Bucket Tech: Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2025

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has announced the Galaxy S25 Ultra, Galaxy S25+ and Galaxy S25, setting a new standard as a true AI companion with our most natural and context-aware mobile experiences ever created. Introducing multimodal AI agents, the Galaxy S25 series is the first step in Samsung’s vision to change the way users interact with their phone – and with their world. A first-of-its-kind customised Snapdragon® 8 Elite Mobile Platform for Galaxy chipset delivers greater on-device processing power for Galaxy AI and superior camera range and control with Galaxy’s next-gen ProVisual Engine.

“The greatest innovations are a reflection of their users, which is why we evolved Galaxy AI to help everyone interact with their devices more naturally and effortlessly while trusting that their privacy is secured,” said TM Roh, President and Head of Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics. “Galaxy S25 series opens the door to an AI-integrated OS that fundamentally shifts how we use technology and how we live our lives.”

Our Most Intuitive and Effortless Mobile Interactions Yet

With One UI 7, the Galaxy S25 series is a true AI companion that understands the context of your needs and preferences and provides personalised AI experiences with privacy assured at every turn. It’s the starting point of a shared vision with Google to imagine Android with AI at the core, bringing together developers and partners from around the world.

AI agents with multimodal capabilities enable Galaxy S25 to interpret text, speech, images and videos for interactions that feel natural. Upgrades to Google’s Circle to Search make searching your phone screen more helpful, fast and contextual. Circle to Search now quickly recognises phone numbers, email and URLs on your screen, letting you call, email or visit a website with a single tap.

With Galaxy S25 series, you can also perform actionable searches with context-aware suggestions for next steps. Plus, Galaxy S25 makes it frictionless to switch between apps for quick follow-up actions, like sharing a GIF or saving event details.

Galaxy S25 also represents a breakthrough in natural language understanding, making everyday interactions easier. Simply ask and intuitively find a specific photo in Samsung Gallery or adjust the size of display fonts in Settings. Just press and hold the side button to activate Gemini and perform seamless interaction across Samsung and Google apps, plus third-party apps such as Spotify. For example, find your favourite sports team’s season schedule and add it to Samsung   Calendar – with a single command.

These intuitive interactions are elevated by expansions to Galaxy AI’s popular tools for communication, productivity and creativity. Galaxy S25 keeps calls organised with Call Transcript[4] and summary. Writing Assist features such as summarizing content or automatically formatting notes can be enabled where texts can be selected, without needing to switch between applications. Drawing Assist unlocks fresh ways to bring ideas to life through combinations of sketches, text or image prompts.

Hyper-personalised Experiences with Privacy Secured

In the era of AI, personalisation goes hand-in-hand with privacy. On Galaxy S25, the Personal Data Engine powers personalised AI features by safely analysing your data on-device to deliver highly tailored experiences that reflect your preferences and usage patterns. These insights enable tailored experiences such as searching for an old photo in the Gallery using natural language, or being guided through the day with Now Brief, which proactively offers suggestions accessible via Now Bar on the lock screen. All personalised data is kept private and secured by Knox Vault. Combined with enhanced on-device processing capabilities, this creates a powerful, protected AI experience that is unique to Galaxy.

Galaxy S25 also introduces post-quantum cryptography, safeguarding personal data against emerging threats that could increase as quantum computing evolves. Because there is no privacy without holistic security, One UI 7 laid the groundwork for these innovations by introducing an extra, fortified layer of device safety designed for the age of AI and hyperconnectivity. Additional updates include added Maximum Restrictions settings, enhanced Theft Protection, and a new Knox Matrix dashboard to monitor the security status across a connected device ecosystem.

Galaxy’s Most Powerful Performance Ever

The Galaxy S25 series is powered by the Snapdragon® 8 Elite for Galaxy. With unique customisations by Galaxy, this is the most powerful processor ever on Galaxy S series, delivering a performance boost of 40% in NPU, 37% in CPU and 30% in GPU compared to previous generation. This power fuels the Galaxy S25 series’ ability to process more AI experiences on-device without compromise, including previously cloud-based AI tasks such as Generative Edit.

Samsung and Qualcomm Technologies worked together to customise the Snapdragon® 8 Elite for Galaxy.  The Galaxy S25 series features advanced, efficient AI image processing with ProScaler to achieve a 40% improvement[12] in display image scaling quality, while incorporating custom technology with Samsung’s mobile Digital Natural Image engine (mDNIe) embedded within the processor using Galaxy IP to enable greater display power efficiency.

