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.
In every household its safe to say there is at least one charger for the majority its much more now with an average household having more than one mobile device in the house. We tend to leave them in overnight or never plug them out from the socket.
Its always best to use original products,ie official OEMs and not cheap ones we can buy elsewhere on the internet to save money,they might be fine in general but its worth noting that sticking with original is the best. Most shops (bricks and mortar,retail) do offer generic which are fine. Always check the voltage and amperage.Most if not all modern phones,tablets today will stop charging when the device is charged once you use the correct charger.
In an article not to long ago from the daily mail it shows that fires are on the increase in the UK too,we don’t really see much here but its something to think about after todays news where the Dublin Fire Brigade had to put out a fire in a Dublin home to overheating.
So as Dublin Fire Brigade says “BEWARE” don’t become too complacent folks.. Well done to the folks at Dublin Fire Brigade.
The Nokia 215 is the latest series 30 handset from Microsoft offering an internet ready handset thats in a candybar form which is available in single and dual sim.
The Nokia 215 and Nokia 215 Dual-SIMDual-SIM are targeted towards the first time mobile phone users, with good smooth looks and great build quality, which will surely remind us of Nokia. These will be launched in three vibrant colours – Green, Black and White.
Being a true Internet- ready device, Nokia 215 & Nokia 215 Dual-SIM comes pre-installed with Facebook and Messenger with instant notifications keeping you connected with friends and family while you’ll be able to check your friends’ news feeds and update your status. These devices also have Opera Mini Browser and Bing Search installed letting you browse website and search content on the web.
However the price is higher than the estimated launch price and as usual early adopters will be fleeced by online sellers which is nothing new to be honest but its always best to shop around.
Amazon UK have the 215 priced at £32.79 which converts to roughly €44.36 plus shipping costs this is nearly double the price quoted at announcement. You can buy it HERE from Amazon.
Irish Online seller phonesonline.ie also have the 215 listed on their website priced higher again,priced at €59.99 If interested you can purchase it HERE
Amazon france also have it listed but its not worth the mention as Amazon.de have it much cheaper listed at a much more realistic price as seen below,you can pick it up HERE if you are interested and they ship to Ireland and the UK,if you encounter shipping issues you can also use Parcel Motel to get hold of it.
Lets make no mistake the iPhone 6 is popular so is the 6 plus,but its not for me,moving on customising phones is still a big business and now the iPhone 6 has got a coat in gold,this seems to becoming popular once again with other brands having done so already making them a limited edition hoping it will fetch more sales it will work for some and not for others,paying the extra bucks for a coat of gold is really a niche market.
Goldgenie has made a bespoke outfit for the iPhone 6 and of course it will probably sell well for those that can afford,Apple fans are quite loyal and for those who have the cash to splash will be the ones who will buy this.
Looks nice,some may think different and Gold is a thing for some but can the price be justified for covering your phone in it ?
The Gold attribute does suit some devices quite well and some devices it makes them look the opposite,as mentioned though its not a mass market appeal nor its it meant to be,these bespoke devices are for those who like the finer things in life and can splash out.
The cost is… Well €3,565 for the 64GB version,and if you fancy the 128GB model its €3,834 you can also decide on white and black on the front facia.
You also get a nice highly finished box too and free shipping worldwide,there is a limited number of these been made which is 99 so if you have the cash away you go. Head over to GoldGenie.Apparently it will give you good fortune too..
So a phone has arrived which is not something i usually dabble with,in the past i have done so but over the last 2/3 years no,but of late Blackberry has had some nice devices and one that grabbed my attention along with many others its the new passport.
On first seeing it on the web i was like,what in the name of god but over time it settled on me and i kind of said “this is certainly interesting” its different,i like different,its almost square,it began to get my interest even more and having seen some pals on twitter talk about it and eventually delving in and getting one i said “hey” enough i want one of these,i did scoff it at the start but the kind folk over at Blackberry sent one over after i reached out and i thank them so much for it. Now that its in my hands my opinion has changed ALOT. Briefly i did see one out at a meeting at RTE and even then i was interested in it,this is what inspired me more to go and get..
The presentation.
What else is inside.
Opened box.
Bottom of device.
The camera area.
Back of device.
Top of device.
Left side view.
Top view.
Right side view.
1 / 10
So its a slab to say the least,its how i like my phones,i like big phones,owning the likes of the Nexus 6 ,Note 4 and Edge and a Lumia 1320 this is in line with my comfort zone,anything smaller and its a no go area,having said that i do have plenty of smaller phones but not in this form factor,this is the qwerty phone i’ve been waiting for in one sense,the keyboard placement is taking a bit to get use to but im getting there.
The Passport comes well equipped inside as well as outside,we have 3GB RAM which is impressive,we have 32GB on board storage and can be expanded up to 128GB via micro sd,there is a nice 13MP snapper on the back with OIS and flash and the front facing camera is just 2MP,there is full HD1080p recording at 70 fps. A 3,450mAh battery is also on board which is non removeable this should see you the day no problem,we also have stereo speakers which sound quite good and the 3 row touch enabled qwerty keyboard which is quite nice and intuitive.
