Jim O Brien/CEO - techbuzzireland.com

Nokia and Samsung join forces to bring HERE maps to Android.#HERE #Maps

If you have not used HERE maps and stick to Google maps you do not know what you are missing,as a user of both i find them both great to be honest but HERE has the edge,often i would try out the both services and compare them and HERE offers a smooth experience for users and of course off-line as you can save your maps data to your device.

HERE for Android is a free app with fresh maps that truly keeps working even without an Internet connection: your location will be still found via GPS, and browsing the map, searching for places and offline navigation will also keep working, even if you’re not connected.

Forget cumbersome caching of small areas and enjoy the possibility of downloading entire countries or regions.

Can’t search for places or plan routes with your other map when Internet coverage is spotty or unavailable? No worries, HERE has you covered with full map functionality available offline, like when you’re underground or in rural areas.

Keeping your maps stored on your device also means that they are super fast. Because they’re instantly available, you can pan them, rotate them and zoom in and out without any lag. HERE will be the maps app you can always rely on.

When you search for a place with HERE, you’ll have the option to drive, walk or take public transport to get there. You can adjust options to get the best route according to your taste. If you want to take a car, for instance, you can exclude toll roads and you get up to 3 different route alternatives.

You can read the full announcement HERE Pun Intended.

Nokia XL now available from Expansys.ie #Android #Nokia #Ireland

The Nokia X series made a shocking entry into the mobile market last year surprising many and also confusing people too..

The X series was for emerging markets and has seemed to stay that way and not much traction has been made of the device been made further available across the globe however anyone that has them here has imported them or picked one up from holiday for example,we imported our Nokia X last year as Ireland is also out of bounds for the X series.

Earlier in the year Microsoft also said the X series would be shelved yet another model the X2 was announced so the shelf life is not looking too good.The X series was designed to entice users moving from dumbphones to smartphones and to get a flavour of the Windows ecosystem whilst the phone was running with AOSP. Effectively the X range was a stepping stone to windows phone in their eyes anyway.

Albeit the Nokia X range is nice i cant see how that people would buy a phone with android thats skinned which offered no play store access out of box,today if people want an Android they buy a full Android not skinned,similar to amazons fire phone i just don’t see the point of offering this platform to build something on its a really niche market and a dwindling one at that.

Onto the details from expansys,a hefty price compared to what is available now and in competition but this device will tickle some peoples fancy.

Priced as is for me its too high,considered this version will not get the newer X2s update either this has annoyed many people that have invested in the previous models.

It would be a great back up device though and if you fancy something different and want to try new things the smartphone market is a strange place and as they say don’t knock something until you try it.

Source

#Microsoft clears out 1500 fake apps from the #WindowsPhone store.

In todays world there several apps stores available to us all to either download apps for free or pay also some for trial.

The trouble is today that there is too many fake apps,not enough checks made and bad apps can hit all stores,been a user of both the Play Store and the Windows Store there is a noticeable amount of apps that appear multiple times and those none the wiser can just click any one of the big named apps and not realise if its in fact the real deal,always check the publisher and look at more than just the photo and reviews.

Here is what Microsoft said today on what is happening users will be pleased.

As Windows Store expands to reach more customers in more markets with a growing list of great titles, we are continuously looking for ways to improve both customer experience and developer opportunity. We strive to give our worldwide customer base easy access to amazing app experiences while keeping developer friction to a minimum. From time-to-time this process slips out of sync and we need to recalibrate.

Every app store finds its own balance between app quality and choice, which in turn opens the door to people trying to game the system with misleading titles or descriptions. Our approach has long been to create and enforce strong but transparent policies to govern our certification and store experience. Earlier this year we heard loud and clear that people were finding it more difficult to find the apps they were searching for; often having to sort through lists of apps with confusing or misleading titles. We took the feedback seriously and modified the Windows Store app certification requirements as a first step toward better ensuring that apps are named and described in a way that doesn’t misrepresent their purpose. These changes included:

Naming – to clearly and accurately reflect the functionality of the app.
Categories – to ensure apps are categorized according to the app function and purpose.
Icons – must be differentiated to avoid being mistaken with others.

