Category Archives: Android

LG Watch Urbane – Part 2 – updated

June 10, 2015Android, Reviews, Tech News, WearablesLG Watch Urbane, part 2Gavin Fabiani-Laymond

Day 2.

I have experimented with more watch faces. Basically with an app called Watchmaker Premium (link to Google Play – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=slide.watchFrenzy.premium&hl=en ) it is possible to install practically any watch face you fancy. So no shortage of custom looks.

LG Support – my call to LG Support re getting the heart rate data to sync back to the watch is ongoing. LG have called me back several times re this issue. Basically on the LG G4 is LG’s app called LG Health. It is not recognising that the Urbane is connected and therefore not pulling any data from it. Instead the LG Health app is using the inbuilt G4’s pedometer. According to LG Support, its new and therefore that makes it reasonable to not work as advertised. I would love to express myself with a tirade of four letter words here. This is not acceptable and surely should have been tested. This is another LG app that is not working correctly. QuickRemote is another app not optimised for the LG G4.

Wrist control – this works like a charm. There is no need to touch the watch, just flick wrists up and down to scroll through notifications.

Voice control – OK Google seems fairly consistent at translating my voice or dictating my messages.

Straps – I have received a brown crocodile 22mm strap. I am still waiting for the strap removal tool and another strap, a bright orange sports strap. These other items are expected by Monday. Once I get everything, I will post photos of the new straps. The black leather strap that comes with the Urbane is really lovely. Brown leather looks even better IMO. The choice is yours as the Urbane uses a standard 22mm watch strap.

I am still exploring android wear apps and options. If anyone has any recommendations please let me know.

My main frustrating lies with the heart rate monitor/steps and its data not being transferred to the phone for analysis, nor have I found a way to use it to monitor my fitness whilst undertaking activities. Google Fit is the only app that collects steps but not heart rate. Google Fit is pretty useless IMO compared to the competition. LG Health app also needs updating asap.

I don’t accept LG Support casual remark that being new it’s ok to have bugs. In my mind this is a massive bug and should have been spotted immediately as it is so obviously not collecting heart rate data. Grrrr. Or transferring any data from the Urbane back to the phone.

The only consolation is the Urbane looks like a classy mens watch. And as a watch the time is always visible. No flicking wrists or lifting hands to activate the screen.

LG Watch Urbane – Beauty and Disaster – First Impressions

June 9, 2015Android, Reviews, Tech News, WearablesFirst Impressions, LG Watch UrbaneGavin Fabiani-Laymond

So yesterday my steel LG Watch Urbane arrived. My wife watched my open the box to reveal the Urbane, and her first words were “Ooh that’s rather lovely, much nicer than that prison tag thing you had” (FYI the prison tag referencing is the Samsung Gear S).

In fact the Urbane is gorgeous and the black leather strap matches it really well. As you can see I have been playing with watch faces, and apart from some of the included watch faces from LG, I have also installed Rolex and other brand watch faces with ease.

17 of my existing apps also offered some form of extra service on the Urbane. Wrist flicking to scroll through notifications works well. As does replying and deleting stuff or asking Google for information.

One aspect of the Urbane is its heart rate monitor. I can perform manual checks. I can tell LG Health app on the phone that I am starting an exercise or walking and it tracks everything, and displays your heart rate during your activity.

But how the f*** do you get the Urbane to transfer the heart rate data to your phone is beyond me. Google Fit is not displaying anything. LG Health app isn’t either even though it is meant to.

So I called LG support who have phoned me back twice and have yet to find a resolution. Let’s hope it is simply an app update or firmware fix.

So in one hand I was delighted with the Urbane’s look and feel only to feel aggrieved at its useless ability to not save heart rate data.

I have also ordered a watch strap tool remover, an orange sports strap and a brown leather strap. More to follow on my Urbane adventure in the coming weeks.

