Category Archives: Tech News

Home screen options on the Samsung Note 4 – Touchwiz vs Nova

Android, Reviews, Tech News,

Many people don’t like Touchwiz on Samsung phones due to the lag it often introduces. On the Note 4 there really isn’t any lag. Below are 2 setups on my Note 4. First up are screen shots using Touchwiz. Then from Nova Launcher. Whenever you use a third party launcher you lose some of widgets like the monthly calendar and location widgets shown below that I really like.

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The above screen is a left swipe on the Touchwiz home screen. You don’t get this when using Nova Launcher. Now below is Nova Launcher.

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So which style do you prefer?

Yotaphone 2 – Review

Android, Reviews, Tech News,

Clove Technology have reviewed already the new Yotaphone 2, the phone with 2 sides. One is a normal 1080p panel and the other an electronic paper display like that used in some ereaders. Watch the video review below and decide is this something you would pay £550.

I’ve not used or seen the phone yet but I would have concern about scratching one of the screens whilst resting the other down, even though both are protected by gorilla glass 3. The internal hardware specs aren’t special. 2 days battery life is nothing unusual if you have a Sony device like a Z3 or a Samsung Note 4.

Until I actually spent time I won’t pass final judgement but it certainly is unusual. What do you think?

North Korea hacked Sony

Tech News

“Sony Pictures will officially name North Korea as the source of a hacking attack that has exposed sensitive files and brought down its corporate network last week, two sources close to the investigation tell Re/code. An announcement could come as soon as today.” Via recode.net

This was another serious hack for Sony, but one which will have financial consequences as well as many other issues. Would you give your details to Sony now? And judging buy the number of other major companies that have been compromised recently is any of your data safe in the cloud or with any corporation?

Maybe good old pen and paper will make a major comeback.

Is the Samsung Gear S smartwatch pointless, genius or something else?

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

Let’s look at some evidence.

From Samsung Tomorrow they explain the lengths Samsung went to design the Gear S and its intelligent design, prowess and usefulness.

A quote ” This was the first time a wearable device offered such connectivity. And as the Gear S is significantly smaller than smartphones, Samsung engineers had to get creative to fit the necessary components and modules into the device. For example, to implement notification features on wearables, Samsung had to use its own relay server. This relay server would facilitate forwarding of notifications from smartphones to the Gear S ”

From Engadget’s Review of the Gear S

Quote “Samsung Gear S review: an ambitious and painfully flawed smartwatch” I always wonder whether these big sites can get a proper appreciation of a product after a few days!

And yet below is a video from Motorola showing why you need the Moto 360. It’s quite funny and only 15 seconds. But if that is why you buy an android wear watch then it truly is a pointless product at the moment and the video sort of highlights it’s current limited use.

So here I am nearly one month later with my Gear S. And as far as I am concerned it is still the best smart watch for me out there currently. It is not waiting on any updates to add extra functionality. It does everything as advertised. Android Wear is too much version one and unfinished. The Gear S is an excellent fitness device. It is also a phone, music player. Maintains an easy to find list of notifications. Allows replies to emails and texts either with a Samsung phone connected or without. And the remote feature works so well. I have apps that are useful to use on a small screen. Plus it’s not dependent on your voice due to the on screen keyboard. I also think it looks great. Now if you don’t agree I understand 🙂

Blog Updates

Tech News

Due to illness, there has not been any updates. This will hopefully resume in the next few days.

Update 3rd December – thanks to everyone for their get well wishes on the comments here, Google+, twitter and via email.

I’m back! Not 100% better but not in the land of Zombies anymore. And my voice is coming back. It’s still husky though.

Headphone reviews upcoming – The Future Headphone vs Granny

Amazon, Android, Apple, Blackberry, Reviews, Tech News, Wearables, Windows

Headphones. There are plenty of headphones reviews on Gavin’s Gadgets. I  have used many and many others which I have not reviewed, so happy to share an opinion if I can. Headphone reviews saved under reviews accessories.

