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Sony Xperia 1 II

The Sony Xperia 1 II

   The Sony Xperia 1 II, let's see what it's all about! Buy the Sony Xperia 1 II and receive a Wena Wrist Pro by Sony and a Wena Wrist Mechanical Head.  If you consider yourself to be the creative type, then this may be exactly what you are looking for in a smartphone. From running a poll on our Instagram @CloveTechnology, we've seen that a massive 73% of you feel that the camera is the most important part of buying a new phone, so let's start there. Camera Sony have co-developed the camera with the engineers behind the newest professional Alpha cameras. They have included controls which you would usually find on a professional camera for example auto eye focus, which works on both humans and animals, a dual photo sensor and fast focus even when you are in a low light setting. The camera on the Xperia 1 II definitely meets the needs and demands of a professional photographer with its outstanding ZIESS quality, as well as creating great videos and photographs to keep up with your hobby.  The Xperia 1 II can also secure moments that no other smartphone can do. It captures up to 20 frames per second whilst making sure that you have completely accurate auto focus by using its 3D iToF sensor. The sensor is inside the camera and it very cleverly calculates the distance. Not only that, but the smartphone will instinctively apply auto exposure for the best lighting.  Sound In our Instagram poll, the other 27% of you voted that sound quality was more important over the camera. If that is also the case for you then no need to worry, Sony have got you covered too. The sound technology in the Xperia 1 II was overseen by audio experts so you have the best quality with a natural sound space and better stereo separation. With its two stereo speakers at either end of the phone and the dynamic vibration system, you've got perfectly balanced 360 reality audio whether you're playing video games, listening to music or watching a film or video. There is a 3.5mm audio jack or you can connect wirelessly.  Is the Sony Xperia 1 II waterproof? Another feature that has been found to be key when getting a new phone is whether it is waterproof or not. Having a waterproof phone is fantastic if you're wanting to create some great memories on holiday for example, or if you're clumsy... Whichever one you are, from doing some research Clove have found that the Xperia 1 II is water resistant. When a device has an IP65/68 certification like the Sony Xperia 1 II does, it means that it can withstand both a certain amount of spray as well as immersion under water. Although Clove Technology have not tested this, according to the official Sony website it claims that the Xperia 1 II is protected against low pressure jets and full immersion up to 1.5 Meters for 30 minutes. Battery Life The smartphone has a 4,000 mAh battery with fast charging and has convenient wireless charging too. Sony have really gone all out with this device and included charging monitors. This means that your smartphone wont be over charged or over worked therefore a longer battery life. Performance There is 254GB of internal storage and compatibility with 1TB SD cards. The 5G mobile data connectivity offers you the ability to quickly share high quality content with friends on social media. You can also connect to the internet like never before and download data incredibly fast. The smartphone also includes PS4 Remote Play. This enables you to enjoy your favourite games on your mobile and there is DUALSHOCK4 compatibility, so your gaming performance is maintained.   Reasons to buy the Sony Xperia 1 II Android 10 6.5" 4K HDR OLED 21:9 CinemaWide display 5G mobile data connectivity Quad rear camera 12MP + wide 12MP ultrawide + 12MP telephoto + depth 8MP front-facing camera F2.0 lens 84° wide-angle Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G Mobile Platform 360 Reality Audio / High-Resolution Audio / 3.5mm audio jack 256GB storage / 8GB RAM / micro SD 1TB support PS4 Remote Play / DUALSHOCK4 Control compatibility IP65/IP68 Water and Dust Resistant 4,000 mAh battery with fast charging Fast, convenient wireless charging Side-mounted fingerprint sensor

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Samsung Galaxy A40 and A50 - New low price

Samsung Galaxy A40 and A50 - New low price

Both the Samsung Galaxy A40 and the A50 are an ideal device if you're looking for a stylish design with a high-resolution camera as well as some great internal features too. Given the short amount of time between the release of these phones, they both have almost identical qualities in terms of the device itself and at these prices, you MUST get your hands on them.  The only visible differences between the two devices would be the screen size. With the Samsung galaxy A50, you will notice the handset having a larger screen of 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2. Whereas the A40 being 5.9 inches, 85.5 cm2 and only costing you £169.98 for either black or blue. Although the sizes between the two varies, both these phones have a display resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels.  Click here to buy the Samsung Galaxy A50 Now Click here to buy the Samsung Galaxy A40 Now   Let’s talk about the price. Starting with the smaller of the two, the Samsung galaxy A40. As previously mentioned, this one is smaller, so it is more affordable. To get your hands on the Samsung Galaxy A40 in either blue or black, this will cost you just £169,98, yes really! Out of all of Samsung's A series range, the galaxy A40 is the easiest to hold as it is the shortest and most narrow. Located underneath the camera on the back of the phone you will find the fingerprint scanner. This device is good value for money with an average battery life at a 73h endurance rating and the dual lens camera is a great point too. Moving on to the Samsung galaxy A50, not only is this also extremely affordable but you are also spoilt for choice in terms of the colour. For a sleek black design, it is only £249.98! Or alternatively, if you want to stand out from the crowd a little bit more with this mobile then you also have the option of a vivid coral colour. The stunning coral will only cost you £239.99, again yes really! The A50's fingerprint scanner is placed underneath the display on the front of the phone and this one does also include the benefit of high dynamic range imaging meaning that your images will have excellent light detail. If you thought the A40 was great, this A50 actually has an even better battery life too, with a 98h endurance rating. There aren't any quirky or complicated characteristics with these devices. What you see, really is what you get and at these affordable prices, you’d be gutted to miss out. Both are lightweight, classy and easy to use smartphones with features you would generally expect to have. Samsung galaxy A40  Main camera - 16mp, f/1.7,26mm (wide) 5mp, f/2.2,13mm (ultra wide)               Selfie camera -  25mp, f/2.0, 25mm (wide) Samsung galaxy A50                                                                                           Main camera - 25mp,f/1.7, 26mm (wide), f/2.2, 13mm (ultra wide)                       Selfie camera -  25mp, f/2.0, 25mm (wide)    

