Month: February 2018

Boots Ireland App update has a host of features and New Digital Advantage Card #Boots #Apps #AdvanatageCard

The Boots Advantage Card is used regularly by 1 million Irish customers and is one of Ireland’s most loved loyalty programmes. The Boots Digital Advantage Card is now available via the Boots phone app which we have covered before and will enable customers to earn points simply and swiftly at the till via the phone app, with a host of additional new functions also available. Boots Advantage Card customers earn 4 points for every €1 spent. Boots customers that download or upgrade the app can avail of a bonus 400 points when they spend €20 in store or online.

The generous points system remains unchanged, with Boots Advantage Card customers earning 4 points for every €1 spent, and members of the Boots Parenting Club, and the Over 60s programme, earning a boosted 10 points for every €1 on a selected range of products.

The new version of the Boots Ireland App has a host of features other than the New Digital Advantage Card, including:

  • A range of personalised offers for each customer
  • Online shopping and appointment booking service
  • New vitamin reminder and health advice function
  • Store locator to quickly find nearest Boots store and the services offered
  • Wide range of photo printing services

As a special offer, Boots customers can avail of a bonus 400 points when they spend €20 in store or online.

Insights from the Boots Advantage Card programme reveal that the most popular item to be redeemed via points is cotton wool pads, followed by bottled water and Boots cucumber face wipes. Looking further at the spending habits of Irish Boots Advantage Card users, Christmas is the most popular time of year for Boots customers to choose a points purchase, and Fridays top the table as the most popular day of the week for customers to pay with points – allowing a little more spending power heading into the weekend.

Commenting on the launch of the Boots Digital Advantage Card, Mark Barry, IT Director for Boots UK & Ireland said: “We are always looking to bring our customers new and exciting ways of getting better value for their purchases and bringing the Boots Advantage Card into the digital space is an important step in making it easier than ever to collect and spend points. The new app also offers a range of new services that were developed with the Boots customer in mind, which we hope will be really popular.”

Commenting on the new launch, Gillian Hennessy, Head of Marketing at Boots Ireland says: “We are really proud of what the Boots Advantage Card has offered to Irish shoppers over the last decade, and this new launch introduces the easiest way ever to carry your Boots Advantage Card. The insights show that a million Irish people regularly benefit by using the Boots Advantage Card points system, and we’re delighted the new digital version provides a streamlined way to earn and spend points.”

How to get the Boots Digital Advantage Card:

  1. Download the Boots app on the Apple App Store or on Google Play
  2. Customers who have a Boots Advantage card then click ‘My Advantage Card’
  3. Click ‘Add my card’ and enter your Boots Advantage Card number and details
  4. You’re all set! Your Boots Digital Advantage Card barcode, points available to spend and personalised offers will appear in the app

For more information on the Boots Digital Advantage Card and how to download, visit boots.ie/advantage-card

 

The Studio19 SOLO EQ speaker with Dual Pressure Air Compression Technology and Enhanced 360° Optimized Sound

British audio design specialists, Studio19, is today pleased to announce the launch of the Solo EQ speaker on crowd funding platform,Indiegogo. The Solo EQ is a precision-engineered speaker system that’s ready to connect with music, movies and gaming for a premium audio experience. Built using patented Dual Pressure Air Compression (DPAC) super-bass technology and Enhanced 360° Optimized Sound, the Solo produces a fully immersive auditory experience with an exceptionally detailed and nuanced sound quality throughout the entire room.

 

Early Bird backers will be able to pick up the Solo EQ for just $379 (RRP $599) with an estimated delivery date of just 10-12 weeks.

Beautifully designed in powder-coated stainless steel, the Solo uses state-of-the-art speaker drivers with a maximum output of up to 200 watts, loud enough to handle virtually any occasion with no compromise in quality. The Solo is one of the world’s first “enhanced degree” patented 3D-effect portable Hi-Fi speakers. Unlike conventional 360° sound, the Solo’s Enhanced 360° Optimized Sound flows not only left to right but top to bottom. This creates an omni-directional spread with wide, directional waves that circulate throughout a room, giving the authentic impression of a multi-speaker environment from a single speaker.

