Category Archives: Reviews

Today’s Top 12 IFA 2014 & Apple News, Announcements and Rumours

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Here we go again. It’s been a busy few days and is likely to explode soon.

1) Sony are teasing with the below video. But look carefully there are lots of clues. 3 new devices. Z3 Compact tablet, Z3 and Z3 Compact phones.

2) Dyson, yes Dyson has a big launch on 4th September. This new product has taken 16 years to develop, 200 engineers and a £28m investment. Maybe a robotic Hoover controlled via your smartphone? Below is the video teaser from Dyson.

3) iPhone news – via Wired.com – the next iPhone will have a payments solution that will incorporate NFC technology.

4) Nokia are about to launch HERE Maps for Samsung Gear smart watches. The official announcement will be later today.

5) Huawei Ascend Mate 7 – leaked photo below.
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This is a 6 inch phone, with thin bezels and a 13mp camera. Source Weibo via GSM Arena.

6) The Samsung Galaxy Alpha is available for pre order now in the UK ahead of the smartphone’s expected launch of September 10th. The Carphone Warehouse joins EE, Phones 4u and Clove by kicking off the ability to pre-order the new smartphone. Clove link http://www.clove.co.uk/samsung-galaxy-alpha

7) Apple goes official with the 9th. If you look closely at the invite below there are several clues hidden away. The event will take place at 10:00 AM Pacific Time at the Flint Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of De Anza College in Cupertino. Expect the new iPhone 6 and wearables from Apple to be announced. However, the latest rumour suggests there is no 5.5 inch iPhone.

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8) Continuing the Apple Event, it has been noted that a large 3 storey building is being built at the Flint Center. Should be a lot of new hardware inside!

9) LG’s new round smartwatch will cost 299 euros.

10) Food for Thought. Samsung Gear S smart watch has identical specs to an iPhone 4S except the storage. The Gear S only has 4gb storage, whereas the 4S has 8gb. Just shows you what a feat of engineering Samsung has achieved, unless of course Apple show the world what really can be done.

11) Apple updates iOS 8 terms and conditions. Disallows developers to sell health kit data.

12) Google releases info on Project Wing.
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Google has built and tested autonomous aerial vehicles, which it believes could be used for goods deliveries.The project is being developed at Google X, the company’s clandestine tech research arm, which is also responsible for its self-driving car.Project Wing has been running for two years, but was a secret until now.Google said that its long-term goal was to develop drones that could be used for disaster relief by delivering aid to isolated areas. More info at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-28964260

Samsung announces the Gear S – A Curved Smart Watch with 3G

Android, Reviews, Wearables

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Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today unveiled the Samsung Gear S, the next generation smart wearable device that expands the smartphone experience to the wrist. The new Samsung Gear S delivers an up-to-date smart wearable experience with 3G connectivity and wearable optimised features to meet the evolving needs of consumers.

The Samsung Gear S features a 2-inch curved Super AMOLED display, providing a richer view with a beautiful and easy-to-use user interface. It allows users to read messages and notifications at a single glance with features such as conversation view and condensed font. The Samsung Gear S’s chic, curved design fits comfortably around the contours of the wrist, while its customizable screen options and changeable straps empower users to express their own taste and style.

The Samsung Gear S extends its communication capabilities to include 3G as well as Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity, allowing users to stay informed with seamless notifications from social networks, calendars and applications even when away from their phone. It lets users to instantly reply to incoming messages using the onscreen keyboard, or utilize enhanced S voice functionality to ensure tasks can be completed immediately. Finally, with Samsung Gear S, people can seamlessly make and receive calls directly from their wrist, or get calls forwarded from their smartphones.

The Samsung Gear S allows consumers to control how they want to connect, switching easily between 3G and Bluetooth connections, and automatically synchronizing information when paired to a smartphone.