Build quality is excellent it feels solid in hand and robust with a nice soft back where the BlackBerry logo is embedded ,the screen is big and gives a sharp display at 4.5you will have ample amount of viewing pleasure. First thoughts so far is quite good,originally i scoffed the phone but its grown on me and i have to say so far im impressed with initial use and setting it up i hope it will continue to keep me impressed over the coming days and will have my final thoughts jotted down in our final review.
Blackberry 10 OS 10.3.1 is now rolling out for current users of their smartphones,since yesterday we have joined this group and we can confirm we have the update here too..
The update adds quite many new features and from the press release below all will be explained.
Press Release
Waterloo, ON – BlackBerry Limited (NASDAQ: BBRY; TSX: BB), a global leader in mobile communications, announced that BlackBerry® 10 OS version 10.3.1 will begin rolling out globally today for in-market BlackBerry 10 devices, including the BlackBerry® Passport, Z30, Z3, Z10, Q10, and Q5, as well as the Porsche Design P’9983 and P’9982 smartphones from BlackBerry®.
Once downloaded, users will gain access to incredible new enhancements, including BlackBerry® Blend, BlackBerry® Assistant, battery boosting technology, plus improvements to the BlackBerry® Hub, calendar, camera, multimedia and more. This latest version also introduces dual app stores, offering access to hundreds of thousands of apps through the BlackBerry® World® storefront and the Amazon Appstore.
BlackBerry 10 OS 10.3.1 offers a fresh look that incorporates updated icons and an instant action bar so that each user’s most commonly accessed functions are in the center of their screen. With this operating system update, users gain access to powerful features, including:
BlackBerry Blend – BlackBerry Blend brings messaging and content that is on your BlackBerry smartphone to your computer and tablet. Get instant message notifications, read and respond to your work and personal email, BBM™ and text messages, and access your documents, calendar, contacts and media in real time on whatever device you are on, powered by your BlackBerry. BlackBerry Blend works across multiple operating systems including Mac, Windows®, iOS and Android™.*
Dual app storefronts, offering hundreds of thousands of apps:
BlackBerry World – BlackBerry World showcases essential business and productivity apps for professionals looking to drive efficient communications and collaboration.
Amazon Appstore – The Amazon Appstore is the place to download popular Android apps and games including favorites like Candy Crush Saga, Pinterest, Kindle and Cut the Rope 2.
BlackBerry Assistant – The BlackBerry Assistant is BlackBerry’s first digital assistant and can be used with voice and text commands to help users manage work and personal email, contacts, calendar and other native BlackBerry 10 applications. It’s the only smartphone assistant on the market today that can access both personal and work content in your work perimeter. BlackBerry Assistant intelligently determines how to respond to you based on how you interact with it – if you type, it responds silently, if you speak, it speaks back and if you activate over Bluetooth, it speaks back with additional context because it assumes you might not have access to the screen.
BlackBerry Hub with Instant Actions – The one place to manage all your conversations – email, texts, BBM, phone calls, social media and more – just got better. The new instant actions feature allows you to quickly organize and action your inbox without having to go into each individual message or calendar invite. Toggle the read status and file, flag or delete an email message with a single tap. When you’re composing an email, you can now transfer the conversation to a voice call, SMS or meeting invite.
Right side view.
Time Saving Keyboard Shortcuts – Keyboard shortcuts are back for BlackBerry 10 smartphones with a physical QWERTY keyboard including the BlackBerry Q5, Q10, Passport and the Porsche Design P’9983 smartphone from BlackBerry. As you once could on your beloved BlackBerry® Bold and as you can on the recently launched BlackBerry® Classic, you can now make use of nearly every letter in the physical keyboard and give it an action like Speed Dial for a contact, or use them to launch your most-used apps. For example, from the Hub press “T” to get to the top of your inbox or “B” to get to the bottom to make short work of getting through your messages.
More Battery Power – You can now boost your battery life by up to 15 percent by customizing your Power Saving Profile. Quickly select the applications and functions you would like to restrict or remain active to conserve power.
New Camera Functions – The upgraded camera software automatically recommends modes and settings, including HDR when sharp contrast is detected and an enhanced Time Shift mode when faces are detected. Now you have the option to store your Time Shift captures and edit them into the perfect photo whenever you want. Get the whole picture by capturing a panorama. Our new camera also brings your most common modes and actions to the forefront – you’ll never need to switch between your camera and video recorder again. You can even record video and take pictures at the same time.
More Ways to Edit, Create, Sort and Listen to Media – Enjoy your media the way it was meant to sound, with 17 preset equalizer options for both music and video. With 10.3.1, you now have the ability to “Favorite” songs, photos or videos so they are always at your fingertips. With the new slow motion video edit feature and built in Story Maker, it’s never been easier to master your media and share it with the world.
