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.
There has been rumours,now its official. The OnePlus 3 Gold variant is announced and release dates too. For users who have not opted in yet to buy the latest device from One Plus which is silver this colour might sway them. Either way it so far has been a great device to use given the few niggles here and there but for the price you simply cant go wrong. The price does appear to be the same and there is a notify me option on the store right now should you wish to consider purchasing this model..
In a short statement One Plus say
Today, we’re introducing a new color variant of the OnePlus 3 – Soft Gold. This isn’t your typical gaudy gold smartphone. We’ve toned the color down for a light, elegant look. With plenty of power, our expertly designed flagship doesn’t mess around.
We’re proud to announce that the limited OnePlus 3 Soft Gold will become available in the US at 12:00 PM US Eastern time, July 26, and on August 1st in other regions (Please refer to the table below for exact launch information). Don’t miss out on this exclusive new color variant, as the Soft Gold edition is available in limited quantities. Strike while the iron is hot!
OK so we now have a look at food via VR was only a matter of time but perhaps this is a little different and a insight on what goes on behind the scenes before we pick up our menu in the local restaurant or fast food chain. Recently enough it also has been a topic of discussion not only here in Ireland but in many countries around the world and the topic is focusing on how to produce more WITH LESS. Yes the less meat we eat the better for the environment and our carbon footprint….and our health apparently but I am no food expert so that can be argued amongst them..
About At The Fork VR..
Filmmaker and omnivore John Papola, together with his vegetarian wife Lisa, offer up a timely and refreshingly unbiased look at how farm animals are raised for our consumption. With unprecedented access to large-scale conventional farms, Papola asks the tough questions behind every hamburger, glass of milk and baby-back rib. What he discovers are not heartless industrialists, but America’s farmers — real people who, along with him, are grappling with the moral dimensions of farming animals for food.
Download At the Fork VR and experience a unique 360-degree tour of the farms and enclosures featured in the critically-acclaimed documentary film AT THE FORK.
Choose to tour the world of animal farming with filmmaker Lisa Versaci, or explore on your own and visit the farms and enclosures that chickens, pigs, and cows call home.
Tesco Mobile which is an MVNO have launched a new prepay plan which some might find quite useful and especially for those on a budget. However this plan is given a specific end date and for now does not look like a long term plan and the offer is over on the 31st Jan 17 which applies to new and current customers,From where im standing this seems like a promo rather than a fixed rate deal for any lengthy period because as we know its now near the end of July which gives this deal 6 months at the new rate..
The Offer is available to all new and existing Tesco Mobile Prepay customers who top up by a minimum of €15 in one go every 30 days from 20th July 2016 and will run until 31st January 2017.
Customers are eligible for the Offer so long as they remain a Tesco Mobile Prepay customer and continue to top up by a minimum of €15 every 30 days. For the avoidance of doubt, customers who leave Tesco Mobile will no longer be eligible for the Offer.
To avail of the Offer, customers must top up by a minimum of €15 in one go every 30 days. Excludes any promotional top up credit received in that 30 day period.
If you top up again before the end of the 30 day term, then a new 30 day term starts. If you fail to complete the minimum top up before the end of a 30 day term then you will lose the Offer benefits and will be charged the new standard rates for calls & texts. However topping up by a minimum of €15 in one go will again give you 30 days of benefits.
The Offer applies to all standard Republic of Ireland mobile and landline calls and data usage in Ireland. It excludes international calls, roaming and calls to directory enquiries, premium rate numbers or any non-standard number, downloads while roaming.
To be eligible for UNLIMITED CALLS PLUS 10GB DATA customers must purchase a €15 top up either in store, online or at any participating location nationwide and top up your account.
For the full press release and information with terms and conditions you can find all that HERE.
If you haven’t heard of a VPN yet, it stands for Virtual Private Network. These extremely handy tools have been rising in popularity during recent years due to their many benefits. Once resigned to the world of internal corporation networks, these easy-to-use apps are now used by the general public all over the world. You may of heard players in the market like Surfshark but here is some others to check out. Many are being turned on to the concept in Ireland, with the Irish Times putting out a whole article around VPN’s in 2015. Here are some of the benefits of using one:
The Benefits of Using a VPN A VPN is extremely helpful to those concerned about security. It encrypts your data and allows you to use any WiFi network without worrying about hackers being able to intercept your details. Due to this, they also help you avoid malware and spam being sent your way in the future. Perhaps the most common usage for a VPN is to bypass geo-blocking restrictions. Since all devices are subject to blocks via their IP address, these virtual networks allow you to hide your location in order to access restricted content. This is extremely useful for regional sites such as Netflix whose listings are dependent on country. It’s also great for sports fans, as you can access and watch games that aren’t usually accessible in Ireland.
