My Experiments with LG Mobiles in #India and #SouthAfrica @LGMobileSA #TakeFlight

Hi Friends,

As the internet and youtube are flooded with the LG Mobile division closing down news, let me share my experience with the brand over all these years. My first invite to a smartphone launch event was with LG only for LG G2 way back on 30-Sep-2013 at Kingdom of Dreams in Gurugram, Haryana, India. This was my first invite and I totally loved attending the same. Also, I got to understand the power of a visiting card as the goodies bag was only given to those press or media invitees who have their cards printed. I somehow was ahead of the curve so got them printed as soon as I bought my domain name which in turn was motivated by one of my then friends Murtaza Ali Khan who runs a Movie Review blog and is now a big-time critic in the film industry and comes on TV and Youtube platforms. He along with others told me that it shows the seriousness and enthusiasm you have towards your venture and also some level of professionalism which I took to heart. I also received my first 4GB Sandisk Pendrive which I have kept still with all my important paperwork of South Africa. Also, I got my first Android Desk Speaker which has thing nice light as well as a micro-SD card to play songs from. I fall in love with the back button for easy selfie clicks in LG G2. 

Taken using LG Mobiles V20 Smartphone

When I came to South Africa, I have been chasing the LG Mobiles for the invite to their LG G3 launch event but only got the chance to attend LG G4 at a Morells Boutique Estate in Cresta. I got a small mobile stand as part of the launch event which I had bought earlier long ago from London's Pound Land long back for a pound. Also, I got to attend a session on how to take good smartphone photographs at Vega School in one of their Instagram contests which I attended on a Saturday morning. I got to review and test the LG G4 Beat as well as the LG V20 smartphone too. I really loved LG V20 because of all the feature regarding the audio capturing and a device ready for content creators at that time and it used to come with Bang and Olufsen earphones too.

The last event I attended was the launch of some TVs by LG as well as LG G5 where I got some macaroons as a gift to be part of the launch event. In between,  Anyhow, I got the device to review and won the Mall of Africa launch contests and got an R1000 GV from Kurt Geiger using the photographs clicked using the ultra-wide camera of LG G5. At that time, I was promoting my blog posts using software bought for 2 years where tweets will be shared again and again leading to the LG blocking my Twitter handle in 2016 or so and the same is true till today also.

The last response I got was from the new PR agency to come to one of the Soccer gaming charity match on a Saturday afternoon at their head office in Midrand and nothing after that in terms of any earphones to review or anything else too so it was a total time and money waste from my ROI perspective as I did some free blog posts too as a new initiation with LG Mobiles SA. 

Overall, I have not used the LG smartphone as my day to day device other than the modular LG G5 where you can change the battery - a revolutionary step amongst all smartphone makers and used its wide-angle camera to win myself some cool wool sweaters from Kurt Geiger. I am thankful to LG Mobiles for all the goodies and also I received an LG X Screen smartphone which I gifted to my mother-in-law on her first trip to South Africa. She is still using the same on a daily basis and so far there has been no issue she has faced in the phone, only thing is the screen and the phone has cracked or modified at one end due to putting Super Glue on the smartphone cover which permeated to the actual smartphone by an intelligent teenager at her home. 

Thank You LG Mobiles for bringing to market a lot of great features in smartphones. I will miss you but there is always a chance to rise from the ashes but till that time sleep well and may the focus be with you to create more OLED TVs and Home appliances. If ever you need my channels, do get in touch and I will be happy to promote your products once again but not for free for sure!

Cheers!!!

Support me if you like reading this blog post by buying me a cup of tea or coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/TheLifesWay Contact at thelifesway@gmail.com to collaborate and promote your services and products. Subscribe to my YOUTUBE Channel for giveaways, product reviews and mystery unboxings. #TheLifesWay #9YearsofTheLifesWay. Namaste!

A Memoir - This Month Last Year - May 2016 www.thelifesway.com #TheLifesWay

Hi Guys,

May is the time when a lot of products actually comes in the market and there is a sudden flood of review posts rising up across the internet across all social media channels. Last year, May 2016, I also welcomed my parents in the country and they really enjoyed their stay in Johannesburg. It was some great moments spent with them as I was meeting them after a very long time and we saw several new places in and around Johannesburg. 

1. Product Review - Huawei P8 @HuaweiZA #IgniteP8 - http://www.thelifesway.com/2016/05/product-review-huawei-p8-huaweiza.html - The packaging of this smartphones is still the best I have ever seen and after this one they started doing Leica dual lenses in their cameras and I didn't got the chance to review any of the Leica capable units.  Within a year or so they have launched the P10 so how can think how fast Huawei is outgrowing the market in terms of it's market share. Whether I am part of the brand or not but I value the aggressiveness with which company is leaping forward. Kudos!

2. Product Review - LG G5 @LGMobileSA #LGG5PlayMore #Smartphone - http://www.thelifesway.com/2016/05/product-review-lg-g5-lgmobilesa.html - I was part of the launch and also got the handset to review during April - May and the camera on this smartphone was awesome. I did win some Mall of Africa contests using LG G5 camera and uploaded a lot of photographs of the mall on my Instagram channel. This year, LG didn't invited me to the launch of LG G6 and today only I saw they have blocked me on their twitter channel. I wish they could have told me to unfollow or stop tweeting about their products etc and I would have simply obliged. Anyways, their LG G5 was awesome phone. 

