Amazon Black Friday Deals – My Top Picks on Friday 16th November 2018

Amazon

Black Friday Deals. These are my top picks for today. I have also noticed that it is worth searching for items you might normally buy, as I discovered that my brand of dog food had been heavily reduced, but was not in the actual Black Friday Sale listings. I just saved £50 of dog food today.

50% off Amazon Echo Dot https://amzn.to/2PYVtjq

38% off Amazon Fire TV Stick https://amzn.to/2DKYw9c

39% off Amazon Echo Smart Speaker https://amzn.to/2K8z4uP

29% off Drones from Parrot and PowerVision https://amzn.to/2zfQaT7

Deal of the Day – Fitbit Charge 2 £74.99 , several colours https://amzn.to/2PZSNlt

68% off Oral B Genuis Electric Toothbrush https://amzn.to/2Pw5vcw

Lightning deal price – Finish Dishwasher Tablets, All in 1 Max Lemon, 90-Count https://amzn.to/2zWiR79

49% off Philips Lumea Prestige IPL Hair Removal Device for Total Body & Face https://amzn.to/2zXiitS

40% off LEGO including Friends, Star Wars, Technic and more https://amzn.to/2OGM9fr

Up to 50% off Barbie, Enchantimals, Sylvanian Families and more https://amzn.to/2K64C4c

Up to 50% off Melissa and Doug pretend play, wooden toys and more https://amzn.to/2zbW1sO

Up to 47% off Philips Hue lighting https://amzn.to/2K85PrN

Up to 30% off TVs https://amzn.to/2QO18G3

Up to 25% off PC Monitors including Samsung, Dell, LG and more https://amzn.to/2Pwpacl

Up to 25% off laptops https://amzn.to/2DGOcyR

Up to 30% off Smartphones from Xiaomi, OnePlus, Honor, Sony and more https://amzn.to/2K8Kb6O

Up to 35% off bluetooth headphones https://amzn.to/2QHqHbL

27% off WD External drives https://amzn.to/2zZFojh

Up to 40% off Sony Cameras https://amzn.to/2QHW6Ln

Black Friday deal on Playstation Plus 12 Month membership https://amzn.to/2OMR91W

Black Friday deals on Playstation VR consoles bundles https://amzn.to/2DHm2UK

Up to 35% off Buffalo Trace, Grey Goose and more spirits https://amzn.to/2PX7xBT

46% off Kärcher Window Vac WV5 Premium incl. Accessories, Window cleaner for Windows, Tiles, Shower & Cabinets and Exchangeable Battery https://amzn.to/2Q0LMB7

These deals will be updated throughout the day and each day of the Amazon Black Friday sale. Link to all the Black Friday deals https://amzn.to/2OOydA2 .

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Pixel 3 Camera Review with 40 amazing photos!

Android, Photography, Reviews, Tech News

Welcome to my Pixel 3 Camera Review.

For this review I have focused on the photo quality as this is the Pixel 3 forte.

The Pixel 3 or 3 XL feature a camera that in auto mode delivers a good photo pretty much every time. Video quality is good but Google decided not to include 4K 60fps. Also the video audio quality is sub par compared to its major competitors like the iPhone Xs, Samsung Note 9 and Huawei Mate 20 Pro.

The Pixel 3 manages to use its single rear lens to great effect but ultimately the super res zoom cannot compensate for proper optical zoom. It also is competing in a world where phones are having 3 or more lenses on the rear which translates into extreme flexibility.

Despite this, for portrait/people shots it really performs exceptional well. Take a look at the video review. There is a front camera shot at night. The level of detail was astonishing. The front cameras include a normal and wide lens to allow you to get more people or more of the background in the shot.

The Pixel 3 Camera also takes shots with fantastic detail and dynamic range. The new night sight mode turns darkness into daylight.

Pixel 3 Camera Review

Conclusion

If you predominantly take photos, you cannot go wrong with the Pixel 3 or Pixel 3 XL.

