styles / fashion / tips & facts / health / discussion and interaction / politics / entertainment / places / music / movies.....................be the 1st to @starefirst !!!!!!!!!!!!!
In what seems like another round of doom prophecy, a Ghanaian man of God,ProphetSamuelBaffour who is the Founder of ElShaddaiPrayerCenter in that country, has predicted that Nollywood actresses, Yvonne Nelson and Nadia Buari as well as other Ghanaian celebrities like dance hall king, Samini, will die this year. ProphetBaffour says that God revealed to him that these entertainment people will not see the end of this year.
He also predicted the mode of death they will face on one of Ghana’s radio station, ChannelR-92.7FM’s205, ranging from accident to being murdered by enemies.
This is how he predicted death for the stars:
YvonneNelson
A
lot of Ghanaians hate the beautiful actress and are planning her
untimely death. Some persons are feverishly scheming against the actress
in a move that will stall her progress. She will sink so low nobody
will recognize her and that will lead to her death.
NadiaBuari
Nadia
Buari will face death in an accident that will claim her life this
year. Her death will be a replica of the death that actress Suzzy
William faced along Labadi-Tema road.
Samini
The
musician will be murdered by people in the industry who are envious of
him and his success. Some entertainers who masquerade as friends are
plotting to kill him because of his enormous talent and rise in fame.
Obour (President, Musicians Union of Ghana)
Obour
will also not see the end of this year. The way he will die was also
revealed to me by God and it will happen that a fellow musician will die
and at the funeral, some people will poison Obour. His tummy will bloat
as a result of the poison, which will lead to his death.
When asked to mention the names of those plotting to kill the artistes, Prophet Baffour had this to say:
It
is a security matter so, I cannot mention the names; but if these
people come to see me, I will reveal the names of the plotters to them
individually.
What do you make of this prophet? Should the stars lose sleep over this man of God?
While giving his weekly blessing from the Vatican, the Argentinian mistakenly uttered the word 'f***' in Italian before quickly correcting himself.
But within seconds his mistake was posted on dozens of Italian media websites and YouTube and had gained millions of worldwide hits as it went viral. The wordsthe Pope stumbled on were 'caso' (example) and 'cazzo' which means 'f***' in Italian and often trips up those not used to speaking the language
In his sermon, the 77-year-old Pope had been urging for a peaceful solution to the crisis in the Ukraine.
More below
Speaking from the window of his apartment at the Vatican's Apostolic Palace, he said:
'It is my wish that all the components of the country will endeavor to
overcome misunderstandings and build together the future of the nation.I make a heartfelt appeal to the international community to support every initiative on behalf of dialogue and harmony.
'A heart full of longing for possession is a heart empty of God.For this, Jesus many times chastised the rich because the risk for them to seek security in the wealth of this world is high.
'In this "fucking" in this case the providence of God is made visible as gesture of solidarity.'
Pope Francis maintained his composure despite the slip, quickly correcting
himself, as the crowd gathered in St Peter's Square and those watching
around the world asked themselves 'Did he just say "fuck"?'
On the internet, the slip-up generated hundreds of comments with many
explaining that it was a common mistake made by Spanish speakers and
others said it underlined their impression of him as a 'man of the
people.'A Vatican spokesman did not wish to comment on the slip-up.
1. DO NOT SMOKE.
2. EXERCISE REGULARLY.
3. REDUCE CALORIES INTAKE.
4. NEVER GO TO BED STUFFED:eat only 80 % of what you intend to eat on every meal.
5. SOCIALIZE AND CATCH FUN.
6. DEVELOP YOUR SPIRITUALITY:meditation,yoga,relaxation and prayer.
7. ENGAGE IN MENTAL STIMULATING ACTIVITIES:take up challenges.Dont shy away.
8. HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY AND SENSE OF PURPOSE
9. WEALTH IS ALSO HEALTH:save more to maintain an healthy brain.
10. STAY ACTIVE:engage in family and friendly activities.
11. WORK! WORK!! WORK!!!
Over 30 secondary students were slaughtered this morning and their
hostels burnt down. (pic below). See a State House Press Release
condemning the attack below, signed by Reuben Abati..
President
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has received with immense sadness and anguish,
news of the callous and senseless murder by terrorists of scores of
students at a college in Yobe State in the early hours of today.
On behalf of himself and the Federal Government, President
Jonathan extends heartfelt condolences to the parents and relatives of
the murdered students.
