Trending December 2023 # Google Play Vs. Amazon Vs. Itunes Store: How The Content Stores Stack Up # Suggested January 2024 # Top 19 Popular

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With the upcoming launch of the Nexus Q, which lets you stream Google Play content to your TV or stereo, Google will compete more directly with Amazon and Apple in a media-store melee where price is taking a backseat to how and where consumers can play what they buy.

Apple Has the Most Content

I found, first of all, that Apple continues to have the biggest catalog of music and video offerings–more than 28 million songs and 45,000 for-purchase movies as of April, and more than 85,000 TV episodes as of last October.

Amazon’s MP3 store hosts more than 20 million songs, and an empty search of its Instant Video store indicates that it has more than 52,000 movies. It’s difficult to gauge the number of TV episodes available there; the search shows more than 9000 TV titles, but titles may encompass entire seasons in some instances.

Google is far less specific about the size of its catalog, but it clearly trails the other two. Publicly, Google says only that it has “millions” of songs and “thousands” of movies and TV shows.

Varying Pricing Models

Prices for current releases were the same at all three services: You can rent movies in standard definition for $3.99 each or in high definition for $4.99 each, or you can purchase them for $14.99 (standard def) or $19.99 (high def). In the music markets, current albums go for $10.99 apiece and singles for $1.29 apiece.

Nevertheless, I found considerable variation in the pricing of older movies, TV shows, and music. Google Play, for example, offers a free song every day (presumably to attract you to the store).

Playback Options Differ Amazon Service Available on More Devices

To play videos from Apple’s iTunes store, you need an iOS device–an iPhone, an iPod Touch, an iPad, an Apple TV, or a computer running iTunes. Apple also sells a $39 dock-to-HDMI connector that, in theory, lets you watch iTunes video on a big screen without having to invest in an Apple TV. But user reviews are decidedly mixed on how well it works.

High-Definition Options

Options for high definition (HD) versus standard definition (SD) video vary, based both on device support and licensing considerations. Apple offers all videos in both SD and HD–if such versions are available from the content provider–because the iPad and current iPhones and Apple TV support both.

The Kindle Fire and most Android devices don’t support HD video; however, on the Kindle you can still rent or purchase videos in high def when such versions are available, in case you want to switch to a device that supports HD playback.

Finally, the services have different rules on how many devices you can use to watch media streams or to download content.

In Detail: Amazon Instant Video and Prime Instant Video

Amazon’s focus on selling content as opposed to hardware is obvious in the way it runs its media store. Customers can watch Amazon Instant Video on dozens of supported devices, some of which–including the Kindle Fire, computers, and the XBox 360–let you choose between streaming rental videos and downloading them for offline viewing.

Customers who pay $79 for Amazon’s Prime service, which offers free two-day shipping for all purchases, also get free Prime Instant Video access to streamed versions of some 13,000 movies and TV shows. Again, this service doesn’t work with all Amazon Instant Video-compatible devices–for example, TiVo DVRs don’t support Prime Instant Video.

Amazon does maintain your purchases in a so-called digital locker, however; as a result, if you run out of space and have to delete a downloaded video on, say, a tablet or a DVR, you’ll likely be able to download it again. Amazon says that it can’t guarantee that the content will be available indefinitely, owing to license restrictions “or other reasons.”

Also, you may have to initiate your download online: Though I can buy and download content on my TiVo by going through a registration process and getting a five-digit PIN to punch in whenever I want to approve a purchase, I must go to a Web browser to download items I’ve purchased online, or to retrieve deleted content from my digital locker.

After downloading content to two devices for viewing offline, you must deactivate a license if you later want to download the content to a third device. Freeing up a license can be complicated–the process varies from device to device–and it may involve removing all licensed content, so read the online instructions carefully.

The Kindle Fire doesn’t support HD video, but it gives you the option of purchasing HD content in case you plan to access it later on a high-def screen. In my tests, the Prime Instant Video SD stream for Sabrina ran fairly smoothly, though not without occasional freezing and crashing.

Amazon makes its video content accessible in two formats: H.264/AAC within a .mp4 container, and VC-1/WMV9 within a .wmv container. AAC video is best for Macs, while .wmv is optimized for Windows Media Player.

