Archive for 2017

By February 23, 2017 Read More →

Aukey Portable Wireless Speaker Review – Model SK-M12

IMG_20170214_233310-e1487799030824Has this top amazon seller sent me a speaker to replace my hi-fi system? I usually have music blasting in the background if I am home alone doing housework, my wife listens to music during her home exercise routines and whenever we are having parties it always helps to have some music in the background to keep the kids entertained.  I suppose with it being 2017 it is time to move into the world of wireless and put this speaker to the test.

Out of the box, the Aukey Portable wireless speaker looks and feels like a premium device with the smooth black rubber casing and the silver grills. This brick shaped speaker weighs 650.6 grammes and is 20.9 x 8.3 x 7.3cm (L x W x H). The speaker uses Bluetooth 4.1 and Aukey state you can get up to 30 hours playtime connected via cable or 12 hours wireless play with the  2600mAh lithium battery.

On top of the speaker you have the control panel, volume buttons, call button (pressed twice dials the last number dialled on your phone) the power button and Mode button (presumably pop, rock, vocal)

On the left-hand side there is the USB charging port, Aux-in, and reset button. These are covered with a red silicone cover

On the right-hand side, there is a detachable handle which can be used to mount the speaker on a hook.

At the bottom, there is a 1/4″-20 standard tripod screw mount

The speaker paired via Bluetooth to my phone effortlessly.  Browsing through my music collection I had a mixture of dance, country, rock and pop are being played and I must say I was impressed.  The sound output was crystal clear, with fantastic bass and treble with no noise distortion at maximum volume. Aukey state ‘Dual 5W drivers produce deep lows, textured mids, and clear highs to enjoy at home or outdoor’

When testing the speaker outdoors the 33ft wireless range opened a world of opportunity for summer BBQ’s.  The Aukey Wireless speaker has not only impressed me, my wife and kids but other members of our family have been impressed by the sound quality from ‘the brick’ speaker. On a single charge, I have got two weeks worth of listening without having to worry about charging the battery, listening to the speaker for about an hour a day I have had no issues or problems. It currently has found a home at the kitchen sink with the splash proof grills it has made washing the dishes a more enjoyable task!

I would definitely recommend this Aukey speaker for £29.99 on Amazon this is truly a smart purchase and will hopefully be able to explore more of the Aukey range soon.

Package Contents: Aukey SK-M12 Bluetooth 4.1 Speaker, Micro-USB Cable, 3.5mm Audio Cable, User Manual, 24 Month Warranty

 

 

By February 23, 2017 Read More →

ARCHOS bring a 2-in-1 rugged tablet for entertainment

archos_101saphir-large_02Following the successful introduction of the ARCHOS 50 Saphir smartphone, ARCHOS unveils the ARCHOS 101 Saphir tablet, a durable and reliable 2-in-1 tablet with a keyboard. Especially meant for hikers, riders and outdoor workers, it combines a 10.1-inch IPS HD screen, a quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, and 2 cameras, a built-in GPS and USB Type-C / micro HDMI slots, all in a rugged casing. Demonstrated next week at MWC 2017, the ARCHOS 101 Saphir will be available just before summer at £130.00.

From drops to water splashes, electronic devices damaged at home have cost families billions. At the same time, rambling has never been so hype and hikers or riders want their tablet in their backpack. Even outdoor workers are looking for robust cutting edge technology to increase their productivity on the field.

ARCHOS, who was the first to introduce a Google Android tablet in 2009 and who additionally benefits from the long track record expertise of its Logic Instrument subsidiary, leader in embedded and rugged mobile systems for hostile environments, therefore designed its new tablet in a rugged casing, which can survive drops (up to 1 meter), dust and water splashes, as per the IP54 standard’ specifications.

The ARCHOS 101 Saphir sports a brilliant 10.1-inch IPS HD screen, delivering a 1280×800 pixels resolution, with an optimum clarity and wide viewing angles, to look at pictures, watch videos, use favourite apps and social networks, either from a sofa or in the bright light on top of the Himalayas or on worksites.

It is powered by a 64-bit Mediatek quad-core processor at 1.3 GHz, along with 1GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, thus capable of running multiple apps and videos at the same time.

The ARCHOS 101 Saphir embeds two cameras: 2MP at the front and 5MP at the back, to catch and share life’ best moments.

It is equipped with a built-in GPS, making it easier to get the most out of the web and preferred apps.