Snapdragon® 8 Elite for Galaxy is also equipped with Vulkan Engine and improved Ray Tracing, which makes for smoother and more realistic mobile gaming. All intense device usage and AI processing run smoothly thanks to changed heat dissipation structure with 40% larger vapor chamber and a tailored thermal interface material (TIM) that delivers extra improvement in thermal efficiency.

Unleashing Truly Pro Creation

The Galaxy S25 series delivers ultra-detailed shots at every range with high resolution sensors and ProVisual Engine, setting a new standard for mobile photography. With a new 50MP ultrawide camera sensor upgraded from the previous 12MP, Galaxy S25 Ultra provides exceptional clarity and vibrancy.

10-bit HDR recording is now applied by default, offering four times richer colour expression compared to 8-bit. Galaxy S25 can thus capture details in any lighting conditions. Plus, low-light videos have never been clearer than with Galaxy S25. Based on powerful processor, Galaxy S25 analyses movement and time to reduce noise more effectively. This integration allows detecting both moving and static objects with greater precision, ensuring sharper, cleaner footage in any scenario.

Galaxy S25 also introduces a range of tools once limited to specialised software, making advanced editing accessible for all. Now anyone can be a pro at editing photos and videos. Audio Eraser simplifies the removal of unwanted noise in videos. By isolating categories of sounds – including voices, music, wind, nature, crowd and noise – you can control what to tone down or eliminate entirely.

For a DSLR-like experience on mobile, Galaxy S25 introduces depth-of-field control with Virtual Aperture, integrated into the popular Expert RAW. Galaxy S25 also elevates cinematic creativity with Galaxy Log, enabling precise colour grading options for more professional video production. Portrait Studio has also been enhanced, allowing users to create personalised avatars with more true-to-life facial expressions. Filters introduces new analog-style filters, delivering film-like aesthetic for their photos and videos.

Durable Design Embracing a More Circular Approach

The Galaxy S25 series builds upon Galaxy’s ‘Essential Design’ grounded in ‘Simple, Impactful and Emotive’ elements. Galaxy S25 Ultra refines this essence into the slimmest, lightest and most durable Galaxy S series yet, with a rounded edge for a comfortable grip that complements the series’ aesthetic identity.

Galaxy S25 Ultra features durable titanium and the new Corning® Gorilla® Armor 2, a first-of-its-kind material that is more durable than glass. It combines Corning’s glass-ceramic with a proprietary anti-reflective surface treatment, helping to ensure advanced drop protection alongside anti-reflection surface treatment and scratch resistance.

Every external component of Galaxy S25+ and S25 now includes at least one recycled material, as their metal frame incorporates recycled armor aluminum for the first time. In addition, while every Galaxy S25 series device uses a minimum of 50% recycled cobalt for its battery, Galaxy S25 will be the first Galaxy smartphone to feature batteries made with recycled cobalt sourced from previous Galaxy devices or the batteries discarded during the manufacturing process. Samsung goes through multiple stages with its like-minded partners, from extracting cobalt from used batteries to re-using the recycled cobalt for the batteries of Galaxy S25.

Combined with seven generations of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates, the Galaxy S25 series ensures a reliable and optimised performance over a longer lifespan. For greater peace of mind, Samsung Care+ offers comprehensive coverage for accidental damage, repairs, and replacements, ensuring peace of mind for Galaxy users. Plus, Samsung is introducing the New Galaxy Club. For users who love having the latest technology, this flexible subscription model is designed to make owning and upgrading Galaxy devices more convenient than ever. Regional details and availability will be announced at a later date.

The Galaxy S25 series will be available for pre-order from 23 January to 13 February 2025. Galaxy S25 Ultra will be available in Titanium Silverblue, Titanium Black, Titanium Whitesilver and Titanium Gray. Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25+ will be available in Navy, Silver Shadow, Icyblue and Mint.

Pricing as follows:

• Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 256GB - R29,999
• Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 512GB - R31,999
• Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 1TB - R34,999

Bucket Tech: HONOR Introduces Circle to Search

Global technology brand HONOR announced the availability of Circle to Search with Google on the flagship HONOR Magic V3, the world’s slimmest inward foldable smartphone, as well as on the HONOR 200 Series, delivering superior performance and an unrivalled studio-level portrait photography experience. The new enhancement ensures everyone can benefit from the latest AI advancements, bringing a seamless and intuitive search experience to smartphone users around the world.

