Phones

By October 20, 2013 Read More →

Griffin PowerDock 5 unboxing video

Griffin Powerdock 5These days we all have multiple mobile devices at home that need to be charged on a regular basis. Whether it’s an iPhone or Android Smartphone or a tablet of some kind I suspect that many households have an area somewhere that you’ll find multiple chargers and a tangle of cables.

That’s where the Griffin Powerdock 5 comes in. Capable of charging up to 5 devices at the same time it delivers up to 10 watts of charging power. 5 USB sockets line one side of the unit while a series of clear plastic dividers allow you to stand each device in its own slot.

Looking something like a 21st century toast-rack the PowerDock 5 can charge anything that has a USB cable and with the 5 spaces it should prevent the pamily arguments over who’s turn it is with the charger!

It doesn’t take up much room, about the same as a single iPad. But it gives you a place to store and charge 5 iOS devices at one time, from a single power source. We think it’s the perfect charging solution for small offices or work groups, or a family full of iPhone users.

PowerDock 5 gives each tablet its own charging port and its own frosted backrest, and each charging bay is roomy enough to accommodate your iPhone, iPod or iPad in their cases.

Here’s a quick video so that you can see the unit a bit more clearly.

Posted in: Gadgets, Laptops, Phones, Tablets, Videos/Unboxings
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By October 19, 2013 Read More →

Apple: We have no intention of reading your iMessages

imessage securityApple is once again having to play the defensive game amid allegations that the company could all too easily intercept users iMessages sent through iOS or OS X.

This is a claim from security experts stating that as Apple hold all the encryption keys for the end-to-end service it would be a trivial process to be able to change these keys in order to read content or pass it to third parties such as government agencies that make a request.

Whilst the security experts, Quarkslab, do point out that Apple are not currently doing this at the moment they could do so if they wanted to.

These claims have caused a great deal of noise and concern amongst users a privacy groups, so much so that Apple have had to break the usual radio silence and respond.

“iMessage is not architected to allow Apple to read messages,” Apple spokeswoman Trudy Muller told AllThingsD. “The research discussed theoretical vulnerabilities that would require Apple to re-engineer the iMessage system to exploit it, and Apple has no plans or intentions to do so.”

This is not the first time that Apple have been on the back foot where iMessage security is concerned. Earlier this year the company was also forced to defend itself against allegations of its involvement in handing over data to the NSA.

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By October 18, 2013 Read More →

Google Nexus 5 leaked by… Google

Google Nexus 5 leakedSeems that everyone is in a hurry for more information about the forthcoming Google Nexus 5 and the anticipation is certainly building for what is expected to be the fastest, most powerful Android Smartphone to date.

So when it comes to leaked information about the Nexus 5 it is, perhaps, quite surprising to see that it has been accidentally ousted on Google’s own Play store earlier today.

For a short time the Nexus 4 could be found on the Play Store alongside the Nexus 4 and Nexus 7 device and full details of the Nexus 5 Specification could also be found there.

Much of the rumoured specification has been confirmed; The five-inch display will be an IPS full HD, a Quad-core 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 takes care of business with 2GB of RAM and either 16 or 32GB of on-board storage. This will also be the first Smartphone to be powered by Android 4.4 KitKat.

The price has also been revealed to be $349 for the 16GB model but there’s no UK price available at this time but $349 comes out to a little over £220, factoring in VAT we should be looking at around £275 – £300 here.

It’s perhaps a little surprising that the Nexus 5 will have ‘only’ 2GB of RAM whereas the Note 3 has 3GB and an otherwise similar specification.

The Nexus 5 has since been removed from the Play Store but this mini leak possibly points to the device’s launch being imminent.

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By October 18, 2013 Read More →

HTC One Max vs Galaxy Note 3: Benchmark

One Max BenchmarkHTC announced the HTC One Max earlier this week and folowing some unboxing and demo videos that we posted, we’ve had a lot of questions and feedback about the new device.

One of the recurring requests has been to compare the new HTC One Max to the Samsung Galaxy Note 3. Both the One Max and Note 3 are of a similar size and spec and occupy the same place in the market.

One of the things that we thought we could do to compare the two devices is to have them both run a benchmark test and see which one comes out on top.

Obviously we’re expecting the Note 3 to come out on top in this test, it has a 2.3GHz quad-core CPU vs 1.7GHz on the One Max but just how big is the difference? Check out the video below to see the numbers!

