Category Archives: Android

Even More info on the HTC One M8 Prime

Android, Tech News,

Yesterday, I mentioned the M8 Prime will have the following –

– waterproofing
– Cat 6 LTE radio – very fast
– Snapdragon 805
– 5.5 inch WQHD screen
– 3gb ram

And the best part is its material. Not aluminum but an aluminium silicon carbide composite. This is a material of silicon carbide particles dispersed in a matrix of aluminium alloy.

And now @evleaks revealed the photos of the rear camera. Note how the rear camera now protrudes. It will be interesting to see what mega pixels this new sensor has become.

prime m8

prime-m8-2

My only concern about this device is its potential size. The current HTC One M8 is in phablet territory and this is certainly looking even larger.

Samsung Music Hub – ending – details

Android, Tech News

I reviewed the following email from Samsung –

“Dear Samsung Music (Music Hub) customers,

As of July 1, 2014, Samsung Music will no longer be available. We will be in touch to provide you with details on how to continue your music experience with Samsung.
We ask that you please take the time to download all purchased content and use any remaining vouchers for Samsung Music before July 1, 2014 – after that date they will no longer be available.

We appreciate your understanding, and our Customer Support team will be available to assist you with any questions or concerns you may have. (http://help.content.samsung.com)

Thank you,
Samsung Music Team ”

So it seems Samsung is really starting to ramp down its own Bloatware.

Polarized sunglasses with Xperia Z2 don’t mix – now HTC One M8

Android, Tech News,

Xperiablog is reporting sunlight and polarised glasses don’t work with the Sony Xperia Z2.

” If you are someone that wears polarised sunglasses and are interested in the Xperia Z2, then you should know that due to the polarisation of the display, the Xperia Z2 is not viewable in landscape mode. This means that if you wanted to take pictures, for example, you would need to remove your sunglasses.”

Surely this is an oversight by Sony.

Updated – according to Paul O’Brien of Modaco the HTC One M8 is also affected.

Hot info on the HTC One M8 Prime

Android, Tech News

This phone is hot.

The M8 Prime will have the following –

– waterproofing
– Cat 6 LTE radio – very fast
– Snapdragon 805
– 5.5 inch WQHD screen
– 3gb ram

And the best part is its material. Not aluminum but an aluminium silicon carbide composite. This is a material of silicon carbide particles dispersed in a matrix of aluminium alloy.

Just think of it as the Terminator phone.

Source – @evleaks

Are Freemium games going to be ruled illegal in Italy

Android, Apple, Tech News

Italy’s Antitrust and Competition Authority on Friday said it is investigating whether Apple, Google, Amazon and Gameloft mislead the public into spending money on so-called “freemium” apps that offer in-app purchases.

The Italian regulator is attempting to determine whether the companies’ respective app stores and freemium apps offer sufficient information about in-app purchases, reports The Wall Street Journal. Also under investigation are sales practices that seemingly trick users into paying for in-game content.

“Consumers could be led to think, contrary to reality, that a game is completely free and therefore they don’t know ahead of time the game’s true cost,” the regulatory body said. “It appears also that there is a lack of information regarding how to exclude or limit the possibility of making a purchase inside the app.”

It’s about time freemium apps got investigated and hopefully end up being regulated so as to not rip off customers. For example spending £50 on coins is not correct and often these freemium games ruin the fluidity too.

Episode 15 – Gav & Dave’s Tech Podcast is now alive – Please RT

Android, Apple, Reviews, Tech News, Wearables, Windows

As you know, I co-host a weekly podcast with David from UKMobileTech called Gav & Dave’s Tech Podcast. It is a light hearted tech podcast broadcast bi-weekly. To subscribe click here for iTunes or copy and paste this link into your favourite podcast app.

Episode 15 is now live for your listening pleasure.

And just like that a truce occurs – Apple and Motorola drop all patent lawsuits

Android, Apple, Tech News

According to a court filing discovered by Reuters, Apple and Google’s Motorola Mobility unit have agreed to settle their ongoing smartphone patent litigation battle against each other.

In a statement, the two companies said that this agreement does not include the ability cross license each other’s patents, but rather the promise to “work together in some areas of patent reform.”

This does not include any other patent lawsuits against other manufacturers but it sure is a positive move and likely one that will benefit the end user. Nor does it stop future lawsuits.

However, in addition to agreeing to end the 20 or so patent lawsuits, both companies will help to change the legislation to try and curb the out of control patent system.

Smartphone Pricing – The Ups and Downs and then there’s Apple

Android, Apple, Tech News, Windows

There is a lot to be said for consistency when it comes to pricing a phone. Take Apple, they announce a new phone (or any device) and that is the price for the next 12 months until the new model appears. Quite simply, you know where you stand. The Apple pricing model also helps maintain second hand prices.

Now lets look at the rest of the market. Samsung, Sony, Nokia and many many other companies release a new phone at a premium, often with anything from £50 to £100 extra in the first month at least. During the 12 month period the phone’s pricing can vary, often downwards. So for example the Samsung Note 3 at launch was sim free £650. Now it can be bought for under £500. In fact, my personal favourite online tech company Clove Technology is selling the Note 3 for £374.16 plus VAT. Link – http://www.clove.co.uk/samsung-galaxy-note-3

So lets take another example. The new Sony Xperia Z2. On the market for a launch price of around £550-560. Then Three UK offered it on their network for £470. And now after a few weeks Three UK are selling it at £549. WTF. How does a phone increase in value or vary by such a margin and within such a small time frame. Surely that is not right. Using Clove Technology again as an example, they have consistently offered the Z2 at £450 plus VAT. Link – http://www.clove.co.uk/sony-xperia-z2 . They also happen to offer it with one of the best deals at the moment. The deal includes a free £120 wireless speaker & noise-cancelling headphones bundle plus £80 digital content bundle. Very tempting I must say.

I just think it would be better if all manufacturers followed Apple’s example of leading with a fair price in the beginning and keeping it price accordingly.

Just one last point. Have you ever noticed that when a newer model is due to be released, the older model pricing is temporarily increased. I am sure this is partially due to trying to justify the higher priced newer model when released, so that there appears not to be such a large price differential between the old and new model.

What’s your thoughts?