You searched for keyone • GadgetyNews https://gadgetynews.com/ Low Jargon: High Tech Fri, 29 Jun 2018 12:45:03 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.2 https://gadgetynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/cropped-icon-32x32.jpg You searched for keyone • GadgetyNews https://gadgetynews.com/ 32 32 BlackBerry KEY2 returns to type https://gadgetynews.com/blackberry-key2-returns-to-type/ https://gadgetynews.com/blackberry-key2-returns-to-type/#respond Fri, 29 Jun 2018 12:45:03 +0000 https://gadgetynews.com/?p=67467 GadgetyNews - Low Jargon: High Tech

BlackBerry Mobile has announced the availability of their latest button-boasting KEY2 smartphone. Following on from

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BB KEY2BlackBerry Mobile has announced the availability of their latest button-boasting KEY2 smartphone.

Following on from the success of the KEYone last year, TCL (holders of the BlackBerry license) have unleashed a new and improved version.

It seems that lots of people love buttons. Is it purely memories of previous handsets or are we fed up with designers whipping away mechanical switches and ports to only end up with a smooth, featureless oblong?

Well, with the KEY2, BlackBerry brings another button-fest! The button-mashing-bonus is that it offers myriad ways of doing things.

BlackBerry KEY2 refinements

BlackBerry KEY2Looking over the spec list, the KEY2 refines almost every aspect of last year’s KEYone, which was already pretty good.

The new BB is lighter whilst also retaining its predecessor’s robust construction. I am happy to see that the now familiar grippy, rubberised coating on the rear has been retained. It also keeps a 3.5mm audio port.

Furthermore, it also boasts the stamina of last year’s model so we can expect around two days of use.

The KEY2 also boasts a flagship-class chunk of RAM. The 6GB should keep app switching and multi-tasking sweet, smooth and speedy.

Armed with a 4.5-inch display, and improved, larger keyboard I am looking forward to trying it out.

The phone runs on Android Oreo 8.1 and offers microSD support for expandable storage.

Camera

One of the biggest updates compared to the BlackBerry KEYone is the introduction of the first ever dual-rear camera on a BlackBerry smartphone.

The dual 12MP cameras promise an improvement in auto white balance, faster auto focus, improved image stabilisation and new photo capture experiences. The BlackBerry KEY2 also introduces new capture modes such as Portrait Mode and Optical Superzoom.

Official launch

I am off the the BlackBerry KEY2 official UK launch party tonight so I hope to get some quality time with the new BB. Naturally, I shall share my thoughts with you.

Price and availability

The BlackBerry KEY2 is available now in Selfridges Manchester, Birmingham and Oxford Street London stores.

BlackBerry KEY2 in Black and Silver has an RRP of £579 GBP, and will also be available carrier-unlocked from June 29, at Unlocked Mobiles, BuyItDirect, Mobile Phones Direct, and Clove Technologies.

 

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BlackBerry KEY2 QWERTY smartphone official https://gadgetynews.com/blackberry-key2-qwerty-smartphone-official/ https://gadgetynews.com/blackberry-key2-qwerty-smartphone-official/#respond Thu, 07 Jun 2018 14:15:08 +0000 https://gadgetynews.com/?p=67130 GadgetyNews - Low Jargon: High Tech

We were impressed by the KEYone last year. Now, TCL Communication, the BlackBerry-brand licensing partner,

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BlackBerry KEY2We were impressed by the KEYone last year. Now, TCL Communication, the BlackBerry-brand licensing partner, has announced the KEY2. They say the KEY2 is “the most advanced BlackBerry smartphone yet”.

There is still plenty of love for the BlackBerry physical keyboard. Furthermore, there is still plenty of reasons to take advantage of BlackBerry Limited’s security and privacy enhancements.

The great news is that this all-new BlackBerry smartphone packs a number of features that are firsts for any BlackBerry smartphone too.

BlackBerry Key2

BlackBerry KEY2The KEY2 comes loaded with latest Android 8.1 Oreo operating system. Additionally, this will be BlackBerry’s first ever dual-rear camera smartphone.

Following on from the handy shortcut features on the previous phones, the new device includes the introduction of Speed Key. This is a universal shortcut key that hands you instant access to the apps, contacts and functions you use most from anywhere on your device at any time.

Design and quality

BlackBerry KEY2It is great to see that the KEY2 retains the build quality of its predecessor. You get a Series 7 aluminium frame and updated soft touch back that features a new diamond pattern. This gives the phone a premium look and feel. Moreover, it makes it comfortable to use as well as a giving it more grip.

The 4.5-inch touch display is protected by 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass and creates a more seamless design and edge to edge look.

Keyboard

Arguably the biggest USP of the KEY-series phones is their QWERTY board. This has been given special attention and we are told that the evolved keyboard has been improved to make on the go typing more immediate and effortless. Firstly, key height on the BlackBerry KEY2 has been increased by 20% for more accurate typing. The keys have also been treated to a new matte finish and fret design for optimised key spacing.

You also get an in-keyboard fingerprint scanner with updated mechanics.

Speed Key

The new Speed Key enables shortcut access to a number of functions at any time. No longer do you have to return to the home screen or search in an app folder to access your most used apps, contacts and functions. Just press Speed Key along with any of your customisable 52 shortcuts to instantly access your favourite features or call your top contacts. Naturally, flick typing for faster messaging is still present. You can also still use the keyboard as a trackpad to quickly scroll through emails, web pages and more.

Under the hood

Starting off with the BlackBerry’s great stamina, the KEY2 offers up to two days battery life.

Also on offer is 6GB of memory as well as a choice of 64GB and 128GB storage variants. Both can be expanded via MicroSD support.

This is all powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor. This bundles in Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 (via its USB-C port) as well as a new Smart Battery Experience. This learns from your daily charging habits and recommends when to charge up.