These revised policies are being applied to all new app submissions and existing app updates for both the Windows and Windows Phone Store. We’ve also been working on titles already in the catalog, conducting a review of Windows Store to identify titles that do not comply with our modified certification requirements. This process is continuing as we work to be as thorough and transparent as possible in our review. Most of the developers behind apps that are found to violate our policies have good intentions and agree to make the necessary changes when notified. Others have been less receptive, causing us to remove more than 1,500 apps as part of this review so far (as always we will gladly refund the cost of an app that is downloaded as a result of an erroneous title or description).

The Store review is ongoing and we recognize that we have more work to do, but we’re on it. We’re applying additional resources to speed up the review process and identify more problem apps faster. No approach is perfect, so we encourage people to report any issues they may encounter with Windows Store. For most issues, customers can use the “report concern to Microsoft” link in the Store. For infringements concerns, people can use our online tools or emailreportapp@microsoft.com directly.

We remain as committed as ever to delivering a great customer experience AND expanding the developer opportunity through fair and transparent policies

So hopefully now going forward we will see less junk and more real apps,especially locally here in Ireland where the app gap need addressing.

Source

Noreve case now available for #OnePlusOne owners. #Noreve #Cases.#JimbosTechNews

Noreve are a top quality case maker who we have been dealing with for sometime now and we are delighted to say that they have announced a line for the One Plus One today..Not only that we have a custom one been made as we speak.We received the great news today and its a great addition to the big line up from Noreve.

Noreve have always had a great quality about them alongside the way the packages are presented..

– Elegant case conceived in top quality handcrafted leather
– Hand-crafted manufacturing quality
– Practical thanks to its magnetic closure
– Slim and padded design
– Protects the device in an optimal manner
– All sides protective case
– Access to basic functions (multiple openings on the leather)
– Camera lens & flash access
– Two business or credit card slots
– Headphones and headset jack access
– Charging and synchronization cable access
– Beautiful interior lining embossed with the Noreve logo
– Leather stand on the back for horizontal use

Check out the all new case at Noreve and stay tuned for a full review soon when our case arrives.

You can also check out our reviews of the other cases we have received.

HTC 816 LUMIA 1320 LUMIA 1520 HTC ONE M8 NOKIA LUMIA 630/35

Nokia #MD-12 Bluetooth Speaker vs #ColoudBANG speaker.Sound Test and review.

We have had the MD-12 some time now and also the all new coloud BANG speaker and many people asked about the two of them and how they compared with sound.

First off two things to note,the MD-12 will cost around around €60 and the Coloud BANG is set to cost and nice €19 we have yet to see any in stores here in Ireland yet but those who recently bought the Lumia 930 would have got the MD-12 alongside the DC-50 wireless charger with the deals that operators had on offer last month.

First up the MD-12

Below is a video on how to connect the MD-12 to your NFC enabled device and we can listen to some sound.

Packaging.

The MD-12 comes packed in familiar packaging similar to other products from Nokia with the unit completely visible.

What does the MD-12 give you and what are the specs.

Wire-free efficiency

Be wire-free with Bluetooth and NFC. And combined with a long-lasting, rechargeable battery, keep the music pumping all night long on a single charge.
Boosted battery life

With the long-lasting rechargeable battery, spend more time enjoying and less time charging.

Small speakers, portable or not, often miss the clout, especially in the bass department.

That’s about to change with the Nokia Bluetooth Minispeaker. With a built-in vibrating actuator located on the base, low frequencies (read: heavy bass) are created when placed on most surfaces, especially hard ones, delivering a surprising amount of bass for such a compact speaker- in fact, it’s rather fun experimenting with different surfaces.

