Smartphone for Presidents.

Which smartphones are the powers that be and what it is they are threatened
Global surveillance National Security Agency has led many government officials to reconsider their attitude to mobile gadgets. On the eve of the new generation of the iPhone "Times" remembered what smartphones are the leaders after the revelations of Edward Snowden.

BlackBerry
Canadian smartphone maker with protection against hacking is rightly popular with the leaders of major world powers.

After 2013, it became known that the smartphone German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been cracked, its administration has launched a systematic replacement of the iPhone model of BlackBerry Z10s. The Government of Germany was purchased five thousand. Smartphone data with 256-bit encryption and security features, message routing, as well as a special micro-SD card with additional means of protection from eavesdropping. The cost of this smartphone is € 2, 5 thousand.

However, Merkel herself has chosen a model BlackBerry Q10 with a full-size QWERTY-keyboard. Her smart phone is well protected and also transmits data on special internal VPN-connection.

Barack Obama became the first head of the US intelligence services who were allowed to use a smartphone, and the choice fell on the President and BlackBerry. Obama uses two device BlackBerry Curve 8900 and BlackBerry Q10, while it forbidden to use the iPhone. However, US President loves Apple products, and holds iPad and MacBook.

BlackBerry uses and the British Queen Elizabeth II. Your smartphone it has received during his visit to the factory in Canada in 2010.
BlackBerry also prefer British Prime Minister David Cameron and his colleague from Pakistan Nawaz Sharif.

Support import substitution
After the scandal caused by the information Snowden talks about listening to President Jacques Chirac, Nicolas Sarkozy and Francois Hollande, the French government has bought 14 thousand. Military ultra-secure encryption of mobile phones manufacturing Teorem defense company Thales. Additional data protection provides work units in fixed-protected government networks. These phones are used for important government calls, but in everyday life Hollande enjoys iPhone 5s.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, in his own words, do not use smart phones, but the head of the country is always ready to support domestic producers. In 2012, Putin appeared in public with the Android smartphone MTS "Glonass 945," and in late 2014 the president presented YotaPhone 2, which he presented to the Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

It is not known how he uses the smartphone Jinping, but his wife appeared in public with the iPhone 5, which made photography.

Dmitry Medvedev and his gadgets
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has the image of the most advanced technologies in modern Russian politics, which is also actively blogs on social networks Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and "VKontakte". Dmitry Anatolyevich got an iPhone 4 from the hands of Steve Jobs in 2011 and enjoys the iPad. But then the prime minister changed his smartphone Samsung Galaxy S4, which lasted until the release of the iPhone 5.

Now Dmitry Medvedev enjoys the iPhone 6. In particular, this smartphone was made prime minister of the self-gym at which he thanked his followers in Instagram to achieve the level of 1.5 million followers and calls for more exercise. The Prime Minister is one of the first public appearance at Apple Watch.

It should be noted that the Russian special services do not recommend the Russian officials to use Apple products including the fact that it is contrary to the requirements of the legislation on the storage of personal data of Russians in Russia. Now it is gradually replacing products Samsung, which also has enhanced security in specialized models and along with smartphone LG was considered for the role of communications for the US president, before the choice fell on the products BlackBerry. However, the device Samsung also does not fully comply with the requirements of Russian legislation on personal data.

HTC and Lumia
The head of North Korea's Kim Jong-un as anyone else to take care of the privacy of his telephone conversations, and it was easy to doubt that he is using normal smartphone. However, on one of the photos of North Korean leader was spotted black smartphone that resembles HTC. Apparently, the choice of the Taiwanese manufacturer does not contradict the convictions of the first secretary of the Central Committee of the WPK.

No Camera - Smartphone.

Review of Lenovo Vibe Shot

Smartphone Vibe Shot, Lenovo revealed in February at the MWC in Barcelona. However, Russia is only now reach the device. "Times" test it and find out how justified were the expectations of potential buyers smartphone.

Appearance and Ergonomics
Apparently, the company began to find their corporate identity. If you look at the device strictly to the FAS, the distinguished smartphone Vibe X2 is almost impossible: the same size, the same design as the glass of the display is less than the body itself, making it visually is formed around the color border.

However, unlike the Vibe X2, Vibe Shot got metal frame and smooth glass back cover. Behind did not say that this is a smartphone: because of the characteristic silvery band formed a strong feeling that it is "Soap".
Glass "heel" makes the smartphone is very slippery, and it's only partly offset by a metal frame. As a result, called Vibe Shot model of ergonomics can not: in the hands of the machine slide and the edges dig into the metal frame in the arm.

