Author Archive: Gareth

Seasoned tech blogger. Host of the Tech Addicts podcast.

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By November 17, 2013 Read More →

Touchscreen Chromebook from Acer

Touchscreen Chromebook from AcerEarly speculation was that a touchscreen version of the company’s Chromebook C720 range was on the way. Recently, Amazon France listed the anticipated device in their listings. Before it gets pulled, those qui pouvait parler un peu français can see some specs here.

This is the first entry-level Chromebook to feature a touchscreen, with Google’s developer-orientated premium-grade Chromebook Pixel having the honour of being the first and only Chromebook to feature touch capabilities to date.

Two major differences from both the $199 C720-2848 and fractionally more expensive C720 are listed:

Touchscreen Chromebook from Acer specification

  • 11.6″ Touchscreen (1366 x 768)
  • 32GB SSD
  • Intel Celeron Haswell CPU @ 1.4Ghz
  • 8.5 Hour Battery Life
  • 0.75″ thick case weighing 2.76Ibs
  • Wifi, HDMI Out, USB 3.0 and 2.0 Ports
  • 100GB of Free Google Drive Storage

Amazon France have the laptop priced at €299 (roughly £250 or $400).

Posted in: Laptops, News
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By November 16, 2013 Read More →

HP withdraws HP Chromebook 11 amid safety concerns

hp_chromebook_11The online stores of Amazon, Best Buy, Google and HP are no longer listing the HP Chromebook 11 as available for sale. The former pair have also removed all information about the device from their websites. In addition to halting online sales, Best Buy has also gone a step further by issuing a Memo to its retail store managers instructing them to “stop selling” the device “effective immediately”. The issue appears to be  that the charger overheats. Customers are being advise they  “should not use the original charger provided…”

HP  and Google are recommending HP Chromebook 11 owners to not use the charger provided with their devices. Luckily for those who have already purchased on they can use the micro-USB for charging, owners should at least have plenty of phone chargers around to keep their Chromebooks chugging along safely.

Posted in: Laptops
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By November 15, 2013 Read More →

Samsung thinks size matters

12-point-2-inch-gnote-tab-fccWe have mentioned this device before, however a new 12.2-Inch Samsung Galaxy Note tablet is likely coming this holiday season. A new FCC filing confirms the existence of the device. This one is a 3G capable model with 850/1900MHz frequencies and a Samsung SM-P901 model name. 

So far, the rumored specs of this device suggest a robust and powerful feature-set:

  • 2560 x 1600 pixel display
  • Quad-core Snapdragon 800 SoC
  • 3GB of RAM
  • 8MP camera on the back
  • 2MP cam in front
  • 32GB of storage
  • Android 4.3 Jelly Bean

A top notch tablet also useful for beating off intruders or jungle animals.

Posted in: News, Tablets
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By November 15, 2013 Read More →

Tegra Note 7 appears in notable videos

Tegra Note 7We have been treated to a couple of cool videos for NVIDIA’s Tegra Note 7 Android tab. The new Tegra 4-equipped tablet just went into retail stores recently and is designed to showcase the incredible power of the Tegra 4. It’s an amazing bonus that it sells in the $200 dollar range, especially considering all of the features and power. 

This device stands out not just because of its internal power though. It also comes with a slew of interesting features. For example, NVIDIA claims the Tegra Note tablets have superior audio with the “widest frequency range in a tablet”. Apparently, the camera is very impressive too. NVIDIA shares that the camera in the tablet s impressive too and includes the “world’s first mobile computational photography architecture.” This supposedly enables special effects including Tap-to-Track automatic tracking.

Finally, in one of the videos we have included, you get to see the DirectStylus demoed on the device. It’s a passive stylus technology that NVIDIA bills as equal to an active stylus despite being cheaper to make. It can supposedly detect pressure levels and even the shape of the stylus tip. This is meant to give you a more creative real-world like experience. 

Posted in: News, Tablets
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By November 15, 2013 Read More →

Retro Tech Addicts Podcast 07: Room for a little one

RTA Logo MTAGareth and Matt enjoy a warm and fuzzy recollection of days gone by in this the latest instalment of the Retro Tech Addicts podcast.

This week, thanks to a number of technical challenges, we have a shorter show but still manage to discuss the conception of the internet, the first Compaq portable PC and our own experiences with our first true PC’s.

Put a note in your diary that our next Retro Tech Addicts recording event on Hangouts will be 27th November.

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Posted in: Podcast, Retro Tech
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By November 11, 2013 Read More →

An Introduction to the Amstrad CPC 6128

Amstrad CPC 6128The third video in his retrospective series of the Amstrad range Gareth moves onto the big daddy, the CPC 6128. This machine replaced the lesser know Amstrad CPC 664 making up for most of the shortcomings and becoming one of the most popular products Amstrad ever produced.

The CPC6128 was released in August 1985 and initially only sold in the USA. Imported and distributed by Indescomp, Inc. of Chicago, it was the first Amstrad product to be sold in the United States, a market that at the time was traditionally hostile towards European computer manufacturers. By the end of 1985, it arrived in Europe and replaced the CPC664 in the CPC model line-up.