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Samsung Galaxy Z Flip Review

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip Review

Design/Display Samsung’s first dive into the foldable world got off to a rocky start and so the launch of the Z Flip undoubtedly comes with a bit of added pressure. Whereas the Galaxy Fold starts at normal phone size and folds into a mini-tablet, the Z Flip begins as a much smaller device. Indeed, the clamshell design has been explicitly designed to be compact, in comparison to the Fold which we struggled to use at times. This makes it perfect for carrying in a pocket or a bag, whilst the 1.1” Super AMOLED display allows you to see those all-important notifications. This makes it perfect way to control the Flip whilst it’s folded shut, whilst the unique form factor is enhanced by this colour-shifting exterior. Open it up, and you’re greeted with the flip’s 6.7-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED display. With HDR10+ certification, this is truly a cinema-grade display and with minimised bezels and no notch giving for a 82.5% screen-to-body ratio, allows for a truly immersive experience. Contextual continuity is effective and allows you to fully interact with a notification, so, when it displays upon the front, it seamlessly appears in the relevant app when you then unfold your device. The 12.9:9 aspect ratio is extremely tall in hand; however, Samsung has utilised this expertly in allowing compatible apps to be split. The Z Flip can sit independently at any angle between 20 and 160 degrees and so in this way, controls are used on the bottom half of the screen and the top half becomes the viewing area. Similarly, you may prefer to use two apps simultaneously, with one in the top half and the other in the bottom. That hideaway hinge is smooth and easily adjustable to those different viewing angles. The hinge itself is actually protected by elements such as vinyl fibres which help to protect it from dust, adding to the promise of longevity. There are creases within the display, but they’re not deep enough to have any affect upon your viewing pleasure. 1.1" Super AMOLED outer display  6.7" Folding FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED display, HDR10+, 82.5% screen-to-body ratio Sits independently between 20 and 160 degrees  Camera A fantastic photography experience is expected of Samsung devices now and the Galaxy Z Flip follows suit with a dual-rear camera setup. This consists of a 12MP ultra-wide angle lens with a 123-degree field of view and an f/2.2 aperture and a 12MP wide-angle lens with an f/1.8 aperture and boasts Optical Image Stabilisation, 8x Digital Zoom, HDR+ recording and tracking auto focus. We’ve been impressed with the images that we’ve taken, whilst intelligent added features such as scene optimiser, shot suggestions, filters and flaw detection help to give for that perfect photo every time. If selfies are more your thing, then the Z Flip boasts a 10MP front shooter with an f/2.4 aperture and Live Focus. The flip’s folding tech has improved the selfie experience no end, since you can now fold and stand it in a variety of different ways. This also opens the possibilities for hands-free video chat! Alongside this, you get 4K Ultra HD video recording with Super Steady mode, which stabilises your moving images to make action shots look easy. Photo and video bokeh are also personal favourites of mine and really brings your subject to the fore.  Dual rear camera 12MP ultra-wide-angle lens, 123-degree FOV, f/2.2 12MP wide-angle lens, f/1.8 aperture  Optical Image Stabilisation, 8x Digital Zoom, HDR+ recording and tracking AF  10MP front shooter, f/2.4 aperture  4K Ultra HD video, Super Steady Mode Photo & video bokeh Performance On the performance side of things, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ processor works in tandem with 8GB RAM to make day-to-day tasks effortless. Android 10 ships in box, as well as Samsung’s One UI 2 which is both attractive and extremely easy to use. In order to maintain that compact finish, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip houses a dual battery of 3,300mAh which allows for more charge in less space. 15W fast charging is also supported through a USB Type-C, as well as Wireless Power Share. Alongside this, the device comes with 256GB internal storage which is made more necessary by the fact that the device does not ship with support for a microSD card. Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ processor  Android 10, Samsung One UI 2  3,300mAh battery, 15W fast charging, Wirelss PowerShare  256GB internal storage, 8GB RAM  The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip is shipping from Clove Technology for £1,590 including VAT in Mirror Black and Mirror Purple.  

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Android 10: How to Use Gestures