The Samsung Gear S provides easy access to relevant information through essential widgets and combined notification boards. Its powerful features include turn-by-turn pedestrian navigation provided by HERE, a 24-hour news and views service from The Financial Times ‘fastFT’, works together with advanced-reading technology from Spritz, and the ability to see and respond to important social notifications instantly with Facebook. Together, these features allow users to be live and actionable while on the go.
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​The Samsung Gear S is also a perfect health and fitness companion with more enhanced multi-sensors, built-in GPS, and robust S Health features. In addition, applications such as Nike+ Running allow users to track their runs and stay motivated while on the move, without their smartphone.

Samsung Gear S Product Specifications –

– Network -900/2100 or 850/1900 (3G) 900/1800 or 850/1900 (2G)
– Display -2.0” Super AMOLED (360 x 480)
– APDual core 1.0 GHz OS
– Tizen based wearable platform
– Audio Codec: MP3/AAC/AAC+/eAAC+ Format: MP3, M4A, WMA, AAC, OGG
– Features Communications: – 2G, 3G Call, Bluetooth Call
– Contacts, Notifications, Messages, Emails, QWERTY Keyboard
– Health & Fitness: – S Health, Nike+ Running
– Information:- Schedule, News, Navigation, Weather
– Media:- Music Player, Gallery
– Others:
– S Voice, Find My Device, Power Saving Mode IP67 Certified Dust and Water Resistant
– Samsung Services
– Samsung Gear Apps
– Connectivity WiFi: 802.11 b/g/n, A-GPS/Glonass Bluetooth®: 4.1 USB: USB 2.0
– Sensor Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Compass, Heart Rate, Ambient Light, UV, Barometer
– Memory
– RAM: 512MB Storage: 4GB Internal Memory
– Dimension 39.8 x 58.3 x 12.5T
– Battery 300mAh Li-ion
– Typical Usage 2days

This looks like a solid offering from Samsung, just a shame it runs Tizen and not Android Wear.

Top 15 IFA 2014 announcements from the Tech World and news on the iPhone 6 & iWatch

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Update from yesterday’s post.

1) LG announces full details on their new upcoming round smart watch. The model number is LG-W110. This won’t be available until October. It sure looks hot. Specs include a 1.2ghz Snapdragon 400, 1.3 inch P-OLED 320 x 320 screen (plastic organic LED), 4gb storage, 512 ram, 410maH battery, 9 Axis for the sensors (Gyro/ Accelerometer/ Compass), Barometer, PPG, IP67, heart rate monitor and running android wear. The strap is leather. The P-OLED display is important as it covers 100% of the display. The Moto 360 doesn’t. The display also works perfectly under bright sunlight according to LG.And being IP67 means it can be submerged underwater at to a metre in depth for 30 minutes. So far this is the watch to get out of all that have been announced. And it features a stainless steel frame and will be offered with an interchangeable 22mm calf skin leather strap.

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2) ARCHOS announces the 40 Cesium Smartphone – Windows Phone 8.1 budget phones, ultra-clear 4-inch screen. Available in September for only £79, the ARCHOS 40 Cesium is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 Quad Core processor and comes with three coloured back cases – yellow, blue and black. Only good point is a LED notification.
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3) The iPhone 6 will have a new rounded true tone flash.

4) DropBox slashes its prices to remain competitive along with new features. Dropbox Pro now costs $9.99 a month for 1 terabyte of storage. You also have the ability to share links with password protection, to share links that expire on a certain date, and to share some files in “read-only” mode. Pro users also get the ability to remotely wipe a lost or missing device.

5) The new Nexus X (not Nexus 6) details have been revealed. a 5.2 inch screen, massive Snapdragon 805, 13mp camera, processor running at 2.7ghz, running android v5.0. The 64gb version retail price is around £360. Makes a mockery of the iPhone pricing! Source – http://lowdown.carphonewarehouse.com/just-in/motorola-nexus-x-price-and-specs-leak/

6) WSJ reports investors willing to pay $10 billion for Snapchat. No wonder Snapchat turned down Google’s $3 billion offer.

7) Amazon’s new purchase Twitch is suffering an online attack by a group called Lizard Squad.

8) Seagate announces world first 8 TB hard drive. Only for commercial customers which is a shame. I would kill for an 8 TB drive!

