Sony xperia z1 settings. Life hack! sony xperia z1 camera modification full access to the camera and a bunch of settings in manual mode

Sony Xperia Z1 - Happiness is not in megahertz or megapixels...

02.05.2014

Introduction

Hello, dear readers of the portal site! Today we will talk about Sony's flagship of the second half of 2013 - Xperia Z1.

The review is intended for those who need to know all the pros and cons of the device, as well as most of its capabilities.

Demonstration of work

Equipment, appearance, materials

Acquaintance with the device begins, as always, with the packaging. The device comes in a rectangular box (by the way, similar in shape to the hero of this review), quite informative. The smartphone itself is drawn on the front, in the upper left corner it says: "Sony - make, believe". In the lower left corner is "Xperia™ Z1".

At the bottom of the box - the upper part of the smartphone is drawn in different colors, lower - the main chips of the flagship, even lower - the text in small print.

There is nothing particularly interesting inside the box.

Headphones:

Something else, judging by the appearance - a headphone attachment:

Quite a powerful but compact charger unit:

USB cable:

A few pieces of paper not in Russian:

Options are poor, the minimum required.

For the first time, a flagship falls into my hands. And it was very interesting to compare the sensations of a hi-end smartphone device with a state employee teXet X-basic. The first thing that catches your eye is the OmniBalance style design, which implies the symmetry of the device, rectangular shapes, smooth front surface and back cover(if you can call it the back surface of a non-separable smartphone). The ergonomics of this design is not that much affected, but the grip is definitely less comfortable than that of the X-basic. A person with a larger hand size than mine (the majority of such people) will, I think, be more comfortable using the device with one hand than I am.

I was very surprised by the fact that the case is similar in size to the X-basic! And this is with a much larger screen!

Now we can talk about the controls.

On the right are three mechanical buttons, including a separate key for shooting, which the Sony Xperia Z lacked. Judging by the positioning of the device, it is useful for shooting underwater. After all, the capacitive screen will not respond to touch in such conditions. The button is comfortable, it is pressed clearly and distinctly. If you hold the smartphone with both hands, then the index finger immediately rests on the key.

Above - a connector for sim, which enters on a sled.

The place for the power button is well thought out, it is located exactly where you would like it to be, regardless of which hand the user holds the smartphone with. Special thanks to the designers. With such a size of the case, this is almost the only option for the location of the button so that the button is in the right place. A little lower is a handy volume rocker.

On the left is the charging port and SD card slot.

At the bottom is a speaker. More about it will be discussed in the "Sound" section. There is something else, which, as I understand it, serves to fasten the strap.

On top of the device is a 3.5 mm headphone jack not covered by a plug. The company says that you can immerse the phone in water, the connector will not deteriorate. But they add that it would be better not to listen to music for a couple of hours later. In general, in my opinion, a controversial decision. It would be better to cover it with a cap. Then there would be less fear of submerging the smartphone under water.

Behind - in the upper left corner of the camera and flash, in the center - the Sony logo.

Fingerprints are good on the back. However, they, unlike prints on the screen, are well rubbed off with a specially trained cloth.

Now we can talk about the convenience of using a device made of glass and metal, with all the pluses and minuses that come from this. Firstly, in the hand, the smartphone feels like a really expensive and premium thing. Metal pleasantly cools the skin. And yet it is a mistake to think that metal has only pluses. There are also disadvantages, such as strong heating of the back cover. And the fact that the Sony Z1 is quite heavy compared to the weight of other flagships - everyone will judge for himself whether he likes it or not. Let me just say that I like it.

Accessories

There are much fewer accessories than for flagships from other manufacturers. But there are still a few. For example, Mugen Power is a back cover with an additional battery. I will not describe all the advantages of this accessory for a very long time - I could not order it on the site.

Shell

First time I see Xperia Home and I love it. Really like. Before this smartphone, I did not have devices with shells from the manufacturer. And this element inspires me personally.

The launcher (like everything else), compared to the stock Android, has been greatly changed by the manufacturer. I like these changes. You can add many desktops, the principle of adding widgets has been changed, nicer icons. Why shake the keyboard in vain, look at the screenshots and you will understand everything yourself.

When you turn on the device, the first most necessary settings appear. If you are unable to do this, the seller in the store will set up the device. But it seems to me that it is much more interesting to experience everything yourself. Well, okay, back to our sheep.

One of the first setup steps:

Waterproof warning. After all, there are people who can accidentally bathe the device with open plugs.

Lock screen. The principle of unlocking is elegant: swipe your finger across the screen, a beautiful trace will remain on it (there is no way to show, this trace quickly disappears) and the smartphone will be unlocked.

Desktops and their settings:

Notification menu. Not much changed compared to stock Android, only the design is adjusted to the appearance of the rest of the shell elements.

Application menu through the "settings". As you can see, this is the same standard android list.

The launcher has a lot interesting features, the menu is called up by swiping (finger movement) across the screen from the application menu.

This is how the folders are displayed:

By dragging the top of the screen down with two fingers, we will see the quick settings. And you can choose which ones will be displayed on this screen.

The device has an Update Center application. Again, screenshots will give a complete picture of its functionality.

You can show/hide updates.

There is a function to update both the system and firmware, as well as built-in applications from Sony.

There is also a function to configure the Update Center.

Embedded Applications

Their number and necessity are characterized by four words: "For all occasions." There is everything - from a video player to notes, from a mobile office to a flashlight.

I will analyze a few of the most valuable and interesting.

MyXperia (locks the device if it is lost):

Voice recording (recorder). Minimalistic beautiful design. The functions are all the most necessary. Exactly - you can listen to everything that you recorded in the application itself; in the settings - select the recording file format and recording duration. As a minus, it can be noted that this application has not yet been translated into Russian. But there are few words, you can even use a dictionary, it will take a little time.

TV sideview. Program guide (best quality android app in my opinion). A swipe brings up a menu of additional tasks. There is no unnecessary functionality.

Evernote. Notes. One of the most popular and high-quality applications for its purpose. Those who are interested in the application will be redirected to this review.

office suite. Mobile office. It's a pity that they zazhili the full version (you can only view the documents). OfficeSuite is a fairly handy office suite for viewing and editing DOC, DOCX, TXT, XLS, XLSX, CSV, PPTX. However, it does not matter that this free version. We go to the Market, download Kingsoft Office and enjoy the effect.

Video player. Not omnivorous, but convenient. Personally, I convert the video and watch it on the built-in player. Too bad I like him.

The gallery has many interesting features. For example, an interactive globe and map (see video below).

Smart Connect (pairing with a variety of devices):

PlayMemories Mobile. Multimedia mobile (there is also a computer, for example, to import media files from a digital camera) application from Sony.

There is a parameter setting.

Backup and Restore:

"Drawing". I'm glad it's already preinstalled. There are many analogues, if you do not like the built-in application, you can download another one from the Play Market.

xperia keyboard.