“Enhancements in AI are transforming the way we work, learn, shop, create and interact with our devices. Whether you need translation assistance, homework help or simply want to find out more about an image that’s caught your eye on social media, our smartphones have become our go-to source for searching for this information,” said George Zhao, CEO of HONOR. “As a human-centric technology brand, HONOR is committed to bringing the benefits of AI to all. Thanks to our close industry collaboration with Google and by introducing this feature to not one, but two of our popular smartphone lines, it’s now possible to unlock a world of information at your fingertips, offering a whole new level of convenience in people’s daily lives.”

Circle to Search empowers users to instantly search for anything they see on their phone with Google. With Circle to Search, users can simply circle, highlight, scribble or tap anywhere on their screen to select the text, image or video they want to search for more information about, without switching apps. Circle to Search makes searching for whatever inspires you even easier.

HONOR’s AI Journey: Building a Comprehensive and Responsible AI Ecosystem

Recognizing the pivotal role of AI in shaping future lifestyles, HONOR has long viewed AI as a strategic priority. Through continuous R&D and open collaboration with industry partners, HONOR is dedicated to enriching its on-device AI ecosystem, delivering forward-thinking AI solutions to consumers worldwide. Earlier this year, HONOR unveiled HONOR’s Four-layer AI Architecture, a blueprint for industry-wide adoption that will ultimately benefit users everywhere. Embracing a hybrid AI strategy that fully integrates on-device AI and cloud AI capabilities, HONOR has developed a multi-layered security architecture and the HONOR Personal Cloud Compute, safeguarding user data and privacy during interactions with cloud AI services. 

Unveiled at IFA 2024, the latest flagship foldable HONOR Magic V3 features a host of pioneering AI capabilities. Teaming up with Google, the HONOR Magic V3 is equipped with AI Eraser, Face to Face Translation and HONOR Notes tools, empowering users with pro-grade productivity features. In keeping with its user-centric approach, HONOR has introduced the industry’s first AI Defocus Eye Protection Technology and AI Deepfake Detection Anti-Fraud Technology, addressing common health and safety concerns associated with smartphone usage. In addition, running on MagicOS 8.0.1, HONOR devices come with the intent-based Magic Portal and Magic Capsule, redefining human-device interactions to offer users optimal convenience.

Bucket Tech: Google Gemini

 

AI has been slowly creeping its way into almost everything over the past 2 years, it came in relatively unannounced with tech companies using AI to assist with some of the most minute applications but slowly it began to grow even more, AI became more than something on your smart phone to help you take better pictures, soon with applications like Chat GPT, you were able to get AI to write you letters, essays, heck, it can even write this post you're reading but rest assured, this one is coming straight from that grey matter in my head. Yes, AI is here to assist you, at the end of the day, AI can only do so much because its an ever evolving technology that feeds from information you give it. Apple recently at their event went through the various features their OS has with AI, by the way, they call it Apple Intelligence and not the global norm which is Artificial Intelligence. But Apple being Apple can do shit like that and the world will still be amazed. This however riled up the Android boys hence last night, Google decided to drop Gemini, their AI assistant that is available to use on all Android devices. Gemini is deeply integrated into Android and runs at its core, with the rest of the operating system being built around it, this they say will "redefine what phones can do". 

Yes, we've always had the interactive functions of "voice command" from Google before, but with Gemini it's become more streamlined and has a lot more functionality than before. With "Okay Google" command prompt it limited you to app based questions, while with Gemini, the command prompt is changed to a simple "Hello" and then you can ask it pretty much anything you want? What is great as per the above video, it can run through multiple apps to give you an answer with solutions and show you how to do it. For example, an email was sent to you to meet a person at a certain location at a certain time, the user asked Gemini for the info, it searched through Gmail for the specific email, found the time and location, opened Google Maps and told her how long it will take for her to get their with traffic information. This new personal assistant feature comes really handy for people on the go, to schedule appoints and reminders. 

As always, the big question comes about security, with so much information being fed into the Gemini, how sure are you that what you're telling it wont reach into the hands of those of others. Google says with its end-to-end approach to AI privacy on Android, all your personal information is secured. Google is using cutting-edge privacy technologies like Private Compute Core and federated learning to ensure the assistant experience with Gemini on Android is aligned with their existing Secure AI framework, AI Principles and Privacy Principles. They maintain they do no hand off to a third-party AI provider and everything on their ecosystem is in house. 