Pixel 3 / 3 XL cases on Amazon UK

Huawei Mate 20 Pro Review vs iPhone Xs/Xr, Samsung Note 9 and Pixel 3 XL

Android, Reviews, Tech News, , ,

The Huawei Mate 20 Pro review. This is my review after using the phone for one month.

Key Features

The Huawei Mate 20 Pro features the new Kirin 980 7nm chipset, with its dual NPU. This is so important as it ups what’s possible in the photography field, but does this translate into video as well? More in my video review below. The video options extend to some flashy Video AI options eg Video AI colour which keeps the person(s) in colour and everything else in black and white.

In terms of connectivity, the phone has Cat 21, that’s 1.4 Gigabits per second. The latest Bluetooth 5 is now included with the respective codecs. the Mate 20 Pro has a huge 4,200 maH battery. Not only that it has “Reverse Wireless Charging” – a first for a phone to share power wirelessly.

Unlike Apple, Huawei include a supercharger in the box. This is the new 40Watts supercharger that can recharge the huge battery to 70% in just 30 mins. Qi Wireless is now included at 15 watts which is double the industry standard. Both charging methods have been safety certified by independent company.

The Mate 20 Pro is all about its camera and I am sure that is what you are all most interested in. Co-engineered with Leica and taken up to the next level. On board is a 40mp RGB f/1.8 lens, 8mp telephoto with OIS, 20mp f/2.2 ultra wide sensor, dual tone flash. As the main sensor is so good now, there is no need for the monochrome sensor. Front camera is 24mp fixed focus.

The Mate 20 Pro features new photo AI modes. Super macro gets as close as 2.5cm from subject. On the P20 Pro, it could identify 500 scenes and scenarios, but now with dual NPU that has risen to 1,500. The AI knows how to keeps the right stuff in focus too. There is so much to cover on the cameras, so I have created to separate videos so far on the camera. See below.

Part 1 – Camera Review includes the Camera App UI with explanations, tips and tricks and sample footage from all modes

Part 2 – Based on new firmware, another look at the video improvements and new features

Security has been improved with a new 3D Facial dot matrix unlock. It can be used to secure information on the device as well. An under the screen finger print sensor is also included. Huawei’s backup now extends to NAS systems for extra versatility.

Moving over to productivity, you can now print seamlessly to a wifi printers. PC Desktop mode is now wireless enabled using a miracast enabled screen/TV. This also means you can use desktop mode indepently of the phone.

The design of the phone and camera setup is distinctive and easily identifiable. It has glass with a textured pattern to aid grip, resists fingerprints. Beautiful and practical. It is also IP68.

The sound and audio functionality of the Mate 20 Pro has been improved with some neat tricks. Below is an in depth look at the speakers, bluetooth, USB C earphones and more, plus some headphone recommendations.

Main Review

Let’s move to the main review now, where I will cover off all my key findings and recommendations after using the phone for a month.

Conclusion

The Huawei Mate 20 Pro is a fabulous phone from Huawei feature packed to the gills with technology and innovation.

Huawei Mate 20 Pro on Amazon UK

Huawei Mate 20 Pro Audio Review – Bluetooth, Loudspeaker, USB C Earphones, DACs & Dongles

Android, Audio, Reviews, Tech News, ,

Welcome to my Huawei Mate 20 Pro Audio review. This review looks at the audio quality covering bluetooth, loudspeaker, the included USB C earphones and USB C to 3.5mm dongle, using other USB C dongles and DACs and which headphones are best.

Key Audio Features

– 32-bit/384kHz audio
– Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic
– Bluetooth 5.0, BLE, SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, LDAC and HWA Audio
– USB 3.1, Type-C 1.0 reversible connector, USB On-The-Go
– DivX/XviD/MP4/H.265/WMV player
– MP3/eAAC+/WMA/WAV/FLAC player

So how does all the above specs translate into audio quality. Lets take a close up look now.