This keyboard is in the Market, but it is only compatible with Sony devices. Very similar in terms of usability to Swype. However, language switching is implemented more conveniently with the pre-installed keyboard for the hero of this review.

Calendar with weather view (and many others):

You can even set up notifications for your country's national holidays:

And you can customize the calendar application itself:

Now - about how you can customize the shell itself.

Android has always been famous for its customization capabilities (settings). Xperia Home takes them to the next level. Without exaggeration, I can say that you can customize All what a person needs. What pleases and surprises me is that the developers were able to place a huge number of settings very compactly.

The only negative is that the functionality of some applications (for example, Smart Connect) requires that the second device is also from Sony. But I think that the list of supported devices will be expanded in the near future.

Camera

One of the most controversial components of the flagship. On the one hand, there are a lot of large and interesting figures, and on the other hand, many reviewers complained about the poor quality of the shooting. Well, let's figure it out. Much will be written. Get ready.

You need to start by describing the camera app, features and effects.

For me, the panorama function has become almost the main one. In Google play, there is simply no normal application for this purpose. I had to shoot a couple of panoramas on teXet X-basic , so I was exhausted with the search for a tolerable application. This smartphone does not have this problem. In the effects, you can select "panoramic shooting" and - voila! Everything works great. Sony cares so much about users that it even offers to choose which direction it is convenient for a person to point the camera for panoramic shooting.

The application tells you what to do to shoot.

There is a burst shooting function: the device takes 30 photos, and the user is prompted to choose the best one.

AR effect. I didn't understand the meaning of this function. I don't think she needs it.

You can add geotags.

It is also possible to set the camera in "manual" mode.

IN automatic mode There are also settings options.

The flashlight is implemented in an interesting way: at first glance, it seems that there is no such function in the device. But she is. You need to go into the camera, and there in the flash settings select: flashlight. And the phone will turn into a portable illuminator.

Well, now - an assessment of the quality of shooting.

Genre - landscape. Thanks to the huge maximum resolution, this is a signature genre for the camera of this smartphone. All pictures were taken on the same day, but with different amounts of light (the sun sometimes hides behind clouds, sometimes it illuminates everything around). Photos taken by an amateur photographer (me). Check out the quality for yourself:

The camera also shoots well indoors.

The faces look realistic.

Macro photography. Not for this purpose the camera in . Colors fade a little. All the things I've photographed have richer tones.

Photo taken as close as possible. Yeah, something tells me that "lossless zoom" is not so correct. Barely visible distortion (irony) is still there.

I also read somewhere that sometimes a pink spot appears in the center of a white object. Decided to check it out, of course. I got something gray (actually, this is a pure white ceiling):

The white balance can be changed a lot. Both up (all gray things will appear white), and down (vice versa):

Panorama (I did not specifically crop the photo to show that there is the possibility of panoramic 180-degree shooting, as well as a flaw in the software for gluing photos, I mean the black area to the right of the panorama):

connections, wireless network, communications

Huge set of various communications.

You can also share media with other devices (I don't need this, I haven't tried it):

There is also NFC.

Bluetooth is also available, the latest version at the time of release. Transfer rate:

  • transfer - 13 Mb/min;
  • reception - 13 Mb/min

GPS and GLONASS are supported. Taking into account the large bright and juicy screen, a good camera and the accuracy of determining the coordinates, the device can, being in a car, act as a navigator and a DVR at the same time.

LTE - well, how could it be without it in such a sophisticated device? I didn’t check the work, in our city with 4G it’s not that everything is fine.

There is also an infrared port that allows you to use your smartphone as a TV remote control. I checked, my Toshiba TV connected perfectly.

No USB OTG. Or it just doesn't work. My mouse and flash drive are not connected.

Memory

There is a lot of memory, both built-in and operational. Built-in - 16 GB (about 11 available),

operational - 2 GB (half leaves, in English, without saying goodbye).

And there is also something odd. It is not possible to clear the cache completely. There is always a couple of MB left. Moreover, there is no such problem on teXet X-basic. That's really strange! Is the problem in the shell? If so, then I'm upset ... After all, I really liked the above-mentioned shell.

Screen

He is scolded by everyone who is not too lazy to write a review. Perhaps I'm too soft on the screen, but you can only find fault with the coating. Brightness? Everything is great. Contrast, color gamut and other special terms do not excite me at all. What's the difference to me? The image is very clear and bright. Viewing angles are sufficient to show someone something. The screen is very black, in this parameter it is similar to an Amoled matrix (which, as you probably know, displays black color very well). And this solution looks very stylish. All. I don't need anything else.

Characteristics:

  • screen type: color TFT, 16.78 million colors, touch;
  • type touch screen: multi-touch, capacitive;
  • diagonal 5 inches;
  • image size: 1080x1920;
  • number of pixels per inch (PPI): 441;
  • automatic screen rotation: yes;
  • scratch-resistant glass: yes.

    Viewing angles (the screen is evenly flooded with red):

    Glass - as mentioned above - is, durable, Gorilla Glass. I don't think it will ever get seriously scratched. Slipperiness is good, I like it.

    There is either no anti-reflective coating, or it is like in teXet X-basic. Because of the glare on the screen at a certain angle, nothing is visible.

    As for the color rendition, I can say that I like it. The colors are very realistic. According to this parameter, the screens of Sony and Texet are close, despite the huge difference in class. Color rendering is almost the only option I like in the teXet X-basic screen.

    Behavior in the sun is good, because the maximum brightness is quite high.

    I apologize for the weather in our region, at the time of writing the review, nature did not please us with sunny days.

    There is an oleophobic coating, but somehow it didn’t impress me, or something. Badly rubbed fingerprints still remain (Sony Z1 is a godsend for a spy).

    Does not perceive touch with something other than fingers. The stylus did not work, the pencil did not work either. It's a shame, to be honest. The stylus and all that is very convenient. On this parameter, I agree with the opinion of lazex "a, which he expressed in one of his reviews.

    Sound and music player

    I'll start with the second. Walkman - how much it says to the music lover! I personally did not experience such delight from the player as many other "one-gadget" ones. However, we must admit that the player is quite convenient.

    Main menu:

    You can show what you need on the main table of the application.

    From the main menu it is possible to download music data (cover art, tags, artists, etc.) using the popular music service. It is very convenient for both music lovers and ordinary users.

    From there - go to favorites (not preinstalled on the device):

    There is a search function for songs.

    The rest is simply not necessary to comment.

    You can also use this sound... That's right, set it up!

    Enthusiastically talking about the software, I completely forgot about the main thing - the sound quality.

    The first thing I would like to note is the competent location of the speaker (on the bottom). First, it is not easy to close it. Secondly, when the device lies on the table, the sound not only does not weaken, but, on the contrary, becomes more voluminous, the stereo effect appears, it becomes louder. A couple of such devices, maybe not with ease, but they will replace the speakers.

    As for the sound in the headphones, I (not surprisingly, I was surprised with BASIC and teXet TM-9750HD) will say that the sound in the bundled ones is very good. It is all the more good that they are included, because the headphones are used as a radio antenna.

