Gareth takes a look at the GCell Solar Powered Keyboard Folio against the Nexus 10 and iPad Air, check more solar power information at the Better Tomorrow Solar Atlanta website. Considered as one of the better keyboard solutions for the iPad and suitable Android tablets this folio offers a rechargable battery option alongside a solar cell backup to help keep you productive during your day.
The Bluetooth® wireless keyboard uses solar technology to harvest indoor and outdoor light energy into a rechargeable battery. The convenience offered by the GCell keyboard allows users to type with an iPad from the home, at the office or during the daily commute without need to change batteries or revert to a mains powered charger.
The design has been focused on providing a contemporary, thinner streamlined and lightweight profile, popular with users of wireless keyboards. This ultra-portable keyboard weighs only 235g, is less than 6mm thick and has a lavish silicone-paint finish giving it a silky feel.
Whether they’re serving us drinks on a cruise ship or parking our cars for us, robots are learning new tasks at what feels like an extraordinarily rapid pace. Driving that point home is a new study out of the University of Alberta in Canada that demonstrates the incredible decision-making capabilities of one particular robot.
According to NPR, researchers at the university developed a program that can beat any human opponent at a variant of Texas Hold’em poker. It’s known as Heads-up Limit Texas Hold’em, a version of the game that only features two players and capped betting. Despite being more limited than other variants, the research team still found there are “10 trillion different decision points in the game.” And one of those can apparently be used to win no matter what the other players is doing, which is interesting considering the act of bluffing is crucial to any version of poker.
But lead researcher Michael Bowling said that no matter how good the human player is, the computer will win. It took him and his team many years and the power of some 5,000 computers to figure it all out, with one researcher claiming it took nearly “a thousand years of computation” to reach these results.
Despite this program’s obviously strong skill set when it comes to this poker variant, Bowling said that online players won’t have to worry about it dominating virtual poker rooms. For one, it’s playing a variant that isn’t terribly popular among poker players at large. That being said, Bowling noted that there are indeed bots out there that players should look out for—just not his. For Bowling, it all comes down to improving the robot’s ability to make decisions when facing uncertainty, not clearing out the bank accounts of rival players.
Of course, if they did want to make the robot’s decision-making processing even that much more incredible, the scientists could look to a slew of other poker games to test it out on. According to online platform betfair poker, there are a number of variants out there including one close to what the robot was taught to play. That’s the multi-player Texas Hold’em, perhaps the most popular version of the card game thanks to its boom in the late 1990s and early 2000s. That all being written, these more complicated games could prove exceedingly difficult and likely impossible in terms of programming. Can you imagine the number of variables at play here? Again, this is especially true when noting the very “human” factor of bluffing, a major component to play any form of poker.
For those interested in reading more about this poker-playing robot study, head to the Cepheus Poker Project. With this type of decision-making programming in place, it’ll certainly be interesting to see where other, similar studies can make advancements—and how they can be applied to real-life situations.
Alcatel continue to pick up traction with a new affordable smartwatch, cunningly titled “The WATCH.” Featuring a 1.22”, 262K round screen and a 210mAh battery Alcatel boasts the Watch can work for 2-5 days on a 1 hour charge. Also packing a IP67 rating for water resistance and compatibility with Android 4.3 or above and iOS 7, this looks like a neat little wearable worth looking at.
It looks like a watch and feels like a watch but it’s much smarter than that. ALCATEL ONETOUCH introduces the WATCH, a smartwatch that puts a premium on elegant design at a very accessible price. In launching the WATCH, ALCATEL ONETOUCH is not content just to make the latest connected technology available to the greatest number of consumers. Offering the WATCH at a fraction of the cost of competitors, the smartphone brand has implemented its design expertise to offer a series of fine finishes that meet the demands of those looking for the same look and feel as a traditional watch.
“It’s called a wearable, so we wanted to make something that would be a pleasure to wear,” said ALCATEL ONETOUCH’s Chief Marketing Officer Dan Dery. “The watch face and the band are slim, like a regular watch, but it has the multi-functionality of a smartwatch.”
