Apple iPhone 5C 16 GB

I was wary about having a larger screen than with an older iPhone, which I considered, as I thought it would be too big. I couldn't be more wrong; I think the screen is a perfect size and in no way unmanageable. It is not actually much larger than the iPhone 4 screen but easily manages to fit in an extra row of apps, meaning that you will have less pages to scroll through, and can have more important apps on the first page than you used to be able to.

With the larger screen, it can be said that apps look a lot more impressive, and that iOS 7 works and looks better. The software in general has been given more space to work with, and therefore does not look in any way overwhelming. The swipe up menu available through iOS does not reach the top of the screen, as I have noticed it does on the 4S, which I find preferable since you can still see the time and the top row of apps.

At 8.97mm it is slightly thinner than the 4S, which means that it also feels a bit lighter to hold in your hand. Also, it is noteworthy that the phone with no case on feels sturdier than the likes of a 4S: this is possibly due to the fact that the back of the phone is made using plastic. I would say that this is beneficial due to the tendency people have to drop iPhones: the plastic back feels more durable and less slippy.

The phone is available in 5 pastel-like colours. I chose the white one as I am not a huge fan of the shades of the other phones: I feel like the white one has a more classic feel to it. There is criticism to say that the phone, due to the pastel shades it is available in, it more aimed at women, but I would say that the white one in particular doesn't have any sort of 'feminine' feel to it - the like pink one does. The coloured backs of the phones is far removed from Apple's tendency to go for more classic colours such as black, white and grey - and possibly due to the fact that many phones on the market have gone for more colourful designs.

As previously mentioned, the phone uses a lightning charger, which is familiar to people who are owners of iPads. I remember this annoyed people when the phone came out due to the fact that every previous iPhone used the same charger but since I haven't had that annoyance I can review this without bias. I think the smaller charger socket on the phone looks neater, and it also allows for the headphone socket to fit on the bottom of the phone. This makes the top of the phone look sleeker and less cluttered in my opinion. Also, the charger can be inserted into the phone either way, which many chargers cannot.

I would say that the design of the phone is a considerable departure from the classic iPhone design that we have grown accustomed to: it is not for everyone as there is criticism to say it looks cheap and tacky. I would not agree, as especially in the white colour, it looks classy and refreshingly different to the old design. It feels durable, light and I trust the build of the phone more than I have with previous phones. People have also said that the 5C is basically the cheap version of the 5S, and I really don't see that that is a bad thing! A 5S on contract is hugely expensive per month, and I really don't see that it has enough extra features above the 5C to justify the price tag.

I basically have fallen in love with this phone and with Apple in general. I doubt I'll look further than Apple in the future when my contract for this phone expires!

Capital One

I've been a customer of Capital one for almost ten years now. I must say that they're a great credit card company. I have a total of more than 5 credit cards with them for the time that I was with them and currently still with them. I love their services and credit. I find them to be the premier credit card company for students or those who want to start to establish their credit. They're a site that offer credits to those with starting out credit rating and poor credit rating or students or anyone who hope to get a personal loan or some banking without such excellent credit rating. I guess they can give you an extra boost and that's why I like them because I started having credit with them as a student when I was trying to establish my credit and I like how they gave me a chance to build my credit. My entire family has Capital one credit cards and we all love them. We've been with them for so long and have never had any problems at all. They have excellent customer service, fraud protection, credit offers and many merchants accept them. I will always be a capital one consumer. I find them trustworthy to do business with and would recommend anyone to start banking or getting credit with them. They give beginner a new start or a chance to get some awesome credit. I have their cash reward cards and I love the extra cash back every month. I usually get around thirty dollars back each month and I love that. I put everything on my reward card with capital one. I love such a card. I'm a very satisfied customer and would continue to do business with them.
 
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Tesco RAD 112R Pocket Analogue Radio

I bought this radio initially for my bathroom and it cost me a whopping £4 from Tesco. I wanted it as a small device I could tuck away in a drawer and listen to for 10-15 minutes in the bath every now and then. Even for that purpose this has not done anything to satisfy my needs and I have already moved on after only a few weeks.

The radio has AM/FM which one plus point but wherever I have used this, Bathroom and Garden once or twice, it just cannot hold a decent signal. For £4 I don't expect a wonderful crisp clear sound but I do expect to tune a radio in and it to last more than 5 minutes. The signal fades and it has to be retuned. Not ideal and not worth the hassle! The tuning itself seems off to me and it is very fiddly. The numbers are hard to see and it takes a steady and patient hand to tune in.

