The Cаnоn EOS dіgіtаl саmеrаѕ lіnе comprises саmеrаѕ that wіll mееt уоur dіgіtаl рhоtоgrарhу nееdѕ nо mаttеr your level оf еxреrtіѕе. Prоfеѕѕіоnаlѕ and novice photographers alike rаvе аbоut the Canon digital саmеrаѕ аnd thе еxсіtеmеnt about this lіnе of рrоduсtѕ shows nо signs of dimming. (more…)
Category: Technology
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iOS vs Android
So, it’s time for you to upgrade your phone, the latest models are out but you’ve got a big decision to make.
iOS vs Android is a question which has been asked all too frequently over the past few years, and in 2017, there is still no clear winner.
It’s all down to personal preference but here at Skaidon, we’re here to help which is why we’ve compiled a list of pros and cons of both iOS and Android handsets.
Hardware
Of course, the first thing we all look at when choosing a new phone is the initial hardware and feel of the phone.
With Apple, you have much less choice as they only tend to sell three or four different handsets at one time. This may seem like a negative but when you look at the aesthetics of the phone, they’re all pretty stylish and seamless.
With Android, you have a whole host of phones to choose from with a varying range of prices and manufacturers including Sony and Samsung.
Everyone seems to assume that iPhones are better than Androids, hands down but that simply isn’t the case. The camera can be better than the iPhone, the battery life in newer models is longer lasting and crucially, androids offer expandable storage.
But features like the battery life shouldn’t put you off buying an Apple iPhone, especially if you like the idea of all the other things they can offer. Furthermore, any trouble you may encounter with the battery can be fixed by finding someone like this “iPhone Doctor” in your area who can replace the battery to give you the longer lifespan you desire.
The information given above is, again, just our opinion. If you have always had an iPhone, it is very likely you will continue with this model, and it will be the same if you have an Android.
Apps
In fairness, most applications run both an Android and iOS platform but the consensus seems to be that iOS are more responsive in their apps.
There is also more on offer with iOS. It seems to be the most important platform for companies to develop first. Plus, according to the statistics on Cell Phone Deal, malicious apps are more of a concern for Android users. This is because Android is open software, meaning anyone can build an app for it. So for these reasons, iPhone wins on apps.
Software
You’d be forgiven for thinking that iOS is at the forefront of software in the war between these two operating systems, but recently that hasn’t been the case.
In the past few years, Android has come on leaps and bounds and has really given iOS a run for their money. Again, this comes down to personal preference as some prefer the home screen and flexibility of iOS devices whereas others much prefer being able to download third party software onto their devices.
The pros of iOS are that your phone becomes an extension of your computer, watch and tablet, the syncing ability is something which is incomparable.
Value
There is a clear winner in this category, and it’s Android.
With devices ranging from 50 to 800, there really is something for everyone and every budget. This does make it hard in choosing which handset you prefer and by which manufacturer as there is so much to choose from.
iOS, on the other hand, is a little more pricey and they price points never really seem to shift, even after they’ve been on the market for six months. The cheapest iPhone you can pick up is probably an SE, which start at the 359 mark new, but you can pick them up cheaper if you go for a second-hand device. Newly released models usually come in at 620, but if you’re looking for a contract, you usually end up spending 1000+.
There are many pros and cons of each but for me, it has to be the classic iPhone, I do admit that the Android camera and opportunity for extra storage and multiple sims is enviable, but the overall feel and smoothness the iPhone offers is enough to sway me.
What operating system and phone do you prefer? Let us know by getting in touch.
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Programming Offers a World of Career Opportunities
With all the talk of robots all geared up to “take our jobs away from us” in the very near future, one would naturally want to take a much closer look at the career path they choose to pursue in this day and age. Parents of the so-called Millennial generation already have the backlash of a slowing economy to have to contend with, which is a big contributor to the rather slow manner in which their children are progressing in life, generally. There’s already a shortage of jobs and what was good enough career-wise a mere twenty years ago is no longer enough to enjoy the type of life a typical person would refer to as a quality life today. (more…)
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Our LG Watch Sport review
Our verdict
The LG Watch Sport is every sense is a very very, smart watch at an affordable price. We’re not saying this is the cheapest of smart watches on the market but coming in at $349, it certainly holds its own against the popular Apple Watch. If you live a busy, fitness filled lifestyle and find that clunking around with your smartphone is too much hassle, then the LG Watch Sport will be for you. Running with the ability to be used without a phone makes this a necessity for gym goers. The ability to make calls and tap into Google Assistant at the wave of a finger means this will bring serious competition to the Apple Watch. One of the main downfalls is the battery life and lack of mainstream apps that you would find on other market leading smartwatches. But if sport is your thing, the Watch Sport from LG would be highly recommended.
