Amazon Fire TV Review
Up for review today is Amazon’s Fire TV and have I enjoyed reviewing this item. Amazon has dipped into the tablet and e-reader market, successfully, now they are trying to get more and more inside our living rooms. Who can blame them? I believe out of all the companies, I trust Amazon the most.
The Fire TV is a feature-rich Amazon experience that provides those with a Prime Membership the opportunity to stream Prime Content and HBO GO (recently updated) content along with all your standard entertainment apps from Netflix to Watch ESPN. Now the Fire TV is $99.00 but easily blows away other media hubs in that area, such as the Apple TV ($99.00) or the Roku 3 ($84.99). You will find out exactly why the Amazon Fire TV is such a user friendly and all around enjoyable experience for anyone using it!
Design
The Fire TV is nothing fancy, shiny, purple or any of that nonsense, it is meant to blend in and go unnoticed as you stream content at your leisure. The Fire TV is about 5 inches long and almost 1 inch tall weighing about 10 ounces. The top of the device has a glossy black Amazon logo and on the front of the Fire it has a single LED to show it is on. On the back of the Fire TV we are greeted with a plethora of options with HDMI, Optical Audio, Ethernet, USB ports and power. It also has built in wireless as well and packs a 1.7GHz Qualcomm Krait 300 CPU with an Adreno 320 GPU and 2GB of RAM. It has 8GB of built-in storage which about 6GB is for users, however this is irrelevant because we don’t care about storage, just streaming. The Fire TV is never lacking in the power department, you tell it to do it and it is done! 
Along with Fire comes the almighty remote which is small and has the same matte black finish as the box. It has your standard navigation features, but one of the nicest features is Voice Search. This simple feature allows you to search for related content that you requested. It works very well.
Functionality
Because Amazon preloaded my account on the Fire TV, everything is already setup once I plugged it in and put in my Wi-Fi password. When you first turn it on, it launches a video demonstrating many features of the Fire TV and no you can’t skip it. Once, through I was greeted by all my TV shows and movies I have purchased and all my photos that I have uploaded to Amazon. You really couldn’t ask for an easier setup.
Once at the home screen you can choose what kind of content to look at or if you want to download games and other apps such as Netflix, Hulu, etc. Now, if you plan on using a Fire TV without a Prime membership, you are under utilizing the entire purpose of the Fire TV. Sure you can still have Netflix or Hulu to stream content, but Amazon has so much content exclusive to Prime members that you would be selling yourself short. You might as well get a Chromecast. However, Amazon offers a 30 day free trial, which can be found here, where you can try out the service and see for yourself! 
When it comes to the remote it is your basic wireless remote that uses Bluetooth technology to talk to the Fire. It has your basic buttons for play/pause, fast-forward, rewind, menu, back, and home. At the top of the remote you have the “Universal Search” button which is voice controlled. For example, if I hold the button and say “Robert Downey Jr”, it will show all content related to him, however this is currently limited to Amazon or Hulu. This isn’t a major disappointment, but it would be nice to search all my apps and show related content as well. Overall the voice search is fast and recognizes my voice with no issue.
Value
Overall, the Amazon Fire TV is a great product, but for all you cord-cutters out there, I know there are other devices that are just as capable, however Amazon’s Prime content is rapidly expanding! If you use Amazon and want the best way to utilize Amazon’s services, there is no better way than a Fire TV. Along with the capable game playing, great performance, simplistic user experience, the Fire TV is a great option. Check out the Amazon Fire TV and many other reviews on Amazon’s site, here!
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A proper Nokia Lumia device running Android is coming our way, report says
We’ve all heard this rumor before, we’ve heard it numerous times in fact. All that hope and then we get Nokia X which is an abomination of sorts, not an Android device, hence the use of “proper” in the title. Abomination might be a strong word, but Nokia X is neither a Windows Phone nor an Andriod device. It looks like a WP and it is run by extremely limited Android platform which lacks some basic Google apps and it’s an entry level phone. Anyhow, we’re not here to talk about Nokia X.
When Microsoft bought Nokia it was hard to believe they’d ever release an Android powered handset. You might recall that Nokia X was also launched before that deal closed, although Microsoft did introduce Nokia X2 afterwards, so that did leave us some hope I guess.
Well, a known leaker @evleaks shared something rather interesting with us today. @evelaks is usually right so we decided to give this leak some attention. He teased us with the following sentence:
“Big news: Android-powered Lumia incoming, from Nokia by Microsoft”
Unfortunately we don’t get any more details when it comes to this leak, but this is still something. You might notice he mentions “Lumia” in that sentence, which leads us to believe this won’t be another Nokia X-like device but a proper Android offering by Microsoft-owned Nokia brand.
I don’t know about you, but we’re very, very excited about all this. As I said, this leaker has an amazing track record, so he definitely did get our hopes up. How about you, do you think this will ever happen and would you buy an Android-powered flagship Lumia device, presuming they don’t mess with Android on a core level?
Source: @evleaks
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LG releases the G Pad 10.1 worldwide
LG have today announced the worldwide availability of the G Pad 10.1, which will be made available initially in the United States, closely followed by Asia, Latin America, and Europe later this month.