The President wholly condemns
the heinous, brutal and mindless killing of the guiltless students by
deranged terrorists and fanatics who have clearly lost all human
morality and descended to bestiality.
He assures the
nation that his administration will not relent in its ongoing efforts to
end the scourge of terrorism in parts of the country which has sadly
claimed more innocent lives today.
The Armed Forces of
Nigeria and other security agencies will continue to prosecute the war
against terror with full vigour, diligence and determination until the
dark cloud of mass murder and destruction of lives and property is
permanently removed from our horizon.
The HTC One - the world's best mobile phoneWhat's the best mobile phone? Our verdict on the best smartphone/best phones - constantly updated
We've
all got at least one mobile phone each, right? We've probably got about
three or four nowadays, and that counts giving your old Nokia 3310 to
your Mum a few years ago.
But while you used to be able to just
bank on the new Nokia or always get the next Sony Ericsson because it
had a half-decent camera, there are now so many great options out there
from loads of manufacturers.
The trouble is, how do you decide which is the best one for you?
Well,
this is where we make it easy. Because here we have our continually
updated comparison of the top 20 best smartphones currently adorning
phone emporiums up and down the UK.
The last update saw the HTC
One maintain its place at the top of the charts, holding off multiple
challenges from Nokia, Samsung, LG and Sony (namely the Galaxy S4) - showing the smartphone market still has a fair few players.
But
the HTC One is nearly a year old. That's an age in smartphone terms,
and Apple's in there too, doubling down by bringing out a phone at the
same price (the iPhone 5C) and pulling no punches with the supercharged iPhone 5S, so where have both landed in our top 20?
But it's by no means a 'can Apple topple HTC' kind of race - as HTC has created a cheaper version of the One (the HTC One Mini, of course), LG's gone all out with the aptly named LG G2, and even Sony is continually pushing the smartphone envelope with the all new small-yet-powerful Sony Xperia Z1 Compact - so who knows who will be number one these days?
And now Google is playing fast and loose with consumers' wallets, thanks to offering the ultra-cheap Nexus 5 and the even ultra-cheaper Moto G - could those be the phones for you?
If that still doesn't help, well, there's always our extensive mobile phone reviews pages as well - or check out our personally crafted smartphone buyer's guide:
And when you've decided which new phone to buy (and checked out the best mobile phone deal), why not cash in your old one with our phone recycling price comparison service?
Here are our rankings for the best mobile phones around, currently available in the UK.
20. Samsung Galaxy S3
With
the Samsung Galaxy S4 (and friends) now launched, the S3 has
predictably fallen down the rankings thanks to there being a better
phone to recommend.
But don't worry: the S3 is still a strong
phone: it's got loads of features we want and more, and raised the bar
once again in terms of what consumers should be expecting in terms of
battery life, processor speed and media management.
Would we
recommend you buy one if you're hankering for a spot of Samsung? Yes,
but only if you're trying to save money, as the S4 is a much better
version of this phone indeed.
Price isn't the only reason the
Samsung Galaxy S3 is worthy of consideration though. Smart Stay, Super
AMOLED HD screen, up to 128GB storage, Music Hub, removable battery,
quick camera; for the price, this phone still delivers in ways that many
others on the market can't.
Quick verdict
If you're after
a decent slab of Samsung tech, the Galaxy S3 is an OK choice. It's
getting on a bit, hence the slip down the rankings.
Samsung faced
an almost impossible task in trying to create a worthy sequel to the
Galaxy S2, and while this is an older model, it's still worth a look.
Many (including us, we admit) were not convinced when the original Samsung Galaxy Note
launched. Who on earth would want something so big to make their calls
and surf the internet, even with a glorified stylus? Cue awkward
silence.
Millions of you, it would appear. The Galaxy Note sold by
the bucketload, so how do you follow that up? With something better, of
course - the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, which has shifted 20 million units
worldwide, and now is the elder statesman thanks to the new Galaxy Note 3 appearing.
Still
a strong and eye-catching device, the Galaxy Note 2 is well-connected,
and thanks to that increased screen size (up to an eye-bulging
5.5-inches), is, among many things, a quality media player.
Samsung
has achieved something special here, because it has made the Galaxy
Note 2 bigger than the original, but pulls it off so that you don't
notice it too much and anyway, it's the features that make it so
amazing.
Air View, Multi-window, a dock that can turn it into a fully-fledged computer - it's all here, people..
Quick verdict
As
a phone, it's big, but once you get over that, if you can, it's great.
