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.
Google have just launched a new VR-ish app which uses your devices gyroscope, As is we cant take 360 degree videos on our mobile phones to date but it will happen someday. This app is effectively VR and photos mashed up as they put it themselves.. To use the app you just wave your device in the air,tap the screen and repeat and so on you will pick it up petty quick,Probably not an app I will use much just yet but hey it is a cool concept..
Sprayscape is a quick hack using the phone’s gyroscope to take pictures on the inside of a 360-degree sphere. Just point your phone and tap the screen to spray faces, places, or anything else onto your canvas. Like what you’ve captured? Share your creations via a link and your friends can jump into your scapes and have a look around using their phones or even Google Cardboard.
Sprayscape maps the camera feed on a 360 degree sphere, using the Cardboard SDK to handle gyroscope data and the NatCam Unity plugin for precise camera control.
When you launch the app on your device it reminds you of Snapchat but you can share link easily via the app onto Facebook or email and you must be signed in with a Google Account.. Get it below from the store if you fancy trying it out… Or see Android Experiments for more
From realms all across Skylands, the greatest young warriors, Spyro, Eruptor, Stealth Elf, Jet-Vac and Pop Fizz, are trained at Skylanders Academy to protect the universe from evil-doers. Skylanders Academy, based on the video game franchise from Activision Blizzard available on Netflix from 28 October.
Based on Activision Blizzard’s record-breaking video game franchise, the show follows the heroic adventures of Spyro, Eruptor, Stealth Elf, Jet-Vac and Pop Fizz as they travel the vast Skylands universe, protecting it from evil-doers.
As darkness begins to threaten the balance of peace in the Skylands, Master Eon is forced to assemble a ragtag group of heroes to protect the universe from evil-doers Kaos and the Doom Raiders. Using their unique blend of personalities and elemental-based super powers, Spyro and his fellow Skylanders are called upon to set aside egos as they come together to maintain harmony and balance in the land. Jam-packed with humour, heart and memorable moments, Skylanders Academy promises to keep viewers on the edge of their seats with epic action for kids of all ages.
Led by showrunner Eric Rogers (Dodgeball), the series features the voices of Justin Long (Ask Me Anything) as Spyro; Ashley Tisdale (High School Musical) as Stealth Elf; Jonathan Banks (Breaking Bad) as Eruptor; and Norm MacDonald (Saturday Night Live) as Glumshanks. Additional voice talent includes Susan Sarandon, Daniel Wu, Parker Posey, James Hetfield, Catherine O’Hara, Chris Diamantopoulos, Bobcat Goldthwait, Diamond Minecart and Harland Williams, among others.
Netflix members worldwide will be able to join in the adventure and humour of learning the “Skylander way” starting this Autumn. Season 1 launches exclusively on Netflix October 28, with Season 2 landing in late 2017.
Microsoft have announced that the mega expensive Holo Lens is to be made available here in Ireland. Yes I said IRELAND.Something we are kind of not used to seeing, and from today you can pre-order. One thing though if you have been sleeping under a rock or have no interest in the technology which is holographic you will probably want to have a chat with the bank manager first.. Why you might ask, Well it just starts from only € 3,299.00 including VAT.. If you really want to shine with your bank manager try asking for the Commercial Suite,that only costs €5,489.00 also including VAT. You can pre-order HERE
Microsoft today said….
Microsoft HoloLens, the world’s first self-contained holographic computer running Windows 10, is now available for pre-order in select markets in Europe – France, Germany, Ireland and the United Kingdom – with devices shipping later this year.
The news comes during a time when HoloLens is experiencing tremendous support and demand from developers and commercial customers and partners around the globe. In addition to these four European markets, HoloLens is also now available for pre-order in Australia and New Zealand.
“Since the launch of HoloLens we have seen really passionate developers and world-class companies develop ground breaking computing experiences, experiences only possible on HoloLens” said Alex Kipman, Technical Fellow, Microsoft Windows and Devices Group. “When we set out to pioneer the mixed reality category we knew that many of the best innovations would be discovered when others got their hands on the technology. It has been quite inspiring to see what our partners have built and what individual developers have created. Together, we have only scratched the surface for what mixed reality can do. I can’t wait to see what happens next as we welcome these new countries to our holographic landscape.”
