Author Archive: Gareth

Seasoned tech blogger. Host of the Tech Addicts podcast.

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By November 7, 2013 Read More →

HIS launch the R9 280X iPower IceQ X² Turbo Boost Clock 3GB

H280XQMT3G2M_ALL_400HIS – Hightech Information System Limited are in the process of launch a super new graphics card based on the R9 280X from AMD.

This card is a little different to the rest as it features the  IceQ X2 cooling system, this is designed especially to keep the noise to a minimum. The top heatsink is fairly insane, insuring the most complete coverage for cooling and for you over clockers out there the Voltage regulator module area has been enhanced in order to provide more overclocking potential.

Early word is that this card is terrific value for money, costing around £230 on some retail sites. We hope to have a test model at some point in the future.

Introducing HIS R9 280X iPower IceQ X² Turbo Boost Clock 3GB

iPower for More Voltage, IceQ X – Cooler & Quieter, Faster Turbo Clock, iTurbo and Long Lasting Design

Hightech Information System (HIS) today proudly announces the HIS R9 280X iPower IceQX2 Turbo Boost Clock 3GB GDDR5. The new card features iPower for more voltage, Boost Clock & Turbo for appealing performance, IceQX2 for cooler and quieter performance.
Armed with iPower design, the extra PWM phases provide the card with higher and more stable power output which leads to a better-than-expected overclocking. In comparison with 850MHz of the reference board, the core clock of the card has been by default set at 1000MHz.
With the latest technologies and features of R9 280X chipset, the card provides an all-round graphic experience to all users. The state-of-the-art IceQX2 coolers empower the card with the best cooling solution. The card is cooler than the reference design and is below 28dB during watching movies, surfing on internet and ordinary working. Even when graphic intensive gaming is being played, the card still remains at very quiet level.
The card comes with the innovative overclocking software iTurbo. With the user-friendly design, the user can control the temperature, speed and voltage of the card by very simple steps. The card is further strengthened by HIS Long Lasting Design which effectively prolongs the life span of the card. The special metal RIB provides extra strength to the PCBs to avoid warpage. Loaded with AMD’s latest technology, such as GCN, Apps Faster & Smoother, the card has revolutionary improvements on computing performance, gaming experience as well as power consumption!
The card currently retails for £239.99 and it is available in OCUK.

Posted in: Desktop Computing, Press Releases, Science & Technology
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By November 7, 2013 Read More →

GiffGaff to sell phones

Screenshot 2013-11-06 23.39.20GiffGaff, a low cost virtual network working off O2 masts, has announced they will start selling mobile phones alongside their sim only pay as you go deals. GiffGaff are offering a rather nice, varied selection of devices comprising of:

  • Samsung Galaxy Young
  • Samsung Galaxy Fame
  • Samsung Galaxy S3
  • Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini
  • Samsung Galaxy S4
  • Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini
  • Samsung Galaxy Note 3
  • Nokia 301
  • Nokia Lumia 520
  • Nokia Lumia 625
  • Nokia Lumia 925
  • Nokia Lumia 1020
  • Sony Xperia E
  • Sony Xperia M
  • Sony Xperia SP
  • Sony Xperia Z
  • Sony Xperia Z1
  • HTC One
  • BlackBerry Q10
  • LG G2
  • iPhone 4 refurb
  • iPhone 4S refurb

Interesting the selection of devices available was chosen by 5,300 customers who participated in a survey. Instead of offering a standard contract GiffGaff have shaken things up to offer the following purchase options:

  1. Members don’t need to buy a goodybag with their phone.
  2. You can pay for your phone upfront or monthly.
  3. You can split your monthly payments from 6 to 24 months.
  4. You can change or cancel your goodybag at anytime (as usual)
  5. You can change your monthly phone payments at anytime.
  6. Your phone will not be locked to giffgaff.

Working on a Peer to Peer lending option,  the practice of lending money to unrelated individuals, or “peers”, without going through a traditional financial intermediary such as a bank or other traditional financial institution GiffGaff hope to make the selection a good deal more enticing than the typical network set ups. Full pricing has not been released yet however they promise more information soon.

Posted in: News, Phones
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By November 7, 2013 Read More →

Mobile Tech Addicts Podcast 213: Just hangin’ out!

Podcast-Logo_thumb.jpgGareth and Matt are here with another UK update on the mobile front, this week with Phil Lain. On this week’s show there’s another first, we’re recording in front of a live audience and have some Q&A along the way. We’ll be using Hangouts On Air more in future too.

There’s a whole lot of KitKat going on with a lot of attention being focused on the Google Nexus 5 and some worrying news for Google Nexus owners. Matt goes on a day trip to Heathrow Airport and doesn’t go anywhere and young Phil becomes the new kid on the block.

