Star Wars USB Flash Drives! Made by Tribe, Available from QVC!

GREAT STOCKING FILLER!!

"I am C3PO, Human Cyborg Relations"

What is it? 


Coming up to the Force Awakens film, there are going to be countless amounts of Merch to purchase!

This is one of them! There's a few different characters available including:

Yoda
Darth Vader
Chewbacca
R2D2
C3PO
Stormtrooper

I managed to source the C3-P0 version and HE'S SO CUTE! unlike the real thing, who's actually quite annoying! hehe..DARTH VADER SOLD OUT!! 


What I thought

With 8GB's of memory available in each of these it's a great amount to have to hand, be them documents, pictures, even short movies can be put on here. Transferring is simple, just plug and drag files across.

As I said above these are pretty cute, a little cartoony and chubby. Not massively detailed but no real problems with the look, it's cute!

Each USB comes attached to a metal chain which can be attached to a zip or keyring, basically anything that you can wrap the chain around! When this is being used, you'll not fear to loose the "body" piece as a tag on the aforementioned chain can be inserted into the body keeping it all together!

"Come back, you haven't finished with me yet"

The Verdict

I love this USB, it's found a home in my man-bag and is used to transfer my blog post pictures from my home computer to my PC at work! (of which I then write the posts at LUNCHTIMES!)

Get yourself one of these from QVC, they're £15.50 each, then just £2.95 postage on top  of that. 

Tech from Argos! ALBA 7" kidsafe Tablet! FULL REVIEW!

What is it?

This is one of the many Tablets that Argos is selling for this Christmas. It's targeted at kids, you can see from the pictures the focus on keeping the kids safe while using the internet.

Spec

This tablet comes adequately loaded with the Newest version of Android, 5.0 Lollipop, which is in fact very easy to use. I'm used to iOS myself but this still works really nicely.

It has a Quad Core 1.3Ghz processor so playing the latest games is actually very easy to do. It's quite funny really as my iPad mini has trouble playing the new Star Wars Uprising game, but I've been playing this on this tablet with no problems, crashing or lag.

The screen is only 7" but perfectly fine to carry in a small "man-bag" or kids rucksack, so very handy for those long journey's. Like the iPhones and pads of late it has a front facing and rear cameras and both are pretty decent, the video is pretty smooth too, considering how cheap this tablet is.

This ALBA tablet has 1GB of RAM, I'm not a hugely techie person but I know this could be higher.. it does kinda show, but I've only noticed one bad point and it COULD be because of the RAM. Basically when you turn on the tablet, you have to wait OVER one minute to get onto the screen with your apps, which could be a little annoying for your child if they want to have a "quick" game of something..

Storage! Now this only has 8GB's, however it can be expanded to hold an extra 32GB's! 

In the box

This tablet looks great! As I said above it's nice and compact and therefore for a child, a great size.

The covers included are nice and grippy and do a good job of protecting the tablet. It's not very heavy and pretty slim too. 

You get a plug and USB lead, as well as info booklets on how to use and also a little about protecting your children when using this tablet. 

You also get a 2 year guarantee which is also pretty useful.

What I thought

An all round good tablet, it's on the lower end of the price scale, but what you get for your money is a decent sized, easy to use tablet which on the whole does what it says on the tin! It's really great for kids, apart from the initial wait at startup.

It's also really good as a web browser and the built in parent app helps you keep control of what your child can and can't see. 

My son loves this tablet and since it arrived we've both not stopped playing on it. 

Get it now from Argos for ONLY £49.99! HERE!  

VR Headset for Smartphones From Homido! Full Review!

What is it?

This is the new VR Headset from French based company Homido!


What I thought

Using your smartphone as the screen to play your videos and games, the Homido will cradle your phone lovingly in a nice tight grip, so when your turning your head wildly to avoid Meteor's, rockets and goodness knows what else, it won't fly out, even if you have one of the bulkier smartphones on the market..like mine! 

