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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.
Since 2012 this has been in development and now we are a step closer to a date when we can get our hands on what has spawned several other ideas,Oculus Rift begins shipping in 2016,as announced today on Twitter as seen below.This is great news for fans who have been waiting to test Virtual Reality and 2016 can’t come quick enough..
The Rift delivers on the dream of consumer VR with compelling content, a full ecosystem, and a fully-integrated hardware/software tech stack designed specifically for virtual reality. It’s a system designed by a team of extremely passionate gamers, developers, and engineers to reimagine what gaming can be.Virtual reality is going to transform gaming, film, entertainment, communication, and much more.
Also stated on the Oculus Blog they say
“In the weeks ahead, we’ll be revealing the details around hardware, software, input, and many of our unannounced made-for-VR games and experiences coming to the Rift.”
The Hannspree sport watch gives us a few ways to track things such as a pedometer,weight loss tracking.sleep monitoring and message notifications.also sorting a long battery life it will make it attractive to some,with an Oled display which the digits are small you will get about 8-10 days of life. You can download a companion app from the store and simply sync to your watch via bluetooth and its good to go..Find out how we got on over the coming days,check out our unboxing and quick look below.
UNBOXING
Ok the watch is cheap its not meant to be the Moto 360 some people expect these things on products,the moral of the story is you get what you pay for in life this is testament here with the Hanspree Budget watch it does however offer plenty if not more for the beginner or novice if you will.For its first attempt its good mostly besides the sometimes annoying pairing which took so time,the battery life is excellent compared to rivals in its category and means less charging,as an example i have to charge my Moto 360 DAILY which does bother me,its like having a second phone to cater for even though i do carry 2 devices daily its catering for it that annoys most with plugs everywhere..
There is a companion app available in the store which can be downloaded HERE Quite good to have of course and pairing with your device can be a bit slow at time,having tried it on several devices i did find the pairing process tedious at first,after that it was fine on connecting the next morning most of the time..
Feature：
> Pedometer Function and Walking Distance
> Sleep Monitoring
> Message and Call Notification
> Alarm Clock
> OLED Display
> Splash Resistant
> Bluetooth Connectivity
> Long Battery Life
Accuracy.
Well it was good with some hit and misses but this is quite common even with high end alternatives,overall though this needs room for improvement and for its first attempt we can allow for it i guess,there is an array of options to turn on and off so this gives you control over what you want recorded.Steps/Distance/ActivityTime/Calories/Battery Level/Calls/Messages/Medication Reminder/Alarm Timer all included so not to be sniffed at.
Comfort level.
It is big,for me though it was not an issue but its light and does not bother me,compared to a Moto 360 it look cheap,that it is for the price you pay,but overall it was comfortable to wear light and thin.You may find yourself having to twist it back depending how you wear it,some wear watches in general face down i wear mine face up but thats just me.Comparing to a Moto 360 might seem harsh but most come in around the same size,some other trackers maybe of a different shape too like rectangular which i think is a better fitting design as opposed to the typical circle or squared designs we see.
Design
Light,circular and cheap. For its first attempt its not bad but be vigilant. The clasp broke on our review unit which to be fair can happen to anyone,especially when its been used quite often,perhaps a spare clasp could be in the retail package in future to coincide with its second strap that comes with it which is a nice addition to the deal.
Display
Small and minimal,often having to tap the screen multiple times to view details this is annoying,there is more blank space than needed for its first attempt,perhaps this is the base design for going forward which is forgivable,nonetheless pointless space wasted.
Overall thoughts
Not bad really considered the price point (£29.99),considered you could add an extra couple of euros and get something better its does the job mostly well,again this is for people really looking not to spend much money and want to venture into the wearable world and this is ideal in that respect,Also its tough apart from the clasp so you can drop it and not worry,i look forward to whats ahead for this and hopefully the space wasted is going to used well in an upcoming model and then we can see what has been learned and how well the next model has learned from this one.
Samsonite and Samsung have teamed up to create smart suitcases reports the Mail Online.
The smart bag, which is being developed by Hong Kong based Samsonite in partnership with South Korea’s Samsung, could also be able to offer travellers a raft of other features.
Samsonite chief executive Ramesh Tainwala told the Mail: ‘Smart luggage will be able to communicate with you but it needs to be able to do much more than just give its location.‘We are working with Samsung to create something that is more than a gimmick.’
The future will see your bag sending you a message when it has left the aircraft and then again when it is about to join the carousel.
But the technology does not stop there – the chip can also send out an alert if the bag is being opened and the firm is also working on a project to develop ‘self-propelling’ luggage.This could spell an end to having to cart your bags about.
The firm has been testing luggage fitted with an engine that is able to follow its owner just inches behind.