    Telephone component

    Got it! They write about this almost at the end of the review as about a secondary function.

    In short, everything is great. If detailed - Very loud speaker + noise reduction = great phone. Also superbly designed software compared to stock Android. Let me pause here. The ideal shell in my opinion is Touchwiz chips + smoothness and compactness of stock Android + HTC Blinkfeed + everything else from Xperia Home. But back to applications. Screenshots:

    The autoresponder is a very useful feature.

    SMS application:

    Readers! You probably already understood what the main feature of this smartphone is. Excellent software, shell and ideal flexibility of settings. There are even fans here. Apple iOS And Windows phone(completely different in OS positioning) will find the parameters to their liking. There are even special personal settings:

    Battery

    Conducted, as always, battery tests. Brightness - 45%.

    Video 12 h 52 min
    Music 70 h
    Internet WiFi 9 h 22 min
    Internet 3G 7 h 50 min
    3G conversation 8 h 12 min
    2G conversation 14 h 21 min
    3D games 2 h 33 min
    2D games 4 h 6 min
    Reading 13 h 50 min
    Photography 7 h 6 min

    Well, it's quite worthy. You can see the results of a similar test in the review of Georgy Kiselyov.

    And some screenshots:

    Power saving modes (extremely effective during normal use of the phone, unnecessary during artificial loads):

    Performance. Synthetic tests

    The device is very powerful. 4 cores at 2.3 GHz, Snapdragon 800 in one of the weakest variations (801 was recently created from the most powerful). At the time of release - Sony the most powerful. Six months later, almost. Only 4 devices seem to be ahead so far: Apple iPhone 5s, Samsung Galaxy S5, Sony Xperia Z2. And many similar in power. Well, that's good. More about the comparisons - below, but here we will talk about "pure" performance, without comparison with competitors.

    Synthetic tests

    For a long time I stopped believing in the word of all these "parrots". And the numbers about the frequency of the processor, by the way, too. And I personally form impressions about the device only after some time of "live" communication with the device. For example, let's take... Yes, at least teXet X-basic . The numbers are small, the processor is extremely cheap, the results in Antutu are also not very brilliant. But there is one "but": the processor pulls All that I give him, starting from flipping through desktops and ending with the 8th "Asphalt". And why put a processor of such power and the corresponding price is a mystery to me. Well, except for the distant future.

    According to the same synthetic tests, we can compare in power with competitors:

    Results in games:

    A game Glitches and brakes
    Angry Birds Star Wars No glitches, no slowdowns
    Pit fall! No glitches, no slowdowns
    Subway Surfers No glitches, no slowdowns
    Temple Run 2 No glitches, no slowdowns
    Shoot The Zombies No glitches, no slowdowns
    Asphalt 8 No glitches, no slowdowns
    Real Racing 3 No glitches, no slowdowns!
    FIFA 14 No glitches, no slowdowns!
    Ninja Fruit No glitches, no slowdowns
    Hill Climb Racing No glitches, no slowdowns

    No wonder - I only tested those games for which the developers do not ask for money, and such applications are usually not very demanding on resources. And the processor is very powerful with a big reserve for the future.


  • A smartphone with flagship specs that doesn't require two-handed use? Not striving to slip out of the palm of your hand? Fits easily into any pocket! Yes, these are the characteristics of the Xperia Z compact, aimed at geeks and photo maniacs, who, at the same time, are not alien to common sense and craving for comfort in handling their daily companion, which is a smartphone!

    Operating system - Android 4.3
    Display - IPS, 4.3 inches, 720x1280
    Processor - 4-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 MSM8974, 2200 MHz + Adreno 330 video processor
    Camera - 20.70 MP, autofocus, LED flash, video recording 1920x1080 and HDR video + front-camera 2 MP
    RAM - 2 GB
    Built-in memory - 16 GB + microSD slot
    Miscellaneous – LTE, Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth, FM radio, GPS/GLONASS, IP58 waterproof
    Battery - 2300 mAh
    Dimensions - 64.9x127x9.5 mm, 137 g

    Why "compact"?

    I'm not a fan Apple gadgets, but what they should traditionally pay tribute to is their attention to the ergonomics of devices and their “user-friendly”, as well as healthy conservatism. For many years, apple smartphones were equipped with 3.5-inch displays that were insignificant by modern standards, and several generations of apple phones changed before the fifth iPhone increased the display by half an inch - despite the fact that 4.7-5-inch screens had become the norm in budget $150 smartphones…

    Why? Yes, because Apple is well aware that the smartphone should lie harmoniously in the hand! Always! And when typing SMS on the run, and when reading in an underground crush, and when surfing the Internet, lying on your back on the lawn. No matter how puffed up designers are, no matter how they proclaim “new multimedia standards” that make five-, six- and more-inch smartphones the norm, all this will remain a subspecies of slight perversions until evolution expands the average human palm and lengthens it by her fingers... :)

    All this to the fact that a rare owner of a modern shovel phone “every minute enjoying” (according to marketers!) the Internet and multimedia on a huge display did not catch himself thinking that in fact he would prefer a device of classic dimensions - with dimensions no more than 6x12 centimeters! But recently, all manufacturers prefer the most powerful processors, the most capacious RAM and other innovative things to shove exclusively into large-display "shovels" ... And rationalists and realists who could not be brainwashed by convincing them of the need to buy a "shovel" are addressed to the "mini-flagship" format, where, with a compact size and a moderate display, you can get all the characteristics inconvenient to handle "big brother". An excellent example of this is our today's tester - the Sony Xperia Z1 compact, which one of the owners called on one of the forums "the long-awaited iPhone on Android." And this, in my opinion, is an exhaustive description of the novelty, which Sony representatives should not be offended by, since “iPhone” is used here as a household name as a synonym for outstanding performance and ergonomics!

    Sony Xperia Z1 compact:: Overview:: Design and Features

    The first thing that catches your eye when you pick up the Z1 compact is a massive frame in a circle made of anodized aluminum. It is anodized in different colors - black, white, pink and acid-yellow versions are available - the last one got to the test to "Sotovik".

    The top and bottom of the frame is covered with glass covers - a sandwich made of protected glass Gorilla Glass. Such a sandwich is very durable and does not tend to twisting deformations, which are subject to thin smartphones in plastic cases.

    The front panel is solid glass with a camera eye. The control keys are displayed on the display itself. Behind the display glass is an IPS-matrix - bright and juicy, which has been waiting for so long from Sony!

    The rear panel has a camera eye and flash in the upper left corner. Not far from the camera is a small NFC symbol, showing where the antenna of this interface is located.

    The right side is given over to the keys. In the middle is a large and easily detectable even blindly unlock button, below it is the volume and camera button. The left side is occupied by connectors - three sealed "doors" hide behind a microUSB, a slot for a SIM card and a memory card.

    The top edge is a headphone jack, the bottom one is a wide mesh of a powerful speaker.