3. Product Review - Acer C205 LED #Projector @AcerAfrica #TheLifesWay - http://www.thelifesway.com/2016/05/product-review-acer-c205-led-projector.html - This is something I would love to own as I immediately fell in love with this pocket but capable LED projector from the house of Acer Africa. I have never seen such cute projector and loved watching some movies with my family using this Acer C205. I am waiting for the price to fall on any online shopping websites for this product so that I can buy the same before my birthday. 

4. Product Review - BeoPlay H2 #Headphones @BangOlufsenSA #BeoPlaySA #TheLifesWay - http://www.thelifesway.com/2016/05/product-review-beoplay-h2-headphones.html - I love headphones and the sound quality on Bang and Olufsen headsets is simply amazing. This comes in various colors and I really loved these red colored headsets. I have not bought any new headsets this year but ANC from Bang and Olufsen are the ones I would love to buy. 

5. A Memoir - This Month Last Year - May 2015 www.thelifesway.com - http://www.thelifesway.com/2016/05/a-memoir-this-month-last-year-may-2015.html - It gives me immense pleasure to always remember how the past has served me to take me to the place where I am now. I had this small idea of starting my blog and now it has crossed 1.5 Million pageviews since Dec 2012. I have worked for so many brands, so many are still with me, so many have left but it's all part of the #SocialMedia game. With changing people in the PR companies, your work also gets migrated to the another agencies as people keep their friends and acquaintances close in this industry. 

Looking forward to work on doing a lot of posts this year and take the pageviews to 2 Million by the end of  Dec 2017. 

Cheers!!!

Contact me at thelifesway@gmail.com to blog, share and influence about your products and services on all my Social Media channels #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra !

Improved #LGStylus3 #Smartphone Launched @LGMobileSA @LGSouthAfrica

Hi Guys,

The Consumer Technology Association (CES) 2017, a global consumer electronics and consumer technology tradeshow first announced LG Electronics’ (LG) newly improved smartphone to the world in January this year. LG’s Stylus 3 has finally reached South African shores, to the delight of many consumers who waited with bated breath for its launch date. The high-end smartphone is now available from Vodacom and MTN.

The improved specifications and highlights of the device is what makes it unique and an impressive upgrade from the Stylus 2. For starters, consumers can look forward to an improved Pen Pop 2.0 and Precision Tip. Upon removing the pen, a menu of useful tasks that include a Pop Memo, Pop Scanner and thumbnail previews of recent notes you’ve made appears. The new and improved 1.8mm fine-tip pen allows users to create notes, draw and select with improved precision – It’s the best mouse for your smartphone! The new pen keeper feature also alerts you with a pop up message, if your pen wanders too far, so you don’t have a to worry about losing it.

The LG Stylus 3 also features an 8MP selfie camera, giving you photos and videos that are more crisp and vivid than ever before. The Auto Shot feature automatically recognises an individual’s face and takes a selfie without having to press a button once both the device and the object are still. The full-featured 13MP rear camera is equally as impressive, allowing consumers to capture life’s special moments in striking detail. The 2.54/7.77cm sensor and ultra-bright F2.2 lens catches light even in the darkest conditions, resulting in clear, sharp and sharable pictures, every time.

The days of a slow smartphone that is unable to run multiple programs at once is a thing of the past, thanks to the Stylus 3’s enhanced performance. The fuss-free 1.5GHz Octa-Core processor along with 2GB RAM and 16GB memory can handle multiple complicated tasks at once, meaning consumers can now enjoy a fast, seamless digital experience without the lagging. Charging worries also become obsolete with the Stylus 3’s removable 3,200mAh long-lasting battery that allows for switching on the go.

The Stylus 3’s integrated design is another feature that sets it apart from mobile devices before it. The elegant metallic side, thin 7.4mm sleek body and integrated pen makes for practicality and a mobile device you’d be proud to own. LG Electronics is confident that South African consumers will take to the newly improved Stylus 3 as favourably as they did with the generations before it. For more information about LG's products, please visit: http://www.lg.com/za

Cheers!!!

Contact me at thelifesway@gmail.com to blog, share and influence about your products and services on all my Social Media channels #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra !

A Memoir - This Month Last Year - Apr 2016 www.thelifesway.com #TheLifesWay

Hi Guys,

April 2016 is one of the craziest months I saw last year as it was the time to fool myself and post more than 60 posts on my blog for some of the brands which has given me no benefits so far. I even invested some money in my blog thinking I will earn it back but that's somehow fine as it needs some capital to run a business so this year also, I have reinvested more money for the same.

1. @IndiBlogger Launches IndiPR.com #AITE #IndiPR #Bloggers - http://www.thelifesway.com/2016/04/indiblogger-launches-indiprcom-aite.html - The best thing that could happen to me last year was the launch of IndiPR as it gave me the opportunity to earn enough money in 2016 to buy myself a new Nikon 35mm lens. Though now I am not getting any success in 2017 for any of the campaigns I have nothing on my wish list as such for this year. A wish list is the most important part of human life, if you ain't got it then there is no goal or dream to achieve it too and there won't be any roads made by the universe to achieve it too! 

