Archive for February, 2014

By February 28, 2014 Read More →

Win an HP Pavilion A4 15″ Notebook

pavillion-15It has been a little while since we last had a good competition or give-away on the site but we’re back with a corker. We’ve teamed up with AMD and we have a fantastic HP Pavilion A4 Notebook, in red, worth around £450 and one lucky reader is going to be walking away with it!

To see the prize that we are giving away in more detail, check out the official video below and then you can see how to enter after that…

 

As usual we are going to make this very easy for you.

To enter, all you have to do is follow tracyandmatt on Twitter and retweet the following tweet: “RT @tracyandmatt I want to win a red HP Pavilion A4 Notebook from tracyandmatt and @AMD see how you can enter too: http://bit.ly/amdcomp” You can also click the retweet link below to save you copying and pasting the phrase. Your twitter name will be entered in to the draw.

RETWEET ME!

Your twitter name will be entered in to the draw. You’ll have to keep following us as we’ll notify winners via DM.

 

Entry is open until midnight on the 31st March 2014 and the winner will be picked on the 1st April. Will that be a lucky day for you?

We’ll contact the winner via twitter so make sure that you are still following us!

Good luck.

By February 28, 2014 Read More →

Mobile Tech Addicts Podcast 221: Mobile World Congress 2014

Podcast-Logo_thumb.jpgGareth, Matt and Phil are here with an update on what happened at Mobile World Congress this year.

There’s plenty to talk about in this show with new flagship devices from Samsung and Sony as well as some announcements from HTC, Nokia and Lenovo to name a few!

 

Featuring Gareth, Matt and Phil

Direct Download 

iTunes

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By February 27, 2014 Read More →

All New HTC One coming March 25th

saveHTC have started sending out ‘save the date’ emails advising the the “Best Smartphone of 2013 is about to get better”.

The special announcement says the 25th March is the date that we’ll be able to see the HTC One successor, officially, for the first time.

Expect to see information on the ‘All New Scooby Doo Show’  ‘All New HTC One’ become more frequent between now and then as more information is bound to leak!

Posted in: News
By February 27, 2014 Read More →

Samsung unveils SDKs for new devices

samsung-logoSamsung Electronics today announced the immediate availability of Software Development Kits (SDKs) for the Galaxy S5 and Samsung Gear 2, during the Samsung Developer Day at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2014 in Barcelona, Spain.

Following the unveiling of the Galaxy S5 and Samsung Gear 2 in Barcelona on February 24, the SDKs were introduced to over 500 app developers from around the world at the Samsung Developer Day, a conference Samsung has held since 2011 for app developers at the App Planet exhibition space at MWC.

An SDK for the Samsung Gear 2 based on Tizen was also introduced publicly for the first time. In addition to these SDKs, a Gear Fit SDK for Samsung Gear Fit was introduced, highlighting the potential for wearable apps development.

Dr. Won-Pyo Hong, president and head of the Media Solution Center at Samsung Electronics, said “Samsung will continue to provide more comprehensive SDKs for our mobile devices and maintain collaborative relationships with development partners to present unique and unprecedented content and services to our customers.”

During Samsung Developer Day, the company also introduced an upgraded Samsung Mobile SDK 1.5 with the finger scanning technology, strengthened motion-detection function included in the Galaxy S5 as well as Multi-screen technology for developing apps that can simultaneously operate on TV and mobile devices.

The S Health SDK was also presented to developer partners. S Health, Samsung’s personalised app which uses health information accumulated through sensors, is available on various Samsung mobile devices.

In addition to the SDK exhibitions and demonstrations, a presentation on mobile app development trends for 2014 was provided by guest speaker Andreas Constantinou, the CEO of VisionMobile.

Awards for the Samsung Smart App Challenge 2013, a global contest for app development held successfully last year, were also presented in a ceremony.

Newly Released SDK:

 

Name

Description

S Health SDK

S Health SDK allows developers to use the health data created by S Health application

Gear SDK

Gear SDK provides supports for tools and various APIs to create applications for SAMSUNG Gear

 

Gear Fit SDK

Companion UI Profile provides an emulator for wearable device and various APIs to control Gear fit.

 

 

Upgrade SDK:

 

Name

Description

Samsung Mobile

SDK 1.5

Samsung Mobile SDK 1.5 is upgraded targeting to Samsung Galaxy S5.

Motion and Gesture function is strengthened. Moreover, Pass, development tool for touch recognition app and Office, converting image between document tool are added.

Multi-screen SDK

Samsung Multi-screen SDK is an all-new SDK that allows developers take advantage of Samsung’s market leadership in smartphones and smart TVs. Based on a cloud publishing system, the Multi-screen SDK includes APIs for one-touch discovery and pairing of devices, which allows for content sharing across devices.

