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.
According to a Counterpoint market research, OPPO achieved a 94% year-on-year growth in Europe during the first quarter of 2021. By doubling its sales share over a year, the company now ranks as the 4th largest smartphone vendor in the region.
Maggie Xue, President of OPPO Western Europe, commented: “Since the launch of Find X3 Series, we have been humbled by the overwhelmingly positive response from our customers and communities, which has been reflected in the impressive demand for our new devices. Compared with the Find X2 Series last year, the pre-sales have increased by over 400% year-on-year.”
As a consumer-centric company, OPPO puts customers at the core of all our decisions. This fundamental value has fueled the passion for delivering excellence with each iteration of products, and becoming one of the leading manufacturers in the world.
With more innovation and product launches to come in 2021, OPPO will continue to move forward to bring the best product experiences to customers in WEU.
It’s no exaggeration to say that we live our lives online. We’ve come a long way from the early days of the Internet when we used it to research high school book reports and email. These days, you can shop for clothes, buy your groceries, become an influencer with millions of followers on social media, or watch a live event with billions around the world.
We’ve learned and grown with the Internet, but it is learning too, about us.
Every site you visit online has cookies that collect information about you. The last ten years have been filled with frightening reports of data breaches at companies we give our banking information to. We also cannot forget scandals like Cambridge Analytica, which was an eye opening demonstration of the potential for misuse of data collected about us online.
Is Big Brother a reality of modern life that we just have to accept? While you may not be able to completely eliminate all forms of data collection, there are ways you can protect yourself and limit the reach of collection tools.
1. Consider switching search engines and browsers
Google has become such an unavoidable part of our lives it’s joined the English Language as a verb, complete with a dictionary definition. You can now be “googled” or searched. As much as we like the search engine and browser, the fact is Google is one of the biggest collectors of data online. Google records every single search item and site you visit. Moreover, information about your online activity is surprisingly detailed and stretches back over several years.
You can have this information deleted. You can also prevent it from being collected in the first place. Use alternative search engines that do not keep records. DuckDuckGo, Startpage, Qwant are privacy first search engines that offer varying degrees of freedom from tracking and collection. For alternative browsing, try Microsoft Edge or Safari.
2. Get an ad blocker
Most people see online ads as a necessary, if annoying, tradeoff we engage in for the content we love on the Internet. They can also be quite harmful. What most of us don’t know is that these ads are connected by a vast web of servers that allow you to be tracked once you click on them.
This is one way information is “stolen” from you through ads, as a profile of your interests, age, location among other things is built based on the ads you view.
The other is through the inclusion of malware and spyware on ad links. You can click on an ad and find yourself directed to a seemingly legitimate product website that prompts you to enter your financial information, only to have the data stolen and used by hackers.
An ad blocker will significantly limit the number of these “ads” you’ll be exposed to.
3. Install anti virus
To use your personal computer on the Internet without having anti-virus software installed on it is asking for trouble.
Viruses being released today are capable of causing far more damage to your machine and irrecoverable loss than any other time in the Internet’s history. Beyond that, the average user is dealing with sophisticated spyware and malware, software designed to spy and track on the user or cause the computer to behave in ways that are detrimental to it and the user.
Ransomware crimes have also become a significant problem. This is where the data on your device is encrypted and is not released back to you until the money is paid to the attacker. Having a backup of your data would help if this happens to you.
Backing up your data to the cloud is one method available to you. Therefore, it’s highly important to learn what is cloud security to find out how you can add an extra layer of security when you go online. You can never be too prepared or too protected online these days.
4. Take precautions when using public Wi-Fi
This one is for users of public wifi networks. In these quarantine times, it is especially good to get out and into the open, so you might take your laptop down to the local coffee shop. What you may not know is that your data can be stolen over these public networks. To stop this, you can install a VPN or Virtual Private Network.
This allows you to hide your IP address and block ads, which reduces the number of ways you can be tracked.
5. Use unique passwords for every online account
Having the same password for your online accounts may be convenient and easy to remember but it’s also dangerous. If hackers gain access to one of your accounts and try your password at the others, there are likely to be other security breaches. Consider getting a password manager, which will store all of your passwords.
6. Use two-factor authentication
This is another security measure that can add an extra layer of protection when you are online. Typically, two-factor authentication asks for a code, sent to a device only you have access to, along with a password. This way, even if someone steals your password, they can’t get into your accounts, as they don’t possess the code.
