Useful Smartwatch Apps

Some years ago, we may have sworn that smartphones were the best tech devices ever made in this lifetime. Who could blame us, a smartphone now possesses all the possible things we need in our day to day lives. Just so you know, there is an app for everything, from entertaining games to fitness programs to even security systems. And yet, as much as we love our smartphones to bits and pieces, another tech device is stealing the limelight and wants to make a name for itself. The advantage? It’s wearable. Lo and behold, we are looking on the age of smartwatches.

 To prove this point, you may well observe that top tech giants such as Sony, Samsung, Casio, etc. are releasing their very own line of smartwatches. And with this amazing wearable tech comes the apps that aim to make our lives a tad easier. And here are just some of the smartwatch apps that can be handy.

Wunderlist
With Wunderlist, you are presented with the easiest way to manage your schedule and tasks at hand. Simplicity is always the key. This app provides you with the most essential functions and commands sans the complicated and superfluous extras. From making a grocery list to taking notes in your meeting, this app will be of great help to you plus it will just be around your wrist so it will always be within your reach.

Google Maps

For a fellow traveller, Google Maps is one of those apps that you can’t leave home without. I know it’s exciting and fun to be lost for a while and finding your own way out of it. But it’s not every day that you have the pleasure of time by your side. Google Maps is the most extensive of all navigational applications, getting through an unknown abyss with this trusty app will be definitely an ace to your travel.

Moves

Enough of all the fitness apps you get online when you can just have one. Moves is a fitness app that is not just a simple pedometer. It also includes a sort of fitness diary to keep track of your daily activities and automatically records any walking, cycling, or running that you do including the distance, duration, steps, and calories burned.

Starbucks App

I don’t know about you, but for me, coffee is not just a drink. It’s a morning hug that makes everything so much better afterwards. And so, how cool is it to have a Starbucks app that satisfies all your coffeeholic whims?

BBC News Apps

No matter how busy you are, it pays to be always in the loop with what is happening with the world. Just a quick peep of the breaking news and trending topics can keep you well updated and keeps you connected.

A smartphone can be your bestfriend for now, but who knows in a couple of years we might be opting for a new bestfriend. A smartwatch is a promising replacement don’t you think?

Is It Worth Upgrading Your HTC One M7 to HTC One M8?

After much speculation and anticipations, HTC has finally unveiled their latest flagship phone, the successor of last year’s multi-awarded phone HTC One M7, the HTC One M8.

True to HTC’s promise of delivering breakthrough designs and smartphone technology, HTC One M8 is built to deliver an unparalleled smartphone experience this 2014.

Surely, there are improvements on HTC One M8, but is it really worthy upgrading your HTC One M7 to HTC One M8? How much has changed and improved with the new HTC One M8?

DESIGN

Both designs sport solid aluminium body and front-facing speakers at the top and at the bottom. However, take note that HTC has made the successor with more solid design through its machined aluminium rear  that extends around the side. The newer mobile beast is also wider, taller, and heavier than its older brother -- but only by a fraction.

DISPLAY

HTC One M7 and HTC One M8 offer the same 1920 x 1080 pixel display resolution and the same Super LCD3 capacitive touchscreen. The younger mobile beast has gone slightly bigger, though. It sports a hefty 5-inch screen while the older HTC One has 4.7-inch screen. However, the older brother has a higher pixel per inch at 469 compared to HTC One M8 which has 440 ppi. This means that the original HTC One has slightly sharper images in terms of numbers.

SOFTWARE

For anyone who loves to multi-task and hates lags, processor and speed are very important factors. Both HTC Ones are gifted with powerful processors, but HTC One M8 takes the lead here as it is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor clocked at 2.3 GHz compared to its older brother which has Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 quad-core clocked at 1.9 GHz. Both devices hold 2GB of RAM, though.

When it comes to UI, the newer HTC One comes with the latest Android version, Kitkat, coupled with Sense 6.0. The older one will eventually get an OS update to bring it on par with the new version.

CAMERA

With the continuous technological convergence, smartphones continue to cater users’ craving for better cameras that can capture priceless moments. HTC Ones are built with 4MP UltraPixel rear camera  with f/2.0 aperture. The original HTC One has back-illuminated sensor which is not present in the new version. The newer HTC One has dedicated depth sensor above the main camera lens. It also features U-Focus which allows you to select the focal points.

HTC One M7 versus HTC One M8

If you are part of the “selfie” generation, then you might be glad to hold the new HTC One M8 as it has a 5MP front camera. Your portrait photos will surely be as clear as you want compared to the old HTC One’s 2.1MP front camera.

SPEAKERS

Both devices have dual front-facing speakers. The speakers are not branded as powerbeats anymore; HTC has its own BoomSound. If you are an audiophile, you may find the newer version cooler as it is 25% louder and prouder than its older brother. You can even enjoy this through HTC mobile accessories like HTC BoomBass and stereo headphones.

MEMORY

Surely, both devices can meet your basic needs for memory storage, but if you are someone who wants to store hundreds of movies and apps, you can opt for the newer One which has 128GB memory card slot. But seriously?

BATTERY

Given the increased size and upgraded OS, the newer version is more power-hungry; thus, it has a bigger battery capacity, which is 2,600 mAh, 300 mAh more than its predecessor.