 

Cutting edge digital processing power means that the Solo heightens the essential characteristics of the audio you listen too, resulting in a rich, dynamic sound that truly brings your music to life. The Solo EQ has a built-in professional EQ Graphic Equalizer, a digital sound enhancement not normally found in portable speakers, allowing you to fine tune your music even further. Add more bass, mid-range or treble to get exactly the sound you want.

 

Features:

  • Bluetooth Connectivity options for versatile play
  • Wifi connectivity for multi room playback and control
  • HDMI port: Connect to an HDTV for an enhanced sound bar experience
  • Active 3-band Graphic EQ to tailor your sound
  • Enhanced 360° Optimized Sound for omni-directional audio
  • Advanced DSP for full dynamic range
  • Dual Pressure Air Compression Technology for a super bass experience
  • Movie/Music/Gaming modes to optimize the sound source
  • Available in space grey or gold

Specifications:

  • Working voltage: 7.4V
  • Charging voltage: DC 5V 3A
  • Max Output: 200W
  • Driver Unit: bass 3Ω, middle 4Ω*2, treble 4Ω*2
  • Driver Size: bass 5 inch, middle 2.5 inch, treble 1.5 inch
  • Frenquency：20Hz~18kHz
  • S/N: ≥100dB
  • Distortion: ≤0.5%
  • Bluetooth Version: 4.2 with TWS
  • Bluetooth distance: 10M
  • Battery Capacity: 8800 mAh
  • Size: 143mm x 143mm x 602mm
  • Weight: 3.2kg

SUPPORT THEM ON INDIEGOGO

Thousands of employees to ‘go remote’ as Ireland prepares for #BeastfromtheEast #Remote

It would be nice if we could all do it but its not relevant to a percentage of the population but with the situation at hand it is the sensible thing to do for those that can..Many more companies could introduce a work from home set up and perhaps now is a time to look into it. 

Thousands of employees across the country will work from home in the coming days, as Ireland faces its worst blizzard since 1982.

Abodoo calls for employers to consider remote working as a longer-term option 

As the country gears up for the ‘Beast from the East’, start-up Abodoo, which champions remote and flexible career opportunities, is highlighting how remote working can help employers avoid work disruptions year-round.

Commenting today (27.02.18), Vanessa Tierney, co-founder of Abodoo, said: “When bad weather hits, many employers are thrown into disarray.  They may not have the systems and procedures in place to facilitate remote working, so a weather event like the ‘Best from the East’ can cause severe disruption to their business.

“On the other hand, those employers that facilitate remote working year-round have nothing to fear from bad weather.  They have provided flexible working options for their employees, which means their business will continue to run smoothly no matter what the weather conditions. 

“If employees can work from home, they don’t have to venture out and try to drive to work in perilous conditions.  During storms, remote working is the safest and most sensible option.

“At Abodoo, we believe remote working shouldn’t be the exception and employers should offer this option to employees throughout the year, and not just at times of adverse weather conditions.”

Business Case for Remote Working

According to Ms. Tierney, there is a strong business case for remote working, year-round.

“Apart from avoiding disruption during bad weather, remote working leads to cost-savings, better retention levels, higher rates of employee satisfaction, and greater opportunities for working parents, people with disabilities, and those living outside major urban areas,” she said.  “It’s better for the environment because people need to commute less, and it allows people more choice in where they live and the type of homes they buy.  