7. Password protect your phone
We tend to forget to password protect our phone, even though we are on it more often than our laptop or desktop throughout the day. This is like leaving your wallet on a public bus filled with cash. Think of someone having access to all of your contacts, your photos, your DMs, your social media accounts, all with the swipe of a finger.
Use the option to set up a password that comes with your phone, or take advantage of several security apps that do this as well.
8. Clear cache
Your browser knows you much better than you would like to think. Unfortunately, it can also help people looking to steal information about your buying habits or financial details because it stores so much information about what you do online. Clear your browser’s cache regularly to prevent this.
You won’t be able to completely eliminate online data threats, but you can significantly reduce them by taking these steps.
The success of any business venture is reliant on a robust sales and marketing strategy. As a business owner, you want to keep your sales flowing as this contributes to your overall business success. To achieve this reality, you need to keep improving your business processes. This dictates the momentum for consistent growth. Besides focusing on sales efficiency, you need to pay keen attention to your customers. Next, you want to switch to boosting sales performance instead of profit. That said, if you’re struggling to increase sales performance, it’s either you aren’t putting in extra effort or are prospecting the wrong way. In this guide, we will cover the steps you need to follow to refine your sales performance.
Use Sophisticated Email Tools
Thanks to innovations in technology, CRM systems now feature advanced email features. These features allow you to create email campaigns and track email management. Whether it’s cold emailing or drip campaigns, email is a critical tool your business sales team needs today. Based on a review of the best CRM applications, you can use various tools to adjust and elevate your email. To get started, you can leverage email tools available through CRMs, Gmail plugins, or marketing automation to increase your sales performance. This is time-saving and also increases engagement between you and your prospects.
Educate Your Sales Reps
Your sales team can make or break your business. If you don’t train them using the right tools, this can lead to inefficiency. Sometimes, your sales team will waste time and resources working on ineffective strategies or trying to pitch to prospects before they are well-prepared. The results are disastrous. If you have new employees in the sales team, train them on effective selling and prospecting. If you cannot do it yourself, hire external training professionals.
Nonetheless, whatever method you choose to train your team should focus on creative customer-handling strategies. To achieve better results, ensure the training is consistent. This way, your team stays up-to-date on the latest selling strategies. It will surely boost your sales pipeline quickly because your team is well-equipped to handle any customer situation. For example, you can use role-playing exercises or case studies to test their knowledge and skills.
Build Better Relationships on Existing Customers
Your customers didn’t choose your business without reason. They saw something unique and decided to be part of your family. This isn’t something you want to ignore or brush off as a “normal” nature of any business. Remember, your number one rule is to keep customers happy. When you build and maintain these relationships, your sales performance will increase. Why is this so? It’s simple: satisfied customers become loyal fans and will help spread the word out there. While new customers are still critical for your business, your existing customers can be an invaluable resource for your business.
Have a Competitive Edge
In today’s ever-changing world, having a product or service that solves a problem is easy. Even better when your business fills a particular need in the market; for instance, you can use social media to understand how your business fairs in the eyes of consumers. Once you learn the ‘how,’ you need to craft a compelling marketing strategy that will help you win prospects. Your strategy should encompass a message that stands out from competitors. So what’s the catch? It’s simple: creating an excellent first impression. Your message needs to speak to your customers directly: Are consumers facing a pain my business can solve? Once you satisfy their needs, your sales performance is likely to improve.
Promotion
Consumers love discounts and promotional offers. They’ll go to great lengths to achieve these offers. When your business offers promotions, you showcase to the world the products or services your business holds. In most cases, discounts provide customers a chance to try and sample your products. Ultimately, these offers and discounts can attract customers as well as optimize the number of existing users. If possible, you can also offer free trials.
Hold Meetings with Your Sales Team
How often do you hold meetings with your sales team? If you do, are the meetings productive and effective? How well you communicate with your team during meetings will dictate your sales performance. Your meetings should focus on uniting your team and fostering cooperation. Next, ensure you provide your team with enough information, motivation, and the accountability they need to meet their sales goals. With meetings, your team can focus on their objectives and goals within your sales plan. This way, they can also share their challenges and strategies.