Cameras

BlackBerry KEY2Around the rear of the phone you’ll find a pair of 12MP cameras. Software takes care of auto white balance, faster auto focus, improved image stabilisation and new photo capture experiences such as Portrait Mode and Optical Superzoom.

With Portrait Mode, you can now capture beautiful portrait photos creating more dramatic and professional looking images.

In addition, Optical Superzoom makes it possible to capture better photos with greater details from further away. The Superzoom uses multi-frame capture to reduce noise on zoomed photos. Finally, BlackBerry KEY2 also integrates Google Lens. This enables you to quickly and easily search and get more information on things such as book reviews simply by capturing a picture of the book’s cover. This also includes details of landmarks, and such.

Security

BlackBerry KEY2It wouldn’t be a BlackBerry without a raft of enhanced security and privacy features.

The company are confident that the BlackBerry KEY2 is the most secure Android smartphone.

It comes preloaded with DTEK by BlackBerry that provides an ‘at a glance’ security meter. This shows the overall security rating of your device and provides a simple way to view how apps may be accessing your data and manage app permissions. The app also now includes a Proactive Health check feature, which enables you to scan your device and receive instant feedback on potential vulnerabilities and security optimisations.

Locker has also been improved to offer even greater personal privacy and control over your content.

The BlackBerry KEY2 is also part of the Google-led Android Enterprise Recommended program. This means that business users can buy with confidence knowing they’re getting the most secure Android smartphone experience possible.

Words

Alain Lejeune, Senior Vice President, TCL Communication and President, BlackBerry Mobile stated

Although there are many different smartphones for consumers to choose from today, most tend to offer very similar experiences without much distinction from one to the next. With the introduction of BlackBerry KEY2, we’ve created a distinct smartphone that captures all the traits that have made BlackBerry smartphones iconic, while introducing new innovations and experiences that not only make this one of the best devices for security and privacy, but also the most advanced BlackBerry smartphone ever.”

Alex Thurber, SVP and GM of Mobility Solutions at BlackBerry, added

BlackBerry phones are the world’s most secure Android smartphones. We design them for security from the inside out and we’re proud to partner with TCL Communication on the launch of their all-new BlackBerry KEY2. BlackBerry has been iterating and perfecting our approach to mobile security for decades, and we’re excited to have this new genuine, modern BlackBerry smartphone available for our fans around the world to enjoy.”

Price and availability

The BlackBerry KEY2 will begin shipping globally this month with the suggested retail price starting at £579 / €649.

For more information about the all-new BlackBerry KEY2 and to register for pre-order updates, please visit www.BlackBerryMobile.com.

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BlackBerry Fan League launched https://gadgetynews.com/blackberry-fan-league-launched/ https://gadgetynews.com/blackberry-fan-league-launched/#respond Wed, 21 Mar 2018 13:41:54 +0000 https://gadgetynews.com/?p=65943 GadgetyNews - Low Jargon: High Tech

BlackBerry smartphone fans are among the most loyal and passionate in the world, and BlackBerry

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blackberry motionBlackBerry smartphone fans are among the most loyal and passionate in the world, and BlackBerry Mobile from TCL Communication is launching its BlackBerry Smartphone Fan League just for them.

The mission of the Fan League is to find new and creative ways to engage with BlackBerry smartphone fans. They also want to improve awareness of new Android-powered BlackBerry smartphones like the BlackBerry KEYone and the Motion.

BlackBerry Fan League

bb fan leagueAs part of the Fan League, you will have a chance to win prizes each week, as well as monthly opportunities. Prizes will, of course, include new BlackBerry Mobile smartphones.

Additionally, you’ll have opportunities to participate in special user surveys and beta testing programs. This gives you a direct voice and input to the BlackBerry Mobile team.

blackberry_keyone_thumb2The BlackBerry Smartphone Fan League is a points-based social engagement platform that allows BlackBerry smartphone fans to earn points by re-sharing BlackBerry Mobile social media content. You are also rewarded by you generating your own content your BlackBerry smartphone, participating in surveys and recruiting new Fan League members. Those points will earn you chances to win prizes.

blackberry fan leagueFan League members also have access to exclusive user surveys which will play an important role in user feedback for future product development. In time, BlackBerry Mobile’s closed beta smartphone testing and user feedback programs will also be made available to Fan League members.

Initially, the Fan League is only available to BlackBerry Mobile customers in Canada, the U.S. and U.K.

Words

Alain Lejeune, Global General Manager for TCL Communication’s BlackBerry Mobile Division, said

Launching the BlackBerry Smartphone Fan League is our way of better engaging with our customers, rewarding their loyalty and passion for BlackBerry smartphones, but also giving them a voice that will shape the future of BlackBerry smartphones from TCL Communication,”

Find out more

To join the BlackBerry Fan League, head on over to this page.

For more information about BlackBerry Mobile smartphones from TCL Communication, please visit www.BlackBerryMobile.com.

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Win a BlackBerry KEYone – GadgetyNews YouTube https://gadgetynews.com/win-a-blackberry-keyone-gadgetynews-youtube/ https://gadgetynews.com/win-a-blackberry-keyone-gadgetynews-youtube/#comments Thu, 18 Jan 2018 12:44:31 +0000 https://gadgetynews.com/?p=64281 GadgetyNews - Low Jargon: High Tech

You may have noticed my pledge in the article about YouTube’s attack on small channels.

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subscribe and winYou may have noticed my pledge in the article about YouTube’s attack on small channels. Basically, subscribe to our YouTube Channel and win a BlackBerry KEYone!

So, just in case you missed it, here it is again.

We want to keep our site free, but we rely on the little income we get from the likes of YouTube adverts. Well, as of February 20th, that might end for us.

What is happening?

