Tag Archives: gadgets

Image via The Independent

First Thoughts on the Nexus 4

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Image via The Independent

The Nexus 4 is here! I was personally very excited about the release. Google’s ‘Nexus’ product line seems to be taking over! The Nexus 7 tablet did amazing on sales! Why wouldn’t it? But that’s not what I’m talking about here!
The Nexus 4 on a hardware prospective, has:

  • Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Processor
  • 2 GB of RAM
  • 2 100 mAh Battery
  • 8MP rear camera
  • 1.3MP front camera

This phone currently costs $299 for the 8GB model, and $349 for the 16GB model, unlocked. Yes this phone has a strangely low price tag!
This is the first device to be running Android JellyBean 4.2! And being a google device, it will get all software updates! The phone’s front and back are both gorilla glass, and has plastic sides. The volume controls remain on the left side, and the power switch remains on the right. And this phone, does indeed work with wireless charging!
The phone has a GeekBench rating of a little over 2000! That’s crazy! Compared to the iPhone 5, with ratings of over 1600, looks like the phone is incredibly fast, with quite some processing power!
The Nexus 4 can take pictures that have a 360 panorama! It’s just like the Google Maps, Street View experience, but with your own pictures! All of the settings for the camera, are easily accessed but just holding your finger down on the screen. The camera looks very good, although not quite the quality of pictures from phones like the iPhone 5 or the Nokia Lumia 920, the pictures on this phone still look great!
Now I’ve talked a lot of the pros of this phone, now we get into the cons! First off, this isn’t a major issue, but there is no LTE! Google did install a LTE chip, they just didn’t want to sign with phone companies on this phone. They wanted you to be able to put a plan on your phone, that you wouldn’t need a contract for. There are ways you can activate the LTE chip, from what I’ve heard, right now, it can only be done by the following Canadian carriers, Rogers, Bell or Telus.
Also, there is only 8-16GB of storage on this phone! There is not a 32GB or 64GB model, and it does not have expandable storage like many other Android models. The storage size of course is not tiny, however, many people would love to see models with more memory.
These are just my first thoughts on the Nexus 4! I was very excited for the release, and am not disappointed by the results! This is a great phone, especially for the price.

 

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Apple shocks at keynote, unveiling 2 new iPads, 3 new Macs

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Apple has unveiled a 4th Generation iPad, a new iMac, a 13-inch retina Macbook Pro, and of course the iPad Mini, today in San Jose.

iPad Mini

You’ve heard the rumours. Apple was set to unveil a new product at today’s keynote. A new 7.85 inch iPad, appropriately called the iPad Mini.

As you’ve seen above, some people can hold it in one hand. This is something we are seeing a lot in their promotional photos around their website.

“Beautiful from every angle. Incredibly thin and light.”

The iPad Mini is “as thin as a pencil” at 7.2mm. It weighs about 0.62 lbs.

Inside includes the not-so-new A5 processor. The display is unexpectedly only 1024 x 768, not retina.

The iPad Mini starts at $329 for 16GB and Wifi. The Cellular+ Wifi model starts at $459. It comes in with both black and white. Pre-orders begin on October 26th. The iPad Mini will be in-stores on November 2nd.

iMac

The new iMac is 5mm thin. Yes. 5mm.

Apple got rid of the optical drive. This is abnormal for desktops… unless you are Apple.

The new iMac will start at $1229 for their 21.5 inch model.

4th Generation iPad

Unexpectedly, a new iPad was also shown today. What is it being called? iPad with Retina Display. Very creative.

The only differences between the new iPad and the iPad with Retina Display is the speed. It has the new A6X processor.

One more thing. It has “ultra-fast internet connectivity,” and the lightning connector.

This new iPad (I’m talking about the new iPad, not the new iPad), starts at $499.

13-inch Macbook Pro with Retina

Previously, only a 15-inch model of the Macbook Pro with Retina was available. Now, a 13-inch model is also available.

There are no enhancements to this model, just a smaller body and screen.

This new Mac starts at $1699 with 128GB.

Mac Mini

The amazing $599 Mac Mini has (finally) been updated.

It supports Thunderbolt, USB 3, and  Intel Ivy Bridge processors.

The Mac Mini has suffered the loss of its Optical Drive.

5 new products were launched today. What do you think of them? Will you be buying the iPad Mini? Leave a comment below.

iphone5 2

Apple announces new iPhone, iPods in San Francisco

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As anticipated, Apple announced their iPhone 5 on September 12th in San Francisco. Along with the iPhone update, they announced a brand new version of iTunes and a 5th Generation iPod Touch, they also completely redesigned the iPod Nano.