As a PMP, it really does excel, but there are better options on the
market (Note 3 and Sony Xperia Z Ultra, for instance).
Ultimately,
there's no getting away from the fact that the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is
a niche device. But it does almost everything it sets out to do
perfectly, with grace, class and maximum functionality.
With a
lower price, it's still powerful enough to last for at least a year or
two, so we have no qualms recommending it as a viable option for your
next phone.
Want
the Samsung Galaxy S4 but are too worried about dropping it in the bath
or flinging it into a sand dune? Well, you can either not do either of those things, or buy the Samsung Galaxy S4.
With
a powerful IP67 water and dust proof case the Active is far more hardy
than a lot of the top end devices currently on the market.
The only other handset which can match the rugged credentials of the S4 Active is the Sony Xperia Z, (and Z1 successor, of course) although those being covered in glass front and back makes them feel far more fragile.
While
the 5-inch display may not sport the Super AMOLED technology of the S4,
the full HD resolution still makes for an excellent visual experience
which is only really bettered by its namesake, the LG G2 and the HTC One.
Quick verdict
If
you're in the market for a super powerful smartphone which you can take
on extreme activities, swimming and in the bath then sure the Galaxy S4
Active is the best around, although that's a pretty limited market.
And hey, chuck it in a bucket of water and your mates will be seriously impressed (honest).
We've
only got this phone so far down on the list as we don't think huge
amounts of users will be desperate to add the heft to an S4 to make it a
bit more life proof, and that isn't going to be something most people
will worry about.
But if you want the security of a phone that can
withstand a few knocks but doesn't scrimp on the specs or usability,
then you could do a lot worse than checking out the S4 Active.
What's better than a top Windows Phone 7 handset? A Windows Phone 8 one, and we've got no qualms about telling you this is one the best high-end Windows Phones out there.
Simplicity
is the key here, the Lumia 925 does the basics well, from contact
integration and calling, to web browsing and messaging. The camera is
market-leading, and offers excellent performance from low-light to jumpy
videos.
The 8.7MP PureView camera on the back of the Lumia 925 is
actually one of the best we've used, and for anyone looking to get a
top end cameraphone: you need to seriously consider this Nokia, although
a glut of handsets (Sony Xperia Z1 Compact, HTC One, LG G2 and iPhone
5S) have all stepped up their game significantly to offer strong camera
experiences too.
The 4.5-inch display is also a good'un, crisp and
clear it makes watching movies, surfing the web or Facebook stalking an
enjoyable experience, thanks to the PureMotion HD technology on offer.
And you can even use it with gloves on... what more could you want? You're right: hologram messages. But they don't exist yet.
Quick verdict
The
Nokia Lumia 925 is a worthy ambassador for Windows Phone 8 and probably
a strong part of the reason Microsoft decided to acquire the Finnish
handset division.
It's not got the clout to take on the likes of the HTC One and Galaxy S4 just yet, but it's still a great choice if you're not sold on Android or iOS but don't want to give up a powerful phone.
What's this? A new iPhone not making it into the top five? Wait... not even the top ten?
Well,
you can't really blame us. This isn't a new iPhone - it's last year's
device in brand new package with more colours to choose from.
There
are more LTE bands to choose from too, which is important to UK buyers
as it means it can give superfast speeds from all the networks.
It's
still a really rather good phone, with the Retina display still giving
market-leading colour reproduction, a strong camera and the best App
Store around.
Quick verdict
We'll be honest: this is the place the iPhone 5 would have occupied since it's been usurped by the iPhone 5S.
This
is, in our eyes, essentially the same phone with a new skin. There will
be loads of people looking to buy it simply because the iPhone now
comes in pink or green, and to those we say: look at the Lumia range.
Nokia's been doing the same thing for years and at a much, much cheaper
price point.
The iPhone 5C is the same as a every phone from
Apple: too expensive for what it is, but if you're desperate for such a
device from the Cupertino brand then this is still a strong handset to
plump for.
The
Sony Xperia Z is no longer the top dog for the Japanese firm since the
Xperia Z1 (and now the Xperia Z1 Compact) has launched. But when it came
out, the handset was definitely the most impressive the firm has
launched either in its current guise or as Sony Ericsson.
You
can see the Sony influence throughout the handset as it oozes quality
and build from the large screen, which fits close to the edges of the
bezel, to the intelligent camera that allows you to snap some really
premium photos without needing to fiddle about with the settings.