Thanks to YouTube’s new rules, any channel with under 1,000 subscribers and less than 4,000 hours of watch time over the past 12 months with be booted off the monetisation scheme.

subscribe to gadgetynewsI think it is a rather clumsy way of YouTube pleasing their advertisers who, naturally, don’t want their products popping up on hate speeches and extremist videos.

However, my thoughts and those of tens-of-thousands of smaller YouTube channels are not worth a jot to the giant video sharing site and their bean counters.

Subscribe and win

I really want to keep things going here so I am prepared to send one lucky subscriber a BlackBerry KEYone. It comes with all the original packaging and accessories and is unlocked.

So, what do you have to do to win this QWERTY-packing smartphone? Simply subscribe to the GadgetyNews YouTube channel.

If we get past the 1,000 subscribers mark by February 20th, I will message one of you through YouTube for your address details. It’s as simple as that.

blackberry_keyone_thumb2Don’t worry, if you have already subscribed you will still go into the prize draw 🙂

Just click the image below and hit that Subscribe button 🙂 Good luck, and thanks!

subscribe to gadgetynews

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YouTube war on terror threatens GadgetyNews https://gadgetynews.com/youtube-war-on-terror-threatens-gadgetynews/ https://gadgetynews.com/youtube-war-on-terror-threatens-gadgetynews/#comments Thu, 18 Jan 2018 12:42:51 +0000 https://gadgetynews.com/?p=64265 GadgetyNews - Low Jargon: High Tech

youtube killing small channelsI am still reeling from the news I received yesterday morning from YouTube. The email

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youtube killing small channels

youtube killing small channelsI am still reeling from the news I received yesterday morning from YouTube. The email sent out from the video-sharing giant threatens many YouTubers very hard.

YouTube informed tens-of-thousands of smaller channels that they are removing monetisation.

Basically, any channel with less than 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 hours of watch time will be bumped off from receiving any revenue from advertising.

GadgetyNews YouTubeGadgetyNews currently has 216 subscribers and therefore will lose the monetisation. We might not get much but it is crucial to the running of this blog. Furthermore, it enables us to cover shows and press events around the country.

We wish to continue to keep everything free to watch and read, however, YouTube is now making us beg you to hit that subscribe button.

GadgetyNews has been regularly adding to our YouTube channel for the past couple of years. My plan was to do update more regularly. Moreover, I was looking to invest in better equipment but this recent development has made me think if the need is there.
 
I am not asking for money – in fact I never even pushed people to subscribe to our YouTube channel – but the easiest way to show a little appreciation and support is for you to subscribe.
 

Win a BlackBerry KEYone! – here are the details!

The reason

I am not totally unaware of why YouTube is doing this, of course. It does have a good reason, although I think they have simply chosen the easiest option for them.

In the simplest terms, this is a sweeping change that YouTube has implemented so that brands won’t be advertising on videos which are created for hate speech, terrorism, and such. These generally have a small amount of subscribers (why subscribe and make it easier for people to track you?) and also small audiences.

Unfortunately, channels such as GadgetyNews and our friends, work hard to create content but also don’t aggressively push our channels. Getting just 1,000 subscribers is hard!

The real kick in the teeth is that YouTube said that, as channels such as ours receive little revenue from our videos, that we won’t miss it when it is pulled from us. It is quite the opposite. Many like me want to avoid plastering our sites with loads of advertising, annoying pop-ups, etc. Furthermore, we definitely want to avoid paywalls and other more ‘businesslike’ methods of getting help with our costs.

YouTube statement

Today we are announcing changes to the YouTube Partner Program (YPP). While our goal remains to keep the YPP open to as many channels as possible, we recognise that we need more safeguards in place to protect creator revenue across the YouTube ecosystem.

Under the new eligibility requirements announced today, your YouTube channel, Jay Garrett, is no longer eligible for monetisation because it does not meet the new threshold of 4,000 hours of watch time within the past 12 months and 1,000 subscribers. As a result, your channel will lose access to all monetisation tools and features associated with the YouTube Partner Program on 20 February 2018 unless you surpass this threshold in the next 30 days. Accordingly, this email serves as 30 days notice that your YouTube Partner Program terms are terminated.

One of YouTube’s core values is to provide anyone the opportunity to earn money from a thriving channel. Creators who haven’t yet reached this new threshold can continue to benefit from our Creator Academy, our Help Centre and all the resources on the Creator Site to grow their channels. Once your channel reaches the new threshold, it will be reviewed to make sure it adheres to our policies and guidelines, and if so, monetisation will be re-enabled.

Please subscribe

You would be doing me a huge favour by subscribing to the GadgetyNews channel on YouTube.

subscribe to gadgetynews

In fact, it means so much to me that, should we break the 1,000 subscriber barrier before February 20th – one lucky subscriber will be sent a fantastic BlackBerry KEYone as seen on YouTube! This is just one of the events I attended and was able to bring you the news before many of the larger channels. #JustSayin 😉

[youtube id=”voKcU9KAS5g”]

Win a BlackBerry KEYone! – here are the details!

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BlackBerry KEYone grabs the bronzer https://gadgetynews.com/blackberry-keyone-grabs-bronzer/ https://gadgetynews.com/blackberry-keyone-grabs-bronzer/#comments Mon, 15 Jan 2018 13:55:35 +0000 https://gadgetynews.com/?p=64181 GadgetyNews - Low Jargon: High Tech

BB KEYone Bronze EditionWe loved the BlackBerry KEYone and, judging by the awards, so did many others. TCL

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BB KEYone Bronze Edition

BB KEYone Bronze EditionWe loved the BlackBerry KEYone and, judging by the awards, so did many others. TCL is looking to expand the BlackBerry portfolio in 2018 and has started by adding an all-new colour variant and dual SIM version of BlackBerry KEYone – Bronze Edition.

The BlackBerry KEYone Bronze Edition will be released in the UK and other select markets across Europe, Asia and the Middle East in Q1.