Camera action shots from 11 different phones – Android’s and iPhone

June 8, 2015Amazon, Android, Tech Newscamera action shots from 11 different phonesGavin Fabiani-Laymond

Following my other post today with a gallery of action shots from the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge, I decided to create an album on flickr with all my dog action shots.

These include photos from the LG G4, Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge, LG G3, Note 4, Note 3, Samsung Galaxy S5, Yotaphone 2, Honor 6 (not the 6+), iPhone 5S, Samsung Galaxy K Zoom and HTC Desire 820.

The LG G4 shots come first, followed by the S6 Edge and then the others. It is interesting to see how camera performance has improved over such a short space in time. It also might give you an idea as to what type of camera performance on a phone you would require.

So click here – https://www.flickr.com/photos/gavinfabl100/sets/72157653364024331 to view 93 camera action shots from 11 different phones.

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge – The best action shots possible – photo gallery

June 8, 2015Android, Reviews, Tech Newsbest action shots, Samsung Galaxy S6 EdgeGavin Fabiani-Laymond

I recently used the LG G4 to snap incredible action shots with my 3 labradors. Click here to see the G4’s action shot gallery – https://gavinsgadgets.com/2015/06/03/lg-g4-incredible-fast-action-shots-from-the-g4-camers/

I was very impressed with the LG G4’s photos, especially as the lighting was not brilliant. So the next step was obvious. See what the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge could accomplish.

Some important points before you view the gallery below. The lighting conditions for the S6 Edge were absolutely perfect. Beautiful blue skies, no glare or cloud. I also noticed the file sizes in better lighting increase on the S6 Edge in burst mode. In poor light you might see just under 3mb. But with excellent lighting the file size increases to just under 5mb. Still not a patch on the G4 burst file size of 7.9mb. Another observation using the burst mode is the speed to launch it. On the S6 Edge it is super quick. The phone takes up to 30 shots in a burst, saves them and is ready instantly for the next burst and the next burst without any delay. The G4 on the other hand after a few burst sequences in a row, will need a few seconds to save the shots.

I was very pleased with these shots. Some really fast shutter speeds around 1/1000 which froze the water in several photos. The G4 burst shots in my opinion are better, but you cannot be disappointed with any of these photos below!

Tap on a photo to activate the gallery. Happy viewing.

Honor 6+ – Wide Aperture Mode and Scenic photos

June 7, 2015Android, Tech Newscamera photos, Honor 6, wide aperture modeGavin Fabiani-Laymond

Yesterday whilst walking my dogs I took the following photos using the Honor 6+.

The first 3 are using its special wide aperture mode.

Next just some normal shots from my walk.

So what do you think of the photos?

Screen Brightness/Size – LG G4 vs S6 Edge vs Honor 6+

June 6, 2015Android, Tech Newsbrightness and profile, Honor 6+ vs Samsung S6 Edge vs LG G4Gavin Fabiani-Laymond

Left to right. Gold S6 Edge, LG G4 and Honor 6+. All on max brightness.

I also noticed the Honor 6+ has no logo on the front.

Profile photos.

The S6 Edge is smaller than the others.

But side view reveals you could tuck the S6 Edge under the curve of the G4.

Despite the Honor 6+ being made of plastic from the front it looks better than the G4.

The leather backed G4 has the best rear of the three.

Photography – using iPhone 5S

Honor 6+ – See it looking the business in white

June 5, 2015Android, Reviews, Tech NewsHonor 6, in whiteGavin Fabiani-Laymond

A few weeks ago, I reviewed the Honor 6+ in a black finish. At the time it was the only colour available. Click here to read the review and see photos of the Honor 6+ in black.

Anyway, I now have it in stunning white, and personally I think it looks fabulous in this colour.

I’m also looking forward to experimenting with its camera again, using the dual rear 8mp cameras and wide aperture mode.

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge – A Space Odyssey

June 5, 2015Android, Tech Newsa space odyssey, Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge themesGavin Fabiani-Laymond

Themes are a feature of the S6 and S6 Edge and the other day new themes got added. One of which was called A Space Odyssey.

