Christmas Craft Ideas & Handmade Gifts

Christmas has come early to Hobbycraft! Browse our huge range of Christmas craft supplies, gift ideas and decorations. From decorating the tree to crafting handmade gifts for loved ones, it’s the personalised touches that make Christmas special. From easy Christmas craft ideas and kids craft kits, to creating showstopping Christmas cakes, there’s something for everyone in our stocking full of goodies. Tis the season to get making...

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Door Fan Test Equipment

BLOWER DOORSHow to select the right test equipment for measuring building air leakage:

The Model E3 fan is designed for testing residential and small commercial buildings.
For example, it can test buildings up to 3,500 ft2 by 10 ft (325 m2 by 3 m) with leakage up to 10m3/h/m2 or 8.9 ACH @ 50Pa.The Model E3-3FAN-STACK fanis designed for testing large residential and medium commercial/industrial buildings.
For example, it can test buildings up to 11,000 ft2 by 10 ft (1000 m2 by 3 m) with leakage up to 10m3/h/m2 or 7.9 ACH @ 50Pa.The Model G54 mobile fan is designed for testing the largest residential and larg commercial/industrial buildings.
For example, it can test buildings up to 45,000 ft2 by 10 ft (4200 m2 by 3 m) with leakage up to 10m3/h/m2 or 7.2 ACH @ 50Pa.To evaluate the detailed leakage test requirements of your building, use the Infiltec Infiltec online calculator

Apple iPhone 6 Plus

Network	Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE

Launch	Announced	2014, September
	Status	Available. Released 2014, September

Body	Dimensions	158.1 x 77.8 x 7.1 mm (6.22 x 3.06 x 0.28 in)
	Weight	172 g (6.07 oz)
	SIM	Nano-SIM
		- Fingerprint sensor (Touch ID) - Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)

Display	Type	LED-backlit IPS LCD, capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
	Size	5.5 inches (~67.8% screen-to-body ratio)
	Resolution	1080 x 1920 pixels (~401 ppi pixel density)
	Multitouch	Yes
	Protection	Shatter proof glass, oleophobic coating
		- Display Zoom

Platform	OS	iOS 8, upgradable to iOS 8.1.3
	Chipset	Apple A8
	CPU	Dual-core 1.4 GHz Cyclone (ARM v8-based)
	GPU	PowerVR GX6450 (quad-core graphics)

Memory	Card slot	No
	Internal	16/64/128 GB, 1 GB RAM

Camera	Primary	8 MP, 3264 x 2448 pixels, optical image stabilization, phase detection autofocus, dual-LED (dual tone) flash, check quality
	Features	1/3'' sensor size, 1.5µm pixel size, geo-tagging, simultaneous HD video and image recording, touch focus, face/smile detection, HDR (photo/panorama)
	Video	1080p@60fps, 720p@240fps, optical stabilization, check quality
	Secondary	1.2 MP, 720p@30fps, face detection, HDR, FaceTime over Wi-Fi or Cellular

Sound	Alert types	Vibration, proprietary ringtones
	Loudspeaker	Yes
	3.5mm jack	Yes

Comms	WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, hotspot
	Bluetooth	v4.0, A2DP, LE
	GPS	Yes, with A-GPS, GLONASS
	NFC	Yes (Apple Pay only)
	Radio	No
	USB	v2.0, reversible connector

Features	Sensors	Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
	Messaging	iMessage, SMS (threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Email
	Browser	HTML5 (Safari)
	Java	No
		- Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic - Siri natural language commands and dictation - iCloud cloud service - iCloud Keychain - TV-out - Maps - iBooks PDF reader - Audio/video player/editor - Organizer - Document viewer/editor - Photo viewer/editor - Voice memo/dial/command - Predictive text input

Battery		Non-removable Li-Po 2915 mAh battery (11.1 Wh)
	Stand-by	Up to 384 h (3G)
	Talk time	Up to 24 h (3G)
	Music play	Up to 80 h

Misc	Colors	Space Gray, Silver, Gold
	SAR US	1.19 W/kg (head)     1.19 W/kg (body)
	SAR EU	0.99 W/kg (head)     0.91 W/kg (body)
	Price group

Tests	Performance	Basemark OS II: 1222
	Display	Contrast ratio: 1361 (nominal), 3.023 (sunlight)
	Camera	Photo / Video
	Loudspeaker	Voice 67dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 66dB
	Audio quality	Noise -94dB / Crosstalk -72dB
	Battery life	Endurance rating 79h

Lumia 735

Introducing the Lumia 735. Designed for the greatest selfie experience.