With Android global footprint on various devices, Gemini is the most widely available AI assistant, with this in mind, it supported in 45 languages in more than 200 countries and territories and its an ever growing platform with these figures only going to grow. Whether you're using Gemini on Pixel devices or Samsung devices, each brand has customized Gemini in various ways  to make it more comfortable for their user to experience.  Some stand out features will feature throughout the Android ecosystem like Samsung's "Circle to Search" is available on Gemini now and this is only the beginning. 

Bucket Tech: HONOR Magic4 Pro

Global leading technology brand HONOR today announced the availability of its recently launched smartphone, HONOR Magic4 Pro in South Africa. Starting from today, users can buy HONOR Magic4 Pro 8+256GB variant via Vodacom and MTN at a price of ZAR 22999. The smartphone comes with a contract deal of R999 for 24 months with 1GB REDCORE and HONOR Earbuds 3 Pro as gift with Vodacom and via MTN with a contract deal of R999 for 24 moths which comes with Mega Talk and Gigs XS.   Running on Android 11 and coming with pre-installed Google Mobile Services, users can download all Google applications with peace of mind and enjoy the immersive music on YouTube and Spotify. The revolutionary device was recently launched in Johannesburg by HONOR President Mr. Zhao Likhun through a breath-taking event. 

Along with launching HONOR Magic4 Pro, HONOR also debuts HONOR Watch GS 3 with industry leading 8-Channel Heart Rate AI Engine that detects precise optical signals and HONOR Earbuds 3 Pro that delivers superior sound quality and comes with an industry first body temperature measuring capability.

“HONOR is committed to adopt a consumer-centric approach and develop best-in-class products for our users. The launch of HONOR Magic4 Pro, HONOR Watch GS 3 and HONOR Earbuds 3 Pro showcases unwavering commitment to providing all-scenario intelligent ecosystem strategy to create a new intelligent world for everyone in South Africa” Mr. Zhao Likun, President of HONOR Middle East and Africa

Cinematic Videography with Magic-Log Movie Master and IMAX Enhanced

Offering cinematic-level footage, the HONOR Magic4 Series features the HONOR Magic-Log Movie Master and AI Film Effects. With this, the HONOR Magic4 Series delivers the industry-first 10-bit Log 4K video recording in 60fps (frame per second), beating another industry benchmark.  

 Triple Camera with Ultra-Fusion Computational Photography 

The HONOR Magic4 Pro pushes industry benchmarks with a powerful Triple Camera combination featuring a 50MP Wide Camera which packs a 1/1.56-inch color sensor, a 50MP 122o Ultra-Wide Camera, and an 64MP Periscope Telephoto Camera, all powered by best-in-class Ultra-Fusion Computational Photography which enables the device to produce high-definition images in stunning clarity. The lens supports up to 100x digital zoom as well as optical and electronic image stabilization, to clearly capture distant scenes.

Powerful 100W Wireless Charging

The HONOR Magic4 Pro is powered by an ultra-large 4600mAh battery featuring HONOR’s most powerful SuperCharge combination to deliver an ultra-long battery life and all-day connectivity. With 100W Wired HONOR SuperCharge, the HONOR Magic4 Pro juices up to a 100% charge in just 30 minutes. The HONOR Magic4 Pro is also the first to support 100W Wireless HONOR SuperCharge technology, which powers up the device to a 60% charge in just 15 minutes. 

Enhanced Privacy and Security; Industry's First AI Privacy Call

Offering a groundbreaking new solution to sound-leaking, a common smartphone frustration for many, the HONOR Magic4 Pro debuts an all-new Privacy Calling feature supported by AI and powered by Directional Sound Technology, preventing sound leakage for more private phone calls.

Exceptional Gaming Experience with GPU Turbo X and Upgraded AI Visual Engine

HONOR is among the first smartphone manufacture to support groundbreaking AI Super Rendering technology on smartphones thanks to continuous upgrades of its GPU Turbo X technology. This produces remarkable results in power consumption and performance, enhancing the overall gaming experience on the HONOR Magic4 Series. 

Industry’s First LTPO Display With 1920Hz PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) Dimming 

Perfect for those who spend long hours in front of the screen, the HONOR Magic4 Series delivers Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) of 1920Hz, the highest ever achieved in an LTPO screen, minimizing eye strain and providing a comfortable viewing experience, even in low light environments.