This pocket-sized powerhouse can fill a room with sound and, when its rechargeable battery is fully juiced, offers 15 hours of playback, enough for your regular party. Well, the parties we go to, anyway.

While the speaker is obviously a travelling music-fan’s dream, it also doubles up as the perfect speakerphone so you can work on the go.

Pairing your phone with the mini speaker is simple; just tap your NFC-enabled device on the speaker to instantly pair. Alternatively, connect via Bluetooth. With the new Nokia Device Hub app, you can easily manage your speaker and other connected accessories easier than ever, and fun. It provides app recommendations for your accessories and even lets you see where you used them last time, in case you misplaced it.

If your phone lacks either wireless technology, don’t sweat, just use the audio-out connector and lead that comes in the box.

Costing around 60 euros and continuing Nokia’s bright new colour language for 2014, the Nokia Bluetooth Minispeaker comes in the same distinctive colours of yellow, green, orange and white.

Maximum music playback time: 15h
Maximum output: 95dB at 0.5 m
NFC: Pairing
Bluetooth: Bluetooth 3.0 + HS
Rechargeable battery: Yes

Audio
- Maximum output: 95 dB at 0.5 m
Connectivity
- AV connectors: 3.5 mm audio connector
- Charging connectors: Micro-USB
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth 3.0 + HS
- Bluetooth profiles: Headset profile (HSP) 1.2, Hands-free profile (HFP) 1.6
- BT operating range: 10 m
- NFC: Pairing
Power
- Battery technology: Li-Ion
- Battery capacity: 1020 mAh
- Battery voltage: 3.7 V
- Removable battery: No
- Rechargeable battery: Yes
- Maximum charging time: 180 min
Usage
- Maximum music playback time: 15 h
- Operating temperature: -5 – +40 C
User Interface
- UI features: Battery level indicator, Tones, Charging indicator
- Operating keys: Power on/off key
- LED indicators: Battery level indicator, Power on indicator
Dimensions
- Height: 38 mm
- Diameter: 84 mm
- Weight: 180 g
Environmental features
- Materials: Free of PVC, Free of BFR, rFR as in Nokia Substance List
- Recycling: 100% recoverable as materials and energy
- User guide: Small printed guide, full on nokia.com, One colour printing
- Packaging: Packaging is 100 % recyclable

Overall the MD-12 is great it can handle the music,but at certain levels it did sound tinny and distorted at times,it does move around depending on the music even though it has a rubberised underside it can still move,this is to be expected,with the magnetised underside its hand to stick in places where you have the option to use it,again similar instances of movement were seen but not so much as on a flat surface such as a table.It offers great sound overall and is a great accessory to have if you have not picked one up,it does seem pricey though and it may not suit some overall im happy with it and how it performed.

NokiaNewsIreland rating 4/5.

The all new Coloud BANG.

This is the latest offering from Coloud,and once again thanks to Mix Radio for hooking us up with these new speakers set to cost a very impressive 19 euros(approx) when they eventually hit the shops in Ireland which i hope is soon..

Last year we also had the privilege to be the first to test the latest headphones from Coloud which was the Knock,Pop and Boom

These speakers came much larger than anticipated when they were first announced,they looked nice seemed solid robust and nice colours to match the current Nokia Lumia series which both look well together they compliment each other well and can be used with any device that supports 3.5 mm jacks,we tried these on several phones and they worked,such as the Xperia Z2,HTC ONE M8 and the One Plus One.

Pictured above and below is the Lumia 530 which is also Orange in colour and they certainly complement each other well indeed and they look great .

Sound test and tour of the Coloud BANG.

These speakers are certainly value for money and the sound was impressive i am no sound engineer but to distinguish the difference fairly is hard against the MD-12 both had great quality sound and again depending on the music you are playing there was some variables with sound which one handled it better over the other as to volume and loudness,volume would be really the key factor in both being honest when we noticed sound variance.