So, now you’ve got a basic rundown of the software, here are some recommendations:
1. Buffered VPN
Buffered VPN is quickly becoming the best service on the market. It was just rated Secure Thoughts’ Best VPN of 2016. Offering a watertight service which provides a constant connection and never drops out, you can browse freely and securely without having to worry about running into glitches.
Another fantastic benefit of using this provider is that they offer a 30-day guarantee and a comprehensive customer support system. They will work hard to resolve any problems you have and will give you a refund without hesitation if it fails to meet your standards. What makes this VPN better than any of the others on offer at the moment? It’s compatible with almost every device and operating system you can think of. It also has a great feature that kills all your apps and web pages if the connection does drop out. This ensures none of you details are put at risk. Click here to get it now.
ExpressVPN
Another option is ExpressVPN. You get a high quality service at a competitive price (when you take value into account). This option also boasts unlimited bandwidth and two connections on one account. This means you can easily stream, download and browse without running into problems. It also provides great customer service and an easy-to-use interface, making it a great choice for beginners.
The only real drawback is that Express VPN doesn’t come with the additional security features that Buffered offers. That’s the main difference between the two. This means that if you’re solely using your VPN to bypass geo-blocking, this one is probably the best option for you. Click here to get it now.
CyberGhost
If you don’t want to pay for a Virtual Private Network, there are plenty of free options available. That being said, these services have a significant amount of drawbacks. They often provide a questionable service and offer no customer support if things go wrong.
If you’re not planning on regular use, however, using a free one is still a great way to cut costs. Cyberghost is by far the best free VPN on the market. It ensures the same bandwidth as its paid competitors, although the speed might be somewhat affected. It also has a user-friendly interface. This product also has the added benefit of not logging your activity, which gives you an extra layer of privacy for users wanting to browse anonymously.
Consider This
If none of these VPNs seem right for you and you’re planning to do you own research, there are a few key elements to consider. First of all, the way a VPN works is to replace your IP address with that of the VPN server. Because of this, it’s important to ensure the service you choose will provide you with the IP address that you want. Check to see what countries a company has servers in.
Similarly, you need to establish your main reasons for use. If security is your priority, opting for a server with good reliability is essential. If you’re mainly going to be using it to stream Netflix, however, then bandwidth should be the main feature you look at. If you’re concerned about snooping, then I highly recommend ringing up some customer service departments and establishing how they handle user data. A VPN is an undeniably handy piece of software. There are countless options available. If you’ve had experiences with any of products mentioned or have your own suggestions to add, please leave a comment below to tell us what you think. About the Author: Isa is an entertainment and technology blogger for Culture Coverage. She loves that technology has transformed the way we enjoy media. She also looks forward to the latest gadget and product releases.
Mozo have as you now know expanded their range of cover for mobile phones,see the related articles section below for the most recent cases we have reviewed.
The Candy collection is not like our previous cases which have been hard backed or having a wooden finish these are gel cases which for me serve a better purpose and protect your device better but that is just my opinion..
The cases are bright and colourful and can be also cleaned easily should dirt become an issue.. The cases certainly do brighten things up here and they also look nice but it is safe to say they are aimed at the female audience..
iPhone Candy Beans Case
Click to enlarge
Soft to touch and flexible they are installed in a second and fit quite snug on your device leaving the ports exposed for easy access yet maintaining comfort,they also add some extra grip onto the device which is also welcome,On the back of the cases we can see the Mozo branding which will be also welcome for brand fans..
iPhone Candy Stripes Case
Click to enlarge
There was no issue here using the device and everything worked as you would expect it too, Not my kind of design or colours given they are nice I really think these suit the female audience and they do look catchy indeed. Price at €19.90 this is the average you will pay for a case these days especially in Ireland and they look better than what is on offer and perhaps for those who like something a bit different than the bog standard norm…
The iPhone Candy Dots Case
Click to enlarge
Case highlights…
Colorful, cheerful, feels like summer
Quality design and attention to detail
Premium finishing with outstandinglook
TPU case, protects your device from bumps and scratches
We have had quite a few Jabra wireless headsets and headphones here and I am pleased to say they all have served me well and still do actually,given I have one or two boxed away for storage purposes I often find myself going back to an old pair depending on my needs and so on.
The latest wireless headphones are called the Jabra Halo Smart and smart indeed they are,Not only that they are lightweight and come with some really nice features and they are robust and can handle a good few drops,lets be honest we all drop our headphones from time to time…
Presentation of the Jabra Halo Smart was also good,presented in a nice yellow box,with catchy writing inside we are presented with the headset in another box again also well presented and typical from Jabra.
