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Welcome

January 25, 2013

Are you in need of a fix of the latest gaming, gadget, and technology news? Then look no further than the Gizmophobe blog! You could see daily, weekly, or monthly updates that will help the ‘gizmophobes’ in your life, or satisfy true gadget fans.

Find out about the latest trends in mobile and computer use, what new technology means in the audio-visual world, and not forgetting all the latest releases for games consoles, audio gadgets and mobile phones. It’s a gadget blog and technology guide that can inform and entertain while you decide which new gadgets will be on your shopping list!

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The sheer brilliance of Bowers and Wilkins products

May 18, 2013

For the owner of the Bowers and Wilkins P3 headphone, the packaging itself would be something to let the neighbours see and envy. There are the sleek soft lines, the metal headband of high quality and the ear cups of foam to make it a comfort wear. That’s the physical part of the artistic gizmo called P3. In any case, nothing short of utter brilliance can be expected from Bowers and Wilkins who are behind the making of the audio system fitted on the Maserati Quattroporte.

So far as the sound quality of the P3 goes, it is just awesome in one single word to express the experience. Listening to the vocal gives the experience of a live show and the bass effect can make the transition to being subtle to a deep growl in no time. The technology incorporated in their P3 also enables clear distinction of each instrument. Couple this to almost zero distortion and what you get is the closest to listening to a live stage show.

Run the P3 at its maximum volume and there is yet no jarring or loss of sound quality. Even the pitch is needle sharp at this high amplitude mode. Users though are advised not to use the P3 at its highest volume for the power is too much for the human ear to sustain.

Background interference is also eliminated to near about 90 percent with the sublime build of the P3 giving strong noise insulation. A few specific noise-cancelling Bose models however are better performers in this aspect though a full 100 percent is also not desirable as well.

A long cable allows for greater freedom of movement and there is a remote for adjusting volume or pausing the play. A microphone allows for taking phone calls too but here the voice level to be used has to be adjusted when using the P3. The P3 slogan is “Concert for One” which is indeed befitting of the sound quality it delivers.

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Windows Phone News is now live

May 16, 2013

Windows Phone News, the new online magazine, has now gone live. Windows Phone News is the only magazine devoted entirely to Windows tablets, mobile phones, PC’s and laptops and the tablets, laptops and PCs as well as those which implement Microsoft Windows and/or the Metro user interface.

On Windows Phone News  you will find up-to-the-minute news, interviews and reviews on Windows phones, their services and apps,as well as the the Windows laptops,tablets and PCs that they synchronise with. Other features include hints & tips, current best buys, and the latest news on accessories. There are also road rests and comparisons between Windows phone and also between a Windows smartphone at its main competitors.

IT industry expert Richard Milton says, ‘Both business users and consumers are demanding touch sensitive screens on their PCs, laptops and tablets, because of their experience with smartphones. For hundreds of millions of users that touch-screen will be Windows. The natural next step will be for them to demand a smartphone that has the same interface as their laptop. This is the volcano that is building under the market that Apple created and Google has opened up to mass marketing. It’s all about the user interface. Apple isn’t going to give up its dominant market share without a fight.’

‘Windows Phone is very much the latest must-have smartphone’, says Milton, ‘but with only 7 per cent of the market in the United Kingdom and 4 per cent in the U.S., against the established players – iPhone, Android and Blackberry. With giants like Nokia, Samsung and HTC backing Windows, it’s going to be a long hard fight for market domination and it’s that struggle that Windows Phone News is going to document.’

‘Anyone who buys, sells, makes or just dreams about smartphones can book a ringside seat, free of charge, and get a first-hand, blow-by-blow account as Microsoft slugs it out with Apple and Google, by visiting  www.windowsphone-news.com regularly.’

 

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New home hair removal laser set to become the latest must have gadget

May 15, 2013

It only takes 12 weeks for women to have their unwanted hair removed permanently with a new age laser gun. However, the only problem here is that the hi-tech laser gun cost a whooping £375, but set to become the gadget of the year in this country.