Paired together there is no doubt that the Coloud Bang gave some punch,these can be daisy chained together so you can add a few together and get some really impressive sound,sadly we only had 2 units but we would of liked to see the effect with 4 or 5 together and see the overall impact,judging from the 2 we had i would say the music experience would be great.

The Coloud BANG is a solid speaker and not too big it can easily fit in pocket or bag there is no sharp edges on them so it would not dig into you so to speak if carrying in trouser pocket for example.

What do i get with the Coloud BANG and what are the specs.

Dimensions

Width: 75 mm
Height: 51 mm
Weight: 96 g
Cable length: 17 cm

Audio

Frequency response: 200 – 15 000 Hz
Maximum output: 94 dB at 0.5 m
Speaker drivers: 40 mm high performance

Connectivity

AV connectors: 3.5 mm stereo headphone connector
Charging connectors: Micro-USB

Power

Rechargeable battery: Yes
Maximum music playback time: 8 h

They come in Three colours Orange,Black and Green.

Sound Comparison test with the Nokia MD-12 and Coloud BANG

Overall result the BANG is exactly that, You get some BANG for your bucks the sound is great,they are small,portable,durable look great and a cost effective solution to bring your music with you in a more convenient conventional way .Only thing i would say the cable that comes with the speaker (built in) is short but hence its design its still a clever way of not having too long of a cable separate to carry about,its all in one unit.

NokiaNewsIreland rating 4.5/5

#Apple launch iPhone 5 Battery Replacement Program. #Tech #JTB

Apple have made the following announcement today and have launched a replacement program for those affected.

Apple has determined that a very small percentage of iPhone 5 devices may suddenly experience shorter battery life or need to be charged more frequently. The affected iPhone 5 devices were sold between September 2012 and January 2013 and fall within a limited serial number range.

Additional Information

Apple may restrict or limit repair to the original country of purchase.

If you believe your iPhone 5 was affected by this issue, and you paid to replace your battery, you can contact Apple about a refund.

This worldwide Apple program doesn’t extend the standard warranty coverage of the iPhone 5. The program covers affected iPhone 5 batteries for two years after the first retail sale of the unit or until March 1, 2015, whichever provides longer coverage.

Click HERE to see if you are legible.

Microsoft silently announces the Nokia BH-222 Headset in the UK. #Nokia #Microsoft

Not very often things get announced without official announcements but it does happen,its happened before and has happened yet again,this time its a Bluetooth headset not a phone or any like it.

Currently the status says its “Coming Soon” But we are all aware of how that phrase sounds now.

The Nokia BH-222 bluetooth headset is what we are talking about not seen anything of late on this department but here we have it.

Nothing is known about price or availability just now so its a guessing game as to what the future holds for this..

Listen up

This tiny headset lets you effortlessly enjoy music, podcasts and calls from any Bluetooth enabled device such as a smartphone, laptop or tablet while freeing your fingers for more important business.
Universally accepted

Charge your headset through a USB port in your laptop, car or even boat and enjoy hours of music or conversations with a single charge.

Stay free of distractions. The crystal clear sound quality helps you stay on top of calls even in the hustle and bustle of busy streets. Available in timeless black or white colours, the BH-222 rests subtly and lightly in your ear.

No need to change batteries. A universally available USB port and the included micro-USB plug is all you need to keep your headset fired up for hours on end.

Dimensions
- Width: 15.5 mm
- Length: 57.5 mm
- Thickness: 8.6 mm
- Weight: 8 g
Audio
- Audio features: Mono
- Digital/active noise reduction in uplink audio: Yes
Usage
- Maximum talk time: 5 h
- Maximum music playback time: 5 h
- Maximum standby time: 4 days
Connectivity
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth 3.0
- Bluetooth profiles: Headset profile (HSP) 1.2, Hands-free profile (HFP) 1.5
You can read more from the UK store .

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Wire-free efficiency