Amazon handles music differently from video. When you buy music, you can either download it or have it stored online on your Amazon Cloud Drive, so you can stream it from devices with the Amazon Cloud Player. Amazon lets you upload your existing music collection to the Cloud Drive, to a maximum of 5GB of storage–and tunes purchased on Amazon don’t count against that limit.

You can access music on the Cloud Drive from no more than eight registered devices–and Web browsers count toward that total. In fact, if you clear your cache and discard the cookie Amazon gives you, the Cloud Player will count that sam browser as a new one the next time you use it. It’s possible to unregister devices in your account settings, but you must call customer service to get rid of duplicate versions of a browser that count toward the device limit.

Apple iTunes Store: Biggest, But Not Best?

Apple pioneered the online media store when it launched iTunes, and the breadth of its content offerings is unmatched. But the features in the current version–iTunes 10–are starting to look a bit dated.

Otherwise, Apple–the only one of the three stores reviewed here that requires you to install desktop software–treats purchased music and videos fairly consistently. You can store iTunes content online using iCloud and sync it to as many as ten authorized devices, including five computers. De-authorizing a device from within iTunes on a computer is easy.

The New Kid: Google Play

The new kid on the media store block, Google Play doesn’t yet have the volume of content (especially HD movies and TV) or ubiquity of device support enjoyed by its competitors.

Music that you buy from Google Play automatically goes to your online Google Play library, and you can stream it to any Android device or browser. You can also upload up to 20,000 songs from other sources to the library via Google’s free Music Manager software, which makes the service great for streaming your tunes anywhere. But you can stream music to only one device at a time.

You can also opt to download purchased tunes to up to ten authorized computers or Android devices for offline playback. If you run up against the ten-device limit, you can de-authorize a device and then add a new one–but you can’t do this for more than four devices per year.

Download limits are less generous for movies and TV shows: You can download them to only five devices, and you must delete the download on one device if you wish to view it on a sixth screen.

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Netflix Vs Amazon Prime Vs Hulu: Which Is The Best Streaming Service

Netflix vs Amazon Prime Vs Hulu: Which is the best streaming service of 2023 How are Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu, Different?

To set itself apart, each platform offers a unique number of features, as none of the companies can defeat another without staying one step ahead. Hence each of them offers thousands of different titles, program hours and exclusive content in their catalog. This not only confuses the user but also makes it difficult to decide which one to choose.

If you’re trying to decide which one to go with or if it’s your first time with these video streaming services, we’ve listed the pros and cons of these best streaming services that will help you decide which is the right option for you.

Why Choose Netflix

Trial version and Price: Netflix offers a one-month trial version that helps users understand this streaming service. In addition to this, Netflix offers three paid plans starting from $8.99 per month that goes up to $15.99 per month. The price changes depending on the number of devices and type of content you want to watch. Remember Netflix is an ad-free video streaming service. This is where it has an upper hand over Amazon Prime and Hulu.

Compatible Platforms: You can run and use Netflix on PC, laptop, smartphone, tablets, game consoles, smart TVs, Blu-ray players, and streaming media players. Moreover, you can watch Netflix simultaneously on up to four devices at a time depending on the plan you choose.

Why Amazon Prime Video

Trial version and Price: Amazon Prime Video, like Netflix, also offers a one-month trial version. If you purchase Amazon Prime membership you get to enjoy this service along with the Prime Subscription. If you want to watch channels like HBO, Showtime, etc., you can do so by paying an additional monthly charge. Amazon also has exclusive content developed for their users. It is currently not as much as being offered by NetFlix but with the investments in the service by Amazon, it seems that Prime Video will soon catch up with the top players!

Compatible Platforms: Amazon Prime Video is available on PCs, laptops, smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, Blu-ray, streaming media players, and other similar platforms.

Biggest Advantage: The X-ray feature allows you to access an actor’s background information, bio, trivia, music info, and other show-related information. Also, with Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, it is clear that Amazon will continue to invest heavily in the service in the future.

