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.

Review – The Kobo Aura One waterproof and a battery that can last a month. #ereader

After spending some time with the Kobo Aura One I will share my thoughts on it,To be transparent here this is my first ereader and I will not be comparing it to others on the market apart from the price and what it has to offer versus its competition…

Firstly the build quality is excellent and for such a big device it is very light even though it packs a battery that can last up to a month with what I would call myself a sporadic reader, Reading is not a first on my list but spending time with this did give me the opportunity to perhaps engage myself some more but compared to what I read on the web the time still differs hugely..

 

 

Having said that what I did like with this is the settings provided which helps you greatly on the eyes,mostly at night when I am in bed I would have done most of my reading as I would with catching up on news on my phone or tablet and this is where the Aura One had a great advantage with its settings to read the device in whats called “Night Mode”

 

 

There is a few settings here to make the choice right but as well as at night and day I would suggest turning off the auto brightness features as at times this seemed to decide to work all by itself and give me a setting that did no suit the surrounding…  The Orange look as you see is a much more comfortable way to read and does not strain the eyes and visually looks good with no loss of detail and with a huge screen estate here viewing is great offering you next best thing to holding that clunky book or newspaper if you will…

 

Handling the unit is good, With having a huge 7.8inch  screen it is comfortable in hand because its light and got this nice texture on the back,not only that its also thin at 6.9mm. You will not believe how light this is for its size but those who use these machines might relate to it better with its competition as I have never owned such and would have a better judgement but for me even comparing it to several tablets I have this is the lightest..You could use it one handed but would find it awkward but with two hands you would be much more comfortable especially with grip..

 

There is a service called OVER DRIVE which allows you to borrow books from your local library which is an excellent feature,this is something that brings me back to my childhood when I did read alot on nature and as I got older I took medicine as a subject I was drawn too when I went to college,you will need to set up an account and browse for libraries then enter some information and you will be then sent a confirmation email and you can then make way to collect your library card and store it on the device itself so this means no separate plastic to stuff your wallet up even more which is something I detest..Though years ago I did have a habit of collecting plastic which thankfully wore off over the years.But for now the choice here is minimal but that will change but you can borrow books. You will need a library card to borrow books and you can also find compatible libraries at  https://www.overdrive.com/libraries 

Something to note here also is you need not worry about late fees or returning the book like we did on the old days because they are automatically returned which is great and shows you how much things have changed with the digital age and that will tell you the last time I visited a library which was when I was around 19…

 

 

Reading on this unit is excellent both indoors and outdoors thanks to the Carta E panel. Though mostly indoors is where I read this device can be used outdoors with no issues at all,this means those who travel,go on holidays or sit by the beach or pool can enjoy the experience plus the fact that its waterproof pool and beach goers can rejoice as there is no other ereaders available that offer waterproofing which is IPX8 up to 60 mins in 2 Metres of water…

 

 

 

 

The Kobo Aura one has alot to offer given it is a the higher end of the price scale but its different when comparing towards content such as what is available Amazon might have some more but they are around longer and some books are cheaper and vice versa when it comes to content on the kobo store but there is no need for me to go on about this as this is my first time to use such a device but long time ebook readers will know in the long run what to get and where to find it,However there is plenty of indy books available on the Kobo store which they a cut of the sale which is quite good… Another feature built in here for social fans which they might find useful is the ability to share via Facebook,This might be for some to let others know but the ereader community would welcome it but I think if you are going social dont just tie it to Facebook…

Overall for me this is probably a hard sell to me personally as I do like the UI especially with the tiled homepage which reminds me of Windows Phone, I do like it as an overall product with its outstanding battery life and being waterproof but I do most of my work on a phone or tablet something which this cant offer as a standalone device.. Yes its portable and fits in your travel bag,its light,amazing battery life,waterproof,durable and lots more but personally I cant ever see myself buying a ebook reader anytime soon as its not my thing but for the person who does use these I would say its a good buy given its at the higher end of the price range,You have as solid product….

