Two new cases have arrived for our shiny Nokia 5 and 8 and today we will start off with the Nokia 8 Soft Touch Case, effectively a snap on which reminds me of the Lumia 1520 case its a simple clean nice job with a nice texture on the back side with the Nokia Logo present it will offer a decent enough level of protection for your device mainly aiming at the corners. Our case is Black in colour and can be purchased in several colours which Mobile Fun UK have kindly sent us. Check out the video and image gallery below and if you have any quesitons fire away.
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Official Nokia case
Lightweight case adds no extra bulk to your Nokia 8
Sturdy, yet soft material offers comfortable grip
Slightly raised bezel protects the device’s screen
Access all your phone’s features and ports so you can leave the case on at all times
This Soft Touch Case in Black colour has been designed and manufactured by Nokia, so you can be assured of high standard materials used, which guarantee a perfect fit for your shiny new Nokia 8.
Lightweight case adds no extra bulk to your Nokia 8
This case is designed to be extremely slim and lightweight while remaining strong – you can be assured that this case will add virtually no extra bulk to your Nokia 8 smartphone, so it will still fit in your pocket with ease.
Sturdy, yet soft material offers comfortable grip
Each official Nokia 8 Soft Touch case is manufactured from a sturdy, yet naturally soft and non-slip material which not only absorbs some of the force on the impact, but also offers a comfortable and secure grip.
Slightly raised bezel protects the device’s screen
Despite focusing on protecting the sides and the back of your Nokia 8, this case also features slightly raised bezel edges, which prevents the phone from touching the surface while upside down. It eliminates the friction between the screen and the surface’s imperfections, meaning you can expect much more less scratches.
Access all your phone’s features and ports so you can leave the case on at all times
There is no need to remove this slim fitting case to access all of your phone’s features. With all of the required cut-outs, you can control all of your device’s buttons, while leaving the camera free to take stunning photos without any hesitation – the official Nokia 8 Soft Touch Case is purposely designed to allow you to use all of your phone’s features even with the case on.
Designed specifically for the Nokia 8
This case has been designed specifically for Nokia 8, so you can be sure of an easy access to all ports and features, as well as a perfect fit.
With Looparoid, MAGIX delivers a free Android app to create breathtaking photo stories that can be downloaded straight from the Google Play Store. Entertaining animated GIFs from photos are created in seconds.Looparoid is now available for free in the Google Play Store and is compatible with Android 5.0 version and higher.
With Looparoid, MAGIX delivers a free Android app to create breathtaking photo stories that can be downloaded straight from the Google Play Store. Entertaining animated GIFs from photos are created in seconds.
Whether it’s your last vacation, home improvement project or dinner with friends: Looparoid can bring up to 8 images together to create one story. It’s super simple to use: The user selects their favorite photos, picks a fitting frame in a Polaroid style and then adds a title – and it’s done! In no time at all, the completed Looparoid can be shared instantly via messenger.
“A million photos are created every day and there’s a story behind each one. With Looparoid, we want to inspire people to tell these stories”, says Max Herberger, Looparoid product owner. “Using the app’s selection of frames and effects, any user can create a Looparoid that fits their own unique photo story. In addition, we’ve paid a lot of attention to simple, intuitive operation, so that creating Looparoids is just as fun as looking at them.”
Looparoid is the result of years of experience in the development of user-friendly desktop and mobile apps for photo and video editing from the MAGIX team. Continued development and innovative functions for Looparoid have already been planned for the immediate future.
Looparoid is now available for free in the Google Play Storeand is compatible with Android 5.0 version and higher.
From online gaming, to mobile apps and wearable tech, technology is used at almost every touch point in people’s day-to-day lives. However, the downside of living in this hyper-connected society means that people are also extremely vulnerable to cyber-attacks. Our friends at Sophos has this important report to share with us.
