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 Poly Blackwire 8225 headphone are lightweight yet powerful with features and can be used as a pair of normal headphones too offering great sound with options to customise to your liking too via software you download onto your PC or Laptop and overall can be used in a hybrid manner for office, business or a personal capacity with music too which is really nice, lightweight as mentioned this is important and these can be used for hours on end with no sweating or head fatigue noted during my testing and I have been busy doing lots of virtual events and calls here at home and found these a good buy if you are in the market for something new as we are now in a massive move to working from home these are a pair of headphones to check out to cover all aspects at hand.
The build quality is good too and always is from Poly and they look well and of course that familiar orange cable is present with a control box offering features on the fly which is really useful. Again I must point out with such a product these can be used on your tablet of smartphone too and not only PC enabled as many of us would use our mobile to conduct our work on too these days and all you need is an adapter to use them so if you do not have one invest in one as they work really well on mobile too and it is something I do quite often rather than been stuck at my laptop all day I can move around with the headphones on me and swap rooms in the house with no hassle. Sound quality is great overall and with ANC present it seals the deal on this headset..
The Blackwire 8225 is easy for IT to deploy and manage and is designed to drastically reduce the noise and distraction that comes with every style of workplace – from the home office to the traditional office. Three settings of advanced hybrid active noise cancelling (ANC) technology allow users to adjust to fit their work environment and seamlessly tune out distracting household noises such as vacuum cleaners, or workplace chatter from colleagues. A noise-cancelling microphone enhanced with Poly Acoustic Fence technology ensures users sound crisp and clear from wherever they work by automatically reducing distracting background noise, like nearby talkers or dogs barking, so that the only sound heard on the other end of the line is clear, premium audio of the speaker talking.
With working from home or smaller office environment a new trend you will need the latest and greatest at hand and the JABRA SPEAK 750 is an ideal fit for this and not only that it can be used as a personal speaker too so you are getting several use cases from one product which is great.
It is a familiar shape with a circular look with touch sensitive buttons atop and of course those cool lights that come up when turned on. Connecting to the 750 speak is simple and three ways to do so by USB, and Bluetooth and you can also connect this to your smartphone and your PC you are not tied to your laptop or home PC and can work from a phone which I tend to do but tested this in both capacities.
The build quality is also a strong point here and the in-built cable management as seen on previous models and also features DSP which stops distortion or echo however if on a phone you might want to be standing away from it rather than beside you will see in video below..
On the front you have all the commands at hand by a simple touch and access to your Microsoft teams and other controls which all work well and for calls it was excellent and on the few teams calls I tried the result the same with great clarity in the calls and people the other end could hear me no problem at all and clear at that with no lag or distortion.
On a whole this is an ideal product though some might find this expensive but if you want the latest tech there is that delivers this is an investment especially if you are working from home and of course can be used in offices to hold small gathering meetings and you can pair two of these together for a more cohesive result for all in the room though now with things the way they are that may be limited but going forward it is an ideal kit.. Also to note this is very portable and comes with a carry case so it is not restricted to just one home or office and lightweight.
Jabra sent us this product to review with no compensation or copy approval.
A smart office is a workplace that integrates modern technology to make workers’ tasks more manageable, faster, and smarter. It contains some excellent management tools that are able to improve everyone’s performance in the workplace.
More companies today are securing the advancement of employee experience with creative ideas and concepts. To maintain this effort, companies have to ensure that they are keeping up with the progress of modern technology. Here are some office options that companies are currently investing in.
1 -Meeting Rooms, Conference Rooms, and Smart Desks
Communication is always key in an office to help it work properly and efficiently. Offices with smart desks improve many aspects of an employee’s productivity, amenity, and well being. Most high-tech systems provide the needed environment for a proper sit-stand posture. These systems monitor reserved and open desk spaces, where they can find their employees’ exact location for better communication. Employees also have their right to have their privacy mode on. Smart conference rooms can host video conferencing or employee meetings.
2 – High-Tech Video Tracking Tools
High-tech video tracking can monitor internal theft and intensifies other security purposes. Offices use the camera technology pervasively to study office traffic and usage in different lighting, zoom features, and various angle views. Multiple screen features also help in tracking activities in many locations using a computer or a smartphone. Offices uploads files on cloud storage for future reference.