Additional to the tight grip for your phone, the ski mask type strap will secure the Homido headset to your head, again very snug and very secure. There is also foam which lines the part which rests against your face. I do believe however the space for your nose needs widening, someone with a massive shnoz like me may find that a little uncomfortable and will need to adjust where the mask sits. 

Unlike some headsets, Homido has the ability to focus the lenses inside the headset, you're able to move the lenses closer and further away from your eyes and also together and further apart. Because of this function, even people with glasses can enjoy a 3D experience without having to wear their glasses then this over the top, which can get very cramped and I should imagine quite painful for the ears!

Once securely on your head, using Homido's player and app centre you can choose from a massive array of 3D enabled apps and games, and even make and convert your own videos to 3D! 

With some games you may need to purchase a separate WiFi controller, it just makes the experience a little easier to control, although there is space underneath the mask to get your finger in to touch the screen. 

The games and videos from the Homido apps are simply amazing, and they'll keep getting better too! At the moment they are filmed using four GoPro cameras, special ones to get the best out of hi speed motion. 

The Verdict

A fantastic headset, maybe a tad pricey, but with all things you get what you pay for, and this is top of the range in comfort and useability.

If you require more info about the Homido VR Headset, click HERE to view their official site.

Alternatively, if you'd like to purchase, then you can get them HERE!

Technology Review! BE MORE COSMO WITH OSMO!

What is it? 

This is a new gaming system which primarily uses your iPad with FREE apps!

Initially you fork out for the main base and a few games currently available.

Basically this is a holder for an iPad, with a difference. With OSMO, you can effect the digital world with the real world. Let me explain further..

What I thought

Start by plugging in your iPad and download the free games in the Apple Store. Using one of the included games you can get interactive with your device.

So many games these days are literally point on the screen, touch/swipe on the screen. Don't get me wrong, learning on the iPad is a great idea, and also give you a little time to yourself while your kids learn on their own, so I am a big fan.

HOWEVER.. These games don't really get the user (in this case, your kids) moving that much. What OSMO have done, is create an add-on to your device which they can then react to, and THEY need to do the work.

What you get.. 3 separate boxes:

1. The main base and attachments for the difference versions of iPads.

2. "Tangram" - This is a game which shows shapes on the screen and using the included pieces, you have to put them in front of the pad, which then confirms if they're in the right place. There's then lots of other levels, it also gets pretty difficult, using colours first.. Then just black and grey, the just black! My son absolutely loved this game! It's a great way of getting his mind working and the hardest levels gave me a little thinking too! 

3. "Words" - includes two lots of letter tiles. The aim of the game is to look at the clues given by pictures on the tablet screen and you need to be quicker than your opponent to throw down the letter tiles to make the hidden word, it's actually really quick and quite clever! I've not played this with my son yet, however he's REALLY good with his words and spelling so I know he'll love it! 

There is also another game for you to download, it's called "Newton" - Probably my favourite game, this uses augmented reality of the real world to draw what's in front of the camera and when falling balls come down the screen they interact with the drawings and the aim is to get them into the flashing circles. A very addictive and fun game.

I've just found another game I'm intrigued by and may have to purchase for my son! It's called "OSMO Numbers", he loves Maths so he should do better at this game than me!

The boxes themselves are quite clever as they all connect together using magnets, so with forthcoming games it makes it easier to sort and you'll be able to display and store them on a DVD shelf.

The Verdict

A very clever and system with lots of potential! I can see a shelf which is soon to be filled with OSMO and it's attaching games! I love how much it captivated my son and really got him wanting more! It was also great playing with him and him letting me have a go at some of the levels too!

The OSMO is available to buy HERE! It RRP's at £69.99 which at first seems a little pricey, however the playability and use you will get out of this will almost immediately make sense!

Technology Event Review: CU Exposed!

What is it?

