We have several reviews coming up from SOUL Electronics but today there is another new product to market which is the all new X-Shock Pure Wireless Earphones.
The SOUL X-Shock in-ears are the latest innovation by US-American audio experts SOUL Electronics. These “true wireless” earphones offer maximum flexibility – designed for people who don’t want to compromise on music entertainment and head for complete freedom of movement.
Highest Sound Quality via Bluetooth 4.2
SOUL developed these earphones together with a team of sound engineers and professional athletes. Weighing only 6 Gramm each, these in-ears are ergonomically designed and boast a sweat- and waterproof outer shell with innovative double injection technology – for a powerful sound any time and any place. Thanks to their Bluetooth 4.2. technology the X-Shock earphones have a range of up to 10 meters. The gold-plated internal antennas enable an instant auto pairing and an excellent Bluetooth connection with a mobile device and, together with the integrated remote control for easily answering incoming calls, do provide ultimate comfort and flexibility – in the office as well as during workout in the gym or jogging in the park.
Up to 54 Hours of Music Thanks to the Mobile Charging Station
The mobile charging station also offers convincing performance: It not only charges the X-Shock in-ears in 1.5 hours, but also serves as a power bank for the smartphone. The charging station “loads” the earphones a total of 18 times before it has to be recharged. Since the X-Shock headphones themselves have a battery life of over 3 hours, this means a total of at least 54 hours of music enjoyment – with just one loaded charging station.
The new X-Shock true wireless in-ears are available now at GBP 149,99 on Amazon UK. In addition, SOUL will be launching an X-Shock special edition in March 2018 with integrated LED lights in the earplugs for better visibility and more safety during outdoor workouts in the dark.
Security in the home is something that is a must these days and especially this time or year with the early dark evenings and again the extended dark mornings. However having security comes at a cost and cost is an issue but there is price ranges for all that cost up to thousands or euro for a fully installed home kit which needs a licensed provider to do which adds to the cost then we have mobile options,some of which we have covered over the last two years which are cost-effective and require little or no tech skills and no licensed installer.
Earlier this year we checked out the BLINK home security system this is still working in my home today and works a treat and its easy to move about and position the cameras anywhere you like,this new model the BLINK XT is the same,only its built for outdoors but you can of course use it indoors if you wish to do so and the same applies for the home edition you can point them out the window and all works perfectly fine.
One annoyance I had on set up was you can’t add a camera or sync module to the current app on your device out of the box which made no sense but it can be done, there is no need to have two separate sync modules running three cameras from the same ecosystem but all that was involved to set this up was reset current or you could remove the older from past and re-sync the lot up this is good but would have been easier just to add a camera not registered but I can see the point behind it on security terms.
This time around we have the unit entirely in Black which looks better than its white version and its slightly bigger with waterproofing elements thrown in, The set up is the same and the installation process is the same its simple you just need minimal tools to get the show on the road and then download the app have your wifi on and away you go its that simple.
There is not much new here compared to old overall but we do get FHD and infrared /night vision and free storage but its key selling point is it’s completely wireless and simple to set up and you get good vision via the app from your phone but it lacks realtime motion detection you will get this after its been stored,you can however opt in for more plans that cost money but an ongoing cost is an issue for some, The basics on offer are pretty good but this really depends on where you live geographically but then again all areas are targets for criminals to enter your home.
This system allows up to ten cameras mixed run from one module which is pretty good and the battery life is stellar considered which is around two years,my own which is installed several months now is still working fine and I have had no issues to report as yet and hopefully the external is the same but time will tell with the elements of the weather how it holds up and in Ireland we get plenty of wind and rain so that test should not take too long to figure out if it withstand the elements.
Product Details
HD Video up to 1080p!
Temperature Sensor
Motion Detection
Weatherproof
Instant Alerts
Live View
Low-Light Illumination
Infrared Night Vision
What Blink have achieved here again is simplicity and affordability with the security products something which is valuable in my book and does not require much tech know how to get going or licensed installers to come to your home and do it for you.
Sample of night image
For indoor use there is no issue on placing your camera but for outdoors I would suggest having it out of reach as it can be easily removed by hand, criminals today are a step ahead of the game and would spot one easily and the LED that comes on when activated would point them in the direction they need to go to disable it but if out of reach its tough luck for them, sure they should no be nosing around your property anyway, This also as I mentioned before can be used indoors which is another means of keeping an eye on things LIVE when you are not there and gives you peace of mind but not to spy on your family.
