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Review – The Alcatel 3V budget smartphone offering quite alot for the money. #Alcatel

I am known for sporting top of the range smartphones and budget alike and use both, The smartphone market is seeing change now and change for the better if you ask me. We now have phones at the €1000 euro mark which many manufacturers seem to be following and it has become a race to see who an bring out the most expensive phone but people are not buying into it from where I sit.

Another trend which is the better option is mid range pricing for really good devices with the likes of One Plus for example being one and other brands are now following suit and for me this is where people will spend their money and it is proving popular. I love my phones and have a large collection but why would you spend the guts of a grand on a phone that one that is half the price can do, Is it for a status symbol or just one to say I have the latest. The latest does not mean its the best and to be honest i fell into that category but from testing phones you do not need to spend stupid money on a mobile phone anymore.

The next thing is now really good specs for phones sub €200 and it’s happening already but most of these are chinese devices which have to be imported and not available on networks anywhere so you have a problem straight away if something goes wrong and that’s returning it or whats called reverse logistics and this is a huge caveat for people importing devices or any tech for that matter.

Alcatel is a known company and have mobile phones out some time now and they are predominantly sold on tesco mobile and on some other networks, Tesco Mobile Ireland have a large portfolio of mobile phones from them offering a decent phone at a good price giving them an edge especially in the entry level sector. They have now however thrown a spanner in the works for budget smartphones with their new 3V has to offer off the bat.

Click to enlarge images..

The Alcatel 3V can be bought on Tesco Mobile UK right now and comes in several colours and for the price it has much to offer compared to the standard offering and I have been using one a few weeks now and I have to say I was expecting a “MEH” experience but suprisingly enough it was not and for the money you cant really go wrong here.

This phone might have a cheap build but it looks the part and covered up with a decent case this will see you a year no problem once you look after it and dont bog it down with apps,games and images and so which slow phones down over time. The phone would make an ideal first if this is your first Android smartphone or perhaps even a spare device to have at hand, the only gripes I have is the build quality and the RAM which for many its probably enough if you are the social media,email and browsing type it would not be suitable for heavy duty work and heavy multitasking but wil fly along switching between social media accounts and so on as mentioned above I am thought nitpicking here when you look at the cost.

The phone design is quite nice and blends in with current trends on the market its smooth all round but no sweeping edges which is now common but rounded well all over, On the back we have the typical camera set-up which again is decent for its price and the back has a shiny finish but this means fingerprints which is also a common trend today. The camera itself is a bit hit and miss overall but under the right conditions you will get decent snaps which you can check out in the video above.

On the right we have the power keyand sim tray/micro sd card slot and on the left is the volume toggle and all these keys are raised perfectly and have good tactile feedback. On the bottom we have a speaker grille and micro usb port and finally on top is the headphone jack. Overall performance on this device is actually quite good but you will need an SD card as it will slow down once you start loading games,photos and videos. For the money in fairness this is a good device bottled down by the usual RAM factor which can be reduced by using an SD card as mentioned. This device has much to offer for its pricepoint which is only showing flagship features are now moving past mid tier priced phones onto entry level but performance still lacks overall especially for multitasking.

Battery performance will be an issue if you tend to be a powersuer but this device is not aimed at such I could not get a full day out of it but I am a poweruser but the average user who likes social media,you tube web broswing and emails will easily get the full day out of one charge. The phone does come with a case which you will need as the device is mostly madeof plastic which would be a concern if dropped

Selling points

– Full ‘wide-screen’ viewing in 18:9 aspect ratio – ideal for catching up on Netflix

– Dual camera including 12 MP rear camera for professional style photos with Bokeh effect

– Face recognition to unlock phone with a glance – saves time unlocking your phone

– Fingerprint sensor

– dual sim dual standby

– 3000mAh battery

This device is now on sale at tesco mobile and littlewoods sim free.

https://www.tescomobile.com/shop/alcatel/3v

https://www.littlewoodsireland.ie/alcatel-3vnbsp–spectrum-blue/1600268640.prd?_requestid=138915&Ntt=Alcatel

Also available on post mobile single sim.

https://postmobile.ie/product/alcatel3v/

Argos https://m.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/8477068.htm

First Look and Unboxing – The Soul Transform Wireless Headphones. #Headphones #tech

Another day a new set of cans here at techbuzz and this time around it’s the Soul transform wireless headphones which is ideal for athletes and more. In the Black and Gold flavour these have a stealth look to them and off the bat they are lightweight feel good to hold and very comfortable on the ears too and sport around 18 hours playback,robust and sweatproof. As with all Soul products we have tested these also come well presented with a carry pouch in the box which is ideal for travel we will do a quick unboxing today and walk around and if you have any questions feel free to ask on our social channels.

