Category Archives: Tech News

Move Over Otterbox Defender

February 4, 2013Apple, Tech NewsGavin Fabiani-Laymond

So you think you have seen the case of all cases. Well check out the Lifeproof fre iPhone 5 case with the optional lifejacket.

The Lifeproof case without the lifejacket claims to be the thinnest Lifeproof case. The design of the case boosts the sound through the case’s ports. The full specs are –

Dimensions: 5.4” x 2.6” x 0.5” / 137.5 mm x 67.1 mm x 12.2 mm*
Weight: 1.05 oz / 29.8 g

Water Proof: Fully submergible to 6.6’ / 2 m for 30 minutes

Dirt Proof: Sealed from dirt & dust particles – meets or exceeds IP-68 Ingress Protection Rating

Snow Proof: Sealed from snow & ice – meets or exceeds IP-68 Ingress Protection Rating

Shock Proof:Withstands drops from 6.6’ / 2 m – meets or exceeds MIL STD 810F-516

And if that’s not enough, just add the lifejacket as shown below.

Apple in 7th Place

February 4, 2013Android, Apple, Tech NewsGavin Fabiani-Laymond

Uswitch has just released data for January showing that the iPhone 5 ranked 7th in the UK.

In first place was the Samsung Galaxy S3, then the mid-range Samsung Galaxy Ace and thenSamsung Galaxy S2, all outselling Apple’s flagship handset.

In a surprising turn, Nokia’s Symbian-based Nokia 100 and C2-01 were in fourth and fifth place, ahead of the Windows Phone-running Lumia 800 and 610 – which were eighth and ninth respectively.

LG’s Google Nexus 4 phone also topped the iPhone by taking finishing sixth in overall sales, according to uSwitch.

Maybe the iPhone 5’s high price is damaging sales, in other words price does count especially as the S3 is cheaper and does more in some ways. In addition, UK shops and pushing Samsung as the better phone over the iPhone.

Whichever way the cookie crumbles, competition is healthy.

Blackberry Z10 First Impressions

February 3, 2013RIM, Tech NewsGavin Fabiani-Laymond

So yesterday I was out looking to see the new Z10. Every single mobile phone shop had a demo out on display. All the network shops and all the independents. I have even seen it in white. That’s a great colour for the Z10.

So in preparation I watched a number of YouTube videos so I knew how to use the phone. And then there is the big but. Every single Z10 in every store was locked in some demo retail mode. The demo retail mode was limited and didn’t allow you to flow between screens and applications as you would in the real world. You were forced to do what it wanted you to do, and that was really sluggish.

So what can I tell you. It looked good. The screen was excellent. The keyboard was clever. There is a learning curve with the predictions but I quickly picked it up. The Hub looked good, and everything else seemed clever in concept as I didn’t get to use it properly.

What I did observe was people trying to use it, and walking away, commenting it is too difficult to use.

To add insult to injury, none of the stores had the password to exit the demo mode.

Why would you buy something brand new if you can’t road test it properly?

B & W AM-1

February 3, 2013Tech NewsGavin Fabiani-Laymond

The Bowers & Wilkins AM-1 is the latest speaker which is able to weather rain and snow and other conditions. Apparently it is also rust proof and is mountable.

It should cost around £250. This seems like the perfect speaker for gale force winds and rain on Dartmoor.

What Would a 5 inch iPhone look like

February 3, 2013Apple, Tech NewsGavin Fabiani-Laymond

Marco Arment, the developer of Instapaper, has drawn up a mock image of what a 5 inch iphone would look like, more specifically it would be 4.94 inches.

Marco Arment used the resolutions of the iPad and iPhone to arrive at 4.94 inch screen. The photo below shows how a larger iPhone would compare to other devices. The bezel would be thinner.

I am not sure Apple will release a large iPhone this year, but whether they do is anyone’s guess, until it actually happens.

I really hope they do produce something larger, and with iOS 7 offering something fresher on the look of notifications and the status bar. A new home screen look too.

Split & Dock Options on the iPad Keyboard

February 2, 2013Apple, Tech NewsGavin Fabiani-Laymond

Following a discussion with my twitter friends Trevor and Donald, I learnt something new about the iPad keyboard.

I knew you can split the keyboard by pulling your thumbs apart from the middle, but you can, float or dock the keyboard too. Press and hold on the bottom right keyboard key and you will get a few more options.

As per screen shot below.

Tablet Market Share

February 2, 2013Tech NewsGavin Fabiani-Laymond

The latest figures out by IDC, show that Apple’s iPad dropped to 43.6% tablet share in Q4, Samsung took second with 15.1%, and Amazon settled for 11.5%.

In 4th and 5th place respectively were Asus 3.1% and Barnes & Noble 1%.

Tablets had a 73% increase in sales overall, with 52.5 million bought last year.

Some big numbers, but 2 noteable powerhouses Amazon and Samsung are clawing back tablet share. I expect in 2013 Apple’s market share to lower slightly, and Amazon and Samsung to slog it out for 2nd and 3rd.

The biggest weakness for anyone but Apple is tablet optimised apps. iOS just has a staggering advantage by several hundred thousands.

50m downloads

February 2, 2013Android, Apple, Tech NewsGavin Fabiani-Laymond

Temple Run 2 has hit 50m downloads across all platforms. In such a short space of time this has beaten the record set by angry birds.

That’s a very impressive number and shows that if you create a great game that’s easy to pick up and play, along with stunning visuals, success is possible.

Even more incredible in the fact the game is produced by 2 people.

Free Games via HTC & Playstation Mobile

February 2, 2013Android, Tech NewsGavin Fabiani-Laymond

HTC and PlayStation Mobile are offering customers in select countries* using an HTC smartphone with Sense 4+ one free game per week through the end of February.

All you need to do is head on over to the Playstation Mobile download hub to get the PlayStation Mobile for Android App and set-up your Sony Entertainment Network account.

This week’s free game is “Cubixx.” A reinvention of the classic action-puzzle game Qix, Cubixx challenges you to cut away the surfaces of a mysterious cube and free the energy within. With 20 mind-boggling levels of increasing difficulty, Cubixx is sure to challenge you with split-second decisions as you climb the high score table to claim your position at number one.
Don’t forget to check back on Wednesday for the next free game.
* PlayStation Mobile is currently available for HTC owners running Sense 4+ in Japan, United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Italy, Germany, Spain and Australia.

6 inch Phablets

February 1, 2013Android, Tech NewsGavin Fabiani-Laymond

Pantech and ZTE have each released new Phablets, 5.9 and 5.7 inch screens. Shortly we will see 6 inch plus Phablets.

Is this size really a new long term prospect, or just a short term fad? I have asked myself who is buying these large bricks and the answers aren’t clear cut.

If you have one of these devices, they cannot be used one handed with ease. Typing on the landscape keyboard will probably be a challenge.

Surprisingly men are buying these phones. Well that’s not a surprise. But also women too, especially the younger generation. Maybe with all the media activities and Internet uses size is lost when a big screen makes a world of difference. Also, for women these wielding phones can be tucked away in handbags. Men are reliant on big pockets. So you can forget tight jeans.

But what if you had a phablet, would you need anything else. That is no PC or tablet. You can see the future will be in mobile connected devices, and quite possibly Phablets will be the norm going forward. The number of devices being sold is rapidly rising, thanks to Samsung’s Note series.

I personally like the large screen phones. Now if only Apple would release one that would be bliss.

Below are the photos of 2 new Phablets from Pantech and ZTE. Both look very respectable.

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