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.
The British Esports Association is proud to announce that it will host the second annual World Esports Day, due to take place on Saturday 23rd October 2021 and bring people together for a global celebration of esports.
Following on from the success of last year’s activities, the event is coming back bigger and better to increase awareness of the positive impacts that esports has on society.
The campaign aims to celebrate all things competitive gaming, including the players, tournaments, streams, content, as well as other areas that help to build up the industry.
World Esports Day is backed by the British Esports Association, as well as having further support from the Global Esports Federation, Singapore Esports Association and Twitch.
After raising money for Special Effect in last year’s event, this year the selected charity is COVAX.
In light of the pandemic, British Esports decided it was best to support this charity in its journey to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to countries all around the world.
Funds raised will go straight to COVAX and allow more people globally to be protected amidst the current global situation.
There are several ways to get involved with #WorldEsportsDay, whether you are an individual or organisation.
Some of the many things to do include: hosting an event, running a stream, doing an educational piece or even just promoting esports through social media.
To give some inspiration, these are some of the activities completed last year:
Download the activity deck: British Esports has created a deck for individuals and organisations to gain more of an understanding about the day itself, as well as how they can get involved.
This deck outlines the processes behind things like donations to give you more of an understanding about what happens in a more detailed way.
Over the last year I have been using the companies first offering and with out it I would have been 6 feet under this fan has been a life saver during the hot days and nights and it has got smarts to boot which makes it really nice and hand and also lazy when you are lying in bed but there is nothing wrong with that all all, after reviewing the Geo Smart Pro I was looking forward to testing this model here and it does not disappoint.
There is one caveat so I will get that out of the way and there is no swing option here but all the other smarts are here as before and apart from that the rest is good, this is more aimed at the ladies for me but there is no problem for men to use it like me and would have no issue showing it off, this time around it is a smaller fan and comes with a telescopic extension and is lighter than last years model and you get lights, a mirror and a phone holder to top it off, only fans and creators will love this one that is for sure but it can be also used for doing make up and of course just staying cool and having a light and phone holder at your disposal it just makes life really easy, with light controls and fan speed control you can relax in bed or your couch or get busy doing what you have to do with all the other features.
The AirLit features include:
App automation – allows users to automate the fan’s actions and triggers. For example, if the room gets too hot the fan will automatically kick in. The fan uses WiFi to source and follow temperatures.
Light it up (or down) – Manage your light based on your preferences. Select from 3000-5000k and 10%-100% dimming means you can change the brightness depending on your environment and time of day.
Magnetic mirror – easily transform the AirLit into a mirror with a magnetic attachment and couple up with the light and it’s perfect for make-up application and hairstyling.
Flex-Rotation – choose your best angle – with 180° vertical rotation and 270° flex rotation AirLit can work with your best angles.
Telescopic extension– 400mm to 1000mm
Reverse charging– Allows you to charge your device in case of an emergency.
Blue light reduction– Use it as a desk lamp when on screens to help reduce strain on your eyes.
Battery life – up to 15 hours of usage
Timer – users can use AirLit for up to eight hours, so it’ll last the whole working day or night.
Modes – users can choose between three different light modes, reading, focus and leisure according to their environment and one fan mode which mimics nature’s air flow to ensure a controlled and calming breeze, giving you a feeling of sitting outdoors.
Speed –the fan can be set to low, medium or high fan speed depending on your preferences.
Voice control – Alexa or Google Assistant can give users a glow up in seconds
Check the video review below for more, the company sent us this to review with no compensation paid or input and are seeing the review the same time as you.
The AirLit is available for £89.99 from Robert Dyas and www.geosmartpro.com.
Konftel is bringing more conferencing connectivity convenience with the launch of a Bluetooth adapter for increased user flexibility.
The conferencing and collaboration manufacturer has developed the Konftel BT30 which is compatible with its Konftel 800 and new Konftel 70 audio devices.
The USB dongle is designed to optimise wireless Bluetooth connection for wideband audio in Konftel conferencing applications – meaning less cables, greater audio connectivity freedom and more stable and reliable operation.
Wireless freedom
UK Sales Director Jeff May, says the new innovation supports up to an impressive 30m overall range (depending on device paired), with enhanced higher performance wireless communication.
He also highlighted how the BT30 delivers more choice and easier set-up – especially via Konftel’s acclaimed OCC Hub for video kits, when using room-based computers and standard laptops.