Last night we attended the Irish Launch of the much anticipated Sony PlaySation VR headset,Being big fans of VR here it was a great event in a great setting with plenty of demonstration units to boot ensuring plenty of fans and media alike could test out the latest VR headset to the market and it certainly has me sold after trying a few games it truly is an immersive experience and PS4 owners alike will not be disappointed given its got a €400 price-tag.. Unlike other competitors in the market offering this kind of experience which requires really expensive hardware if you’ve got a PS4 you are good to go…
Credit to joe.ie for featuring myself in the video
PS VR, which is compatible with the more than 40 million PS4 systems already inside consumers’ homes, arrives with a lineup of 30 games, including exclusive titles such as Rez Infinite (Monstars & Enhance Games), Batman™: Arkham VR (RockSteady and Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment), DRIVECLUB VR and RIGS Mechanized Combat League (SIE Worldwide Studios). In total, PS VR will have a library of approximately 50 games by the end of the year.
First up you can check out the set up here in the first video of the night where the event was held in Dublin City Centre…
As mentioned there was plenty of demonstration units available to give multiple people a chance to try the headset which did not leave you waiting long to take your turn.. There was also some nice snacks at hand and the staff where excellent and took time to speak to you and get your view on the product,we also did an interview with one of the other media outlets on site.
Next up Oisin gives us an overview of the set up and what is involved,this guy was excellent and spent some time with us giving us demos and talking us through the process and was there at hand should you need it,trust me some experiences did nearly make me fall off the seat.. This is really immersive… Having tried tested and now owning around some 20 VR headsets personally this is something you must try,with a good platform to build on and with gaming still very popular here in Ireland and all over the world they are setting off on the right foot…
“We are incredibly excited to bring virtual reality to PlayStation 4,” said Jim Ryan, President of Global Sales and Marketing, SIE and President of SIEE. “PSVR puts the player right in the centre of the action, immersing them in extraordinary new worlds. PS VR is a milestone in home entertainment and it very much needs to be experienced to be believed”
The headset itself is not so big nor is it cumbersome and fits comfortably around the head, but it does take getting a minute to comfort yourself with it and whilst holding the move its feels a bit weird holding them for the first time when you cant see a thing but Oisin was there to help out with the set up process and guide us through what needs to be done which after a few moments was easy and oh boy its a great experience…For me I kinda lost interest in gaming a few years ago probably due to age but this is on another level it’s simply a great experience and much better than anticipated..
PS VR delivers a sense of presence, where players feel as though they are physically inside the virtual world of a game. PS VR leverages state-of-the-art technologies, such as 360 degree head tracking, wide field of view, high refresh rates, and SIE’s own binaural 3D audio technology, to heighten the emotions gamers experience as they play and make them believe they’ve been transported to another world. By using peripherals such as PlayStation®Move Motion Controller, DUALSHOCK®4 Wireless Controller and the upcoming PS VR Aim Controller, players can explore virtual environments and intuitively interact with characters as if they are actually present in the world of a game. PS VR integrates a “Social Screen” feature that allows users who are not wearing the VR headset to see on the TV what the PS VR player is seeing in the headset, or to play alongside the VR player in supporting games.
Its the one and only @bazashmawy who told me he really likes this and he also enjoyed the night and was great to have a chat with him for a few minutes, Really nice guy..
Check out below some more clips of the action and then hop down to the image gallery below We tried out several of the games at hand but not all but the experience was fantastic overall and there will be one of these headset heading into techbuzz headquarters very soon..London Heist was probably my favourite where you get to sit beside a bad ass driver with quite a few rounds of magazines and a gun and fire to your hearts content shooting the baddies,this was really immersive and using the Move controllers to do things like you would in real life was an amazing experience. Any questions fire away in the comments section or hit us up on social at @techuzzireland and we will gladly answer any questions you may have. We would also like thank all involved with the event and it was a well run night it has to be said.. Dont forget this goes on sale this Thursday, 13th October. Check out Playstation VR for more.. If you pick one up feel free to send in your thoughts to us…
More to follow.
