Apple Plymouth the mixed shopping experience

Android, Tech News

Since this Apple Plymouth store has opened I have only ever experienced top notch service.

Saturday was a mixed affair. I was asking one of the sales assistant if I could examine the red leather case for the 5S out of the packaging so I could see what it would look like with my phone. He refused. What’s odd about this is that every single time I have bought a case from Apple, including Apple Plymouth this has never been a problem to remove the case from the packaging.

I reminded the sales assistant I could just buy the case, open it, not like it and return it within 14 days. There was no comment. Anyway, I told him not to worry and I would keep browsing.

3 mins later another assistant came out and within minutes he was opening the packaging of this case and 2 others. Now that I had seen the cases on my 5S I was in a position to decide which one to select. So I told the assistant I would have all 3, and added “you can never have enough cases”. He grinned and I paid and left the store.

So what was up with sales assistant number one?

Can any store provide a better retail shopping experience than Apple?

Apple, Tech News

Picture this. I enter a busy clothing store on Saturday morning, in the centre of a big city, Plymouth, Devon. In the rear of the store is a lovely brown leather sofa, where upon I am relax while my wife continues shopping.

After I have sat down, I am asked if I would like a beer. I had to do a double take. After listening again, it was actually a ginger beer. Well, there was no reason to refuse, so the assistant pointed to the crate full of them, and I took one. It was a decent brand too.

All I can say, is with a beer and a sofa, this was the perfect shopping experience. Not even Apple can offer this. And 10/10 to FatFace.

Got a Sony Xperia Z1, Z Ultra or Z Tablet – get your free goodies from So y

Android, Tech News

As promised earlier in the summer, Sony has announced that owners of the Xperia Z1, Xperia Z Ultra and Tablet Z can get a range of digital goodies.

On offer are 10 games and 5 movies, all completely free. Sony’s offer also includes a 60 day free trial to its Music Unlimited service, available to those that have yet to sign up.

Of course these are only available if you own an Xperia Z1, Xperia Z Ultra or Tablet Z. To find the offers just open the Xperia Privilege app.

There are a few games titles from PlayStation Mobile, such as Hungry Giraffe, Tokyo Jungle Mobile and Ten By Eight, and some movie blockbusters including Elysium and The Amazing Spider-Man.

Free offers are always appreciated.

Lenovo was trying to buy BlackBerry

RIM, Tech News

All Things Digital reported the following “Lenovo’s long-rumored bid for languishing smartphone pioneer BlackBerry might have gained its legs were it not for the interference of the Canadian government.”

But the question remains would the Canadian government now bankroll BlackBerry out of trouble as they prevented its sale? I doubt it. So if the government was so concerned about its security surely it should be offering more support.

What do you think ?

Android 4.4 has a nifty screen capture built in

Android, Tech News

Screen captures are a great tool to have and it seems Google agrees.

To take a basic screenshot is as simple as just holding some buttons to snap the screen. With Android 4.4 phone connect it to a computer running ADB, send over a quick command, and the phone starts recording its screen output, right to a video file in its internal storage. Clips can be up to three minutes long.

I might just get the Nexus 5 just to try out this feature. Well that’s my excuse!

Samsung Mobile financials under the eye

Android, Tech News

In a meeting with its concerned investors on Wednesday, the head of Samsung Mobile revealed numbers illustrating that the company sold fewer high end smartphones than Apple this year, and that only about a third of the company’s total “smartphone” shipments are of a class really comparable to the iPhone.

Samsung did concede that it would sell around 100m Galaxy S and N models this year but would not split down the figures any further.

Samsung is believed to be focusing on lower end phones in 2014 more than it’s high end offering.

This doesn’t surprise me as the smartphone market is reaching saturation and only developing economies might offer future growth.

Hence why the smart watch and other new tech is needed to boost sales in the future.

Pebble gets full iOS 7 support – details

Apple, Tech News

Have a look at this video from Pebble.

Pebble announced last night “First, we’re introducing a more delightful user experience for Pebble customers using iOS. Pebble is now fully integrated with iOS 7 and works seamlessly with Notification Center. This means that any notifications you’ve enabled in Notification Center on your iOS 7 device will appear on your Pebble — just like that. It’s easier than ever to pick and choose which updates you want to see on your watch.”

Pebble’s new software capabilities include Yelp, which will serve up local data to the watch, and Foursquare, which will allow users to check in from the device. Pebble has also worked with GoPro to create a watch app that controls the latest version of the adventure camera. Remote-controlling other devices and apps is a growing area of interest, Migicovsky said.

Pebble also announced that it now has all colours of the watch in stock.

And there is a limited offer of free worldwide shipping.

Anyone tempted?

Thoughts on the iPhone 5S camera

Apple, Tech News

I have had the iPhone 5S for over a month now and have been using the camera more and more. Have a look at my latest photos on my Flickr account. Click here http://www.flickr.com/photos/gavinfabl100/

Out of all the smartphone cameras I have used, I am really impressed by this phones’ camera. It consistently outperforms what you would expect it to do. And the quality of the shots are so well balanced and with natural colouring.

All I need is a Lumia 1020 to try and maybe I might change my mind.