Category Archives: Tech News

Logitech UE 6000 headphones – final review

Apple, Reviews, Tech News,

To recap on the early part of the review click here.

I have been able to use these headphones a lot longer and despite their many strengths, the constant background hiss that appears when the noise cancellation is active, is starting to frustrate me. This means I can’t enjoy my music.

Classical songs are a complete disaster. Jazz is just as poor. The only genres that don’t get impacted are dance and heavy bass tracks. So if you like this type of music then these headphones will be fine for you.

However, in conclusion, I have decided to return these headphones and cannot offer my recommendation unless you like bass led tracks which hides the noise cancellation hiss. Of course, you can use these without noise cancellation being active, but then that defeats the whole purpose of these headphones.

Google Play Movies receives great update

Android, Tech News

Google Play Movies has been updated with the following changes –

-Get your content offline faster – now HD movies and shows may be downloaded in HD or SD.
-Fixed Error 31 issue affecting some devices during playback.
-Improved video streaming performance for select KitKat devices.
-Additional bugfixes

The above changes will really improve the user experience.

The Not So Slick Delivery Service by Amazon UK – updated

Tech News,

Over 5 – 7 days ago my wife and I have bought several items via Amazon. We learnt they had been all grouped together, despite being bought over 3 days. The good news was that the combined parcel was now trackable, with Hermes UK being the selected courier.

Delivery was due on Thursday and the goods haven’t arrived. On Friday, my iPhone notified me of a delay warning. I have an app installed called Deliveries, and when the notification popped up I simply couldn’t believe what I was reason. “Delay possible and parcel routed to Tyneside facility” This is practically the opposite end of the UK to where I live.

So a quick chat with Amazon online customer service, which I will add was totally useless. Below is part of the transcript from Friday (yesterday 6th Dec)

10:08 AM(GMT) Yuen(CSA): I’ve checked the latest tracking info and it says that there’s a possible delay in delivery due to arrival at incorrect carrier facility.
10:09 AM(GMT) Yuen(CSA): To help you with this, I’ll be happy to contact the carrier and ask them if they can still deliver the order on the estimated delivery date that is tomorrow.

For the record the estimated delivery date was the 5th. Only the last item bought on the 3rd day had today as the estimated day. So the customer service agent carries on.

10:13 AM(GMT) Yuen(CSA): I have now sent the query to the carrier.
As soon as we get an update from them, we will email you right away.

All seems positive until I ask how long this takes.

10:14 AM(GMT) Mr Gavin Fabiani Laymond: Ok, how long does it normally take to get a response back
10:14 AM(GMT) Yuen(CSA): It will take within 48 hours.

10:14 AM(GMT) Mr Gavin Fabiani Laymond: That is no good then is it???? I need to know sooner what is happening
10:15 AM(GMT) Yuen(CSA): Yes we will email you right away.
10:16 AM(GMT) Yuen(CSA): I can indeed understand that it is frustrating to wait for an update, however, it’s the best thing we can do right now.

The dialogue continued with Amazon passing the blame to the delivery companies and not accepting any blame whatsoever. So after an exchange, it ends with flowery language.

10:27 AM(GMT) Yuen(CSA): Please accept my heartfelt apologies for all the trouble you’ve had to go through. I realise that this has caused utter disappointment on your part.
10:28 AM(GMT) Mr Gavin Fabiani Laymond: I am basking in the warmth of your sympathies but I have waited long enough for my goods and would like them tomorrow.
10:29 AM(GMT) Yuen(CSA): Please be assured that I will pass your message on to the appropriate department so that problems like this will be avoided – if not totally eradicated. Strong customer feedback such as yours plays an integral part in our quest to provide the best possible service.

So have you ever had delivery problems with Amazon?

Updated – the new delivery estimate is 12th Dec. I have been promised a phone call within an hour from Amazon. Useless service.

Happy Birthday “Gavin’s Gadgets” – One Year Old today

Android, Apple, Firefox, Historical Reviews, Jan 2013, Reviews, RIM, Social, Tech News, Weather, Windows

Gavin’s Gadgets celebrates it’s first birthday today.

In one year, I’ve written 1,700 articles and reviewed 23 phones/gadgets. Gavin’s Gadgets is viewed in 180 countries, and some that even I didn’t know existed. If you like podcasts, I also co-host a podcast with my friend Dave Rich from UKMobileTech. Details are on the about page, or search in iTunes or any podcast app for “Gav & Dave’s Tech Podcast”.

Don’t forget, you can catch up on the reviews using the reviews index page.

In addition weather for Princetown, Dartmoor is updated daily using my basic weather equipment.

And remember there are no adverts to distract you. All the views are my personal views and opinions.

So from me to you, thank you for visiting, following my blog, adding your comments and returning. And thank you to everyone that helped me along this journey. Here’s to another year!

A few more reviews – details

Apple, Reviews, Tech News, Windows, , , ,

Just a quick heads up.

I have a Nokia Lumia 820 arriving soon which I’m looking forward to putting through its paces.

Headphones – following on from my review of the Logitech Ultimate Ears 6000 and Sony XBA-H1, I will be reviewing the Sennheiser Amperior soon. The Logitech UE 6000 and Sony XBA-H1 will also have a longer term update as well. I have used a wide selection of headphones, so please ask if you have a question or two.

