Month: July 2016

MENTOUR 360 – Virtual Reality experiences for the Aviation Industry. #VirtualReality #Aviation

Some of you will already know that I am a fan of all things Aviation and with Virtual Reality being the latest trend this along with rollercoaster apps are popular with the masses,Aviation though is a completely different kettle of fish as access to the pilots cockpit is very restricted and there might be some that do have access but for the majority we just get a little peak when walking by the door when we board and exit our flight,This app however changes that and puts you in the seat,We often wonder what goes on in there,how things work and what the pilots role is,this is where MENTOUR 360 fixes those very things we wonder about and puts us right in there with the pilots,How cool is that?

 

 

 

About MENTOUR 360 

MENTOUR 360 is the result of a cooperation between AVR COMMUNICATION, one of the pioneering companies in the Virtual Reality sector, and MENTOUR PILOT, a training captain, examiner and owner of the MenTour Pilot YouTube channel. Our mission, is to give the possibility to experience the inside of a real cockpit and watch how a professional flight crew works. We want you to feel like a part of the crew in a truly immersive way!We also provide SERVICES such as 360° videos and mobile applications for B2B purposes.

 

 

App features

 

Step into the cockpit of a Boeing 737-800 and experience how a real flight crew handles some challenging situations in a fully immersive 360 degree experience.
Put your Virtual Reality headset on and become part of the flight-crew. This is as close as you can get without physically being present in the cockpit.
Captain Petter, also known as Mentour Pilot, will engage both his co-pilot Holly and YOU as part of the experience so pay close attention.

Take full advantage of the 360 experience by looking around, follow how the crew-members interact with each other and with the aircraft.
To get the most out of the experience, click on the link below to access briefing videos for the individual exercises:

 

 

You can use your smartphone to look around but for the most immersive experience we suggest you to use Google Cardboard or any other Virtual Reality headset and headphones.

The exercises are flown without reference to any specific airline Standard Operating Procedures. It is intended as entertainment only and is not to be used for aircraft training of any sort.

The experience includes close to 30 minutes of 360 video so we recommend that you download the app using a Vlan network.

 

Not only does MENTOR give you the apps they also have some headsets to enjoy the experience too which is an additional welcome for its userbase. You can pick from their shop right HERE 

You can check out the Briefing Videos or download the apps below from the respective stores..

 

 

 

First Look – The One Plus 3 unboxing and gallery. #Ireland #Tech #OnePlus3

So we decided to take a bet on the One Plus Three which has received good and bad criticism to date but for the measly €365 thanks to the collapse of sterling we decided to take a punt on it,for the price you cant really go wrong to be honest and at that price its a bargain. We just have used it for two days and said we will do a quick unboxing and overview as there is plenty of reviews and so on out there now. My initial thoughts are ITS GOOD.. ITS DUAL SIM..

Good but perhaps for people moving up from the One Plus One but for those using the One Plus 2 it might not seem such a huge step forward,Considering the specs on tow here though for even new users to Android with not much cash to spare this is a good move if you would rather skip the more more expensive HTC or Samsung’s out there now which we also use here ourselves  and lets not leave out Huawei either which have some good offerings now but with bumped prices compared to what we are use to seeing from,them,their flagship phones are now approaching flagship prices bordering HTC and Samsung price brackets.

First off the handset looks well it must be said although resembling Apple and HTC they did not hold back here but this is the new design language from many manufacturers now and perhaps we might see a change here as this design language is now getting boring but where do we go from here,I still think the Samsung Edge range win the looks department from any other devices out there today.

