Category Archives: Tech News

This is what Three UK calls an acceptable service – updated 4 times

Tech News

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My first title of the post was very rude so I changed it.

4-5 days and no network service by Three UK. Each call promises a fix that day or the day after.

Last night I received the above text. They are implying 7 DAYS IS ACCEPTABLE TO UPDATE ME ON THE PROBLEM.

ARE THREE UK THAT IGNORANT. No proper explanation. 

My wife, myself and my Gear S all have 3 UK contract sims. And the 12 month plans all expire in 5 days. 

Now what should I do? ???

Update – after speaking to Three again it is likely to take 7 days. So I asked the question “are the engineers really going to work on either Christmas Day or Boxing Day.” Answer “No”

Update 2 – So after 5 days plus no work has started as no health and safety certificate has been obtained. And the tweeted timeframe provided for fixing is not correct as ascertained later on. It’s 7 days plus to fix.

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Update 3 – PAC codes were promised to have arrived 2 hours ago. Guess what nothing has arrived yet. I’m keeping my options open at the moment but the longer this goes on …….

Update 4 – Three in Touch app is f**king useless so don’t bother suggesting using it. Why ? Calls over wifi are so bad even Three UK asked if I had a landline number they could call me back on! Texting. As I discovered I was in a different area last night at a work Xmas party. I had perfect 3 signal. But I couldn’t send my wife, also on 3, a text message because she was in an area without service. So that defeats the purpose of this app. I could text to a phone on a different network.

Samsung Gear S – standalone mode

Android, Reviews, Tech News, Wearables, ,

Yesterday it was my works Xmas party. So for once,  I left my Note Edge at home and used the Gear S as a phone that was independent of the Samsung Note Edge.

From my other post you will have read that 3 UK are without a network service within a 10 mile radius of my home address. I’m not sure how much of a battery drain this was on the Gear S,  as it did try to connect to the Note Edge and turn on call forwarding. This was not possible due to lack of service.

However,  and to my surprise any notification that arrived on the Note Edge using wifi got sent to the Gear S.  After 12 hours of using the Gear S you realise how many notifications you receive and perhaps it may be best to turn them all off. Receiving and not being able to reply really highlighted that I had too many notifications.  With the Gear S in independent mode,  you can call, text or email.  Using the Opera Mini Web browser you could respond to other services.

But what about battery life in this mode. 12 hours only versus 2 days when connected via Bluetooth to your samsung phone.

Apple lays down the law – and this is why apps looks so good on iOS

Apple, Tech News

Apple had already warned developers that from 1st February 2015 all new apps had to conform to 64 bit architecture and the iOS 8 rules. Now Apple goes one step further. From 1st June 2015 all app updates need to abide by the same rules.

It is this strict enforcement of the app store that helps iOS and Apple produce some of the best looking apps and highly functional with the latest hardware.

Samsung NotePro 12.2 – master 9 part review

Android, Reviews, Tech News, ,

Below are all the posts I’ve written about the Samsung NotePro 12.2 tablet. It is worth noting this can now be bought for £350 direct from Samsung. So it’s a lot of tablet for your money.

Before is a list all the review posts, but before that let me just give you a quick update on my current usage. Without a doubt the NotePro really needs touchwiz kicked off as fast as possible. I have even uninstalled Nova and now use the Google Now launcher which really spruces the speed up.  SwiftKey keyboard is also live now and this again makes a huge difference. I really am enjoying using this tablet.

Ok,  part 1 and onwards listed below.

First Impressions

Part 2

Part 3 and SideSync

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Samsung Note Edge – from dusk to darkness – camera shots

Android, Reviews, Tech News, ,

All the below shots were taken from dusk to darkness. The optical image stabilisation was probably working overtime. With more time with the camera, I am certain it will be possible to improve upon these shots.

