Author: Danielle

What do an all-singing, all-dancing do-it-all flagship phone (with a lofty price tag) and an ‘affordable’ high-end handset have in common?

The iPhone XR is the biggest (and cheapest) hit of the three phones launched by Apple, and we’ve now learned the top-of-the-range Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus was the most popular handset for those who pre-ordered one of the new S10 trio of handsets ahead of their March 8 release.

Two high-end phones, both arrived as part of a trio, both aimed at different audiences at different price points, but both with potentially more in common than you may think.

Stealing the limelight

When Apple took to the stage on September 12 last year to launch its first ever trio of handsets there was excitement among its fans, but not necessarily for the flagship iPhone XS and XS Max.

Instead, much of the pre-launch hype and post-launch sales revolved around the new entry to Apple’s line – the iPhone XR.

Billed as a more-accessible flagship, the iPhone XR shared many of the features of its more expensive siblings while offering a price point which was comfortably lower – although still far from “cheap”.

The iPhone XS and XS Max meanwhile, felt glossed over a little in the critical response, partially due to their similarity to the iPhone X – the phone they were replacing. 

The improvements were incremental, and didn’t offer a huge amount of new appeal for those looking to upgrade.

The XR, on the other hand, captured the attention of masses, giving more people hope of being able to afford a new iPhone. 

In fact, it was so popular that it led to Apple VP of product marketing, Greg Joswiak telling Reuters in November 2018 that “since the iPhone XR became available, it’s been the best-selling iPhone each and every day that it’s been on sale”.

You’d think then, on this evidence, the Samsung Galaxy S10e would be in for a similarly positive reception, but actually it seems to be quietly sitting in the shadow of its siblings.

New enough to be exciting

The Samsung Galaxy S10e hasn’t featured prominently in post-launch coverage, or in what we’ve witnessed people searching for online, with interest in the Galaxy S10 and S10 Plus comfortably outstripping it. 

At first glance it seems odd. The S10e is priced at the same level as the iPhone XR, and both devices offer up a healthy portion of flagship features to keep the more price-conscious buyer interested. 

Dig a little deeper, though, and it becomes apparent why the cheapest S10 model isn’t getting the same adulation as its iPhone counterpart.

Firstly, there’s no novelty factor to Samsung launching a more affordable device. While Apple had never offered three devices at the same time before, Samsung has been churning out mid-range and budget handsets in huge numbers for years.

Just look at the newly-launched Galaxy A30 as an example of a similar-looking Galaxy phone to the flagship models.

The brand is known for offering affordable mobiles, and thus a new ‘affordable’ device from the South Korean giant isn’t showstopping in the same way as the XR was for Apple.

However, there’s a second part in play here. The Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10 Plus manage to offer several exciting upgrades over the S9 series.

The even-bigger screen with new Infinity-O display (where the front facing camera is embedded into the display), in-display fingerprint scanner, Wireless PowerShare and triple rear camera setup with a super-wide angle lens ensures there are plenty of new (for Samsung) headlining features to shout about.

Add to that the fact the Galaxy S10 Plus starting price is less than the iPhone XS (yes, not even the XS Max), and in direct comparison it looks like a solid buy for those on the hunt for a featured-packed flagship.

In both the case of the iPhone XR and Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus, there’s enough of a change on each to entice fans to spend a little more to get a newer version from their favorite brand.

On the one hand, it shows the difference in desire between Apple and Samsung customers – the former perhaps wanting to spend less to just get an all-screen iPhone, and the latter wanting to spend as much as possible to get the greatest upgrades.

With consumers more willing to hold onto older phones, it takes more than just incremental changes to make a difference these days – attractive reasons to buy (and make a difference to users’ lives) is critical.

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The German telecoms regulator is to make spectrum available for local 5G services, paving the way for industrial giants and businesses to build private networks.

The Bundesnetzagentur (BNetzA) will make spectrum in the 3.7-3.8GHz band available for businesses and this will be separate to the upcoming auction of 5G airwaves for mobile operators due to start later this month.

The private spectrum will not even be auctioned, with BNetzA assigning it to applicants on request.

Private 5G networks

“There is great potential for 5G, especially in the industrial area,” BNetzA President Jochen Homann is quoted as saying. “We want to make frequencies available for companies to build local networks that exactly meet their needs.”