As a business owner, your role is to lead your business to success and profitability. After all, you didn’t put all this effort into making losses. Whether you have a small or large business, the best way to achieve success and increase profits is through a robust sales strategy. With an improved sales performance, your business can operate with efficiency to generate more profits.
Mobi Earbuds: The Hybrid ANC Headphones Powered by Artificial Intelligence. Artificial intelligence (AI) is going to take over the world. But first, it might be taking over your music collection. And after trying the Mobi next-gen hybrid ANC earbuds, we’re warming up to the robo-apocalypse!
These brand new earbuds feature a new kind of hybrid ANC technology that cancels the full range of audio frequency. That means you can listen to your music in total silence even when you’re out and about.
The headphones also have AI-powered features that keep you safer and more aware while you’re on the go. Don’t worry, we’ll explain everything below. If you want to see Mobi for yourself, you can check them out here. You can get a pair for nearly 60% off if you pre-order!
Here’s what you need to know about the new Mobi Earbuds.
Key Features
Here’s a breakdown of the features of these premium earbuds.
Next-gen hybrid ANC
AI-powered Transparency Mode
12 mm speaker drivers
100-hour battery life
IPX6 waterproof
Ergonomic fit
Bluetooth 5.2
Quad-beamforming mic (with AI-boosted calling)
Digital assistant access (Siri, Google, etc.)
Wireless charging
Touch controls
Mobi delivers some features we’ve seen before and some we haven’t. Below, we’ll go into more detail on what Mobi does better than the competition.
Next-gen Hybrid ANC
Next-gen hybrid active noise cancelling (ANC) sounds cool, but what is it? Mobi’s new version of hybrid ANC is like standard hybrid ANC but with an extra microphone. This allows the ANC program to detect movement and distance with much more precision than before (think of it like having two eyes instead of one).
But before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s brush up on hybrid ANC tech. Here’s a quick recap.
Hybrid ANC uses one feedforward mic on the exterior of the earbud and one feedback mic on the interior to cancel more noise than just one mic could do. The exterior mic captures sounds from your environment, and the interior mic listens to what you hear from the speakers to correct the sound neutralisation or cancel additional noise.
Mobi’s hybrid ANC has an extra feedforward mic, so it can better detect and cancel a broader range of noises from your environment. This is how Mobi is able to offer full-frequency ANC—from high pitches like conversations and car breaks to low ones like motors and fans.
The AI-assisted feedback mic listens to your music with you, further correcting the ANC until all you hear is your music. The AI is so precise that it can even cancel the noises made by the earbuds when they shift in your ears.
Mobi’s 30 dB of ANC power is much stronger than competitors’. Apple’s AirPods Pro only have 20 dB ANC, or 50% less.
The Power of AI
We already spoke a bit about Mobi’s AI and how it assists the hybrid ANC. But, it has another ANC mode all its own.
Mobi’s AI Transparency Mode is an ANC feature you can turn on and off when you need it. It selectively filters sounds from your environment through the ANC barrier to keep you aware when you need to be.
Mobi’s AI recognizes 6000+ different ambient sounds, and with Transparency Mode active, it will pass certain sounds through the speakers to your ears. These sounds include sirens, alarms, digital assistance like Alexa and voices speaking to you. This will keep you safer when you’re on the go, especially if you listen to music while you cycle or run. It’s also helpful for commuters on foot.
Another perk is that you won’t have to turn off your music or take out your earbuds to have a conversation. Mobi’s AI will detect the voice speaking to you and pass it through the earbuds’ speakers. When it does this, the volume of your music will lower automatically.
Bigger Speakers for Better Sound
The easiest way to find out if your headphones have high-quality audio is to check the driver size. Bigger drivers almost always mean better sound. That’s because larger speakers reverberate more air molecules to produce bigger, body-hugging audio.
This is an important distinguishing factor in true wireless earbuds because the speakers inside them are tiny. Most earbuds contain speakers between 4-8 mm in diameter.
Mobi’s are 12 mm. These oversized drivers make the earbuds look a bit bulkier. But the improvement in sound quality is well worth it. These giant drivers make Mobi sound like over-ear headphones. They have that surround-sound-esque quality that you only get from nice studio headphones.
Mobi excels at bass tones. The bass actually shakes your body like it’s coming from an external speaker! I’m not sure how good it is for your ears, but if you’re into electronic music, Mobi are the earbuds you want.
