Author Archive: Gareth

Seasoned tech blogger. Host of the Tech Addicts podcast.

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By February 26, 2014 Read More →

ZTE launch the ultra slim ZTE Grand Memo II LTE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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By February 25, 2014 Read More →

ZTE launches two new Firefox OS phones

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

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

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

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

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

Powerful open Web performance

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

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

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

Future of ZTE Firefox OS phones

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

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

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

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By February 25, 2014 Read More →

Dual Screen Yotaphone unveiled at Mobile World Congress

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

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

1-Look, 1-Touch Always-On Display

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

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

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

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

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

Now Open: YotaPhone SDK

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

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

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By February 25, 2014 Read More →

Qualcomm Introduces New Snapdragon 801 Processor

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

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

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

Posted in: News, Phones, Science & Technology
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By February 23, 2014 Read More →

Samsung go Tizen with the Galaxy Gear 2 and Neo

samsung-galaxy-gear-2-and-galaxy-gear-2-neoLeaker @evleaks was bang on the money the other day as we have now seen Samsung announce the Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 and the Galaxy Gear Neo. The first point folks will be looking at on these wearables are the price as the first was launched with a rather hefty price tag. This dropped rapidly as the devices were not flying off the shelves. No prices were announced unfortunately but it is a safe bet the Neo will be cheaper than the Gear 2.

The most important factor of these watches are that Samsung chosen platform is no longer based on Android, but Tizen. You can pretty much forget about using this with you Motorola, Nexus, HTC or any non Galaxy device. One can’t help but wonder about the wealth of apps that are currently out for the original Android flavoured Gear… oh wait… there are only about 10.

Samsung Galaxy Gear 2

Gear-2-150x150

While gaudy processor and RAM specs don’t quite have the same importance for smart watches as they do phones, it’s still important. The Galaxy Gear 2 slightly improves on the original with the following suite of silicon:

  • 1.63-inch 320 x 320 AMOLED display
  • 1GHz dual-core processor
  • 512MB of RAM
  • 4GB of internal storage
  • 2 megapixel camera
  • Pedometer, heart rate sensor, sleep cycle monitor and more
  • Bluetooth 4.0 LE
  • irLED
  • Accelerometer and gyroscope
  • 300mAh battery good for about 2-3 days of “typical” usage

Samsung Galaxy Gear Neo

Gear-2-Neo-150x150

This is the same as the Gear 2 aside from the camera, it’s gone. Samsung are bragging a bunch of not so silly colours. The Neo should be available in Charcoal Black, Mocha Gray, and Wild Orange.

 

Posted in: Gadgets, News
By February 23, 2014 Read More →

Project Tango to map out everything around you

2014-02-20_14-52-44Google’s Project Tango are working on a phone that is able to scan the world around it and, over time, create maps out of it. The primary purpose of this will be for Google’s obsession with mapping and navigation. We have seen Google Maps implement as Street View focus on interiors of certain land marks and this has the potential to create interiors of almost any building anywhere on the planet.

Augmented Reality like they’re proposing isn’t new – there are primitive forms of it available on everything from current phones to the 3DS – but this phone could turn your entire world into a game stage, and let you simply add new content just by visiting new areas. Throw in the touch screen and motion controls and you’ve got a completely new way to play video games. 

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By February 22, 2014 Read More →

Magnavox Odyssey² Emulator on Android

magnavox_odyssey2_1If you’re looking for a new retro-gamer-friendly application to add to your mobile phone then look no further. A licensed Philips Videopac / Magnavox Odyssey² Emulator has hit the Google Play Store coming pre-loaded with over 40 classics, everything you could possibly need to rekindle yourself with the 35 year old console.

Whilst the likes of Sega Mega Drive, Nintendo NES and Sony PlayStation emulators are going to be much more popular, this trip down memory lane for a select few is something you really don’t want to miss out on. Not only does VpacApp come pre-loaded with just about every iconic Videopac title to date, but the original box art is also present along with scans of the game manuals too.

