Monthly Archives: November 2013

Get the KitKat experience with KK Launcher

November 25, 2013AndroidAndroidAlan

It’s been almost a month since Google unleashed the Nexus 5, featuring Android 4.4 KitKat. Since then, customers have scrambled to find ways of getting the mobile OS, or at least the experience of it, onto their current phones. As Geek News Central explained previously, all of the APK files can be downloaded and installed, though there a few tricks to getting Google Experience Launcher working. If you are feeling geeky, you can also unlock and root your phone, then install the ROM.

Now a new launcher from the folks at XDA Developers can bring the experience with a simple Launcher app. “KK Launcher offers a variety of customization options like setting up desktop text size, hiding the search bar, and modifying icon scale. The functionality can be expanded because this launcher supports icon themes designed for other launchers such as Apex, Go, Nova, and ADW”.

You can download the new launcher free from the Google Play store. The performance is pretty amazing. Scrolling is smooth, and transitions are handled quickly.

kk launcher

BlueFlame Named CES Award Honoree

November 24, 2013ces, iPhoneBlueFlame, chargerJenThorpe

BlueFlame has been chosen as an International CES Innovation 2014 Design and Engineering Awards Honoree. It is for their product called The Conductor that was recently launched. It offers you a new way to charge your smartphone.

The Conductor can power up your iPhone 5 very quickly via its magnetic charging case and sleek wall plate. Put the wall plate into a closet outlet and stick your iPhone to its magnetic charger. That’s all you need to do! You can also move The Conductor from one room to another, or take it with you as while traveling.

One obvious advantage of The Conductor is that it is cordless. It avoids the problem people face when they travel and have to untangle a cord before they can charge their phone. Vice President of Product Development at BlueFlame, Craig Small, had this to say:

“We spent a lot of time looking at what was missing from cell phone chargers and created The Conductor as a smart and simple alternative charging solution for the busy mobile device user. The Conductor represents the next level of hands-free, wire-free device charging. It is an honor to see our design receive this recognition from the CES Innovations committee.”

You can check out The Conductor from BlueFlame at the 2014 International CES. It will be on display in The Venetian. The Conductor will also be displayed at CES Unveiled: The Official Media Event of the International CES on Sunday, January 5, 2014, in the South Seas Ballroom C at Mandalay Bay.

Your Smart TV Spied on You – LG Admits Collecting Information

November 23, 2013LG, TVfeature, firmware upgrade, LG, LG TV, remove the data, smart tv, websitesJ Powers

LG – a South Korean company that makes multiple electronics including “Smart TVs” – admitted that their televisions reported back watching habits to the company. Even if the consumer selected a preference that essentially was suppose to deactivate the tracking option.

LG would monitor viewing duration, how the consumer selected channels and filenames on the connected devices (such as USB drives) to deliver better targeted ads. A blog by Doctor Beet first noticed this issue as he wrote about how he turned off the “Collection of watching info” to off, but still recorded how the TV continued to send information to LG.

Blogger Graham Cluley then posted this LG statement stating that a future firmware update will fix this feature. Further, the company will remove the data collection of USB and share drives while assuring customers they never used or retained this data.

In the meantime, if you own an LG TV and do not want information sent to the company, you can block certain websites including (via Tom’s Hardware):

ad.lgappstv.com
yumenetworks.com
smartclip.net
smartclip.com
smartshare.lgtvsdp.com
ibis.lgappstv.com

Dr Who 50th Anniversary

November 23, 2013TVdr who, scifi, TVAndrew

The TV show Dr Who turns 50 today with the broadcast of a major 50th anniversary special, The Day of the Doctor. Celebrating 50 years of the Doctor, it will star Matt Smith, David Tennant and John Hurt as different incarnations of the lead character, though some suggest the real star of the show is his space-travelling time machine, the Tardis. The 12th Doctor, Peter Capaldi, will shortly be taking over the main role in a Christmas special. The anniversary has been noted round the world, with even Google getting in the act with a playable Doodle.

