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.

#Microsoft announce the new Surface 3 the tablet that can replace your laptop. by @jimboireland #Surface

Microsoft today announced a new model to its surface line up,its the new Surface 3.Another bonus is that its not running RT which limits full potential so this is surely welcome news for users who wish to purchase this piece.This is a cheaper unit compared to the Surface Pro 3 which costs €819 at entry level.

The Surface 3 (4G LTE). It’s the thinnest and lightest Surface ever shipped. It runs full Windows, including desktop applications. It includes a one-year subscription to Office 365 to help you really get down to work. And it starts at just $499/€609  Sadly the stylus and cover are a separate purchase which will add to the cost if you should require these extras..

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Surface 3 features the same beautiful design and premium materials as Surface Pro 3 in a more compact and efficient package. It is thin (just 8.7 mm) and light (1.37 pounds or 622 grams) and has a 10.8-inch screen. Compared to the 12-inch Surface Pro 3 it is slightly smaller and it feels great when you’re using it as a tablet. The 3:2 aspect ratio that we first introduced on Surface Pro 3 is also used here, and, like its larger sibling, it feels natural whether you’re holding it in portrait mode for reading or writing a quick note with the pen or in landscape mode to watch a movie or play a game. The screen on the Surface Pro 3 is not only beautiful to look at — with incredibly accurate colors and clarity from multiple viewing angles — but also offers a world-class multi touch and pen experience. All that we did to make the Pro 3 screen one of the best in the industry is present in Surface 3, and you’ll appreciate this as you work and play on it.

Surface 3 also has front- (3.5MP) and rear-facing (8MP) cameras that both capture 1080p video. The rear-facing camera now features autofocus to take better photos but is also particularly useful for capturing images of documents, barcodes and the like. The battery will last up to 10 hours (our test results are based on video playback) so that it will see you through your work or school day with ease. New with Surface 3 is a Micro USB charger, which means it uses the same connector as most mobile phones. The included 13W charger will be the fastest charging option, but if your battery is running low you’ll be able to use your phone charger as well.

The capabilities of a laptop — including full Windows and Office

Surface 3 runs full 64-bit Windows 8.1 and will be available with Windows Pro for business customers. It will be upgradable to Windows 10 for free when it’s available. With full Windows, it will run the desktop applications you depend on for work or school. This point is so important to understand. You are not compromising anything when you buy this device. For my kids, they can now do everything they are asked to do at school and still play the PC games they love on this device. When you click in the Surface 3 Type Cover, the tablet becomes a laptop. Surface 3 will also include a free one-year subscription to Office 365 Personal, including full versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and OneNote as well as 1 TB of OneDrive storage.

The Surface 3 Type Cover gives you a typing experience that is unmatched by any other tablet and really does turn your tablet into a full laptop. You can also use the Surface 3 Docking Station to instantly create a full desktop workstation, connecting easily to an HD monitor, a printer, an external mouse and keyboard, or any of a huge range of peripherals. It is designed to allow you to work the way that best suits your style and circumstances. Surface 3 also includes a full-size USB 3.0 port, a Mini DisplayPort and a microSD™ card reader.

Surface 3 supports the same pen experience as Surface Pro 3, including 256 levels of pressure sensitivity for accuracy and detail. In the case of Surface 3, the pen will be sold separately and it will now be available in colors — silver, blue, red and black.

The Surface 3 is set to go on sale this May.

Read more HERE

Can Ford put an end to speeding fines ? New technology might help. #Ford #Tech #Speed by @jimboireland #Motoring

Speeding fines are never a welcome sight and we have plenty of those lovely looking vans parked on roadsides with a nice big camera in the back window,often the case they are also hidden and catch you out and then 2 weeks later a fine pops through your letterbox,not nice at all,but Ford now have something that may help drivers in this area with their new S-Max model.

The system monitors road signs with a camera mounted on the windscreen, and slows the vehicle as required. As the speed limit rises, the system allows the driver to accelerate up to the set speed – providing it does not exceed the new limit.

