Month: December 2021

NBI delivering high speed broadband infrastructure to six islands

National Broadband Ireland (NBI), the company rolling out the new high-speed fibre broadband network under the Government’s National Broadband Plan (NBP) has today announced that it is currently delivering high speed broadband infrastructure to six islands off the coast of Donegal and Mayo.

The islands are Eadarinis / Inishcoo, Eighter Island, Rutland Island and Inishfree Island off the coast of Donegal, as well as Inishlyre and Collanmore Island off the coast of Mayo.

NBI has already completed the engineering survey and design phase of the project on these islands, with four of them (Collanmore, Eighter, Eadarinins / Inishcoo and Rutland) currently under construction meaning that service activation is currently scheduled for Q1 2022.

The quality and broadband speeds available on the islands will be at the same level as homes connected through the NBP on the mainland. As of today, the NBI network is offering users a high-speed broadband service with a minimum download speed of 500Mbps from the outset and with the option to avail of a 1Gbps service.

Peter Hendrick, CEO of National Broadband Ireland said, “A fundamental objective of the NBP is to radically transform the country’s broadband landscape through the delivery of quality, affordable, high-speed broadband to all parts of Ireland that have been left behind by commercial operators; and this includes the islands.

In our view, building this world class infrastructure now ensures that all people and businesses on the islands will have access to a broadband network capable of supporting the communications, information, education and entertainment requirements of current and future generations.

NBI has always believed that better broadband networks promote social progress, equality and sustainability and we believe that the island communities will be empowered to achieve more through this initiative; and given the unique geographical challenges, the economic and social benefit to be accrued from the project have the potential to be disproportionally positive.”

Rhoda Twombly, Secretary of Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann commented, “Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann / The Federation of Irish Islands is pleased to see the start of NBI’s fibre to the home roll out on the islands. We are looking forward to the delivery on all islands. High speed reliable broadband will enable islands to attract new residents, as well as retaining islanders who want to work remotely.”

NBI is encouraging people to keep-up-to-date with Eircode specific updates at https://nbi.ie/eoi/ and is inviting residents on Collanmore, Eighter, Eadarinins / Inishcoo and Rutland to order service from their chosen Retail Service Provider.

National Broadband Ireland is actively working across the country to design and build the new high-speed, Fibre-to-the-Home network, which will connect over 1.1 million people and over 554,000 premises in the project’s Intervention Area.

In advance of the Fibre-to-the-Home roll out, the NBP provides for the delivery of Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) nationwide. 430 BCPs have been installed to date, with 333 of these sites are now ‘live’. These facilities – which include sports clubs, community centres and tourist sites – are providing free public access to high-speed internet in the rollout area. Indeed, a number of BCPs are already connected on other islands – Comharchumann Thoraí Teo (Tory Island) and Clare Island Community Centre.

Other live Donegal BCP’s include Amharclann Ghaoth Dobhair, Fort Dunree / Dún Fhraoigh and the Ray Community Centre / Ionad Pobail na Ráithe; while  Keel Community Centre, CLG Béal An Mhuirthead and Belderrig Community Centre are amongst the live BCPs in County Mayo.

Tech Solutions That Will Completely Change The Future Of Product Design

The future is here and it’s better than we ever could have imagined. Scientists and inventors all over the world are coming up with new technologies that make our lives significantly easier. 3D printing, virtual reality, and even smart home appliances connect us to the world in ways we never thought possible. All of these amazing innovations will change how people design products and create their futures. Let’s explore some of these tech solutions that will completely change the future of product design.

 

1) Prioritising User Experience

The future of product design is all about creating a user-friendly experience. Designers and engineers are beginning to see the importance of prioritizing UX (user experience) in all of their products, which is why there is so much pressure when it comes to designing experiences that satisfy users. For example, FitBit is known for its wearable fitness trackers that sync to your phone or computer to keep track of your daily fitness goals. The Fitbit app is known for being user-friendly and easy to use, making the entire experience more enjoyable for customers. It’s important to see how future technologies can be used in smart ways to help improve the user experience for people using your product.

2) Using Virtual Reality

Virtual reality is known for being a great way to escape into another world. The possibilities are endless when it comes to virtual reality and the applications are endless as well. From enhancing player experiences to creating a realistic prototype, VR can benefit many different industries. That’s why companies like Google and Facebook are creating virtual reality headsets of their own. It’s easy to see how this technology will be beneficial for everyone from engineers to educators.

3) 3D Printing is Revolutionary

In the future, everyone is going to have a 3D printer in their home. These printers are a great way to print 3D objects in a variety of different materials. A good example is the Orbit 3D printer that prints using filaments. Not only are 3D printers useful for producing objects, but they also have many educational applications in schools. Creating a prototype with a 3D printer is much easier than having to go to a manufacturer and purchase one (plus it’s cheaper). 3D printers will dramatically change the future of product design.