    The Z1 compact, by modern standards of mobile fashion, should be prescribed a diet, because its thickness is almost a centimeter! But this is only beneficial to ergonomics - after all, the same thickness is in contact with our palm - ribs, side edges. And if a smartphone, as it is fashionable now, has a “cardboard profile”, and in addition, the manufacturer “sharpened” the edges, making the device visually even thinner - then write wasted! The gadget will always try to slip out of the palm of your hand, especially when you do something at the bottom of the display...

    But the Z1 compact is not like that! He confidently holds on to your fives, like a good tire on the track. The optimal width of the display, thick edges, rough coating on them as opposed to glossy plastic from competitors - everything is done so that the gadget does not know the “joy of flying”!

    Sony Xperia Z1 compact:: Overview:: Waterproof

    Like many recent Sony flagships, the "compact" continues the unique, almost unrivaled line waterproof smartphones. A powerful gadget that can cope with both work and any entertainment multimedia now does not need to be changed to a device that “is not a pity” when going on an active holiday or even extreme sports! You can watch a movie while sitting in the bath, or surf the net on the beach, where the fine sand will quickly make any other smartphone creak!

    Moisture is not terrible for the speaker, microphone and headphone jack, since both the jack and the membranes of the speaker and microphone are made in such a way as not to let moisture into the case under any circumstances. But the three stub doors on the connectors and slots need to be kept closed and checked before leaving the room in the "outdoor". The ingress of moisture behind an open plug will destroy the device!

    "Compact" is not afraid of even such a test as freezing! Imagine the situation - in the last autumn or the first spring "barbecue" at the dacha, the device was lost, and the next morning it was found lying in a puddle! Yes, not just lying, but frozen into it! The situation, of course, is not everyday, but it’s quite everyday - it doesn’t happen to anyone ... And after such tests, an unprotected smartphone will go to the trash - but the Z1 compact works as if nothing had happened - we checked it!

    Sony Xperia Z1 compact:: Overview:: Camera

    The predecessor of the "compact", the older model Z1, opened a new class of cameras in the Xperia line. The magnificent, but already familiar 13-megapixel module in the Z1 was replaced by a 20.7-megapixel matrix, which is also equipped with the “compact”.

    Sotovik spoke about the photographic talents of this camera in great detail in the Z1 review, so I don’t see the need to painfully “rewrite” the same impressions in other words in the material about the Z1 compact. You can read about the camera of both devices in the Sony Xperia Z1 review.

    In this article, of course, we do not ignore the camera, but we will not delve into its testing significantly - compared to the older model, there were no changes in the "compact" version.

    Let's repeat first main conclusion– the camera is good, from the cameras mobile devices she is one of the best. But the improvements in shooting quality compared to the previous Sony 13-megapixel modules are not too striking. The number of megapixels increased by almost 60%, but there was no proportional jump in quality. It is obvious that at this stage, without increasing the physical size of the matrix, optical block and using an efficient system optical stabilization there is no noticeable gap from previous achievements... After all, the ancient Nokia N8 many years ago proposed a new quality standard for camera phone matrices - 1/1.8 inch, but for some reason this standard remained unattainable for many - for example , in the same Z1 compact, the matrix has a size of 1 / 2.3 inches, which is 30% less than 1 / 1.8 ...

    Camera Menu

    The manufacturer is well aware that increasing megapixels is, first of all, a marketing ploy. Nine out of ten users do not need heavy 5-7-megabyte frames that the full resolution of the matrix gives out - there is simply nothing to do with them in a smartphone ... Therefore, presenting the camera as a 20.7-megapixel camera, Sony takes a cunning move, removing this opportunity in menu in the background. The super-auto mode comes to the fore, called “Best Auto-Setting”, which is used by most smartphone photographers - but in it the resolution is artificially limited to 8 megapixels with an aspect ratio of 16: 9 (why it is not possible to choose the familiar 13 megapixels is a question, but there really is something, that is ...) Apparently, Sony engineers considered a resolution of 8 megapixels to be optimal for all conceivable needs of the average device owner.

    The resolution of 20.7 megapixels is enabled only in the manual settings mode. And they are far from attracting everyone in a smartphone. Firstly, to be honest, not everyone understands the features of exposure and ISO adjustment, and secondly, in most cases, mobile photography does not involve a free minute to adjust settings. While digging through the menu, the subject or interesting plan has already disappeared ...

    However, no one bothers to deal with the settings and use them. In addition to flash modes, there are, in fact, only three other adjustments. The icon button with the symbols of the adjustment sliders brings up two controls on the screen at once - exposure and white balance (including auto balance), and the icon button with three dots calls up the ISO adjustment, which varies from 100 to 800, and also has the “auto” option.

    In fact, given that ISO and balance are set to "auto" by default, and exposure is at zero, manual mode in many situations does not differ much from automatic. And if you absolutely want to use all 20.7 megapixels for which you have laid out hard-earned money, but at the same time you do not understand manual settings- you can safely ignore them and click, as if on a machine.

    Examples of photos in the "best auto" mode with a resolution of 8 megapixels:

    Examples of comparison of frames taken in automatic mode and in manual settings mode, but without adjustments. Often the difference is unimportant:

    Left: Aspect ratio of 3:4 is a frame in manual mode and at 20.7 megapixels.
    Right: The 16:9 aspect ratio is a shot taken on automatic settings, and with a resolution of 8 megapixels.

    Well, in pursuit of a small constructive claim to the environment of the smartphone camera - for some unknown reason, the shutter button is made tiny, tactilely very inexpressive ...

    Sony Xperia Z1 compact:: Overview:: Interface and menu

    "Compact" is a device on Android 4.3, and it will not cause any difficulties for anyone who has ever dealt with a "robot". From above, Android is embellished with a branded and recognizable Sony shell.

    Lock, unlock, home screen:

    Traditional for all "androids" notification panel (called on the screen by moving your finger from top to bottom) and a panel of minimized applications in the background (displayed by pressing the right functional screen button):

    Menu of all installed applications:

    Moving across the display from left to right in the application menu displays an additional menu for setting up and arranging programs:

    Applications can be organized into folders - both on the desktop and in the general application menu:

    Settings menu:

    "Small applications" - programs that can work simultaneously on the same screen with others. For example, while browsing the Internet, you can, without closing the browser, call up a calculator window on top of it to calculate something. Or, while watching a movie, start the timer at the same time so as not to forget that scrambled eggs are fried in the kitchen :) Or you can run the reader and the voice recorder at the same time, and make an audio file from the text - in general, many different programs can be combined for greater benefit on one screen! In order to run two applications at the same time, while the main one is running, you need to press the right (or top - in landscape orientation) on-screen button (“two squares”) and select the one you need in the mini version. By default, only nine pieces are installed, but the Market has a large selection of non-standard

    Sony Xperia Z1 compact:: Overview:: Performance and Nutrition

    Evaluate the performance of one of the most powerful mobile processors today (Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 MSM8974) - meaningless. It is clearly redundant for any user tasks!