Ballistic case – I will be looking at a Ballistics case for the iPhone 5/5S next week.

Apple Leather Case for iPhone 5S – report on long term usage on the red, cream, brown and blue cases. A quick reveal. The brown leather case isn’t that lovely light shade of brown anymore!

Android adoption figures are potentially flawed

Android, Tech News

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Engadget is reporting Android 4.4 is now on 1.1% of devices with jellybean 4.3 on around 50% plus.

But these figures shown above in the chart are slightly misleading as earlier android 1.x devices are not shown as they cannot connect to the Play Store. Android 4.3 and above is still showing greater adoption figures but if you did include all the 1.x devices the numbers would be different.

Facebook, Gmail, Twitter, Yahoo and Linkedin passwords revealed in latest hack

Tech News

A hacker has netted more than 2 million passwords for users of major services including Facebook, Gmail, Twitter, Yahoo, and LinkedIn, according to the security firm Trustwave..

The attacker installed keylogging software on users’ computers in 92 countries, recording their logins and user passwords as they were typed.

The companies themselves were not breached, but ADP, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter have reset passwords and alerted compromised users, CNNMoney reports.

This attack got around 1.5 million website login credentials, 320,000 email account credentials, 41,000 FTP credentials, 3,000 remote desktop credentials, and more.

Unfortunately, if you look at the passwords hacked, it shows a keylogger may have been overkill. Trustwave reports that the most common passwords were “123456,” “123456789,” “1234,” and “password.”

Is any password safe nowadays?

Nokia Lumia 820 – first impressions

Reviews, Tech News, Windows,

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I received the Nokia Lumia 820 is the post yesterday evening. I’ve only had a short time with it, but below are my first impressions.

It’s a fairly substantial feeling phone, both in terms of actual weight and feel in the hand. It’s very comfortable in the hand, approximately the same height as the iPhone 5S but wider. It’s has a 8mp Carl Zeiss camera, a removable back cover and battery and expandable storage with a micro SD card. In fact, at first glance I didn’t believe the back cover actually came off and had to watch a YouTube video revealing how the back cover was removed.

I took a few photos indoors in low light, and once again the Nokia optics perform rather admirably. The Lumia 820 is not in the same league as the 1020 but it did snap rather good photos despite the low lighting.

It’s style is similar to the Nokia Lumia 620, but larger with a better camera and 1gb ram. I don’t know what it is about the Lumia range but they feel tough and the only phone brand I would not protect with a case.

Next week I will post more thoughts of the Nokia Lumia 820.

Apple Store app giveaways

Apple, Tech News

If you have the Apple store app installed have a look in the “holiday cheer” section.

If you are in the USA, Apple is offering 8 free classic holiday songs –

“Children Go Where I Send Thee” by Nik Lowe,
“Duck the Halls” by The Robertsons,
“Joy to the World” by Celtic Woman,
Silent Night” by Kelly Clarkson,
“The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an open Fire)” by Kool and the Gang,
“The First Noel” by Mary J. Blige
and “What Child is This” by Marvin Sapp

If you are in the UK,

– Visual Cookbook – baking cakes

Logitech Ultimate Ears 6000 – review impressions part 2

Apple, Reviews, Tech News,

Following on from my first impressions yesterday, I’ve have had a bit more time listening to these. The official specifications are –

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

HEADPHONE TYPE:Around-the-ear
DRIVER DIAMETER:40mm
IMPEDANCE:50 Ohms DCR Powered Off, 1K Ohms Powered On
SENSITIVITY:97 dB SPL/mW Powered Off, 99 dB SPL/mW Powered On, 1KHz
FREQUENCY RESPONSE:20 Hz – 20 kHz
CONNECTION:3.5 mm (1/8 inch)
NOISE ISOLATION:10 dB
BATTERY TYPE:2 AAA batteries
BATTERY LIFE:Over 40 hours of listening on average

The specifications don’t grab you and say these headphones will rock. They need a fair amount of juice to be powered hence why they sound more dynamic and with increased bass with the noise cancellation switched on. I also found to achieve the bass slam and depth you really needed the iPhone volume in the higher end of the scales at around 66% of volume and above. There is still the slightly annoying hiss with noise cancellation.

I have done several tests with the noise cancellation. Let’s just say it removes the sound partially but not completely. The Bose QC15 are much better for this but then cost 3 times as much. However, the UE 6000 noise cancellation is better than not being there at all.

Despite feeling heavyish to hold, the headphones are comfortable even with extended listening periods. Their sound signature is rather uninspiring with the noise cancellation off, although for some tracks the sound balance is more accurate. With the noise cancellation on, the bass is far more prominent and the tracks comes alive. I feel at times the treble and vocals become too muffled. The presentation is fun with a bass line. The added bass can be a very good thing even on classical music but sometimes it can overpower the track. I’ve tried the full spectrum of music genres and these headphones can surprise you irrespective of genre.

My verdict is a fun sound, sometimes really good, sometimes the bass overpowers the track and sometimes the bass adds more enjoyment to the experience. The noise cancellation is ok, but does add a hiss which I did find annoying but not all the time.

But let’s put the above in context. These were originally £200. And at that price there were better options. Except now, they are not £200 and can be had for around £88 on Amazon. At £88 these are a good offering, not perfect for me, but for many will be excellent.