Featuring Gareth, Matt, and Phil

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Posted in: News, Podcast
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By November 6, 2013 Read More →

Will we see the Samsung Galaxy Note 13.3?

Samsung Galaxy Note 13.3No, this isn’t a duplicate post, Samsung is working on a 12.2-Inch Galaxy Note tablet. However, that is not the only giant Android tablet they are working on. Supposedly, Samsung is also developing a 13.3-inch Android tablet to launch later next year.

It looks like Samsung believes 2014 will be the year of the tablets. Not only are they throwing out a ton of new tablet devices, they have upped their estimated tablet sales projections to a whopping 42 million. Of course, this will be for all of their tablets which will range in size a great deal. If this newest rumour is true we will have a wide range if new Samsung tablets: 7-inch, 8-inch, 10-inch, 12-inch and 13-inch. We will know something more concrete in January at CES.

Posted in: Rumours, Tablets
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By November 6, 2013 Read More →

Google Hangouts expanded to Helpouts

helpouts_large_verge_medium_landscapeTonight, Matt and I will attempt out first Mobile Tech Addicts hangout, a chance to engage with you, the loyal reader and listener. Hangouts have really opened up a new age in VOIP / Video calling / conferencing. In addition to Hangouts there is also a new service Google are offering, Google Helpouts.

Google Helpouts it is already live and available on the desktop or Android platforms. Google Helpouts basically allows you to use Google Hangouts in a new way. The goal is to offer people a place to get help on a vast variety of topics using Google Hangouts. This could include topics from DIY repairs, to computer tech support, to cooking and much more. The possibilities are nearly endless.

Google Helpouts basically allows folks to help each other either for free or for a fee. What’s truly unique about this is that instead of getting a random person, you actually have the power to choose from whom you get help based upon a variety of factors like availability, qualifications, ratings, price, and reviews. Here’s a full quote below from Google’s blog on their new Helpouts service. You can also find out more in the video below.

Quote:

What if getting help for a computer glitch, a leaky pipe, or a homework problem was as easy as clicking a button? What if you could connect via real-time video to a music teacher or a yoga instructor from the comfort of your home? What if you could get someone knowledgeable to get you “unstuck” when you really need it?Today, we’re announcing Helpouts—a new way to get and give help over live video. Our goal is simple: help people help each other. We want to use the convenience and efficiency of the web to enable everyone, no matter where they are or what time it is, to easily connect with someone who can help.

Help might be a quick answer to a problem you’re having right now, like how to fix your garage door, or how to remove a computer virus; or it might be guidance completing a project, like building a deck. It might be learning a new skill, like how to speak conversational French or how to draw cartoons; or it might be general advice on how to improve your fitness or your writing (I could use this right now).

With Helpouts, you can choose who you get help from based on their qualifications, their availability, their price, their ratings and reviews. You can connect instantly or book in advance. You can get help from individuals or from brands you already know and trust, like Sephora, One Medical, Weight Watchers, Redbeacon (a Home Depot company), and Rosetta Stone. Once you’re in a Helpout, you can do more than just talk—you can share your computer screen, collaboratively edit a presentation, or record your Helpout. And if the experience doesn’t meet your expectations, we offer a full money back guarantee.

Today is just the beginning. We’re starting small and in a few categories. The number of people giving help on Helpouts and the type of help available will grow over time. Helpouts may not be suitable for every occasion, and it will take time to get used to interactions via real time video. We hope that the efficiency, convenience and global reach of Helpouts will make people’s lives easier in the long term.

We hope you’ll give Helpouts a try and give us your feedback through ratings and reviews, or talk to us on Google+, Twitter or Facebook. And if you’re interested in giving help on Helpouts yourself, let us know.

Posted in: Apps & Games, News
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By November 5, 2013 Read More →

Will we see the Samsung Galaxy Note 12.2?

Samsung Galaxy Note 12.2Rumours are surfacing on the net that Samsung is currently working on a Samsung Galaxy Note 12.2″ tablet which will launch in early 2014. The source of these rumours are that the device has already passed through the FCC. Here’s what we know about the specs…

Samsung Galaxy Note 12.2 specs:

  • 12.2-inch 2560 x 1600 display
  • 2.26GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor
  • 8-megapixel camera
  • 2-megapixel front-facing camera
  • 3GB of RAM
  • 32GB of storage
  • Android 4.3 Jelly Bean and LTE support for the cellular version
  • S Pen Stylus

As the sizes of devices continue to trend upward, it makes you wonder at what point will a tablet become too big to be useful? On the other hand could it be that this is an edge to edge screen, loosing the bezel almost entirely?

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Posted in: News, Rumours, Tablets
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By November 3, 2013 Read More →

Android gaming round-up 03/11/13

imgresLets take a look at the latest games on the Android platform.

