Tag Archives: Smartphones

The Gadget Man – Episode 178: Rice, Phones, and Chili Con Carne: Debunking Tech Myths with Malcolm Boyden

In this latest episode of The Gadget Man, Matt unravels the long-standing myth about using rice to dry out wet mobile phones.

Despite its popularity, this method is debunked as ineffective and potentially harmful.

The Gadget Man - Episode 178: Rice, Phones, and Chili Con Carne: Debunking Tech Myths with Malcolm Boyden
The Gadget Man – Episode 178: Rice, Phones, and Chili Con Carne: Debunking Tech Myths with Malcolm Boyden

Apple itself has issued guidance against it, warning that rice grains can damage the device by blocking ports and causing corrosion. Instead,

Matt suggests allowing the phone to dry out naturally in a dry, airy place, highlighting modern phones’ water resistance capabilities and the importance of gentle care in case of water exposure.

Rice can damage devices
Rice can damage devices

The conversation takes a lighter turn with a humorous suggestion for the best use of rice: making chili-con-carne, adding a flavourful twist to the tech discussion.

Dropping your phone in water is now not the disaster it used to be
Dropping your phone in water is now not the disaster it used to be

This episode not only clears up a common misconception but also serves up a side of humour, making it a must-listen for tech enthusiasts and foodies alike.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe and share!

See you next time!

 

UGREEN launches the Nexode 100W 20000mAh, a 3-Port USB C, 65W Rapid Recharge Portable Charger

With 100W Max Fast Charging and 3 port simultaneous charging, the Nexode 100W is the ultimate source for power on the go

UGREEN, a leading manufacturer of electronic accessories and peripherals, is thrilled to announce the launch of its latest power bank, the Nexode 100W 20000mAh Portable Charger. A powerhouse of charging efficiency, it is equipped with advanced features to meet the diverse charging needs of tech-savvy individuals. The UGREEN Nexode 100W 20000mAh is available from Amazon UK for RRP £79.99 (Currently on sale for £63.99) and $79.99 (on sale for $63.99) on Amazon.com.

UGREEN launches the Nexode 100W 20000mAh, a 3-Port USB C, 65W Rapid Recharge Portable Charger
UGREEN launches the Nexode 100W 20000mAh, a 3-Port USB C, 65W Rapid Recharge Portable Charger

The Nexode 100W is a testament to cutting-edge charging technology, featuring two USB C ports (USB C1 100W+ USB C2 30W) and one 22.5W USB A port. This powerful combination allows users to fast charge up to three devices simultaneously. Notably, the USB C1 port can charge a MacBook Pro 16″ to 42% in just 30 minutes, while an iPhone 15 can reach 60% battery capacity within the same timeframe meaning less waiting time and more enjoyment of devices.

Thanks to its rapid recharge capability, the USB C1 port on the device not only fast charges connected devices but also provides 65W efficient charging for the portable charger itself. A full charge takes a mere 2 hours, a remarkable 5 times faster than ordinary power banks. With this rapid recharge feature, the Nexode 100W is always ready for action, eliminating the need for prolonged waiting times.

Designed for the modern lifestyle, the UGREEN USB C Power Bank 20000mAh is engineered to meet 5-7 days of battery life. It can fully charge an iPhone 15 Pro up to 4.5 times and a MacBook Air 15” up to 1.1 times. The digital LED screen provides a clear indication of the remaining battery level, offering users a quick and accurate glance at the charging status. No more guessing based on a few little LEDs.

The Nexode 100W is not just powerful; it’s also designed to be portable and space-saving. Advanced technology enables the shrinking of the battery size without compromising charging efficiency, making it 20% lighter than similar power banks. This reduction in weight significantly alleviates the burden on users during their journeys, ensuring convenience without sacrificing performance.

This versatile fast-charging portable charger caters to a range of devices in daily life, including laptops, tablets, and smartphones such as MacBook Pro 16″, MacBook Air 15″, iPad Pro/Air, iPhone 15/Pro/Pro Max, Galaxy S23 Ultra, Pixel 7 Pro, and more. Additionally, it supports smaller devices like AirPods, fitness trackers, and smartwatches.

The UGREEN Nexode 100W 20000mAh is available from Amazon UK for RRP £79.99 (Currently on sale for £63.99) and $79.99  (on sale for $63.99) on Amazon.com.