    Let's conduct a simple and visual test, which I traditionally use to assess battery efficiency - charge the battery to 100%, reboot the device to clear the memory of clogging programs, turn off all wireless interfaces, except cellular communication, set the screen brightness and volume to maximum. We launch a movie in AVI format, lasting 1 hour 23 minutes and weighing 1.45 GB. After the end of the movie, we look at the remaining battery charge using the visual and free utility "Battery" from Google Play, in comparison with other smartphones on a similar processor - firstly, of course, with the older brother Xperia Z1, as well as with LG G2, which also runs on Snapdragon 800:

    The battery capacity of the Z1 compact is 30% smaller than that of the simple Z1, but at the same time, both the diagonal of the display and its resolution are smaller. But it is the display that is the main battery eater. Therefore, the power consumption of the "baby" remained at the same level as that of the Z1.

    At the same time, the LG G2 works on a single battery charge longer - but this is not Sony's reproach, since the G2 has a larger battery and higher requirements for it (larger diagonal and screen resolution). So everything comes out quite proportionally.

    Let's summarize without verbal troubles - Z1 compact is able to actively work from charge to charge for two days, subject to the user's compliance with the standard requirements for smartphone energy saving - do not abuse the brightness, unnecessary in this moment wireless interfaces, programs in the background, etc.

    Sony Xperia Z1 compact:: Overview:: Impressions and conclusions

    I am quite philosophical and unflappable about the numerous tested smartphones passing through my hands, in Everyday life remaining true to the archaic operating system, slow-witted, but impeccable in terms of photographic abilities and build quality Nokia N8, with which I traditionally compare the cameras of tested gadgets, stubbornly not finding an alternative to my elderly Finn. However, the Z1 compact managed, oddly enough, to shake my orthodoxy and make me seriously look at this device, as an almost perfect replacement for the old N8 in terms of the sum of its characteristics and impressions ...

    The strongest frame in the form of a metal frame, filling, the capacity of which will be enough for a rationally thinking user for at least three years or more, fashionable buns, such as LTE and NFC, moisture protection and perhaps the most successful camera of most on the market - all this is dressed in a case, which, unlike other smartphones, is convenient and indescribably pleasant to hold in your hands! Moreover, although after the pluses it is traditionally customary to talk about the noted shortcomings, in this case I simply do not find them - well, do not invent them, in fact, in order to maintain formal objectivity!

    The cost of the device is 22,000 rubles in official retail, and they ask for 3-5 thousand less for a gray device. This is a lot, but a rational user rarely buys a gadget on emotions immediately at the start of sales - it is advisable to wait a little, wait for a price reduction, reviews, fixing software bugs, if any. For example, when the older brother of the "compact" Xperia Z1 got into the test laboratory of Sotovik, his official price amounted to almost 30,000 rubles, but only two and a half months have passed since then, and it has dropped to a more or less moderate 25,000. It can be assumed that in the summer Z1 compact can be purchased for 17-18 thousand rubles, which will make it a very attractive purchase.


    Advanced camera features in the Xperia Z1 smartphone from SONY.
    Quality and performance of compact digital cameras. Technologies for creating high-tech BRAVIA® television screens. All this inside an elegant and water-resistant* smartphone. Xperia smartphone Z1 brings you the best of Sony.
    The Xperia Z1 delivers the best overall quality images compared to other popular smartphones.
    Built with the same components as Sony's compact digital cameras, the Xperia Z1 is great for shooting. This includes the large 1/2.3-inch Exmor RS™ image sensor, 20.7 MP resolution, the award-winning Sony G Lens technology, and the BIONZ™ image processor for mobile devices. And the best auto setting mode helps you always take amazing pictures by choosing the optimal camera settings.
    With the Social live app, you can share the unique moments of your life on Facebook live. Your friends' comments are immediately displayed on the screen, and you continue to chat in real time.
    The Info-eye™ app offers you absolutely new way obtaining information. Take a picture of the object you are interested in, and the Info-eye™ app will instantly tell you everything necessary information about him by displaying it directly in the camera's viewfinder.
    Turn on the AR effect on your camera and add fun animations to your photos. Fully customizable themes, from the age of dinosaurs to the underwater world, can be easily modified. If you think there are too many fish in the sea, just remove a few.
    Mode burst shooting Timeshift burst - only the best photos
    Xperia Z1 is a smartphone with a truly the best camera. It's so smart that it can shoot 61 frames in two seconds - and even before you press the shutter. Scroll through the resulting pictures to choose the best ones, or save them all.

    This is the fourth and final part of my Sony Xperia Z1 compact video review. Here everything is in detail about what to expect from the camera, and specifically about photos and videos. Just a little about the problems of the touchscreen and the possibility of working with gloves. Well, actually, conclusions.

    Here you can see photos and videos from Sony Z1 compact, as well as compare them with photos of Nexus 5 and iPhone 5S.
    folderview?id=0B_Emld_mX_2TNW1JLUJSTFptZTQ&usp=sharing

    Thanks to the store Ultra Kaliningrad for the support.
    Internet shop.

    The music used was Tunguska Electronic Misic Society - 01 Advanced Dreams - Night Things

    iPhone 5S: 8MP, 1/3-inch sensor, 1.5 micron sensor pixels, f/2.2 lens
    Sony Xperia Z1: 21 MP, 1/2.3-inch sensor, 1.1-micron sensor pixels, f/2 lens

    In Sachen Kamera musste ausgerechnet der Kamera-Hersteller Sony in den letzten Jahren viel Kritik bei den verbauten Smartphone-Knipsen einstecken. Schlechter Weißabgleich, Schwächen beim Kontrast und unscharfe Bilder sogar bei Tageslicht - so der häufige Tenor bei Sony Smartphones der letzten Jahre. Vorbei! Mit dem Sony Xperia Z1 verbaut Sony die vielleicht beste Kamera in ein Android-Smartphone, welche derzeit erhältlich ist. Die Kameraeinheit wurde für das Sony Xperia Z1 komplett neu entwickelt. Die Kamera bietet eine Blende von f2.0, schießt Fotos mit 20.7 Megapixel und den Bildprozessor "Bionz for mobile" hat Sony seinen DSLR-Kameras entliehen. Allerdings stehen die 21 Megapixel nur im manuellen Modus zur Verfügung. Die sehr gut funktionierende Automatik rechnet die Fotos auf handlichere 8 Megapixel herunter. Die Fotos wirken in der Regel scharf und kontrastreich, die Farben sind knackig. Besonders beeindruckend ist die Tiefenschärfe des Xperia 1 Z1 bei Marko-Fotos. Ebenfalls ansprechend: Fotos in dunklerer Umgebung. Gelegentlich übertreibt es der Bionz-Bildprozessor aber auch etwas, sodass die Fotos und Farben unnatürlich wirken. Videos werden in Full HD aufgenommen. Die Qualität ist sehr gut, leiden nur gelegentlich unter kleinen Rucklern und dem sichtbaren nachfokussieren. Wie die Xperia Z1-Kamera sich im Vergleich mit Apples iPhone 5S schlägt, könnt ihr in diesem Video sehen. -

    Please check out the apps of a friend: us/developer/manuela-puder/id882170289

    Free Course "Fundamentals of Programming" k0UHbP

    Hi all! Today we are talking about manual camera settings. What do they mean, what is worth turning and what is not, why are they needed if there is "Auto".

