Category Archives: Tech News

Why do phone manufacturers ruin the new purchase experience?

Tech News

A rant.

Every time a new phone is released, manufacturers start to play games over supply and demand. Deals get struck over which option gets sold to a certain network or retailer. These are often called exclusives.

No phone company is exempt to this practise.

Apple – I am not aware in my lifetime of any Apple product launch where prior to launch supply is rumoured to be constrained. In the USA, sim free unlocked iPhones are not made available until months after its release. I hope the UK does not end up this way.

Xiaomi / OnePlus and similar – these companies use “a sale for a limited period technique”, often just a few hours to force you to buy while you can. OnePlus used an invite system to control supply and demand and in the process made many people angry.

Samsung UK – restricted supply of its S6 and S6 Edge. At launch, Samsung only sold the 32gb versions and then slowly released a few of the other styles. However, the green 128gb S6 Edge is still not available on the Samsung UK website, yet head over to Samsung Germany and its available. Samsung also restricted supply to third party online retailers including small and larger companies like Amazon and Clove Technology.

LG – The LG G4 is officially released on the 28th May 2015. It comes in all different finishes yet as it stands today in the UK, Carphone Warehouse has got the exclusive on the black leather G4 but will only sell it sim free. Other networks have exclusives on different finishes. In the USA, deals are being offered which include a 32gb micro SD card, a spare battery and battery charger.

Network Stores – Example – the Honor 6+ was a network exclusive at launch with Three UK. It was made available at launch on pay as you go for £299 plus a top up. Yet, as usual the stores tried initially to refuse to sell the phone this way, or force it on a contract. What should be a swift walk in walk out ends up being a drawn out affair with firm words being uttered to store staff. This situation is not exclusive to Three UK. If the phone is advertised on a networks website as available on pay as you go, then it should also be available in a store on the same basis.

I could go on.

Surely, phone manufacturers should make it as easy, quick and as friendly as possible for their ultimate customer, the consumer, to purchase the phone where, when and how they want. Instead, phone manufacturers sell direct to the networks or major distributors and treat those as the customer, meaning the real consumer can often get a poor buying experience or even worse be sold the wrong contract or not be able to purchase the phone in the finish/configuration of their dreams.

It’s time for change!

LG G4 – The Review updated plus All 15 Posts – Updated

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

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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. Once thing I have noticed with the G4 is its overnight battery strength which has been consistent. Generally on a 6 hours period overnight the battery drops from 100% to 98%, just a mere 2%. Its screen on time for a charge is 4 to 4.5 hours.

Anyway here are all the links to all the posts. The 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 – 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/

LG G4 – Shoot like a Pro – Some tips and examples

LG G4 – More Camera Samples – https://gavinsgadgets.com/2015/05/21/lg-g4-more-camera-samples/

LG G4 – Incredible action shots – https://gavinsgadgets.com/2015/05/19/lg-g4-camera-action-shots-wow/

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

Happy Families – Life on Dartmoor – View the photo featured by Flickr in Explore – https://gavinsgadgets.com/2015/05/17/taken-by-the-lg-g4-happy-families-life-on-dartmoor-and-now-featured-by-flickr/

LG G4 – Colour Spectrum Shots – https://gavinsgadgets.com/2015/05/16/lg-g4-colour-spectrum-sensor-camera-shots/

LG G4 – More camera shots – https://gavinsgadgets.com/2015/05/16/lg-g4-more-camera-shots-2/

LG G4 – Manual Mode at Night – https://gavinsgadgets.com/2015/05/15/lg-g4-manual-mode-camera-shots-at-night/

LG G4 – First looks at the camera – https://gavinsgadgets.com/2015/05/15/lg-g4-first-looks-at-the-camera/

LG G4 – The arrival – https://gavinsgadgets.com/2015/05/15/lg-g4-its-arrived/

LG G4 – Launch Report with First Impressions and Specific Testing – Video and Photos too – https://gavinsgadgets.com/2015/04/28/my-hands-on-with-the-lg-g4-plus-first-impressions/

Link to my LG G4 Flickr Album set with around 30 photos from the LG G4 – https://www.flickr.com/photos/gavinfabl100/sets/72157652876197995

LG G4 – Shooting in difficult conditions

Android, Reviews, Tech News,

Every time I take photos on the LG G4, I am simply amazed at the quality of the camera shots. The shot below was taken about over an hour ago, in crazy thick fog and rain.

First the original shot. Just look at how green the grass is and how in focus the Princetown sign has been processed.

Quick enter before village disappears #Princetown #Dartmoor #LGG4

And using VSCOcam and preset B1 to convert to black and white, you end up with a lovely moody shot.

Enter before village vanishes #Princetown #Dartmoor #LGG4 #B&W

What’s the point of Samsung Galaxy S6 Themes – themes omit features

Android, Tech News, ,

I was just changing themes around with my Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge and noticed when you apply any theme it kills off features.

Here’s the default theme.  Screen shot below.

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And now the BMW theme used as an example. Any theme could be used.

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Can you spot the differences ?

So far I can spot the default theme clock and calendar icons are actually active icons displaying the time and date.

Lets hope the themes get updated to provide this extra functionality.