2. The Perfect Mate (#HuaweiMate8) For The Elegant Professional @HuaweiZA - http://www.thelifesway.com/2016/04/the-perfect-mate-huaweimate8-for.html - Huawei has been successful in creating a great market for itself around the world with its quality and value for money products. I always loved the Mate series and loved Mate 7 when I took it on my trip to the Drakensberg. I loved Mate 8 also when I reviewed it. After that, I have not received any review units (P9, Mate9) from the brand but I wish them all the success as I have posted so many photographs on my Instagram channel for Huawei for free.

3. @AcerAfrica Expands #Predator #Gaming Line with #VR-Ready #Desktops #NextAtACER - http://www.thelifesway.com/2016/04/acerafrica-expands-predator-gaming-line.html - Acer Africa has been a top-notch brand in the laptop and gaming segment which brings all the latest to the country asap. I loved being a part of the recent launch where they showcased several products in a regular home in Monaghan Farm. I took an amazing photo with an Acer tablet which I had to take off my Instagram channel because there was some issue as told by the PR company the next day. They wanted to shoot the same picture again with me but I could not provide time for the same. 

4. TONE Platinum @LGSouthAfrica brings @HarmonKardon #Bluetooth #Audio #Experience (700th Post) - http://www.thelifesway.com/2016/04/tone-platinum-lgsouthafrica-brings.html - One product I love the most from LG South Africa is this Harman Kardon Tone Platinum Bluetooth earphones. I didn't have them with me but this will be the topmost item on my wish list if LG is listening. They are offering Tone Platinum headsets with the brand new LG G6 if you pre-order the same in April 2017 from what I saw in the tweets from fellow bloggers/media who were invited to the launch. 

5. @SamsungSA Brings #TheNextGalaxy Smartphones #GalaxyS7 #GalaxyS7Edge - http://www.thelifesway.com/2016/04/samsungsa-brings-thenextgalaxy.html - Last year they brought S7 and this year it's time for the S8 and S8+ to bring to the South African markets. This year I was not part of the launch event but I loved the Samsung smartphone for its camera capabilities. People around the world love this smartphone as the Galaxy Note series could not pick up last year. Samsung S8 is something I am also looking forward to checking out really soon for myself if not sponsored by any other mobile brands as my HTC ONE M8 is almost dead now. 

As the whole country united on Friday 7th April 2017 to change the face of the government so do I have to change my attitude and bring in a change in myself to create a unique space for myself with my content and sharing my life with my readers. Till that time keep exploring the #NextGalaxies!!!

Cheers!!!

Support me if you like reading this blog post by buying me a cup of tea or coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/TheLifesWay Contact at thelifesway@gmail.com to collaborate and promote your services and products. Subscribe to my YOUTUBE Channel for giveaways, product reviews and mystery unboxings. #TheLifesWay #9YearsofTheLifesWay. Namaste!

A Memoir - This Month Last Year - Mar 2016 www.thelifesway.com #TheLifesWay

Hi Guys,

Life is full of surprises and it gives you enough of them to keep you playful and agile along the way. My life has been one where I have seen a lot of ups and downs but always kept hoping for the best. It's the ability to carry on and moving forward that gives us all strength to face whatever life throws at us. 

March 2016 was a hectic month as there were so many new phone launches along with several events for various other brands last year. It's just the right time to bring new things to the retail markets as Easter is around the corner. People are either upgrading themselves or buying gadgets for their loved ones. 

1. 7 Tips For #Snapping Better #Pictures With Your #Smartphone #HTCOneLifeSA - http://www.thelifesway.com/2016/03/7-tips-for-snapping-better-pictures.html - Everyone loves taking photographs and smartphones have made cameras available to each and every one of us. Some people are so great at taking pictures and creating something unique out of their shots. Check out instagram for all such inspirations. 

2. Exceptional Dining Delight at #Drakensberg @TsogoSun #SunResort #SouthAfrica - http://www.thelifesway.com/2016/03/exceptional-dining-delight-at.html - I never had the opportunity to visit this amazing hotel in the valleys of Drakensberg but I would not leave any chance also if offered. All Tsogo Sun properties are awesome and I had the pleasure to stay in SilverStar Casino in Krugersdorp and The Cullinan in Cape Town. 

3. LG's G5 Smartphone Wins 33 Awards #MWC2016 @LGSouthAfrica - http://www.thelifesway.com/2016/03/lgs-g5-smartphone-wins-33-awards.html - LG G5 has been a great smartphone and won so many awards. I too used its camera to win some gifts at the launch of the Mall of Africa Instagram contest. LG launched their latest LG G6 in the South African market and I was not invited to the media launch. Time flies!!!

4. @CRAFTParkhurst #Jozi Launches #FreakWAFFLES - http://www.thelifesway.com/2016/03/craftparkhurst-jozi-launches.html - Craft Parkhurst is one of the most loved restaurants in the area and why just look at the amazing food/snacks items they create. They are not only great in taste but also photographing them is amazing for your Instagram channel. 