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    Today, I would like to talk about mobile photography!
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    Sony Xperia - Mod Cyberian Camera (Z1/Z2/Z3)

    Hola un saludo a todos los que me siguen hoy les traigo un Mod de cámara, este mod incorpora ciertas características que llaman la atención, mas abajo les dejare el link del foro XDA para que miren cuales son esas características, la he probado y me ha llamado la atención... Función para los Z1 con android 5.1.1 y para los Z2 y Z3 con android 6.0.1, El mod esta muy completo y no he visto hasta el momento ningún bug o que aparezca la cámara se ha detenido, tiene buena fluidez... algunas de las características novedosas en este mod son:

    Enfoque automático híbrido predictivo de los Sony Xperia X.
    - Velocidad de obturación entre 1s y 1/10000s Como en los XPeria XZ.
    - Modo automático y manual agregado 20MP 16:9.
    - SteadyShot para FHD agregaron Inteligente activo (funciona muy bien)

    Y entre otras mas características que podrán leer el siguiente link de los foros XDA gracias al usuario @mkdmc...

    crossdevice-dev/sony-themes-apps/mod-cyberian-camera-t3267271

    Sony Xperia Z1 - Attention to detail

    07.08.2015

    As an epigraph to this review, we can take the following anecdote: "I really miss those times when you could pour water on a person without worrying about a smartphone in his pocket!". Yes, you understood everything correctly, we are talking about the waterproof flagship from Sony, released in the second half of 2013 - Xperia Z1.

    Introduction

    This cool gadget came to me in early 2014. It was bought in the FotoSklad store at a fairly humane price for that time, about 20,000 rubles (the official price set by the company was 30,000 rubles).

    According to all marketing laws, the gadget should be "obsolete" by the beginning of 2015, but due to the depreciation of the national currency (I hope, temporary), and, as a result, the increase in prices for all new flagships, it becomes relevant again. Why - learn from this review.

    Equipment

    Acquaintance with the device begins, as always, with the packaging. The device comes in a rectangular box (by the way, similar in shape to the hero of this review), quite informative. The smartphone itself is drawn on the front, and "Sony - make, believe" is written in the upper left corner. In the lower left corner - Xperia Z1. At the bottom of the box, the upper part of the smartphone is drawn in different colors, lower - the main chips of the flagship, even lower - the text in small print.

    The box is made of thick cardboard, with bright pictures. Yes, making packaging from recycled materials, as many manufacturers do, is environmentally friendly, but, in my opinion, a box should be just that - high-quality, beautiful, even eye-catching. Yes, it will also serve, in particular, for storing complete accessories.

    There is nothing particularly interesting inside the box. In stock - headphones with nozzles for them (it was possible to find out that the headphones are not supplied with all batches, consider me lucky), a USB cable, some pieces of paper not in Russian, and a charger unit. Options are poor, the minimum required. Instructions - both in English and in Russian, are of no particular use to a Russian person ☺ . Therefore, I did not particularly regret that the papers were in English.

    Previously, when there were not so many gadgets in my house that regularly asked for charging, the type of charger included in the kit did not cause me any special problems (the USB connector is on the side). But now I have a very specific requirement - the cable connector must be on top. Recently, many manufacturers have begun to do this (including Apple), but Sony has not changed the approach (what's in, what's in, Charger didn't change at all). I hope they will fix this defect in the new flagship.

    Appearance

    For the first time, a flagship fell into my hands. And it was very interesting to compare the sensations of a hi-end smartphone device with a state employee teXet X-basic. The first thing that catches your eye is the Omni Balance design, which implies the symmetry of the device, rectangular shapes, smooth front surface and back cover (if you can call the back surface of a non-separable smartphone that way). The ergonomics of this design is not that much affected, but the grip is definitely less comfortable than that of the X-basic. A person with a larger hand size than mine (the majority of such people) will, I think, be more comfortable using the device with one hand than I am.

    About the complete film - everything is sad. She managed to get scratched in the first week of careful handling. At the same time, the device was not in one pocket with the keys, did not fall anywhere, and did not show signs of self-will that prompted to check its strength. As a result, I removed the film, especially since it collects a lot of dust, and under it - strained glass which is not easily damaged.

    The assembly is just great; even with some effort, it is impossible to make the apparatus make sounds like unoiled peasant vehicles ☺ .

    The most interesting thing between protective glass and a frame that borders the screen, there is a slot into which, if desired, you can insert a sheet of thin paper. This, of course, is not such a big minus, but, nevertheless, the impression deteriorates a little. This is despite the fact that even in Keneksi Wind (we carefully look at its price) there is no such thing.

    Now about the thickness. In the middle of 2015, the thickness in the region of 7-9 mm is not considered a record, moreover, such devices are even called "a bit thick"! But my subjective emotions from the thickness remain unchanged - it is very thin even with a case. And personally, the direction of smartphone movement is completely incomprehensible to me - a further decrease in thickness. Trust me, it's absolutely unnecessary. The only thing is that it would be a good idea to take a smart dystrophic, add a couple of millimeters to its thickness by using a very large battery - and get a wonderful thing as a result, which, regardless of the use case, will not be "hungry" for a couple of days after the last "feeding".

    An undoubted advantage of the device is the ability to choose not only classic white and black colors, but also bright purple.

    It is protected from moisture and dust - for people who sometimes drop their smartphones into the water. So, unfortunately, my faithful teXet X-basic died. And it was Sony that set a new trend among devices (which won the favor of Georgy Kiselyov) - moisture protection.

    It is made of metal and glass, which means it should appeal to a wide range of people. Pleasant sensations from the rear glass surface, but most importantly - quite a lot of weight (170 g), I always liked it. But for me, design is secondary. Yes, this is the most beautiful smartphone ever created (or rather, the entire Z line, which almost looks the same)! Yes, it is made of premium materials! Yes, it is different from that huge number of Chinese on Android! But... Personally, it is more important for me that the device has a cool camera, just an incomparable shell that caused about the same delight as my first Android smartphone. Well, okay, we'll deal with everything in the course of the review.

    Now we can talk about the controls.

    On the right are three mechanical buttons, including a separate key for shooting, which the Sony Xperia Z lacked. Judging by the positioning of the device, it is useful for shooting underwater. After all, the capacitive screen will not respond to touch in such conditions. The button is comfortable, it is pressed clearly and distinctly. If you hold the smartphone with both hands, then the index finger immediately rests on the key.

    Above - a connector for sim, which enters on a sled. To remove these very sleds, it is enough to pick them up with your fingernail, there are no paper clips, as in the iPhone. It would be better if the slot was opened with a paper clip, it would be more "civilized". But this is a small problem, infrequently people still take out their SIM cards.

