Latest news with #JamieHarris
The Irish Sun
4 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
I'm finally ditching iPhone after 10 years for Android – Samsung's new handset has convinced me to switch in three ways
YES, you read the headline right - a long-time iPhone user is ready to switch to Android. It's a move few people are prepared to make and it's understandable. 4 Jamie Harris trying Samsung's new Galaxy Z Flip 7 Credit: Jamie Harris / The Sun 4 I love the new external display when it's folded Credit: Jamie Harris / The Sun 4 It's so light and thin too Credit: Jamie Harris / The Sun Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 - buy from £1,049 Companies ring-fence their tech so some only work with their own gadgets or at the very least perform better with their own. Prime example, I love my It's frustrating, so ultimately we're all forced to pick a side. Read more about Samsung And if you dare to switch over, well, there's a whole lot of headache making that work too, backing everything up and signing into all your apps all over again is just the beginning. As The Sun's principle smartphone reviewer I'm very used to this process by now and have tested countless Android devices, many of which are great bits of kit. But iPhone has remained my main handset for a good ten years or so now. Suddenly, I've found the urge to switch and it's because of Most read in Phones & Gadgets Find out why in my full review below. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7: Look and feel My first reason for switching is quite simple - the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is just so pretty. I've had a try of all the previous Galaxy Z Flip handsets, as well as other clam shell-style flip phones on the market. But the Galaxy Z Flip 7 feels like it's finally got it right. The colour I have is blue shadow, with an aluminium frame and glass back that feels premium. Samsung has drastically improved the smaller external display you can use when closed - known officially as the FlexWindow. I feel like the Flip 7 has injected a bit of much needed fun into mobiles again, all within a stylish body The FlexWindow display now wraps around the two cameras so it blends in, rather than cutting a box around them. You can show slick animations like falling confetti which adds to the beautiful charm of the Flip 7 that makes me want to use it as my main smartphone. And when you flip open the handset the display is ever so slightly bigger than the Flip 6, measuring in at 6.9-inches with that unavoidable crease along the middle only really visible at certain angles. It weighs only 188g, so the Flip 7 feels mega light in my hands and even more so in my pocket. 4 It fits so nicely in my pocket Credit: Jamie Harris / The Sun Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7: Performance and features The Galaxy Z Flip 7 runs on Samsung's own take on Android 16, known as One UI 8 - and it's one of my favourites around. While there are some Samsung apps I don't really want - such as Samsung's own web browser - others like gallery and calendar are much simpler than Google's own. But the beauty of it is the choice is yours, whether you prefer Samsung's, Google's or some other from the Google Play Store. I love how vibrant the FlexWindow is - I notice people giving it a stare on the train Features haven't changed a great deal from all the AI we've seen on recent Galaxy phones but you can use One really neat addition is support for Samsung Dex, which allows you to plug your phone into a computer display and it will run like a PC computer alongside a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse. It's the first time Samsung has introduced this on its foldables, so you literally have a PC-like experience ready to use in your pocket. Samsung continues to offer seven years of security and operating system updates, so you won't have to pay for an expensive upgrade anytime soon as long as you keep the phone in good physical condition. Who offers free updates longest? The longer you receive updates, the longer you can safely continue using your smartphone - with the latest features thrown in too for free. Samsung For the Galaxy S25 series, Samsung said it would provide at least seven generations of OS updates and seven years of security updates. OnePlus At the launch of the OnePlus 13, OnePlus committed to at least four years of Android updates and six years of security updates. Xiaomi Xiaomi offers four years off Android updates and five years security updates. Google For the Pixel 9 series, Google said that devices would receive at least seven years of support. The chip that keeps things running is the Exynos 2500. This is Samsung's own chip instead of the leading However, most people won't notice any real difference. This bit of kit runs smoothly through any app I throw at it. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7: Battery Samsung has given the Flip 7 a battery boost compared to last year's Flip 6. It's bigger - 4300mAh - without making the overall phone physically bulkier. Having used the Flip 7 as my main phone for a week, the battery just about gets me through the day with general use of emails, However, the battery charging speeds haven't been upgrade from its predecessor, sticking to 25W wired and 15W wireless. It took just under half an hour to get the battery to 50 per cent. Sun's tech editor shows NEW 4mm thin folding Samsung – & teases 'flip iPhone' too Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7: Camera The camera department hasn't really changed at all since the Flip 6. While the Fold 7 gets a mighty 200-megapixel main snapper, the Flip 7 is only 50-megapixel. Alongside that is a 12-megapixel ultrawide and 10 megapixel selfie. That said, I don't have any complaints about the results with some detailed, vibrant pictures produced. And obviously you have the added bonus of being able to turn the Flip 7 into a stand, so you can easily take group photos without using the lower quality selfie camera (and awkward angles of the person taking the selfie). Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7: Price The Galaxy Z Flip 7 starts from £1,049. If you get in fast, Samsung are offering a free storage increase, with the 512GB model selling for the same price as the 256GB model. Don't forget, if you trade in an old phone you can reduce the price tag further, knocking off up to £453. There's also the There are four colours options available. Blue Shadow Jetblack Coralred Mint ( exclusive) Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 - buy from £1,049 Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7: Verdict By Jamie Harris, Assistant Technology and Science Editor at The Sun So, why am I prepared to switch from iPhone after all this time? I feel like the Flip 7 has injected a bit of much needed fun into mobiles again, all within a stylish body. I love how vibrant the FlexWindow is - I notice people giving it a stare on the train. It's also great to see Dex support now so I can use it as a PC-like experience, I might even use it at work. However, with a radical overhaul of iOS expected later this year, Samsung - and others - will have to make sure I'm not tempted back if Apple steps up big time. Rating: 4.5 / 5
Scottish Sun
4 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
I'm finally ditching iPhone after 10 years for Android – Samsung's new handset has convinced me to switch in three ways
YES, you read the headline right - a long-time iPhone user is ready to switch to Android. It's a move few people are prepared to make and it's understandable. 4 Jamie Harris trying Samsung's new Galaxy Z Flip 7 Credit: Jamie Harris / The Sun 4 I love the new external display when it's folded Credit: Jamie Harris / The Sun 4 It's so light and thin too Credit: Jamie Harris / The Sun Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 - buy from £1,049 Companies ring-fence their tech so some only work with their own gadgets or at the very least perform better with their own. Prime example, I love my Apple Watch but it doesn't work with an Android phone. It's frustrating, so ultimately we're all forced to pick a side. And if you dare to switch over, well, there's a whole lot of headache making that work too, backing everything up and signing into all your apps all over again is just the beginning. As The Sun's principle smartphone reviewer I'm very used to this process by now and have tested countless Android devices, many of which are great bits of kit. But iPhone has remained my main handset for a good ten years or so now. Suddenly, I've found the urge to switch and it's because of Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 7. Find out why in my full review below. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7: Look and feel My first reason for switching is quite simple - the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is just so pretty. I've had a try of all the previous Galaxy Z Flip handsets, as well as other clam shell-style flip phones on the market. But the Galaxy Z Flip 7 feels like it's finally got it right. The colour I have is blue shadow, with an aluminium frame and glass back that feels premium. Samsung has drastically improved the smaller external display you can use when closed - known officially as the FlexWindow. I feel like the Flip 7 has injected a bit of much needed fun into mobiles again, all within a stylish body The FlexWindow display now wraps around the two cameras so it blends in, rather than cutting a box around them. You can show slick animations like falling confetti which adds to the beautiful charm of the Flip 7 that makes me want to use it as my main smartphone. And when you flip open the handset the display is ever so slightly bigger than the Flip 6, measuring in at 6.9-inches with that unavoidable crease along the middle only really visible at certain angles. It weighs only 188g, so the Flip 7 feels mega light in my hands and even more so in my pocket. 4 It fits so nicely in my pocket Credit: Jamie Harris / The Sun Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7: Performance and features The Galaxy Z Flip 7 runs on Samsung's own take on Android 16, known as One UI 8 - and it's one of my favourites around. While there are some Samsung apps I don't really want - such as Samsung's own web browser - others like gallery and calendar are much simpler than Google's own. But the beauty of it is the choice is yours, whether you prefer Samsung's, Google's or some other from the Google Play Store. I love how vibrant the FlexWindow is - I notice people giving it a stare on the train Features haven't changed a great deal from all the AI we've seen on recent Galaxy phones but you can use Gemini, Google's powerful AI chatbot, on the cover screen. One really neat addition is support for Samsung Dex, which allows you to plug your phone into a computer display and it will run like a PC computer alongside a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse. It's the first time Samsung has introduced this on its foldables, so you literally have a PC-like experience ready to use in your pocket. Samsung continues to offer seven years of security and operating