     4.7''

    6.7MP

    8GB

    +15GB in OneDrive, MicroSD up to 128GB

 

      
            Main camera: 6.7MP
            Display size: 4.7''
            Display resolution: HD720 (1280 x 720)
            Processor type: Quad-core 1.2GHz
            Maximum Wi-Fi network browsing time: 10.5h
            Battery capacity: 2220mAh
            Wireless charging: Built-in (Qi standard)
            orange
            bright_green
            dark_gray
            white

    Essentials1
        Size & weight
            Length: 134.7 mm
            Width: 68.5 mm
            Thickness2: 8.9 mm
            Weight: 134.3 g
        Operating System
            Software release: Windows Phone 8.1 with Lumia Denim
        Processor
            CPU name: Snapdragon™ 400
            Number of cores: Quad core
            Clock rate: 1200 MHz
        Display
            Display size: 4.7 ''
            Display resolution: HD720 (1280 x 720)
            Display colours: TrueColor (24-bit/16M)
            Display features: Brightness control, Refresh rate 60 Hz, Sunlight readability enhancements, Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3, Easy to clean, High brightness mode, Wide viewing angle, Scratch resistant glass
            Pixel density: 316 ppi
            Display technology: ClearBlack, OLED
            Touch screen technology: Super sensitive touch
        Memory3
            User data storage: In device, Memory card, OneDrive cloud storage, App and data storage on memory card
            RAM: 1 GB
            Mass memory: 8 GB
            Maximum memory card size: 128 GB
            Expandable memory card type: MicroSD
            Free cloud storage: 15 GB
        Keys and Input Methods
            User Input: Touch
            Dedicated hardware key: Volume Keys, Power/Lock key
        Sensors
            Sensors: Ambient Light Sensor, Accelerometer, Proximity Sensor, Magnetometer, SensorCore
        Battery4
            Battery capacity: 2220 mAh
            Battery voltage: 3.8 V
            Replaceable battery: Yes
            Wireless charging: Built-in (Qi standard)
            Maximum standby time: 25 days
            Maximum talk time (2G): 22 h
            Maximum talk time (3G): 17 h
            Maximum music playback time: 60 h
            Maximum Wi-Fi network browsing time: 10.5 h
            Maximum video playback time: 9 h
        Design
            Design details: Exchangeable shell, Solid colour polycarbonate
            Other user interface features: Double-tap to wake, Glance screen, Vibrating alerts, Voice Commands, Word flow keyboard

    Connectivity

        Connectivity basics
            SIM card type : Nano SIM
            AV connectors: 3.5 mm audio connector
            Charging connectors: Micro-USB
            System connectors: Micro-USB-B
            USB: USB 2.0
            Bluetooth: Bluetooth 4.0
            Bluetooth profiles: Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) 1.2, Audio/Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP) 1.4, Generic Attribute Profile (GATT), Hands-free profile (HFP) 1.6, Object Push profile (OPP) 1.1, Personal Area Network Profile (PAN) 1.1, Phone Book Access Profile (PBAP) 1.1
            NFC: Pairing, Secure NFC for payment, Sharing, Tagging
            Wi-Fi: WLAN IEEE 802.11 b/g/n
            Wi-Fi hotspot: Up to 8 Wi-Fi-enabled devices
            Other wireless connectivity: Screen projection
        Local sharing
            Peer-to-peer sharing: Lumia Beamer, Lumia Storyteller, Play To DLNA app
        Cellular connectivity5
            GSM network: 850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 1900 MHz
            GSM max data speed DL: EGPRS 296.0 kbps
            GSM max data speed UL: EGPRS 236.8 kbps
            WCDMA network: Band 1 (2100 MHz), Band 5 (850 MHz), Band 8 (900 MHz)
            WCDMA max data speed DL: 42.2 Mbps (Cat 24)
            WCDMA max data speed UL: 5.76 Mbps (Cat 6)
            LTE FDD network: Band 20 (800MHz), Band 3 (1800 MHz), Band 7 (2600 MHz)
            LTE max data speed DL: 150 Mbps (Cat 4)
            LTE max data speed UL: 50 Mbps (Cat 4)

