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By Alan, on March 13th, 2012
 Apple, with the introduction of their new iPad, have sent out several messages to their rival that you will never find is any advertising material.
Probably more than any other of todays contemporary companies, Apple generate the biggest buzz, the most scrutiny, and the most envy in their wake.
Every time the latest Apple product rolls off the assembly like, it is put under the biggest magnifying glass ever and is scrutinised with Talmudic intensity, which the crowd of onlookers hoping to find a deeper meaning into the effect this product will have on both the world of computing and mankind.
Whatever Apple put in their advertising, you can bet that there are those who will be reading between the lines, and coming up with their own version.
Wednesday’s activities were casually overseen by Tim Cook, but the guiding spirit was undoubtedly Steve Jobs. In the days and weeks leading up to the debut of the latest iPad, there was great speculation that Apple could be introducing a smaller and cheaper version of its iconic tablet device. Completely ridiculous obviously, and proved to just be more chattering from those who had caught a whiff of the scent of a new Apple device.
When you consider the derision with which the former CEO of Apple treated the 7in tablets from the competition, Cook and his team were never going to go there. After all, if it isn’t broken, why fix it? Jobs bequeathed both a successful business strategy and successful product pipeline, and Apple are clearly going to stick with what they see as working.
The company is currently the most valued in the world, and has sold over 300m iOS devices during 2011. This new iPad, which is an incremental improvement on its last incarnation, is the first product Apple have released since Jobs passed away last October.
It shows that Apple have become a finely tuned machine in both manufacturing and marketing, with a disciplined focus on continuous and most modern innovations and generating profitable revenue. The image lingers of the mesmerising and mercurial Hob pulling rabbits from his hat, but in reality, over the past 15 years, Jobs and his team developed a formula that was finely honed.
Someday, probably when we least expect it, Apple are going to stumble, and the competition will most likely take advantage of this slip up to close the gap. That day, however, is not yet anywhere near the horizon.
The latest iPad features a sharper screen, and has a high resolution 2048×1536 pixel retina display, as well as having a faster wireless connection, quad core graphics and rapid response touch screen. In short, Apple has stretched its lead in the tablet market, once again.
From products to marketing, to retail stores and the business of apps, their competitors are forever searching for ways to bring down Apple, apart from the widely available Android platform from Google. If you are a tablet sachem at Google, Microsoft or Amazon, this is where you excuse yourself, step outside, and rather than scratch your head, smack it off the nearest wall.
With the glaring exception of the hard core fans, there are few who will be pining for the features that were rumoured to be making their way into the new iPad, but have failed to materialise. There was no huge announcement that shocked millions, merely the launch of a great product that is good enough to satisfy the needs of most tablet users, in particular those who crave 4G connectivity and pixels.
By Alan, on March 7th, 2012
 The Raspberry Pi is a computer that has been designed to help educate children and it is very small and comes at a low cost.
The computer has been developed mostly by volunteers from the tech industry, as well as academics, and it has recently gone on sale.
The machine is very basic and does not come with a monitor or keyboard, but it has been praised for its potential ability to encourage young people to get into computer programming.
There is a significant lack of programming skills in the UK and supporters of the computer say that it could help fill the gap in the future.
A representative from the Raspberry Pi Foundation, which have developed the computer, has commented, “This device has been under construction for nearly six years and we are very pleased to finally be able to release the device.
The initial launch of the product has proved so successful that one of our suppliers has actually had their website crash, simply because too many people are trying to buy the computer.”
The launch of the device comes at a very good time as the government are considering changing how computing is being taught in schools. They are considering increasing the emphasis on programming and other important computer skills.
The Education Secretary, Michael Gove has recently mentioned the device stating, “This sort of computer is exactly the sort of thing that the government can see becoming a part of its new computing education initiative. It is going to allow young people to understand the fundamentals of computer skills, such as programming.”
The basic model of the computer is going to cost just £22 but there is an even cheaper model coming on sale later this year, which will retail for £16. The system runs the Linux operating system and it can be attached to any computer monitor. It also has the appropriate ports for attaching a mouse, keyboard, and any other necessary peripheral devices. It is also capable of connecting to the internet through a built-in ethernet port.
The supporters for the device number in their thousands, and it is expected that over the coming months many new applications are going to be developed for the computer. Furthermore, it is expected that this consumer group are going to come up with many different uses for the machine.
There is certainly going to be a lot of buzz around the device when it launches, but it is important to remember that there are other options on the market. In recent years the number of very basic computers has significantly increased and include devices such as the Omnima MiniEMBWiFi and the Beagleboard.
