Month: February 2017

Review – LAVA Brightsounds 2 bluetooth speaker with LED lantern and powerbank.

At first glance people thought this was in fact the Amazon echo but no its the Lava Brightsounds 2 bluetooth speaker…

I must have around 20 Bluetooth speakers reviewed now and every time they get better with new ideas,looks and features to boot. This particular model comes packed with plenty of features including a dimmable ambient LED lantern.

Bigger than the normal portable ones I have checked out this offer more to the party especially if you are a camper or someone who perhaps likes to sit in the garden in the evening or again if you are the indoor type this also provides a nice setting on your bedside locker too offering a nice light for reading without blinding everyone else in the room..

Packaging..

Presented in a box packed with info we get all the extras we should expect find with such a product, We have our instructions and the usual cables…

 

 

To start with first of all this is light and very portable given its kind of on the larger size and topped off with a nice leather strap to boot. This strap is also very secure and I would have no worries about it falling off. The top of the unit comes with simple controls so there is no confusion here and all is kept simple. There is a power key,volume toggles and the lantern switch,there is also a status LED..

 

 

 

The LED lantern works quite well as mentioned it can serve several purposes depending on the mood and person for me its been on my locker and the weather is too wet to test outside but having said that its waterproof (IPX4) The speaker on top has a 360 grille constructed with metal and the lamp itself is a tough plastic.

 

 

Underneath the speaker is 4 rubber corners which will keep it in place as at times depending on surface and volume these do tend to move around with vibration, this seemed to stay put at all times when testing..On the back of the speaker there is a 3.5 socket for auxially input or indead headphone if you wish to pop them in there is also a Micro USB port so you can charge your mobile phone and a standard USB port for charging. So you also get a powerbank built into the speaker which is excellent and if you want to take calls on it its also possible so its covered you in all respects..This is also covered with a rubber flap.

 

 

Soundwise its perfectly fine,not overly loud though but its loud enough being me I typically like it loud just like listening to music on my headphones but its not advisable. Sounds played well with a nice touch of bass and all volume levels seemed fine even maxed out there was no distortion on anything I fire at it..

 

 

This comes in several colours too so you have a choice the colours available are Pink,Mustard,Green,Teal and Blue. For the battery conscious there is a 36HR life stated by the manufacturer which seemed true to me and worked well over the test period..

 

 

 

You can check out the full range out over at http://www.lavaaccessories.co.uk/sound/brightsounds-2.html

 

VIDEO REVIEW

Unboxing and review – Thinkware F50 dashcam. #tech #motoring #dashcams

A new dashcam has arrived to check out,this time around its the Thinkware F50 dashcam. Priced in the budget range of around €80 its got just enough to provide drivers with information should it be required,particularly for accidents and on the move instant recording.

This model is also discreet, its small and has a cylinder shape and can be place anywhere and not be so noticeable like some dashcams can be. Another good feature here is parking surveillance mode and impact detection which triggers the unit to record 20 second clips.

Specs

Camera Sony Exmor CMOS 2.12M
Resolution 1080p Full HD (1920 x 1080)
Capacity Micro SD Card 8GB(class 10), 16GB/32GB/64GB(UHS-I)
Recording Modes Continuous Recording, Incident Recording, Manual Recording, Audio Recording, Parking Surveillance Recording
Sensor 3-Axis Accelerometer G-Sensor (3D, ±3G)
GPS External GPS Antenna (Optional)
Power Input Power: DC 12/24V
ETC Operation Status LED

 

 

UNBOXING

 

 

 

Setting up this kit is simple and thats what we all like,there is no hard-wiring required but its a simple as plug and play however you will have to navigate the wiring in your vehicle yourself which will of course vary per manufacturer if you are trying to hide wire you can of course get it hardwired into your car but this is your own choice.. There is cable clips provided in the package to at least mount the cable in a tidy fashion around the front  or whichever route you can take..