Android 10: How to Use Gestures

Android 9.0 (Pie) in 2018 marked Google's greatest attempt thus far at revamping it's gestural system. But with Android 10 it's been redone again and with great success. If you're ready to ditch those trusty three buttons then there is no better time than now. Here is how to enable/disable gestures and how to complete a number of basic tasks.    How to Enable Gestures The navigation system of Android 10 has undergone a significant revamp; however, it’s not actually activated by default. As such, if you want to make the most of a gestural operating system, you will need to go and enable this within your device’s Settings, which fortunately takes no time at all! Open up your Settings app and scroll down until you find ‘System’. After this, select ‘Gestures’ and eventually ‘System Navigation’. You will then see a toggle next to ‘Gesture Navigation’; simply click this on to enable gestures. Access your device’s ‘Settings’ Scroll down until you find ‘System’ Select ‘Gestures’ Select ‘System Navigation’ Click the toggle next to ‘Gesture Navigation’   How to Adjust Sensitivity of Gestures If you find the navigation to be too sensitive or not sensitive enough to be activated, then you can also adjust the levels of sensitivity. Again, find your device’s ‘Settings’ and scroll down to ‘System’. Find ‘Gestures’ and ‘System Navigation’ and then locate the cog to the right of ‘Gesture Navigation’. From here, amend the levels of sensitivity as you see fit. Access your device’s ‘Settings’ Scroll down to ‘System’ Select ‘Gestures’ Select ‘Navigation’ Adjust the cog to the right of ‘Gesture Navigation’   How to Use Gestures How to Go Back Without those trusty three buttons at the bottom of your screen, it can be difficult to work out how to access a previous screen. But of course, Android has incorporated this into its updated operating system. Simply drag from either side of your display until the back-arrow icon appears. All you need to do then is to release this to access your previous screen. Indeed, this can be achieved from almost any point of either side of your screen so is ideal for those larger displays.   How to Quickly Access the Home Screen Getting back to the home screen is one of the most common gestures used and is thereby also one of the easiest. Simply swipe up from the bottom of your screen right to the top. From here, your home screen will open, and you can once more begin exploring.   How to Access the App Drawer In a similar vein as above, locating your App Drawer in Android 10 with gestures is extraordinarily simple. Access your device’s home screen and from there, swipe up from the bottom of the screen as you did above. It is in this way that you App Drawer will load.   How to Open Recent Apps If you want to locate a recently opened application, then this is made all the more simple with Android 10’s gestural navigation. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen, but this time stop around a third to half of the way up the display until you see the very top of your latest application come into view. When this pops up, take your finger off of the screen and the full list of applications will appear. From here, all you need to do is swipe left and right to explore all these apps and tap on one to open it.   How to Force-Close Apps Leading on from the ease of opening all recent apps, follow the instructions above. When you have located the application that you want to close, then all you need to do it swipe upwards whilst holding an app’s card. This will ‘push’ it off the top of the display, so to speak, and force close the particular app.   How to Enter Split-Screen Mode Using a smartphone device for business or to construct larger documents is becoming increasingly popular and so the ability to use a split-screen mode is vital. Fortunately, doing this on Android 10 is very easy. First, locate the first application that you would like to open in split-screen. Once you have opened this, swipe up as above to locate your recent apps list. At the top of each app card you will see it’s icon; click this and select split-screen. Once clicked, the app will load into the top half of your display, whilst your list will remain open in the bottom half. Use the bottom half of the device to select the other application that you would like to use and enjoy split-screen viewing. If you would like one app to have more room than the other, then simply move the separating line as you see fit. Then, if you would like to close one, drag that line fully to the top or the bottom of your screen.     Android Devices from Clove Technology Google Pixel 4  Ships with Android 10; guaranteed system & security updates for 3 years  Motion Sense Quick Gesture control; navigate without touching Dual Main Cameras: 12.2MP + 16MP  5.7" Full HD+ 19:9 P-OLED display w/ 90Hz refresh rate  Unlimited Google Photos Storage  Snapdragon 855 & 6GB RAM   Google Pixel 4 | From £678 inc-VAT  Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus  6.4" Dynamic AMOLED display, 1440 x 3040 Triple rear camera: 12MP + 12MP + 16MP  Dual front camera: 10MP + 8MP  Samsung Exynos 9820 octa processor  4,100mAh battery; fast charging and wireless charging  IP68 certified + Gorilla Glass 6  Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus | From £728.40    

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Comparison: iOS13 vs Android 10

Comparison: iOS13 vs Android 10

Security and Privacy Privacy has long been the cornerstone of Apple’s mobile philosophy and a host of new security features were added with iOS13 to further improve this.   ‘Sign in with Apple’ has proved to be one of the most successful of these and lets users sign-in to websites and applications without compromising their personal information. This uses your Apple ID, rather than your email address as verification when logging in, so, you don’t have to reveal any of your personal data.   In this way, these online services are not able to gather any personal information from you outside of your name and email address. If you do not want to give up your email address, then Apple has also developed an option in which it can generate a one-off, throwaway email for you to use instead of your own. If any correspondence is sent to this unique email, then Apple can automatically forward this to your real address. Using iOS, applications will also have to ask to access your location data every time that you use it, meaning that nothing can be stored without you explicitly allowing it. With Android 10, Google also gifts more control over location settings, allowing you to choose from granting location access to a particular app at all times, turning it off altogether or allowing it only when that app is being used. Your Android device will also now inform you if a particular app has access to your location information at all times. Since a large source of revenue comes from advertising, Google has generally found it trickier to improve privacy restraints, however with Android 10 users have greater power over which apps can access certain information. So too, apps are no longer granted access to sensitive information such as IMEI or serial numbers. Photos Smartphone photography and subsequent editing capabilities are one of the key reasons why users choose to purchase a particular device. When it comes to editing in Ios13 and Android 10, it’s very difficult to pull the two apart. In iCloud, Apple users are given the first 5GB of storage free of charge, whilst Google offers a whopping 15GB, which is certainly something to consider if you snap a lot of photos. Google Photos possibly has the easier to use editing features and photo-sharing features too, whilst the ability to back up is similarly as effortless. The editing capabilities in iOS are not to be shunned and with Ios13, Apple has brought a host of new features including the ability to adjust portrait lighting and rotation of videos. Face-recognition tech also helps to organise images. As such, whilst the actual editing capabilities are probably on par, iOS is possibly slightly behind when it comes so storage and sharing.   Dark Mode Dark Mode works by utilising a darker (almost black) colour palette for screens and controls, reverting text from black to white for a unique look. This supposedly puts less strain upon the eyes, helps to improve battery life by using fewer pixels and looks pretty cool! Android was the first operating system to introduce Dark Mode to smartphones and was greeted by huge praise from smartphone users. This was first incorporated within Android 9.0 Pie (released 2018), however with the upgrade to Android 10, Dark Mode also enjoyed new tweaks and updates. Most noticeable, is that Dark Mode now enjoys better distribution across Android’s platform. In comparison, Apple’s Dark Mode was introduced with iOS13 and darkens all first-party apps. This means that Apple Store, Safari, Calendar and Apple Maps all enjoy this feature.   Maps When it comes to navigation, Google Maps was first developed many years before Apple Maps and is thereby undeniably superior in terms of accuracy and ease of use. That said, with iOS13, Apple has vowed to focus on improving its Maps app by adding more detailed information for pedestrians as well as having greater accuracy over addresses. It has also added ‘Look Around’ which gives Apple users a 3D view of a chosen location. As anticipated, Google Maps has utilised these features for some time and is considerably more reliable when it comes to marking exact locations. A large amount of updates weren’t of great importance with Android 10, however a Navigation Mode has been added which is based completely upon gestures.   Siri / Google Assistant Love them or hate them, voice assistants generally come as standard with flagship releases now and Apple was the first to introduce this with Siri in 2011. In iOS13 the trusty assistant has been updated and now features a new, less robotic voice, the ability to stream radio stations, search for WatchOS applications and read incoming text messages. Siri shortcuts is also a popular update and gives an iPhone user the ability to utilise different applications with voice commands. This could include crafting a message on WhatsApp or making a payment on PayPal. Google Assistant was developed after Siri, however, is far superior in terms of differentiating between voices and new commands. Indeed, Google’s Assistant is integrated in more or less every application that you would use your smartphone for, keeping track of appointments, events, messages and payments.  

