Month: November 2021

Tips To Identify Forex Broker Scams

Late last year, the FBI made their largest catch yet – 47 illicit Forex operations that had previously caused traders to lose millions of dollars. 

Among those targeted in the FBI’s most recent global sting operation were financial institutions of various kinds as well as private investors. Even when divided 47 ways, “millions of dollars” still seems like a substantial sum. But take into account that the worldwide Forex market transacts $5,1 trillion per day. 

Considering how many transactions are taking place daily, across different international boundaries all over the place, it seems sensible that the seas are full of “a lot of sharks,” as U.S. Attorney General James Comey recently warned reporters. 

You should keep in mind that at any given time, the market might erupt and spew lava all over your cash. You should also be aware that every investment with significant risks also has the potential for huge profits. Also, it should be noted that as the Forex market is the world’s largest financial market, there are many scammers who want to misappropriate investors’ money. In order to prevent those kinds of malpractices while trading Forex investors need to be careful. What, then, are these so-called Forex scams? Because trading in the forex market, also known as the foreign exchange currency marketplace, is such a dangerous and unpredictable venture, it has been dubbed a hoax on occasion. The kindest thing investors can say about Forex is that it resembles gambling more than “real” investment, although even this is harsh. 

 

There are several ways to identify Forex broker scammers, including Forex broker reviews, like XM Forex broker review which allows investors to get more information about the regulations of the brokers and the way the service providers work. In this article, you can get more information about Forex scams and how it works. It’s interesting to know for what reasons are there so many scammers and fraudsters working in the Forex industry? For obvious reasons, such as the great potential for payoff. In other words, why do criminals choose to operate in the frantic, hectic, unpredictable Forex market rather than other, more steady, staid investment and trading venues?

How Do Forex Brokers Scam Investors?

Traditional forex scams and developing scams are the two main types of forex fraud. Data security may serve as a good comparison in this situation. When it came to stealing confidential information, thieves had only one option: break into the building where it was being stored and take the physical copy files!

Data breaches are being reported on a regular basis, and the vast majority of them occurred online. Cybercriminals don’t even have to leave their sofa to steal confidential information that’s half a globe away. Scams that adapt in reaction to new technology or FBI raids are known as evolving scams. For the sake of this article, we’ll examine each form of forex scam one by one.

A list of bogus forex brokers or a list of the worst forex brokers would be fantastic. Scam Forex brokers, on the other hand, change their names, identities, and virtual locations on a regular basis.

Using a stop-loss order, stop hunting is a frequent risk management strategy in the world of investments. An order with a stop-loss condition isn’t limited to foreign exchange trades. It’s fairly frequent across a wide range of investment categories.

The point-spread fraud is a “classic” that may be seen in many other kinds of investment trading, not only forex.

In order to pull off the point-spread scam, brokers adjust the spread between the bid and ask prices using the forex platform. This raises the broker commission and eats away at any gains made by the unwary forex trader. While point-spread forex scams aren’t as common as they previously were, it doesn’t mean they’re gone.

Another traditional Forex scam is the signal-seller scheme, which is practiced not only in the world of forex but also in other industries. According to the scam’s theory, certain people (human or automated) are “Forex experts,” and they are privy to information regarding currency pairings, Forex patterns, and market movements (the “signal”).

A forex broker will only acquire access to churning-type activity if a customer enables the broker to trade on the customer’s behalf (for example, by signing a discretionary agreement). The forex broker may then say they were only doing their job and blame the client’s losses on the usually turbulent currency market.

It’s important to remember that churning is difficult to detect and much more difficult to demonstrate. Nevertheless, if the fraudster is discovered and proved guilty, he or she will be subject to hefty penalties and SEC repercussions. Meanwhile, you’ll have to come up with creative ways to make up for the financial damage caused by churning.

Scammers that prey on the currency market are evolving along with it. FX fraudsters have had plenty of new chances open up with the emergence of online forex brokers, automated digital algorithms, and computer technology. However, you may be shocked to learn that only some of the most recent and sophisticated forex scams make use of sophisticated technology to achieve their objectives.