Abodoo highlighted the “figures that prove remote working makes sense”, including:

  • Remote workers save, on average, between €2,000 and €7,000 and hundreds of hours of travel time per year – just by removing their daily commute.
  • 82% of those who work from home report lower stress levels as a result.
  • 58% of companies in Ireland (in a 2016 survey of 540 companies) confirmed they are investing in cloud technology, of which 46% confirmed this would benefit remote working.
  • 15% of large multinational companies in Ireland now support home-working, and this figure is increasing year on year.
  • Companies that promote remote working report an increase in staff retention of over 50 per cent; and a reduction in absenteeism of 63%.
  • 91% of companies that facilitate remote working experience increased productivity.
  • Companies will save on average of €11,000 per employee that is remote and many start by implementing a hybrid or flexible model.
  • Figures from Census 2016 show the scale of the daily exodus from two out of every three local authority areas due to a lack of local job and educational opportunities. Rates of unemployment in rural areas include: 16% of Cavan; 19% of Longford; over 14% of Mayo and 15% of Wexford.

Review – Urbanista San Franciso Green Camo earphones. #tech #earphones #urbanistalife

The Urbanista San Francisco earphones are multi-functional earphones for everyday use. This colour would not suit everyone but could be a dream earphone for some. The flat cable looks strong and is designed to be tangle free. The remote allows you to take calls and control your music.

 Box Contains:

Urbanista San Francisco In-Ear Headphones – Green Camo

Features:

  • The earpieces are perfectly shaped for an ergonomic fit
  • Tangle-free flat cable is as practical as it is stylish
  • The remote allows you to take calls, pause and play your tunes or skip between tracks
  • Whether you’re listening to your favourite music or chatting with a friend on the phone, the San Francisco set gives you an enjoyable audio experience with crisp highs and a rich sound.

 

Specification:

Speaker size: φ14.2mm

 95dB ±3dB SPL @1KHz

Impedance: 32ohms ±15% @1KHz

Frequency: 20-20.000Hz

Hands-free with microphone

Compatible with Android, iOS and Windows

Weight: 16g (without packaging)

Weight including packaging: 61g

 Packaging size: 50x30x120mm

 

Warranty:

Urbanista One Year Limited Warranty

 

Colours:

There is a variety of colours available to match your style to name a few, San Francisco Blue Petroleum, Pink Paradise, Sunset Boulevard, Lucky Rainbow, Coral Island, Dark Clown, Crispy Apple, and Fluffy Cloud

 

Overview:

One on the advantages (double edge sword) of these earphones is the earphone themselves, they don’t have the option to inset a larger or smaller gel to fit the size of your ears, one size fits all approach. This works great if they fit comfortable, however some of the more expensive may include a gel type earpiece that can often get lost / fall off a continuous wear. The flat cable is a bonus to prevent tangles to the cable even after been folded into a pocket.

The audio quality is respectable for the price range while when the volume was turned up to max, this could be heard by another person sitting beside you. The remote allows you to take calls, pause and play your tunes or skip between tracks. San Francisco is compatible with Android, iOS and Windows. This worked perfectly when connected to a laptop and iPhone.

BUY HERE

Novi PatchGuard to deliver €750,000 revenue. #Novi #IT #PatchGuard #Ransomware

Novi, the cyber security and proactive IT provider, today announces that it is launching Novi PatchGuard, a new vulnerability and patch management service. Novi PatchGuard enables Novi’s customers to automate the patch management process and reduces risk by keeping systems up-to-date and secure against malware and cyber security breaches. The new service is forecast to generate €750,000 in revenue in the next 24 months. It will be available to businesses both in Ireland and internationally.

Ransomware and associated threats are causing real problems for Irish organisations, leading to an average financial cost of €107,210 per attack and in some cases, serious reputational damage. Global ransomware damage costs are predicted to exceed $11.5 billion annually by 2019, with businesses coming under attack by ransomware every 14 seconds. As the threat landscape continues to evolve and the number of threats increases, companies are struggling to effectively identify vulnerabilities on an ongoing basis. The Novi PatchGuard service will help businesses to meet this challenge head-on. Novi PatchGuard will secure devices by streamlining the patching process, routinely identifying vulnerabilities and applying patches.

