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Archive for May, 2014

By Gareth May 23, 2014 Read More →

The New Sleek and Powerful Acer TravelMate B115P

Today Acer announced a new modestly specced and even more modestly priced laptop. Geared toward the student and as a road warrior work machine, the Travelmate B115P have some attractive features to warrant consideration:

• New FlowCurve design with 21.2mm slim body
• Intuitive Windows touch controls
• 10 hours battery life
• Fan-less design for whisper-quiet computing

Acer has today unveiled the new TravelMate B115P laptop with stylish new FlowCurve design, improved mobility and up to ten hours of battery life. Together with its quiet fan-less chassis and Windows-based touch control, the B115P delivers a great mobile computing experience.

Weighing only 1,190 grams with a 21.2mm body, the B115P features an Intel Celeron Dual Core processor, 4 GB memory and 500GB HDD, offering users a lightweight and powerful solution. The device is also encased with a sleek aluminium top cover and is strong enough to withstand everyday use.

Powerful Design
The B115P comes equipped with all the essentials needed for a busy working day. With an intuitive HD multi-touch display, full-sized keyboard and large precision touchpad with enhanced sensitivity and accuracy, users are able to work quickly and efficiently no matter what the task. It also features a HD webcam with High Dynamic Range (HDR) to provide clear image for video conferences while powerful speakers ensure music is enjoyed to the full.

Users can rest assured that documents are secure as Acer Office Manager enables small businesses to deploy security policies, monitor IT assets and set maintenance whilst Acer ProShield lets users easily maintain their credentials, data protection and web accounts. Business contacts can also be quickly saved to smartphones via Contact Pickup while Face Login enables quick login using facial recognition.

Enhanced Productivity
The B115 comes equipped with Windows 8.1 allowing simple access to all Windows apps. Users can Skype with friends or work colleagues, complete work with Office tools, access online files anywhere with SkyDrive, or find their favourite apps using the Windows Store.
In addition users can touch, write and create content with Acer Touch Tools. Acer Screen Grasp allows users to capture and grab images which can be placed on Acer Scrapboard perfect for creating a collage. Finally, Acer AccuFinger is designed to help users tap tiny items on the screen for much more accurately.

For the Education market, Acer Classroom Manager (ACM) is also available and allows teachers to improve the efficiency of content sharing and communication by centrally instructing students on their computers. ACM enables teachers to better monitor students, help them to focus, and maximize their time by making it easier to access and share content. In addition, with the Student Journal application enables lesson details to be captured and saved.

The TravelMate B115 is also available as an alternative to the touchscreen B115P.

The TravelMate B115P will be available in the UK in early July with an SRP of £349.

Posted in: Laptops, News

By Gareth May 23, 2014 Read More →

Archos Smart Home Bundle now available exclusively through Clove Technology

Our buddies over at Clove.co.uk have bagged exclusivity on the Archos Smart Home bundle. This all in one solution or home security and automation is now available for £199.99. For that price you get the 7″ Smart Tablet to control a combination of satellites. Six satellite units, 2 movement sensors, 2 mini cameras and 2 weather sensors.

It all looks like a great set up for a low price and we will hopeufully have a hands on with the kit soon.

Home automation and intelligent security monitoring has taken a giant leap forward thanks to Poole based Clove Technology who have just launched the new Smart Home range of products from ARCHOS.

Clove Technology Managing Director, Chris Love, says “Having a smarter home which understands its environment, knows who is coming through the door and could automatically text you when the kids get in is now available at the fraction of the price of systems put into million pound properties just a few years ago”.

The ARCHOS Smart Home is a innovate kit comprising of a 7” Smart Home Tablet, two (2) movement tags, two (2) mini cam’s and two (2) weather tags that work together to allow your home to become smarter and yourself more informed.

The six (6) provided wireless components communicate with the tablet using the Bluetooth Smart data transfer standard. Able to be positioned indoors and out, the components have a communication range of up to 20 meters indoors.

Powered by lithium batteries, these innovative modules are capable of lasting a whole year without replacement; the kit offers a tidy, cable free solution for the modern home.

Easily programmable with three simple steps, the use of a Trigger, Action and Schedule allow you to configure the system to work for you the true power of the system is only realised when you have it in hand and see it in use.

Mike Edwards, UK Managing Director of ARCHOS, commented. “We are very excited about this new range of products we are launching and the way they can offer a simpler more cost effective solution to many aspects of home automation. There are additional products to complement the range further coming soon and we are pleased to be working with Clove Technology exclusively on this launch.”

The UK exclusivity runs for a period of one month from June 1^st when the first kits will begin shipping from Clove.