 

HTC One MaxSamsung Galaxy
Note 3
CPUQuad-core 1.7 GHzQuad-core 2.3 GHz
ChipsetSnapdragon 600Snapdragon 800
RAM2GB3GB
ROM16/32 GB16/32/64 GB
Screen Size5.9 inches5.7 inches
Resolution1080 x 1920 pixels1080 x 1920 pixels
Dimensions164.5 x 82.5 x 10.3 mm151.2 x 79.2 x 8.3 mm
Weight217g168g
Primary Camera4 MP (Ultrapixel)13 MP
Secondary Camera2.1 MP2 MP
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By October 16, 2013 Read More →

How Can We Keep up with Technology?

Whether it is a laptop tablet hybrid or a smartphone with voice recognition technology, there is always a new addition to the technology market that means consumers have a frantic need to own the latest device with technology that will be life changing. Does technology evolve too fast? Are we ever able to actually keep up and own the devices that appeal to us? As soon as we purchase one gadget another is released in its place and it makes it hard to keep up with the items that have some of the best features and that are claimed to be far superior to its predecessor.

Keep Up With Technology 1The Past…

In the early days of technology, the rate of development was manageable and consumers were able to get to grips with new items, purchase them and have a considerable amount of time with that device before a new update was released.

The Present…

The rate at which new technology is released is faster than anyone ever anticipated that it would be. There are constant new releases of items and updates every few months and consumers are unable to keep up with the number of products that are released every year. The consumer places a great deal of pressure on itself to indulge in the most recent items that will allow them to participate in the technological culture that has long since been an important part of life.

The Future…

Technology will quite possibly continue to evolve at much the same rate as it is now. People will continue with their frantic need to keep up with technology and possess the items that make a great deal of promises regarding the way people are able to carry out everyday tasks.

Keep Up With Technology 2Smartphones are one area that result in a high number of technological advancements and see people scrabbling for the latest in phone technology. The smartphone market really took off 6 years ago with the release of the first iPhone, and since then mobile phone makers have transformed their handsets and the technology they use to fill the latest desires of the consumer. The smartphone and tablet markets tend to go hand in hand as many mobile makers are indulging in the tablet market as a way of securing the popularity of the consumer and its place in the industry. 20 million people a month use a tablet, which is up by 39% from 2012.

Society has quickly become dependant on technology and the benefits that it brings, gadgets and devices are must have items and shape the way we carry out even the simplest of tasks.

As soon as we get used to one format and one way of doing things, it quickly changes to cater for the latest advancements and the changes it brings to everyday life. People are often judged or considered to be ‘out of the loop’ if they do not embrace the latest in technology releases and embrace items such as smartphones and tablets but there is a real concern that one day we will all lose touch with technology as it grows at a rate faster than we can keep up with…. Are technology manufacturers hurting themselves and their consumer? Competition is the backbone of the succession of new releases although there seems to be little consideration for the main focus of the business… the consumer.

Posted in: Editorial, Phones
By October 16, 2013 Read More →

Apple Leather Case for iPhone 5 & 5S

iphone 5s case leatherJust a quick review of a case that I picked up at the weekend for my new iPhone 5S that I’ve been using since launch day without a case.

I previously had an iPhone 5 and I used that with a shell case from launch day until I got the new S model.

I was quite shocked at the condition that the iPhone was in. It appeared that small pieces of grit had somehow managed to get between the case and the phone and has scratched the finish off the edge of the phone.

I decided that I wouldn’t be using this case with my new 5S but I tried it on there for an hour or so and it felt a little loose on the new phone. I decided that I would use the phone without a case and see how I got on. I quickly found that I don’t like the way the iPhone 5/5S feels without anything on. It is too slippery and too thin for my liking and I was constantly scared that I was going to drop it whilst removing it from my pocket.

Whilst walking past an Apple store I thought I’d take a look at the different cases that they had available and the Apple case really caught my eye for the simplicity and quality. It seemed a little expensive at £35.00 but I thought that if I can buy one case and stand a good chance that it would look after the finish of my phone in everyday use it was worth a go.

This is what your £35 gets you.

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I chose the black but it is also available in brown, beige, yellow, blue and a special (Product) Red version where some of the profits go to a Charity set up by Bono of U2.

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The back of the case has a nice embossed Apple logo and the leather feels very nice. There is a warning on the back of the packaging that the case is made of natural leather and that the finish will change with use.

There is a nice large cut out for the camera and flash but all of the buttons are covered and have little bumps so that you can feel where they are. No need to try to reach through the case to press them with a fingernail here. Unfortunately apple chose not to replicate the ring/vibrate switch as part of the case and it might be a struggle for those with larger fingers to operate. As a plus it will not get knocked accidentally.

