Made in Value: LASCO's Huawei Product Range Has Options

Sure Apple and Samsung dominate the market when it comes to handsets and tablets.  They offer great high end devices with matching prices.

So, is there an option?  Huawei.  Yup.  Huawei recently rose to the the #3 spot in the mobile market with a suite of devices that includes handsets, tablets and even wearables.

Bang, Bang Features

Locally, the Chinese brand has partnered with LASCO Financial Services to make the line available to Jamaica.  As a special bonus, all Huawei phones distributed by LASCO are unlocked, making them perfect for a post number portability landscape.   Bang!

Many handsets are also dual SIM; this is great if you have a work and personal number, like to have a number with both Digicel and FLOW or if you just like to show off with two numbers. Bang!

Value Handsets

The impressive range of seven featured handsets on offer include the G7 and G730, P8 and P8 Lite, the G Play Mini and the very affordable Y520, Y525 and Y535.  All handsets take advantage of the Android OS and have a clean, un-cumbersome user interface (UI).  Gram for gram, Huawei devices offer comparable features to their top rivals.

Talk About Range

Huawei TalkBand B2

Sure, handsets are sexy.  But Huawei takes it further by offering tablets and wearables.  At LASCO, you can pick up the Media Pad 2 for a lot less money but with excellent build quality - a feature often absent from budget tablets.

Most notable however are the TalkBand B1 and TalkBand B2, exclusively offered by LASCO.  The device is a trendy looking smart watch and activity tracker that pops out to become a bluetooth headset … a headset!

This awesome functionality makes the TalkBand more than just a another smartwatch.  For someone like me who tends to lose small gadgets often, I think its one of the best new tech features in recent times.

But wait!  That is not all.  The TalkBand B1 and B2 works seamlessly with Huawei gear … AND iPhones.  Amazing!

T4L: Christmas Home Automation

Have you considered giving your home a tech gift this Christmas?  Yes, that's right, relatives are not the only ones that would appreciate a gadget this holiday season.  Arguably your largest investment and likely the space in which you spend the most time relaxing would love to the added to your shopping list this season and more you give, the better it will be for you!

Door Locks

Start at the beginning.  Consider swapping out the traditional dead bolt lock on your front door with a wireless replacement like the Kwikset lock.   The form factor is remarkably similar to the traditional lock, it can be installed without special tools and it can work the a traditional key.

Kwikset Kevo Bluetooth Door Lock

But, wireless locks also work with 'digital keys' via a Bluetooth FOB or enabled mobile device.  As you approach the locked door, the lock and your device have a chat and the door is unlocked seamlessly, no physical intervention required.

Issue 'keys' to visiting relatives or service men that are coded to a limited window of time or unlock your door remotely when they appear at the front door.  If that is not cool enough, think of the piece of mind knowing that if you forget to lock your door while on vacay, the door is smart enough to lock itself!

Connected Bulbs

Speaking of smart, Phillips Hue has a line of remarkable bulbs which operate using WiFi.  Even competing brands let you install these special bulbs and configure them with an app to turn on, off or down on demand.  Convenience and security collide when connected bulbs provide ease of use and illumination to thwart potential criminals.  

The Hue has the additional feature of being able to be programmed to change colour and the range is practically speaking, limitless.

IP Camera

Similarly, IP or Internet cameras expand your viewable limits.  Watch the nanny, watch the kids, watch the valuables, watch whatever suits you with any Internet enabled device from across the road or across the world.

Adcnaed cameras like Logitech DropCam offer infrared for night viewing and motion sensors to double as a security camera.  Coupled with cloud storage, you can watch from afar and watch when you wish without missing any of the action.

eStore DET

DVR

Too much action not your thing?  No problem.  Invest in a Digital Video Recorder (DVR) and set it to record all your favourite programmes as they air and then watch the content as you feel.  Local cable conglomerate, Flow, offers a range of DVRs, some of which can record multiple programmes airing simultaneously, record, store and playback hours of content, capture and play the content in HD and be programmed remotely to ensure you never miss a show.

DET

Home automation can entertain and fascinate.  But to save money with automation, consider the Digital Engery Timer (DET) from JPS.  Set, forget and count on the savings when the DET is connected to the refrigerator and other large energy consumption device.  Really, it would be the best $3,500 you can spend for your home this Christmas.

RJR's Tech4Life airs every Wednesday morning at 8:15 AM.

Galaxy S4 Controls Your Flow Box

Samsung Galaxy S4 Watch On

There is no doubt.  The Samsung Galaxy S4 rocks.  And one of the coolest features of the phone is the Infrared (IR) Remote Control.

Lots of times, hot phones have great features that don't work on our shores.  But I am thrilled to report that the Watch On app, which is both free and pre-loaded, works seamlessly with Flow cable boxes - standard and PVR.  So throw away your Flow remote.

Hell.  Throw away all your home theatre remotes.  Watch On operates just like a universal remote.  The smartphone is ridiculously easy to programme; it practically picks up the code for your TV, DVD player, Blu-ray players, audio system and of course, your cable box.  And, to steal a line from the fruit people (like myself), it just works.

Other smartphones have Bluetooth making them compatible with some TV if they have proprietary software.  Only IR is the universal standard on home theatre and the Samsung Galaxy S4 is the only locally distributed smartphone that has IR.  (The HTC One is not distributed in Jamaica to date).

It is no surprise that it works with Samsung TV's, and other late model TV sets.    They are made in the US for the US.  But, devices for Jamaica are different; often the sweetest features just are not accessible.

If you've spent the money on the phone, you can spare your living room a little space by replacing your remotes and using the phone to change the channel, change the volume, visit the programme guide and adjust the settings.

Think of the convenience.  Surf the internet on WiFi, make a quick call, switch to the clean looking remote app and immerse yourself in hours of home theatre enjoyment.  Love it!

I also love the simple easy to use design that prominently places the most used functions on the screen (like the volumen and channel controls), yet keeps the higher functions just a single touch screen tap away.

Wait, here's another mind blowing benefit.  You'll never have to by another penlight battery again in life.  Check your mailbox for the 'thank you' card from the environment.

I bet you will send me a 'thank you' card when you realize, you'll never spend forever searching the sofa cushions for your remote ever again. Remote lost? Just dial your own phone number and follow the sound of the ring tone. 

Since I can't be there to personally help you configure your remote .. ehm .. I mean phone, here are a few links to get you started.

• CNet
• PCMag

Technology should be practical.  This is as practical as it gets.  Try it and let me know if it works for you.