PlayLink for PS4 – is an exciting new way to play games with family and friends, which combines your smartphone with your PS4 console, without the need for multiple controllers. There’s a range of PlayLink games available to suit all occasion and skill levels, so whether its the office party or Christmas Day celebrations.
PlayLink allows an entire group to get involved in multiplayer – tilting, tapping, shouting and singing – using their very own smartphone or tablet. Simply download the free supporting game app to your smartphone or tablet, connect to your PS4 via WiFi and you’re good to go.
PlayLink is the latest innovation exclusive to PS4, allowing players to use their smartphones and tablets without the need for multiple controllers. PlayLink games are designed to be played in a group setting, encouraging a truly fun and immersive multiplayer experience.
PlayLink brings more players into the games and allows for social gaming that everyone can enjoy. PlayLink games turn your smartphone or tablet into a versatile controller. Players can interact using their smart phone or tablet in unique ways with each title – tilt, tap, shake, swipe, sing and shout in this varied range of games, which are not only easy to jump into but also challenging enough for some serious game nights.
The collection of PlayLink games vary from gritty crime thrillers to quick-fire quizzes. Simply download the free companion app to your smartphone or tablet and ensure your PS4 hooked up to a TV and you are ready to play.
With party season around the corner, these new PlayLink games are just the thing to liven up your parties, or break out during family gatherings. There’s a game to suit all occasions and can be enjoyed by all skill levels and ages – (as the PEGI ratings allow).
That’s You! is an audacious comedy quiz which challenges up to six friends to get personal and find out what you really think about each other. Featuring over 1,000 varied questions, participants can reveal their daring side by taking part in doodle challenges and snapping selfies.
Hidden Agenda is a narrative-driven adventure that drops participants right into the centre of this chilling detective thriller, which is rife with moral dilemmas that may determine life or death. Up to six participants can join in to make tough decisions about how the story unfolds, but one participant will have a hidden agenda…
Frantics is an arcade-style game where up to four participants face off in a variety of challenges. Bluff, battle, negotiate and co-operate your way to victory, but beware – mischievous host The Fox is also on hand to stir things up.
Singstar Celebration – Whether it’s your birthday, Christmas, New Year’s Eve or even just a Saturday night – SingStar Celebration is the perfect playlist to any party, with up to eight players able to join in the fun. Use your SingStar mic or combine your smartphone to start belting out your favorite party classics.
PlayLink for PS4 games start from €19.99 RRP each and available from stockists nationwide.
Two young Irish entrepreneurs have just released an alarm clock app that gives you brand discounts and rewards for waking up. FirstUp was featured back in MAY this year
The app, called FirstUp, has partnership deals with Benefit Makeup, Unilever, Maxol, Electric Ireland and Ambr Eyewear, with rewards ranging from free coffee to beauty treatments for using the FirstUp alarm.
FirstUp was co-founded by Ruaidhri Finnegan and Dan Moriarty (28) pictured above.
Over 11,000 Irish people registered for the official launch after a trial version of the app was released with Pieta House for their annual Darkness into Light event last May, making it one of the most anticipated Irish apps of the year.
Ruaidhri Finnegan said: “For most people, waking up early isn’t optional, and getting out of your warm bed can be tough. We wanted to build an alarm clock app that looks and sounds great, while giving people a reward incentive to help them have the best and most productive start to the day.”
Dan Moriarty said: “We’re trying to develop an alarm clock that can actively aid our users in having a positive morning; whether that be through the sense of accomplishment in earning a reward, reading the morning news through FirstUp or just not having to listen to that same harsh annoying alarm tone again!”
Head of Marketing for Benefit Cosmetics, Lou Bennett, said:
“FirstUp is a unique and innovative way for us to reward our Benefit customers. We’re delighted to be working with the FirstUp team, and to see how we can make mornings better for the busy, modern girl.”
Head of Marketing for Maxol, Caroline Burton commented:
“In these cold and dark winter months, we wanted to show our appreciation for all our Maxol customers by making their wake up routine that little bit easier. FirstUp is an exciting project, and we look forward to seeing how we can help our customers have a great and energisingstart to the day.”
FirstUp is available to download from the Google and App store now.
Got got a dashcam yet? Well invest in one you will thank me someday for it and I will continue to remind you each time we have a new one in for review, Speaking of.. We have the all new GoSure dashcam from Philips in to check out which is called the GoSure ADR620. As usual fire away with any questions you have here or on social media and we answer them, In the meantime check out the info below and our unboxing..