    Maps and navigation
        GPS and navigation6
            Location technologies: A-GLONASS, A-GPS, BeiDou, Cellular and Wi-Fi network positioning
            Maps: Augmented reality with LiveSight, Free maps, Offline maps, Online and offline favourites, Pin places to Start screen, Venue maps - shopping and transport centers
            Drive: Favorite destinations, Free global voice guided turn-by-turn drive navigation, Speed limit warnings
        Navigation apps
            Navigation features and services: HERE Drive+, HERE Maps, HERE Transit

    Camera
        Main camera
            Main camera: 6.7 MP
            Camera Focus Type: Auto Focus
            Camera digital zoom: 4 x
            Camera optics: ZEISS optics
            Sensor size: 1/3.4 inch
            Camera F number/aperture: f/1.9
            Camera focal length: 26 mm
            Camera Flash Type: Led flash
            Camera features: Backside-illuminated image sensor, True 16:9 sensor
            Camera minimum focus range: 10 cm
        Front-facing camera
            Front camera: Full HD 5MP wide angle
            Front camera f-number/aperture: f/2.4
            Front camera features: Focal length 24 mm, Still image capture, Video call, Video recording
            Front camera video resolution: 1080p (Full HD, 1920 x 1080)
        Video recording
            Main camera video resolution: 1080p (Full HD, 1920 x 1080)
            Camera video frame rate: 30 fps
            Camera video zoom: 4 x
            Video recording features: Video zoom, Continuous autofocus
            Video recording formats: MP4/H.264
        Photography apps
            Camera apps: Bing vision, Lumia Camera, Lumia Cinemagraph, Lumia Panorama, Lumia Refocus, Lumia Selfie

    Video and Audio
        Audio
            Audio playback file formats: 3G2, 3GP, AAC, AMR, ASF, M4A, MP3, MP4, WMA
            Audio playback codecs: AAC LC, AMR-NB, GSM FR, HE-AAC, HE-AACv2, MP3, WMA 10 Pro, WMA 9
            Audio recording codecs: AAC LC, AMR-NB, GSM FR
            DRM support: PlayReady
            Audio playback features: Graphical equalizer, Media Player, Music player, Podcasts, Virtual surround
            Audio recording file formats: AMR
            Radio features7: Internet Radio, FM Radio
        Video playback
            Video playback frame rate: 30 fps
            Video playback codecs: H.263, H.264/AVC, MPEG-4, VC-1, Windows video
            Video streaming: YouTube browsing and video streaming, Streaming from video services and internet, Progressive video download
        Music apps
            Music apps: Xbox Music, MixRadio

    Device security
        Device security
            General Security features: Device lock, PIN code, Device lock passcode, Regular signed firmware updates, Track and Protect via internet, Application certification, Application sandboxing, Backup and restore via Internet, Browser integrated anti-phishing, Remote device lock via Internet, Remote device wipe via Internet, Secure boot, Signed OS, Consumer VPN
            Enterprise security features: Mobile VPN, Remote lock and wipe, Hardware accelerated device encryption, Mobile device management, Remote security policy enforcement
            Supported security standards: TLS v1.0, TLS v1.1, TLS v1.2, SSL v3.0, Suite B ciphers
            WLAN Security: EAP-TTLS/MSCHAPv2, WPA, WEP, EAP-AKA, PEAP-MSCHAPv2, WPA2 (AES/TKIP), WPA2-Enterprise, WPA2-Personal, EAP-TLS, WPA-Enterprise, EAP-SIM, WPA-Personal

