Monthly Archives: July 2014

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Screens Will Bend!

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Displays have certainly gone through changes within the years. From the black and white screens on your old “much-larger-than-it-should-be” TV, to the colour TV, to the handheld devices like your phone, then to clearer colourful screens on small devices, to High definition screens on your flatscreen TV and your phones, 3D screens, Quad High Definition. Now it is changing again and many big companies have been working hard to make sure they find the next thing first.

LG Flexible OLED Screen
LG Flexible OLED Screen

Well drum roll please, the next big thing is a screen that bends. Yes, a screen that you can bend without breaking it. In fact, LG has just announced an almost paper like screen that you can roll cylindrically without affecting its functions. They take pride in the fact the 18 inch screen can roll into a cylinder with a 6cm diameter (that would be the cylindrical size of your typical air freshener can). They are not the first though, as Samsung had announced they would be making bendable screens in 2013.

As The Computer Potato only brings you information in a simple way, there is not much to be said about this technology yet. All we know about them is still technical at this stage.

The Use; Well you might think there is little use for this, but there are quite a few. One of them is viewing angle. Generally screens are dim when light reflects on them, with the “bendy” screens you can easily bend it into view.

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Conclusion; Even though this is a very good idea, we won’t be rolling our phones into a cylinder any time soon. Why? Even if the screen bends, the other components of the device cannot so they have to attach heavily on one side (not ideal for ergonomics), until we find a way to make everything bendable in the future.

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Project Ara Will Change Everything!

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Fancy making your own phone? Yeah, you read right, make your own phone. Not to worry you will not be buying your own factory to create the phone, rather you will be able to customise your own phone thanks to a project named Project Ara by Google. Project Ara is looking to provide a build-your-own smartphone with which users can mix and match features themselves. Users will get an empty phone frame with a screen, and can add or remove modular parts of the handset to make up the phone of your dreams. You don’t get it? Think of it as a Lego box and from the pieces you are making a fully functional phone.

Making Your Own Phone Like A Pro
Making Your Own Phone Like A Pro

History; Project Ara was started by Google subsidiary Motorola Mobility with the goal of offering a highly customizable smartphone based on open hardware. Motorola Mobility was later acquired by Lenovo, but Google retained the Project Ara effort, which is now part of the company’s Advanced Technology and Projects (ATAP) division.

Finished Phone

Production; Google has said the snap-on modules (or Lego like bricks) will be mass-produced via 3D printing. 3D Systems is Google’s exclusive printing partner for Project Ara. 3D Systems has said Project Ara’s success could depend on the modular parts available, and the ability to mass produce those components in time.

How it will work; Ara phones are going to be built using modules inserted into metal endoskeletal frames known as “endos”. The endos will be the only component in an Ara phone made by Google. It acts as the switch to the on-device network linking all the modules together. You can then upgrade your phone by changing the modules connected to it and viola; you have a new powerful phone.

You Decide What Is In Your Phone

This is a great idea as you spend less to keep a new phone, you can decide to change the screen, or the processor, the battery or all of it without buying the whole phone. If it is ever commercial, it is the best idea ever! Gone will be the days of losing that phone case you are sentimental to because a newer model of your phone is out. You will be able to hold on to your “old-new” phone until it actually gives up or you decide to change it yourself, not forced to.

The Best Idea Since Smartphones
The Best Idea Since Smartphones
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IOS 8 Is Coming With A Change!

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Well finally Apple’s flagship system that runs on all Ipads, Iphones and Ipods has been given a facelift in the anticipation of the new set of devices rumoured to be released in September, like the IPhone 6. IOS is beginning to listen to the users’ cry to feature functions that will make the life of their users easier. Many features were announced in June but I have put together those that I think will make it a happy system to use.

Battery life improvement; The new software is said to make your battery life last longer, so you can enjoy your devices for more time before you need a charge.

Touch Login; Apple, in their last phone, blessed users with an unlocking system where you print your finger on the home button and your phone unlocks. Now they are taking it a step further where, users can use their fingerprints to login to applications. 

Keyboard getting personal; Apple is now letting third party apps run keyboards on their systems, something that was never allowed in the past. This means your apps can customise their keyboards within the app or you can download keyboards on your phone from the App Store.

Third Party Keyboard

Your phone is healthier; Your new software will collect more data about your activities, and not just collect it, it will also make sense of it and push it to a built in health app on the phone. Apple has also confirmed this will work together with wearables not unlike the nike fuelband to better help with the collection and analysis of your activities. 

Sharing is easier and personal; This is my favourite feature in the announcement. Long have I loathed apple for locking down their devices in the sharing aspect. This is changing now even though it is not where we want yet. You can setup your family on your device and this will make sharing instant to the everyone in the family. Making it easier to share your moments with your loved ones.

Family Sharing

Your phone is smarter around you; Your phone will now learn about you and customise itself to you in notifications and even your typing habits. This is something Androids have always had and improved in their systems. Also, all your apple devices will seamlessly connect and share data, so you can easily pick up on your MAC where you left off on your phone.

Your Personal Phone

It is a shame not all devices can get this update though, only the iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5s, iPod touch® 5th generation, iPad 2, iPad with Retina® display, iPad Air™, iPad mini™ and iPad mini with Retina display will.

Apple has definitely made an effort to make this their best system ever. As for me, until I can run and share anything on my “idevice”, I will be sticking with other open systems like the Android. For the I-lovers, these features should make you I-happier.

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Desktops Over Laptops?

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Everyone wants a laptop now more than they want a desktop. Many years ago the sales of laptops started beating desktops and are still today. The reason mostly is because of the portability and mobility of laptops as we need to move around more with our entertainment and work. Don’t write off the desktop from your mind though, as there are benefits of buying a desktop too.