The ARCHOS 101 Saphir packs a 6000 mAH battery, to get through the entire day.

It runs Google Android’s latest release, Nougat, with a bunch of new features: split-screen mode, quick reply to notifications, and revamped settings and toggle menus, making the tablet even friendlier to use.

And as a Google certified device, the ARCHOS 101 Saphir gives access to the Google Play Store with its 1.4 million apps, games and books.

It offers all the essentials and even more in terms of multimedia: an audio jack port, a keyboard, 2 speakers, as well as USB Type C and micro HDMI slots – to enjoy any content on the go.

The ARCHOS 101 Saphir will be exhibited on ARCHOS’s booth at MWC 2017 (Hall 6, Booth #B60). Exact specifications, prices, and availability might vary by country. They will be specified when the tablet is launched, in June 2017.

Posted in: News, Tablets
By February 23, 2017 Read More →

Venturer introduces its PrimePro 12TS Windows 2-in-1 notebook

Venturer, one of the largest manufacturers of tablets worldwide, with world class manufacturing facilities, today announces the launch of the PrimePro 12TS Windows 10 2-in-1 Notebook. Following on from the hugely successful launch of its BravoWin and Elitewin 2-in-1 affordable notebooks which were positioned as an ideal first computer, Venturer have now produced a device perfect for business users who require a sturdy yet portable notebook for use in the office, on the move, or at home.

With an Intel Atom Core Quad Core processor, 4GB RAM and an impressive 64GB memory, the PrimePro 12TS offers a quick and responsive user experience. It has the ability to access the internet within seconds and has an expandable storage space for work files, photos, videos and music. The 2MP dual cameras at the front and rear allow users to make conference calls and take photos or videos, producing good quality images and videos.

Unlike other more expensive tablets in the market, the Venturer PrimePro 12TS is equipped with a detachable smart keyboard with a leather backing and stand to rest the screen on. When connected, this provides the optimum angle for working and when closed, also provides an extra layer of protection for the metallic black notebook. Rather than draining precious battery power using Bluetooth, the keyboard clips on magnetically, featuring a pressure sensing trackpad so the PrimePro 12TS can be used as a stand-alone tablet or quickly transformed into a working laptop; making it easier to type, work and surf the internet.

The PrimePro 12TS has a battery life of eight hours and an impressive 12.2” 1920 x 1200 display. It is also fully loaded with the latest Windows 10 software and a month’s free trial of Office 365  (Word, Excel and Powerpoint) making it an ideal laptop for work or entertainment.

The device also features headphone, micro and regular USB ports to attach or charge other devices and a mini HDMI output meaning the PrimePro 12TS can be connected to a TV for presentations or an enhanced viewing experience.

Priced at only £349.99 the new Venturer PrimePro 12TS Notebook is the ideal choice for those looking for the flexibility of a tablet and laptop combined, for a lightweight device that easily fits into a work satchel but with the quality, reliability and durability for work, for play, for every day.

The Venturer PrimePro 12TS is available in Metallic Black from Amazon RRP £349.99

Posted in: Laptops, News, Tablets
By February 23, 2017 Read More →

Piccadilly phone case has ‘Trusted Protection’

Piccadilly-iPhone-6-6s-Proective-Case-Gear4-D3O-Case-2The people of the UK have spoken! When looking for a new case to protect their all-important smartphone, consumers are looking for maximum protection, high-quality materials without making the case bulky and a great colour (according to an NPD survey).

Maybe this is why then, the Piccadilly phone case, featuring D3O technology from GEAR4, the number one trusted impact protection case brand, has proven to be one of the best-selling cases over the last year in the UK as it ticks all of these boxes.

Featuring the same D3O® impact absorbing technology that is trusted worldwide in U.S military combat uniforms, American football helmets and protective gear worn by pro athletes (including Usain Bolt), the stylish Piccadilly case for iPhone and Samsung devices boasts unrivalled protection without adding bulk or unsightly padding.

In fact, the level of protection offered by the Piccadilly case was independently tested at Cranfield Impact Centre (the UK’s leading independent test centre for F1 and defence) and it topped the charts. When impacted three times on its side from 1.7 metres (ear height), it was proven that GEAR4 D3O cases transfer less force than competitors by 30 percent. Not only this, on average the GEAR4 D3O range was also 53 percent lighter than other competitive cases.