3 – Office Gamification
Most offices take the welfare of their employees into consideration by providing them with essentials such as food, a balanced workload, and leisure. Gamification has an essential role in an office for providing onboarding, sales, and various processes. Some gamification may seem dull due to a forced fun factor. However, smart managers can create intelligent tools to improve gamification with the use of modern office technology. There are gamified apps that help users keep track of their efficiency, giving employees motivation, and better self-worth at work.
4 – Intelligent Amenities
Most office structures have built-in amenities to provide an optimal working environment for its users, but most of the time, company owners have a hard time giving everyone their desired temperature or intensity of light. With smart technology, employers are now able to control the climate inside their office, which saves energy and expenses. Intelligent climate control systems are capable of knowing the usage patterns, preferences and regulate the office temperature. It improves employee’s productivity and morale. Employees can also adjust doors, windows, and lights with their capacity to provide lighting to their area with just a tap on the control screen.
5 – Robot Vacuums
In an age where cleanliness is essential, you can never go wrong with having a robot vacuum to get the job done with ease. In fact, some advanced robot vacuums can even sterilize as they clean. They are great for cleaning hard to reach areas such as underneath chairs and tables. For office carpets, however, they may not be as effective. It is still best to have them cleaned by professionals like Emerald Carpet Cleaning to make sure that your office space is clean at all times.
6 – Voice Control
If you really want to take your smart office to the next level, invest in a voice control technology that can distinguish your voice and listen to your commands. Need to turn off the light? Want to call your secretary? You don’t have to stand up from your desk or press anything. With speech recognition applications, you just have to say your command, and you will have them.
These are just some of the smart office additions that you can consider. In a rapidly changing workforce environment, innovation can lead to a more efficient future for businesses and their employees.
7 – Storage Area Network
For employees who deal with a lot of data, investing in a storage area network or storage network is the answer. Aside from offering an extra layer of security, it also helps to store critical information and makes business operations more efficient. It eliminates physical requirements that allow admins and other personnel to access crucial data remotely without losing track of any files. With SAN storage prices becoming more affordable, it is a must-have for any office. Just make sure to choose a reliable provider when going for one.
JOBY, creator of award-winning mounts, stands and grips designed to elevate the potential of the latest mobile and imaging devices, announces the launch of FreeHold – a protective smartphone case series with built-in finger loop and modular attachment system. With FreeHold, JOBY now provides a complete ecosystem of products for run-and-gun content creators, further solidifying itself as a leader in smartphone accessories.
Designed for mobile content creation, FreeHold empowers you to easily view and use your smartphone in new and fun ways. Capture and share the most creative images and videos.
FreeHold’s built-in stretch-elastic finger loop hugs your fingers, giving you a dependable hold while snapping pics or vlogging – so, you know your phone isn’t going anywhere! Say “bye bye” to scuff marks and broken screens. See our review soon here on techbuzz where we give real hands on reviews.
Ireland is lagging behind its European neighbours when it comes to creating and regulating new, innovative transport modes like e-scooters, a new mobility grouping has said. This is something myself I have an issue with as there is still no answer going forward for users who can be fined for using effective transport especially in these challenging times right now and when we should be using public transport as a last resort, I too own an electric scooter but there is a grey area that has not been fixed yet and going on too long now and needs to be addressed NOW.
The comments come as FREE NOW, Ireland’s largest e-hailing app, launched a new Mobility Series aimed at bringing together a range of stakeholders from across the sector to discuss the key issues and opportunities for Ireland to become a leader in joined-up, sustainable mobility that helps cities flow and reduces reliance on private car ownership.
The first event in the series brought mobility industry leaders together and focused on e-scooters in the Covid-19 world, and the steps that need to be taken in order for Ireland to catch up with its European neighbours in order to offer micro-mobility across the country.
Speakers included other Irish e-scooter operators: Zipp’s VP Growth & Government Affairs, Will O’Brien and Zeus Scooters’ COO, David O’Reilly as well as Richard Dilks, CEO of CoMO UK, a charity that focuses on the public benefit of shared transport and has worked closely with industry and Government on the trials in the UK.
The key recommendations from across the group include:
Learning from other countries such as the UK, Germany and Australia who have already legalised e-scooters or undertaken e-scooter trials – these can highlight successes and mistakes to learn from.