The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is one of the most revolutionary uses cases for 5G. Next generation networks will offer the capacity and low latency to connect millions of sensors in close proximity, enabling organisations to collect more data, make real time decisions and enable a high degree of automation.

This is already possible to a degree already with 4G – Ocado has used private 4G infrastructure and unlicensed spectrum in its facilities – but 5G will take this to another level.

However one concern is that it will take time for operators to upgrade their networks to support IIoT. Analysts suggest that the initial focus on 5G consumer services means radio upgrades have been the priority, rather than the core and transport improvements demanded for industrial use cases.

This explains the desire for local 5G networks. Several major industrial firms and automotive companies have expressed an interest in constructing private infrastructure, with or without the involvement of operators.

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If you’ve bought any second-hand tech, like a smartphone or tablet, you may struggle to get gadget insurance cover as lots of companies don’t cover anything but gadgets bought new.

But that doesn’t mean you need to be put off from buying a second-hand bargain if insurance cover is a must, as there are still ways to keep you covered. With second-hand iPhones, for example, still costing hundreds of pounds, lots of sage people will want iPhone insurance.

Why insurance companies don’t generally cover second-hand tech makes sense when you think about it – if the company doesn’t know the history of the device it’s tough to assess how long it will last. A payout might come shortly after, due to damage attained without the new owner’s use, like water damage that could take effect in the longer term. But you could still get cover.

Check out our gadget insurance explainer here so you have a good knowledge of the general world of tech insurance. Then read on to find out about what you need to know when insuring second-hand tech. 

Does gadget insurance generally cover second-hand tech?

The short answer is no.

Lots of insurance companies only insure brand new devices. For big name retailers that insure like Carphone Warehouse or O2, you’re limited to phones that are 30 or 28 days old respectively, but in both those cases it’s for new handsets, not second-hand ones. But then retailers are a bit less flexible than specialist insurers…

Is it possible to get specific gadget insurance for second-hand items?

Now we’re getting to it – some insurers do offer cover for second-hand devices up to a certain age. Some good examples are Cheaper Gadget Insurance, which insures on devices up to three years old; Endsleigh, which also operates the three year cutoff; Protect Your Bubble, which covers gadgets up to 18 months old; CUSC Phoneguard, covering up to six months old; and Insurance2Go which also has a six-month cutoff.

Expect to pay a premium for these specific policies but it may be worth it to know your gadget is covered. Also you can offset that cost against the saving you made by buying the gadget second-hand. 

 What kind of tech can be covered?

Companies that offer second-hand gadget cover specifically, like the ones mentioned above, are primarily for smartphones. You could also get cover for other gadgets that are on the go with you. So for tablets, expensive headphones, laptops and the like it could be worth looking for a policy to cover you.

One great option here is multi-gadget insurance which will allow you to cover lots of gadgets all in one policy and simple payment method. Just be sure to check with the provider about second-hand items and how that affects the premium. 

Can home insurance cover second-hand tech?

Yes, home insurance can indeed cover second-hand tech. For phones you may need to call your policy provider and make sure you’re covered. There is sometimes a nominal fee to pay for this, around the £20-mark. 

But for other gadgets that you don’t take out of the house, like consoles, TVs, appliances, speakers and so on, you can pop them on your house insurance as an easy way to cover them. Most home insurance will cover you up to a certain point, usually under £2,000, but you may need to specify the gadgets depending on the policy type.

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Can Microsoft Word translate my documents to and from different languages? Yes, and it’s easy. However, note that the Office 365 version requires the Office Intelligent services (included with subscription) and an Internet connection for the Translator feature to function.

Word asks if you want to “Turn On” this service the first time you use the Translate feature, which then remains “On” unless (or until) you disable the service from the Options menus. Additional features such as Editor, Smart Look Up, PowerPoint Designer, and more are included with these services.

Word 2013’s and Word 2016’s respective Translate features function essentially the same way, except the languages are located on your local system, and the menu design is slightly different.

How to use Word’s Translate feature

1. Open a blank or existing document (if blank, enter some text).

2. Highlight the text you want to translate, or press Ctrl+ A to select the entire document.

JD Sartain / IDG Worldwide

3. Under the Review tab, Language group, select Translate > Selection (or Translate > Document).

4. The first time you use this feature, Word displays the Use Intelligent Services dialog screen. Click the Turn On button (or it will not work).

