Archive for 2014

By September 9, 2014 Read More →

Lenovo Vibe Z2 Pro pops

Vibe z2 There was no end of Phablets at IFA, in Berlin, this year. It seems every hardware manufacturer was bringing one to market or giving a serious refreshing to an existing model. Lenovo were no different.

A couple of companies continually popped up repeatedly on the news feeds as their presence at IFA was made known. Lenovo was a prime example. Havin taken over Sony’s PC business end and Motorola Mobility Lenovo are on their way to becoming one of the tech giants. Their line up at IFA was an impressive one.

Amidst their collection of laptops, desktops, tablets and grey area hybrids Lenovo dropped in the Vibe Z2 Pro, rocking a 6-inch  IPS display with a 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution. Running a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 MSM8974AC, with RAM up to 3GB, and built-in 32 GB the Vibe Z2 unfortunately looses expandable storage.

A newly revised 16 megapixel camera with optical stabilization, dual SIM card slots and a impressive 4000 mAh battery compliment the thin metal frame measuring 156 x 81,3 x 7,7 mm and weighing only 179 grams. This is a suitably impressive piece of kit and it looks just delicious!

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Posted in: News, Phones
By September 5, 2014 Read More →

Alcatel launch something a little different

hero-2-710x363Alcatel has announced its new OneTouch Hero 2, a flagship device with some pretty solid specs at IFA and it looks to be something to watch. The OneTouch Hero 2 is powered by a MediaTek MT6592 octa-core CPU with 2GB RAM. There’s also a massive 6-inch 1080p display, and other specs include a 13.1MP rear cam, 5MP front cam, 16GB storage, aluminum body, microSD, 802.11n Wi-Fi, 4G LTE support, a 3100 mAh battery and Android 4.4 KitKat. There’s also a stylus that makes this is note competitor of sorts, though obviously Alcatel’s digital pen likely can’t begin to compete with the advanced functionality of the S-Pen.

Alcatel haven’t released pricing information for the Hero 2, however they are usually fairly budget conscious when it comes to pricing. They have noted the Hero 2 is due arrive to select markets sometime this month.

Posted in: News, Phones
By September 5, 2014 Read More →

A new Moto X has appeared over there

newmotoxleadMotorola are showing off their new Moto X in Chicago whilst everyone parties in Berlin. Engadget sneaked off to cover it whilst Sony and Samsung wowed all else. This incarnation still sports a 5.2-inch AMOLED display, still has Corning Gorilla Glass, however it is roughly half an inch wider than the last X. Updated for this year is a 1080p full HD display instead of a 720p one, the screen takes up almost the entirety of the phone’s face, with minimal bezel on the bottom and the top. This phone is now a good bit bigger, measuring 72.4mm wide by 140.8mm tall and it weighs about 144 grams. The Moto X retains the curved back from the original, however it is slightly slimmer — arching from 3.8mm at its thinnest to 9.9mm.

An updated 13-megapixel camera features 4x zoom and an all new ring flash. This will allow capture of 4K video instead of just 1080p. A Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor rules with a 2.5GHz quad-core CPU, an Adreno 330 578MHz GPU and 2GB of RAM keeping things moving. Powered by a 2,300 mAh battery Motorola are confident this will keep you going all day. Storage sees both 16GB and 32GB iterations, yet no mention of  expandable storage.

Best of all, stock Android! Motorola have pre installed a few services however not in the way of the UI. In saying the, there are a couple of stock changes, “Ok Google” has been changed to “Ok Moto X,” this inself is a little annoying so Motorola have had a little fun here and added  “Wake up sleepyhead,” and “Hello Jarvis.” Nice little addition. Other voice commands include “Take a selfie” activating the front-facing camera along with a countdown timer so you never have to press a button. “Good morning” to shut off Sleep Mode and tell you about your first appointment, “What’s Up” to inform you of the time and the latest notifications, plus “Navigate” followed by the name of a destination. You can also say “Play YouTube” to launch YouTube and “Post to Facebook” to update your Facebook status.