Taking pictures in the dark – How to capture 2023 on your phone

Brits are being given tips on how to capture the perfect memories on their mobile phones during 2023!

Photography experts at ParrotPrint.com have named the seven top tips for taking the best low-light pictures as the clock strikes midnight.  

The right lighting is key to a good photograph so it can be challenging to capture memories when it’s dark.

By keeping the phone steady, making use of nearby light sources and getting acquainted with some of the smarter mobile phone features, anyone can get closer to capturing the perfect picture going in 2023

A spokesperson from Parrot Print said: “Everyone celebrating the New Year, whether at a party or watching the fireworks or just spending time with loved ones at home, wants to capture that memory on camera – the last second of 2022 and the first memory of 2023.  

“Taking a photo on a phone in the dark can be difficult and often leaves us feeling like we can’t quite capture the beautiful moment in front of us. 

“It can be hard to take a great picture at night or in darker locations as mobile phone cameras have smaller sensors than traditional cameras leading to blurry or pixelated photos.  

“The good news is you don’t necessarily need a professional camera to take great pictures at night. A lot of smartphones these days have features to help us all take better pictures as long as we know where to look.  

“You can also make use of the environment around you and set the phone up so it is as steady as you can make it before capturing that perfect nighttime picture.”  

Tips for capturing memories on New Year’s Eve:  

1. Keep your phone stable  

It doesn’t take much for a photo to appear blurry, especially if it’s taken at night so you’ll want to ensure your camera is as stable as possible. You could either invest in a handheld tripod or hold your phone with a tight grip in both hands.     

2. Download long-exposure apps   

Professional photographers tend to use longer exposure when taking pictures at night. This means the shutter speed of the camera is slower and can capture blurring motions too whilst still getting a sharp and crisp image. Although you can’t physically do this to your phone’s camera settings, you can download an app to help  

3. The flash isn’t always the solution  

When taking a picture at night or in the dark, a lot of people assume the flash will solve all their problems. Whilst this does do the trick sometimes, it’s not always the answer and can sometimes ruin the picture.   

4. Use night mode  

The majority of the latest smartphones have night mode to help enhance the pictures we take. Night mode takes several frames and then combines different elements of each to create a crisper image.  

 5. Adjust the ISO  

ISO determines how sensitive to light your camera is and essentially helps brighten or darken an image. Not all phones allow you to change the ISO but it is an option on some. The higher the ISO, the brighter the image will be.  

 6. Make use of light around you  

Depending on where you are and what you’re trying to capture you may be able to use the light around you like a lamppost or a candle. Making clever use of these light sources in a dark setting can create the perfect moody image. 

 7. Consider using editing apps  

If you feel like you still can’t capture the perfect image then there is the option to use an editing app to enhance different elements of the picture to get the result you want.  

Battery Start-Up Theion Unveils Crystal Battery for all Mobile Applications

Theion, a global battery manufacturer of lithium-sulphur cathode technology, today announced the appointment of Dr Ulrich Ehmes as CEO and the upcoming commercial availability of its Crystal Battery for applications, beginning with the aerospace sector. Dr Ehmes, who has a long track record of industrialising battery production at companies like Swiss-listed lithium-ion battery company Leclanché, will lead the commercialisation of Theion’s innovative lithium-sulphur cathode technology, which is targeting triple the range and usage time compared to conventional lithium-ion cells.

Theion’s battery innovation is based on sulphur – a material available In abundance without harmful mining (a byproduct of industrial processes). Sulphur replaces cathode materials with high processing cost and high metal content like nickel and cobalt. As a result, sulphur is not only 99% cheaper to source than the cathode materials, used in existing state-of-the-art lithium-ion batteries, but Theion’s battery cells also require 90% less energy to produce – from raw material to finished cell.

Under the leadership of Dr Ehmes, Theion will leverage his decade-long experience in the battery manufacturing sector to scale production. Dr Ehmes also serves on the Board of major battery research clusters funded by the German Ministry of Research and Education and is a member of European and German battery associations.

“I joined Theion because I am convinced that selecting the right battery active materials and processing these materials in a way that best leverages the material’s storage property, will disrupt the battery industry to another level,” said Dr Ulrich Ehmes, Theion CEO. “With 16 patents pending, our process innovations are scalable, and will bring a new dimension of mobility, range, usage time and sustainability.”