 

Useful Tips That Can Help You Manage Your Employees Better

Managing employees is the key challenge every employer has to face to ensure smooth operations in their company. More so, you have to learn how to manage employees better for your business to stay competitive. There are a lot of things that an employer needs to keep in mind to make sure that they can manage their employees more efficiently and effectively. By paying attention to the following tips, you will learn how you can better deal with your employees.

Use Text-Based Platforms For Hourly Workers

Most hourly employees work at a distance from the company, and this means that they might not be able to interact with you or your staff if necessary. This is why employers need to use efficient communication tools so that employees can quickly respond whenever there are questions or concerns about projects. Using text-based platforms will help ensure that everyone stays on track during critical tasks, even when workers are doing jobs in remote areas. This is why more business owners are deciding to try Teamsense and use their tools to communicate effectively with workers. it also allows you to track what your workers are doing at all times as well as update tasks as needed.

Try Productivity Tracking Software

If you have a lot of employees who work on various projects, using productivity tracking software is a good idea. There are a lot of available programs out there that can help employers track how much time they spend working and if they are meeting their targets or not. These tools also allow the company to monitor workers’ progress from afar, which makes it easier for employers to keep everyone accountable for their tasks at hand. In this manner, the business owner will be able to set deadlines according to project milestones as well as provide feedback whenever necessary. This way, your workers will know what’s expected of them and stay motivated at the same time.

Encourage Collaboration Between Workers And Teams

When you can encourage collaboration among your workers, it can help improve their productivity by leaps and bounds. The ability to work together will allow workers to bounce ideas off one another when it comes to completing tasks. Moreover, each worker is unique in his/her way, so allowing them the opportunity to be creative can also help broaden their horizons regarding problem-solving skills. Additionally, most teams have “idea leaders” who are known for coming up with solutions most of the time. A good team leader should always let every member of the team voice out their thoughts no matter how ridiculous they seem at first glance. This allows everyone’s opinions to be heard even if they are not relevant in any way. This way you can reduce leaks that come from a “design by committee” approach.

Conduct Regular One-On-One Meetings With Every Employee

As an employer, taking the time to hold regular one-on-one meetings with your staff should be a priority. More so, you need to dedicate time every week to sit down with individual employees and check how things are going with their work. You can then provide feedback or advice if needed, but you have to give them the chance to voice out any problems they are experiencing in regard to their tasks. Another important thing is that by holding regular meetings, it will allow both the employer and employee to get a good idea regarding how much time should be allocated for each task. This way, workers are able to schedule their own priorities which will help them achieve better results in the long run.

Do Not Micromanage Your Workers

Micromanaging your employees is one of the biggest challenges employers have to deal with today. In most cases, most employers micromanage an employee because they feel that they cannot trust him/her enough to complete a certain task. However, micromanaging a worker will lead to a loss of motivation and feelings of resentment that could cause problems in the future. As an employer, you have to understand that no one likes feeling like he/she is being watched at all times, so providing them with enough room to make decisions based on their judgement can help reduce the number of errors they make while doing tasks.

Know When To Hire New Workers

Running a business is no joke, especially one that deals with people daily. This means you need to make sure that all the workers in your company are properly staffed to ensure timely deliveries of goods and services. According to some business experts, it’s important for employers not to over staff their firm since this can be financially straining, especially if they have difficulty laying off staff. This means that you must know when new hires are necessary, so you can always see to it that projects are completed on time while finding ways where existing employees can be better utilised or assigned other tasks instead of being idle. For special events, more staff is needed, so you can consider posting event staff jobs or seeking help from hiring agencies.

Managing your workers effectively can go a long way in ensuring that your company will grow at an optimal pace. Although there are many challenges involved with managing employees, it’s still important for employers to always make an effort in dealing with them correctly. All the guidelines mentioned above should help you successfully manage your staff without driving them away due to any managerial issues.