    The place for the power button is well thought out, it is located exactly where you would like it to be, regardless of which hand the user holds the smartphone with. Special thanks to the designers. With such a size of the case, this is almost the only option for the location of the button so that it is convenient. It is this key, or rather, its design, that is one of the distinguishing features Sony smartphones. Silver paint for almost a year and a half of use has not peeled off, which is good. A little lower is a handy volume rocker. It's quite interesting that it is thanks to this arrangement that you can easily take a screenshot with one hand (although sometimes you get a change in volume). To do this, it is enough to rest your thumb on the left side of the smartphone, and hold down the keys with the rest. But it is unlikely that the company had buttons according to this logic. Although how do you know...

    On the left are slots for a memory card and for charging. They are covered with plugs that can be removed quite easily, but, apparently, they seal the case well. Under them is a connector for connecting to a docking station with which you can charge your smartphone. Also, this optional accessory can be used as a "tripod" when shooting.

    At the bottom is a speaker. More about it will be discussed in the "Sound" section. There is also a hole, which, as I understand it, serves to attach the strap.

    On top of the device is a 3.5 mm headphone jack not covered by a plug. The company says that you can immerse the phone in water, the connector will not deteriorate. But they add that it would be better not to listen to music for a couple of hours later.

    Behind - in the upper left corner of the camera and flash, in the center - the Sony logo. I would like to comment on the location of the camera. When shooting in landscape orientation (mostly for video), the finger covers the camera. It may sound (and actually read) strange, but in budget smartphones like Keneksi Wind, it is much more convenient.

    Front part. Above the screen is the front camera and sensors, but below it ... Nothing! And with such a wide frame at the bottom! It was already possible to place touch buttons there. Not only Sony suffers from this, but also HTC with its flagship line (namely, the logo under the screen). But recently, at the suggestion of the Chinese, a new trend has emerged - reducing the scope. This is what I welcome (I expect and hope that the above-mentioned companies will follow this trend).

    Somewhere inside conversational dynamics the LED is located. It does not signal missed events, but when charging, it glows red (less than 15%), yellow (from 15 to 90%) and green (from 90%). A trifle, but very nice. And convenient.

    Also, the same LED flashes blue, signaling missed events.

    I also bought a lovely red case for the hero of this review, which, by the way, is very comfortable. It turns the hero of this review into Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro ☺. But it is not necessary to break it, either completely (see the story) or partially.

    It perfectly protects against any falls and troubles (unlike the case for teXet TM-9750HD, which does not protect anything and, moreover, has come apart at the seams). That's what you can't take away from flagships - it's an abundance of accessories, both high-quality and, unfortunately, not very good.

    But, as I found out, many cases for the Sony Xperia Z1 have a drawback - they do not allow you to insert headphones into the 3.5 mm jack. Banal interferes with the mount. Generally speaking, the covers are not to blame, it's the designers who made such an unfortunate arrangement. But, when you suddenly decide to buy a case, take the headphones to the store and try to plug them into the connector. You won't regret it, I assure you.

    Hmm... I didn't find a hole for hard reset. And since the cover of the smartphone is non-removable, the absence of the above hole can, in the worst case, be sent to a service center.

    In total, for the appearance and equipment - 9 points.

    Shell

    First time I see Xperia Home and I love it. Really like. Before this smartphone, I did not have devices with shells from the manufacturer. And this element inspires me personally. Moreover, the company has clearly worked to improve the speed of work. No lag, even when scrolling through long lists like news feeds.

    Launcher (a specialized program that allows you to radically change the desktop design, interface, images of various shortcuts, and the like compared to operating system, whose interface is also a kind of launcher), like everything else, compared to stock Android, has been greatly changed by the manufacturer. I like these changes. The principle of adding widgets has been changed (these are tiles that can show any information on the desktop, they are somewhat similar to application shortcuts, but shortcuts are just links, and widgets are mini-applications in some way), nicer icons. I will not once again shake the keyboard on this topic, see the screenshots and you will understand everything yourself.

    When you turn on the device, the first most necessary settings appear. If you are unable to do this, the seller in the store will set up the device. But it seems to me that it is much more interesting to experience everything yourself. Well, okay, back to our sheep.

    The lock screen, from which you can launch the camera, and with the update to Android 5.0 - also a phone application, simply by swiping from the icon of the desired application to the center of the screen. If you do not swipe, but simply press the display, then the inscription: "To unlock, slide your finger across the screen" jumps in a funny way. With the new Android, notifications are now displayed on the lock screen, which is good. On the other hand, there used to be widgets, but now they are not. There is no ideal in the world, in general.

    The Xperia Home shell does not change the design of Android much (with version 5.0, the differences are generally minimal), but it adds a large number of functions. And application shortcuts can be taken out not only by standard drag and drop from the menu, but also through a special editing table; "mini-applications" were added (their value on a 5-inch screen is rather doubtful, but on large tablets it will certainly be in demand); there is a search for applications in the main menu and the ability to sort them the way the user wants. These are pluses.

    As a minus, we can highlight the fact that the number of desktops is limited to 7 ☹ . Even the budget Keneksi Wind has 9 of them. And in many third-party launchers, the number is not limited at all.

    Notification menu. Not much changed compared to stock Android, only the design is adjusted to the appearance of the rest of the shell elements. By dragging the top of the screen down with two fingers, we will see the quick settings. And you can choose which ones will be displayed on this screen.

    With the update to Android 5.0, a switch panel has appeared here, it is very convenient. Its design hasn't changed from stock Android at all, which is a good thing. She is very graceful.

    The device has an Update Center application. It serves to update the system and branded applications that are not available on Google Play and are embedded in the firmware. Naturally, it is possible to update the Android version "over the air". And it's very convenient. Now this feature is available on most devices. But it is not, for example, on Keneksi Wind. And, in order to update the firmware, you will have to go to the service center (while the device is under warranty, and then you can do it yourself).

    As for updates - here, it turns out, not everything is so simple either. In the update to Android 5.0, you couldn't just connect and download it over the air. I had to connect to a computer. And then the suffering began. First, he just made a sound. And that's it. No "connected... select what to do" menu, nothing like that. And who would have guessed that you need to go to the "about phone" menu, turn on the "for developers" section, check the "USB debugging" box in this section! If it were not for the experience of previous firmware (on teXet TM-9750HD, from a completely different tablet, and even here everything was much easier than with Sony), I would never have thought of it. Okay, connected. The next, far from obvious step - in "USB connections" it should be checked to "install special software", and after installation uncheck this box, otherwise it will prompt you to install it every time. After installation, everything went easier, but I was "somewhat surprised" by the phrase: "While connecting USB cable to the computer(as if I'm going to connect it for a minute in a row ☺) hold down the volume down key".

    All the suffering was not in vain. New Android really very beautiful and smooth. But why such torment when installing it to an ordinary user is a mystery. Sony, listen, and don't do this again.