 

Posted in: News, Phones
By September 5, 2014 Read More →

Here comes Panasonic’s AX900 4K Ultra HD LED LCD TV

Panasonic VIERA 65AX900This autumn Panasonic will release its premium AX900 4K Ultra HD LED LCD TV featuring the company’s best picture performance. The AX900 has been designed and engineered with the knowhow Panasonic has developed through its rich heritage in delivering the highest picture quality, and coupled with advanced features and functions it delivers the smartest and most intuitive home entertainment experience available.The AX900 features Ultra HD LED TV with 3000Hz (BLS,) a superior highest-speed panel for amazing images, motion clarity and 3D and will be available in 65” and 55” screen sizes.  The AX900 is equipped with next generation picture quality technologies which as a package seek to achieve:

  • Accurate, rich, and robust blacks that also retain fine detail;
  • Colour reproduction which is true to the director’s intentions and calibrated to be correct at every brightness level;
  • Picture quality performance which perfectly matches the environment in which it is being viewed.

Accurate, rich, and robust blacks

Reproducing deep, rich blacks, whilst also retaining rich colours in dark scenes has been a long standing weakness of LCD TVs. In order to deliver best-in-class black performance, the AX900 uses a Direct LED with full-array local dimming complemented with Panasonic-unique Local Dimming Ultra technologies. Other full array local dimming systems suffer from a ‘halo’ effect around moving bright objects because their local dimming fields lack sufficient brightness control or are either entirely on or off. The AX900 analyses the incoming video signal not in traditional 3 x 3 matrices, but across 5 x 5 matrices of local dimming fields and adjusts the brightness level of each individual field by extremely fine degrees (i.e. not just on/off), providing smooth motion of bright objects, a high contrast ratio, deep, rich blacks and extremely fine gradation which retains detail even in the darkest scenes.

Colour reproduction true to Hollywood director’s intentions – at any brightness level

Colour reproduction in dark scenes has been another weakness of LCD TVs. In order to allow viewers to enjoy films as the directors intended, the AX900 engineers have also worked together closely with the renowned Panasonic Hollywood Laboratories to ensure that the colours on the AX900 are exactly the same as the director intended. To achieve this Panasonic has adopted colour management technologies which have until now have only been used to the same degree by professional studio monitors, such as our professional-standard 3D Look Up Tables with 8000 registry points which allow us to calibrate colour reproduction at extremely fine brightness steps meaning that colour is reproduced accurately at any brightness level. Panasonic is the first company to use this professional technology at the same level in a consumer television.

Furthermore the use of a highly transparent LCD panelalso produces outstanding brightness and allows the AX900 to achieve an extremely high dynamic range, with richer more nuanced colours in both dark and bright scenes.

 

Picture quality performance which perfectly matches your living room

Furthermore to deliver the very best picture performance it is also necessary to analyse the lighting conditions in the room in which the TV is placed. Accordingly, in another industry first, the AX900 explicitly links its video signal processing to ambient light levels in order to deliver picture quality which is a perfect match for your living room.

The combination of the above Panasonic original picture quality technologies lead to significant picture quality performance improvements in a LED LCD TV.

 

Beyond Smart features

The AX900 is Panasonic’s first TV to employ our quad-core Pro5 super-high speed processor which further enhances Panasonic’s ‘Beyond Smart’ feature set. The ‘my Stream’ function, which learns users’ preferences and displays a list of content recommendations, has also further evolved. A flowing user interface display and video playback in thumbnail form make it even easier to find desired content.

The ‘TV Anywhere’ function allows users to transfer live broadcasts or recorded contents via the cloud to their smartphone or tablet device anywhere in the world.

The ‘Info Bar’ quickly and conveniently displays new and useful information without even requiring the user to turn on the TV due to a proximity sensor coupled with Face Recognition.

Connectivity

A host of network functions allow full enjoyment of this picture quality performance for a wide spectrum of 4K content. Four 4K60p-supporting HDMI terminals and one DisplayPortTM enable simultaneous connection of a 4K-compatible home cinema, a set-top box, a PC, and more. Future use is assured by the AX900 Series’ ability to play content with HDCP2.2 copyright protection and its H.265 (HEVC) decoder can decode 4K content from a variety of providers. Furthermore Panasonic is working closely with Netflix to enable 4K streaming at launch timing. The AX900 will also be compatible with Amazon’s upcoming selection of movies and TV shows, along with its Amazon Studios original TV series, in Ultra HD quality.

