Month: November 2016

#Review – iStorage, Datashur pro Secure USB 3.0 Flash drive. #iStorage #Datashur #Security

This datahub Pro USB flash driver initially looks like something from a Bond movie with a keypad on the device. This would impress at any boardroom presentation pulling out to open a power point presentation. This flash drive uses the USB 3.0 .The good news USB 3.0 (Universal Serial Bus.) is backwards compatible and 10 times faster than USB 2.0, Comes with Quick start guide, and default pin code. I would recommend spending a few minutes reading the Quick start guide set up as you must enter a default pin with the option to add a new user pin 7 to 15 digits. Now how the numbers are presented on the key might entice you to use them in a similar fashion but it does not allow you to use sequential numbers so get creative with a passcode or make one relevant to something perhaps you might use already, A phone number for example would be good..

 

 

One thing I would take into consideration is always purchase a flash drive from a brand you trust and a reputable supplier.We can pick up some for literally nothing these days and often the case they will fail or data gets corrupted. This datashur SSD Pro has a 3-year warranty, water resistance keypad and a variety of other features not seen on cheaper alternatives.

But is it safe!Very safe – Encrypted to military & government standards, plus its got a variety of industry awards. That is good enough for me but full details are available on https://istorage-uk.com/product/ Attempts to break into the data entering the pin incorrectly 10 times will result in a Self-destruct feature keeping data away from Prying eyes.

 

 

This unit would be great for anyone in the ISO 27000 industry or like myself self-employed taking files to the accountant for example or when I receive NDA (non disclosure agreements) I can transfer the information to the USB key. If my Laptop bag or travel bag  got lost or stolen, my laptop is protected, I would dread the thought of confidential info getting into somebody elses hands via my flash drives, This is  a bit like insurance, I don’t need it until I leave the flash drive in a board room table only to return an hour later and wonder  has anyone copied the data. With this flash, I can sit back with confidence knowing the level of security on board..

 

 

 

My only criticism was using an 8GB to test, but given the cost it is understandable plus I have several flash drives but NONE on the level of security to this one, nowadays this size (8GB) can nearly be given away with purchases in an electronics store where a 32GB may be the way to go,BUT this is no ordinary USB key and not riddled with information that is pointless and trying to sell you more with information pre – installed, In fact a product like this has turned a circle like mobile phones for example where 8GB/16GB on board storage do not cut it anymore unless they offer micro SD expansion which again can be limited but thats changing now offering higher capacity..However on a positive side not all people need this amount of storage and I see this as an opportunity for people to buy something that fits their need and not forcing the consumer to buy one thats gone overboard with the storage on offer so it is a good thing perhaps. Companies that back-up their complete server may look to a datashur 2 /3 /4 TB with the perfect blend of Security, durability and speed.

I would like to thank the guys at datashur  for the personalised USB Flash drive which was a really nice gesture and unexpected its something I will treasure and show off to my colleagues with pride,having said that some have seen it already and are impressed not only with how cool it looks but what it offers when it comes to securing data which is something we all need to take on board these days,Data is now like cash,its worth something to somebody…. The overall build of this product is excellent,as mentioned before its waterproof,tactile keys nice texture on the back and sides and very robust and you cant gain entry in any way at all..

 

Want to change your PIN? Here is a tutorial 

 

 

The new datAshur Pro incorporates all the features of its predecessor, the datAshur, but with a super-speed USB 3.0 interface and higher capacities of up to 64GB. Features include an on-board keypad for authentication, which gives the flash drive ultimate protection against software and hardware-based keyloggers. In addition, the datAshur Pro incorporates a boot delay feature which means users can boot any operating system directly from the drive.means the datAshur Pro secures your data from unauthorised access even when lost or stolen.

The drive incorporates military grade XTS-AES 256-bit hardware encryption, a read-only (write protect) mode, a user configurable timeout lock and brute force hack detection and protection. All of this means the datAshur Pro is ideally positioned to secure data from unauthorised access, even when lost or stolen.

Specs

  • USB 3.0 Flash Drive
  • Capacities up to 64GB*
  • FIPS 140-2 Level3 Certified; Certificate No. 2688
  • FIPS PUB 197 certified
  • IP57 certified – water/dust resistant
  • Bootable drive
  • AES 256- bit hardware encryption – no software required
  • OS & Platform independent
  • CESG CPA / NLNCSA – certifications pending

See more over on their website HERE  

We will be giving one of these away soon and if you have any questions fire away below or get us on social from the links on top right of blog..