5. @SamsungSA #2016 Predictions See The #IoT and #Mobility Connect and Serve - http://www.thelifesway.com/2016/03/samsungsa-2016-predictions-see-iot-and.html - Samsung has always been the front runner in terms of new technology. They launched S8 and S8+ recently in South Africa as well as globally. I was not part of the invite list this year. I am feeling sad but happy to see the latest gadgets arriving in SA as they are launched globally around the same time. 

The brands and PR's keeps oscillating between what they need from their influencers and who will be the right fit for their brands. Also, the people working in these PR agencies keep changing and the old one has some relationship with you and when that person leaves the company, you are not getting that attention you were getting before. That's why it's all part of learning and facing the ups and downs of your life! So to keep the same level of relationship, your work and blog or social media channels shall speak so that it doesn't make any difference who is the PR agency employed by the brand at the moment. Your work shall rise above all this and brands will come looking for you! I hope that I create the same for myself this year in 2017.

Cheers!!!

Support me if you like reading this blog post by buying me a cup of tea or coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/TheLifesWay Contact at thelifesway@gmail.com to collaborate and promote your services and products. Subscribe to my YOUTUBE Channel for giveaways, product reviews and mystery unboxings. #TheLifesWay #9YearsofTheLifesWay. Namaste!

@Vodacom Brings An Array of #Smartphones in #July #VBDFamily

Hi Guys, 

Earlier this month Vodacom launched a new premium range of smartphones extending the range of branded devices on offer. With the launch of the Vodacom Smart platinum 7 and Vodacom Smart ultra 7 Vodacom now offers devices, not only in the entry-level smartphone and tablet category, but also in the premium mobile class as well. In addition to the high-quality premium smartphones, Vodacom also unveiled a new range of mid-to-lower entry level smartphones in order to give customers more choice. These include the Smart prime 7 (entry level LTE) powered by Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 200-series processor, the Smart Mini 7 (mid-tier 3G), the Smart Kicka 2 and the Vodacom Smart tab 2 3G. 

Below is a summary of the new device offers as well as other ranges of smartphones available at Vodacom for the month of July. 

Vodafone Smart platinum 7 LTE Smartphone

o Available to Vodacom customers in store and online from mid-July 

o The device is available on a Smart S plan for R399PMx24 months plus an additional 10GB of data once off, with an RSP of R8 509

o Colours: Black 

o Other Value adds: Customers that purchase the Vodafone Smart platinum 7 will get a Smart VR in box, plus free screen insurance as well as a free 1 year Office 365 (Office 365 features 60 free Skype minutes, 1TB cloud storage per user, one license for three devices, worth up to R1299). The Vodafone Smart platinum 7 has a Qualcomm snapdragon chipset.

Vodacom Smart ultra 7 LTE Smartphone 

o Available to Vodacom customers in store and online 

o The device is available on a range of packages including the uChoose Flexi 110 for R199PMx24 months plus an additional 10GB of data once off, with an RSP of R3 539

o Colours: Dark Grey

o Other Value adds: Customers that purchase the Vodacom Smart ultra 7 will get free screen insurance as well as a free 1 year Office 365 (Office 365 features 60 free Skype minutes, 1TB cloud storage per user, one license for three devices, worth up to R1299).

Vodacom Smart prime 7 LTE Smartphone 

o Available to Vodacom customers in store and online 

o The device is available on a uChoose Flexi 110 for R129PMx24 months plus an additional 5GB of data once off, with an RSP of R1 799

o Colours: Black 

o Other Value adds: Customers that purchase the Vodacom Smart prime 7 will get free 1 year Office 365 (Office 365 features 60 free Skype minutes, 1TB cloud storage per user, one license for three devices, worth up to R1299). The Vodacom Smart prime 7 has a Qualcomm snapdragon chipset.

Vodacom Smart Tab 2 3G

o Available to Vodacom customers in store and online 

o The tablet is available on a 500MB Data price plan for R79PMx24 months with an RSP of R999

o Colours: Black 

o Other Value adds: Customers that purchase the Vodacom Smart Tab 2 3G from 07 July- 09 August will a Free 1 year Office 365 (Office 365 features 60 free Skype minutes, 1TB cloud storage per user, one license for three devices, worth up to R1299)

Vodacom Smart Kicka 2

o Available to Vodacom customers in store and online

o The device is available on a uChoose Flexi 55 for R59PMx24 months plus an additional 5GB data once-off with an RSP of R499

o Colours: Black 

o Other Value adds: Customers that purchase the Vodacom Smart Kicka 2 on prepaid will get R300 back in airtime* Valid for 7 days 

Vodacom Smart mini 7

o Available to Vodacom customers in store and online 

o The device is available on a uChoose Flexi 55 for R69PMx24 months plus an additional 5GB of data once off, with an RSP of R889

o Colours: Black 

o Other Value adds: Customers that purchase the Vodacom Smart mini 7 on prepaid will get R300 back in airtime* Valid for 7 days