Trouserheart is a new hack n’ slash game has arrived onto Google Play from 10tons called Trouserheart. In this game you are not trying to save a princess who has been kidnapped, free a realm from a monster invasion or any other typical fantasy type of theme you find in a lot of hack n’ slash games. Instead you’ll be out to rescue a pair of pants that has been stolen from the king.

Trouserheart Features:

  • Meet peculiar enemies
  • Hoard treasures
  • Upgrade your sword, shield, and armor
  • Defeat 10 unique bosses
  • Gain more than dozen achievements
  • Explore exciting environments
  • Choose between two difficulty levels plus the perma death mode
Posted in: Apps & Games, Editorial
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By November 3, 2013 Read More →

What is in KitKat?

What exactly is in KitKatIt looks like the new 4.4 KitKat version is the most significant upgrade for Android in a quite some time. It includes a massive array of new features.

Here’s a quick breakdown of many of the features:

  • Now supports lower-end devices and can run on just 512MB of RAM.
  • It will now have a new launcher.
  • Translucent system UI styling.
  • Enhanced notification access.
  • Includes faster multi-tasking.
  • More advanced caller ID.
  • new white/gray color scheme and fonts.
  • There is a new sensor batching technology. This is meant to cut down on sensor power consumption by grouping and prioritizing requests. Google claims it is now 25% more accurate, and can ask back for clarification.
  • It will now have wireless printing functionality.
  • Includes support for IR Blasters natively. It is limited to sending functions only for now. It can’t learn or receive yet. This is probably just a feature that is in progress since it is mostly not very useful yet.
  • Native screen recording and can output in MP4 format.
  • Now supports Moto X-style “OK Google” voice commands. For now this only will work with the Nexus 5. Supposedly this feature is hardware dependent, although Google hasn’t shared what is required.
  • Bluetooth devices will now be able to control the system volume directly instead of having to adjust two different volumes.
  • There is a new lock screen which includes a camera shortcut. You can also rearrange your homescreen.
  • Built-in Chromecast support.
  • Chrome web view.
  • Full-screen wallpapers with preview.
  • HDR+ photography.
  • Location in Quick Settings.
  • Low-power audio playback.
  • Music and movie-seeking from lock screen.
  • The NFC payment system doesn’t require using the secure element anymore. It uses a software based emulation work around. Because of this, carriers can no longer use this as an excuse to not support Google’s NFC payment functions.

Even at that, there is more. Little tweeks and drops of oil to make things run better. Google have put together a pretty terrific package and from what I can gather, here is a list of a few device that will see 4.4 arriving:

HTC phones to get Android 4.4

  • HTC One – sometime in 90 days
  • HTC One mini – sometime in 90 days
  • HTC One max – sometime in 90 days
  • HTC One Google Play Edition – sometime in 15 days

Nexus Devices to get Android 4.4

  • Nexus 4 – “the coming weeks”
  • Nexus 7 – “the coming weeks”
  • Nexus 10 – “the coming weeks”

Samsung Devices to get Android 4.4

  • Galaxy S4 – “in due course” end of 2013 or early 2014
  • Galaxy Note 3 – “in due course” end of 2013 or early 2014

Sony Devices to get Android 4.4

  • Xperia Z
  • Xperia Z1

Others Devices to get Android 4.4

  • LG G2 – “soon”

Annoying, despite the promise that KitKat will run nicely on low end devices Google have dropped the Galaxy Nexus from the update schedule.

Posted in: News
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By November 3, 2013 Read More →

Retro Tech Addicts Pickups 03-11-13

Custom Screenshot for Pickups videoI’m back with a long overdue look at some of my recent pick ups from the days gone by.

This time there is a follow-up to a piece of kit I stumbled upon a month ago, the Amstrad NC200 is the big brother of the NC100 complete with new features and some top notice goodies included in the package.

Adding to my Gameboy  hardware collection I have picked up a couple of different generation Gameboys complete with a couple of games. And finally the jewel in the crown is another gem for the Atari Jaguar collection, a game that was not fully released at the time of the Jaguar’s demise, brace yourself!

Posted in: Retro Tech, Videos/Unboxings
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By November 2, 2013 Read More →

HP Chromebook 14 – A first look

HP-ChromebookRecently the market for Chromebooks has expanded massively with four new models arriving around the same time, the largest of these being the HP Chromebook 14.

Packing a number of extra features over the Chromebook 11, HP have crammed in a 14″ screen, an SD card reader and a new Intel processor with Haswell technology. On a spec sheet this is nowhere near the bleeding edge, and for a Chromebook the step up from the models that have gone before is minimal. This doesn’t seem to be the typical convention of a Chromebook.

Our HP Chromebook 14 review unit came to us without its original box so no unboxing video here this time. However, we do still take you on a tour around the hardware and show you a little of the setup and getting started elements of Chromebook.

Posted in: Laptops, Videos/Unboxings
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