Month: February 2016

@vodafone_es announces #4GFI project for MWC16 By @VicenteA_George #4GFI #LTE #MWC16

It looks like yesterday when we were covering  CES2016 and then MCW2016 is just around the corner,

We are expecting to see a lot of things there, but if you thought OEMs were the only ones making announcements you were wrong, as Vodafone has just give us a glimpse on what’s to come with they new tech called 4GFI

Is a really normal thing to suffer connection loss when covering or attending these kind of events (Which is really funny if you ask me)

Thinking about it Vodafone has release today during a press conference their new project called 4GFI which will improve the connection on 2G and 3G phones using an updated 4G hotspot from your phone your house and even your car.

The 4GFI is an autonomous app the will be automatically turn on if just in optimal conditions, without the need of the user intervention or any kind of passwords, using Vodafone networks, so even if you use your phone as hotspot for your other devices or friends your date is going to be safe.

Image courtesy of ADSLZone

 

This will enhance other connection services, so this will be really useful if you or your friends have a 2G or 3G phone, the one with a 4G capable device will provide faster data transfer in 15x on 3G devices and 3000x on 2G ones.

Right here you can see an example on how it would work thanks to our friends at ADSLZone

All this advances and more will be showcase at MWC2016 next week, where we-ll see also Vodafone 5G project aiming to a 1Gbps.

Are you ready for all the incoming tech? What do you think about this 4GFI? Find it useful? Let us know in the comment section below

Source: ADSLZone (Spanish)

Architecture of Radio. See Radio waves with your mobile,now on Android. #Apps #WiFi #Signals

The Architecture of Radio is a data visualization, based on global open datasets of cell tower, Wi-Fi and satellite locations. Based on your GPS location the app shows a 360 degree visualization of signals around you. The dataset includes almost 7 million cell towers, 19 million Wi-Fi routers and hundreds of satellites.

The app launched initially on iOS first last November and is now available to download on Android. I have been always a bit weary of this app and got the chance to test it out and it actually works and is kinda strange with some really cool visualisations to boot and  strange humming noise from your mobile phone but if you are into tech like this,this is an app for you to check out for yourself.To use the app you will need to have the device pointing upward,ie looking at it,it will not work on a flat surface.

 

What is the app about..

Every time we use our phones, tablets or laptops we are entering an invisible world of wireless digital signals. It is a world that we cannot see but that is literally all around us.
The Architecture of Radio is a 360 degree data visualization of what this world might look like. It shows the cell towers, GPS satellites and Wi-Fi routers around you that allow us to live our digital lives. See related articles for the backstory to the app..

Bikey helps you to easily locate your nearest city bike station. #Bikey #Cycling #Apps #Irish

If you are a cyclist here is a new Irish made app which will be one to sport on your iPhone. The app called Bikey is an app that will help you locate bike stations and was the idea of Pete Smith.

The app not only does the above but gives you  information you need including available bikes/parking spaces, route to bike station, distance etc.

The app does not just only work in Ireland either it hosts a number of countries

Supported cities:
* Europe: Berlin, Cork, Dublin, Galway, Limerick, London, Paris,
* US: Boston, Chicago, New York, San Francisco Bay Area, Washington DC
* Canada: Toronto
* Australia: Melbourne  and more to come.

Note

Bikey uses your location to help you find available bikes and available parking spaces. It’s completely private and secure. Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life.

You can follow Bikey on Twitter    And you can download the app below.

Apple launch USB-C Charge Cable Replacement Program #Apple #USBC

Only recently Apple had a wall plug adapter exchange programme,now they are back again with a USB-C Cable replacement programme.

Apple sate

A limited number of Apple USB-C charge cables that were included with MacBook computers through June 2015 may fail due to a design issue. As a result, your MacBook may not charge or only charge intermittently when it’s connected to a power adapter with an affected cable.

Apple will provide a new, redesigned USB-C charge cable, free of charge, to all eligible customers. This program also covers Apple USB-C charge cables that were sold as a standalone accessory.

For MacBook owners who provided a valid mailing address during the product registration process or Apple Online Store purchase, Apple will send you a new cable by the end of February 2016.

All other eligible MacBook owners should use the replacement process below to receive a new USB-C charge cable.