Waterproof and Durable
I don’t know about you, but if I can’t wear a pair of headphones in the rain, I won’t buy them. Mobi pass my durability tests on all counts. IPX5 waterproofing is all you need for the weather we get in Ireland, and Mobi has an IPX6 rating.
This is more than enough for any type of weather, and as an added bonus, you can wear them in the shower or the sauna.
Besides waterproofing, Mobi are sealed and reinforced to prevent the entry of debris. You can wear them to sandy or dusty places without anything getting lodged inside.
An Industry-topping Battery
Mobi’s 100-hour battery seemed too good to be true. But it’s the real deal. Mobi earbuds can go 10 hours on a charge, and there are 90 more hours of power in the carrying case.
Mobi’s battery lasts so long thanks to a little help from artificial intelligence. The AI-powered ANC doesn’t put up a wall of ANC like other headphones do. It targets each sound and uses only the necessary amount of power to cancel it. This makes the ANC much more energy-efficient.
When the earbuds are ready for a charge, they can power up to 6 hours of playback with just a 15-minute charge in the carrying case. The case itself charges in just 2 hours. And, it can charge via USB-C or Qi wireless charging.
Clearer Calls from More Mics
If you make a lot of hands-free calls, you’ll want to switch to Mobi. All those feedforward mics used for the ANC do double-time as beamforming mics when you make calls. They make a sort of quad-beamforming mic for much more accurate voice and movement detection.
Mobi’s mics can isolate your voice even when you’re moving quickly or in a noisy environment. The person or people you’re calling will hear nothing from your surroundings, which can be helpful if you’re taking important meetings in the car or at the gym.
The AI will also work during calls to cancel any noises based on what it hears from the feedback mic.
Your Own World of Music
I don’t know what sort of world AI will make for us in the future. But with Mobi, you can enjoy your own world of music right now. The hybrid ANC cancels all noise for a studio-quality listen. And the oversized drivers make your music feel like it’s all around you.
If you’re a hardcore over-ear headphone fan, Mobi may be the earbuds to change your mind. And why not pick up a pair? If you pre-order, you can get Mobi earbuds for about €60. That’s an unbelievably low price for a pair of premium earbuds. Let me remind you that Mobi’s oversized drivers, ANC tech and battery life run circles round €200+ earbuds by Apple, Bose and Sony.
This price is only available for another week or so during Mobi’s pre-sale. Make sure you click the link above or head to mobiearbuds.com to get yours!
The National Transport Authority has released the Leap Top-Up App on the Apple App Store, letting TFI Leap Card users with Apple devices check their balance, top-up on the go and collect pre-purchased tickets, including TaxSaver tickets. Finally says iOS users…
Transport for Ireland (TFI) Leap Card users with iPhone 7 or newer can now download the Leap Top-Up App from the Apple App Store and will no longer have to detour to a shop or ticket machine to load credit or ticket products bought earlier online.
While most Android users have been able to top-up using the app since 2016, it was not until October 2019 that Apple unlocked the ability for third party apps to access the on-board NFC for iPhone 7 and newer devices, with the release of iOS 13.
Chief Executive Officer of the National Transport Authority, Anne Graham said: “It has always been our ambition to make the TFI Leap Card Top-Up App available to a wider cohort of public transport users. I am delighted that we are now in a position to expand this service to Apple devices.
“We expect that the Apple app will be just as popular as the Android app. At the moment Android top-ups account for 30% of all TFI Leap Card top-ups. Based on these figures this additional service should result in 60% of all TFI Leap Card users topping up via a mobile app.
“In light of Covid-19, the ability to top-up from anywhere at any time from the comfort of your own home, will be a welcomed function for public transport user across the TFI network. Paying for your fare using the TFI Leap Card continues to be the safest way to complete your journey as restrictions are eased”.
Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan said: “It is great to see the launch of the iOS Leap Top-Up App today. The TFI Leap Card along with the top-up app has made journeys across the TFI network more convenient for everyone.
PIC JULIEN BEHAL PHOTOGRAPHY TFI Leap Card Top-Up App now available on Apple devices: The Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan TD, joined CEO of the National Transport Authority, Anne Graham, as the NTA released the Leap Top-Up App on the Apple App Store, letting TFI Leap Card users with Apple devices check their balance, top-up on the go and collect pre-purchased tickets, including TaxSaver tickets.