The iPhone 5 will cost $199 (16GB). Pre-orders start September 14th, ship on September 21st.

iPhone 5

Apple’s new 4G LTE phone, has a new processor (the A6 processor), which loads pages 2.1 times faster than previous generations of the mobile device.

iOS 6

In iOS 6, Apple gets rid of Google almost entirely, with the removal of the YouTube app and Google Maps, which will be replaced by Maps.

The new Operating System has some great new apps including Passbook, which allows you to replace your Credit Cards/Loyalty Cards and even Flight tickets with your iPhone.

As mentioned previously, Apple’s new Maps app allows you to search around the city… from the sky. Apple flew helicopters over some major cities around the world, so you could explore the city from above.

iOS 4 came packed with Twitter. iOS 6 has Facebook and Twitter.

Taller, Thinner by Design

“The thinnest smartphone in the world,” is what Apple is bragging about. The phone has also jumped up in height… 3.5 inch to 4 inch display, this allows for an additional row of icons.

iPhone 5 is also lighter, but is the exact same width, this allows people with normal sized hands to continue to use the phone.

Lightning connector

Apple has gotten rid of the 30-pin connector, for a new “lightning connector“. The connector is 80% smaller than the previous connector.

If you already own a 30-pin connecting dock, you will need to buy a special Lightning-30-pin adapter. These cost $30.

Battery Life

iPhone 5 has a 8-hour browsing battery life (over LTE), 8-hour talk time, and a 10-hour video playback battery life, according to Apple.

Carriers

In Canada, several carriers will have the iPhone 5 including Bell, Rogers, Telus, Virgin and Koodo. In America only AT&T, Verizon and Sprint… still no T-Mobile.

EarPods

Apple wanted to redo their headphones. They came up with EarPods, which will be shipping with all of the devices announced today.

The EarPods are designed to be more comfortable, and better than before.

Camera

The iSight Camera (rear) has a 8 megapixel sensor. The camera now also allows for panoramas, up to 28 megapixels. It is 40% faster than previously. Video can be recorded in 1080p.

Conclusion

iPhone 5 looks almost the exact same as the iPhone 4S (except the height, of course). This is not a major upgrade. However, analysts predict that the iPhone 5 will still pull in a lot of sales for Apple.

The new iPod Touch

iPod Touch

The new $299 5th generation iPod Touch (32GB and 64GB only) was announced today. Apple plans to continue selling the 4th generation iPod Touch (8GB) for $199.

It features iOS 6 (see above), the new EarPods, and it is taller and thinner than before.

Pre-orders begin September 14th, ships in October.

Colours!

The 5th generation iPod Touch is coming in a variety of colours. The classic black and white, and now Blue, Green and Red!

Siri

An improved Siri is making its way to iPod Touch users at last.

The Loop & Camera

Apple has included a small hole at the bottom of the iPod Touch… for a loop! This is making the iPod Touch a camera. The camera has been improved to 5 megapixels… that 7 times better than the 4th generation.

A5 Processor

Apple has updated the iPod Touch’s processor to an A5 processor, making it “the most powerful iPod Touch ever.”

Battery Life

40 hours of music and 8 hours of video playback on a single charge, Apple says.

Conclusion

This is easily the best iPod Touch ever released, and with these great looking new colours…

The new iPod Nano.

iPod Nano

For the third time, the classic iPod Nano has been redesigned from the inside out.

The iPod Nano starts at $149. It includes the new EarPods (see above) and lightning connector (see above).

Pre-orders begin September 14th, ships in October.

Video’s back!

For the past two versions of the iPod Nano, video was left standing out in the cold. Now it’s back on this 2.5 inch display.

Radio

The iPod Nano has it’s FM Radio Tuner back, to keep us you up to date with all of the latest.

Bluetooth

As with all of the other devices announced today, Apple has included Bluetooth wireless technology in the upgrade. So now, you can use those wireless headphones.

Conclusion

The Nano looks great, and it comes in some amazing colours. Now, it’s up to you to decide which Nano!

Thoughts?

Three amazing new products that competitors are going to have a really hard time to beat. What do you think of the iPhone 5, iPod Touch and Nano? Leave a comment below.

Image via Apple

Apple sends out iPhone 5 event invitations

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On September 4th, Apple has sent out the invitations to the iPhone 5 event which will be taking place (as rumored) on September 12th.

Image via Apple

The event will be taking place at 10AM Pacific (1PM Eastern) in San Francisco, California at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.

As you can see, the invitation makes us believe that the iPhone will be called the iPhone 5, not the new iPhone or the iPhone LTE.

What’s new in the iPhone 5?

