Category Archives: Android

Naughty – Google Chrome on android is adding adverts

January 20, 2014Android, Tech Newsadverts, bandwidth management, Google Chrome on androidGavin Fabiani-Laymond

Google Chrome on android got updated recently with a bandwidth management option that saves up to 50% data usage.

Just one catch. This function adds adverts even on non commercial websites like the BBC.

Screen shot below.

It has an advert for the Nokia Lumia 1020 at the top.

Not sure I’m over happy about this but how do you feel?

Brando Shopping – Desktop Connection Kit for Samsung Galaxy S4, S4, Note 2 and Note 3

January 19, 2014Android, Reviews, Tech Newsbrando shopping, desktop connection kitGavin Fabiani-Laymond

Brando Shopping sent me a desktop connection kit which I have been using for my Note 3. The item is now discontinued as there is a newer version in the pipeline which will output 1080p instead of a lower resolution of this item.

So what this kit allowed me to do with my Note 3 was add a keyboard and mouse, connect to my TV and bolt on a flash drive. Who needs a PC.

Thanks to Brando Shopping for sending this item even though it’s now discontinued. As soon as I get details of the new version I will let everyone know.

Warning – Samsung Note 3 KitKat update and unofficial S-View cases

January 19, 2014Android, Tech Newssamsung note 3 kitkat update and unoffical casesGavin Fabiani-Laymond

When you update your Samsung Note 3 to KitKat, you might get a nasty surprise if you are using an unofficial Samsung S-View Cover Case. This includes the basic S-View Cover, Premium Cover and Wireless Cover. If it’s not the official Samsung case, it will no longer work with KitKat.

Samsung have added additional code into the firmware to make this happen.

DoubleTwist’s New Android App Lets You Rip Songs From iTunes Radio

January 19, 2014Android, Tech Newsdouble twist android air recorderGavin Fabiani-Laymond

DoubleTwist, the company that has long been helping Android-powered devices work harmoniously with iTunes, today released a new Android app that lets users rip songs from iTunes Radio. Called AirPlay Recorder, the app turns your Android device into an AirPlay receiver, then records all the audio that you play through it.

I just wonder how long before Apple send a cease and desist letter.

Brando Shopping

January 19, 2014Android, Apple, Firefox, RIM, Tech News, Windowsbrando shoppingGavin Fabiani-Laymond

Over the next week or so I will be reviewing some mobile accessories from Brando Shopping .

Brando Shopping supplies a whole range of accessories for your phone and tablets. I have bought my accessories from this online store for nearly 8 years now.

In the index page, I have now created a page called Shopping, to provide links to places where I buy my gadgets from. This will be expanded over the coming months.

Have fun.

Nintendo cuts profit forecasts drastically and changes business model – Mario on your phone ?

January 19, 2014Android, Apple, Tech News, Windowsmoving to mobile, Nintendo lossesGavin Fabiani-Laymond

This is the press release from Reuters confirming the dreadful financial performance of Nintendo.

“TOKYO (Reuters) – Nintendo Co said it expects an operating loss of 35 billion yen ($336 million) for the year to end-March, reversing its previous forecast of a 100 billion yen profit, citing much weaker-than-expected sales of its Wii U and 3DS game machines.

Nintendo on Friday also warned of a net loss of 25 billion yen for the year ending on March 31, a substantial reversal from its prior projection of a 55 billion yen profit.

Nintendo President Satoshi Iwata will hold a news conference at 4:30 p.m. (0730 GMT) in Osaka regarding the estimated losses.

The company slashed its global Wii U sales forecast for 2013/14 to 2.8 million units from 9 million, and its 3DS sales forecast to 13.5 mln units from 18 mln units.”

And now finally Nintendo boss Saturo Iwata has admitted the company is considering “a new business structure,” which may involve branching out into the mobile arena. Hopefully it won’t be long before we see all the famous Nintendo game classics on the iPhone and Android phones.

ZTE’s Entry-Level Blade Q Mini Goes On Sale In U.K. For Just £60

January 18, 2014Android, Tech Newszte blade q miniGavin Fabiani-Laymond

ZTE launched one of the most affordable Jelly Bean-powered handsets at just £60 off-contract, the Blade Q Mini and it’s exclusive to Virgin Mobile’s pay-as-you-go network and Argos.

The Blade Q Mini is powered by a 1.3GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, and 4GB of storage, a 4-inch display with a 800×480 resolution at 233 pixels-per-inch, a microSD card slot and a 5-megapixel camera, and runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. It is capable of running the latest Android 4.4 KitKat OS, but whether ZTE updates it remains unknown.

This phone makes the Moto G seem expensive.

Amazon U.K. Slashes £25 Off All Kindle Fire Tablets For A Limited Time

January 18, 2014Android, Tech NewsAmazon Kindle £25 offGavin Fabiani-Laymond

Amazon U.K. has slashed £25 off all Kindle Fire tablets for a limited time to say thank you to customers who voted the retail giant number one in customer satisfaction for the seventh year running. The offers ends on Monday, January 20, at 11:59 p.m. GMT. The discount is valid for one device per customer, and can be applied against all versions of the Kindle Fire — including the Kindle Fire HD, Kindle Fire HD 8.9″, Kindle Fire HDX, and Kindle Fire HDX 8.9″. Simply order the device from Amazon.co.uk, then use the code “MAYDAY25” at checkout.

Confirmed Samsung Galaxy S5 specifications – details

January 17, 2014Android, Tech Newssamsung galaxy s5 specsGavin Fabiani-Laymond

Sammobile has confirmed the Samsung Galaxy S5 specs.

Just like Apple did with the 5S and 5C, the S5 willl come in both metal and plastic versions with the metal version costing around 800 Euros and the plastic model coming in at around 650 Euros.

The metal version of the phone will basically have a metallic back plate while being constructed of metal on the sides and front. Also, the premium metal version could be named Galaxy F or something else.

The Galaxy S5 will have an AMOLED display of 2,560×1,440 resolution, a screen of 5.25-inches. The back of the phone will sport a 16-megapixel camera, though it’s unclear if it will have hardware optical image stabilization (OIS). Inside the S5 will either be powered by the Exynos 6 processor or a Snapdragon 805, depending on whether it’s LTE-enabled or not. On the software front, the S5 will run on Android 4.4 KitKat as you would expect.

The air gestures will be improved too with the tech behind the gestures being the next generation. So in summary,

– QHD (2,560×1,440) Super AMOLED display
– Exynos 6 / Snapdragon 805 processor
– 16-megapixel camera
– Android 4.4 KitKat
– Plastic/metal versions

No real surprises yet.

Gavin's Gadgets & Photography

Tech Reviews & Photography