All posts by Gavin Fabiani-Laymond

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About Gavin Fabiani-Laymond

President, CEO & Editor of https://gavinsgadgets.com Reviews & News of Technology

iPad Mini Real Life Experience

Apple, Tech News

Rather late in the day Apple released a smaller screened version of its iPad, probably in response to competition from Google, Samsung and Amazon.

If you want the official specs, go to Apple’s website . In this review I am going to look at real life usage, screen quality and comparisons to the full size iPad.

The full size iPad is the ultimate tablet. Powerful, large screened and does everything beautifully. Having used both, the real life differences are the retina screen and increased weight. The retina screen makes everything crispier but being honest after using the iPad Mini for a while it is forgotten. But what is not forgotten is the extra weight of the full size iPad. It feels heavier after a while, whereas the Mini is delightfully light and a joy to use for longer periods. In fact the Mini becomes more engaging for media activities like gaming, music and videos. Even reading in bed is easier. So does the full size iPad offer any advantages. It sure does. Web browsing on the Mini is lovely but go back to the full size iPad and the extra real estate provides an even better web cinema like browsing experience. Also the larger screen makes it superior for serious office type duties. Even so, I wouldn’t go back to the full size iPad. I find the Mini is just more portable, and better to carry around.

My real life thoughts of the iPad Mini is it a fun but useful tablet. It is also built to look incredible and at the same time to be strong and desirable. It simply blows other tablets out the water. And then there is the 275,000 iPad apps. No other platform gets anywhere near that.

The iPad Mini experience is enhanced by the iOS Eco system. Add an Apple TV and start playing around with AirPlay and mirroring. Again Apple provide a seamless experience here. You can safely backup the iPad Mini to your pc via iTunes or iCloud and then do a full restore anytime. No geek knowledge needed. And if you have other Apple devices the experience gets better. Buy an app, song or book on your iPhone and it pops up on your iPad. Take a photo on either device and you can view it on any Apple device via photostream including the Apple TV. There is more slick options available using iOS too.

Other aspects of the iPad Mini that are overlooked are the iSight camera. The Mini takes reasonable photos. And the Smart Cover is another neat accessory. Again if you have friends with Apple products you can use iMessage and FaceTime on the Mini. Apple really makes this easy.

There is rumours that the next Mini will have a retina screen. But will it be as light and as thin, and have the same running time on the battery?

The iPad Mini is a device you would buy and keep for a long time, and in the time use daily with considerable joy!

Huawei Ascend Mate 6.1 inch phone – Irony

Android, Tech News

Not to be outdone by the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, Huawei are releasing the Ascend Mate, a 6.1 inch phone. What’s ironic is a Huawei executive briefly showed his and was illustrating how small it really is despite its size. The moment was caught on YouTube – try not to laugh at the film playing on the screen.

Seriously, this is not a phone or tablet or phablet. It’s ridiculous.

The Google Phone – it’s Coming

Android, Tech News

When Google bought Motorola I thought it wouldn’t be long before Google released its own hardware. Google comforted its partners and assured them it wasn’t interested in making its own hardware.

Move forward a year of so, and word of the Motorola X phone has come to light. This is rumoured to be the ultimate android experience, a no holds bar top line phone. If this does materialise the phone competition will light up even more.

It may have an even bigger impact with Microsoft phones leaping ahead as android phone manufacturers realise they have to jump ship. So Samsung buying RIM could also make sense.

This would leave Apple with the iPhone , Google with the Motorola X phone, Microsoft with its own Windows 8 phone and perhaps Samsung with a Galaxy Blackberry.

Possible? Anything is possible in this world.

Held Prisoner by Apple’s Eco System & Hardware

Apple, Tech News

At the moment I am having teething problems with my iPhone 5. As this is made by Apple this is the only phone available. If I was having issues on android I could choose from a number of other companies.

Due to the issues with my iPhone 5, I decided on Saturday to queue for the Samsung Note 2. The store was really busy and after 40 mins queuing I got to the tills. And yes they had the phone in stock. But alas they wanted £50 more. Too popular apparently. So I left empty handed.

When I got home, I started to rationalise a bit more. First up I looked at the resale values of the iPhone 5 and Samsung Note 2. The iPhone 5 carries an extra £200 premium. So basically by a Samsung Note at £550 and lose £300 on the spot. Not so good. Then I looked at what else would be an issue.