The Doctor’s gadget of choice has always been the “sonic screwdriver” which has more functions that a Swiss Army Knife, rescuing him from many sticky situations. As you’ll imagine, there is plenty of Whovian merchandise, including this notebook and laptop case from the Science Museum shop.

The episode is going to be broadcast simultaneously across the world so if you are in the UK, tune it tonight at 7.50 pm on BBC1. In the US, it’s 2:50 pm ET/ 1:50 pm CT/ 12:50 pm MT/ 11:50 am PT on BBC America. Other countries can the check the listings here.

For me, Tom Baker, the 4th Doctor, will always be my Doctor, but I will be watching tonight.

Amazon Prime continues new shows parade as Betas debuts

November 22, 2013amazon, videoAmazon Prime, Streaming Video, TVAlan

Last week Amazon Prime debuted its first original series in the form Alpha House. Today, the trend continues as Betas becomes available to subscribers — no word on a potential Gamma show, yet.

The retail giant is following the formula put forth with the comedy series Alpha House. In other words, it is releasing the first three episodes all at once, and then doling them out one per week thereafter.

“Betas has been an incredibly fun show to create for customers. We have a stellar cast of comedians and actors, and we think customers are going to enjoy it”, said Roy Price, Director of Amazon Studios. “he chemistry these guys have on set definitely translates to the screen. While their characters are still very much underdogs, it’s easy to find yourself hoping they make it big in techland”.

Prime video is available via the web or through apps on Google TV, Roku, the Xbox, PlayStation and other set-top boxes. It is also tightly integrated with the company’s Kindle Fire tablets, of which two new HDX models are now available.

Logitech z50 Multimedia Speaker Review

November 22, 2013audio, hifi, review, Speakersaudio, hifi, logitech, review, speakerAndrew

With a few notable exceptions, the speakers on most mobile devices aren’t up to much, limiting any chance of an impromptu party rocking out to Spotify’s top 100. An external speaker is needed for bigger sound and the Logitech z50 Multimedia Speaker might be the answer. Coming in hot pink, sky blue and, err, boring grey, the z50 is intended to be fun without costing a fortune. Let’s take a look and a listen.

The Logitech z50 is shaped a little like a flower pot, with the speaker driver facing upwards rather than horizontally towards the listener. The picture doesn’t really show it, but the speaker is tilted at a slight angle and isn’t pointing straight up. On the more colourful versions, the grey band at the bottom is pink or blue.

The z50 connects to the sound source via a stereo 3.5 mm jack rather than any wireless technology and is powered via DC jack. There’s no option for batteries which is slightly surprising to me.

Enough of how it looks, how does it sound? I wasn’t expecting much from the z50 but it definitely exceeded my expectations. It’s quite loud when cranked up to full volume and the sound quality is good in the mid-range. Songs similar to Lianne La Havas’ Au Cinema still captivate, but Adele’s Skyfall sounds flat, failing to project the fuller range. It’s not unexpected with a speaker of this size and weight, but the bottom line is that the z50 sounds better than all the smartphones, tablets and laptops that I’ve ever heard.

Overall, I think that the z50 sounds good for the price but I feel that not having a battery-powered option restricts its appeal. The z50 would be perfect for moving round the house, taking on holiday or camping but needing a power adaptor limits its usefulness. The ideal solution would be a battery unit that took a couple of C cells and clipped to the bottom of the z50, giving power and sound on the go. This gripe aside, it’s a fun speaker.

The Logitech z50 Multimedia Speaker is available from Logitech and other retailers for GB £17.99 or US $19.99. Thanks to Logitech for the loan of the z50.

GNC-2013-11-21 #907 Gadget Time

November 22, 2013PodcastTodd Cochrane

So what Gadgets are on your short list for the holidays, on this episode I try and extend that list with some cool gadgets and electrical projects for the kids..

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