Category Archives: Android

Analysts are warped – that’s being polite you understand – Google, Apple and Amazon results are announced and then boom

Android, Apple, Tech News, , ,

Apple, Google and Amazon have all posted their financial results over the last 24 hours or so.

Apple produced one of its best quarters yet it’s stock went down 8%, due to analysts not being happy.

Google missed its earnings substantially due to losses at Motorola but it’s shares rose 9%, due to happy analysts.

Amazon also produced a good result despite market conditions but missed a few parameters, so once again analysts were unhappy and it’s shares dropped 5%.

Is it me, but what do analysts know about running major companies in real life, instead of shifting pieces of paper or working computer screens.

Apple – it’s got more cash in the bank than most countries and is still making billions in profits. Not millions. Billions. And it has a captive loyal customer base.

Amazon had revenue of $25.59 billion, and earnings per share of $0.51. The company has operating income of $510 million in the period, up 26% year over year. And that wasn’t enough. So shares dropped 5%.

Google had increases in both revenue and income. For the fourth quarter, Google reported revenues of $16.86 billion, up 17 percent year-over-year. Operating income was $3.92 billion, or 23 percent of revenues. Net income rang in at $3.38 billion, up from $2.89 billion in Q4 2012. The now sold Motorola contributed a $384 million loss in Q4 2013.

These 3 companies are all performing at the top level and yet analysts seem to know better. Hmmm…

Own a Sony QX10 or QX100 Hub Lens – then you might want the Sony SPA-TA1

Android, Apple, Tech News, Windows, ,

20140129-001106.jpg

If you own a QX10 or QX100 hub lens as shown above but have a device or tablet over 85mm in width then Sony has the answer. The SPA-TA1. Due out around April, this is an attachment that comes in different sizes as below.

(Depth × height width ×) size:
(1) about 85 × 65.6 × 33.9Mm
(2) about 106 × 65.6 × 33.9Mm
(3) about 127 × 65.6 × 33.9Mm
(4) about 148 × 65.6 × 33.9 mm
(5) about 169 × 65.6 × 33.9Mm
(6) about 190 × 65.6 × 33.9mm Weight: about 31g ((6) is installed) Material: Plastic

※ The included attachment of DSC-QX100/QX10 shipped with smartphone of 54-75mm width.

20140129-001357.jpg

20140129-001402.jpg

Source – Sony Japan

What is going on with smartphone pricing?

Android, Apple, Tech News, Windows

Below is a screenshot detailing the pricing for buying a Samsung Note 3 from Amazon (not via a marketplace seller). Look at the price variations. And why the sudden hike now? This hike also applies for accessories too.

20140128-113125.jpg

Below is the HTC One in Silver.

20140128-113307.jpg

And now the Sony Xperia Z1.

20140128-113500.jpg

Just one more. The Nokia Lumia 925. This has seem some huge drops.

The fluctuation in pricing is crazy. If you buy an iPhone from Apple it is the same price pretty much for the whole 12 months.

What’s your views on this?

20140128-113833.jpg

Sony Xperia Z1 Compact – available now

Android, Tech News

The Xperia™ Z1 Compact from Sony hits UK stores from today.

·         The world’s best premium compact smartphone¹ will be available to purchase in the UK from today

·         Get all the best of Sony’s Xperia™ Z1 in a pocket-friendly compact smartphone

·         Stylish and durable waterproof2 design in a range of four vibrant colours – white, black, pink and lime.

Sony Mobile Communications (“Sony Mobile”) todayannounces that the Xperia™ Z1 Compact will be released across the UK today. Launched at CES in January 2014, the Xperia™ Z1 Compact offers the very best of Sony technologies from its flagship Xperia™ Z1 in a stylish new compact size.  

Catherine Cherry, Marketing Director, Sony Mobile, North West Europe said, “Xperia™ Z1 Compact is a huge statement for Sony. It crams in all the amazing features that made Xperia™ Z1 so popular, creating a new, premium compact category on Android that consumers have been waiting for. With the Xperia™ Z1 Compact, the range of premium products we offer is now broader than ever – something that is key as our market share continues to grow.”

The Xperia™ Z1 Compact sets a new standard in premium smartphones. This dust-resistant and waterproof (IP55 & IP58)2 premium device is both sleek and durable from every angle.

It features Sony’s proven camera technologies to deliver the same level of performance and quality that you would find in a conventional compact digital camera and it comes pre-loaded with a suite of innovative Xperia™ Camera Apps to take your photography experience to a whole new level.

Xperia™ Z1 Compact boasts ultra-fast performance and breathtaking graphics, thanks to the latest Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 800 processor with 2.2 GHz quad-core CPU and 4G LTE for amazing speed.

Xperia™ Z1 Compact offers seamless access to both online and offline entertainment with Sony’s integrated media apps and also  offers the most comprehensive range of innovative companion products and accessories to give you new ways to use and enjoy your smartphone.