If you wish to get a Huawei Mate 20 Pro and all accessories, check out the options on Amazon UK

Huawei Mate 20 Pro Camera Review – all modes photos & videos

Android, Photography, Reviews, Tech News

Welcome to my Huawei Mate 20 Pro Camera Review. In this review I have tested all the photo and video modes, explained the camera app interface and UI, sort of a mini tutorial, plus you get to see what the max resolutions are per mode.

So what lenses does the Mate 20 Pro have? 4 in total. 3 rear lenses, a 40mp main sensor, a 20mp ultra wide and a 8mp telephoto lens. The front camera is 24mp. The camera system is co-engineered with Leica.

Below are some photos from the camera.

A very windy day, but I still managed a close up of a bee feeding.

With the sun behind the church entrance, the ultra wide lens created a lovely effect.

My camera review includes shots of the moon, high action, pitch black, low light, all video modes, Video AI, stabilisation tests, zoom tests and much much more, plus my honest verdict on the whole phone from just a camera point of view, and then compared to the iPhone Xs Max and Note 9.

Of course, the Mate 20 Pro has many other unique or great features, like fast wireless charge, reverse wireless charging and did you know the bottom speaker is integrated into the USB C port!

The Main Event

Get the Huawei Mate 20 Pro and all accessories on Amazon UK.

Huawei Watch GT – First Impressions incl Full Walkthrough of UI

Reviews, Tech News, Wearables, ,

Welcome to my First Impressions and Hands on with the Huawei Watch GT.

The Huawei Watch GT compliments Huawei’s wearable family. It runs Huawei’s own operating system, Lite OS. The Watch GT is an extension of Huawei eco system.

With the Watch GT, Huawei wanted to create something similar to Garmin and Fitbit. However, they also wanted the watch to look like a sports watch.

Some of the feature highlights includes a superb battery life. It has the potential for 22 hours with continuous everything. This is with GPS on and continuous heart rate monitoring. More realistic and what most people will achieve is up to 2 weeks with general usage. Or if you restrict the background activities the battery will last up to 30 days.

Apart from Huawei using their own OS, it also has their own chipset with a low and high power core, which will kick into action, depending on what’s needed by the user. Some of the fitness features include real time performace when running, a heart rate system now uses a 6 system light system to read heart rate. It uses the sensors and AI to understand where the watch is precisely placed on your wrist to give you more accurate readings. GPS location is derived via 3 different GPS systems to help triangulate more accurate and faster tracking. The Huawei Watch GT also includes an altimeter.

In terms of compatibility, the Huawei Watch is compatible with iOS and android. Data is synced and displayed using the updated Huawei Health app.

Huawei Watches on Amazon UK

Huawei Mate 20 Pro vs Huawei Mate 20 – The Visual Differences

Android, Tech News

Huawei has just announced several new smartphones. So let’s take a look at the differences between the Huawei Mate 20 Pro and the standard Mate 20.

First up the standard Mate 20 has a wider body. It also lacks a notch as it doesn’t have the Dot Matrix Face Unlock system that the Mate 20 Pro includes.

Eagle eyed people will also notice the standard Mate 20 has a headphone jack.

Not shown, but both feature the same look/design of rear camera configurations, but the Mate 20 Pro comes with a superior configuration.

So which do you prefer? The Huawei Mate 20 or Mate 20 Pro?

Huawei Mate 20 Pro – First Impressions plus Camera UI & Samples

Android, Reviews, Tech News

The Huawei Mate 20 Pro is the new flagship phone from Huawei. I am very excited about this new phone, having spent some early access time using it.

Key Features

First up it features the new Kirin 980 7nm chipset, with its dual NPU. This is so important as it ups what’s possible in the photography field. Now the Huawei Mate 20 Pro can recognise the skeleton form of a human being, not just photos, but in videos in precise detail. This means it can optomise parts of images live even during video. See my video below with the sample of Video AI colour.