It is discreet which is what I like about it you could easily place it on your windscreen (See their tips on placement here) and nobody would notice it in fact if you where clever enough about it. The unit is small and compact its Black and looking face on it can be placed very secretly out of harms way and indeed those folk who do the smash and grab thing which still happens so for a little tip do leave in the vehicle overnight..

 

 

 

 

Included in the packaging is a micro sd card and converter to your PC/Laptop where you will then upload your files to do whatever it is you need to do you will simple see the location down on the left side of your screen and then select the folders and you can either upload or drag them to the desired location.

You can then access the admin panel which has an array of settings a which you decide best for you too assign and you can also format the card when done should you need space but ensure you move over all the required files first…

 

 

If you are tech savvy the set up is fine as is out of the box but you can change some features as listed above we just stuck with the out of the box settings to begin with which are perfectly fine. Once you have all this set up you are good to go. On the unit there is one button which allows you to manually record on the go this is if something should crop up and you have not activated the unit.If you just leave it sat there it will give you continuous audio alerts which annoyed me but my testing ground was the reason. You can buy at an option an external GPS unit if you want some more tech added but for the average user this is not really required ,this give speed camera alerts and speed by way  audio again, They could have let you use your mobile phones GPS via Bluetooth imo.. Parking mode and motion detection also requires the additional pack to enable those features so there is quite alot more on offer if you take advantage of the GPS module..

 

 

Reviewing the basic package I got there is enough here to make it worth the punt in fairness given the alternatives out there , A fine example is the now growing sight of 20 euro dashcams we see in petrol stations and bargain stores such as Euro 2 and Dealz,they are not worth the money full stop..

One caveat for me but in saying that is not being able to see what your dashcam sees on your side as I am use to trying out those types but the unit is easy to adjust and has a wide angle viewing so you can almost place it where you want it to face just by judgement and even if this does not work out for the best do a quick test run and then adjust accordingly next time round.

 

 

 

The audio is clear and  loud which is good as with traffic levels here,noise pollution or dare I say in car noise pollution by means of a loud radio playing you will hear it no problem at all…. Overall I think its a nice little kit and its very discreet which I really like,even asking others here I said check out my new camera and they could not find it immediately and they said “that is very hidden you would not see it there” For me that is welcome news to hear as i mentioned above, the opportunist window smashers… Plus peace of mind should you run into an accident or whatever I would not scream out like I have seen some do  ” I HAVE A DASH CAM” Big mistake that ,jut say nothing at all….

You can buy this model right HERE check it out.. And thanks again to thinkware for  letting us check this out. Also available on Amazon and Bestbuy. 

Verdict…. I like it!!

 

 

 

A new app that pays you to photo illegally parked cars.. Would you like to see it here??

In the UK  a  new app allows you to snap illegally parked cars and you get a financial reward which is £10, Yes its true and if you ask me this is what you call Pokemon Go…..

The new app is the belong to CPM whom is a UK Car Park Management Company who manage carparks in the UK we have similar operations here in Ireland which like the clampers they do not have a huge fanbase for the obvious reasons.. But do you think this is a good idea and will it in fact work. Obviously the company would have to win a conviction and so on to pay the person who has uploaded the image and if many others report the same image one would presume “first come first served”

The app will naturally piss people off in general and again would make people think twice about parking illegally and with the use of social media today we already have some funny twitter and facebook handles dedicated to such acts as is.. The also can be found in Ireland too if you do a quick search..

The app is called i-ticket and is available on Android,iOS and even Windows Phone..

 

 

Description

This free app allows you to issue parking tickets to all those vehicles which park on your land/parking space(s) without permission. You will also receive £10 commission for every paid Parking Ticket! With 3 simple steps CPM will issue a parking ticket to the vehicle owner, using DVLA data and the the postal service.

– Step 1. Create an account – Step 2. Install free DIY signs (delivered 5 days after registration) – Step 3. Login to app, take photo of vehicle, type in vehicle registration, click submit to issue parking ticket.The service is completely confidential and all Parking Charges and Signage refer to CPM only.It couldn’t be easier, download this app and start protecting your parking spaces today.