Design

The AX900 Series was designed based on the concept of Premium Furniture Design. This cutting-edge design concept removes redundant elements to achieve a simple elegance, and glass and metal materials provide an authentically luxurious touch. The AX900 Series literally blends into the living space while adding a stylish touch to its surroundings.

 

Posted in: News, TV & Home Cinema
By September 4, 2014 Read More →

Lenovo gets their vibe on at IFA

IMG_2110Today we were fortunate enough to be guests at Lenovo’s IFA 2014 keynote. Lenovo are probably best known in the UK for their laptops, but they do have a tablet range that is growing in stature here and a large phone range outside the UK.

 
The press conference was hosted and kicked off Aymar De Lencquesaing, President of Lenovo EMEA and SVP in the Lenovo group.
 
It has been a year of milestones for Lenovo. In the PC business they have been overall number 1 for 12 months running (number 1 in 15 individual countries), and the gap to second place is growing, as Lenovo has nearly 20% market share. Rumours of the death of the PC have been greatly exaggerated and there is still perceived growth in the $200bn market opportunity. But as we said, Lenovo isn’t just about the PC market, they actually now ship more tablets and smartphones than PCs. Lenovo is number 3 in the worldwide tablet market and number 4 in the smartphone market, although they will get a bump to 3rd place when the Motorola acquisition completes.
 
Lenovo’s phone strategy within EMEA has specifically targeted emerging markets. They are the fastest growing mobile brand, in China they were #2 for 8 consecutive quarters, hitting number 1 in Q2 2014. 
 
As a company, Lenovo have very solid financials, with record profits and revenue in the last quarter. In EMEA revenues have increased 50% in the last quarter year on year, but as mentioned, Lenovo is changing. They are acquiring IBM System X as well as Motorola, moves that are set to close by the end of the calendar year. Of course, we are all excited about the acquisition possibilities but Lenovo can’t discuss anything with regards to strategy until it completes. With that said, the stated aim is to be number 1 in all the business in which they operate.
 
Lenovo announced 2 Smartphone devices at the IFA event, both in the existing VIBE range.
 
Jeff Meredith, head of marketing in the mobile business group, introduced the Vibe X2 and Vibe Z2, which will take their place in the range alongside the previously  announced Z2 Pro.
 
With a European RRP of €399, the Z2 was introduced first. It’s a phablet, on trend with the moves to a 5.5” screen, running Android 4.4 KitKat on top of Qualcomm quad core snapdragon (410 perhaps?) silicon. With a 13 Megapixel camera with OIS and an 8 Megapixel front camera, it should be particularly strong in the imaging department. At 158g and 7.8mm thin, it’s a pretty appealing device visually, is good to hold and feels well constructed.
 
The real event fanfare was saved for the X2 however, priced at €429 and touted as the ‘world’s first layered smartphone’. It is constructed with 3 coloured original layers and will be available in 5 colours – charcoal, gold, white, red, bamboo, with endless colour possibilities and new ‘X2 originals’ designs planned going forward.
 
The X2 packs a Mediatek True8Core LTE MTK6595, which Lenovo claim is the world’s first true Octa-Core processor. It too runs Kitkat but with a full HD 5″ screen. It weights 120g and is 7.27mm thin, with 13 Megapixel primary and 5 Megapixel secondary cameras. LTE is onboard, a must for the target market for the device.
 
As well as the ‘3 layers’ in the device already, ‘Vibe Extensions’ are additional accessories in the same style. A battery extensions adds 75% more power and a speaker layer developed with JBL also includes a useful kickstand.
 
On top of Android 4.4 sits Lenovo’s Vibe 2.0 software layer, with emphasis on user friendliness and software enhancements such as the ubiquitous selfie and beauty shot modes. Obviously.
 
Mobile done, Dilip Bhatia, VP of Marketing and Design, PC group, came on stage to introduce some new PC hardware.
 
“Lenovo has a fundamental belief that technology should adapt to the user. We observed how families behaved at home to help shape their products.” he told us, before introducing the Lenovo Horizon 2S, a 19.5” two in one tabletop PC. It can function in an all in one mode as well as a lay-flat mode. A 27″ model will also be available.
 
