 |
| Kenneth Moore, Key Accounts Manager of Samsung Electronics Latin America |
On October 16, 2014 I had the pleasure of being at the
launch of the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 at the Samsung Experience Store in Tropical
Plaza. The event was for the Samsung Note 4, Samsung Gear S, Galaxy Alpha, Galaxy
Tab S which in my possession to do a full review on, but more on that next
week. So today we have for you my impressions for all devices introduced at the
launch last week.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 4
So, what are the things you’ll see when you pick up the Note
4?
- A beautiful and sharp which is expected since it’s a higher resolution than 1080P.
- Most of the widgets are transparent on the Note 4 to help make the home wallpaper visible.
- As you pick up the device you’ll feel the built quality difference between it and the Note3. That metal frame and new textured back cover makes a big difference in the hands.
- You’ll see that the camera is now 16 mega pixel instead of the 13 that was in the Note 3. Also the option of UHD video recording.
 |
| Note 4 vs Note 3 |
The Gear S
The Gear S screams change as soon as you pick it up.
 |
| Gear S |
- The display is certainly bigger than Gear 2 and curved as well.
- There is no camera on the device to take photos or videos.
- There is a SIM card slot located on the back to change the watch into a fully functioning mobile phone.
 |
| Gear S vs Gear 2 |
Samsung Galaxy Alpha
This is a new line of phone introduced by Samsung.
- The first thing you’ll notice is how sturdy it looks and feels. The metal frame and the small unique designed is what contributes to this thought.
- The heart rate monitor and flash are positioned differently compared to the other Samsung phones that have them.
- The user interface looks similarly to the Galaxy S5.
- You can tell that the screen has a lower resolution than the Galaxy S5, but it’s still leagues a head of phones in its weight class.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S
The Tab S shouldn’t be confused with the Tab Pro or the
regular Tab. |
| Galaxy Tab S 10 inch Variant |
- The display is gorgeous!
- The first tablet you’ll see with a finger print scanner to log in.
- The user interface is slightly different compared to other Samsung tablets with the addition of Magazine UI for its home screens.
- The build quality is great and will remind you of the Galaxy S5.
Final Thoughts
Last week was hectic for Jamaican citizens to say the least.
You had the fear of Ebola hitting our shores and the joint pains of chick v terrorizing
our nation.
So if I say to you that Samsung also announced a promotion for the
day devices hit store shelves on October 24th. The first 100 people to buy the
Galaxy Note 4 at the Samsung Experience Store in Tropical plaza that day will
receive an $11,258 discount on their purchase. Also the first people to take a
"selfie" with the Galaxy Note 4 could walk away with gifts valued at
up to $11,137 while supplies last. Hoped
that eased the joint pains a bit.
Yup, I do love my job… I get to play the best games first
and this week is no different. I have this week two major games that dominated
the summer and they are Watch Dogs for the PS3 and Wolfenstein: The New Order
for PS4. Two different games, but both are blockbuster titles in their own
right.
Wolfenstein: The
New Order
Every wondered what the world would be like if the Nazis
ruled it? Well here comes a game that hypothetically, practically,
theoretically explains and depicts what the world would be like if that
actually happened.
Gameplay: 9 out of 10
Guns and more guns and then those guns get alternate fire
that will make them new guns to add to the old guns. This game is what you call a classic shooter;
when the main character could carry more than two guns and dual wield any
weapon of his choosing … Yes that includes two sniper rifles, OMG. You run
shoot and hide behind cover to regenerate some health. It’s a simply as can be
and that is what makes it so much fun. No worries about puzzles or stealth or
any nonsense that will distract you from the game. All you have to do is shoot as
many many Nazis and get to the end of the level.
Graphics and Sound: 9
out of 10
This game looks and sounds amazing for a first person shooter.
All character models are done with great care and detail. Scares, cuts,
bruises, wrinkles are the best you’ll see on next generation consoles for the
coming months for a shooter. Call Of Duty might change this when its released
later this year for all consoles. This game has some very funny dialogues and
some touching moments that were emphasized by the music used in the game. The sound
FX is top notch with bullets flying pass you in full DTS surround sound… you
just got to love it.
Final Thought
Not everyone can stand the sheer maturity and violent nature
of Wolfenstein: The New Order, but if you are up to the challenge then you
won’t be disappointed by this game and what it has to offer.
Watch Dogs
After years of waiting and tons of hype, we finally got to
lay our hands on this most talked about game called Watch Dogs. Let’s see if it
was really worth the wait and loads of pre-orders.
Gameplay: 8 out of 10
You hack computers, you shoot and you hack some more. That’s
pretty much sums up the gameplay for this game. The one thing that was done well
was how open the world you are playing in is. You can go anywhere and do anything
when you want to. This level of freedom was only available in games like Grand
Theft Auto, but now Watch Dogs is able to achieve it too. Although, the one
gripe I have with the game is the storyline which is weak and lack personality
to say the least.
Graphics and Sound: 8
out of 10
The game doesn’t look as amazing as what we saw at last
year’s E3 (Electronic Entertainment
Expo), but that doesn’t make it a bad looking game. The game is average looking
especially compared to the likes of Infamous: Second Son for the PS4. The sound
on the other hand is extremely well done with every on screen character having
dialogs that sound very life like. If there is one thing that Ubisoft got right
is the sound in this game.