 

Posted in: News, Phones
By February 26, 2014 Read More →

Google Glass Banned?

Google-GlassGoogle Glass isn’t even on the shelves yet and it’s being banned from all sorts of places. It was reported towards the end of last year that the “wearable tech”, which incorporates a tiny screen and camera connected to the internet, was already unwelcome at some casinos in the USA. Is this a knee-jerk reaction to a genuinely exciting, even revolutionary new technology? Is it maybe a fantastic bit of PR?

 

Casino Bans

CasinoFor a piece of kit that only a tiny percentage of humanity has actually tried, a whole lot of people seem to have an opinion about it. Google Glass certainly does have implications for casinos and their patrons, both negative and positive, so if you manage to get your hands on a pair you might be better off testing those capabilities somewhere like Gaming Club online casino first.

In New Jersey, the ban is official. The state’s Division of Gaming Enforcement has ordered all 12 casinos under its jurisdiction to stop gamblers wearing Glass. Various other states have followed suit, including Nevada, meaning that casinos in Las Vegas (and Reno) won’t allow the device.

 

By February 26, 2014 Read More →

ZTE launch the ultra slim ZTE Grand Memo II LTE

 image001ZTE, one of the top five global handset manufacturers, today presents the Grand Memo II LTE, an ultra slim and high performance LTE Smartphone. With its 6” IPS display that takes up 80% of the handset, users can view high quality images, HD videos and movies with a 178 degree viewing angle. The device utilises ZTE’s brand new innovative MiFavor 2.3 user interface (UI) with a range of new icons, offering an intelligent but easy-to-use handset experience. In addition, the Grand Memo II LTE combines stylish design with a practical 7.2mm ultra-slim frame.

Mr Zeng Xuezhong, CEO of ZTE Mobile Devices and Executive Vice President of ZTE Corporation commented: “The Grand Memo II LTE is designed to meet the increasing user demand for stylish design with an intuitive user experience. High performance technology must be met with a simplistic user interface which allows users to customize their experience based on personal preferences.”

The new MiFavor 2.3 UI enriches the user experience, making the handset more natural for human use. By memorizing user habits, it offers users a simplified and tailored interface that can be customized to their needs using innovative intelligent split screens. Furthermore, the MiFavor UI brings elegant design features to the Google Android 4.4 KitKat operating system not seen on other devices including integration with functions such as notebook, calendar, weather forecast, alarm clock, Internet, and music.  

With 4G as a standard feature, the Grand Memo II LTE can not only stream movies at top speed, but audio playback is also a pleasure with Smart PA and 3D Stereo Sound. And with ZTE’s focus on maximizing battery life, users will be able to enjoy all the entertainment they want as the 3200mAh battery, combined with ZTE’s unique battery-saving solutions that cut power consumption by 30%, allows for 16 hours of continuous HD video playback, 72 hours of music playback or several days of normal use.

With a Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 400 processor, the Grand Memo II provides the required performance  enabling consumers to take advantage of LTE and high speed mobile internet, online 3D gaming and HD video streaming as well as easily accessing social media channels such as Facebook and Twitter on the go. Furthermore, high quality pictures can be taken quickly and easily shared with the handset’s 13MP rear camera and 5MP front camera which is optimised for video calling.

“We are thrilled to continue our collaboration with ZTE to introduce the new high performance Grand Memo II LTE,” said Raj Talluri, senior vice president of product management, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “Powered by a Snapdragon 400 processor with integrated LTE connectivity, the Grand Memo II provides a high quality multimedia experience with seamless connectivity for users to be constantly connected on the go.” 

The ZTE Grand Memo II LTE has been designed with quality in mind. At just 7.2mm thin, the handset boasts a 6” IPS display made from Corning Gorilla® Glass 3 that covers 80% of the front. A textured back adds a luxury feel as well as making the product feel tactile in people’s hands.

The ZTE Grand Memo II LTE follows last year’s launch of the Grand Memo LTE. The device will first launch in April in China, followed by simultaneous launches in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific.

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By February 25, 2014 Read More →

ZTE launches two new Firefox OS phones

image003ZTE today launches two new innovative Firefox OS phones in the ZTE Open series with the Open C and Open II, and expects to ship over one million Firefox OS phones before the end of 2014. This furthers ZTE’s strong relationship with Mozilla that started with the first ZTE Open which was launched at Mobile World Congress in 2013.

The Open C is one of the first devices to operate on the latest version of Firefox OS and is designed to deliver a better user experience and a higher cost-performance ratio. As part of Telefónica’s long-term cooperation with ZTE, the Open C will be initially launched with Telefónica in Venezuela and Uruguay during the second quarter of 2014.