Why Hulu

Trial version and Price: In this section, all three streaming services are the same. Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu all three offer 30 days trial version. Although plan pricing is different. For Hulu, the plan price starts at $5.99 monthly with limited commercials, $11.99 monthly ad-free & $44.95 for Hulu +, Live TV and cloud DVR storage. In this, as add ons you get HBO, Showtime, Cinemax and Starz. Multiple devices can be added but streaming can be done on only one device at a time. (Live TV subscription can be used on 2 machines.)

Compatible Platforms: Hulu is available on PCs, laptops, smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, Blu-ray, streaming media players, and other similar platforms.

Biggest Advantage: Current TV shows are available the next day they are aired. Those who watch a lot of US-based TV, Hulu is the best streaming service.

Still not convinced need more pointers to decide which one is the best streaming service amongst Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Hulu? Worry not we’ve got it covered. Here we have put together a detailed comparison of these services.

Price

Amazon offers two versions of Prime subscription. One is for 119 dollars annually and $13 monthly. In addition to this, students who signup using a valid student email address, need to pay only $59 annually.

The services offered under both versions are the same, you get two-day shipping for free, one day in a few cases, cloud storage, discounted pricing on certain items and most importantly you get access to on-demand video and music streaming. Moreover, you get 4K Ultra HD content with HDR without paying anything extra. Not only this you can share your Amazon Prime account with friends and family.

In comparison to this Netflix offers different subscriptions ranging from $9 to $16 depending on the selected video quality.

In $9 you get Netflix’s one device SD resolution stream service. If you want to use two devices simultaneously, you will need to pay $13 monthly for this streaming service. Whereas to watch 4K Ultra HD content you need to pay $16, in which you can access streaming service on four devices at a time. In addition to this, if you want to watch DVD/Blu-ray quality the price for its streaming will go up.

Hulu, as compared to both streaming services is high on price. For $12 you get Hulu+Live TV.

Those who want to stream 4K without paying the extra price, Amazon is the best and cheapest bet. Moreover, the extra benefits included in Amazon, especially early access to sale, video, and music, are attractive add ons.

Content Library

When we talk about the content library, Amazon is the indisputable winner. As it has the largest collection of content. Wait don’t think Amazon wins the race. There’s a difference between quantity and quality. Anyone can give quantity, but things change when you get both quality and quantity. Amazon fails with a great margin here and Netflix tops both Amazon and Hulu.

Netflix offers popular movies, original series and a lot more that you would like in a streaming service.

Another key point worth paying attention to is the content outside the original shows and movies. Hulu, due to its tie-up with major broadcasters shows the latest series and episodes. But this doesn’t mean it is the best. Amazon offers the same shows without any additional charge. Netflix, on the other hand, is always a season behind.

Amazon is a clear winner, but still, it’s up to the viewer to decide which one is the best streaming service. We put Netflix at the top here as it offers a quality library with the latest and best TV shows, movies, etc. This means Netflix will never run out of shows even if you sit day and night watching shows.

Compatible devices

All three streaming services are compatible with a great number of devices. Netflix is everywhere, even on the TV remote. Hulu and Amazon can also be installed just about everywhere.

Interface and ease of use

Amongst the three streaming services, Netflix has an intuitive interface where finding movies, TV shows, or exclusive content is very simple. It even creates a personalized top picks category on the home screen based on your past viewing pattern. This makes using Netflix on different platforms easy.

Amazon is a new player so it’s learning from its own mistakes and is constantly improving its interface. The plus point for Amazon is you can access Amazon Prime Video directly from the homepage of Amazon. Moreover, if you have Amazon Fire TV stick then it works with it too and you can operate it with voice commands. The new Fire TV Stick 4K allows you to install multiple apps, making it easy to watch the content in the highest quality available across all subscribed services.

On the other hand, Hulu has updated its interface to be used on different devices. It now shows different categories like TV, Movies, Kids Keep Watching, thus making it easy for the user to navigate and use Hulu. Premium channels like HBO and its shows are also highlighted on the home screen. Sometimes this can confuse the user but its quick interface and ability to incorporate premium channels make it win the race in this section.

Congrats Hulu!