Theion’s patented production process extends the cycle life of batteries by combining sulphur’s crystal material properties with carbon nanotubes and a proprietary solid electrolyte. The company will be shipping material later this year, firstly to aerospace customers, as part of the qualification stage, then to aircraft, air taxis, drones, mobile phones and laptops, before servicing the electric flight and automotive sectors in 2024.

Battery Start-Up Theion Unveils Crystal Battery for all Mobile Applications
Battery Start-Up Theion Unveils Crystal Battery for all Mobile Applications

“We are using mother nature’s crystals under the guidance of our patented processes to unlock sulphur’s full potential as an energy carrier,” said Marek Slavik, Theion co-founder and CTO. “Its wide abundance around the world is crucial to the material cost. The design of our highly energy-efficient manufacturing processes makes our Crystal Batteries fully sustainable.”

Theion is backed by Lukasz Gadowski, CEO of Team Global, a technology holding company investing in and starting frontier technology companies. With a successful track record that includes Delivery Hero, and recent investments into Volocopter, Zapata and AutoFlight, Theion’s addition to the portfolio is highly synergetic.

“At a time when industry demand for batteries is surging, but materials cost and sustainable sourcing are experiencing volatility, Theion’s breakthrough is ideally timed,” Lukasz Gadowski, founder and CEO of Team Global, and principal investor.Theion’s Crystal Battery is perfect for all mobility applications, while being massively sustainable, and is targeting to extend the use time of handheld devices, the driving range of electric cars, and the safe flight time of eVTOL applications and electric aircraft by a factor of three. When in full production, it has the potential to replace every battery in every mobility device on earth.”

Headquartered in Berlin, Theion operates three locations within the city, specializing in cell design, prototyping and testing. Theion is expanding by adding manufacturing facilities to accelerate its mass production roadmap, beginning in Berlin. Locations for later Giga-Factories are not determined yet but will be located close to the customers. Thus, production sites are envisioned In Europe, Asia and the USA.

180 Year Old Technology Set To Tackle Smartphone Distractions For Motorists

Smartphone use behind the wheel is a BIG problem, with 31% of drivers admitting to handling their phones whilst driving in 2016 according to the RAC (Up from 8% in 2014).

It seems no amount of fixed penalty fines or danger of accidents can stop people from tinkering with their devices when they should be concentrating on driving.

I have myself been a guest on a fair number of radio phone-ins where this was discussed all including the question,”Surely, there is a way of blocking phone use behind the wheel?”

It seems the answer to this problem lies with a technology that was invented almost 200 years ago by Michael Faraday and later developed by Benjamin Franklin. Yes, the ‘Faraday Cage’, otherwise used to protect engineers working on power-lines, is now being adopted by Nissan GB to try and help reduce smartphone distraction at the wheel.

The ‘Nissan Signal Shield‘ is a compartment which sits in the arm rest of the Nissan Juke and when a phone is placed within this compartment, it blocks ALL the phones incoming and outgoing cellular, Bluetooth and WiFi connections.

It’s all based on the principle of the Faraday cage, with conductive material, such as wire mesh,  blocking the  electromagnetic fields around the phone.

When an electronic device, like a smartphone, is placed inside, any incoming electromagnetic signals – such as cellular or Bluetooth data – are distributed across the cage’s external conducting material and so prevented from reaching the device.

This all allows the driver to make a choice about whether they want to completely eliminate the distractions of text messages and multiple notifications arriving on their smartphones whilst they drive and allow them to concentrate on driving safe.

Smartphone use has become habitual and having the temptation of checking phones every few minutes removed seems like a great idea and brings to mind the old saying ‘out of site, out of mind’.

The Nissan Signal Shield concept provides optional connectivity, giving drivers the choice between being able to contact and be contacted from the road, or creating a ‘phone-free’ space and time. It means a digital detox and a drive that’s free of incoming distractions.

If drivers want to listen to music or podcasts stored on their smartphone, they can still connect to the car’s entertainment system via the USB or auxiliary ports. The device will maintain wired connectivity even when in the Nissan Signal Shield compartment.

To restore your phone’s communication, you simply open the arm rest and all is back working again.