9) BlackBerry Khan – this is the code name for the new high end BlackBerry Porsche phone. Likely to cost $2,000. New specs reveal it should have 3GB RAM, a Dual-core 1.7GHz CPU, 64GB of storage and a 3.5 inch touchscreen. Clearly there is a market for this high end BlackBerry.

10) Kobo announces its new Aura H20 ereader, which is certified to be able to spend up to 30 minutes in one meter of water, making it ideal to use at the beach or in the bath or more. The device has 265 dpi e-ink technology, the highest resolution currently available in an e-reader, a 6.8 inch anti-glare touchscreen and the price will be £140 in the UK

11) Sennheiser have announced the CX 1.00, 2.00, 3.00 and 5.00. The new CX buds come with red, white or black cables and sport the Sennheiser logo on the exterior. Clearly taking on Beats Audio with the colour scheme. The CX 3.00 are likely to cost around £45. They do look good. The CX 5.00 adds a 3 button remote with mic.
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12) According to John Paczkowski at re/code, Apple’s reported September 9 event for the new iPhone will also see the launch of Apple’s first wearable. Apparently, Apple will reinvent the smart watch.

13) Pandora has been given approval for use on Google Glass

14) Sony’s new Z3 Compact Tablet will be an IPS Panel. No more shatter protectors.

15) View your twitter stats – head over to analytics.twitter.com . The dashboard should now be open to every account that has been open for at least 14 days, isn’t restricted/protected/suspended, and (curiously) that primarily tweets in English, French, Japanese, or Spanish.

16) Samsung announces the Gear S Smartwatch (see dedicated post) and Samsung Gear Circle. The Circle is a dedicated bluetooth headset.
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17) Jabra has announced new wireless in-ear fitness headphones that aim to give you a full training solution with Dolby Digital Plus sound, in-ear heart rate monitor and Sport Life App. The Jabra Sport Pulse uses standard Bluetooth connectivity and NFC, connecting to your smartphone for music and phone calls, but also to its Sport Life App.The app, which Jabra says can be integrated with existing fitness apps, can track your fitness level, consumed calories, distance, speed, pace, heart rate, heart rate zone and work-out times. The app also includes activity-based training, pre-defined training programs, interval training, zone training and target pace training.

ViewRanger – one cool piece of software

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

Viewranger GPS Trails and Maps is a cool app that will probably soon rank as my favourite app ever.
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Above screen shot shows a track route that I walked and then shared. When the recipient opens the link the above is what they will see. They can also change the map overlay from Open Street Map to a number of drop down menu options and even change miles to kilometres. If you want to see the above shared map on your own computer or mobile phone then click below –

“I’m sharing my #walking trip with you. Total distance 1.52mi, http://my.viewranger.com/track/details/MTA4MjA1OA== . Via @ViewRanger”

ViewRanger is the complete offline mapping, navigation & guided trail service for Outdoor Enthusiasts. The app & free web tools will help you at every stage of your adventure, so it’s easy to plan trips, gives you peace of mind when you’re out on the trail and helps you to store & share your experiences. Perfect for exploring mountain ranges or simply days out in the countryside. In my case, ideal for exploring Dartmoor and the coastal paths.

ViewRanger was voted as one of the best apps in 2013 on “Google Play” .Used & trusted by over 150 Search & Rescue teams across Europe and the North America. And after using the app, I can see why this software is used by the search and rescue teams.

Now ViewRanger is just a glance away on Android wearables.
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FEATURES INCLUDED
● GPS mapped location, even without mobile signal
● Offline map mode* – store in advance using “Create Saved Map”
● Access to 10,000’s of route guides and trails
● Track recording – view your path on map to keep or share, even add Flickr photos
● Sports computer stats – view distance, speed, etc.
● Real time location sharing** – BuddyBeacon (requires data connection)
● Active Route Navigation***
● Powersave mode in the GPS settings
● Synchronises with web account for route planning, publishing and sharing.(http://my.viewranger.com)
● Share tracks via Facebook and Twitter
● Record a track, navigate and view track stats on Android Wear™
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FREE MAPS INCLUDED
● OpenStreetMap© & OpenCycleMap
● Bing Ariel Imagery, Ski map, Transport map
● GB Road Atlas from Ordnance Survey at 1:250.000, map for England, Wales & Scotland
Download Great Britain Ordnance Survey Explorer 1:25,000 & Landranger 1:50,000 maps via in-app purchase (ViewRanger Store). Licensed maps from other national mapping agency’s are also available for over 21 countries.

