Category Archives: Tech News

iOS is all about the Apps

Apple, Tech News

So I am several weeks in with my iPhone 5S and it is clear that iOS simply has a superb range of depth and breadth of apps across a much wider spectrum.

As an example on my iPhone 5S I have the following photography apps –

iPhoto, Photogene, Snapspeed, Diptic, Diptic PDQ, AutoStitch, Flickr, Camera360, ColorSplash, Phoster, Camera+, DMD Panorama, SloPro, VSCOcam and PhotoFusion.

I own other photography apps too. Overall I am really pleased with the versatility and choice, plus quality of these apps.

So do you have a hobby, and find your platform has a decent selection of app(s)? If so, please share below in the comments.

iPhone 5S Apple Leather Case is a nightmare to keep clean

Apple, Tech News

I have 3 colours of the Apple Leather case for the iPhone 5S. I did have the yellow colour but I had to return that within a few days due to it getting dirty.

I currently have the cream, blue and brown colours, but even though the case is kept in either my front shirt or jacket pocket it still seems to be attracting loads of dirt. Brown is my favourite colour.

So how would you recommend keeping these cases clean?

What to Expect at Apple’s Keynote on 22nd October 2013

Apple, Tech News

Well it will be magical. Amazing. And Unbelievable. What more do you need to know!

Ok, new iPad 9.7 inch based on the current iPad Mini design, revised iPad Mini 2 with improved internals. Updated software for MAC OS X , called Mavericks. This will increase integration with iDevices and fix a number of bugs.

The Mac Pro could be announced, new Apple TV and game controllers. And expect to see all of the new iPads playing some huge game.

LG about to release its own curved smartphone – details

Tech News

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Engadget (www.engadget.com) reported that LG has admitted that “bendable and unbreakable” smartphone displays are already in production. The first such phone will be the G Flex shown above. It will be a 6 inch screened device.

What I cannot understand is why you would want such a curved screened phone, and what the benefits would be over a flat phone. Sure, curved screened phones are meant to have unbreakable displays and that is a good thing, but how will apps and games look and function on such a device that is curved this way?

What do you think?

Argos takes on Tesco and Apple with its own tablet

Android, Tech News

The tablet wars are really hotting up now.

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Argos has launched its first own-brand Android tablet computer in time for the Christmas shopping season. It is manufactured by Bush.

The tablet is a 7 inch sized device and will retail for £100. It has Android 4.2.2 installed.

The Argos MyTablet will come pre-loaded with apps and games, including Angry Birds and BBC iPlayer.

Tesco’s Hudl launched last month selling at £120. Apple is about to launch it’s updated range of iPads and iPad Minis.

The tablet is available in pink or silver aluminium, is aimed at the market of eight- to 13-year-olds. It has parental controls already enabled.

The MyTablet features a 1.6GHz dual-core processor, a 1024 x 600 resolution LCD glass screen, 8GB of built-in memory, and wi-fi and bluetooth connectivity.

Where can the profit be for such cheap tablets?

Windows Phone to receive software update – details

Tech News, Windows

Microsoft has announced Windows Phone Update 3 will start to be delivered to users in the next few weeks and take several months to complete. Microsoft says the update takes so long due to carriers and your phone model. I cannot believe fragmentation is an issue with Microsoft, so really these updates should be done quicker.

However developers from today will be able to download Windows Phone 8 Update 3, through the Windows Phone Preview Program for Developers.

On top of Microsoft’s update it is likely that other manufacturers will deliver extra features , improvements, and bug fixes.

So what’s new –

Higher resolution screen support – 1080p (1080×1920) screens and support for 5 and 6 inch touch screens, such as the Nokia Lumia 1520.

Support for higher resolution screens includes software updates for the Start screen and other key built in Windows Phone apps (email, People, Photos, and Music and Videos).

For example, the Start screen will include a third column of standard size Live Tiles.

Updated hardware support eg Snapdragon 800 processor support. This helps power the 1080p screens and provide a more fluid and longer battery life too.

Driving Mode – Driving Mode is automatically triggered when the phone is connected to a pre-defined Bluetooth accessory. This mode limits notifications on the lock screen—including texts, calls, and quick status alerts—until you’re safely parked. Driving Mode can also be configured to send automatic replies to people who call or text you while driving, so that you can let them know you are driving and will get back to them as soon as possible. A safety type feature which could be useful.

