Sony Ireland showcased their latest goods on offer in the Dean hotel during the week and we got to try out the range and some hands on with their latest tech. For TV fans their new TV is certainly one to watch and for the headphone fanatic like me their latest headphones again are a must have in your collection.
Sony also have new e-paper watch which is excellent however expensive in my view but the idea is brilliant and something for the fashion conscious to consider with the ability to create your own designs aside picking from the hundreds already free. See more on the watch in the video and check it out HERE
See the entire range and more details and images of their Christmas suggestions for that tech partner of yours HERE
The Google Pixel 3XL is not a cheap device by any means and its one of the topcis at hand right now about its cost alongside the notch but we will discuss all this in our review soon. Point in case here is you will need protection for the phone and it is worth the extra spend to do this buy picking up some kind of case for the device. We have already reviewed the Official Fabric cases for the 3XL but today we check out the Speck Clear case and Speck Grip case. The grip case would be my favourite case out of the two but that is just me.
We have being using speck cases for some time now and they live up to their claims and a worthy investment to keep your phone protected. Check out the video review below and if you have any questions feel free to ask below or on our social channels and we will leave links to purchase a range of cases from Speck so go check them out. Stay tuned for more case reviews coming this week.
Go check out the range of cases from Speck for the Google Pixel 3XL and many other devices HERE
I have been using the Moto G6 some time now and this is one phone I can say straight off is an excellent device for the money and would have no issue reccomending it to anyone. It has been on of my daily drivers some time now and I also use it for video footage on my You Tube channel and in this regard it does great and also takes great images to boot.
Build quality is also excellent here all over and it feels solid in the hand and is at that sweet spot for phone size but this varies per person. Two security factors here built in are face unlock and also fingerprint scanner which both work well. In fact this device has not crashed on me once since I started using it and thats saying something.
NFC is built in here too which is a welcome feature for payments here in Ireland many phones lack this feature. Also there is a built in radio which again is something many phones leave out due to other services and apps now available and all you need to do to activate that is insert headphones.
The G6 has good sounding speakers too in general and again they are sampled in other videos I have posted online so good sound is to be had there. The screen is a bit darker than other devices but overall good viewing pleasure is there for consuming media. You get a full HD display with a 5.7 inch screen with bezels that are not too much in the way despite bezzeless being the new go to feature these days.
Multitasking on this phone is also swift and with having multiple apps open at any given time switching between them was no issue and little or no lag to be found running apps like WordPress You Tube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and emails and so on which is my typical daily usage here and all worked smoothly. For gaming its also strong and even with some heavy titles it brezzed through them. Given I am not much of a gamer on mobile I do mess around with them from time to time or just something to do whilst waiting so I would not store many on the device anyway.
Specs – Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 – 4GB, 64GB, microSD – 5.7 inches IPS LCD, 1080 x 2160 – 424 ppi Rear Camera: 12.0 + 5.0 MP – Front Camera: 8.0MP – Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n – Wi-Fi Direct – hotspot – Bluetooth 4.2 – 3000 mAh battery – Android 8.0 out of box.
PROS -USB-C -NFC – Gorrila Glass – 3.5mm headphone jack -Biometrics – No Notch
CONS – No wireless charging – Not waterproof.
Given the trend of 1000 euro smartphones is continuing to grow I think it will not be long before that trend buckles as phones costing half or less are now hitting the streets and provide more than enough without the need to fork out on such. This phone is certainly one of them a if you are on a budget this is the one to look at first.
I have been using the Alcatel 3 for a few weeks now and for the money you can’t really go wrong for the most part anyway but with biometrics on board via fingerprint scanner and faceunlock seeing these technologies at this price-point is a good thing as we all know you get the same heading the other direction at €1000 worth phones.
Build quality is fine considering the price its got a nice blue sheen on the back acting like a mirror if you will but its made with plastic which mimics glass backed devices but you have to cut corners somewhere along the line to get some features. One area where you wont be blown away is the RAM which is the lower end of the norm and for heavy users you can pass this device on for sure.
IMAGE GALLERY
Even loading up image folders you will notice the lag and with some games too but will handle the average pastime game no problem at all. Image quality is actually not bad but bright conditions are required and they are generally good as you can see below and the same applies to video shooting both available resolutions. In short in the dark move on but most smartphones struggle in these conditions and for a 99 euro phone to the same is expected.