Below are some screen shots from the ViewRanger store giving you a tiny insight into the maps available. The app is free to download, and as mentioned above a number of the maps are free too. But the detailed Ordnance Survey maps are chargeable but well worth it if you walk off road.

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There are many ways to search for a map type, by country, type and so on.

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The track that I shared above provides the additional data as shown above and below. You can also see the detailed OS map screen shots below.

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In use you can zoom in and out with ease. In fact there are many options including a live buddy share when walking.

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Another screen shot providing information on the route.

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I am only just beginning to learn how to use this app and service, but so far have been blown away at just how useful it is. For the first time, I have real time information on my Dartmoor wilderness walks.

The app is available on iOS and android. It is also available on Symbian but not on Windows Phone. I have tested the app on my LG G3 and my wife’s iPhone 5S. Very impressive on both.

Links –

Google Play store – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.augmentra.viewranger.android

Apple App Store – https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/viewranger-outdoors-gps-os/id404581674?mt=8

LG Slim Guard Case for the LG G3 – review

Android, Reviews, Tech News, ,

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I finally managed to get hold of the official LG Slim Guard Case for the LG G3. This is the version for the G3 D855 not G3 F400. I will start by showing you some photos of the case.

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And now with the case side by side with the original back so you can get a sense of the depth and size difference. The Slim Guard case does have the Qi charging built in which means no loss of signal when using this method to charge.

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So what does the case look like fitted. Below are 3 photos.

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And finally one last shot of the case fitted next to the original back.

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So you’ve seen all the photos but what is the case like. Well first up I’ve been waiting for over a month for this to arrive. It has been massively delayed and I had high hopes for this case by LG. When I first opened it out of the wrapping I was disappointed. The entire case is a form of plastic even the edges which look like rubber. The rubber is just for effect. It is the same plastic. In terms of protection the sides of the case add for an extra ridge to grip. The back is matt and perforated. It is slightly grippier but I felt it was still not grippier enough. It clearly would offer more protection if you dropped the phone but not as much as a £5 silicone case. The disadvantage of using an add on case is that the Qi charging may not work but your phone is better protected.

You can now buy replacement original back covers for £17 on eBay. This Slim Guard case cost £21. It adds extra depth and bulk and takes away the beauty of the phone. Also due to the added depth, it is not as easy to wrap your hand around so you could end up dropping it. So the original shiny back can be held more securely as you can get more of your hand around it. So my thoughts are if I dropped it I could just spend another £17 and get a replacement back. That’s assuming it is the back that is broken. The slim guard case does offer a tiny amount of front screen protection but not enough in my book. The lip needed to be greater.

This is not a clear winner. There are pro and cons. At the moment I cannot decide whether to keep it on or just go naked with the original stunning design of the G3.

Update – since writing the above review I have found the Slim Guard case to be definitely grippier in real life outdoor situations and to offer better protection. It still is not perfect, but it is the slimmest case solution available.

Gav & Dave’s Tech Podcast is now live – Please RT

Amazon, Android, Apple, Reviews, RIM, 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 22 is now live for your listening pleasure.

FIGHT – AKG K845 vs Philips M1BT vs Sennheiser Momentums Over The Ear Headphones

Reviews, Tech News

The AKG K845, Philips M1BT and Sennheiser Momentums are all £250 headphones. The Sennheiser are the only ones that do not have bluetooth. You have to connect using a wire. So below are my views on each 3 and hopefully a winner will be chosen at the end.

AKG K845 – reviewed a few days ago. Link https://gavinsgadgets.wordpress.com/2014/08/12/akg-k845-bluetooth-headphone-review/ From my review in terms of sound quality these are by far the winner. They are superior to both the Sennheiser Momentums and Philips M1BT. In terms of practicality and features, this is where the K845’s lose points and ends up in second place.