But in terms of design is very original and bright smartphone that will definitely attract views. Anyway, in black and red version, which we tested. And even inevitably appear fingerprints on the back do not impair its appearance.

Monitor
The smartphone has a very bright 5-inch IPS-display with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. Reserve brightness of the display even enough to consider the dim picture in the sunny weather. Moreover, in the settings screen, you can find "high-brightness mode", in which the screen lights up already obscenely powerful. It makes sense to include it only in direct sunlight for viewing black and white photos, in all other cases it will cause pain in the eyes.

At the same time excessive color saturation can not blame him: the smart phone transmits tones accurately. Separately, it is worth noting that with such brightness black it does look black rather than dark shade of gray.

System
The smartphone has the most current Android 5.1 with a proprietary interface, known by other devices of the company. Today, it might be one of the most convenient interfaces on Android, but sometimes no, no yes and stumble about bad decisions. For example, to write directly from the call log message immediately able to only the one who developed this interface. All others will be looking for this item, poking and pinching everything button.

And even a button "Messages" is not the desired menu item - it just shows the correspondence with the contact. To write SMS, you need to make some action is illogical: do not click the "Messages" and "Information on contact" and only then go to the Message menu.

Another example of irrationality: Adjust the background image. So, wallpapers put simply, however, to establish its image on the lock screen, you have to have to leave the application "Center of the" where to customize the appearance, and go to the "Gallery" where the image should first cut and then install it on the lock screen.
But if we abstract from these drawbacks, the device interface is really comfortable and pleasant. The company managed to get rid of the slowness of the system and animations, which was inherent in the machine on Android 4.4.

Iron
For his fotosmartfona Lenovo chose the productive Qualcomm Snapdragon processor 615, which received 8 cores and 64-bit architecture. This powerful solution, which should be enough for a quick work of all that can only come up with the user. In particular, the synthetic test AnTuTu Vibe Shot received about 39 thousand. Points - a good result for neflagmanskogo device comparable to the top-end smartphones in 2014.

The device, if it is to load the resource-intensive tasks, hardly hot - because in the game you can play for a long time. The only thing that can cause heating of the rear cover which is felt - is the active use of geolocation services, but this is normal.

Cell
Yet for the sake of the camera and create a smartphone. The device is a 16-megapixel digital camera module with optical stabilization and infrared scanner that allows for instant focus by changing the subject.
In addition, since it is a camera phone, Lenovo launched to end smartphone separate controls for the camera: the shutter button and zoom lever, switch shooting modes from automatic to a professional, which can adjust the exposure, shutter speed, focus and other settings.

Motorola does not absorb Lenovo

The Chinese company will produce under the Lenovo brand smartphones and Motorola

After the acquisition of Motorola Mobile Google's Chinese Lenovo planned to strengthen its position in the smartphone market and gain access to engineering design of the American manufacturer. Some media already has information on the withdrawal of all smartphones under the brand name Motorola, which the company later denied.

One of the first steps the company was to combine its mobile unit Lenovo Mobile and Motorola. Now all smartphones that come out of the walls of the Chinese corporation will be a team of engineers designed the American manufacturer. Touching it will be as the devices Motorola, and Lenovo and smartphone device a new brand Zuk.

However, in a number of media reported that Lenovo is not simply "pouring" one mobile unit to another, but also refuses to own brand. Thus, according to the authors Xiaomi Today, all smartphones will be released under the brand Motorola.

The public was surprised to take the news of such a large-scale restructuring of the company.

As later said on his page on Facebook general manager of the company, the CIS and Eastern Europe Gleb Mishin, this information does not correspond to reality. According to him, currently is working on a new marketing policy.

Mishin refused to disclose it, but stressed that there was nothing to do with the information appearing in the media, she has not.

Subsequently, the head of the Press Lenovo Service Marat Cancer published at the official position of the company. According to her, the company really is restructuring unit Mobile Business Group, a leading role in it now will play the engineers Motorola. The head unit will be the former head of Motorola Rick Osterloh.
In addition, cancer indicated that no final decisions on branding, product marketing strategy is still pending. "We are working around the world, and, as you know, all my people with their tastes and preferences," - said a company representative on his page. He noted that the company has not decided what brand and how it will be promoted in each particular market.