This event was held in London Bridge the other night and lots of new products were on show! And I tell ya, my mouth was watering!!

Computers Unlimited organised the event, and after a very nice PR agency contacted me to attend, I jumped at the chance!

I had to go straight from my day job, so I was a little knackered, but it was well worth it.

What I Thought

There were loads of new tech at the event but these are a few of my favorite ones!

Definitely one for the kiddies, this glorified iPad holder doubles as a kind of mirror with a very big (and exciting!) difference. Using the wonder of the iPad's apps you can play games like sorting blocks to match the picture on the screen, there's word games which recognize the letters you throw onto the space in front of the pad and also ( my personal fave) a game where using the screen, you can see balls falling down and using your reflection in the space in front, you have to make the balls go into goals. A little like pinball, but your hands are the paddles!! I was extremely impressed with this, there's a load of learning possibilities, motor and problem solving, my son would love it!

I think the man on the stall said the age range was from 5+, I really wouldn't mind having a go myself!!

This will be retailing at £69.99, this may seem a little high but it's so much fun and has alot of potential and once you have the main unit, I'm not sure how much, but I can see the add-on's going for alot less.

Go to their official site for more info! Purchase from Amazon HERE!

Next up, VIRTUAL REALITY!!!! So you've heard of the big names in VR which are slowly coming into production, however this small company based in France have dome a superb job of using your MOBILE PHONE!! ( I know right??!!) 

The goggles themselves are very comfy and have special lenses in them, which are movable so you can focus the picture, then with your phone in a nice cradle on the front, using programs from the appstore you can play games, videos and also look around full pictures. I played a great runaway mine car ride, and also a full view 360 video, and even a moving video (on a skateboard!) where it was filmed using four GoPro's!! 

I've been told the programs to download will increase in time as

well as the quality of the picture. There was also an amazing flying game where you controlled a robot just in front of you by moving your head to avoid meteors and laser fire, that was probably my favorite!!

There's so many possibilities and also so many opportunities for licences!! That last game, wow.. Just get Disney involved.. That's right, X-wings in the Death Star trench!!! 

I've been advised these will ship at ONLY £59.99!!! VIRTUAL REALITY FOR £50!!! Awesome!!

Purchase on Amazon HERE, for the official site, go HERE

This was the first big brand to assist Apple with their bloomin' bad battery life in their products. These batteries act like a phone case and charge your phone without being cumbersome or having loads of leads in your bag!

They do an array of colours too! 

The above one for the 5S/C is £69.99, probably a little on the expensive side, but is apparently extremely quick and very intelligent in fact. When you charge these and the phone is connected, it first charges the phone, then charges the charger. Clever stuff.. also, when out and about, it will charge the first 60% of the phone extremely quickly, as it locates the parts of the phone which need the least charge, then the last 40% charges slower. 

All in all though it seems like a good product! BUY HERE! OR Take a look at their OFFICIAL SITE!

Nice goodies!

Thanks to the nice PR people on the night I was able to take a few things home with me:

Click HERE to purchase!

For more info, Click HERE

For more info, Click HERE

Click HERE to buy!

KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR SOME GREAT UPCOMING TECHNOLOGY REVIEWS FROM ME!! 

MiPOW's YER NEW PAL! The Stylish Portable Emergency Charger!

What is it?

It's a VERY stylish and quite powerful portable charger for iPhones (5 upwards) and iPads, as you can see from the picture it's very sleek and good looking! It also comes in an array of colours! Currently Red, Blue and Black, but soon to have a ladies range of Pink, Baby Blue and Silver.

This also comes with a stylish grey, soft drawstring pouch and instructions. 

What I thought?

A few important stats are below:

So as you can see, 1.5 times is pretty good seeing as the iPhone 6 has a good load of battery in it. My iPad however was only charged to about 80%.

The MiPOW is not considered as a high capacity charger and therefore I wouldn't expect to see output of 2-3 times, it's just too small. This is also a pro as well as a con, as it means I can carry this is my coat pocket or it may take up a tiny amount of space in my rucksack.