Highlights
- Doesn’t require phone tethering
- Able to track strength training
- Appealing design despite big size
- Battery life falls short
- Missing some major apps
- Phone calls (US only) require a SIM card
Plus points
- Doesn’t require phone pairing
- The ability to track strength while training
- Wonderfully crafted and great finishing touches
Negatives
- Battery life is a bit of a downfall
- Mainstream apps lacking (Future updates from 3rd party developers could fix this)
- Sim Cards are required to make phone calls
Out the box
Straight out of the box the LG Watch Sport comes with plenty of amazing and unique features that other smartwatches lack.
Strapped with Android Wear 2.0 LG Watch Sport certainly puts the latest update through its paces.
Watch the in-depth review below for more information.
Android Central Review
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Top 5 games of 2016
2016 was a great year for gaming. With so many cool new advancements in technology coming into the market like Play Station VR which for me was my personal highlight of 2016.
I have decided to compile a list of the top 5 games of 2016 that really blow away the gaming industry and the games that took home prestigious accolades at various gaming expos across a variety of countries throughout the year.
5. Firewatch
In at number 5 is the very impressive debut from the genius that is Campo Santo.
4. Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
Number 4 see’s a welcomed return for the fourth and final time to the Uncharted universe where protagonist Nathan Drake and his brother Sam embark on their most dangerous mission yet. This game is graphically stunning, the mechanics are a class above its predecessor with a welcomed AI overhaul. This game is truly a masterclass in third person shooters.
3. Dishonored 2
Dishonored 2 is probably one of the most surprising inclusions for many in this list as it does have its flaws (don’t we all?). But building upon solid foundations of the previous title and mastering the storyline for the sequel, proves clinical. A great decision to bring back old characters that made the first game such a brilliant experience also buffs up this game in the charts.
2. Doom
Relive your childhood with this amazing remake of an old classic. This game takes everything about what made the first game such an amazing FPS experience and enhances it for next gen consoles. Blood and gore have never looked so gorry-us in full HD, remastered and beautiful. This is for every classic Doom fan out there. The multiplayer experience is also a solid addition to a game already packed full of intriguing moments. Also, keep your eye out for the classic Doom easter egg level hidden in one of the levels – you won’t regret it.
1. Titanfall 2
Coming straight off the back of the success of the first game comes Titanfall 2. This time it packs quite the meaty single-player campaign, which the first game lacked and quite frankly missed. Not to be left out is, of course, the famous multiplayer of non-stop metal-bashing action that made it so popular previously. This game well and truly deserves to be number 1 and should hold its place on your shelf.
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Why the iMac
Stylish
The iMac is beyond stylish, this is the cutting edge of technology. As you can tell we are massive fans of all Apple products, but the iMac stands alone as the ultimate machine. Looks great in modern offices and it doesn’t look out of place in a living room or kitchen area of home offices arent your thing.
One Cable
Sick of all those cables between monitors, keyboards, speakers? Well the iMac has one – the power cable.
Ok, two of you include the charger.
5K
5k of resolution goodness. Watch stunning footage in unbelievable detail. One of the best displays on the market. It is also great for gaming
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10 Astounding Technology Facts
Technology is a wonderful thing, right? It enables us to do things we never thought possible. It allows us to communicate with people who live thousands of miles away. It proves that nothing is impossible.
We are learning more and more about technology on a daily basis, which is why we thought we’d aid the learning process by providing you with some unbelievable technology facts that’ll blow your mind.
A.I.
The concept of AI emerged in the mid-20th century, with pioneers like Alan Turing envisioning machines capable of human-like intelligence. Early AI systems focused on logic and symbolic processing, but breakthroughs in deep learning, fueled by massive datasets and enhanced computing capabilities, have propelled AI to new heights. You can learn more about the state of AI today by reading up on tech blogs similar to BravoTello or watching the latest news in the technology sector. It’s all anyone’s talking about these days.
The Keyboard
Have you ever wondered why the keys on a keyboard are in a certain order? Well, that’s because the original layout caused the keys to jam when a person typed quickly. The “qwerty” layout was developed by Christopher Sholes back in 1874, as he wanted to slow typists down to prevent jamming, so put the letters in hard to reach places. New technology has basically prevented jamming anyway, but the layout proved to be a hit so is still the one we use today.
The Radio
Back when radio was as big as the internet, producers would hire people to make background chatter by repeating the words “walla” over and over again. This gave listeners the illusion that a crowd of people were talking in the background. The effect is still used on radio and TV today, but in Japan they repeat the word “gaya” due to the different languages and accents.
The First Interactive Kiosk
Interactive kiosks are a new thing, right? Wrong. You know those self service kiosks you see in supermarkets? Or those wayfinding ones you find in airports and shopping complexes? Well, they wouldn’t be with us today if the first self-service kiosk machine wasn’t developed back in 1977. This innovative invention was created by a pre-med student, Murray Lappe, at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Auto Tune
Auto tune is believed to be one of the worst inventions ever made, as it’s an invention that can make really bad singers sound good, whilst also making great singers sound a bit robotic. Therefore, it can create music that should never greet our ears. It’s so bad that Time Magazine added it to their list of The 50 Worst Inventions.
