, social security numbers, etc. The data can be securely backed up to iCloud or Dropbox too.

(Image: Scout)

Scout

Platform: iOS

Price: Free

Google Maps is what I use most of the time on my iPhone 5, but the latest updated Scout app from TeleNav is getting the call more often. When you launch the app, you get a slick interface to immediately help you get to where you want with home and work on the bottom, prominent POIs, and a quick search box.

(Image: Scout)

Scout

Platform: iOS

Price: Free

A new feature with iOS is their Share ETA button. After tapping it you can share your route and others can follow you in real time on their computer. Scout is a compelling navigation option that has earned a spot on my home screen.

(Image: Zinio)

Zinio

Platform: WP8

Price: Free app, magazine subscriptions vary

I have used Zinio on other devices before to read magazines on the go. The new WP8 app, for Nokia Lumia devices, is an excellent application with a current $50 free value for new users. I am now reading several magazines on my Lumia 920.

(Image: Zinio)

Zinio

Platform: WP8

Price: Free app, magazine subscriptions vary

While it is much different to read a magazine on a small display versus a paper copy, Zinio has a slick Text View feature that presents the text of the article in a single column view with the magazine layout at the top so you get a feel for the context of the article. There are some loading pauses as the magazine graphics load, but I am still enjoying the experience and broad library of magazines.

(Image: Untappd)

Untappd

Platform: WP8

Price: Free

I enjoy an ice cold frosty once in a while, and being from the Pacific Northwest where microbrews rule it is fun to discover and try new beer variations. Untappd is a beer discovery and social application that makes finding beers and sharing your experiences with friends an enjoyable experience.

(Image: Untappd)

Untappd

Platform: WP8

Price: Free

As we enter the summer season when people enjoy a beer or two at picnics, athletic events, and in the backyard after mowing, it is fun to track what beers you have tried and find new ones. I like to try new local beers when I travel and am enjoying the application.

(Image: NHL GameCenter)

NHL GameCenter

Platform: BlackBerry 10

Price: Free

If you have a BB10 device then you likely have seen NHL GameCenter appear on the BlackBerry World storefront. As we get into the Conference and Stanley Cup finals, it is time to install and follow all the greatest hockey action. You can follow much of the action for free with Verizon customers getting free premium access.

(Image: NHL GameCenter)

NHL GameCenter

Platform: BlackBerry 10

Price: Free

Scores, stats, post-game highlights, and more are provided. You can select and follow your favorite team(s) and enjoy the ice on your BB10 device.

(Image: Password Keeper)

Password Keeper

Platform: BlackBerry 10

Price: Free

While it is not as fancy as 1Password on the iPhone, Password Keeper gets the job done and lets you bring over your secure data from older generation BlackBerry devices. Records are encrypted with AES 256 and all you have to remember is a single password.

(Image: Password Keeper)

Password Keeper

Platform: BlackBerry 10

Price: Free

In addition to storing your username and passwords, you can easily tap to copy them for pasting into a web browser form. A random password generator is provided to help you create and manage passwords with a high security level.

We have all seen the decline in newspaper and print media as our world changes to one where information is consumed online.

Yesterday, the Chicago Sun-Times laid off its photo staff. On Twitter, the wife of one of those fired stated that reporters would be using their smartphone cameras, likely to supplement photos and videos from freelancers.

The official statement from the Chicago Sun-Times, quoted below, doesn't specifically state that reporters will be using their phones. We don't have all the details of what was said in the firing process so I won't make assumptions that all future photos will come from smartphones.

I use my smartphones for photos all the time and they have gotten better over the years. However, a smartphone cannot come close to comparing with a DSLR when it comes to capturing details, clarity, low light shots, and scenes from any distance. People want thin, pocketable phones and smartphone cameras are good primarily for social networks and online sharing.

The real concern people have with the broad firings is that many of these professional photographers have connections and access throughout the city that a freelance photographer may not provide. The Chicago Tribune posted an article in response to the firings that details many reasons why such a broad sweep doesn't make much sense. As that article states, reporters and photographers take quite different approaches to covering a story; therefore, having reporters take photos is not going to give you the same quality story.

The Chicago Sun-Times statement:

The Sun-Times business is changing rapidly and our audiences are consistently seeking more video content with their news. We have made great progress in meeting this demand and are focused on bolstering our reporting capabilities with video and other multimedia elements. The Chicago Sun-Times continues to evolve with our digitally savvy customers, and as a result, we have had to restructure the way we manage multimedia, including photography, across the network.

I agree that people are looking for more video content and in that regard smartphones are doing well at capturing high-definition action, arguably better than capturing still images. A device like the Nokia Lumia 920 or 928 with optical image stabilization really can capture great video, but not at any real distance from the photographer.

We are moving fast to an online media society, but beyond the camera I think it is important to still have people specially trained and experienced in photography along with us to help capture and tell the full story.

Last week I wrote that an HTC One without Sense is not an HTC One. I still feel that way. HTC confirmed today that they are indeed launching an HTC One with Nexus Experience and I think that is fine since it gives people the choice that they have been asking for.

This HTC One with Nexus Experience may help people see the strength of HTC Sense on a device like the One. At $599, it is priced less than the Google Edition Galaxy S4 and may be a big advantage for HTC.

Last week I wrote a list of several things that may be lost in a Nexus User Experience device and am very curious to see what the Google Edition provides. One thing it will provide is updates through Google, which alone may be worth the cost of entry.

The official HTC statement about the HTC One with Nexus User Experience is:

A special edition of the new HTC One running stock Android will be exclusively available through the Google Play store in the United States starting on June 26th. This edition pairs the all-metal unibody design, low-light capabilities of the UltraPixel camera and dual front-facing stereo speakers of the new HTC One with the stock version of the latest Android software, Jelly Bean 4.2.2.

While having a Google Edition will satisfy people who don't like Sense, I would also like to hear HTC state that an update for loyal HTC One owners is coming that provides Jelly Bean 4.2.2, accessibility access fixes, Zoe capture/upload directory fixes, and other minor updates to refine the current HTC One with Sense.

This Google Edition HTC One will be a GSM device and will not support the HSPA+ network on T-Mobile. It will have the same radios as the current Developer Edition, which does have AT&T and T-Mobile LTE support with AT&T HSPA+ support.