Audio and video quality

All three streaming services along with offering 1080p streams, also offer 4K Ultra HD resolution and HDR streaming support. But Netflix charges extra for this, while Amazon Prime Video and Hulu offer 4K for free.

Amazon offers to surround sound content including Dolby Atmos, while Netflix offers selected titles in Dolby Atmos. Things don’t change here, you need to pay extra to access Atmos content on Netflix. Hulu, on the other hand, is limited to stereo sound. In addition to this, Amazon offers 4K, HDR, and offers titles in HDR10+, a real competitor of Dolby Vision.

Amazon Echo Show Vs Amazon Echo: What’s New?

Amazon announced the latest entrant into its line of Alexa enabled smart devices, called the Echo Show. The new device comes in with a lot of familiar features like the Alexa assistant, and all the Skills that go with it, along with a unique feature in the form of a 7-inch touchscreen. The announcement of the new device has left a lot of people wondering what exactly is new with the new device. So, we compared the Amazon Echo Show vs Amazon Echo, and here’s everything that’s new:

Touchscreen

One of the main differentiating factors in the new Echo Show is the presence of a 7-inch touchscreen slapped on the face of the device. This addition offers a host of new interactions that users can now make with the Echo Show, including things like watching YouTube videos, viewing photos, and lyrics for songs being played from Amazon Music. The screen can also be used to check supported, WiFi enabled security cameras and baby monitors.

The Echo Show also supports calling, a feature that’s available for all Echo devices. However, video calls will only be possible on the Echo Show, thanks to the camera on the top of the screen. The Echo Show also supports a new feature called “Drop In”. This is like a video call, except the user doesn’t need to call the recipient, and can just directly access their camera feed. To prevent abuse of this feature, Amazon has included functionality where users can specify which devices can access “Drop In” on their Echo Show.

Camera

Audio: Speakers and Microphone Array

On the microphone side of things, the Amazon Echo has 7 far field microphones, and they work really well in real world scenarios. The Amazon Echo Show, on the other hand, will come with 8 far field microphones, which should offer an even better audio recognition ability in the new device. Whether or not the extra mic adds anything to the real world usage of the Echo Show remains to be seen.

Price

Which One Should You Buy?

While I haven’t used the Amazon Echo Show yet, I do have an idea as to which Alexa device should you go for. Well, if you’re just looking for a smart speaker that can answer queries, keep notes, and control your smart home, the Echo is the better option. However, if you want to stay in touch with your loved ones with video calling, and Drop In, along with the ability to interact with the Echo from a touchscreen, the Echo Show is definitely the device you should get.

SEE ALSO: 10 Cool Amazon Echo Alternatives You Can Use

Amazon Echo Show vs Amazon Echo: Two Very Different Alexa Devices

There is no doubt that both the Amazon Echo, and the Echo Show are great devices. They’re capable of streaming music, finding recipes, controlling our smart homes, and answering queries. They have (at least the Echo surely does) great sounding speakers that can definitely work for your next party, and with the Echo Show, you can make standard and video calls, without having to pay for anything because the Echo uses your WiFi connection to connect the call.

The Amazon Echo is available right now, and is priced at $179.99 (on sale for $149.99). The Echo Show, on the other hand, is currently in the pre-order stage, and will be only available in the US to start with. The Echo Show is priced at $229.99, and will begin shipping by June 28.

Google Nexus 7 Vs The Ipad

Google Nexus 7 vs the iPad

It’s time for the inevitable comparison between the newest tablet on the market, the Google Nexus 7, and the dominant device in this category: the iPad. While the comparison might seem like the obvious thing to do, it’s much more sensible to compare to the Amazon Kindle Fire – and before we get too deep into the specifications on either end, you need to know: Google is in a much better position right this second than Amazon. While the Kindle Fire has been a relatively giant force on the market over this past holiday season, it’s had nothing on the iPad’s market share in the entire time it’s been on the market. As for the Nexus 7, you’ve got a beast that’s ready and willing to be a competitor for both tablets.