“Drivers are not always conscious of speeding and sometimes only becoming aware they were going too fast when they receive a fine in the mail or are pulled over by law enforcement,” said Stefan Kappes, active safety supervisor, Ford of Europe. “Intelligent Speed Limiter can remove one of the stresses of driving, helping ensure customers remain within the legal speed limit.”

Further new technologies available for the new S-MAX include the Pedestrian Detection system that will reduce the severity of some collisions involving vehicles and pedestrians, or help drivers avoid some impacts altogether.

The versatile people-mover also is equipped to help out at junctions where it is difficult to see. At low speeds a camera fitted in the grille monitors the view from the front of the car, which is then displayed inside the car.

 

See more at Ford

Bring life to food photography with 3D Around. #Apps #Food #Photography by @jimboireland #3DAround

If you like taking photos of food which lots seem to do thanks to bloody Instagram this app is for you,you can now bring like to food photography with 3D Around.You also need a facebook account to login which is rather limiting.

3DAround is the App that allows you to share your dining experience to the fullest via 3D images so lifelike, viewers can almost taste your food. 3DAround, built upon Dacuda’s SLAM Scan 3D technology, was born out of a combination of ground breaking technical Innovation and the love of food and food photography. Bring life to your food photography.

 

To use the app, Simply move your phone around the food you love to turn it into an immersive and beautiful 3D object
Instant: Create 3D photos within seconds and enjoy the result instantly from different perspectives
Social: Share your 3D photos with anyone – even if they don’t have the app. So food lovers,and there is plenty of you out there here is the app for you..

Download on iOS

 

 

 

Woolet – A smartwallet with bluetooth and self charging. #Woolet #Tech by @jimboireland #Kickstarter

We all carry a wallet or something similar or what’s becoming popular now is phone cases that can hold cash and card and keys too which i’m no fan of because if someone robs it or you loose it you have lost it all.Now here comes the smart wallet that not only reminds you of you forget your phone or wallet it protects you too with notifications if you leave either behind or misplace it..

 


 

 

What is Woolet.

  • Impossible to Lose
    Miniature sensors synchronize with your smartphone to protect you in 5 different ways. Whatever the situation, you don’t need to worry.
  • Slim
    Just 9.9mm thin, yet packed with cutting-edge technology. Designed so you can live with less bulk.
  • Self charging – easy to find replacement batteries 
  • Built to last – tough durable leather
  • Ready for world currencies 
  • Don’t loose your phone – 2 way alerts so if you forget one or the other you get notified

 

 

How does Woolet protect you ? With an app thats free on Android and iOS and possibly a Windows Phone app.

 

RING WOOLET TO FIND IT
Lost your wallet under the car seat? Maybe behind the couch? Get it to ring with the tap of a finger. Finding your Woolet is always super simple.

LAST SEEN LOCATION
Don’t remember the last place you had your wallet? Woolet does. Your phone automatically records the last location it saw your Woolet. That means you already know the best place to start looking.

DISTANCE TRACKER TO FIND WOOLET
Misplaced Woolet somewhere nearby? Use the built-in distance tracker. You’ll know how far away your Woolet is and if you’re getting closer. Accurate to within 0.4m. There’s no hiding your Woolet from you.

 

CROWD DETECTION
If your Woolet is ever lost, you can activate the Woolet crowd detection network. With a simple press on your phone, every other Woolet user will start scanning for your lost Woolet. When they get within range, the GPS location is instantly updated to your phone.

SELF-CHARGING BATTERIES, UNLIMITED ENDURANCE
Batteries are an essential component of any smart device. They are also often its weakest component. That’s why we designed self-charging batteries to provide dependable power that lasts. We are currently testing recharging by movement and body heat. We will update you with the implementation we choose.

 

 

Woolet has more than reached its target and this is a nice idea and going forward with other products they have nice plans ahead,

See more HERE

 

 

 

One Plus annoy fans with no #OxygenOS update or release date. #OnePlus #OnePlusOne by @jimboireland

Today One Plus was to release the much awaited OxygenOS to its user,but sadly this has not happened despite them saying several employees are using it as we speak,citing they await certification is the response they have given but its not pleasing fans and its not good new either but in the long run i guess its better to do things right and just wait.