For more info and if you think you have been affected see HERE for the full details

Detect earthquakes with your mobile phone with MyShake. #Earthquakes #Apps

There is an app for almost anything these days and here is one for you to chew on. An app that can apparently detect earthquakes on your mobile phone. In short your mobile becomes  a mobile seismometer,“We’re hoping that we can get enough people to download the app, just run the app in the background on your phone, and it runs silently – it doesn’t suck up your battery power, and then when an earthquake occurs we’ll be able to detect it,” Says Richard Allen

University of California, Berkeley, scientists say  that a phone’s onboard accelerometers can record local shaking any time of the day or night. For now, the app only collects information from the accelerometers, analyzes it and, if it fits the vibrational profile of a quake, relays it and the phone’s GPS coordinates to the Berkeley Seismological Laboratory for analysis.

Test it below for yourself if you like but I doubt we will need it here in Ireland.The app is only on Android now with plans for an iOS version at some stage.   Via

 

 

 

 

 

My First look at the Microsoft Lumia 950 XL unboxing/gallery and more #Microsoft #Lumia950XL

The Microsoft Lumia 950 XL has dropped in and we shall take a look,this is the full package though with a portable keyboard,Arc mouse and Continuum which is the latest interest thus far for Windows Phone fans Hopefully this unit provides some good news as we expect it to be quashed of recent issues. The extras here would not be for everyone considered they do carry laptops with them but I can see its point perhaps not a must for me but I can see the benefits but clutter comes to mind in my workspace should I sport my own laptop on my travels,That said if travelling especially if you are going into the unknown and you have limited access a monitor or PC it would be ideal but the extra luggage factor would be an issue for some I would feel,overall though it works well and is a nice idea and will be welcome for plenty of WinPhans..

The device itself is rather light to hold considered its size but the build quality would play a role here in this,compared to Lumia of past from Nokia I really feel the design and build quality has dropped but that is just my opinion on this matter and its how I feel.Having said that the device is on the big side but feels nice to hold in the hand and easy to use with the one hand in my case. Setting up the device was fine apart from Hello Windows which fails to see my eyes after several attempts but will work on that perhaps in different lighting conditions. The 950 XL does look better than its sister device the 950 from the rear it must be said,perhaps colour has a role to play here which is another thing missing from Lumia of past,those bright colours made a statement but here with just Black and White we are back to the old days again which people once hated.Perhaps being a long time Lumia user and collector I did get sick of the boring Black models I was so used to seeing and when the nice bright colours became available this suited me more so and the devices did get some attention.The only attention and thing that stands out on the 9xx range is the back side of it,from the front it is a bit boring…..

UNBOXING VIDEO

 

The removable back cover and Micro SD expansion is a welcome move,Some prefer this option and some dont,With cloud being pushed across the board and which some users are not sold on for security reasons for example the option is there and will be used alongside cloud storage which myself have not adapted to over storing things on cards. For now the device seems to be working fine with apps opening quicker than expected having seen some reviews but this is down to many factors such as connectivity and of course a fully working device,it does happen that you can get a faulty device and things might not seem all that well,so we will load it up with some more apps and games and see how it performs from there. As for the camera its good as expected and what Windows Phone user have come to expect with all the trimmings and settings inside,but remember the phone is not all about the camera it is about how the device works as a whole,over the years Lumia devices have been to focussed on the camera and what it can do,it does not work like that any more and with an OS that lack apps ( Especially local ones) all these things add up and moving forward with universal apps changes need to happen and happen fast if Windows Phone wants to regain its market share and until then it still might be too late with Microsoft building apps for other platforms which does not bode well with users..

IMAGE GALLERY

Camera
Back View
Right side
Bottom
Inside cover
Battery SD Card
Battery
Camera hump
Packaging
Cables
Keyboard closed
Back of Keyboard
Keyboard port
Keyboard open
Arc Mouse raised
Arc Mouse flat
Top view of Arcmouse
Rear view of Arc mouse
Multiple connections
USB C Port
Continuum dock
1 / 21

I still use Windows Phone as a daily driver along with Android and more ( Yeah it is a pain in the ass carrying 2/3 phones daily) and still find it the best looking OS from a home-screen perspective with the Live tiles that give info on the fly and it just makes your device look ALIVE. Looks are not everything though it is how it performs as a whole and how well the OS is maintained..

So what do I think so far?

Pros 

  • Light for its size
  • Seems fast lets see when loaded up with some more games and apps
  • SD Card and Removable Battery
  • Camera is great

Cons

  • Still way  too expensive.(contract free its still €699)
  • USB Type – C Fest. Though  this is now a process which will take 18 months perhaps to become custom too.
  • Colour choices available aside third party offerings for back covers
  • The app gap,still huge locally
  • Build quality BUT it is not bad but see this.   