 

George O’Dowd, managing director, Novi

Novi has invested €110,000 to develop and bring the new service to market, bringing to €330,000 the amount that it has invested in launching new services in the past year. Novi’s specialist team of highly trained cyber security professionals will deliver the service from the company’s advanced Proactive Service Centre in Naas, Co. Kildare. Novi PatchGuard is managed via a centralised, cloud-based dashboard that provides real-time visibility into known vulnerabilities and missing patches across all devices. Comprehensive scanning functionality reports on patches that have been installed and identifies any that are missing. The service then automatically applies patches to all devices on a schedule, including to remote laptops and devices once they come online. This saves Novi’s customers time and effort and allows them to focus on growing their businesses.

George O’Dowd, managing director, Novi, said: “Ransomware has increased both in frequency and its potential to cause damage and companies now need to make sure to implement the necessary measures to protect their data. Failure to do so could result not only in significant financial harm, but also irreparably damage the organisation’s reputation.

Novi has invested €510,000 in a new Proactive Service Centre in Naas, Co. Kildare. Pictured is George O’Dowd, managing director, Novi.

“Novi PatchGuard will help IT administrators move away from the tedious task of manual patching, and embrace the advantages that automated patching offers, including comprehensive scanning for patch status on every single device and faster rollout of patches for commonly exploited vulnerabilities such as the Wannacry ransomware strain.

Together with Novi’s other service offerings such as our off-site data recovery service AirGap, Novi PatchGuard will enable our customers to effectively defend against cybercriminals and prevent malware from accessing their data and systems.”

Review – Jabra Stealth Wireless Bluetooth Headset – Black/Orange #Jabra #JabraStealth

The Jabra Stealth Bluetooth Headset design (colours) may or may not be to all taste, however this is a solid build quality. The design is simplistic, necessitating the need for a variety of buttons to clutter the functionality on the headset. There are no volume buttons and the front of the unit has the answer and end-call buttons on the front of the headset in easy reach with the voice control button on the bottom of the headset.

Features:

  • Approx. 2 hours to recharge the headset
  • Micro USB hidden under the port protector
  • Different sized ear gels to fit your ears
  • Can be worn on the left or the right ear
  • Great battery life
  • Lightweight
  • 3 buttons and a single lead
  • Android NFC option to pair the unit
  • Noise isolation

App: Jabra Assist is a smartphone app that enables GPS tracking of the headset, pairing assistance, and headset battery status. Android download – Google Play, iOS download – App Store.

Warranty: A limited one-year warranty applies to all Jabra mobile products purchased from an authorised reseller.

Connect to phone:

The connection to a smart phone is standard; Press and hold (3 secs) the Answer/End button until the Bluetooth indicator flashes blue, and pairing mode is announced in the headset. The voice-guided pairing instructions are then followed. Near-field communication (NFC) in a smart phone can also be used by enabling the NFC, then slowly slide the NFC zone of the headset against the NFC zone of the mobile device until a connection is confirmed.

One advantage of the mono earpiece is the awareness of the surroundings when on a call or listening to music, (watch someone unfamiliar singing or talking very loudly when they have two earphones plugged in). The Jabra Stealth headset is secure and comfortable when in use while also has the requirement you would expect from Jabra i.e. good audio quality and noise cancelling technology.

Available from: https://www.jabra.co.uk/bluetooth-headsets/jabra-stealth £69.99

Nokia announces 5 new handsets at MWC 2018 #Nokiamobile #MWC18

There was no shortage of handsets announced today at MWC 18 but for those who where expecting more such as many leaks suggested like the Nokia 8 pro and Nokia 10 will feel left out and perhaps will learn a lesson today,dont believe everything you read. Moving on though we did get 5 new handsets including a revived Nokia 8110 which looks really cool.

There is phones for evey pocket now from Nokia and HMD Global and a really strong partnership with Google and all devices from the Nokia 3 up will get Android ONE. Also there was talk about their partnership with ZEISS optics which is now on several devices and they also promised to improve their technology even more only 7 months after teaming back up with Nokia..