Available in several styles — sporty dark red/volcano black, feminine all-white, classic chrome/dark gray and elegant metal-white — the ALCATEL ONETOUCH WATCH employs materials such as brushed chrome, micro-textured resin bands and white stainless steel. This choice of finishes assures that it will appeal to both men and women, demonstrating ALCATEL ONETOUCH’s dedication to bringing to the market products that fulfill everyone’s needs.
While offering choice and style, the WATCH also offers multiple fitness functions and connects to Android and iOS smartphones via Bluetooth.
Monitors User Activity
The WATCH is packed with sensors: the heart-rate monitor is embedded discretely on the underside of the watch face; there’s also an accelerometer, gyroscope, altimeter and e-compass.
The WATCH also allows users to track their sleep cycle, distance covered, steps taken and calories burned. To monitor their fitness goals, users can access the activity overview that the WATCH offers. You can track your first yoga as a practice session with this.
Multimedia Remote Control and Phone Notifications
When the smartwatch is connected to a smartphone, it sends users call notifications; social media updates and vibrates if users stray too far from their phones.
Touching the WATCH’s screen activates a multimedia remote control. Users can control music, take pictures from their phone from a distance or make their phone ring in order to locate it.
Simplicity of Use Is Built In
The WATCH is compatible with a number of ALCATEL ONETOUCH smartphones in the HERO, IDOL and POP series, as well as with any phone running on Android 4.3 or above and on iOS 7 or above. It is dust and water-resistant, with a long battery life.
Speaking of the battery, the WATCH has a clever USB charger integrated into its band for simplicity of use. With beauty and functionality integrated into one device, ALCATEL ONETOUCH offers a smartwatch at a smart price, fulfilling its mission of making the latest technology available to all.
HTC, a global leader in mobile innovation and design, today announced live streaming from its new RE™ camera to YouTube. Now consumers can easily share the moment by connecting a RE camera to their YouTube channel and sending a live broadcast link to viewers around the world and do some real cellular bonding with friends family and fans.
Available for Android™ devices beginning tomorrow, Jan. 9, through a free update to the RE app in the Google Play™ store, the new live streaming feature allows RE users to not only capture great video with ease, but also to share special moments and favourite events with those who can’t be there. Friends across the world or traveling family members won’t miss any live action. The free update will also be available for iOS later in Q1 2015.
The RE camera’s wide-angle capture and small form ensure that both you and your RE won’t miss anything. With storage via a microSD™ card in addition to backup to your smartphone and the cloud, RE is always ready to capture your precious memories.
The live streaming feature is a simple-to-use and handy add-on to get the most out of video capture, making it easy to broadcast a piano recital, snorkeling adventure, puppy cam and more. With the RE app, sign in to your YouTube channel and activate live streaming, to learn about more streaming options, visit this go live webcasting website. Once verified, broadcasting from your RE is a snap. Any live footage you wish to share is transmitted directly from RE to your smartphone, which then sends your broadcast to your YouTube channel. Invite people to view the event by sending your broadcast link to tune in via SMS or social networks. Even if they can’t watch it live, the link will continue to be active, even after the broadcast ends.
Viewers do not need a YouTube channel to view broadcasts, and live streams can be broadcast in public mode, which makes videos available to anyone who has the link or discovers it on YouTube, or in private mode, which limits the broadcast to only those you share it with.
Availability
The updated software for the RE application will be available beginning tomorrow, Jan. 9, in the Google Play store and is coming to the Apple App Store™ later in Q1 2015.
The HTC RE is now available at EE, Three and selected consumer electronics retail partners.
When used according to guidelines, the RE is rated for use in up to one meter of water for up to 30 minutes. For further information on availability, features, functionality and accessories, visit www.REcamera.com
With CES news in full wing Sony have announced a new look, sleek stainless steel SmartWatch 3 to roll out in February 2015. In addition we are to see the introduction of a prototype concept, an all-in-one headset-style device with sensors optimised for running called the Smart B-Trainer.
At CES 2015 Sony introduced new products, partners and experiences to its evolving SmartWear range – a sleek stainless steel edition of SmartWatch 3, new Lifelog collaborations, and concept wearable devices, including a multi-sensor, waterproof headset prototype, from Sony Corporation, designed for optimising performance and providing real time insight on the running track.