The signal obviously depends on the area I understand but other radios work fine and pick up and sustain. This doesn't. It causes annoyance.

The whole thing itself feels very flimsy and for something that is intended to be portable it should really provide more confidence that it would survive a drop. The plastic is cheap, the aerial weak and the whole thing from the dial to the battery cover feels like it could drop apart at any moment. I would have expected so much more.

The sound, when the signal holds, is fairly poor and "tinny". If you are hoping for a decent audible volume be prepared for quality dips. I expected it for the price to be a bad sound quality but not this.

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http://politonos-movil.blogspot.com/

Apple iPad Air 32GB

I wanted a tablet that would be light and easy to navigate. After numerous trips to stores to compare ease of use of all manner of brands I kept coming back to the Apple as it is so clear and user friendly.

What's on offer with this tablet?...
As weight was a deciding factor I can tell you that this good sized tablet weighs less than a kilo, whilst feeling strong and durable and looking attractive.

I was attracted to this model as it has the retina display which is even clearer and has a good sized screen without too much bevel -- 9.7".

Another attractive and necessary feature was ultra fast wireless connection and that is what I got.

Access to over 450,000 applications and access to email, internet, cloud storage -- including Amazon's Kindle and music.

Camera is 5MP auto focus and there is video facility as you would expect.

The list of technicalities goes on and I would direct you to the Apple website to take full advantage of all of that over there. I've just included what tempted me in and what was important to me at this time.

What's it like to use?...
I'd had a good play on the demo's in the Apple Store so had a good idea what to expect from this tablet. First things first -- minimal packaging that is well designed and aesthetically pleasing. Price wise this is a rather more expensive piece of kit compared with alternatives but Asda had a good offer on that my husband took advantage of when he gifted me with this.

Setting up is pretty similar to setting up the Kindle Paperwhite. You choose language and input your wireless key code and you are plain sailing from there on in. Charging is very fast. First charge was fast and subsequent charging up is impressively quick -- half an hour and all is good to go.

I'm really happy with the weight and feel of the tablet in my hands, though I was happier when I got my Tuff luv case as it can be a wee bit slippery and is ultra thin. I like that my cover protects the screen when it is off too. The tablet has a sleep function which is really handy and doesn't deplete the battery, also there is an easy swipe across the screen function that switches off completely.

There are few buttons to the side. The side ones are for volume and rotation lock, whilst the top button will switch on/off and wakes the tablet up. On the front of the tablet to the bottom centre is the the home button. I like that the rest of the functioning is touch screen -- nice smooth feel to this and the images are sharp as you would expect from the retina display.

Built in speakers provide impressive sound and the slot for the usb charger is discreet and easy to access.
I use the tablet mostly for accessing email and browsing the internet -- this is very easy to navigate and fast. I have used the tablet when in all rooms of the house and also when two laptops have been in use and the connectivity is superb.

When accessing video playback or movies the images are crystal clear and the sound is very impressive for such a slender unit. I've not had any issues with connectivity or crashes up to now.

Battery life seems to be very good, it depends on what you are doing and how often you access the tablet throughout the day but from my initial usage for internet access and playing music with some use of the camera I'm having a good few hours per day for up to five days before needing to charge up. I like that you get a charger with this, I had to buy one for my Kindle.

I have been impressed with the applications that are on offer from the Apple store. It is very easy to navigate and obvious which are free and which payable. It is fast at downloading the applications and I have yet to be disappointed with lack of choice. I was particularly impressed with the fact that I can download and access my Kindle books (done automatically) to my iPad Air -- this allows me to continue reading from where I was up to on my Kindle. It's super that I can access my music from Amazon Cloud too.

I see that the operating system is the very impressive iOS 7. This allows for multitasking with ease and also offers access to Siri, Air Drop, Air Play and Air Print. I've not used all of the facilities yet but every day I find something else that impresses me.

I wondered what it would be like to use the tablet when I was used to using computer or laptop. I've been really impressed with what I can do and the speed that I can do it. The display is notably clearer and sharper -- images are a treat to look at, so rich and clear. Speed is very impressive and I can happily compose short messages or posts but I'd have to get a keyboard for lengthier tasks.

I like that I can put my earphones into the tablet and also connect to speakers to access my library of music. It feels like I have everything all in one place. I have writing applications on there too.