GPS
Just like touch screens, you probably thought that GPS were a relatively new invention, right? When in fact they date back to 1974 and were originally called “Programmed Driving”. They could therefore navigate a car to any destination in a city. While it was never as successful as the GPS, they were an effective way to head to one location to another.
The Stock Market
Technology is a wonderful thing. So wonderful that it can manage our stocks better than we can, as 70% of the US and European stock market is automated. It all started in 2006 when 1/3 of all stocks were traded electronically by specially designed algorithms. The systems therefore select timing, price and the quantity of order – and there’s no human input required whatsoever.
The Furniture Assembler
On top of helping people communicate with others across the planet, making people sing terribly and determining our stocks, technology can also help put our flat pack furniture together. Roboticists at MIT University have created a robot that can place together IKEA furniture all by itself. It even has a specialised hand to grab the pieces. Amazing!
The Watch
Did you know there is a watch out there that cost 300,000 yet can’t tell the time? It was invented by Romain Jerome, a Swiss watchmaker, and tells the wearer whether it is day or night. The day feature works for 12 hours during daylight and the night time represents 12 hours of dark hours. What’s remarkable about the watch is that it is created from steel from the Titanic; with other parts taken from the shipyard it was structured. It sold out in just 48 hours!
The Ethernet
Robert Metcalfe, the co-inventor of the Ethernet, said in 1995 the internet would be dead by 1996 or he’d eat his words. As we’re all well aware – unless you’re 1 of the 9 million people in the UK never to use it – the internet is alive and kicking today. So, in 1997, during his keynote speech, Mr Metcalfe took a copy of the published column, popped it into a blender and drank the pulpy paper.
Do you have any funny technology facts you’d like to share? Drop us a comment below.
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How hybrid vehicles could save you money
All about hybrid
There is a new breed of car that promises to save it’s user money as well as help the environment at the same time.
When buying a new car, there are a lot of ways to save money. Some of the methods include checking invoice car prices through websites like https://invoice-pricing.com/, buying the car on a credit card, or investing in a second-hand car. But when it comes to hybrids, it’s not just about saving money during purchase, but also while using them for many years to come. The hybrid car has two or more distinct power sources that powers the vehicle. The term most commonly refers to hybrid electric vehicles which combine internal combustion engines and one or more electric motors. The car works to capture and use energy in the most efficient way possible.
The sources of power used for hybrid cars varies from car to car. Some examples are: Coal, wood or other solid combustibles compressed or liquefied natural gas, electricity, electromagnetic fields, radio waves, electric vehicle battery, human powered, hydrogen, petrol or diesel fuel, Solar power or wind.
There are a variety of different hybrid vehicles.
Two-wheeled and cycle-type vehicles:
There are mopeds, electric bicycles and electric kick scooters that are hybrid in there simplest form. These are the earliest forms of hybrid and first became available in the 19th century.
Heavy vehicles:
There are also heavy vehicles that are hybrid, and like any other vehicle, suitable HGV or truck insurance will be needed to ensure you are covered to drive your vehicle. Other examples of heavy vehicles that are hybrid include power trains and diesel-electric or turbo- electric railways. These power railway locomotives, buses, heavy goods vehicles, as well as other types of large and heavy vehicles, machinery and ships. There are advantages to distributing power through wires and pipes, rather than mechanical elements, especially when there are multiple drivers.
Cranes:
The energy used to move cranes can be hybrid as diesel fuel can be reduced by around 50-70%. This can possibly contribute toward lowering the cost of processes such as Tower Crane Erection, Precast Panel Erection, and similar others in which cranes are generally used.
Aircraft:
The fuel cell provides all the power for the flight of the plane. During take-off and landing the plane needs the most power and can rely on lightweight batteries.
Motor vehicles:
There are several different types of hybrid motor vehicle. All of them are generally more efficient than traditional fuel cars. These vehicles can go a long time if kept in good condition. Maintaining your hybrid vehicle means keeping the battery running efficiently for as long as you can, as well as repairing it and replacing it when the time comes. That way you can restore the quality and enhance the performance of your vehicle again.
Parallel hybrid:
This is a single electric motor and the internal combustion engine that is installed to power any vehicle, individually or together. The cars have a clutch and are charged up to power them, saving money on fuel.
Power-split hybrid:
There are two motors in these types of car driven by electric motor with no mechanical connection to the engine. Instead of this, the engine is tuned for running a generator when the battery pack isn’t sufficient for the engine to run.