BlackBerry KEYone Bronze Edition

Following on from the original and Black Edition varients, the Bronze Edition looks pretty sweet. I’m not one for gold finishes but I am digging this.

BB KEYone Bronze EditionThis limited edition model features a matte bronze finish and adds dual-SIM compatibility for select global markets. This makes it ideal for corporate users or frequent travelers.

The BlackBerry KEYone Bronze Edition has 4GB of memory and 64GB of internal storage. Additionally, it comes packed with all the security, productivity and reliability features that have made BlackBerry KEYone such a distinctly different and popular smartphone.

Check out our BlackBerry KEYone review

Words

BB KEYone Bronze EditionAlain Lejeune, Global General Manager for BlackBerry Mobile, said:

It has been less than one year since we formally introduced the world to our all-new BlackBerry smartphones and we’ve seen very strong renewed interest thanks to devices like BlackBerry KEYone and BlackBerry Motion. With new BlackBerry smartphones from TCL Communication now available in over 50 countries around the world, we have a solid foundation to continue building upon our portfolio in the new year. This means customers can expect to see at least two new BlackBerry smartphones from us later this year.”

Alex Thurber, SVP and GM of Mobility Solutions, BlackBerry, added:

BlackBerry phones are the world’s most secure Android smartphones because we’ve designed security into every possible piece of software. We are excited that TCL Communication has decided to bring the BlackBerry Motion with its outstanding battery life and its touchscreen interface to the United States, in addition to introducing a dual-SIM variant of the highly regarded BlackBerry KEYone for global markets. In 2018 we will be working closely with TCL Communication to roll out Android 8.0 Oreo™, including additional security and other features, to continue to expand the overall BlackBerry smartphone user experience.”

Price and availability

For more information about the BlackBerry Mobile smartphones from TCL Communication, please visit www.BlackBerryMobile.com

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Last minute Christmas Gadgety gifts 2017 https://gadgetynews.com/last-minute-christmas-gadgety-gifts-2017/ https://gadgetynews.com/last-minute-christmas-gadgety-gifts-2017/#comments Thu, 21 Dec 2017 14:50:47 +0000 https://gadgetynews.com/?p=63769 GadgetyNews - Low Jargon: High Tech

gadgety christmas 2017Looking for last-minute Christmas presents for the gadgety faithful in your life? Read on and

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gadgety christmas 2017

gadgety christmas 2017Looking for last-minute Christmas presents for the gadgety faithful in your life? Read on and let us inspire you.

Amazon Prime has saved my skin more than once, but don’t forget there’s also bricks and motar stores out there that need your patronage.

Gadgety gifts Christmas 2017

Every year tech is becoming the norm. Most of us don’t leave the house without a small computer, video and stills camera, music player, communication device and GPS. Granted, we call these phones these days but practically everything we use now is ‘smart’. There’s artificial intelligence (AI) to be found in toys, kettles, lights, and more.

You can have a fridge networked that will order food when you are getting low on something. Lights can be controlled by voice commands, as can your plug sockets.

So, the range of tech you can wrap as a gift can be overwhelming. So, here’s some of our top choices from this year.

Phones

BlackBerry

blackberry_keyone_thumb2BlackBerry made a come-back this year and both devices have plenty to be happy about.

The Motion is the one that will feel most familiar to Android users. It’s a regular 5.5-inch touchscreen phone with added BlackBerry-ness such as security, business applications and shortcuts. Many shortcuts. However, not as many shortcuts as you can create with their other phone, the KEYone. The KEYone is more reminiscent of the BlackBerrys before complete with a great QWERTY keyboard. Each one of these type keys can be assigned a shortcut too! Bonkers but handier than you think.

KEYone – £499

Motion – £399

Honor 7X

honor 7xI am actually using this new mid-ranger from Honor and it has already garnered praise from my colleagues. The Honor 7X looks and feels a lot more expensive than it is. The dual camera lenses (6-megapixel sensor accompanied by a 2-megapixel sensor) helps but also the great fit and finish of the device. The 5.93-inch HD+ screen is vibrant and bright and everything moves along smoothly thanks to its Kirin 659 paired with 4GB of RAM.

Review to come soon.

£269.99

Motorola Z2 Play

moto z2 play tripletLooking to go modular? The Z2 Play is another mid-range 5.5-inch screen mobile but it strength comes from its easy-to-add modules, or Mods. Powering the Z2 Play is a Snapdragon 626 mated with 4GB RAM, so it’s no slouch. However, the option of fitting a 360 camera, a Hasselblad camera, or JBL speakers, just to mention a few, Mods gives the Z2 Play special powers.

£28 p/m from Vodafone

Robots

Anki Cozmo

cozmo blocksThis is by far one of the most endearing droids we have had the pleasure of looking after. Cozmo is packed so full of kit it’s difficult to see how Anki fitted it all in to this little bot.

Anki is now known for its AI toys and Cozmo is no exception. He learns to recognise people’s faces, he learns from his mistakes and even plays with you intelligently.

The best thing is, Cozmo is sure to keep people interested as he can teach coding and will receive regular updates. I want one!

£160

Sphero R2-Q5

Sphero R2-Q5 coolnessDo you love R2-D2 but looking for a droid with a bit more edge? R2-Q5 will interact with other Sphero droids from the Star Wars universe and will even react to scenes in the Star Wars movies. It’s app controlled, of course, and that app also includes augmented reality features that place this R2 droid in to settings, including the Death Star.

R2-Q5 – £199.99 from John Lewis

R2-D2 – £120

BB-8 – £100

BB-9E – £100

Neato Botvac D3 Connected

neato-botvac-d3-connected-robot-vacuumNot all droids are there for our amusement. Some are actually useful!