Oppo PM-3 vs Oppo PM-2 Headphones – Decisions

Headphone, Reviews, Tech News, , ,

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On the left we have the Oppo PM-3 and on the right the Oppo PM-2 headphones.

I’m currently undertaking a comparison with these 2 amazing headphones. Whilst they share many technological firsts and both sound amazing, they are also different in their sound styles and price points.  The PM-2’s are double the cost of the PM-3’s and offer an open back construction for the ultimate sound performance. The PM-3’s are closed back to keep your music private to yourself.

A more detailed post will be upcoming in a few weeks with my comparison findings.

In the meantime you can read my individual reviews on each.

Oppo PM-3 Headphone review – click here.

Oppo PM-2 Headphone review – click here.

The Mountain Climb of a Lifetime

Tech News, , ,

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This is about my sister, Justine. She is about to attempt her hardest mental and physical challenging experience following her life as a double lung transplantee. This is no easy task even for a fit person. For Justine, she has hard to undergo a special training regime. This is made even harder as she still gets breathless and has other symptoms post transplant.

To find out more click here – https://www.justgiving.com/JUSTINE-LAYMOND5

This is her story –

“Raising money for To Transplant and Beyond.Cotopaxi Climb in Memory of our Donors.

Post transplant climb to highlight Organ Donation for To Transplant and Beyond because of new technologies like the Organ Care System

£1,030.85 Raised

£2,000.00 Target Required.

Story

After surviving one of the world’s rarest diseases, Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), enduring 15 lung collapses, 3 weeks in a coma. A further 2 months conscious on life support unable to eat,drink,communicate,  or walk. Then having to  learn how to walk again with a zimmaframe. Living for 6 months at Harefield Hospital, my life was saved after waiting 16 months for a double lung transplant July 9th 2006. 
I was no longer wheelchair dependant or relying on oxygen 24 hours a day.

I have been selected to be part of a heart /lung transplant team to climb an active volcano, Cotopaxi in Ecuador that stands at 5897m. It will be with a film crew as we embark to make history of a never before venture. The trip will be to raise awareness of Organ Donation. This climb will challenge me with its height, altitude and its temperature as well as being mentally challenging. 

I am raising funds to help for specialist clothing/kit, travel for both Scotland (training) and Ecuador. 

If I reach my target, excess monies will be used for the Royal Brompton & Harefield Hospital Charity to go towards an Organ Care System. This will reduce deterioration of heart and lungs during transportation , meaning increased chances of a successful transplantation  and fewer post operative complications. It also extends the transplantation window from the existing 3 hour limit to 8 hours therefore having the ability to save more lives as well as providing other  significant medical benefits

Many thanks for your support. Every penny helps. Much love. Justine xx

For me info and to help with a small donation click here – https://www.justgiving.com/JUSTINE-LAYMOND5

I’ve got the Power

Tech News

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The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge is the pinnacle of technology crammed into a crazy thin profile. It’s screen is far more powerful. In fact, I could have cranked the brightness up even further, but I wanted to give the Sony some advantage!

But here is the crazy thing. I keep using the Sony Z3 Compact. I prefer the sound quality via headphones, it has a FM Radio and a battery that lasts twice as long at least as the S6 Edge. It also has all the apps loaded just the same as the S6 Edge. It has my 128gb micro sd card installed, so has more music and photos loaded than the Samsung. And it is pocketable. The camera is poor in auto mode, so I just shoot everything in manual. And the results are ok and good enough for social media.

I also have the LG G4 which is fabulous with its lovely screen and camera and cracking audio quality. So where does this leave the S6 Edge? On a precarious position….. To be continued….

Photography by – Honor 4X

Sony Xperia Z3 Compact – my durable second phone just received another update OTA plus 1st Impressions

Android, Reviews, Tech News, , ,

A few weeks ago I picked up a Sony Xperia Z3 Compact on pay as you go at my local Vodafone store in Plymouth. It was on a special offer and was unlocked by the store before I left.

I have since fitted it with a front screen protector, bought a few magnetic to usb cables to charge it, and now have a superb terrapin hard soft to touch case cover for it. I also bought the special noise cancelling headphones to try out with Sony’s music app. My 128gb micro sd card is installed and this has 60gb of music on it along with a wide selection of my photos. 

Originally, my plan with the Z3 Compact was to review it and then sell it on. However, I find it one handed use and extremely pocketable size a joy. Add to the fact it is waterproof and dust proof, this is the phone I am now using when I go walking on Dartmoor. I use Viewranger GPS maps and the Z3 Compact is an ideal companion as the wet and windy and foggy conditions of Dartmoor are ideal for this phone. It also has 2 days battery use without even using any of the special power saving modes which extend it further. 

The Z3 Compact on paper has a 20.7mp rear camera. It’s pretty terrible in auto mode, so I have to use manual settings all the time. Fortunately, I can cope with this fairly easily, although the photos are still below par versus other smartphones. Regardless of the camera, this pocket rocket of a phone is wonderful. I will be writing my full review at some point too.

Anyway, the phone came with android lollipop out of the box. This morning it received an OTA update that took this phone to android 5.0.2. 

After the update, the next message I received was Google Play services had stopped. This is the lollipop memory bug, still present and dangerous!