Let's Talk Tech
With a camera which performs VERY similarly to the Lumia 1520, we finally run the Nokia Lumia Icon through our real world camera test bench.
Bright scenes, Macro, exposure transitions, low light, and we spend some time to focus on the audio! Let’s check out this Icon!
Services people! I want to see more cool services!
Phones are plenty powerful, and it looks like Samsung is helping an experimental speed reading app hit the big time. Spritz thinks they’ve got the magic formula to help people become speed reading masters.
By flashing one word at a time, and aligning them to help improve recognition, Spritz thinks their system will be not only easy to learn, but should garner results quickly.
Samsung also thinks there’s some merit to this system, and will be including a Spritz app on their up coming Galaxy S5 phone and Gear 2 smartwatch. Building the software into services like the Samsung Email app, it could provide faster delivery for emails and text messages.
This is the kinda stuff which does actually make me excited to see a new phone release.
More info on the Spritz Blog, where they also have a demo of the Spritz service in action.
It’s funny to think that Google’s online Android store, dubbed Play, is only two years old. Tech moves so quickly that it feels like this branding has been around a lot longer.
Anywho, with birthdays comes presents, and Google has a few goodies on tap for you with app offers, free songs, and sales on albums and movies.
Hit up the Play store for more info, and wish them a happy second trip around the sun!
Consumers are getting hungrier for better service and data access. In Los Angeles, AT&T is pushing forward on wired and wireless improvements for consumers and businesses.
Over the last three years, Big Blue has poured almost $2 Billion into opening up new pockets of LTE for thousands of LA residents, and offering up fiber lines to over 40,000 business locations.
“Continued investment in fast and reliable Internet connectivity is critical for both quality of life and economic growth in Los Angeles said Gary Toebben, President & CEO, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. “Enhanced wireless and wired connectivity is an important benefit for residents, and the expansion of fiber-optic connections helps to level the playing field for small and mid-sized businesses across the metro area.”
Hopefully we’ll soon see more of that competitive spirit for residential wired services. LA is looking into providing free basic data service to all residents over the next several years, and we know Google is investigating a Fiber roll out in Northern California. AT&T has shown that it’s game to compete, matching Google’s offerings in Austin, so fingers crossed that we Los Angelenos start seeing some better opportunities than what we currently have with cable.
Full PR below.
Continue reading “AT&T invests more than $1.95 billion into LA improvements”
It’s time for the wrap up! I’ve been using the Lenovo Flex 20 for a couple months, and it’s been an interesting exercise in where the future of home and desktop PC’s might lead us.
Let’s take a look!
Related:
Shop for the Flex 20.
Flex 20 First Impressions.
Flex 20 Speaker Test.
One day I was browsing the Microsoft Store to see if there were any Mech Assault like games just out of curiosity. I used to have that really crazy controller for the Mech Assault game for my first gen Xbox. After about 10 minutes or so I came across Robotek! It’s not quite a Mech Assault game however it is a very fun and addicting turn by turn game with great sound and super smooth graphics!
Here’s the scenario: Humanity has fallen and the rise of robots is starting to take place. Your job is to take back the world from the robots one node at a time! When you fire up Robotek you will notice the super smooth graphics of this game and the sound quality which is really amazing! When starting Robotek you will play your first level as a tutorial so you can get the hang of the game play. Once you complete the tutorial then you can start taking back the world one node at a time. The game play is a mix of RPG, action, strategy and slot machine. You hit the green arrow and try to match all three of your weapons to inflict serious damage on your opponent. This is a turn by turn game so plan your strategy carefully! Just a friendly warning: Robotek is very addicting with its game play and graphics!
Here’ the feature run down on Robotek: Continue reading “App Review: Robotek by Hexage”
The courts are starting to catch up with technology, but I would still use a BOATLOAD of caution when using your phone while operating a motor vehicle in California.
Steven Spriggs was pulled over and issued a $165 ticket in January of 2012. He was using his iPhone to look up a map, but the officer wrote out the ticket saying he violated Vehicle Code 23123 which pertains to talking on a phone without a hands free kit. Specifically 23123 (a):
(a) A person shall not drive a motor vehicle while using a wireless telephone unless that telephone is specifically designed and configured to allow hands-free listening and talking, and is used in that manner while driving.
Of course most of what happens on our phones isn’t necessarily tied to talking anymore. The 5th District Court of Appeals sided with Spriggs, stating that this part of the vehicle code could have been worded clearer, and that it did not pertain to looking at maps.
We’ve won one small victory for common sense, however there are still plenty of reasons to exercise caution while utilizing your phone for navigation and communication while operating a motor vehicle. Continue reading “Drivers Can Read Maps on Phones in CA, but You Should Still Be Cautious…”