  • We believe the iPhone will be taller than previously.
  • Possibly Near-Field-Communication (this rumour goes back and forth between yes and no)
  • Possibly a metal back instead of an aluminum back.
  • iOS 6 and all of its benefits.
  • A new 16-pin connector.
  • Possibly redesigned earphones.
  • 4G LTE technology.

Those are all of course rumours… we won’t really know until September 12th what will be in this highly anticipated phone.

Apple will be announcing a new iPad Mini in October, this year.

 

(Photo Credit: Kyle Stewart/Magnae Famae)

Apple Store to open this week in the Halifax Shopping Centre

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The Apple Store is under construction in the Halifax Shopping Centre. Here it can be seen as a large black wall, next to the Apple Store, with two doors for construction workers to get in. This photo was taken on Level 2 of the Shopping Centre. (Photo Credit: Kyle Stewart/Magnae Famae)

The rumors have it that an Apple Store will be opening this week at the Halifax Shopping Centre, long with two other stores. This will be the first Apple Store in Atlantic Canada.

We can’t be sure which day of the week yet, however CTV News reported it will be opening two days from August 16th, which would make it August 18th, 2012.

It was guessed that the Halifax Apple Store would open along with the release of the next iPhone, which is expected to carry 4G LTE, NFC, larger screen and more (read about it).

This is great news for future Retail Stores in Halifax (and Atlantic Canada), providing the Apple Store is successful. This could mean for more major brand to reach out to Halifax. For instance, Microsoft has started Microsoft Stores around the United States, and soon in Toronto… they all coincidentally seem to be in shopping centres in which Apple has already opened their store in…

The Apple Store under construction on Level 2 of the Halifax Shopping Centre.(Photo Credit: Kyle Stewart/Magnae Famae)

Also Samsung is starting a retail store as well, to better focus on their products. But we shouldn’t forget that just recently two Sony stores closed in the Halifax Regional Municipality (Halifax Shopping Centre, and the Micmac Mall), but that could be because it was Sony.

Does the name Apple instantly bring success (not the fruit, the tech company, of course)? Will you be attending the Apple Store opening?

You can read more about what Magnae Famae found out exclusively on the Apple Store here.

We have contacted the Halifax Shopping Centre for comment, which we expect to receive tomorrow, as they are closed.

The Lenovo Headquarters in Beijing

Lenovo closing in on HP in the Windows market

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The Lenovo Headquarters in Beijing

Lenovo, the large Chinese PC manufacturer, is now closing in on the iconic HP in their largest market.

The Globe and Mail is reporting that Lenovo now has 14.9% of the PC Market, while HP has 15.5% (IDC report). Lenovo beat professional estimates with a 30% rise in quarterly profits on August 16th, that means that Lenovo pulled in about $8 billion. This is good news for Lenovo, as the PC Market has been slowing down rapidly with the rise of mobile devices.

“China’s macro economy has shown some uncertainty because of real-estate bubble controls and weak exports. But from a long-term point of view, I’m still very optimistic,”

-Yang Yuanqing; CEO at Lenovo

Since 2005, Lenovo has been making ThinkPads, after they acquired IBM’s Personal Computer division.

The Lenovo laptops are well liked for their well-made keyboards, by technology reviewers.

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Fully assembled iPhone 5 alleged photos

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So many alleged photos of the Apple iPhone 5 (I believe it will be called the iPhone LTE), that Magnae Famae decided not to report on them. But this is the first time fully assembled photos surfaced online. The photos are coming from a Chinese supplier, iLab Factory.

Here are some of the most popular rumors for the heavily anticipated smartphone:

  • A new 19-pin connector, replacing the existing 30-pin connector.
  • A taller, larger screen.
  • The headphone jack will move to the bottom of the phone.
  • A Near Field Communication chip (NFC).
  • iOS 6 (obviously)
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US Judge bans Galaxy Nexus in the USA

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The Galaxy Nexus, running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (Image via CNET)

Just a few days after the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 was banned in the US from sales, now the Samsung Galaxy Nexus (Phone) was banned from sale in the USA.

It was (no surprise), Apple who brought Samsung to the US Courts, and it was over the “slide to unlock” feature, and also we are now learning over Siri, some how.

We’re disappointed with this decision, but we believe the correct result will be reached as more evidence comes to light.

-A Google Spokesperson

Also, an Apple representative spoke out as well.

It’s no coincidence that Samsung’s latest products look a lot like the iPhone and iPad, from the shape of the hardware to the user interface and even the packaging. This kind of blatant copying is wrong and, as we’ve said many times before, we need to protect Apple’s intellectual property when companies steal our ideas.

-Apple

What do you think of this Judge banning the Galaxy Nexus in the US? Leave a comment below.