Accessibility features – A screen reader is included making it easier for blind and visually impaired users to manage calls and contacts, send texts and emails, browse the web, make Skype and Lync calls, and hear notifications like alarms, calendar events, and low-battery warnings. This really is needed as currently Windows Phone is behind its competitors.

Custom ringtones can now be set for more events, including instant messages, emails, voicemails, and reminders.

New storage settings to free space on your phone and manage temporary files.

A new setting has been added to control automatic screen rotation. This makes it possible to lock the screen is a specific rotation state. Ideal when you are reading a book in bed at an angle, but don’t want the screen to rotate.

The app switcher now makes it easier to close apps.

When setting up a Windows Phone device for the fist time it will not be possible to set up a WiFi connection on first start-up. Makes you wonder why this wasn’t enabled already.

The connection quality for Bluetooth accessories has been improved with more compatibility with car systems.

The Internet Sharing feature has been improved.Internet Sharing triggered remotely via a Bluetooth connection.

All in all not big improvements, but big enough to allow more powerful hardware, leading to more possibilities.

HTC One Max – Official Specs, Photo and views

Android, Tech News

onemaxbig

Below are the official specs are the new HTC One Max. The first disappointment is that it is not using the new Qualcomm S800 processor. It still has the old S600 found in the HTC One. It also is more plastic with the same finish as per the HTC One Mini. This phone is heavy at 217g. Compared to the Samsung Note 3 at 168g there is a vast difference. Also the Note 3 is 151.2 x 79.2 x 8.3mm. So be prepared to got lost holding the One Max. Also it appears Beats Audio is missing and Optical Image Stabilisation.The omission of OIS is dreadful. A large phone like this will be more prone to movement when snapping a photo, so OIS will be needed more not less. There are many positives as noted below in the specs for example a memory card slot and a side mounted power button.

And don’t expect the fingerprint scanner to work as well as the one on the iPhone 5S.

SIZE: 164.5 x 82.5 x 10.29mm

WEIGHT: 217g

DISPLAY: 5.9” Full HD 1080p

CPU SPEED:
• Qualcomm® Snapdragon 600, 1.7GHz quad-core CPUs

PLATFORM
• Android 4.3 with HTC Sense 5.5
• HTC BlinkFeed

MEMORY
• Total storage: 16GB/32GB
• RAM: 2GB
• Expansion card slot: Supports microSD memory card for up to 64GB additional storage (card not included)

NETWORK:
• 2G/ 2.5G – GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
• 3G – UMTS/ HSPA:
EMEA: 900/1900/2100 MHz with HSPA+ up to 42 Mbps
Asia: 850/900/1900/2100 MHz with HSPA+ up to 42 Mbps
Sprint: 1900/2100 MHz with HSPA+ up to 14.4 Mbps
Verizon: 850/900/1900/2100 MHz with HSPA+ up to 14.4 Mbps
• 3G – CDMA
Sprint & Verizon: 800/1900 MHz
• 4G – LTE:
EMEA: 800/900/1800/2600 MHz Asia: 900/1800/2100/2600 MHz Sprint: 1900 MHz
Verizon: 700 MHz

SIM:
• micro SIM

SENSORS
• Gyro sensor
• Accelerometer
• Proximity sensor
• Ambient light sensor
• Fingerprint scanner

CONNECTIVITY
• 3.5 mm stereo audio jack
• NFC
• Bluetooth® 4.0 with aptX enabled
• Wi-Fi®: IEEE 802.11 a/ac/b/g/n
• DLNA® for wirelessly streaming media from
the phone to a compatible TV or computer
• HTC Connect
• Support consumer infrared remote control
• micro-USB 2.0 (5-pin) port with mobile high-
definition video link (MHL) for USB or HDMI connection (Special cable required for HDMI connection.)

SOUND
• HTC BoomSound – Dual frontal stereo speakers with built-in amplifiers
• Sense Voice

CAMERA
• HTC UltraPixel Camera
• BSI sensor, Pixel size 2.0 μm, Sensor size 1/3′
• Dedicated HTC ImageChip 2
• f/2.0 aperture and 28 mm lens
• Smart Flash: Five levels of flash automatically set by distance to subject
• 1080p Full HD video recording with HDR video
• Front Camera: 2.1 MP, 88° wide angle lens with HDR capability
• Front Camera: 1080p Full HD video recording.
• HTC Zoe with Sequence Shot, Always Smile and Object Removal
• Gallery with Video Highlights and HTC Share
• Continuous shooting and VideoPic – Slow motion video recording with variable speed playback