Also running the latest version of Firefox OS, the Open II is the evolution of the popular ZTE Open, which was launched in 2013 in six countries by Telefónica as well as being sold through eBay in the US and UK markets. Marrying exquisite design with the open-source, Web-based Firefox OS, the Open II provides users with a fantastic experience and a highly affordable price.

Mr.Kan Yulun, CEO of EMEA & LATAM, ZTE Mobile Devices, and Vice President of ZTE Corporation, commented, “ZTE’s strong relationship with Mozilla is in line with our focus on developing a range of devices that fit the consumer’s needs. Consumers want innovative devices that are also cost-effective and by delivering not just one, but two of the first devices with the latest version of Firefox OS, ZTE is continuing to push the boundaries and bring its customers the very latest that mobile technology can offer.”

“ZTE was one of Mozilla’s first partners to launch a Firefox OS phone, the ZTE Open, and we have worked closely together to continue advancing the new platform. The ZTE Open C and Open II are the latest examples of how Firefox OS has evolved to bringpowerful open Web technologies to the smartphone,” said Dr. Li Gong, Mozilla’s Senior Vice President of Mobile Devices and President of Asia Operations.

Powerful open Web performance

Firefox OS is an open-source, Web-based operating system and offers a fresh and simple UI with a full range of features and apps, including camera, dialer, SMS and games created using HTML5 technologies. Web apps are not resource intensive, so users can enjoy higher performance at a more affordable price. The Open C supports bi-directional contact sync and linking as well as Firefox OS’s unique adaptive apps search function which allows users to search for content faster by using the search box at the top of the main home screen.

The Open C delivers superior performance with integrated connectivity as it is powered by a Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 200 processor with dual-core CPUs at speeds of up to 1.2 GHz per core from Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. As Firefox OS consumes fewer resources, the 1400 mAh battery on the Open C lasts for at least six to eight hours, even when watching videos or listening to music for a long time. The Open C allows people to express their personalities in six colours: dark blue, light blue, turquoise, red, white and orange.

“Qualcomm Technologies has been collaborating with ZTE and Mozilla since the beginning of Firefox OS development, and we’re excited to be a part of the 2nd generation of Firefox device launches from ZTE,” said Jason Bremner, senior vice president of product management, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “Firefox OS is an exciting platform that brings the power and ubiquity of HTML5-based applications to mobile devices. Coupled with the powerful Snapdragon 200 processor, for optimal multimedia and performance for superior battery life, the ZTE Open C and Open II truly deliver compelling performance to highly affordable mobile devices.”

Future of ZTE Firefox OS phones

ZTE has great confidence in the prospect of Firefox OS mobile phones. As part of ZTE’s long-term consumer-centric strategy, ZTE plans to update all series of Firefox OS phones from the low to high end. Following the launches of the Open C and dual-core Open II, ZTE also plans to release a 4.5-inch Firefox OS smartphone by 2015.

Firefox OS smartphones are key to ZTE’s growth in Europe and Latin America, as they enable it to better target the entry-level smartphone market, providing an alternative for consumers who have few proven and affordable options. The ZTE Open, launched at Mobile World Congress in 2013, was brought to market with Telefónica in Spain, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Mexico and Uruguay. It was later sold in the US and UK via eBay, initially selling out in just three days. In addition to eBay, ZTE will also cooperate with additional e-commerce platforms for both the Open C and Open II.

“Our first Firefox OS phone, the ZTE Open, proved hugely popular and we are excited to bring even more innovative Firefox OS products to market, starting with the ZTE Open C and Open II. We have huge confidence in the Firefox OS platform and expect to deliver more than one million Firefox OS phones this year alone,” ended Mr. Kan Yulun.

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By February 25, 2014 Read More →

Mail vs. Modern Newsletters

Email-v-mailToday, less and less people are using actual mail to send anything. This is especially true of getting the word out about something. The question is, is it more or less helpful?

 

Getting the Word Out

If you look at your inbox, you probably are receiving many emails per day from companies who want you to take some time to take a look at the product or service they are offering. At some point, the messages simply get deleted, or placed into the SPAM folder, never to be seen again, without even being opened. This can also be said for paper mail. Many people will open their postbox and find it filled with junk mail that will eventually end up in the bin. The most important element to getting a person to read your message is to do something that separates you from the competition. What will make your message special?

 

Subject Line

The potential customer will probably decide within five seconds if they are going to open your message or not. It is very important that the first thing a person sees grabs their attention and makes them want to read what you have to say. In an email, the subject line can be very important because it gives the organization the chance to say something in order to get that message open. For a physical mailing it would be best to create this transparency through something like translucent envelopes, which allow the person to see what is inside.