Pros…

  • Light
  • Waterproof
  • Amazing battery
  • Great display and screen estate
  • Build quality is great
  • Pocket integration
  • Sideload PDFs

Cons

  • Pricey
  • Lags at times with text entry
  • Titles can be found cheaper elsewhere
  • Digital library choice in Ireland – This will improve though

 

 

 

Waterproof from the inside out with HZO Protection™ IPX8 – up to 60 mins in 2 metres of water
Screen: 7.8” HD Carta E Ink touchscreen, 1872 x 1404 resolution 300 dpi
Weight: 230 g
Size: 195.1 x 138.5 x 6.9 mm
Storage: 8 GB on-board memory, holds up to 6,000 eBooks
Front-light: ComfortLight PRO – Reduces blue-light exposure and protects your eyes for the best nighttime reading experience.
Customizability: TypeGenius: 11 different fonts and over 50 font styles
Exclusive font weight and sharpness settings
Supported formats: 14 file formats supported natively (EPUB, EPUB3, PDF, MOBI, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, TIFF, TXT, HTML, RTF, CBZ, CBR)
Read eBooks borrowed from Public Library
Connectivity: Wi Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Micro USB
Battery Life: Up to 1 month*
Languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Dutch, Italian, Brazilian, Portuguese, Japanese, Turkish
Other: No advertising, no interruptions

 

See more at https://www.kobo.com/  

 

#Review – iStorage, Datashur pro Secure USB 3.0 Flash drive. #iStorage #Datashur #Security

This datahub Pro USB flash driver initially looks like something from a Bond movie with a keypad on the device. This would impress at any boardroom presentation pulling out to open a power point presentation. This flash drive uses the USB 3.0 .The good news USB 3.0 (Universal Serial Bus.) is backwards compatible and 10 times faster than USB 2.0, Comes with Quick start guide, and default pin code. I would recommend spending a few minutes reading the Quick start guide set up as you must enter a default pin with the option to add a new user pin 7 to 15 digits. Now how the numbers are presented on the key might entice you to use them in a similar fashion but it does not allow you to use sequential numbers so get creative with a passcode or make one relevant to something perhaps you might use already, A phone number for example would be good..

 

 

One thing I would take into consideration is always purchase a flash drive from a brand you trust and a reputable supplier.We can pick up some for literally nothing these days and often the case they will fail or data gets corrupted. This datashur SSD Pro has a 3-year warranty, water resistance keypad and a variety of other features not seen on cheaper alternatives.

But is it safe!Very safe – Encrypted to military & government standards, plus its got a variety of industry awards. That is good enough for me but full details are available on https://istorage-uk.com/product/ Attempts to break into the data entering the pin incorrectly 10 times will result in a Self-destruct feature keeping data away from Prying eyes.

 

 

This unit would be great for anyone in the ISO 27000 industry or like myself self-employed taking files to the accountant for example or when I receive NDA (non disclosure agreements) I can transfer the information to the USB key. If my Laptop bag or travel bag  got lost or stolen, my laptop is protected, I would dread the thought of confidential info getting into somebody elses hands via my flash drives, This is  a bit like insurance, I don’t need it until I leave the flash drive in a board room table only to return an hour later and wonder  has anyone copied the data. With this flash, I can sit back with confidence knowing the level of security on board..

 

 

 

My only criticism was using an 8GB to test, but given the cost it is understandable plus I have several flash drives but NONE on the level of security to this one, nowadays this size (8GB) can nearly be given away with purchases in an electronics store where a 32GB may be the way to go,BUT this is no ordinary USB key and not riddled with information that is pointless and trying to sell you more with information pre – installed, In fact a product like this has turned a circle like mobile phones for example where 8GB/16GB on board storage do not cut it anymore unless they offer micro SD expansion which again can be limited but thats changing now offering higher capacity..However on a positive side not all people need this amount of storage and I see this as an opportunity for people to buy something that fits their need and not forcing the consumer to buy one thats gone overboard with the storage on offer so it is a good thing perhaps. Companies that back-up their complete server may look to a datashur 2 /3 /4 TB with the perfect blend of Security, durability and speed.