Tech Review – Urbanista Lisbon True Wireless earbuds

The Urbanista Lisbon is the latest on offer from the company and these are small earbuds in comparison to other out there and being so small I thought they might be an issue in my ears but there is a wing built in on these that make them a secure comfortable fit, they will feel a bit niggly to begin with and fitting them but once in the ears you are good to go and masy as well forget they are there because that is how it feels wearing them.

Fit and Comfort

Ok so yes these fit really well you might struggle if you are use to having bigger earbuds at the start but you will quickly adjust they are comfortable will not fall out and are easy to control given their size. These are the smallest earbuds I have used in a while and probably for me they felt a bit more awkward to begin with due to having big hands.

Controls

Controls are easy to use as mentioned and we have all you might expect from a pair of earbuds at this price point the tap area works well considered its size though and those with smaller fingers would find it easier overall but you will get the hang of it. The controls are simple and we go through this and how they work in the video review below.

Sound

When it comes to sound these deliver for the price, Urbanista have always had a good sound signature and this continues here, they are punchy with some base and overall with my usual test look did great, no lag latency and great on calls, highs lows and mids on point and a general good listening experience for the price you pay here, you cant really complain.

 

TRUE WIRELESS – Experience 9 hours of full freedom with our smallest true wireless earbuds yet.

COMPACT SIZE – With a portable case and earbuds weighing only 4g each, Lisbon is the perfect audio companion to carry with you wherever you go.

27 HOURS PLAYTIME Keep on going in style with up to 27 hrs of total playtime.

CASE CHARGE (2X) Small and compact charging case holding up to 2 extra charges.

Buy here 

 

 

7 tips to avoid scams and protect your money when shopping online this Christmas

While most people are aware that there are dangers associated with shopping online, many are unaware of how their data is used and what the consequences could be. Cyber criminals can use your personal data to open credit card and bank accounts in your name, make purchases using your accounts (including illegal items), obtain credit cash advances and even steal your identity.

This holiday season could be a lucrative time of year for these criminals who anticipate that consumers may lower their guard slightly during the rush to bag the best deals on sought after items.

Tom Gaffney, Security Consultant from F-Secure, is issuing advice to consumers on how they can stay safe when shopping online in the run up to Christmas and beyond…

 

  1. BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU SHOP

You may be desperate to get hold of that best-selling toy that’s at the top of your little one’s wish-list, or the new PS5/Xbox Series S/X for your teen, but be careful where you buy from as scams can take place on any kind of online platform, from Amazon to Facebook. It’s also not uncommon for fraudsters to set up fake ecommerce sites.

Firstly, keep in mind that if anything online seems too good to be true – it probably is. If a seller is actually selling a very high-demand item, expect the price to be high.

If you’re wary of a site, do your research – Google is full of retailer reviews. Saying that, online reviews can be faked so if you see nothing but positive feedback and can’t tell if the writers are legit, follow your instincts. Also, check the website for a physical location and customer service information and see if their social media channels are active. Another key feature to look for is the little lock symbol that appears in the corner of the URL field. This indicates that the website you’re on is safe. Also make sure that the website you’re on is “https” not “http” as the ‘s’ stands for secure.

Once you’ve checked that it’s a legitimate site, use a credit card where possible for added safety as most offer consumer protection against fraudulent sites.

If you’re buying directly from someone i.e. via Facebook marketplace make sure you talk to the seller and ask for more information if necessary, for example the pictures of the product itself with a handwritten note to prove legitimacy. Never give out your details directly to the seller over email or messaging apps, but use the marketplace’s functionalities or services such as PayPal to do the transactions. Never use PayPal Friends and Family transactions when buying things online as PayPal does not reimburse payments sent using this functionality, or transfer money directly into their bank account.

 

  1. CREATE STRONG UNIQUE PASSWORDS TO PROTECT YOUR ACCOUNTS

Most ecommerce sites will require you to set up an account to make a purchase. The average person has 18 password protected accounts and worryingly, recent F-Secure research found that 41% of people use the same password on multiple accounts and 56% use the same password with only slight variations. This means that if your login information gets stolen on one website, it’s likely that your other accounts will also be compromised.