“This additional feature for Apple device users will make public transport a more attractive option to people. TFI Leap customers are already making significant savings of up to 31% compared to cash payments.
“I look forward to seeing public transport users throughout the country availing of this hassle-free way of topping up their TFI Leap Card. I’d like to acknowledge the work that NTA has been doing in responding to customers’ needs by rolling out innovative products like this using the latest smartphone technology”.
To use the app, you simply touch the TFI Leap Card against your phone.
The iOS app has been in real-live customer testing for the last number of months and the National Transport Authority (NTA) says that the feedback has been very positive so far.
The Leap Top-Up App can be downloaded from the Apple and Android App store and further information on how you can use the feature can be found here.
Jabra today announces the new Jabra PanaCast camera line-up that’s set to reinvent meeting room video, audio, and intelligence for the ‘new normal’ workspace: the Jabra PanaCast 50 – engineered to be the world’s first new-normal-ready intelligent video bar, and the Jabra PanaCast 20, a ground-breaking intelligent personal camera.
Hybrid working is the new normal. Teams are collaborating more, and seeking to do so in a flexible, hybrid network – from cafes, to their home, and satellite offices. Since the beginning of the global pandemic, we’ve seen a significant increase in video usage as we work more in distributed teams – with 66% of office workers using either a stand-alone webcam or built-in PC camera pre-COVID, and now 86% of home workers doing the same. The Jabra PanaCast range has been engineered to help businesses navigate the flexible hybrid way of working, combining immersive vision and video, world-leading audio technologies and cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence to completely reinvent meetings and collaboration.
When it comes to a solution for the office, organisations are often forced to choose between outstanding audio and high-definition video. Jabra PanaCast 50 addresses that by offering a plug and play solution to deliver the most immersive and engaging video experience available on the market today.
PanaCast 50: Immersive video and sound
The PanaCast 50 effectively takes on the role of the “director” of your meeting – intelligently adjusting the video stream to follow the action in the meeting. The Virtual Director feature uses both AI-based video and audio streams, as well as Jabra’s proprietary AI algorithms, to automatically adjust the frame according to what’s happening in the meeting. This allows Jabra PanaCast 50 to detect active speakers and the flow of conversation, thereby delivering a remote meeting experience that’s fully immersive and responsive.
Three 13-megapixel cameras mounted in a high-precision multi-camera array create an immersive 180° field of view in Panoramic-4K that covers the whole room. Crisp, high-definition, patented real-time video stitching technology uses advanced algorithms to decide exactly the right way to live-stitch the video streams together in real time with ultra-low latency. From single person calls to full team meetings, this intelligent technology always includes everyone in the most optimum way.
Jabra PanaCast 50 features nine powerful Edge processors, including two state-of-the art Edge AI processors, specifically engineered for audio and video. This ultra-advanced system architecture enables the intelligent video bar to carry out real-time integration of audio, video and data. This powers the Intelligent Zoom feature which always frames the user perfectly for the far end. The Virtual Director feature transitions video frames from speaker to speaker, depending on what is happening in the meeting. This makes it much easier for remote participants to follow the discussion and allows Jabra PanaCast 50 to deliver an immersive and engaging video experience, without distraction.
The Jabra PanaCast 50 can deliver two video streams simultaneously. This allows the device to perform multiple functions at once, so while one video stream is busy focusing on the meeting participants, the second can be used to focus on a particular area of interest within the room. The two video streams also enable the whiteboard sharing feature, which is built into the device itself – it allows whiteboard content to be captured and enhanced in real time. This is then streamed live within the meeting, lesson or lecture so every participant or student can see the whiteboard content and contribute to the discussion, leaving nobody at a disadvantage because they’re not present in the room.
Insight driven behaviour
In addition to dual video streams, the PanaCast 50 also delivers an independent always-180° data stream which provides anonymous people count meta-data as real-time numerical information. Because of its 180° field-of-view, PanaCast 50 can achieve 100% coverage of the meeting room and provides the best opportunity to count everybody in the room. This information is anonymous as the device simply counts people; it doesn’t recognise them.