4) Connecting Everything to the Internet

The future of product design will incorporate products that are interconnected and able to connect with the internet. Whether it’s appliances in your house or a wearable device, these are all examples of how everything will be connected to the internet. That means there will be a bigger focus on security in the future of product design. Hackers will have access to many more products and engineers need to think about how they can make their devices more secure.

5) The Future is in Augmented Reality

Another future tech that will completely change the way products are designed is augmented reality. Augmented reality takes the physical world and enhances it with computer-generated elements to create a realistic virtual environment. If this sounds confusing, just think about Pokemon Go. The whole point of the game is to use augmented reality to capture digital creatures that are placed within the real world. Augmented reality will be used in many different industries including education, manufacturing, and construction.

6) Automation is the Key to Productivity

Getting products manufactured in a timely manner is an ongoing struggle for many companies. It’s common for there to be downtime during the manufacturing process, but automation will be the future of product design. Companies like Toyota are looking at how they can use automation in their factories to improve productivity and reduce costs. This is commonly known as “lean manufacturing.” Automation will also help reduce the number of injuries workers are exposed to.

The future of product design will continue to evolve and change as new technologies and innovations are introduced. The six tech solutions we’ve discussed in this article can be used today to improve the user experience with your company’s products or services, but there are many more possibilities on the horizon for how these principles could shape our world tomorrow. 

If you’re an engineer, designer, entrepreneur, educator – whoever you are – it may seem overwhelming at times when considering all of the possibilities out there. But no matter what industry you work in or where technology is headed next, one thing remains true: the design will always be a key component that helps people interact with their surroundings better through interacting with the physical environment (i.e., augmented reality) by overlaying digital information

How To Track Your Website Visits: A Brief But Informative Guide

Web analytics is an important part of successfully running a website. Analytics can help you understand how your visitors are using your site, which pages they find most interesting, the bounce rate (the percentage of people who leave your site after viewing one page), and other data that can improve search engine optimization and conversion rates for your business. This article will provide some tips on tracking visits to your website to better analyze what’s happening on-site. Let’s get into the details.

 

What is Website Visitor Tracking?

Website visitor tracking is the process of recording and analyzing data about how visitors interact with a website. This data can include which pages were visited, how long they stayed on each page, where they came from (referral sources), and what actions they took while on the site (such as clicking through to other pages or making a purchase).

Website visitor tracking isn’t an entirely new concept and has been around since the early days of web analytics. With a tool for visitor tracking, businesses can easily track website visitor behavior and activity, understand how their website is being used, and make changes to improve the user experience. Website owners must track their website visitors because it can help them decide what content to keep or remove from their site, how to improve the user experience, and even where to allocate resources for marketing purposes.

How Does Website Visitor Tracking Work?

Several tools will help you track website visitors. Some sites will offer free options for tracking your visits to your site, while others may require paid subscriptions to advanced packages with additional features.

Website visitor tracking requires the use of web beacons or tags, which can come in many forms, including images, scripts, or even invisible pixels that are embedded in a site’s code. These beacons can work by setting cookies on your computer, allowing you to track visits from the same device and browser over time without setting a new cookie each time you visit a website.

Another form of web beacon is typically seen as an image within a site page. These images are typically very small, and the only purpose is to send data back to a server. The way this works is by using information from your web browsers such as your IP address, language settings, referrer URL (where you came from), timestamp of when you visited the site, and other relevant details that can be used to identify you and your visit.

What Can You Track with Website Visitor Tracking?

You can track several different things when using website visitor tracking software. They include:

  • The number of visitors to your site over time
  • The number of visitors from different countries
  • What pages are being visited on your site
  • How long do people stay on each page
  • Where people are coming from to visit your site (referral sources)
  • What actions people are taking while on your site (such as making a purchase or filling out a form)

This data is valuable for understanding how people use your website. You can use it to improve the user experience by changing the design, layout, or content of your site. You can also use it to decide where to focus your marketing efforts and understand what is working well for you and what isn’t.

Can Visitor Tracking Drive Growth?

Website visitor tracking can certainly help drive growth by providing you with the data that will allow you to make better decisions about your site. Data from website visitor tracking will enable marketers and business owners to understand what content is working, where their audiences are coming from, how engaged visitors are with their pages, and more. This, in turn, helps them create a better user experience and content that is more likely to convert visitors into customers.

It’s important to note that website visitor tracking isn’t a one-time fix-all solution, but rather it should be used as part of an overall strategy for growth. By taking the data collected from your website visitor tracking and using it to make changes on your site, you can continue to improve your site and increase engagement, leading to more conversions and better results for your business.

How Do I Get Started with Website Visitor Tracking?

 

There are several different ways to get started with website visitor tracking. You can use existing analytics software that your current marketing or internet service provider may offer, but these options typically have limited features, and you would need to upgrade for more advanced capabilities. There are also some free tools available online if you don’t want to pay anything out of pocket, but these typically have limitations.

Another option is to purchase your website visitor tracking software with advanced capabilities, doesn’t require you to use existing services or other tools, and allows for full customization of how the data is collected. Depending on what you are trying to track, some options will be more affordable than others with different features.