    Now I would like to note an interesting bun, which is not in regular Android. If we make a long swipe (from one edge of the screen to the other) from one desktop, then we immediately get to another desktop, but not adjacent, but located through one with the original one. A trifle, but just incredibly comfortable!

    I would also like to talk about the "simple start screen". This setting turns the shell of the device into a kind of Windows Phone. There are, of course, no tiles, but the application display logic, the settings themselves, the font size - all this is very reminiscent of the operating system from Microsoft. But if there is just such a logic of the system, then here it is done, probably, for the convenience of the older generation.

    Everything is quite similar to standard android, but everything is done very smoothly, beautifully, clearly and gracefully. As for the similarity with the "clean" OS from Google - many companies, especially Chinese ones, like to change the system beyond recognition, in particular, removing the main application menu. I like Sony's approach much more, because only the most frequently used applications should be placed on the desktop, and the rest should not interfere while being in the main menu.

    For the shell - 9.5 points.

    Embedded Applications

    Their number and necessity are characterized by four words: "for all occasions." There is everything - from a video player to notes, from a mobile office to a flashlight.

    I will analyze a few of the most valuable and interesting.

    MyXperia (locks the device if it is lost). Its value is not particularly high, because almost all antiviruses, including free ones, have a similar function. But it is useful for people who are used to using everything out of the box. As I have seen, there are many such people.

    Voice recording (recorder). Minimalistic beautiful design. The functions are all the most necessary. Exactly - you can listen to everything that you recorded in the application itself; in the settings - select the recording file format and recording duration. As a minus, it can be noted that this application has not yet been translated into Russian. But there are few words, you can even use a dictionary, it will take a little time.

    Here lies a fly in the ointment. The fact is that when recording sound through this voice recorder, you get just an incredibly quiet recording with a lot of noise. Moreover, if you use the camera for this purpose, simply by placing the device on the "back", the sound is quite clear and with much less noise.

    I do not advise you to listen to the audio recording if there are neighbors with a perforator ☺ . Seriously, make the sound in the speakers / headphones very loud, otherwise it is simply impossible to hear something.

    Mini version of the flagship. It does not differ from the "big brother" in exactly anything, except for the diagonal of the screen and, accordingly, the dimensions. The choice between these two devices is only in what dimensions are acceptable to the user. All. Even the price differs by only 600 rubles down.

    But here you need to stop in more detail. Firstly, a smartphone is cheaper by an average of five thousand. A lot of. This can be decisive when choosing between these two devices. However, now I will try to compare the review hero with the Nexus as accurately as possible. First, the Nexus comes with "clean" Android without skins. Secondly, long-term Google support and constant updates to more new version. Sony, in my opinion, the shell is better than the standard Android. It's more customizable, with prettier icons and animations, and more feature rich native apps than Google's. 1-0 in favor of Sony.

    The power is comparable, because The processor model in both smartphones is the same.

    Okay, let's go with the shells. Now about design and ergonomics. There is already a choice for everyone - which design he likes best. I won't take readers' time with long stories about the pros and cons of each design, I'll just say that I like the Sony Xperia Z1 more. 2-0 in favor of Sony.

    The LG device has a smaller battery than Sony's flagship. Significantly less. In addition, the hero of this review has a really useful branded Stamina mode at his disposal, which extends the battery life. This means that the device will also live less. 3-0 in favor of Sony.

    The capabilities of photomodules are approximately equal, in different conditions one device wins, then another.

    Housing materials from Sony are more "elite", the smartphone looks very expensive. 4-0 in favor of Sony.

    The cost is comparable.

    The body materials are also quite similar.

    Now, of course, there are a huge number of middle-class devices with similar iron characteristics. But the trouble is, if you're looking for water resistance, a metal/glass case, and an A-brand phone, there's not much to choose from.

    Also, there are a huge number of Chinese devices that offer the same characteristics at a lower price, for example, from Xiaomi or Meizu. But when choosing a smartphone, one of the criteria is that the device must be from an A-brand, other options were not considered.

    I hope you, dear readers, have a fairly complete picture of the situation with the flagship competitors of the hero of this review.

    P.S. To date, several generations of flagships have already changed. And to compare this device with all the newer ones is a thankless task. Too different price. If you want the flagship of 2015, put 30-60 thousand rubles on the counter. If there is no such amount at your disposal, then you need to choose from older devices that have not changed much in price, and, therefore, become more relevant.

    On this comparison I declare a finished topic.

    Glitches and the like

    Once there was something. But it disappeared after 10 seconds.

    For a long time, there were several more errors, and sometimes they simply did not allow to do anything. For example, the inscription: "In the application Google services Play error occurred". I pressed OK, after 2 seconds the same thing. It was this that prompted me to update the firmware, all its other improvements except Material Design were a pleasant surprise for me.

    Once the smartphone behaved as if I pressed the power button and did not release it, i.e. the shutdown menu opens, I press "cancel", and this menu appears again. I was able to get off only by rebooting the smartphone.

    Already with the update in the SMS application, sometimes the field for entering a message simply disappears. There is none, and that's it. Several times I left the dialogue and went into it again - it worked.

    TeXetTM-9750HD. Sony Screen some velvety and very pleasant.

    But there are also negative impressions, such as irritation at an annoying mistake " Google Apps play".

    Of course, it is very difficult to remember everything, but the main thing was written above.

    3D view

    In conclusion, I would like to present the reader with a 3D review of this smartphone:

    [May not work in all browsers. - Approx. ed.]

    There can be no single answer to this question for any smartphone. Everywhere has its pros and cons. Here is a short list of the pros:
    1. Shell - it is smooth and beautiful, with many features.
    2. Powerful processor, which perfectly copes with all tasks.
    3. A bright screen that displays blacks well and doesn't "blind" too much in bright sunlight.
    4. Long battery life, Stamina mode.
    5. Convenient music player with a TrackID chip and high-quality sound in good headphones, as well as the presence of FM-radio.
    6. Remarkable performance of telephone functions.
    7. Graceful design and high-quality body materials (metal and glass).
    8. Long-term manufacturer support - updates have been released for a year and a half.
    9. The durability of the phone itself: during the use of it since the spring of 2014, there is not a single scratch or abrasion on the case.

    Now about the cons. They also exist:
    1. Lack of anti-reflective and oleophobic coatings on the screen or their very low quality and not too clean display of white color on the screen.
    2. The gap between the glass and the frame, a bad factory film, as well as the unsuccessful design of the bundled charger and the lack of a button to control music playback in the bundled headphones.
    3. Great difficulties with a wired connection to a computer, as well as updating the firmware via USB.
    4. A number of glitches and crashes.
    5. Lack of USB-OTG.
    6. Roughness in the chamber.

    As you can see, all the minuses starting from 3 are software, which means there is hope that they will be fixed with subsequent firmware.

    If you have any questions about the device, you can ask them in the comments.

    P.S. Everything I said in the review is relevant for firmware on Android 4.4 (unless otherwise indicated).