The PanaCast 50 PeopleCount feature enables the system to compare that count with a customer-defined room capacity limit number to determine if the room utilisation is over capacity. If the number of people exceeds the capacity limit, the PanaCast 50 provides visual and aural cues to the people present, enabling them to make good decisions for their safety and wellbeing. This means that anyone present in the room gets instant, real-time notifications when local guidelines are exceeded. Additionally, through the network interface, longer-term analytics data is available for IT administrators, enabling the business to make data-driven decisions about how they’re utilising their meeting spaces. Organisations will have an overview of how many rooms are being used, even when there is no active meeting, helping inform decisions on office space.
Powerful sound
The PanaCast 50 features eight beamforming microphones with precision voice detection which are backed up with intelligent algorithms that remove disruptive noise. Four powerful Jabra-engineered speakers – two 50mm woofers and two 20mm tweeters – in a zero-vibration stereo setup fill the room with premium, high-definition audio, while the latest 2-way audio technology delivers more natural conversations. The PanaCast 50 is also optimised for all leading UC platforms. As well as working with Microsoft Teams and Zoom, it is also a device for use with Microsoft Teams Rooms and Zoom Rooms, making collaboration easier.
PanaCast 20: Superior security for video collaboration in your pocket
With the Jabra PanaCast 20 flexible workers can benefit from high-quality, secure video collaboration, no matter where they are, in a beautifully designed, compact, portable and easy-to-use package. The device features AI that is managed on-device with Edge processing – and advanced experiences are generated directly on the device without extra data being sent to the cloud for processing, without need to install additional software. All the experiences are powered on the device itself, significantly minimising the risk of security breaches and maximising speed, accuracy, and the overall quality of the experience. For those using the camera, it has a built-in lens cover to guarantee privacy, and prevent the camera being left “on” accidentally, adding an extra layer of ‘peace of mind’ for the user.
Security assurances for those working outside of the office are important, but equally so are video and picture quality. The PanaCast 20 delivers this via 4K Ultra HD Video, HDR video as well as personalised Intelligent Zoom, which always frames the main user properly, regardless of their environment. It also has automatic lighting correction, so whatever the time of day, or the situation in which they’re collaborating, their video stream is optimised in the best way feasible.
Aurangzeb Khan, Senior Vice President of Intelligent Vision Systems at Jabra, says, “Extraordinary times call for extraordinary solutions and we believe the new Jabra PanaCast 50 and PanaCast 20 deliver just that. We are happy to present the PanaCast 50, the first video bar to combine world-leading Jabra audio with our unique 180° field of view and unique room usage insights, for inclusive, collaborative meetings in the new normal. The time is now to start thinking about future-proofing offices, creating optimal collaboration circumstances for flexible hybrid workers and to ensure maximum productivity as your teams return. We invite businesses, organisations and institutions all around the world to experience audio and video like never before with the Jabra PanaCast intelligent devices.”
Jabra PanaCast 50 Key features and specifications:
Astounding sound from the world leaders in professional audio
Unique 180° field of view keeps everyone in the picture at a safe distance2
Virtual Director intelligently adjusts the video in real time for more immersive meetings2
Safety Capacity and Room Usage Insights generates anonymous room occupancy data for all your meeting rooms at once
Network-connected system enables easy remote management and data delivery
Real-time whiteboard streaming for more inclusive remote collaboration
Uniquely advanced system architecture and built-in dual Edge AI processors powers a range of intelligent features
Plug-and-play for fast setup and maximum ease of use
Easy installation, with a choice of wall mount, table stand and screen mount (VESA)3
Works with Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Teams Rooms, Zoom, and Zoom Rooms, and optimised for all leading UC platforms
Jabra PanaCast 50: Available from 15th June 2021 in Black and Grey, MSRP: £945
Poly today announced Alexa for Business for Zoom Rooms, to provide customers with a hands-free, voice-activated, control experience for new wave meeting collaboration. This new offering enables Poly customers to set up Alexa for Business with just a few clicks. Once enabled, Zoom Rooms’ users can ask Alexa to join meetings and book rooms, without having to purchase additional Alexa-enabled devices. With this integration, Poly, Zoom and Alexa for Business are simplifying the enablement and management of Alexa for Business by building it directly into the Zoom Management Portal.