    Environmental features
        Environment
            Materials: Free of PVC, Contains recycled metals, Free of nickel on the product surface, Contains bio plastics, Free of BFR, rFR as in NSL
            Packaging: Made of renewable materials, Minimized package, Packaging is 100 % recyclable, Virgin wood fibres up to 100% certified, Containing up to 30% recycled materials
            Energy efficiency: Battery saver feature, Energy efficient charger
            Product recycling: 100% recoverable as materials and energy
            Eco content and services: Available at Store, HERE Drive: route optimization, HERE Maps: pedestrian navigation
            User guide: In-device user guide, Small printed guide, full on our websites

    Accessibility
        Accessibility features
            Hearing: Vibrating alerts, BT neckloop compatible, TTY support
            Vision: Vibrating alerts, Voice recognition, Font magnification, Voice Commands, Customizable home screen, High contrast mode, Screen magnification
            Physical skills: Voice Commands, Customizable home screen, Speakerphone, Speed dial, Voice recognition

    Other services and features8
        Tools and productivity
            Features (Personal information Management): Calculator, Clock, Calendar, Alarm clock, Reminders, Phonebook, To-do list, Family Room, Kid's Corner, OneNote, Social networks in Phonebook, Wallet, Notifications
            Business apps: Adobe Reader free download, Company Hub for enterprise applications, Lync (Corporate IM) free download, Office apps: Excel, Word, PowerPoint, OneNote, OneDrive storage for documents and notes
            Syncronization: Exchange ActiveSync, Via Windows Phone apps, Nokia Photo Transfer for Mac
            Back-up and restore your data: Yes
            Device management: AirWatch, MobileIron, Symantec, Microsoft System Center, OMA Client Provisioning v1.1, OMA Device Management v1.1.2, OMA Device Management v1.2, Windows Intune
        Call management
            Call types: Audio call, Conference call, Skype video call
            Features (Call Management): Call waiting, Call history, Call forwarding, Integrated hands-free speakers, Speed dial, Voice mail
            Noise cancellation: Multimicrophone uplink noise cancellation
            Speech codecs: GSM FR, GSM HR, AMR-NB, AMR-WB, GSM EFR
            Supported amount of phonebooks: One integrated phonebook
            Contacts: Unlimited
            Ringtones: Downloadable ringtones, MP3 Ringtones
        Other Applications
            Social apps: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, WhatsApp, Flickr, Foursquare, OneDrive, Picasa, YouTube
            Game features: Touch UI, XBox-Live Hub, DirectX 11
        Email
            Email features: Viewing and editing of email attachments, Multiple email accounts, HTML emails, Inbox filtering, Text-to-speech message reader, Conversational view on email, Linked inboxes
        Messaging features
            Messaging features: Text messaging, Automatic resizing of images for MMS, Distribution lists for messaging, Multimedia messaging, Conversational chat style SMS, Unified inbox for SMS and MMS, Concatenated SMS for long messages, Integrated text messaging and chat, Number screening for messaging, Text-to-speech message reader
        Browser
            Browser: Internet Explorer 11

    What’s in the box
        Contents
            Sales Package: Nokia Lumia 735, Nokia AC-50 MicroUSB Charger, Nokia Stereo Headset WH-108, User Guide

    1The availability of particular products, services and features may vary by region. Please check with your local Nokia dealer for further details. The specifications are subject to change without notice.

    2Volume thickness.

    3Memory available for users may be less than indicated due to preloaded operating system and applications

    4Talk, standby and playback times are estimates only. Actual times are affected by, for example, network conditions, device settings, features being used, battery condition, and temperature.

    5Actual data speeds will vary. Check with your network operator for details.

    6Downloading of maps over-the-air may involve transferring large amounts of data. Your service provider may charge for the data transmission. The availability of products, services and features may vary by region. Please check with your local Nokia dealer for further details and availability of language options. These specifications are subject to change without notice.

    7Using the FM radio requires a compatible headset that may be sold separately.

    8Some services may be available only via downloading or dependent on the market. Only devices that offer compatible multimedia message or email features can receive and display multimedia messages. Content appearance may vary. Some images and ring tones can not be forwarded.

Motorola Moto G – the best budget smartphone is just £135

Motorola Moto G review – the best budget smartphone is just £135
First UK phone from Motorola, following Google acquisition, lives up to the 'game-changing' hype at a bargain price

     


The Moto G is Motorola’s first UK smartphone since becoming a Google-owned company, and it is probably the best budget phone going.