The ARCHOS Smart Home is available for order now, at a price of £199.99 from Clove.

For further more detailed information on the Smart Home and how it works visit our Explore Archos Smart Home page.

Posted in: Gadgets, News
Tags: Archos

By Matt May 22, 2014 Read More →

Another massive security breach at Ebay – What you need to know!

Ebay are encouraging all users to change their passwords.

Ebay has fallen victim to a massive security breach, proving that not even corporate giants are immune to hacking. According to USA Today, the huge cyber-attack occurred sometime between February and March; however, officials state that the breach was not discovered until May.

Triggered by hackers who managed to gain access to employee login credentials, it allowed the intruders to target the main database and steal usernames, passwords and other personal information. 145 million active users’ data has now been compromised and Ebay are strongly urging everybody – even those with inactive accounts – to change their passwords.

If you are based in UK remember that you can opt for a GDPR breach compensation just reach out a lawyer that guide you with the claim.

Widespread panic

It is still not known how much information was actually stolen; however, Ebay are confident that they will find an answer within the next couple of weeks.

After this widespread disaster many users are now stuck wondering how to increase their security systems, not just on their online accounts, but also their home PCs. The popularity of cloud based security systems is steadily increasing and companies such as Cheeky Munkey are at the top of the security food chain, providing innovative and bespoke systems that are near impenetrable.

On a positive note, Ebay have stated that the breached database did not hold any financial information; furthermore, there is no evidence to suggest that the hackers have attempted to gain entry to Paypal. However, regardless of whether or not users are encountering problems, Ebay are taking the security breach very seriously.

Changing passwords

Studies conducted by Software Advice, a company that review IT security software, revealed that 67% of Internet users who have accounts registered with companies that have suffered from hacks don’t change their passwords. Hackers can remain under the radar for months, possibly even years, withholding user information and waiting for the opportune moment to strike; therefore, even those who don’t suffer from issues straight away are still subject to problems in the future.

Experts state that the best way to combat hackers is to choose a password that has a unique combination of letters, numbers and symbols. Most websites now contain a password strength indicator that can give new users an idea of how well protected they are.

Having a different password for every website can also be beneficial. While this can be difficult to maintain, password managers make the process easier. These programs will require one master password in order to gain access to every other password; therefore, this “master password” should be very strong. In addition, password manager software usually contains a generator that will create highly complex passwords for website registration; ensuring users have the best possible security systems available.

Conclusion

While this Ebay security breach is unfortunate and inconvenient, it’s certainly been a wakeup call. Most Internet users aren’t aware of the dangers of hacking, and sometimes, a widespread panic is just what the world needs for people start taking the severity of cyber-attacks seriously.

Image Credit: Cult of Android

Posted in: Editorial, News
Tags: eBay

By Gareth May 22, 2014 Read More →

Viewsonic drop an All in One PC with Android

Viewsonic is one of those companies who are not afraid to try something different. Whilst an all-in-one PC is hardly breaking news, how many are running Android? This combines a 24″ IPS display with Android Jelly bean inside some reliable Viewsonic hardware. One of this main targets of this machine is Amazon Workspaces, a shared virtual desktop that allows users a cloud based desktop experience across their devices.

ViewSonic Corp., a leading global provider of computing visual solution products, presents its VSD241 smart display as the ideal desktop device for Amazon Workspaces. With its powerful NVIDIA® Tegra processor and its professional grade 24-inch LED IPS panel and multi touch screen features, the ViewSonic® VSD241 is the complete package for education, health care and small/medium businesses looking for alternative desktop solutions for their virtual desktop environments.

Amazon WorkSpaces addresses the increasing demand from customers for a virtual cloud desktop service. Customers have been frustrated by the available options of traditional desktops that are hard to manage and keep secure, that are expensive and deliver inconsistent performance. Amazon WorkSpaces aims to address these issues by offering secure, easy-to-manage, high-performance desktops in the cloud at a fraction of the price of traditional PCs. Amazon WorkSpaces is a fully managed desktop computing service in the cloud which allows customers to easily provision cloud-based desktops that allow end-users to access the documents, applications and resources they need.

The VSD241 raises the bar of smart client performance and flexibility to provide an all-in-one solution. The 24” VSD241 is a self-contained Android Jelly Bean-based smart display which delivers an excellent user experience, courtesy of an NVIDIA® Tegra quad-core processor, making it perfect for local Android apps and cloud-based computing. Plenty of network connection options are integrated including integrated networking (RJ-45 Ethernet), 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi® and Bluetooth® support for easy connectivity in any environment. With Google® GMS certification, users can also experience a variety of multimedia applications for Android, from social networking to cloud services. Because the VSD241 is a fully functional display, it can also be used as a traditional or secondary touch screen monitor for personal computing.