The Neato Botvac range are pretty great and cleaning up after its humans. We’ve had the D7 do our bidding and, more recently, the D3.

These clever domestic droids will happily vacuum your room or rooms (as long as all on the same floor – they can’t do stairs yet). Their intelligent mapping means the more they work, the better they become. Also, they will spot when they get to the top of the stairs and stop themselves from hurtling down them. If it should run out of charge midway through a clean, it will scuttle back to its charging station. Once full of juice again, it will pick up from where it left off.

£450

Drones

JJRC H47 Elfie Plus

jjrc elfie plus blueThis neat little drone only costs £35 and you can even get it discounted using the code below. The Elfie Plus folds up to be stored in its own carrying case. You can either use its G-sensor controller or a smartphone app. The 720p camera is decent enough too. It is also equipped with features generally only seen on more expensive models, such as one key takeoff/land, altitude hold and real time image transmission.

Currently on Flash Sale – £26.34

Plus use code: JJRCH47UK for a discount (limited numbers).

Propel Star Wars drones

propel star wars drones boxedThese are a must for any Star Wars fan. Choose between the Speeder Bike, X-Wing Fighter or X1 TIE Fighter. The detail on these drones is amazing. Furthermore, they are so easy to control.

The experience starts right at the unboxing with audio clips from the movies triggered as soon as the lid comes off. More sound effects during fitting the battery and actually flying the drone keep you immersed.

They were £199 each but now they’re even better value!

X-Wing – £149

TIE Fighter Advanced – £149

Speeder Bike – £149

Smart home

Amazon Echo and Echo Dot

Walnut EchoLet’s kick off with Amazon’s Echo family. I use an Echo Dot every day and Alexa not only reads me the news and tells me how gnarly the London transport system is each morning, but it also controls my living room lights and smart plugs.

Voice commands become second-nature in no time and the Dot is easily hidden away should you want to.

The Echo is larger but does pack a decent speaker. The all-new Echo smart speaker has had a recent design refresh, boasts improved audio and a lower price point.

Alexa has added ‘Routines’, ‘Groups’, as wells as Alexa calling and messaging.

Amazon Echo – £69.99

Amazon Echo Dot – £34.99

Wiz lights

wiz lightsI have had the Wiz light bulbs plugged in to my living room and a review shall follow soon.

Smart bulbs are all very well but most require a hub of some sort. Not the ones from Wiz though.

Simply screw them in to your regular ceiling fitting (they offer bayonet or threaded options) and through the app, hook them up to your Wi-Fi.

Once that’s done you can even add in their Alexa Skill which means you can control your lights by voice. State “Alexa, living room on” and there is light. “Alexa, Living room off”, and the lights switch off. You can also control dimming without the need for fitting a dimming switch. “Alexa, living room 27.5% (or whatever level you fancy)” and the LED lights dim together to that setting. OK, so I have to take Alexa’s word that they are actually dimmed by that gradient, but it seems close enough to me.

Furthermore, there are settings on the app such as Daylight, Cozy, Relax, Sunset, Forest, Fireplace and much more. Each one of these changes the colour scheme with the ‘Dynamic’ ones, such as Fireplace and Ocean, adding flickering and/or colour cycles in to the mix.

£46.79 per bulb

LightwaveRF hub and smart plugs

lightwaveRF on offOver-doing it on the Christmas feast can make reaching plugs an issue. Why not tell your plugs to switch on and off? Thanks to the LightwaveRF smart plugs, mine do just that.

The kit comes with a neat little hub and allows the use of a multi-buttoned remote, but that’s old school. Hook it up with the Alexa skill and you have voice-controlled… well, whatever you plug in to the smart plug. Personally, I use it for a desklamp and some other spot lighting.

No more bending down to turn of the Christmas lights. Bliss.

£46.99 for the On/Off switches (smart plugs)

Wrap up

Well, we hope that little lot has helped you out.

Naturally, we have reviewed plenty more than that this year – we’ve not even mentioned Hi-Fi, TVs and Monitors, Wearables or Laptops – we just felt that the list above were more likely to be within the gifting zone. We could be wrong though, of course.

Anyho-ho-ho-ho, have a very merry Christmas, a cool Yule and an awesome holiday!

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BlackBerry Motion smartphone review – totally touchscreen https://gadgetynews.com/blackberry-motion-smartphone-review-totally-touchscreen/ https://gadgetynews.com/blackberry-motion-smartphone-review-totally-touchscreen/#comments Tue, 12 Dec 2017 15:51:49 +0000 https://gadgetynews.com/?p=63490 GadgetyNews - Low Jargon: High Tech

Announced in October and released last month, the follow up to BlackBerry’s KEYone, is the

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blackberry motionAnnounced in October and released last month, the follow up to BlackBerry’s KEYone, is the BlackBerry Motion. I have been using it as my daily driver for the past month.

The BlackBerry Motion continues the BlackBerry revival through a licensing deal with TCL.

The KEYone has already won over many fans who missed the QWERTY BB’s. Now, we have a more regular looking Android experience in the form of the Motion.

Sporting no physical keyboard but a full face screen, there are still enough quirks without the QWERTY. But, are these little touches enough?

Check out our BlackBerry KEYone review

BlackBerry Motion design

The Motion does feel solid with its aluminium frame. Although it is markedly lighter than the KEYone.

It retains the premium feel and the 5.5-inch display takes pride of place up front. The Motion measures 155.7 x 75.4 x 8.1 mm with pronounced bezels.

blackberry motion home buttonThe bottom bezel houses capacitive navigation buttons. Between these backlit buttons is a a physical home key that also integrates a fingerprint sensor. Oh, it also displays the BB logo, just in case you didn’t spot that.