 

Samsung said to give free VR headset with pre-order of the Galaxy S7. #Samsung #VR

Samsung is said to be giving free VR headsets with the upcoming Galaxy S7. This is a good move from Samsung and in time for the onslaught of VR headset released that are coming this year. This would put the technology into peoples hands for free and even though they current VR headset can be got now cheap enough this would entice users to try out the technology which is quite cool yet limited with content..

GSM Arena reports…

Samsung is also keen on getting a piece of the growing VR market, and as suggested by Rory O’Neill, Vice President Brand & Product Manager of Samsung Electronics, most of the VR content will be in fact produced by the consumers. That’s why Samsung will be offering a free Gear VR headset with each Galaxy S7 smartphone or at least in the Netherlands.

For now this is a regional offer according to the report and it is something that should be made more available around the world,As is,it is hard to get the current VR headset and there is not much activity with operators even offering the piece with its customers,One network here in Ireland Meteor Mobile do offer the Headset as a bundle or you can buy it outright,this is a step in the right direction and something others should really look into..

VIA

LG announces a case for the LG G5 before the phone is launched. WTF? #LG #MWC2016

The LG G5 is due to arrive or be announced soon but LG have gone kinda backwards here with announcing a case for something that does not exist. This reminds me of something I did years ago. I bought my first DVD before I even had a DVD player. So to an extent I can relate somehow. Anyway this is what the case looks like and can be seen along with the much anticipated G5 at MWC soon.. Even LG have no quams about this themselves by saying

 

“Introducing a Case for a Smartphone That Does Not Officially Exist”

 

The latest LG Quick Cover offers the advantages of previous Quick Covers but with even more features. The touch function, recently introduced on the K10’s Quick Cover View, is now available on the G5 Quick Cover’s semitransparent mesh cover. It enables users to take calls and control alarm settings without opening the case for the ultimate in convenience.

The G5 will also have a feature which was seen before which is called “Always On Display” Again something we have seen years ago from Nokia..Oh dear….. Dont follow Apple LG and try claim/rename others good work because I do like LG devices..

Via LG

Event Countdown & Weather app. Add holidays/sports,events and more. #Apps #AddTheDay #IrishApps

If you need a handy app to keep track of something coming up be it a birthday,sports event,travel events and live weather there is a new app you should try today which has multiple offerings to personalise to your own needs and more,it is a simple app to use, you only need an event title, location and date/time. Adding the webcam widget requires a little bit of work – Find your favourite webcam (it can’t be a live/panning cam, it has to be one of the old school, photo ones) right click on it to get the file name and then add it as the Web Image option when setting up the widget..

Creator of the App  Cormac Maher tells us a bit more.

I’m a UI Designer working for a software company in Dublin, the app came about being as a result of my annual snowboard trips, every year, as winter approached, I would set up three widgets on my homescreen – a countdown widget, a weather widget and a webcam widget, each of these showing information/images from my holiday destination.

So this year I decided to combine all three into one app. Those three features can be all used together on the app and widget, or they can be used individually, so it could be a weather widget, a countdown widget or a webcam widget. It’s not just for holiday countdowns, it can be used for birthdays, anniversaries, sports events, weddings, etc

Event countdown, weather and webcam – app and widget. Use it to count down to your holidays, birthdays, sports events and any other event you can think of.Add home screen widgets to your favourite events. Include the location to show live weather information on the countdown widget, also add webcam images for live views of event location

Watch as your event is counted down in days, hours, minutes, and seconds, and receive an alert when the event happens.Add background photos from your gallery, so you get a slideshow of background images, or use a photo taken with your camera, you can also add your favourite webcam of the location, to see exactly what conditions are like at that time.

Features

* 3X3 Widget
* 2×2 Stack Widget (premium)
* 3×3 Stack Widget (premium)
* 4×3 List View Widget (premium)
* Add 5 events
* Add unlimited events (premium)
* Local weather from event location (optional)
* Use webcam from event location as your event background
* Use photo from your gallery as background, use multiple photos for changing background
* Take photo to use as your event background
* Counts in days, hours, minutes and seconds
* Optional background image animation to give live effect
* Counts up after even commences
* Notification when event commences
* Recurring events supported