Author Archive: Matt

More than 20 years in the IT industry. Blogging with a passion and thirst for new technology since 2005.

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By July 2, 2013 Read More →

HTC One Mini on its way

One_Mini We love a good rumour but here’s one that’s starting to gather momentum thanks to information reportedly leaked by a Taiwanese parts supplier.

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard about a possible mini version of the extremely popular HTC One and other sources cite that the HTC One Mini will have a smaller, 4.3″ 720p display but will externally look much the same as its bigger brother.

HTC One Mini, it is believed, will feature a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 dual-core chip clocked at 1.4GHz with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of onboard storage. We hope that it will still have the Boomsound speakers and 4MP ultrapixel camera.

More as we get it.

 

Posted by: Matt

Posted in: Rumours
By July 2, 2013 Read More →

The Red Arrows take Lewis Hamilton and his BlackBerry Q10 for a spin!

Here’s a short video for all you BlackBerry and Lewis Hamilton fans out there.

Lewis Hamilton recently took a training flight with the Royal Air Force Red Arrows and took his new BlackBerry Q10 along for the ride!

Lewis and the Red Arrows
Posted in: Videos/Unboxings
By July 1, 2013 Read More →

Three announces new PAYG plans

3_logo Three have always been a good value for money network, especially where data use is concerned. However, today Three have announced a new Pay As You Go plan that could well be game changing. Not only are the rates extremely competitive but they are also much easier to understand.

  • Simple rates and clear value of 3p a minute, 2p a text and 1p a MB.
  • Flexibility that lets you pay only for what you use without the need to convert your credit.

Today, Three launches a new simplified Pay As You Go offer with rates that will allow customers to top up and get great value across voice, text and internet use, paying only for the services they choose to use.

In a market with a confusing 179 Pay As You Go combinations currently available, Three customers now have the flexibility to use their top up as they choose based on clear and simple basic rates of:

  • 3p a minute
  • 2p a text
  • 1p a MB of internet

Customers will not be forced to pick one value option over another. Pay As you Go price plans typically push people to make value trade-offs and choose between weekend or weekday use, UK or international calls, and use of texts, calls or data. Three’s new approach puts an end to confusing tariffs and value trade-offs by bringing Pay As You Go back to its roots. There’s no need to convert your credit to a 30-day add-on to get the best value. Credit lasts until the last penny is spent.

As the network built for the internet, Three’s cost per MB provides significantly better value than competitors’ standard rates.

Thomas Malleschitz, marketing director at Three said: "The number of complex Pay As You Go tariffs, Add-ons and options available is mindboggling. Consumers are forced into choosing where they want best value – whether that’s calls, texts or internet. Our new rates strip things right back to basics with a simple, clear and transparent rate for calls, texts and internet use that offers clear value across the board. It’s important to us that our Pay As You Go customers can use our Ultrafast network to chat, text and enjoy the internet without making a trade-off on value. This is Pay as You Go in its purest form.”

Once customers top up, they can use credit for talking, texting and the internet, safe in the knowledge that if they send more emails than text one month they won’t be penalised for doing the things they love on their smartphone.

Existing Three Pay As You Go customers can also enjoy Three’s new rates without having to change their tariff and they will be able to use their remaining credit as they wish. “We’re not just saving this for our new customers,” added Malleschitz.

 

Posted by: Matt

Posted in: News
By June 27, 2013 Read More →

EE adds 4G to 11 more towns

4g_ee Everything Everywhere have been busy updating their 4G network and have enabled 4G coverage in a further 11 towns in the UK, bringing the total to 85.

  • 4G arrives in Aldershot, Basildon, Basingstoke, Bracknell, Hitchin, Horsham, Leatherhead, Letchworth, Stevenage, Warrington and Weston-super-Mare
  • EE now delivering superfast 4G mobile to businesses and consumers in 85 towns and cities across the UK
  • 4G reaches more than 55% of the UK population, just eight months after launch

June 27, 2013 – EE, the UK’s most advanced digital communications company, today announced that 4G is available in 11 more towns across the UK. The superfast mobile network now covers 85 towns and cities across the UK.

Today, EE 4G is being switched on in Aldershot, Basildon, Basingstoke, Bracknell, Hitchin, Horsham, Leatherhead, Letchworth, Stevenage, Warrington and Weston-super-Mare as the rapid pace of the roll out continues. 4G from EE now covers the homes and businesses of more than 55% of the UK population.

Olaf Swantee, Chief Executive Officer, EE, said:

“Today’s launch sees us continue to extend the reach of superfast 4G mobile to more consumers and businesses across the UK, from Warrington to Weston-super-Mare. With double-speed 4G launching this summer, as well as Shared 4GEE plans and Pay-As-You-Go 4G Mobile Broadband, we continue to innovate and enable the best possible digital experience for our customers.”