In terms of connectivity, the phone has Cat 21, that’s 1.4 Gigabits per second. The latest Bluetooth 5 is now included with the respective codecs.

What’s a phone without a decent battery? Well the Mate 20 Pro has a huge 4,200 maH battery. Not only that it has “Reverse Wireless Charging” – a first for a phone to share power wirelessly.

Unlike Apple, Huawei include a supercharger in the box. This is the new 40Watts supercharger that can recharge the huge battery to 70% in just 30 mins. Qi Wireless is now included at 15 watts which is double the industry standard. Both charging methods have been safety certified by independent company.

The Mate 20 Pro is all about its camera and I am sure that is what you are all most interested in. Co-engineered with Leica and taken up to the next level. On board is a 40mp RGB f/1.8 lens, 8mp telephoto with OIS, 20mp f/2.2 ultra wide sensor, dual tone flash. As the main sensor is so good now, there is no need for the monochrome sensor.

The Mate 20 Pro features nNw photo AI modes. Super macro gets as close as 2.5cm from subject. On the P20 Pro, it could identify 500 scenes and scenarios, but now with dual NPU that has risen to 1,500. The AI knows how to keeps the right stuff in focus too. There is so much to cover on the cameras, so much so, I will be creating two special posts.

The AI now extends to video with special video modes eg AI Colour video. This keeps the person in colour while the res of video is in black and white.

Security has been improved with a new 3D Facial dot matrix unlock. It can be used to secure information on the device as well. An under the screen finger print sensor is also included. Huawei’s backup now extends to NAS systems for extra versatility.

Moving over to productivity, you can now print seamlessly to a wifi printers. PC Desktop mode is now wireless enabled using a miracast enabled screen/TV. This also means you can use desktop mode indepently of the phone.

The design of the phone and camera setup is distinctive and easily identifiable. It has glass with a textured pattern to aid grip, resists fingerprints. Beautiful and practical. It is also IP68.

Accessories

Huawei are bringing a selection of cases with the new phones as well as the new fast 15w Qi charger.

First Impressions

Conclusion

I am genuinely bowled over by the Huawei Mate 20 Pro and can’t wait to explore if further!

Huawei Mate 20 Pro on Amazon UK

Shot on the iPhone Xs Max – My Top 15 Photos from the camera

Apple, Photography, Tech News, ,

After a few weeks, below are my favourite and top photos that I have taken with the iPhone Xs Max.

Apple released the iPhone Xs Max a few weeks ago. Smart HDR was one of the new camera features introduced which takes multiple shots and merges the best components of each, to create one amazing shot.

Then there is the new A12 Bionic processor that helps with the computational photography aspects.

The results from the Xs Max have really surprised me. The quality leap forward from previous iPhones in very noticeable. Even from the iPhone X.

The Smart HDR even allows shooting into the sun and producing a decent result.

The Xs Max have larger pixels than the X at 1.4 microns on the main sensor. This helps with low light and detail.

Another aspect of the iPhone Xs Max Camera that I have noticed is it’s speed to take a shot. It’s instant.

Talking of speed, holding the shutter button activates burst mode. Did you know you can take 999 shots in a single burst.

With each burst, I noticed how every shot was in focus and perfectly exposed as well.

Portrait mode has improved too.

Of course, portrait mode can be used in many different scenarios.

With the Xs Max, the telephoto lens can help get some great macros.

And even without the telephoto you can get some great close up pics.

I really love how the camera captures sunsets and sunrises.

In addition, if you edit the photos in the iOS Photos app, there are some lovely filters available.

Video has also been improved on the Xs Max. The iPhone Xs Max is one amazing camera. And so easy to use and reliable.

iPhone Xs Max Camera Review & Showcase

Apple, Photography, Reviews, Tech News,

Imagine taking just your iPhone Xs Max with you, filming video and taking lots of photos.