BUY HERE

Check out our extensive range of headphones reviews.. The biggest range in Ireland. We love headphones and if you have some you want featured get in touch today.

Jabra celebrates 20 years of Bluetooth with Talk Franchise launch. #Jabra #Bluetooth

Jabra, audio and communications specialist and the first brand to introduce Bluetooth headsets to the world, pay tribute to the 20^th year anniversary of this innovative technology by relaunching the Jabra Bluetooth Mono headsets under the Talk Franchise umbrella.

Since 1998, Bluetooth has been a key driver for innovative wireless experiences for both business professionals and consumers – a technology underpinning numerous product launches. It enabled Jabra to create the first consumer Bluetooth headset in 2000, more than two months ahead of the competition and paving the way for wireless communications in both the enterprise and consumer space. The Danish company launched the first wireless headset for conference calls in 2003.

More recently, with the release of the Jabra Elite Sport – the most technically advanced true wireless sports earbuds in 2016, and the Jabra Elite Franchise in 2018 with third generation true wireless technology – Bluetooth proves to still remain pivotal to today’s technology industry.

In fact, research by Bluetooth SIG, serving industry-leading member companies across the globe, reveals that 2018 will see almost 4 billion Bluetooth devices and 880 million Bluetooth audio streaming devices shipped – with no signs that this will slow down.

Talk Franchise

Celebrating 20 years of Bluetooth and reflecting on Jabra’s success in wireless headsets, Jabra relaunches their BT Mono headsets in one franchise named after what they deliver best: crystal clear talk. The Talk Franchise includes renowned mono headsets including the Eclipse, Stealth, Mini and Boost – all brought to market in a modern design.

Claus Fonnesbech, Senior Director, Media Relations at Jabra said: “Comfortable, stylish and designed to make your day-to-day activities run smoothly, Bluetooth Mono headsets are still a great extension of your phone. Allowing you to remain hands-free, whether at work or on the go, you can make and receive calls while performing numerous other tasks with ease.”

“At Jabra, we continue to build innovative experiences based on Bluetooth. The success of our latest true wireless products prove that this technology is still alive and kicking after 20 years and Bluetooth Mono continues to play an important part in it. The modern refresh of our Talk Franchise shows our commitment to this product series.”

Availability

Find out more about the products in the Jabra Talk family at: www.jabra.co.uk/talk. The Jabra Talk Franchise will be available on Jabra.co.uk from July and Amazon.co.uk (stocking from August), in Carphone Warehouse from September (date TBC) and Halfords in October (date TBC).

EDIFIER Announces Strategic Partnership With Cooler Master. #Gaming #Speakers #Edifier

Edifier is excited to announce its partnership with Cooler Master, an award-winning computer hardware and gaming peripherals manufacturer. The partnership will enable Edifier to further extend its reach into the world of gaming. As part of the collaboration Edifier will gain access to the many gaming and tech events Cooler Master will take part in across the globe. Event goers will have the opportunity to connect with the Edifier brand via Cooler Master gaming setups.

“We are thrilled to partner with Cooler Master and are looking forward to seeing how our two brands will grow together,” said Edifier’s Marketing Director, Audrey Anne-Felix. “Cooler Master products are the perfect example of what a modern-day gamer needs and Edifier products blend seamlessly into this creative tech space.”

To kick off the partnership, Edifier’s e255 Luna Theatre speakers were showcased at the Cooler Master booth during Computex 2018 in Taipei, Taiwan. The activation itself focused around Project Unity – a brand new gaming setup created by Cooler Master and Cory Gregory from Designs by IFR. This setup focused on combining the best PC components, monitors and audio to create the ultimate lighting and gameplay setup utilizing Cooler Master’s new Master Plus+ software.

Gregory spoke to the quality of the Luna speakers and the way in which they can be utilized to enhanced any gaming setup. “The Luna Theatre speakers not only look incredible; they gave us some bass in the shooter titles but also clarity when we were listening to music as well which is really what we’re trying to achieve here.” said Cory Gregory from Designs by IFR.

Review – Mozo fabric and leather dark and light grey cases for the Nokia 7 Plus

Mozo are back once more with some new cases for Nokia devices. Most will remember this company from a few years ago who started making cases for Nokia Lumia devices then spread their wings and began making cases for other manufacturers.

Mozo Accessories have kindly sent us some cases to check out for the Nokia 7 plus and they are simple cases with a really good look and feel and will last some time too. I have checked out both these cases on my Nokia 7 plus and they look great on,feel great to hold and are robust. Check out the image gallery and video below for a hands on look on both these cases..

Nokia 7 plus fabric and leather case (light grey)

CLICK TO ENLARGE

Created to be the perfect fit, this case with the light grey texture and beautiful Spanish leather seamlessly styles up your Nokia. Slim yet protective, it adds extra grip which is essential in everyday use.

