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iPhone 6 Plus vs Nexus 6 – iOS vs Android phablet showdown

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iPhone 6 Plus vs Nexus 6 comparison

Although there are plenty of great smartphones coming up in the next few months, two of the best mobile devices ever released have already been available to purchase for some time now. I’m sure some may argue that the Motorola Nexus 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus are not actually among the best, but I think we can all agree that they are at the very least quite impressive. However, these are no doubt some very huge handsets and I’m sure some people might not find them appealing because of that very fact. I’m not exactly fond of ginormous smartphones myself, but after playing around with a Nexus 6 and an iPhone 6 Plus I’m finally starting to see the appeal.

As a general rule of thumb, if you’re not all that fanatic about smartphones and only use them for basic stuff like calling and texting, it’s probably a good idea to stay away from the large ones because their benefits lie elsewhere. Plus, they’re generally pretty expensive – the Nexus 6 and iPhone 6 Plus being no exception – and it’s not very wise to spend a lot of cash on a mobile device if you don’t use it to its full potential. On the other hand, if you tend to feel lonely without a gadget by your side and are constantly using the said gadget for a wide variety of activities ranging from checking email to playing games and reading articles during your work break, then a big smartphone can come in handy. All these activities and more are made better by a large display that gives you a better view of things and good processing power, which allows for faster loading times. Coincidentally, the Nexus and iPhone 6 Plus can offer both, although one may be better suited to your needs than the other.

Display

Size is often crucial when deciding whether or not you should purchase a certain smartphone. Obviously, I can’t speak for everyone, but it seems to make sense that you should buy a large handset only if you can make good use of the equally large display. In the case of the iPhone 6 Plus, this display comes in at 5.5 inches with 1080 x 1920 resolution and 401 pixels per inch. All in all, this is pretty standard for a 2014 flagship and the body-to-screen ratio is exactly what you’d expect from an Apple smartphone. If you ask me, the iPhone 6 Plus could have looked better if the body would have been just a tiny bit more compact, but that’s just me. As it stands, this device arguably offers the best display ever found on an Apple smartphone and the shatter proof glass does a pretty good job at keeping it scratch-free. That said, don’t test its limits because the iPhone 6 Plus is meant to be handled with care, so do be gentle.

Nexus 6 display

The display on the Motorola Nexus 6 is really something else

Moving on to the Motorola Nexus 6, we’re looking at an even bigger display coming in at almost 6 inches (5.96 to be precise) and a resolution of 1440 x 2560 pixels which translates into roughly 493 ppi. Needless to say, this phone offers a great viewing experience. In addition, you also get Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection, which is highly resistant to scratching, but again, don’t go throwing your phone around just to see how much punishment it can take. While most manufacturers are now going with the 1440p resolution and high ppi, the human eye can’t actually distinguish much beyond 300 ppi, so a whole lot of pixels won’t actually do that much for you. However, even the untrained eye can see that the Nexus 6 does offer better clarity compared to many other smartphones, but that’s not even the best part. The main benefit here is that the phone is not incredibly huge despite the unusually large display. Indeed, the Nexus 6 is only about 1 centimeter taller than the iPhone 6 Plus, although it’s also a bit wider and thicker as well.

Hardware

As you know, looks aren’t everything and what’s inside is important, too. This applies not only to people, but to smartphones as well. There are a number of aspects that need to be taken into consideration when it comes to the hardware, but don’t worry because we’ll talk a bit about all of them. A lot of people bash Apple for insisting on offering only 1 GB of RAM and I’ll admit that I was among those people for a while there. However, the truth is that Apple handsets, including the iPhone 6 Plus can dish out impressive performance despite the low amount of RAM thanks to the 64-bit chipset, which in this case is an Apple A8 dual-core CPU clocked at 1.4 GHz. Generally speaking, there won’t be any need to worry about performance regardless of what kind of apps you throw at the device. Poor performance can often come as a result of a buggy OS update, so make sure to keep that in mind before blaming the hardware.

iPhone 6 Plus A8 processor

Who needs more than 1 GB of RAM when you have a powerful A8 processor like the iPhone 6 Plus does?

As for the Nexus 6, the specs are some of the best out there and the performance is definitely up to par. Under the hood you’ll be able to find a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 quad-core processor  @ 2.7 GHz complete with 3 GB of RAM. Different benchmark tests yield different results, but overall the Nexus 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus are pretty evenly matched in terms of power, so performance won’t be much of an issue despite their differences. When it comes to the camera however, neither of these devices are something that you should write home about. We’re looking at a 13 MP primary shooter on the Nexus 6 vs an 8 MP primary senor on the iPhone 6 Plus. With both you’ll have the usual features like optical image stabilization, dual-LED flash, and autofocus. At first glance, the most noticeable difference you’ll see is that the Nexus 6 is capable of taking higher resolution pictures while the iPhone 6 Plus is better at recording videos at a higher framerate.