Then using all the video and photos and being able to create, edit and upload a video without ever using another device.

Well what you are about to watch was produced completely on the iPhone Xs Max, edited, and then uploaded.

For video editing, Luma Fusion app was used.

Headphones are recommended.

Apple iPhone XS – What’s in the Box? Details of everything included

Tech News

In case you’re wondering what’s in the box of the Apple iPhone Xs and Xs Max , I can confirm it includes an awful lot of goodies. So what does Apple include?

Below is the full list of what is included –

– iPhone Xs or Xs Max with iOS 12

– EarPods with Lightning Connector

– Lightning to USB Cable

– USB Power Adapter – this isn’t a fast charger adapter

– Documentation which includes an Apple sticker

– There is no 3.5mm to Lightning Headphone Adapter included

iPhone Xs Max First Impressions + Camera

Apple, Reviews, Tech News

Welcome to my first impressions of the iPhone Xs Max.

Before I get to my first impressions, I came across a little gem of a case that got delivered yesterday by DPD. It’s a silicone style case that’s a copy of Apple’s own silicone case except it has protection on the bottom edge, whereas Apple’s own design is exposed. It also costs £40 less. MoKu Case

The new iPhone Xs Max in theory is just a minor update to last years X. In fact with Apple supporting iPhones up to 5 years old currently, there’s no excuse to upgrade unless you’re on a iPhone 6.

However, the new A12 Bionic processor, iOS 12, larger full screen with gestures, enhanced stereo speakers, stereo video recording and more, the iPhone Xs Max could be something special which I’ll cover off in my full review.

I’ll say this now. The camera kicks ar*e. And is substantially better than last years X in every mode.

Yamaha MusicCast 50 Wireless Multiroom Speaker with Amazon Alexa & AirPlay – Unboxing & First Impressions

Audio, Reviews, Tech News

Welcome to my unboxing and first impressions of the Yamaha MusicCast 50 wireless speaker with Amazon Alexa voice control built in. The Yamaha MusicCast 50 retails for around £449.

The MusicCast 50 offers a wide range of options to listen to your favourite sounds with ease. It can be used as a standalone speaker, paired, or acting as surround speakers with a compatible MusicCast AV receiver or sound bar. The MusicCast 50 is one of the new speakers from Yamaha released in August 2018. Other features include –

– Music streaming services built-in
– MusicCast multi-room technology
– Alexa voice control compatibility* (*Availability varies by region)
– High-Resolution Audio
– Connect to a TV for upgraded sound
– Stereo pairing (requires 2 units)
– Ability to be used as surround speakers with an AV receiver or sound bar* (*Select MusicCast models only)
– Soft-touch, simple presets for instant playback
– Alarm

Built in streaming services include Spotify, Deezer, Tidal, Pandora, Napster, SiriusXM and qobuz. Apart from the multi-room options, Yamaha provide an app that allows full control of the speaker, its nultiroom options and more. MusicCast takes the headache out of multi-room audio. Simply connect all MusicCast devices to the same network and start sharing audio throughout the home. Apart from built in WiFi, it has bluetooth and Apple AirPlay. With all this functionlity, this really makes this speaker a great offering. It also puts out a respectable 70W of music.

Video

Conclusion

The Yamaha MusicCast 50 is an extremely powerful wireless speaker. It is extremely versatile too offering tons of different ways to connect to it, Amazon Alexa voice control, bluetooth and AirPlay. It is also available in black and white finishes.

Buy from Amazon UK – Click HERE.

Huawei Mate 20 Lite – Tips and Tricks plus Camera

Android, Reviews, Tech News, ,

Welcome to my Huawei Mate 20 Lite Tips and Tricks plus Camera.

