SYNAPSE CIRCUIT, BLUE GENE IS BACK FOR THE FUTURE

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT 

BLUE GENE, THE TECH

WRITING HERO IS...

BACK!!! REJOICE!!! 

Goodhour, Synapse Circuit Readers! 

The Tech World hasn't been the same without his writing! 

#SynapseCircuit #Synapse #Circuit #BlueGene #Blue #Gene
Recovery from illness...

UK, January 16, 2017, Blue Gene, the man behind some of the most entertaining Tech journalism is back! Gene was forced to bow out of the Tech Writing game due to prolonged illness.

Here are some words from the man himself...

It's great to be back! I have missed writing about my favorite subject, Tech! It must be a year now since I last wrote anything substantial. I have missed testing products, giving my opinions and predictions.

I became seriously ill and I had to take a break from writing. I have been working hard at rebuilding my body. I am thinking of writing about that aspect of my life at some point. We shall see... But in the meantime, I am keen to get back to what I love doing which is to write about Tech - product reviews, news, opinions, observations, etc.

It is wonderful to see, via the stats, that you are still reading my articles! Thank you! It means a lot!

You can expect me to be back on the Tech pulse!

Best wishes, 

Blue Gene aka Synapse Circuit

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT RELAUNCHING SOON

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT 
RELAUNCHING SOON... 
NEWS
Goodhour, Synapse Circuit Readers!

It is so wonderful to see you all again after what seems like ages! What can I tell you? Stuff happens and has kept me from doing what I love doing which is write about Tech!

I just want to thank for continuing to read my articles in my absence! THANK YOU!

Whilst I have been away I have had time to rethink! Synapse Circuit will come back stronger!

Watch this space... The official website is being redesigned! I, Blue Gene, Synapse Circuit relaunch very soon!

All the best to you!

Blue Gene / Synapse Circuit

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT CHRISTMAS LIST 2014

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
CHRISTMAS LIST 2014:

ARE YOU READY FOR...
...CHRISTMAS 2014?
NO? NEVER FEAR! SYNAPSE CIRCUIT IS HERE! HO! HO! HO! GET READY TO JINGLE THOSE BELLS!

Goodhour, Synapse Circuit Readers! Again, I thank you so much for reading my articles! As always, I am wishing you the very best of health, love and happiness with your tech! Have you done your Christmas tech shopping yet?

Can you believe that 2014 is almost over already??? It has been a juggernaut year for tech: iPhone 6, 6 Plus, Nexus 6, Nexus 9, Nexus Player, Galaxy S5, Galaxy Note 4, Moto G 2014, Hudl 2, Android 5 Lollipop and so, so many more to list! If you are looking for tech gifts then you are in luck... Read on!

Let’s see how Archos is doing right now!

#Christmas2014 #Xmas2014 #ChristmasShopping #SynapseCircuitChristmasShoppingList #ChristmasShoppingList #TechChristmasShoppingList

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT TECH CHRISTMAS SHOPPING LIST!
I am going to do my best to list what I think will make great Christmas gifts in the following categories:-

SMARTPHONES
From budget to mid-range all the way to the super-premium! If you are looking for the perfect smartphone gift you can rely on my recommendations! If your contract is due for renewal hang on!

TABLETS
If you are looking for a high-end tablet for serious productivity on the go or something for the family or even a decent tablet for the student, Synapse Circuit will sort you out! Prepare to be surprised!

APPS
I will do my best to recommend some worthwhile apps for both the smartphone and tablet!

PC SOFTWARE
You have probably figured out already that the PC isn’t dying for now! Uh-uh! The chances are that you have a PC at home that has stood the test of time. Perhaps you are looking to build a website for your business idea? Hey, you have all that video footage on your mobile; why not edit the footage together and create DVD / Bluray discs for friends and family? And don’t you think it’s about time you got round to making your own original music? And think about all those pictures on your phone that could do with some editing? You could have a go at making greeting cards out of those pictures!

I will do my best from now until December 23^rd to list as many gift ideas as possible!