Only last year Samsung announced a new app for kids suffering with Autism called Look At Me Now they have released an app for people suffering with Alzheimer’s disease.The App is called Backup Memory.
About a year ago, Azer Jaafoura and a few of his colleagues at Samsung Electronics Tunisia (SETN) were thinking of helping out Alzheimer’s patients. However, with a full-time job and already volunteering at a children’s hospital, Azer and his colleagues were strapped for time.
“We wanted to make life easier for Alzheimer’s patients as well as their caretakers, but we were initially unsure of how to go about doing this,” said Azer, a marketing manager for mobile products at SETN. “While Alzheimer’s may be incurable, recent studies have shown that mental stimulation in the form of regular reminders of past events could potentially slow down the progression of the disease. This is where we saw an opportunity.”
Such features of Backup Memory are made possible through Bluetooth. Backup Memory uses Bluetooth to search for other smartphones running the same app, and connects to those devices when they’re within a 10-meter (33 feet) radius. Once connected, Backup Memory displays information about the nearby person. Prior to using Backup Memory, the relevant information and multimedia content have to be manually inputted or uploaded onto the app.
Backup Memory is available in two languages – English and French – Download – Google Play.
Only recently Twitter moved its data to Ireland,now Dropbox have joined in.This also means they will face a Data Commissioner audit.It also has annoyed users to some extent .
On Dropbox terms and conditions it reads.
We’re updating our Terms of Service for users who live outside the US, Canada and Mexico. They’re effective right away for users who sign up for Dropbox or upgrade to Dropbox Pro starting May 1st, 2015, and effective June 1st, 2015 for all other users. You can find out more here and see the prior Terms here.
When you use our Services, you provide us with things like your files, content, email messages, contacts and so on (“Your Stuff”). Your Stuff is yours. These Terms don’t give us any rights to Your Stuff except for the limited rights that enable us to offer the Services.
We need your permission to do things like hosting Your Stuff, backing it up, and sharing it when you ask us to. Our Services also provide you with features like photo thumbnails, document previews, email organization, easy sorting, editing, sharing and searching. These and other features may require our systems to access, store and scan Your Stuff. You give us permission to do those things, and this permission extends to our affiliates and trusted third parties we work with.
Microsoft have acquired advanced digital pen technology from N-trig Ltd., with whom they have partnered closely for several years..Digital pens have a ways to go to be as good as pen and paper on some dimensions, and we’ll get there. But more importantly, adding the ability to capture and share the work you do with a digital pen opens up possibilities that traditional pen and paper just can’t match. The digital pen can be bought for $49.99
Periscope is pretty much the hype now and has been only for iOS users for since launch and has left Android users bewildered,there has been several alternatives which do not offer the full package and have been frankly of not much use.
Meerkat is now available to download from the Play Store and its free. Its been in private Beta for some time,now its public.
Meerkat allows you to live stream video from your phone to all of your Twitter followers at once. Press ‘Stream’, and instantly your live video stream shows up in your follower’s Twitter feeds.
When your followers have the app, they will also get pushed notified with your live stream, watch, comment and interact with it using the app.
The rules of Meerkat:
[+] Everything that happens on Meerkat happens on Twitter.
[+] Streams will be pushed to followers in real time via push notifications.
[+] People can only watch it live. There are no reruns.
[+] You can save your streams to your phone, but Meerkat will never keep them.
[+] Watchers can retweet any stream to their followers in real time.
[+] Everyone can watch on web.
[+] Be kind.
In 2014 you may remember the KillBiller app we spoke about which hit Android well now the wait is over and for those on iOS its now available to download and of course its free.
With so many plans available from various networks today it can be tough to decide what suits each individuals needs,KillBiller is here to make this choice for you and will be welcome by all to save money in the long run,in a world of SMS,Data or Voice KillBiller will find the right plan for you,to note SMS is dying a slow death and Data is the way forward these days with most of us accessing content on our devices..But everyone is different and here is the solution to save money.
Daniel McCarthy explains to us about the App..
Each year, Irish people waste millions of euro overspending on mobile phone subscriptions. The
National Consumer Agency* estimate that on average people save €288 per year when they
change mobile phone plans, yet only 9% of Irish people switch provider each year. A primary
reason why people don’t switch is confusion in selecting the right plan.
The KillBiller application, which has been used over 16,000 times by Irish Android mobile phone
users, eliminates this confusion by analysing subscribers usage and recommending the mobile
phone plans that will save them the most money. KillBiller is now available on iPhone.
What is KillBiller?
KillBiller is a mobile application that saves people money on their mobile phone bill. KillBiller looks
at every call, text, and MegaByte sent and works out the best mobile phone provider and plan for
you. Released on Android in late 2014, from 29th April KillBiller will be available on iOS devices.
How much can people save?