GEAR4 is the first case brand to use injectable metallic D3O® to perfectly colour match the iPhone in Gold, Rose Gold, Silver and Black delivering more impact protection per cubic millimetre than other leading materials. Piccadilly is scratch-protected with UV coating and offers easy access to all ports.

So what exactly is D3O?

D3O materials in their raw state flow freely when moved slowly, but on shock, lock together to absorb and disperse energy, before instantly returning to their flexible state. This reaction is counter intuitive. The greater the force of the impact, the more the molecules lock together and the greater the protection meaning your device stays safe when dropped.

The GEAR4 Piccadilly case is available for iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus for £29.99 from Carphone Warehouse and www.gear4.com

Posted in: Accessories, News
By February 22, 2017 Read More →

Mio MiVue 688 Unboxing

vlcsnap-00037The Mio Mivue 688 dashcam is an all in one solution for your in car security and on road recording. A small unit with big potential. Priced around £155 the MiVue688 features:

  • 1080p Full HD recording at 30 fps – with the latest H.264 technology for high-quality videos at a smaller file size
  • High-quality Sony™ optic sensor for an optimal view and superior quality, especially in low-light conditions.
  • Safety Camera Warnings – Free safety camera data with monthly updates for the lifetime of your device, so you’ll always know where to drive extra carefully
  • GPS Tracking automatically records your driving information, including speed, altitude, longitude, latitude and heading
  • Lane Departure Warning System Offers a sound alert if you drift away from the centre of your lane
  • Wide Viewing Angle 140° wide-angle lens to capture every detail at critical moments
  • Bright F1.8 lens This results in brighter and clearer videos, even in low-light conditions.
  • 3-Axis G-Sensor When the G-sensor detects sudden motion, MiVue will save and lock the event recording to protect it from being deleted/overwritten. The integrated 3-axis Sensor records G-forces, which show the direction and force of accident impacts.
  • Rotating Mount Design Mount is easily rotated to any desired angle for video evidence collection
  • Parking Mode motion detection activates and records from a parked car with no driver present
  • Switch to photo mode Use the dash cam as a camera for close-up accident evidence collection. The pictures include your GPS coordinates, so you know the exact location of what happened
  • Speed Alarm offers a sound alert if you go over the speed limit
  • Auto power on starts recording when you turn the key to start your car. You can even choose to have the device always on a recording, which is possible in vehicles with constant power supplies.
  • MiVue Manager Intuitive interface allows you to browse recorded videos with speed control. Records your driving directions with a 3-axis G-Sensor for post-accident analysis. Combine videos and share them to social media sites like YouTube™ & Facebook®. Track your routes with the GPS receiver. Play video with tracks on Google Maps.

Currently, the camera is on sale for £114.99 through the Mio website and for that price, it comes as a recommended purchase.

By February 21, 2017 Read More →

Vodafone Smart Platinum 7 Review

IMG_20170212_170538_436Network branded mobiles have always had a bit of a stench to them. Back in the day T-Mobile and Orange produced an almost endless line of MDAs and SPVs manufactured by good companies like HTC or ZTE yet hampered by Network tinkering. Removing buttons, bands, features and tinkering with the software to make the OS a Network experience rather than a Microsft or Google experience. In short, they are days best forgotten. However, if the Vodafone Smart Platinum 7 is anything to go by they could be resurrected but for the better!

The Smart Platinum 7 is a £300 smartphone built by Alcatel. Don’t let that put you off, Alcatel is making some top notch devices! Just ask Blackberry. Whilst it might be £300 Vodafone is going for a premium user experience.

Looking around the device there is a generous 5.5” display with 1440 x 2560 pixels. A pair of front facing speakers are positioned at either end and a front facing 8-megapixel camera is hidden in the inky black bezel. The screen is thankfully built of 2.5D Gorilla Glass front and the sides of impressively metal with chamfered edging that really makes the phone feel luxuriant in the hand. A deeply impressive build!

 

On the top are a 3.5mm headphone socket and a small hole for a microphone. At either end is a visible antenna.

The bottom also has a small hole for a microphone and two notable antenna points however off centre is a MircoUSB socket. This phone is over 6 months old and therefore launched before the USB Type-C revolution.

On the one side, there is a rough textured volume rocker and a power button. These buttons are of not as they give a satisfying click when pressed and you are centre you have pressed one. The rough texture is especially useful to guide your thumb to ensure you are pressing the right button. A great addition.