I have a number of accessories for the iPhone 5. Some work with apps and these are only available on iOS. These include Nike+ iPod – I have the sensor in my trainer. Belkin WeMo – the electrical switch is only available on iOS. Sony Remote app – works miles better on iOS. Then I have a range of cases. And finally some unique accessories only available for the iPhone. The Olloclip lens set – wide angle, macro and fisheye. And the Glif+ – attaches to the iPhone to provide a stand in landscape or portrait but also allows the iPhone to connect to a standard tripod for taking better photos and videos.

Then I looked at how the iPhone works within the Apple Eco system, and mainly how it does so with no effort.

You see Apple not only limit your choice on handsets, but actually the wider functionality and options that work with the iPhone make it even more difficult to move to another platform.

I am left with a dilemma. Can any of my readers with a Samsung Note 2 counter this post!

The iPhone 5 – No Service bug update – Warning Angry Post

Apple, Tech News

Well after all my constant issues with the No Service issues on my iPhone 5, I cancelled the Genius appointment thinking the iOS 6.0.2 had fixed the issue.

No such luck. I now have a useless piece of aluminium that constantly loses service and then stays there. To add insult to injury an iPhone 3GS on the same network has reception.

I have tried everything. Full restore now, hard reset, but still I am left with a iPod Touch rather than an iPhone. Not acceptable.

I will see what Apple’s resolution is but judging by the posts on the Apple forums there is no resolution yet.

iPhone 5 vs Samsung S3/Note 2 – Time for Battle Stations

Android, Apple, Tech News

In the smartphone world, there are really only 2 options if you want a top class phone. The choice is either the iPhone 5 or Samsung S3/Note 2. Apple iOS vs Android Jelly Bean.

The reason for this post started with some friendly banter on twitter a few days ago when Samsung released the Premium Suite for the S3, making it similar in features to the Samsung Note 2. The Note 2 has a S-Pen and a larger screen and has some bespoke S-Pen software. Otherwise its just an enlarged S3.

So which phone is better. Now this is an interesting topic. So on paper the S3/Note 2 are brimmed with high tech and larger screens. I could fill a whole page of A4 of all the features, but I won’t. In comparison, if you pick up the iPhone 5 it seems pale in comparison. It doesn’t have a massive screen, it doesn’t have bluetooth apt-x (provides very high quality bluetooth codec and sound quality), it doesn’t do split screens and multitasking to the same standard and it doesn’t share information as easily using whatever apps you want, it doesn’t do a lot more things. As I said before the list is endless. The problem might arise that these phones can do so much it is more like having a full blown computer in your pocket. Is that a good idea? Some might say yes, others no. So clearly the Samsung phones have won the battle. Or have they.

Last week, one of the top Samsung executives proudly remarked he had an iPhone, Mac, Apple TV and iPad. A complete Apple eco system. Why? Because it was the best eco system. Surely that top executive must be on drugs. Maybe not.

Time for the iPhone 5 to fight back. It is a work of art. Does that count? Probably helps but doesn’t provide a winning blow. The eco system is better. If you have other Apple products everything just syncs across all devices and talks beautifully. The key part here is the simplicity of the solution. Even a non tech person can get it to work. The Eco system includes all media (apps, tv shows, films, music etc), photosharing, photo uploads to photo stream, FaceTime (video calling), iMessage and more. The beauty here is you don’t have to worry if the iPad or iPhone has the correct app, they will since Apple controls the default apps.

And then we move on to Apps and customised software. Both the iPhone and the Samsung S3/Note 2 have good default apps and customised software. There are differences in presentation, but more or less its an equal billing. But third party apps and accessories there is no competition. The iPhone wins. There are more decent and a larger variety of apps available, that look and work smarter on the iPhone than the S3. You can argue the toss with me if you want, but you won’t win. Android is catching up. But there are many examples of where an app plus accessory only exists on iOS, the iPhone app is released first, the type of app only exists on iOS and is designed better.

So a less specced iPhone actually is more powerful. Odd really.

But heading back to the Apple eco system. You might argue you don’t have any other Apple products. Well, if you buy and iPhone in an Apple store, they will set it up so that you know how it all works. You will be given a choice to backup your entire phone to the cloud or to your PC via iTunes. So if you lose your phone everything is safe from out of the box. You also have apps like Find My Phone that in my experience work much better than Samsung equivalent. And moving on to iTunes. There isn’t a better piece of software that keeps everything perfectly managed.

So in conclusion, the iPhone is a better option, but I still want a Samsung Note 2.

On a cheeky side note, if Samsung or any of my readers can send me free of charge a Samsung Note 2 that would be greatly appreciated.