Key Specs

– Dimensions 158.3 x 75.3 x 7.6mm
– Weight 172g
– 6.3 inch IPS display, resolution 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio, 409 ppi density
– EMUI 8.2 ,Android 8.1 (Oreo)
– Chipset Hisilicon Kirin 710
– Internal 64 GB, 4/6 GB RAM
– Rear AI Camera Dual lesnes, 20 MP, f/1.8, PDAF + 2 MP, depth sensor
– Front AI Selfie CAMERA Dual lenses, 24 MP + 2 MP, depth sensor
– 3.5mm jack
– Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic
– NFC Yes
– Radio FM radio
– USB 2.0, Type-C 1.0 reversible connector
– Sensors – Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass
– Battery – Non-removable Li-Ion 3750 mAh battery

The Huawei Mate 20 Lite features automatic AI beautification. This makes your selfies stand out and is achieved as the front-facing camera has a 24 MP lense + 2 MP lens that provides the bokeh. The AI optimises the photo based on eight scene categories to capture a stunning selfie.

In addition, AI-enhanced HDR technology allows for real-time previews of HDR images and video recordings, delivering true colour images and vivid recordings even in backlit environments.

Fancy a bit of fun, You can animate yourself with AI-powered 3D Qmojis that recognise and imitate your facial expressions, movements, and voice. Create personalised Qmoji GIFs and videos for easy social media sharing. I had a blast using these features.

The rear 20 MP + 2 MP dual-camera with f/1.8 aperture allows for creative flair to be achieved for your photos with optical bokeh. The AI provides 22 categories of object and scene recognition–based optimisations that make your photos look more professional.

Slow motion. No problem. Slow down time with 16x Slow-Mo, at 480 frame per second, in 720p resolution.

The Huawei Mate 20 Lite has a 3750 mAh battery with HUAWEI Quick Charge helping keep you on the move. All phones should have decent sized batteries like the Mate 20 Lite.

When it comes to the essentials of connectivity, the Adaptive AI-driven connectivity cleverly adjusts to your environment to keep you in touch. Elevator mode quickly recovers 4G signal and optimises network performance, while HUAWEI GEO provides more accurate positioning service and improves performance even in tunnels. AI also optimises ambient noise cancellation in loud and windy environments.

Video

Huawei Mate 20 Lite latest pricing on Amazon UK – Click HERE.

Yamaha MusicCast 20 Wireless Speaker with Amazon Alexa & AirPlay – Unboxing & First Impressions

Audio, BlackBerry, Reviews, Tech News

Welcome to my unboxing and first impressions of the Yamaha MusicCast 20 wireless speaker with Amazon Alexa voice control built in. The Yamaha MusicCast 20 retails for around £199.

The MusicCast 20 offers a wide range of options to listen to your favourite sounds with ease. It can be used as a standalone speaker, paired, or acting as surround speakers with a compatible MusicCast AV receiver or sound bar. The MusicCast 20 is one of the new speakers from Yamaha released in August 2018. Other features include –

– Music streaming services built-in
– MusicCast multi-room technology
– Alexa voice control compatibility* (*Availability varies by region)
– High-Resolution Audio
– Stereo pairing (requires 2 units)
– Ability to be used as surround speakers with an AV receiver or sound bar* (*Select MusicCast models only)
– Soft-touch, simple presets for instant playback
– Alarm

Built in streaming services include Spotify, Deezer, Tidal, Pandora, Napster, SiriusXM and qobuz. Apart from the multi-room options, Yamaha provide an app that allows full control of the speaker, its nultiroom options and more. Apart from built in WiFi, it has bluetooth and Apple AirPlay. With all this functionlity, this really makes this speaker a great offering. It also puts out a respectable 40W of music.

Video

Conclusion

At £199, the Yamaha MusicCast 20 represents great value for money. It is extremely versatile too offering tons of different ways to connect to it, Amazon Alexa voice control, bluetooth and AirPlay. It is also available in black and white finishes.

Buy from Amazon UK – Click HERE.