In a post made on the forums today staff member Helen broke the news..

 

Hi, this is Helen, Head of Mobile Product at OnePlus. My team and I have been working on OxygenOS for the past several months. It was our sincere hope to release the result of our hard work to all of you today. Unfortunately, we were unable to meet this date and we are as disappointed as you are. On behalf of myself and my team, I would like to apologize for this wait.

The ROM is fully functional and we have quite a few people in the office running it on their own devices without any issues. The delay is caused by extra quality control. We want to make sure that OxygenOS passes Google certification, that all future updates can be OTA’ed properly, and that users from all over the world are able to use OxygenOS in the language of their choice.

 

We know you’ve been waiting for a long time, and we owe you answers. So, until OxygenOS is officially released, we will share our progress with you. Every day, no matter how big or small the news is, this post will be updated with information in order to give you more visibility into the process. As for a release date, we will release as soon as we feel that it’s good enough for you and it will be very soon.

Most of you are probably also wondering when CM12 will be available. While we don’t have a lot of influence over CM’s release schedule nor development progress, we’ve been providing resources and scheduling test cycles to help with this last stretch. Together, we’re working to deliver CM12 to you as soon as possible.

Stay tuned over HERE or watch for further announcements..

How do you feel with this announcement ?

 

 

Mobiles phones made from grass could be the next thing.. #Recycling #Mobile by @jimboireland #Grass

Ok so we like to do our part for the environment,who does not but millions of phones are recycled each year and manufacturers are trying harder to make our devices more environmentally friendly its been a practice some time now.

On average i would go through about 20-30 devices at least per year due to my interests but most of these devices are high end and i don’t particularly hang on to low end or entry level devices that long and either pass them on or donate to charity,i would do this with some of my high ends pending the condition,if not they are passed on to family or friends,but i keep some for testing purposes etc..

Today the BBC reports something perhaps not so new in hindsight but something that could be a new thing and more common than expected and thats phones made from grass,yes you read this correctly PHONES MADE FROM GRASS.

A designer called Sean Miles has created such a device,well albeit partially made from grass… the rest is recycled material.the cover actually looks nice and not something unfamiliar we have not seen before when it comes to cases with designs or patterns,so its just a matter of the case being more real than picturesque as they would look today on Amazon or eBay.Recently 02  had one of these made from Twickenhams rugby pitch clippings.

 

 

It is the first mobile phone made entirely from recycled and natural products, he says.

The phone’s casing – which is integrated into the phone – is made from recycled resin and specially treated grass clippings.

“This creates a composite material, like carbon fibre”, says Mr Miles, which can be used as an alternative to plastic injection moulding.

Mr Miles was originally commissioned to make the phone as a one-off by O2 Recycle, a division of the mobile phone giant, to highlight the value of recycling.

 

 

What do you think of this idea,would this put you off a phone made from such materials or would you prefer it and help contribute more to the environment ?

Source Video of the device is in link.

AT LAST – The Nexus 6 is available on the Irish Play store. #Nexus6 #GooglePlay by @jimboireland

If you are waiting for the Nexus 6,the wait is over. Google Play now has the device on-line after many months of waiting..It’s also available now in Denmark,Finland, Austria, Norway and Portugal. The Nexus 6 comes in 32 GB or 64 GB. Midnight Blue or Cloud White.For the past while people could purchase the Nexus 6 from Argos or Amazon.

  • The six-inch Quad HD display works for everything from e-books and docs to movies and games.
  • Dual front-facing speakers deliver stereo sound so you can truly immerse yourself in videos and games.
  • The 13 megapixel camera’s optical image stabilization and automatic HDR+ let you take your best possible photos with the least possible effort.
  • The large 3220 mAh battery provides up to 24 hours per charge. The Motorola Turbo Charger gives you a quick burst of power when your battery needs it the most. When charging newer Motorola phones, like the Nexus 6, all it takes is 15 minutes to get up to 6 additional hours of battery life.
  • With Nexus 6, you’ll be the first to get the latest Android updates from Google. It means you’ll have the newest version of Android so you can enjoy the latest features and enhancements.