The packaging
1 / 7
The headphones are light,overall it is a small package and the design well thought out with a nice headband which sits around your neck only to find after a few minutes you think you have lost them,they are that light and that comfortable.With all the tech built into the headband it gives way to leaving the rest of the headset streamlined and snug with a small cable either side not long and tangle free for the user with small ear buds. In-ears are not for everyone it must be said but this time around and from a previous pair I had called the Jabra Sport Pace they actually seem to have nailed the comfort element and for me they did not fall out like other manufacturers offer,perhaps maybe its my ears but typically with many I have tried they would not last 5 minutes in ear which is why I prefer the overear type headphones which offers a different experience anyway but having said that they stay in and that is important for me..
Image Gallery
Contents
headband top viewHeadband inside view
Headband inside view
Controls
Speaker and voice activation
overview of earbud
Right
Left
Neckband
Full extended cables
2 / 10
Connecting to your mobile phone is simple as always with Jabra products,the wait is not too long to pair up unlike some devices,Some devices to take a while to connect which I have tried in the past and once connected all is good to go,After disconnecting from your mobile re-connection is again swift with no issues,If only everything worked in tandem like this, A fine example would be my car it can take up to 30 seconds to connect most morning with my phone which is annoying.
Indicators
Again with Jabra there is nice clear audio alerts when a connection is made and again when lost, When the device is connected you will see a blue light flash too just in case you have not the headset on you and want to watch the old-fashioned way and when disconnecting there is a single red flash…With that whilst charging you will see the red LED constantly on and when lying idle you will see a continuous flashing yellow light this will let you know you have left the headset on and is a nice reminder to switch them off..
Controls
The controls are small but this is commonplace for almost any headset but like any other you do get custom to their whereabouts rather quick you may give an accidental press here and there and yes it is annoying but this goes for anything similar so dont say there is genius button locators out there when there is not its trial and error then you naturally become custom,the buttons have good feedback and when press hard enough,not too hard you can feel the shape,there is only three so its not really an issue.. The mic is also placed in a clever spot if the headphones are not in use and you get a call for example you just plug them in and the call answers,Also the voice assistance feature is excellent and when pressed you can user your digital assistant depending on the platform you are using.
Durable and light
The headset is durable with the daily usage pulling them apart they seem robust,this is after a weeks usage some have not lasted even two days but this can be down to quality control or the user being a bit rough but overall they seem quite solid and with the cables being only a short length they should not get tangled,they sit nicely on your chest and again like the headset itself you will not notice they are there… The earbuds seems robust too and are comfortable as mentioned before this is one issue I find with buds of this nature,how they fit and how long they last in ear.These passed both..
Overall conclusion they are comfortable.light easy to use, battery life is excellent,great sound quality and durable.
Another Mozo review to check out this time round its for the iPhone 6 Plus and the black walnut finished case from the Mozo Timeless collection,Keeping with the tradition this case is similar to the iPhone 6 case we checked out recently
This case again is fantastic looking an really gives the iPhone 6 plus a better look than having it naked,the finish on the back is also excellent and is made from natural wood and to the touch it really feels great and looks fantastic..
Without adding any bulk to your device you will feel real comfortable holding your device and there is also additional grip on the back of the case which is welcome and also around the edges,With a lip around the entire front of the screen you can safely place your device face down,although with this device it does look much better this way as opposed to face up you will see why once you install one of these cases.
Keys and ports
(Click to enlarge)
Bottom
Power key
Keys
Left view
Access to the keys and ports too where no issue at all providing easy key-presses and again easy access for the ports,The speaker too also has ample space provided not muffling sound. With the cuts outs on the sides and back complementing the cut out around the camera area this really looks nice all round and giving the iPhone 6 Plus a fresh look with nice lines all round and not only that you will loose that COLD FEEL effect on picking up your device and it feels very premium indeed….
Mozo have been known for giving us nice cases for the Lumia 650 and better than the manufacturer has provided and its great to see them branch out and offer consumers something different and unique with top quality to boot,We do hope they expand even more and see more of their lines expand as they really have got something to offer with quality and looks..
Overview
(Click to enlarge)
Left view
Back view
Bottom
Top view
Camera area
Top front
Features
Designed to be your life-style statement.
The Mozo timeless collection has a new member – back cover case for your iphone 6s handset!
This cover, made of natural wood, has every feature that nordic style can offer: pure feeling, warm touch and high-quality look.
Fitted design with smooth finish. Wood touch gives a comfortable grip to hold on.