Out of all the themes “A Space Odyssey” is my favourite. It changes the keyboard, menus, icons and so much more. So cool.

Photo Filters – Part 2 – LG G4 vs Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge

June 5, 2015Android, Tech NewsLG G4, Photo Filters, Samsung Galaxy S6 EdgeGavin Fabiani-Laymond

Yesterday I posted an article challenging does the quality matter if you use a photo filter. I was asked to show the 2 photos and how both phones photos looked after applying the same filter with each.

First up from the LG G4, processed in Photoshop Express using the Autumn filter.

And next scene processed with same filter but using the S6 Edge.

Ok, lets use Snapseed, HDRscape filter on both. LG G4 first.

Below shot from Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge with Snapseed.

So which do you prefer, and does it matter?

LG G4 – The Review – All 26 Parts

June 4, 2015Android, Reviews, Tech News26 part review, LG G4, ReviewGavin Fabiani-Laymond

Since my review of the LG G4, I have included several other posts. All the links are noted below. I have also included a link to the special LG G4 Flickr album set.

Below are all the links to all the posts. The gallery action shots are a must view post. Using burst mode I was able to snap some amazing motion shots. Also worth noting is the burst mode shots were 7.9mb in file size over 3 times the size of a burst shot from the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge.

LG G4 – The Review – updated – https://gavinsgadgets.com/2015/05/17/lg-g4-the-review/

FIGHT – LG G4 vs Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge – Real life differences – https://gavinsgadgets.com/2015/06/01/fight-samsung-galaxy-s6-edge-vs-lg-g4-its-war-so-read-on/

LG G4 – First Impressions on UK retail version – https://gavinsgadgets.com/2015/05/29/lg-g4-first-impressions-of-the-official-uk-version/ (note – my review was written with a Korean version. The first impressions pick up on the differences between the Korean and UK retail versions)

LG G4 – Photos from Today – https://gavinsgadgets.com/2015/05/25/lg-g4-some-photos-from-today/

Shooting in difficult conditions – https://gavinsgadgets.com/2015/05/24/lg-g4-shooting-in-difficult-conditions/

More Thoughts on the G4’s F/1.8 Camera – https://gavinsgadgets.com/2015/05/21/lg-g4-more-thoughts-on-that-f1-8-camera/

Photo Filters – Do they make a difference – LG G4 vs Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge – https://gavinsgadgets.com/2015/06/04/photo-filters-do-they-make-a-difference/

LG G4 – First Failure with update from LG – https://gavinsgadgets.com/2015/06/03/lg-g4-first-failure-update-from-lg/

LG G4 – Gallery of 18 Action Shots (must see this) – https://gavinsgadgets.com/2015/06/03/lg-g4-incredible-fast-action-shots-from-the-g4-camers/

LG G4 – See what a 102mp shot from the G4 looks like – https://gavinsgadgets.com/2015/06/03/lg-g4-see-what-a-102mp-shot-looks-like-taken-by-the-lg-g4-how-it-busts-google-photos/

LG G4 – Charging Behaviour and Quick Charging 2 – https://gavinsgadgets.com/2015/06/02/lg-g4-charging-behaviour-and-quick-charging-2/

LG G4 – Leather back guidelines for safe usage – https://gavinsgadgets.com/2015/05/31/lg-g4-leather-back-guidelines-for-safe-usage/

LG G4 – Camera shots from today. Just wow – https://gavinsgadgets.com/2015/05/30/lg-g4-its-camera-is-so-good-shots-just-taken-today/

LG G4 – Black leather – whats in the UK retail box? – https://gavinsgadgets.com/2015/05/28/lg-g4-black-leather-unboxed-whats-in-retail-box/

LG G4 – Selection of 50 photos – https://gavinsgadgets.com/2015/05/28/lg-g4-a-selection-of-50-photos/