Posted in: Retro Tech, Videos/Unboxings
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By November 11, 2013 Read More →

Android gaming update 11-11-13

Star-Wars-Tiny-Death-Star-Disney-MobileAnother week over and a collection of new entries on the Play store. What’s new and what’s reduced?

Star Wars: Tiny Death Star sees the player building up a Death Star with over 80 types of Star Wars themed residential and commercial floors to attract residents and commerce in their Death Star. Just like Sim Tower!

  • Earn credits to expand your Death Star, and build over 80 types of Star Wars themed residential and commercial floors like Rebo’s Karaoke and Cloud City Spa!
  • Attract over 30 unique species including Wookiees and Ewoks, and fulfill their dream jobs! Not everyone on the Death Star wants to be the Empire’s minion; some might just want to work at the local ice cream shop…
  • Below the hustle and bustle of the businesses above, build secretive, underground imperial levels to craft special supplies that will aide your Imperial troops in the fight against the Rebels.
  • As stealthy as your Death Star development may be, expect break-ins from Rebel spies such as Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and more! Capture them before they escape!
  • While running your Death Star, keep your eyes peeled for new scenes featuring many of your favorite characters like Han Solo, Chewie, Jabba the Hutt, and more.
Posted in: Apps & Games, News
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By November 11, 2013 Read More →

Sony’s new 3D headset now available

sony-hmz-t3w,U-V-404167-1Most are getting excited about the Oculus Rift and rightly so as they have recently announced Android compatibility. However, Sony has now made available the third generation of Sony’s HMZ headset line, following the HMZ-T1 (2011) and the HMZ-T2 (2012). The wireless head-mounted device provides two HD OLED screens generating a virtual 750 inch screen from 65 feet away, allowing users to enjoy 2D and 3D content with virtual 7.1 surround sound.
The device is lighter than the previous models, and provides flexible headbands, improved padding, and a tethered “battery box” providing around three hours on a single charge, dumping the required AC connection in the previous models. The device also supports MHL, meaning it can recharge a compatible smartphone or tablet while the device is transmitting video and audio over the same connection. Only costing mere $1000.

“The Sony HMZ-T3W portable 3D viewer keeps serious gamers in the game with speedy responses from its twin OLED screens and no annoying on-screen image lag,” reads Sony’s press release. “A one-touch button instantly boosts contrast and enhances shape details (game-mode), allowing gamers to relish the competitive edge in dimly-lit scenes where danger’s always lurking. Plus, there is no fumbling for the right keys in mid-game – the ergonomic visor-style headset gives an unobstructed ‘look-down’ view of your PC’s keyboard and mouse while you play.”

Posted in: News, Science & Technology
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By November 10, 2013 Read More →

HP Chromebook 11 price drop

hp_chromebook_11Just over a month after launch, HP’s newest Chromebook is already available to buy for less than £200 in the UK. The colourful, ARM-based notebook has had £30 slashed off its recommended retail price of £229 at a number of leading online retailers.

Powered by a Samsung Exynos chipset, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of eMMC storage, the device is also notable for using an IPS display to provide better colour reproduction and viewing angles – resolving the main issue that previous low-end devices have been criticised for.

Launched barely one month ago it’s a little surprising to see the device discounted already. Amazon have the device listed for just £199 – a saving of £30. Currys/PC World are matching this price indirectly, offering between £30 cash back on the purchase of this Chromebook, (and between £20-30 on all other Chromebooks) purchased between now and December 4th, 2013.

Using a Chromebook for the past two weeks I am certainly seeing the benefits of the low cost computers. Certainly some will scoff that they are not real computers however I am struggling to find something that I can not do on it.

Posted in: Laptops, News
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By November 8, 2013 Read More →

Google’s Android looks to be spreading faster than believed

mobile-makeover-android-dominanceAndroid fans already know that Google’s operating system quickly spread across the world, conquering everything in its path; however, this latest analysis suggests it spread even more quickly than we could have imagined as PhoneArena has recently pointed out. According to Horace Dediu, an Asymco analyst, it turns out that Android is the fastest growing technology product in history! The metric he used to determine this was a comparison of total adoption numbers across specific time-frames after an initial launch. Here are a few mobile stats to put it in perspective:

  • Symbian hit 450 million users in 44 quarters (11 years)
  • BlackBerry hit 225 million users in 43 quarters (about 11 years)
  • Windows Mobile hit 72 million in 30 quarters
  • Apple’s iOS hit 700 Million users in only 23 Quarters (almost 6 years)
  • Android hit 1 Billion users in only 20 quarters (5 years)

The pic above charts some other devices throughout the history of tech. It’s interesting to take a glance at the Android & iOS versus PC Sales. The huge spike is something the PC industry never had. Of course, it’s not a perfect apples to apples comparison, but it’s still worth noting. There’s one other thing worth noting in the infographic. Despite the massive acceleration of adoption, there are still quite a few people left in the world who still don’t have smartphones. In China we are only 34% into their total market, and even in the United States we are only a little over half way there.

Posted in: News, Phones, Tablets
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