The Google Nexus 7 is a tiny little beast of a tablet – where the iPad is an iconic piece of machinery, the Nexus 7 seems to be a bit more of a solid set of elements pounded together with a hammer into a device that’s meant to be perfect for the several specific purposes it was made for. The Nexus 7 was made to be a device with which you download and consume media from the Google Play store – movies, television shows, music, books, and magazines – and of course games. The iPad, on the other hand, was made to be a companion for you in all situations where the iPhone is too small.

As far as a simple specs comparison, you’ve go the following. And keep in mind we’re using the 3rd Generation iPad, aka the Retina Display iPad:

Screen Size: iPad 9.7-inch 2048 x 1536 pixel LED-backlit IPS (264 ppi) / Nexus 7 7-inch 1280 x 800 pixel LED-backlit IPS (216 ppi)

Device Size: 7.31″ x 9.5″ x 0.37″ / 7.8″ x 4.72″ x 0.41″

Processor: Apple A5X / NVIDIA Tegra 3

Cameras: 5-megapixel iSight camera, VGA front-facing camera / 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera

Connectivity: AT&T and Verizon 4G LTE, Wi-fi / Wi-fi only (at the moment)

Internal Storage Size: 16, 32, 64GB / 8GB, 16GB

Battery: 11666 mAh / 4325 mAh

Media: iTunes Store / Google Play Store

Color Options: White, Black / White/Black combo, Black

Additional elements:

iPad: Bluetooth 4.0, 30-pin dock connector port, accelerometer, magnetometer, ambient light sensor, gyroscope, GPS, AirPlay mirroring to Apple TV.

Nexus 7: Bluetooth 4.0, MicroUSB connector port, accelerometer, magnetometer, ambient light sensor, gyroscope, GPS, NFC.

Both of these devices have been pushed as heroes for their respective pusher’s app and media stores, and both devices are certainly going to get their fair share of 3rd party accessory support (if they haven’t already.) The Nexus 7 has the bonus – if you can call it that – of having several hardware/software companies with vested interests in its success: Google, ASUS, and NVIDIA. The iPad, on the other hand, has quite a few 3rd party supporters, with developers aiming apps at the one device specifically as well as Apple’s attention squared solely upon it for its software.

The price is going to be a giant factor for you if you plan on heading out to purchase a tablet today. The starting price of the Nexus 7 is just $199 while the iPad, in the iteration we’re looking at here and above, starts at $499. The iPad is an iPad, and there’s no replacement for that. The Nexus 7, also, is the only Google tablet in the position that it’s in at the moment as well with the backing of three companies in the way you’re seeing this week, and having a real push from Google (as heard in the keynote today – see our I/O 2012 portal for more) for hacking.

Have a peek at the photos and video above and below for a bit more hands-on action and be sure to let us know what you think of this battle asap! Also hit up our Android portal and Apple portal for the most awesome portal battle of all!

Google Nexus 5X Vs Nexus 6P

Our Verdict

With the Nexus 6P winning every category here, you might think it is clearly the better phone. However, there’s a lot to be said for the smaller, lighter design and cheaper price of the Nexus 5X. These phones appeal to two different markets. If you want a good all-rounder that’s not too expensive and not too big then go for the Nexus 5X. If you demand ultimate performance and the latest technology then the Nexus 6P is your only choice.

Last night Google unveiled two new Google Android phones, the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P, but how do you know which is for you? Here we examine the key differences between Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P to help you decide. (For more detail see our Nexus 5X review and Nexus 6P review.)

What’s the difference between Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P? Price

As we’ll see below, the Nexus 6P is a better-specified phone than the Nexus 5X, and therefore costs more. The Nexus 5X costs £339 (16GB, £379 32GB) from the Google Store, while the Nexus 6P is priced at £449 (32GB; £499 64GB; £579 128GB) at the Google Store.

Both phones are available to pre-order now and will ship in October. For more info on the release date see Nexus 6P UK release date, price, new features and specs.

What’s the difference between Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P? Manufacturer

Both phones are part of Google’s Nexus line-up, but Google doesn’t actually make the hardware. We have LG to thank for the Nexus 5X, and Huawei for the Nexus 6P.

What’s the difference between Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P? Design

Given the above, it’s no surprise that the Nexus 5X and 6P are different in their design. The Nexus 5X is plastic, but with a matt finish that feels good in the hand. Meanwhile, the premium Nexus 6P has a metal anodised aluminium unibody chassis and a slightly different camera setup at the rear.

