Android has long been used on smartphones and tablets but what about home, fixed-line phones? Here we have the Panasonic PRX-120, a home phone system where the handset is running Android 4.1.
It’s perhaps a little surprising that there aren’t more phone systems that run on Android. With the PRX-120 we have a base unit that plugs in to your phone line and a Android handset that looks like a standard smartphone from about 2 years ago.
One of the benefits of this phone, other than being able to run standard android apps, is that you can receive your fixed-line phone calls as well as being able to use Skype over WiFi from the same phone.
In almost every other way the PRX120 is just like a regular smartphone and while it may not have cutting edge specs relative to an equivalent smartphone, it can perform most functions, although I’m not sure how useful the GPS will be unless you have a REALLY big house!
Here’s a quick unboxing of the Panasonic PRX-120 so that you can see what it’s all about.
This month I started my Samsung 46″ F7000 Series 7 review. It has been a while since we last had a TV here to review in the office and a lot has changed since then. Prices have plummeted while screen sizes have increased and the thickness of display panels has dramatically reduced.
Much of this is thanks to LED back lighting technology and no one seems to be using this technology quite as much as Samsung and their range of LED HD TV’s is huge.
The Samsung F8000 is the top end of the Samsung range and has a price tag to match. However, many of the top-end features from the F8000 range can now be found on the 2013 F7000 models. Features such as build-in camera, voice and motion control, micro dimming and a touchpad controller are all added to the F7000 range yet it’s still able to come in at several hundred pounds cheaper than the F8000’s
We are looking at the 46″ version but the range offers sizes from 40 to 60 inches and, at the moment, the 46″ can be found on Amazon for just under £1100.
You do get a lot of hardware for your money there too. This smart TV comes with built in WiFi, integrated webcam, motion and voice control features, 2 bundled 3D glasses and two remote control units.
Android 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.
Earlier this year, following the official launch of BlackBerry 10, there was a lot of speculation that BlackBerry would release another version of their relatively unpopular and many news stories of the coming PlayBook 2 were in circulation. Many of these were very definite with the news and stated that Q2 2013 would see BlackBerry release their second tablet.
Obviously a lot has happened to BlackBerry since February this year including a name change from RIM, numerous possible sales, a less than smooth launch of BBM on iOS and Android, and now another interim CEO.
However, in the last 48 hours, rumours that the PlayBook 2 project has been brought back to life have started to hit the headlines again.
Following a $1bn investment agreement with Fairfax Financial, John Chen was appointed new interim CEO of BlackBerry. Chen insists that it’s not over yet for BlackBerry’s hardware division. A statement that has led many to jump to the PlayBook 2 conclusion.
At this point in time there’s really nothing at all to substantiate the rumours and until we start to see anything more concrete than a ‘maybe they will’ I for one will certainly consider this to be nothing more than vapour-ware or maybe hope-ware.
HIS – 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.
GiffGaff, 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:
- Members don’t need to buy a goodybag with their phone.
- You can pay for your phone upfront or monthly.
- You can split your monthly payments from 6 to 24 months.
- You can change or cancel your goodybag at anytime (as usual)
- You can change your monthly phone payments at anytime.
- 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.
Gareth 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
No, 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.
There has been a lot of questions and discussion about the camera on the Google Nexus 5 and opinions seem to be polarised.
Questions such as “How bad can the Nexus 5 camera be?” and asking us to rate it against the HTC one have been common on our YouTube channel.
What we have here is a series of photos taken with both the HTC One and the Google Nexus 5 so that you can make up your own mind. Looking at them myself, I think there are images that are good and bad in both sets.
Just to recap, the HTC One has a 4MP Ultrapixel camera with F/2.0 Aperture and optical image stabilizer (OIS). whereas the Nexus 5 has an 8MP camera with F/2.5 Aperture and optical image stabilizer (OIS). The HTC also has a dedicated image processing chip whereas the Nexus 5 does not.
The shots you see below are straight from the device with no manipulation or editing on either the phone or PC.
As much as possible I have taken the photos standing in exactly the same location so where you see a difference in the framing this is largely down to the field of view of each camera being different. I’ve set the scene modes to normal on both phones and used auto modes.
In the two columns below you can find the Nexus 5 on the left and the HTC One on the right. Click each for a larger version.
Tonight, 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.
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.
Connect
Connect with us on the following social media platforms.