It’s vital to have strong, unique passwords for accounts to be protected and that you regularly change these. A password manager such as F-Secure ID PROTECTION can help you remember all your login details so you don’t need to worry about losing or forgetting them.

To give your online account additional protection, where possible you should also turn on two-factor authentication (2FA). This is a way for the service you’re using to check you really are the person you claim to be when logging in.

 

  1. REGULARLY DELETE COOKIES FROM YOUR BROWSER

Cookie banners pop-up every time we visit a website and most of us will click ‘accept’ without thinking. Cookies are small files that websites send to your device that the sites then use to monitor you and remember certain information about you i.e. what’s in your shopping cart, or your login information. Basically, cookies track you as you browse.

It’s important to delete cookies because:

  • They pose a security threat whereby hackers can potentially gain access to your browser sessions and steal your personal data

  • Over time you could accumulate a lot of cookies which will slow your browser down

  • Cookies store your personal information and enable websites to track and follow you round the web, developing a profile of your online habits and targeting you with ads

  1. AVOID SHOPPING IN PUBLIC – YOU CAN ENJOY A HOT DRINK BUT NOT THE PUBLIC WIFI

 

Using public Wi-Fi to shop online while at your favourite coffee shop may be convenient but it’s not cyber safe. Avoid making purchases via public Wi-Fi as you could end up compromising your data and financial information. Cyber criminals often target these hot spots to steal confidential information from unsuspecting users, such as passwords or credit card details, leaving them susceptible to identity theft and fraud.

If you must use public Wi-Fi then make sure you have a VPN installed such as F-Secure FREEDOME. VPNs offer you complete privacy for your activities online, no one will be able to track you or see what you are doing, not even your Internet Service Provider. A VPN will block harmful websites and hacking attempts, encrypt data to protect your real IP address and online traffic and protect you when you’re using public Wi-Fi.

 

  1. BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU CLICK ON AND STAY ALERT TO PHISHING SCAMS

Between April 2020 and March 2021, online shopping scams were up 65% on the previous year, with a whopping £69.9m lost to fraudsters. Beware of adverts which encourage you to click on links. If you receive an enticing offer, rather than click on the link, go directly to the website to verify that the offer is legitimate.

Phishing scams, where online criminals trick you into handing over personal details which are then used for account takeover or identity theft, are especially common during Christmas and Black Friday seasons. Consumer group Which? recently reported that three in five of us have had fake delivery company texts over the past year. The message often contains a link that takes you to a scam website and may warn of a failed parcel delivery and ask for payment. They are often sent using a fake appearance of huge brands that you trust and expect communication from like DPD, Royal Mail or FedEx.

To avoid being caught out don’t click links in SMS messages, especially if they say you have limited time to respond as this is a common tactic scammers use to pressure you. Check the URL of the link to make sure it matches the company website address. Do not call the number provided and under no circumstances hand over personal information such as your card details.

 

  1. BROWSER SECURITY – DOWNLOAD F-SECURE TOTAL AND START BROWSING THE INTERNET SAFELY AND SECURELY

Many people are unaware that they should configure security settings within their browser to enable safer internet surfing. Regardless of which browser you use (Internet Explorer, Safari, Chrome or Firefox), each gives you options to disable cookies and block security risks such as malicious software (malware) that can sneak in through infected pop-ups, plug-ins and extensions, compromising your security.

Default browser settings leave your data exposed so at a minimum you should:

●      Disable pop-ups and redirections as cyber criminals could use these to spread malicious software

●      Don’t allow automatic downloads as these could contain malware and viruses. Ask to be prompted before downloading anything

●      Turn on “Send a do not track request” to help prevent websites from tracking you

●      Don’t allow browsers to save passwords as although it’s convenient it creates a security risk. Malware that captures keystrokes can steal information. Also, if a laptop falls into the wrong hands, it doesn’t take much for a hacker to find the stored password information

At the very least, make sure you update your browser on all your devices regularly as using old software can provide a way for hackers to break into networks. Updates will address security issues and also help your browser run better. F-Secure TOTAL will give you all the protection you need to secure your online activities, your devices and yourself.