He explained: “The quality and stability of Bluetooth especially on laptops varies greatly, so the Konftel BT30 provides more robust and higher quality audio connectivity. Equally it complements perfectly our ethos to make conferencing as simple and easy as possible via our OCC Hub, where the standard audio USB cable can be replaced by a wireless alternative.
“This can expand room placement options, making voice transmissions cable free.”
Konftel OCC Hub
The BT30 is compatible with Konftel’s C2070 and C5070 video kits for huddle rooms and small/medium locations. The new adapter is also ideally suited to the Konftel C20800 Hybrid and C50800 Hybrid, premium video collaboration solutions.
It follows on from the development of a special interactive room type guide, to help users pinpoint the optimum set-up and understand the different dynamics of any video meeting scenario, including connectivity.
“Konftel’s expanded product portfolio is based on collaboration solutions for any room type – highlighting how video is everywhere and everywhere is video. The BT30 is a welcome new addition to our evolving range.”
May added: “Konftel is an industry pioneer and we are proud to hold Climate Neutral certified status, meaning all our users can conference with a clear climate conscience.”
New Lineup Boosts Finding Capabilities, With New Ultra-Wideband Tracker and Safety Feature to Prevent Unwanted Tracking Coming Soon
Tile, the pioneer in finding technology, introduces a new lineup that builds on the superior features consumers around the world rely on to keep track of their things. Available today, the lineup includes sleek new designs for a wide range of uses, increased finding range, louder ring and a new way for lost items to be found and returned. The company will also be introducing highly accurate Point and Locate finding with the launch of the Ultra-Wideband enabled Tile Ultra as well as a new Scan and Secure safety feature early next year.
Tile is built for everyone and everything, with a platform agnostic app and multiple form factors that attach to just about anything right out of the box. At a time when consumers are faced with even more choice within the category, Tile continues to see significant growth, a testament to its wide appeal. In the first half of 2021, Tile has grown revenue over 50 percent, and shows no sign of slowing down.
Tile pro Pro Black
“We built this category nearly a decade ago, and since then we’ve been listening to our customers and evolving our products to meet their specific needs,” said CJ Prober, Tile CEO. “People are busier than ever, and our customers depend on our products to eliminate the stress of endlessly searching for lost or misplaced items, especially around the home, which is a nuisance that happens daily for many of us. With a longer finding range, louder ring and voice-enabled finding through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, we’re making it even easier for people to quickly find what they need.”
New Lineup Strengthens Finding Power
Tile’s versatile lineup of trackers are doubling down on the useful features that help consumers get through their day worry-free. The Pro, Tile’s most powerful tracker with a 400 ft. finding range, gets a new look and feel to accommodate its most common use case: keys. With a lightweight body and slender shape resembling a key fob, the Pro easily attaches right out of the box and hangs comfortably from a keychain, and still looks great on bags and purses. The Mate, Sticker and Slim have all been upgraded to an impressive 250 ft. finding range, which is an increase of 25% for Mate and Slim, and a 67% increase for Sticker. These three models also now boast a louder ring, making it even easier to quickly find a remote control or wallet hidden between couch cushions. Additionally, the Mate now features a 3-year battery life and a sleek new look that’s available in both white and black. All four models have been upgraded to an IP67 water-resistance rating, meaning they can be submerged in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes.
Tile Mate white
Tile Lost and Found Feature Adds More Finders
Tile has also boosted the out of home experience with a new way to find lost items called Tile Lost and Found.This service allows a user to expand the Tile Finding Network to any good samaritan who discovers their lost item. Every Tile (excluding the Sticker) will now have a QR code on the back so anyone who finds a lost Tile can scan it, see the owner’s provided contact information, and coordinate how to reunite the lost item with its owner. Now anyone with a smartphone can help someone find a lost item, giving consumers one more reason to feel confident they’ll be able to keep track of their things with a Tile attached.
New Safety Feature Helps Address Unwanted Tracking
At Tile, safety and security are a top priority. Tile trackers are designed for locating lost items, not for tracking people, which is why Tile is developing a solution that seeks to help victims of domestic abuse and the potential misuse of a tracking device. Created with guidance from an advocacy organisation that are experts in this area, the new Scan and Secure feature will enable anyone with the Tile app (even if they don’t have an active Tile account) to easily scan for and detect nearby Tile devices and identify if an unknown device is near them. This new feature will be available to Android and iOS users early next year. Tile will continue to seek guidance from advocacy organisations on the development of future iterations of this feature that will further enhance user safety. Tile will also provide resources and information to victims about how to stay safe if they suspect they are being tracked.