The device has been manufactured in China and the company currently have thousands of them in stock. The creators of the device are not worried about it initially selling, but are more concerned about the impact that it is going to have when it comes to schools.
The production model of the device is slightly unusual as the distributors of the product are also handling the manufacturing. For every model that is sold they pay a royalty fee, rather than having the foundation pay for the manufacturing. Those involved with the project have said that this is a way for them to grow sales in a much faster way than they could otherwise.
By Alan, on March 3rd, 2012
 A recent announcement by the mobile phone operator Vodafone is expected to mark a new movement in the development of smart phones.
Vodafone have entered into a partnership with the payment company Visa and it will allow users to use their smart phones to pay for goods.
The technology is going to work in a similar way to Oyster cards and all a person will have to do is tap their phone against a pad in order to make a payment.
The device utilises Near Field Communication and will only be available for use on smart phones that have this technology. The payment technology is called payWave and it has been developed by Visa. The technology is set to launch in the spring worldwide and it is going to work by users having a prepaid account with Visa.
The technology can be used for purchases under £15 without the use of a pin code, but if the value exceeds this amount then a pin code will have to be entered when the device is swiped. Vittorio Colao is the chief executive of Vodafone and he has commented, “This is exactly what smart phones are about, offering simplicity, convenience and speed to users. We see this as the next revolution for smart phones.”
Visa Europe is headed by Peter Ayliffe who commented, “Visa sees this as a way to transform the way people buy things. This is a real service that is coming to the consumer and should be in the mainstream market very shortly.”
An analyst from Informa Telecoms & Media is Paul Lambert who has said, “The mobile phone providers are facing increased competition and they are looking for ways to make their brand unique from the others on the market. This sort of technology is going to improve the Vodafone brand and is likely to make customers more loyal, that is of course, if the service works well.”
Unfortunately, most smartphones today do not have Near Field Communication technology but despite this Vodafone are still confident that the new technology will take off with customers owning the newest devices.
By Alan, on March 2nd, 2012
 The Mobile World Congress has recently taken place and a wide range of new gaming gadgets have been unveiled by the computer manufacturer Samsung.
The event got underway this week and shows a great many new devices that are going to be released in the mobile telephone market.
Samsung was one of the first companies to show off its gadgets at the show. Many of them were very impressive, but mostly this was because of the software. Currently there is a lot of speculation about the release of the new Galaxy device by Samsung, the Galaxy S III.
It is expected that the new device is going to be able to deliver more powerful gaming on a mobile device. It is expected to ship with a quad core processor and will be running the latest version of Android.
One thing that many people are looking forward to about several of the devices being released at Mobile World Congress, is that they are going to be compatible with online casinos. Samsung’s new device is expected to be one of these.
It is currently rumoured that a speech is going to take place by Apple on 7 March which is going to detail information about the release of the iPad 3. Invitations to this event have been sent out to the leaders in the technology industry. It is expected that Samsung are going to be aggravated by the announcement that the device will be using the Retina Display.
All of the devices on display at the show seemed to indicate that the future of mobile gaming is very bright. Companies are currently competing very intensively to release mobile devices that can meet the ever-increasing demands of the consumer. Once again, mobile gaming is on the rise and shows little sign of declining in the near future.
By Alan, on February 29th, 2012
 Honestech Inc. nScreen opens up a whole new world Honestech Inc., or Honest Technology, the leading developer and marketer of software for Wi-Fi Display Technology, have released the new Honestech nScreen™ Deluxe.
This enables the user to project their PC audio and screen, or even stream any multimedia directly to a display device such as a monitor, projector or TV using a wireless network that is up to 1080p, or HD resolution. Simply connect the nScreenBox™ to your projector or TV using the HDMI cable that is included, or a composite AV cable.
This allows the TV or projector to project what is on your desktop PC or laptop screen via the Wi-Fi connection. Honestech nScreen™ Deluxe can also be used a brilliant presentation tool in business applications, and you won’t have to change PC’s or cables to find ways of transferring presentation files.
Users can also stream multimedia content from portable devices, including iPhone, iPad and Android devices to a TV or projector up to 1080p HD resolution. Free apps are available at Android Market and iTunes.
Honestech nScreen™ Deluxe can render and stream high-definition video (up to 1080p resolution) and audio flawlessly in a home, office or academic environment. You can also project or stream movies, photos, music, presentations or other content playing on your laptop or desktop PC, smartphone, or tablet in real-time. Honestech nScreen™ Deluxe works with Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7 systems. An update that supports Mac OS for streaming and mirroring will be available in March 2012.