Bucket Tech: HUAWEI P50 Pro - Review

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by theBucketZA (@thebucketza)

After attending the launch of HUAWEI's P50 range in March, I was looking forward to getting my hands on either devices which is available locally, as luck would have it I got the opportunity to spend a few weeks with the P50 Pro, the more business orientated device in the P50 range. 

UNBOXING

Unboxing the device is no different from any other HUAWEI smart phone, they box design has remained the same for as long as I can remember, with a sleek case which is very robust and has a nice plastic sheen to it. Once the lid is taken off you will find the P50 device propped right on the top, wrapped in protective paper and sat on a tray. Below this is a slim line box which houses the silicon cover that comes for free with every HUAWEI device and also on this box you will find the pin to eject the slim card slot. Underneath that is the box containing the user manual and there after you will be pleased to see that the P50 Pro comes with the 66W SuperCharger plug socket as well as the USB C fast charging cable. Most other premium devices have opted to sell their phones without the plug socket, making it an additional expense for their customers. I suppose this is one of the pro's that HUAWEI is hoping to keeping their loyal customers happy. 

DESIGN

I've owned a HUAWEI P30 Pro smart phone which has been my primary device for the past 2 years. In terms of design, not much has changed to the P50, the general design remains very much the same as mine and the previous P20 Pro, with the curved edges and metallic unibody. The phone has grown in size though, measuring 158.8 X 72.8mm in length and breath with a thickness of 8.5mm and a weight of 196g The device does feel good in hand but with the metallic finish can feel a bit slippery, the free silicon cover does alleviate this issue but like most covers, it does bulk the phone up a bit and then doesn't feel as good in hand as it does without the cover. The P50 Pro is available in two colours locally, Cocoa Gold and Golden Black, I had the Cocoa Gold which is the more appealing of the two giving the phone a very premium look both in light conditions and the dark. The metallic mirror finish is very eye catching but does get covered in finger prints quite easily. Cleaning them off isn't an issue as one swipe with a cloth or tissue does the trick, or if you like me a quick wipe on the pants to make it look all clean and elegant again. 

PROCESSING

The P50 Pro packs a power house chipset with it having the Kirin 9000, with the Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888. It runs a Octa-core CPU with a Mali-G78 MP24 GPU with Adreno 660. Memory wise the P50 Pro has 8GB of RAM with storage options of 128GB, 256GB and 512GB with 12GB RAM. Pretty powerful set up but the main talking point is the OS, it runs HUAWEI's latest Harmony OS 2.0 with no Google Services, while the platform is android based the device has no access to Google Playstore which in the previous generation device, the P40 Pro proved to be a major deal breaker for many. The bad news is that it doesn't look likely to change in the near future with HUAWEI already heavily investing into their own research and development of their own OS and platform. The Petal search application and App Gallery has seen a tremendous growth over the past 2 years lots of applications becoming available on the Gallery, while it still misses the popular ones predominantly from the Meta Group, there is the option of downloading and installing the APK files via the HUAWEI App Gallery when searching for these apps. Once downloaded and installed, these apps do work but there are some bugs that you'll pick up while using them. A most common one for me was seeing comments on Instagram posts being mixed up. I'm sure there will be a quick fix to this soon but for now, I'm just happy we can get these applications working on the phone without trying any funny hacker stuff. There are links to Google Services APK but the bugs are more prominent in these as my brief use of Google Maps was found to be unpleasant and I found myself reverting to Petal Maps on the phone as it was a more seamless interface. Not sure if this is purposely done this way to encourage use of the HUAWEI Apps. Overall, processing power and usage of the P50 Pro seems to be up there with the likes of the Galaxy S22 Pro and Apple iPhone 13 Pro.

CAMERA

Like with many of the P Series devices of the past, the camera is something that stands out as one of the phones key features. The P50 Pro is no different boasting a Quad camera set up that features a 50M wide lens, a 64MP periscope telephoto lens, 13MP ultra wide len and a 40MP 23mm (B/W) lens developed with Leica optics with a dual-LED flash. With HUAWEI and Leica's partnerships of the past, low light photography has been paramount in their tech, the P50 Pro boast impressive colourisation and detail in low light conditions with the night mode making use of of the the camera AI and chip to bring out the most in the pictures. A worthy note to mention is while taking pictures in night mode, the timing has been reduced significantly so you don't have to stand still for more than 4 seconds for night mode pictures. Other features on the camera include panorama, HDR and Super Macro functions which let you take detailed pictures of objects close up. Video on the main camera is superb as well with a great image stablizer while recording in 4K@30fps in 1080p resolution. There has been vast improvements in the front facing camera better known as the selfie camera these days, with it being a 13MP lens with wide lens offering so you can get everyone in that shot. It also features 4K video recording so it makes it perfect for vlogging.