LG K10 (Exclusive to Vodacom)

o Available to Vodacom customers in store and online 

o The device is available on a uChoose Flexi 110 for R199PMx24 months plus an additional 5GB data once off, with an RSP of R3 739

o Colours: Black Blue

o Other Value adds: Customers that purchase the LG K10 will get a free Smart Cover valued at R399

Sony Xperia X

o Available to Vodacom customers in store and online 

o The device is available on a Smart S plan for R499PMx24 months plus an additional 10GB data once off, with an RSP of R11 689

o Colours: Graphite Black, White and Lime Gold (Lime Gold colour is exclusive to Vodacom)

o Other Value adds: Customers that purchase the Sony Xperia X will get a fast charger valued at R699

Sony Xperia XA

o Available to Vodacom customers in store and online 

o The device is available on a uChoose Flexi 200 for R299PMx24 months plus an additional 5GB data once off, with an RSP of R6 089

o Colours: Graphite Black, White and Lime Gold

Cheers!!!

All enquiries and invites for your brand's launch events, sponsored posts and product reviews are welcome - Contact me at thelifesway@gmail.com

Modular Design Linked To "Play" Theme #LgG5 @LGMobileSA #LGPlayMore

Hi Guys, 

Juno Cho, President at LG Corporation in Korea described the new LG G5 device as an “adventurous theme park in your pocket” and we couldn’t agree more. A round of applause to the mobile smartphone of the year!

With an encased sleek all metal body design, always on display, a camera that offers a viewing angle that is approximately 1.7 times wider than those of existing smartphone and an innovative modular design that is able to transform the phone into a digital camera, hi-fi player and more. How has LG achieved such an accomplishment of technical wizardry?

The idea behind the LG G5 modular design, was to stand out from the rest of the premium-end smartphones in the industry and build an all-metal device whilst retaining the removable battery. The LG G5 surpasses the visual experience of its predecessor, the LG G4. The modular design of the G5 (the slide-out bottom), is a standout feature and headline grabber. It allows you to slide out the bottom half to replace the battery, add in the LG Cam Plus accessory, 360 degrees VR cameras, Hi – Fi Plus and more.

“LG Mobile has acquired a reputation for being an industry pioneer, offering solid mobile electronic options to consumers across the market spectrum. The G5 introduced a modular design first of its kind in the world with a wide range of companion devices. This innovation delivers fun while providing a new mobile experience far beyond traditional smartphone boundaries. Until this innovation, both were not possible,” says Deon Prinsloo, General Manager for LG Mobile at LG Electronics South Africa.

Additionally, LG has a built a great reputation as one of the leaders in smartphone cameras. The G5 offers its consumers dual cameras, one with a standard 78-degree lens and the other with a 135-degree wide angle lens, the widest available in any smartphone. The 135-degree lens on the LG G5 offers a viewing angle that is approximately 1.7 times wider than those of existing smartphone cameras and 15-degrees wider than the human eye’s field of view. 

The G5 weighs 159 grams and the rear power button and fingerprint scanner is vastly improved over the LG G4 and LG V10. The top of the 5.3 inch QHD display has a cool effect with the glass curves down towards the back. 

The 5.3-inch QHD IPS Quantum display on the LG G5 offers an Always-on feature, the first on an IPS smartphone display. What more can one ask for in a smartphone? The LG G5 is currently available at leading operators nationwide.

Cheers!!!

All enquiries and invites for your brand's launch events, sponsored posts and product reviews are welcome - Contact me at thelifesway@gmail.com

13 Ways To Help You #Snap Like A #PRO @LGMobileSA #LGPlayMore

Hi Guys, 

Cartier-Bresson is widely regarded as one of the greatest photographers of all time and once said, “To photograph is to hold one’s breathe, when all faculties converge to capture fleeting reality. It’s at that precise moment that mastering an image becomes a great physical and intellectual joy.” LG's latest flagship, the G5 gives users the opportunity to fully experience the joy of photography. Here are 13 ways to get you snapping like a pro.

1. Accessing the manual mode

One of the best ways to start capturing those significant moments with the LG G5 is by accessing the manual mode. To access the manual mode, you’ll have to tap the 3-dot icon at the top-left of the screen, which brings up the three main modes: Simple, Auto and Manual. The manual mode allows you to control the white balance, focus, exposure, ISO, shutter speed and AE-L. The white balance allows you as the user to alter the colour tone, compensating for unnatural lighting or to create skewed colour effects. The purpose of the ISO is that it determines the sensitivity of the sensor. When choosing darker environments to take pictures, you will need to use a higher setting. The AE-L, locks the exposure, letting you use the light level as a creative effect, making shots either much brighter or darker than the G5 would normally use.

2. How to use manual mode to get noise free shots

All you’ll have to do is set the ISO to 200 (it goes down to ISO 50), then use the shutter speed control to see how slow you need to go for low-noise results. The benefit of using the G5 is that it has optical image stabilisation (OIS), you can make the shutter go fairly slow and still get sharp photos.

3. Shooting RAWs

RAW files are what you get when you take the 'raw' information from a camera sensor, before reducing the noise level and smoothing things out. Using RAWs allows you to do your own processing, often ending up with a finer detailed image. The G5 allows you to shoot RAWs by simply accessing the manual mode and tapping the second icon from the bottom of the screen, over on the left column. This will allow for the shooting of RAW and JPEG files, rather than just JPEGs. RAWs come out as a file known as DNG (Digital NeGative file).