And
it's water and dust resistant too, which makes it excellent for general
life business. There's a certain freedom that comes from knowing that
the heart-stopping moment of your phone falling in a pint of beer is
gone for good.
It's also packing a microSD card slot in
an nicely-thin chassis, for which we laud the phone even higher. Add to
that the Bravia Engine 2, (which is as much as you need - the Z1's
Triluminous technology doesn't really further the message much further
forward.)
It doesn't run the Snapdragon 800 processor,
but it does have a good spec list and uses them well - a crisper video
experience, a more powerful camera, being waterproof, expandable memory
are all great elements.
Quick verdict
While it
doesn't quite pack the clout of the phones from HTC and Samsung, the
Xperia Z is a phone that says Sony is definitely back at the sharp end
of the smartphone game.
It's a shame it hasn't dropped in
price much since its successor appeared, but there's still a lot of
decent tech in a phone that really pushed things forwards in terms of
waterproofing.
The
Xperia Z Ultra is the kind of phone we love to take out for a spin once
in a while: it's so packed with tech, and is so light and thin, that we
can't help but laud it.
The camera is powerful, the
waterproof shell impressive and the Snapdragon 800 chip is really
strong. On top of that the large 6.4-inch screen is full of good Sony
tech, and the IPS addition means it looks so much better than the Z and Z1.
Then
again, this is a massive phone... so big, it's even winning awards as a
tablet. It's really, really big, and you'll need to want it rather
badly to shell out the large amount of cash you'll need to in order to
own one.
Quick verdict
The Xperia Z Ultra is one
of those devices that makes you gasp. Partly because of its beautiful
design and partly because its specs are so great. It's a phablet, but
Sony wants you to also remember it's a phone.
The market
is increasingly getting competitive and the Galaxy Note 3 is a strong
challenger. But if you need something bigger, the race is strictly
between the Xperia Z Ultra and the Galaxy Mega. And this wipes Samsung's offering off the table.
Samsung has created a mid-range handset, putting itself right against the 4G-toting Sony Xperia SP and Nokia Lumia 820 - but most importantly now in a war with the HTC One Mini too.
The
Galaxy S4 Mini takes the design language of the full-fat S4, and does
well to shrink it down without losing the same 'atmosphere'.
A
vibrant screen, bright and clear enough, added to the fact it's only
4.3-inches large, mean the S4 Mini is a lot easier to hold in the hand,
and the camera is as powerful as we'd expect on a phone of this size and
price point.
Quick verdict
What you get with the
Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini is a far better trade off of price and features
than you got with the Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini, and a phone that sits very
comfortably within the S4 range.
It's got a lot of the
S4 power at a lower price point, and while the S3 to S3 Mini divide was
just too great in our eyes, the S4 Mini is a lot closer to its bigger
brother.
It lacks the power of the main version, but strips out the right amount of stuff to still be desirable.
The
Nokia Lumia 1520 is a trailblazing 6-inch smartphone that forges a path
for Windows Phone 8 into true high-end territory. And what a swathe
this oversized phablet cuts - it's huge.
The Nokia Lumia 1520 is a well put together smartphone with Nokia's typical build quality.
Its 6-inch 1080p display is a thing of beauty, and is a great way to watch videos and view photos on the go.
Nokia
has produced another excellent camera phone here, learning lessons from
the Nokia Lumia 1020 and the Nokia Lumia 925 to produce a very well
balanced snapper.
However, there's also no denying that
this is a ridiculously large phone, and whipping one out in public will
be as embarrassing as it is tricky to wield for those who appreciate a
little subtly and mobility from their phones.
Then
there's that age old problem of the Windows Phone 8 ecosystem, which
still lacks apps, not to mention a video store to fully capitalise on
that cinematic screen
Quick verdict
The Nokia
Lumia 1520 is an absolute beast of a phone that we suspect only the
large-handed and generous pocketed will be able to live with day to day.
Those
who accept the challenge will find the most capable Windows Phone 8
device yet, with top-of-the-range specs that include a stunning 1080p
display and a superb 20-megapixel camera.
It's not quite the Windows Phone phablet we're waiting for, but it's a massive step forward.
The
Sony Xperia Z1 is another powerhouse of a phone. With a 20.7MP camera
with G Lens technology, the ability to withstand rain, snow and sand and
a superfast Snapdragon 800 processor running the show, it's clearly a
great handset to have around.