VERDICT

While there still is a dark shadow hanging over the brand in terms of its lack of Google Services, there is no denying that the quality of their devices is still up there with the other brands in the market. The offerings in terms of features, processing power and the camera is as good if not better than its competitors. I was really impressed with the quality of the pictures from the P50 Pro, so much so it had me considering selling my P30 Pro! It's amazing to see how the technology has improved over the years in this regard. The battery life on the P50 Pro was pretty impressive as well with the 4360mAh battery giving me a full days usage giving me at least 2 days of life, and with the 66W SuperCharge even if you sitting on 0% you'll have up to 70% charge in a matter of minutes. Priced at R19,999 it certainly is the best value for money smart phone in its range, if you can operate without Google then it shouldn't be an issue getting used to this device and while I still think HUAWEI Harmony and Petal have a long way to go until it gets fully adopted, I don't see that transition taking very long. 

Some examples of pictures taken with the P50 Pro:

 

Bucket Tech: CallApp

The age old saying "time is money" applies to our daily lives now more than ever and one of the biggest time wasters is unwanted, unsolicited calls which not only disturbs you from whatever you doing but also changes your mood, your train of thought and just ruins that moment you were in. While there are various App's available on the market to detect unwanted calls by means of screening and notifying you before hand, many have their gripes, but over the past week I've been testing one of the newer Caller ID apps on the market called "CallApp", while it works very similar to the others, there's a whole lot of added features to it that make it a little different from the rest.

CallApp was designed to quickly identity the source of the calls and notifies you the type of call it is, so you can choose to answer, ignore or even block repeated calls from the same numbers. It's main aim is to protect you from unwanted calls, all while keeping you privacy safe. While the number one annoyance is spam/ telemarketing calls, CallApp also identifies potential Vishing Scams. What is "Vishing"?  It's the fraudulent practice of making phone calls or leaving voice messages purporting to be form of a reputable companies in order to induce individuals to reveal personal information such as your Identity Number, Banking Details, Credit Card numbers and the sorts. It's fast becoming the highest cyber crime with criminals obtaining methods to make the whole experience sound legit. CallApp picks these calls up and identifies them as such with a red colour screen. 

Keeping your privacy safe in this digital age is of utmost importance and hence having tools like CallApp will protect you from these potential threats as they will come when you least expect them, the last thing you want is to be caught off-guard and succumb to one of these criminals and with CallApp identifying the threat before hand, it gives you an advantage over them. CallApp can also assist with getting regular numbers blocked and reported, could be a stalker or a crazy ex, don't stress, CallApp has you covered. Or in the event of you needing to record a call, it has the option on the call screen to start recording at any time you want without having to go into sub-menu's to find the function. 

Another great thing about CallApp is that you can personalize it to suit you, by chosing personalized video ringtones for each contact as well as background and profile pictures. There is even a dark mode setting which switches everything from bright colours over to dark colours which has a less harsh impact on your eyes and lowers battery consumption. Personalisation is even further demonstrated where you can even choose different backgrounds for your dialing pad. There is even an analytics section where you can personalize your date to see how much time you spend on calls, text messages, WhatsApp and other message services. How many times have you received a call but were too busy to answer at the time and said you'd call them back later but forgotten to? I do that quite a lot but with CallApp, it reminds you of calls you missed so you can call them back. As with most applications like this, it creates a profile for you, where you can search for others as well search for places such as restaurants and businesses, CallApp also notifies you if someone has searched and viewed your profile.

 For those that need to keep track of calls received and made, there is a call history back-up where you can choose to back-up your call logs either on Dropbox or Google Drive. CallApp is also available on certain wearables so you don't have to view your phone but rather your smart watch when incoming calls come through. CallApp is available for free on the Google Play Store but with the free version there is a lot of adverts, even voice adverts when making calls which can be annoying, to get the premium CallApp, this removes all adverts from static to voice, but you will get notifications of new features or deals on the CallApp itself. 

Overall experience has been a great one with CallApp, and looking to get the Premium paid version could give you a better user experience that is hassle free and saves you, not only time but your digital safety. 

To download CallApp on your smart phone, follow the link below. 