It would be best if you took the time to evaluate what you are trying to track on your website and then find a tracking software solution that will work for you. There are many tools and capabilities available, but the important thing is to make sure you have all the information needed before making any decisions.

Which Apps Are The Best: Routing Apps Vs. GPS Apps

Despite their growing similarities, GPS and navigation apps have distinct objectives, particularly in quickly getting from A to B.

So, let’s begin by comparing the two, starting with the difference: routing apps vs. GPS apps.

This will simplify your selection and assist you in selecting the ideal one for you.

Discovery

Although routing software is primarily a navigation tool, it has advanced discovery features equivalent to GPS.

Both apps have similar features that help you find nearby attractions and businesses.

They have a search bar and unique buttons that cut out most intermediate steps and show you precisely what you want.

You can quickly locate a store or gas station, whether you need one or both. But, as is so often the case, GPS wants to give you more.

It features more specialized buttons. Whether you’re searching for an electronics store or a sports store, GPS’s discovery buttons have you covered. However, routing software makes things simple.

When it comes to finding things, less is more, mainly because you can always utilize the search box to accomplish the same result. Unfortunately, routing software location cards don’t supply as much data as GPS.

The first one gave information on local parking but just supplied the essentials: website, address, and phone. Smaller businesses in your neighborhood have similar issues, but significant chains have many more.

GPS doesn’t catch up on everything, but it does pick up on a lot. One of the adjacent takeout restaurants has no online presence—not even a map. Despite this, GPS knows their phone number, when they’re open, and even when they’re busy.

A routing program’s supplemental information is hit or miss, but GPS contains almost everything you might want since it gets data from so many sources.

Navigation

In GPS, you input a destination, and it will find a way to get you there. There’s something for everyone in GPS. It may also alert you of potential traffic challenges and suggest other routes.

On the other hand, routing applications are built for trucks and cars. A routing program continually monitors situations to find the quickest single path to bring you there as soon as possible.

Both systems can assess traffic circumstances based on user counts, but routing programs act, unlike GPS, displaying obstacles or traffic on the screen.

Also, routing software will happily keep you on the same road regardless of changes. It may recommend a different route based on traffic, but it isn’t aggressive.

Early this year, GPS changed its route calculation algorithm. The service will now analyze factors like real-time red lights and traffic to make the route safer and eco-friendly.

You will conserve petrol and be less likely to get in an accident. In other words, when GPS tells you where to go, it considers more than just your ETA.

It also shows you how much a journey would cost if you paid tolls.

Routing software is meant to shorten your travel time and get you to your destination quickly.

Instead of asking for permission to modify your course, it quickly offers you directions to navigate around any obstacles—all to get you to your destination as fast as possible.

Consequently, consumers are often sent to random destinations by the program.

However, a routing app’s unique manner of navigating delays makes it a beneficial tool for motorists. Routing software is ideal for those willing to take detours.

Design or interface

The GPS seems like a typical app, including on-screen information, while the routing application is much simpler, with fewer components.

Since these two apps serve pretty different goals, they are distinguished. Routing applications let drivers go from A to B while avoiding traffic and road hazards.

However, GPS may be utilized for nearly everything, including navigation, discovery, and even business communication.

In terms of navigation, the two apps seem to be quite similar. The apps eliminate all unnecessary data and only show you what you need to know.

This includes your destination, symbol, and other information such as road hazards and speed limits.

Routing software wins this one because it removes all the unnecessary data and shows you what you need to see.

Everything is orderly if you’re receiving directions or just looking at the map. The GPS’s extra information is beneficial, but it obstructs eyesight.

And, if you live in a city, it might seem like a complete mess at times.

Bottom line

GPS offers a more comprehensive navigation service. It’s not just more comprehensive and has more resources than routing software.

More importantly, GPS can help you no matter how you travel.

If you want to go there quickly and don’t care about the route, you should use routing software.

GPS can monitor and anticipate road conditions when things become complicated, but it isn’t as active in guiding you.

An Easy Guide To Choosing The Top NFT Marketplace

Do you want to know where the best NFT marketplaces are? You’ve come to the right place! We can help you make an informed decision about which marketplace is best for your needs and preferences. For example, if you need a highly customizable system to monetize transactions in your game, then NFTXchange is the perfect option for you. However, if all you need is an easy-to-use interface that isn’t too complicated or expensive to use then NFTxpress might be the way to go!

 

1) What Is An NFT Marketplace And How Do I Interact With It?

The term NFT (Non-Fungible Token) refers to a unique digital asset that can be stored and traded on an Ethereum based platform. The reason NFTs are special is that each one is unique, unlike fungible tokens such as ERC 20 which all have the same value; whereas 1 ETH works just like any other ETH. Therefore, they are non-copyable and can only be used with a unique identifier. There is a range of different NFT marketplaces out there, including Jungle, NFTXchange, and many more. We will look at those in more detail later.