Toshiba Satellite C50-A-156

The real advantage of this system is what you get for the price, at around the £350 mark the 1TB hard drive gives plenty of space for media and software, the display is high quality (with no glare in my experience) and the graphics are pretty good, being able to run most of the older games I have and a few of the older ones if you drop down the resolution. It also has a DVD-RW to set it apart from other lap tops in this price band.
 
The keyboard is a little cramped, but is usable though you need to use the function key quite a bit for functions such as print screen and the space bar is tiny. The touchpad, though responsive is positioned a little further to the left than I am used to. The result is something that feels less than intuitive to begin with and takes a bit of getting used to, but given that time it is fine. I did end up buying a mouse however.
 
Over all you are getting a little better than what you pay for with this machine, but if you have the money I would go for something with a bit more umph.
 
 

favorite Christmas jewelry by Tous

Today is Christmas Eve and tomorrow Christmas Day, one of the most special days of the year. I love to being my family these days and this year I am really looking forward to it, as I have spent nearly half of the year traveling around the world, working and enjoying all the wonderful oportunnities I have had this year. At home, we celebrate the Three Wise Men Day, but this time I won't be at home, so Christmas will be more special. So these days I will be sharing with you nice and special posts.
Today, I want to share with you some desgins of my one of favorites jewelry brands: Tous. Since I was little, there has been a small bag with its well-known bear. It is a nice idea to give as a gift on Christmas and on January 6th. Which one's your favorite?
I hope you have a very nice Christmas Eve and enjoy your shopping. Do you know what you will find tomorrow underneath the Christmas tree? I am as excited as I was when I was a girl.

Apple iPad Air 32GB

I  got a present of an Apple iTouch a couple of years ago and have used it constantly ever since. It's only drawback was its tiny screen which meant surfing the web was an uncomfortable and awkward experience. The only surfing at home I could do was on an old laptop so I decided the time had come to get a tablet. As its one of the most expensive on the market, I was hesitant so researched other tablets to see how they compared. However, the iPAD was still my favourite - there is just something that Apple do which puts their products ahead of the competition.

I got the new iPAD Air 32GB. I considered the iPAD 2 which is still available but as its on the market for some time I was afraid it would date quickly. I shopped around but Apple products tend not to vary too much in price, particularly newly released ones. In the end I got it on Black Friday when the Apple site had 35 euros off it.

It arrived in a white box - very sleek and classy. The only accessory included was a lead which plugs in to the iPAD for charging. The other end can be either connected to a USB port or plugged in to the mains for charging.

What can I say - it has lived up to my expectations and I love it. I switched it on and it had a full charge so I was able to start straight away. It automatically takes you through a number of steps to complete the set up so its fuss free and straightforward. Its very light and extremely thin and with a powerful processor inside its very fast. As I haven't owned a previous model I can't say how it compares to earlier generations though. After some consideration I went for the 32gb model rather than the 16gb. From what I understand, many of the new apps are in HD and can be quite memory intensive. Also, using it for video can fill up the storage pretty fast and as it lacks the flexibility of adding extra memory its important to get this decision right at the outset.
 
 The camera is very good and takes great quality pictures. This is definitely an improvement on my 4th generation iTouch, where the picture quality was a let down. Unique to the Air are a number of apps included free which otherwise would have to be paid for on the App Store. These are iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand, Pages, Numbers and Keynote. The last three are sort of Apple's versions of Word, Excel and Powerpoint. I have downloaded some of them but have yet to try them so can't comment further on that.

Finally, battery life is excellent. As its my new 'toy' I have been spending a lot of time on it and the battery is lasting well.
 
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http://dinero-beruby.blogspot.com/
 

 

Apple iPhone 4S 16 GB

My love for Apple products continues as I have recently acquired an iPhone 4S. The phone belonged to my partner from her previous contract and she has upgraded to the iPhone 5 so kindly gave it to me. The cost to buy the phone new is over £400 so this was a great gift.

The phone is white with a 3.5" diagonal display. It is very slim and sleek like most apple products. The screen is touchscreen and although it is not the largest screen out there it still allows full use of the apps with minimal problems.

I have had the phone a couple of weeks now and it has overshadowed my iPod touch I had. As well as all the standard functions like texting and calling, this phone has so much more. Of course it has all the similar functions to most smartphones like social networking, camera, music etc. but the layout and the ease of using the touchscreen just puts it way above the rest on the market. I have always had issues with smartphones in the past where the more you download the slower they run. But the iPhone does not have this problem. My iPhone 4S has a 16GB memory and although you can get a higher memory this enough for me.