Named the Tria Hair Removal Laser 4X, the gadget is reported to be used by Kim Kardashian and would now be available at retail stores of Harrods and Harvey Nichols. The gadget uses light-based laser beams for the hair removal process and can now be carried out at home by individuals, something that would have otherwise taken a trip to a salon.

Tests conducted using the Tria gadget shows that an individual undergoing the treatment using the tria in just two sessions lost about 70 percent of body hair. The 12 week course specified for the users of the gadget requires the session to be repeated once a week which removes all strands of hair from the body at the end of the 12 week. And even if there is resurgence, it will be far too insignificant. No wonder, the device has caught on the fancy of the young women.

Dr Tobin Island, CEO of Tria stated that the gadget had already worked its wonder in the US. It’s a hand held device and requires no cord for connection to a power source. There are two colour variants that the device comes in, fuchsia and green.

The technology uses pulse counter and diode laser for disabling the hair follicles, he explained. The company though has cautioned people with very light hair to not to use the gadget. The same also goes for those with medium and dark brown skin who run the risk of skin burn as laser-light is better absorbed by such colour. It is therefore recommended only for those with light to medium skin tones.

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Fitting a wall mounted TV stand

May 7, 2013

Over the years, televisions have become increasingly smaller and lighter, allowing a lot more flexibility in their positioning. No longer do they have to stand in a corner taking up much needed space, and the current trend is for them to be wall mounted.

This is particularly prevalent with the flat, plasma TV’s that we all have in our homes now, and mounting one on the wall isn’t just a daunting task as it may seem.

Many new houses have smaller rooms than those built in the past, so it makes a lot of sense to mount your television on the wall to free up some much needed floor space. There is also the added advantage of there being less chance of any damage coming to it, and completely eliminates the risk of little sticky fingerprints appearing all over your screen.

The mounting itself isn’t difficult, as long as you do this on a brick wall where the fixings can adhere firmly and won’t fall off. When you go to buy your wall mounted TV stand, go for one that feels strong and durable, while these will cost a bit more you don’t want to come down in the morning and find your plasma on the floor in pieces, so go for quality. Make sure you know the size of your TV as well, as you will need one specifically for that size.

Also measure the wall you are going to mount it on and check that there are no electric cable where you will be drilling. Drill the holes and use the screws or bolts that come with your mount as should you use different ones and the worst happens, you will have no comeback. Once you have secured the mounts firmly to the wall, attach the bracket as per the instructions.

Always take care when attaching your TV to the stand and follow the instructions implicitly. Once you are satisfied it is secure, you are free to enjoy your TV in its new home.

 

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Foxconn could be to blame for faulty batch of iPhones

April 27, 2013

After a batch of new iPhones turned out to be defective, now it seems like Foxconn may be responsible for the problems. This company creates the devices for Apple, but now a report says that it has taken the batch back after the phones turned out to be faulty.

This information came out from a Foxconn staffer, and is still being presented unofficially, but indicates that Apple sent to their creator at the very least five million phones. At an estimated manufacturing cost of $200 per phone, that is quite a big lost for the company.

Of course the companies, either Foxconn or Apple, are remaining silent on the matter, but it would not be the first time something like this has happened. China is not known for the highest quality control, and previous generations of phones had to be sent back for similar reasons. Apple sells over 48 million phones every quarter.

Foxconn has revealed in recent years that the company is in some financial trouble, and there is no telling what this type of recall can do to these troubles. This could also delay more production runs, which may add delays for customers. As the leading smartphone seller, this could put a black eye on Apple’s reputation, and fuel critics.

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Virgin Media Crushes the Internet with 100Mb Plus Broadband Service

April 27, 2013

2 Virgin Media Broadband, UK’s award-winning broadband company, has recently reached another milestone by offering its customers a whopping 100MB-plus speed. Of course, this technology improvement was made after sensing the very needs of customers, which to Virgin Media are the most important of all matters. The fast 100MB speed has been made possible with fibre optic technology. This is a futuristic approach from the company, so you can rest assured that if even better speeds are offered in the near future, you won’t be running around searching for upgrades because you are hooked to technology that can handle those speeds, too.