Price and Availability:
Honestech nScreen Deluxe is available at £129.99 inc from Amazon.co.uk.
By admin, on February 29th, 2012
 If we think back to the days before smartphones, everybody wanted a Nokia handset. They were easy to use, reliable and even hardwearing. But with this new generation of smartphones – that are essentially computers in your pocket – Nokia has somewhat slipped in popularity.
That’s all set to change though, as Nokia has recently released a new breed of smartphones running either Windows Phone 7 or, the godfather of smartphone operating systems, Symbian. Both of these – one established and the other relatively new – are excellent alternatives to big players such as iOS and Android.
Windows Phone offers the practicality and ease of use of a home PC and is a fantastic alternative to its much more complex brothers. It’s a great choice for an everyday user, with helpful apps, easy web browsing and plenty of functionality.
Similarly, Symbian is also easy to use, and runs in a very similar way to the old Nokia mobiles that we all know and love. But more importantly, Symbian has been running mobile systems since the early 2000s and is therefore a much more tried and tested system compared to Android and iOS.
The functionality and choice of operating systems aren’t the only reasons to choose Nokia for your next smartphone. There are also some great Nokia accessories available to help you get the best out of your handset. Monster, who make some of the best headphones around, have teamed up with Nokia to make exclusive headphones, giving you the best portable audio experience of any smartphone on the market.
Unlike iPhones, Nokia phones work universally with accessories, which means you won’t have to pay through the nose to get yourself products such as Bluetooth headsets or car kits. And with Nokia you also get a much broader range of accessories.
Whilst Android and iPhone currently dominate the smartphone market, the reality is that Nokia has long made the most versatile phones, and still do. Whether you’re after a business phone or a phone for personal use, the Finnish mobile manufacturer
By Alan, on February 27th, 2012
 Amazon now offering Gametel The largest online retailer, Amazon UK are now offering the wireless mobile gaming peripheral Gametel for sale.
This bluetooth controller that transforms both tablets and smartphones into portable games console is retailing for £49.99 and is eligible for Amazon’s free super saver delivery service.
Gametel makes mobile gaming much more fun, and delivers superior gameplay compared to touchscreen controls and opens up a larger viewing area that is free of fingers. Unlike an ordinary touchscreen gaming interface, the console style D pad of Gametel, with its quartet of buttons and 3 shoulder triggers provides instantly responsive physical controls, making immersive and intricate game play so much easier.
Gametel is compatible with all Android smartphones, tablets that run on Android 2.1.1 Eclair or later, iPhones that support iOS 4.0 or later and iPads that run iOS 3.2 or later. As Gametel connects to the devices via bluetooth, it automatically pairs up every time it is switched on.
The controller’s built-in adjustable spring-loaded clamp allows secure docking of any Android handset or iPhone while sturdy soft rubber clasps protect handsets from being scratched or damaged. A nine hour battery life provides more than enough playing time for long journeys and weekly commutes.
Along with a current line-up of 37 compatible games, including the five star No Gravity, Outfoxed, Silverfish, Temple Run, Super Crossfire HD, Inc, Enborn X, Air Attack HD and Terra Noctis, Gametel for iPhone and iPad also supports iCADE’s suite of classic retro games with over 100 titles available to download from the Apple iTunes App Store.
Over 50 compatible games are available to download from the Android market, including popular titles: Cordy; Sleepy Jack; Whale Trail; Asphalt 5 HD; R-Type; Reckless Getaway; Reckless Racing; Samurai II: Vengence; Guns’n’Glory; Space Cat; Wind-Up Knight; Sonic CD and Zenonia. More games are being added every day while a full list of compatible Android and iOS can be found at www.gametel.co.uk.
Bo Nyman, CEO of Fructel, the company behind Gametel says: “Gametel is now selling at the UK’s largest and most recognised online retailer, making it easy for UK customers to buy Gametel and enjoy a superior mobile gaming experience.”
The Gametel also brings mobile gaming to the big screen. With today’s smartphones featuring a built-in HDMI connection, users can hook up the device to a HD TV, pairing up to four controllers for a spot of multi-player gaming in the comfort of the living room
Please visit www.gametel.co.uk for further information. The Gametel retails for £49.99 on Amazon UK.
By Alan, on February 22nd, 2012
 In January, during the Consumer Electronics Show, Motorola’s confirmed that its Motoluxe smartphone would be coming to the UK in February.
The smartphone is not particularly developed in terms of its specifications but it is a very attractive device. The phone is also very affordable and has been targeted towards people who use social applications often.