 

Image Gallery

Dash charger
Top view
Right side,power key and Sim tray
Whats in the box
Dash charger
Bottom view,home/fingerprint sensor and ports
Dash charger
Front view
Left side,Silent lock and volume toggle
Front top
Camera area
Keys close
keys close up
USB-TyPE C
Back view
1 / 15

 

From what you pay though,which has increased recently you really cant complain,unless you are just looking for bear-bugs to nitpick at but just forget it. The phone is great,feels great,looks good and familiar,light,fast and sports Marshmallow out of the box with a huge 6GBs of of RAM.This is insane. Given we are held to a 64GB storage capacity which actually turns out to be 56GBs on ours there is enough for the average user and again not to mention the word CLOUD which we seem to be pushed towards. On using the phone so far I found it fast doing what I tend to do on a smartphone today which is browse,shop,social media,listen to music,you tube and very little gaming,It performed with ease,no lags no crashes YET….

 

The only downfall here is the battery especially for a power-user like myself but then again you get their version of fast charging with a caveat for many USB Type C is on offer but its something we will eventually become custom too,I own two phones using this new charging option and find it a hassle using them as in many sockets around the house I have the standard micro USB plugs well settled in but its time for change…And that is me nitpicking to be honest,You could say I am just comfortable as I am puttting it on the long finger,Something which reminds me when I started to really get into smartphones and would not move away from the darn Symbian OS when Android was wining the race, Yes my very First Android was the Galaxy S2 and some HTC,took my time there didnt I.

Overall the more pros than cons to be fair and its worth a punt,It takes little or no time to get a good judgement on a device since I sue so many and this has mostly been impressive thus far,so If you are on a budget this is the one to go for,Or perhaps look at what the other chinese OEMs have to offer or maybe Huawei or Motorola.

You can check out the One Plus 3 and its Full spec sheets HERE 

 

Unboxing and First Look Video

 

 

 

 

 

The Carphone warehouse launches universal virtual reality headset. #VR #VirtualReality

Everyone is jumping on the VR bandwagon make no mistake about it and now the Carphone warehouse have too,Considered they do sell plenty of headsets themselves it was only a matter of time before we seen this happen and probably up next will be the networks…

Called the Goji Universal VR Headset its compatible with a range of handsets, for just £39.99 and will go on sale this weekend instore and online in the UK.. There is no word yet about these hitting Irish stores but one could presume it again will be just a matter of time before we see them here.

Dean Kramer, Accessories Director at Carphone Warehouse said: “Everyone should have the opportunity to try the latest VR technology, so we’re bringing a universal headset to our stores for our customers to experience. At just half the price of some other headsets currently available and compatible with a range of handsets, we’d encourage everyone to pop into their local store where our staff will be on hand to assist those looking to test out this latest mobile accessory.”

 

The Universal VR Headset from Goji takes customers into the cinematic world of virtual reality, where imagination becomes reality, for just £39.99. Users will be able to fully immerse themselves in a virtual reality environment, enjoying new content in the most engaging way possible with 360-degree videos and 3D games.

Built with soft, cushioning and lightweight materials, the Goji Universal VR Headset is comfortable to wear. It connects easily to earphones whilst the charging cable securely holds the phone in place whilst in use.

The VR headset is compatible with most handsets including iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. There’s already a robust catalogue of 3D apps customers can enjoy for Android and iOS including games, films, 360-degree video and experiential content. The headset is also equipped with magnetic controls to pause and resume playback so you never miss a moment.

Source 

#PokemonGO has one big flaw regarding personal information. #iOS #Android #Security #App

Just in case you live under a rock, Pokémon Go has been the trending topic the last few days, simply because it has surpassed  the consumer base of allegedly “bigger” companies.

And more than that, simply because its Pokémon! Maybe our dear Jim is not a big fan of the series, but I personally was when I was younger.

Been one of the few games that uses Augmented Reality or (AR) to play and that alone is a huge progress. The team behind the GO part of it, is no other than Niantic, the team that brought to us INGRESS.

Thus far everything sound great about the game, but recently, something really disturbing has happened.

When you first open the app, as in every other app out there, you need to log in with credentials. Within the app there’s just two options, or accessing through a Pokémon account (which is impossible  if you don’t have one already) or with Google’s.