This year’s Malware Report from Sophos reveals just how malware is being weaved into this everyday technology, and how, year on year, we are seeing cybercriminals become more intelligent in their attacks, making it increasingly important for consumers to be wary of the dangers out there.
Whilst many consumers may live in denial that an attack like this will ever affect them, Sophos’ research revealed the opposite. James Burchell, Security Specialist at Sophos, reviews the most prominent risks from 2017, and what we can expect in 2018.
Ransomware is on every platform – don’t assume your mobile and tablets are safe
This year, WannaCry shook the world as the cyber hi-jack accounted for more than 45% of all ransomware tracked, closely followed by Cerber at 44.2%, according to Sophos’ most recentMalware Report.
In September alone, 30.4 percent of malicious Android malware processed by SophosLabs was ransomware. Sophos expects this to jump to approximately 45 percent in October. The majority of these attacks have targeted Windows users, but the number of attacks on other platforms is increasing, including those targeting Android, Macs and Linux.
Ransomware attacks have shifted in focus in the past two years, towards industries which are most likely to pay up, such as healthcare, government, critical infrastructure, and small businesses. Due to it being one of the most lucrative industries from ransomware payments or selling medical records, Healthcare has been a big target in 2017 and will without a doubt continue that way into 2018.
Malware is hiding in Android Apps
When reviewing Google Play, Sophos found that the number of different threats had doubled since last year. One type of malware, dubbed ‘GhostClicker’, sat in Google Play for almost a year, disguising itself as part of the service library. It then request device administration permission, and actively simulated click-on advertisements as it delivered to earn revenue.
One of the more sobering finds was Lipizzan, spyware that infected up to 100 devices. Although this doesn’t sound like a large number, it seems this was a targeted, precision malware, which was designed to monitor phone activity and extracting data from popular apps including email, SMS, location, and voice calls, and media.
Malware such as this is showing no sign of reducing in the future, as cyber criminals know it works. Therefore, in order to combat being a victim of Android malware, Sophos would suggest consumers:
Stick to Google Play – Although it isn’t perfect, it puts plenty of effort into preventing malware arriving in the first place
Avoid apps with a low reputation – Be especially wary of this when using a work phone
Patch early, patch often – Check the vendors attitude to updates
Online gaming is being used to spread Ransomware and Malware
In terms of online gaming, fake copies of the popular game, ‘King of Glory’ were used to spread ransomware this year. The warning screen used mimicked the one used during the WannaCry outbreak, directing individual to pay the ransom through the China-based Wechat, Alipay and QQ payment methods.
The number of malicious apps has risen steadily in the last four years, peaking at nearly 3.5 million in 2017, therefore we are likely to see this rise further in 2018, including more deceptive online gaming traps.
Data breaches– they are not going away
The downside of living in this hyper-connected society means that people are extremely vulnerable to cyber-attacks, as shown in the past few weeks with the Uber Hack, which affected 2.7 million riders and drivers. Sadly, we don’t see these data breaches diminishing in 2018, and with GDPR coming into effect in May it will only continue to be a hot topic and something we are continuing to see.
2018 and beyond
It’s impossible to predict what will happen in 2018, however it’s a fair bet that Android and Windows will continue to be heavily targeted with ransomware and other Malware. Email will also remain the primary attack vector threatening corporate cyber security, especially in the case of targeted attacks.
Four trends that stood out in 2017, and will likely dominate 2018 are:
A ransomware surge fueled by RaaS and amplified by the resurgence of worms;
An explosion of Android malware on Google Play and elsewhere;
Continued efforts to infect Mac computers; and
Ongoing Windows threats, fueled by do-it-yourself exploit kits that make it easy to target Microsoft Office vulnerabilities.
The wait is finally over, Nokia Steel HR brings a new level of Health tracking: Heart rate monitoring with style, ease and unsurpassed battery life. Pre-orders where available and snapped up now its available to buy from mutiple outlets.