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5 Reasons to Pick Android Over iOS

5 Reasons to Pick Android Over iOS

Customisation Options One of the greatest joys of Android is the freedom that it gives users to change almost everything about their smartphone devices. Indeed, Android allows you to choose your own levels of customisation, whether it’s live wallpapers, changing themes, alternative keyboards or custom ROM installs. The widgets available are particularly productive and allow you to quickly glance at your home screen at certain information, without having to physically load up an app.    In comparison, whilst the customisation options of iOS are undeniably improving, they are generally stuck to their particular ways. iOS is crafted under the assumption that Apple knows how things should work for you more than you do, which may well be true. But, if you want to take back control of the design of your smartphone, then Android is certainly the way forward.   Better Hardware Apple’s operating system only works on Apple phones and you’re therefore only generally given the choice of 3 devices a year. If you’re looking for a new iOS phone in 2020, then your options simply do not extend past the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro or iPhone 11 Pro Max. In comparison, Android is used by a vast array of manufacturers, giving it the greatest variety of mobile devices on any platform. Whether it’s Samsung, Huawei, Google or Nokia, you’re all but covered for a huge range of sizes, features and price points. This also means that you have the option of more specialised devices, including Dual SIM or rugged smartphones. The possibilities are endless, giving you access to features such as microSD support, a 3.5mm headphone jack and removable batteries which Apple phones simply do not offer.   Greater Affordability With a greater array of devices available, it naturally follows that there are more smartphone options available to Android users on a budget. The iPhone 11 was the ‘smallest’ member of Apple’s iPhone 11 family and you’d be hard pressed to find a device at under £700. In comparison, Android users have the benefit of choosing from manufacturers such as Xiaomi and Honor that focus on providing high specifications at a more user-friendly price point. Some of our favourite options are listed below. Google Pixel 3a | From £360 inc-VAT 5.6" FHD OLED display, 1080 x 2220 Best in class 12MP main camera  8MP front camera, 84-degree FOV Qualcomm Snapdragon 670 3,000mAh battery  Android 9.0 Pie - guaranteed system & security updates for 3 years     Pocophone F1: £189.98 inc-VAT  6.18" FHD display with Corning Gorilla Glass  Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor  Dual rear camera: 12MP + 5MP  20MP front camera  4,000mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0    Honor 10 | From £399 inc-VAT 5.84" FHD+ Display; 1080 x 2280 Huawei Kirin 970  Dual rear camera: 24MP + 16MP  24MP front camera, f/2.0 Dual SIM  Fingerprint scanner    Google integration Being crafted by Google, all Android devices integrate efficiently and effectively with Google’s highly lauded array of services. These include Google Docs, Gmail, Google Drive, Google Maps, Google Music, Google+ and Google Chrome. Google is undeniably the online leader and users are using their smartphones more and more to access the web. Whilst these services are now available in iOS, that same level of integration just is not available.   Google Assistant AI assistants on smartphones have become commonplace and whilst Ios comes with Siri, Android phones are blessed with Google Assistant. Google Assistant is extremely intelligent and utilises everything that it has learnt from your smartphone uses to make tasks easier for you. For example, if you have an event booked in your Google Calendar, it can determine whether traffic is bad and subsequently send a notification nudging you to leave earlier. Siri is always improving and achieves a wide range of tasks without a problem. However, these are far more simple than the tasks of Google’s Assistant.

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What is the difference between the Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite and S10e?

What is the difference between the Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite and S10e?