This phone is really ideal for first timers to Android or teenagers as its cheap and does more or less anything higher prices do but really if you are using for just browsing emails and social you will be fine it gets you buy and does not cost the earth to get the feel for Android and then you can move up in price and get some more like the ALCATEL 3V we reviewed a while ago. You can buy the Alcatel 3 on eir for 99 euros pay as you go and the 3V is available on Tesco Mobile for €159.99
It is a growing trend today that tech is put in the hands of kids at younger age even without us realising it and not only that the teens of today and even kids are more demanding than before and they have access to items that many of us today would have not had access to in our teenage years. Given the rise of social media apps and easier login options via the same things can go terribly wrong very fast and as parents we need to watch what is going on and what access our own kids have via the tech they have at hand. Our next guest post by Peter shares the same sentiment as me.
Make no mistake, the count-down to Christmas is very much on and over the coming weeks and months, children and their parents will be inundated with TV and online adverts for this year’s must-have toys.
Long gone are the days when colouring books, board games and Matchbox cars were at the top of children’s letters to Father Christmas, now it’s all about interactive action figures, console games and smart devices.
These toys are fun, captivating, and frankly incredible, but they do present potential privacy and security risks that most parents are completely unaware of. This is particularly true of interactive toys such as the My Friend Cayla doll.
Cayla connects to your WIFI network and will talk to, and interact with, those around it. It will play games via a smart device, read stories and even share photos. Sounds fun, right? But Cayla is also fitted with a camera and microphone.
The doll uses these to record conversations and take images, which are then sent via Bluetooth back to the manufacturer and, potentially, sold on to advertisers for targeted ad purposes. It’s pretty sinister stuff when you think about it.
The doll has come under intense scrutiny, and was even banned in Germany for its lack of privacy protections. It turns out anyone with a smartphone within 30 feet of the doll can connect via Bluetooth and listen to, and record, the conversations between child and toy.
Cayla is not alone in her capabilities, both as a fun and engaging toy and as a privacy and cyber security risk to you and your family. In fact, pretty much any smart toy has the potential to record sound and capture images, and send them back to the manufacturer.
The My Friend Cayla example covers off the main risks such dolls pose, but as a recap risks associated with interactive and smart toys include:
The toys can listen to, and record, conversations between child and toy
They can take and store images without you knowing
They can gather personal information and data
This data, along with images and voice recordings, can be sent back to the manufacturer
Toys can be hacked
Given that children are bombarded with advertising across all media – TV, online, social networks, etc – in the run up to Christmas, they are going to want these toys and as a parent there will be a part of you that wants to treat them at Christmas.
And you can, but you must also consider the risks they pose and what you can do to ensure your children have their privacy protected. Thankfully, there are some simple steps you can take to do this.
The first thing to do is read the privacy policy of the manufacturer and/or toy in question. This may seem arduous at the time – they can be more complex than a classic novel – but it is important to understand what data the toy gathers and what happens to that information.
If the manufacturer does not have a privacy policy then don’t buy the toy – this gives them cart blanche to gather whatever data they like and use it in any way they wish, and that includes selling it on to third-parties.
As an extension of this, check where the toy is manufactured and the headquarters of the company that is selling and distributing it. It is often the case that those located in places such as China will not take privacy into account, let alone do anything to protect it.
It is also worth researching whether other toys from the same manufacturer have been hacked or whether they have had privacy issues in the past. If the answer is yes, then, again, avoid purchasing such toys at all costs.
Another thing to be aware of is replica toys. While they may be cheaper than the branded versions, these toys are built and sold by companies that will be unlikely to have privacy and data protection policies in place. If they don’t, steer clear of them.
By understanding the risks interactive toys pose, and what you can do to get a clear understanding of what to look for when it comes to privacy, you can ensure your children unwrap not just the best presents this Christmas, but the ones that are safe, too.
Leading SCADA network and mobile telecommunications supplier, EMR Integrated Solutions today announced a €500,000 investment and plans to increase headcount to 50 over the next 12 months.
This represents a doubling of the workforce since 2016.
The investment comes on the back of strong trading, with this year’s revenue set to increase by 18%. The growth is due in large part to the success of its recent entry to the UK market and several significant contract wins in the utility and wind energy sectors there.
Increased project completions for long-established customers throughout Ireland, North and South have also boosted operational performance.
The company has moved to a new 5,000 sq. ft. premises at Dunboyne Business Park in Co Meath to accommodate growing headcount, while the existing premises, also in Dunboyne, will be retained as EMR’s primary engineering and logistics centre.
EMR specialises in designing and building telemetry networks and management systems for energy suppliers and water companies.
