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 – 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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Venturer Upgrades Its Affordable 2 in 1 Mini Windows10 Notebooks. #BravoWin S #EliteWin S

The new S range has a stylish new build, new colours and much more storage capacity so an ideal gift for this Christmas. A great first computer for kids or students or even for your own use!

 

The BravoWin S and EliteWin S feature a new stylish outer design, with luxurious soft touch feel and vastly increased storage space

Following the hugely successful launch of its BravoWin and EliteWin 2-in-1 affordable notebooks in the UK earlier this year, premium audio and video manufacturer Venturer is pleased to announce the next models in the series; the BravoWin S and EliteWin S. Both Mini Notebooks have a stylish new build with a tactile soft touch feel exterior and more storage capacity than the earlier models. The BravoWin S is available in an attractive shade of blue and the EliteWin S in a sleek gun metal colour and both will be available to purchase from Amazon in December.

 

 

Easy to use and incredibly durable, the new Venturer 2-in-1 Mini Notebooks are ideal as a first computer for students heading to secondary school, college, university or even home use. Like the earlier models, the new 2-in-1 Mini Notebooks are equipped with Windows 10 and Office 365 or Office Mobile (model dependant) and both models now have increased memory space. While BravoWin S has 64GB Flash memory, EliteWin S has a total 96GB of memory (32GB Flash memory plus a 64GB Micro SD Card included free of charge), vastly improving its storage capacity.

 

With the new sleek soft touch, light weight design with soft curved edges, and long battery life, the BravoWin S 10KR or EliteWin S 11KT are ideal for work or entertainment on the go with up to 8 hours usage whilst travelling.

 

Unlike other more expensive tablets on the market, the Venturer convertible notebooks are equipped with a detachable smart keyboard that has a pressure sensing trackpad which clips on magnetically so it can be used as a stand-alone tablet or quickly transformed into a working laptop, making it easier to type, work and surf the internet.

 

 

 

With an Intel Atom Core Quad Core processor with an impressive 64GB and 96GB memory for the BravoWin S and EliteWin S respectively, the new models offer a quick and responsive user experience. Both have the ability to access the internet within seconds and an expandable storage space for photos, videos, music and work files. The 2MP dual cameras at the front and rear allow you to take photos or videos, skype your friends or make a conference call at work, producing good quality images and videos.

The BravoWin S 10KR has a 10.1” 1280 x 800 display and comes with all the key software from Office Mobile you require, including Word, Excel, Powerpoint and OneNote.  The EliteWin S 11KT has a larger 11.6” screen with 1366 x 768 display and is fully loaded with the latest Windows 10 software and a month’s free trial of Office 365  (Word, Outlook, Excel and Powerpoint) making it an ideal laptop for any school or office environment.

With headphone, micro and regular USB ports to attach or charge other devices and an HDMI output allowing you to easily connect to your TV for an enhanced viewing experience, the Venturer tablets have all the necessary outputs for a great multimedia experience.

 

 

Priced at only £199.99 and £249.99, the new Venturer Mini Notebooks are the ideal choices for those looking for the flexibility of a tablet and laptop combined, for a lightweight device that easily fits into a schoolbag or work satchel but with the quality, reliability and durability for work, for play, for every day.

Keep an eye out for Venturer’s other 2-in-1 notebook models designed specifically for business users due to be launched in early 2017.

 

The Venturer BravoWin S 10KR is available in Blue from Amazon in December RRP £199.99

The Venturer EliteWin S 11KT is available in Gun Metal from Amazon in December RRP £249.99

My Kingdom Books – Worlds first #AugmentedReality book based on your childs name. #AR #Books

I have never been a huge fan of reading books.. Not that I cant read its just finding the time to do so but there is plenty around the house as my 8 Year Old daughter likes to read and also likes to colour and draw things which at times i find myself embroiled in.. She has books that play tunes when you open a page or the front cover which at this time of year we see more of them and then there is the pop up books we are all custom too… Technology has moved on and when My Kingdom Books got in touch with me I was intrigued to say the least at their product they wanted me to try out. A book with Augmented Reality……… I said give me that,this is something new and something that looked good on paper..Turns out this is the first of its kind and after testing it out I am impressed and I am sure you kids will be too…

 

THE BOOK 

Front
Back

 

So.. The package arrived.. An A4 page book sideways if you will with a nice heavy textured cover and back and the pages inside are not cheap either,nice heavy pages that will last, and I was like…Hmm how does this work.. Then there was an introductory slip telling me I need to download an app… So I started waving my phone at the pages  and nothing was happening.. Perhaps just worn out,its been busy here and we still are it dawned on me.. I first looked through the entire book to get a glimpse of the story and then said to myself “lets give this a try” I was still at this point wondering what possibly could happen here but once I open the app and filled in the information which is simple.. You just add your childs name then pick the male or female cartoon character face and then the magic begins.  Given I have used apps in the past with Augmented reality such as say City Lens” for example which is an app that when you hold your device up in the air in a street it will give you information on your screen and another app such as flight radar offers the same experience but to planes in the sky. Quite useful if thats your thing.. This however is something you will enjoy,especially if you have not dabbled with the technology before and your kids will simply love this. With my child who is surrounded with technology was not expecting what she seen and need I say no more she was hooked…

 

 

So what happens then… Well simply as I mentioned you get the app fill in the deets and then point it at the page.. This in effect brings the book to life to put it simply.. Wait till you try it but we have a demo video below to check out..So press “Start” and point at the page on the right with your camera and,you will be instructed to do so should you have issues anyway. Watch the page come to live with characters pop up on your phones screen and more..The story is read out aloud for you so you let the book tell the story via your mobile phone and watch the Augmented Reality before your eyes,it will simply use your camera to create a 3 dimensional image on your mobile phone,You will need to be in a bright space for this to have the best effect and from here on it is a repeat process page by page. The book is personalised so when you insert the child’s name its custom to your child throughout the experience. Having tried this on a few devices as it was passed around,the bigger the screen the better to get the full extent of the animation..