MULTIMEDIA
Audio supported formats:
Playback: .aac, .amr, .ogg, .m4a, .mid, .mp3, .wav, wma (Windows Media Audio 9)
Recording: .amr
Video supported formats:
Playback: .3gp, .3g2, .mp4, .wmv (Windows Media Video 9), .avi (MP4 ASP and MP3)
Recording: .mp4

BATTERY
• Embedded rechargeable Li-polymer battery
• Capacity: 3300 mAh
• Talk time:
Up to 25 hours for WCDMA
Up to 28 hours for CDMA
• Standby time:
Up to 585 hours for WCDMA
Up to 393 hours for CDMA

GPS
• GPS/AGPS
• Digital Compass

AC ADAPTER
• Voltage range/frequency: 100 ~ 240 V AC, 50/60 Hz
• DC output: 5V and 1.5A

HTC One Max is official – Press release from HTC

Android, Tech News

Below is the official press release from HTC. The specifications will be on another post.

THE HTC ONE® GETS SUPERSIZED WITH THE HTC ONE MAX

World’s best smartphone now in 5.9” with new and improved HTC Sense 5.5 ® experience

London, October 15, 2013 — HTC, a global leader in mobile innovation and design, today announced the HTC One max, a super-sized smartphone that brings the award- winning design, functionality and performance of the HTC One to fans of larger handsets. A new Fingerprint Scan feature takes convenience to a new level while acclaimed features including HTC BlinkFeed, HTC Zoe and HTC BoomSound, combined with the new HTC Sense 5.5, which are all enhanced to continue to deliver the best overall smartphone experience, now on a larger screen.

“The addition of the HTC One max means that we now have an HTC One phone for everyone. The family has been built on quality and game-changing innovations and the HTC One max is certainly no exception,” said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC Corporation. “The upgrade to HTC Sense 5.5 will provide our most amazing mobile experience yet, with the HTC One max delivering the size and power required to do everything you want, and more, without compromise.”

Big and powerful.The HTC One max’s 5.9” full HD1080p display is perfect for enjoying photos, videos and movies on the go. Smooth and efficient performance comes courtesy of a quad-core Qualcomm® Snapdragon 600 processor featuring a quad-core 1.7 GHz CPU enabling jaw-dropping performance, ultra vivid videos and booming sound. Whether you’re watching videos in stunning HD, playing games or checking out what’s hot online, the HTC One max sounds amazing, looks sharp and keeps working when you need it.

The 16GB or 32GB onboard memory can be expanded thanks to a microSD card slot, with a massive 50GB of additional free Google Drive online storage being offered exclusively to HTC One max owners’.

The large 3300mAh embedded battery means that this level of performance will last and last. Even the most intensive users will find the HTC One max is up to the challenge thanks to the optional HTC Power Flip Case, a stylish 1200mAh battery expansion for your HTC One max which offers both protection and extra juice when you need it most.

Maximum convenience at your fingertips. The average person checks their phone multiple times a day, so the HTC One max welcomes a new era of convenience and advanced functionality thanks to a built-in Fingerprint Scan feature. Located on the back of the device, the fingerprint scanner allows users to lock or unlock the screen and quickly launch up to three favourite applications by assigning an individual finger to each.

More content than ever before.The HTC One max’s Sense 5.5 upgrade comes with a more social, personalised HTC BlinkFeed that can be further refined by customisable topic categories and new integration with premium content providers including Instagram, Tumblr and Google+. Up to 120 articles can also be downloaded for offline viewing, making BlinkFeed even better for snacking on information wherever and whenever you are.

Ultimate imaging. Featuring HTC’s UltraPixel camera technology, HTC Zoe mode, that brings your photos to life, and a 2.1MP front-facing camera, the HTC One max will capture stunning photos and full HD 1080p videos whether you’re the photographer, the subject or both. Dual Capture means you can now snap memorable moments and your reaction to them in one extraordinary photo or video by simultaneously shooting with the front and rear cameras.

Improved imaging is also introduced through Video Highlights, which combines your photos and videos to create a mini movie complete with the soundtrack and visual theme of your choice. And with the HTC One max, your Video Highlights can now be any length you want.

Design at its Best. Available in Glacial Silver, the HTC One max shares the same premium design credentials as the rest of the HTC One family, providing an all round exceptional experience.

Global Availability.The HTC One max will begin rolling out across the globe from mid – end October. See specific regions for details.