GENERAL HARDWARE / ACCESSORIES
I will do my best to list various forms of hardware that includes Bluetooth speakers, PC speakers, security cameras, laptop bags, tablet bags and just about anything that I can review!

COMPETITIONS!
I will do my absolute best to bring you some wonderful competition prizes! It's happening! 

WAVES

Dear Synapse Circuit Readers,

I have to tell you that this year has been very, very rough for me and I have tried not to let it interfere with my articles! You name it I have gone through it this year... Illness, friends and family being seriously ill, friends and family passing away: RIP! Then there’s so-called friends deciding that it would be a good idea to take advantage of my good nature! Jeez! <Rolls eyes> That’s not even the half of it! Lol! If I revealed all you probably wouldn’t believe me!

I can only apologize if my writing hasn’t been up to my usual standards! But you know what? I am still here! I am still doing what I love which is to not only test and review gear but to bring you an informed viewpoint. I’d like to think that I have been critical and objective. I hope that you will agree!

Most of all I am a consumer! I want the best for myself and therefore I want the best for you too!

I think it’s so important to be real and not let manufacturers, software houses, etc bias my opinion. I am not like these so-called writers that say, “Apple, Apple, iPhone, iPad, Apple... Oh, and get a Mac too! Now where’s my money, Tim?” Hahahaha! Uh-uh! I take pride in my work!

I will take the time to thank you for appreciating my work while I have the time! The coming weeks will be NUTS!!!! So much to do and so little time! Right, I will do my best to bring you what I can! So, stay tuned and watch this space! I have been so busy offline in my private life that I haven’t had the time for a site redesign! Soon!

There you go!

That’s something to think about!

Thank you for your patience! I look forward to bringing you some gift ideas – even if the gifts are for you! Yeah, spoil yourself! Or yourselves! Wink, wink...

THANKS FOR READING...

Please check out the Synapse Circuit site here: Synapse Circuit.com

REVIEWS & COMPETITIONS ARE COMING SOON!!! PLEASE STANDBY!!!

Yes, I am well aware that the site is due an update soon! It’s coming...

Synapse Circuit for tech news, opinions, articles, reviews and competitions. You will find interactive PDF magazines, videos and links to free legal software! Check it out at Synapse Circuit dot com

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT ARCHOS HELIUM 50

Above: The elegant looking Archos Helium 50 4G 5 inch handset.

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
REVIEWS:

ARCHOS...
...HELIUM 50 4G
PRICE: £229.99

Goodhour, Synapse Circuit Readers! As always, it’s great to see you again! I hope that all is well in your world and that your tech is working as it should! Nothing worse than malfunctioning tech! Bah!

You know Archos, right? I know Archos from way, way back on the QVC channel with its famous media players. Those were the days... Then the iPod came along and captured the imagination of the populous! And seemingly out of nowhere came the wonder that is the Android operating system... Other companies have fallen in the quest to keep up with the virulent Android strain of multiple devices but Archos is still standing...

Let’s see how Archos is doing right now!

#Archos #Android #Helium504G #Smartphone #4G

CATCHING UP
Archos has embraced Android when it – along with the iPod – changed the media player market forever! The media player has been replaced by handsets, tablets and, dare I say it, media players from the likes of Samsung whereby they’ve removed the phone component from one of the Galaxy models and transformed the handset concept to the Galaxy Media Player. Yes, it makes sense to have a separate media player in addition to a handset as it prevent battery drainage on the phone! However, I have always said that yesteryear’s handset can easily become a media player with phone capabilities! Use for an old handset no.1!

Anyway, the French company has gone from strength to strength and have brought some great tablets and lately handsets to the mobile device mobile marketplace. Kudos!

DESIGN: FORM & FUNCTION
It’s just a little taller than the second generation Motorola Moto G! There’s a little chin at the bottom to bear the Archos brand. The look and feel is very much like an enlarged version of the Samsung Galaxy S2. The battery cover bears a similar feel to the back of the HTC Desire – remember that handset? The removable cover can only be described as having a matt finish and feels a little velvety to the touch. As a result the design comes across as elegant if a little dated by today’s Android handset standard. It’s not a big deal as the Helium 50 4G feels very premium in the hand. When the quality of the materials is compared to the second generation Moto G one can see how Motorola is able to deliver such a cost effective handset.