First reason will be the power you get from desktop computers. They mostly come with faster processors and have more memory to run your software application smoothly and efficiently.

Desktops can be small too. If you thought desktops are always big, look at this very powerful desktop that can almost fit on a palm.

Fujitsu Esprimo Q920
Fujitsu Esprimo Q920

 

For the more techy guys, you have many reasons to get a desktop as you can easily upgrade what is inside it compared to a laptop. Desktops can take more memory, hard drives, more graphic power and even change the power source. Some of these would almost be impossible to change in a laptop. As a gamer that constantly needs more power, the desktop will sound as a good choice.

When a desktop breaks, it is easier to take apart and easily clean or replace parts than in laptops. Most desktops also use standard parts, so you can easily replace them with cheap compatibles.

Comparing power for power, desktops are easily cheaper than laptops. With the above characteristics, it is easy to see why.

So unless mobility is ultimate for you, desktops are generally faster, more powerful, sometimes cheaper and a good idea.

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Want A Smart TV? Read First

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In case you don’t know, smart TVs are TVs that can access the internet, update your viewing content, connect to your home systems  and even run apps to enhance your entertainment.

You hear about smart TVs everywhere now. It has almost become a norm to have one. Your friends are talking about it, and you wished you had one. Well, have no fear, you don’t need to splash out another £500 pounds to get yourself one.

There are devices now that you can get and connect to your TV and it makes your old TV “smart”. There are many of them out and they are all unique and different in what they offer. You just need to research into what you want to be watching or listening to and you will find the set-top box, as they are called, that will fulfil your needs.

Don’t be scared for your pockets, the price range is from £30 to as much as £140. They all offer almost similar services so you won’t go wrong if you went for the cheaper one. Most of them run Android and you will find others running other systems.

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I will recommend anyone that runs android because they are more scalable, easy to use, cheap and flexible for your entertainment needs. They come with built in apps that will make your viewing and listening experience worthwhile. You can also easily go the Play store to download your favourite apps like Netflix and other video and music apps to enjoy. Some won’t let you download any app though, they have their own store where you can add manufacturer specific apps to the system.

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What you need is a TV that has an HDMI connection and you are ready to use and even browse the internet on your old TV. Set-top boxes come with remote controls or keyboards to easily control them.

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Where to buy is easy, you can do a quick search on google and you will see a list of the common ones out there. You can also go to your local electrical store and ask for recommendations. Happy Viewing

 

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The Internet Is Set To Cast More Webs!!!

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“The internet of Things” is everywhere. Well it is going to be everywhere, literally. It is becoming a topic everyone is talking about. Do you care about what it means? Well you should, because it is pushed to be what will take over our lives as we know it. The topic is very technical, and even so now that it is still in the development stage. However, like always, the Computer Potato is here to simplify even the most complex technological problems.

Look at it this way; there are so many devices around the world now.  Every smartphone, desktop, laptop and even watches (Click to Read about Smartwatches) can all connect to the internet via your mobile network or your home WiFi. So, what if we could connect every single electrical device to the internet? They would be able to actually talk to each other and share valuable information. I am not just talking about your TV, or watch. I am talking your electrical toothbrush, your air conditioning unit, your sewing machine, even your clothes!

How does that benefit anybody do I hear you ask? Well imagine your alarm clock wakes you up and sends information to your heater to start heating your bathing water or make you a nice lukewarm bath, just like you like it. After your bath, the bathtub sends information to your cooker that you have left the bathroom so that it gets the stoves ready for you will soon be making breakfast. After breakfast your house alarm sends information to your car to meet you in front of the house because you are about to leave the house for work. Should I go on? I am sure you get the gist of it already. Even though it sounds like a scene from Bill Gates house in a Marvel studios movie, but today the groundwork for this system is already building up.

If you think like me, I know you are asking “what about security?”. You might be thinking “I will now be getting SPAM in my car, or even my toaster is going to be hacked!” Well all these issues are being looked into and the whole concept of IoT (Internet of Things) won’t be put in place unless the technological giants pushing the idea have come together to iron out any problems

Even though it is an idea that sounds absurd to us today, I am certain the benefits of IoT will be far greater than the issues it brings. And it will help us interact with our environment even more than we can today. We might be putting on more pounds though- and I don’t mean money- as we would all be doing far less!

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The New And Slightly Improved Microsoft Surface 3

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Here it comes, the tablet that might take over your laptop. The Laptop that can take over your tablet. Confused yet? Well that is not the intention of hybrid computers (click to read about hybrid laptops).

The Microsoft surface pro 3 is the third instalment – as the name implies- of the move by Microsoft to create a device that you will take with you everywhere.

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It has a 12 inch screen that has an impressive and improved resolution of 2160 x 1440. Your videos, images and graphic work would look stunning in the ClearType Full HD Plus Display

 

The main issue users of the first and second version of the Surface pro had was the battery life, but now Microsoft is promising 9 hours of battery. If this is to be true in real life environment, then you should be able to use your device for almost a day without needing a charge in normal use.

 

They come with the latest generation of processors (the 4th generation chips) so you can work and play faster.

 

You can get them with 4GB memory for running your programs and apps or you can go for the higher end that has 8GB for even better and more efficient multi-tasking

 

The hard drive can be from 64 to GB to 512 GB depending on how much you want to store on your device and how much you are ready to pay for it of course. Also you can increase that capacity with a micro SD

Prices start at £639 and it is ready to pre-order at the official Microsoft website. Happy buying!