First up is the 8810 with 4G –  €79 ships in May.

This device will start shipping in May at an average cost of 79 euros and I really like this one,dubbed the banana phone from its days of old it will come packed with features and include a WiFi hotspot Google Maps and Assistant and of course all your social media apps,the device comes in two colours Black and Yellow..

Outside

  • Polycarbonate shell

  • 2 MP camera with LED flash

  • 2.4” curved display

 Inside

  • Smart Feature OS powered by KaiOS

  • Qualcomm® 205 mobile platform (MSM8905)

  • 512 MB RAM

  • 4 GB storage

  • FULL SPECS HERE 

The Nokia 1 – with xpress on covers launches in April retail price 85 dollars in key markets.

Nokia 1 comes with Android 8.1 Oreo (Go edition), optimized so you can use apps faster, without annoying lags. Plus, the pre-loaded apps are designed to use less storage space and data, so you’ll be able to do more and fit more photos and apps on your phone.

  • Inherently colored two-tone polycarbonate shell

  • 5 MP rear camera with LED flash

  • 2 MP front camera

  • 4.5” FWVGA IPS display

  • Secure and up-to-date Android 8.1 Oreo (Go edition)

  • MT6737M Quad Core 1.1GHz

  • 1 GB LPDDR3 RAM

  • 8 GB eMMC, microSD up to 128 GB

  • FULL SPECS HERE

The NOKIA 6 2018 – ZIESS OPTICS, Bothie,wireless charging and face unlock and launches April 2018 for estimated €279

The new Nokia 6 comes fully equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 processor and 4 GB of RAM. This means you’ll spend less time waiting for your apps to load and more time enjoying them with your friends.

Outside

  • Series 6000 aluminum unibody

  • 16 MP PDAF rear camera with ZEISS optics

  • 8 MP front camera

  • 5.5” IPS full-HD display with Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3

  • Inside

    • Secure and up-to-date Android Oreo with regular updates

    • Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 630 mobile platform

    • High-fidelity spatial audio recording

    • 3 GB of fast, LPDDR 4 RAM

    • Plenty of space with 32 GB mass storage¹ and MicroSD card slot² (support up to 128 GB)

    • FULL SPECS HERE 

 

 The Nokia 7 plus. – Launches in April for €399..ZEISS OPTICS 12 AND 13 MP. 6 Layers of ceraminc feel paint and anodized twice.

Machined from a solid block of 6000 series aluminium, Nokia 7 plus is a phone that can take what life throws at you and look good while doing it. Its subtle curves and ceramic-feel coating bring the best of both worlds: a great grip and a clean look.

Outside

  • Series 6000 aluminum unibody

  • 12MP wide-angle ZEISS camera, 13MP telephoto ZEISS camera

  • 16 MP front camera with ZEISS optics

  • 6″ 18:9 IPS LCD full HD+ display with Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3

Inside

  • Secure and up-to-date Android Oreo

  • Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 660 mobile platform

  • Nokia spatial audio recording

  • 4 GB of fast, LPDDR 4 RAM

  • 64 GB mass storage and MicroSD card slot (support up to 256 GB)

  • FULL SPECS HERE 

The Nokia 8 Sirocco, Price  €749 Comes with 6GB RAM 128GB Nokia Spatial Audio 5.5 INCH screen,snapdragon 835 processor and pro camera mode.