"JuiceSync"

With the MiPOW comes the ability to download an app to perform specific functions. Juicesync is actually pretty clever; it measures how much charge your battery has left and even the temperature of the charger so it doesn't overheat.

Another great feature to the app is that you can set it to alert you when the battery is below a certain percentage, therefore you won't be caught out with a dead phone and no emergency power! This FREE app even lets you know when the battery is out of your reach, so you'll NEVER forget it!

Here's a screenshot of the main app page, please note I literally just used the MiPOW to charge my iPad so it was completely drained..hence the 0%:

OK so, power good, looks guuuude, lastability also good.. BUT the one thing that really bugs me is the use of the app.. I understand the reasoning behind it: It's a nice idea to know how much your battery has and the other functions are pretty handy too.. BUT when you'll want to use the MiPOW, your phone will be low on power and to use the app requires bluetooth to be connected.. which drains even more power from your phone.

Don't get me wrong, the MiPOW does a great job at keeping my phone charged and I have NO problems charging it when I am able to, me personally though? I probably won't be using the app with my MiPOW.

The Verdict

It's perfect for commuters who constantly go out to visit clients as it will save you from a dead battery and give you enough charge until you can make it back to your office without missing those important e-mails! (or save you from missing out on a crucial ebay bid! Geez that's annoying!)

A really nice, stylish portable charger, this is in my bag and SHOULD be in yours too!

The MiPOW is available now priced at RRP £44.99

Now you can be FLASH with Misfit! - Misfit FLASH Fitness Band Full Review

 

What is it?

This is the newest version of fitness and sleep trackers from Misfit.

Now, I've reviewed one of these before, the 'Shine', see here for my full review of that a while ago..

What I Thought

So, current day, Misfit have now released the 'Flash'. It seems to do all of the things the 'Shine' does, but so much easier. 

For instance, the syncing is now extremely seem-less, press the button on the 'Flash' (previously a tappy touch type thing which was intuitive but a little annoying as didn't always work) and the lights will dance around the device and sync with your smartphone via bluetooth. I had a few problems with the Shine before but syncing is now pretty instantaneous, so an improvement there.. 

There was also a problem with the Shine which I found after the initial review was done, on one of my rare runs, I must have gotten a little sweaty as the Shine managed to pop right out of the wrist attachment. I was less than happy.. it was cool to have a sleek design but upon this mishap it seemed a little impractical. 

The Flash, on the other hand, is a little more boxy looking and also a little thicker, it doesn't affect how it's worn, and the 'wrist-watch' attachment has been redesigned so you can only fix in the Flash from the back way and now there's no way it can pop out the front. AWESOME! 

You also get a CLASP attachment included (For shoes or belt) and obvs the instructions. 

The Stats:

Made of plastic, no rusting :) and water resistant to 30 meters (Which is lucky as I had a shower still wearing this!!)

Works on battery which lasts up to 6 months! 

Measures: Steps, Calories Burned, Distance and Sleep Quality and Duration

Lots of devices which are compatible, see the official website for more details.

The Misfit app used with the FLASH and indeed the SHINE has been upgraded and is now even easier to use! There's also still a whole host of apps you can use alongside the Misfit app to log things like Food consumption and therefore syncs with your Calories burned (MyFitnessPal)

So far, I've been able to test the sensors for Mild to Moderate walking, running and sleeping (I like this last one best!) I'll have to try the Tennis and Cycling ones soon! BUT it IS crazy that this device can tell what you're doing.. very clever stuff. 

The Verdict

A definite improvement on the Shine, much better for sporty people, although still stylish...I'm gonna go download the MyFitnessPal app and see how many calories I have for a Choccybar!!! (not really the point but Hay HO!)

GET ONE!!! They're RRP £49.99 and are available from Lloyds Pharmacies, see below for the cool array of colours available. 