The top bezel is slimmer with camera and LED notification light.

blackberry motion rightBlackBerry’s mappable convenience key can be found over on the right edge next to the power button.

blackberry motion leftOver on the left is the SIM tray that also takes a microSD card for extra storage. As the Motion sports 32GB on-board, then this is a very good thing.

blackberry motion bottomAt the bottom you get a headphone jack, downward facing speaker.

blackberry motion backThe back features a carbon-fibre style pattern that is also textured, but less so than on the KeyOne. The great thing is that this makes it more non-slip. Additionally, this finish doesn’t show fingerprints like so many other phones do.

blackberry motion topI like how the phone curves over at the top rather than being flat. This is one of the little touches that makes this phone stand out from the rest of the slab-fest out there. It’s just a shame that this bit is plastic made to look like brushed aluminium. Still, it looks good and it doesn’t appear to be brittle either.

[youtube id=”-eE2O3jA65M”]

The BlackBerry Motion is also water-resistant to IP67 standard. This means that it can withstand a dunk in water without fear of permanent damage.

BlackBerry Motion performance

Like the KEYone, the Motion has a trump card in its battery and stamina. The Motion is loaded with a 4,000mAh cell. Paired with the juice-sipping Snapdragon 625 processor enjoyed by the other BlackBerry, but this fully touchscreen BB gets a boost in the RAM and sports 4GB of the stuff.

[amazon_link asins=’B077486W98′ template=’ProductAd’ store=’gadgnews-21′ marketplace=’UK’ link_id=”]This means that it is slick in all the right places and you still get way over a day (I average a day and half on a normal stretch) before needing to whip out the charging cable.
 
All that being said, I would liked to have seen the Snapdragon 630 loaded in the Motion. That way it would’ve been just as efficient with slightly better graphics prowess.
 

Display

The BlackBerry Motion’s 1920x1080p IPS LCD packs in 401 pixels per inch. It looks vibrant enough, but isn’t the brightest panel out there. Viewing angles are decent but it does struggle a bit in bright sunlight.

You are able to adjust colour temperature via a slider in Settings. This enables you to tweak the screen for a more warm or cool look. Top brightness is good.

blackberry motion reviewAs with most LCDs, the only time you’re likely to really notice a signifiant shortfall in performance is in a dark room watching a movie.

In that situation, Blacks won’t appear perfect, they are good and contrast is solid.

blackberry motion touchscreenAdditionally, 5.5inch screens are able to be navigated single-handedly. Also, you can swipe down on the fingerprint sensor to pull down the notification shade just in case your digits can’t quite reach the top.

Touch responsiveness is decent and you’re tapping directly onto glass that is nano-diamond coated. According to BlackBerry this is a world’s first.

Overall, the screen is good enough to survive close insepection, especially at this price point.

Cameras

The main rear camera has a 12Mp sensor with f/2.0 aperture mated with a dual LED flash. It’s also great to see 4K video recording at 30fps on a phone that costs under £400.

Being BlackBerry, you even get a mode for capturing business cards, complete with optical character recognition.

blackberry motion camera and logoAnother quirk is that the exposure dial is always on screen, just to the left of the shutter button. I quite like it as I am able to alter the brightness with a quick gesture. Saying that, if you’d rather just point and shoot, you can do that too.

I found the camera pretty fast most conditions. There was hardly and shutter lag and mostly no focus seeking.

That said, image quality can be a bit hit or miss. I find this odd as it may use the same high-end Sony IMX378 sensor as the BlackBerry KEYone (and Google Pixel). BlackBerry hasn’t actually stated what the Motion’s sensor is, but its specs sound the same as those of the KEYone.

blackberry motion camera angleIn daylight, the Motion’s photos are fine. There’s enough detail to satisfy most people and colour balance is decent.

However, in mid to low light images become soft, losing the punch they have in perfect lighting.

At night photos look very soft. Also, the shutter slows down to quite a degree which is a bold move for a phone lacking optical image stabilisation.

It also appears to take photos before it’s actually focused fully. There’s actually a mode that tells the Motion not to wait for focusing, but it seems to happen even when this mode is ‘off’. Just take a few shots to be sure.

But, if you keep this all in mind, you can still capture passable snaps.

There’s a nifty trick too – if you tap (not fully press) the fingerprint sensor to take a photo it goes directly to the Locker app, bypassing any cloud upload you have. An excellent idea when storing passport details and other such things.

You can shoot video at up to 4K at 30fps, 60fps at 1080p and a full 120fps slo-mo mode. The top modes disable electronic image stabilisation, though.

Around the front of the BlackBerry Motion sits an 8-megapixel camera. Image quality is fine here for what you need it for.

Software

blackberry motion frontThe BlackBerry Motion runs Android 7.1.2 with BB’s light touch over it. We are promised Oreo in the New Year. Vague, but there you go.

There are, of course, some business-like extras thrown in. For instance, there’s a Privacy Shade feature that lets you illuminate just a small area of the screen. Great for keeping over the shoulder readers in the dark.

The DTEK app analyses your security and Password Keeper lets you keep all your logins behind a single password. Add BBM and you have several core parts of the old BlackBerry appeal.

You are also given frequent security updates, the likes of which you’ll only seen on a Nexus/Pixel.

If an app icon has three-pips below it, it means there’s a widget you can bring up by flicking upwards on the icon.

Do that and then you get the Widget.

As we saw with the KEYone, BlackBerry loves shortcuts. These look like app icons but are actually function shortcuts you drop on your homescreen.

You might have ‘compose email’, ‘torch’ and ‘new alarm’, amongst others.

Flick inwards from the edge of the screen and you get the neat Productivity Tab. This brings up a toolbar that houses your calendar, contacts, a task manager and BlackBerry Hub.

BlackBerry Hub is an app that aggregates your emails, WhatsApp messages and SMS messages, letting you see all your communications in a single feed. This is real useful if you manage a variety of comms channels.

I also dig the the BlackBerry Motion’s Convenience key too. This is the button on the side of the phone that your thumb will almost certainly presume to be the power button many, many times.