Games such as PLAYROOM VR (SIE WWS), which will be available as a free download to all PS VR owners, take advantage of this feature and demonstrate how PS VR can create unique multiplayer experiences when shared with friends and family.
PS VR will launch with a large and diverse lineup of first- and third-party games including EVE: Valkyrie (CCP Games), Thumper (Drool), 100ft Robot Golf (No Goblin), Job Simulator (Owlchemy Games), Superhypercube (Polytron), Battlezone (Rebellion), Eagle Flight (Ubisoft), Here They Lie™, PlayStation®VR WORLDS and Until Dawn™: Rush of Blood (SIE WWS).
With more than 230 developers and publishers*3 working on PS VR titles, the system’s games portfolio will continue to expand after launch with highly anticipated games including RESIDENT EVIL® 7 biohazard (Capcom Co., Ltd), ROBINSON: THE JOURNEY™ (Crytek), Star Wars™ Battlefront™ Rogue One: X-wing VR Mission (Electronic Arts Inc.)*4, Star Trek: Bridge Crew (Ubisoft)and Farpoint (SIE WWS). In addition to a best-in-class gaming lineup, there will be a variety of VR experiences and media applications coming to PS VR, including, Allumette (Penrose), Invasion! (Baobab), Kismet (PsyOp), Within, LittlStar, Vrideo, and The Martian (Fox).
Image gallery of the night
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Irish gamers have the chance to be first to explore virtual reality gaming, with a pop-in gaming centre open for hands-on PlayStation®VR demos. The Dublin City Centre pop-up is open each day, Wednesday 13th to Sunday 16th October. Avid gamers or just the VR-curious can book a slot for PlayStation®VR demo on games including Battlezone, Rigs, VR Worlds, Headmaster and Eve Valkyrie. To book a slot go to: http://www.trypsvr.com. Walk in slots available and players must be over 12 years.
*1 SIEE Territories for launch on October 13th, 2016 include: UK, France, Germany, Spain, Australia, Italy, Ireland, Austria, Switzerland,
Portugal, New Zealand, Poland, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Russia, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Greece.
SIEE Territories for launch on January 24th,2017 include: Kuwait, Qatar, Bahraim, Oman, S Africa, Turkey & India, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Bulgaria & Romania, Ukraine and Kazakhstan, Israel, Cyprus, Malta and Iceland
*2 Information as of October 13, 2016. Release titles may differ according to country/region. Release dates may be changed depending on individual titles.
*3 Number as of October 13, 2016.
*4 Star Wars™ Battlefront is required to play the mission
*5 Entertainment apps availability will vary by regions. Users are responsible for applicable service fees.
Perhaps something more for the kids but nonetheless its quite good if you are into Dinosaurs.. You can hop on a prehistoric creature and go for a ride and if you look down its quite impressive also the scenery is nice and at one stage a big whale jumps out of the sea when you just come to the edge of the cliff which is a nice touch… Jurassic VR has been a Virtual Reality sensation with a massive 3 million downloads to its credit,can this live up to it too???
Features
– Fly a Dinosaur (Pterosaurs)
– Ride (joyride) a Dinosaur
– Huge dinosaur island to explore
– Visit the prehistoric museum
– Many dinos such as Tyrannosaurus(T-Rex), Diplodocus, Pentaceratops, and many more
– Dinosaur simulator allow up-and-close live interaction
– Supports VR Google Cardboard and touch non-VR play
Download this free VR game and travel back in time to the prehistoric times where you can roam the earth observing dinosaurs in a full 360 VR experience. Jump on the back of a Pterosaurs flying dinosaur and see how it is to fly such a huge creature; or hop on the back for a joyride on a Raptor and see how they lived their daily live. Watch out as you might run into a T-Rex along the way!
Want to inspect a dino up close? Take a trip to the museum where you have 5 halls filled with dinosaurs and a cool 360 video simulator that allows you to inspect interactive dino’s up close. A bit to scared to fly a dino then the simulation mode is an excellent way for players to ease into the prehistoric world.