4. Using the second camera as "zoom out"

The G5 has dual cameras (16 MP f1.8 main camera has 78-degree angle view and the 8MP additional camera captures a 135-degree super wide-angle image) to take your digital photograph to the next level. It has a new, unique feature like pop – out photo, capturing more with the zoom out. In the camera app you can switch between lenses via a button, and when using the digital zoom the camera switches seamlessly between the two modules. The autofocus is assisted by a laser that measures the subject distance. 

5. Use the main camera for the best image quality

The 16MP wide angle camera of the LG G5 is the best Android camera on the market giving users a fish-eye effect in every shot. What it means for the users is that the camera allows you to fit much more of the scene into a single photo.

6. Changing photo and video resolution

Should users want to play with different size images for that perfect selfie, they can switch to 4:3 or 1:1 images by tapping on the cog icon at the bottom-left of the screen and selecting the top option in the menu that pops up. As well as changing the shape of photos, they can also alter the video resolution. The G5 normally shoots 1080p video users can level-up to UHD (the exact resolution of '4K video').

7. Video stabilisation 

For that perfect steady shot users can find the option for video stabilization near the bottom of the camera settings menu, which you access by tapping the cog icon. Tapping on this flicks between SteadyShot stabilisation and OIS, if you're using the standard camera lens in Auto mode. The former is what most phones use, a digital enhancer that uses the edges of the frame as a buffer to smooth-out any movements. This leaves you with a slightly more 'zoomed-in' view than you get when taking photos. That's one reason why you might use OIS instead, which uses the little camera stabilisation motor to keep your footage smooth.

8. Simple mode is great for simple photography

Simple mode is found by tapping the 3-dot icon at the top-left of the camera app. Simple mode takes away almost all custom features you get with the other options. All you do is tap on the object on which you want to focus and the LG G5 camera app both focuses and takes a shot as quickly as possible.

9. Shortcut key for instant photos

In the main phone Settings menu, go to the General tab and then select Shortcut key. In here you'll see a flick switch for Quick Shot. Make sure it's switched on. This lets you press the volume down button twice quickly when the phone is off to fire-up the camera and take a photo.

10. Timelapse + wide-angle camera = cool movies

The G5 has several 'creative' modes in its camera app and Time Lapse is one of the more interesting ones. This shoots video, but at 1/15 the normal speed. That means it takes two frames a second rather than the usual 30. Use this with the wide-angle camera and you'll get footage that resembles some of the stuff GoPros are used for in action sport footage.

11. Use the grid display for landscape photography

The G5 has a grid option to stop those uneven photos and help you align or center pictures properly. What it means for the user is that you get another reference point of where to line-up the horizon, as well as helping you work out what you want the focus of the picture/image/photo to be. You'll find Grid at the very bottom of the camera app Settings menu, accessed by tapping on the cog icon.

12. Use 30sec exposure to make something special

The G5 can keep its shutter open for up to 30 seconds. What it means for the user is that it merges all the light information from that half-minute stint into a single image. What one can do while using the 30sec long-exposure photography is shoot a road where car lights turn into streaming neon lines, and create noise-free night shots that almost look like daylight photos.

13. 360 Cam

The G5 is the only Android smartphone on the market that comes with a series of module accessories (Friends) that fit onto its bottom and one in particular where users have been raving about is the 360 Cam. The LG 360 CAM provides 2K video and 5.1 surround channel recording on three microphones to help users effortlessly create high-quality 360-degree contents. Having secured a partnership with Google, images taken with the 360 CAM can be uploaded to Google Street View and YouTube360, adding the fun of sharing creative content with others.

Reference: http://www.techradar.com/how-to/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/13-lg-g5-camera-tips-to-get-you-snapping-like-a-pro-1321899

Cheers!!!

All enquiries and invites for your brand's launch events, sponsored posts and product reviews are welcome - Contact me at thelifesway@gmail.com 

5 reasons Why We #Love The #LGG5 @LGMobileSA @LGSouthAfrica #LGPlayMore

Hi Guys,

During the past few years LG has consistently pushed the boundaries of what’s possible with mobile technology. Whether its display technology, imaging or design, the company has always taken things one step further than its competitors and attempted to do “firsts” with its flagship releases. The latest release LG G5 Android has been a radical change in terms of what is expected from a smartphone. It boasts all the latest and greatest features, a metal sleek and stylish design, dual camera capabilities, and a removable and replaceable battery with expandable storage. With its innovative accessories, the G5 is undoubtedly everything that consumers want and need to enhance their mobile experience. Here are five reason why we love the LG G5.

LG G5 Display

The LG G5 has a 5.3 Quantum HD display technology, and it looks pretty amazing. It has a 2560 x 1440 Quad HD resolution, pixel density of 554ppi, constructed from magnesium and finished with a gorgeous matte finish. It is a compact device with an easy grip and sits perfectly where most users rest their index finger while holding it. The amazing double tap option is ideal for waking and sleeping the screen, which remains one of the favourite features on an Android smartphone. Another great innovation from the G5 is the “always on display” feature. It allows you to check the time, date, and see if you have any notifications without ever touching your phone.

