Leading real hands on tech review site in Ireland with technology, business news and more. Jim O Brien Tech.
Author: Jim O Brien/CEO
CEO and expert in transport and Mobile tech. A fan 20 years, mobile consultant, Nokia Mobile expert, Former Nokia/Microsoft VIP,Multiple forum tech supporter with worldwide top ranking,Working in the background on mobile technology, Weekly radio show, Featured on the RTE consumer show, Cavan TV and on TRT WORLD. Award winning Technology reviewer and blogger. Security and logisitcs Professional.
If you have not picked up the new Nokia 3 yet this might be the chance for you to get a great device for peanuts. The Nokia 3 not only runs Android but is a really well built device too and will get the Oreo update in the coming weeks which has been clarified by HMD Global. This device is not for power users but for those whom want a device to get things done and it also sports a really good camera for the pricepoint its in. We have been using one some months now and if you have any quesitons on the device feel free to ask.
This is a Bathroom scales with a difference, check your weight body composition at eye level where it suits. The TerraillonWeb Coach Easy View (bathroomweighingscales to most of us) is an impedance meter that calculates your weight, your BMI and your body composition: fat, muscle, water and bone masses. Is has its large glass top for better weighing comfort and shockproof rubber ring. The glass is prone to smudging and suggest when using to wear socks.
The removable LCD screen is excellent to allow viewing from any angle and area. This can be fitted at head height viaa magnetic strip or placed the same as traditional scales. The display is large, great ingenuity by Terraillon allowing this to be moved around even if trying to weigh the suit case prior to travelling, this can be viewed at any direction. This display option leaves traditional scales looking dated and boring (albeit a littlepricier).
UNBOXING
Contents – 1 Terraillon Web Coach Easy View Magnet, Anthracite, Scope 160kg, Graduation 100g, Glass / Rubber, Weight: 2.03kg, Dimensions (WxLxH): 34.7 x 32.8 x 2.8 cm, User manual included, works with 6 AAA batteries (not included)
Features – •Memory8 users – •Automatic user recognition – •Body fat percentage – •Body water percentage – •BMI – •BMR – •Visceral fat – •Muscle mass – •Bone mass – •Weight tracking
Smart functionality– Connects to smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth
•Connects to smartphone or tablet via wi-fi , The unit does not come with the required 6AAA batteries which is a shame as opening the unit to set this up required another trip to the shops. Up to 8 smartphones / tablets connected simultaneously, Automatic recognition of each user, Synchronization via Bluetooth Smart, Compatibility: iOS (8.0 and up) and Android (4.3 and up)
Other connected accessories available – Warranty, – The Terraillon range comes with a 2-year warranty which is great to see. Most of the support information is in French and translated to English. The Terraillon range includes, Bathroom scales, Kitchen scales, Baby care, Connected well-being Medical, Healthand Kitchen Accessories.
The App
A comprehensivebreakdown of the app was listed previously at reviewed(TERRAILLON NUTRITAB KITCHEN SCALES) https://techbuzzireland.com/2017/09/19/review-terraillon-nutritab-kitchen-scales-fitness-health-food/) which is the best app in principle as connected with one app for most of the range of Terraillon products, this is great for your complete heath which allows up to 8 smartphones to be connected , one for each member of the family.This is a great bonus ratherthan learninga new appfor checking yourweight or the Terraillon Activi -T Tracker for your steps,arm blood pressure monitor (optionof the consumer / professional range)
WELLNESS COACH APP
Web Coach Easy View connects to the Terraillon Wellness Coach App. Set your goals and get free advice scientifically validated to reach them.Unfortunately,the concept is excellent,while the Wellness Coachapp requires additionalwork having the app freeze or lock up on occasion. The app got 2 stars out of 5 out of 1137 on the play store. Once the app issues are resolved this will be the Apple technology of your health & fitness wellbeing easier to track your weight, diet, sleep or blood pressure.