Does Fast Internet Speed Really Matter?

If you have been using the Internet for some time and have seen a lot of customers discussing matters with each other, you would know that slow Internet speed and connections are the most common issues around the world. Whether you do a lot of uploading, downloading or online sharing, it all comes down to speed.

Issues with Slow Internet Speed

The following are some of the most common issues that are faced by Internet users around the world because of slow Internet speeds and connections:

  • Websites load slowly
  • Slow streaming is frustrating and watching an online movie could take hours because of it
  • Downloading takes hours, especially the large files, and sometimes the downloading can get interrupted, forcing you to download the file from the start again
  • Voice chat and video quality when communicating on Skype or other messenger services is extremely poor and inaudible on most occasions
  • Downloading and viewing pictures can be annoying because the images remain pixelated until they load completely
  • Sharing your stuff in the cloud could become a nightmare with slow Internet speed

Most Internet users are aware of these problems and many other issues that make their Internet experience tiring. Virgin Media Broadband offered the 100MB speed. Not only should this speed make your Internet browsing a jet ride, but other people in your house could also benefit with increased speed just the same simultaneously. So here’s a summary of benefits for you and other customers: improved sharing of pictures, messages and videos on social platforms; fast and uninterrupted downloading speeds; smooth streaming; quick sharing on cloud platforms; and fast online backup.

How is Virgin Media Doing It?

First, Virgin Media has always been busy in providing innovative broadband services, earning it the award for best broadband innovation in 2013. Now, the credit for such fast Internet speed goes to the fibre optic technology that uses thin strand-like cables to carry the signals to your home at the speed of light. This makes fibre optics the best and the fastest technology for truly high-speed Internet.

Another reason why Virgin Media Broadband is providing an unbelievable 100MB speed through fibre optic lines is because these lines don’t get affected by the distance of the telephone exchange from your house, which is a common issue with copper telephone wires. With this technology, downloading videos, TV shows, movies, documentaries, applications and software are at your fingertips in just a matter of seconds and minutes.

You are an Internet user and you know your problems the best. If there are two things that make an Internet connection reliable, they are speed and connectivity. You do understand the frustration and annoyance of coming across a limited and interrupted Internet connection when you want to check some important office emails but you can’t. If you think it’s time for you to enjoy the Internet rather than just using it, better consider Virgin Media today.

To find out more about Virgin Media Broadband, you can visit their site.

Written by:

Nathan Morgan has been a technology professional for 16 years and has diverse hands-on experience starting off with a couple of years of mobile phone SMT repair. That was followed by three years as a freelance Visual Basic developer and then a decade dedicated to Linux server security, ecommerce site management and coding in a variety of languages including PHP, SQL and Java.

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The changing face of how business growth and success is measured

April 23, 2013

It used to be that business growth was measured in term of street credibility and local profit from shoppers that come into the store, walking in and buying something. But now, with the Internet, growth is often measured more in term of how many people use their smartphones to access the mobile site of the store.

This may well be a result of the digital economy, something David Cameron touted so many times in the past, and which may finally be coming in strongly for local businesses. No longer are people content to use the big online sites, those US based merchants everyone knows about, but even small businesses have popular e-commerce sites.

A recent study shows that over the past three years, England businesses have grown online more than ever before, with over 11% compound growth on an annual basis. This is compared with 0.2% for the economy as a whole, and it is easy to see how big a deal it is.

The findings come from a Barclay study, and the head of technology at the firm, Sean Duffy, said that this is simply the way the world was going now. Things have changed in this brand new digital economy, and people are simply much more likely to shop online than before.

This is also a sign for local businesses who do not have a web site yet, or a way to sell online, that they need to get with the times and start offering their goods through the Internet. With mobile use growing at a 400% rate, people will be going out, but not to shop in stores, instead they will be buying online.