Whereas the Nexus 5X’s camera is centred toward the top of the device and juts out a little, Huawei’s Nexus Camera sits in a slightly raised bar at the top of the phone. Both feature a Nexus logo and circular fingerprint scanner on the rear.

The colours in which these phones are available also differ. The Nexus 5X comes in Carbon (black), Quartz (white) and Ice (blue), while the Nexus 6P is either Aluminium (silver), Graphite (black) or Frost (white).

What’s the difference between Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P? Size

The Nexus 5X is smaller and lighter than the Nexus 6P, and as we’ll get on to next it also has a smaller screen.

The 5X measures 147×72.6×7.9mm and weighs 136g, while the slimmer but taller Nexus 6P measures 159.3×77.8×7.3mm and weighs 178g.

What’s the difference between Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P? Screen

The screen on the Nexus 5X is not only smaller than that of the Nexus 6P, at 5.2- against 5.7in, but also lower in resolution. LG has plumped for a full-HD panel with a 1920×1080-pixel resolution and 423ppi pixel density, while Huawei’s squeezed in a super-high-resolution Quad-HD AMOLED panel with 2560×1440 pixels and 518ppi density. Also see: Best smartphones 2023.

Both phones feature a fingerprint-and smudge-proof oleophobic coating, but while the Nexus 5X is fitted with protective Gorilla Glass 3, the Nexus 6P goes one better with Gorilla Glass 4.

What’s the difference between Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P? Core hardware & performance

It’s impossible for us to say for sure without having had both devices in our lab, but with its more powerful hardware the Nexus 6P really should be the stronger performer, even despite its larger, higher-resolution screen.

The Nexus 5X is fitted with the same hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor as seen in the LG G4, here clocked at 1.8GHz, while the Nexus 6P gets the second-generation Snapdragon 810 octa-core chip introduced by the OnePlus 2. It runs at a higher clock speed of 2GHz, too.

What’s more, while the Nexus 5X gets 2GB of DDR3 RAM, the Nexus 6P gets 3GB of DDR4 RAM. And graphics are improved, too, with Adreno 418 in the 5X and Adreno 430 in the 6P. Also see: What’s the fastest phone 2023?

What’s the difference between Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P? Storage

Neither Nexus phone comes with support for microSD, which means you’ll have to carefully choose your storage option. If you require a lot of storage then the 6P will be the Nexus for you, available with 32-, 64- or 128GB of storage, while the Nexus 5X comes in only 16- and 32GB storage options.

What’s the difference between Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P? Battery

Given its larger size, more powerful hardware and higher-resolution screen, it’s no surprise that the Nexus 6P has a higher-capacity battery – 3450mAh versus 2700mAh. Both support fast charging, and in a 10-minute charge Google says you’ll get up to 3.8 hours use on the Nexus 5X, or 7 hours on the Nexus 6P.

Once we get these phones into our lab we’ll be able to see exactly how the different capacities and hardware affect battery life.

What’s the difference between Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P? Selfie cameras

At the front of each new Nexus phone is a selfie camera. Both are very decent, but the Nexus 6P’s version can capture more megapixels – 8Mp rather than 5Mp in the Nexus 5X. It has a f/2.4 aperture (f/2.0 in the 5X) and can record HD video at 30fps; both feature 1.4um pixels.

What’s the difference between Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P? Audio

Both Nexus phones have front-facing speakers for audio, but whereas the Nexus 6P has a dual-speaker setup the Nexus 5X has just the one speaker.

Each phone also features three mics, although they are found in different postions. On the Nexus 6P two are at the front and one is at the rear, while the Nexus 5X sees them situated front, top and bottom.

Nexus 5X vs Nexus 6P poll

So what’s the same on Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P?

Surprisingly, not that much. Both are Nexus phones, and thus they run a vanilla version of Android 6.0 Marshmallow and will always be among the first devices to receive new operating system updates. Also see: Nexus 6 vs Nexus 6P.

