Weather Fanatics – Read On

Android, Tech News,

If you are running android, live wallpapers and widgets are all possible for your home screen setup. This is marvellous if you enjoy weather apps and forecasts. Below is my current home screen.
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Below the Google Search widget is WeatherPro, my favourite weather app. The developers have several apps for iOS and android with in app purchases. The good news as I found out the other day, even though I bought a 12 month subscription for advanced weather data when I had my iPhone 5S, I was able to transfer this in app purchase to up to 5 devices across any platform. So my Note 3 now has the benefit of this data. The developers of WeatherPro also sell MeteoEarth.

MeteoEarth comes with a live wallpaper which displays live wind, precipitation or whatever options you select. I love the live aspect of the weather displayed as a wallpaper.

And below the WeatherPro widget is the Natatmo Urban Weather Station Weather widget. There are 4 options but I have it set just to provide hourly updates of the actual temperature from the outdoor module.

And finally folders and apps. The icon theme used for Nova Launcher is Tendere.

Of course, the cheaper way to check the weather is either a) look out the window or b) step outside, turn 360 degrees and deduce it’s rather nippy.

Of course, there are many other great weather apps and widgets out there. So what’s your favourites?

Brando Shopping – The GalaRing – A NFC ring – the next wearable gadget

Android, Tech News, ,

Brando Shopping sell the NFC enabled GalaRing.

GalaRing G1 is the first smart product under the consumer electronic brand GalaGreat. You can use your NFC Ring to share WiFi information, links to websites, contact information or whatever you think is suitable to be passed securely to your friends, smartphones and tablets. Your NFC Ring can also be used to start apps with custom settings (parameters), making it a really easy way to personalize the app experience to match your ring.

It comes in 2 sizes, 17mm and 22mm. The 17mm is too small for me so I suggest opting for the larger size. As you can see from the photo below, it just comes in a box with no instructions other than a barcode for you to scan to download the app. The screen shots from the app are shown, but even after opening the app I still wasn’t sure as to how everything was going to work. In fact I found it difficult to grasp. Also the NFC was hit and miss with my Note 3. I think you really need to be very geeky to want this product and understand NFC in depth. It really could do with some proper instructions and explanations.

Key Features
G1 is the first product of GalaGreat smart electronics brand.
G1 smart ring is designed to contact human skin as well as numerous
possible environments, so high-qualitymaterials and workmanship are required.
The two core smart NFC chips of G1 are provided by world-class chip company NXP.
The waterproof level reached the top IP68 industrial level. It can resistup to 10 meters of free fall impact.
GalaRing has basic functions brought by the NFC chip.
It can also transmit information between the ring and the phone via the latest NFC technology, providing personal social information storage and exchange functions.
Android Apps: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.galagreat.galaring

Size:
Small – 17mm
Large – 22mm

Compatible Models:
SAMSUNG: Galaxy Nexus, Galaxy S3, Galaxy S3 Mini, Galaxy S4, Google Nexus S, Galaxy Note 2, Galaxy Note 3
MOTOROLA: Moto X, Droid Maxx, Droid Razr M, Droid Razr HD
HTC: One, First, One X
LG: Google Nexus 4, optimus 4x HD, Optimus L5, Optimus L7
Sony: Xperia Z1, Xperia Z Ultra, Xperia Z, Xperia T, Xperia P, Xperia S
Other: Mi 2A, Mi3, OPPO Find5, GEAK Eye, GEAK Mars, Machine with NFC function.

Available from Brando Shopping

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Lenovo buys IBM

Tech News

Lenovo Group Ltd. (992 ▲2.75% 10.46) buys International Business Machines Corp. (IBM ▼-1.20% 187.81)’s low-end server business.

Lenovo will pay $2.07 billion in cash and the rest with stock of the Beijing-based PC maker, the company said in a statement to the Hong Kong exchange on Thursday.

The acquisition will allow Lenovo to diversify revenue away from the shrinking PC business and remodel itself as a growing force in mobile devices and data storage servers. Analysts said Lenovo will likely find it easier than International Business Machines (IBM) to sell the x86 servers to Chinese companies as Beijing tries to localise its IT purchases in the wake of revelations about U.S. surveillance.