Later, cancer noted that the reorganization of the company's mobile business will continue to develop both brands Lenovo and Motorola.

Today, Lenovo is developing three brands of mobile gadgets. Apart from the Lenovo and Motorola company also launched a new brand Zuk, which should become "online flagship" of the company. Lenovo plans to sell gadgets Zuk of the same model that its competitors Xiaomi and Meizu, ie exclusively through the Internet.

Moreover, these smart phones the company is planning to work out all its technical solutions that subsequently appear in smart phones Lenovo and Motorola.

In particular, developers will keep in touch with users and devices to introduce new solutions in the software Zuk. If innovations justify themselves, they will be applied to other devices.

Motorola Mobility has become part of Lenovo in 2014, when the company bought the inventors of mobile phones from Google for $ 2.91 billion. In the time of purchase, it was announced that Motorola will be a separate entity with its headquarters in Chicago.

In turn, part of Google Motorola began in 2011, when the search engine paid for her impressive $ 12.5 billion. The company planned that Motorola will be the manufacturer's own devices with which Google will be able to oppose the Apple, independently develops devices and software for them.
Another aim was the acquisition of Motorola patent portfolio, which eventually left in Google after selling the company Lenovo.

When Google Motorola has significantly reduced its range, leaving the flagship line of Moto X, the middle segment of smartphones Moto G and affordable device Moto E. In addition, the company currently manufactures "smart" Moto 360 hours, which is unofficially "standard". It is on this model Google gadget traditionally shows its operating system for handheld devices Android Wear.
In addition, Motorola is now producing and the Nexus 6, which is also an example of Android-smartphone by the standards of Google.

Indian Smartphone - A Delicate Matter.

Review Micromax Canvas Sliver 5

Since September, Russia will start selling hyperfine smartphone Indian Micromax. "Times" found out, whether Canvas Sliver 5 other advantages in addition to the thickness of 5.1 mm.

Appearance and Ergonomics
Externally, the smartphone is a bit like an Indian iPhone 6, and have dimensions roughly similar. However, the unit from Micromax is much thinner, not only iPhone, but any phone on the market. Its thickness is only 5.1 mm, while the back of the device has no camera lens sticks out, as is the case in a number of competitors.

The case is made of very high-quality plastic and polished aircraft aluminum, so that the weight of the smartphone is only 98 In the first couple of hours of use even difficult to feel that the device is in your hand, so it seems weightless.

The rest of the serious differences on the case of no competitors. The bottom panel has traditionally housed the microUSB slot and 3.5mm headphone jack, release button and the volume rocker as usual located on the left and right side panels, respectively. Control buttons, as well as many modern Android-smartphone, located directly on the screen of the device.

Monitor
Canvas Sliver 5 is equipped with a 4.8-inch AMOLED screen with a standard for not the most expensive flagship devices 1280 × 720 pixels. The same screen resolution, and one of the major competitors in the device - Samsung Galaxy Alpha. In this case both devices matrix is built on technology AMOLED, which implies a rich color palette and image transmission.

The screen Canvas really glares in the sun and does not irritate the sharpness and also has a very accurate and smooth colors. A protective glass Corning Gorilla Glass 3 largely has reduced the thickness of the device.

Iron
The smartphone was not the most powerful by today's standards Qualcomm Snapdragon processor 410 1.2 GHz, running on four processing cores Cortex A53.

Adreno 306 graphics accelerator, and 2 GB of RAM allow Indian unit provide a relatively good performance when everyday tasks, but after the launch of several demanding applications smartphone starts to significantly hang out.

Sometimes it can slow down and very colorful game, and a standard Internet browser. In addition, Micromax when the company refuses to display an animated logo, preferring to hang for a few seconds.
The synthetic test unit AnTuTu altogether modest scored 21,131 points, which puts it on par with a very low cost Asus ZenFone 5 and Xiaomi Mi 2.

In other respects, again there were no surprises. The amount of internal memory in the device is 16 GB with a predictable lack of slots for flash cards, and the battery capacity - 2000 mAh. At the same time, in spite of the subtlety of the body, the smartphone keeps excellent charging and almost loses it when you run the most demanding applications.

Pleased and provides technology Dirac HD audio quality. The speaker is a smartphone not only loud, but also qualitative, so that listening to music and watch videos on it is really nice.