The introduction of e-scooter trials in a range of locations in Ireland – both big cities and smaller towns in order for lessons to be learnt in a range of settings. There needs to be several trials, not just one.
The need for operators and local authorities to focus on ensuring other road users and non E-scooter users are considered, for example when it comes to parking through the use of geofencing technology to ensure compliance.
The use of private e-scooters to be reviewed separately to organisations that can provide e-scooters as part of the transport network. Operator schemes allow for more safety and traceability.
A focus on training for first-time users to tackle any safety concerns.
E-scooters can help create a modal shift, and move people away from private car journeys, helping with city congestion and the environment while contributing to the road to zero carbon.
For authorities to have a joined up approach for e-scooters and other modes of transport to create a truly integrated, sustainable, transport system
Chair of the Mobility Series, Fiona Brady, Head of Operations at FREE NOW said: “The Mobility Series has been set up to bring together key stakeholders to discuss the pivotal topics within the transport sector. It is really important that these issues are not forgotten amidst the pandemic chaos of 2020. In the context of Covid-19, we need our cities and towns to move in a more sophisticated way more than ever and we are lagging behind our European neighbours on key opportunities to do so, such as the regulated introduction of e-scooters into our mobility ecosystem.
“We have set up this Series to drive discussion but also to ignite real change. We at FREE NOW will continue to call on the Government to prioritise the legislation for e-scooter trials as soon as possible. Scooters allow for the socially-distanced transport that is appropriate for the pandemic, and trials in countries such as the UK, where the first trials started just 9 days after legislation was passed, are accelerating – we need to see more action here.”
The next event in the Mobility Series will be held at the beginning of November and will focus on electric vehicles. A recent survey of FREE NOW passengers showed that almost 70% of people are now more environmentally-aware in their day-to-day routines, including when making decisions on how to travel, since COVID-19.
FUJIFILM Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of its instax SQUARE SQ1 Instant Camera. The latest addition to the instax line-up is an analog, square camera that creates square format instant prints at 1.5 times the size of its instax mini counterparts. instax SQUARE SQ1 introduces a minimalist, user-friendly square camera body design and key features include Automatic Exposure and One-Touch Selfie Mode.
instax SQUARE SQ1 combines everything that instax fans love about the mini’s cool, modern style and functionality with the larger, vibrant output of our square film. instax SQUARE SQ1 is designed for instax’s creative community of fans, as the perfect companion to help them to create compelling new instant prints.
“With the new instax SQUARE SQ1, you bring the romance of film back into the day where the results are instant, and the memories are tangible,” said photographer, skateboarder, and creator Sierra Prescott. “I like that it’s compact enough that I can take it anywhere, durable enough to toss in my backpack. And with the new twisty selfie mode, wide enough to fit more of what I love in the frame. You get a fully developed, larger square print in 90 seconds and a deep vibrant colour that I just love. It’s simple to use and a rad addition to every hang.”
instax SQUARE SQ1 Features:
Automatic Exposure
This function automatically senses the level of ambient light when the shutter button is pressed, and optimizes the shutter speed and flash output according to lighting conditions. It allows even those who are new to instant photography to take photos that are automatically properly exposed regardless of conditions, producing clearer and more vibrant instant prints on the spot.
One-Touch Selfie Mode
Along with its built-in selfie mirror, instax SQUARE SQ1’s One-Touch Selfie mode is designed specifically for selfies and close-up shots, setting the best focus and exposure for the shot by changing the position of the lens when activated. Activation is simple, by rotating the lens from ‘On’ to ‘Selfie’ mode.
New film options
Also accompanying the launch of the instax SQUARE SQ1 are two new instax instant film varieties; instax SQUARE Rainbow film and instax SQUARE Monochrome film, designed so that instax fans can bring even more creativity to their instant photography.
Instax SQUARE SQ1 will be available in Terracotta Orange, Glacier Blue, and Chalk White on 30th September 2020, at an SRP of €130.00 (inc VAT). instax SQUARE Rainbow film will have an SRP of €12.00 (inc VAT) and instax SQUARE Monochrome film will have an SRP of €13.50 (inc VAT) and will also be available from 30th September. Available at FUJIFILM Ireland Stockists nationwide / www.instax.ie
Moving abroad and navigating your way around doesn’t have to be so daunting when you’ve got access to a wealth of information in the palm of your hand – your mobile phone! With the help of a few apps that we’d class as travel essentials, you’re guaranteed to feel more at ease as you explore the unfamiliar.