Google Playstore: CallApp

Bucket Tech: Google Pixel 6

Tuesday evening saw the launch of Googles latest variation of their smart phone the Pixel, it is 6th generation the Pixel is available in a normal and Pro models. While there wasn't as much fanfare about this device as the Apple event the Pixel still remains a key competitor in the European and American markets. Seeing that Googles OS is being used by so many other manufacturers around the globe, them making their own device that is custom made for the OS should be pretty good too? Well lets take a look at what it has to offer. 

The Pixel 6 has a 6.4-inch FHD Plus touch screen with a high refresh-rate display that switches between 90Hz and 60Hz depending on the lighting and what application you're using the device for. The Pixel 6 Pro on the other hand has a larger 6.7-inch QHD LTPO (low temperature polycrystalline oxide) that also has that neat refresh rate trick but adjusts from 10Hz to 120Hz, the Pro's screen also has a curved edge giving that seamless look. The Pixel has always had great cameras , I mean its in the name, and that trend continues with the 6 series, with Google boasting that is the most advanced smartphone camera, the Pixel 6 comes with a dual camera system that includes a 50-megapixel wide lens, 12-megapixel ultrawide lens and Pro has a triple camera system that has the same two lenses as the 6 but with an additional 48-megapixel, 4x optical zoom telephoto camera. The Pixel 6 comes with an 8-megapiel front facing camera with 84-degree field of view that can record 1080p video at 30 frames per second while the Pro has an 11-megapixel selfie camera with a wide 94-degree field of view that can record in 4K at 30fps. 

Looking at battery life, being a 5G supportive device this is crucial in choosing a smartphone, the Pixel 6 comes with a 4,614mAg battery and supports 30W USB C fasting charging but the actual fast charger doesn't come with the device and is sold separately. The Pixel 6 Pro has a slightly larger 5003mAh battery that also supports the 30W fast charging and has fast wireless charging of 23W.  Powering the Pro is an Octa-core CPU with a Google Tensor 5nm chipset, which has a Mali-G78 MP20 GPU. While there is no slot of external memory card as Google is encouraging the use of their cloud services, the devices are available in 128GB, 256GB and 512GB internal storage capacity. The Pixel 6 has the same CPU and Chipset but only available with internal storage up to 256GB.  Both devices are IP68 rated and boast strong build quality with the only difference being that the Pro has Gorilla Glass Victus and the Pixel 6 has Gorilla Glass 6. 

Pricing on the Pixel is fairly competitive to the new Apple iPhone 13 Series with the Pixel 6 128GB coming in at $599, the Pixel Pro 128GB kicks off at $899. Again, highly doubt these devices will make it to South Africa at all but its nice to keep an eye on what Google are getting up to as they are one of the greater used platforms in the local market. 

Bucket Seat: Audi A4 40 TFSI - With Audi Connect

We live in a connected world, with information available at our finger tips thanks to cellular technology, with the addition of 5G communication networks, this information can be accessed even faster from our phones. It's the one device that majority of the population cannot do without, and with good reason to as you can pretty much run a business from one of them, with the phones we use, they learn from us to adapt to their user, they learn where we go, what we watch, what we eat and what we like now what if this same technology was used in the cars we drive? Well, the guys at Audi have been thinking this to and with that have released Audi Connect, it was first introduced in the new A4 which I had the pleasure of spending the festive season with, getting used to not only the car but all the cool new features that it has thanks to Audi Connect. This technology will be rolled out in future models in their range this year but they decided to launch it in the revised A4 sedan which see's a few changes apart from the new 10.1" infotainment touch screen. 

DESIGN

Spending a month with a car rather than a week really helps you appreciate things that you would normally overlook. While many will see this face-lift A4 and say that just the lights are different which is the noticeable difference yes  but there are subtle elements in the design that have enhanced the look of the new A4. The model I had was finished in Terra Grey Metallic, giving it that bronze sheen in the sun but that cool grey look in the shade. With the headlights now conforming to the new design language featuring the sectional L shaped LED running along the top of the unit, the grille has been expanded slightly with a clear visible gap between the bonnet opening and the grille. The fog lamp duct has been enlarged with a more angular design giving the car a sporty, bulk look to the front end that adds to the aggressive look. New 18" cast alloy wheels boosts the cars elegance as you look at the side profile, also the lines tie up well with the new lights which give the design that continuous flow from whichever angle you look at it. Moving to the rear, the reconfiguration of the rear bumper with the reflectors now running parallel to the rear lights as well as a more bulky diffuser setup which enhances the huge exhaust frames which are finished in chrome. The car really does look regal and elegant whether on the move or standing still. 