The device comes with 60 games and apps installed which does raise concerns of bloatware, but there do appear to be some genuinely useful additions too. The ‘Aura UI’, specifically designed for the horizontal touchscreen has a ‘spinner’ look for accessing features. A nice addition – that failed completely in the demo – allows you to take picture on a Lenovo phone, shake the phone and have it appears on the Horizon desktop, to be manipulated with multi-touch gestures.
 
Next up came one of my favourites, the Thinkpad, specifically the refreshed Helix convertible laptop for business users.
 
Lenovo pitch is as the best business class 2 in 1 in the market. It does do everything – LTE, digitiser support, tablet mode, laptop mode, desktop mode… it’s designed to meet all the requirements of not just individuals but also the IT dept.
 
A clever quick shot cover is included for use in tablet mode – simply fold down the corner of the cover, and the camera comes on ready to take a picture.
 
To finish? A quick mention of their celebrity endorsement – “Ashton Kutcher has been with us for a year now, and has a genuine stake in our new products. You’ll see the output of this soon!”
 
Posted in: Laptops, News
By September 4, 2014 Read More →

HTC annouces the Octa-core HTC Desire 820

HTC-Desire-820_Santorini-WhiteHTC have announced another big-screen device, this time with a new Octa-core Snapdragon CPU;  the HTC Desire 820.

This new device packs in quite a spec for what is deemd to be mid-range and even includes a whopping 8MP front-facing selfie cam…

HTC, a global leader in mobile innovation and design, has announced the HTC Desire 820, the successor to the popular HTC Desire 816. Powered by the Qualcomm® Snapdragon 615 processor, with integrated 4G LTE Cat 4 connectivity and 64-bit, multi-core CPU, this new addition to the HTC Desire family delivers content on-the-go at exceptional speeds and with stunning clarity on its 5.5” high definition screen. Sporting a premium imaging experience and powerful HTC BoomSound, the colourful, stylish HTC Desire 820 sets a new benchmark for mid-range smartphones.

“Our new HTC Desire model gives entertainment lovers exactly what they are looking for; a powerful, fast, stylish smartphone that delivers their favourite content on a big screen at a competitive price” said Peter Chou, HTC Corporation. “With the HTC Desire 820, we’ve combined the most advanced technology with the best possible entertainment experience and bold, distinctive design, to deliver a handset that is both desirable and affordable”.

 

Premium camera for stunning photos and selfies

For high quality selfies, the HTC Desire 820 features an 8MP front-facing camera, delivering impressive solo poses and effortless group shots. Enhancing the imaging experience, it also offers software that allows you to merge your features with those of a friend or celebrity for a completely original look, real time Live Makeup, which allows you to preview the image and set the desired level of skin smoothing before the image is captured and Photo Booth, where you can capture several moments in a single image.

 

Offering high-performance imaging, the phone’s rear camera, with f/2.2 aperture and a 13MP BSI sensor, captures incredible quality images in both daylight and low light, so your photos will be bursting with detail even as the sun goes down. If photography isn’t your strength, press and hold the shutter for rapid-fire and continuous shooting – ideal for capturing fast moving objects or for selecting your best image at a later date.

 

Advanced technology for ultimate performance

With the Snapdragon 615 processor, the HTC Desire 820 offers lightning-fast Cat 4 4G connectivity at speeds of up to 150mbps1. With an integrated LTE modem and the latest high performance multi-core, 64-bit processing power, entertainment lovers can revel in the ability to stream music, download films and juggle multiple social feeds or apps both smoothly and effortlessly.

Thanks to Qualcomm Technologies’ processing capabilities, with separate performance and low power clusters within the processor for managing intensive and lighter workloads, the HTC Desire 820 also operates at maximum power efficiency, ensuring you get more from your phone for longer.

Lose yourself in content

Whatever your surroundings, the HTC Desire 820 is perfect for immersing yourself in your favourite content. Whether gaming, watching TV or creating momentous video and photo sequences with Zoe™ Highlights, you’ll lose yourself in the rich, clear sound offered by the front-facing stereo speakers and two powerful, dedicated amplifiers of HTC BoomSound™. The vivid, 5.5” high definition display also puts big-screen entertainment in your pocket for the ultimate no-compromise experience.