Nokia announces the launch of Nokia Steel HR, a connected healthy watch with fully featured activity tracking, heart rate monitoring and smartphone notifications. Continuing to spearhead the unique category of beautifully designed trackers within fashionable timepieces, the Nokia Steel HR marries classic French design with advanced heart rate monitoring and a 25-day battery life.
The Nokia Steel HR can automatically measure continuous heart rate during workouts, average heart rate during the day at the click of a button, and night heart rate while sleeping, whilst also offering a dynamic digital screen that displays your overall health data and smartphone notifications. In addition, the watch now features new tracking capabilities with automatic activity recognition for up to 10 new activities, from tennis to weight lifting and dance.
Seamless, Modern Design
The Nokia Steel HR has all the features of a stylish analog watch that users actually want to wear: French design, stainless steel casing, chrome hands, and modern silicone straps. In addition, the Nokia Steel HR is available in two sizes: 36mm and 40mm. The standard 36mm case comes with a 18mm strap and is available in black and white. The new 40mm case is available in black and comes with a 20mm strap.
The Nokia Steel HR features hand dials that show the time and a sub-dial that shows the percentage of personal daily activity goal achieved. The activity goal (e.g. 10,000 steps) is set within the free Nokia Health Mate application (available on iOS and Android) and keeps users up to date on their progress. The Nokia Steel HR also boasts a new dynamic digital screen at the top of the watch face, which displays health data and smartphone notifications.
Users can choose the information they would like to be shown on this screen through a multifunctional button on the side of the watch. This button allows users to navigate through data options including calories burned, daily steps, distance, sleep duration and smart alarm, and to receive notifications for calls, texts and event reminders.
The Nokia Steel HR is powered by a rechargeable battery that lasts up to 25 days, offering the best battery life for a heart monitoring activity tracker. After approximately 25 days of heart rate monitoring, The Nokia Steel HR will transition to power save mode, giving users an additional 20 days of battery life. In power save mode, the Nokia Steel HR will continue to track basic activity, including steps and swims.
Holistic Approach to Heart Rate Monitoring
The Nokia Steel HR goes beyond tracking steps by providing users with a more detailed look into their overall health and fitness performance. This is accomplished through a technology called photoplethysmography (PPG), which monitors heart rate using green LED lights to detect variation in the level of blood in the wrist. The Nokia Steel HR’s heart -rate algorithm has been developed to provide accurate measurements, especially during workouts when it’s used most.
During a workout session, users can launch a continuous heart rate session simply by pushing the multifunctional button on the watch. Moreover, the Nokia Steel HR will automatically initiate continuous heart rate while running. During exercise, seeing real-time heart rate at a glance can help optimize workout intensity and can motivate the user to improve performance. Post-workout, the user will then be able to view maximum heart rate, calories burned, and a “time in zone” graph directly within free Nokia Health Mate App.
On a daily basis, users can visualize how much time was spent in each heart rate zone, providing a holistic picture of their activity output. At night, Steel HR also automatically monitors the user’s pulse while sleeping to provide night heart rate – a key metric to assess overall health over time.
Holistic Approach to Heart Rate Monitoring
The Nokia Steel HR goes beyond tracking steps by providing users with a more detailed look into their overall health and fitness performance. This is accomplished through a technology called photoplethysmography (PPG), which monitors heart rate using green LED lights to detect variation in the level of blood in the wrist. The Nokia Steel HR’s heart -rate algorithm has been developed to provide accurate measurements, especially during workouts when it’s used most.
During a workout session, users can launch a continuous heart rate session simply by pushing the multifunctional button on the watch. Moreover, the Nokia Steel HR will automatically initiate continuous heart rate while running. During exercise, seeing real-time heart rate at a glance can help optimize workout intensity and can motivate the user to improve performance. Post-workout, the user will then be able to view maximum heart rate, calories burned, and a “time in zone” graph directly within free Nokia Health Mate App.