The phone is very light, weighing in at just shy of 125 grams. It is also just one centimetre thick and despite this it manages to fit in a large and bright four inch screen. Also inside the small case is a camera capable of HD recording as well as taking eight megapixel still shots.
The device is not going to come with the latest Android operating system but it will be able to be upgraded to it when it is released. The software on the device is intelligent and it learns from the actions that you make most frequently. For example, if you contact a certain person often than they will be prioritised in the phonebook. Furthermore the phone is capable of doing this with the photographs you view, as well as the music you listen to.
The phone is also utilising a new user interface by the company called MotoSwitch which lets you know which friends you are interacting with the most and which applications you use most frequently.
The device is running an 800 megahertz processor and comes with half a gigabyte of RAM. It has an expansion slot as well as 3G and Wi-Fi capability. For video calling there is also a front facing camera. The phone is set to be released before the month is out.
By Alan, on February 21st, 2012
 HP Pavilion G6 retails for about £300 and for this price it doesn’t exactly offer anything incredibly exciting, but it does function incredibly well.
The laptop is housed in a sturdy case that is very simple and the computer is generally very well-designed. With such a limited pricetag the performance is, of course, going to be limited but it is not hopelessly underpowered.
If you pay a bit more you are going to get a better machine. If you pay around £550 you are going to be given the new version of the Intel Core i3 processor supplemented by four gigabytes of RAM. This version also comes with a 500 gigabytes hard disk and Windows 7 64-bit. The device also has all of the usual bits of kit such as Wi-Fi, a microphone and even an inbuilt web cam. The performance benchmark was a little bit slower than you might expect from a laptop in this class, but hardly significant.
Considering how much it costs, the device is surprisingly attractive. There is no question it still feels quite cheap but it does have a certain air of style that most laptops in this budget category don’t have. The lid is a grey plastic and unfortunately it bends a little if you put some weight on it.
Inside, the laptop is minimalist as well and there is a simple keyboard and well-designed trackpad. The device weighs about 2.5 kilograms. As for connectivity it has all of the usual ports as well as an HDMI port and a media card reader.
There is a DVD RW drive which is also capable of LightScribe. As you would expect the device has several USB ports and a Kensington lock, it is not, however, utilising the new USB 3.0 technology.
The keyboard is full-size and very comfortable to use, the keys offer good feedback and make typing a pleasant experience. The 15.6 inch screen has a good resolution and the image quality is fine. Unfortunately, unless you are sitting directly in front of the screen you do suffer from poor viewing angles. Overall, a pretty average machine, but for its price it is a good deal.
By admin, on February 19th, 2012
There are a wide range of advantages of having an iPad. iPads are amazing gadgets that have made so many people’s lives a lot easier on a day to day basis for a number of reasons. Obviously, each person will have different reasons why they own an iPad and what they see the advantages of owning their own Apple iPad is. However, if you aren’t too sure whether you’d get enough use out of an iPad, here are just some of the reasons why so many people decide to purchase an iPad:
- Mobility – In general, iPads are much easier to carry around with you than let’s say a laptop. Of course you can bring a laptop with you on the bus or train every morning, but it would be a lot easier to have an iPad rather than a laptop. Firstly, the iPad is much lighter than just about every type of laptop, weighing in at just 0.6kg. If you’re going to be carrying it around all day you’ll barely notice this extra weight in your bag!
- Internet – It’s so much easier to check a few things on the internet on your iPad instead of a laptop or a computer. Take this for an example; you want to check to see if a friend has emailed you (like they promised!). Usually you’d have to set up your computer which would take a couple of minutes, go to your browser, get to Yahoo or whoever you use and log in. On the other hand, if you have an iPad all you have to do is unlock the screen which takes a second or two and tap the “Mail” icon. Quite a bit of difference between the two, right?
- Battery Life – iPads are well-known to have a very good battery life. The battery life that you’ll get out of your iPad depends on what you’re using it for, for example: If you’re watching a movie it would use much more of your battery in comparison to listening to music. But the average person would get around 10 hours or so from their iPad. This means that most people could get around a week without charging their iPad!
- Access to lots of Content – There’s no other device in the world that allows you to have access to as much content as you can get when you own an iPad. Apple has just about everything that a person could want. Whether you want games, books, music, films etc. Apple has got you covered! This means that an Apple iPad is perfect for any family since there are usually people in a family that love watching movies while others might prefer to read a book. Whatever you want to use it for, you can be sure that Apple has provided it for you on the iPad. What’s even better about this is that there is so much free content available to you, so you don’t necessarily have to pay to enjoy all of the good stuff!
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Apple, with the introduction of their new iPad, have sent out several messages to their rival that you will never find is any advertising material.
