Google has launched in the Play Store, Cloud Print.
With this app you can print from any compatible Android device to any Google Cloud Print connected printer
* Share a picture or a document from apps like Gallery directly to Cloud Print
* Track the status of your print jobs
Just amazing to think most Apple devices have this baked into the operating system already.
According to Reuters, Apple is testing to types of large screened iPhones, one using a 4.7 inch screen and the other at 5.7 inches. Assuming there is some truth to this rumour, and Apple does release a larger iPhone in 2014, you can guarantee it won’t be 5.7 inches as that is just too large for the masses. 4.7 inches is more realistic.
The next aspect will be what unique hardware features will the next iPhone include. With gesture support being introduced in iOS 7, will the home button become capacitive or be removed all together. Then there is the material and camera technology. 2014 could be a very interesting year for camera tech.
So if a 4.7 inch iPhone appeared, would you jump and buy this?
On the 15th May 2013, I copied a response from ASA the regarding my complaint around the lack of memory on the Samsung Galaxy S4 16gb version versus that being advertised. Since this article, the Samsung S4 has featured on BBC Watchdog. In addition, Samsung has released a software update that allows for apps to be moved to the micro SD card. BUT, this is a step forward, but not a perfect solution. Any apps on the SD card won’t be able to have their widget working on the homescreen. Also, moving the app or game to the micro SD card only moves the app not the game data. With large games, game data can easily be in excess of 2gb.
Anyway, following my email, and the ASA response, I had thought the matter was closed. That was until yesterday when I received a letter out of the blue.
Photo of letter below.
So what caused this letter? I wonder if the ASA has received more complaints and has had to reopen the case? It does seem odd whatever the reason? Clearly many people are not happy with their 16gb S4’s.
And Samsung, where are the promised 32gb and 64gb versions?
A few months back, Samsung released the Galaxy S4. Then it announced other derivatives of the S4, from the S4 Active, Zoom and Mini. By the time this post goes to print, there will probably be another 3 or 4 new Samsungs.
And that’s the problem.
I ask myself why didn’t Samsung forget the original S4 and just launch it in the Active format, but with 32gb internal memory and the 16gb camera. Instead it launches the Active with only 8gb internal memory. And we all know the issues around lack of internal memory. And then the Active only has a 8mp camera vs the S4 with a 16gb camera. The S4 should have been released in 32 or 64gb versions only. Then the lack of internal memory would not have been a problem. Then you have the S4 Mini. This has lower specs from the processor, screen and internal memory. Even the camera is a downgrade. Why couldn’t Samsung release the S4 Mini with the same power and specs as the full size 5 inch S4. Now I won’t talk about the new Galaxy Mega or the S4 Standard. Yes they both exist. Confused by all the models? And this is not all the new models Samsung has just released. There is also the Galaxy Ace 3 and more.
And you know, if you look at every single new phone by Samsung, they all have been compromised. Why can’t Samsung release 4 phones that cater for 4 different sizes/segments but all with proper specifications!
And in case you need to see how many devices Samsung has look at the photo below.
On Monday, Apple demoed iOS 7 to the world. It is a visual re-imagination of a new operating system for the iDevices, including iPod, iPhone and iPad.
First reaction was wow, this is a total redesign and quite drastic. Then some of the reason I tried jail breaking had been covered off with the introduction of the control centre. I liked the fact that the spotlight search was now accessed from within the notification centre. I then watched over the next few days critics and admirers leave their opinions.
What was clear from the initial negative comments was the lack or ignorance of those comments. The depth of iOS 7 did not lie in the visual but the 1,500 new APIs. These were the clues to what iOS7 might reveal. On Tuesday, I already covered off some of the hidden features, but there are considerable more to discover. Since Monday I have asked people at work and at various meetings which style of iOS did they prefer. The winner every time was iOS 7. These are not tech geeks, just ordinary people.
I for one really like the redesign. It is fresh, modern and incorporates enough new tweaks to make it very user friendly.
Next week 4g starts to get rolled out initially in London but then nationwide. The problem is the frequency used by mobile networks is very close to that used by freeview.
At800, a company funded by the mobile industry and charged with making sure viewers are not affected, insists that tests in south-east London since April have so far shown there is nothing to worry about.
But Ofcom’s own estimates are that up to two million people could be hit nationwide given the number and power of the 4G base stations that will be installed. In February, the regulator warned that one per cent of UK households could be left with no broadcast television at all as 4G is rolled out across the country.
At800 admitted it had ordered in “a few million” filters that worried homeowners can fit to the aerial going into the back of TV set to fix any problem with interference.
However, there won’t be any concrete proof until it’s too late as to the number impacted. Some reports reckon the number who will lose TV permanently are considerably higher than those indicated by Ofcom.
Samsung has announced the S4 Zoom. It is a fully featured Android 4.2.2 Galaxy phone (in reality a Galaxy S4 Mini) with a 16MP camera, a 10x optical zoom, 4.3-inch qHD display, 1.5GHz dual-core CPU, 1.5GB RAM, 8GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD slot) and a 1.9MP front facing camera. The camera includes optical image stabilization and a Xenon flash, along with a Zoom Ring that surrounds the camera, and when twisted launches in-call photo sharing, or goes straight to other camera modes. Extra software features are also on hand to advantage of the combo device’s capabilities including Photo Suggest that shows great pics taken by others in the area, Smart Mode auto settings and more.
So what you have is a camera with a phone attached, both aspects slightly lacking top specification. The phone is nothing like the specs of the S4, and the camera also falls short of Samsung’s digital compact cameras. However, I do expect this to he the start of a new trend of camera phones.
So would you buy one?
Watching Apple’s Keynote I learned that Apple was adding hardware controller support . A slide (pictured above) indicated that the iOS 7 SDK would support MFi game controllers, a reference to Apple’s licensing program for third-party hardware add-ons. By adding support for controllers directly into the SDK, Apple is sidestepping the biggest problem that has plagued third-party controller makers up to this point: the need for game developers to write software that specifically targets their hardware. Now, in iOS 7, Apple is providing some kind of consistent interface that all developers will be able to target. Write once, run everywhere. That is, as long as the hardware conforms to Apple’s standard.
The next question is how much extra cost will this add to game controllers.
As a comparison I ordered the Moga Pro Controller for my HTC One. This was just under £40. What would be great is if companies can make controllers for the iPhone at the same price. This then leads on to the next question, that with a controller and airplay mirroring, who needs a Xbox or PS4?
Bing updated its Maps by adding on a whopping 270TB of high-res flyover images to their database. Some of the more notable additions include overviews of Rome and Milan in Italy, Stavanger in Norway and Kaanapali in Hawaii. Aside from the new visuals, Bing also added a couple of improvements to its Venue Maps with an expanded points of interest list and a new “Report a problem” system so users can inform Bing if a location is marked incorrectly.
Bing is starting to show signs of massive improvements and in iOS 7 is the default search engine for Siri.
Good news and pretty much on cue, if you have a HTC One unlocked and unbranded get ready for a over the air update for android 4.2.2.
Lots of new features too including improved Blinkfeed, more video highlight options and new options for the home button. The home button can be configured for menu, google now and recent apps. A number of bugs are fixed too.
The update is due to arrive from Friday onwards at the earliest.
Gavin's Gadgets & Photography 