Google + is all about gathering your data

Android, Tech News

Google confirmed to the New York Times that signing up to Google + is not about using their social network.

The reason is that once you sign up for Plus, it becomes your account for all Google products, from Gmail to YouTube to maps, so Google sees who you are and what you do across its services, even if you never once return to their social network.

Thanks to Plus, Google knows about people’s friendships on Gmail, the places they go on maps and how they spend their time on the more than two million websites in Google’s ad network. And it is gathering this information even though relatively few people use Plus as their social network.

So how do you feel about giving all this data to Google? And do you use the social network?

Personally, I’m not too fussed as I can’t see what options you have other than never use the Internet.

Cellz In-Ear High Performance Flat Headphones – review

Android, Apple, Reviews, Tech News, Windows

The Cellz InEar High Performance Headphones only cost £6.86 with free UK Shipping.

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So how on earth could these be high performance. Let’s start with the specs-

– Drive units – 11.5 mm
– Sensitivity – 110db
– Impedance – 32ohm
– Cord – Flat 1.2m
– Microphone sensitivity -42db

Well, they are not high fidelity headphones but they are incredible value for money. The are for people who like a bit of bass, actually a lot of bass. Consequently, the miss and treble are recessed. I had to turn off my EQ on my Note 3 and iPhone. And still they pounded the bass out. Actually, these are a great fun headphone sound and one for my collection.

The flat cord is handy too. The microphonics are ok, nothing to set the world alight. There is a play , pause option on the cord too.

But for just under £7 I have not heard a better fun sounding headphone.

Rating 7/10.

Colourful or tasteless – Samsung introduces new coloured backs for the Note 3

Android, Apple, Tech News, Windows

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From bright yellow to line green and other colours, Samsung has introduced the new replacement back covers for your Note 3.

I’m trying to decide if I want a yellow or lime green and at the same time whether it’s even a good idea.

Would you change your phone to one of the above colours?

Muzei Live Wallpaper – one of the best

Android, Tech News

Muzei Live Wallpaper is one of the best wallpaper apps I’ve seen in a long time. From the developer of dashclock as well.

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After installing the app, open and you are left with the above options. Hitting choose source reveals the advanced option.

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This has a few simple adjustments for the wallpaper. It is set to be blurred but if you double tap your home screen it will temporarily reveal the unblurred image. The artwork is changed daily.

But it doesn’t end there. Search on the Google Play store and you will see extensions.

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I’ve installed a Flickr photostream, National Geographic and 500px.  Now go back to the main app.

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You now have new sources. Adjust the source extension settings and you are ready to rock.

A highly recommended live wallpaper. Simple in concept and brilliant in execution.

Gav & Dave’s Tech Podcast is live – Please RT

Android, Apple, Reviews, Tech News, Wearables, Windows,

As you know, I co-host a weekly podcast with David from UKMobileTech called Gav & Dave’s Tech Podcast. It is a light hearted tech podcast broadcast bi-weekly. To subscribe click here for iTunes or copy and paste this link into your favourite podcast app.

Episode 8 is now live.

If you get a moment and have enjoyed the podcast, please leave some feedback in iTunes. Thanks.

Cellz Leather Flip Case review

Apple, Reviews, Tech News

The Cellz Leather Flip case costs £10.23 with free UK Shipping.

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The above case is one of several designs of leather cases for the iPhone 5/5S that Cellz offer. The profile of the case is incredible thin and consequently I would imagine it could get marked or damaged fairly easily. But it is lovely nonetheless. I do like the inside sketchings.

You slide the phone into the case and the side pieces hold it really tightly. And then you just use the phone as before.

Rating 8/10.

Gav & Dave’s Tech Podcast is live – Please RT

Android, Apple, Tech News, Wearables, Windows,

As you know, I co-host a weekly podcast with David from UKMobileTech called Gav & Dave’s Tech Podcast. It is a light hearted tech podcast broadcast bi-weekly. To subscribe click here for iTunes or copy and paste this link into your favourite podcast app.

Episode 8 is now live.

If you get a moment and have enjoyed the podcast, please leave some feedback in iTunes. Thanks.

WeatherPro – One of the best weather apps

Android, Apple, Tech News

WeatherPro is available from Google Play and Apple’s App Store.

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It is my favorite weather app by far. 

WeatherPro for Android features high-quality seven-day forecasts and weather reports for over two million locations worldwide. Highlights include global satellite plus radar for the USA, Australia, UK and much of Europe. Images can be animated with interactive elements bringing the weather to life! With our fantastic Live Wallpaper and new and improved widgets, you can instantly see the weather at your selected location before you even open the app.

SEVEN DAY FORECASTS INCLUDING:
• 3-hourly intervals
• Dynamic short-term forecast for instant overview
• Weather reports for over 2 million locations worldwide
• Temperature (Celsius/Fahrenheit) and the all important “feels like”
• Worldwide weather alerts
• Wind direction and speed (in your chosen format)
• Air pressure, precipitation amount and relative humidity
• Sunrise and sunset times
• View forecast as a graph for an alternative, easy to read outlook
• And more…comprehensive forecast features from Europe’s leading independent weather company

GLOBAL SATELLITE AND ANIMATED RADAR:
• Radar images for the USA, Australia and much of Europe
• Automatically shows your current location

WEATHER MAPS:
• Stunning, high resolution weather maps
• Interactive weather icons and city temperatures
• Connect to MeteoEarth – switch to a 3D map view in MeteoGroup’s brand new app MeteoEarth at the touch of a button.

PLUS:
• NEW! Create and share your own personalised weather photos!
• NEW! Connect to your personal weather stations, in partnership with Netatmo!
• If your device has an integrated weather sensor then WeatherPro will automatically display the data (such as pressure, humidity and temperature) on the forecast screen giving you hyperlocal weather wherever you are.
• NEW! Our widgets (with weather and clock) are now customizable! Following user feedback, you can now choose your own colour, size, transparency, location, gradient and use the live wallpaper as background. We’ve also introduced a new widget for your lock screen which shows the latest weather conditions.
• Live Wallpaper with current weather images
• Favourites settings
• 800,000 Points of Interest
• Always show the weather for your current location with the “My location” favourite setting
• App2SD compatibility
• Interactive city search (GPS)
• Map of water temperatures in Europe
• Air pressure maps
• Weather Reports and News
• Available in 14 European languages
• No adverts

The optional in-app upgrade to the PREMIUM version includes:
• Hourly forecasts – for when timing is crucial!
• 14 day forecasts – for planning ahead
• Stunning, high resolution maps with multiple layers of advanced weather information including precipitation type radar in Europe (showing the difference between rain, freezing rain, snow and so on), radar forecasts, worldwide visible and infrared satellite images, air pressure, heat maps, lightning strikes and cloud cover forecasts.
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Below is a screen shot connected to my Netatmo Urban Weather Station.
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WeatherPro is truly a top notch weather app.

Cellz Premium Metal Bumper for iPhone 5/5S

Apple, Reviews, Tech News

The Cellz Premium Metal Bumper in Gold costs £6.27 currently with free UK shipping.

I was looking forward to this bumper, but was left a little disappointed.

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First of all it didn’t look premium in finish. Maybe the gold colour was just not right for it. Next you had to build it, insert the soft cushion stickers and the final fit was not perfect at one end. You do get spare screws and an Allen key.

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The home button has to be inserted in to the bumper and you can see above the finished look. I suppose one has to be slightly realistic. This cost just over £6 so the assembly required was not difficult nor perhaps not unexpected.

If you like this sort of bumper case, then at just over £6 it may be something you would consider.

Rating 6.5/10.