Fingerprint Scanner

Implementation, feel, reliability, software and security all factor into making a good fingerprint scanner on a smartphone. LG abandoned the rear buttons from prior flagships in favour of a fingerprint scanner around the back. The volume buttons are back to the side, on the left, and the power button sits nicely under the camera. One tap and it wakes the phone and unlocks it in seconds. The G5 also has a fingerprint sensor on top of its power button, situated on the back of the phone. It’s a state-of-the-art fingerprint sensor that can read your finger quite quickly, without the need to press a button.

Diverse Range of Companion Devices 

With the G5, LG introduced a paradigm-shifting smartphone ecosystem — the LG Playground. With this, LG aims to strengthen the ties with its partners and introduce various devices and supporting programs to fully maximize the LG Playground. As part of the ecosystem, LG is introducing a wide range of companion devices, aptly called LG Friends, to deliver fun while providing a new mobile experience far beyond traditional smartphone boundaries. 

Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 Processor 

The LG G5 is equipped with a powerful yet energy-efficient Snapdragon 820 processor which offers advanced features such as 64-bit performance, Adreno 530 graphics and lower-power Qualcomm® HexagonTM DSP as well as Qualcomm Spectra™ 14-bit dual image signal processors (ISPs). This advanced feature is designed to deliver high resolution DSLR-quality images and additional power saving.

Battery Power

The G5 is designed to deliver new and differentiated user experience through its innovative Modular Type design which offers the benefit of both premium metal uni-body design and a removable battery as an option. The bottom of the phone can be released to get a fresh battery inside, allowing you to extend battery life without ever connecting to a charger. Modularity has been the subject of many talks for a number of years but no brand was able to consumerise the concept until now and LG is happy to take on the mantle.

I am missing the LG G5 I had for review using which I took some of the photographs to win Instagram contest at Mall of Africa. I have not reviewed any of the LG Companion devices but would love to do so. 

References:

http://www.droid-life.com/2016/02/21/lg-g5-modular-announcement-qhd-820/

http://www.androidcentral.com/android-fingerprint-sensors-ranked

http://www.lg.com/ca_en/press-release/lg-debuts-the-g5-its-first-ever-modular-smartphone

https://www.qualcomm.com/products/snapdragon/processors/820

Cheers!!!

All enquiries and invites for your brand's launch events, sponsored posts and product reviews are welcome - Contact me at thelifesway@gmail.com 

@LGMobileSA Launched #Smartphones X SCREEN And STYLUS 2 #LifesGood #SouthAfrica

Hi Guys, 

LG Mobile SA will launch a new series of high to mid-tier smartphones, with boasting premium features. The X Screen and Stylus 2 will be available to South African consumers on the 1 June 2016.

Stylus 2

The Stylus 2 is the Phablet of the season. It combines great viewing experience, sleek design with the stylist pen that is visually slim with a comfortable grip, fast and sharp camera to take your photograph skills to the next level. 

LG Stylus 2 comes with a 5.70-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 720 pixels by 1280 pixels. It is powered by 1.2GHz quad-core and it comes with 1.5GB of RAM. The phone has 16GB of internal storage that can be expanded via a microSD card. The LG Stylus 2 has a 13-megapixel primary camera on the rear and an 8-megapixel front shooter for selfies. The LG Stylus 2 runs Android 6.0 and is powered by a 3000mAh removable battery. The Stylus 2 comes with a titular pen. This long, 107mm wand is incredibly slim and gives users a semi-soft rounded nib that is great for jotting stuff down quickly.

X Screen

The LG X Screen is designed to deliver exceptional value to those who want a smartphone with features such as the Second Screen. The Second Screen, a feature which was first introduced in the LG V10, sits above the main 4.93-inch HD display and allows the user to multi task on the handset. This includes App shortcut, favorite contacts, music playing, next schedule, recent apps and quick tools. The Always-on Display allows users to check basic information such as time, date and notifications without turning on the phone, the first mid-tier smartphone to offer this unique feature. 

The X Screen’s look is complemented by the crystal-clear glass fiber material that covers the back. The curved edges on its sides create a simple yet elegant design. The LG X Screen runs Android 6.0 and is powered by a 2300mAh battery. 

The LG X Screen is powered by 1.2GHz quad-core and it comes with 2GB of RAM. The phone has 16GB of internal storage and packs a 13-megapixel primary camera on the rear and an 8-megapixel front shooter for selfies. The front glass and rear glass fiber have seamless finishing, and high resolution cameras.

“What’s appealing about the X Screen and Stylus 2,” said Deon Prinsloo, General Manager: LG Mobile SA, “Starting with the X Screen, we’re introducing the best in camera and display technology in a mass-tier device, something that has never been done before. LG Stylus 2 provides both a 5.7 inch screen and premium note taking functionality. ”

Cheers!!!

Follow me on twitter @araijain or @thelifesway 

Email - thelifesway@gmail.com for invites to launch events / sponsored posts and product reviews!