Source

 

 

X-Doria Launch the Metallic and Glitter cases – for the Glam Mum #mums #accessories #iPhone7

Revel Lux is the new range by X-Doria featuring glitter, colour and metallic for iPhone 7. It combines both protection and an on-trend look for your phone. Available in various styles and colours as well as those shown in the images.

 

 

Enhance the look of your iPhone with bold, fashion-forward patterns that have real depth. Revel iPhone 7 case is a snap on case that is extra tough on the edges, with reinforced bumpers that extend across the top and bottom edges of your iPhone. Revel’s raised front edge keeps your screen off table tops and protected from surface scratches. With a wrap around, rubber bumper, your iPhone is protected edge-to-edge. Volume and lock buttons are covered and protected as well by the grippy, rubber frame. With all of this, Revel is a very slim-fitting iPhone 7 protective case that is durable yet pocketable.

  • Cool iPhone Cases: Unique, fashion-forward, stand out patterns
  • Hard outer shell to shield against impact
  • Soft rubber bumper protects against jolts; Protects volume and lock buttons
  • Raised front bezel helps protect your iPhone screen
  • Available for £19.99 on Amazon

 

 

Taxback scam still doing the rounds,Be careful. #Tax #Scam

Recently there was a scam via SMS or email going around telling people that they are entitled to some kind of tax rebate, this though was not true and Revenue have also been proactive about the matter unlike others when these scams come to light..

Revenue have commented about this on their site saying……

This week the Revenue Commissioners have become aware of fraudulent emails and SMS (text messages) purporting to come from Revenue seeking personal information from taxpayers in connection with a tax refund or seeking credit/debit card details.

These emails and text messages did not issue from Revenue.

Recently I spoke to Joe Duffy on #liveline about the latest scam about Super Valu and its vital that people read up and become a bit more savvy about these because there is vulnerable people out there still…

 

Source – Via Twitter..

 

From: Irish Tax&Customs <info@moosetoys.com>

Subject: [News] We may need some information in order to process your claim.

We have successfully recalculate your fiscal activity
Our team will be reviewing your application after your sign-up.
Please be advised the evaluation process may take some time.
We have sent you a document , please read and fallow the steps.
Best regards,
Irish Customs % Tax Team

 

 

A second example of this email is as follows below..However the image attached in this mail is identical as seen before.

From: Irish Tax-Customs <test@idrottensspel.se>
Date: 28 January 2017 at 23:10:00 GMT
To: ”
Subject: Refund on pending , account sign-up process needed.
Your temporary sign-up link is in your notification.

It will remain valid for 1 week.
To use and benefit just open your pdf notification
and navigate to the page on the Revenue website.
Select ‘Sign-up’
Enter and confirm your details.
You will then be asked to set a new password.
You are now signed in and ready to use and recive your pending claim.
Important
Your password allows access to your records, so be very careful with it.

Yours faithfully,
The Revenue & Tax-Customs

 

 

 

 

#FLAVR launch the Real Flower and Pop collection phone cases. #tech #accessories

FLAVR, the new fashion brand from global mobile accessories and connected devices specialist, STRAX GmbH, today launches a brand new range of phones cases for iPhone 5/5SE, 6/6S, 7, and Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge. The Real Flower collection includes real, pressed flowers in each transparent case so that every case made is individual. The cases are not only colourful and pretty but also have a great texture. The new cases will be available for £12.99 from Carphone Warehouse.

 

 

Also launched is the  The Pop collection from FLAVR is in line with the latest trends from the catwalk – florals, tropical motifs and tattoo-style motifs. The transparent case still shows the Apple logo but also adds a bright design and personal touch to a phone. The Pop collection will also be available from Carphone Warehouse at £12.99

 

 

TV sound from a bulb: #Sengled extends its Pulse range with the introduction of Pulse Link.

Sengled, the smart lighting specialists. The Pulse Link adds to the already successful Pulse range and is ideal for music lovers to provide an enhanced audio experience.