An NFT marketplace is a website where you can buy, sell, or trade NFTs. These marketplaces typically have an integrated wallet that enables users to quickly and easily transfer money into Ethereum. They will often charge a small fee for transactions, but there are also plenty of free options, too!

There are a few different ways to interact with an NFT marketplace, and which method you choose will depend on your personal preference and the level of customization you need for your game. The simplest way to interact with an NFT marketplace is to use the proprietary front end provided by the said marketplace, in this case, called NFTxpress. This way you can easily create listings and transactions without ever touching ETH or blockchain transactions directly, making it perfect for developers who want their users to be able to buy and trade NFTs as easily as possible.

2) A Few NFT Marketplaces You Should Check Out.

Jungle NFT

The first thing you should know about this NFT is that it is a digital marketplace. According to their website “The Jungle NFT Marketplace is a space where creators and collectors can meet to discover, buy, and sell unique and innovative digital art and crypto-collectibles”. It is an easy-to-use marketplace with a very simple setup. All you need to do is register an account, fund your account to buy NFTs, create listings, and then wait for people to purchase them. When someone purchases an item that you are selling, you receive payment and your item is sent to the buyer. A key benefit of this NFT marketplace is that it only charges a small commission fee for every successful transaction.

OpenSea

OpenSea is another digital marketplace like Jungle NFT, but it has many more features than the aforementioned. Firstly, OpenSea does not only allow users to buy and sell NFTs, but also allows them to create their own digital stores with a unique URL and sell items from their store on OpenSea. It does not charge any commission fees, but it also has an expensive deposit fee (which can be reduced by using one of their partnered tokens).

NFTXchange

NFTXchange is an exchange where users can buy, sell, and trade NFTs. This means that its users have a wide variety of options in terms of the types of NFTs they can trade. It is also very customizable, allowing the user to set the commission fee for every successful transaction in their account dashboard. However, one of the main disadvantages of NFTXchange is that it charges a monthly subscription fee in order to use its services.

NFT Market

NFT Market is a marketplace where users can buy, sell, and trade NFTs. Although it has a low commission fee, NFT Market also charges a monthly subscription fee for its services. Additionally, each user is only allowed to have three active listings at one time. Users must upgrade to an upgraded account if they want to have more than three listings.

Rarebits

Rarebits is a decentralized marketplace that uses Ethereum as its main cryptocurrency, meaning that all transactions are done by sending Ether to the seller’s wallet address. It also provides an option for an escrow system where the payment is held until both the buyer and seller agree that the transaction is complete. However, like OpenBazaar, Rarebits does not charge any commission fees for transactions on its marketplace.

Markettoken

Markettoken is a decentralized marketplace with a focus more on collectibles rather than trading standard NFTs such as cryptocollectibles (ERC-721) and cryptogoods (ERC-821). It has a unique system in place where users can create their own collectibles on the platform through creating an asset contract which is then listed on the marketplace. One key feature of Markettoken is that it ensures that all items listed are completely unique, so there cannot be multiple different copies of the same unique item on the marketplace.

EZ Ether

EZ Ether is a decentralized peer-to-peer marketplace that uses Ethereum as its main cryptocurrency to transfer payments. Users can create listings for their NFTs and then wait to see if anyone purchases them. However, it does not have many features other than that and it has a large commission fee in comparison to other marketplaces.

The best NFT marketplace for you will depend on your needs. You need to consider how much customization or specialization of products is needed, the cost of using the service, and what currency they accept. If you are looking for a marketplace where users can create their own stores with unique URLs while still being able to sell items from other platforms on OpenSea, then this platform may be right for you! Alternatively, if you want an escrow system without having to pay any commission fees (but at the expense of expensive deposit fees), then try out Rarebits or Markettoken. Finally, if decentralization is important to you and anonymity during transactions is necessary because it’s likely that whatever goods/services you selling require some degree of secrecy in order to maintain their value or appeal to your customers, then try out EZ Ether.

How can salons keep their businesses safe from cyber criminals? Watch how Notorious Barbers Galway does it with Booksy

Hair and beauty salons have had a lot to deal with since early 2020 and innovation has very much been the name of the game.  A significant number of salon owners such as Notorious Barbers Galway have turned to technology – particularly apps to help them to streamline their businesses, manage their staff and colour inside the lines when it comes to COVID-19 guidelines.  During this time, booking apps have been extremely popular but, with increased technology comes an increase in cybercrime.

It’s a steal

In 2020, businesses across the world scrambled to get their hands on technology which would help them to ride the storm of the pandemic and come through on the other side.  Unfortunately, this created a playground for cybercriminals – so much so that, last year, six in ten companies reported that they had fallen victim to some kind of cyber attack.  Needless to say, this proved devastating for businesses which were already under the cosh and, sadly, many were simply unable to survive.  

These attacks were particularly prevalent within the hair and beauty industry – a sector which has been fairly slow to get on board with technological advancements.  From identity theft to ransomware attacks, a huge number of salons struggled to manage their new tech while optimising security – something which was a worry with scheduling software which deals with a large amount of customer data.