“Our approach to smart, wearable technology is based on the fundamentals of building depth and variety in user experiences, and providing choice with beautiful, functional products,” said Kaz Tajima, Senior Vice President, Head of UX Creative Design and Planning at Sony Mobile Communications. “The expansion of Lifelog – both in terms of its open API and our vision for new wearable concepts – will allow creative partners to integrate their apps and services to our platform – giving our users access to the richest, most varied wearable ecosystem.”
Designing for modular technology, with SmartBand SWR10
At CES last year, Sony first showcased SmartBand SWR10 – a 24/7 wearable device; fully waterproof1 (rated IP58) despite its exposed microUSB port. A light, unobtrusive wearable that first featured Sony’s modular approach – the independent “core concept” – it allowed the technology to be worn in different colours and styles, to suit individual taste and personality.
Over the past year, Sony Mobile has worked with creatives and brands from across the lifestyle, fashion, and design spectrum to explore custom apparel, establishing collections for Sony SmartWear from the likes of Jack Vartanian, ALTEWAISOME, and Ted Baker – and most recently, the popular women’s lifestyle brand, ROXY.
An elegant creative approach – SmartWatch 3, now in stainless steel
After launching in partnership this past Autumn with Google, SmartWatch 3 is Sony’s latest generation “SmartWatch”.
Sony unveiled the new stainless steel edition of SmartWatch 3, rolling out globally from next month.
SmartWatch 3 in beautiful stainless steel matches contemporary with timeless aestheticism for a premium look and feel. It features a 1.6” 320×320 TFT LCD Transflective display for visibility in bright sunlight, and is of course water protected2, rated IP68 – it charges via a standard microUSB port.
To further broaden the range of wearing styles available, Sony also unveiled a new SmartWatch 3 holder, allowing users and partners alike to customise SmartWatch 3 with any standard 24mm watch strap; available from the early part of 2015.
Even without your Android smartphone, SmartWatch 3 is a fun and useful accessory with impressive standalone functionality – featuring native music playback, intelligent sensor technology and a unique inbuilt GPS sensor.
Golfshot and iFit are two developers already creating Android Wear experiences with SmartWatch 3’s standalone capability, for both performance on the course and track respectively – from January, every SmartWatch 3 user will have exclusive access to the premium Golfshot and iFit apps out of the box3.
Sony also announced a new collaboration with Virgin Atlantic – to explore SmartWear initiatives together, to develop unique solutions using Sony’s SmartWear products to support operational activities and enhance the customer service experience for Virgin Atlantic customers. More news will follow over the coming months.
Lifelog – inspiration through insight, for any Android user
Downloadable from the Google Play Store, Lifelog is the popular Android app built to help you set personal goals, monitor progress, get to know yourself better and make smarter choices about your health, entertainment, and more.
A new web interface, lifelog.sonymobile.com, is launching during CES 2015. It uses open API functionality and latest HTML5 technologies, for a more visual experience. The site will work with any screen size, from your smartphone to your tablet to your TV – all you’ll have to do is log in using your Sony Entertainment Network4 account.
The new feature reflects Sony’s strategy to regularly bring new functionality and features to Lifelog, to keep the experiences as current as they possibly can be.
Creating new experiences, with open principles
Sony is teaming up with a variety of lifestyle and health apps, so you can get the most out of the services you already love and discover new ones, to complement your SmartWear and Lifelog experience. Starting soon, Lifelog will enable you to:
- Access IFTTT recipes for intuitive connections between Lifelog and your favourite apps
- Develop healthy habits with Habit Monster, so you can learn more about yourself within Lifelog
- Use Withingsconnected health devices to integrate your weight and BMI into Lifelog to see how you sleep, eat and move
“Lifelog is inspiration through insight, and our first partners are helping us bring this to life in new ways” said Yasuharu Nomura, Director of Experience Planning at Sony Mobile Communications. “We specifically designed the Lifelog platform on open principles, with capability that will help developers to build new experiences and access the Sony ecosystem like never before – it’s going to be an exciting year ahead.”
Exploring new wearable concepts and contextual sensor technology
Off the back of launching the software development kit, Sony Corporation is also sharing new applications for current prototype, SmartEyeglass Developer Edition, along with a new conceptual style, SmartEyeglass Attach! – a single lens display module for attaching to regular glasses, allowing developers to create applications for sport and performance.
