Here comes visual confirmation of the oft-rumored iris scanner on the Galaxy Note 7

June 30, 2016Tech NewsSamsung Note 7 Iris ScannerGavin Fabiani-Laymond

“After months of conflicting reports unsubstantiated by concrete proof, dubious so-called leaks, and wild rumors hinting at everything but the kitchen sink included on the Samsung Galaxy Note 7, here comes visual confirmation of the iris scanner on the Galaxy Note 7.”

It will be interesting to see how reliable this method of unlocking the phone will be and also how reliable it will be if you sometimes have to wear glasses.

The Note 7 is stacking up to be similar to the S7 Edge but with more storage, ram, a stylus, iris scanner and the new skin from Samsung. Will it be worth changing your S7 or S7 Edge for the Note 7. Absolutely not. But when has logic ever played a part in rationale decisions.

More at Pocketnow

Spotify claims Apple won’t approve a new version of its app

June 30, 2016Apple, Tech NewsApple won't approve new Spotify appGavin Fabiani-Laymond

“Spotify says Apple is making it harder for the streaming music company to compete, by blocking a new version of its iPhone app. In a letter sent this week to Apple’s top lawyer, Spotify says Apple is “causing grave harm to Spotify and its customers,” by rejecting an update to Spotify’s iOS app. The letter says Apple turned down a new version of the app while citing “business model rules”

Clearly Apple and Spotify are starting to clash on each other’s toes. Probably Apple playing hard ball but ultimately that’s the price of having an app store under single ownership. Could be interesting to see what happens next.

More at The Verge

Google Maps for Android is finally rolling out multi-waypoint directions

June 30, 2016Android, Tech NewsGoogle Maps updateGavin Fabiani-Laymond

“Google Maps for Android is finally rolling out multi-waypoint directions

Android Police has discovered in their teardown of Maps v9.31 beta last week, that Google has been working on implementing true multiple waypoint directions in the Maps app for Android.”

Once this feature is available outside of the beta this surely is the death of traditional mapping software like TomTom. With offline maps already available, live traffic and re routing already available I cannot see any reason to be using alternative solutions.

More at Android Police

Windows 10 Anniversary Update on Aug 2nd, but what about Mobile? – Steve is upset again

June 30, 2016Tech News, WindowsMicrosoft Windows 10 large updateGavin Fabiani-Laymond

“Windows 10 Anniversary Update on Aug 2nd, but what about Mobile?

Microsoft has announced the official date of the production rollout of the ‘final’ binaries for Windows 10 on the desktop, to be supplied as an Over The Air upgrade. But what about ‘Mobile’? Some quotes and musings below.”

Steve Litchfield is unhappy with Microsoft and its big Windows 10 announcement. Where is the Windows 10 mobile love? I can understand Steve’s frustration here. I do wonder if mobile will be forgotten in its current guise and will re launch with the Microsoft Surface Phone that will actually run the full desktop Windows software, whereby it will solve many app shortages and more on the spot.

More at All About Windows Phone

Cirrus Logic releases development kit for Lightning headphones

June 30, 2016Apple, Tech NewsLightning HeadphonesGavin Fabiani-Laymond

“Cirrus Logic releases development kit for Lightning headphones.

With Apple rumored to be doing away with the headphone jack on its new iPhone, Cirrus Logic is offering a development kit to aid headphone makers looking to simplify the switch to Lightning connectors. The company’s MFi Headset Development Kit includes reference designs for creating Lightning port connected headphones and a development board to be used in programming, debugging and testing audio performance. The design is compatible with earbuds.

I can see a world of iPhone only headphones all working via the lightning connector or more than likely improved Bluetooth headphones . Once Apple removes the headphone jack everyone else will too. If you can’t sell more phones just wait, manufacturers will be queuing up to sell you compatible headphones!

More at iLounge

Apple sued by man who claims he invented iPhone in 1992 – Is this Crazy or What?

June 30, 2016Apple, Tech News1992, Apple lawsuitGavin Fabiani-Laymond

Apple sued by man who claims he invented iPhone in 1992

The iPhone went on sale nine years ago today, and to mark the momentous occasion a Florida man is suing Apple for a whopping $10 billion and 1.5 percent of all future Apple earnings — because he claims to have come up with the idea for Apple’s breakthrough mobile device all way back in 1992.

Seriously crazy patent lawsuit. Someone needs to overhaul patents to stop the costly and pointless money grabbing law suits. More at Cult of Mac.

Source – Cult of Mac

OnePlus 3 Might Get a Price Hike Thanks to Brexit

June 29, 2016Tech NewsGavin Fabiani-Laymond

“One of the Best Cheap Phones Might Get a Price Hike Thanks to Brexit.

The OnePlus 3, may get a price hike in the UK. Not because of any strong EU bias or anything, but because the British pound is currently garbage.In a blogpost on OnePlus’ website, the company warns its would-be British customers that a price hike could be coming.