Tile slim
Introducing Point and Locate finding with Tile Ultra
The new Tile Ultra is the first in the lineup to leverage both Bluetooth and Ultra-Wideband technologies, giving consumers Tile’s best-in-class Bluetooth finding experience combined with the precision finding experience of Ultra-Wideband. Tile Ultra leverages Point and Locate finding, which offers a precise finding experience using Augmented Reality to guide a user directly to their item. Ultra provides highly accurate visual finding, making it easy to find lost keys behind a shelf or a bag left in a noisy restaurant. Tile is working with Google to ensure an optimal experience on Android 12 and Ultra-Wideband supported smartphones.
“Google is committed to making Android phones, and all the devices connected to them, work even better together,” said Erik Kay, Vice President of Engineering, Google. “With Android 12, users of phones with Ultra-Wideband technology will benefit from new and accurate positioning experiences. We’re excited about the work we’ve been doing with Tile and the new finding experience it will give users.”
Tile sticker
Available starting in early 2022, this cutting edge product will be the first Ultra-Wideband tracker compatible with both Android and iOS devices.
Pricing and Availability
Tile’s new lineup of trackers are available today at Tile.com and major retailers including Amazon, John Lewis, Argos and others, as well as key partners globally.
Tile Pro: Available in Black or White, for £29.99
Tile Mate: Available in Black or White, for £19.99
Tile Slim: Available in Black for £29.99
Tile Sticker: Available in Black, starting from £24.99
For more information on styles, pricing and general availability, please visit Tile.com.
Vestel, one of the top three TV manufacturers in Europe, is today announcing the launch of Red Bull TV on its vast line-up of Smart TV ranges.
Available now, the app has been rolled out by Vestel to more than twenty TV brands across Europe, giving viewers front row access to a world that’s beyond the ordinary with exclusive video from globetrotting adventurers, new music and entertainment, and live events.
With no paywalls or advertisements, the Red Bull TV app offers entirely free and uninterrupted access to live and on demand streams, categorising content into clearly defined channels, such as adventure, culture, music, biking and water sports for ease of navigation.
Through the app, Vestel Smart TV customers can tune into an eclectic mix of content from the latest gaming tournaments to all the most spectacular sports events, including Mercedes-Benz UCI MTB World Cup, as well as the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series. Streams to exclusive films, shows and documentaries can also be accessed, along with world-renowned dance competitions like the Red Bull BC One World Final.
Whatever the content selected, according to Barış Altınkaya, Vestel Vice President of Marketing and Product Management, customers can count on life-like audio-visual quality: “This is an exciting app addition, enabling Vestel to offer a big-screen, edge-of-your-seat viewing experience for the latest and greatest events and action sports. Without setting foot outside their living rooms, customers can step into the on-screen action, and feel part of sports championships and pioneers’ adventures from every corner of the globe.”
For a life-like cinematic viewing experience, Vestel Smart TVs come in 55”, 60” and 65” big screen sizes, with ultra-slim bezels, and wider, more inclusive 178 -degree-viewing angles. As well as supporting the display of Red Bull videos filmed in ultra-sharp and punchy 4K HDR, Vestel 4K HDR Smart TVs, and premium OLED 4K HDR Smart TVs enhance the viewing experience for content in every resolution. Maximising the picture quality of all the on-screen action, they refine and upscale Full HD and HD video, while also optimising the dynamic contrast ratio with Micro Dimming.
Features, such as motion blur reduction technology, MEMC (Motion Estimation Motion Compensation), allow the Smart TVs to keep up with even the fastest sports scenes, offering a smooth, crisp, and clear picture for every shot. The Sports mode is also ideal for fast-paced sports and action sequences, boosting the colour, contrast, and brightness of televised sports, as well as the TVs’ motion handling.
With Dolby Atmos-powered integrated speakers, the 4K HDR Smart TVs offer an equally impressive audio performance. For videos mixed in Dolby Atmos, they envelope and fully immerse viewers in the on-screen sound, re-creating the atmosphere of sporting events and action adventures in every household living room.
The Red Bull TV app is available now for free on all Vestel-manufactured Smart and Android TV ranges, including those produced from June 2018.
Edifiers latest earbuds have dropped in and these are a nicely built pair of earbuds with a clean design and look and fit really well, they have a small stem that gives them the Airpods look but cost a fraction of the price and deliver quite well on the sound end of things with almost everything thrown in.