2013-10-14 19.59.26

The case is lined with a nice, soft suede/micro-fibre material which should help to prevent scratches like I experienced before.

Inserting the phone is easy, just push it in.

 2013-10-14 20.01.24

The case fits the phone perfectly. If it had been any other way I would have been shocked.

The case offers a small lip to provide some protection to the screen if laid on a surface face down.

2013-10-14 20.03.06

The headphone and Lightning connector ports are nicely exposed for the majority of things that you’d want to use them for but strangely the lighting connector will not work with one of Apple’s own accessories that I use every day. I have still not updated my bedside dock to one with native Lightning and so, I have been using the 30 Pin to Lighting adapter. As you will see this will not work with this case.

P1120320

The mic and speaker ports in the case line up perfectly with those on the phone and no difference in call quality or speaker volume can be noticed.

Apple iPhone 5s leather case Verdict.

Over all I am extremely impressed with the case but it does have a couple of downsides but for me these are not enough to make me want to return it and search for something else.

Pros

  • Quality looks and finish
  • Perfect fit

Cons

  • Not all Lightning accessories will be compatible
  • Ring/Vibrate a little difficult to access.
  • £35 is quite a lot to spend on a case.
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By October 14, 2013 Read More →

HTC One Max photo gallery

Further to my HTC One Unboxing video and HTC One demo video, here’s a gallery of hi-res images of the HTC One Max for you to take a look at.

Several photos have the HTC One included to offer a size comparison.

There are a couple of things worth pointing out from the images below.

  • Firstly the power button on the One Max is set to the side instead of the top, as on the HTC One, but the infrared transmitter is still found on the top.
  • The back cover is removable and underneath you’ll find the SIM card and microSD card slots. There will be a dual-SIM version available in Asian markets.
  • The back cover is made from machined aluminium and includes the NFC antenna.
  • The Boomsound speakers and amplifier are the same as on the HTC One but the One Max has larger acoustic chambers which makes the sound louder
  • The fingerprint reader found on the back of the HTC One Max is a capacitive reader so requires that you swipe your finger across it.

HTC One Max photo gallery

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By October 14, 2013 Read More →

HTC One Max Demo Video

HTC One Max Demo VideoHopefully you will already have seen my HTC One Max unboxing and hands-on video. That video ran a little long, at over 30 minutes, so I decided to record a separate HTC One Max Demo Video to show off a couple of the other features.

In the video below we have a look at RSS feeds in Blinkfeed, web browsing on that huge screen, Gallery and Video Highlights as well as some sample video playback.

One thing that you cant really appreciate in the video is how loud the Boomsound speakers are. The HTC One held the top-spot for loudspeaker volume and quality but once the HTC One Max came along that stole first place. The One Max may have the same speakers and amplifier but larger chambers make a bigger sound!

Enjoy the video below and don’t forget to check out the HTC One Max photo gallery too. Oh and don’t forget to tell us what you think of the HTC One Max as well…

Posted in: Phones, Videos/Unboxings
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By October 14, 2013 Read More →

HTC One Max unboxing and hands-on video

HTC One Max fingerprintSo after those weeks of further speculation and rumour, the HTC One Max becomes official today.

Since the launch of the HTC One the ‘One’ brand has become one of the most recognised in HTC history and by adding the HTC One Max to the existing line-up HTC hope to provide consumers with even greater choice.

The HTC One Max brings with it the a new version of HTC Sense, this time we have 5.5 which builds upon version 5 found on the One and One Mini. Sense 5.5 adds new Blinkfeed features with the ability to now add RSS feeds and a variety of other services. There’s also the ability to read feeds off-line thanks to a caching mode.

The Gallery app has been updated with new ‘view by event’ and added Zoe capability, being able to share Zoe moments with non-HTC devices. There’s a GIF editor and new video highlight options.

In terms of hardware the most obvious thing is the 5.9 inch full-HD display which is glorious! As with the HTC One, there’s a Quad-Core 1.7GHz Snapdragon 600 CPU, 2GB RAM and either 16 or 32GB of storage. In a change from the HTC One, the Max has a microSD card slot under the removable back over and supports up to 64GB memory cards.

On the back you’ll find the same 4MP Ultrapixel camera as seen on other One models, which is a good thing.

Below the camera, and settling the speculation, you’ll find a square panel which is a capacitive fingerprint reader. The nice feature here is that you can enrol multiple fingers on the device and allows you to set a specific finger to launch straight into a specific application. Handy.

