Category Archives: Tech News

AKG K845 Bluetooth Headphone review

Reviews, Tech News

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Above is a photo of the AKG K845 bluetooth headphones. These are full size over the ears. Just in the photo you can see the Philips M1BT bluetooth headphones as a size comparison. The review will be live tomorrow for these, plus on Thursday my thoughts on which one is best. To give some perspective, both of these headphones went on sale at £250 and both are What HiFi 5 star award winners.

Anyway, today is all about the AKG K845’s. so let’s cover off the specs-

-Driver 50 mm
-Frequency Response 20-20 kHz
-Maximum Input Power 50 mW
-Input Impedance 32 ohms
-Sensitivity 102 dB SPL/V
-Cable 1.20 m
-Connector 3.5mm jack
-Weight 288 g
-Colour Black
-Battery Playback – 8 hours
-Bluetooth v3.0
-Basic inline controls for volume, calls, music play or pause

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The first thing you will notice when you take the K845’s out of the box, is how large they are. But they do have 50mm drivers and protein leather ear cushions which in my listeners test are very comfortable regardless as to how long you use them. Apart from Bluetooth, NFC is present to help pair them, although I never once used this feature. It was simply easier to pair the old fashioned way. The headphones do fold flat to help with portability, but they do not compact down any further. The headphones are a closed back design with an emphasis on bass. Note these are not bass heavy sounding cans, more studio like sounding with that sudden rumble when the music includes the bass. I will come back to the sound in a minute.

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If you cannot work out which side is left or right AKG have you covered as shown above. A simple idea that works. The AKG K845’s can be used via bluetooth but once the battery goes flat you can connect the included 3.5mm audio cable. In the box the only other item included is a usb cable for charging. There is no pouch or protective case. If you buy the Sennheiser Momentums these come is a hard case, ideal if you travel a lot.

So lets get the key stuff out of the way first. These headphones do not have the high quality codec APT-X. For some people this will mean excluding these from any short list. Let me say this just once. DON’T. The AKG K845’s do not have APT-X yet will wipe the floor with every headphone I have listened to so far that does have the APT-X codec, at lower, same and high price points. The AKG’s wiped the floor with the Sennheiser Momentums in terms of sound quality. The Momentums are far more stylish and practical as more compact and come with a hard travel case.

In terms of bluetooth functionality, the K845’s only come with v3. That means no bluetooth battery icon on your phone’s status bar. Another disappointment is the lack of bluetooth controls. You only have volume up/down and music play/pause. There is no previous or next track options. You can obviously take a call on these headphones, and the voice aspect is satisfactory.

I mentioned at the start that the sound is gear towards a studio quality with a slight bass slant. And that is exactly how I would describe them. High quality sound, precise, non coloured with some oomph as the track requires. The bass is discreet. These don’t pump bass out but when the bass is present it is a joy. It is authoritative, precise and accurate and a joy. I have owned the K551 which are bass neutral. I so much prefer the K845 sound. And here is the stickler. Amazon had the Sennheiser Momentums Over the Ears on offer, so I bought a pair of these wired cans expecting them to white wash the AKG’s but to my surprise this did not happen. The K845’s in bluetooth or wired mode just obliterated the Sennheisers.

The K845’s can rock out at high volumes. Classical, jazz, rock, blues, pop and dance all sound amazing. For a pair of closed headphones, the soundstage is wide. The mid and treble are precise and inspiring at times.
The detail these headphones can produce is fantastic. Truly a surprise. And they have speed, so rock tracks excel.

So in summary, they are comfortable, massive (so you might look odd walking on the streets with these), lack all the whizz bang bluetooth specs but sound excellent. A studio quality sound, precise, detailed, wide soundstage and with some enhanced bass, often at the sub level, but never in your face.

If you want to check out some of my other headphone reviews click here https://gavinsgadgets.wordpress.com/reviews-accessories/ . If you have any questions, please ask. I have used a vast number of cans.

Apple Maps apparently dominating over Google Maps in the UK

Tech News

EE, the U.K. mobile network operator that is the merging of Orange and T-Mobile, released a new report on its 4G mobile networks today that shows Apple Maps is quickly outpacing Google Maps on mobile, despite only beginning to capture marketshare at the end of 2012.

“Traffic on the new Apple Maps now represents 70% of mapping traffic on the 4G network, from 60% in the second half of 2013, taking market share from Google maps, which is down 7ppts. This difference is even more marked over 3G where Apple Maps is up 19ppts and Google Maps is down 15ppts.”