Fuel cell electric hybrid:
The fuel cell hybrid is generally an electric vehicle equipped with fuel cell. The fuel cell and the electric battery are both power sources, making the vehicle a hybrid.
Fuel consumption and emissions:
Less emissions are generated from hybrid vehicles because less of the way the vehicles are designed. Both the engine and the electric motors for peak power needs result in the smaller sized engine therefore less internal losses of power and less weight. The engines also store things in a better way, reusing and recapturing energy, which is particularly useful when stopping and starting in traffic.
Most people sell or get rid of their cars when they get into debt, as they can be expensive to buy and run. If you are struggling with debt, don’t suffer alone. There are ways out. A debt solution company, such as Churchwood Finance may be able to help!
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How Innovative Touch Screens Work
You’ve probably noticed there’s an influx of products offering touch screen technology, from smart phones to tablets to self service kiosks. This is because it is undoubtedly one of the easiest and most innovative computer interfaces, as it allows for simple navigation on a computer system simply by touch an icon or link on a screen.
So, how do touch screens actually work? We’d like to say it’s simple but it’s really not. As you can imagine, creating a touch screen is exceptionally complex; however, we’ve broken it down into 3 easy to follow steps so you can keep up and so can we!
The Sensors
As you know, touch screens have a touch responsive surface, which is why different systems are created from different styles of sensors: resistive, capacitive and surface acoustic wave. You’ll find capacitive sensors on many smart phones, whilst resistive sensors are believed to be the most commonly used.
What makes these sensors all similar is that they all have an electrical current running through them. So, and here’s the clever bit, when you touch the screen you cause the voltage to change direction – so you create a signal to a location. Amazing, right?
The Controller
As we’ve just said, touching the screen causes the voltage to change direction, so it’s important a controller is put into place to direct the signal to your desired location. The controller is basically the hardware that transfers the voltage change into a signal that the computer system will receive.
The Software
The software basically tells the computer what to do by informing them on what’s happening on the sensor and what it’s being told by the controller. So the system can ultimately act appropriately.
So, now you know how touch screen works! Who knew that a patent touch sensor patented in 1971 by Doctor Sam Hurst, and that was originally called the “elegraph”, would play such an important role in the technology we know and love today? I’m guessing he did.
Like what you read? Great! Be sure to check out our other posts today and don’t be afraid to return to our page for future articles.
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Screens for pubs – every venue should have one – LIVE
The Great British summer of sport is now into full swing, even if England succumbed to penalties yet again. There is still plenty to enjoy during the next few months with the final of Euro 2012, Wimbledon and, of course, the London Olympics. Your punters and you deserve the best, so you should get your hands on state-of-the-art screens to show all the action on.A decent screen or two will soon pay for itself as your venue becomes known for showing must-see events in style. The return on investment in a decent screen is usually a good one, so if you haven’t gotten round to getting a screen installed, then you should get your skates on and take advantage of the superb summer of sport we have ahead of us. Here we take a look at projectors and screens for pubs.
Projectors for pubs
If you want a big crowd watching the game with you, then you need a big screen. A projector is the ideal solution for a busy venue, allowing everybody to watch the same screen together which really gets an atmosphere going.
The most important factor when it comes to choosing your ANSI Lumens are a measure of how bright the projector is. The higher the figure, the brighter the picture and the more robust it will be to all types of lighting conditions. For a pub or club it is best that you go for greater than 2000 lumen, which is why our range starts at 2200.
If you have an HD receiver in your venue then it would be a waste to use anything other than a projector with the ability to show a crystal clear picture. Our 2500 HD Ready ANSI Lumen Projector gives a superior picture and is well worth the modest amount extra that it costs.
Projector screens for pubs
Once you have selected your projector, it makes sense to get a dedicated screen for it. Most walls have a surprising amount of imperfections that will show up under the light of a projector. Our Electric Projector Screens are available from a substantial 180cm size all the way through to a huge 240cm. At the push of a button they can be retracted so you can preserve the look of the room when it is not in use.
HD TV for pubs
If a projector is a bit much, then how about an HD TV or two? If you don’t want to splash too much cash, or if your venue would not suit one large screen, then you can get a smaller plasma or LCD TV to show sport on. From HD ready 22 inch screens to full HD plasmas of up to 60 inches in size, there is a screen for every need. You may find that multiple small screen work best in a sprawling venue where it is hard for everybody to gather in one place, so it is best to go for several smaller units. Other spaces may suit having one larger screen where the punters can congregate and watch together; the choice is yours.
We even carry the ultimate summer entertainment accessory; an outdoor plasma screen! This Sanyo, full HD TV is a 52 inch wonder. It is vandal and tamper proof with anti-reflective glass and it is completely waterproof, as you never know what the British summer will throw at you. This is the ideal way to keep the outdoor atmosphere alive even when there is a big game on the TV. Who could resist popping into a pub with this outside?