The average savings for users are over €20 per month, or between €200 and €300 per year.
How does KillBiller actually work?
KillBiller analyses users’ actual phone usage against all of the plans available from Irish operators.
The app takes details of the calls, messages and data used by you on your phone and, based on
this, calculates how much you would have spent on each plan. Having found the right plan,
KillBiller offers users the convenience of switching networks within the app.
Everything is automatic – People don’t need to know how many minutes, texts, or megabytes they’ve used.
Are people switching networks?
Despite the fact that the average saving for people who switched mobile phone plans in Ireland is
a huge €288, last year only 9% of Irish people changed mobile phone provider. Research indicates
that one reason why the switching rate is low is that it is both difficult and confusing to determine
the best plan to be on. Irish people are wasting millions of euro on unused minutes, allowances,
and unlimited plans, when the average usage profile only uses 207 minutes, sends 129 texts, and
uses 1.3 GB of data (for smartphones)**.
The KillBiller app has been available for download on Android since late 2014 and has seen its user
base increase in recent months as a result of prominent media coverage both online (Irish Times,
Irish Independent, Irish Tech News, thejournal.ie) and on radio (Matt Cooper on Today FM,
Newstalk Breakfast, the Sunday Business Show). On the back of this success, the application is now
all set for its much anticipated launch on Apple’s iOS.
How does KillBiller make money?
KillBiller’s main revenue model is based upon commission for people switching operators from
within the application. Currently the application supports all bill pay plans, but prepay plans will be
added very shortly aiming to have pre-pay functionality in June.
For more information about the app please see our website http://killbiller.com/ or get in touch
using the contact details below.
About KillBiller
KillBilller is an early stage company that originated at the Dublin Launch48 startup weekend in
2013. The KillBiller team are a trio based in Dublin and our mobile phone plan comparison app is
our first. We have a passion for consumer transparency that is complimented with a love of
technology and general geeky abilities.
The GPA HURLING App, a mobile game for Android and iOS, was released recently to coincide with the National Hurling League final between Cork and Waterford. Fans of rival teams compete against each other in real-time and virtually determine the result of an upcoming GAA fixture.
The official Gaelic Players Association (GPA) Game lets you play the ancient Gaelic Game of Hurling and determine which county wins the next real-life fixture. Flick the hurling sliotar over the bar and your score counts for the GAA team you selected.
Developed under a partnership between Zoodazzle and the Gaelic Players Association (GPA), the game uses real-time mobile technology to continuously update team scores and sponsor images within the actual gameplay. These updates are immediately visible on each fan’s smartphone.
According to Ciaran Davies, CEO of Zoodazzle, “We recognised from an early stage the opportunity for our technology within sports sponsorship and as a result developed the SportsCarver platform. Sport sponsorship has become a triangle of association between the team, the sponsors and the fans. Using SportsCarver we developed a game for the fans which is driven by team loyalty and supported by seamlessly integrated sponsor images. Unlike banner ads, sponsors can now connect with fans in the moment not take them out of it. In addition sponsor brand images can be dynamically updated and targeted at fans based on time, location or audience type.”
In the closing stages of the first fixture, almost 2 virtual frees per second were taken by fans. Within a week of its launch, fans had scored over 120,000 times and the game has entered both the iPhone and Google Play charts.
GPA Chief Executive Dessie Farrell stated that “Our technology partnership with Zoodazzle is opening up exciting opportunities for the association within the digital sport sector. Enabling our partners to engage positively with fans through the GPA Hurling App is furthering our objective of supporting players to be their personal best. Over 10,000 downloads demonstrate the appetite amongst fans for mobile games based around our national sports.”
Choose a GAA team jersey from the two Counties playing in an UPCOMING REAL-LIFE FIXTURE and decide which team wins the hurling match by scoring as many points as you can.
See in real-time your score combined with other fans’ scores. Watch the countdown clock and see in real-time who is winning the competition.
PLAY AGAINST OTHER GAA FANS
The GPA Hurling Game is the first fan-based game where your score determines the winner. This isn’t fantasy league. Instead you decide who wins by playing as often as possible and encouraging your friends to do the same.
There are two modes PRACTICE and COMPETITION. When in competition mode a countdown clock runs until the players actually go head-to-head on the hurling pitch. Support the players by playing this game and then support them on the day by attending the match.
The game is quite good with great graphics and sound so enjoy folks.
About the Gaelic Players Association: The Gaelic Players Association supports players to be their personal best, advances player welfare, protects their interests and promotes the skills of Gaelic games About Zoodazzle: Zoodazzle, the company behind the SportsCarver Platform (http://www.sportscarver.com/), specialises in mobile game development software and is based in Dublin, Ireland.
Download this game both on Android and iOS below. Let us know what you think.
