Social networks now are more or less following each other on ideas and the latest one is the “Activity Status” simply meaning the obvious letting others know when you are online and when your friends are online kinda like what Facebook does and also WhatsApp, and this also notes when you have checked your Direct messages with a read/seen receipt.
This is rather creepy and sad and it just came in my update tonight and I am glad I checked because it show your status by default the sneaky buggers. So to turn it off head to your settings page and scroll down to Activity Status and toggle to “OFF” When this is done you are covered and means you cant see others status unless you are into that kind of things.
Hit us up there by the way for the latest tech products and pictures. Follow us HERE
Leading stylus manufacturer, Adonit, is today pleased to announce the UK availability of INK – a fine point stylus created exclusively for Windows powered tablets and devices. The INK is available for £44.49 from Amazon with Prime delivery and the ‘Amazon’s Choice’ badge making it even easier to order on an Echo device.
Certified by Microsoft, the Adonit INK provides a turnkey stylus solution to any Windows device. Write and draw in exquisite detail with the INK’s 1mm fine point tip that is both replaceable and streamlined. Ideal for design, the tip is also pressure sensitive and emulates real handwriting. Lines appear thicker or thinner depending on how hard the stylus is pressed whilst drawing or writing, meaning that intricate pieces of art can be created as naturally as if using pen and paper. The INK has a pressure level of 4096 for Surface 5 PRO and 1024 for Surface 4 PRO.
Rushed business meetings or frantic note taking at the back of a lecture theatre can be much neater with the handy palm rejection feature that allows users to write naturally and comfortably without worrying about extra marks on the page or PowerPoint. If a mistake in notes or doodles is made, the two shortcut buttons allow for easy right clicking and erasing.
With no need to connect to Bluetooth or an app, simply power on the INK to begin using it, saving time and effort. Once on, a green light will display enabling the user to place the tip on the screen to navigate, tap or write. Never get caught out again by a low power stylus with the INK’s useful LED lights that indicate whether the device is turned on or off, the level of charge and when it is charging. The quick connection is designed to fit into users’ busy, fast moving daily lives to make sure notes, reminders or design inspiration are never missed.
With 80 hours of battery life and a full charge time of just 45 minutes by USB, travelling with the INK could not be more convenient. Users can enjoy being creative whilst on long plane, train or car journeys and then simply use the clip function to ensure the INK is with them at all times. Weighing just 12g and having a 9.2mm diameter, it is a very comfortable travel companion.
Versatile apps – Whether in a board room meeting, a lecture hall, noting down recipes in the kitchen or sketching new designs, the INK makes life more convenient. Using apps such as PowerPoint and OneNote, handwritten notes can be taken for business, studying or leisure. If looking for a more creative use, the INK works with apps including Sketchpad, Autodesk SketchBook and Fresh Paint allowing users to create sketches, paintings and illustrations on the move. A full list of apps available for Windows INK can be found here.
Jasper Li, CTO for Adonit comments,“INK was our opportunity to create the ultimate stylus for Windows users. We wanted to make INK as versatile as possible, incorporating premium features like pressure sensitivity and shortcut buttons for artists and productivity seekers alike. It’s a highly capable, convenient, and affordable solution that brings convenience and accuracy to Microsoft customers.”
Technology offers endless opportunities to streamline life and work, and a stylus brings an added level of convenience. Adonit INK combines a high quality and on-trend design with the essential accessory needed for any Windows user.
Windows Compatible – INK was created exclusively for Windows powered tablets and 2-in-1 devices and is compatible with many Asus, Dell, HP and Microsoft devices including the Surface range. For a full list of devices that the INK will work with, please see here.
Adonit INK is available in Black, Silver and Midnight Blue £44.49 from Amazon. See more on Facebook @ Adonit Europe.
Pretty cool looking it is and great to see something different rather than the many generic VR headsets we have out there today, The ZEISS VR One Plus headset has dropped in with thanks to the good guys at ZEISS.
Today we have a quick unboxing and walkaround before we check it out and see how good it is which I am looking forward to, I If you have any questions in the meantime please ask below or on Social Media.
There is several apps you can download on Android and iOS to enjoy the experiences ZEISS have to offer. The VR ONE Plus’ lenses offer a sharp picture over the entire field of view of 100°. No manual adjustments necessary. And it even works for wearers of spectacles. The headset can be purchased HERE
The first Dell VEX Primary School Regional Competition of 2018 is taking place today in Cork Institute of Technology (CIT). The competition is run by Dell, in collaboration with CIT who have been involved with the programme since Dell brought it to Ireland six years ago.