Sony Corporation’s Smart B-Trainer prototype was also introduced – a waterproof all-in-one headset style device with multi-sensor capability specifically designed for runners. The current prototype features inbuilt memory – and will provide voice coaching, as well as music playback, intelligently suggesting the most suitable soundtrack to accompany a runner during a workout.
Follow @SonyMobileNews and #SonyCESfor all the latest news, views and information.
HTC COMBINES AMAZING VALUE AND ALL-ROUND PERFORMANCE WITH THE HTC DESIRE 320
HTC packs all the smartphone essentials into one entry-level phone, with super-fast processing power, HTC BlinkFeed and Video Highlights
LONDON, 5th JANUARY – HTC Corporation (“HTC”), a global leader in mobile innovation and design, has today announced the HTC Desire 320. As the successor to the HTC Desire 310, it is packed with all your everyday essentials and delivers a smooth browsing experience, seamless multi-tasking and the ability to create quick, personalised videos. The latest addition to the HTC Desire family has been designed for the entry-level market and delivers a quality user experience in an affordable handset, offering real value for money.
“Marrying super-fast processing with premium HTC features in a compact form, the HTC Desire 320 delivers a quality experience for the budget conscious well beyond its entry-level model status” said Peter Frølund, UK and Nordics General Manager, HTC. “Following on from the success of the HTC Desire 310, it boasts enhanced power and memory to enable more people to benefit from a quality smartphone experience that delivers the perfect balance between smart essentials and value.”
Seamless experience
Behind the slick operation of the HTC Desire 320, which runs on Android™ 4.4, is a fast Quad-core 1.3 GHz quad-core processor capable of handling an array of tasks, from watching videos, playing the latest games to juggling your favourite apps, delivering a smooth experience every time.
Packed with features
For an entry-level handset, the HTC Desire 320 is packed with features. Whatever your pace of life, the 5MP camera ensures you’re able to capture every key moment as it happens, in still or video format, brought to life on its stunning 4.5” screen. Furthermore, the HTC Desire 320 allows you to get creative with mini movies using HTC’s Video Highlights functionality. Simply take your favourite photos and videos, select a sequence and a favourite track, to create an impressive show reel in seconds, ready to share with friends and family.
The HTC Desire 320 also brings you the renowned HTC BlinkFeed for up to the minute news, perfect for those who like to stay connected and keep up with the latest action as it happens. Combining content from your favourite news and social media sites into an easily digestible feed on your home screen, personalised updates are brought straight to you at a glance. Wherever you are, you can catch-up on the latest articles with Offline Reading mode. Simply download and add articles to your reading list when connected to Wi-Fi to access and enjoy at a later date, perfect for those who enjoy reading on the move.
Availability
The HTC Desire 320 comes in Vanilla White and Dark Gray. UK availability will be announced in the near future.
Inateck have provided me with a Bluetooth Audio Receiver to have a play with. This portable Bluetooth streaming device allows you to connect a device without Bluetooth and stream your music and podcasts. Very handy for in the car, or so I thought. Whilst this device is a lot cheaper than others of it’s type at £14 you need to have a car that incorporates an auxiliary connector on the stereo. Many cars do, however both of mine do not (or at least require a £40 modification to install one.)
The unit itself is light, quick to set up and looks quite pretty, considering the price. Given that you could up to £80 for a similar unit Inateck’s variant sits at an attractive price point. Once I decide if I am changing my car for one with an AUX, or perhaps just go with the modification I will add a video showing the operation.
To celebrate the new Viera TV range, Panasonic’s offering one lucky reader a Blu-ray DVD player worth £90, so they can enjoy watching high quality films at home.
Panasonic Viera TVs, which I got to see in IFA, Berlin, as part of the Viera VIP Club, produce stunning images and are packed with ‘beyond smart’ technology, allowing you to make your TV your own.
All Viera TVs from the AS650 and up let you catch up on shows when you want with inbuilt Freeview, and you can watch them anywhere on a mobile device with ‘TV Anywhere’. Plus, there’s the super smart ‘my Stream’ which recommends content to match your preferences easily via an intuitive interface. ‘My Home Screen’ also lets you customise your very own screen with social media, widgets and sites that you like, plus there’s a voice control mode and much more.