It also comes in a variety
of funky colours, has a pleasing build quality that helps justify the
higher price to a degree and basically offers the best of the Sony brand
in a smartphone.
We do have a few reservations insofar
as the Z1 doesn't really carry the mantle the Xperia Z created; it's got
a massively uprated camera and screen technology, but neither
particularly wow.
Quick verdict
Don't think that
this is anything less than a leading phone from Sony. It's just that the
added thickness to accommodate the camera doesn't impress enough to
plop it into the top five, nor the sub-par screen, and after the really
great showing from the Xperia Z, we were a little disappointed.
However,
the slick interface that make Android feel more simple, the fun Walkman
and Movies app and the overall power and battery life make this a
really nice phone that once again shows Sony knows how to make a
smartphone.
The
Nokia Lumia 520, much like its big brother the Nokia Lumia 620, is a
jack of all trades and a master of none - although it really manages to
make a good fist of everything it tries, for the low, low price tag it
carries.
It looks good, it's got a decent screen both in
terms of size and resolution, it rarely stutters or slows down, it's
great for calls and messaging, reasonable for media and okay for photos.
To
achieve a lower price point the 520 has had to strip away a few things -
there's no NFC, compass, camera flash or front facing camera here.
But
on the other hand it's also got a bigger screen, a larger battery, a
sleeker, slimmer, lighter build and the same processor and RAM as the
Nokia Lumia 620, so in many ways it's actually better.
Combine
that with a lower price tag and we reckon that this just might be the
best entry level Windows Phone 8 handset that you can buy and certainly
the best value.
Quick verdict
The Nokia Lumia 520 certainly isn't an iPhone or Samsung Galaxy
beater - but it's a superb Windows Phone device that you can pick up
for under £100. If you're a fan of a simple interface with some quality
add-ons, then you should definitely look at Nokia's latest attempt to
win over the smartphone naysayers.
The
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is alive and kicking and breathes yet more life
into a mobile form factor many thought would be dead on arrival, ramping
up the specs and the size to give us a new monolith of mobile.
It
may be big, but the 5.7-inch display is fantastic and the Full HD Super
AMOLED technology makes everything pop from websites to movies.
You're
able to fit a lot more on screen at a time and that means less
scrolling in messages, on websites and down your long contact list and
that can only be a good thing.
What really impressed us
with the Galaxy Note 3 though was its battery life and sheer speed under
the finger. We're used to a day at best when hardcore using the device,
but we got far past that without breaking a sweat throughout our tests.
The
speed of the Snapdragon 800 quad core processor, combined with 3GB of
RAM, means this is the least-slouchy phone we've encountered in a while.
Quick verdict
The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is a
great phone and if you were to own one you wouldn't be disappointed. It
provides a great onscreen experience - as long as your hands are big
enough to reach across it - and its stuffed so full of tech to almost
warrant its lofty price tag.
Its size will be a real
stumbling point for many and we'd recommend going into a store and just
holding the Note 3 for a while to see if it's something you can cope
with - in short, we want all this but in a form that we can hold easily,
at a lower price and without the S Pen.
So, essentially, we're really looking forward to the Galaxy S5.
If
you hold both the One and the One Mini, you'll struggle to tell the
difference, apart from the fact one is smaller than the other
(obviously). The aluminium build quality pervades, and it's hard to
believe that you're not holding one of the premium devices on the
market.
Even the polycarbonate band that runs around the
edge of the phone is unobtrusive, which means you get a distinctive
design that doesn't impact on the way the One Mini sits in the hand.
We
love that the functionality of the One Mini isn't compromised from its
larger relative, with the likes of UltraPixels and BoomSound all
involved without being watered down.
HTC has been very
clever in the design of this phone by bringing nearly every great
element of the One to the smaller version, and packaging it in a way
that still makes it very attractive.
In short, it's a cheaper version of the larger phone that scales down the processor and drops the price. Good combo, HTC.
Quick verdict
Would
we recommend the HTC One Mini? Absolutely - the mid-range market
renaissance is something we didn't expect, but is an area that HTC is
intent on winning - and we think it's managed that with the One Mini.
We
really love the aluminium shell, the UltraPixel camera and BoomSound on
board, plus we get to play with the latest version of Android as well
as all the cool apps like the Music Player, which show lyrics to songs
as they're playing. Actually, we're just happy to have the
headphone-boosting amplifier on board - as long as our songs are nicely
audible, we don't really care.