Bold, distinctive style

In true HTC style, quality doesn’t stop at performance. Bold, bright and sleek, the newest addition to the HTC Desire range features HTC’s double shot colour technology, which allows us to create a two-tone colour unibody, that is not only perfect for reflecting both personality and style, but that also improves device quality, strength and tolerance. With distinctive colour trims around the camera, buttons and flash, the two colours merge seamlessly into one another creating a slick look that really stands out from the crowd.

Available in an array of colours2 and featuring HTC’s iconic unibody design, the robust polycarbonate device is not only stylish but also boasts the excellent build quality that has become synonymous with HTC.

Cool and convenient, the HTC Desire 820 also supports HTC’s Dot View™ case, providing instant access to your phone without opening the cover. With a range of functions from answering calls and receiving and dismissing notifications with a simple swipe, this retro style case can be customised to suit any situation, with the ability to create your own wallpaper by selecting images from your gallery or from 18 different themes.

Availability

The HTC Desire will be available in selected territories worldwide. Regional availability will be announced locally

 

HTC Desire 820 specification:

  • Screen size:     5.5 inches, 1280×720 (720p),   267 ppi
  • CPU:  Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 Octa-core 1.5 GHz & 1.0 GHz
  • RAM:     2GB
  • Storage:     16GB
  • Expansion:     MicroSD
  • Primary Camera:     13MP
  • Secondary front-facing camera:     8MP
  • Battery:     2600 mAh
  • OS:     Android 4.4 with HTC Sense 6
  • Nano SIM (dual nano SIM in some markets)
  • Bluetooth 4.0
  • WiFi:     802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4 + 5GHz)
  • NFC
  • Sensors:     Ambient light sensor / proximity sensor / accelerometer
  • Size:     157.7×78.74×7.74mm
  • Weight:   155 grams

 

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By September 3, 2014 Read More →

Panasonic in bed with Netflix for 4K

netflix-4k-ultra-hd4K panel TV’s are hardly going to sell without content and that is why Panasonic is working closely with Netflix to enable 4K streaming on the new AX900 4K UHD TV at launch timing. The earlier AX800 4K UHD TV model will also become compatible shortly following a firmware update. 

4K content, today

The AX900 and AX800 also feature the widest range of inputs to ensure you have an extensive spectrum of 4K content at your fingertips. They are equipped with the new 4K 60p-supporting HDMI terminal, which is compatible with the High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) 2.2 protocol, allowing 4K content to be transmitted at high frame rates. With input signals of up to 60 frames per second, both models provide the ultimate choice for consumers looking to access the next level in home entertainment.

Panasonic also mentioned they will be working with Amazon to make the AX900 and AX800 compatible with Amazon’s upcoming selection of movies and TV shows, along with its Amazon Studios original TV series, in Ultra HD quality. Welcome news to all those with a Prime subscription and nothing to watch Prime Instant Video on.

Posted in: News, TV & Home Cinema
By September 3, 2014 Read More →

Panasonic unveil the X940 Ultra-Large Screen 4K TV

vieraPanasonic has today announced the new ultra-large X940 series, which boasts an 85 inch screen and an exceptionally fast panel for stunning 4K images. The new European VIERA 4K Ultra HD (UHD) model combines its large screen size with supreme motion picture quality, cutting-edge design and intuitive features to provide incredible home entertainment experiences. Ultra HD LED TV with 2000Hz (BLS) offers exceptionally fast panel for impressive motion picture quality and 3D. It’s Quad Core Pro5 is a powerful processor, with HEVC decoder, for next-generation 4K entertainment and ultimate images. Featuring “Local Dimming Pro” allowing the user to enjoy added dynamics with robust blacks and delicate gradation, a 4K Studio Master Drive for more accurate colour and richer, smoother gradation at virtually any brightness. 

Another feature is TV Anywhere for your entertainment, from the TV to your Web-enabled mobile device, even outside the home, alongside My Stream helping the user to enjoy content recommended to match your preferences, easily via an intuitive interface. Finally an Info Bar will see the user walk by the TV in standby and immediately get the time, weather and more. Add this up and you have one of the most rich feature sets available on the market. 