EE 4G mobile customers have instant web access while on the move: can download large files quicker than ever, watch live TV on mobiles without buffering and play live multiplayer games on the go. Consumers and businesses have access to the UK’s widest range of 4G mobile handsets, tablets and dongles including iPhone 5, iPad mini, Huawei Mobile Wi-Fi, Blackberry Z10, HTC One and the Samsung Galaxy S4, all available from EE stores and ee.co.uk.

 

Posted by: Matt

Posted in: News
By June 25, 2013 Read More →

eXpansys 0% Finance Offer on the HTC One and Galaxy S4

eXpansys Fancy picking up an HTC One or Samsung Galaxy S4 and spreading the cost over the next 10 months interest free?

Well you can do exactly that courtesy of the guys over at eXpansys.

So now you can get your hands on one of the year’s best handsets without the big upfront cost and low interest free monthly payments.

How eXpansys finance works:

  • Choose finance at the checkout
  • Complete simple/short application
  • Get an instant decision
  • Pay 20% deposit on a credit/debit card
  • Get your awesome, shiny new smartphone
  • Pay balance interest free over the next 10 months

HTC One:

http://www.expansys.com/htc-one

Handset Only:

  • – £100 deposit
  • – £40/month for 10 months

Handset + Accessory Bundle:

  • – £102 deposit
  • – £40.80/month for 10 months

Offer ends at midnight on Sunday 30th June

Plus you will get automatic entry into the Red Letter Days comp to win one of two Experience Days (Flying Experience or Rural Escape for Two)

Samsung Galaxy S4:

http://www.expansys.com/galaxy-s4-personalised-case-promotion/

Handset Only

  • – £108 deposit
  • – £43.20/month for 10 months

Handset + Accessory Bundle

  • – £114 deposit
  • – £45.60/month for 10 months

Offer ends at midnight on Sunday 30th June

Plus you get the FREE personalised case worth £24.99 – AND automatic entry into the Red Letter Days comp to win one of two Experience Days (Flying Experience or Rural Escape for Two)

Posted in: Deals & Offers, Phones
By June 24, 2013 Read More →

BlackBerry Q10 unboxing video

blackberry-q10-qwerty-black A few weeks ago James treated us to a first look at the new BlackBerry Q10. The version of the handset he had was a pre-release from BlackBerry so I managed to get myself a retail BlackBerry Q10 from the guys over at eXpansys to unbox and demo.

The Q10, with its fixed QWERTY keyboard is likely to appeal to many die-hard BlackBerry fans for whom a BlackBerry isn’t a BlackBerry unless it has a hardware keyboard.

eXpansys have both black and white BlackBerry Q10’s in stock and you can see the full unboxing below.

 

Posted in: Videos/Unboxings
By June 23, 2013 Read More →

Streetcar Not Desired: Privacy Issues Stunt Google Initiatives

googleview Those who have never used the Google Street View application on their laptops or Google phones are missing out on one of the coolest features of Google Maps and Google Earth. Once you’ve zoomed in as far as the satellite images allow, Street View images, where available, can be accessed for an up-close-and-personal look at college campuses, historic landmarks, and even a home you are thinking of purchasing. The technology brings several cities across the globe right to your desktop, but the way the images are gathered have caused several governments to halt Google’s operations in their respective jurisdictions.

Britain’s Information Commissioner’s Office accused Google of using its Street View cars to gather and store data from unsecured wifi networks it encountered in the process of taking photos and videos. Google initially dismissed the charges as "a simple mistake" on their part, according to the Daily Mail, but a follow-up investigation by U.S. regulators discovered Google specifically engineered software for the purpose of data hoarding. The ICO re-opened its investigation last summer and has requested Google reveal any personal information was gathered and what steps it took to prevent privacy breaches.

Around the same time Australia’s Privacy Commissioner discovered Google failed to destroy data it said it "inadvertently" gathered through 2010. According to ZDNet, Google informed the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, in March of 2011, that all the data it collected from open wifi networks had been destroyed. French authorities not only ordered Google to delete private data it gathered from its citizens, but also requested the actual data disks be surrendered to them.

Self-Driving Cars

The next big endeavor Google hopes to introduce to the general public is its self-driving cars. Company co-founder Sergey Brin told Time magazine he expects their automated vehicle technology to be a reality in the next five years. A vast majority (93 percent) of fatalities as a result of vehicle accidents are due to human error, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Google reasons their self-driving vehicles will save lives, lower auto insurance costs, and revolutionize transportation in general.

The fact Google’s self-driving cars rely on the data Street View cars gather may limit their geographic reach. Big Brother Watch, a U.K. civil liberties organization, has repeatedly referred to Google’s operations as "spy-fi" and said Google continually makes excuses instead of admitting its spying activities. China has already blocked access to most Google services, while authorities in Bangalore, India banned Google Street View cars in June of 2011.