Fashion fans can pick from over 120 of the best boutiques in Ireland and the UK which means there is plenty of choice under one roof without the need to look elsewhere and it can be all done from your mobile phone or iPad without having to leave your house… Also to note their team is constantly looking for the best in new boutiques to keep their curated range at its finest.. The app has just got a new update..
Discover thousands of new brands stocked in some of world’s best independent boutiques united on one platform and create your own personal wish list of the products and style icons you love. frockadvisor’s mission is to help you find something different, by exposing them to the best of indie fashion around the globe.
Features:
• Share photos of fashion you love and want right now.
• Follow boutiques and other fashion fans.
• Engage in ‘fotocons’ – photo conversations with your fashion community.
• Connect directly with your favourite boutiques for personalised offers and products.
• Buy fashion items offered by boutiques directly through the app
I am a VR head its safe to say,Since the launch of Gear VR I have taken quite an interest in the platform and its something thats interesting and with the ability to see things in a different perspective sure why is it not interesting.. To get that real immersive feeling you need the right tools, At a consumer level Merge VR have pulled it off in every way not only with looks but in all departments.
The consumer wins here you may ask why… Well lets look at Oculus,HTC and the likes you pay big money for the base product and that does not end there you need the hard-wear to back it up,we will need to purchase a laptop or PC that could fly a rocket into space to get the full functional experience of these headsets which again are cumbersome and heavy and over a long period of time your head will hurt. However there are new OEMs to the market with their own headset such as LG but Samsung still win the more favourable and immersive race at a consumer level price which can reach the masses,but the content lacks,to be fair it does all round in the VR race…Yes I have tried HTC Vive and Oculus here at some events they are indeed great but they will not have mass market appeal and the cost is for now too much…
Google-cardboard is one example of how they have mass market appeal,its cheap and cheerful but the overall experience is not overwhelming but it does give you an insight as to where we are going in the future,there is a multitude of offerings out there with many variations of cardboard viewers and now its a thing for companies to make their own and pass on to the consumer.. Not a bad thing especially for marketing as we now see many companies using VR as a tool to sell their product..
This MERGE VR headset though is unique in every aspect,from the design the thought put into it its looks and its feel,All of the headsets and viewers we see are solid be it either laminated cardboard or a universal type headset which are flooding the market now that is made of solid plastic and whats become the norm just black or white or both,This headset is which is uni bodied is made of foam,its soft to the touch with some components in the mix but when it comes to comfort you are in for a treat.
The packaging
3 / 8
We also have access to BOTH sides of the device be it for your USB cables,power cables and headphones,Yes you can argue we can use bluetooth headphones but hey not everyone has them and again for charging you can get caught out,i have several times and this issue is eradicated with the ability to charge while playing..
Also we have a removable piece on the front which allows the user to maintain camera functionality should you need it this is a clever idea and of course you do not have to use this but its there nonetheless I like the idea alot. We have tried several devices in the headset and they all fit comfortably and feel very secure which is important and with the protection here on this headset it is safe to say should you drop it your device will be fine whereas with other headsets I dont think the result will be the same,see the clip below.. ENOUGH SAID…
Using the headset is also a great experience,the level of comfort is great compared to what I have tried and some I own but remember we are progressing here in the industry so things will change I still like the other headsets I have they are early products and Merge VR have caught onto something before anyone else with their product and you cant blame them for that.. When it comes to long periods of use it remained comfortable since I test many apps and have featured them all here I spend a bit of time trying them out and my experience here was one of comfort and not one of constantly wiping the lens to see what I am doing which is annoying..Its soft on the face and the headbands are also comfortable too..
Like with many headsets we dont need a separate power source your mobile phone is you power so before use you would want to charge it but like the smartphone we now have quick-charging with this headset should you run low on juice you have access to charge it up and keep a power supply which is great,nothing worse than being in the middle of a good video or coaster ride and your battery dies….
The product
Top view
Front view
Air vent
Right side
Left side
Lens
Inside strap
Headband
Removable window
Top front phone slot
Device ports access
Device ports
Headset and Web
4 / 13
To get set up on this is quite simple with a webpage to type into your browser on your device,you do not need to use this particular page and surf for material yourself but this page has some amount of content to check out,Pin the page to your homescreen or place in a folder on your device,If you are interested in VR you should already have a folder called VR or similar. The page you need to check out is https://www.vrstart.com/ or just copy from here and away you go its that simple,the page is nicely presented matching the headset colour, Within the page you can pick from featured content,categories,A-Z,Popular or Paid content..
Overall this headset is fantastic all round for any age group due to its comfort level,functionality and safety it has it all and we would like to thank the guys at Merge VR for sending us this over again..
