The all new Blackberry Passport

(Make sure you check out the video review at the end)

Blackberry owned the South African market for a while until iPhone and Samsung's wildly popular smartphones hit our shores. While its star might be waning, it does still rank in the top 2 within the retail industry (that's the straight phone purchase market). It's not anywhere near as popular as it was with the contract buyers but Blackberry is making a play that will change that...well they hope.

I give to you the all new, rather eye catching, Blackberry Passport. 

It’s unique design and productive features will have you wondering if you should consider changing phones. Soon.

It’s built for productivity and Blackberry have included many features which will ensure that that sentiment is carried through its operating system and physical features. We’ll touch on just a few:

The passport, which got it’s name due to being the actual size of a passport, and is also quite pleasant to hold, brings back the tactile element of a physical keyboard which in itself is something quite refreshing and fun to use.

But they’ve gone one better, by making the keyboard a track sensitive trackpad. 

So I’m typing, whoops, I’ve made a mistake, I just simply swipe back on the keyboard and voila, the word’s erased. Shortcut words…simply swipe up under the word you want to use. Want more characters, swipe down in the middle. It’s a very cool feature!

The operating system is simple and not as involved as Android and comes with it’s own set of built in apps including Blackberry App World and Amazon Apps.

 

You see the reason for this is due to the fact that Blackberry offers a sparse array of apps compared to those of Android or Apple however they’ve tried to increase this number by incorporating Amazon Apps where you can get a few more apps but don’t expect to find all you want there either.

I did find an app called 1 Mobile Market which offers the more recognized apps like Instagram but even that can be dodgy. So we must still wait with baited breath.

Apple’s not the only one pushing for continuity between it’s products, Blackberry Blend allows you 

to seamlessly interact between your phone and computer even if you left your phone at home!

The Passport is the most powerful out of all the blackberry’s and boasts an impressive 3450 mAh battery which is substantially more than the 1810 on the iPhone 6 and the Samsung 5’s 2800. Over the past few days that I’ve been using it, it’s been lasting me easily into the following day before I have to charge it.

We don’t have the time to go through everything but I can assure you that from a productivity point of view, you’re not going to get much better than the Blackberry Passport. It’s solid phone with a bunch of features and I for one am actually torn to have to give this back…cos I only review, I don’t get to keep.    

The LeapBand

(Make sure you check out the video review at the end)

You know, gone are the days when you regularly see kids playing outside kicking a soccer ball or even climbing a tree, instead you're more likely to find them inside watching cartoons or playing games. One company has decided to use games to get kids back outside. The company behind LeapPad has reinvented the adult fitness tracker for kids. Think of it as a crossover between the 90's Tamagotchi 

Pet and a fitness tracker, rewarding the kids with points for tasks completed.

At first glance it’s a bit bulky, but for kids, the bigger the better, right? They come in a variety of colours and there are personalized pets such as a monkey, panda, dragon or unicorn that "live" in the band to help guide the kids through activity challenges.

Games like Pet Chef (collect the healthy food items), Pet Boogie (a dancing game), and Pet Salon (teaching proper hygiene) provide fun ways for kids to interact with their pets and learn about healthy living, while 14 preloaded challenges command kids to "pop like popcorn," "walk like a crab," and "wiggle like a worm" with the accelerometer tracking their every move. Additional challenges can be downloaded from the company's LeapFrog Connect app. Parents can then track their kids' activity through an accompanying app.

Speaking of which, as a parent, you can lock the watch so that during school hours it’s just a digital watch and then back to it’s normal fun self afterwards.

Overall there is no doubt in my mind that at around R450, you can definitely afford to get one for your kids especially if gets them outside and let’s face it some kids need to lose some weight. 

Apple's Launch - what you need to know!

What you need to know:

iPhone 6 & iPhone 6 Plus

• New iPhone 6: thinner and coming in 2 different sizes 4.7 in & 5.5 in
• Up to 25% quicker CPU
• Between 10 - 16 days standby battery life and around 1 - 2 days normal use battery life!
• 8MP camera with new sensor
• 3 different storage capacities: 16GB, 64 GB & 128GB

There's an Apple Watch!

• 3 Versions: Normal, Sport & Edition
• Works with iPhones 5 - 6
• Works as a walkie talkie...should be interesting
• Yes, it's touch screen, duh!
• Will only be available in 2015!

There are other things like Apple Pay which we don't need to worry ourselves about in SA just yet. The phones will be available from the 19th September. 

The NEW LG G3!!

The new LG G3 spread it's Quad HD screen across the entire back of The Venue's stage last night as media and special guests were treated to LG's latest offering. The opening of the night certainly echoed what LG was all about. Colour, size, sound and elegant design!

The G3 is a beast amongst it's closest rivals boasting a battery that will last you an entire day (can't believe how excited we become when a battery lasts a full day) which is impressive considering that it now needs to run a screen resolution that is now 4 times higher than HD! It's called, Quad HD. Lemme give you a run down of some if it's features:

Display
LG have reduced the size of the pixels and now offer 538ppi (pixels per inch) which is twice as good as FULL HD and with a 5.5 inch screen, it shows beautifully! The screen truly is amazing!