There's a sub-class of
phones around at the moment that try and replicate top-end features in
the mid-range market, and while this isn't the best phone in that class
any more (we'll serve that title to the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact) it's
still a cracking buy.
Motorola's
back, and it's kicking off its global smartphone revival with the
keenly priced Moto G handset. A mid-range handset with a low-end price
tag - we're talking around £100 in some stores.
On paper the Moto G looks like an excellent handset for the price, and in practice it lives up to the billing.
As the Nexus 4
did with the mid-range market, the Moto G has turned the budget end on
its head with features found on handsets double its cost.
It
exceeds its rivals in several key areas, from the well defined 4.5-inch
display to its 1.2GHz quad-core processor and guaranteed Android 4.4 KitKat update. There's a lot to love about the Moto G for its price.
Quick verdict
Motorola
must have cut some corners to get the price of the Moto G so low, and
the camera is one area which has seen the compromise, but that's one of
the only gripes.
So here's the upshot: Motorola is back
folks, it's official. It may not be the return we would have predicted -
there's no flagship phone stuffed full of the latest tech - but
arguably what the now Google-owned firm has done is even better.
The
Moto G is a top notch, low cost smartphone and we wholeheartedly
recommend this as the best budget mobile currently on the market.
Did
you see this one coming? The iPhone 5S behind five other Android phones
in our rankings? Some think it should be higher, some think lower - it
depends on your level of Apple love.
Never has a company
polarised opinion in the smartphone world like Apple - and with the
iPhone 5S, so many are quick to decry it while others know it to be the
smartphone they've been waiting for.
And let's make no
bones about it: this is a stunning phone, with a gorgeous two-tone
finish, a high-res screen with good colour reproduction, a 64-bit chip
and that all-powerful TouchID sensor that lets you unlock your phone
with a simple fingerprint.
The iOS 7
update is one that we sorely, sorely needed and does bring a lot more
power and control - as shown by the impressive and pervasive Control
Center.
We really like TouchID, the processor might be a
little useless now but definitely brings a touch more zip to things, and
the M7 chip for fitness apps will be very exciting in weeks and months
to come as app developers get their paws on it.
The main
problem we have with this phone, spec list aside, is the fact the iPhone
5S is STILL very expensive... we're not sure how such sky high prices
can be charged when equivalent smartphones are available on the market,
plus it still has a small screen compared.
Quick verdict
Let's
not beat around the bush here: the iPhone 5S is still one of the great
smartphones in the world thanks to a great package of technology, design
and UI intuition.
iOS 7 is the update we've needed for a
while, and does a lot to help keep Apple current at the sharp end of
the market - but we still can't wait to see what the iPhone 6 will bring, as essentially this is still the same phone as the iPhone 5 but with a better engine under the hood.
All
change at the top! Samsung managed to hold off HTC at the top in 2012,
but this year the supreme stylings of the HTC One proved too strong
against a phone that's a slightly-better-version of its predecessor.
Well,
that's not really fair - it's only in looks that it's too similar, and
sadly that was one of the biggest issues most users had with the S3.
It's not the world's biggest smartphone crime, but it's enough to keep
it from the top spot.
There's a lot, a lot, to
love with the Samsung Galaxy S4 though: whether it's a powerful camera, a
brilliant screen, a long-lasting battery or just a fluid experience,
there's everything you could want in a smartphone right here.
The
cost is a tad higher than on other smartphones, but thankfully still
cheaper than iPhone level and is descending as we wait for the imminent
sequel. If only it was made out of something a little more premium...
LG has now taken its second spot too - here's hoping the Samsung Galaxy S5 brings something that's really rather special to halt its slide down the charts.
Verdict
There's
no doubt that this is one of the best smartphones ever made - it's
clear, powerful and does everything we'd expect a flagship phone from
Samsung to do.
It's just a shame that the perceived
'innovation' doesn't really add anything: motion gestures, smart scroll
and it's other non-contact bedfellows didn't take smartphones to the
next level, which is what we needed in the face of Ultrapixels and
BoomSound.
Make no mistake though: you'll love the
Samsung Galaxy S4 if you choose to go for it, as it's an amazing phone
with some really cutting-edge features.
So
we've updated our review with the new phone software, and thankfully
things are a lot better now. The battery is improved, the camera a
little more stable, and the low cost is still in place.
You
already know we like Android 4.4, the clever implementation and the
£299 price tag. We love the high power CPU, the quality screen; even the
rubberised outer shell.