Ultra slim & a perfect fit for Nokia 7 Plus
Material: textile, premium Spanish leather and PU
Extra layer of protection & grip for your device
Made in Europe

BUY HERE

Nokia 7 plus fabric and leather case (dark)

Created to be the perfect fit, this case with the dark grey texture and beautiful Spanish leather seamlessly styles up your Nokia. Slim yet protective, it adds extra grip which is essential in everyday use.

BUY HERE

VIDEO OVERVIEW

Review – Mozo black leather flip case for the Nokia 5 #Mozo #Nokia5

Recently we checked out some MOZO cases for the Nokia 7 plus this time around it’s a case for the Nokia 5 and this is a nice one which gives your device a professional look and feel and its also giving you that extra grip too and still protects your device all round. Check out the image gallery below and video and tell us what you think of this case or any cases from Mozo which make really nice cases for multiple brands and cases that look good and last.

Click to enlarge – Case reviewed – https://mozoaccessories.com/product/flip-cover-for-nokia-5-black-leather/

Designed in Helsinki, this Mozo premium leather flip cover is a classic example of Nordic design and represents Mozo’s long legacy and passion for Nokia devices.

The new ultra slim design gives a perfect fit and the slim press technology eliminates the bulky pockets.

Carefully selected top grain vegetable tanned leather gives a natural feel and beautiful look. Inner premium microfiber protects your handset and screen from scratches.

Slim Design & fit
Single credit card slots
Carefully selected top grain vegetable tanned genuine leather

Review – ionslim 10000mAh portable battery. #ionslim #moshi #tech

Battery anxiety is still a thing given many smartphones today are now upping the battery capacity somewhat there still is that fear off running out of juice, There are many portable batteries on offer and we have reviewed many before but today we check out the Moshi 10000mAh battery pack.

Features

Fast-charging USB-A port (up to 12 W).
USB-C PD port (30 W, supports MacBook Pro charging.)
Charge 2 devices at once with Dynamic Power Sharing.
Ultra-slim profile (12.88 mm) with premium anodized aluminum.
Lithium-polymer cells: 10,000 mAh capacity, total output of 35 W.
Includes 2 charging cables (USB-C and USB-C to USB-A).

As far as design goes this is really nice and looks well,its not boring looking either,On the front we have a simple moshi logo and on the rear its just blank. The top half is where everything happens keeping things simple for all and how it should be.

We have a power on/off key LED lights for charge status and two ports for USB-A and USB – C . What comes in the box too is all that we require and more, We have the charge cable itself and we USB- C to USB-C which is something hard to find on its own these days.

Overall this is a nice powerpack and will give your mobile phone several charges overand can provide emergency power for your laptop if needed but its not aimed at the likes but it will give you some reserve power for important work, this will also charge two devices at once which can be handy for those on the go. the only thing about this i would have a gripe with is the price though it is build well and looks good there is alternatives out there,the other gripe is its a 30W so slower charging for laptops and the likes which would double as a standard.

BUY HERE

Review – Moshi USB-C multimedia adapter. #tech #moshi

If you are a person to take lots of pictures on a smartphone or camera or have lots of gadgets you use on the go this is the piece for you,its small,its light and looks good and blends in with their new range of products with the looks and build quality.

Features.

Supports SD, SDHC/XC UHS-I cards with speeds up to 104 Mbps.
HDCP-compliant HDMI video output: 4K (30 Hz) and FHD 1080p (60 Hz).
Two USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports with up to 5 Gbps data transfer speed.
HDMI multi-channel digital audio output on compatible devices.
Thunderbolt-3 compatible and 100% plug-n-play, no drivers needed.
Premium anodized aluminum casing minimizes EM interference.

This as the power bank we reviewed matches up quite well in looks and if like me and you are into gadgets and need to hot swap some material its ideal, Compatible Gadgets like phones,tablets,dashcams cameras and more. There is a micro sd card reader which you will need a card reader to insert, you have two usb ports to connect any compatible gadget and a HDMI port which makes things easier again when connecting to your TV for example it is a win win piece of kit.

USB- C devices are now a thing and there is some compatible laptops out there but mostly Apple Macs, if you own one of those this is the idea dock for your needs though I would have liked to see more ports available.

BUY HERE

First look and unboxing – Urbanista Tokyo true wireless earphones. #urbanistalife #earphones

Urbanista is a regular here with really nice products which are named after cities that have a clean and fresh design keeping things simple with really nice colours and they also keep up with fashion. They have now entered the true wireless game with their Tokyo true wireless earphones and they also come with a little charge box which will fit in any pocket. Check out the unboxing below and if there is any questions feel free to ask below or on social during our review period..