Although this game packed app sounds like a lucrative download, VpacApp is actually available for free on the Google Play Store. The games might be tricky to control on a touchscreen, but nevertheless it’s great seeing these vintage titles once more on modern devices.

The Videopac G7000 was actually Matt’s first games console as a kid so I’m sure he’ll be downloading this one!

Google Play link: VpacApp

Posted in: Apps & Games, News
By February 22, 2014 Read More →

Archos has new devices at Mobile World congress 2014

Archos_SmartwatchARCHOS, a pioneer in Android™ devices, unveils its lineup of cutting-edge tablets and smartphones for the first half of 2014 during Mobile World Congress, including the ARCHOS 80 Helium 4G, the industry’s first 8-inch 4G tablet under £229.99 and the ARCHOS 50c Oxygen smartphone with its Octa Core CPU. 

“ARCHOS’ new lineup of products highlights the company’s commitment to innovation and confirms its position in the 3G/4G market,” says Loic Poirier, CEO of ARCHOS.  “Our new product offerings continue to push the boundaries of technology, blending superior design, cutting-edge technology and impressive affordability,”

 

ARCHOS 80 Helium 4G

Adding to the Helium 4G range, unveiled in January at CES, comes the ARCHOS 80 Helium 4G,the world’s first 8-inch 4G tablet under £229.99 blazing fast speeds through a Quad Core A7 processor, Android 4.3 “Jelly Bean” platform and 4G/LTE Cat 4 connectivity for faster surfing, streaming and downloading.  The state-of-the-art device comes equipped with outstanding features such as high resolution screen, Bluetooth Smart technology and full access to the Google Play store.

 image002 

 

ARCHOS 50c Oxygen

The ARCHOS 50c Oxygen wraps an HD IPS Screen (1280 x 720), Bluetooth Smart technology and a MediaTek Octa-Core processor into a super sleek (6.7mm) deep black smartphone. At less than £200, the ARCHOS 50c Oxygen, flagship of the ARCHOS smartphone range, is a Dual SIM device running Android 4.3 “Jelly Bean”.

 

“MediaTek is very pleased to see its portfolio of dual-, quad-, and octa-core “Systems-on-a- Chip” well represented across ARCHOS’ breaking new smartphone line-up. This is another proof-point of MediaTek’s commitment in making rich multimedia features, leading edge multi-processing and multi-mode connectivity available to everyone at affordable price levels”, said Siegmund Redl, MediaTek’s VP and GM of Corporate Marketing in Europe. 

 image004

ARCHOS 64 Xenon

With its 6.4-inch HD IPS screen (1280 x 720), the ARCHOS 64 Xenon gives users the screen real estate they need for their applications, videos and games in comfort while on the go. Combined with the ARCHOS multimedia applications the ARCHOS 64 Xenon is a multimedia lover’s dream, this unlocked phablet utilises a Quad-Core CPU for superb processing speed and is available for under £199.99

image006

ARCHOS 40b Titanium

ARCHOS transforms the smartphone into a mobile music lover’s dream with the ARCHOS 40b Titanium.  The smartphone makes listening to great music possible with its enhanced audio system and dual front facing speakers that deliver crystal clear and pure stereo sound.  The £99.99 ARCHOS 40b is powered by a Dual-Core CPU, has a 4.0-inch IPS Panel, dual cameras and has full access to Google Play store with more than 1 million apps.

image014

At Mobile World Congress 2014 ARCHOS will also showcase its entire selection of 3G and 4G smartphones, 3G and HD tablets, and ARCHOS’ Connected Objects range (originally unveiled at CES in January 2014), the industry’s most comprehensive ecosystem of connected objects for the home and self. 

From February 24th to the 27th at ARCHOS’ booth – Hall 1 booth 1F20, attendees can experience the benefits of interconnectivity as well as the latest in mobile technology.