When it comes to internal storage, you have some pretty good options with both devices, but the downside is that neither of them comes equipped with a microSD card slot. It goes without saying that choosing the best option for you is crucial because you won’t be able to expand the memory further down the line. As such, if you’re interested in the Nexus 6 you should know that storage options only include 32 and 64 GB while if you’re going for the iPhone 6 Plus the options are 16, 64, and 128 GB. Wrapping all the specs up for the Nexus 6 is a 3,220 mAh battery which should normally last for at least a day and a half of mixed use. But even if you manage to somehow drain the battery in just a matter of hours don’t worry because the Turbo Charger can get it back up to about 20% in just a matter of minutes. Couple that with wireless charging and Android Lollipop’s Project Volta feature that allows for battery-saving optimization and you can rest assured knowing that battery life won’t be an issue on the Nexus 6. The 2,915 mAh battery found on the iPhone 6 Plus is also pretty reliable and can easily get you through a day of mixed usage, but that’s pretty much as far as it goes. Still, it’s not too bad all things considered.

Operating System

Here we’re looking at a classic Android vs iOS battle. It’s no secret that more than a few people buy their phones based exclusively on the operating system, which isn’t necessarily the wisest decision, but to each his own. Currently, the Nexus 6 can go up to Android 5.0.1 Lollipop, although you may have to grab the factory image for it as the OTA has not been pushed out in all regions. The Nexus 6 is rumored to skip Android 5.0.2 Lollipop and jump straight to Android 5.1 Lollipop at some point in the near future. The current version of Android is pretty buggy, so hopefully the next major update brings the much needed bug fixes everyone is waiting for. On the bright side, Motorola is not too big on bloatware which means that the Nexus 6 features the stock version of the OS. As for the iPhone 6 Plus, you’ll get iOS 8 straight out of the box, but you can upgrade to iOS 8.1.3 and then to iOS 8.2 once it becomes available. iOS 8.2 is said to launch late next month in anticipation of the Apple Watch, which is scheduled to hit the shelves in April. iOS 8.1.3 is arguably not as buggy as Android 5.0.1 Lollipop, but there are definitely a lot of problems here as well. However, most of the problems have been spotted on older Apple devices, so the OS should run pretty smooth on iPhone 6 Plus all things considered.

Android vs iOS

Android and iOS are at it again, but it’s hard to declare a winner since they’re both so buggy right now.

Price

When choosing between an Apple product and another similar product you’ll most often than not come to the conclusion that the Apple product is more expensive. That’s just the way it is I’m afraid and this scenario is no exception. The official unlocked pricing for the iPhone 6 Plus goes a little something like this: $750/$850/$950 in the US, €800/€900/€1000 in Europe and £620/£700/£790 in the UK. Needless to say, this is a very expensive phone, but that’s not to say that the Nexus 6 can be considered cheap. A brand new unlocked Motorola Nexus 6 will cost you $650/$700 in the US, €570/€650 in Europe and £500/£550 in the UK. As mentioned, the iPhone 6 Plus is available in 16/64/128 GB storage configuration and the Nexus 6 comes with either 32 GB of 64 GB of storage on board.

Final Thoughts

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that the Motorola Nexus 6 offers a better bang for the buck when compared to the iPhone 6 Plus despite the fact that this is the most expensive Nexus smartphone yet. Traditionally, Nexus device have been praised for their affordability, but that’s not the case here anymore. The Nexus 6 is still worth the money, however, as it offers great performance and battery life tucked beneath one of the best displays out there. Not a whole lot to say about the iPhone 6 Plus. Apple gambled a bit by entering the phablet market, but it looks like the gamble payed off. The iPhone 6 Plus is a very good device that managed to become crazy popular is a short amount of time, and with good reason. The folks over at Cupertino actually worked on offering plenty of improvements this time around, not just rehashing the old formula and calling it something new like they did with previous iterations. That said, the price is definitely nothing to sneeze at, so consider buying this device only if you prefer iOS over Android and have plenty of cash to throw around. Personally, I would say that the Nexus 6 offers overall better value, but that’s just me.

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Comparisons

4 Most Interesting Crossovers in Gaming

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Gaming crossovers are a great way to bring in new people and drive up interest in a title. With that being said, crossovers aren’t as rare as they once were. More and more gaming companies are now embracing crossovers, to the point that some may say that it has lost its appeal. And while this is true to some degree, there are still crossovers that are really effective when it comes to adding a whole new dimension to a game. To prove our point, we’ve put together a list of five of the most interesting crossovers.