Camera
Even though the new camera is 13 MP, LG knows that it's all about the lens and have subsequently introduced 'Laser Focus' technology which focuses on an object in an instant! To shoot a pic, you touch the screen...and 276 milliseconds later, you have your photo. Also, the front camera, 2.1MP, has a neat 'selfie gesture' feature where you hold your hand up, make a fist, and 3 seconds later your selfie is complete!



Audio
I wasn't able to really hear the speaker properly last night at the launch but we've been told that once the music starts, your neighbours will also be jamming to your tunes. It has a new 1 Watt speaker with an amp booster.

Design
The G3 has a beautiful metallic skin which looks and feels prestigious and comes in 5 different colours to choose from. The user interface too has become more colourful and honestly, who doesn't like colour? The G3, like its predecessors, has the multiple use rear key and removable cover where you can remove the battery or insert your micro sim (up to 2TB)!

Phone Security
This is where LG truly feels that they've come to the party with an innovate way of securing your phone. It's called the 'Knock Code'. Basically you tap your phone's screen up to 8 times in a certain pattern and your phone becomes impenetrable! Clever. Although I think I'd just stick to knocking it 4 times...







Accessories 

Protective covers are a must for phones and LG have created a 'Circle Cover' which allows you to access 5 of your most used icons without having to open the cover itself. There's also the wireless charger and the 'Tone Infinim' headset. 










There are a multitude of other features like the smart keyboard, smart notifications, etc but I'll leave something for you to explore yourself! Be on the lookout for the G-Watch and the G-Pad which are due to be launched soon. Also, I was told last night by the GM of Mobile Communications, Deon Prinsloo, that we're in for something amazing from LG this summer...*insert twilight zone music here*

On the whole, if I didn't have an iPhone, I'd be hard pressed not to get the G3. It's simple, smart and stunning.

Bluetooth Audio Devices

Invented in 1994 by Ericsson, Bluetooth promised to change the world of technology by introducing wireless connectivity between devices. Initially this was developed purely for mobile phones to connect to computers, but as the years have progressed, so has the technology.

These days Bluetooth technology has crept into most aspects of our lives. Connecting to our car radios, hand free headsets, computers & even heart rate monitors but perhaps the biggest aspect of our lives it’s influenced, is our love for music.

NAD VISIO 1 Bluetooth Sound System

Say hello to this exclusively Bluetooth sound system. Manufactured by industry heavyweight, NAD, this baby can turn your phone into a portable nightclub! Well, except for the lights and the drinks perhaps. With it being priced around the R7500 mark you can be rest assured that the VISIO 1 will have your neighbours asking for an encore. Not only does it sound amazing, it claims to be the best sounding wireless Bluetooth sound system in the world, but it’s also great to look at and comes in 2 colours, white & black.

Now if this is a little too big or pricey for you, you could always go for something like this…

Philips BR - 1X Bluetooth Speakers

The much more portable yet much smaller Philips BR-1X Bluetooth speakers. These guys pack a punch and are perfect for a small pool party or even for ambient background music at home. This moving from outdoors to indoors is made easier with a little switch that adjusts the speakers accordingly. Retailing for around R1400, you can expect decent quality both in sound and aesthetics. They’re fairly rugged yet modern looking and come in 3 different colours.

And finally, if you’re looking for something much cheaper and much more portable then have a gander at this… 

Kanex Airblue

It’s the Kanex Airblue Bluetooth Music receiver. This little guy literally fits into your pocket and is ready to plug into any audio device using its auxiliary cable. Now the sound is obviously all dependent on what you’re plugging the Kanex into but for R400, it seems like a worthwhile sacrifice because you can also plug it into your car system, computer or existing home entertainment system. It’s also quite pretty to look at too.

Now there are many more variations of Bluetooth speakers out there but I thought I'd give you an overview of what you can expect to find and what suits you and your budget. 

Happy listening!

Alcatel One Touch - IDOL ALPHA

Alcatel One Touch launched it's flagship smart phone the 'Idol Alpha' at the beautiful Urban Tree in Kramerville, Sandton on the 1st July. It was quite a luxurious affair which, I have to admit, complimented the phone perfectly. 

It's not easy enjoying a phone that's not an iPhone but I had a near-exchange experience when I reviewed the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 with the Gear a while ago (the gear was rubbish but I really enjoyed the phone). There's something to be said about how user friendly and customisable Android is and using it on the Idol Alpha has been just as fun. 

From a hardware point of view, it stands side by side with other high end smart phones and as Alcatel's Country Manager Ernst Wittmann said: 'It will probably never shout as loud as some of our other competitors but what makes it a stand alone product, is it's design element. We've added some sexiness to it'. Their pay off line echoes that sentiment: 'Beauty lies in details'. True that, as the first thing you'll notice are the translucent bands on both the top and bottom which pulsate this white light notifying you of messages, missed calls and other notifications. Something so simple yet so elegant. 