The Nexus 6 will cost €599 for base model 32GB and €649 for the 64GB model..  See HERE for more

Check out our unboxing and walkaround below… Also available is the Naked Tough case for the Nexus 6 for €30.

The Olio Model One – A new smart watch that looks pretty cool.. for $595. #Olio #Smartwatch by @jimboireland

Like it or not the smartwatch is here and its here to stay,how long is anyones guess but there has been plenty of watches announced this year so far which may look aesthetically well but this one is different plus it has the looks too and i like it. Im pretty reserved on smart watches even though i wear one,the Apple watch didnt do it for me but this has the looks and appears to have what it takes to set a new example going forward.This watch does have a moto 360 look to it which i currently own so perhaps thats why im drawn to it right now.

About Olio

Olio Devices is a new, design-focused company with a passion for enriching peoples’ lives through premium products and meaningful connectivity. We thoughtfully blend the highest quality materials with carefully crafted design and considered intelligence for products that are as immediately functional as they are enduring and expressive. With a passion for detail, simplicity and empowerment, the Olio team works hard to give you freedom of choice in what you wear and time to focus on what matters most to you.

 

 

From Press Release

  • Dynamic Visualizations: Olio’s interface maps the busiest parts your day, making personal bandwidth glanceable, while simultaneously creating a dynamic watch face that is unique you.
  • Temporal Streams: Access the right information at the right time, with notifications and information organized into two simple and intuitive time streams—earlier and later.

 

  • Olio Assist: A cloud-based personal assistant that contextualizes and understands your personal preferences to offer insightful and actionable suggestions.
  • Intelligent Actions: You can dismiss or respond to content with a simple swipe, and even have Olio Assist hold your calls/texts and remind you to respond at a later time.
  • Control Hub: Control relevant third party products like thermostats, lights, locks, cars, speakers, and services like payments, directions and music without searching or wrestling for your phone.
  • True Cross Platform Compatibility: Olio is an independent brand and offers freedom to connect with both Android and Apple phones, as well as a wide range of connected hardware products.

 

 

Read the full Press Release at Olio

 

 

BT launches the UK’s best value 4G mobile plan for BT Broadband customers. #4G #BT #Plans by @jimboireland

In the UK BT have shook up the market with a new announcement of 4G plans which is certainly good for competition,with plans that seem much better than here we look and say why,well obvious reasons being its a bigger market and they can afford to but this should not stop competition here in Ireland especially with 4G prices and especially the data caps which some are said to be UNLIMITED when in fact they are not so its always wise to read the small print…

The three new BT Mobile ‘bring your own phone’ (SIM Only) plans offer an unrivalled combination of fast 4G on the UK’s biggest mobile network and unlimited access to the UK’s largest wi-fi network of over 5 million BT Wifi hotspots.

If you’re in a BT Broadband home, you can get the best value 4G tariffs, saving up to 50% per cent on your BT Mobile bill compared to non-BT Broadband customers. Each account holder can have up to five discounted SIMs on their account – up to total of 10 per household. 

The new 12-month contract deals are ideal if you want to keep your current phone but add a great value bundle of 4G data, minutes and texts.  You can can also use your own 2G or 3G phone, or buy a new 4G phone from the BT Shop from just £99 with an exclusive voucher offer.

 

 

BT Mobile gives you control over your mobile spend and the flexibility to make the most of your plan. This includes a monthly spend cap that you can set yourself to avoid surprise bills, and the ability to monitor your spend through the BT Mobile App.

And if you find your usage changes, you can move to another plan without extending the length of your contract. This applies even if you move to a cheaper plan.  

BT Mobile customers can also get free BT Sport via the BT Sport App, even if they don’t have BT Broadband, and enjoy live and exclusive Barclays Premier League football matches.

See more over at BT