Foróige is the leading youth organisation in Ireland and has been working with young people since 1952. Their purpose is to enable young people to involve themselves consciously and actively in their development and in the development of society. Now they have launched a FREE new app to download which is both available on Android and iOS…
The app is simple and straight forward to use and seems quite quick. You will have a tidy menu with options such as News,Events,Ideas,Join,Volunteer,Offers,Photos and Videos.. Also in the settings you can avail of push notifications which can be turned on and off and you can choose to avail of Article or Image caching..
If you shop in SuperValu this app is for you,shop and earn points and additionally there is a growing list of partners such as eShops, electric Ireland and you can of course collect towards SuperValu getaway breaks.. One thing for me here is the digital aspect as I am not one to carry cards or simply just misplace them, With the digital age this is the right way having the option to see and do transactions on your phone rather than carry a bunch of cards in your wallet and become a plastic collector which most of us at one point was and perhaps some still are…
Use your Real Rewards card every time you shop in any SuperValu and you will collect 1 point for every €1 spent. The points you have collected since June will add up to give you real money off your shopping. You will receive your first Money Back Vouchers by post this December. If you have collected 1,000 points that’s €10 in Money Back Vouchers.
Features
– Avail of a great range of Offers and Rewards
– Collect Real Rewards Points
– Use your Real Rewards points on great rewards with one of our exclusive partners
– Access ‘My Vouchers’ where all your Real Rewards and partner vouchers will be stored
– Access your digital Real Rewards card
– Easily see your points balance
– View your recent transaction history
– Share Offers and Rewards with friends and family
This app for INTO members allows you to check your entitlement to leave in seconds. It contains information on brief absences, extended leave and sick leave. Quite a handy app to have on your device should you need it.. Launched on the INTO website the apps are free and now available to download and we have the links below to save you the search..
The ‘Brief absence’ section includes information on entitlement to bereavement leave, EPV days etc. It outlines whether or not the leave is paid or unpaid and whether substitute cover is allowed.
The ‘Extended leave’ section covers maternity leave, parental leave, career breaks and more. As well as outlining entitlement it tells you how to apply, how long leave lasts and includes links to more information.
A quick guide to self-certified and certified sick leave is also available on the app.
Dothistroma Needle Blight is a disease, primarily on pine, that can be caused by the two fungal pathogens, Dothistroma septosporum and Dothistroma pini. The disease has been present in Great Britain since the 1950s and is now a serious disease of pine species there. The disease was found in Northern Ireland in 2011 on Corsican pine. The disease is present in most other EU Member States and in many other countries outside the EU. DNB has now been found in Ireland for the first time (September 2016). It was identified, following laboratory analysis, as being present on Scots pine trees at two forests, one in Limerick and one in Cork.
World map of first record of Dothistroma Needle Blight
Dothistroma septosporum tree disease is listed as a quarantine disease and is regulated under the EU Plant Health Directive – Council Directive 2000/29/EC, which requires Member States to take all necessary measures to eradicate, or where that is impossible, to inhibit the spread of the harmful organism. The Department is taking a number of actions in relation to the disease, detailed on the Department’s website. Foresters are asked to be vigilant for the disease and report (with photographs, if possible) any sites where there are concerns about possible DNB symptoms in pine, to the Forest Service by e-mail forestprotection@agriculture.gov.ie, by phoning 01-607 2651 or by using the Treecheck App.
For more comprehensive information about the disease, the symptoms, actions being taken etc. please visit: http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/forestservice/treediseases/dothistromaneedleblight/
TreeCheck App
TreeCheck, an All Ireland smartphone App, may also be used to report suspect findings. Using a GPS-enabled smartphone the location of the suspect tree can be recorded by the app to allow a follow-up field visit by Inspectors in the relevant jurisdiction if required. All reports received will be acknowledged and examined and those of particular concern taken forward for follow up by specialist plant health inspectors.
To access the TreeCheck App scan the attached QR with your smart phone or type the address https://www.treecheck.net into your mobile web browser. (It is not available in the App store.) You will be presented with the App and the option to save a link to your home screen. Follow the directions for your phone. Please note if you have a GPS enabled phone you may be asked to “Share Location”. Choosing to share your location enables us to have accurate geo-location data to assist our Inspectors in the event we need to investigate your report further.