 

Posted in: Editorial
By February 25, 2014 Read More →

Dual Screen Yotaphone unveiled at Mobile World Congress

Screenshot 2014-02-25 07.27.09Yota Devices, the company that innovated the world’s first dual-screen, always-on smartphone, unveiled the next generation YotaPhone today at Mobile World Congress (MWC). The next generation YotaPhone has full-touch control on its always-on electronic paper display (EPD) and many other new hardware and software features, making it even more intuitive “YotaPhone’s arrival on the market last year marked one of the first game changers in smartphones in many years. Yota Devices proved that there is an antidote to the always-dark smartphone screen,” said Yota Devices CEO Vlad Martynov.

“The future of smartphones is always-on displays allowing users to stay connected without turning off the real world and disrupting the people around you. The next generation YotaPhone takes this totally innovative concept in smartphones and makes it even better. Now, with two full-touch displays, the next generation YotaPhone is twice as smart, twice as useful and twice as beautiful,”

1-Look, 1-Touch Always-On Display

With the first generation YotaPhone, notifications and other important information appear automatically on YotaPhone’s always-on display. The next generation YotaPhone allows users to open and respond to these notifications, with just one touch, without having to wake up and activate the color display. Users can immediately respond to mails and SMSs, accept and decline meeting invites and post to social media.

The next generation YotaPhone delivers an even better reading experience on a bigger and better screen. The always-on EPD display is 4.7” with higher resolution, greater pixel density and a built- in light. “Now you can read comfortably in bright sunlight or in the dark on the always-on display,” explained Martynov. YotaPhone delivers 50+ hours of battery life when reading on the always-on. With two displays, users can choose how best to use their smartphone. They can watch videos, play games, view photos and browse the internet on a bigger, brighter and more brilliant 5.0”

AMOLED display. On the energy-saving 4.7” EPD, they can open and respond to real-time notifications, read books and newspapers, keep track of meetings and post comments to social media. 74% of YotaPhone is usable, interactive display, compared to just 30-40% on other premium Android smartphones.

The next generation YotaPhone also comes with a Smart Power Mode so users can turn off the energy-consuming color screen and perform functions like making and answering phone calls on the always-on display to preserve battery life. The next generation YotaPhone also boasts a Qualcomm quad-core 800 series processor, wireless charging, near-field communications (NFC), advanced anti-theft protection and high-performance integrated hands-free audio (IHF).

“The next generation YotaPhone is sleeker, thinner and even more beautiful,” said Martynov. “The sleek, soft and rounded body fits naturally and comfortably in your hand. We’ve taken a gorgeous phone and made it even more stunning.”

Now Open: YotaPhone SDK

Yota Devices also announced today that it is opening YotaPhone’s SDK to third-party developers. Tools and information can be found at http://developer.yotaphone.com.

“Thinking out of the box just got two times more fun for app developers around the world. YotaPhone’s unique dual-screen, always-on experience provides vast opportunities for third-party developers to adapt and create fun, productive and totally new types of applications,” said Yota Devices also unveiled several new apps at MWC, including Sportscaster, which allows users to track their favorite team, including play-by-play text commentary streamed in real time to the always-on display. Fitness Tracker syncs with any health monitoring device and tracks health status and fitness goals. Yota Devices also announced a partnership agreement with Israel-based Cellrox to include the company’s multi-persona technology on YotaPhone to provide functionality, privacy and security for both corporate and personal use. An agreement was also reached with MobiSystems to allow for reading of office docs on YotaPhone’s always-on display.

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By February 25, 2014 Read More →

Qualcomm Introduces New Snapdragon 801 Processor

SnapdragonToday Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. announced the introduction of the Snapdragon 801 processor, which includes several new enhancements to its predecessor, the highly popular Snapdragon 800 SoC, while maintaining some important similarities, primarily software and pin compatibility. The Snapdragon 801 processor enables even more compelling mobile user experiences, like higher quality imaging with support for larger, faster camera sensors and improved image post-processing, as well as improved mobile graphics and gaming, higher speed SD card memory, dedicated hardware for dual-SIM/dual active (DSDA) service in China, and enhanced overall performance.

Like the Snapdragon 800 processor, the Snapdragon 801 processor includes integrated 4G LTE Cat 4 and 802.11ac Wi-Fi for seamless connectivity, a quad core Krait 400 CPU for advanced processing performance and an Adreno 330 GPU for premium graphics, all while maintaining industry-leading battery performance. And in the Snapdragon 801 processor, Qualcomm Technologies has boosted the performance of key processing engines, including the CPU, GPU, DSP, camera sensor and memory components. As with all Snapdragon processors, Qualcomm Technologies continues to achieve superior processing performance through the unique and efficient integration of its custom-designed processing engines, including Qualcomm Technologies’ heterogeneous computing architecture. The Snapdragon 801 enables breakthrough, low-power mobile user experiences by utilizing just the right processing engine or combination of processing engines for a given task.

The Snapdragon 801 processor is expected to be available in commercial devices this quarter.

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