Eyefly 3D, The protector which gives your smartphone the 3D treatment!

What is it?

The Eyefly 3D Screen Protector allows pictures and videos to be viewed in 3D.

The instructions which come with the screen are really well written and very easy to follow. In some ways I wish these instructions were provided with standard screen protectors. If followed correctly the screen will fit very nicely to your phone, no bumps or dust spots anywhere, so pretty impressive.


What I thought

Once you've downloaded the app's available to view photo's and video's, there are a few test files you can try, trailers and aquariums etc. These look kind of OK, the screen is strange as the 3D goes in and out of focus.. I'm guessing you need to keep the screen very still when watching something, which is quite difficult if you're on the move.

One of the features of the photo and video apps is to transfer your own files to 3D enabled. Unfortunately this only works a little, but made my eyes go funny.. not sure how reliable it would be in the long run. The screen does well as a screen protector, however any small writing is a little hard to read, due to the multifaceted pixels on the screen.

The Verdict

I am a little saddened by this product, I really thought it would do well in my tests..alas it was not meant to be, there are a few options to change, and this may help the 3D'ness, but I'm not that tech savvy, or patient enough to deal with it.

It's worth a go if you're really into the 3D thing. I honestly think though Eyefly should get into the plain screen protector market as they have great instructions which help to attach the screens with ease.

The EyeFly 3D Screen Protector RRP's at £9.99 and is available at IWOOT now!

My Ultrasabers Lightsaber (VERY) Geeky Review!

The Geeky Bit..

Before I get started with this review, I just want to give you a little background information about me, my interests and when my obsession of Star Wars began.

Firstly my initial memory of Star Wars is actually watching the 3rd and (at the time) final part of the Saga: Star Wars Episode 6 - Return of the Jedi!! As a 7 year old I was captivated by the sci-fi effects and cute Ewoks! and WOW..that lightsaber.. you know the one.. The blonde kid all in black donned an amazing silver and orange hilt and once ignited it screamed and hissed to life with a rich green blade of light! I remember listening to that hum and wanting..no NEEDING to have one!

I was hooked.. in just a few months I went back and retraced Luke and Leia Skywalker, and Han Solo's adventures! We had a 'Video Van Man' which stopped down our road from time to time and I made sure we rented the other two Episodes (4 & 5) and I loved them just as much as ROTJ! I even made sure to rent the two new Ewok films, which albeit a little kiddy, were still Star Wars and still amazing!

I then collected the toys; figures and vehicles, even picked up a few of the lightsabers from Hasbro. None of them however had the power and finesse needed to get my goosebumps have goosebumps, like Luke's saber from Return of the Jedi.. UNTIL NOW!

All the way from the US... I give you..

THE ULTRASABERS AEON V3! (The Geeky Review!)

What is it?

Gorgeous is what it is! It's a lightsaber and this photo does it no justice! These hilts are built to perfection and are so bright when the light reflects off the hilt. The above is the stock photo from the Ultrasabers website, of which there are MANY styles of hilts to choose from. 

There are a number of different options and accessories you can get including;

• Different thickness of blades, with the view that you may "Spar" with them. 
  
  
• Different colour blades, including more than just the standard blue, green, red, and purple we are accustom to in the Star Wars Universe - if you get a white one you can pay a little extra for coloured discs and have the whole range!
  
  
• If you decide to have sound included, because of the ingenious sound card you can connect to your PC and actually choose from a number of different effects and also add your own! 

Some of the accessories include:

• A belt clip
• A blade plug (so when you remove the blade, the hilt looks amazing on it's own)
• Coloured discs (My favorite is a yellowy orange blade, see below)

Do check the website for other great options, parts and accessories! 