This may present a problem for traditional businesses, but also an opportunity for those companies able to take advantage of it. So far 89% of businesses who do have a site, do not support the mobile platform. The time may be now to change that.

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New Kobo reader in fair fight with Kindle

April 19, 2013

The new Aura HD by Kobo has a 6.8 inch 265 PPI resolution screen which is the best resolution found on an e-reader on the market right now. Even the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite is only able to offer readers 212 PPI. The Aura’s higher resolution will help to reduce strain on the eyes and the automatic font adjusting feature should make it easier for many people to read.

Kobe stated that it created the Aura HD to suit the needs of the most passionate book readers and even the shape of the e-reader is contoured around the back so that the reader will easily slide into your hands. Also impressive is the fact that the Aura HD is touted to last as long as two months on one single charge.

Independent book stores throughout the country have been proudly selling and promoting Kobo as the best choice for those who want to stay far away from Amazon. Kobo has a grand e-book library just like Amazon that readers get access to, but unlike e-readers from Amazon the Kobo also has built in support for the open source format of Epub allowing more readers to find independent books.

CEO of Kobo Mike Serbinis stated that they have always been able to offer an open platform and they are the lead as book sellers with their many partners in most countries.

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PC sales continue to decline

April 18, 2013

In the last 20 years, the sales of PC’s have declined as a result of people opting to use tablet computers. Despite a 7.7% forecasted sales increase, research conducted by International Data Corp has shown an incredible 14% decline in sales of PC’s to 76.3 million units, in the first quarter of the year.

This is the larges drop seen since IDC started gathering data in 1994 Gartner Inc, another research firm, put this figure at 11.2%, the worst experienced since the same period in 2001.

According to IDC, the largest PC makers in the world, Hewlett-Packard, and Dell Computers, suffered the largest declines of 24% and 11% respectively. Gartner has attributed this drop in sales to the increasing demand for tablets and Smartphones.

IDC, on the other hand, blame the decline on the introduction of Microsoft’s Windows 8, whose features only served to confuse customers and ruin the PC experience. The software did not deliver on increasing the Smartphone user experience either.

According to Jay Chou, A Senior Analyst at IDC, in an interview with Sky News, people found Windows 8 lacking in features which, in previous versions, enhanced the PC user experience.

Consequently, many people have reported failing to experience the same features that they did before, on the PC, despite the touch features included in Windows 8. People are still getting to understand Windows 7 and Windows 8 has only served to bewilder them more.

According to industry players, in order for Microsoft to be able to compete with the iPad Mini, and Google Nexus, they should develop a smaller, Surface Laptop/tablet unit, with a 7-inch screen, and powered by windows 8.

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Internet savvy watch makes its debut

March 29, 2013

A gadget that raises more than $10 million in less than 2 months is definitely a gadget that is worth every penny. This is the milestone that the latest wearable gadget boasts produced by Pebble called the E-Paper Watch. Developers behind this little devil stated that the real purpose of this watch is to update every user about current events without pulling out their smartphones or tablets out of the bag.

To date, the company is sending out 15,000 units out worldwide and is even increasing by the week. Despite the fact that it has not reached every electronic device in every corner of the world, it is safe to say that it is on the wish list of every person in the world.

When you carefully observe the features and the appearance of the watch, you will see that it is like a prototype. It’s quite handy in terms of size because the screen packs a meagre 1.26-inch display with a 144×168 resolution.

Indeed it is not that advanced when you look at it but it surely is a bargain considering its price tag. In addition to that, the watch has four convenient buttons; the one on the upper left is the menu button, while the up and down buttons are situated on the opposite side.

The E-Paper Watch might not be the first one presented as the handiest device, it still packs some quality as it is water-resistant and a flexible rubber strap comes along with it. The one great thing about this watch is that both iPhone users as well as Android users can connect their phone with it. This is a great bonus considering that other similar devices in the market do not offer this kind of convenience. Pebble has undoubtedly hit the jackpot on this one and the prices start at $150.

 

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