On the other side is the SIM card tray. The device takes a Nano-SIM and a MicrsoSD card. Unfortunately, there is not dual SIM setup up. The microSD allows for an additional 256GB of storage to expand the phone’s built-in 32GB. Above this is a dedicated camera button, configurable in the settings. From the standby mode, two taps of this button bring you straight into the camera and you are good to go, press the button to take a snap. The button is small and not as easily pressed as the volume and power on the other side. There is a lower grain texture on the camera button.

On the rear of the device, there is a circular fingerprint scanner, just below the camera lens. Given the level of effort put into the side buttons, I was surprised to find the fingerprint reader is a little bit difficult to find as the ring around the sensor is quite subtle and does not protrude from the rear. The scanner is perfectly acceptable, no issues with misreading fingerprints or slow operation. Above this is a larger protrusion for the 16 Megapixel camera and there is a small LED flash to the side. The back has a glass surface again that is rather slippery, especially on a cold day, without a case, you will drop this. Under the glass is a light pattern and a Vodafone logo has been added.

The instant you pick up your Smart Platinum 7 you will know this is a premium phone, however, is materials used are a cause for concern and whilst if feel fragile due to the slippery feel it also shows all kinds of fingerprints and grease. So have a case and a cloth at the ready.

The 5.5-inch, QHD AMOLED screen is gorgeous. At 1440×2560 the resolution is outstanding as the PPI hits 534. Icons, wallpapers and media pop on this screen with exceptional clarity and sharpness. The rest of the colour palette is bright and vibrant, reds standing out, in particular, making Vodafone logos striking and impressive.

The phone operates as one would expect, and thankfully there isn’t too much bloat from Vodafone. Certainly, there are some tutorials for how to use certain features and whilst they are incredibly basic there is no doubt someone, somewhere will find something of use. At any rate, you are given a skip option anytime a new tutorial appears.

Unfortunately, the Smart Platinum 7 is still running Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. Whilst Nougat obviously hasn’t’ reached the majority of recent phones Marshmallow is better than what we could have seen. A little digging suggests Vodafone may update the firmware, but then again, maybe not. Marshmallow is still rock solid and only time will tell if the phone will get an update.

A non-removable Lithium-ion 3,000mAh battery keeps things going through the day. Thanks to the lower powered processor this will see the average user through the day, easily. Power users will notice that they can get through more than before, or, if you like, a power user will probably put this on charge later in the afternoon than an S7 or 6P.

The Vodafone Smart Platinum 7 has an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 with 3GB of RAM. This arrangement keeps things skipping along nicely. The Snapdragon 652 is the updated version of the 620 and whilst not as powerful as an 820 in some other devices around this price point users will notice a big power saving.

Things run smoothly from games to serious multitasking, flipping through a bunch of different apps, copying and pasting from Outlook to the browser and vice verse. I didn’t notice any particular slow down and never felt I need to close a few background apps for a little boost. I noticed a drop in performance only during my synthetic benchmark tests. In the generalist

Both AnTuTu and Geekbench captured some decent scores. Of course this will not mirror the S7s out there, however, the Smart Platinum 7 can hold it’s on.

The camera is simply average. In idyllic conditions, shots are perfectly acceptable however if you try outside of that the optics try, but just can’t manage to deliver to goods. It tries but fails. One big plus is that the camera is astonishingly fast to take a picture. You press the button and the picture is taken, in Auto mode. No fiddling around with focusing and lighting. If just happens and the results (in idyllic conditions) are good.

The front camera is capable of shooting usable selfies in decent light. Club rats will be sad to hear it’s not stellar in low light, even with the front LED flash. With the flash off shots are pixelated and close to unusable in low light. With it on, while usable, people and objects are too bright and lack detail. Being fair to Vodafone this is an issue I see on close to all phones’ front cameras.

Video recording is a little odd, the camera app doesn’t have any manual controls for video recording, meaning the phone will shoot at 2160p resolutions at 30fps. A steady hand is required as there does not appear to be stabilisation. The microphones prove to work quite well and pick up wind, conversations and unhappy children.

In all the Vodafone Smart Platinum 7 is a serious contender. Like most phones it’s almost perfect, marred by a handful of flaws.Even at this, some of those flaws are easily overcome or may not apply the user. For £300 this is a terrific offering and Vodafone have really put together a superb package. Whilst the camera might be a weak outside of its comfort zone the vast majority will make the most of what this phone has to offer. An excellent phone, just buy a case!