When you use the Google account (which is what we all probably do on Android phones) the app generally show a pop up widget after letting you know which features will be accessing. But when you do this on iOS “nothing happens“.

The blogger Adam Reeve, found behavior rather weird and went to his Google page to see what he had given access to. The answer make all his alarms to ring off:

 Pokemon Go has Full Access to your Google account

When you grant “full access” to an app, it can see and modify practically all information on your Google account. For you to have an idea, this is what the Google security page say:

  • Read all your email
  • Send email as you
  • Access all your Google drive documents (including deleting them)
  • Look at your search history and your Maps navigation history
  • Access any private photos you may store in Google Photos

This is something that shouldn’t happen as what an app would need to use in the case you forgot your password or something is, in ay case your name and email address.

Apparently this is not consistent across the APK, as has happened just to some iOS or Android users. But if you want to see if you’re one of them you can do it HERE

Apparently, Niantic has acknowledge the case and made a statement about the incident:

We recently discovered that the Pokémon Go account creation process on iOS erroneously requests full access permission for the user’s Google account. However, Pokémon Go only accesses basic Google profile information (specifically, your user ID and e-mail address) and no other Google account information is or has been accessed or collected. Once we became aware of this error, we began working on a client-side fix to request permission for only basic Google account information, in line with the data we actually access. Google has verified that no other information has been received or accessed by Pokémon Go or Niantic. Google will soon reduce Pokémon Go’s permission to only the basic profile data that Pokémon Go needs, and users do not need to take any actions themselves.

So, although it seems to be nothing to worry about, it would  be better if you keep an eye on your Pokémon Go access ’till everything is settled down.

Also remember that, apart from this issue, there’s a ton of fake apps that carry a malware which would harm your device.

If you don’t live in a country where is fully available at the moment find a secure and known source to get the APK from.

Source, VIA

TravelWise keeps you informed when travelling. #Travel #Apps #TravelWise

There has been plenty of apps of late to keep people informed when travelling and with sporting events ever so popular now it is essential we have all the relevant information at hand when we need it.We all sport smartphones today so there is no better place to have all the information at hand in one app,The app is now free on Android and iOS which initially is a 4MB download with secondary background download of global travel advice and guides 11MB. Once again though we do not see a Windows Phone app here which users of the platform will find disappointing.

What is good about this app is PUSH NOTIFICATIONS but in order to receive them you will need some kind of connection so hopefully depending where you are travelling allows it in case of emergency and you are not in a blackspot or an area with bad coverage.

 

Speaking at the launch, Minister Flanagan said:

“I am delighted to launch TravelWise, my Department’s new free smartphone app. TravelWise will help Irish people travelling abroad to stay safe and informed while travelling, living or working overseas.

“I would encourage all Irish people travelling abroad to download and use the App; all Irish citizens currently living abroad; any citizens with an interest in travel abroad; or even mothers or fathers who have sons or daughters travelling abroad.”

 

 

TravelWise provides security ratings for over 200 countries – a clear way for us to show you how safe or unsafe we believe a country may be to visit, and to help you to make informed decisions about overseas travel.

There are four colour-coded levels to our security ratings:

Normal Precautions (Green)

High Degree of Caution (Yellow)

Avoid Non-Essential Travel (Amber)

Do Not Travel (Red)

 

App description

TravelWise is a free smartphone app delivered by Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to help inform Irish citizens make decisions about travel abroad. The content within the app is available off-line, allowing access abroad without roaming charges.

TravelWise includes the Department’s country travel advisories, based on reliable reports provided by Ireland’s network of Embassies abroad and by our EU and international partners. Users can subscribe to be notified via an alert of significant changes to our travel advice for countries of interest to them. We also include more general advice by theme, for example victim of crime abroad, LGBT travellers, death abroad, children’s issues, etc. And there’s a handy checklist of things to do before you go.