One Plus 3T gets announced. Its a beefed up One Plus 3 #OnePlus3T

One Plus have announced a new device today.. Basically it is a  bumped up version of the One Plus 3 which to date has been quite solid and for the money you just cant go wrong if your looking for a powerful phone at half the cost of flagship devices from Samsung and Apple and so on…

 

 

The device has more RAM, A bigger battery and better camera and more storage and will set you back a little more than the asking price of the One PLus 3 at launch which was €399 but the new model will set you back 439.00 and will go on sale on the 28th of November 2016… I might pass on this as I have the One plus 3 and is serving me well and I have other devices in mind but for anyone looking for a new device this Christmas this could be the one for you,I will wait a bit longer myself and see what reviews come in like rather than jump in like before.. Depending on how sterling is and with brexit it will interesting to see how this fairs out in price, I got my One Plus 3 for €364 so there could be a bargain to be had here yet unless they up the price like they did before. The device though has the same industrial design as before and current OP3 owners might just pass…

 

 

See more HERE

Travel to breathtaking destinations with Qantas #VR App. #VirtualReality #Aviation #Travel

Qantas has launched a new  VR app on Android and iOS and more and it probably wont be the last app of this kind we will see in the coming months they are popping up everywhere and rightly so as it lets users to see a particular country without having to leave their house. For those who have the Samsung Gear VR you will remember the app back then which was pretty cool and was released around July last year. Back then it did not have much content within but you did get to see some nice things including and Airbus A380 take off and landing… What is nice hear they have opened up the experience for a bigger audience which will be certainly advantageous for them and will give others the ability to see what is on offer..

 

Available for iPhone, Android, Samsung Gear VR, Oculus Rift, and HTC Vive devices, the app showcases Australia’s distinctive landscape through a series of immersive videos, including never before seen aerial footage of Uluru and Kata Tjuta.

 

Qantas Group Executive Brand, Marketing, Corporate Affairs Olivia Wirth said the app is an innovative way for travellers to plan their trip to Australia.
“Our aim with the new virtual reality app is to connect with travellers by showcasing parts of Australia they may not be familiar with.

 

 

With Qantas VR you can:

1. Escape to Qantas destinations: scuba dive the Great Barrier Reef, climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge, relax on a sunset river cruise in Kakadu and explore water holes in the Australian outback.

2. Access unique Qantas experiences: fly with the pilots in the cockpit of a Qantas aircraft and experience the Qantas A380 take-off, approach and land in front of where you stand.

3. Travel with Qantas: experience flying with Qantas as it lands at Hamilton Island airport and take a tour of the Los Angeles International First Lounge.

Source

 

 

 

Samsung buys Harman International, one of the largest audio and connected tech companies.

At the beginning of the week, we found out that the South Korea company had bought the audio leader Harman for about $8.0 billion.

Paying $112.00 per share in cash, the well-known phone and electronics manufactures decided this November 14th to enter on a definite agreement with the audio expert.

The connected car solutions Harman offer and well-known for everyone and gives Samsung access to JBL, Harman Kardon and others.

“HARMAN perfectly complements Samsung in terms of technologies, products and solutions, and joining forces is a natural extension of the automotive strategy we have been pursuing for some time,” said Oh-Hyun Kwon, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Samsung Electronics.  “As a Tier 1 automotive supplier with deep customer relationships, strong brands, leading technology and a recognized portfolio of best-in-class products, HARMAN immediately establishes a strong foundation for Samsung to grow our automotive platform. Dinesh Paliwal is a proven global leader and, in our extensive discussions, we have developed deep respect for him, his strong senior leadership team and HARMAN’s talented employees.  HARMAN’s sustained track record of rapid growth fueled by technology leadership and an unmatched automotive order pipeline reflects its commitment to innovation and customers.”

Samsung is aiming really hard at the automotive market with this deal, but we can expect some proper audio expertise on the company connected home and mobile technologies.

There are several expectations on the automotive, audio and connected technology part about it. All of which can be read on the link at the end.

What are your thoughts on this? Do you think Samsung is going to improve the sound quality on its products? Or is just going to focus on the automotive market?

Sound off below and let us know

Source

Review – If you lost it you can find it with #TrackR bravo. If applied correctly. #GPS

Tracking has become a huge thing these days and has been a long time, It became a big thing in logistics with the placement of vehicles,and the same can be said within the security industry be it cash in transit vans or even regular van drivers its now become a standard not just purely for safety purposes but also to get a time stamp for a future stop or drop off point and also it is use with government bodies within their vehicles and yes people themselves do wear personal tracking devices I have tried and tested some myself but thats something we will not be discussing now.