67 Primary School Teams Compete in Final Stages of Competition
The first Dell VEX Robotics competition for secondary schools took place in 2012 featuring 10 teams before expanding in 2014 with the creation of the VEX IQ Primary School competition with 19 primary school teams competing that year. Over recent years, the competition has grown from strength to strength. 98 teams are involved in this year’s contest; 67 from primary schools and 31 from secondary schools. In total, 1,800 students from seven counties will participate over five days of events in the final stages of the competition.
The Dell VEX Robotics Challenge calls on students at primary and secondary school level to work in teams to design, build and program a robot. In September schools are provided with an easy to follow curriculum to help the schools run the preparation stages independently with the support of Dell employees who have volunteered their time to visit participating schools and provide guidance to students and teachers. Preparation with students has been taking place since September with scrimmages taking place in schools during November to prepare students for the competition phases.
Liam Daly and Aoibheann Roche of Burnfort NS Mallow with classmates preparing for the competition. The first Dell VEX Primary School Regional Competition of 2018 took place today in Cork Institute of Technology (CIT). The competition is run by Dell, in collaboration with CIT who have been involved with the programme since Dell brought it to Ireland six years ago. The semi-finals will take place on January 17th and 18th at CIT and at the Dell Limerick Campus on February 1st. The finals will take place in CIT on March 1st. The overall winners will get a spot in the VEX World Competition in Kentucky.
At the semi-final events, primary schools will compete against each other, present their projects to the judges and compete in a teamwork challenge with the finalists announced at the end of the day. The finals of the Primary School competition is taking place on March 1st in Cork Institute of Technology with the overall winners getting a spot in the VEX World Competition in Kentucky,
Bob Savage, Managing Director and Vice President EMEA, Dell Centre of Excellence said:“As a company we’re passionate about showcasing the exciting side of STEM subjects and inspiring students to become interested in science, technology, engineering and maths. Ultimately, we hope programmes like Dell VEX Robotics will have an impact on the choices students make when preparing for their Leaving Cert and when selecting courses for third level education. With Ireland’s tech sector continuing to thrive and technologies such as AI, VR and AR expected to be a core part of the future of work – regardless of the job or profession a student pursues, gaining these computational and engineering skills while still at school will be invaluable to them for the future.”
Dónal Ó Murchú, Principal, GaelScoil Thomais Daibhis, Mallow said: “The Dell VEX Robotics Programme is changing mindsets and addressing real issues with a problem-solving attitude; it focuses and inspires our young pupils to become the new innovators of their future. The fact that the pupils were more knowledgeable about some aspects of the robotics than their teachers meant that in our school the learning was pupil–led rather than what one might ordinarily expect.”
There are several aspects that differentiate the VEX Robotics Competition which is run by Dell from other school based projects. The competition focuses on engaging children from a young age with students as young as 9 and 10 years old designing robots. Typically, it involvesfull classes at primary level, meaning it engages all students and not just those who might already be tech-oriented. This is key to building that pipeline of talent that the technology industry needs to thrive. It also provides a wealth of opportunities to get involved within the community, from volunteers who provide mentoring sessions at their local school, to those who volunteer at an event as a referee, judge, inspector or more.
Eoghan neison, Manahil sabir, Dolly Sheehan and Jess young of Cork Educate Together N.S., Grattan Street. Cork City
The Dell VEX Robotics Challenge is delivered by Dell with the support of CIT. Throughout the last year, strategic partnerships have been built with various educational institutions. Mary Immaculate College in Limerick delivered a module on VEX Robotics for student teachers, held a summer course for school teachers and sponsored a number of teams. The Education Support Centres in Cork and Limerick both hosted VEX Robotics support sessions for teachers.
If you own the Nokia 8 get checking now, And also this is coming much earlier than previous updates which we have seen which tend to rollout near the end of the month so this is good to see. The Update is not particularly large either coming in at 97.3 MB. There is no more info at hand regarding whats in the update but just the January Patch,but check your device now and see if you can avail of it.
Brainwavz – the Delta IEM in-ear noise isolating earphones. For just over £20 /$27.50, they deliver a great sound and don’t break the bank! No available in the UK.