Especially if you are travelling to a higher-risk destination, we strongly encourage users to register with us so we can make contact with them in the event of a crisis. Contact details and mapping of all Irish Embassies, Consulates and other missions abroad are included in the app.

Source

 

Vouchers everywhere.. Watch out for the latest scam with #Boots Vouchers #Scam

In recent times we have seen plenty of scams in the form of vouchers,It wont be the last nor will it cease anytime soon but the latest voucher giveaway is from Boots. Again the same trick email saying you have won a €100 voucher and then you click a few links and get a giftcard, Sadly its not true so just delete the email and do not click on any link within the said email…

Again this time round they have a period of claim time to try coax you into the so called voucher,If you receive such a mail check the senders details where you will quickly find that is not from Boots at all… The header in the mail will of course say boots but view the details of the sender and you will spot it.. See below for the details..

At the end of the mail the following is also present which is well known now at this stage…

 

Aerial Productions

P.O. Box 12006, Ortigas Center Post Office
Emerald Ave., 1605 Pasig City
Philippines

 

 

Samsung presented a new #GalaxyS7EDGE Limited “Olympic Games Edition”. #Android #Samsung

Something that’s becoming a tradition lately, is having an “Special Edition” phone from “x” line up from a strong company, but in recent times Samsung has put it “out-of-the-park” with their Limited edition models.

At the beginning of the year they brought to us the “Batman Edition” (in a trend of having superheroes theme phones, this was the best offering) and now, as sponsors of the 2016 Olympics in Rio, they have something else to show us.

The  Galaxy S7 Edge Olympic Games Limited Edition

 

Hardware-wise is the same S7 we all know, with top-notch specs and IP67 ratings, but what makes this device unique is the outside look (as if having a dual curve functional glass on the front wasn’t enough).

With custom patterns to give the usually plain finish, some colorful details.

All of which, will match the five official color rings from the Olympics.

Another thing to have in mind is the “limited quantity” of copies are available. Only 14,516 phones ill be made, 12,500 out of which,  are for the “Olympians” which will be bundled with the Gear IconX headphones, letting just 2,016 copies to consumers.

There’s still no word on price, but we can expect an extraordinary tag to the already “not so friendly” GS7 price tag.

But let us know! What do you thing about this trend of releasing “themed phones” which sometimes has nothing really important to offer, than a simple “make over“? Would you pick one up if you have the chance?

Take a look at how it would be having this “Special! model:

Write your thoughts on the comment section below o join the conversation on twitter

Source: Samsung

 

BBC iPlayer Radio app now available in Ireland. #BBC #iPlayer #Radio

As the title suggests and will be welcome for many folks here the BBC iPlayer Radio app now available in Ireland,This app has been available since 2012 in the UK and as part of an international roll-out Ireland is the first to get it..

James Montgomery, Digital Development Director, BBC News and Current Affairs, says: “The new international BBC iPlayer Radio app makes it easier for audiences around the world to discover and enjoy the richness of our output – both live radio and to downloaded content.

“We hope that the app will be a destination on mobile homescreens for audiences around the world who want to explore the breadth of BBC radio, from news and current affairs to drama, comedy and music. This launch also comes at a time when the UK is at the centre of a huge news story which the BBC is helping to explain to audiences worldwide.”

 

 

App features 

  • Catch up or listen again to their favourite BBC Radio programmes
  • Download podcasts to enjoy anywhere, even when offline
  • Browse and listen to carefully curated BBC Radio highlights and collections
  • View daily schedules and categories quickly and easily
  • Discover audio and video clips, including many live performances
  • See what tracks are playing on air as well as track lists for on-demand programmes
  • Wake up to and doze off to BBC Radio with a built-in alarm clock and night mode

The BBC iPlayer Radio app is freely available to download from the Apple App Store, Google Play and Amazon Store.
At launch, the BBC iPlayer Radio app supports iOS running 7.1 and above, Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and above and Amazon Kindle Fire 2012 and above.