What I thought

Well, I could probably go on for about an hour about how much I love my Aeon V3. I've bought a few lightsaber "toys" in the past and after purchasing this, it kind of renders those "toys" (because that's all they really are) useless.. now I have the closest I'll ever get to having a REAL lightsaber..OK, so I'm still just a geeky fanboy, but this item is now my most treasured Star Wars collectable! 

The design is so super sleek and as I said above it's been machined so smoothly and is incredibly comfy in the hand, one or two handed.

The sounds of the saber are amazing too, as I said above you have the ability to edit the sounds so they fit you or your Star Wars character, there is also a way of adding any type of sound on there, but I've only had this for a few days so not very savvy yet. The saber has the following sounds which can be edited:

• Power up
• Power down
• Idle hum
• Swing (this is the famous VVVVVVMMM! sound!)
• Clash (for when you hit something or jolt the saber to simulate a hit)
• Lock up (this is the sizzle sound they make when against another saber, I've edited mine to make sounds of a training remote!)

All of the above are awesome and fun to play about with, additionally you can adjust the volume which, when inside the house may be a good idea as the saber sounds are soo (fantastically) loud!

The Verdict

A fantastic choice of sabers, blades and accessories, for a pretty good price, it's only really the shipping costs which bump it up. Mine cost £149 including postage (Which only took 6 DAYS! INCLUDING a weekend!), which included:

The hilt

Silver led which coloured discs

A 'midgrade' blade

A blade plug

Seriously, if you can pay the cost it's worth every penny! Ultrasabers has great customer service and there's also a great forum with lots of people willing to lend a hand with choices or technical help!

Go NOW! And May the Force be with you!! 

ULTRASABERS.COM!

You can also check out the new Star Wars movie Trailer HERE! STARWARS - THE FORCE AWAKENS!!  IT LOOKS AWESOME!!!

An update!, Here's my son with my saber!

StandEazy Smart Phone Stand Review!

What is it? 

It's a nifty Smartphone stand which is extremely portable and used to lean your phone against, be it: at work, on holiday, at home, even on the train! (with a table of course..!) 

It's made of a plastic polymer and also fits nicely into your wallet or purse!

The Standeazy comes in 3 colours; Aqua, Arctic (white) & Sky (Blue) and is also available in a metal version (which can support mini tablets). 

What I thought

My first thoughts were that it's a little on the thick side, but to hold your tech you kind of need a little piece of mind so I saw through this. There's a very clever click system which allows you to position your phone at a number of different angles.. I don't know what angles these are, as I've always been a bit pants at maths. 

The stand is very sturdy and would be able to hold most smartphones, even the bigger ones! I even tried my iPad Mini on the stand, it very nearly worked (albeit a little wobbly!), but please ONLY use this for smartphones, that's what it's designed/built for anyway!

The Verdict

It's a clever piece of kit and great for me as I like to watch the odd film or episode on my work breaks.

The Standeazy stand is available directly from Standeazy Limited! for an "eazy meazly" £4.99 plus £1.50 postage! 

JAM Speakers - Can I get a REWIND?

What is it?

This is one of the products in the new line of 'Jam' wireless speakers. It has a fantastic retro look, which is just a little bigger than the old tapes.. Yes boys and girls, in the olden days, we didn't have CD's. We had cassette tapes which needed to be rewound by turning an HB pencil!.. yes boys and girls we used to use pencils too!.. we didn't have Facebook/twitter and tablets were only found at a chemist!.. 

What I thought

JAM probably should have learnt from the original plastic cases of the cassettes from years back, they are not very protective and prone to cracking/shattering. Unfortunately this actually happened to my case in the post! I totally get the retro feel and you probably need the clear plastic case to get 'the look'.

The bluetooth has amazing reception. I had this on in my kitchen and I was able to walk the entire house with so much as a pause in the sound! I must admit I was pretty impressed! 

The Rewind has four speakers.. 2 on each side, I'm really not sure about these 4 speakers: I tend to use my iPad alot while washing up or doing chores in the kitchen and I'd usually watch a film or few episodes of something. Due to the four speakers I found that the sound kept coming and going which was a little annoying. Music sounds good though and the four speakers come in handy with the placement of effects. 