“With educational institutions, medical facilities, and corporations looking for ways to cut costs, but not wanting to sacrifice productivity, the VSD241 will increase efficiency in any VDI setting. Recognizing the changing way people compute, ViewSonic was first to introduce Android based smart display technology in 2012. Now we’re taking this innovation to the next level, giving our customers the best possible desktop experience for Amazon Workspaces.” said Stuart Frisby, Product Manager for Cloud Computing at ViewSonic Europe.

The VSD241 is available immediately in Europe for a MSRP of £399/€489 ex vat.

Posted in: Desktop Computing, News

By Matt May 21, 2014 Read More →

Android Excite Pure review

Toshiba are relatively new to the tablet market, but their recent offering of 3 new tablets, Excite Write, Excite Pro and Excite Pure, demonstrate that they’re more than capable of competing with the big hitters in the tablet market. The Excite Pure is the most affordable of the range, and in our opinion, the best model. The Excite Pro and Write are both excellent in their own right, but current pricing means they can’t compete with the likes of Apple and Samsung. So what’s exciting about the Excite Pure? Read our review to find out.

Toshiba Excite Pure Basic Info:

1.2GHz NVIDIA Tegra 3 Quad Core (Cortex A9) Processor
1GB Memory
16GB Storage
10.1″ WXGA (1280×800) Multitouch Display
1.2 Megapixel Front Camera
NVIDIA Tegra Graphics
Micro-USB 2.00, Micro HDMI, MicroSD Card Slot, 3.5mm Audio Jack
Android 4.2

Design:

The Excite Pure falls within the 10” category, measuring in at 10.3 x 7.0 x 0.4 inches. The design is sturdy and features a two-tone design – silver casing with a black border around the screen. The Pure features micro SD slot, meaning you can expand the 16GB storage to anywhere up to 128GB. Unfortunately the Excite Pure only features one front facing camera, meaning this isn’t the best tablet for budding photographers. At an additional cost, you can purchase a nifty Toshiba Bluetooth keyboard which also acts as a stand.

Display:

At 10 inches, the Excite Pure offers great screen quality and resolution. The Autobright display has ten-finger multitouch support and boasts a 1280 x 800 resolution. For the price it’s one of the better screens available – viewing HD content will never be an issue.

Graphics:

If you plan to play games on a micro tablet such as the Excite, you’ll be glad to hear that it can handle almost anything thrown at it. We were incredibly impressed by the quad-core Tegra 3 processor (1GB RAM) that managed to handle every game we tested, without issue. Benchmark test reveal that the Pure outperforms the Kindle Fire and Asus Transformer but lags slightly behind the likes of the Nexus 10 and Galaxy Tab. If you’re looking for something with a bit more power we recommend you go with something like the Excite Pro from Toshiba.co.uk.

Camera:

Our biggest issue with the Pure was the lack of a rear camera, that being said, it’s to be expected when Toshiba release three differently priced tablets. The Pure’s 1.2MP camera is more than adequate for a basic photo but you won’t be taking it out of the house to take pictures any time soon.

Battery Life:

If you’re looking for a reliable tablet that will hold its charge for an entire day, the Pure is more than up to the job. When compared against the other tablets, it may not be the longest lasting but it’s definitely up there.

Verdict:

We loved using the Excite Pure. For the money (£260) you’re getting a great piece of kit that is more than capable of doing your day-to-day tasks. It’s not often that we have been impressed by a tablet that isn’t from the big hitters in the industry.

Posted in: Reviews, Tablets
Tags: Toshiba

By Matt May 20, 2014 Read More →

The ultimate guide to gifts and gadgets in 2014

The increasingly popular car shaped mouse

As modern technology develops, every year more and more exciting, unusual and unique gadgets are released. Quirky pieces of technology make perfect gifts, whether it’s for your sister’s birthday, your parents’ wedding anniversary or for your boyfriend on Valentine’s Day.

Another great option to consider when looking for a gift are the romance novels of AnyStories.

You won’t want to buy a loved one the same gift as someone else. So why not buy a unique gift that the person will definitely remember? 2014 is a great year for fantastic gadgets being released that all make perfect gifts.

Below is the ultimate guide to some of the top gadgets and gifts for 2014.

Projection Clock

We’ve all experienced fumbling around to try and find out the time while we’re in bed. With this fantastic gadget, when you’re laid in bed and its dark, all you need to do is press a button and the time will be projected onto the ceiling or a wall, making it easily visible.