Powers is supplied by a sizeable 3300MAh battery which can be further supplemented by a 1100MAh battery in the dedicated HTC One Max cast that HTC have developed.

The HTC One Max will go on sale later this week and should be in Vodafone stores first. No word on the price as yet but expect the networks to be making announcements later today too.

There’s plenty to talk about with the HTC One Max so I’m starting off with the unboxing and hands-on video below. It’s pretty lengthy so be sure to make yourself comfortable. I also have another demo video coming up later where I’ll cover some of the other features and there’s a gallery of hi-res images for you to enjoy too.

Oh and there’s a benchmark of the HTC One Max in here too! 🙂

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By October 14, 2013 Read More →

HTC One Max announced

HTC One max Glacial Silver 3VFollowing weeks of speculation (what’s new!?) HTC have today announced the HTC One Max. Building upon the successes of the HTC One and HTC One Mini, the One Max provides a larger form-factor as well as introducing to new and unique features as well as HTC Sense 5.5.

Here we have the official press release and full specification but also, don’t forget to check out our HTC One Max unboxing video, HTC One Max Demo Video and HTC One Max photo gallery.

THE HTC ONE® GETS SUPERSIZED WITH THE HTC ONE MAX

 

World’s best smartphone now in 5.9” with new and improved HTC Sense 5.5 ® experience

 

London, October 14, 2013 — HTC, a global leader in mobile innovation and design, today announced the HTC One max, a super-sized smartphone that brings the award-winning design, functionality and performance of the HTC One to fans of larger handsets. A new Fingerprint Scan feature takes convenience to a new level while acclaimed features including HTC BlinkFeed™, HTC Zoe™ and HTC BoomSound™, combined with the new HTC Sense 5.5, which are all enhanced to continue to deliver the best overall smartphone experience, now on a larger screen.

 

“The addition of the HTC One max means that we now have an HTC One phone for everyone. The family has been built on quality and game-changing innovations and the HTC One max is certainly no exception,” said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC Corporation. “The upgrade to HTC Sense 5.5 will provide our most amazing mobile experience yet, with the HTC One max delivering the size and power required to do everything you want, and more, without compromise.”

 

Big and powerful

The HTC One max’s 5.9” full HD1080p display is perfect for enjoying photos, videos and movies on the go. Smooth and efficient performance comes courtesy of a quad-core Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 600 processor featuring a quad-core 1.7 GHz CPU enabling jaw-dropping performance, ultra vivid videos and booming sound. Whether you’re watching videos in stunning HD, playing games or checking out what’s hot online, the HTC One max sounds amazing, looks sharp and keeps working when you need it.

The 16GB or 32GB onboard memory can be expanded thanks to a microSD™ card slot, with a massive 50GB of additional free Google Drive online storage being offered exclusively to HTC One max owners.

The large 3300mAh embedded battery means that this level of performance will last and last. Even the most intensive users will find the HTC One max is up to the challenge thanks to the optional HTC Power Flip Case, a stylish 1150mAh battery expansion for your HTC One max which offers both protection and extra juice when you need it most.

 

Maximum convenience at your fingertips

The average person checks their phone multiple times a day, so the HTC One max welcomes a new era of convenience and advanced functionality thanks to a built-in Fingerprint Scan feature. Located on the back of the device, the fingerprint scanner allows users to lock or unlock the screen and quickly launch up to three favourite applications by assigning an individual finger to each.

 

More content than ever before

The HTC One max’s Sense 5.5 upgrade comes with a more social, personalised HTC BlinkFeed that can be further refined by customisable topic categories and new integration with premium content providers including Instagram and Google+. Up to 120 articles can also be downloaded for offline viewing, making BlinkFeed even better for snacking on information wherever and whenever you are.

 

Ultimate imaging

Featuring HTC’s UltraPixel camera technology, HTC Zoe mode, that brings your photos to life, and a 2.1MP front-facing camera, the HTC One max will capture stunning photos and full HD 1080p videos whether you’re the photographer, the subject or both. Dual Capture means you can now snap memorable moments and your reaction to them in one extraordinary photo or video by simultaneously shooting with the front and rear cameras.

Improved imaging is also introduced through Video Highlights, which combines your photos and videos to create a mini movie complete with the soundtrack and visual theme of your choice. And with the HTC One max, your Video Highlights can now be any length you want.

 

 

Design at its Best

Available in Glacial Silver, the HTC One max shares the same premium design credentials as the rest of the HTC One family, providing an all round exceptional experience.

 

Global Availability
The HTC One max will begin rolling out across the globe from mid – end October.

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