The Helium 50 4G has a bit of heft to it as it is slightly heavier than the aforementioned second generation Moto G but not by much. Me? I personally favour handsets with a heavier and thicker build as it means better handling and a high capacity battery. Speaking of the battery, the 2000 mAh battery is removable!

When the battery cover is removed it reveals spaces for the micro SIM and SD card up to 64GB!

To cap off this section I would sum it up, thus so far, in the following manner: Slightly retro design, thick bezels by the latest Android handset trends, premium in that the materials are of good quality and as a whole the Helium 50 4G feels sturdy.

HARDWARE: POWER RATINGS
The display is a 5” IPS with a 1280 x 720 resolution; it’s pretty sharp with a good amount of detail and colour representation. It’s a bit of a shame that the bezels don’t show it off. But it’s not a disaster!

For a handset of this substance it is a little disappointing that the storage capacity is 8GB; still, that stated, I managed to install what I consider to be the base apps: WhatsApp, LINE, Facebook with space for a bit more. Again, as mentioned earlier, there is a slot for a microSD card up to 64GB! However, it would be significant if apps could run from the microSD and I wish that Google would change that in Android. Think about it: if Google are looking beyond handsets and tablets like CEO Larry Page states then why not make the vital changes to Android to let apps run from the microSD card? Now that’s something to think about... Hmmmm...

The Qualcomm MSM 8926 quad-core 1.2Ghz CPU and Adreno 305 GPU pushes things along nicely! Thus making the Helium 50 quite nippy! I played a few of the games preinstalled on it and there was no lag.

To sum this section up: Strong hardware let down slightly by the 8GB internal storage. The 1.2 quad-core CPU is fast but the Moto G 2014 handset is faster with a similar 1.2 quad-core CPU, Adreno 305 GPU and 1GB RAM. I will do the camera separately in its own category, Camera. The battery duration was good for a day of moderate use.

SOFTWARE:
ANDROID & DEFAULT APPS
Thankfully, there is no Archos user interface over Android 4.3. Yes, it’s Jelly Bean and not KitKat. To be very honest with you I haven’t really noticed a huge difference in functionality. Here’s what I have observed:-

1. The virtual navigation buttons does not allow for app management; in other words there’s no way of swiping away apps running in the background. But that can be solved with an app management app.

2. The wallpaper screen does not bleed into the notification / battery / network and Wi-Fi area. It spoils the aesthetic if you have been spoiled with other handsets. Jelly Bean just does not support a transparent notification bar. I tried to see if a few launchers would change that to no avail.

3. No voice activated, “OK Google”, Google Now. Again, Jelly Bean does not support that functionality which isn’t a big deal. It’s so funny when ambient TV voices can sometimes set Google Now off!

There was no KitKat update for the Helium 50 unfortunately. It could come... Perhaps version 5, Lollipop is a possibility. I won’t hold my breath. And it could be that be this review model does not support an update. However, the hardware is very similar to the second generation Moto G and that is handset is getting Lollipop!

There are the usual default Google default apps preinstalled: Gmail, Chrome, Drive, Google Search, Hangouts, Maps, Play Games, Play Movies & TV, Play Newstand and Play Music, etc. In addition there are Archos specific apps: Music, Video players and File Manager. Plus there are some games from Gameloft: Little Big City, Total Conquest, Wonder Zoo and World at Arms. The games are very similar in look, feel and play. They ran without lag.

Summary: No user interface (UI), pure Android but it is Jelly Bean and not KitKat. The overall effect is that the interaction is pleasingly rapid but slightly slower than the second Generation Moto G. I can live with that.

CAMERA: PICTURES & VIDEOS
The 8MP camera is, once again, compared to the second generation Moto G, is very similar; the video recording is the same 720p. I think this is where the comparison ends as I found the pictures on the Helium 50 to be of a lesser quality than the 2^nd generation Moto G. The results are acceptable – they aren’t bad. But like all cameras it’s a few factors that make for a good picture: lens, pixel count, sensor and software. In good lighting the results are very pleasing. The way the camera works is very much bog standard Google Camera. There’s HDR and a good amount of settings to ensure a good picture is taken from the main or the front.