I would like to thank the guys at datashur  for the personalised USB Flash drive which was a really nice gesture and unexpected its something I will treasure and show off to my colleagues with pride,having said that some have seen it already and are impressed not only with how cool it looks but what it offers when it comes to securing data which is something we all need to take on board these days,Data is now like cash,its worth something to somebody…. The overall build of this product is excellent,as mentioned before its waterproof,tactile keys nice texture on the back and sides and very robust and you cant gain entry in any way at all..

 

Want to change your PIN? Here is a tutorial 

 

 

The new datAshur Pro incorporates all the features of its predecessor, the datAshur, but with a super-speed USB 3.0 interface and higher capacities of up to 64GB. Features include an on-board keypad for authentication, which gives the flash drive ultimate protection against software and hardware-based keyloggers. In addition, the datAshur Pro incorporates a boot delay feature which means users can boot any operating system directly from the drive.means the datAshur Pro secures your data from unauthorised access even when lost or stolen.

The drive incorporates military grade XTS-AES 256-bit hardware encryption, a read-only (write protect) mode, a user configurable timeout lock and brute force hack detection and protection. All of this means the datAshur Pro is ideally positioned to secure data from unauthorised access, even when lost or stolen.

Specs

  • USB 3.0 Flash Drive
  • Capacities up to 64GB*
  • FIPS 140-2 Level3 Certified; Certificate No. 2688
  • FIPS PUB 197 certified
  • IP57 certified – water/dust resistant
  • Bootable drive
  • AES 256- bit hardware encryption – no software required
  • OS & Platform independent
  • CESG CPA / NLNCSA – certifications pending

See more over on their website HERE  

We will be giving one of these away soon and if you have any questions fire away below or get us on social from the links on top right of blog..

One Plus 3T gets announced. Its a beefed up One Plus 3 #OnePlus3T

One Plus have announced a new device today.. Basically it is a  bumped up version of the One Plus 3 which to date has been quite solid and for the money you just cant go wrong if your looking for a powerful phone at half the cost of flagship devices from Samsung and Apple and so on…

 

 

The device has more RAM, A bigger battery and better camera and more storage and will set you back a little more than the asking price of the One PLus 3 at launch which was €399 but the new model will set you back 439.00 and will go on sale on the 28th of November 2016… I might pass on this as I have the One plus 3 and is serving me well and I have other devices in mind but for anyone looking for a new device this Christmas this could be the one for you,I will wait a bit longer myself and see what reviews come in like rather than jump in like before.. Depending on how sterling is and with brexit it will interesting to see how this fairs out in price, I got my One Plus 3 for €364 so there could be a bargain to be had here yet unless they up the price like they did before. The device though has the same industrial design as before and current OP3 owners might just pass…

 

 

See more HERE

Travel to breathtaking destinations with Qantas #VR App. #VirtualReality #Aviation #Travel

Qantas has launched a new  VR app on Android and iOS and more and it probably wont be the last app of this kind we will see in the coming months they are popping up everywhere and rightly so as it lets users to see a particular country without having to leave their house. For those who have the Samsung Gear VR you will remember the app back then which was pretty cool and was released around July last year. Back then it did not have much content within but you did get to see some nice things including and Airbus A380 take off and landing… What is nice hear they have opened up the experience for a bigger audience which will be certainly advantageous for them and will give others the ability to see what is on offer..

 

Available for iPhone, Android, Samsung Gear VR, Oculus Rift, and HTC Vive devices, the app showcases Australia’s distinctive landscape through a series of immersive videos, including never before seen aerial footage of Uluru and Kata Tjuta.

 

Qantas Group Executive Brand, Marketing, Corporate Affairs Olivia Wirth said the app is an innovative way for travellers to plan their trip to Australia.
“Our aim with the new virtual reality app is to connect with travellers by showcasing parts of Australia they may not be familiar with.