Calls and messaging are neat and simple. The messaging especially keeps a full list of all your previous messages with each person. The iMessage is a good app that makes messages between iPhone users free so it would not deduct from your monthly allowance. This is particularly good as I am on a low tariff anyway.

The internet browser and app store are the most important features for me. The internet browser allows you to open more than one tab but one thing I have learnt is that a lot of internet usage does drain the battery quickly. From the app store you can get all your favourite apps. A particular highlight for me is having the ability to use FaceTime. This is only available on Apple products and is great for keeping in touch with friends and family. But as well as this, you have all the social networking and media apps like Facebook, BBC iplayer, Sky Go etc.

The camera is a great feature. Again, it is so simple to use. Compared to the Samsung Galaxy S3 the camera on the iPhone operates smoothly and allows you to take multiple photos in quick succession. This is especially convenient having a daughter who does not sit still for a photo so it's all about capturing her at the best moment. The camera is 8 megapixels and provides quality photos. Once taken the photos can be edited to your liking.

The battery life is average. As with most smartphones you need to charge it every night. This is the same with the iPhone in this case. I will use it throughout the day and so far I have had no issues with it running out on me before the day is over.

So far, I am very happy with my iPhone 4S. It has a great design and operates smoothly. The simple layout and design is very appealing. As with most Apple products, it does everything I need it to. I will definitely be sticking with the iPhone for the foreseeable future.
 
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http://quesosmanchegos.blogspot.com/
QUESOS SPAIN

I love today’s outfit pics

We're home again and ready to enjoy these days before heading to Barcelona for another special event: the second book signing, that will take place December 5th in El Corte Inglés (Portal de l'Angel) at 7 pm.
By the way, I love today's outfit pics because it is simple and I mix my favorite autumn color, grey, with these booties from my new collection. Happy Friday!

Berlin Mitte

This is what I wore during my last shooting in Berlin for Patrizia Pepe. It was already very cold in Berlin but that didn't stop us from having tons of fun shooting. 

Hope you enjoy

Some weeks ago I travelled to Santiago de Compostela to shoot an interview for Página Reservada, a Santiago TV program, the local TV. You will find the interview below, both parts. Hope you enjoy it and you like it. I wore a classic look my fabric Lovely Miss x Krack shoes and a knitted jacket. What do you think about it?

Thanks a lot for all your comments, specially for the ones you made regarding my change of look. I know that the most important thing is that I like it, but I am happy to know that you like it too.

classy in Madrid

Saturday. Days pass really quickly.This week we've been working on new projects and I had important meetings. I will tell you all the details in a few days. Next week I am heading to Viena and I will visit Madrid too, where I will attend the launch of my book and I will be signing copies. I will be busy running from one place to another carrying out all these projects I have talked you about.

Today I would like to share some of the pics we took last week during our quick trip to Madrid.I wore my Bgo&Me poncho, jeans, my little Louis Vuitton bag and my thigh-high Miss x Krack boots. What do you think about this outfit?

indigo blue

Hello! Here I come wearing a color that flatters my skin: indigo blue. Every time I see it I think it too much of a color, but the thing is that once I try it I see things in a different way. I love this dress because despite the patterns in the fabric and the gathered sleeves, it is very simple. How do you like it?

Bose SoundLink Air Digital Music System

We set the Bose SoundLink Air Digital Music System on a shelf in the lounge and keep it plugged in. The wire does detract from the overall look of it, I have to say, but it's sensible to keep it plugged in rather than opt to purchase the additional rechargable battery as if it ran out of battery it might lose it's configuration which would be annoying. Still, it would have been nice for the proce for it to come with the speaker so we had the option of using it in the garden on good days.

The speaker is very easy to use in terms of streaming music, we've used it with an Apple Macbook, a Lenovo laptop, an iPad, eePad, iPhone and Samsung SIII and each one of these has streamed mp3s, internet radio and audio books no problem. It works well with Spotify content and overall the quality of the sound for the volume we use it at is brilliant. For a big house or a loud party it might not have the power you'd be looking for but our lounge is small and we have a toddler so we're limited in how loud or booming we can have our music anyway - it goes more than loud enough with excellent quality for most music fans to be very happy with.

The remote control is very easy to use and very responsive, though being so small it isn't half easy to lose - we tend to put it on the shelf with the unit and control the volume via our streaming device!