system updates, so you won't have to pay for an expensive upgrade anytime soon as long as you keep the phone in good physical condition. Who offers free updates longest? The longer you receive updates, the longer you can safely continue using your smartphone - with the latest features thrown in too for free. Samsung For the Galaxy S25 series, Samsung said it would provide at least seven generations of OS updates and seven years of security updates. OnePlus At the launch of the OnePlus 13, OnePlus committed to at least four years of Android updates and six years of security updates. Xiaomi Xiaomi offers four years off Android updates and five years security updates. Google For the Pixel 9 series, Google said that devices would receive at least seven years of support. The chip that keeps things running is the Exynos 2500. This is Samsung's own chip instead of the leading Snapdragon 8 Elite found on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 counterpart. However, most people won't notice any real difference. This bit of kit runs smoothly through any app I throw at it. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7: Battery Samsung has given the Flip 7 a battery boost compared to last year's Flip 6. It's bigger - 4300mAh - without making the overall phone physically bulkier. Having used the Flip 7 as my main phone for a week, the battery just about gets me through the day with general use of emails, WhatsApp, web browsing, YouTube and Spotify. However, the battery charging speeds haven't been upgrade from its predecessor, sticking to 25W wired and 15W wireless. It took just under half an hour to get the battery to 50 per cent. Sun's tech editor shows NEW 4mm thin folding Samsung – & teases 'flip iPhone' too Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7: Camera The camera department hasn't really changed at all since the Flip 6. While the Fold 7 gets a mighty 200-megapixel main snapper, the Flip 7 is only 50-megapixel. Alongside that is a 12-megapixel ultrawide and 10 megapixel selfie. That said, I don't have any complaints about the results with some detailed, vibrant pictures produced. And obviously you have the added bonus of being able to turn the Flip 7 into a stand, so you can easily take group photos without using the lower quality selfie camera (and awkward angles of the person taking the selfie). Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7: Price The Galaxy Z Flip 7 starts from £1,049. If you get in fast, Samsung are offering a free storage increase, with the 512GB model selling for the same price as the 256GB model. Don't forget, if you trade in an old phone you can reduce the price tag further, knocking off up to £453. There's also the new Galaxy Club which allows you to spread the cost and get 50 per cent of the price back when you upgrade between months 12 and 15. There are four colours options available. Blue Shadow Jetblack Coralred Mint ( exclusive) Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 - buy from £1,049
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Virgin Media customers must check their TV boxes NOW or face being blocked from BBC iPlayer in days
IT'S the final warning to all Virgin Media customers that they could lose access to BBC iPlayer next week unless they upgrade now. The popular streaming service, for everything from EastEnders catch-up to Doctor Who box sets, will stop working on some kit from Wednesday. 2 iPlayer is used by millions to catch-up on favourites like EastEnders Credit: BBC 2 Virgin is offering affected customers an upgrade at no extra cost Credit: Alamy The Sun Virgin told us that they had written directly to the "small proportion" of customers affected about the change. The good news is households impacted can upgrade to a newer box that still has access to iPlayer at no extra cost. It's Virgin TV's older TiVo models that will lose the streaming app from July 23 onward. Read more about Virgin Media V6 and Virgin TV 360 boxes will continue to offer access to BBC iPlayer as normal. "We have written directly to the small proportion of customers with a TiVo box, who have used BBC iPlayer within the past six months, to inform them that their box will not support iPlayer from 23 July," Virgin Media told The Sun. "As we have previously communicated directly to relevant customers, anyone with a TiVo box is able to upgrade to a new Virgin TV 360 box at no extra cost." The move may not come as much of a surprise, what with the first TiVo-powered box launched way back in 2010. Most read in Tech Virgin's most recently box is Virgin TV 360, which burst onto the scene in 2020 with access to more entertainment apps and personalisation. So if you're affected, act now to avoid the nasty surprise of no BBC iPlayer very soon. Virgin Media Launches Two Free Rakuten TV Channels WHY DOES TECH STOP WORKING? By Jamie Harris, Assistant Technology and Science Editor at The Sun It's annoying when tech and gadgets are discontinued, rendering some features useless. Fortunately, companies have got better at lengthening how long they support kit. It tends to only happen after quite a few years have passed and the user numbers have dropped quite low. The truth of the matter is, firms have to keep updating and servicing this older tech which costs them money. When there's only a small number of people left using them older gadgets, it's harder to justify the cost. Moreover, new features on things like apps may not work on dated kit. So ultimately, in the end support is dropped for these gadgets so all their energy, money and time can be put into the newer ones.