5. The Translator pane (called Research pane in 2013 & 2016) opens. Ensure the From section says English, if that’s the correct source language. Then click the down arrow in the To section and select a translation language from the drop-down list.

YouTube is rolling out a new feature that will provide users with a fact-check when they search for sensitive topics, in a bid to tackle fake news videos on the platform.

According to Buzzfeed News, “boxes of text that provide debunks from YouTube’s verified fact-checking partners”, will appear in the search results for what a YouTube spokesperson dubbed “topics that are prone to misinformation.”

Although the new feature won’t stop inaccurate videos from being uploaded to the platform, these information panels will mark sensitive topics with disclaimers like “Hoax alert!”

These information panels won’t appear on individual videos, and will only be visible in the search results.

The new feature is currently available to a limited number of users in India, with YouTube set to roll it out globally – so far though, the company hasn’t given a firm release date for the rest of the world. 

Fake news

A YouTube spokesperson explained to Buzzfeed News that, “as part of our ongoing efforts to build a better news experience on YouTube, we are expanding our information panels to bring fact checks from eligible publishers to YouTube.”

YouTube isn’t the first tech company to try to stem the proliferation of misinformation. Earlier this year, WhatsApp capped the number of times you can forward a message, in a move that was designed to limit the spread of fake news on the popular messaging app. 

Whether YouTube users will take notice of these information panels remains to be seen, but it’s clear that social media platforms are starting to take fake news very seriously indeed.

Via Buzzfeed News

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Huawei, on Tuesday, expanded its product portfolio in India with a smartwatch and two fitness tracking bands. The Huawei Watch GT boasts of a two-day battery life and looks every bit premium as a watch should. Additionally, Huawei Band 3 Pro offers advanced heart rate and sleep monitoring while the Band 3e is the company’s own take on sports wearables. 

Huawei Watch GT features and specifications

The Watch GT is just 10.6mm thick and weighs around 46g. It features a 1.39-inch circular AMOLED touch-display with a resolution of 454 x 454 pixels. The material used in the construction is largely metal with plastic bits, complemented by a ceramic dial. It is also resistant to water by up to 50 meters. The smartwatch is powered by a dual-core processor.

Huawei has supplied the smartwatch with a slew of sensors. So, you’ve got the accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, barometer, ambient light sensor and an optical heart rate monitor. To top it up, the Watch GT uses three satellite systems for positioning, GPS, GLONASS and GALILEO. The smartwatch also supports TruSeen 3.0 heart rate monitoring which tracks the wearer’s heartbeat in real-time via optical sensors. Rest assured, one is going to have an accurate monitoring system at their disposal.

Huawei claims that the Watch GT will last for over 2 weeks on a single charge with GPS set to off. The company has been able to combine the dual-core architecture with power-saving algorithms on the Watch GT. The watch is able to identify usage patterns and modify the different modes of battery saver. When the GPS is turned on, the Watch GT will only last around 22 hours on battery.

Interestingly, the Huawei Watch GT runs on the company’s own OS as opposed to the WearOS by Google. As a result, there’s an apparent lack of third-party apps. The smartwatch pairs with a phone through the Huawei Health app which is available for both the Play Store and App Store.

Huawei Band 3 Pro features and specifications

The Huawei Band 3 Pro is a fitness and activity tracker that does the basics right. It has in-built GPS and can monitor heart rate via Infrared (IR) based sensors. The Band 3 Pro is 11 mm thick and weighs around 25g. It features a 0.95-inch AMOLED touch-display and has a couple of sensors for real-time monitoring. This includes the 6-axis acceleration sensor, PPG cardiotachometer and an IR wear sensor. The fitness band also supports TruSeen 3.0 heart rate monitoring technique like the Watch GT. 

Huawei Band 3e features and specifications

The most affordable fitness tracker launched by Huawei today is the Band 3e. Apart from being a regular fitness tracker that is always present on the wrist, the Band 3e can also be clipped-in to the shoe to enable the Footwear mode. In this mode, the tracker monitors running patterns with over 97% accuracy, courtesy of the sensors. It is resistant to water by up to 50 meters. 

Huawei Watch GT, Band 3 Pro and Band 3e: price and availability

Huawei Watch GT comes in two models– Classic Edition and Sports Edition. The Classic variant has a leather strap while the Sports model comes with a silicone strap. It will be available starting March 19 on Amazon India starting at Rs 16,990 for the Classic Edition and Rs 15,990 for the Sports Edition. Huawei is offering its wireless sports earphones on every purchase of the Watch GT.