Samsung profits decline – should we be worried?

Android, Tech News

Samsung’s profits declined with a reduced operating profit of 8.3 trillion won (roughly $7.7 billion) on a record 59.28 trillion won ($54.95 billion) of revenue. That’s an 18 percent profit decline since last quarter. However, according to Samsung, the dip wasn’t due to weaker smartphone sales: the company says its smartphones sold well and its tablet sales actually doubled thanks to the company’s latest additions to the Galaxy Tab lineup.

Samsung does say that its marketing budget ballooned a bit during the holiday season, but apparently that’s not the main reason that profits fell. The company primarily blames a negative currency impact of 700 billion won ($649 million) for the decline, and a one-off expense (reportedly special employee bonuses for the 20th anniversary of the company’s “new management” strategy”) for 800 billion won ($741 million) more.

Samsung also says that an oversupplied TV panel market hurt its bottom line, even though Samsung’s own Smart TVs and 60+ inch TVs did better than before. Combined with appliances, the company’s Visual Display and Digital Appliances business made 88 percent more profit than in the previous quarter. On the display panel side, though, Samsung says it’s planning to expand its OLED business into mass-market smartphones, tablets, and wearable devices in the future. The company’s also working on a bendable TV, a smartphone with a wraparound display, and plans to go “back to basics” with its next flagship Galaxy.

So should we be worried. Short answer no. Samsung is still raking in the money. However, the new iPhones released by Apple in September 2013 did hurt Samsung’s bottom line, and Apple’s launch into China won’t help matters. But whichever way you cut it, Samsung is still making a lot of money. It really needs the Samsung S5 to sell millions and I am sure it will but competition is all over the place, so maybe it just won’t sell as many as it would like.

Apple aiming to revolutionise payment systems – but will it succeed?

Apple, Tech News

The Wall Street Journal reported details of an Apple patent illustration for a touchless mobile payment system. | Source: USPTO
Citing people familiar with the matter, The Wall Street Journal reports Apple CEO Tim Cook and SVP of Internet Software and Services Eddy Cue met with technology industry leaders to discuss a possible mobile payments system rollout.

In addition Apple has asked executive Jennifer Bailey to build out an in-company payment business. Bailey was previously in charge of running the company’s online stores. Apple is a late-comer to the mobile payments game as rival Google has been experimenting with so-called e-wallet technology for some time. In some implementations, Android handsets carry NFC technology that, in concert with Google Wallet, allow for touchless payments at supported POS systems. Despite early efforts and proliferation of smart devices that would serve as optimal platforms for the tech, a clear market frontrunner has yet to emerge.

With its various online properties, like iTunes and the Online Apple Store, Apple would have a huge installed customer base if it were to roll out a payments system. The sheer volume of credit cards on file would go a long way in convincing retailers to adopt an Apple-branded solution.

BUT.

Unlike Google, Apple has a lot smaller number of users with iPhones, mainly due to the high costs, whereas android handsets are abundant. So would retailers be willing to implement a system that will only work on a single operating system? Maybe in the USA where iPhones are more prolific.

What’s your view?

Brando Shopping – Screen Protection – review

Android, Apple, Reviews, Tech News, , ,

Brando Shopping sell a range of screen protection, from the classic screen protector to Tempered Glass Protector.

Brando Workshop 0.2mm Premium Tempered Glass Protector, is designed 33% slimmer yet still provides extremely high protection for your phone display screen. It really is super slim design and offers the LCD a “nude” yet durable protection. Tempered glass protects LCD from scratches, shock or any kind of damages while maintaining touch screen’s sensitivity. It is extremely easy to install, no residue if removed. The ultimate screen protector for your LCD.

Brando Shopping also provide a range of ultra clear protectors and mirrored style too. I’ve used their screen protectors for over 10 years on so many devices I’ve lost count.

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The tempered glass protector is shown above fitted to my Note 3 but if you look at the bottom left hand side it looks like I left smudges. I had several attempts at installing this to get it straight, but I am still keeping this one fitted as in use with the screen on you don’t notice it. I have had no issues with S-Pen either. Superb idea.

At some point in the future I will fit the ultra clear protector by Brando, but based on my earlier devices these have always worked a treat.

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