Safe and secure

A common complaint from salon owners and managers is that they don’t have the technical know-how when it comes to cybersecurity.  While nobody’s expecting salon owners to become tech experts overnight, there are a few things which can really help to cut down on cyber attacks and keep customer and salon data safe: 

A code of conduct – Something as simple as password protecting all devices and systems and making sure that you change the passwords regularly can really help with your security.  Make sure that all employees understand the importance of keeping these passwords safe.

Wrapping the wifi – In 2021, salons are very much expected to offer free wifi to their customers – in fact, some customers will actively avoid salons who don’t.  When offering this service, be sure to secure it properly. Ill-protected wifi can be the weakest link when it comes to security. If in doubt, it’s always a good idea to consult an expert on this to stop the baddies tapping into your system.

Beating the baddies with Booksy

Because of these issues, savvy salon owners chose to hitch their wagon to Booksy’s super-secure suite of tools.  Primarily an appointment scheduling app, Booksy also has lots of great features to make running a salon a breeze.  Features include a scheduling app which allows customers to book and manage their appointments from their phones, payment and prepayment options which significantly reduce salon no-shows, upselling tools and, marketing tools including email outreach. There’s also the excellent customer service—according to data from 1800liveperson, Booksy is one of the least visited pages on their site.

The sentiment says it all, too. As claimed by Brand24’s sentiment analysis of almost 1,500 mentions, the feeling towards Booksy is overwhelmingly positive at 82.1%.

No matter if you want a beard trim, a simple haircut, or get yourself a fade, Notorious Barbers Galway can be accessed via a mobile device either through a browser or the Booksy app.

Safe and secure

As well as being a game changer for salon management, the folk are serious about security.  The system includes a number of safety features as standard, including: 

Access levels – Booksy allows salon owners to set access levels for employees, depending on their role and level of responsibility.  This helps to ensure that access to sensitive data is only granted to those who need it – and can be trusted with it. 

Password protection – Booksy offers super-secure encrypted password protection to help ensure that private data stays that way.

Alerts – As secure as Booksy is, we all know how tenacious cybercriminals can be.  For this reason, Booksy’s security system features alert notifications to let you know if somebody has attempted a violation.  This handy feature allows for quick action in the event of an attempted breach. 

Conclusion

Technology gives salon owners the power to manage their salons more efficiently but, as we know, with great power comes great responsibility.  Cyber security should never be an after-thought for salons but should be a major focus for every business.  Prioritising security prevents theft and builds trust with customers who have entrusted salons with their precious data. 

Tech Review – Google Pixel 6

The Google Pixel 6 and the Pro version have had the usual fanfare this year with leaks galore and set tongues wagging at the same time with those leaks which we avoid and this was due to the total redesign of the devices compared to previous models and one that stands out too giving the phones a unique look breaking away from all the rest of the phones we see that look pretty much the same and this was a good move and not only that they look much better than the previous models too and this led to lots of talk, opinions and more which of course is good for publicity but how does the Pixel 6 fair out from my time with it so far, let’s have a look.. I will not be boring you with specs here but let’s just talk about the experience.

Design and build

Let’s be clear here when you pick up the Pixel 6 you know you are picking up a flagship device the design is also quite unique and this stands out from its predecessors easily it looks premium and feels premium and people have asked me what phone it is which is something not often said especially when most could already tell what phone I use the same applied to the Galaxy Z flip 3 which I have parked aside now. The phone is not light but this aint bad you know it is in your pocket unlike the Z flip3 which had me doubting myself sometimes. The glass front and rear with metal sides feels so solid in the had too.

The camera which you can see videos and images from later is another talking point here with the bar across the rear of the device and I like it, the phone will not rock on the table here and gives a raised viewing angle and if you slap a case on it gets better ( check out our pixel 6 case reviews ) The camera bar has already have several names attached to it be we will not go there it looks good in my eyes and also serves as a balancing tool in my hand with my right finger nestling underneath when in use.

The key placement is fine here with the volume rockers and power on/off keys on the left side which I prefer on a phone anyway, the lack of a rear fingerprint sensor here might be a miss for some and I rather that myself and due to the current on screen fingerprint sensor being a big notorious right now it is missed but hopefully a software update will fix this in the future..

The screen is a joy to consume media on and in fact just work on as a whole and this coupled with the stereo speakers it makes in a win the media consumption end of things which adds to the user experience for those who spend most of their time on their phone like me for work and more..