Following on from their LG G3 handset, the G Pad 10.1 takes popular features such as Knock Code, Touch & Shoot, and QPair and brings them to a bigger tablet screen.
The LG G Pad 10.1 features a 10.1-inch screen (obviously) which is running at a rather disappointing 1280 x 800 resolution, and is powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon CPU. That’s coupled with 1GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, and a microSD card slot.
Whilst pricing hasn’t yet been announced for the LG G Pad 10.1, the company have said it will be announced for individual markets ahead of the launch dates in the respective countries.
Does the LG G Pad 10.1 appeal to you?
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Snugg Pouch Case for Samsung Galaxy S5 Review: who says pouches can’t be stylish and Functional?
The Samsung Galaxy S5 hasn’t quite been the revelation that Samsung were hoping for, getting lambasted by critics for a lack of innovation (perceived or otherwise). While it has likely still sold extremely well, it seems unlikely to have matched the same sales highs that the Samsung Galaxy S4 did, but with so many Galaxy S5′s out there, it means lots of them are going to need protecting. One of the classic considerations when thinking about a case for your phone is whether you really want to obscure the back (or front) of your phone; chances are, you chose your phone for its looks and most cases will obscure at least part of that look on a daily basis. A pouch, while not generally an intuitive option, does give you the flexibility to enjoy the unadulterated looks of your device while still having protection. So with that in mind, let’s check out the Snugg Pouch Case for Samsung Galaxy S5.
What’s in the box
There’s not much to the Snugg pouch case with only the pouch and a ‘Lifetime Guarantee’ slip included in the packaging. The pouch itself is made from polyurethane leather, which is similar to the Nexus 7 Snugg case we reviewed before (read the full review here).
Notable external feature of the pouch include a hold that allows the speaker to be uncovered, and a tab at the back which is connected by elastic to within the case; more on that function later. The pouch is also quite elegant, in my opinion; the Snugg pouch can be had in the pictured Black Leather, or the equally stylish Distressed Brown or Tan Suede.
How does it perform
Unsurprisingly, given the name of the company, the Snugg pouch produces a very snug fit for the Galaxy S5, full encapsulating the phone inside case. It can be a bit tight at first, but with leather, it’s likely to loosen up a bit over time, but I can’t see it getting loose to the point where your phone just falls out. In fact, if you put your Galaxy S5 into this pouch, it’s actually nigh on impossible to get it out by prying with your fingers.
That’s when the aforementioned tab comes into play. Being connected within the case, pulling on the tab allows you to pull the phone out of the case, only by about an inch or so, but enough for you to grab a hold and pull it out. It does take a bit of getting used to, but it is quite a neat system. When not in use, the tab is held in place on the outside of the case by a magnet so that it’s not just dangling around when not in use.
There’s also a pocket at the front of the pouch that will allow you to carry business cards, cash, or perhaps a credit card with your phone, though like the pouch itself, the pocket is quite tight and you won’t be able to cram too many things in there. In terms of protection, the Snugg pouch protects your device exactly as much as you would expect a leather pouch to; it will shield your device from errant scratches and marks, however, it’s not going to stop a disastrous fall down the stairs from being just that. However, it is a stylish option that still lets you enjoy the naked look of your device, so maybe that’s a compromise you’re willing to make.
What I like about the Snugg Pouch Case for Samsung Galaxy S5
I really like how the Snugg pouch case is put together; the leather is well fitted, the stitching is neat and tidy and everything seems to fit as intended. Sure, there’s not much that can go wrong with a pouch, but to know that the quality is there is always a load off. I’m also a big fan of the elastic tag that helps pull the device out of the pouch; it’s a simple yet effective system once you get used to it.
What I don’t like about the Snugg Pouch Case for Samsung Galaxy S5
While I’m a big fan of the elastic tab system, I do worry that it’s not going to stand the test of time. Snugg says on their website that it is a “Strong, elasticated pull tab”, but whether it will last months or years is up for debate. That’s not to say that it feels cheap, inadequate or is in any impending threat of breaking; it’s only a concern for me since the phone is so hard to get out without the tab. All-in-all, this is a fairly minor, neurotic concern.
Final Thoughts
Pouches have gone out of fashion somewhat recently, however the Snugg Pouch Case for Samsung Galaxy S5 certainly looks the part of a more stylish pouch for the present. It’s not particularly expensive either, coming in at $19.99 USD, with versions of the pouch available for not only the Galaxy S5, but Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S3 as well. If you’re after a bit of protection for your device and still want to be able to enjoy the phone that you chose based on its looks, the Snugg pouch case is a strong candidate for your hard earned cash.
If you’re interested in picking up the Snugg Pouch Case for Samsung Galaxy S5, you can visit the product page here. To check out Snugg’s other products, you can visit their main website here.