Motorola set out to “disrupt” the smartphone market with the Moto G. It wanted to make a phone that was feature packed, behaved like a premium phone, but at a price point that was about one-third of most premium smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S4 and iPhone 5S.

Starting at just £135 SIM-free and without a mobile phone contract, the Moto G is certainly exceptional value for money.
Designed to fit the hand
Motorola Moto G review Motorola Moto G review - a range of brightly coloured replacement backs are available to customise the Moto G.

The Moto G is very solidly built, which is a refreshing change from most budget smartphones – there is absolutely no flex in the body when trying to twist it between two hands, which bodes very well for durability.

That build quality does come at a bit of a cost regarding size and weight. The Moto G weighs 143g, which is 13g heavier than the larger Google Nexus 5 for instance, or 31g heavier than the smaller iPhone 5S. It is also heavier than its direct competitors, smartphones such as the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini, which weighs just 107g.

At its thickest point, the curved back of the Moto G stretches to 11.6mm, which is also thicker than its competitor the Galaxy S4 Mini, which squeezes in at 8.94mm thick.

The curved back of the Moto G, however, is ergonomic and fits nicely within curvature of your hand, while the smooth plastic back provides enough friction to give you a reassuring grip on the phone.

The back of the phone is removable, and Motorola has produced the back shell in six bold alternative colours – white, blue, red, yellow, turquoise and purple – that can optionally be swapped for the default black.

The front of the device is dominated by a 4.5in high-definition screen, which at 1280 x 720 resolution is the “sharpest screen in its class” with a 329ppi screen density. For comparison, the iPhone 5S retina display has a screen density of 326ppi. It is also significantly bigger than the majority of the Moto G’s competition, which have screens around the 4in size.

The display is certainly crisp and clear, making text on websites and in emails easily legible, while photographs look detailed and sharp. The viewing angles are very good too, meaning sharing videos with others is easy.

Gorilla Glass also covers the screen, making it scratch resistant, while a nano waterproof coating on the inside and out of the Moto G makes it water repellant and splash proof.
Specifications

    Screen: 4.5in 720p HD display
    Processor: 1.2 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400
    RAM: 1GB of RAM
    Storage: 8/16GB
    Operating system: Android 4.3 “Jelly Bean”
    Camera: 5-megapixel rear and 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera
    Connectivity: Wi-Fi (n), Bluetooth 4.0 and GPS
    Dimensions: 65.9 x 129.9 x 11.6mm
    Weight: 143g

Powerful and lasts all day
Motorola Moto G review Motorola Moto G review – a curved back and ergonomic fit in the hand.

The Moto G is unashamedly a budget phone, but has relatively powerful hardware compared to most other budget phones.

Running at its heart is Qualcomm’s latest low-power processor, the 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400, which compared to the majority of the competition, which are saddled with significantly less powerful dual-core processors, makes the Moto G a fast and responsive phone.

Motorola has only given the Moto G 1GB of RAM, however, which could hamper multitasking, as the gold standard for Android phones is currently 2GB of RAM. In practice, the Moto G is fast and lag-free, handling most things without any issues whatsoever, something that can’t be said for most Android smartphones in the budget sector.

Applications load almost instantly, and swapping between running applications is about as fast as any current premium smartphone currently available. In fact, Motorola reckons that the web browser and phone application load faster on the Moto G than a Samsung Galaxy S4, which is well over twice the price of the Moto G. In my experience, I’d say that was about right, completely blowing away the budget phone competition.

In terms of storage, the Moto G only has 8 or 16GB, depending on the model, and lacks support for external expansion via microSD, although the Moto G does come with an extra 50GB of Google Drive cloud storage for two years. That means space is certainly at a premium on the Moto G, although 16GB is plenty of space for the majority of apps and services, without storing a large music library on the device.

One of the corners cut by Motorola is the lack of 4G, as the Moto G is missing LTE support. While that means that it can’t take advantage of the new, fast 4G networks currently being rolled out across the UK, not many budget phones are likely to be sold on comparatively expensive 4G mobile phone contracts.

