Ted Kritsonis

LG has proven that it can manufacture a really good smartphone, much like it already did with devices like the Nexus 5 and G3. Last year’s G3 made considerable improvements on the software side of things, improving the user experience in tangible ways, yet it still didn’t go far enough in standing out from the crowded Android pack. The G4 deviates little from an overall design standpoint, but offers an excellent camera upgrade and simpler software for a compelling contender.

It’s sometimes hard to qualify what can be described as a “family tablet”, and yet, that is precisely how Samsung sees the new Galaxy Tab A. Large enough to enjoy video or to be productive, this is a tablet that attempts to mix a little business with pleasure, albeit in a way that caters to the average consumer. It’s really supposed to be a tablet for the everyday user, but how does it perform on a day-to-day basis?

When Google released Android 5.0 Lollipop, it was designed to not only give the mobile operating system a new coat of paint, but also add some neat additions to make usage easier. Eventhough it initially rolled out last fall, many changes have been introduced—it is currently in version 5.1.1; the changes and fixes found in the current version have helped make Android smartphones and tablets easier to use.

For Blue Jays catcher, and resident Canadian, Russell Martin, being a cover athlete for a video game is a case of coming full circle. A childhood fan of the Jays and Expos growing up in Montreal, and a gamer at heart, the two-time All-Star catcher talks about being on the cover of MLB 15: The Show and what it’s like playing the game.

Which smartphone apps do you use most, no matter where you are? Arguably nothing changed the usability of smartphones more than apps. Your music, photos, maps and web browser were in your pocket, along with all your contacts, messages and phone history. The explosion of apps and their sophisticated capabilities have since given rise to the concept of a “killer app.” These are some of the elite that really change how you use or think about your smartphone.

Flying a drone is fun. Ask anyone who has done it, even for a fleeting moment or two, and they will likely refer to the exhilarating feeling in controlling a device that can see from various angles and heights. Considering how popular drones are becoming, Parrot’s Bebop comes at a time where the act of flying itself needs to be handled with greater precision, while offering an easier point of entry for those getting into it for the first time. Here is my experience with it, including a short video.

With tablets being so numerous, the eReader’s role has become more clearly defined as a platform to indulge in not just one book, but as many as you can possibly consume for months at a time. The new Kobo Glo HD is a model made for the bookworm in all of us, offering the opportunity to read under the sun or in the dark without missing a page.

When you think of cybersecurity or cyber safety, are you more likely to think of hackers targeting big corporations or governments rather than your own personal vulnerability. The wide open world of cyberspace is something you regularly interact with every time you browse a website, click a link, post on social media and chat online. But your online risk extends beyond those things because you can leave behind a digital footprint without realizing it, or expose your data in ways you didn’t intend to. This article is part of a series of articles that my Plug-in Blog colleagues and I are publishing over the next few weeks offering helpful tips and information about many topics related to cybersecurity. Today I will explore personal smartphone security.

If you had to choose only one device to take with you, be it a smartphone, tablet or laptop, which would you go with? There is perhaps no more personal—or versatile—a device as a smartphone. I would argue that the increasing power, screen size and app selection make it hard not to consider it as the go-to choice above all others.

What has been the most attractive Android smartphone for the last two years is back, and the HTC One M9 sticks to the same design principles of its predecessors. The familiarity extends throughout the hardware and software, making this phone an iterative update from last year, rather than a major upgrade. There’s more speed, along with some refinements to HTC’s software overlay and the camera, but there’s no sign of an overhaul here.