As usual we are going to make this very easy for you.
To enter, all you have to do is follow tracyandmatt on Twitter and retweet the following tweet: “RT I want to win a new Panasonic Blu-ray player from @tracyandmatt and @PanasonicUK – See how you can enter too: http://bit.ly/1wi5oyq” You can also click the retweet link below to save you copying and pasting the phrase. Your twitter name will be entered in to the draw.
Your twitter name will be entered in to the draw. You’ll have to keep following us as we’ll notify winners via DM.
Entry is open until midnight on the 31st December 2014 and the winner will be picked on the 3rd January. Will that be a lucky day for you?
We’ll contact the winner via twitter so make sure that you are still following us!
Good luck.
To find out more about the Panasonic Viera TV range, visit http://viera.panasonic.co.uk/
Samsung’s virtual reality headset, the Gear VR, is now available for purchase. You can pick it up for roughly £160 without a gamepad or £190 with. Alone side the release of this new virtual reality device, comes a list of games that are available for its launch.
In total 11 games will be available for download when you get your new Gear VR headout set. Using the marketplace from the Oculus Rift right now and they are all free!
Here is the list of games you can expect to see:
- Anshar Wars
- Bombsquad
- Darknet
- Dreadhalls
- Esper
- Herobound
- Ikarus
- Minotaur Rescue VR
- Proton Pulse
- Romans from Mars
- Viral
Of course these are just the games and doesn’t include applications that will also be available for use with the Gear VR as yet. With this device becoming available and a rather attractive price point you can expect more games and applications to hit the Oculus Rift marketplace quite quickly.
No matter how careful you are, at some point many of us end up dropping their mobile phone. Sometimes you get lucky and end up with just a little scratch but other times the damage can be a little more catastrophic. Generally your choices are to get a new iPhone or to get the iPhone repaired at iPhone Repair Bridgewater Mall. The former can be rather costly and the repair route typically involves sending the phone away for a week or so.
If you reply upon a mobile phone for your business then being without it for any amount of time may be less than ideal. That’s where the relatively new service from iMend can come in very handy.
iMend provides a phone repair call out service. Simply put, they come to you and fix your phone and they can often do that same-day. iMend can deal with a variety of common phone issues from cracked screens to faulty buttons, water damage, battery replacement and more. Currently they can deal with all iPhone models, iPad’s and Samsung Galaxy phones. They are also adding more devices soon.
My colleague, Simon, was unfortunate enough to break his phone a few weeks ago. Having dropped it climbing out of the car the screen shattered to the point that several bits of the glass fell off! Remarkably the phone and the touchscreen still worked, just, but the phone clearly needed to be sorted out. The issue for Simon was that his mobile phone is critical to his business so the idea of sending it away for repair was unthinkable. He was on the verge of buying a new phone when I told him about iMend.
We called iMend and spoke to them about the problem. They said they could get an engineer out to us the same day but we opted to have the repair carried out the following day. We were given a time window of between 10AM and 11AM and sure enough, at a few minutes past 10 there was a knock at the door.
In walked a very nice young man, Vil, with a couple of briefcases full of tools and parts. We gave him a small work area to carry out the repair and he confidently said that the repair would take less than 30 minutes. Part way through the repair, Vil noticed that the power button wasn’t working properly. A fact that Simon was aware of; the button hadn’t been working for a few months. Vil asked at that point if we would like him to swap the button at the same time. This seemed like a good idea so we agreed.
After about 45 minutes, it took little longer because of changing the power button, Vil declared that the phone was fully fixed. Sure enough Simon’s iPhone 5 looked brand new and even had a nice screen protector stuck on too. A nice touch!
All in all, the service from iMend was amazing. Punctual arrival on the date and time promised and at a time and location that suited us. The quality of the work was second to none and even comes with a 12 month warranty.
The cost to replace the screen on the iPhone 5 was £59 which is comparable to many of the send-away services available but the convenience is invaluable. I would absolutely recommend iMend to anyone in need of a smartphone repair.
Please visit the iMend website for a full list of phones covered and their repair price list.
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