 

 

With Qantas VR you can:

1. Escape to Qantas destinations: scuba dive the Great Barrier Reef, climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge, relax on a sunset river cruise in Kakadu and explore water holes in the Australian outback.

2. Access unique Qantas experiences: fly with the pilots in the cockpit of a Qantas aircraft and experience the Qantas A380 take-off, approach and land in front of where you stand.

3. Travel with Qantas: experience flying with Qantas as it lands at Hamilton Island airport and take a tour of the Los Angeles International First Lounge.

Source

 

 

 

Review – If you lost it you can find it with #TrackR bravo. If applied correctly. #GPS

Tracking has become a huge thing these days and has been a long time, It became a big thing in logistics with the placement of vehicles,and the same can be said within the security industry be it cash in transit vans or even regular van drivers its now become a standard not just purely for safety purposes but also to get a time stamp for a future stop or drop off point and also it is use with government bodies within their vehicles and yes people themselves do wear personal tracking devices I have tried and tested some myself but thats something we will not be discussing now.

When it comes to personal belongings there has been alternative options out there for many years but being a new technology as such to personal items via a standalone product they have been big,some stupidly big and made no sense then smaller ones came about with are small tidy and not so cumbersome and most importantly no so noticeable..  The first one come to mind is something Nokia brought us some years ago called the treasure tag,there was two of them the WS-2 and WS-10  which we reviewed back then…

 

This is when things got interesting for finding personal things like car keys,house keys a gym bag,handbag perhaps or whatever suited you best. The thing here is though they are noticeable and if someone did happen to steal or you just misplaced the item if this was seen some may not know what it was which is a good thing other would and would ditch it straight away,thats where this new product has a caveat as it got good promotion on the internet and for example people attach them to the underside of the saddles on their bike and a thief would just have to look and remove it, Concealing such items are a better idea lets just say the inner lining of a gym bag or purse and there is plenty of ways to conceal such an item such as TrackR which we are looking at today..

 

 

 

 

TrackR is a relatively new product on the market its much smaller and easy to conceal,if you have the brains to do it and not just stick it anywhere and will work even within your wallet depending on its size,this comes in a simple small package with plenty of instructions and the selling points clearly marked out on the reverse of the packaging,also we get a chin ring which personally i would ditch and a double sided sticky pad which again I would ditch,this is an item i would conceal with no need for anything else… Sadly there is no spare battery which would have been nice,but you can pick one handy enough at a car motor factors for example or even a watch shop..

So next thing now is to download the app to your device be it Android or iOS then you need to add a new TrackR device.. Pair the device,you will get an audio alert from the unit and register and your done,When you register you become par of the hundreds of thousands of TrackR members which is crowd sourced so if you loose and item and it becomes within 100ft. You will be notified of the items last know location…

 

 

When you are all paired up and registered you are good to go now all you need to do is select what you want to track,there is a default list then presented to you and you can chose what you want to assign the TrackR too..So I have assigned my wallet to the TrackR in this instance..One thing to point out here which is good if you forget your mobile phone you will be notified via TrackR this is called a separation alert. On your device you will be shown a map of your location and how many others are local and in my instance where I was testing the unit there was 758 users which seems rather impressive…

 

 

 

Does this work?? Well yes it does and even through a leather wallet stuffed with coins and so on which is comforting and I will add its not just dumped in a pocket I have carefully tore the stitching to place it behind the lining so its not there for anyone to pick it up and see the piece in a coin pocket which would be just discarded…

Now without sounding harsh I want you to watch the video below and then tell me what you think of the placement of the TrackR,be it only for advertising purposes this is 2016 I have worked in the security/personnel protection and reconnaissance business before and one thing I need to point out is DO NOT LET OTHERS SEE IT… Why you might ask, Well as I said its 2016 be it a case of criminality you can kiss your goods goodbye these guys are a step ahead  and will dispose of it immediately like I said before CONCEAL it do not flaunt it it defeats the purpose of having it…. Overall it is a great product that works flawlessly executed badly by how its advertised especially on the bag and bike as seen in the video..Perhaps that might sound harsh but as I have stated I have worked in areas where these would be highly effective due to its size they are ideal for many things yet alone personal goods…