Samsung announced the Galaxy S10 Lite at CES 2020 as the fifth member within the S10 moniker.  As the 'Lite' member of the S10 family, it led many to question the positioning of Samsung's Galaxy S10e. So what exactly are the differences between the two?   Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite | From £590.99 inc-VAT Samsung Galaxy S10e | From £540 inc-VAT Display & Design Samsung’s displays have long wowed us and with the S10 Lite and S10e, that wow factor undeniably continues. The greatest difference of note lies within the size of these, with the Super AMOLED Infinity-O display of the S10 Lite measuring a whopping 6.7-inches in comparison to the 5.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED Infinity-O display of the S10e. Indeed, the display of the S10 Lite is actually the largest of the full S10 range. In terms of quality though, you can expect a pretty similar experience with both. Both are HDR10+ certified, with pixel resolutions of 2400 x 1080 at 392ppi (S10 Lite) and 2280 x 1080 at 438ppi (S10e) which are all but impossible to separate. As such, your decision primarily comes down to size, with the display of the S10 Lite measuring a whole inch bigger. With this is inevitably a bigger overall device, as the Samsung S10 Lite boasts dimensions of 162.5 x 75.6 x 8.1mm in comparison to the smaller 142.2 x 69.9 x 7.9mm. It’s also 36g heavier at 186g and so wasn’t crafted to be a pocket companion. Samsung Galaxy S10e Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite 5.8” Dynamic AMOLED Infinity-O display 6.7” Super AMOLED Infinity-O display 2280 x 1080 (438ppi) 2400 x 1080 (392ppi) 83.3% screen-to-body ratio 87.8% screen-to-body ratio 142.2 x 69.9 x 7.9mm 162.5 x 75.6 x 8.1mm 150g 186g Gorilla Glass 5 -         Camera   As we’ve come to expect, Samsung’s camera technology is equally as impressive, offering flexible capabilities for perfect images in every situation. But there are noticeable differences between the S10e and S10 Lite. The Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite boasts a triple-lens rear set-up consisting of the following: 48MP main sensor, f/2.0, OIS, autofocus, 4K video recording 12MP super-wide, 123-degree FOV, f/2.2 5MP macro, f/2.4 In comparison, the Samsung Galaxy S10e has a dual-lens setup that looks as below: 12MP main sensor, f/1.5-f/2.4, OIS, PDAF, 4K video recording 16MP super-wide, 123-degree FOV, f/2.2 Whilst the main sensor of the S10 Lite is 48MP, the primary rear lens is arguably not as good as Samsung’s 12MP Dual Aperture lens as on the S10e. This technology works to automatically adjust the aperture size according to available light. As such, on a sunny day the S10e will shift to f/2.4, then in a dimly lit room or at night, the lens opens much wider to f/1.5 to bring in as much available light as it can. It seemed surprising that Samsung concluded the S10 Lite’s triple lens setup with a macro lens rather than a telephoto lens, meaning that you will have to move closer to an object in order to shoot it, rather than zooming in. But this is still a valuable addition and trumps the capabilities of the S10e. When it comes to selfies, the S10 Lite has a 32MP front shooter with an f/2.2 aperture, whilst the S10e has a 10MP sensor with an f/1.9 aperture. You can all but guarantee a brilliant final shot with both, so the choice is between higher megapixels or a wider aperture for better low light photography. Samsung Galaxy S10e Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite Dual rear camera: - 12MP, f/1.5-f/2.4, OIS, PDAF - 16MP super-wide, 123-degree FOV, f/2.2 Triple rear camera: - 48MP, F/2.0, OIS, autofocus - 12MP super-wide, 123-degree FOV, f/2.2 - 5MP macro, f/2.4 10MP front; F/1.9 32MP front; F/2.2 Video: 2160p @ 60fps (no EIS) Video: 2160p @ 30fps Front video: 2160p @ 30fps Front video: 1080p @ 30fps               Performance When it comes to performance, both the S10 Lite and S10e are powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 855 octa-core processor coupled with either 6 or 8GB of RAM. Being released almost a year after the S10e, the S10 Lite has the benefit of Android 10 and Samsung’s OneUI 2.0 out of the box. Meanwhile, an update to Android 10 for the S10e is imminent, but there is that slightly longer wait. The Samsung S10 Lite also triumphs in terms of battery size, boasting a 4,500mAh battery which is notably bigger than the 3,100mAh battery of the S10e. This is similarly boosted by 25W Super-Fast Charging in comparison to 15W of the S10e, so, you’ll be lasting longer with the S10 Lite. That said, the Samsung Galaxy S10e comes with an IP68 certification which is a deal-breaker for many; giving certified protection against water, jet sprays and dust. The S10 Lite comes with 128GB internal storage with support for a microSD card up to 1TB, whilst the S10e has either 128GB/256GB with support for a microSD card up to 512GB. Samsung Galaxy S10e Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Android 9.0 (Pie), upgrade to Android 10; One UI 2 Android 10, One UI 2 3,100mAh battery: 15W Fast Charge 15W Wireless Charge 9W Reverse Wireless Charge 4,500mAh battery: 25W Fast Charge IP68 Certified - USB Type-C USB Type-C 128/256GB Internal Storage 128GB Internal Storage       Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite | From £590.99 inc-VAT Samsung Galaxy S10e | From £540 inc-VAT

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5G: What It Means for UK Smartphones