Full press release follows:

4K Ultra HD Picture Quality on an Ultra-Large Screen

With UHD resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 pixels, four times as many pixels as a conventional Full HD device, the X940 series stands out with its superior image sharpness, showing every nuance in perfect detail.

Due to a powerful 2000Hz Back Light Scanning (BLS) panel and the ‘4K Intelligent Frame Creation’ technology, it guarantees breath-taking sharpness and smooth, clear images, even when watching fast action scenes.

 

The high-end Local Dimming Pro in the X940 offers an excellent class of dimming to boost contrast performance, enabling dynamic images with the deepest blacks and ultra-whites. This system provides additional details in both dark and bright areas, by analysing and optimising the individual image areas in real-time. This achieves the Supreme Contrast, underlining the stunning picture quality.

 

The X940 employs Panasonic’s new original high-performance image-processing engine, the Quad Core Pro5 super-high speed processor. This immaculately renders highly intricate and detailed 4K images as well as achieving beautifully elegant 4K quality with precise noise reduction and motion image compensation.

 

With 4K Studio Master Drive, the X940 is able to deliver more accurate colour; richer, smoother gradation, and more shadow detail at virtually any brightness. This is due to a 3D Colour Management System (Super Chroma Drive), in addition to the Black Gradation Drive which looks for and applies brightness compensation to low-brightness image elements. To deliver colours which are truly faithful to the original source, the X940 uses LCD panels equipped with a newly developed, high-colour-space LED backlight. In particular, the Studio Master Colour enables the X940 to reproduce colours accurately even at low saturation and brightness levels, greatly enhancing the picture quality of dark scenes.

4K content, today

Panasonic’s 2014 UHD 4K TVs all feature the widest range of inputs to ensure you have an extensive spectrum of 4K content at your fingertips. The X940 is equipped with the new 4K 60p-supporting HDMI terminal, which is compatible with the High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) 2.2 protocol, allowing 4K content to be transmitted at high frame rates. With input signals of up to 60 frames per second, the line-up provides the ultimate choice for consumers looking to access the next level in home entertainment, as well as professionals – such as those working in small TV studios – for whom picture quality is imperative.

In addition to the 4K 60p-supporting HDMI terminal, the X940 is equipped with a DisplayPort 1.2a terminal which can transmit 4K signals at 50/60Hz without any reduction in colour or frame rate performance. PC gaming enthusiasts can easily connect their PC via the 60p-capable DisplayPort and enjoy the latest blockbuster games in incredible detail and with extremely high motion clarity. The advanced upscaler also enables you to enjoy your favourite Full HD Blu-ray Disc movie or TV show with stunning motion clarity.

 

Photography enthusiasts can also enjoy their pictures on the 4K Photo Viewer or via the 4K Swipe & Share function accessed by the Panasonic TV Remote 2 App on their tablet or smartphone. The X940 also supports 4K video playback from USB, SD card or online sources as they are compatible with the new HEVC (High Efficiency Video Codec) format, which is ideally suited for ultra-high resolution video content.

 

Additionally, the 4K web browser further enhances web pages and with Panasonic’s 4K Channel you can access a wide range of high resolution content at any time.

Flexible networking options

In addition to the wide 4K networking capabilities, the X940 is equipped with the widest range of input signals so you can get content from virtually any source to be viewed on your ultra-large screen. Its Twin HD Tuner can simultaneously receive two separate HD programmes via cable, satellite or terrestrial broadcast and in parallel record one of those channels on an external USB hard drive. You can start watching a show that was previously saved while recording another one, or watch a live broadcast while recording a second programme and send it via the internet or a private network to your tablet or smartphone.

 

For even more entertainment possibilities, HbbTV connects your favourite TV programming with the internet, providing supplementary programme information as well as the media libraries of many broadcasters. With integrated Wi-Fi and DLNA capability, you can surf the internet and access an ever-increasing number of Internet Apps, all from the comfort of your couch, as well as enjoy multimedia content such as photos, movies or music that are stored on a home network device or USB media.

 

TV anywhere you are

With brand new features including TV Anywhere, my Stream and Info Bar, the X940provides a whole new level of TV entertainment.