There is no wireless charging and no auto play and pause here and that is really the only things missing from a full featured headset and when it comes to Edifier the sound is good as expected and even on a cost perspective hear you get great audio quality all round here that runs up some competition in a massive market.
The controls work really well on these too and all features are present here which we go through in the video review, The Edifier connect app plays an important part of the features here and you can set up the controls to suit your needs which is great so you can tailor each earbud which is a better option than having fixed settings.
Edifier TWS330NB and edifier connect app techbuzzireland
Sound quality overall here is good and for the money its where Edifier once again shine if it is your first pair of earbuds and you are not an audiophile you will be fine, from my usual testing they passed have decent volume and average battery life which of course depends on how you use them, everyone is different.
Features
Immersive sound via Targeted Active Noise Cancelling – Built-in dual-MIC provides better noise cancellation which enables up to -38dB. ANC works even no songs are playing
IP54 Dust and Water Proof -Edifier 330NB True waterproof earbuds are suited to a variety of indoor and outdoor activities. After a rainy day commute or a sweaty workout, please dry off before charging
AAC Audio decoding – supported for high-quality audio
APP control & Tap control – download Edifier Connect APP and get more control via your phone, custom tap control and adjust tap sensitivity, adjust ambient sound, and even more
20 Hours Total Battery + Fast Charging – Battery power consumption varies by use
Based on Android 12, the new ColorOS brings a clean, inclusive UI with smoother performance
Leading global smart device brand OPPO today announced the global launch of its ColorOS 12 operating system, becoming one of the first OEMs to run on Android 12. Aiming to provide a seamless user experience, ColorOS 12 introduces an all-new inclusive UI with smoother performance and features to boost everyday productivity.
Inclusivity at the core
Providing an inclusive, customisable user experience for OPPO users around the world, ColorOS 12 builds on OPPO’s Infinite Design concept. With softer icons, animations and frameworks which adapt to different languages and cultures, ColorOS 12 provides a highly personalised experience for users around the world.
A seamless experience to power productivity
Delivering a smooth experience is at the core of OPPO’s R&D efforts, and ColorOS 12 emphasises comfort and endurance at its heart. OPPO has made advancements in addressing lags and stutters during prolonged usage, achieving only a 2.75% system aging rate in 3 years – an average of 30% lower memory occupation and 20% lower battery consumption. Meanwhile, ColorOS 12 caters to user’s visual instincts with the Quantum Animation Engine offering more than 300 improved lifelike animations to offer a more intuitive, smooth experience. Maximising productivity, ColorOS 12 offers features including FlexDrop, PC Connect and 3-Finger Translate powered by Google Lens to optimise work life balance.
Privacy is a priority
ColorOS 12 allows users to take control of their privacy by providing improved security features from Android 12 including Privacy Dashboards, Approximate Location Sharing and Microphone and Camera Indicators. Clear menus and buttons offer users full autonomy over their privacy and popular features including Private System, Private Safe and App Lock remain a key feature in the updated OS .
With privacy as a top priority, OPPO has improved data compliance by guaranteeing that user data is held in local servers, saved in a non-plain text format and transmitted using a proprietary protocol. OPPO uses privacy certifications from organisations such as ePrivacy and ISO2701 when filing data to ensure user data is held in a secure, compliant way.
An OS open to Android developers
Contributing to a culture of technological exchange with Android partners is a key focus for OPPO and ColorOS 12. Incorporating many stock Android features, ColorOS has inspired a customisable trend in Android 12, such as the Wallpaper-based Theming system in Material You and App Cloner. OPPO’s ColorOS aims to become a more Android developer friendly OS. In addition to the free camera SDKs covering OPPO’s most advantageous camera capabilities – including Ultra Steady Video Shooting, HDR and Super Wide-Angle, OPPO has further opened its HyperBoost, Color Vision Enhancement to benefit Android app developers and enhance the Android ecosystem.
ColorOS 12 Rollout Plan
OPPO will roll out the ColorOS 12 public beta on the Find X3 Pro 5G today in Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia. Rollouts will continue in other countries and on additional devices through the rest of 2021 and 2022, aiming to bring ColorOS 12 to over 110 models with 150 million users worldwide:
Gamers spend hours hunkered over their controllers, passionately playing through their favourite games and immersing themselves in escapism.
No wonder then, that comfort and usability are amongst the most valued features for gamers. When you’re concentrating on completing a challenge or finishing off a boss battle nobody wants to feel their hands fatigued and aching, nor do they want to be disrupted from their experience in any form.