When it comes to personal belongings there has been alternative options out there for many years but being a new technology as such to personal items via a standalone product they have been big,some stupidly big and made no sense then smaller ones came about with are small tidy and not so cumbersome and most importantly no so noticeable..  The first one come to mind is something Nokia brought us some years ago called the treasure tag,there was two of them the WS-2 and WS-10  which we reviewed back then…

 

This is when things got interesting for finding personal things like car keys,house keys a gym bag,handbag perhaps or whatever suited you best. The thing here is though they are noticeable and if someone did happen to steal or you just misplaced the item if this was seen some may not know what it was which is a good thing other would and would ditch it straight away,thats where this new product has a caveat as it got good promotion on the internet and for example people attach them to the underside of the saddles on their bike and a thief would just have to look and remove it, Concealing such items are a better idea lets just say the inner lining of a gym bag or purse and there is plenty of ways to conceal such an item such as TrackR which we are looking at today..

 

 

 

 

TrackR is a relatively new product on the market its much smaller and easy to conceal,if you have the brains to do it and not just stick it anywhere and will work even within your wallet depending on its size,this comes in a simple small package with plenty of instructions and the selling points clearly marked out on the reverse of the packaging,also we get a chin ring which personally i would ditch and a double sided sticky pad which again I would ditch,this is an item i would conceal with no need for anything else… Sadly there is no spare battery which would have been nice,but you can pick one handy enough at a car motor factors for example or even a watch shop..

So next thing now is to download the app to your device be it Android or iOS then you need to add a new TrackR device.. Pair the device,you will get an audio alert from the unit and register and your done,When you register you become par of the hundreds of thousands of TrackR members which is crowd sourced so if you loose and item and it becomes within 100ft. You will be notified of the items last know location…

 

 

When you are all paired up and registered you are good to go now all you need to do is select what you want to track,there is a default list then presented to you and you can chose what you want to assign the TrackR too..So I have assigned my wallet to the TrackR in this instance..One thing to point out here which is good if you forget your mobile phone you will be notified via TrackR this is called a separation alert. On your device you will be shown a map of your location and how many others are local and in my instance where I was testing the unit there was 758 users which seems rather impressive…

 

 

 

Does this work?? Well yes it does and even through a leather wallet stuffed with coins and so on which is comforting and I will add its not just dumped in a pocket I have carefully tore the stitching to place it behind the lining so its not there for anyone to pick it up and see the piece in a coin pocket which would be just discarded…

Now without sounding harsh I want you to watch the video below and then tell me what you think of the placement of the TrackR,be it only for advertising purposes this is 2016 I have worked in the security/personnel protection and reconnaissance business before and one thing I need to point out is DO NOT LET OTHERS SEE IT… Why you might ask, Well as I said its 2016 be it a case of criminality you can kiss your goods goodbye these guys are a step ahead  and will dispose of it immediately like I said before CONCEAL it do not flaunt it it defeats the purpose of having it…. Overall it is a great product that works flawlessly executed badly by how its advertised especially on the bag and bike as seen in the video..Perhaps that might sound harsh but as I have stated I have worked in areas where these would be highly effective due to its size they are ideal for many things yet alone personal goods…

Download the Android app HERE 

Download the iOS app HERE  

 

See more over at TrackR.com and you can purchase there and they are reasonably priced and if applied correctly ARE EFFECTIVE…

 

 

 

Make Safe & Sensible Use of Your Satnav – Infographic. #Satnav #Motoring #GPS

Neil Tohill is the Director of an Irish company called Southside Motor Factors. He regularly writes about the motoring industry and has created this infographic about best practice for using a satnav/GPS navigation device while driving. We have some more satnav reviews to come and another thing to keep in mind is dashcams as we have said before,we have some of them to come too very soon, Check out the infographic below and tell us what you think…

 

 

 

 

Satnavs can undoubtedly be massively helpful driving aids, especially for those who spend a lot of time on the road and frequently drive in unfamiliar territories. However, many drivers have a tendency to trust in their satnav too much. More than 1 in 10 drivers under the age of 24 have narrowly avoided a crash because of a distraction from their satnav, for example, while there have been horror stories of drivers being drastically misrouted because they failed to check that the destination they typed into their satnav was the correct one.

Need to find out more ?  Head to soutshidemotorfactors

 

 

Samsung announces  “Galaxy Beta Program” for Android 7.0 on Galaxy S7/S7 EDGE. #Android #GalaxyS7

It was a matter of “when” instead of “If” that the guys at Samsung started trying to fix all those little details they always have had during they reign.

They are now letting users have a taste of what the upcoming versions of Android for Galaxy will feel like.