You can get the LG G2 for £100
more though, and that offers a far superior camera, better battery life
(it's better, but not brilliant) and a huge slew of extra features - it
really depends if you're a fan of the stripped-down experience.
Quick verdict
We're glad to put this smartphone higher up in the rankings, as it's one of the cheapest out there in terms of bang for buck.
It's
a great phone that hits the marks well - it lacks something in terms of
innovation, but that's not a problem for those that want to be able to
run all manner of apps and games at a decent price. It doesn't come in
at the same price point as previous Nexii, but it's still jolly cheap.
Hey Sony, lovely to have you back near the top. What's this? A phone without a 1080p screen? A smaller battery? Are you MAD?
Wait,
we get it. This is the mildly-nonplussing Xperia Z1 shoved into a
smaller frame, with almost nothing compromised (the above two points
aside). With a 4.3-inch screen it's one of the most easy to use devices
in the hand, coming in next to the iPhone 5S, but it does it with a much
lower cost and a great battery life to boot.
On top of
that it's waterproof and has expandable memory, plus a superb screen.
Well played, Sony - we can't wait to see what else you do in 2014.
Quick verdict
Want
a great phone that's just a little bit smaller without losing all the
power? If so, then we've found your ideal device. Strong CPU, great
battery and expandable memory are traits we love to see.
It's
been launched with a palatable price tag as well - so head on down to
your local emporium and throw it in some water. Because it's waterproof
too, not because you're a vandal.
Wait,
an LG phone in at number two? Believe it people; LG has made a phone
that not only impressed us but ran the HTC One very, very close for the
top spot.
We don't know where to start in terms of
extolling the virtues of this new handset from the South Korean firm:
it's got an insanely good screen, quality camera, the best audio pumping
out from its speakers and headphone jack... the list goes on.
We
even came to tolerate, then love, the power and volume buttons being
placed on the rear. These aren't ideal, but the ability to knock on the
screen makes it really easy to interact with this impressive device.
Verdict
There's so much on offer here that we can't help but recommend it to anyone looking for the best smartphone powerhouse.
The
only things that we dislike are the cluttered UI (pull down the
notifications bar and you'll see why) and the plastic casing, which
drops the premium feel of the phone.
But launching at
£400 on PAYG, along with comparable contracts to six month old phones,
is a really nice touch from LG, and we reckon it's going to pay
dividends.
Don't
fear HTC fans - your darling is still number one. As our only five star
phone, its combination of impressive UI and stunning aluminium build
means it was always safe in the number one
It's nothing
to do with the quality of the S4 or the LG G2 – outstanding phones in
anyone's book – but more the fact HTC has managed to bring out a
smartphone that's worthy of any user's consideration.
The supreme aluminium chassis, the Full HD screen and the simplified version of Sense 5.0 sitting on top of Android Jelly Bean (plus KitKat any day now!) means it's a pleasure to use and recommend this handset.
The
new innovations are also pleasingly more than just marketing gimmicks;
Zoe functionality allows the creation of delightful video highlight
reels, and the Ultrapixel camera means you've got a much wider range of
shots available thanks to being stunning in low light.
Quick Verdict
With
power, poise and beauty all combined in this innovative phone, HTC has
proved it can more than still cut it with the big boys when it comes to
bringing out a lust-worthy flagship smartphone - and it's also proved
that it still knows how to beat the Samsungs and LGs of this world into
third and second place with ease.
We're now starting to
wonder how long HTC can hold its place at the top, and with 2014's best
and brightest approaching, you might want to wait to see what's coming
up - but with that metallic frame, there's no short supply of users
ready to coo all over it the second it lands in their hand.
You might also like...............................................
If a phone isn't in the top 20 best phones in the world list, that doesn't mean it's not worth giving two hoots about.
Here's
a few handsets you might want to think about should none of the above
tickle your fancy... although you're clearly VERY hard to please:
Motorola Razr HD
A
former top 20 resident the Motorola Razr HD is still a decent contender
and has only dropped out of our best phones list due to newer handsets
elbowing their way to the top.
While this phone lacks in
some areas (let's be honest: a dual-core processor doesn't get anyone's
heart racing any more, despite being able to handle most tasks) it still
has a clear screen, simple OS and a really strong battery at its heart.
Many
will be taken by the almost stock Android platform it uses, and the
fact it's got an additional HDMI port means it's easy to sync your phone
up to a big screen - plus it doesn't cost the earth. Motorola Razr HD review
Fancy
stepping into the smartphone market but don't want a phone that'll cost
you the earth? Then why not check out the capable Huawei Ascend Y300,
yours for just £100.