Gallery of Photos
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Vertu launches ‘Bentley’ collection of luxury smartphones
What happens when two British luxury brands make a baby? In the case of phone maker Vertu and automaker Bentley, the pair have just announced that they are working on “Vertu for Bentley” phones — with the first one due in October, followed by four more models over the course of the five-year exclusive partnership (sorry, no more love for Ferrari). There’s little info on what to expect here at the moment; all we know is that these special edition devices — presumably running on Android with nice specs à la Signature Touch — will offer exclusive Bentley content to their users, and that they “will be jointly designed by the Vertu and Bentley design teams, based on a relationship that goes far deeper than the utilisation of materials and cues on design.” Jeez, get a room, you two.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
Vodafone’s WorldTraveller makes roaming cheaper in eight expensive countries
Vodafone’s decided to do away with itemised roaming charges in eight far-away countries, today announcing that customers will be able to use their existing voice, text and data allowances in the USA, India, Australia, New Zealand, Egypt, Ghana, Qatar and South Africa for £5 per day. This WorldTraveller add-on complements Vodafone’s existing EuroTraveller offering, which covers allowances in numerous European countries for £2 per day (£3 after August 31st). However, both bundles fall noticeably short of Three’s Feel at Home service, which offers free roaming in 16 countries, although Vodafone does cast a wider net than its rival. To opt-in, pay monthly customers can dial 5555 when they touchdown in any supported country, and they’ll only be charged for days they use the phone.
Source: Vodafone WorldTraveller
Netflix is looking to pay someone to watch Netflix all day
Ploughing through your new favourite series on Netflix is something you probably enjoy doing after a working day, but what if it was your working day? You see, Netflix has a fancy recommendation engine that suggests movies and shows you might like based on your prior viewing habits. To do that successfully, it needs information from a special group of humans that goes beyond the basics like genre and user rating. “Taggers,” as they’re known, analyse Netflix content and feed the recommendation engine with more specific descriptors if, for example, a film is set in space or a cult classic. In short, these people get paid to watch TV all day, and Netflix is currently hiring a new tagger in the UK. There’s obviously a little more to the job than binge-watching House of Cards, but will perks like working from home, flexible hours and a free Netflix subscription, you’d be mad not to throw your hat into the ring.
[Image credit: keirstenmarie/Flickr]
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet
Source: Netflix Jobs
Leaked photos of the Huawei Ascend D3 show a device that looks a lot like the HTC One Max
Huawei was rumoured to be releasing a 5-inch device last month, said to be the Huawei Ascend D3, expect that device never eventuated. Instead, we get a leaked photo from what looks like the production floor at Huawei which shows a device that could easily be mistaken for the HTC One Max. The pictured device is allegedly the Huawei Ascend D3, which is rumoured to have a 5-inch, 1080p display as well a Kirin octacore processor. Apart from the price, $469, there’s not much else we know about the device, but it looks like a solid enough device, and might even pull a few fans looking for a cheaper alternative to HTC that still has the looks.
Above you can see a photo of the back of the device and it’s notable that there is both a camera and what looks like a slot for what was the fingerprint scanner on the HTC One Max. Maybe this is a crazy coincidence, but this isn’t the first time that a Huawei device has look suspiciously similar to a HTC device. Prior to MWC 2014 earlier this year, a picture leaked out days before the event showing the picture of a device that looks quite similar to the HTC One; we now know the device to be the Huawei MediaPad M1, which adopted the dual speaker configuration that HTC has pretty much made its own.
What do you think about the Huawei Ascend D3? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: iGeek via Phone Arena
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Xbox One’s Kinect sensor coming to Windows on July 15th
Microsoft’s plan to bundle Kinect with the Xbox One may not have been to everyone’s taste, but that’s not stopping it from expanding sales of the motion-sensing peripheral. In fact, you’ll only have to wait just over a week to get your hands on the second generation Kinect for Windows. We know because the company has updated its pre-order listing with the promise of shipment by July 15th. The sensor, which costs $199/£159, delivers better depth sensing, 1080p resolution, a wider field of view and various other improvements. Developers have been invited to publish their creations to the Windows Store, so there’ll likely be more Windows Kinect apps to download than ever before — good news if you’re not interested in the Xbox One but have always wanted to wave your arms about in front of your PC.
Filed under: Gaming, Microsoft
Via: CVG
Source: Microsoft Store (US), (UK)
Nokia by Microsoft may have an Android-powered Lumia device on the Way
Remember when we thought the Android-powered Nokia X was going to be Nokia‘s last hurrah before being completely consumed by Microsoft? Well, it looks like Android may still be playing a big part of Nokia’s ongoing future under its new omnipotent leader. Everybody’s favourite leaker, @evleaks, has today suggested that there will be a Android-powered Lumia device to come from the newly branded Nokia by Microsoft division.
This is probably most surprising as it was assumed that Microsoft had let Nokia continue with the Nokia X line of devices as an entry level package to help pull people towards Windows Phones, but having an Android-powered device among its most premium devices would be a revelation. It would likely be yet another forked version of Android, utilizing Nokia’s slowly growing Nokia Apps marketplace, though that does open up the possibility of being able to root and flash custom ROMs onto hardware that would otherwise be impossible to access for Android users. Just imagine a Nokia 1020 running Android…
Still, we still have to see whether this actually comes to pass, but it’s definitely something to look out for in the future. What do you think about the possibility of an Android-powered Lumia device? Would you be interested?
Source: @evleaks
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