What’s different about this scales compared to the traditional scales? ANALYSIS OF BODY COMPOSITION This is a composition analyser. It calculates your weight, your body mass index (BMI) and your body fat, muscle mass, body water and bone mass.
MULTI-FUNCTION SCREEN SATELLITE
My favourite feature is the MULTI-FUNCTIONS SCREEN SATELLITE with magnetic metal support, which can be placed onthe shelf of your bathroom, on the wall or leave it on the scale. This has features: display of time, room temperature and thetimer function (teeth brush, shower or free).
This product will not get you fit/ lose weight but provides the tools & motivation help in the management of your weight for the analysis of your weight (fat, muscular, hydrous and bonemasses), BMI (body mass index.)
The manufactures advise this is scientifically validated free advice for monitoring your progress. When it comes to your health and well-being technology advances have come a longway in the past few years making it easy and financially affordable to compete with the technology as used by the professionals. If you have a plan to join lifestyle changing classes,monitoring your diet / weight but struggle with portion control,‘points’ or ‘syns’ the Terraillon range of products is certainly one to look out for. The Terraillon range all synchronise to one common app whether weighing your food, going for a walk,checking your health. Using the Terraillon Web Coach Easy View and Terraillon Wellness Coach app to see changes on the scales and your masses represented by graphic curves mustbe a positive.
If you need an app to get things done without any hassle like notes,tasks or chat there is many apps out there that provide this today but this app is a new Irish made app that combines several things we do on a daily basis into one simple to use app which is now on Android and iOS in beta so your thoughts and feedback are welcome, This is a new app in town called WORK..
Anton Mc Carthy from WORK tells us what its all about,its simple really and no fuss..
Have you ever found yourself using WhatsApp for work? We have, and it seems we’re not alone! That’s why we thought, what if you could turn a messaging app into a productivity app?
It’s really simple – just 3 basic features for getting stuff done on the fly:
Chat: Just like a regular messaging app.
To-Dos: Need something done? Assign a task to the group, or yourself!
Notes: Notes are great, and in Work they’re just a tap away – share a list of suppliers, venue ideas for the Christmas party, who owes money for the stag – even your own private Notes on who you’re chatting with! (Hush now!)
And that’s it – this is project management without the bells and whistles, and because it’s in a messaging app even your granny could use it.
Work is in beta mode and we welcome all feedback! We look forward to bringing you new features and updates as we roll out the app!
This event brought together 30 PayPal employees to create and develop digital resources and systems for Irish charities over a 24-hour period.There were a number of charities that benefited from digital solutions. One of the most innovative was an app developed for suicide and self-harm charity, Pieta House.
The app streamlines the registration and payment system for Pieta House’s annual fundraiser, Darkness Into Light. It will save the charity 5,000 volunteer hours and eliminate the handling of over €1.5m in cash.
Press Release.
PayPal today announces the success of this year’s Opportunity Hack, its charity hackathon held in Ireland. The event, which took place at the Castleknock Hotel in Dublin, brought together 30 PayPal teammates to create and develop digital resources and systems for Irish charities over a 24-hour period.
Led by Jonathan Davies, Manager of Small Business Integrations and Optimisations at PayPal, the teammates were drawn from various disciplines including coding, software development, customer support, risk and compliance. They were tasked with working with the charities to develop solutions for their most pressing digital needs.
Pictured (L-R) at PayPals Opportunity Hack are Guy Thompson Fingal Chamber president & GM Castleknock Hotel; Alison Pryce, PayPal; Kristina Fernandes, PayPal; Cian Delaney, PayPal; Francesca Placido, PayPal; and Anthony Cooney, CEO, Fingal Chamber.
A judging panel – which consisted of various members of the PayPal team including Maeve Dorman, Vice President of Merchant Operations for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Anthony Rafferty, Director of Merchant Services, as well as Guy Thompson, General Manager of the Castleknock Hotel and President of Fingal Dublin Chamber of Commerce – had the difficult task of choosing the best projects.