 

Sengled today announces an addition to its product portfolio for the smart home, with the the Sengled Pulse Link now available to purchase in the online store. The new Pulse adapter has already been presented at the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) 2017 in Las Vegas and received the Innovation Award in the category ‘smart home’. With the Pulse Link starter set, through the adapter, two Pulse satellite bulbs may be connected to the TV to create an improved audio experience.

 

 

The Sengled Pulse Link adds to the already hugely successful Sengled Pulse range. The Pulse Link is ideal for music lovers as it can be connected with the Pulse bulbs with built-in JBL Bluetooth® speakers, providing an enhanced audio experience. Through the Pulse Link adapter, which can be connected to a receiver or TV, audio signals can be transmitted wirelessly to all Pulse satellite light bulbs. This way, users are able to experience high-quality stereo sound through various light bulbs. Using the additional 3.5mm jack connection, many more music sources can be connected with the Sengled Pulse system.

The Sengled Pulse Link set is currently available as a bundle for 199.90 EUR. It contains two Pulse satellites and a Pulse Link adapter. The adapter is available separately at an RRP of 99.90 EUR.

For further information please visit: www.sengled.com 

End of mobile roaming charges in 2017, Its been a long process. #roaming #charges #EU

This has been a long long tiresome battle and will eventually see out those nasty charges we face but this have been a major revenue generator for telecos for years so what will replace this huge loss? Yet to see how we will fair out here here is what has been outlined given wholesale caps have been agreed.. As is we have seen free calls and so on within the EU region also we have seen data ad ons being introduced some time ago which allowed data to be used but this has been mostly capped and little on offer too.. Data hungry customers often come home to bill shock after a trip and the main usage now on mobile is in fact data and our traditional SMS is dying year on year thanks to messaging apps and the likes of Facebook messenger..

 

Wholesale price caps define how much telecoms operators can charge each other for using their networks to carry cross-border “roaming” calls.

Miapetra Kumpula-Natri (S&D, FI), who is steering the legislation through Parliament, said:

“People all over the EU have waited for us to drop roaming charges in June 2017. Now all the negotiations are ready and we can deliver what was promised. Like consumer organizations all over Europe, we, too, see this as a great victory for the European consumers.”

“The agreed caps ensure cost coverage for efficient operators throughout Europe but are low enough to sustain competition on the European telecom markets”, she added.

“Consumers will continue to benefit from competition and will be able to use more data when roaming than with the original proposal from the Commission. I’d like to thank political groups and the member states for constructive co-operation and flexibility”, she concluded.

 

Parliament and council have agreed on the following caps outlined below…

 

  • €0.03 for voice call, instead of the proposed €0.04,
  • a gradually decreasing cap, from €7.7 (15/06/2017) to €6 (01/01/2018),  €4.5 (01/01/2019), €3.5 (01/01/2020), €3 (01/01/2021), €2.5 (01/01/2022) per gigabyte instead of €0.0085 per megabyte (or €8.5 per gigabyte), and
  • €0.01 for text messages….
  • Read more at the source link below..

Source 

Nexbit to become part of Razer after acquisition to focus on new opportunities #Razer #Nexbit

Earlier this week we learned about the purchase of Nexbit, the company behind Robin, the cloud phone by the well known gaming related company Razor.

 

Unfortunately, no more details on what to expect so far (so, hold on your horses if you want a new gaming smartphone for the summer), but we know the company will continue working as an independent department inside Razer.

“In order to reach a wider audience and continue our mission, we decided to join with a larger brand,” –Tom Moss, Nextbit Systems Inc. Co-founder and CEO

That’s what the company is aiming for after the deal was closed earlier this month.

And even when phones nor accessories are no longer being sold on the official channels, Nesbit promised to fulfilled warranties for 6 more months, and software updates and security patches until February 2018.

There’s a lot to expect from this deal, but What are your thoughts? What would you like to see on the next Nexbit smartphone?

Sound off below or join us over Twitter, stay tuned for more info and what to expect for the rest of the year.

Source