More Trouble for Google

Privacy issues aside, the sheer cost of Google’s self-driving technology will hinder sales even if the cars are made available by 2017. Developers at Oxford University have been touting their own version of automated driving technology. The major difference between theirs and Google’s is the price, which Oxford claims would cost about $150 per car, compared to the six-figure price tag for Google’s automated cars. Oxford also claims it does not need the mapping data Google uses to navigate its cars.

The one place Google has been relatively free from scrutiny is its home United States. Other than the U.S. Department of Defense banning Google from publishing pictures of military bases, the company has endured just a few scattered lawsuits. The Electronic Privacy Information Center filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission alleging Google violated the Wiretap Act and Federal Communications Act. The FTC, however, failed to prosecute the case.

Posted in: Editorial
By June 18, 2013 Read More →

HTC Desire 200

htc-desire-200-black-en-slide-01 HTC have just made the rumoured HTC Desire 200 official.

The Desire 200 launches as a budget handset and has a Desire HD Mini look to it with a 3.5″ LCD screen offering a seemingly old-school 320×480 resolution. There’s a 1GHz CPU and 512MB of RAM which should be adequate for the entry level but the 4GB of built in storage will have many reaching for a MicroSD card, which fortunately the Desire 200 supports up to 32GB cards.

The fact that there is a removable battery will keep many happy in that the can have a stand by battery ready to swap when needed.

Full spec can be found below:

 

Posted in: News
By June 18, 2013 Read More →

Highlights From Apple’s Conference

Apple on Laptop Monday, June 10 marked the beginning of a big week for Apple, as the tech titan held its Worldwide Developers Conference to unveil new innovations and products. Over the past 6 months or so, many begun to question whether or not Apple has begun to lose its edge in tech competition, and some feel that the closest you can come to an exciting new Apple product is a new iPad accessory from MySmartBuy. Nevertheless, the company remains driven and creative, and truth be told is still ahead of its competitors. In that regard, the Conference contained a bit more news than many expected.

Of course, there’s no significant iPhone upgrade coming just yet – but here are a few words on some of the improvements and new products Apple announced at the conference.

iOS7
The highlight of the conference, iOS7 is generating more positive press than Apple has seen in over a year. Specific upgrades involve automatically updating apps and a "flat" visual design, as opposed to the current 3D design. iOS7 will be available on iPhone 4 and all newer models, as well as the iPad Mini and iPad 2.

iRadio
Essentially Apple’s very own version of Pandora, iRadio, coming in the fall, is a personalized Internet radio station. It will choose music based on user preferences and iTunes purchases, and will come in both a free and paid ($25) edition.

Photo Organization On Devices
Until now, Apple devices have offered little organization when it comes to photos. Now, these devices will automatically catalogue photos based on the time and location at which they were taken, allowing for smoother organization.

iBooks Updates
Not only will the iBooks feature now be available on Mac computers in addition to mobile devices, but the design has also changed. Instead of the classic wooden bookshelf appearance, the new iBooks looks more like iTunes, with a white background and book covers on display in rows and search categories.

Macbook Air Changes
The main change with the Macbook Air is what essentially amounts to all day battery life. For the 11-inch version, battery will last for 9 hours; for the 13-inch, an astounding 12 hours of battery will be available.

Password Assistance
Remembering different passwords for different sites and programs across all our devices can be a tough task. Apple is now providing us with Cloud support for passwords, allowing devices to remember all of our passwords in a secure fashion.

Siri Updates
Siri is becoming more dynamic, with the main change being the fun option of a male or female voice. New commands, such as "play my last voicemail," are also available for the ever-improving robot voice.

Mac Pro
This peculiar, all-black cylinder shaped computer was perhaps the most mysterious highlight of the conference. But basically, it sounds like an incredibly capable and powerful new computer option coming soon.

 

Posted by: Matt

Posted in: News
By June 13, 2013 Read More →

Green Technology to Improve Your Household

gogreen Many people have green aspirations – after all, who wouldn’t want to save the planet. Some people, however, allow worries associated with the potential costs of going green to keep them from realizing their eco-friendly goals. While some green products – like striking smart cars – are expensive, others are highly affordable. Instead of continuing to put off the adoption of green practice, start with something small and affordable, like adding some green technology to your home.

Home Security

You can stay green while keeping your home secure. According to www.securitycompanies.com, do-it-yourself home security systems are viable, green options, thanks to new technology. Companies like FrontPoint Security now offer systems that you can order online or via the phone – saving the gas-sucking drive a salesperson would have to make. You can even install these entirely wireless, drilling-free systems yourself. The billing process is even green with paperless statements.

Posted in: Editorial
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