Operating System
Micromax Canvas Sliver 5 is supplied with the standard version of the operating system Android 5.0 Lollipop.

According to the manufacturer, the smartphone is initially set a number of much-needed application, but in fact most of them virtually useless for Russian users.

Unless, of course, you do not suddenly decide to order something from the largest Indian online store Sanapdeal or see masterpieces of Bollywood through a special application Hotstar. The rest of the system works just fine, which, however, can be said of almost all smartphones with installed fifth version of Android.

Cell
The smartphone is equipped with an 8-megapixel main camera, which today is perceived somewhat archaic. So, in 2014 released Samsung Galaxy Alpha was already a 12-megapixel camera and has 8 megapixels Xiaomi Mi 2 and all was released back in 2012.
The quality of shooting, however, remains very acceptable, but the image processing slightly retarding.

How will the return of Vaio.

Vaio re-entering the market of computers

Brand Vaio, previously owned by Sony, re-entering the market, but now as an independent producer. "Times" examined what could be the prospects for the company's shrinking PC market.

Famous brand Vaio notebooks were sold by Sony in February 2014. The buyer was Japan Industrial Partners, which paid for the maker of laptops, according to various sources, from $ 400 to $ 500 million. Its decision Sony argued "radical changes in the global PC-industry" or, more simply, prolonged fall in the PC market. Instead, Sony has decided to focus on the segment of smartphones and tablets.

The very Vaio, under the leadership of Japan Industrial Partners, at first wanted to focus on the corporate segment of the Japanese market, where the brand's position was particularly strong.

Now, however, the company decided to rediscover the international sales. The devices of this brand will arrive at retail in the US in October. In particular, sales of Vaio through its network of shops will deal with Microsoft. According to the company, this is due to the fact that Microsoft wants to expand the range of products on offer for all audiences.

In addition, the company counts on the Brazilian market by signing a partnership with the local electronics manufacturer Positivo Informatica. The company will produce and distribute devices designed Vaio.
However, at the moment Vaio extremely weak position in the market. According to Euromonitor, who leads The Wall Street Journal, even for native Japanese market share of less than 1%?
The company now employs only 250 people, and manufacture of devices on a single Vaio established factory, which it also belongs.
According to the CEO Yoshimi Ota, Vaio will aim to occupy a niche in the segment of premium devices. Chapter Vaio believes that devices should be focused on designers, photographers and artists, that is, the audience, which has traditionally been committed to product Apple. Ota also said that among Windows-based device, no one can offer an alternative to laptops from Cupertino.

This differs from the policy pursued by Sony, trying to make a massive Vaio brand. Ota pointed out that Sony was more worried about market share Vaio, rather than the profitability of the business.
Moreover, Ota expects that this fiscal year, Vaio operating profit, in spite of the losses that have been recorded in the past.

Today Vaio sells devices that have been developed in the walls of Sony. In the US, the company released a new device Vaio Z Canvas - is a tablet with a snap-on keyboard and 12.3-inch display resolution 2560h1704 points. As the processor uses a high-performance chip Intel Core i7. On the orientation of the device on the artists said stylus, which is inserted in the loop on the side of the device.

The cost of the tablet, which went on sale in Japan in May, is 200 thousand. Yen (about $ 1,600). In the United States Vaio plans to start selling at $ 2199 - that's about twice as high as in the days when the company focused on the mass market.

In addition to the Vaio notebooks also started production of robots Palmi, developed by Fujitsu. It is established in the same factory, which formerly produced Sony Aibo robots are made and where and laptops. In the future Vaio plans to produce more and wearable accessories and devices for production. Ota expects 2017 fiscal year earnings from these devices compare to profits from the notebook.

Vaio - a strong brand, and users do not have time to forget him, he told "Gazeta.ru" a leading iKS-Consulting analyst Maxim Savvatin. "He is in isolation from Sony was rather promoted," - he said. According to the expert, Vaio products can be popular, and with good distribution, advertising and marketing thought-out brand strategy be able to return to their former positions with minimal effort.

"The only question is how the sale will be organized logistically," - said Savvatin.

He also noted that as a sales channel stores Microsoft will not be able to be a great help in the implementation of the company's products as the retail network, the company is not that big. «Vaio will need to build a partnership with the stronger players in the retail sector. In addition, it is not clear how retail will be built in other countries besides the United States, "- he added.