My only observation is that EE is the last network I would personally use for data due to the cost and limited allowances. Maybe we need to see the same but for the other networks especially Three UK to get some form of balance.

Do specs matter – In particular processors?

Android, Apple, Tech News, Windows,

You looking at your 2 year old smartphone and wondering why should you buy the newer model. It claims to have a new snapdragon 801, or 800 or if you’re lucky the snapdragon 805, bigger battery, better screen and high mega pixel camera and so on.

But do these improved specs matter? Depending on what and how you use your phone, they may make no difference whatsoever. But a more powerful processor can make a world of difference depending on your smartphone usage.

Newer processor aren’t all about being more powerful unless you’re into gaming. They have many other benefits too. Battery consumption generally improves as the newer processors can handle more tasks more efficiently and also run at a lower clock speed for more mundane activities.

But another aspect of more powerful processors on board relate to improved camera prowess. Historically cameras are all about decent optics with big bulky lenses, pixel size and speed. This is still true for now, but as technology improves processors can start to remove the need for complex optics since brute computing power undertaking at lightning speeds will be able to produce similar results without the bulk. So a snapdragon 800 processor will not be able to offer the same camera trickery as the newer snapdragon 805. So it photography is your thing , then this may be worth noting. Obviously, well written camera firmware and software is another vital part.

However, if photos are merely uploaded to Twitter, Facebook or Instagram or anything similar, then a cheap Moto E phone will suffice and all internal specs will be irrelevant to you.

So do you worry about the specs?

Is this the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 – photos

Android, Tech News

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GSMArena has acquired photos purporting to be that of the upcoming Note 4. They seem to take a design clue from the Samsung Galaxy Alpha. Either way if these photos are legit, the Note 4 doesn’t seem to be that appealing or that much different from the Note 3. In fact, I prefer the fake stitched leather of the Note 3.

Fortunately, we are only a few weeks away from Samsung officially taking the wraps of this phablet.

Reviews this week – AKG K845 & Philips M1BT Headphones

Tech News, ,

Just a quick heads up.

Both the AKG K845 and Philips M1BT Bluetooth headphones reviews will be live this week.

Then these 2 cans go in the ring for the Bluetooth headphone fight.

The AKG headphones do not have APT-X whereas the Philips have the latest of everything including APT-X. So which headphone wins?

Find out soon on Gavins Gadgets.

Just how popular is Netflix in the UK ? More than you imagine!

Tech News,

According to the Telegraph, Netflix now has a penetration of more than one in 10 households who have joined the film and television streaming service and signals an acceleration in take-up over the last 12 months. It places the company well ahead of its nearest direct rival, Amazon, particularly among young viewers who are believed to perceive an extra ‘cool’ factor around Netflix.

Netflix is said to have over 3 million subscribers. It means around an extra 1.5 million households have joined Netflix in the last year. The acceleration has come alongside a pair of television series hits that are exclusive to Netflix in the UK:- Breaking Bad and the remake of House of Cards.

It has also been driven by a wholesale deal Netflix signed with Virgin Media in September, which has made easily available on the main television in 3.7 million households as part of a cable subscription. It is expected that the service will get another boost later in the year when it is made available on YouView set-top boxes provided by BT and TalkTalk, which are in more than a million living rooms.

The increasing popularity of Netflix could put pressure on BSkyB to follow suit. It is by far Britain’s biggest pay-TV provider, with 10.7 million customers across satellite and its own streaming service, Now TV, and has so far resisted allowing third party on-demand services onto its platform.

So do you use Netflix? Or if not what is your preferred option? Personally I do use Netflix but also have access to Amazon Prime Instant Video at the moment. I also use iTunes Uk and iTunes US as well as Blinkbox. But by far Netflix is used the most.

Source – The Telegraph

Samsung Galaxy Alpha – full specs and details

Android, Tech News, , ,

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Brazilian site Tecmundo has revealed the above photo of the Samsung Galaxy Alpha which will have a a 4.7-inch display with a resolution of 1080×720. Inside there will be 2GB of RAM and 32GB of onboard storage and in some markets a 64GB version of the phone will also be available, although based on past history this version will not arrive in the UK. The smartphone will have a 1860mAh battery and USB 3.0 and Bluetooth 4.0. It will contain a 12 megapixel rear camera and a 2.1 megapixel front facing camera.

The specs also show a heart rate monitor and a fingerprint reader will be included in the Galaxy Alpha. The processor is supposed to be a octa-core Exynos chip, with four cores running at 1.8 GHz and the other four at 1.3 GHz. The article claims the phone will be priced at R$2,399, or about $1,048 and will be released sometime in the second half of September or the first half of October.