 

Product Specifications

 

ARCHOS 80 Helium 4G

ARCHOS 50c Oxygen

ARCHOS 64 Xenon

ARCHOS 40b Titanium

OS

Android 4.3 “Jelly Bean”

Android 4.2 “Jelly Bean”

Android 4.2 “Jelly Bean”

Android 4.2 “Jelly Bean”

CPU

Qualcomm MSM8926 /  Quad Core @1.2Ghz Cortex A7

Mediatek MT6592 /  Octa-Core @1.7 Ghz Cortex A7

Mediatek MT6582 / Quad core 1.3 GHz A7

Mediatek MT6572 / Dual Core  1.3 GHz A7

GPU

Adreno 305

Mali 450MP4

Mali 400MP2

Mali 400

Screen

8” 1024×768 Screen with IPS technology

5” 1280 x 720 Screen with IPS technology 

6.4” 1280 x 720 pixels with IPS technology

4” 800 x 480 pixels IPS

RAM

1GB

1GB

1GB

512MB

Storage

8GB

8GB

4GB

4GB

Expandable
Memory

Micro SD

Camera

5MP- Autofocus with LED Flash

8MP- Autofocus with LED Flash

8MP- Autofocus with LED Flash

5MP- Autofocus with LED Flash

Front Camera – 2MP

Front Camera – 2MP

Front Camera – 2MP

Front Camera – VGA

1080p Video encoding

1080p Video encoding

1080p Video encoding

720p video encoding

BSI sensor

Network & 
Connectivity

GSM/GPRS/EDGE : 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz

UMTS/WCDMA/3G: 900 / 1800 / 2100 MHz

4G/LTE: 800 / 1800 / 2100 / 2600 Mhz                                   LTE cat. 4 150Mbps/50Mbps

HSPA+ 21Mbps / 5.76Mbps

HSPA+ 21Mbps / 5.76Mbps

HSPA+ 21Mbps / 5.76Mbps

Bluetooth: 4.0 + A2DP + HFP + EDR

Bluetooth : 4.0 + A2DP + HFP + EDR 

Bluetooth: 3.0 + A2DP + HFP + EDR

Bluetooth: 3.0 + A2DP + HFP + EDR

Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Hotspot

A-GPS

Micro USB 2.0 Sync and Charge

 

POP/IMAP/Exchange Active Sync/SMTP/PushMail

Battery

Li-on 3500mAh

Li-on 2000mAh

Li-on 2800mAh

Li-on 1400mAh

Size

213*155*10.5mm

145*69.8*7.64mm

90.6*170.7*9.3mm

125*61*8.5mm

Price

£229.99

£199.99

£199.99

£99.99

 
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By February 21, 2014 Read More →

Archos 79 Xenon Unboxing Video

archos_79xenon_Face_slide_2Much like their phone range, Archos are pushing out every variation of tablet to increase customer choice.  Each tablet in the range comes with a different label after a periodic element, Cobalt, Titanium, Xenon and Platinum.

Each Element seems to increase the specs and the price a little with various screen sizes available for each. Simple idea however, maybe a little confusing with you have so many to choose from. The Xenon is the slightly lower high end range, not quite a feature rich as the Platinum. The big drawback really seems to be the lack of options for storage, all of Archos’ tablets seems to come with 8gb storage aside from their flagship 101xs2 with 16gb.

In the video below I take a look at the Archos 79 Xenon, going hands on with the little beauty after a rapid unboxing.

 

Posted in: Tablets, Videos/Unboxings
By February 20, 2014 Read More →

Google IO dates announced

IOGoogle has just announced this year’s Google IO dates! Get ready and set your calendars for June 25-26, 2014. Senior Vice President of Google Sundar Pichai has just broken the news and we can’t be more excited to see what Google has in store for us this year.

For those who don’t know, Google IO is the Search Giant’s biggest event. It takes place yearly, in San Francisco. The main focus of the event is to educate and prepare developers to adopt and improve on Google apps and services, but Google has turned it into more than that.

We do not really know what is on the agenda right now, but Google IO is always big. We can definitely expect some big news related to Chromecast, Chrome OS and Chromebooks. These are growing at insane rates, so we are sure Google will have some good news for Chromies at Google IO.

Of course, we will also see news related to pretty much everything Google has to offer. Android, Chrome, Google+, Google Maps and Google Drive are a few of the big ones.

Posted in: News
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