CHECK OUT THE LIMITED EDITION NOKIA STEEL
On a daily basis, users can visualize how much time was spent in each heart rate zone, providing a holistic picture of their activity output. At night, Steel HR also automatically monitors the user’s pulse while sleeping to provide night heart rate – a key metric to assess overall health over time.
The Nokia Steel HR connects to the free, Nokia Health Mate iOS and Android application. Acting as a powerful resource to manage many aspects of everyday health, Nokia Health Mate provides detailed information about activity including heart rate summaries, a daily timeline, personalized advice, and advanced food-logging capabilities. Nokia Health Mate also boasts a range of new tailored and targeted wellness programmes to help you on your journey in achieving your health goals.
It even allows users to share their data and challenge friends via “in app” interactive leaderboards and through social media channels. Nokia Health Mate also integrates with over 150 top health and fitness apps to further add to the 360° wellness experience.
Availability
Fully available at retailers (John Lewis, Curry’s, PC World and Dixons Travel. RRP £179.95 for Steel HR 40mm, and £169.95 for Steel HR 36mm and at nokiahealth.com
We are huge earphone and headphone fans here and have countless reviews on site and these will continue to be featured on site. SoulElectronics have kindly sent us over three of their products to check out including their latest SOUL ST – XS which are pretty cool indeed. All three of the products sent are well presented, have great build quality and their package consists of all the needs required for users with extra buds,and pouches to store the equipment and they sound good to on inital testing.
Check out the unboxing below and if you have any questions during our review period feel free to ask below or on our social channels. Stay tuned for more reviews coming your way soon. TechBuzzIreland brings you more product reviews, hands on and video than any other independent tech site in Ireland.
Traditional heating works by setting the temperature by using a thermostat to maintain a room temperature, regardless of whether the room is used constantly or only occasionally. A spare bedroom, children’s playroom, conservatory, office workspace or shed may have infrequent use, but in the colder weather still need warming up.
The new MeacoHeat Motion heaters with their unique motion detection sensors, can be used as stand-alone heaters for these spaces, as they will only switch on when a person walks into the room. When they leave the room they will switch off, saving money on heating bills as well as being kinder to the environment.
There are two models in the range available in either red, black or white, and their small stylish design means they will look good in any room in the house. MeacoHeat Motion use a safe PTC ceramic technology to offer fast start-up time with almost instant heat. A thermal cut out and tilt safety switch ensure that if they are accidentally knocked over that they switch off. A fan option means they can be used all year, adding warmth in the summer months on a chill day, but becoming a fan to cool a room in hotter weather.
The smaller model, 1.8kW has two outputs levels to save energy, a 1-7 hour off timer and a fan only mode for summer use.
The larger 2.0Kw adds oscillation to the specification to distribute the heat evenly through a 70° arc. A three level thermostat replaces the off timer to provide another level of control.
Safety-conscious, economical and stylish, MeacoHeat Motion heaters are perfect for filling in with some extra heat where it’s needed, or warming up a cold space fast.
We are no stranger to dashcams here and we have reviewed quite a few dashcams from Nextbase and to date all still work a treat and have been useful in some incidences and also for non motoring issues too you really can capture some unexpected footage by having one and I also keep saying it that every motorist should have a dashcam in their vehicle it will pay off in the end regardless..
Today we will do a quick unboxing and check out the specs and the product itself, its features so stay tuned for a full review in the coming weeks and if there is any questions you want answered in the interim feel free to ask below or on social media which is all linked on the top right on site.
Features
Twin rotating lens recording at full 1080p HD simultaneously, for front and rear protection.