Macro shot –

Pointed Wild Stuff #macro #atdusk #SamsungNoteEdge

Artistic Fern

Artistic Fern #lowlight #SamsungNoteEdge

Snow in Plymouth

Snow in Plymouth Devon #SamsungNoteEdge

Burrator Reservoir – Tricky as mist and dim lighting

Burrator Reservoir #SamsungNoteEdge #misty #atdusk

Padlock and Chain Macro

Chain and bolt #SamsungNoteEdge

Princetown, night shot and heavy fog. Camera really did well as the air was full of fog.

Heavy Fog and Night Light #SamsungNoteEdge #Princetown

If you want to see full resolution, just click on photo, and change size to full size.

Updated- Introducing the Playbulb Rainbow – kickstarter smart light bulb

Android, Apple, Tech News,

A while back I reviewed the original Mipow Playbulb and it was great fun with its built in speaker too. To recap on that review review click here.

Now Mipow are back with the Playbulb Rainbow using kickstarter.  Links to follow. In the meantime have a look at the other devices by Mipow. The kickstarter is now live. Click here https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mipowusa/playbulb-rainbow-stylish-smart-color-led-light-bul?ref=nav_search

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Mipow quote the Rainbow as –

“PLAYBULB rainbow body shape is a trapezoid. It is much slimmer than traditional light bulbs. The design idea behind PLAYBULB rainbow is to illustrate the refraction of sunlight ray entering a raindrop and eventually forming a rainbow.

Simply Install a Rainbow for a Brighter Penetration. 
The light filter of PLAYBULB rainbow is made of a PC layer, allowing a brighter and more colorful penetration of light beams from the LED chip. Also, PLAYBULB rainbow fits into standard E26/ E27 screw base as well as E40, E14 and B22 screw sockets. By using adapter, Edison Screw base can be converted into Bayonet base too. PLAYBULB rainbow is for all of us. ”

The other good news in their app will work for the other Playbulbs. In terms of compatibility –  all iOS devices that are running iOS version 7 or above, Android devices running Android 4.3 or above and both having Bluetooth® 4.0 or above. Sorry no windows phone support. The app allows all sorts of fancy options from shake, timers, and a colour wheel. The app can also control several Playbulbs.

According to Mipow the bulb also is energy saving too. The PLAYBULB rainbow is equal to 30 regular light bulbs as each PLAYBULB rainbow is optimized to a high energy efficiency. Each PLAYBULB rainbow is 5 watts at full power performing brightness with 280 lumens and 30,000 hours life time. While regular light bulb with around 300 lumen normally uses up 40 watts power with around 1000 hours lifetime.

Specification 
–

LEDs: Red, Green Blue & White LED Power: 5W LED Current: 0.4A Voltage: 110-240V ~ 50-60Hz Lumen: 280LM Lamp Holder: E26/ E27 Bluetooth®: Bluetooth® 4.0 & Bluetooth® Smart Wireless Range: 10M (33ft) Other Control: PLAYBULB X App Conrol. Support Devices: iPhone 4S or above, iPad 3 or above, iPod 5th generation or above (Running iOS7) and Android 4.3 or above (with Bluetooth® 4.0)

This is my sort of gadget ☺ so expect me to review one soon.

Below are a few examples of a room with the lights activated –

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Samsung Note Edge – how to get one for £665 sim free unlocked from Samsung UK online store

Android, Reviews, Tech News

We all know that the Samsung Note Edge is really expensive. Samsung’s online store in the UK requires £700, Carphone Warehouse  £749 or you can get some really expensive contract from the networks. The price will lower eventually but stock is apparently limited.

But you can buy it now for £665 direct from Samsung UK online store. You need to be on a home pc or mac. Make sure blocking pop ups is turned off. Get to the product page of the Note Edge. Leave the page open for 10-15 minutes. Then slowly with your mouse go to move it towards the “x” to close Web page. Slowly! As you do a popup will appear offering you 5% off code if you give Samsung your email address. And voila. A code is sent.

Simple. Be patient if you can’t get it to work first time. I assure you it does work!

Hopefully there might be other offers over the Xmas period too.