 

  1. KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR CREDIT CARD AND BANKING TRANSACTIONS

If your credit card information gets compromised, there can be charges without you knowing. Review your monthly statements to find any suspicious activity. Contact your bank immediately in case of anything unknown.

A good way to protect your money online is to restrict which countries your credit card will work in. Just remember to change the settings back when you need your card abroad.

Tech Review – Datalocker Sentry k350

At techbuzz over the years we have reviewed a variety of encrypted storage devices. This one ups the game in terms of the physical size with storage of 256 Gb with the Hardware Encryption security for a usb flash drive.  The kit looks like a cigarette lighter, slightly bigger with a keypad and display on the front for entering digits. The packaging while simplistic in design had all the usual specifications and compatibility listed. The material is strongly made of an epoxy coating for the chip and flash protects it from physical intrusion from water (IP67 rating) with an excellent transfer rate of data.

 

 

 

Install & setup

It is important to read the quick start guide, instructions which consist of plug in, change the password and use, but caution on using an overly complex password as like the old phones, having to press a few times to get a letter to pop up. This is displayed on the actual lcd display which is a positive. Passwords must contain a minimum of 8 characters. This should consist of a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters for your password. Some examples of invalid passwords are: ‘78901234’, ‘43210987’, ’12345678’, ‘1111111.

Installation took less than a minute to set up a new password. Due to the physical length of the flash drive it is recommended to keep the laptop stationary to ensure it is not damaged if moving around.

Advanced user or group admin can use a Safe Console,

This has a group policy which can control all the relevant memory sticks as the administration to include a SilentKill code which would allow the unit to be configured to Self-Destruct if triggered.

 

Control panel

 

Datalocker have provided various support options should it be required

  • support.datalocker.com: Information, knowledgebase articles, and video tutorials
  • support@datalocker.com: Feedback and feature requests
  • datalocker.com: General information
  • datalocker.com/warranty: Warranty information

See techbuzz video link for speed transfer rates which are in line with the manufacturers transfer speeds (Speed USB 3.2: – 150MB/S Read, 100MB/s Write)

 

Conclusion

Most students in the first year of college will be advised on the importance of having a backup while the hybrid model of working increases the risks of taking data off site.

GDPR will have made most of the IT networks aware of the consequences of a lost data in terms of travelling with data and taking work home, companies are constantly at risk from unprotected data on an unsecured USB flash drive.  Many millions of unprotected USB drives are lost / stolen every year

The implications can be immense: lost reputation, lost jobs, lost profits, customer data, financial information, business plans, confidential information are only some examples of the data that are usually stored and transported.  The question then becomes not if to use an encrypted pen drive, rather what type of model and size or to use an alternative method in the cloud. The K350 has an easily navigated keyboard which is password protected, FIPS 140-2 Level 3 certified, encrypted USB drive with a display screen that makes setup and operation for the non-technical people while providing all the advanced features which may be expected to be set up by a security team.

Datalocker Sentry k350 connected to pc techbuzzireland

The advanced feature would suit those of an enterprise nature but can also be used as an individual.  Datalocker is separated from many other encrypted devices via the option to remotely manage a fleet of devices via safe control. Many people may consider speed, copy, and write as a major factor for a usb key, this should not be the primary consideration, rather looking at an overview People Process and Technology.  Typically, people are the weak link which means the easier for a person to use the product the better chance it will be used as required. The 3-year warranty is also a major factor to ensure quality, reliability to ensure if a problem the data is backed up and can be restored. Datalocker has a variety of secure encrypted devices up to 7.6TB capacity in some of their models which we hope to get our hands on for future reviews.

Overall excellent quality build, 3-year warranty, ticks the encryption standards, easy to use which the option to expand as required, and excellent decision should a device go missing

“This could be the best choice made this year if a device goes missing “

 BUY HERE 

Check the video below for more

 

 

Lime powering Simon Community in Dublin with donation of e-bikes to staff and volunteers

Lime, the world’s largest and most experienced micromobility provider has partnered with homelessness charity Dublin Simon Community to provide e-bikes for its staff members and volunteers.