Enhanced 2.7″ LCD screen and improved user interface
Click & Go GPS Magnetic Mounting system, which can be used for easy setup and installation in your vehicle
Wi-Fi to allow you to share your footage directly to your smartphone or tablet
Nextbase Replay 3 playback software which includes full video playback and editing facilities, as well as the ability to share clips via social media
GPS location and speed data to pinpoint incidents on your journey
Pretty popular toys these two but the Amazon Echo was the first to hit the market, but the Google Home is gaining ground. Hopefully the infographic will help you understand some more about the Assistants. Tane Clark from http://www.halfprice.com.au/ has created this infographic and sent it over for you to read and we hope you like it.
The Brainwavz BLU-100 in-ear monitors (IEMs) is excellent for sports, as supplied with Silicone Ear Tips (S M L) to ensure fits into the user’s ear. This ensures they securely fit in your ear when exercising or throughout your daily day. The materials build quality appears durable and flexible, while no magnet on the earphones.
Included in the Box:
Earphone Hardcase
3 sets of Silicone Ear Tips (S M L)
1 set of Comply™ Foam Tips S-400
1 Micro USB Charging Cable
Velcro Cable Tie
Instruction Manual
Warranty Card (24-month warranty)
Features:
Bluetooth, Wireless capabilities
Comfortable Fit
Light weight and durable
3 Button remote
Specifications:
Transducers/Drivers: Dynamic, 8 mm
Rated Impedance: 30 Ω Closed Dynamic
Sensitivity: 110 dB at 1 mW
Frequency range: 20 ~ 20000 Hz
Bluetooth 4.0 (CSRBC8645) with aptX
Operation max distance: 30 ft (10 m)
Battery: 60 mAh – 4 hrs playtime, 100 hrs standby, 2 hrs for full charge (Micro USB charging)
CVC echo and noise cancellation
Supports voice prompt for MMI: Power on / Paring / Connecting / Battery low / Power off
Supports HFP, HSP and A2DP
Supports pairing with two devices at the same time
The red and black Earphone Hard case is strong and secure to store the earphones, charging cable and ear tips. The case while strong would prevent damage to earphones, they are physically too big to be practical to carry around for a man, they do not fit comfortable in a pocket, rather need to be carried in a bigger bag / separate.
Warranty
The warranty as supplied on this unit advised 2 years, some website or suppliers advise a 1-year warranty, this would be worth checking out if purchasing on the web.
Charging:
The unit does not come with a mains charger but does come with the Micro USB charging (standard android charger) cable. It takes approx. 2 hours for a full charge giving 4 hrs playtime, 100 hrs standby. The standby can cause issues when the phone is paired to ensure the audio is not via the earphone when not in use when taking a call. The Physical L (left side) charging socket on the head is excellent easy to use removing a cover on the right earphone.
Setup & use:
The setup is easy with no app to download, this can be paired directly to your phone as required. The instructions are straightforward with a 3 Button remote, its allows to you take phone calls, adjust volume, or change your playlist without slowing down. The controls work with Apple iOS products, Android & Windows phones & PC. This was also connected to a windows lap without any issues and worked (the quality did not appear as good as from an android phone). Various BT earphones were used in the past which have not sync with a standard windows laptop, this unit synch straight away to the laptop allowing YouTube or music directly from the laptop.
The power on / off button advises via audio when the unit is powered on & off, when connected via Blue tooth which is a great feature. The Brainwavz BLU-100 is comfortable to wear once the correct Silicone Ear Tips are used. There is the option of small, medium and large sizes and a set of Comply.
The cable supplied are flat to prevent tangle with the cables. No tangles were observed with the cable due to the short cable from ear to ear. The Brainwavz have made no mention of sweat or water-resistant while appear sealed in the right areas.
Quality
The audio quality is not perfect but when used via BT from an Android phone the difference is negligible when compared to more expensive BT headsets costing in the hundreds. The correct Silicone Ear Tips when used gave worthy noise isolation and fit, these were miles ahead of some budget earphones. The access to all the various features been a tap away / hold away was instinct and simplicity. The Brainwavz BLU-100 has lots of appeal ahead of many products on the market for the price.