PERFORMANCE

I think its been enough time since Audi have changed their naming configuration of their engines as even I am now tired of explaining it to people. The 40 TFSI is powered by a 2.0-litre motor which generates 140kW of power and 320Nm of torque. The engine is fused to a 7-speed S tronic gearbox which has paddle shift should the need arise to switch over into manual mode. While this engine performance figures isn't anything to write home about but it does what it is meant to do and with sublime pleasure. The A4 is a family sedan and built for cruising, long distances as well as the everyday commute. The car manages to give you an enjoyable ride day in and day out, also having to spend a longer time with it, got me to appreciate how well it manages fuel, with me only having to fill the car up three times and doing over 2000km with it. Audi's claimed combined consumption is 6.3l per 100km and if given a proper run in, it is very much achievable with this car. Driving long distances with the A4 was nothing short of a pleasure, having done a few trips in excess of 300km with the car, it makes you want to drive more and doesn't give you that feeling of fatigue you normally would associate with long drives. 

COMFORT

To continue from my last point, a lot of that has to do with the level of comfort in the car, Audi have done a brilliant job on the suspension which elevates the ride quality in the cabin for both driver and passengers. The car did come with the comfort package which is a R20,200 extra but includes electric front seats, seat heaters for driver and front passenger, review camera and storage package which includes handy nets in the boot to keep things from rolling around. The car also had Audi's Sport package which included the much loved flat-bottomed multifunction leather steering wheel. The seats themselves were finished off in leather and extremely comfortable. Dual zone climate control for front driver and passenger as well as ducts for the rear passengers ensured the cabin was comfortable for all. The car also came with the upgraded sound option of the Bang & Olufsen Premium package with 3D sound, glass sunroof. 

AUDI CONNECT

So what's the big deal with Audi Connect you may ask? Well as I said at the start, there is a need for us to be more connected in this modern lifestyle, Audi Connect is an innovative connected car technology that provides you with a range of features to help keep you and your Audi Connected, wherever you are. With the aid of the myAudi mobile app which links specifically to your car by means of your driver ID and a code which comes with the car, the app gives you real time vehicle status report, which includes info like whether the car is locked, if anything is left open such as sunroof or doors, fuel level, last service and even gives you the option to unlock or lock the car via the app. It also includes a host of security features such as theft alarm notifications which will come through to the phone should there be a break in or attempt at one, a valet alert should the car venture out of the specific radius that you set it, or if someone else is driving your car, you can set up Geofencing which alerts you when the car is going into areas where you specified it not to be driven and also speed alert should the person driving exceeds the speed you set on the app, all of this done in real time and sends notifications to you immediately via the car which has a built-in sim card which Audi will give buyers the first year free. 

Safety is a major factor as well so the Connect system also has Audi incident assist which activates should there be a collision, with a menu option popping up on the MMI interface giving you the option to call for emergency assistance or roadside assistance. Emergency all, automatically connects to the Audi Emergency Call Center in the event of a major collision, the car will feed the location, direction it was heading in and the number of passengers to the call center.  With the large infotainment screen, it now features the new MMI 2 menu configuration, the navigation is upgraded with Audi Connect to give you live traffic information, alerting you to possible delays and alternative routes should there be an issue on your preferred way. It also gives you the option to view a satellite image instead of the 2D maps, that way letting you see points of interests and landmarks much easier. Another handy feature is a live weather report, which can give you the forecast for the next days based on your location. Overall its a step in the right direction by Audi to bring their cars up to speed and making use of the technology available in making ones driving experience all that much more better. 

VERDICT

It's difficult to fault a car that does everything just about right, the practicality aspect of car like the A4 will forever be needed in the market which is why I have confidence in it surviving the ongoing trend to shift to SUV's. While this car is more molded to family, there's enough in this package to make it great for leisure and business as well. The refinement of the model year on year by the brand just shows the commitment Audi has in bettering their product offering, while changes come in quickly, they're ensuring that the customer doesn't have to wait an extended period to get something that they have now. Which is why launching Audi Connect now, on a face-lift was so significant, it really is a great offering and one I would personally get if I were in the market for a car of this nature. 

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	2.0L Turbo-Petrol
Gear Box	7-speed S Tronic
Torque	320Nm
Power	140kW
Economy	6.3L per 100km
Price	R700,500*

* Price as standard