Commenting on the development, Mark Quinn, managing director with EMR said:
“This investment represents the culmination of targeted execution and tremendous teamwork. Early on, we recognised the rapidly changing nature of the utility industry at home and abroad, and set about developing the skills and expertise required to assist these organisations with the digital transformation of their networks.
“We’re now viewed as a trusted partner for many global organisations and we’re ambitious about the potential for further expansion into the UK market,” he said.
The company continues to invest in headcount with recruitment focused on apprentice electricians, mechatronic, electrical, automation engineers and project management roles.
The company also operates a graduate program with the Blanchardstown Institute of Technology, where mechatronics students can benefit from practical work placements during their period of study.
“Forging strong links between academia and business is very important to us,” explained Derek Glynn, chief operating officer with EMR.
“Getting the right staff with the right qualifications at an early stage allows us to embed them into our own mentoring program and this coupled with practical experience has helped us to build a reputation for engineering excellence in SCADA and telemetry networks. Continued skills investment in all of our staff keeps us ahead of the competition,” he said.
EMR was founded in the early in 1980s and has a strong management team with a wealth of industry experience. The company has a high profile client base including Irish Water, Northern Ireland Water, SSE and PowerHouse Generation on the island of Ireland as well as Affinity Water, Welsh Water and Greencoat UK Wind in the UK. The company has also completed communications projects for ESB, Eir, RTÉ NL, Virgin Media, the Defence Forces and many of the country’s county councils.
Another day another phone drops in for review. This time the Alcatel 1 another budget device from the company which has many on offer keeping things affordable for consumers. The Alcatel 1 offers a 5 inch screen with an 18:9 aspect ratio 4G Android Go 8GB ROM and 1GB RAM and a front and rear camera 5MP and 2MP respectively interpolated. Any questions hit us up in the meantime in the usual spots.. BUY ON EIR https:// www.eir.ie/store/mobile/phones/prepay/alcatel-1/
The latest from Jabra has just dropped in and its the Elite 45e. The Elite 45e comes with an adjustable equaliser, which allows you customise your music settings to suit your preferences. The advanced 2-microphone technology promises to deliver superior wireless call performance, removing noise from calls to ensure your conversations are always clear. There is also a 2 Year dust and water resistant warranty up to 8 hours battery life and there is also a flexible memory wire neckband with magnetised buds.
If you have any questions in the interim feel free to ask below or on ouur social channels.
The latest pair of earphones we have checked out are something different. The looks and style and the boldness of them. Given the chunky size they are not heavy but look different and stand out from the norm which is what I like, However they lack features being plug-ins but still deliver decent enough sound being wired which is what many people still want today despite the headphone jack being omitted from many smartphones today.
1.QUAD DRIVERS – Include double balanced armatures and double dynamic drivers.
2.AUDIOPHILE HEADPHONES – Better balance of 3 frequencies,crisp high note and deep low notes,bring you a new kind of auditory sense.
3.ERGONOMIC FIT – streamlined aluminum sound chamber with perfected ergonomics ensures exceptional comfort and noise isolation.
4.COMPATIBLE MODEL – The cable use 3.5MM 0.78mm 2 pin Detachable Cable.100% fits Android,also fits iPhone 6/6S Samsung S6 S5 Note 4 Nexus and other Smart Phones.
These are not your typical designed headphones which breaks from the industry standard and really stand out but when it comes to sound this is what people want to know.. Overall they sound good but not mindblowing either and fit relatively comfortable in the ear. The one thing I found was the buds where on the thin side but you can swap these out with other ones if you have them lying around,
The packaging is well presented too which for me is a good start on any product no matter who the manufacturer is. Their design is similar to older models such as the QT2 which are an older model which you can still buy today. For sound buffs or audiophiles you will not jump on these if you had a choice in front of you however most average people would not trained to tell the difference between these and other headphones around the pricepoint but there is better out there.
Bass is pretty decent and most genres play well at all volumes but they lack a real thump. Noise isolation is also an issue depending on the environment and this is due to how they sit in your ears and the thin buds provided but everyone’s ears are different. Overall most people would be happy with a random purchase and not looking for real true sound reproduction.
One final thing is the cable provided I don’t like it all and it seems flimsy and this can be replaced and it is easily tangled but comes that way when removed from box and will take a bit to get the kinks unraveled. Would I recommend them?? I would if you are not fussy about design which I like in these and if you are not expecting high quality sound. As I have tried and tested over 100 pairs of such I would personally pass on them as a soul purchase but for the average Joe they will do the job and not bad for the price. However I do like the look of them.