Automatically capture your journey in vivid detail
Full-HD 1080p sharp recording
With optional GPS module
Wide angle & bright F2.0 lens
Good night view performance
Automatic recording when you start your vehicle
As soon as you turn on your vehicle, the driving recorder starts operating automatically. So you’ll never have to worry about forgetting to turn on the camera. And because the Philips ADR620 automatically overwrites previous unwanted footage, you don’t have to keep replacing the memory card.
Irishmytaxi drivers will now be able to avoid congestion and traffic jams more effectively with the introduction of mytaxi Navigation, built with Google Maps in the mytaxi Driver app.
From 12th December, Europe’s biggest taxi app is integrating Google Maps into its existing system, making mytaxi one of the first service providers in the world to go down this route with Google.
With the new release, Irish drivers will have an improved all-in-one package with supporting technical features that allows them to see the current traffic situation directly in the mytaxi app.
“Our aim in integrating Google Maps is to improve the user-experience and to make using mytaxi even more service-oriented and more intuitive for our drivers. The passengers benefit from the update too as traffic jams and hold-ups can specifically be avoided at the beginning of the trip, without the driver first having to waste time searching for alternative routes in separate systems,“ said mytaxi’s chief product officer Johannes Mewes.
In addition to trips being allocated more appropriately due to more precise geolocation, mytaxi Navigation means the driver can now see the quickest and most direct route to the customer on the offer screen. When the driver accepts the booking, they are directed to the destination by a blue line and are given precise details of the journey time – and a voice function and a general overview with a practical zoom are included too.
The mytaxi Driver App update with mytaxi Navigation is now available for all iOS and Android devices. If you have not downloaded it yet hit the store icons below to do so.
mytaxi is committed to supporting its drivers and increasing the size of its fleet to meet surging customer demand in Ireland. Over 12,000 drivers have been active on the mytaxi and Hailo apps since launch with over 700 of these drivers joining since September this year. In November 2017, despite customer demand being up more than 35% year over year – mytaxi improved their service levels nationwide.
Last month it announced a total of €1 million in incentives to the first 500 drivers who pass the NTA test needed to enter the taxi sector and drive for mytaxi. As part of this initiative, drivers also receive free training for the SPSV test using the new mytaxi Manual, with the platform already helping drivers to pass the test.
Our homes are becoming more connected and with gadgets being made available to replace existing items in our house its now even easier to move to a smarter connected home alongside the wide variety of ready made product which we can buy in most stores or online today. Replacing existing items in our home is not as tough as one would expect and starting with the likes of bulbs and switches and so which he have covered here in the past we today have a new product to market to replace your typical switch and socket and combined with an app for Android and iOS its very easy to do and does not require much tech know how to get going.
Before we install our kit here we wanted to give you a quick unboxing of what is on offer and an idea of what it entails and what these new prodcuts can do for you and if you want to move to a more connected home. A product like this can also connect to Amazon Alexa and Google Home and IFTTT (If this then that) If you have not checked IFTTT out you need to. But dont just rush into the connected world and familiarise yourself with the product first and then move on at your own pace if you are new to this kind of technology.
Lightwave offer a range of products in their own ecosystem to get your home more connected and smart and please check out over at https://lightwaverf.com/
Monday, 16 October Was Day The Irish Watched The Most Netflix
2017 brought a lot of learning and also, A LOT of watching. Netflix members around the world watched more than 140 million hours per day (that’s a little more one billion hours per week in case you were wondering). The most popular1 of which fell on Monday, 16 October in Ireland – the day Hurricane Ophelia struck – schools and businesses closed and everyone needed a comfort binge during the official duvet day.
Even Antarctica got in on the watching action, where someone binged through Shameless (talk about Netflix and chill). Not to be outdone, Mexico takes the top spot for having the most members to watch Netflix every-single-day (#goals).
The ones we’re still scratching our heads about, the person who watched Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl 365 days in a row (streamin’ me timbers?) while an Irish Netflix member watched “Just Go With It” 308 times during 2017. Impressive feats, especially as the average member watched around 60 movies on Netflix this year.
There’s much to say about what we watched, but how we watched was also intriguing. Though bingeing was standard in 2017, not all series were enjoyed in the same way – there were those we devoured, those we savoured, those we cheated on, and those that brought us together…
The Shows We Devoured in 2017
Globally we took an escape from reality in 2017 by devouring (watching more than two hours per day) sci-fi series likes of 3%,Travelers and The OA. The question of ‘whodunit’ (and didn’t do it) in The Keepers and The Confession Tapes also had us watching with might. While members in Ireland devoured crime dramas like Ingobernable,Marvel’s Iron Fist and Marvel’s The Defenders
Ingobernable
Greenleaf
The Mist
13 Reasons Why
Marvel’s Iron Fist
Marvel’s The Defenders
One Day at a Time
Santa Clarita Diet
Riverdale
Frontier
The Shows We Savoured in 2017
We needed a laugh this year and Irish members found that solace by savouring (watching less than two hours per day) comedies like You Me Her, ASOUE, GLOW and Big Mouth. We also took care to enjoy the splendour of The Crown (it is a visual feast fit for a queen after all).