5G: What It Means for UK Smartphones

  #1: What is 5G? 5G quite literally stands for the 5th generation of mobile networks; what you use to make phones calls, send text messages and get online. This next generation network utilises higher frequencies than its predecessors, allowing for quicker data download, increased coverage and more stable connections. As such, 5G is capable of handling significantly more data, allowing more devices to connect simultaneously and at much faster speeds than 4G currently allows. It was estimated that by 2020, mobile traffic will have increased 30-fold since 2014 and so wider coverage and better connections is needed.   #2: How fast is 5G and how does 5G compare to 4G? The standout benefit of 5G is its speed, however just how quick it is we don’t yet know. Estimates have been somewhat varied however some have put speeds at a whopping 100 times faster than 4G – potentially exceeding 10Gbps. To put that into perspective, this would allow you to download an entire HD film in less than a second, a task that would take roughly 10 minutes using a 4G network! When it comes to uploads, estimates are even more vague, but the general consensus is that data will be uploaded at similar fast speeds, maybe even up to 10Gbps. As well as being faster, 5G technologies will also be responsive and will significantly reduce latency. You’ll be looking at faster loading times – so you won’t have to wait to watch a video online – as well as improved responsiveness. Overall, this means that the 5G internet connection on your phone is likely to quicker than the speeds of your home broadband. Staggering!   #3: Will I need a new phone for 5G? When you’re ready to take the plunge into 5G, you will certainly need a new smartphone to meet the demands of the network. Current smartphones have been crafted with 4G modems and so just aren’t compatible with the technology that 5G connectivity requires. A number of 5G smartphones are expected to be launched during the course of the year and these will require a more complex antenna, a completely new chipset and a way of managing the extra energy that these rich 5G services will use.   #4: When will 5G come to the UK? 5G has already begun rollout in the UK, however, has suffered from a somewhat staggered launch. Some mobile networks have offered 5G since the summer of 2019, whilst other networks are still waiting for their 5G to be unveiled. In most cases, whilst these 5G offerings are available, they’re not yet available nationwide. Several reasons owe to this staggered launch, but it’s most easy to look at a lack of a demand. A vicious circle forms since without a plethora of 5G devices, mobile networks aren’t inclined to rush the upgrade, whilst without these 5G networks, manufacturers don’t have the incentive to release 5G phones.  Similarly, 5G infrastructures are hugely expensive to build. If the demand isn’t there, then these networks will struggle to recuperate their costs quickly. Network: EE 5G Launched: May 2019 Number of towns/cities launched: 50 Ashton-under-Lyne, Birmingham, Belfast, Bristol, Cardiff, Castlereagh, Chatham, Clifton, Coventry, Dudley, Edinburgh, Gillingham, Glasgow, Grays, Guildford, Hamilton, Harlow, Hoddesdon, Huddersfield, Hull, Kimberley, Kingston-upon-Thames, Leeds, Leicester, Lichfield, Lisburn, Liverpool, London, Maidstone, Manchester, Milnrow, Newcastle, Northampton, Nottingham, Oldham, Potters Bar, Rochdale, Romford, Salford, Sheffield, Solihull, Stevenage, Sunderland, Sutton Coldfield, Sydenham, Walsall, Wakefield, Watford, West Bromwich and Wolverhampton. Network: Vodafone 5G Launched: July 2019 Number of towns/cities launched: 37 Ambleside, Bebington, Belfast, Birkenhead, Birmingham, Bootle, Bristol, Cardiff, Cheadle and Gately, Droylsden, Eccles, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Horwich, Huyton-with-Roby, Isle of Scilly, Lancaster, Leeds, Liverpool, Llandudno, London, Manchester, Mangotsfield, Newbury, Paisley, Penarth, Plymouth, Prestwich, Rochdale, Salford, Solihull, Stockport, Stoke-on-Trent, Stretford, Wallasey, Warrington and Wolverhampton.   Network: O2 5G Launched: October 2019 Number of towns/cities launched: 21 Belfast, Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Cardiff, Coventry, Derby, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Leicester, Lisburn, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Norwich, Nottingham, Sheffield, Slough and Stoke-on-Trent.   #5: Will roaming work with 5G? Now confusingly, different countries may use different types of frequency when first setting up their 5G technologies. It’s highly likely that most phones and infrastructure will support both types (mmWave and sub-6GHz spectrum) but whilst 5G is being set up, there may be a focus on one over the other. As such, it is possible that within the first few years of 5G being established, you may not be able to access all worldwide connections. That said, your 5G phone will still be access 4G connections. This means you will still be able to make calls, send text messages and emails and access the internet, just not at the same speeds as 5G.    #6: Which are the best 5G devices? Samsung Galaxy S10 5G  6.7-inch Infinity-O Dynamic AMOLED HDR10+ display; 3040 x 1440  Ultrasonic Fingerprint Scanner  Triple rear camera: 16MP + 12MP + 12MP 10MP front camera; f/1.9, 26mm (wide) Samsung Exynos 9820 Plus S5100 5G 4,500mAh battery  IP68 dust/water proof (1.5m for 30 mins) Samsung Galaxy S10 5G | From £1,183.99 inc-VAT    Huawei Mate 20 X 5G 7.2-inch OLED display; 1080 x 2244 (346 ppi) Triple rear camera: 40MP + 20MP + 8MP 24MP front camera, f/2.0  HiSilicon Kirin 980 (7nm) 4,200mAh battery; Huawei SuperCharge (40W) IP53 Certified  Huawei Mate 20 X 5G | From £792 inc-VAT    Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 5G 6.39-inch Full HD+ display  Dual rear camera: 12MP + 12MP telephoto Dual front camera: 24MP + 2MP depth  Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor  3,800mAh battery with Quick Charge 4.0 Multi-functional magnetic slider  Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 5G | From £488.15 inc-VAT

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Samsung’s ‘Selfie Type’; Everything You Need to Know

Samsung’s ‘Selfie Type’; Everything You Need to Know

What is Selfie Type? Selfie Type was first introduced at CES 2020 after being developed within Samsung’s C-Lab programme. This is a type of ‘virtual keyboard’ that utilises the front camera to track movements of your fingers, which are then interpreted into typing inputs. All that’s required is propping up your device in landscape as if it were a display, loading the app and touch typing on a nearby surface as though there were a keyboard there. Why do we need Selfie Type? Clearly Selfie Type is not a necessity to modern life, however as smartphone performance improves, many users are now utilising their trusty device to manage emails and create documents. Constructing large chunks of text on a small keyboard is not always the easiest task. So too, whilst Bluetooth keyboards give for added functionality, it is not always practical to carry an additional piece of hardware around.   As such, Selfie Type theoretically solves this issue in providing a larger typing experience without the need for an additional piece of hardware. How does Selfie Type work? The success of Selfie Type rests on two key components; an RGB, front-facing camera and Samsung’s proprietary Selfie Type AI technology. Through the front camera, this AI engine is able to track and analyse finger movements as they type out letters and words on a flat surface. Using hand and finger position to determine which letters are being ‘pressed’, AI tech works to convert these movements into QWERTY inputs on your device. Since all that is required is a camera, you won’t need to purchase or carry any additional accessories in order to use this feature. This similarly makes it hugely adaptable to other similar devices such as tablets. Other virtual keyboards have tended to rely upon laser projection and haven’t seen great success as they are too unreliable to work at speed. Selfie Type detaches from this as it tracks the physical movement of fingers, rather than analysing where is being touched by a finger.   Are there any problems with Selfie Type? First and foremost, Selfie Type requires the ability to touch type by necessity. Since there is no physical keyboard or a holographic-type image, there is not the ability to see precisely which key it is that is being pressed. As such, a user that might struggle to type without physically looking at the keyboard will not see any benefits from Selfie Type. So too, there could be issues in the way that Samsung’s AI tech actually tracks these small movements. We are yet to trial Selfie Type; however, it can be assumed that hands must kept in one place for everything to work effectively.   The Future of Selfie Type It’s been suggested that Selfie Type developers are seeking to improve efficiency by allowing Selfie Type to be customised depending upon individual typing styles. No further information has yet been given, however, this should in theory help with improving accuracy. Furthermore, Selfie Type has only currently been developed to type in English. As such, Samsung’s developers are also looking to open this up to a plethora more languages in the imminent future. In this vein, it is also hoped that Selfie Type will soon be available to tablets, laptops and other mobile devices.   Samsung devices from Clove Technology Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED display; 1440 x 3040 Triple rear camera; 12MP + 12MP + 16MP with dual-aperture tech Dual front camera; 10MP + 8MP with autofocus 4,100mAh battery; fast + wireless charging (Qi or PMA)  IP68 certified; Gorilla Glass 6 front & back Samsung Exynos 9820 Octa-core processor Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus | From £728.40 inc-VAT   Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus 6.8-inch Infinity-O Dynamic AMOLED display; 1440 x 3040, 498ppi  Triple rear camera; 16MP + 12MP + 12MP (+TOF 3D) with dual aperture tech 10MP front camera, f/2.2 aperture  Bluetooth Samsung S-Pen 4,300mAh battery; fast + wireless charging (Qi or PMA) Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus | £999 inc-VAT Samsung Galaxy A90 5G 5G Mobile Data Connectivity 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED Infinity-U Display; 1080 x 2400  Triple rear camera; 48MP + 8MP + 5MP 32MP front camera, f/2.0, HDR  4,500mAh battery  Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 128GB + 6GB RAM Samsung Galaxy A90 5G | £690 inc-VAT   Samsung Galaxy Fold Folding clam shell design 6.3-inch Folding Dynamic AMOLED display; 1536 x 2152 4.6-inch HD+ Super AMOLED cover display Triple rear camera; 12MP + 12MP + 16MP Dual front camera; 10MP + 8MP 10MP exterior camera Qualcomm SDM855 512GB + 12GB RAM Samsung Galaxy Fold | £2,110.66 inc-VAT  Shop all Samsung smartphones from Clove Technology

