Category Archives: Android

Samsung news – Hot new phones are coming soon – details

Android, Tech News, ,

It’s Samsung’s turn for a bit of news today.

Android Authority and a number of other websites revealed details of the new Samsung Galaxy A9. This seems like a reasonable phone. The pricing will be fundamental and worth noting is that it will launch with android 5.1.1 and not 6.0.

The rest of the specs are –

– 6.0-inch Super AMOLED display with 1920 x 1080 resolution
– 1.8GHz Snapdragon 620 processor
– 3GB of RAM, 32GB of on-board storage
– microSD expansion
– Samsung Pay
– 4,000mAh battery with Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 2.0 technology
– 13MP rear camera with OIS and an f/1.9 aperture, 8MP front camera
– Front fingerprint sensor

The Wall Street Journal confirmed that the new Samsung flagship, the Samsung Galaxy S7 will have force touch. This will use the same tech as Apple’s iPhone 6S. It is also the same tech found already on the Huawei Mate S 128gb and a few other Chinese phones. In addition the new flagship will re-introduce the micro SD card and switch to USB Type C. The camera will feature the new 20mp Sony sensor currently found in the current Sony Xperia Z5 range.

Google Play Music Family Plans – Details of Global Rollout

Android, Tech News,

Google Play Music Family plan is arriving in the coming days on Android devices in the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, France and Germany.

Google Play Music family plan will allow you and up to five family members who can subscribe to Google Play Music – together – for just $14.99 per month. You’ll unlock all of the same features you’d get from having individual subscriptions, including ad free, unlimited access to more than 35 million songs and the ability for each family member to stream simultaneously on any device, all for one low price. Now, you can keep your listening experiences separate from your partner and get music recommendations tailored to the music you like.

For clarity only my favourites will show up in my device and not my wife’s. And a family plan on Google play will also get your family access to YouTube Red in the US.

So at $2.50 a month for each person that becomes a reasonable offering. More countries will go live soon.

Google

Why it might be a good idea to buy the Samsung Note 5 or LG V10 – details

Android, Tech News,

Both the LG V10 and Samsung Note 5 have been on sale across the world for several months now with the UK and other parts of the world not being offered for sale by LG and Samsung respectively.

Whilst the is frustrating not being able to grab the latest and greatest phone from day 1, it actually might be a blessing. Why? Well in the last 3 months both phones have received several firmware updates to remove many bugs and add a few new features. The firmware updates also improve performance and protect the phones with newer security patches.

So actually, if you buy these phones in January 2016, you should be using a fairly bug free phone which is also better optimised than when it originally went on sale.

So who wants the LG V10 or Note 5?

Tag Heuer cannot keep up with demand for its new Android Wear smartwatch! – details

Android, Tech News, Wearables,

“Swiss watchmaker TAG Heuer will increase production of its smartwatch in coming months after receiving requests from retailers, agents and subsidiaries for some 100,000 timepieces, according to LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE’s watch chief.

TAG Heuer aims to make 2,000 pieces per week, up from a current 1,200, Jean-Claude Biver said in an e-mailed response to questions. Online sales of the Connected Watch will be suspended probably until May or June to give priority to physical stores, he said.

The LVMH watch brand is one of the few high-end luxury competitors that has sprung up in response to the Apple Watch. The watchmaker unveiled the $1,500 smartwatch, modeled after the classic Carrera model, last month, in a partnership with Google Inc. and Intel Corp.”

At $1,5000 the demand of this watch is surprising, but it does go to show just how popular Tag Heuer is and maybe $1,500 is a bargain!

Source Bloomberg

Netatmo Weather Station for android, iOS and Windows review – One Year Later – wind & rain gauge – 100mph wind speeds

Amazon, Android, Reviews, Tech News, Windows, ,

  
Netatmo produce a rather nifty weather station kit. What makes it so special is all the third party apps and Internet integration. Using IFTTT for example, if it starts raining, the rain sensor will tweet that rain is detected. 

When it first got launched it came with an indoor and outdoor gauge. This provided temperature , CO2, noise levels and pressure. As time has moved on, a rain sensor became available and just now the wind sensor. 

I wrote a 5 part review of the Netatmo Weather station. Click HERE to read it. Since then the app has received a huge cosmetic update too. 

Last night the rain gauge got a real test. It was gale force weather. I knew something was happening outside when I got 3 notifications within a short space of time. 

  
In fact wind speeds at its peak were 93mph peaking at 99mph. In case you’re wondering what happens when you open the front door with 90mph winds and heavy rain. It’s open door. Get totally drenched through to the skin with wind and rain. Close door as fast as you can!

Below are some screen shots from the Netatmo app. However, there are many other apps and services that Netatmo plugs into which makes this a versatile system and one that I have used for over a year. Each module has 4 batteries which last one year. 

   
 
If you have an iPhone you can have a widget in the notification centre. Android gives you other widgets too. 

  
During my course of ownership the weather station has reviewed new firmware to help improve the system and allow for new features. 

During December you will see the Netatmo weather station on offer too. Recommended. 

Technical information and pricing deals at Amazon.

BlackBery Priv – first major firmware update – full details

Android, BlackBerry, Tech News, ,

Software updates received in a timely manner are really important especially when they contain security patches. 