Global audio specialist Brainwavz, established in 2008 with a focus on offering high quality products at a competitive price, today announces the availability of its Delta IEM Noise Isolating Earphones in the UK. The Delta IEM are the latest in the Brainwavz range of over 25 earphones and headphones and have already received acclaim from U.S website The Wirecutter who picked them as the best in-ear earphones for under $40. The Delta IEM represent great value at £20.27 /$27.50, fromwww.brainwavzaudio.com
Image converted using ifftoany
The Brainwavz Delta produce vocals and instruments with detailed clarity, ensuring music sounds just as the artist intended. With dynamic 8mm drivers encased in an all metal housing, the Delta earphones are tuned to pair with all genres of music. Together with a multi-function 3 button microphone and remote, the Deltas deliver perfect audio sound and clarity whether used for general music listening or for audio calls.
Whilst most other earphones available for a similar price make a compromise on sound quality, the Delta with its balanced bass do not with The Wirecutter commenting, “The Brainwavz have a sense of space that makes music sound like a concert happening in front of you. This is a sign of higher quality drivers.“
For the excellent price, the Delta IEM noise isolation earphones also come with a hard case, 3 sets of silicon ear tips (small, medium and large) as well as a set of S-400 Comply foam tips and a shirt clip and Velcro cable tie to ensure maximum comfort and positioning whilst listening to music or taking a phone call.
Brainwavz continues to add to its following of loyal fans with its reputation for affordable audio products of great quality, value for money and superb after sales service. The Delta IEM isolating earphones with microphone & remote hope to increase this fan base further in the UK.
Brainwavz also have a fantastic range of audio accessories including headphone memory foam earpads for extra comfort on both Brainwavz or other branded headphones here and headphone hangers and storage solutions here. We also have reviewed some of their products which you will find using the search bar be sure to check them out.
It is the simple things in life that we seem to ignore but they have been looking at us in the face a long long time.
I got quite a few tech gifts for Christmas which is nothing new but this year I bought a few bits I will emphasise on some more due to the fact I said I can live without them but thought maybe they would be useful rather than MEH, and one of them is the gadgetpro phone holder which turns out to be useful,this is primarily ideal depending on ones personal setup and certainly for the bedroom on your locker, it keeps yout hands free..
Example being I like to watch some You tube when I go to bed for a while but I constantly have my phone in the had which is a pain in the backside to be honest but this just eliminates it. You could also use it for cooking,reading the news or social and perhaps food menus and clip it on to your counter just some example of to its many uses.
This can also clip on to your table or laptop itself if you have big bezels and not to interfeer to much with screen. It really is simple and easy to use with two parts in the box. You get the cable that is adjustable to move in any way possible and the clip to hold your device which holds nearly any smartphone out there but its also solid but it does get a bit less robust in its power and is a bit springy on touch depending on how straight the cable is so its best to keep it more coiled for a stable environment.
Overall thoughts, its a nice simple idea that is cost effective and useful and for sure it will make things a bit easier for me at home and keep my hands off my phone for a bit longer as its always attached to me in some form so its a good thing in general. The good feature is that the grips both on the phone holder and mount itself are padded well which will not damage the surfaces its connected too and its a snap in ball joint for the phone holder which also can be adjusted to your personal needs.. For three EURO you cant fucking complain.
If you got some new tech tell us what you think about it.
The Nokia 8 flagship has recently got some poor reports of its camera prowess from DxOMark which got mixed results from the public and my take on it from using the device in the real world is that it takes brilliant photos and I dont use it in confined spaces like labs to carry out tests, tests we have seen before which have been rediculed giving statements to phones at launch events before its been even used in the public or real world tests but that is an arguement for another day and I call bulshit on their test result, it takes great pictures and here is just one below to prove and you can read a take on this report from our good friends over at NokiaMob.
Polaroid is making a comeback this year and make no mistake you will see many folk sporting their portable printers or similar gadjets this year and I can see myself being one of them for sure.
Vodafone are now giving a FREE polaroid ZIP INSTANT printer when you buy the Nokia 8 which is available until Jan 31st 2016, here you can read the FULL TERMS AND CONDITIONS which are simple and straight forward.
The deal is available online and instore so you have options to choose from which is good and its not limited to online only. Our review of the Nokia 8 will be up in the coming days but in short its a great phone for the money and you cant go wrong. If this deal suits your needs you can head HERE to check it out.. Also Nokia have an offer too with a free ZEISS VR ONE headset. We will be talking about that some more soon.