The team behind Chifundo, a charity dedicated to the education of some of the most underprivileged children in the villages of Zomba in Malawi, claimed the number one spot. The PayPal techies helped to create an online shop for the organisation to enable it to sell Malawi crafts brought back to Ireland by volunteers, the proceeds of which will be donated directly to the school. They also made it user-friendly so that Chifundo can update it easily.
Second place went to Pieta House which helps those in suicidal distress or engaging in self-harm. It was provided with an app allowing community centres to streamline the registration and payment system for its Darkness Into Light event, thus saving the charity 5,000 volunteer hours, allowing it to gather information on participants and eliminating the handling of over €1.5m in cash.
Junior Achievement Ireland, an organisation that encourages and supports young people to remain in education, and Outreach Moldova, which is dedicated to protecting the rights of vulnerable children in the Republic of Moldova, took joint third. Junior Achievement Ireland collaborated with PayPal to develop an integrated CRM system to digitise materials used in the classroom. Outreach Moldova’s collaboration resulted in a new online ticketing service to make it easier for people to purchase tickets for its dinner and lunch events.
Speaking about the hackathon, Maeve Dorman said: “At PayPal, we are committed to giving back to the local community where we do business. It’s been fantastic to see our team joining forces with local charities to tackle their digital challenges, and come up with solutions that can make a tangible difference to their work.
Maeve Dorman, Vice President of Merchant Operations EMEA, PayPal
“It is a tremendous event for all involved. Not only do the charities benefit but PayPal teammates get a great sense of achievement out of applying their expertise to new challenges. Now in its second year, the Opportunity Hack 2.0 has made a significant impact already and helps to address important issues such as social inclusion, education and wellness.”
Kieran Brady, Director of Funding and Advocacy, Pieta House, said: “As our flagship funding event, Darkness Into Light is the single biggest occasion that allows us to keep our doors open and continue to provide our life-saving service free of charge to people all over Ireland. Over the years, the event has grown from strength to strength, but with that, so have its needs, along with the challenges that come with managing such a large event.
“The app created for us at PayPal’s Opportunity Hack 2.0 streamlines the registration and payment processes, saving us countless hours, and protects both staff and volunteers by reducing cash handling. It will also help us adhere to tightening data protection legislation and maintain transparency, which is so important to us in remaining accountable to the many people who support us in doing our work. We are extremely grateful to the PayPal team for lending us their time and expertise for this project.”
Pictured (L-R) at PayPals Opportunity Hack are Tim O’Leary, PayPal; Darren Corley, PayPal; Slawek Smiechowski, PayPal; and Guy Thompson Fingal Chamber president & GM Castleknock Hotel.
Guy Thompson said: “Castleknock Hotel was honoured to be the partner hotel for PayPal’s Opportunity Hack 2.0 and the staff were delighted to host another hugely successful event. As President of the Fingal Dublin Chamber of Commerce, we strongly encourage CSR initiatives amongst our members and PayPal is leading the way, providing much needed expertise, support, enthusiasm and a genuine passion for helping the community.”
Enjoy your motoring, safe in the knowledge that Philips Automotive driving recorders will automatically capture and save everything that happens on the road ahead- in case the unexpected happens. I have been always an advocate for people getting dashcams installed in their vehicles and its still not to late to go get one there is many to pick from for all pockets..
According to research conducted by the Accident Exchange the use of dash cam footage has risen by a staggering 285% since 2015. It noted that the spike in use following an accident, resulted in fewer disputes while also speeding up the claims processes.
Dash cams offer both accountability and safety, the Police for example have used dash cams during traffic stops for decades to ensure the protection of both the officers and the people who they pull over. If you suspect you have been a victim of a crash for cash fraud, submitting dash cam evidence could help you be properly compensated and prevent it happening to others.
The Philips GoSure ADR620 and ADR820 are highly reliable and designed for various driving conditions, so in case of a collision, a wide view colour video is automatically secured. The dash cams are easy to install, simply plug-and-play.
The GoSure ADR620 offers full HD 1080p sharp recording, 120° wide recording angle, date and time stamp evidence, collision detecting G-sensor, a driver fatigue alert warning, automatic recording, 2” built-in LCD screen plus an intuitive user interface.