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Nokia 2.3 Review: Budget but Brilliant!

Nokia 2.3 Review: Budget but Brilliant!

Succeeding the Nokia 2.2, the Nokia 2.3 boasts a sleeker design, bigger battery, an extra camera sensor and improved internals.  At under £100, this is truly an entry level device and yet offers a host of specifications that are usually reserved for more expensive devices.  Nokia 2.3 | £99.98 inc-VAT Design/Display The Nokia 2.3 is an entry-level device through and through, but despite this, boasts a stunning 6.2-inch HD+ IPS display with a 720 x 1520-pixel resolution at 271ppi and a 19:9 aspect ratio. Colour reproduction isn’t half bad and watching media playback is a generally enjoyable experience. Despite having noticeable bezels, the Nokia 2.3 also houses a waterdrop notch which allows for an 80.7% screen-to-body ratio. This might seem like a strange inclusion given the size of the chin, but it didn’t interfere with my experience one bit. The 3D nano-textured polymer casing is also really unique. It fits securely in the hand and gives for a stunning finish like no other. Couple this with a high precision diecast aluminium chassis and you get the rigidity and reliability that you’ve probably come to expect of Nokia devices. Indeed, the device weighs 183g overall, with dimensions of 157.7 x 75.4 x 8.7mm. The volume rocker and power buttons are conveniently located to the right, whilst there is a Google Assistant button on the opposite side. 6.2-inch HD+ IPS display  720 x 1520-pixel resolution 271-pixels per inch  19:9 aspect ratio  80.7% screen-to-body ratio Weight: 183g  157.7 x 75.4 x 8.7mm  Camera Succeeding the Nokia 2.2, HMD Global have added another camera sensor, for a dual-lens rear setup that consists of a 13MP main lens with an f/2.2 aperture and a 2MP depth sensor. Advanced structural engineering made it possible to sit the lenses within a metal ring, rather than having them protrude from the casing, so that should help with protection from scratches. On the whole, shots are generally very impressive, with good levels of colour reproduction and crisp detail. The Nokia 2.3 also utilises a host of AI smarts for a range of cool features. ‘Recommended Shots’ is my favourite of these and snaps extra shots both before and after the shutter is pressed, before automatically recommending the best one. The added camera lens also allows for improved portrait photography, with a variety of bokeh effects available. These include Classic, Butterfly, Heart and Star-Shaped and object separation isn’t half bad for a device at this price point. You can then use Google Photos to adjust the blur after the shot has been taken. If selfies are more your thing, then the Nokia 2.3 has a 5MP front camera with an f/2.4 aperture. This is also a wide-angle lens, making it perfect for fitting everybody into those big group selfies. This front sensor is similarly utilised in HMD’s Biometric Face Unlock tech for enhanced security. Alongside this, you can record video at 1080p @ 30fps. 13MP main sensor; f/2.2 aperture  2MP depth sensor  Improved portrait photography  5MP front camera; f/2.4 aperture  1080p video @ 30fps  Performance Undoubtedly one of the Nokia 2.3’s biggest attractions is that it runs Android One; a pure Android experience that offers a clean and responsive interface without any unnecessary bloatware. With this, you are guaranteed software upgrades for 2 years and monthly security updates for 3 years, as well as an imminent upgrade to Android 10 promised. The quad-core Mediatek MT6761 Helio A22 Processor, coupled with 2GB RAM is probably what you’d expect of this kind of device, however I didn’t have any issues with basic and day-to-day tasks. But, if you’re a keen mobile gamer, then this probably isn’t the smartphone for you. The 4,000mAh battery is similarly impressive, with AI Adaptive Battery technology that should allow you to use the device for up to 2 full days without needing a charge. 5W charging isn’t the fastest, but you do have to remember that this is an entry-level device. Alongside this, you’re looking at 32GB of internal storage with support for a microSD card up to 400GB. A Nano-SIM card is also accepted, whilst the device has a 3.5mm headphone jack and a micro-USB port. There isn’t support for NFC, but all other standard connectivity support is provided. Android One; 2 years of software updates + 3 years security updates  Mediatek MT6761 Helio A22 Processor  32GB + 2GB RAM  4,000mAh battery  AI Adaptive Battery; 5W Charge  MicroSD up to 400GB Nano SIM Micro-USB  3.5mm headphone jack  Nokia 2.3 | £99.98 inc-VAT

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Is the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite Waterproof?