But this is now the 21st century.  And there is a new breed of headphone. What happens when you take hi tech to the limit. Headphones with sensors. Headphones that talk in your language. Headphones with the latest codecs.  Headphones with upgradeable firmware. 24 hour battery life. Cable or without. Headphones that think. This must be an item of science fiction. Or is it?

And then let’s take a headphone of a few years back. Now reduced in Black Friday sales costing around £19.99. It’s basic , looks old hat but can looks be deceiving ?

Not a fair comparison. Ok so let’s add a few more headphones into the mix.

Coming soon The OAPS fight Tron.

OnePlus One – Quick impressions

Reviews, Tech News,

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So yesterday I got to spend some time with my friends OnePlus One. You can now buy the 16gb version from a buyer that’s fulfilled by Amazon all for £259. Amazon link. Note the 64gb is not Prime or fulfilled by Amazon. My friend was gloating as he changed from his LG G2 to this phone.

It’s a 16Gb Chinese version with CM11S loaded on: – http://www.gizchina.com/2014/06/12/differences-international-chinese-oneplus-one/

The OS didn’t have OTA enabled, so you will need to download the 33R “signed flashable zip” to the device from:-
https://forums.oneplus.net/threads/official-cm11s-download-links.141825/

Then enable “Developer Options” and check “Advanced reboot”. Reboot into “Recovery”, selected “Flash Update”, selected the download on the device and flash. After loaded on, the OTA updates will keep coming until flowed you reach the current 44S versions (4.4.4). The 4.4.2 version that was on initially was stable.

Should you have to do all of the above. Not at all. I reckon OTA updates were disabled as there were some buggy releases. Did I like the invite system. No it was pathetic. However, moving all the above to one side the OnePlus One is a very nice phone. Comfortable to hold in one hand due to the grippy and weighty curved back. Heck even the 1080p screen was good. There is no memory card so really 64gb would be preferable.  In fact in the white finish I really wanted to take my friends phone away for my own use. 

But, it’s £258 which whilst it sounds cheap, for £42 more it is possible to buy the LG G3 with all its bells and whistles. So which do you choose?

 

Updated – All the latest phones, wearables & accessories reviewed plus 23 camera phone comparison

Android, Apple, Blackberry, Reviews, Tech News, Wearables, Weather, Windows

There has been a lot of content published on Gavin’s Gadgets recently.

Below are all the direct links to all the goodness.

1) 23 Smartphone Camera comparison including Note 4, LG G3, iPhone 6 Plus and more. Click here.

2) Massive 10 to 31 part reviews of all the latest smartphones including Note 4, LG G3, BlackBerry Passport, Apple iPhone 6 Plus, HTC One M8 and 18 more covering all platforms. Click here.

3) Detailed reviews of all the hottest wearables including Samsung Gear S, Gear Fit, Gear 2 Neo, LG G Watch R and the original G Watch and not forgetting the Pebble. Click here.

4) 50 Reviews covering wireless and clip on cameras, app enabled accessories,  headphones, amps, DACS, cables and tech gloves. Click here.

5) My podcast “Gav & Dave’s Tech Podcast” Click here.

Gavin’s Gadgets – The Future

Tech News,

It’s been nearly 2 years since I started Gavin’s Gadgets.

In 2 years I have posted every day. You will see from my other post today there is tons of content held within this blog of mine. 

In fact I have written 3,000 posts. Reviewed 80 devices/accessories. 

You will also see there is no advertising. This is achieved by paying WordPress an annual charge to remove the adverts. I do not get paid to write any of the content. I have a donation link in the menu and a few very kind people have donated.

It now gets to the point where I need to try and look at ways of monetarising my blog. Options include advertising and sponsorship. However, I don’t want to resort to advertising as some of the adverts WordPress include can be off putting. Donating is another option. If you are able to help with a donation of any amount then please send it via PayPal to gavinfabl at Gmail dot com.

I have a few other ideas of what I could change but I would be interested to know what you would like to see and read, or if you have any ideas which may help.