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Major tech company's home security cameras and sirens will stop working in DAYS – customers must check account now
A HUGE British tech brand with more than two million customers is preparing to shut down its security cameras and sirens in a matter of days. Warning emails seen by The Sun have been sent out to affected users with important instructions before the cut off date. 2 View camera is one of the devices that will be rendered useless in days Credit: Getty 2 Hive issues final warning to affected customers Credit: Jamie Harris / The Sun Hive is owned by British Gas parent company Centrica - though you don't need to be a British Gas customer to use their devices. The firm started out in 2012 mainly specialising in smart heating before branching off into more smart home products such as lighting, connected cameras, motion sensors and sirens. But three years ago Hive announced that it was phasing out its smart security products to focus on "energy-efficient smart-tech" instead. While the devices have continued to work for existing users, they'll now stop working entirely on August 1. Read more about smart tech The four products affected are: Hive View Camera Hive Siren and Keypad Hive Homeshield Hive Video Playback Despite being security-relate products, the Hive Window/Door contact sensors and Hive motion sensors will continue to operate. The email warns households to "download any footage you'd like to keep now" as it won't be accessible after 11am on August 1. Most read in Tech "It is crucial that you save any required recordings before the cut-off period on the 1st of August 2025," Hive says. "Your data security is important to us, and we take disposal of data seriously. Warning to criminals as new Ring doorbell AI feature makes it even easier to catch you "Therefore, our system will be unable to recover any video footage if you fail to save your recordings before the 1st of August 2025." Those with Hive home security products have fumed online about the move. "They really need to refund our money," one user wrote on Reddit. " How can we just accept that we will no longer be able to use hive cameras again? Even the live stream will stop!!" Another commented: "Yup total w***ers - a lot of money and setup wasted." Hive has recommended customers "recycle your devices at your local Household Waste Recycling Centre". WHY DOES TECH STOP WORKING? By Jamie Harris, Assistant Technology and Science Editor at The Sun It's annoying when tech and gadgets are discontinued, rendering some - or all - features useless. Fortunately, companies have got better at lengthening how long they support kit. It tends to only happen after quite a few years have passed and the user numbers have dropped quite low. The truth of the matter is, firms have to keep updating and servicing this older tech which costs them money. When there's only a small number of people left using them older gadgets, it's harder to justify the cost. Moreover, new features on things like apps may not work on dated kit. So ultimately, in the end support is dropped for these gadgets so all their energy, money and time can be put into the newer ones.
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Major tech company's home security cameras and sirens will stop working in DAYS – customers must check account now
Four gadgets are affected - see the full list below NO CAM DO Major tech company's home security cameras and sirens will stop working in DAYS – customers must check account now Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A HUGE British tech brand with more than two million customers is preparing to shut down its security cameras and sirens in a matter of days. Warning emails seen by The Sun have been sent out to affected users with important instructions before the cut off date. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 View camera is one of the devices that will be rendered useless in days Credit: Getty 2 Hive issues final warning to affected customers Credit: Jamie Harris / The Sun Hive is owned by British Gas parent company Centrica - though you don't need to be a British Gas customer to use their devices. The firm started out in 2012 mainly specialising in smart heating before branching off into more smart home products such as lighting, connected cameras, motion sensors and sirens. But three years ago Hive announced that it was phasing out its smart security products to focus on "energy-efficient smart-tech" instead. While the devices have continued to work for existing users, they'll now stop working entirely on August 1. The four products affected are: Hive View Camera Hive Siren and Keypad Hive Homeshield Hive Video Playback Despite being security-relate products, the Hive Window/Door contact sensors and Hive motion sensors will continue to operate. The email warns households to "download any footage you'd like to keep now" as it won't be accessible after 11am on August 1. "It is crucial that you save any required recordings before the cut-off period on the 1st of August 2025," Hive says. "Your data security is important to us, and we take disposal of data seriously. Warning to criminals as new Ring doorbell AI feature makes it even easier to catch you "Therefore, our system will be unable to recover any video footage if you fail to save your recordings before the 1st of August 2025." Those with Hive home security products have fumed online about the move. "They really need to refund our money," one user wrote on Reddit. " How can we just accept that we will no longer be able to use hive cameras again? Even the live stream will stop!!" Another commented: "Yup total w***ers - a lot of money and setup wasted." Hive has recommended customers "recycle your devices at your local Household Waste Recycling Centre".