 

 

When you get to the end of the book you will have a challenge to colour in the last page, This then finishes off with the option to colour in the last page and with a subsequent app you can see some more… Check out the video below and the links you need are required….Once again we would like to thanks the guys for sending this over for us to check it… We can safely say its highly recommended….

See mykingdomsbooks.com for more.

Download the My Kingdoms Books app on Android  HERE and iOS HERE 

Download Live Colour HERE  

 

 

 

Bargain Alert. #Withings Activite Steel with free strap and postage for €99.95

This is a really nice deal and would actually make an ideal Christmas gift, The Withings Activite Steel is now going for just €99.95 with a free strap and free shipping to boot. These currently go for around €150 with none of the extras so it is something to consider plus the bonus free strap..

 

 

 

These are not smartwatches as such but activity trackers and they do look really nice too,there is a good selection of colours to pick from too. To get the deal you will need to enter the code HELLOSTEEL

 

  • Activity tracking: steps, distance, swim (Water resistant 50ATM), running and calories burned
  • Sleep monitoring: sleep cycle analysis (light and deep sleep) silent alarm
  • Automatic synchronisation – Follow your data on your smartphone
  • Stainless Steel case with silicone strap.
  • No charging – battery lasts up to 8 months.
  • Available on iOS and Android

BUY HERE 

#SneakyBears Virtual Reality game hits #Oculus and #googlecardboard and its #Irish

Sneaky Bears is a new game thats just launched on the Android store and Oculus Platforms something to note here this is Irish made by Warducks 

Warducks is based in Dublin 2 and they indeed have a mission.. Its great to see an Irish company involved in the VR space…

At WarDucks, our mission is to build incredible, high quality, fun games and experiences for you to play on mobile Virtual Reality. Our success comes through engaging with the audience of today – understanding what gameplay they love, listening to their feedback, and building the games and experiences that they will want to come back to again and again. We aim to be the most people-centric game development studio in the world. With some of the most talented and experienced minds in the industry, the team here at WarDucks are bringing our customers’ dreams to life – and having some fun along the way!

 

Description

In a forgotten toy factory, Frank, the fiendish teddy bear; plans to unleash a horde of cuddly monsters on the world. It’s up to you to uncover what’s behind Frank’s mischievous plans. Non stop action throughout the dramatic factory surroundings; this is one you could bear-ly dare to miss. Best of luck human, we think you’ll need it…

• Innovative Gameplay  • Strong Narrative  • Fun packed action adventure

Sneaky bears will cost you €4.99 on the Oculus Store and just €1.99 on Google Play you can hit the store image below to get the apps…

 

 

Circle – A social payments app launches in Ireland. #Circle #payments #mobile

Social payments app Circle has formally launched in Ireland, enabling people to connect their Irish bank account to Circle to send, receive and request p2p payments, with native Euro support, to friends and family within their countries and across borders instantly, at the best exchange rate available to consumers with zero fees.

Josh Speers tells us

This is a great app for people who are travelling abroad, or if you just want to use in Euro – it’s perfect for requesting your share of a taxi fare, splitting a takeaway or requesting money from a bar tab! We all have that friend that never pays up.

 

When sending a wire or bank transfer across currencies, banks typically add an additional 3-4% on top of that ‘market rate’ and also often add even further one-time fees on top of that. Legacy money transfer companies charge upwards of 10% above the market rate. Newer ‘Digital Money Transfer’ companies (such as Transferwise) are making this more competitive, with pricing typically 1-2% above the market rate. However Circle aims to deliver the best rate possible in the world, with Circle’s exchange rate typically being around 0.2% to 0.3% above the market rate.

 

 

Circle envisions that money should work the way that the internet works: instant, global, free and fun. We can send and receive emails, text messages and share personal content through messaging in this way, but only now has it become possible to share and exchange value and money in the same manner. Circle makes that possible with an experience that combines payments and social messaging – money can be sent, gifted or requested with emoji’s to allow us to talk about money a lot more easily.

Circle also recently announced recent Circle for iMessage. Any iOS 10 customer can use Circle directly from within iMessage, in the context of conversations with friends and family, without leaving iMessage and without launching a separate app. Circle is available on iOS and Android.

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First look, image gallery and unboxing. The Kobo Aura One. #ereader #kobo #tech

This is a first for me..However I am familiar with such. An e-reader!! Never had interest in them due to having alternative options available on my phones/tablets in-house here so this is new territory for me and we have this interesting device to check out for a few weeks and its called the Kobo Aura One.. We will unbox it and check it out first and drop some images and leave you with some specs to chew on and in the interim if you have any questions do not hesitate to ask….

 

Features: 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

 

UNBOXING

 

Thats a wrap on this for now while we spend some time with it and you can ask any questions below or on social and you can check out the KOBO AURA ONE right here for more in the meantime.

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