BlackBerry hasn’t disappointed with its Priv handheld and released its first update offering the following changes – 

“Here’s what the release, which brings productivity AND security improvements (and requires approx 475 MB of space), has to offer:

– An improved camera: We’ve implemented a number of tweaks that improve the speed of our camera app, and re-tuned it for better low-light image quality.
– Better performance: We’ve also tweaked the PRIV’s software to improve overall system performance

– Improved stability: The update further includes a number of adjustments designed to improve device reliability and reduce instances of crashing and freezing.

– Enhanced security: Lastly, the release includes December’s security patches – rest easy knowing your device is protected against the latest Android security threats.

Be sure to also keep an eye out for coming updates to BlackBerry’s Android apps: Blackberry Keyboard, Blackberry Hub, Blackberry Camera, and DTEK by BlackBerry. The latest version of each will be available through the Google Play Store on December 14. The improvements include:

– Camera: Now supports 16:9 photos
– Keyboard: Increased language support and emojis added to predictive typing

– Hub & Contacts: Now includes WhatsApp

– DTEK by BlackBerry: More notification options to alert you when apps use your info

When the update becomes available for your PRIV, applying it is both free and easy to do:”

Now this is a good reason to buy this phone. Hopefully BlackBerry will continue this rapid firmware deployment with security patches and bug quasi and adding new features too. 

Source – BlackBerry

Dissatisfied with the plastic BlackBerry Priv? Now available in 24k GOLD

Android, BlackBerry, Tech News, ,

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The BlackBerry Priv is finished is a grippy plastic material. Some users have reported that its a bit plastic but have no fear, Karalux is here with its 24K gold-plated BlackBerry Priv. The gold plating comes cheap at a cost of $1,333. Plus Postage.

As much as I like gold finishes I just don’t see the point personally. However, a trip some years ago to Harrods Department Store in London, revealed a whole area dedicated to gold, diamond and other expensive finishes to iPhones and BlackBerry’s. Blackberry’s were very much in demand.

Source Android Authority

FitBit just released a super cool update to its software – details

Android, Apple, Tech News, Windows,

There is no denying the impact the FitBit Charge HR has made on my personal wellbeing. It has been the single most effective device at making me fitter and motivating me more. Add to the fact it works really well with third party services like MyFitnessPal and you have a great combo.

I wrote a review of the FitBit Charge HR using it with MyFitnessPal. Click HERE.

However, since this review FitBit has updated the software several times, but the last update is really fantastic.

Now detection is made automatically for walks, runs, outdoor biking sessions, elliptical training, “high-movement” sports and aerobic workouts.

This means no going into the app settings to select the exercise mode etc.. This new feature is fantastic in use. Now the FitBit detects sleep, activity and all your exercises without lifting a finger!

This new update has arrived for iOS and Windows users. The android update is coming soon.

Huawei Mate 8 – is 6 inches too big? Plus details of specifications

Android, Tech News, ,

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Huawei have announced the Huawei Mate 8, a 6 inch screen slab of phone with the following specs –

– 6-inch 1080p display spec covering 95 percent of NTSC gamut.
– 2.5D glass
– new octa-core Kirin 950 chipset, 16nm FinFET+ CPUs (4 x Cortex-A72 and 4 x Cortex-A53), ARM’s flagship Mali-T880 GPU and integrated LTE Cat 6 modem
– Fingerprint sensor on rear – new advanced sensor able to read 3rd level of detail
– 16mp rear camera plus dedicated image processor
– Colours – Champagne Gold, Moonlight Silver, Space Gray and Mocha Brown
– Android 6 with Emotion UI
– Pricing in China $500 for 3GB RAM /32GB of storage, $690 for 4GB RAM / 128GB of storage.
– 4,000mAh battery

The specs stack up on paper to potentially translate to a fine beast of a device. But we will see this over in the UK?

My main grip is its size. As a phablet, a 6 inch screen is pushing the boundaries of what is acceptably comfortable to hold in one hand, and with the need to use the fingerprint sensor on the rear, could translate to a very awkward in hand experience.

However, on paper and based on the outlined specs and press renders it sure looks like a fine piece of kit. Will 2016 be the year Huawei overtakes Samsung?

Source – Engadget

Why I bought an iPhone instead of a Samsung Note 5/S6 Edge Plus

Android, Apple, Tech News,

There are many reasons for buying a phone. It could be you prefer iOS, android or windows phone. It could be a set of features or an app or a game. But one factor I really think that is more important to factor in is the commitment to software updates, especially when you are buying flagship devices that cost a lot of money.

Above is a statement from Samsung confirming it is not updating their top of the line tablet. Personally, I think that this is disgraceful. It is a worrying trend by Samsung too as it has left out features on the Galaxy S6/ Edge that it included with the S6 Edge Plus. Both of these devices are current flagships, but the S6 Edge Plus is slightly newer and for example has camera software that provides better manual options. These could easily be implemented into the S6 at the same time as the larger Plus version arrived, but alas Samsung has failed to deliver. Another worrying trend was the Note 5 not being sold by Samsung in Europe. Let me be clear on one fact before I continue, all of these flagship phones from Samsung are absolutely excellent phones.

However, if you are buying a flagship phone, you will have this for at least 2 years, unless you are lucky enough to be able to upgrade earlier. My worry was what support will Samsung be offering 2 years down the line when they are already cutting back on costs and chopping their workforce numbers. Whilst I am mentioning Samsung specifically, this could easily be any other company.

On the flip side is Apple, who generally provide 3 years worth of software updates. This in turn provided me with comfort that 3 years down the line, my iPhone 6S Plus will still have the latest version of iOS and be updated the same day along with all the other iOS devices. Hence my reasons for choosing Apple.