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.