Download the Android app HERE 

Download the iOS app HERE  

 

See more over at TrackR.com and you can purchase there and they are reasonably priced and if applied correctly ARE EFFECTIVE…

 

 

 

Make Safe & Sensible Use of Your Satnav – Infographic. #Satnav #Motoring #GPS

Neil Tohill is the Director of an Irish company called Southside Motor Factors. He regularly writes about the motoring industry and has created this infographic about best practice for using a satnav/GPS navigation device while driving. We have some more satnav reviews to come and another thing to keep in mind is dashcams as we have said before,we have some of them to come too very soon, Check out the infographic below and tell us what you think…

 

 

 

 

Satnavs can undoubtedly be massively helpful driving aids, especially for those who spend a lot of time on the road and frequently drive in unfamiliar territories. However, many drivers have a tendency to trust in their satnav too much. More than 1 in 10 drivers under the age of 24 have narrowly avoided a crash because of a distraction from their satnav, for example, while there have been horror stories of drivers being drastically misrouted because they failed to check that the destination they typed into their satnav was the correct one.

Need to find out more ?  Head to soutshidemotorfactors

 

 

Review – Wraps wristband headphones CORE high fidelity. #wearyoursound #Wraps

This is now the third set of wristband headphones from wraps and each get better,given the last ones where a funky colour this time around there is some changes to the internals.. Also to note the packaging has changed slightly too and overall things have improved on both occasions. This time round we check out the wraps CORE high fidelity…

Packaging and presentation changed 

On opening the package,some slight changes inside, we are presented with the goods you can pretty much just put on your wrist immediately,depending on your wrist size,this will take the hassle out of wrapping them first time but its a simple process either way and no different than before,this is our third pair now and again wrapping them is a simple process and again it it a very handy idea too having your headphones on your wrist and not only that its fashion built in too so they the look good and even as I said in my previous review I did not think I would see myself wearing them but I have been and they are very convenient indeed…

There is a few changes,cosmetic (Metal housing instead of plastic) and internally,the headphone jack and buds themselves and then the sound.Also some slight change to the cable compared to the last instalment but overall this remains much the same even down to the overall length… See images below for those changes…

 

I am no sound expert but these sounded much better than the last two pair I have tried out and this is due to the material used this time around and its paid off in volumes,pun intended.. I did notice better volume level and testing them on a wide range of tones and videos compared to old they are much better much clearer and very crisp indeed and no sign of distortion when at full volume,which I prefer to listen to my music,overall I was impressed with the difference,there is a difference in price but its worth it, If you have previously owned a pair and a fan then you need to hear them to see for yourself… The build quality too is improved with the external build,Given that this build and the last builds are light and would survive plenty of drops regardless though the new CORE model would be extra tough on the housing… When it comes to calls and handling and other functions all is same as before and worked fine only difference is better clarity.The additional noise isolation tips that come this time are also a welcome addition..

 

 

Styled in the latest smartphone / tablet ‘Space Grey’ colour matched with a black faux leather bracelet.

Featuring upgraded Titanium speakers that are expertly tuned to resonate clear, high-fidelity sound throughout the audio spectrum.

Also included is a set of Noise Isolating Foam Tips for a superior fit that blocks out unwanted background noise.

Last but not least, a universal one button microphone lets you play or pause your music and answer calls on the go!