Forza Horizon 4: Halo

Forza Horizon 4 is the eleventh installment in the Forza series. The Forza series is known for its ability to emulate realistic racing conditions and offer accurate representations of real-world cars. And while they’ve partnered with car manufacturers before, Forza Horizon 4 features one of the most interesting collaborations in the entire series.

For a series that prides itself on realistic racing, Forza also knows when to cut loose and have a little fun. Nothing exemplifies this more than the Halo crossover that features Master Chief and the iconic Warthog.

Fortnite: Travis Scott


Fortnite is no stranger to crossovers. But if we had to pick one as the most interesting it would have to be the Travis Scott concert. Not only did this crossover include custom skins and emotes but it also paved the way for one of the most unique digital experiences of 2020.

The Verge’s article on the Travis Scott crossover details that the crossover included an interactive digital concert that turned the Fortnite island into a music stage. What’s great about this crossover is that it hints towards a future wherein music and video games will be working hand in hand to deliver immersive musical experiences to millions of people from all over the world.

Merge Dragons: Rick and Morty



When you think of the popular TV show Rick and Morty, a fantasy puzzle game isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. This is what makes this Rick and Morty crossover so interesting. The sheer absurdity of this crossover shows what gaming collaborations can achieve when one thinks outside the box. The game features original dialogue spoken by the characters that matches their characteristics from the show. It is a fun addition to the puzzle game.

However, this crossover shouldn’t be too surprising as Rick and Morty have appeared in other games, demonstrating how they have become pop culture icons. The comic nature of the duo makes them perfect for every type of genre, including slot games. Foxy Bingo’s pop cultured-themed slots include an official Rick and Morty game that features the iconic imagery and characters from the show. The show has also produced its own game in the form of the Pokémon-clone Pocket Mortys. One thing that all of these games have in common is that they maintain the show’s penchant for fun and wacky adventures. This is seen in Merge Dragons with the exclusive cow-dragon hybrid featured in the crossover event.

Mortal Kombat 11: Rambo


While crossovers in fighting games aren’t exactly new, Mortal Kombat has always had a knack for creating interesting crossovers for their iconic fighting game. One way that they’ve done this is with the inclusion of popular film characters. The franchise has had everyone from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to Jason of the Friday the 13th franchise appear in their games.

However, the latest iteration of the game may have topped all of the previous crossovers. This is because Mortal Kombat 11 features John Rambo of the legendary Rambo franchise as one of its available fighters. To add to this, CNet’s article on Mortal Kombat 11 details that Sylvester Stallone voiced the digital John Rambo. This is certainly a treat for fans of the popular action film franchise, as they can finally play as one of the most influential action heroes of all time.

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Comparisons

Loot Crate vs. The Curiosity Box: A Beginner’s Guide to Subscription Mystery Boxes

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With all the loot box shenanigans we’ve witnessed this year, you might have, while searching for more information, accidentally stumbled across something by the name of Loot Crate. Unlike the reviled loot boxes, Loot Crate isn’t a digital gambling scam. Instead, Loot Crate is a physical, subscription-based mystery box you receive in the mail that contains a bevy of geek-related material. Moreover, Loot Crate isn’t the only available service. Alongside the vanilla Loot Crate Classic, the Loot Crate company supplies geeks with anime-themed items with Loot Anime, gaming swag with Loot Gaming (Loot Crate also sells HaloMinecraftFalloutCall of Duty, and Destiny 2 themed boxes), and film/TV merchandise with Harry PotterFireflyMarvel, and Star Trek themed boxes. Loot Crate also has a rival in the form of Geek Fuel, which is more expensive than Loot Crate Classic but contains more (and more expensive) merchandise. While I don’t have a Geek Fuel box to compare to a Loot Crate, I received a different subscription box for Christmas, The Curiosity Box. This mystery box is a joint venture between the company behind Geek Fuel and the YouTube Channel VSauce, which is admittedly cool. So, without further ado, let’s get into what sets apart a Loot Crate from a Curiosity Box and determine which is right for you.

WHAT’S THE SAME

On the surface, Loot Crate and The Curiosity Box seem similar. They arrive in big cardboard boxes and contain random items. Well, not precisely random; each box focuses on a different theme, and the items provided center around that theme. While a lot of geeks subscribe to these boxes for various bits of swag, perhaps the biggest draw is the exclusives. The companies behind these subscription services make deals with other firms to create unique pieces of merchandise that are literally impossible to find anywhere else, aftermarket/marked up eBay sales notwithstanding. Some of these exclusives are just color variants of readily available products, such as a glow in the dark Funko POP Groot figure and orange Quantum Mechanix Tribble.

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Most exclusives, however, aren’t available elsewhere in any other form and include items like the The Walking Dead art print, the Yeti temporary tattoo, the tower of magnetic rings, and “collectible” pins.