Lime has initially donated 10 e-bikes, which will enable staff and volunteers to travel for free in a safe and sustainable way between the homelessness charity’s services. The bikes will also be used to transport food and supplies to those in need, helping Dublin Simon Community to prevent and address homelessness in the run up to Christmas.

The partnership is part of Lime’s “Lend Me a Lime” initiative, which supports local charities and good causes by providing access to Lime’s vehicles, time and operational resources free of charge.

Following the legalisation of e-scooters in Ireland, Lime will also be able to give Dublin Simon Community staff and volunteers free access to its latest Gen4 e-scooters alongside its e-bike donation.

Hal Stevenson, Lime’s Public Affairs Manager for UK and Ireland said: “Lime’s commitment to cities goes beyond providing green, shared, affordable transport. We are proud to be partnering with Dublin Simon Community to support their tireless efforts to prevent and address homelessness and can’t wait to see our bikes on the ground in the city making a positive impact.”

As Lime prepares to launch its e-scooter services in Ireland, it has also appointed Dublin Simon Community as its “Lime Hero” partner, which means local Lime users will be able to round their ride to the nearest € to provide a donation to the charity, which Lime will then match.

Lime has similar “Hero” charity partnerships with the Felix Project in London, to tackle food waste and food poverty, and the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity in Manchester, to fight homelessness, with thousands raised so far.

Stephanie Nolan, Dublin Simon Community’s Corporate Partnerships Manager said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Lime for this wonderful initiative. Our services are incredibly busy, especially at Christmas time. The donation of these e-bikes will support the transport of staff, volunteers and supplies between our services in a sustainable and efficient way, enabling our team to focus on making home a reality for our clients and residents.”

The charity partnership follows Lime’s recent investment of €10million in its Irish operations ahead of the legalisation of e-scooters. The e-scooter provider recently raised $523m in convertible debt and term loan financing, which will be used to invest in decarbonising efforts, refresh its bike and scooter fleet with the latest Gen4 models and scale into more markets.

Relevant charities and organisations can apply to Lend Me a Lime via email, at  lmal@li.me.

Shure and Jacob Collier Partner To Launch AONIC Free True Wireless Earphones

Grammy Award-winning artist Jacob Collier and Shure have joined forces to launch the all-new AONIC FREE True Wireless Sound Isolatin Earphones in Crimson Chrome Red and Graphite Gray.

Shure, a leading global audio electronics company with nearly 100 years of history shaping audio, has been a go-to brand for Jacob since he received an SM58® vocal microphone for his 11th birthday. During live performances and in the studio, Jacob trusts Shure gear, including microphones, in-ear monitors, and digital wireless systems. This next evolution of Shure and Jacob’s collaboration brings technology from the studio to the street, providing the same high-quality Shure audio for consumers that so many artists and creators, like Jacob, rely on to record and perform.

Announced earlier this month in Graphite Gray, AONIC FREE have earned editorial praise from prominent consumer technology and audio reviewers. And with the holidays around the corner, a great-sounding pair of sound isolating earphones are at the top of many wish lists this year. The eye-catching Crimson Chrome Red and classic Graphite Gray AONIC FREE fuses style with function.

The partnership with Jacob brings to life our long-standing heritage of supporting musicians who have trusted Shure gear on stage, in the studio, and on the go. For decades, Shure microphones have been used by the world’s most legendary musicians, including Elvis, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and Aretha Franklin – to today’s top artists like Jennifer Lopez and Luke Bryan. Now, we are proud to highlight how Jacob relies on Shure for all of his audio needs, whether he is in the studio or drawing inspiration on the go.

“I’ve grown up surrounded by music, and it’s just magic for me. I’m fascinated by the inspiration the world offers,” shared Jacob. “With Shure AONIC FREE earphones, I can bring the same legendary sound I trust when I create music with me in my pocket. Frankly, the AONIC FREE are the perfect option for anyone who wants studio-quality audio, anywhere.”