Battery life is something Motorola has historically been known for, and the Moto G makes no exception to that rule. Motorola rates the Moto G as having around 24 hours of usable battery life, juggling web browsing, emailing and listening to music.

In my testing I found the Moto G to more or less live up to Motorola’s claims, far exceeding the battery life of smartphones more than three times its price, lasting just about two days of general usage. Bearing in mind the flood of emails that pass through my devices, and the constant connection to servers across 3G, the Moto G is likely to last much longer than that in most consumers’ hands.
Optimised naked Android experience
Motorola Moto G review Motorola Moto G review - fast, fluid and lag-free Android.

One of the reasons the Moto G is quite so fast and fluid at loading applications and swapping between programs is the fact that Motorola hasn’t added much to the standard Android experience.

Most of its software development efforts have been spent on optimisation, speeding aspects of the phone up and reducing the Moto G’s overall power consumption, which has paid dividends in the responsive feel of the phone and extended battery life.

The Moto G has full access to the Google Play store and its 850,000 standard Android apps, as you might expect from a Google-owned company, but only runs Android 4.3 “Jelly Bean” for now - the previous generation of Android which most phones available at the moment run, apart from the Google Nexus 5.

Motorola has promised a software upgrade for the Moto G to bring it up to date with Android 4.4 “Kitkat” in January 2014.

Motorola has made a few small additions to the basic, perfectly usable Android experience. One of the first software tweaks you notice is Motorola Migrate, which helps you transition to the Moto G from other Android smartphones, pulling contacts, call history and text messages, photos and videos wirelessly to your new phone.

Motorola Assist is another small but handy addition made to stock Android. Assist plugs into your calendar, automatically silencing your phone when in meetings, and will even automatically respond to calls with a text message.

Assist will also mute the phone at night, allowing you to set night hours, and set up favourites lists that allows a phone call through if the caller calls twice in quick succession.

Finally, Motorola’s built in a smart “trusted devices” feature into its Bluetooth settings, which allows you to keep your Moto G unlocked if its in the presence of certain Bluetooth devices, for instance a pair of headphones or your car’s stereo.
Minimalist camera
Motorola Moto G review Motorola Moto G review - a 5MP camera on the back can capture 720p video as well.

The camera application has also been tweaked, hiding the user interface and making photo capture as easy as a tap anywhere on the screen. Menus for accessing advanced features such as high dynamic range photography, the flash settings, panorama mode and slow-motion video as well as auto-focus settings are hidden under a pull-out menu on the left hand side, while previously captured images are hidden on the right.

The camera is capable of capturing decent still photos at 5-megapixels. While they aren’t stellar, lacking detail when zoomed in, they do the job as quick snaps for the most part. The Moto G will also capture smooth high-definition video at 720p resolution.
Priced to sell

Motorola has priced the Moto G to sell. Its mantra for the new budget phone is a “premium experience, with today's technology, at less than 1/3 of the price of the premium competition”, which means the the Moto G costs just £135 for the 8GB version and £159 for the 16GB version, SIM-free without a contract.
Verdict

Motorola described the Moto G as disruptive and game changing, and for once, I almost agree with the hyperbole. The Moto G is a far better smartphone experience than it ought to be, and the first budget smartphone I haven’t found frustrating to use.

It is fast, fluid, with a sharp 4.5in screen and a long battery life that’s more than enough to get you through even the most arduous of work days – something most premium phones costing three times as much as the Moto G struggle with.

Compared to competing smartphones priced under £250 from Samsung, Nokia, HTC and a variety of Chinese phone manufacturers, the Motorola completely blows them away with the Moto G. It is a better all round phone than most smartphones costing twice as much, let alone priced at £135.

That’s not to say some corners haven’t been cut to get to the sub-£200 price point, 4G being one and an average 5-megapixel camera being another, but for the money, the Moto G is the best budget smartphone available at the moment. Samsung, HTC and even the likes of ZTE and Huawei take note – this is how you do a budget smartphone right.

    Star rating: 4/5

Pros: Big screen, long battery life, fast processor, solid build, Bluetooth 4.0

Cons: Heavy, quite thick, average camera, no expandable storage, only 1GB of RAM, no NFC, no 4G