You can customise this shortcut key with up to three macro-like commands. They could be launching the camera, sending an email to a contact, locking the screen, or a whole swathe of other actions.

These turn up as little round icons by the button when you press the key, although if you add just a single macro, it’s executed immediately.

BlackBerry Motion review conclusion

The BlackBerry Motion is a tricky one. The KEYone is plenty quirky and has that physical keyboard. Those make it stand out from the crowd.

However, the Motion, apart from its curved top, has little to separate it from all its challengers.

That said, you do get outstanding battery life and additionally security.

I like it and it has been a solid performer for me, but it’s not a phone that I hold any particular affection for. This could be BlackBerry’s difficult second album.

Price and availability

The BlackBerry Motion is out now for £399.

Specs at a glance

5.5in (1920x1080, 401ppi) IPS display
Android 7.1 Nougat
Qualcomm MSM8953 Snapdragon 625 processor
Octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53
Adreno 506 GPU
4GB RAM
32GB storage, up to 256GB microSD card slot
12Mp, f/2.0, phase detection autofocus, dual-LED (dual tone) flash
8Mp front-facing camera
802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi
Bluetooth 4.2
Fingerprint sensor
A-GPS, GLONASS
4,000mAh lithium-ion battery
155.7x75.4x8.1mm

 

 

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Motorola Moto Z2 Play review – the best modular phone? https://gadgetynews.com/motorola-moto-play-z2-review-best-modular-phone/ https://gadgetynews.com/motorola-moto-play-z2-review-best-modular-phone/#comments Tue, 07 Nov 2017 14:20:03 +0000 https://gadgetynews.com/?p=62823 GadgetyNews - Low Jargon: High Tech

moto z2 play ukI have been living with the Moto Z2 Play for a few weeks now and

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moto z2 play uk

moto z2 play reviewI have been living with the Moto Z2 Play for a few weeks now and it’s time reflect on our recent life together.

As I pack the phone and the mods back up, it seems ages since I recorded the unboxing video. Ah, the excitement of a new phone coming in to the world.

The Moto Z2 Play looks to be quite a good contender on paper.

Not only is it reasonably priced as a SIM-free option, it is slimmer and sleeker than its predecessor. Furthermore, it is fully compatible with Motorola’s Moto Mod accessories.

Moto Z2 Play design

moto play z2 screenThis is an extremely lightweight phone. It easily slips inside a suit jacket. Granted, if you’re going to add the speaker module, for instance, it will get quite chunky very quickly. But, this a modular phone so just slip off the extra girth and shove that in a bag. Sorted.

Its vital statistics are 156.2 x 76.2 x 6 mm (6.15 x 3.00 x 0.24-inches) and it tips the scales at just 145g when naked.

moto play z2 leftThe Z2 Play features a fully metal design with brushed edges and a mostly flat back. Personally, I like it, although some of my friends said it felt like “half a phone”. I get that. But it doesn’t stop me from digging it.

I prefer the feel to the glass-y Moto Z Play. However, being all metal doesn’t make it any less slippy. I have juggled with the device a couple of times. No drops, thankfully.

moto play z2 camera bumpThe rows of visible pins on the rear, lower portion of the phone, are there for the mods.

I don’t mind them being exposed like that but, again, I can see how it might be a bit ‘Marmite’ in that you either like it or not.

moto play z2 rightOn the right-hand edge of the phone you have three small buttons for volume up/down and power.

The front is the Z2 Play’s good side though.

Its 5.5-inch display is surrounded by a fairly slim bezel.

moto play z2 angleAt the bottom of the screen is a fingerprint sensor. This sensor is more than for unlocking or Home, it can act as a gesture pad for replacing the on-screen buttons.

moto play z2 usb and headphone portsOn the bottom edge of the phone sits the USB-C port, and next to it is a 3.5mm headphone jack. Yay!

Sadly Motorola hasn’t gone for a waterproof design for the Moto Z2 Play, but it is splash-proof.

moto play z2 and moto shellIn the box, Moto includes a Style Shell. This is a thin fabric backplate that covers the back of the phone and those Mod pins. It also does a good job of reducing that camera hump.

Furthermore, it makes the device a lot more ergonomic to hold and a darned-sight less slippy. The Shell attaches by magnets, which is cool. However, sometimes it would get snagged on my jacket pocket and slip a little. No biggy though.

Moto Z2 Play performance

Under the hood is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 626 processor. This is mated to 4GB RAM and 64GB of storage.

A decent engineroom for this price, I reckon.

Display

The 5.5-inch, 1080p display is nice and sharp at usual user distance. Also, as it’s an AMOLED panel, blacks are deep and colours bright.

You get 401 pixels per inch, which is the norm for phones around this price point. That also means, sure, it’s not going to stand up to the closest inspection.

moto play z2 with moto 360 camera modThere are two screen modes to choose from, Standard and Vibrant. Standard leaves things slightly washed out and dull when compared with Vibrant. That’s why Vibrant is the default, I guess.

Viewing angles are also fine, especially for a phone at this price point.

Moto’s neat Moto Display feature is here. The cool thing about this bit of software is that it only lights up the pixels needed to show notifications when they come in. It also allows you to respond without unlocking the phone.

Processor

moto play z2 back with shellThe Moto Z2 Play has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 626 SoC with eight cores and clock speed of 2.2 GHz.

The main benefit of this chip is its efficiency and how it works to get as much battery life as possible. All this without sacrificing performance.

Considering the impressive battery life stats, coming up next, it really lives up to expectations.

Battery

jbl speaker moto mod sideSpec sheet numbers are all very well, but what can you actually do with a 3,000mAh? Well, apart from a slimmer body, quite a lot, actually.