The Verdict

A great little speaker with great sound and great looks and does the job it's intended to do VERY well! Still not sure about the case but I do love the look! 

The JAM Rewind RRP's at £74.99 and is available now! 

ZIP Earphones! Review!

What are they?

They are a set of funky earphones, of which the leads have been made inside a zip strap. Quite ingenious really, when you are not using the headphones you can zip them up, protecting the lead and also while zipped up its also quite difficult to tangle the leads (which are a lengthy 130cms long!). These also come in an array of colours including orange, black and pink, see right:

What I thought

These headphones look great. I love gadgety, quirky stuff and these fit the bill. The sound is also really good and considering the price they're really worth it. The only thing that does bother me is that although the sound is clear you do get some added noise from the movement of the leads.

The zipping of the leads work really well and it doesn't really tangle, but sometimes a little stiff  to zip up. 

The Verdict

These have a great style and is a really great idea to keep your headphones neat. My current headphones are forever tangling so it's nice just to get these out and use them straight away. It's not all good news though I'm afraid, despite the 2 sizes of spongy rubber provided, my ears aren't used to these types of headphones so they got quite sore and kept falling out. My wife tried them on though and she said they were fine, so I may just have dodgy ears! I would love to see an "over the ear" variant of these though.. they'd be very appealing!

These 'Thumbs Up!' ZIP Earphones are available right now from thehut.com at a very decent £9.99! 

Teenager want a cool phone? Check out the ZTE KIS3!

What is it?

It's the ZTE KIS3! This mid range smartphone uses the newest version of Android 4.4 Kitkat. Perfect for teens, its a great alternative to a £500 iPhone! The phones comes ready to use on pay-as-you-go, the box includes: The Phone, Battery, USB charging cable and charger, Wired headset and Quick Start Guide.

Technical Specs!

What I thought:

Looks

This phone looks great, so much nicer than what I had when I was a spotty teen.. don't believe me? see below at what I had! This thing didn't even have picture messages! Those were the dark times...

Anyway, the ZTE Kis3 is smooth and sleek and a great navy blue, no teen is going to feel inadequate among their friends, even if they have an iPhone, and that's coming from a guy who owns an iPhone!

Touch

The touch works very well, I apologise but I've only really ever used iPhone's and the touch on the KIS3 is just as good.

Graphics / Camera

Photos looks a tiny bit grainy and a little pale, but fine for the odd photo and selfies. You definitely wouldn't be able to use this phone as a digital camera, but I don't believe any mid range phone could be used for that. 

Userbility

One thing about having an iPhone is that the phone is so easy to use, icons to do pretty much anything and logical menu's. The android 4.4 Kitkat is pretty similar, but so much more customisation; from arranging apps and widgets to changing the background or theme. It needs a lot more thought to navigate than the iPhone, but any tech savvy teen would have no problem with this.

Messaging

The texting business is definately one for the teens and ZTE understand this, again very simple to use and also has the new swipe messaging where you run your finger over the keyboard and hesitate at the letters you need, the text 'engine' then sorts out your letters into real words! Clever stuff, but the predictive text can fail at times and again for an adult who has only ever used an iPhone may struggle with this feature, so I'd probably end up turning this setting off. 

Internet

The Internet is very speedy, using google chrome for smartphone. This great little app keeps your phone memory down while you're surfing!

The Verdict

All in all a great little phone, it's not the greatest as it's a mid grade phone and therefore is only really average in all aspects. It does however do the job and perfect for a teen needing a smartphone (and for parents not wanting to fork out a ton of dough for an iPhone or similar). 

The ZTE KIS3 is available in Virgin Media phone stores now for a very decent £44.99, this is a pay as you go phone too, so why not get your teen to pay for their own bills? Cheeky?