A GoSure ADR820 is packed with useful features including, 140° super wide recording angle, Sony image sensor and F1.8 lens, collision detecting G-sensor, WIFI via the Philips GoSure App, Driver fatigue alert warning, automatic recording and a 2.7” built in LCD screen.
Additional GoSure accessories are also available including a GPS enabled suction mount. Users simply replace the standard suction mount with the GPS version and plug it into the dash cam. Now there will be a GPS stamp on all video recordings showing the vehicle’s precise location.
There is also a Full HD rear camera that is compatible with the ADR820. Installation is quick and easy – users simply attach the rear camera onto the rear windshield, and then plug into the GoSure ADR820 with the cable provided. The device is then able to record front and behind in super sharp detail.
Richard Armstrong, Philips Business Development Manager Automotive – UK & Eire commented: “We all hope our journeys are safe and incident free. But in the case of an accident, gathering accurate evidence is vital. For many, the post-accident experience is one of the most stressful elements of car ownership and it benefits everyone to make it as simple, stress free and to limit unnecessary claims disputes.
“The new Philips Go Sure ADR620 and ADR820 are armed with a powerful front camera, and optional rear camera and GPS tracking, drivers can easily prove what really happened bringing more transparency and acting as a reliable witness on the road.”
The new dash cams are available from selected Currys PC World nationwide
Irish retailers and networks have shunned blackberry for some years now and whilst like Windows Phone seen a huge dip in shares BlackBerry fell the same way but they now have Android devices and they are still left out for those who want them,the same also applies to LG which of late have made great phones.
Be it ignorance from the networks or the manufacturers themselves this is something that can be addressed by making it happen or like in many instances with tech in Ireland we have to resort to importing the goods. This is can work in to our benefit at times with cost but overall it’s a channel most would prefer not to use and walk into a store and just buy the dam things there and then and also get a look at them.
now though John Lewis have them in stock and also Argos do in the UK, Even Argos here have ignored the TCL made devices which is unusual considering they sell LG devices and others not available on our networks. John Lewis is a reputable retailer in the UK and I have purchased several things from them so check them out if you are interested and use Parcel Motel to get it delivered. The older Blackberry KeyOne is also available to purchase which is really a nice phone but can be got cheaper elsewhere than its current advertised listing.
Handheld consoles are a thing of the past but they are making a comeback just like consoles of old which are also now coming back but in a miniature version and we can’t get enough of them they are an epic reminder for those in the day of what we use to play as kids and recently I just purchased the Super Nintendo Mini Classic and love it, Given its graphics are 8bit which is the same for this handheld it brings back those memories and I actually spend some time on it, Gaming for me has drifted slowly over the years as I geared towards mobile phones and so on.
This handheld has offerings of the same given its got just a 2.4 inch LCD but you can connect it to a TV which is excellent and enhanced the experience even more rather than confining yourself to a little compact box and for those who are real gamers of old probably would not last long on the tiny screen but then again it’s not so bad either for lounging on the couch,in bed or if you are like me a visit to the loo and this comes with me instead of my phone,its portable and light and also a robust unit and will take a few drops I would imagine.
The controls are also familiar with a multi directional navi pad and two buttons to the right which are again functional and offer different moves or can be used both together there is an instruction guide within to guide you on what buttons do what per individual game. This is powered by Three AAA batteries (not included) nor expensive either and last quite some time again these can be bought at the till or in Argos itself where they have some good deals..
Overall its a great little package perhaps for kids but not to leave the adults out there is 30 games here which will bring you back to those years and Sega games we all remember so so well,this is of course if you came from the same days of the original formats. It will keep you occupied and also keep kids occupied and not forgetting there is a headphone socket to boot so you can also have some peace with whoever plays with it that’s if they don’t want to hook it up to your main TV..
As mentioned there is 30 games installed and take not there is no expandable memory so you can’t add to it nor remove it is what it is which is plenty..