I consistently got through a whole day without needing to recharge. When I was using it in a more ‘normal’ way, rather than testing things, I could even get through a day-and-a-half without a boost.

This was as impressive as the KEYone from BlackBerry.

Oh, it also charges up quickly too, thanks to the included Turbo Charger.

Software

Thankfully, it is basically stock Android 7.1.1. here on the Z2 Play. Also, frankly, it’s a joy to use.

I dig the swipe up app drawer and the circular icons. Naturally, Moto has added a few sprinkles of their own.

[youtube id=”zJCLrUBLcbE”]

I really like the battery level indicator right there on the main screen. The indicator is neatly ensconced around the clock. The marker recedes as the battery level falls, making it easy to see at a glance how much battery you’ve got left.

moto mod jbl speaker on standMotorola has also included its own Moto Mods app to handle the Moto Mods add-ons. More importantly, there’s really no useless bloatware.

The general ‘Moto’ app deals with customising Moto Display and the gesture-based Moto Actions.

Those Actions range from shaking the phone to open the camera, to chopping to turn on the flashlight. Additionally, split-screen multitasking is great for having two apps open side by side.

Camera

The Z2 Play has a respectable spec sheet in the camera department.

The 12-megapixel sensor and f/1.7 lens capture detail well. The wide aperture gives a lovely, natural bokeh effect and portraits are especially sharp.

motorola play z2 photoHowever, it struggles when the light isn’t perfect. I even found some daylight shots coming out even darker than expected. For the best results you need strong sunlight, but not in view.

motorola play z2 photo HDR
With HDR
motorola play z2 photo
Without HDR

I really couldn’t manage a decent night shot. That’s disappointing as the large pixels and wide aperture should’ve performed better. Perhaps it’s just down to my lack of skill.

The lack of OIS, something still rarely seen at this price, also becomes noticeable in lower light and when trying to capture 4K video. See the 360-degree 4K video below.

[youtube id=”fTgwRq7Gm_Q”]

The Pro mode on the Z2 Play doesn’t appear to add much in terms of functionality.

It’s worth noting here that you can give the rear shooter a major upgrade by fitting the Hasselblad Moto Mod. This costs £199.99 but hands you a 10x optical zoom and the ability to shoot in raw for superior quality.

Moving around to the front of the phone, you’ll find a 5MP selfie shooter that gets the job done. It’s fine for video calling or the odd pic to share on social media.

moto 360 camera modThe 360 camera Mod is fun to use, as seen in the video above.

However, again, it doesn’t dig poor lighting. It is capable in the right situations though. Click the Facebook snap above to be taken to the 360-degree version.

360-degree St Mary'sHere’s a flattened one.

Moto Z2 Play review conclusion

[amazon_link asins=’B074DZ1NLH’ template=’ProductAd’ store=’gadgnews-21′ marketplace=’UK’ link_id=”]The Moto Z2 Play offers great value for money, and has enough going for it that I’d be happy to recommend it to anyone who values battery life and a clean software experience.
 
This is also looks to be the best option to get into modular phones. The JBL Sound Booster 2 speaker is great. I also really like the game controller Mod.
 
I reckon if you spent more time with the camera it would be possible to capture some great shots. But you will have to invest as simply pointing and shooting gave mixed results.
 
As an all-rounder at a reasonable price, however, it is more than competent.
 

Moto Z2 Play price and availability

 
The Moto Z2 Play is available right now over on Vodafone. Price plans start at £28 per month with £0 up front.

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BlackBerry Motion water resistant all-touch phone https://gadgetynews.com/blackberry-motion-water-resistant-touch-phone/ https://gadgetynews.com/blackberry-motion-water-resistant-touch-phone/#respond Wed, 18 Oct 2017 12:55:55 +0000 https://gadgetynews.com/?p=62375 GadgetyNews - Low Jargon: High Tech

TCL is back with another BlackBerry smartphone. The BlackBerry Motion will be available very soon.

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blackberry motionTCL is back with another BlackBerry smartphone. The BlackBerry Motion will be available very soon.

The BlackBerry brand is generally synonymous with keyboards. The KEYone rocks a nifty board and I am still enjoying it.

However, BlackBerry has been known to dabble in totally touchscreen devices. This brings me nicely to its latest offering.

The BlackBerry Motion is an all-touch smartphone coming to the UK and other select markets soon.

BlackBerry Motion

It might not be the first BB to have no physical QWERTY buy it is the first to offer IP67 water and dust resistance.

It also has “anti-scratch display” technology, according to TCL.

blackberry motion touchscreenFurthermore, it is packing the largest battery ever in a BlackBerry. Now, the KEYone has impressive stamina, and the Motion boasts around 32+ hours of mixed use.

Moreover, thanks to Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 support, you can charge that 4,000mAh battery up to 50% in roughly 40 minutes via its USB Type-C charger.

Topline specs

blackberry motion frontThe BlackBerry Motion is equipped with a 5.5-inch Full-HD display. It has an aluminium frame with a a soft-grip textured back.

The phone runs on Android 7.1 Nougat with an Oreo update coming sometime in 2018.

Also, like the BlackBerry KEYone, it has a “hardened operating system”. In other words, it’s packing BlackBerry’s own security apps and features. These are pretty handy and a definitely selling point for BlackBerry blowers.

Hardened OS

That hardened operating system includes a personal Locker where you can store documents and photos to an internal storage area that requires the a PIN code or fingerprint to access.

Locker mode even allows you to capture images and then save them to the internal storage area. That way they are not automatically saved to a cloud.

TCL has also included a customisable Convenience key on the device.

Price and availability

The phone is now available for pre-order from Carphone Warehouse for £399.

In November, it will be available from Selfridges, John Lewis, Dixons Travel, Currys PC World, Amazon, Very, and Littlewoods.

For more information about BlackBerry Mobile, please visit www.BlackBerryMobile.com.

 

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