This great clock projects the time in 2 foot tall writing, so even if you don’t have your glasses on you’ll be able to see the numbers. This is a fantastic gift in 2014, and is sure to be useful as well as unique.

Bendable Keyboard

Another of 2014’s top gadgets is the bendable keyboard. This silicone keyboard comes in a variety of bright colours and adds a lot of style to your computer. But as well as adding a touch of class, there are many functional advantages to the bendable keyboard.

The silicone offering is practically indestructible compared to standard keyboards and is also waterproof, so if you accidentally spill a bit of tea on it then there’s no need to worry! It is very easy to wipe and very flexible…which means it’s easily cleaned. Finally, it is very lightweight, so if you want to move around taking the keyboard with you is no problem.

Electronic Cigars

Cigar smoking is increasing in popularity, not least because of the dramatic rise in Celebrities smoking cigars over cigarettes. Electronic cigars using e-liquid are set to continue their meteoric rise in popularity throughout 2014 and into 2015. There is now a wide selection of electronic cigars available online, from different strengths to colours or other models like iqos uae you can get for this. There’s also replacement vape glass australia if your vaporizer needs fixing.

There are many cigar distributors online, I have personally bought cigars from The Cigar Club online, so if you are curious to try your very own electronic cigar check out their range.

Mouse Designs

Another computer-related gadget of 2014 has quite a big fan-base already: interesting mouse designs. Instead of having the standard mouse to go along with your computer, why not buy someone a unique and unusual mouse to go with their bendable keyboard?

One of the most popular mouse gadgets is a car shaped mouse, also known as a ‘street mouse’. The owner of this mouse can enjoy ‘driving’ their mouse around while on the computer. You can also get an inflatable mouse, egg shaped mouse, arrow shaped mouse, washable mouse or even an actual mouse shaped mouse! With so many choices this is a great way to buy some-one the perfect gift to suit them.

In conclusion, 2014 has seen the release of many exciting gadgets that will make perfect unique and unusual gifts. You’re sure to wow the gift recipient with one of these fantastic gadgets. There’s a seriously low chance you’d end up getting them the same gift as someone else, and it’ll definitely be a memorable present. If you’re looking for a great way to save money on high-quality merchandise, then a bargain bins store may be the perfect place for you.

Posted in: Editorial, Gadgets

By Matt May 19, 2014 Read More →

5 Must have tech gadgets for summer 2014

panono-panoramic-ball-camera-designboom04

The Panono Ball Camera is set to revolutionize the way we take panoramic images.

With each new season comes an abundance of new gadgets; and summer 2014 is certainly no exception. The tech industry is all about increasing efficiency and improving upon previous inventions with new innovative tools that were not available in the past. These 5 must have tech gadgets have been hotly anticipated ever since they were announced and are expected to become market leaders in each of their sectors.

Panono

A few years ago everybody was raving about the GoPro. Taking HD footage while on the move revolutionized the way in which photographers shot extreme sports and other dangerous activities. The Panono Ball Camera takes still photography to a whole new level. When it’s thrown in the air it will take 360 images to create one complete panoramic image. Its robust design ensures that it won’t break under pressure and can withstand freefalling from huge heights without even suffering a dent. At 549 Euros, it’s not cheap; however, as with other cameras, no doubt after the first year of release prices will plummet into the lower hundreds.

Kenwood DNX521DAB

The Kenwood DNX521DAB will no doubt give tablets, smart phones and GPS systems a run for their money in the near future. This device is specifically designed for Volkswagen vehicles and is one of the most comprehensive multimedia systems on the planet. With a wide selection of media playback functions; a high definition touch screen; and Bluetooth capabilities, it’s not only a well-equipped entertainment station, but also completely hands-free. And that’s not to mention the world class GPS navigation system that it’s actually intended for.

Sony Short Throw 4K Projector

At an estimated $30,000 – $40,000 the Sony Short Throw 4K Projector will without a doubt be one of the most expensive gadgets on this list. This home cinema system is disguised as a piece of furniture and will provide a crisp image that can’t be matched by any conventional televisions. The device is capable of projecting a 147 inch image without hindering the quality. Although at present very few people will be able to fork out this much money for a home entertainment system, it could be the future of television viewing.

JVC Everio

The new JVC Everio is a compact little camcorder with some very impressive features. With a 40x optical zoom; 60x dynamic zoom; 4.5 hours of battery life; and excellent low light performance, it’s a more than worthy companion for a pocket. In addition, it is water, dust, freeze and shock proof, making it pretty robust and ready to tackle any challenges that natural elements throw its way.