The Helium 50 camera works so very differently to the Moto G (second generation) which is fully automatic: launch the Moto G camera and point with rapid auto focus, tap the screen and the photo is taken! But the Helium 50 has the traditional camera on it that allows more of a manual control. In contrast once you get used to the Moto G way of taking pictures it’s a little hard to go back. That said, you should be satisfied with the Helium 50 camera. The 8MP will ensure that your best pictures can be printed out if you so wished and it is perfect for the purpose of providing your social networks with high quality pictures and videos. The video aspect is very good. When I get the chance I will post up the pictures and videos.

USAGE: DAY TO DAY
I enjoyed the Helium 50 very much... You should know that I still use my Galaxy S2 everyday and, as I mentioned earlier, the Helium 50 could have been a Samsung design had they kept up with that particular design ethos: black and monolithic. As you know by now a 5 inch handset is no longer considered to be a big handset. Even though it is slightly taller than the second generation Moto G it still feels compact. It slides into my jean and jacket pockets and it feels comfortable.

Watching YouTube video was 90% pleasing because the speaker at the back is nice and clear. Even when placed flatly on its back the speaker resonates off the surface to make it sound oddly better! With the Helium 50 held in the air the speaker doesn’t have that richness of tone but it is still loud enough to be pleasing to the ear. I think that the thick bezels and chin is a bit of distraction; it’s not quite the cinematic viewing experience.

The thickness of the handset makes it so easy to hold when taking pictures; again to compare the thickness to the Moto G (2^nd generation) it is about the same 11mm thickness. I do HATE these thin handsets that is a design feature on these premium handsets just for the fact that it makes taking pictures / video cumbersome where I protective case helps with providing sturdiness. And it reduces the battery capacity! I wonder if the big Android hitters i.e. Samsung, HTC, Sony, LG, etc will be brave enough to make a 13mm handset to hold a larger battery and quite possibly a more advanced camera lens... Hmmm...

Calls on the Helium 50 are a pleasant experience as the earpiece is very clear.

Productivity is quite pleasing due to the nice 5” screen.

CONCLUSION
I think many folk will dismiss an Archos phone in favour of the bigger names and that will be a great shame. The Helium 50 4G is delightful handset and I would imagine that it would be appreciated by those who just want “good enough”. Here I am envisioning non-technical individuals that aren’t fussed about things such as screen-casting, NFC, and an array of camera functionality. There are many folk out there who would be more than happy with the picture and video quality as they are destined for social networks and those brilliant free messaging apps. For such users the Helium 50 4G will make a fine main – if not only driver!

A power user – someone that gets off on tech will find the Helium 50 4G to be a nice secondary, third or even a fourth handset! I don’t know about you but when my contracts are up I don’t sell the handset on or trade it in – unless I really have to! C’mon, I am NEVER going to trade in or sell my Samsung’s! I have friends on different networks and a small PAYG or SIM only contract allows me to take advantage of free network to network calls and so on; I’ll never get a good price for the premium handsets as a trade in. And, of course, I enjoy tinkering with rooting, installing custom ROMs , etc. I am waffling – as per usual! In short I do like the Helium 50 very much!

I am inclined to think that it is just a tad expensive but bear in mind that you do get 4G LTE speeds so when you’re not at home and not on Wi-Fi you can enjoy HD quality YouTube material! I think 4G LTE runs a lot faster than some cable broadband! Gosh! Anyway, the second generation Moto G is not 4G and the extra £80 buys you the 4G connectivity.