  Android 7.0 Nougat is the latest instalment of the Android ecosystem, and as far as today only two 2016 phones have it.

And something that has always been an issue with Samsung is timely updates, but this time they seem to have a different strategy to make updates faster by letting userw get involve.

The program is available since November 9th to users residing in the U.S., U.K. and Korea, with China soon to join.

Some things you need to have in mind:

For the U.K, the beta program is only available to users of S7 and S7 edge who have a non-operator locked device or have purchased an open market version.

Galaxy S7 edge Olympic Games Limited Edition and Galaxy S7 edge Injustice Edition are excluded from the program.

So if you happen to have a locked carrier version of the phone or one of those extremely rare and expensive “Special Editions” you’re so “special” that you can’t participated in something for the normal S7 user.

All you need to do to join the program is download the Galaxy Beta Program  or the Samsung Members apps.

So run as fast as you can to get your taste of Nougat and the Grace UX found on the Note7 with all those little tweaks to the AOD and other small things that will make your phone feel like new again.

Source

 

Review – Wraps wristband headphones CORE high fidelity. #wearyoursound #Wraps

This is now the third set of wristband headphones from wraps and each get better,given the last ones where a funky colour this time around there is some changes to the internals.. Also to note the packaging has changed slightly too and overall things have improved on both occasions. This time round we check out the wraps CORE high fidelity…

Packaging and presentation changed 

On opening the package,some slight changes inside, we are presented with the goods you can pretty much just put on your wrist immediately,depending on your wrist size,this will take the hassle out of wrapping them first time but its a simple process either way and no different than before,this is our third pair now and again wrapping them is a simple process and again it it a very handy idea too having your headphones on your wrist and not only that its fashion built in too so they the look good and even as I said in my previous review I did not think I would see myself wearing them but I have been and they are very convenient indeed…

There is a few changes,cosmetic (Metal housing instead of plastic) and internally,the headphone jack and buds themselves and then the sound.Also some slight change to the cable compared to the last instalment but overall this remains much the same even down to the overall length… See images below for those changes…

 

I am no sound expert but these sounded much better than the last two pair I have tried out and this is due to the material used this time around and its paid off in volumes,pun intended.. I did notice better volume level and testing them on a wide range of tones and videos compared to old they are much better much clearer and very crisp indeed and no sign of distortion when at full volume,which I prefer to listen to my music,overall I was impressed with the difference,there is a difference in price but its worth it, If you have previously owned a pair and a fan then you need to hear them to see for yourself… The build quality too is improved with the external build,Given that this build and the last builds are light and would survive plenty of drops regardless though the new CORE model would be extra tough on the housing… When it comes to calls and handling and other functions all is same as before and worked fine only difference is better clarity.The additional noise isolation tips that come this time are also a welcome addition..

 

 

Styled in the latest smartphone / tablet ‘Space Grey’ colour matched with a black faux leather bracelet.

Featuring upgraded Titanium speakers that are expertly tuned to resonate clear, high-fidelity sound throughout the audio spectrum.

Also included is a set of Noise Isolating Foam Tips for a superior fit that blocks out unwanted background noise.

Last but not least, a universal one button microphone lets you play or pause your music and answer calls on the go!

  • Black Coloured Faux Leather
  • Space Grey Coloured Tips and Connector
  • Built-in Headset Microphone
  • Includes S, M & L Silicon Tips
  • 20Hz – 20kHz Frequency Response
  • 10mm Dynamic Speakers
  • 3.5mm Gold Plated Jack
  • 80dB/1mW Sensitivity
  • 16 Ohms Impedance

BUY HERE  

 

 

 

The HP ELITE X3 gets a price cut. STILL too expensive. #HP #EliteX3

Only 3 weeks ago the HP Elite X3 went on sale in Ireland via the HPshop and was commanding a rather ridiculous €907 price tag which included VAT and shipping..Given the market this is aimed at it will be an uphill struggle to sell this device for anything over €500 now with the current market share as is an a year decline for the last few years its going to be a hard sell end of story… Even given the specs it commands this is Apple territory pricing and the only way to get it is to buy it outright as NO networks sell nor will they which again is smothering any potential…

Now the device is listed at €694 plus VAT and shipping costs and brings the total to €865.98 which saves you a little but for me this is still way to high for a Windows10 powered device in which the market is shedding users whom are moving to either Android or iOS.. Not to be totally against the device it is certainly one nice looking phone with a quality build but the price is a huge caveat for me.

 

 

Want to buy it? Apparently they have now 385 in stock.. Apparently!!!   Buy it HERE