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By February 17, 2017 Read More →

A look at the Y-Cam Protect Alarm System

Image38Featuring a Triple Layer level of protection, Smart Home Security System is an Internet-connected smart alarm for £150. With compatibility with Android and Apple devices, you can monitor the system whilst on the go utilising smartphone applications.

  • Instant alert notificationsEasy wire-free sensor setup
  • SIM card and data included (Y-cam Plus required)
  • 8 hour battery backup
  • Internal Siren
  • Access from anywhere on your smartphone
  • 24/7 line monitoring (Y-cam Plus required)
  • Expandable system

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By February 17, 2017 Read More →

A Tech Addicts UK Podcast Special – 16th February 2017 – Niall Green Second Screen

podcast-logo-600x600Gareth Myles, Jay Garrett, Brendan Arndt, Gavin Fabiani-Laymond and Leila Gregory

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A chat with Niall Green from Second Screen, producers of engaging applications for events, venues and festivals. Follow Second screen on Twitter for more up to date information.

Find out more on the Second Screen website!

Posted in: Podcast
By February 17, 2017 Read More →

Kodak Signs up ARCHOS as European Tablet Brand Licensee

KodakHPEastman Kodak Company today announced it has selected ARCHOS, a pioneer in consumer electronics and a strong pan-European company, as a brand licensee in the European tablet market. Also, check 8-inch tablet reviews to make sure you choose the best one of you.

The agreement with ARCHOS is the latest extension of Kodak’s brand licensing program and follows on the heels of the successful European launch of the KODAK Ektra Smartphone.

We are very proud to become one of Kodak’s licensees to jointly develop their brand into the tablet world. We truly look forward to putting these devices into people’s hands”, said ARCHOS CEO, Loïc Poirier.

”We are excited to be adding ARCHOS to our portfolio of brand licensees,” said Brian Cruz, Vice President and General Manager of Kodak’s Consumer Product Group. “ARCHOS has a strong track record in the tablet sector. The French brand was the first to introduce a Google™ Android™ tablet in 2009 and is recognised as a key player in the European tablet market with broad retail presence.”

archos_101magnusplus-large_01

The KODAK tablet products will combine chic design with the latest technologies. Apps preloaded on the tablets will provide photo and video enthusiasts with creative options and an 8MP back camera for catching and enjoying memories from daily life will be included. 3G connectivity will enable consumers to share their favourite photos and videos in real time with family and friends

The Kodak tablets will be available in stores across Europe before summer 2017.

Posted in: News, Press Releases, Tablets
By February 15, 2017 Read More →

Tech Addicts UK Podcast – 15th Feb 2017 – 3310 lovers rejoice

podcast-logo-600x600Gareth Myles, Jay Garrett, Brendan Arndt, Gavin Fabiani-Laymond and Leila Gregory

RSS Link: http://mobiletechaddicts.libsyn.com/rss

Direct Download.

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Show Notes

News:

A Nokia 3310 comeback? – What ONE phone are you wanting to make a comeback?

Android Wear 2.0 in a Nutshell

What have you been playing with?

Gavin

Gareth

Bargain Basement:

SanDisk Ultra 256 GB MicroSDXC Was £172.99 now £109.99

Three free sim 200mb Data inc p&p 200Mb allowance credited to to the sim every 30 days

https://www.three.co.uk/Free_SIM_MBB/Order ← for copy and paste.

USCAMEL® – 13×50 Powerful Monocular reduced from £106 down to £40

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-36935424

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3701839/Has-mystery-Beast-Dartmoor-finally-solved-Owner-missing-lynx-zoo-admits-released-pumas-wild-1980s.html

Main Show URL: http://www.techaddicts.uk

Join the Discussion: https://goo.gl/spaces/6FF6jraF9KHiPUyA6

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @garethmyles ; @gavinfabiani  ; @GadgetyNewsCom ; @JayGarrett ; @swanny ; @girlsngadgets ; @wildlime

Facebook: Tech Addicts

Web: http://gavinsgadgets.com ; http://GadgetyNews.com ; http://swanny.me/

Google Plus: +Techaddicts; +garethmyles ; +gavinfabiani-laymond; +JayGarrett

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https://www.ukmeds.co.uk/surgical-face-masks