As companies plan for a return to the office and strategize how to safely bring employees back into shared spaces and meeting rooms, touchless voice control has never played a more critical role. Alexa for Business improves the overall meeting experience, for rooms of any size, by offering customers the ability to start a Zoom Rooms meeting using voice commands. Poly Zoom Room users can ask Alexa to assist with tasks like starting their online meeting, booking a meeting room, and alerting participants with end-of-meeting reminders to keep everyone on task.
Installation takes just a few clicks, and once installed, a Poly Zoom Rooms device can detect an employee’s voice to jumpstart the meeting experience. Poly’s lineup of pro-grade devices are certified Zoom Room Appliances, and feature advanced speaker tracking, Acoustic Fence and NoiseBlockAI, so you can crush every meeting, while blocking out distracting background noise.
“Our goal is to bring peace of mind as employees begin to return to the office, through integrative technologies designed to minimise contact with high-touch surface areas,” said Beau Wilder, vice president and general manager of video collaboration at Poly.“We continue to see the need for highly-imaginative applications of AI, especially when it comes to voice-activated commands like Alexa for Business, and further enable employees to remain agile, with the ability to easily connect, so they can do their best work from anywhere.”
Poly Studio X series with TC8 touch interface, Poly G7500 video conferencing system, and Poly Trio C60 smart conference phone are the latest Zoom Room Appliances to support the Alexa for Business offering available now, in the United States. The Poly Studio X series and Poly G7500 are both certified Zoom Rooms Appliances, as are the Poly Trio 8500 and Poly Trio 8800 smart conference phones, which all feature Alexa for Business capabilities. Alexa can also help employees check the weather, stay up-to-date on the news or listen to their favourite podcast. Alexa has more than 100,000 skills to help make their lives easier, more meaningful and more fun by letting them voice-control their world. Poly is the only Zoom hardware provider and partner that delivers certified solutions across Zoom Rooms, Zoom Phone, and Zoom Personal Workspace.
“Voice assisted technology is stepping in to address new ways of working,” said Jeff Smith, head of Zoom Rooms at Zoom. “Zoom Rooms Appliances like the Poly Studio X series and Poly G7500 that support Alexa for Business are changing the game for organisations who are planning to return to the office safely, while also catering to employees who want to stay connected and join meetings quickly from home.”
Portable drives are a part of many peoples lives these days they are a handy tool to have at your disposal plus with working from home now a big thing these days ensuring your data is safe and kept safe these are the tools you need, We have checked out many here on site before and this model from Datalocker is one you should have in your bag of tricks for many reasons asides it being one of the coolest ones yet and the first touch screen one which is on the small side and no stylus provided but many will have one at home or a pen perhaps could help with inputs if you have bug shovel hands like me, regardless it is simple to use too which is another important factor with no software required. You can opt into a fleet management option with Safe Console.
So what is DATALOCKER DL4FE
The DL4 FE is a FIPS 140-2 Level 3 Certified device built around a powerful AES 256-bit cryptographic hardware architecture that then adds layer after layer of security with automated policies that intelligently change its security posture based on its location, how it’s being used, and the type of data being stored on it. The DL4 FE is a TAA compliant device that meets the strictest security requirements while offering large-capacity (up to 15.3 TB) and an easy-to-use touchscreen for setup and use. A powerful addition to the DataLocker line of securely managed solutions, the DL4 FE continues our proud tradition of providing Simply Secure™ solutions, plus it’s backed by a limited 3-year warranty.
What does the DL4 FE OFFER.
SilentKill™ – Allow users under duress to destroy the device or the stored data without leaving traces by entering a special code (admin configurable).
Brute Force Password Protection – When in use, admins can configure how many failed attempts are needed before the device destroys it’s payload.
Fully Manageable Device – Use DataLocker SafeConsole to manage individual and groups of devices using automated policies.
Remote Device Detonation – Lets admins functionally destroy the device and its data remotely to protect against data or encryption key theft (Admin configurable. Requires SafeConsole).
On Board Anti-malware – Automatically scans files and quarantines/destroys bad apps/files based on policy settings (optional upgrade. Requires SafeConsole).
Comprehensive Audit Capabilities – Have a complete record of file activity (including name changes on the device), password attempts, device locations and machines, device health, and policies in force (Admin configurable. Requires SafeConsole).