Huawei Band 3 Pro goes on sale starting March 26 at Rs 4,699 and will be offered in black and blue colours.

Huawei Band 3e will go on sale from March 19 at Rs 1,699 in black and pink colours.

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The Photography Show 2019 hits Birmingham, UK later this week, running from Saturday March 16 through to Tuesday March 19 and incorporating The Video Show.

The event promises more than ever for photographers and videographers, whether they’re a pro making a living from imaging or a beginner simply looking to get inspired by something new.

This year’s show is set to cherry-pick the best bits from previous years and combine them with many brand-new elements. If you’re planning to go along are some highlights to look out for.

Brand new video-centric show

This year is extra special for those keen on video, with the launch of The Video Show. A number of manufacturers will be exhibiting their video-centric kit, from the biggest names in the business through to smaller specialist companies. Companies confirmed for the show include Panasonic, Sigma, Atomos and RØDE.

Pro videographers such as Daniel Peters, Ivo Marloh, Leanne Perrins and Rupert Cobb will be giving talks and holding masterclasses at the In Motion stage, covering everything from how to capture HDR and 360-degree video through to understanding codecs and getting top-quality audio.   

The newest toys from the biggest names

The past 12 months have been huge for new photography and video kit, and The Photography Show is a fantastic opportunity to see it all under one roof. 

Full-frame delights include Canon’s EOS R and EOS RP (Stand D141 and E131) and Nikon’s Z6 and Z7 (Stand C11) through to Panasonic’s S1R and S1 (Stand D41) and Sony’s A7R III (Stand D51). Sony will also have its latest A6400 mirrorless camera and FE135mm f/1.8 GM lens, while Olympus will be showing off its freshest OM-D E-M1X (Stand D91), and Fujifilm will be giving visitors a chance to play with its X-T30 and medium format GFX 50R.

Sigma, Tamron, Zeiss and many others will be bringing their latest lenses to the show, while a raft of accessory manufacturers including Gitzo, Manfrotto, Rotolight and others will be showing off their latest gadgets.

Women Who Photo campaign

This year’s event will also welcome the Women Who Photo campaign, which celebrates the contributions of female photographers to the industry. 

The work of 15 top female photographers will be exhibited at the show, from Nikon ambassador and automotive photographer Amy Shore and She Clicks female-only Facebook photography group founder Angela Nicholson through to music photographer Jennifer McCord and pro wildlife photographer Tesni Ward. 

There will also be a panel discussion on the Photo Live Stage on Saturday, with a selection of the Women Who Photo ambassadors, and many will be giving talks throughout the four days.

Big names imparting their wisdom

This year’s Super Stage will welcome photography legend Martin Parr, who’ll be talking about his career to date, as well as Pete Souza, who documented Barack Obama’s eight years in the White House. 

They’ll be joined by the likes of Lindsay Adler, Annie Griffiths and Moose Peterson, each of who will be giving the lucky few that manage to grab tickets for their talks an insight into their working world.

There will be plenty of other talks and kit demonstrations at stages and stands around the show. Landscape legend David Noton and pro fashion photographer Lara Jade will be talking at the Canon Spotlight Stage (Stand D141) while Game of Thrones photographer Helen Sloan and National Geographic photographer and director Joe McNally will be sharing their advice over at the Nikon School Stage (Stand C11).

Make sure to check out what’s on in advance so you can plan your day.

Grab a bargain 

Whether you’re looking to trade in some kit and take the plunge into a brand-new camera system, or you’re after an exotic piece of glass to complement your existing setup, you’ll be able to grab your next bit of kit from some of the leading photography and video retailers at the show. 

Camera World (Stand D21), London Camera Exchange (Stand E51 and E62), and Wex Photo Video (Stand C120) will have plenty of kit on show and on sale, while many  stands will have their own show-exclusive deals. Don’t forget to visit the Disabled Photographers’ Society (Stand H121) for the chance to grab a bargain bit of kit too.  

More information

Head over to the official website for more information on this year’s event, including directions and facilities. And if you’ve not bought your tickets yet, you can grab them with a 20% discount right now. Be quick though! 

Get 20% off a single advance adult ticket with code TRADTPS19. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion including concession rates, multi-day discounts or group discounts. Applies to new bookings only and expires on March 13 2019.

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