If you’re interested in the phone, you might want to make up your mind soon:We’re telling you this now because we don’t want you to be blindsided. If you’re thinking of buying, we recommend doing so sooner rather than later. However, if a price change comes to pass, it will not be a decision that we take lightly. We have only had to increase prices once before, when the Euro hit a nine-year low against the dollar at the beginning of 2015, and we did so reluctantly. Currency fluctuations are not your fault, nor our fault; but if we sell at a loss, the simple fact is that there won’t be a OnePlus in the future.”

What a disgraceful stunt by OnePlus to try and push people to panic buy their phone when actually nothing is likely to occur for years, by which time there will be the next flagship on offer.

More at Gizmodo UK

The Wileyfox Spark is woefully inadequate

June 29, 2016Android, Tech Newslow storage, Wileyfox SparkGavin Fabiani-Laymond

“British smartphone maker Wileyfox has returned with its third budget smartphone, the Spark, following up the Swift and Storm models launched last year. The Spark line of smartphones — there are three different variations of it, so hold on to your hats — runs Cyanogen OS 13, a heavily modified version of Android 6.0. Wileyfox will release the Spark, Spark+ (more RAM and storage), and the Spark X (bigger screen) over the next two months, which is ambitious, but you should definitely avoid the lower-end Spark given its paltry amount of RAM and storage. Reports from users have the 8GB Spark offering less than 2.5GB of actual space after updating the pre-installed apps”

As much as I don’t want to write negative comments about a British company, launching a phone with 1gb ram and 8gb storage in 2016 is unacceptable at any price . It does however have adoptable storage but I still don’t think that’s enough to let Wileyfox off the hook.

More at The Verge

You can get discounted phones from Amazon if you don’t mind lock screen ads

June 29, 2016Amazon, Android, Tech NewsAmazon smartphone for prime membersGavin Fabiani-Laymond

“You can get discounted phones from Amazon if you don’t mind lock screen ads

Amazon has announced a new promotion for Prime members that could see up to 50% knocked off the price of their next Android phone. The retailer is loading select phones with personalized offers and ads to appear on the lock screen of each phone in order to provide these discounts. The first phones available in the promotion are the BLU R1 HD and the Moto G4. With personalized offers, Prime customers can get the BLU R1 HD for $49.99, or 50% off its full retail price. The Moto G4, normally available for $199.99, is available for $149.99 with this program.”

Not sure I would want ads all over my phone. Plus these phones have all of Amazon’s app pre installed. What about you?

More at Android Central

Samsung Galaxy S7 – Two Months Later + 1 Month with the S7 Edge

June 29, 2016accessories, Android, Tech News3 months later, Samsung Galaxy S7Gavin Fabiani-Laymond

I have now had a Samsung S7/Edge for 3 months with a few other phones in review within this time period.

I started with the Samsung S7 Edge but migrated to the S7 Standard. Why? Same phone in a more practical shell, that as slightly smaller, also easier to fit, hold, use, grip and more.

So what makes using the Samsung S7 so special and such a great user experience.

Well, one of the reasons is the accessories. The Lens Cover case is fantastic. My review is HERE. I also have the S7 Wireless Battery Back Pack. My review click HERE. Then there is the Samsung Gear VR and Gear 360, the Samsung Level One Pro headphones and more. Click HERE. for my thoughts on the S7 Edge.

My S7 is always kept in the Lens Cover case. It is worth getting the Lens Cover just for the case alone. The case feels like leather, its not, reassuringly grippy and has a slightly raised section to help with more grip when taking photos. Then you can add either a wide angle or 2 x telephoto lens. I use these lenses all the time now. I also use the Gear 360. The other accessories like the Gear VR, Level One Pro headphones and Gear S2 don’t get used that much.

Continuing with the camera, the S7 just snaps a great shot nearly every time. Being water resistant means I am not worried about if its raining either. Between the S7 and S7 Edge I now have nearly 300 shots in my Flickr albums. That is a record number over every previous smartphone.

S7 Edge Flickr Album

Samsung S7 Flickr Album

Then the rest of the phone is all superb. Fast charging, Qi charging, an amazing QHD screen, great battery life, a proper gaming mode with options to remove disturbances and improve battery life. I even use Touchwiz on my S7 and love changing themes. The loudspeaker isn’t the loudest or clearest, but its usable for podcasts. The audio output via headphones is only good when matched with easy to drive headphones. Luckily using bluetooth headphones and HiFiMan Edition S headphones I have superb audio via headphones, although I do miss the HTC 10 for headphone audio.

But overall, the S7 package and experience is second to none. There are phones available that are better than the S7 in particular fields, but nobody beats Samsung for the whole package.

Some shots from the camera below and aboe –

Gavin's Gadgets & Photography

Tech Reviews & Photography