Category Archives: Tech News

Nokia Lumia 1520 arrives in the UK

November 26, 2013Tech News, Windowsnokia lumia 1520Gavin Fabiani-Laymond

The Nokia Lumia 1520 will be on sale from O2 retail, Vodafone on-line, Carphone Warehouse, Phones4u and widely available from independent retailers this Friday 6th December priced from approx. £38 per month on contract.

Nokia Lumia 1520 specifications –

– Operating system -Windows Phone 8 with the latest updates
– HERE location and mapping services, HERE location and mapping services: Free global HERE Maps and HERE Drive+;Free HERE Transit available in the Store
– Display – 6” full HD 1080p LCD. Great outdoor visibility with, ClearBlack technology, High Brightness Mode, Sunlight readability, Super sensitive touch for glove and nail usage protected with Gorilla glass 2
– Battery – 3400 mAh with integrated wireless charging (Qi compatible)
– Processor -2.2GHz Quad Core Snapdragon 800
-Main camera – PureView 20 MP Auto Focus ZEISS optics with Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS), 2x lossless zoom, dual LED flash, 1080p @ 30 fps video with optical image stabilisation, Front facing camera, 1.2 Skype HD 720p video
– Audio, Rich Recording with four microphones, Wideband Voice and multi-microphone noise reduction with four microphones, Dolby(R) Headphone, Graphic equalizer, Audio levelling, FM radio
– Memory – 2GB RAM, 32 GB internal user memory; 7 GB SkyDrive cloud storage, micro SD card support up to 64GB

I’ve got to say this is one device I would love to have. Watch this space!

Huawei Ascend P6 replacement to be called the Ascend P6S – specs

November 26, 2013Android, Tech Newshuawei ascend p6sGavin Fabiani-Laymond

Huawei’s upcoming device for its Ascend line will be called the Ascend P6S.

This should have an octa-core processor, 2GB of RAM, a 4.7-inch IPS 720p display, a brand new chipset that allows power consumption to be lowered while also improving performance by 80%, a front 5mp camera and the rear will be 8MP. Android 4.4 KitKat is expected to be installed.

I have reviewed the original P6, link in Review Menu above, and found that the main weakness is the excessive heat build up that caused the phone to overheat and stop charging. So let’s hope this new 8 core chip prevents this happening.

Is Apple building an iPad Pro at 12.9 inches

November 25, 2013Apple, Tech Newsipad proGavin Fabiani-Laymond

So there are many rumours floating around that Apple is building an iPad Pro with an increased screen at 12.9 inches.

Personally, I doubt this will happen, as there are 500,000 iPad specific apps and introducing a new screen size could upset the key selling point of the iPad. It’s app selection.

And why on earth would you need a larger screen iPad than the current iPad Air at 9.7 inches?

Google slips into Window Phones

November 25, 2013Tech News, Windowswaze on windows phoneGavin Fabiani-Laymond

Window Phones have been in the news lately with Instagram and Vine now available on the Microsoft app marketplace.

But one new app is Waze. A social satnav app. But what’s interesting is Waze is owned by Google. So is Google using apps like Waze to assess the viability of offering more apps for this Eco system.

Time will tell, but first it would be good if Google and Microsoft played nice and allowed a native YouTube app.

Rdio lays off staff

November 25, 2013Tech Newsrdio staff lay offsGavin Fabiani-Laymond

Rdio lays off staff, gives reason as “we are creating a scalable business”.

Or is it competition from Apple and Google with their own offerings. I fear for this service but time will tell.

So out of interest, who do you use for music streaming?

Try for 30 days before you buy – Amazon’s new tactic

November 25, 2013Android, Tech Newsamazon vip free tablet 30 daysGavin Fabiani-Laymond

Amazon is so confident about its new Kindle Fire HDX tablet that it’s giving “VIP customers” 30 days to try the device before they have to hand over any cash. If those customers then decide they don’t want the device, they can simply hand it back.

Can you ever see Google or Apple offering this type of service? I think not.

Clumsy Ninja arrives on the Apple App Store One Year Late

November 24, 2013Apple, Tech Newsclumsy ninjaGavin Fabiani-Laymond

Clumsy Ninja was demoed at the Apple Event in September 2012. It has suffered a severe delay but has finally hit the App Store today. At Apple’s event, NaturalMotion described the game as an ‘interactive toy’ based on “years of research”. The game centres around a cute 3D ninja, which acts similarly to a virtual pet.

The player can poke, prod, play, train and throw the character around his environment. According to the company, the ninja should feel more realistic as it based off realtime simulations of the human body (like muscles or the nervous system) rather than predefined animations. Over time, the ninja gains intelligence and strength as the player interacts with him. For instance, at first, the ninja will not have the stamina to keep a routine with a punch bag and often get thrown off balance. As the game progresses, the ninja develops his strength. This growth development is reflected in the game; he gets better at fighting, for instance.

Clumsy Ninja is free with in-app purchases available, which buy in-game currency (“gems”) that can be spent on more items and toys for your ninja to play with. Another game ruined by in app purchases though with gems priced from £1.99 to £20.99!

Waze teams up with Universal Pictures to get celebrity voices on its GPS app

November 24, 2013Tech Newsuniversal, WazeGavin Fabiani-Laymond

Waze has joined up with Universal pictures to get celebrities to provide the voice of its turn by turn GPS app. First in the line is Kevin Hart.

Carphone Warehouse in the dog house

November 24, 2013Android, Tech NewscarphonewarehouseGavin Fabiani-Laymond

Carphone Warehouse recently made the news with its £49 android tablet.

Except, Google apps on the £49 ‘Avoca’ tablet were not properly licensed, meaning Carphone Warehouse had to remove the tablet from sale. Whoops.

All the latest reviews

November 23, 2013Android, Apple, Reviews, RIM, Tech News, WindowsReviewsGavin Fabiani-Laymond

It is often difficult to find the reviews of devices and accessories I have written about, so below is a quick way to find all the articles for the key reviews. Or use the top right search box to search for anything on my blog.

Nokia Lumia 1020 review

Netatmo Urban Weather Station Review

Sony XBA-H1 Headphone Review

Sony Xperia Z1 Review

Sony QX10/QX100 lens review

ZTE Open Review – Firefox OS

Huawei Ascend P6 Review

Nokia Lumia 925 review

HTC One

Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom Review

Sony Xperia Z Tablet

Samsung Note 2 review