“Jacob’s close relationship with Shure and his discerning ear for the highest-quality audio made it a natural decision for us to work with him on this campaign,” said Brooke Giddens, Head of Global Artists Marketing at Shure. “This collaboration is about making it possible for everyone to bring great, studio-quality sound with them to the places where they find inspiration. With the holidays quickly approaching, we’re excited to offer the world-class listening experience of AONIC FREE.”

Built To Provide Quality Audio and Freedom for Those on the Move

Shure AONIC FREE earphones, available in Crimson Chrome Red and Graphite Gray, provide a hook-free, pocketable design united with the same unmatched studio-quality sound that artists, audiophiles, commuters, technophiles, and music lovers have relied on from the Company’s AONIC line. AONIC FREE boasts top-notch call performance in a sleek, lightweight, and compact design with long-lasting battery life, meaning these earphones are ready for an on-the-go lifestyle and the adventure that lies ahead.

Engineered from decades of experience supporting legendary performers, AONIC FREE provides clear, studio-quality sound with deep bass. The sound is powered by a premium amplifier and driver combination that was rigorously tested and tuned together—providing an unparalleled listening experience tailored to individual preferences. In a world where personalisation is expected, listeners can express their musical identity by tailoring their audio experience with the ShurePlus™ Play app’s custom multi-band EQ and pre-sets.

Whether commuting to work or tuning out the drone of an airplane engine while preparing for takeoff, exceptional Sound Isolation technology is incorporated, blocking out most environmental noise. To hear immediate surroundings, Environmental Mode activates exterior microphones with just the press of a button—making it easy to hear traffic while traversing a busy city.

Notable key features and benefits include:

Sound Isolation Technology—Based on in-ear monitors worn by musicians for hours at a time on stage, AONIC FREE’s combination of a foam sleeve and an ergonomically angled design comfortably blocks up to 37dB while providing a distortion-free, secure fit for use all day long.
Long-Lasting Battery Life—With 21 total hours of playback, the most epic playlists have met their match. The earphones provide seven hours of listening with two full additional charges from the pocket-friendly carrying case. A fast charge feature provides one hour of playback after only 15 minutes in the case. The case’s form factor was designed to transport easily, so you will never be without a charge.
Crystal Clear Call Audio— AONIC FREE makes it easy to navigate calls no matter the situation . With strategically placed mics with beamforming DSP that intelligently picks up just your voice, noise suppression technology that blocks outside sound, and Auto Gain Control, AONIC FREE ensures your voice is heard – not the surrounding environment.
Optimal Usability—You have the freedom to customize volume, playback, and call control with a single press on either the left or right side. Button function can also be customized in the ShurePlusTM Play App.
Customizable EQ—When paired with the free ShurePlus PLAY App, listeners can personalize Environment Mode levels. Available for iOS and Android, the app is also a full-featured music player with EQ, supporting standard and hi-res music files. In addition to the feature controls, it lets you customize tone and voice prompts for important notifications, like power on/off, connection confirmation, and low battery.

Pricing and Availability 
AONIC FREE True Wireless Sound Isolating Earphones are now available in both Graphite Gray and Crimson Chrome Red for a retail price of £179 / $199 / €199. Purchase includes the earphones, a fit kit with Comply™ foam sleeves in S/M/L, pocketable charging case, and USB-C charging cable.

AONIC FREE Wireless Sound Isolating Earphones are now available at select retailers and at www.shure.com/en-US/products/earphones/aonic_free.

Deezer launches synchronised lyrics on Xbox and Xbox 20th Anniversary Playlists

Deezer launches synchronized lyrics on Xbox. Starting today, Xbox gamers with a Premium Deezer account can choose any of their favourite songs on Deezer to sing along in real-time,* directly through their console.

Xbox fans who want to take a break from playing can also hit pause and focus solely on their music. Chill out to your personal Flow, an infinite stream of tracks that include tracks you love and new recommendations. If Flow plays a song you don’t like, then just hit our ‘ban’ option and you won’t have to worry about ever hearing an unwanted track again.