  • Primary cameras 12 MP Wide (2L7, 1.4um, 2PD, f/1.7, FOV 78.2″) + 13 MP Tele (3M3, 1.0um, f/2.6, FOV47.3″), dual-tone flash

  • Front-facing camera 5 MP, S.LSI 4E8, 1.4um, display flash

Audio

  • Microphones 3 x AOP

  • Speaker Single speaker with Smart Amp

Display

  • Size and type 5.5″ QHD pOLED

  • Material Corning® Gorilla® Glass 5, 3D Glass

  • Operating system Android Oreo

  • RAM 6 GB LPPDDR 4X

  • CPU Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 835 mobile platform, Octa core (4 x 2.36 GHz Kryo + 4 x 1.9 GHz Kryo)

  • FULL SPECS HERE 

First look and unboxing, The TP link WiFi AC 1750 extender . #wifi #tech #tplink

In general my WiFi is brutal at home most of the time which is another discussion for another day. We have checked out multiple devices that give you better range in your home but today we check out the TP link AC 1750. A quick unboxing today and look at the product and in the interim ask any questions you may have during the review period either ask below or on social media..

Features include

 

  • Expand Wi-Fi Network for Ultimate Performance
  • Expanded 450Mbps on 2.4GHz + 1300Mbps on 5GHz totals 1750Mbps Wi-Fi speeds
  • Three adjustable external antennas provide optimal Wi-Fi coverage and reliable connections
  • Gigabit Ethernet port acts as a wireless adapter to connect a wired device to your network at gigabit speed
  • Intelligent signal light helps to find the best location for optimal Wi-Fi coverage by showing the signal strength
  • Works with any Wi-Fi router or wireless access point
  • SEE MORE AT TPLINK  

UNBOXING

 

Review – The Roth Sub Zero III TV soundbar. #tech #audio #roth

I have a good main TV in the house and having said that the sound at times is not the best depending on what you are viewing and what you have connected to your TV, Soundbars are getting popular and having tested this one out I can see why and to begin with it has some bass, so bass fans will love it.

The build quality to begin with is excellent given its white it’s not for grubby hands though but it can be easily cleaned with a damp cloth, Ours almost blended in with the wall and mantlepiece which is where I placed it right under my TV which could replace a sub-woofer easily which I have a system already in place with one included but it will not fill the entire room with sound which was my only fault I could have with it as it is not overly loud with a 30 MAX setting, It could have been louder but overall the sound is excellent.The best mode of the limited choice is Music Mode but if using your phone as a source you can change the sound experience.

The SubZero III can be either placed under your tv depending on your set up or wall mounted so you are not stuck for choice and nobody is saying stick it under your TV because you can also use it to play music from your phone Via Bluetooth if you like or whatever is on your TV or what you might be streaming via your laptop.. There is a 90 degree HDMI adapter which is hand for tight spaces or set up restrictions.

IT ALSO COMES IN BLACK

There is 4 pods underneath so you can place it on the floor or cabinet this will vary per ones set-up at home and which room they might put it into,smaller rooms would reap the benefits more so than a large room but you will be still impressed with its punch for the price you pay.

Main Features / Specification:

    • Design:
    • 4x 2.75-inch 4 Ohm Ferrite Drivers
    • 2x Passive Radiator Bass Drivers
    • Thick Wall 3.6L Reinforced Polymer Case
    • Cloth Grill
    • Wall Mount Capable
    • LED Display with Auto Dimming
    • Performance:
    • Wide Frequency Response 40-20,000Hz
    • High Power Class D Amplifiers
    • 90 Watts Peak Output Power
    • Inputs:
    • HDMI x2, plus 1x HDMI output (ARC)
    • 3.5mm Analogue Stereo Connection
    • Optical SPDIF Format (Toslink compatible) – Stereo
    • Bluetooth aptX A2DP Audio
    • Power Input: AC 230-240V, 50 Hz
  • Dimensions:
  • 85cm X 8cm (D) X 8.8cm (H)

Whats on the soundbar

1 / 10

Overall this speaker looks great and does a good job however it will not blow the ears off you considered its size but as a companion piece for your TV it has better output and plays all music and more extremely well,also for set up it could not be easier either with a simple I/O layout on the rear tucked away nicely in a grooved out space,though depending on your setup at home you may need that 90 degree adaptor which is quite handy.

BUY HERE