Category Archives: Tech News

iPhone 5C available for $1

Apple, Tech News

Best Buy rolled out the other day, a new promotion offering a minimum $100 Best Buy gift card with the purchase of any new iPhone, including the iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s. This offer requires the customer trade in a working smartphone and sign a new 2-year contract agreement. The promotion runs from today October 13th and ends on October 19th.

This offer made me wonder if Apple is secretly allowing sales promotions with its iPhones to help improve sales figures without diminishing the value of the actual product. The other thought is that retailers have bought an abundance of stock and have not sold as much as they would have thought.

There were articles in the press about Apple cutting the manufacturing numbers substantially of the iPhone 5C. However, I am not concerned about this. I simply believe Apple manufactured enough up front to try and make sure it had enough for the demand.

Clearly, the 5C is meant to be a great deal on a contract. Maybe the C stood for Contract not Colour?

Has your 3G Data Speeds dropped due to 4G?

Tech News, ,

There are quite a number of comments on forums and twitter from people who claim that since the networks introduced 4G data speeds, the existing 3G service has suffered a drop in speed.

This could be a knock on affect of the 4G bandwidth or it might be the networks finding a way to make people want to move to 4G data tariffs.

If you have 4G in your area, have you noticed slower 3G data speeds?

Netatmo Urban Weather Station for iOS and Android

Android, Apple, Reviews, Tech News

On Saturday, I somehow ended up in the Apple Store Plymouth and exited with the Netatmo Urban Weather Station.

Later on in the week I will review it in more detail as it does an awful lot. In essence you get 2 sensors, one indoors and the other for outside. It all connects via wifi to your wireless network, and the setup is done by connecting your phone to the indoor sensor that then proceeds to setup the units.

The aim is to have accurate indoor and outdoor weather data. From temperature, air quality, co2 levels indoors, sound levels, forecasts and more. You can check what’s happening using the android or iOS app, or even log into the web app on your PC anywhere in the world.

You can even open up access to friends or other weather fanatics.

Below is a screenshot from the weather station. Top half is outside. Bottom is indoors and co2 levels. There are many many other views but these will be covered in the main review.

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So are you planning on getting any of the new phones to be announced soon?

Tech News

Google is about to announce and release its replacement for the Nexus 4, the aptly named Nexus 5. There is a full leaked video of the device on YouTube if you are interested. This will have an improved screen, loudspeaker and camera over the Nexus 4. The processor will also be bumped up.

HTC is ready to announce the HTC One Max. This is a 5.9 inch screen phablet based on the HTC One. This phablet is meant to have the same specs as the HTC One including the same camera and processor, along with a fingerprint scanner.

Next up will be Nokia and Microsoft, announcing new phones and tablets. These will hopefully feature the latest version of Windows Phone that allows for 1080p screens and a third column for the live tiles amongst other things.

Sony has launched in its home country the Sony Xperia Z1 F. This is a scaled down version of its superb Z1. Unlike other companies who release a Mini version of the top phone but then cripple the specs, the Z1 F is a true Mini version of the Z1. The only difference is a 4.3 inch 720p screen instead of the 5 inch 1080p screen. It has the same software, processor and 20.7mp camera etc.

So out of the above list, do any take your fancy? And if so why?

A moment of madness at 3am

Android, Tech News

A few days ago, I awoke around 3am. I decided to see if anything major had occurred in the tech world, and the only thing I could see was the Samsung Note 3 on Amazon UK had finally dropped in price to £579 instead of its mouth watering £699.

The Note 3 fascinates me. I decided to get the iPhone 5S instead, but the Note 3 keeps calling out to me. It is probably the geek in me that is drawn by this massive specification device. So there I was a 3am browsing Amazon. And then as easy as one two three, I had added the Note 3 to my basket, paid and went back to bed.

And then whilst sleeping, I kept thinking why did I get the Note 3. Is it really going to be a better offering than the iPhone 5S. Yes, I would have a larger screen and potentially longer battery runtimes but what else. When you start to pull apart the extra features you soon realise they don’t really matter. I would lose one handed use. The 5S camera and its software is truly fantastic. I would lose a phone that just works really well across everything aspect. My Sony QX100 hub lens fits really well over the 5S. It wouldn’t fit over the Note 3. So as I slept, I realised that even though on paper the Note 3 has a bigger specification, in reality I would be worse off. So I awoke out of my sleep at 4am, opened the Amazon app on my iPhone 5S, and cancelled my Note 3 order. All actioned one handed and in seconds.

I have now decided to wait until Apple’s Keynote iPad speech on 22nd October, as I believe more of the hidden functionality of iOS 7 will be announced. After that, I will decide if the Note 3 is worth a try. Somehow, I don’t think I will be adding it to my list of devices.

If you are using the Note 3, perhaps you could add in the comments how your experience is going.

So will anyone turn up at the Nokia/Microsoft Press Conference on 22nd October 2013

Android, Apple, Tech News, Windows

Either it was a coincidence, or it was ruthless planning, but Apple and Nokia/Microsoft are both holding special events on 22nd October 2013.

Most people will want to attend the Apple event, so who on earth will be at the Nokia/Microsoft event on the same day?

Perhaps Google can try and upstage everyone and announce the Nexus 5 on the same day!

Photo comparison of the Sony QX10/100 with the iPhone 5S

Android, Apple, Tech News, ,

QXs

I was asked the other day if I could show photos of the Sony QX10 and QX100 attached to the iPhone 5S so that their sizes could be compared. So below are some photos with the lenses attached to the iPhone 5S. To recap on my reviews of both and other posts click here https://gavinsgadgets.wordpress.com/?s=sony+qx&submit=Search .

First up is the Sony QX10 in white with the iPhone 5S. Front and side views.
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And now side view.
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And now for the QX100. Clearly larger too.
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And the side view.
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Whilst the photos depict the lenses with the iPhone 5S, these also work on other iPhones and android devices. And if you have the Sony Xperia Z or Z1, you can buy a special Sony back case that allows the clamp section to be removed from the lens, and then attached directly to the case. Pic of case ACX2 below.
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