Standing with SA's country manager, Ernst Wittmann

Some features you can expect:

• 4.7 inch HD IPS (in plane switching) Screen
• Quad Core Processor
• Scratch resistant glass
• Aluminium Casing
• 16 gigs of built in storage
• Radio
• Retail: R5,999

You can look forward to some great packages being offered from cellphone providers starting off first with Vodacom followed by MTN.

Look, it's not easy steering away from the fact that at the end of the day, Alcatel still have a lot to do to change people's perceptions of the brand. 'It's been a long road and a long wait of 4 and half years but I'm glad we waited until now because the Idol Alpha is the first product where we can go "Take a look at us"'! said Ernst. Exciting times ahead I tell you and I for one am optimistic about it's success in South Africa.

The Sense 3D Handheld Scanner

Just a quick story this week:

You might remember that a while back, we featured the Cubify 3D printer…

We got so much feedback on that episode that we can only imagine there’s an army of small manufacturers out there, just waiting for the chance to get making stuff…

The biggest question we got following that show revolved around how you actually get the 3D blueprint that tells the printer what to print…

That’s where the Sense 3D Scanner comes in!

What makes this scanner unique is that you don’t have to go to a store to get it done because quite literally, the power is in your hands! You see, the scanner is portable in that you hold it up and move around the object you want to print into 3D!

As this technology eyes the domestic market… the potential is clear – soon enough, you’ll be able to scan and print pretty much anything….

The big question though is, where are you gonna store everything you’ve printed?!

Your app & game guide to the Soccer World Cup in Brazil!

With the Soccer World Cup a mere 2 months away, it’s time to get prepared! We’ve got boots, apps and games to get you in the mood for Brazil!

First, let’s kick things off with Nike’s latest revolutionary addition to the world of football! If a sock and a pair of soccer boots were to have kids, the new Nike Magista would be it. It’s as durable as a soccer boot but as comfortable as a pair of knitted socks your gran would’ve made you.

With a boot this advanced there is no doubt in my mind that I’ll finally be able to bend it like Beckham! 

If you’re one of the fortunate couple of hundred thousand heading to the soccer world cup, then best you take your A-game with you in terms of apps!

• The first would be a free English to Brazilian translator app that’ll get you to the right train on time. It’ll tell people your name as well as help you get directions to your hotel. Just make sure you download all the in-app purchases BEFORE you leave South Africa other those horrendous roaming charges will kick in!
• Another useful app is the Travel Guide to Brazil which shows you the best places to visit as well as what to do and what not to do. For example, it warns you about the possible dangers of eating food from vendors! Ugh! Did you know that Brazil has 5 regions, 135 cities, 25 national parks AND 4 islands!? Neither did I until I found this app. Another great feature, it too helps with the language barrier by giving you basic phrases essential when travelling abroad!
• Finally, where would we be without a good game schedule! World Cup Soccer App has ALL the information you need. What match is playing where & when, a picture of the stadium as well as indicating what the score or scores will be!

If, like me, you won’t be able to get to the games, you can still get into the spirit by downloading Fifa 14 on the new Nokia Lumia! 

It’s a great way to get as frustrated here as you might do at the actual games themselves! The gameplay is as user friendly as a mobile game can get with easy to use controls and great graphics!

I hope there's enough here to keep you busy during the greatest game on earth starting 12th June, 2014! 

How to Reduce Data Usage!

(one of these days we'll have a screen grab with my eyes open...)

It’s funny how a couple of years ago you could quite easily get by with a 250MB per month data bundle from your mobile service provider. These days however you’ll be lucky to get away with 1 gig! Let’s not forget that if you go OVER your limit, you’ll be charged in the region of R2/mb! So, we scoured the net for a few tips and tricks on how to keep your data usage down to a minimum…

The first thing to do is to monitor your data usage and we’ve discovered a great little app called ‘My Data Manager’ which will do it for you. You can set your own limit per month and it will alert you when you’re reaching that threshold. You can also see what you’re spending most of your data on.

Browsing websites can drain a bunch of data especially when surfing websites not designed for mobile devices. To curb this extra expenditure, use an app like 'Opera Mini' which is designed to compress data and keep it down to a minimum. Even Google Chrome has this feature which you can manipulate in the settings menu of the app itself.

'Onavo Extend' is another such app but it compresses all data across your apps and will show you exactly how much data you’ve saved per month! It doesn’t work for streaming video content or Voice Over IP apps but trust me, it’ll still help. And here’s the kicker… the app only kicks in when you’re in a wifi zone – so it doesn’t chew up data…

Another element you should consider when purchasing free game apps is that these generally come with adverts that’ll randomly pop up when you’re playing. These use data. So either spend just a little more for the ad free version or, simply put the phone into flight mode.

Look, at the end of the day you just need to be internet savvy and know that streaming from Youtube is expensive as you’re looking at around 12megs / min for a 1080p video and browsing Facebook is gonna cost you around 1meg / page including opening your friends photos they’ve just posted! So just be cautious and use your common sense.