It’s a pity that the £80 couldn’t have stretched to also include latest version of Android which is KitKat at the time of writing with Lollipop imminent! That small detail could make the difference for the true Android fanatic who must have the latest version of the operating system! That said, you still get a nice 5” screen that makes the Helium 50 worthwhile. There’s the Huawei G6 that is 4G but the screen is 4.5” – if I am correct! That currently retails at £120! Oh, boy! You do get quite a decent handset for the price as the hardware pretty much identical: 1.2GHz quad-core CPU, Adreno 305 GPU, 1GB RAM and 8GB internal storage! But get this... ...you get a 5MP front-facing camera as well as an 8MP main one! Ta da! But the question for the Android aficionado is: Will it be receiving the Lollipop upgrade? Do you prefer the 5” screen over the 4.5” one? Me? I can’t go back to 4.5” unless I absolutely need a handset in hurry i.e. my main driver is broken beyond repair or it’s too costly to repair and I need a phone to replace it! The answer would be the Helium 50 for the 4G and 5” screen aspect!

That’s the thing with Android: so, so many options and the Helium 50 4G should be up there with some of the best budget 5” 4G handsets!

SCORE
I give the Archos Helium 50 4G a respectable solid silver! It would have gotten gold if it was upgradable to KitKat. Or if it was a tad less than £229.99! Ideally, I would say £190 at the most. Because the Android market today is so competitive Archos has to pay close attention to its pricing! Other than that, it’s a very good effort from Archos!



There you go!

Things to think about!

THANKS FOR READING...

Please check out the Synapse Circuit site here: Synapse Circuit.com

REVIEWS & COMPETITIONS ARE COMING SOON!!! PLEASE STANDBY!!!

Yes, I am well aware that the site is due an update soon! It’s coming...

Synapse Circuit for tech news, opinions, articles, reviews and competitions. You will find interactive PDF magazines, videos and links to free legal software! Check it out at Synapse Circuit dot com

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT PROJECT ARA: PHONEBLOKS

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT
PROJECT ARA: PHONEBLOKS
#Google #ProjectAra #Phonebloks

Good evening / early morning, Synapse Circuit Readers! How goes it? I hope that all is well in your world!

When I first wrote the article on Phonebloks which became Project Ara (apparently Google Motorola back then had this building block approach to handsets in their sights already) somebody commented that it can’t be done. I laughed out loud and replied, “Nothing is impossible...”

http://synapse-circuit.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/synapse-circuit-phonebloks.html

IT’S HAPPENING!
The idea is so brilliant! Just like we are able to put together our own PC configurations we’ll soon be able to build our own Android handsets to our preferences! Goody!

A functioning prototype should be ready within a few weeks and it could be commercially available early next year! Or perhaps – with a bit of luck – it could be ready as early as the fall this year! Either way this is very, very exciting! And I am sure that other manufacturers will follow suit! Better still... Imagine a scenario whereby you can purchase component blocks from Samsung, LG, HTC, Asus, etc. I wonder if a swivel camera, as found on the Oppo N1, will be possible... Just for the fun of it, would it be possible to add 3 camera modules on it!

In terms of RAM and storage capacity Project Ara could bring down the cost of RAM and storage options down dramatically! Items such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and LTE could be put in a cost effective context too!

I believe that there will be 3 base endoskeleton sizes: mini, medium and jumbo! I would go for the jumbo model! I just love these massive handsets! Why not stretch to tablets too! I am pretty sure that the project will extend to tablets too! It would be fantastic to be able to build our own tablets! If you look at how Apple sells its iPad the LTE model costs considerably more than the Wi-Fi version - £130 more! It’s a rip off! Now imagine having thousands upon thousands of the LTE component there for the taking at a decent price, say £30! I am hoping so much that this will be possible!

Project Ara will give us so much freedom! Freedom to choose our own network and moreover, we’d be able to get the very latest Android operating system! I can’t wait! Bring it on! Hey! I just had another thought! When 3D printers become a household option we can print some of the Ara body parts! But I envisage a situation whereby we take our designs to a print bureau with a commercial 3D output facility! Cool!

For the Project Ara initiative, Google has partnered with NK Labs to do the electrical, mechanical, and software engineering and with 3D Systems to make a high-speed 3D printer to mass produce the Ara endoskeletons.

Oh, let's have some massive battery options! 

What do you reckon?   

Take good care!

Thank you for watching and reading!

Please check out the Synapse Circuit website for video, i-PDF and more! 

Synapse Circuit Dot Com