Source

 

Quark Expeditions Antarctic #VR Available free on Android and iOS #VirtualReality

Join Quark Expeditions, the world leader in polar adventure travel, on an immersive 360° Virtual Reality Antarctic Experience.

A polar expedition travel first, the Quark 360° VR Antarctic Experience transports you to the 7th continent, guided by Quark’s expert expedition team, to encounter amazing wildlife and explore the breath taking natural beauty of this remote part of the world few have set foot upon.

Told through four visually stunning narratives, you will explore the Antarctic Peninsula region expedition-style. Take a Zodiac cruise amongst giant icebergs, stand amidst a penguin colony, and kayak in one of the most pristine, unspoiled environments on the planet.

 

 

The Content

Filmed using GoPro cameras on board a voyage in February 2016, the Antarctic 360° VR Experience video series showcases different ways to explore the 7th continent and offers viewers the unique opportunity to participate in key aspects of a journey: Life onboard the ship, cruising on Zodiac landing craft, exploring on the Antarctic continent, kayaking, and learning about history and wildlife from Quark’s Expedition staff.

 

 

A two-man film crew captured the spectacular 360° footage, a process that presented a few challenges. The difficult task of positioning cameras on a moving Zodiac and finding ways to stretch battery life of the GoPro cameras were a few things the duo had to overcome; but the finished product was worth the challenges in the process, film crew member Hugo King-Fretts recalls:
“It was almost as if you were in a cathedral. These huge, huge walls were coming up and you’re in these small corridors where you would get surges of waves coming through. The geology, the scale of it, was just phenomenal. The awe-inspiring footage we were able to capture reflects a truly amazing experience that’s beyond description with words.”

VR App Development
“The real development challenge was to create a VR app that not only showcased this amazing content but that was also accessible to an audience of young and old, both seasoned and newcomers to the VR worlds,” commented Peter Maddalena from VRCraftworks. “The drawback is that it is a big download, but this was necessary to maintain quality and to allow people with less than high end devices to get a decent taste of the experience,” he concluded.

 

About Quark Expeditions®:
Specializing in expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic, Quark Expeditions® has been the leading provider of polar adventure travel for 25 years. With a diverse fleet of specially-equipped small expedition vessels, icebreakers, and unique land-based adventures, it offers travelers unparalleled access to the most remote places on earth. Led by passionate and seasoned expedition teams, including scientists, naturalists and researchers, the on-board program focuses on guest interaction to educate and enrich the passenger experience. The company is known for its unwavering commitment to safety and sustainability, including its partnership with The Nature Conservancy (USA). It also offers passengers — free of charge — carbon offsetting aboard Ocean Diamond and Ocean Nova voyages.

 

About the TUI Adventure Division:
The TUI Adventure Division offers premium, experience-based adventure holidays and expeditions worldwide for active travelers. In addition to QuarkExpeditions.com, the division includes expedition specialists IEtravel.com and Zegrahm.com; leading European adventure and activity specialists ExodusTravels.com, Headwater.com, World-Challenge.co.uk, Sawadeee.nl, TrekAmerica.co.uk and GrandAmericanAdventures.com; as well as US-based destination management company AmericanAdventures.com. From reaching the top of Kilimanjaro and canoeing on the Zambezi, to catching tiger cub sightings and breaking ice en route to the North Pole, the TUI Adventure Division offers inspirational experiences that create lifelong memories.
About VRCraftworks:
Vrcraftworks was established 3 years ago to create business focused VR apps for the mobile platform. We have developed over 20 VR apps for business as diverse as animation studios, investment companies and yacht sales. Often these apps are for internal use only. Our free apps however, are available across both Goggle Play and the Apple App Store. Our original free app Orbulus has had 500,000 downloads worldwide is constantly cited as one of the top 10 applications for mobile VR on both Android and Apple devices.

 

DOWNLOAD BELOW