Darcer's Tech Blog

Google has the Nexus program, to show, how manufacturers should use Android. Well, not anymore. There is something new, with a similar, albeit slightly extended intention. The "Pixel" phones. Very simply called Pixel and Pixel XL, for the 5" and 5.5" versions respectively. However, these are supposedly not only "guides" for manufacturers and devices running stock Android for nerds, but they want to be a competition for the iPhones and highest-end Samsung phones. These are fully polished products.

In doesn't matter, whether you are a Google fanboy or not, you have probably at least heard of the Chromecast. For the 1 % reading this and not knowing, it's a small thumb-drive like device, which plugs into your TV via a standard HDMI port and can be used to watch content from the internet on a bigger screen than the one on your smartphone. A pretty simple idea.

What it is Just like in airplanes, Autopilot is a driver assistance system , designed to make (especially long-distance) travelling less stressful. However, that means, that like in airplanes, the driver is still responsible and should be able to take control at any time. This current system is very good for motorway driving and traffic jams.

Many think that Apple is no longer innovating as it used to. That may be partially true, because Apple is following Google and Microsoft in regards to putting more focus on services. However, that doesn't change the fact, that some things should be improved, or downright fixed.

As a technology lover, I have gone through many tablets. My first tablet was the iPad 2. A device, which didn’t have a clear purpose, yet I used it the most, compared to my phone and laptop at that time. Fast forward a few years later, I no longer own an iPad. I decided to try out Android, and what better way, than with an affordable Android tablet with guaranteed software updates. The Nexus 7 is clearly a tablet designed for masses. It’s not premium, but surprisingly solid. Just by looking at it, it doesn’t seem like a sub-200 $ tablet.

I have switched from my OnePlus One to an iPhone. The iPhone 6S Plus. The overall experience is definitely better, but that’s not what I want to talk about. I still had my LG G Watch R, so I decided to pair it with an iPhone and see how it goes.

The Holiday shopping season is here and you are most likely the only person from the entire family who cannot decide what to get for the close ones. It has been said many times, that the year 2015 is the year of wearable technology. We got 2nd wave of Android Wear smartwatches, the first round Samsung watch, an enormous number of new fitness tracker, and probably the most important thing, the Apple Watch went on sale. There are important choices to be made.

OnePlus created a lot of hype after the announcement of the original One. I really liked what I saw, so I went ahead and bought it. More than one year, later, here is the Two. It is supposed to be new, but I would call it “facelifted”. The internals are new, but from the outside, it looks very similar to my phone. The only major new features on the outside are the new USB Type-C port and the metal band. It is definitely a step forward, however, there are also many odd things.

I have been wearing the LG G Watch R for the past 2 months each and every day. I have gathered a lot of pros and cons about this wearable. A smartwatch should be smart, but at the same time, it should be a watch as well.

I have wanted a smartwatch or some sort of smart wearable technology since the original Sony Smartwatch. But there was not enough good and usable options. The original Sony Smartwatch was a good idea, but it didn’t work in real life situations. The Galaxy Gear was pretty much the same thing.

Apple has just announced new line of iPads. The new iPad Air 2, which is even thinner than the previous one, and the iPad mini 3. The new Air is a decent improvement in terms of display, wireless antennas, and it finally offers a Touch ID fingerprint sensor.

I have already reviewed the Polar Loop, but in fact, my first ever wrist worn activity tracker was the Nike+ FuelBand, which I later upgraded for the newer SE model. In comparison, there are only few changed or added features compared to the previous generation, the most important being Bluetooth LE connectivity. This means, that the band is connected to your mobile iOS or Android device all the time and you do not have to manually sync it...

I am a huge fan of new technology and fitness trackers seem to pick up some speed. They are becoming more and more popular not only for geeks, but also for average people. I have been a long time Nike+ FuelBand SE user, but I had to find a more suitable tracker, because I go swimming four times a week. The FuelBand is not waterproof just water resistant, so you cannot take it for a swim.

I have owned the iPhone 5 for the past year and used it as my daily phone. Before the iPhone 5 I had used the Phone 4S. The biggest difference going from the 4S to 5 was the weight and size difference. All the other phones suddenly felt heavy and the larger display made sense and I got used to it very quickly.

Google recently announced a new version of their famous mobile operating system. This time not designed for smartphones and tablets, but as the name suggests, wearables. Google showed it off on a couple of new smartwatches, the more ordinary looking LG G Watch and first round smartwatch, Moto 360.

I have been using the Touch Cover for Microsoft Surface tablet for quite a some time now. In fact, this whole review is written using the Touch Cover. It is basically Smart Cover style accessory, which doubles as a keyboard. Microsoft also offers Type Cover and Power Cover. The idea is the same, but they all have their pros and cons. The Touch Cover is the thinnest and lightest and uses a pressure sensitive surface as a keyboard. The Type Cover is slightly thicker and heavier, but still portable. The main advantage over the pressure sensitive Touch Cover is that it has “normal” mechanical keys. It is much easier to use and to type on. The newest addition to the family is the Power Cover. It is basically a Type Cover with an integrated battery, which can improve the battery life of your Surface Pro. Note that I said Surface Pro. This cover works only with the Surface Pro or Surface Pro 2. The other covers work with the whole family of Surface tablets.

Samsung has announced quite a few new wearables at MWC in Barcelona. They include two new smartwatches and one new fitness band / smartwatch hybrid...