  • Black Coloured Faux Leather
  • Space Grey Coloured Tips and Connector
  • Built-in Headset Microphone
  • Includes S, M & L Silicon Tips
  • 20Hz – 20kHz Frequency Response
  • 10mm Dynamic Speakers
  • 3.5mm Gold Plated Jack
  • 80dB/1mW Sensitivity
  • 16 Ohms Impedance

BUY HERE  

 

 

 

The HP ELITE X3 gets a price cut. STILL too expensive. #HP #EliteX3

Only 3 weeks ago the HP Elite X3 went on sale in Ireland via the HPshop and was commanding a rather ridiculous €907 price tag which included VAT and shipping..Given the market this is aimed at it will be an uphill struggle to sell this device for anything over €500 now with the current market share as is an a year decline for the last few years its going to be a hard sell end of story… Even given the specs it commands this is Apple territory pricing and the only way to get it is to buy it outright as NO networks sell nor will they which again is smothering any potential…

Now the device is listed at €694 plus VAT and shipping costs and brings the total to €865.98 which saves you a little but for me this is still way to high for a Windows10 powered device in which the market is shedding users whom are moving to either Android or iOS.. Not to be totally against the device it is certainly one nice looking phone with a quality build but the price is a huge caveat for me.

 

 

Want to buy it? Apparently they have now 385 in stock.. Apparently!!!   Buy it HERE  

Are VPN connections only useful to bypass geo-blocks? By @IPAddressGuide #VPN

Guest Post by Thomas Stein.   Are VPN connections only useful to bypass geo-blocks??

I first heard about VPN services and VPN connections back in 2012. It was Summer Olympics in London and I wanted to watch the Hungarians win their gold medals on Hungarian TV online.

Unfortunately I lived outside Hungary at that moment and could not access the Hungarian TV station to watch their live streams from the Summer Olympics. It wasn’t an error with the feed, it was simply a so called geo-block (geographical block) causing the problem. As I visited the website of the Hungarian TV station they checked my IP address. Discovering that I was located outside Hungary they gave me an error message telling me that this stream was unavailable for me.

Luckily my brain quickly understood that there was a way to bypass this geo-block, by getting myself an IP address in Hungary. I quickly found out that a VPN connection was the solution for me, and thus I got myself a VPN subscription and got myself a Hungarian IP address. A few minutes later I was watching Hungarian TV online from outside Hungary.

That was four years ago and I still have my VPN subscription. But, is a VPN only useful for those in need of bypassing geo-blocks?

Is a VPN only useful for those in need of bypassing geo-blocks?

There is little doubt about the fact that a high percentage of the users signing up for VPN services do it for this purpose. But, there are those who actually use their VPN subscription for much more than just streaming content online (which would normally be unavailable). Here I will give you some of the main reasons for using a VPN besides bypassing geo-blocks.

 

 

 

 

 

Some of the most important arguments used by VPN users for using a VPN

  • A VPN connection will encrypt your online activity. There are different levels of encryption used depending on which VPN protocol you use, but any VPN encryption method is way better than no encryption. This will make it way harder for any intruder to get hold of your confidential information.
  • If your VPN provider has a no-log policy any movement you do online will be untraceable back to you. People who check your IP address to do you any harm will not get your actual IP address, but only see the IP address provided to you by your VPN provider.
  • With a VPN subscription you can get access to cheaper flight tickets and similar products. Lots of airlines give users different prices depending on their location. Use your VPN to get an IP address in another nation and do a search on the airfares again. If you are lucky you can save lots of dollars on airfares and lots of similar services.
  • Almost all Torrent sites advise their users to use a VPN. As more and more Torrent sites are observed and downloads discovered by local ISP’s (and reported), using a VPN can keep your tracks covered and let you download content safely online.
  • It is crucial to encrypt your movements online in this world packed with free WiFi Hotspots using unencrypted networks.
  • VPN applications often come with extra functions such as DDoS protection and built-in firewalls to keep you safe online.
  • Some ISP’s set a limit to your streaming speeds. When you visit certain domains they limit your download speed. Using a VPN will let you bypass such streaming speed regulations.

As you will see from this list a VPN is about much more than only bypassing geo-blocks. Do you have any other reason for using a VPN? I would love to have you write even more reasons to use a VPN.

 

This article is written by Thomas Stein, the creator of  http://www.ipaddressguide.org/  On his website he writes about geo-blocks, streaming services like Netflix and NOW TV, tech news and about Internet security.

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