The T4 Mini makes sure that nothing interrupts. Designed for those who find modern controllers too bulky and large, the T4 Mini measures 14.3cm by 8.3cm and weighs just 156g: making it a perfect option for gamers young and old.
Don’t let its small size fool you, the T4 Mini is a serious controller. With a 10-hour battery life, a rigid-yet-ergonomic design and a two-setting turbo function (Manual Turbo & Auto Turbo) there’s plenty of features for hardcore gamers to enjoy. And, thanks to asymmetric dual motors, which create non-monotonous vibration effects on the left and right grips, you can fully immerse yourself in the tight turns of a chicane or the dull thuds of a battlefield; all from the comfort of your own home.
Multi-compatible with the Nintendo Switch, PC, iOS (MFi & Apple Arcade games) and Android devices (HID-supported games), the T4 Mini is a multi-use gaming controller. From gaming on the couch to gaming on the go, the T4 Mini is a great all-rounder. For Switch users in particular, the T4 Mini is a great pick-up and play alternative to the standard Joy-Con controllers. With a 6-Axis gyro for motion inputs, a ‘wake up’ button and an auto-sleep function (that turns the controller off when you turn your Switch off), the T4 allows Switch users to have a completely hassle-free experience.
Conscious of the desire to individualise your gaming experience, GameSir equipped the T4 Mini with backlight joysticks that allow gamers to customise their environment. With 4 styles of lighting to choose from, your gamepad can have a static, breathing or rainbow style glow to it in a wide range of colours. Or, of course, you can simply turn the glow off if you prefer the full vanilla experience – whatever suits you! RRP £26.55 / $35.99
The pandemic has put a significant amount of financial burden on numerous households around the world. People struggle to fulfill their basic needs like getting nutritional food and staying connected to the outside world.
As the lockdowns are implemented across numerous cities, the internet has become more than just a medium for communication. Thankfully, EBB programs provide financially struggling households with free lifeline phones to help them stay connected to the internet.
As the internet and broadband expenses can be substantial, here are six tips to help you reduce your internet expenses in the pandemic.
Lower your internet speed
As much as you love to watch ultra HD videos on YouTube, the ultra-fast internet can take a significant toll on your pockets. If you want to move from your current financial situation, you need to consider whether you need fast internet.
It might sound crazy to downgrade your internet speed at first, but you will be surprised when you learn how much money you could save by opting for a program with a slightly lower speed.
Lowering your internet speed can help reduce your monthly internet bills. If you use the internet mainly for entertainment and communication, not for work or an online business, you might want to consider compromising on your internet speed.
Would it really be that disastrous to switch from seamless 4K streaming to 1080p streaming? The choice is yours.
Bundle the internet with TV service
If your home internet is not paired with your cable TV plan, you might want to check out how to do it.
Many ISPs provide combo bundles that you can use for your cell phone, computer, and TV too. These bundles are usually cheaper than the total cost of separate bundles. This way, you can save a big chunk of money without actually compromising your internet experience.
Avoid device rentals
Though ISPs let you rent their modems and routers, it’s best to buy your device instead of renting them. On the one hand, you don’t have to pay a lump sum to get the device, but on the other hand, your cumulative yearly rental charges will exceed the total cost of the router.
The ISPs also collect safety deposits for the devices they provide as rentals, so make sure you consider that cost too.
Apply for the EBB program
The pandemic has created numerous financial obstacles for thousands of households. It becomes challenging to manage the expenses, especially when you have a meager income.
On top of that, the expensive internet and broadband fees can quickly escalate your costs. Thankfully, applying to the EBB program can help you access free lifeline phones for seamless internet connectivity.
To avail of these benefits, you must be eligible for the program and submit the supporting documents.
Compare prices and choose the affordable one
Looking at multiple options always helps you find the best one that suits your needs and budget. The same goes for the internet plans too. Compare the prices of different plans, bundles, and even the service provider to find the best one that fulfills all your internet needs at the price that you can afford.
Make sure you check all their offerings and get as much information you can. You don’t want to pay hidden charges after getting a subscription or committing to any ISP. Also, do not go for long-term contracts straightaway. Try the service for a few months and then make a decision.
Negotiate with the vendor
Always negotiate with your ISP to get the best price. You can negotiate the installation cost and reduce the cost of rentals too. You can also ask for discounts or sales if there are any.
The internet expenses can be a headache if you don’t keep a tab on it. With some simple lifestyle changes and a suitable service provider, you can substantially reduce your internet expenses.