Is the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite Waterproof?

The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite was announced at CES 2020 as the pocket-friendly variant of Samsung’s hugely popular Note 10 family. Keeping the beloved Bluetooth S-Pen, as well as boasting Samsung’s famed Infinity-O display and triple rear camera setup, the Note 10 Lite looks to be the perfect combination of price and performance. But, if you’re looking at purchasing this device, you might be wondering whether it is waterproof. The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite does not have a certified IP rating and therefore does not offer guaranteed waterproofing or dust-proofing. The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 family is available from Clove Technology, with further details of the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite to be announced in due course. Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite | Clove Technology   What is an IP rating and is it important? An IP rating is an international standard that is used to define levels of sealing effectiveness of electrical enclosures against intrusion from foreign bodies (such as dirt and dust) and moisture. An IP rating is presented in the form of ‘IP’ (Ingress Protection) followed by two numbers. The first of these numbers refers to the protection provided against solids. This number ranges from 1 to 6 and the higher the number, the better the protection. For example, 1 promises protection against solid objects over 50mm, whilst a 6 rating indicates that a device is dust tight. The second number refers to protection from liquids and ranges from 1 to 8. In this instance, a ‘1’ rating describes protection against vertically falling drops of water (such as rain), whilst a top-of-the-class ‘8’ rating promises protection against the effects of long periods of immersion in water, usually outlined by the manufacturer. As such, an IP68 rating is currently the best certification that can be ascribed to a smartphone device, however it’s important to remember that the relevant testing is only performed on fresh water. As such, you may experience an extremely different outcome in the face of saltwater and other liquids such as spilt drinks.   Why is the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite not IP certified? One of the key reasons that many devices do not come with a certified IP rating is due to the extra costs that this entails. In order to craft a device that is IP certified and ‘resistant’ to water and dust, smartphone makers must use a range of materials and techniques in the manufacturing process that they wouldn’t otherwise. All of these will entail a whole host of extra costs which will thereby raise the retail price of the phone.   In this case, the Note 10 Lite is the ‘budget’ variant of the Note 10 family. The Note 10 and Note 10 Plus both come with a top-of-the-range IP68 rating, however, are both noticeably more expensive. The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite is a mid-range, more affordable variant of the family and if waterproofing were brought into this, then costs would rise significantly. Interestingly, many phones that do have this IP rating don’t actually warranty against water and dust damage; so how valuable really is this?   Are there any other ways to protect the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite from water? Despite not coming with a guaranteed IP certification, there are a number of other ways in which you can protect your device from water. One of the most common of these is by purchasing a waterproof phone case for your Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite. On the large part, these cases still allow for full use of your touchscreen whilst enclosed, as well as making calls. This makes them perfect for wet scenarios and provides all the protection that you need to be more adventurous with your smartphone device in tandem. Alongside this, a waterproof smartphone case similarly guarantees protection from other particles such as sand and dirt so that you’re protected in all situations.   Is the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite worth it? Samsung is renowned for the quality of its displays and the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite follows suit, with a 6.7-inch Full HD+ Infinity-O display that allows for a truly immersive experience. With a pixel resolution of 1080 x 2400 at 394-pixels per inch, you can engage in all your favourite media and behold at the Note 10 Lite’s exceptional levels of reproduction. A triple lens rear camera setup offers outstanding flexibility; consisting of a 12MP main sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide-angle sensor and a 12MP telephoto lens.  In this way, you can capture brilliant imagery in all situations. Samsung’s beloved S-Pen stylus also features and comes crafted with Bluetooth Low-Energy support so that you can make the most of your device without the need to be physically touching it. Indeed, Text Export efficiently transfers handwritten notes into text for quick and easy sharing. Alongside this, a 4,500mAh battery will get you through the day without any issues, whilst facial recognition and an in-screen finger sensor give for optimal levels of security. Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite Key Features 7” Infinity-O Full HD Super AMOLED display; 1080 x 2400 Aura Glow, Aura Black and Aura Red Bluetooth S-Pen Stylus Triple rear camera; 12MP, 12MP Ultra-wide, 12MP Telephoto 32MP front camera, f/2.0 Android 10; One UI 2.0 Samsung Exynos 9810 Octa-core processor 128GB; 6/8GB RAM MicroSD support up to 1TB 4,500mAh battery w/ fast charging Samsung DeX Support Facial recognition & in-screen fingerprint scanner

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Christmas Message from Clove Technology

Christmas Message from Clove Technology

We would like to thank all our customers for their loyal custom over the last year. Particularly, as in July we moved to new systems, which is the reason for the change in the design and look of the website. Moving forward this will provide significant benefits in the products and services we can offer you in the future. We wish you a merry Christmas and hope you have a prosperous New Year in 2020!Due to the Christmas Holiday period in the UK, Clove Technology will be closed for an extended period. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.Monday 23rd December - 9 AM - 5 PM - Business open as usual (last day of shipping)Tuesday 24th December - 9 AM - 12 PM Wednesday 25th December - ClosedThursday 26th December - ClosedFriday 27th December - Limited email support (no orders shipping)Saturday 28th December - ClosedSunday 29th December - ClosedMonday 30th December - Limited email support (no orders shipping)Tuesday 31st December - Limited email support (no orders shipping)Wednesday 1st January - ClosedThursday 2nd January - 9 AM - 5 PM - Business open as usual

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