When it’s time to get back into the game, Xbox fans can continue to enjoy their favourite tunes, as well as their Flow, in the background. Just remember, you can’t use your lyrics function while you’re playing a game.

“Our gaming community loves their personal music as much as their favourite Xbox games. Now we’re expanding their console experience with lyrics to give gamers even more entertainment options. It’s easier than ever to have a karaoke sing-along jam when you’re in the mood. And when it’s time for gaming, Deezer is right there with you to provide you with a personal soundtrack that goes along your digital adventure,” said Clement Durandeau, Partnership Integration, Product Manager at Deezer.

Deezer has launched two brand new playlists, just in time for Xbox’s 20th Anniversary. Our ‘Xbox 20th’ brings you all the soundtracks you’ve loved over the past 20 years. We feature soundtracks from games such as Minecraft, Call of Duty and Sea of Thieves, while a dedicated ‘Halo Classics’ playlist showcases the biggest tracks from the popular series.

The new updates are available from today for all paying Deezer subscribers, on all Xbox consoles, worldwide. The ‘Xbox 20th’ and the ‘Halo Classics’ playlists are now available to stream from the Deezer Gaming channel.

Konftel 800 Conference Phone Secures Zoom Phone Certification

The Konftel 800 conference phone has been officially certified to work with the fast-growing cloud phone solution from Zoom Video Communications, Inc.

The flagship Konftel 800 audio device, fully tested to work on Zoom Phone, features an award-winning design and high quality OmniSound with beamforming microphones and audio expansion capabilities.

“The Konftel 800 is the first in our product range to be certified to work with Zoom Phone, which when paired together deliver a natural and fluent meeting experience,” confirmed Konftel Product Manager, Torbjörn Karlsson.

“Zoom Phone includes traditional PBX features that enable users to talk and interact in new ways for businesses of all sizes. It’s also secure and reliable, delivering secure HD audio with enterprise-class reliability and quality of service. The Konftel 800 and Zoom Phone platform represents a seamless and natural fit, combining exceptional audio with flexibility, ease of use and quick set-up.”

Daisy-chain capabilities

The Konftel 800 is suitable for small to very large meeting rooms and has been certified to connect to Zoom Phone as a SIP device. It also features smart microphone and daisy-chain capabilities to extend the audio pickup as well as listening range.

Konftel’s Director of Global Sales, Tommy Edlund, says the new partnership further strengthens the appeal of the Konftel 800 and addresses growing customer demand, as Zoom Phone continues to enjoy a rapid rise in popularity.

“Zoom Phone now has over two million seats across 47 countries and territories, doubling from 1 million to 2 million paid seats in less than nine months alone. The Konftel 800 is a powerful flagship hybrid conference phone which when paired with Zoom Phone provides high quality audio communication across a multitude of room types. 

“There’s been a strong customer appetite for official certification and users will now be able to appreciate in ever greater numbers, the synergy, ease of use, reliability and high performance offered by Zoom Phone and the Konftel 800. It’s a compelling combination.”

Audio centrepiece

His positive comments were echoed by Jeff Fox, Zoom Senior Product Marketing Manager, who says user adoption continues to accelerate. “Surpassing two million licenses is a testament to the growing need for a rich cloud telephony solution like Zoom Phone. Organizations around the world no longer have to settle for a phone solution; they can choose one that strategically scales with their business.

 

“Over the past two and a half years, we’ve focused on creating a phone solution that’s easy enough for small and midsize businesses to use and deploy and has all the advanced capabilities large multinational organizations require to support global users. Certification of the Konftel 800 further adds to the appeal of our Zoom Phone service.” 

The Konftel 800 is the audio centrepiece of the Konftel C20800 Hybrid and C50800 Hybrid video solutions. In addition Konftel offers a wide range of video and audio solutions which are all Climate Neutral certified, meaning all greenhouse gas emissions have been offset, across every aspect of the business. This ensures organisations can conference with a clear climate conscience.

More information can be found here:

Zoom Certified and compatible Konftel products