The Crown
Ozark
El Chapo
Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father
The Confession Tapes
ASOUE
GLOW
Big Mouth
Neo Yokio
You Me Her
The Shows That Got Us Cheating in 2017
We couldn’t resist the thrill of a thrill and shamelessly watched ahead of our significant others on Narcos, Ozark, Black Mirror and more (don’t tell Marty).
Narcos
13 Reasons Why
Stranger Things
Orange is the New Black
Sense8
Black Mirror
Marvel’s The Defenders
Marvel’s Iron Fist
Ozark
MINDHUNTER
The Shows That Brought Us Together in 2017
Whether for the adventure, Chief Hopper or bromance (#DadSteve), Netflix members ranked Stranger Things as the top show to watch together as a family. Nostalgia also scored top points for family watching via Star Trek: Discovery, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life and Fuller House.
Stranger Things
13 Reasons Why
A Series of Unfortunate Events
Star Trek Discovery
Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life
Riverdale
Fuller House
Chef’s Table
Atypical
Anne with E
Methodology:
Popularity based on the average daily viewing hours per member between November 1, 2016 and November 1, 2017 Series viewed less than two hours per day were identified as ‘savored.’ Series viewed more than two hours per day were identified as ‘devoured.’ Data was inclusive of new show or new season launches of Netflix originals from November 1, 2016 – November 1, 2017 only. Additional information on the Netflix Binge Scale here.
Based on more than 60,000 survey responses from Netflix members between October 24-30, 2017. The sample is representative of an adult population who watch TV shows as a couple in 32 countries. The survey included new show or new season launches of Netflix originals from November 1, 2016 – November 1, 2017 only.
Based on more than 60,000 survey responses from Netflix members between October 24-30, 2017. The sample is representative of an adult population who watch TV shows with their family in 32 countries. The survey included new show or new season launches of Netflix originals from November 1, 2016 – November 1, 2017 only.
The second case in for review is the Carbon Fibre Design Case, this is a more robust case than the one for the Nokia 8 we just checked out, Different materials of course but the design language identical giving this Nokia 5 case protection mostly at the corners. This again is a snap on cover and should last some time and its not as flexible as the Carbon Fibre Soft Case for the Nokia 8. Once again this case has been sent over to us from the good folks at Mobile Fun who have a great range of cases for all your Nokia devices and more. Any questions hit us up in the comments or on social media, Check out the image gallery and Video below.
For many years, Nokia has been a household name in phones and accessories. This means you can be sure of the highest possible standards across both the design and production process, resulting in a case that feels great, protects your device exceptionally and looks stylish to boot.
Professional carbon fibre-effect design
This sleek, smooth case brings a touch of professional chic to your Nokia 5. With a slim body and carbon fibre-style motif, this eye-catching case is a must have if you want to add some understated class to your Nokia 5.
Slim profile preserves the elegant contours of your phone
The Nokia carbon fibre case is made from incredibly slim polycarbonate (PC), which clips effortlessly onto your device. Covering the back and the sides of your Nokia 5, the case provides excellent protection against day-to-day bumps and scrapes. This stylish case wraps around your phone, providing slimline protection. This case is designed so that it preserves the slender form of your Nokia 5 without adding any unnecessary bulk.
Reinforced corners for added drop protection
Thanks to the reinforced corners on this carbon fibre case, if the phone is dropped the impact will disperse through the case rather than your device bearing the brunt of the shock. This keeps your phone safe for longer and also ensures the case itself is less likely to be damaged.
Superior shock and scratch resistance
This case won’t just augment the aesthetic of your Nokia 5. Solid and high-quality construction means this case also offers excellent protection from surface damage – scrapes, scratches and knocks – while also offering shock absorption thanks to reinforced edges.
Designed to give access to all ports and functions for easy use
Although this case offers fantastic protection from scrapes and drops, it doesn’t compromise on usability in doing so. All buttons, cameras, speakers and ports of the Nokia 5 are readily accessible, so you’ll never have to take your phone out of its case in order to use it.