 

With TV Anywhere you can access your TV’s content from anywhere you are in the world. Using the Panasonic TV Remote 2 App and connecting to the Panasonic Cloud, you can stream live TV shows or movies on your tablet or smartphone wherever you are, as well as recorded content from a USB hard disk drive connected to your TV. If you are travelling, TV Anywhere enables you to begin watching a movie at home, start recording before you leave the house and then continue to watch from where you left off when you reach your hotel. If you forget to start the recording, you can still do this on the road thanks to the Panasonic TV Remote 2 App.

 

Furthermore, my Stream totally redefines the TV viewing experience. The service provides individualised channels of personalised content for you and your family members, aggregated from a variety of sources. You have access to films and TV shows from cable, terrestrial broadcast, and Video on Demand (VOD) sources based on your viewing preferences, allowing you to easily access the content you love, without spending the time searching for it. Recorded content, home movies, family photos and online videos are also seamlessly included in the my Stream interface.

 

Voice Print recognition technology, available via the touchpad remote and the Panasonic TV Remote 2 App, is used to identify which member of your household is using the TV and automatically calls up their my Stream profile. In addition, the innovative voice interaction and control functions not only understand individual words, but also whole sentences. Additionally with more integrated voice commands available, you can easily find the content you are looking for.

 

The X940 series has also been designed and built to ensure easy operation, even for the most non-technical of users. This includes an optimised My Home Screen, VIERA’s start-up screen that can be personalised to the individual preferences of each family member.

 

A new and innovative Info Bar automatically displays useful information for the whole family, quickly and conveniently. A proximity sensor coupled with Face Recognition technology via the built-in camera work together to recognise your presence and automatically display relevant information, such as the weather forecast, time and notifications. This all happens without even turning on the TV. 

 

Posted in: News, TV & Home Cinema
By September 3, 2014 Read More →

Sony Xperia Z3 video review

Sony Xperia Z3 frontFollowing Sony’s big announcement today at IFA in Berlin, Phones 4u have got to grips with the new Sony Xperia Z3 flagship smartphone. Will it wow the tech world as much as its predecessor, the Xperia Z2? Find out in the full video review below:

 

 

Sony Xperia Z3 Specification:

  • 20.7 megapixel camera with 4K video capture
  • Fully water and dustproof
  • 3100mAh battery
  • 5.2-inch Full HD display
  • Latest Android operating system

 

The Sony Xperia Z3 really pushes the limits of smartphone technology. It is fully water and dust proof, slimmer and sleeker in design and it has a battery boost thrown into the mix. The latest Sony flagship really does set a precedent for other manufacturers and with Android on board, it has never been easier to get the best out of a device.

Everything looks simply amazing on the Z3’s expansive display, which is perfect for watching movies or internet TV. You have a massive 2.5GHz quad-core processor at your disposal too, so there’s loads of power for work and play.

And when you want to play, you can capture it all in effortless detail. With tons of modes alongside 4K video capture, the Z3’s camera will be your new best friend – snap, share and repeat the fun. However you decide to shoot it, you’ll be proud to show off the results.

Sony is releasing the Z3 in a variety of colours, including; black, copper and chrome. Phones 4u also has the smartphone exclusively available in white in the UK, as seen in the video above.

 

 

 

By September 3, 2014 Read More →

Beefy Bay Trail Toshiba Chromebook on it’s way

imgresA new Bay Trail Toshiba Chromebook is on it’s way. Two separate models are being prepared for a launch this side of Christmas, each with varying screen resolutions and RAM configurations. The cheaper of the pair comes with 2GB RAM, a standard HD (1366×768) resolution and 11 hour battery life (better than the 10.5 we were expecting). Priced at $249.99 (US) makes this more than competitive with similarly spec’d Bay Trail devices.

The second has a more generous 4GB of RAM plus a full HD (1920×1080) resolution. The increase in pixels being pushed means an increase in the power required to do so. As such, this model packs in a shorter battery life of ‘just’ 9 hours. MSRP for this model is $329.99 (US). The release date being touted by Toshiba is November. It’s is expected they shall begin shipping sooner, hopefully.

Posted in: Laptops, News
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