HTC One M8?

The new HTC One is truly impressive. It is premium, and it works like a mobile beast. But the older HTC One is still efficient in handling everyday tasks and more demanding tasks with ease. If you are going to think about it, there are very few upgrades in the newer version that you can still live without. For smartphone users who bought the previous One, this is the upgrade to skip. For everyone else, the HTC One M8 is simply one of the best smartphones you can buy.

The Best Sketch and Paint Apple Apps for Artists

Move over pen and paper because this time we replace our good old canvas with a trusty tablet, and a paintbrush with an awesome stylus. As the world of the best smartphones and tablet arises, it's the perfect time to breed a new generation of artists who are open and willing to take their skills to the next level.

It is undeniable that Apple’s iPad is the favoured platform of multimedia practitioners since it is tailor-made to have the best touch screen capability among any other tablet in the market. And now that there are rumors that a possible Apple stylus is about to be released, who knows what artistic wonders one can make with a winning tandem. But first, let us be acquainted with some of the highest rated art apps that you can try your hand on.

Procreate 2

First on this list is the new entry by Savage Interactive that is popular to top-rated artists including Pete Fowler. Procreate 2 is the second version of an accurate and precise drawing and painting app. This cool new app is set to make you capable of creating striking new artworks yours to brag. It is packed with features such as GPU accelerated filters, 4K canvases, and 64-bit support to compliment the new iPad. The best thing is, if you are currently a user, upgrade is totally free!

ArtRage

Next in line is the ArtRage, this particular art app is dedicated for the talented painters out there. This app is equipped with all the possible tools you need in order to create a breathtaking masterpiece. Upon opening this program, you will be introduced into a virtual artist’s studio, with a myriad of tools and a treasure trove of colours that you are welcome to play with. The sensitivity and interaction is impressive, it’s almost like you are doing it real time!

Autodesk Sketchbook Pro

Now if you are more in to sketching and drawing, this next app is the perfect partner for you. The Sketchbook Pro is a clever app that offers a whole range of professional-level drawing and sketching tools. It also includes a set of high-quality brushes that allows you to work in a multitude of layers that makes your work more attractive. This app will make a “pro” out of you!

Now that you have an idea of the coolest and latest art apps there is, all you have to do is download one of these, and let your creative juice flow. Enjoy!

The Kurio Smartphone is the Start for Rearing Techie Kids One Step at a Time

Technology is a way of life. It is the continuous improvement, modification, and progression that ultimately lead to its application to solve a problem or improve a pre-existing solution. As we move ahead into the future, we gradually assimilate technology into our lives; thus, we advance to become a more improved specie.

In this digital age, we are surrounded by a plethora of technological advancements that come in both tangible and intangible means. And because technology is vast in nature, it gets to affect us in one way or another, whether we like it or not. Given this, we can let it take us to where it’s headed, or we can illogically quarantine ourselves from it and live in total ignorance and barbarism. This is not just an isolated case that affects a certain age group; it affects absolutely everybody, even our kids. So, might as well lead them on how to embrace technology safely and wisely.

There will come a day when you’ll come across one of the hardest questions to answer from your child, and it’s, “When can I have a mobile phone?” Yes, we understand that we all have to face this sooner or later, but is giving in to their demands really appropriate? If you tend to be too liberal, your child might find a way into wrongful use of technology, but if you restrict him from what he desires, a number of consequences await as well.

 

Don’t stress yourself getting away from that sticky situation, for Kurio has a solution for you in the form of a cool smartphone. The company’s objective is to “incorporate new technologies with learning and the development of childhood comprehension.” And this is what motivated them to release the innovative and successful Kurio product range.

According to Pieter van den Bosch, strategic director of the KD Group, “Kids want cell phones, but with access to this technology comes great responsibility. Kurio Phone includes additional parental controls to address safety concerns that come along with giving a child a mobile device, but they also promote the child’s independence and help foster an open parent-child dialogue.” He adds, “In fact, on the smartphone, the child will be able to monitor his or her own phone usage and see the parameters that mom and dad have set.”

The handset, which is known as the Kurio Touch 4s, is the safest smartphone for kids. It integrates a comprehensive array of robust parental controls and a built-in modified platform geared for learning. It allows you to customize the quality and quantity of their engagement to their very own phone. You can be able to control the number of minutes your child can use his device and block his access to non-kid friendly sites. In addition, its GPS can inform you of your child’s location every 15, 30, or 60 minutes; plus, a geofence feature can be activated to let you know if your child enters a certain restricted area.

The Kurio Phone is built with standard hardware specs. It runs in Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, powered by a fast multi-core processor and 1GB RAM, and has 8GB integrated memory that can be expanded up to 40GB with a Micro SD Card. It is 3G, Bluetooth, GPS, FM, and Wi-FI ready. It has a 2-megapixel rear and 0.3-megapixel front-facing camera. All those decent specs are put together in one compact device that boasts a 4-inch display. As of now, its price hasn’t yet been announced, but it’s expected to cost below $200, unlocked.

The Kurio Touch 4s is truly the ultimate Android handheld device for kids. Support your kid’s passage to independence, and help cultivate a relationship based on trust and confidence with the Kurio Smartphone.