Alex Smith, Managing Director, Nissan Motor GB Ltd. said; “Nissan produces some of the safest cars on the road today, but we are always looking at new ways to improve the wellbeing of our customers. Mobile phone use at the wheel is a growing concern across the automotive industry, and indeed society, particularly with the high number of ‘pushed’ communications, such as texts, social media notifications and app alerts that tempt drivers to reach for their devices.”

“The Nissan Signal Shield concept presents one possible solution for giving drivers the choice to remove all smartphone distractions while driving. This is about delivering more control at the wheel, not less. Some drivers are immune to the activity of their smartphone, but for those who struggle to ignore the beeps and pings, this concept provides a simple solution in this very ‘connected’ world we live in.”

RAC road safety spokesman Pete Williams said: “Our research shows that handheld phone use by drivers has reached epidemic proportions. As mobile phone technology has advanced significantly many people have become addicted to them. However, the use of a handheld phone when driving represents both a physical and mental distraction and it has been illegal since 2003.”

“The Nissan Signal Shield is a good example of a technology that can help drivers be phone smart. For those who can’t avoid the temptation, this simple but pretty clever tech gives them a valuable mobile-free zone. We are asking all drivers to make a personal commitment not to use a handheld phone at the wheel by visiting www.bephonesmart.uk and sharing their promise with their friends and family.”

Get In Touch!

Matt Porter, The Gadget Man
Matt Porter, The Gadget Man

Thank you for stopping by. I am Matt Porter, widely recognised as The Gadget Man. Based in the UK, I have been featured on :-

BBC National Radio :-

BBC Radio Five Live : Rachel Burden and Rick Edwards

BBC Local Radio :-

BBC Radio Suffolk : Mark Murphy, Mark Matthews, Lesley Dolphin, James Hazell, Ronnie Barbour, Rachel Sloane, Etholle George, Graham Barnard, Matt Marvel, Wayne Bavin, and Sarah Lilley

BBC Radio Guernsey : Jenny Kendall-Tobias and Tony Gillham.

BBC Coventry & Warwickshire : Viv Minett

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BBC Radio Kent : Steve Ladner

BBC Look East
ITV Anglia,
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I have also had my work included in news items by BBC News and ITV News as well as being featured in the documentaries ‘Battle of Britain: The Race for Radar (2020)‘ and ‘The Haunting of M.R James (2018)‘.

My tech acumen extends over 40 years of coding experience and a profound understanding of Artificial Intelligence, which I often elucidate in my monthly product reviews for local magazines.


Matt Porter – The Gadget Man

Technology Commentator and Reviewer

I am deeply immersed in the tech world, constantly exploring the forefront of gadgets and technology. I am available for remote audio/video engagements, live or pre-recorded TV appearances, and interviews, offering expertise in a diverse range of topics:

  • AI Diffusion Image and Video Generation: My fascination with AI extends to its capability to generate compelling visuals. I explore how diffusion models are revolutionizing content creation, enabling the synthesis of images and videos that blur the lines between the artificial and the real, thus providing a new canvas for creativity.
  • Voice Generation and Synthesis: I analyze the nuances of AI-driven voice synthesis, discussing how this technology is creating new opportunities for personalized interactions and revolutionizing fields from customer service to entertainment.
  • Chatbots and Conversational AI: Chat-GPT and similar technologies represent a leap forward in machine understanding. I offer insights into how conversational AI is enhancing customer experiences, streamlining processes, and even offering companionship.
  • Ethics and AI: As we integrate AI more deeply into our lives, I engage in critical discussions about the ethical implications, the balance between innovation and privacy, and the measures needed to ensure responsible use of AI technology.
  • Everyday Innovations: I spotlight gadgets that simplify daily routines, offering insights into devices that enhance everyday life with convenience and efficiency.
  • Retro Tech: I take a nostalgic look at the golden era of technology, revisiting the iconic 80s home computers and timeless mobile phones.
  • Electric Vehicles: I navigate the burgeoning world of EVs, discussing their sustainable future and the technical skills necessary for their maintenance.
  • eBike Insights: I share my personal experiences with eBike technology, from securing support to obtaining firmware updates.
  • Telecommunications: I discuss the ongoing enhancements in broadband infrastructure and the significant shift from copper networks.
  • Streaming Service Evolution: I critique the dynamic landscape of streaming services, addressing the challenges of content access for consumers.

For a deeper understanding of these topics and more, I am your informed source, ready to share knowledge and a unique perspective on the evolving world of technology.


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