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Furthermore, while most exclusives are decorative, some are practical items, such as a pen shaped like the Sledge Saw from Dead Rising 3 and light-up beverage coasters with periodic symbols.

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Finally, these subscription boxes have some of the most awesome, exclusive, geeky shirts this side of ThinkGeek or Hot Topic.

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The exclusive items tend to be the best pieces of merchandise in each box and are usually worth the price of the subscription alone. Usually.

WHAT’S DIFFERENT

Let’s get this out of the way: the most obvious differences are the prices and subscription models. Loot Crate Classic is about $20 per box and comes once a month, while The Curiosity Box is well over $50 and arrives once every three months. More importantly, these boxes are designed for two completely different audiences. The Loot Crate (and likely by extension Geek Fuel) is aimed primarily at adults or older teenagers and provides geek-related decorations and practical items, such as the Dead Rising 3 pen, Star Wars and Deadpool fridge magnets, and a Mega Man car air freshener.

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Also, Loot Crate tends to include non-exclusive products that are part of a series. Case in point, during my brief stint with Loot Crate, I received (among other things) a Kidrobot Glow in the Dark Ooze Action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle vinyl figure and a Funko ReAction Alien figure. I got Donatello and the titular Alien, respectively, but I easily could have found Leonardo or Ripley in my Loot Crate subscriptions instead. However, since The Curiosity Box is almost exclusively made up of exclusive items, there is no element of randomness and everyone receives the same merchandise.

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While Loot Crate caters to the video game, movies, comics, television, and everything pop-culture side of geekdom, The Curiosity Box is more science oriented and is designed for the family. For example, parents who bought the Summer 2017 Curiosity Box got to enjoy a t-shirt, a set of periodic table beverage coasters, a magnetic ring tower, a t-shirt, and a Nikola Tesla (as a sloth) enamel pin, while children will have fun with a temporary tattoo, a unique embroidered sticker patch, a solar system wall decal and poster set, a mobile microscope, and a castle cross-sections book. Finally, the Summer 2017 Curiosity Box came with the Universe Sandbox 2 Steam game, which is fun for all ages.

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Since each Loot Crate and Curiosity Box contains new themes and items, you might find the contents of one particular box more to your liking than another. For example, one Curiosity Box contained a “grow your own glow in the dark crystals” kit, while another included a plush of The Curiosity Box’s mascot, the orange octopus Inq. Meanwhile, past Loot Crates have contained a Batman mug, a Doom Marine Funko POP figure, and the One-Punch Man manga.

While I only have personal experience with Loot Crate and The Curiosity Box, they are not your only options for subscription boxes. Geek Fuel is another decent mystery box, and it has come with its fair share of good products, including a South Park: The Fractured But Whole shirt, a Loony Toons Kidrobot blind box vinyl figure, and an exclusive Legend of Zelda pixel sword power bank. While I cannot recommend the Loot Crate, Curiosity Box, or Geek Fuel (or other) subscription boxes enough, you should research each to know what you should expect from these services. Sure, you technically can’t know what to expect since each box is supposed to be a mystery, but look into each specific subscription and figure out which one is right for you. Which do you think tends to have the best exclusives? Which box caters to your interests? These questions are important and will severely impact your enjoyment. Of course, luck also plays a big role, but that’s also part of the fun.

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Android

Google Drive will Shut Down in 2018

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Drive

It seems like yesterday when Google introduced Google Drive 5 years ago. Back then, people didn’t have a good grasp about what Cloud Storage did. Nowadays, there are many Cloud Storage services that it’s only a matter of preference to choose one for your file keeping needs. However, what struck me as an oddity was how Google Drive will pull their Google Drive service come 2018.

That’s right, Google Drive will completely shut down on March 12, 2018. With the software no longer being supported on December 11, 2017. People will have several warnings about this, for now, so they will have plenty of chance to switch to the new version of Drive, Backup and Sync.

This new program is basically a combination of the features between Google Drive and Photos. It’s readily available now for Windows and OSX systems and will be the new host for the Cloud storage. Alternatively, users can get a hold of Drive File Stream, which will become available on September 26, 2017.

The core differences between DFS and BaS come when you compare how they help customers. As shown in the image below:

dRIVE

A day without Google Drive.

It seems like users will have their first experience without Drive today though. Because as of this morning, the service was down for many users who constantly used the GSuit app. According to the independent site Downdetector, more than 7,000 users are experiencing issues with the service. This has been going on since 10:04 AM EDT, but the number of reports has been lowering afterward. You can check the stats here.

Thousands of users reported Google Drive issues

It’s a shame to see Google Drive go. To be frank, it was my preferred Cloud Storage option besides MEGA. However, it’s not a huge inconvenience considering they are not shutting down a Cloud Storage service altogether. So we at least have that.

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