At that price you're not going to get any breakthrough technology, but with Android Jelly Bean, a dual-core processor and a 5MP rear camera it offers plenty for the first time user.
You don't get 4G, NFC or a shiny metal chassis, but the Y300 offers a solid build a reliable - if not slightly sluggish - interface. Huawei Ascend Y300 review
Nokia Lumia 720
The Nokia Lumia 720 is a great smartphone and though some may be put off that it's rocking Windows Phone 8 over Android, if you're in the market for a mid-range mobile this is certainly worth considering.
If offers a bigger screen then the excellent, but small Lumia 520 and it won't make a massive dent in your wallet if the Lumia 925 is out of your price range.
It
is up against some tricky, and more established Android competition,
but if you fancy taking the plunge for something new you can't go wrong
with the Lumia 720.
Everyone is going touchscreen these days, BlackBerry's even got the Z10 and Z30 now, but for those of you still reliant on a physical keyboard to type the Q10 is one of the few options available to you.
While
the Q10 may struggle to match the top end Android and iOS handsets in
terms of features, apps and value, it does offer the best physical
typing experience on the market - and for some that's all they need to
hear.
The
Huawei Ascend P2 is a highly capable smartphone and offers a strong
line up of features and a decent level of specs - it just doesn't excel
at anything, or wow us with amazing features.
If you
fancy a powerful handset on a budget then the Ascend P2 is a decent
shout with a quad-core processor, 4.7-inch HD display, 4G connectivity
and a 13MP camera.
It's not going to win any races against the likes of the HTC One or Galaxy S4, but you'll be safe in the knowledge you got decent value for money.
If
you're one of those people who plays by their own rules then you won't
be taken by any of the generic slabs of plastic and metal which are
today's smartphones - you'll want something different, something out
there, something a little bit off the wall. Meet the Samsung Galaxy S4
Zoom.
Is it a phone? Is it a camera? Well it's kind of
both. From the front it looks like another Samsung clone, but flip it
over and there's a whacking great optical zoom camera lens plastered on
the back.
It's big, brash and heavy and that will put a
lot of people off, but it you want a device which can take some
impressive pictures and make the odd phone call you may fall for the S4
Zoom's... umm... charm?
President
Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday alleged that corrupt Nigerians are the
ones who openly accuse him of not fighting corruption.
Making a veiled reference to the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, who recently claimed that his body
language encourages corruption, Jonathan said his critics make such
statements to claim credibility.
The
President spoke shortly after swearing in the chairman and members of
the National Population Commission; a member of the Independent Corrupt
Practices and other Related Offences Commission and two special advisers
at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said the only sure way of becoming an instant angel was to go public and attack his government.
Jonathan
said, “Anybody who wants to claim an element of credibility will go to
the television and accuse government of corruption, that the President’s
body language shows that he is not fighting corruption or that he is
not ready to fight corruption.
“Sometimes,
even the very corrupt people are those making these statements because
if you attack government, you are insulated, you become an angel.
“If you want to be an angel, just attack the government, whatever you have done is covered.”
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I don't think any Nigerian female celeb beats Eva regarding the matter of Street style. .She has that boyish swag which is still exceptionally sexy...though I haven't the faintest idea why she adores gazing at the floor..lol
Omotola and her 14 years old daughter Meraiah impart the same birthday date and photographs of her girl lifted from her facebook page found it way to blogs....while she thanked fans for longing her little girl blissful special day, she is pestered a few bloggers tagged her girl "hot,sexy"...
This is what she wrote on her Facebook page..
Thank you to everyone who wished Meraiah a happy birthday. However, going to a 14 year old's "private" online accts to post her pictures for public viewing is totally Inappropriate . Her father and I are horrified as parents and guardian that a minor's picture can be paraded online as hot" ,"sexy" etc... We know the bloggers probably meant no harm but in a world full of pedophiles and sickos every adult with morales should know where to draw the line. I WILL NOT hesitate henceforth to use everything within my power to bring ANYONE to justice who does this with any of my under aged kids after "this" first time episode ! Any child under 18 should be protected by us all and if their parents/guardian haven't given you the okay to publish information especially "private" of their child, doing so, is against the law. I hope you all understand, thanks. Omotola."
D’banj was a guest at the State House Abuja today Feb. 11th for the
launch of the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan and the National
Enterprise Development Plan.