Philips M1BT – reviewed yesterday. Link https://gavinsgadgets.wordpress.com/2014/08/13/philips-m1bt-headphone-review/ In terms of sound quality they offer a fun, warm, punchy, forward and slightly coloured sound, but end up in 3rd place. In terms of practicality and features, the M1BT is the winner.

Sennheiser Momentums – warm, punchy sound, not as good as the AKG K845 but slightly ahead of the Philips M1BT. So second place on sound quality. But the difference between the M1BT is very marginal and nearly a draw, but I decided to give 2nd place to the Sennheisers. In terms of practicality and features, the Momentums do have a hard carry case but ultimately do not have all the freedom bluetooth provides so come in third place.

So if we score the headphones with first place offering 3 points in each category, 2nd 2 points and 1 point for coming last, below is the final scoring.

AKG K845 – 4 points
Philips M1BT – 4 points
Sennheiser Momemtums – 3 points

So there we have it, a tie between the AKG K845 vs Philips M1BT. It is worth noting that all 3 headphones are 5 star award winners and whilst the official retail pricing is £250 for each, the pricing does vary from time to time, with discounts of £80 or more available.

So have you used or owned any of the above headphones? If so what are your views?

Philips M1BT Headphone review

Reviews, Tech News

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Yesterday, I reviewed the AKG K845 bluetooth headphones. Link https://gavinsgadgets.wordpress.com/2014/08/12/akg-k845-bluetooth-headphone-review/ The K845’s do not have the latest bluetooth codecs or even APT-X. But these award winning Philips M1BT have all the mod cons and specs from Bluetooth v4.0 and APT-X. They also at launch cost the same as the K845’s at around £250. And the M1BT are 5 star Award Winners from What HiFi.

First up let’s cover off the official specs –

– TYPE – Over-ear (Closed)
– FREQUENCY RESPONSE 15 Hz -24hz
– NOISE ISOLATION
– Micro USB, 3.5mm stereo,
– Wireless INLINE CONTROLS
– Impedance 16 ohms
– Sensitivity107 dB
– Total harmonic distortion 0.1%
– In the box, pouch, headphones, audio cable and usb cable
– Minimum 10 hours of music time or talk time
– Minimum 350 hours of standby time
– Normal time for a full charge: 3 hours
– Bluetooth 4.0, Bluetooth mono support Headset Profile – HSP, Hands-Free Profile – HFP, Bluetooth stereo supported(Advanced Audio Distribution Profile A2DP; Audio Video Remote Control Profile – AVRCP)
– Operating range: Up to 15 meters (50 feet)
– Digital echo & noise reduction
– Supports SBC, AAC and aptX® audio
– Auto power off

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The M1BT are very different from the AKG’s in every way possible. First the sit on your ears and are comfortable even for long listening periods. They also offer every option possible in terms of control. So from the headphones, you can increase or decrease volume, skip or forward music tracks, accept or reject calls, switch caller during a call, mute the call and power off. And the controls on the headphones are so easy to use as the controls are easily identifiable by touch alone as they are contoured differently. Also you get a battery level indicator on your smartphone status bar.

The M1BT’s being more compact are easier to travel with plus you don’t look like you have a battleship on your head. Also, when the battery dies, you can connect the audio cable and continue to listen to your music.

So what do the M1BT’s sound like. These headphones are not studio quality but warm with bass everywhere. They are not the finest word is accuracy but nonetheless do a good job. They are also provide a forward sound, quite fun at times and are able to go loud quickly. Vocals were clear with some added bass. I played a number of genres through these headphones and they coped really well. From classical, jazz, blues, dance, rock and pop. I will be honest, at first I did not like what I was hearing as the sound was somewhat coloured and slightly heavier on the bass. But after a while, I really began to enjoy listening to these headphones. Plus the ease of changing tracks, good call quality made up for some of its shortcomings.

But if I can leave you with one takeaway on these headphones. Despite the warm, bassy and slightly coloured sound, on my first extended listen I fell asleep on the sofa listening to my tunes. No other headphone has achieved that!