The rear-facing Nexus Camera is the same on both phones, and each benefits from the faster Google Camera app. This is a 12.3Mp camera with 1.55um pixels, f/2.0 aperture, IR laser-assisted autofocus, support for 4K video recording at 30fps and a dual-LED flash.

Connectivity is the same also. You’ll get Cat 6 4G LTE (with a single Nano-SIM slot), dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, NFC, GPS and GLONASS, and a digital compass. As for ports, expect a 3.5mm headphone jack and USB-C whichever Nexus phone you buy.

Both phones come with a 90-day free trial of Google Play Music and, as we’ve mentioned above, each has a rear-mounted circular fingerprint scanner, too.

Read next: Best new phones coming in 2023/2023.

Follow Marie Brewis on Twitter.

Specs Google Nexus 5X: Specs

Android 6.0 Marshmallow

5.2in Full HD screen

Qualcomm Snapdragon 808, six-core processor

2GB RAM

16/32GB storage

12.3Mp rear camera with dual-tone LED

5Mp front camera

Fingerprint scanner

NFC

11ac Wi-Fi

Bluetooth 4.2

2700mAh battery

7.9mm

136g

Comment: Epic Vs. Apple Case Reveals How Hollow Tvos And Watchos App Stores Are

Without entering into the subject of this court case, it’s fascinating to learn more about Apple App Stores numbers. While over 500 people review 100,000 apps per week, we have learned that the majority of the apps reviewed are iPhone apps.

Analyzing numbers from the week of November 16 of 2023, there’s a big discrepancy in iOS numbers over tvOS and macOS numbers:

58,875 iPhone apps were submitted, 15,069 were new apps

681 Mac apps were submitted, 152 were new apps

142 Apple TV apps were submitted, 27 were new apps

Only 73 new apps for watchOS were submitted this week, for example, which shows that apart from the iPhone and iPad App Store, there’s not much to find on other Apple stores.

According to these numbers Apple shared in this case, in 2023, there were 10,009 tvOS apps available and 27,240 macOS apps available in its stores, while more than one million apps were available on the iPhone/iPad App Store.

These numbers mean at least two things: the iPhone is Apple’s biggest hit, and developers are not willing to create apps for tvOS and watchOS.

What happened to tvOS and watchOS App Stores?

When Apple launched the fourth-generation Apple TV and its App Store, it was a chance for the company to promote the Apple TV as a console device-like. The problem was some limitations the company imposed for developers. Here’s what Apple demanded from developers in 2023:

Requirements for Games That Support Game Controllers

Apple has created specific requirements you must follow for any game that supports game controllers. These requirements are designed to make sure that games are always playable.

Your game must support the Apple TV remote. Your game may not require the use of a controller.

tvOS games that support controllers must support the extended control layout. All controllers for tvOS are nonformfitting extended controllers.

Games must be playable using standalone controllers. If you support an extended controller, the game must be playable solely with that controller.

You must support the pause button. All controllers include a pause button. When gameplay is active, pressing the pause button should pause gameplay. When the game is not being played, such as when you are at a menu screen, the pause button moves to a previous screen of content.

This changed a year later, but since the Apple TV was never a hit, the developers probably just didn’t think it was worth the effort creating an entire app for Apple’s set-top-box.

In Apple Watch’s case, developers usually say the WatchKit SDK is limited and many native Apple Watch apps use private APIs that other apps can’t access to offer the same experience. Over the years, Apple improved the experience to develop for watchOS, but many developers who bet on the platform in the early days, never develop for the Watch again.

In 2023, for example, Instagram was one of the many apps that were pulled out from the Apple Watch App Store as Apple required native apps in updates:

As of 2023, Spotify is one of the few apps that are back to the Watch App Store, but it’s still less efficient than the Apple Music Watch app.

Wrap-up

The Epic vs. Apple case will follow for another two weeks, as we expect to learn more about Apple’s structure. It’s also interesting to see the company’s effort in the past three years to make developers continue to create apps through all its Apple Stores.

It was also in 2023, at WWDC, the company introduced the Catalyst project to help developers make their iOS apps compatible with the Mac. Since then, Apple released more Apple Watch APIs for developers as well the ability to create its own custom — although still limited — Watch Faces.