The Spanish brand Loewe has launched a new bag

I can now tell you all the details about my new collaboration. The Spanish brand Loewe has launched a new bag. Cruz is its name, as it has been designed by Penélope and Mónica Cruz. Loewe asked me and my sister to take part in their new campaign, #loewesisters, with five international bloggers and their sisters too. You will know the name of these girls throughout the week in Loewe's social networking (@loewemadrid).

 For Cynthia, my sis, and I, is something really special. She is my sister but we are best friends too, so that makes it even more special. She is unique and has a brilliant mind; she´s generous, has a huge heart and she's a constant person. We have mutual admiration and we love each other above anything. So we have had lots of fun taking part in this new campaign together.

 

Cruz bag is available in three different sizes and in several colors. For the photo shoot, we both chose the same size, but Cynthia preferred it in black and I got the blue one. Hope you enjoy the pics, which were taken by De Castro. I love them! Thank you very much for all your comments.

 

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http://diariodeunmissculta.blogspot.com/   

checked coat

I have decided to start the week with these photos of what I wore yesterday. I rocked a checked grey and blue coat, a grey wooly jumper, blue jeans and my cowboy ankle boots. This is how I decided to spend my sunday! I am off to get this week's posts sorted out, I have lots of new looks to show you and a few surprises in store ,-) Big kiss and a massive hello to everyone!

Party with Paris

Announcing the winner of my "Party with Paris" contest tomorrow!

Enter for a chance to win 2 spots on my VIP list tonight before it's too late: http://a.pgtb.me/sC81G5
 
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http://diariodeunamissculta.blogspot.com/

all grey everything

 I´ve always said that one of my favorite colors is grey. In fact, you have seen lots of looks where grey plays the main role, such as this outfit, this one and this one too. A couple of days ago, I went deco shopping and I wore a very comfy look, with my Isabel Marant booties, one of the best purchases I´ve ever made (I would by other pair in another color), this Ramonas funny sweater (you know I love these type of garments). Is grey one of your fav colors?

Today I am coming home from Barcelona and I really want to share with you all the new projects that are on the way, like a special shooting for Loewe, or the official laucnhing day of my book. But, know it´s time to enjoy Halloween!  and you already can find a new model of my fourth Shoe line collection Lovely Pepa x Krack at their website, do you wanna discover which one is it? Click here. Thanks for all your comments.

Toucan Can - Juliette MacIver

While this book is fun (and we mustn't over look this, because it is Super fun, capital S) it is also a brilliant one for engaging your child as you read to them. You can talk about what Toucan can do, and later what you can do that Toucan can't. You can talk about families and whether your aunts are like Ewan's aunts, and whether they too have pet pandas. And you can talk about animals generally because there are so many new ones in this book they might not have come across before - like goose and gander and panther and salamander. It's a lovely imaginative book in which kangaroos do kung fu (the panda doesn't - that would be too much of a cliché) and an eclectic mix of animals live (and dance) in harmony.

Even as a child, I appreciated that hardbacks were that little bit more magical than paperbacks, and this edition is no exception. The colours are so vibrant and the animals jump (and swing and dance) right off the page at you. The paper is silky, glossy, feels like a treat to read and the pages are huge and full of detail, though text is limited to a line or two per page to keep it from being too overwhelming. The minutiae are awesome too - the look on Aunty Shanti's face when she sees Aunty Anne and Aunty Candy dancing without her is delicious and will make little ones cackle.

 

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Formula_One_season

http://politonos-movil.blogspot.com/

Black Butterfly floral 50's Swing Dress

This dress looks absolutely fantastic on me, and I have a far from perfect figure - a definite beer belly, and rather oddly shaped hips. This dress skims over these imperfections, and with the help of the sash gives the impression not only of me having a fairly flat stomach, but also a rather slim looking waist. It does sadly expose my rather chunky upper arms, but these can easily be concealed with a bolero jacket.

The fit is generous - I normally wear a size 22-24 in dresses, and ordered this in a size 24. It fit well, but still had plenty of room left in it, and I was glad for the sash to bring it in around the back. I actually think I could perhaps have gone with ordering a size 22, but I must say it is refreshing to be able to order a dress that does have generous sizing.

I also really like the length of the dress, which comes to just below the knee on me. This allows me to show off my legs, without any risk of showing off anything else should the wind get up. I also love the fact that when I spin, the skirt flares out around me. And I am very impressed with the fact that this dress is machine washable.