PS Vita TV

Sony’s PS Vita TV is one of the most talked about gadgets in the console market. While it’s currently only available in Japan and yet to have an official Western release date (though it’s expected in the summer), this micro-console is yielding more excitement than many of the larger next-gen devices. This is because more and more people are making the transition over to PC gaming. The PS Vita TV allows users to play handheld games on the television; stream from the PS4; and watch television shows and films using a variety of third party TV streaming applications.

Technology moves at an alarming rate. While it can be mildly frustrating, new tech gadgets significantly drive down the price of older models. Although these five gadgets will certainly be on the pricey side when they’re released, perhaps by the time the autumn and winter comes around, they’ll be more affordable.

Image Credit: Mangahaikei

Posted in: Editorial, Gadgets, News

By Gareth May 18, 2014 Read More →

The Mobile Tech Addicts Show 18-05-14

A round up of the more interesting stories from the last week with Gareth from tracyandmatt.co.uk

This week:

No Nexus 6!
HTC One Mini2 surfaces
Samsung Galaxy S5 Prime
GTA San Andreas on Amazone App Store
Google Play Store PayPal billing
LG G3 shots
The Arcbook
Samsung Chromebook 2 UK price

Posted in: News, Videos/Unboxings
Tags: Featured

By Matt May 17, 2014 Read More →

HTC One mini 2 hands-on video

Just a few days ago HTC offcially announced the HTC One mini 2, successor to last year’s HTC One mini and little-brother to the HTC One (M8) released a couple of months ago.

As always, there had been a lot of leaks, speculation and rumours surrounding the mini 2 so much of the specification and design was alread ‘known’ but the full and official specification can be found below.

I’ve managed to get hold of an HTC One mini 2 and I’ve recorded an initial unboxing and hands-on video for you below. Covering the specification, hardware, side-by-side with the HTC One (M8) and a look at the user interface this is just a quick video for now, futher in-depth details and a review are to follow.

HTC One mini 2 specification:

SIZE: 137.43 x 65.04 x 10.6mm

WEIGHT: 137 grams

DISPLAY: 4.5 inch, HD 720p

CPU SPEED

Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 400, 1.2GHz quad-core CPU

PLATFORM

Android™ 4.4 with HTC Sense™ 6
HTC BlinkFeed™

MEMORY

Total storage: 16GB
RAM: 1GB
Expansion card slot supports microSD™ memory card for up to 128GB additional storage (card not included)

NETWORK

2G/2.5G – GSM/GPRS/EDGE:

850/900/1800/1900 MHz

3G – WCDMA:

850/900/1900/2100 MHz with HSPA+ up to 42 Mbps

4G – LTE:

EMEA: Bands 3, 7, 8, 20
Asia: Bands 1, 3, 7, 8, 28

SIM

Nano SIM

SENSORS

Accelerometer
Proximity sensor
Ambient light sensor

CONNECTIVITY

3.5 mm stereo audio jack
NFCⁱⁱ
Bluetooth® 4.0 with aptX™ enabled
Wi-Fi®: IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4 & 5 GHz)
DLNA® for wirelessly streaming media from the phone to a compatible TV or computer,
HTC Connect™
micro-USB 2.0 (5-pin) port

SOUND

HTC BoomSound™
Dual frontal stereo speakers with built-in amplifiers
Sense Voice

CaMeRA

Rear camera

13MP, BSI sensor with f/2.2 lens
1080p Full HD video recording

Front camera

5MP, BSI sensor
1080p Full HD video recording

MULTIMEDIA

Audio supported formats:

Playback: .aac, .amr, .ogg, .m4a, .mid, .mp3, .flac, .wav, .wma (Windows Media Audio 10)
Recording: .aac

Video supported formats:

Playback: .3gp, .3g2, .mp4, .mkv, .wmv (Windows Media Video 10), .avi (MP4 ASP and MP3)
Recording: .mp4

Location

Internal GPS antenna + GLONASS
Digital compass

BATTERY

Capacity: 2100 mAh

Posted in: Phones, Videos/Unboxings
Tags: Featured, HTC, HTC One (M8), HTC One mini 2

By Gareth May 16, 2014 Read More →

Mobile Tech Addicts Podcast 226: Also in Mini

Gareth, Matt and Phil get together to chat about the latest mobile phone, tablet and chromebook news in the UK.

On this week’s show we being you details of the new HTC One Mini2, discuss a new device from ZTE and Gareth tells us all about the Acer event he attended in New York and all the devices they introduced there.

Featuring Gareth, Matt and Phil

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