Checkout my Instagram (araijain) page 

Checkout my photo blog - www.photoyatra.blogspot.in

Follow Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/TheLifesWay

Book me for your Brand's Influence at https://webfluential.com/TheLifesWay

Product Review - LG G5 @LGMobileSA #LGG5PlayMore #Smartphone

Hi Guys, 

It's been a while that I fell in love with the camera on a smartphone device, last time I remember I really liked HTC One M9, Samsung S6 and LG G4 cameras but with the launch of latest LG G5 the capabilities of smartphones have increase multifold. The best part of LG G5 is it's amazing modular body which gives you power to create your phone as you like. You can have multiple batteries available, can listen to high fidelity Bang and Olufsen amplified music and have a full fledged point and shoot camera accessory. All these things are called the LG G5 Friends as they enhance and support the phone through thick and thin.

“I began to realize that the camera sees the world differently than the human eye and that sometimes those differences can make a photograph more powerful than what you actually observed", As rightly pointed out by the Galen Rowell, LG G5 dual rear cameras really takes your photographs to a new level. I had the opportunity to click several amazing pictures throughout my two three weeks of review device. Check out some of the photographs I took using the camera on instagram with #LGG5PlayMore.

LG’s new flagship, the G5, is equipped with two rear-facing cameras, one with a traditional lens (16MP, f1.8) and another with a wide-angle (8MP), 135-degree version. The latter is approximately 1.7 times wider than those of existing smartphone cameras lens, allowing users to capture more subject matter in a single photo. This is why the G5's second lens' near-fisheye field of view has proven so essential, given how carefully it has been integrated with the main camera. Now your landscapes photographs will be awesome. I am really going to miss the LG G5 when I will go to Drakensberg and other parts of very soon. The LG G5 features a collection of powerful photo effects including Pop-out Picture, Film Effect and Auto Shot. 

The software to control the dual camera is upgraded version from LG G4 and one can easily switch between the two in the camera app. I really loved that without moving your feet, you can take photographs of the whole large group as well as portraits of small number of people. The phone also allows to take RAW images and gives you total control of the camera in manual mode. Also the SD card can take 2TB of card so as you carry on clicking your photographs. I checked the file size in JPEG format is nearly 6MB per photograph and reaches 10MB per snap while shooting in RAW format. 

I really loved the display of LG G5 and games like MMX Racing looked wonderful on the phone as well as text documents. The phone is fast to process different games and apps and never got warm when I played the games or took a lot of photographs. The only time it got warm was during the fast charging and that too only little warm. I have always used the top of the end smartphone for my personal use and HTC One phones I use have the best of displays. G5 has 5.3in Quad HD IPS display producing 554ppi giving superb visual quality.

Mall of Africa, Johannesburg using LG G5

The removable battery on G5 is 2800mAh which comes with fast charger unit and can be fully charged in around 80-90 minutes when plugged in electrical power source. It easily gave me more than a full day usage when I played MMX Racing (10 tickets) multiple times each day. LG G5 comes with marshmallow Android Operating System enabling you to stay on the top of the latest technology. The processing speed is awesome with it's Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor with 4GB of RAM.

The build quality of G5 is really great and comes with the latest USB Type C charging port where the cable can be used both ways just like lightening cable used in Apple devices. Though it's a new addition but I really felt helpless as I could not attach my old OTG Android drive to post photographs on Instagram. The only solution was then to use the built in memory of the device or the external Micro-SD card that can be inserted along with the nano-SIM slot on the right hand side of the phone.

The other side of the phone has a small button to use the modularity of the phone. The battery can then be taken out revealing a seamless body with which anyone will fall in love. The only problem I faced was the resetting of setting like time/location etc when taking the battery out of the smartphone without any active nano-SIM. I also felt that the body doesn't attach as seamless as we want it to be once you have taken the battery out. Maybe I was using a demo unit which must have been used several times on display so that mismatch has developed but as this feature is still new, it will take time to be precised. 

The back volume buttons as you must have seen in LG G4 has been moved to the sides and now sits on the left hand side in LG G5. The speaker slots are on the bottom of the phone along with the new Type-C charger. The headphone jack is on the top side along with infrared sensor. I felt speaker slots gets covered by my hands while playing the games in a certain fashion and you had to revolve the smartphone by 180 degrees. 

LG Health

Manual Mode Camera Settings

Going with the punchline of the product - "Life's Good When You Play More" the LG G5 allows you to definitely do more at the same time. The package contains the fast charger and Type-C USB cable in the demo unit. I really want the phone back as the same felt the right size in my hands and is lightweight with metal alloy body which is non-slippery. There is so much to talk about this phone about which I have already posted on my blog. This is one phone which you can use daily without any problems faced and TheLife'sWay would definitely want to use it as day-to-day usage smartphone if sponsored by LG South Africa. 

Cheers!!!

Follow me on twitter @araijain or @thelifesway 

Email - thelifesway@gmail.com for invites to launch events / sponsored posts and product reviews!

Checkout my Instagram (araijain) page 

Checkout my photo blog - www.photoyatra.blogspot.in

Follow Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/TheLifesWay

Book me for your Brand's Influence at https://webfluential.com/TheLifesWay