Performance

My use case would be different than others I am a power user I work on the go and at home and mostly off my mobile phone and have been doing so for years and will remain that for for the foreseeable future and having done so on this device it has been a simple effortless task when it came to doing what I do no matter where I would be so doing emails documents social media and more and all this was great thanks to the big screen estate the only issue I came across was video editing on this phone, As one that uses mobile for video and not a standalone camera the Pixel 6 is my new driver for videos which is fine nonetheless but when it came to processing videos it was slow compared to even the likes of my Samsung Galaxy Z flip 3 or my old PIxel 5. I would have a video shot, edited processed and uploaded on the Pixel 5 and Flip 3 whilst the video would be just finished processing on the 6, I did think this may have been an app issue but trying the same thing on several phones it was consistent but again this could be fixed with updates I hope and I still use the Pixel 6 for my video reviews daily due to the quality results you get from the camera, Asides that it is fine and does a great job even on gaming which i do not do much of nor have the time too but it caused no problems there.

Camera

The camera has been a big factor with Google devices for the last few years and with computational photography being the thing it has not changed here at all it is a fantastic camera and low light video and pictures are great, this has been solid over the last few weeks testing the device and it is still one of the top cameras out there right now and below you can see some videos and images taken with the device and you can decide for yourself, these are all standard real world takes and not something in particular I went out to look for, there is some cool tricks you can use with the pixel 6 like magic eraser and that which is great to get rid of what is not wanted and is not so much a gimmick as some might call it. The Pixel 6 does lack the telephoto lens here which for me is not really an issue overall..

Night samples on the Pixel 6 

 

 

Day samples on the Pixel 6

The screen on the Pixel 6 is great with a 90hz refresh rate so consuming media here is a joy overall and the same applies to gaming given gamers would prefer the 120 hz refresh rate here but for films or watching You Tube you are on a winner here with the screen estate at hand here.. If you want that bit more on the screen refresh you need to look at the Pixel 6 pro folks.

When it came to my usage on battery it would differ from the average user so take note, I did get the full day most days being a power user but some days I was reaching for a charger, again this depends on the work you do on the device and for me my device is used all day long. For most outside my work portfolio they would easily seek a day no worries here.

Overall if you want a decent camera and device with a superb build with good power this is one of the best if not best devices on the market now for the money there is lots of stuff here and with Google you get plenty like Google Lens and so on, Google and their services is a massive plus for me as I am an entrenched user in the ecosystem so for those who like the same it is a no brainer for others though it might seem a bit niche but if you want to try something new and not tried any of the Google device portfolio yet you should check this one out or perhaps the 6 Pro..

 

Things to know about the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro

1Meet Pixel 6 – the phone that adapts to you. Meet Pixel 6. It’s reimagined, inside and out. Powered by Google Tensor, Google’s first-ever processor, it’s fast, smart and secure. The all-day battery adapts to you. The Pixel Camera captures moments just how you experienced them. And the Personal Safety app and the new Titan M2TM chip help protect you, your data and your privacy. Pixel 6 is just as durable as it is beautiful. With IP68 protection, it can take a little water and dust. The 6.4-inch Smooth Display is made with Corning® Gorilla® Glass Victus™, the toughest Gorilla Glass yet, with up to 2x better scratch resistance than previous Pixel phones. Pixel 6 comes in three iconic and vibrant colours that are expressive and versatile: Sorta Seafoam, Kinda Coral and Stormy Black, and it starts at only €649
2

Introducing Pixel 6 Pro – it’s the best of Google, built around you.

 

 Introducing Pixel 6 Pro, the redesigned, high-spec Google phone. The brand-new triple rear camera system includes a pro-level telephoto lens with 4x optical zoom. Its main sensor captures 150% more light, bringing vivid col

our and greater accuracy to photos.6 Pixel 6 Pro’s 6.7-inch Smooth Display with LTPO technology can intelligently adjust up to 120 Hz for smoother, more responsive performance, or lower to 10 Hz to save battery. Pixel 6 Pro is premium and unique, with three sophisticated colour combinations that complement the high-end materials: Sorta Sunny, Cloudy White and Stormy Black. It starts at €899 and sets a new bar for Pixel phones.
3

Powered by Google Tensor, the new chip from Google.

 Google Tensor is the first processor designed by Google, custom-made for Pixel. It helps make Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro the smartest and fastest Pixel phones yet. With up to 80% faster performance than Pixel 5, Pixel 6 runs smoother, apps launch faster and gaming is more responsive. Tensor delivers Google’s advanced on-device AI for features deliver the Google way like faster, more accurate speech recognition and image processing.Plus it saves power to help you get through the day.
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Only on the all-new, all-Google phone.

 Incredibly intelligent machine learning helps you do things the Google way, like instantly translate messages and videos using Live Translate. Tensor’s custom image processor lets Pixel’s brand-new camera capture fun times and starry nights exactly how you remember them. And Tensor’s security core brings an extra layer of protection and works with the new Titan M2™ security chip to keep Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro even more resilient to attacks.  
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The most advanced smartphone camera.

 

 Your photos match your moment with the most advanced Pixel Camera on Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. The main sensor captures 150% more light – the most ever in a Pixel. Face Unblur helps to clearly capture faces even in the toughest conditions . Magic Eraser in Google Photos removes photobombers and distractions from your photos, just like that.15 Make everyday shots epic with Motion Mode which captures brilliant action shots and beautiful long-exposures. With Real Tone, portraits on Pixel represent all people and skin tones beautifully and accurately. Pixel 6 Pro’s pro-level lenses also include a telephoto lens with 4x optical zoom and an ultrawide front camera with 94° field of view for stunning group selfies.
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The safest Pixel phones yet.