The Lightwave Link Plus, Smart Dimmer L21 and Lightwave Smart Socket 2 gang provides the technology to monitor and control lighting, power and heating whether you are in the home, or out and about, using a smart-phone, tablet or PC. These are beneficial features if used for security to ensure lights etc are turned on / off as required.
This can be used at your choice of timing or sitting indoors for a romantic night adjusting the lights from the couch. This model is Apple HomeKit compatibility, 2-way communication, built-in energy monitoring. The dimmer and socket can be fitted DIY installation with no extra cabling or specific tools.
The Link Plus as a hub on its own this does not do much, while part of the overall system connected to the Lightwave products, it can integrate with other products seamlessly to allow you to control dimmer or sockets.
UNBOXING
Specification: Lightwave Smart Dimmer L21
RF frequency: 868 MHz
Input rating: 230V~ 50Hz
Output rating: 350W max
Incandescent Load: 10W min 350W max
Back Box Depth: 35mm min
Earthing Requirement: Not essential (double insulated)
Standby Energy Use: Less than 1W
Wiring: Neutral wire NOT required
Warranty: 2-year standard warranty
Circuit Type:non-SELVS
The Lightwave Smart Dimmer L21 comes in a sturdy box, these can be legally DIY installed in your home but if in doubt contact a qualified electrician
Lightwave Smart Socket (2 Gang)
What’s in the Box
Spacer (0.39 in./10 mm)
Instruction guide
Tech Specs
Other Features: HomeKit Compatible, Wireless
Internet Access: Internet Access Required
Connections: Wireless
Power Source: AC
Height: 3.46 in./8.8 cm
Width: 5.91 in./15 cm
Depth: 1.18 in./3 cm
CONTENTS GALLERY
Installation:
Installation was quite easy with a basic knowledge of electricity required, ensuring all safety precautions are taken, especially turning off the mains electricity supply before setup. This installation involved replacing the light switch in the room, then controlling the switch from a mobile app. Setting up the Lightwave Link Plus to the dimmer & Smart Socket (2 gang) was straightforward. The App again was straightforward to setup and use.
INSTALLATION GALLERY
The most important part of the kit from an installation point of view – is the Wiring: Neutral wire is NOT required. The Neutral wire is not used in the UK / Ireland. Some brands require the Neutral wire to be used resulting in a difficult installation wiring back to the fuse board. There are some minimum tools required without the need for specialised tools.
The Link Plus gateway is powering via microUSB, and then plugging into the ethernet, from here you will set up the device via your mobile. You need a Lightwave account which is added the Link Plus using the code on the back of it. The setup took about 5 minutes to set up once the manual wiring was done. It would be recommended prior to any changes in the wiring, to take photos of the original setup as a fall-back position.
Observation:
The original dimmer switch physically had a small electronic block in the switch, the Lightwave contained a bigger electronics circuit resulting in difficulty fitting into the unit. An extra packing at the back of the unit was used to push out the unit to allow the electronics to physically fit into the socket.
The Lightwave Link Plus is light weight with a green light around the box, this is ok during the day but impractical at night, with the glow radiation the complete room, (annoying in the dark). The Lightwave Link Plus must be placed out of sight as there is no way to remove the green glow. The dimmer switch has a blue light when powered on and a red light when off, this may be a minor distraction for some if used when sleeping.
THE APP ITSELF
LightwaveRF Home Automation app:
The app was developed in Birmingham and downloaded as normal via the Play store. The LightwaveRF Smart Home Platform allows you to monitor and control lighting, power and heating whether you are in the home, or out and about, using a smart-phone, tablet or PC.
Assessment:
A survey revealing that 24% of UK homes now contain a smart home device of some sort, Convenience and peace of mind are the two driving forces behind the 135% year-on-year increase in smart home device sales, according to a new survey by technology retailer Maplin.
The Lightwave support is based in the UK (while manufactured in China), this ensures support is familiar with local wiring standards which is a great plus if requiring support. This would be a strong consideration if looking for a DIY smart home solution. The Lightwave solution will not break the bank as compared to a professional installed system been relatively easy to install will a little electrical knowledge. This has the main features of a professional system which is expanding with the app.
There are options to monitor, control and schedule lighting, power and heating requirements by individual room. Alternatively, setup moods by room for lighting and power or complex events to turn on or off multiple devices across many rooms with one button.
“Smart homes” integrate technology to optimize and control utilities, electronics, and security systems. If you plan on been part of this growth area, looking for an affordable solution, easy to fit with a user-friendly interface, support ability to automate and customise, then the Lightwave system is certainly the way to go.
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