This is meant to be Samsung’s answer to the iPhone but what do you all think about this ?

Source – techmundo.com

LG G3 – review – one month later

Android, Reviews, Tech News, ,

Stop, wait a minute I have owned the LG G3 for more than 2 weeks. In fact it’s just over 4 weeks now which is vintage in my life span for a phone. In fact, I can see myself owning the G3 for a while longer.

So what are my reasons for liking the G3 so much. A short answer is that it is really lovely to use. Here are my key takeaways –

1) Screen – yes it’s a 2.5K screen and who cares really. What matters is that the screen takes up nearly 80% of the front. Being all screen is a huge wow factor. First comments from friends are “that’s a real beast of a phone “. Having such a decent screen is a joy to use. To browse the internet. To admire my photos and edit them easily. YouTube now plays videos at the G3 screen resolution.

2) Gaming – guess what having such an all screen phone with tiny bezels makes it even more enjoyable to immerse oneself into all games. Attached to my Moga Pro Power game controller and it is a match made in heaven.

3) Double Tap/Tap to Lock or Unlock – double tapping to turn on or off just works. It really should be mandatory on all large phones. Or phones without a physical home button. The tap lock code feature is also neat and just works.

4) Rear hardware buttons – now that I’ve been using the G3 a month, there is no way I would want a phone without buttons on the rear. It really is simple to use. Firing up the camera from the off position is as simple as pressing and holding the volume down key.

5) LG QuickRemote software – it has a DVD Eject button as standard. Sounds simple but check your DVD hardware remote. It probably won’t have an eject button. Other manufacturers infra red software that I’ve used from HTC and Samsung do not have this option. LG is the first to have as this button as standard. Useful for me as my DVD eject button no longer works.

6) QSlide apps. Again a better implementation than others as not only can these be resized but you can also adjust the transparency. I just wished there was more apps to select.

7) LG’s multi screen mode is neatly integrated too.

8) LG software and launcher – there is everything to love about what LG has implemented. Customisable if you so wish from the icons, themes and even keyboard.

9) The built in keyboard is one of the best I’ve used. Adjustable height but more importantly accurate and fast.

10) Good quality sound via headphones and acceptable clean sound via the loudspeaker.

11) Camera. As easy as abc and takes good shots in most conditions rather than good shots only is bright sunlight. It is also fast and a pleasure to use.

12) LG Accessories. LG offer a number of cases and accessories for the G3 and they are all excellent. The LG Qi wireless charging stand is simple. At night I rest my G3 on the stand and by morning it is always showing battery at 100%. It just works. If I compare this to the official Samsung S5 implementation, the S5 qi cover and charging was a total nightmare and not worth the effort. The QuickCircle case is one of the coolest cases I’ve used in a long time. It just works really well for example – if you press down the volume down key to launch the camera, the camera fires up and you look through the circle and tap to focus and take shot. Simple and just works. Then there is the Slim Guard cover. This like the a QuickCircle case replaces the rear battery cover and provides a more rugged finish with a rubber outer edge.

13) Profile – make no mistakes the G3 is big. But it feels so small in the hand. And comfortable. Rear buttons. Double tap. And more make this big phone the easiest to use out of any on the market at the moment.

And a feature that surely should be optional on all android phones

14) Customisable menu buttons. From 3, 4 or 5 menu options and in any order you prefer, from home, back, recent items, multi window , quick memo, QSlide apps and notification panel.

15) Other features from the health app, smart notice and so much more I could continue for a lot longer.

So in summary, LG wanted to create a simple device. In practice it can be that phone but also tweaked to perfection.

Any questions , please ask away.

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

Android, Apple, Reviews, 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 21, is now live for your listening pleasure.

This is a much shorter but more costly production via satellite phone.

Aldi – budget supermarket offering it’s own activity tracker wearable for low £££s

Android, Tech News

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If you don’t mind having a supermarket branded fitness tracker, then Aldi have you sorted.

Provides distance based on steps, monitors your quality of sleep, waterproof for swimming. Custom fit, unisex bracelet and rechargeable battery (with USB)

KEY FEATURES:

✓ 14 DAY MEMORY

✓ CHARGING CABLE

✓ USER MANUAL/WARRANTY CARD

✓ BLUETOOTH VERSION 4.0

✓ EASY-READ LED ACTIVITY MONITORING

✓ WATERPROOF

✓ 24/7 TRACKING

✓ EASY SET UP

So what more do you need?