 Your life is on your phone: your financial information, personal data, photos and more. So Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are built with the most layers of hardware security in any phone, including the new processor and the next-gen Titan M2TM security chip.16 Every day, Pixel helps you feel safe with five years of security updates, the Security hub, and protection from hackers and phishing in messaging apps. And Pixel keeps you in control of your privacy. You can turn your Pixel’s cameras off, and choose when apps can use your cameras and mics. Pixel doesn’t just protect your data, it also protects you. With the Personal Safety app, Pixel helps you reach emergency contacts or services if you need them, and can even detect if you’ve been in an accident and helps you reach the emergency services.
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24-hour Adaptive Battery that charges fast.

 

 Pixel’s all-day Adaptive Battery is everything that a battery should be. It can last beyond 24 hours, even on 5G. It learns your favourite apps, so it doesn’t waste power on ones that you never use. When you turn on Extreme Battery Saver, it keeps your essential apps running and turns off other apps to save even more power, so your battery can last up to 48 hours. And with the compatible 30 W USB-CⓇ Charger (sold separately), your Pixel charges super fast – up to 50% charge in around 30 minutes.
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Enhance the Pixel experience with the new and more.

 Get Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro accessories from Google or choose products from one of the Made For Google brands offering 300+ accessories. The new Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro cases are built to protect your phone and let your phone’s colours shine through. Plus, you can pick up the Google Pixel Buds A-Series, which bring you brilliant sound, clear calls and hands-free help from Google Assistant. 
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Pixel just keeps getting better.

 [Every few months, Google enhances Pixel with software updates that send new features to your phone. Every feature drop brings new and better ways to do things. It’s like putting a new phone into your phone.]
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Pre-order to claim Bose wireless headphones

[Post 28 Oct 21]

Comes with the best of Google

 Buy a Google Pixel 6 or Pixel 6 Pro (subject to availability ) from participating retailers, before 23:59 pm BST on 27th October 2021 and receive a set of Bose Noise Cancelling headphones 700. To redeem this offer visit pixel-offers.com/headphones for full terms and conditions27 . 

[Post 28 Oct 21]

Pixel 6 comes with three months of YouTube Premium and Google One on us.28 The combined savings add up to almost £14 a month – all to help you get the most out of your new Pixel.

 

 

Review – Sage Bambino Coffee Machine

I am not the biggest coffee fan in the world nor tea for that matter but never turn a cup down if out or visiting friends and so on, this machine has no real tech to it but there is an app to help you along with things and it has buttons that light up and so on but it is a new experience for a non coffee maestro, coffee is a huge industry here and across the world and we pay for dearly at the likes of Costa and Starbucks which sport a loyalty card club people proudly dish out at tills and think they are part of something elite, that is just my take on the coffee world from observing and I have my own name for such folk which I cant repeat here but I do get it dont get me wrong each to their own, I prefer a can of coke or bottle of water and I am sure there is names for my like. I do like cappuccino more so and get that taste matters and with having only used the traditional at home method mostly for tea and coffee due to not frequenting coffee shops every day of my life I see the difference in a machine like this has over the old fashioned method and it is huge..

The smell, taste and experience changes it and in fact I may now drink more coffee and god bless turn into what I cant call here. This is my first coffee machine to check out and I have to make that clear, some other tech friends of mine here and abroad have done the same and I have turned down several times the offer to look into one and I am glad I did until now. I am no coffee expert or overnight one either for that like some have seem to become.

A Sage rep has said: ‘The kitchen remains at the heartland of every home, where wannabe-masterchefs can experiment from the comfort of their own space, and with Sage, the restaurant quality results using our products shows no sign of easing up. From pizza to coffee, 

there are so many opportunities to enjoy the process and now more than ever as we’re spending more time at home. With that, we’re excited to open up the Sage family to launch the Bambino® as the perfect espresso machine to enter and explore the full aromatic complexity of Third Wave coffee at home.’

 

As mentioned I normally get the spoon cup and jar affair but always wondered what difference these machines make, now when I say machines I mean ones in petrol stations not the ones you see in the likes of bewleys and so on, I am familiar with other brands that have machines and they deliver good ads on the TV and make it tempting even down to the pods you get and I just never bothered trying them out, some friends have them, most do not and never tried this method and now it has me interested, the machine is well built looks more expensive than it should be and easy to clean which is important and it also looks great on the kitchen press, much to some friends surprise when they came in and seen it they asked me if I way OK which was funny but I explain what is going on and they get it, not only that they became curious too and had a taste and all was good.. So overall for me testing this machine and the first coffee machine remember it has been all good.