VR will be on many people’s shopping list this year even though it has died off somewhat there is still interest and people will be testing this out for the first time too and gift like this would make an ideal stocking filler too if you are stuck for something to purchase for your partner or family member, Menkind UK have sent us over this VIZOR GO VR headset to check out which is a nice package overall and offering a case to protect the unit when not in use and it has a unique way of closing up by folding it to make it space friendly which also comes in its own carry case which is really neat.
Check out the image gallery below and video review and if you have any questions fire away below or hit us up on social media and stay tuned for more news coming your way very soon.
Compact VR and AR headset flattens for portability
96° field of vision with capacitive touch button on Vizor
200g lightweight design with adjustable head straps and lenses
Suitable with most smartphones 4.7 inches to 6” inches
Measures approx. 18cm x 10cm x 4cm
Prepare yourself for an amazing VR experience wherever you are with Vizor Go foldable headset. Suitable for most smartphones, this miniature headset is perfect for VR lovers who don’t want a huge bulky headset taking up all their space.
The MekaMon robot is unique as you can use it simultaneously in both the physical and virtual worlds. In doing so, it moves gaming into a new category, one that combines augmented reality and robotics. Inevitably comparisons will be made to Pokemon Go – but this is an entirely different experience and turns a sitting room into a fighting zone as the MekaMon robot goes to battle in front of you.
Reach Robotics, the augmented reality gaming company developing the ‘future of gaming,’ today announced that their flagship product, MekaMon, the world’s first real-life gaming robot, is now available on Apple.com, select Apple stores in the US and UK, as well as MekaMon.com for £299.95.
By incorporating augmented reality into a robot, Reach Robotics has created a new branch of gaming – one that totally immerses the player by putting their four-legged robots into battle in both the physical and virtual worlds.
“We’ve created an entirely new video gaming platform,” said Silas Adekunle, CEO of Reach Robotics. “MekaMon straddles both the real and virtual worlds while taking the gaming experience beyond a player’s screen and turning their sitting room into a limitless robotic battle zone. MekaMon represents a quantum leap forward in the leveraging of augmented reality. Players can whip out their smartphone to battle their multi-functional, connected battlebots in the physical and virtual worlds at the same time.”
Beyond creating an entirely new category of entertainment, gamers also get to benefit from the MekaMon robot’s unprecedented and sophisticated degree of movement.
MekaMon Specs and Features: Smartphone Compatibility: MekaMon can be enjoyed on updated iOS and Android devices and uses the phone’s camera and infrared sensors for precision game-play.
Portability: Each robot weighs approximately 2.2lb, is 11.8in x 11.8in x 5.9in in dimension and has a removable, rechargeable battery for at least one hour of non-stop play-time.
Bluetooth and Infrared Battlezones: Powered by the smartphone app, MekaMon robots connect to each other via infrared signals and players’ phones connect to each other over Bluetooth, allowing friends to battle against each other as well as offering arcade-style and co-operative game-play.
Choose your World: Gamers choose whether to play in the real world or augmented reality – once battles starts, the robot is free to move and use any object in the room (e.g. tables, chairs, other toys, etc.) to block and/or hide from attackers!
Customisability: A MekaMon robot can be customised to suit a user’s individual playing style, adding weapons or shields to create more aggressive, defensive and technical capabilities.
Additionally, MekaMon will feature full compatibility with Apple’s Swift Playgrounds coding app, allowing users to control their robot with real Swift code. With Swift Playgrounds, users can learn and implement fundamental coding concepts to control Mekamon’s startup, shutdown and movement capabilities, custom reactionary animations and more. This not only gives users the chance to learn how to put together more complex coding commands but allows each person to define completely unique behaviours in their MekaMon.
“As the world’s first premium gaming robot, MekaMon fits neatly into the emerging category of smartphone-enabled, augmented reality products,” added Adekunle. “By fusing robotics, reality-bending technology and competitive play, we’re offering players a new twist on hardware and video games – a premium robotics product that’s easy to play but very difficult to master.”