Final Thoughts
Watch
Dogs is an OK game, and it’s only down fall is not living up to the hype that
was created around it. If you can over look the corny storyline then you’ll
certainly have fun with this game. The products mentioned in this article were
provided courtesy of Royale Computers
and Accessories telephone#: 906-1067,
906-1068, and 754-5048.
In these times persons have to be smart about what they
purchase to use on a daily basis. Sometimes cheaper isn’t better and the best
can be substituted for something cheaper and suitable. All that’s needed is
guidance to help you the consumer on the right road.
4 Genius Gadgets for Students
#4 Tablets
The days when only laptops or notebooks had the capability
to surf the internet in its entirety is behind us. Tablets are lighter, small,
user friendly, functional every since the introduction of the iPad in April 3, 2010. The irony is Android
tablets are easier to assimilate to from being a laptop/PC owner. So if you
need to lighten the load in that backpack without losing the capability of a
laptop then getting an Android tablet is the smart choice.
#3 Smartphones
Having a tablet is good, but most tablets aren’t equipped
with great cameras or Wi-Fi tethering. Wi-Fi tethering is an essential feature
to have if you are always on the go and in need of internet access. Whether you
need internet access for entertainment or education it’s a necessity and most
devices need Wi-Fi access to function at full potential. This is where an
Android (Jellybean and/or higher) Smartphone becomes a life saver. All Android
Smartphone’s that are Jellybean or higher have the ability to be an internet
Wi-Fi hotspot to provide internet to other devices. If you take this route
you’ll get mobile data as low $100 for 500MB for two days from Digicel 4G data
plan.
#2 Headphones
You know how cool it looks when you are out in public and
you are playing your songs at full blast from your phones or tablets loud
speaker? It is not cool folks, one day someone is going to catch a beat down on
public transport. I can see the headlines now making the star. Folks, get
headphones and save yourself the trouble and verbal abuse. The types of
headphones I recommend are the Bluetooth ones. You won’t have to worry about
the infamous short circuit that leaves one side of your headphone dead. No
cords, no worries.
#1 Power Banks
The number (1) thing you should and must have is a power
bank. Almost all smart devices come predetermined to have bad battery. Having a
power bank will help squeeze that extra hour or two out of your Smartphone or
tablet. Smartphones always seem to go dead when they aren’t any wall outlets
around. Don’t get caught without you backup power, it’s not the genius way.
Final Thoughts
There you have it, 4
Genius Gadgets for Student. If in doubt just check this list and you be
fine for school or the zombie apocalypse.
I am heartbroken and traumatized; I woke up last week and
saw my Bluetooth Beats By Dre headset in pieces, sponge one place and the
headband cracked.
I have a strong feeling it was my ex… sneaked into to the
house and killed my beloved Beats to get back at me. So, am back on the hunt
for a new stereo headset. This week we have two Bluetooth headsets from two
different manufactures to put on the chopping board.
AKG [K830 BT] by
Harman
This brand is new to me and I didn’t expect to be impressed
by these headphones at all, but they say big things come in small packages. The
AKG comes packed with a cloth case, and a USB cable for charging. I’m shaking
the box right now, and there is nothing else coming out folks.
Appearance 5 out of 5:
Well, it’s the best looking Bluetooth headphone I have seen. It’s elegant and
small for a stereo headset, and you’ll never see a design like this anywhere
else.
Sound Quality 3 out
of 5: This headphone has a perfect clarity, but there isn’t enough bass to
satisfy a bass junky like me. At high volumes the device still maintains its
clarity, but still doesn’t produce adequate bass.
Build and Fit 5 out
of 5: The AKG is made with mostly plastic as well, but feels sturdy and
well built. These headphones are light weight and feel so comfortable over your
ears. After a whole day of use you’ll still be at ease with them on your head.
The music controls are on the left ear piece which takes a time to get use to since
music control for most Bluetooth headphones are on the right. Otherwise from that, I would say these are the
most comfortable Bluetooth headphones I have used. The going price for this Bluetooth
headphone is around $18,000 dollars.
Blu Band by Klip
Extreme
Surprise surprise… A Bluetooth headphone that cost less than
7,000 dollars has arrived. The Blu Band has thoroughly surprised me with its
cost and features. It speaks “power on” when it’s turned on and “power off”
when it’s turned off. This is a first for me, and I have used a lot of
Bluetooth devices. The Blu Band comes packed with a USB cable for charging.
What else did you expected for prices like that?
Appearance 4 out of 5:
Well, it looks quite similar to some Beats by Dre headphones you’ll see folks
wearing these days. Only difference here is the absence of red, and the Beats
logo.
Sound Quality 4 out
of 5: These headphones have a perfect balance between Bass, Mid-Range, and
Treble. They also can attain some extreme volume which is very good for
canceling out the kartel songs on the local coasters. These are the loudest
Bluetooth headphones I have ever used.
Build and Fit 3 out
of 5: The Blu Band is also made with mostly plastic, but is just as sturdy
as the rest of the candidates here. The only problem I have with this headphone
is the ear cushions. This headphone is so tight that they begin to hurt your
ears after an hour using them. Your ears won’t be pleased by these cushions,
but the feeling is bearable. The music
controls are also on the left ear piece like the AKG; makes me wonder if this
is the new trend. The going price for
this Bluetooth headphone is around $6,000 dollars.
Final Thoughts
I love saving money
more that I love stew peas, and I looooove stew peas… so you know which one I’m
going to choose. The products mentioned in this article were provided courtesy
of Royale Computers and Accessories
telephone#: 906-1067, 906-1068, and 754-5048.