Just like anything else I review I give my opinion, our ears differ this is something often brought up by attention seeking folk and being a fair point it is a moot one when you test more than many and you can tell good sound from bad but when it comes to taste again this will differ, in general coffee for me was never an item in my shopping basket you could say but having drinking tea and coffee the old fashioned way and now using this machine there’s a difference and big one at that so you can take what you like from that and this is just my humble opinion.

What the Sage Bambino is all about..

The Bambino delivers barista quality performance using a 54mm portafilter that holds 18-19 grams of coffee for full flavour and a powerful steam wand to create silky microfoam milk that will have at home baristas creating impressive latte art. Perfect for those with busy schedules, the Bambino® proprietary Thermojet® heating system means the machine is ready to start making incredible espresso in just 3 seconds. 

The faster way to professional results at home. Like professional machines, the Bambino can deliver third wave specialty coffee. This is made possible by the 4 keys formula. Delivering barista quality performance using a 54mm portafilter with 18-19 grams of coffee for full flavour and a powerful steam wand to create microfoam required for latte art. With a proprietary ThermoJet heating system the machine is ready to start in 3 seconds. 

The simple to use, four button interface of the Bambino belies a complex machine that takes all the guesswork out of at home espresso. The state-of-the-art design ensures the right dose of freshly ground beans, precise temperature control thanks to an integrated PID, and optimal water pressure for both espresso and microfoam milk delivered via its 15 bar Italian pump. 

See the full range

Video Link

Tech Review – New Bee H362 USB Office Headset with Rotatable Mic

With the change of office scenes, we use headphones more and more frequently in our work. For example, we often have video conferences, voice conferences, or telephone communication. In many cases, we can’t do without headsets.

If you have a professional office headset, you can effectively improve office efficiency, and your mood will become more comfortable. There’s only one issue. There are all kinds of office headsets on the market. Which one is worth owning? You will want a headset with clear sound quality, comfortable wearing, and reasonable design.

Recently, we received the New Bee H362 headset and we gave it a test run so lets have a look at what I have found and do check out the video review below. 

The Package

The packaging box of New Bee H362 headset is mainly white, and the H362 headset pattern is printed on the packaging box. 

Open the box, there is an inline controller, two wire-clips, user manual, operating and safety notes as well as the headset itself.

Appearance

The whole H362 headset is mainly black, which is very light in weight and comfortable to the touch. The New Bee logo is printed on both sides of the ear cup of the headset, and one of the ear cups has a microphone that can be rotated 270 degrees.

 

Coming from this ear cup is the 4-foot cable that terminates with a standard 3.5mm auxiliary plug. This cable can be plugged-in directly to the inline controller, which can be plugged into a USB port. 

Sound Quality

There is a 30mm speaker in each ear cap, which is designed to provide full stereo sound. We listened to different types of audio with H362 headset. Generally speaking, the audio quality we heard was relatively real and clear. As an office headset, you can’t compare it with studio-quality headsets, but this headset is sufficient for daily use.

In addition, I wore this headset and conducted a voice call test with my friends. Even in the presence of background noise, H362 headset can also transmit sound clearly without any distortion.

Comfort and Fit

The H362 headset is extremely light and flexible, and there is no pain and pressure even when worn it for a long time. If you have a long conference call or video conference, this headset is very comfortable to wear.

When you touch the ear cap, you can feel that the ear caps are soft and skin-friendly. In addition, the ear caps can be flexibly rotated, and the ear caps will fit the ear more closely when worn.

 

The head band of H362 headset is made of stainless steel, and a leather head cushion is specially designed in the head beam to improve the wearing comfort.

The length of the headband is adjustable, and there are clear scale marks on both sides of the head beam. Since everyone’s head circumference is different, users can adjust the length of the headband according to needs.

The microphone boom of the H362 headset can be rotated 270 degrees. The microphone boom can be rotated to the vicinity of the mouth when in use. When the microphone boom is not in use, the microphone boom can be rotated toward the head beam.

The rotatable microphone boom is suitable for your left ear or right ear to wear. Whether it is worn on the left or on the right, it has no effect on the sound quality, and the sound quality is still very clear.

Controls

On the top-end of the controller is a 3.5mm auxiliary input. On the opposite end is a fixed cable that extends an additional eight feet and is terminated by a USB plug. 

The inline controller contains three buttons: mute button, microphone mute button, volume up and down buttons. The relevant functional operations can be realized through the button when in use.

Compatibility

H362 headset has a wide range of compatibility. Since the headset has a 3.5mm audio connector and another USB extension cable, it can be compatible with most devices with a 3.5mm interface and a USB interface, such as: PC（windows）, PC（mac OS）etc. If you have special needs, you can also connect more devices through Type-C adapters, and H362 headset is also supported.

Summary

All in all, this headset is specifically designed for office workers. The earphones have excellent sound quality and are comfortable to wear. The lightweight design is very suitable for long-term wear.

What’s more, the price of this headset is also very affordable, and its quality matches the price. If you often need to wear a headset for conference calls or video conferences, this headset will be an ideal choice if you want to save money.

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VIDEO LINK