Data GeoFencing – SafeConsole uses geofencing, trusted networks, and ZoneBuilder to ensure a device changes its security posture based on its location (Admin configurable. Requires SafeConsole).
Who is this product ideal for
DL4 FE and remote work – COVID-19 made remote work a new standard, pushing data to the edge and creating security concerns. Devices like the DL4 FE are becoming more important to help businesses balance remote productivity with security.
DL4 FE and manufacturing – Large-capacity encrypted drives like the DL4 FE offer a secure way to update remote or air-gapped equipment.
DL4 FE and healthcare – Devices like the DL4 FE make it easy to securely update firmware on CT scanners or other large medical devices. They also make it possible to transport electronic health records securely, without risk of costly data breach.
Having tried and tested this device one thing is for sure your data is going to be safe and this is vital today with GDPR being a huge thing for any business and particularly if you are travelling around with work or going between home and office and you need to carry data with you, rest assured your data will be in safe hands with this product.. As someone that has to travel and carry information on the go I know I will be in safe hands here.
HP Inc. today announced the expansion of HP+, the smartest printing system designed for consumers and small businesses. In a time when demand for printing is high (+6% NPD/GFK), driven by millions of people working and learning from home, HP+ is modernizing today’s printing experience. Powered by a new cloud-based ecosystem, HP+ makes printing more secure, productive, and sustainable than ever.
Smart Printer
Consumers and small businesses today have higher expectations on devices to meet their expanded needs. In addition, 70% of consumers believe smart tech makes life easier. With the new HP+ cloud ecosystem, consumers and small businesses are able to stay connected and secure with exclusive, new features:
New Cloud resiliency automatically detects and fixes connectivity issues
New Smart Security monitoring helps detect and prevent malware attacks
New Native in-OS printing enables printing from virtually anywhereon any device
New Private Pickup lets you hit print now and pick up later when you’re at the printer
New Smart Dashboard helps you manage your printer in one convenient place
New, one-year extra HP warranty
HP+ will first launch with the new HP LaserJet M200 Series, Red Dot design award winner, as well as HP OfficeJet Pro 8000e and 9000e Series, DeskJet 2700e and 4100e Series, and ENVY 6000e and 6400e Series.
To deliver HP’s highest quality, most reliable, and more sustainable printing experience, HP+ smart printers only work with Original HP ink and toner.
Smart Ink Subscription
In 2020, eCommerce sales grew by more than 16.5% worldwide accelerated not only by the need for contactless shopping, but also by the convenience consumers have grown to rely on. For HP Instant Ink, this expansion and reliance on the delivery economy drove more than 60% year-over-year growth, reaching more than nine million subscribers. With HP+, customers receive a six-month trial of ink or toner.
Subscribe and save up to 70% on superb-quality Original HP Ink or 50% percent on HP Original Toner, with print plans starting at €0.99 per month. New toner print plans are now available, starting at €1.99 per month.
Smart App
In addition to the need for cloud-based solutions and convenient subscriptions – consumers and small businesses have also grown to rely on mobile ubiquity. With the HP Smart App, which has more than 48M active monthly users, customers are able to enjoy the ability to print and scan from virtually anywhere.
With HP+, enjoy HP Smart Advance features such as advanced scanning, mobile fax, and productivity features for 24 months.
Easily access Google Drive, Dropbox, and more.
Smart for the Planet
Lastly, it’s clear – the planet matters to our customers; 3 out of 4 consumers consider sustainability important when purchasing a printer. With HP+, we are building on our commitment to a future that is forest positive promoting net zero-deforestation prints and closed loop cartridge recycling:
With our new Forest First feature, HP invests in the restoration and preservation of healthy forests.
HP recycles your used ink cartridges to help create new ones.
Pricing and Availability
HP DeskJet 2700e Series is expected to be available in May for a starting price of €49.00
HP DeskJet Plus 4100e Series is expected to be available in May for a starting price of € 69.00
HP Envy 6000e Series is expected to be available in May for a starting price of €79.00
HP Envy 6400e Series is expected to be available in May for a starting price of €99.00
HP OfficeJet Pro 8000e Series is expected to be available in May for a starting price of €129.00
HP LaserJet M200e Series is expected to be available in May for a starting price of €149.99
More information on HP+, including pricing and more details on HP+ hardware (including functionality equivalent non-HP+ devices) can be found athp.com/plus.