A Calendar that Works for You – The new Meeting Mode option will automatically set your phone to quiet mode for the duration of your meeting, and then turn notifications back on when it’s over. Plus, a new weekly agenda view allows you to see your events and tasks for the selected week or month.
BBM® Meetings – BBM Meetings offers business users a new way to work smarter and be more productive from any Android, iPhone, BlackBerry 10 smartphone or Windows PC or Mac.** It combines a mobile-optimized user experience that allows on-the-go professionals to schedule, host and participate in meetings anywhere you have an internet connection. All at a fraction of the cost of other leading collaboration solutions.
Microsoft have made the Wireless display adapter available for people to buy in Ireland along with other select markets,its a similar idea to the HD-10 which we have been using since last December but this might suit others more so than the HD-10.
Whether you’re playing a movie for movie night or sharing photos from your last trip, the Wireless Display Adapter makes it easy to share. Just plug in the adapter, pair your devices, and you’re ready to send all of your multimedia content from your phone, tablet or laptop to the big screen—all wirelessly.
This adapter takes the pain out of sharing during meetings. Everyone on your team can quickly share their content without ever having to pass around an HDMI cord. Need to work on something else while you project? No problem, just extend your screen and you can get other stuff done while you share.
Miracast is a wireless technology that supports 1080p video quality and 5.1 surround sound streaming between mobile devices and large displays. There’s no restriction to what you can share with Miracast as long as all devices are Miracast-enabled, and this adapter works with both Windows and Android.
If this does not suit check out the HD-10 which we use and find it very efficient and flawless our review can be seen here
If you want to buy the adapter its going to cost €69.99 and you can buy it on the Microsoft Store – Direct link.
As we all know Lent is upon us and its a time of giving up something be it little or small anything helps,now we can keep help out Trócaire even more and much easier with a new app which is Available on Android and iOS which is a great idea..
Keep your Trócaire Box in your pocket and collect donations on the go with the Trócaire Box app powered by JustGiving. Trócaire works in partnership with communities in the developing world to support their efforts to improve their lives, meet their basic needs and ensure their human dignity.
Description
• Keep your fundraising on track and check how much you’ve raised whenever you like.
• Share your box easily via text, email, Facebook or Twitter so you can get donations from anywhere in the world.
• Donations have a higher average online so you’ll raise more money for Trócaire.
• The money you collect goes directly to Trócaire so they can start using it straight away to do their amazing work.
• Design your own individual box so it’s totally unique to you.
• Earn badges to share on social media when you reach your fundraising milestones.
Download the App
For more information on how you can help Trócaire please look at their website HERE
Sony is now offering a rival to Google Glass which didn’t last very long and its going to ship in March,its also much cheaper than Google’s attempt too which will set you back around £600,it will also be available in the UK and Germany and you can pre-order now if you like.
They sport a 3MP camera,light sensor,compass and gyroscope plus and accelerometer, and in my opinion look rather silly compared to Google Glass but thats just my opinion,however i would not say no to trying them out.they will later be available to other countries around the world.
Binocular display with super-thin lenses and high transparency SmartEyeglass Developer Edition SED-E1 includes unique holographic waveguide technology, which enables super-thin 3.0 mm augmented reality (AR) lenses with high transparency of 85% and excellent brightness, without any half mirrors that may obstruct the user’s vision. Furthermore, the monochrome display ensures low energy consumption and high luminance (up to 1,000 cd/m2). This enables a binocular display, where text and information is clearly visible under a wide range of lighting conditions.
Sensors in SmartEyeglass and the connected smartphone enable unique use cases
SmartEyeglass Developer Edition SED-E1 is equipped with a wide range of sensor technologies, including a CMOS image sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, electronic compass, brightness sensor, and microphone. SmartEyeglass utilises these features, together with GPS location information obtained from the connected smartphone, to provide the user with information that is tailored for the user’s current task or scenario. Applications will run as normal Android apps on a connected smartphone. SmartEyeglass communicates wirelessly with the smartphone over Bluetooth and wireless LAN.
We have featured Vertu a few times before and each time the price seems to go up,this time is no different and basically all it says is “I AM RICH” and i can show it off or a fashion statement whichever term suits,for me personally if i was this wealthy i still would not fork out on such a device,having said that it does look nice on the outside.
Signature Touch Pure Jet Red Gold has solid red gold features including the volume control keys, power/lock key and pillow support. With Grade 5 titanium sides, coated in black PVD and a black PVD-coated Grade 5 titanium back plate. It’s wrapped in highly refined ‘fine-mill’ calf leather, sourced from the Alpine region of Europe and crafted by one of the area’s oldest tanneries. As a result, each Vertu is individual and may differ slightly to what you see here.
With the Vertu Range you do get an array of extras though which would be expected for the price you pay for such a device,You get Concierge – 24-hour worldwide assistance, recommendations and priority bookings. Tailored privileges and Certainty.