Those eagerly anticipating the release of the Xperia™ Z1 compact will be pleased to know that Xperia™ Transfer Mobile3 makes it easier than ever to switch from your existing Android or iOS handset to Xperia™. It’s the simple and easy way to seamlessly transfer your contacts, photos, bookmarks, apps, messages and much more from your old smartphone, swiftly and securely. And better still, no PC is required – simply transfer directly from phone-to-phone using NFC or the supplied cable.

I can’t wait to review this phone so hopefully it won’t be too long.

Available from Clove Technology.

Sony QX10/QX100 Hub lenses – firmware update v2 – details and changes – updated

Android, Apple, Windows, , ,

Sony is offering upgrades for the Sony QX10 and QX100 hub lenses.

Improvements after version 2 firmware upgrade –

-ISO Setting added
-The QX10 has a ISO 3200 from just 1600, and the QX100 moves to ISO 12800 support from just 3200.
-Movie Recording size changed: MP4 1440 x 1080(30p) to MP4 1920 x 1080(30p)
-Shutter Speed Priority Shooting mode added (DSC-QX100 only)

For the QX10 head over to the Sony Asia download page or click here for direct access. . Select downloads, computer system and the appropriate file will be downloaded.

For the QX100, head over again or click here for direct access. Then select downloads and follow the instructions dependant on your PC operating system.

These are really important updates and now make these hub lenses even more fantastic.

The process takes about 10 mins for each lens.

Samsung looking to grow its retail operations, expand further into education and declutter their software offerings

Android, Tech News, , ,

Samsung has announced it is expanding with its own stores, 60 of them in Europe, including the UK. Samsung has teamed up with Carphone Warehouse(CPW) in a 5 year deal, whereby 20 CPW stores in the UK will be refitted and maximised to have on display all Samsung’s mobile, tablet and other connected hardware.

The likelihood of CPW providing unbiased advice when it comes to your next upgrade is unknown, but don’t be surprised if you are recommended a Samsung phone.

In all honesty, this could be a positive step to give people the full experience of the products prior to purchase. And then provide the same after sales service as Apple would be the next welcome step.

Samsung has also branched further into the education market tweaking it’s Note 10.1 2014 into an education version which allows access to Google’s special education software and services.

There is also mutterings that as part of the Samsung and Google 10 year cross licensing deal, Samsung might be removing some of its own software that takes up memory and resources.

I’m fed up of Beta Testing new Smartphones – are you?

Android, Apple, Tech News, Windows

I don’t think it matters which manufacturer you want to aim this headline towards, they seem to be all the same now.

Whether you get your new phone sim free or with a contract you are paying between £309-709 for your phone. And yet it seems every newly released phone is littered with software faults, sometimes even hardware. Harsh but true. And these should have been removed prior to release. But more and more the pressure to release the next model sacrifices quality control.

Let’s have a look at some examples –

Sony Xperia Z1 – Sony labelled this 20.7mp camera smartphone as the best thing since sliced bread. Well if you tried taking photos with this at launch they were crap. Superior Auto was so bad it was a disgrace especially considering Sony’s camera expertise. Fanboys will defend this saying you can take decent photos in manual mode. And yes they are better but please stop making excuses for the large companies. They messed up. The fit and finish were probably the best in class. A real premium finish. 6 months down the line, loads of promises later, Sony have released several firmwares and improved the situation, but it is not totally fixed. If you don’t mind experimenting with the camera settings you might take a great photo. Meanwhile, people’s’ smiles are lost.

Apple iPhone 5S – starting price £549. Released 21st September 2013. It’s still has several notable bugs. Poor battery for far too many people. Random and constant reboots with the springboard. This is Apple with it’s everything just works. No it doesn’t. It works sometimes. Now Apple are rumoured to be working hard on fixing the software. Expected eta March 2014 some 6 months later. Shame as the iPhone 5S is an amazing piece of hardware versus it’s tiny size.

Samsung – oh I could really rant off with Samsung and the S4 or Note 3. And that is despite loving my Note 3. The S4 was Samsung’s downfall of lying to customers. 16gb model was the only memory configuration available in the UK. With 8gb free. Sorry. That’s inexcusable to leave such little memory free. With public pressure they said they would fix it on BBC Watchdog. Over six months later, Which has reported that there is even less memory available now. The S4 was so full of bugs at launch I think I will stop now before I explode. And yet it could have been so much better. And as to the Note 3. A bug fest at launch that was so bad and extremely inflated deliberately in price at launch that it was a disgrace.

So after you and me and other members of the public beta tested these phones for over 6 months they are now excellent especially the Note 3. To give you some idea Samsung released in 3 months, 7 firmware updates for the Note 3 to try and fix all the problems. Surely these should have been done prior to launch or at least some of them.

So perhaps we should all wait 6 months after a phone is released, see if the faults have been fixed as promised and then decide to buy it?

If you like the next shiny phone or the latest at your upgrade, I doubt you would get an older model unless the deal was stunning.