Whether it’s how you manage your finances while you’re away from home, if you need instant clarification when faced with a language barrier, or simply just need pointed in the right direction, there are apps designed to help you do just that.
When you qualify to Teach English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) you can travel all over the world while getting paid! Picking up your life and moving it to another country is enough stress for anyone. Below are a few apps that can help alleviate some of that inevitable moving stress by making your day to day life abroad that little bit more straight-forward.
Finances
Keeping a close eye on your finances from the moment you set off will be essential to managing your money effectively. With the help of certain apps, you can do just that.
Revolut
Revolut is a remote international banking app. An account can be set up for free in minutes, all you have to pay for is the debit card itself. Its main perks include being able to exchange money for free, fee-free international bank transfers, as well as the option to store multiple currencies in your account at one time.
It’s easy to keep track of your spending too, with an option to receive instant spending notifications, as well as the option to disable the card at any time if lost or stolen.
Monzo
Monzo is similar to Revolut in that it offers a highly efficient banking app. However, it doesn’t allow you to store multiple currencies at a time. But unlike Revolut, it does allow you to have an overdraft and savings account.
Plum
With a little help from Plum you could find yourself regularly topping up your savings without even noticing. Using AI, Plum learns your spending habits by monitoring your typical income and expenditure. It uses this information to calculate what you can afford to save before transferring small amounts of money into your savings every few days. You’ll be amazed how much you can save up in a short period of time.
Teachers deserve to treat themselves once in a while, and the savings you could make with Plum may just help you take that well-deserved break.
Language
Overcoming language barriers has never been easier thanks to the development of countless translation apps. Whether you need a helping hand learning a new language or instant translation assistance, fear not – with a simple search on your phone your problems can be solved.
Google Translate
Google Translate is easily the most popular translation app. With the option to easily translate to and from over 100 languages, conduct offline translations, and its ability to interpret speech and text within images, it’s popularity is understandable!
However, don’t solely rely on Google Translate for all your translation queries. It can be great for capturing the gist of things and for quick, short translations but it is unfortunately prone to the odd error. It struggles with ambiguity, meaning that you can’t insert entire pages of text and expect perfect results. It’s easy to use but can be difficult to spot errors when you don’t have any prior knowledge of the language you’re translating.
WordReference
WordReference is a fantastic, free, dictionary-style translating app. It tackles the ambiguous nature of translating languages by providing multiple meanings of a word and examples of the contexts you might find it in. It also provides you with verb conjugations in all the tenses – anyone learning a language knows how tricky getting to grips with them can be!
Unlike Google Translate, only individual words can be translated rather than phrases and blocks of text. However, it features an active language forum where you’ll likely find others who have similar queries.
However, WordReference only deals with a few languages, including French, German, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese.
Transport
Public transport can be pretty difficult to get your head around if you’re both overcoming a language barrier, and aren’t used to it. Thankfully there are plenty of apps available to calculate routes on your behalf.
Citymapper
Citymapper is a highly functional travel app that helps users find the most practical transport routes. The app operates in 39 major cities around the world – and counting.
It uses GPS to locate your closest public transport links. Citymapper also takes a number of things into consideration in order to give you accurate journey times, whether that’s by foot, bus, cycling or the underground.
Keeping you in the loop with departures and arrivals, as well as live in-app updates about delays and time changes makes for a very convenient, must-have travel app.
Local transport apps
Wherever TEFL takes you, it’s worth finding out if the local transport system you’ll be frequenting has an app. As local travel apps focus on a particular area, they could provide the best, most accurate information for planning journeys.
These are just a few of the many great travel apps out there. Trust us, there are many! The more you acquaint yourself with apps like these, the easier the move you’re about to make will be.
My Arcade today announced the European shipping of the SPACE INVADERS Micro Player, a highly collectible replica of the world’s most iconic arcade machine games.
Produced in partnership with TAITO Corporation, SPACE INVADERS expands on the My Arcade collectible line of Micro Players, allowing gamers to obliterate hordes of attacking alien adversaries from the comfort of their own home and with jaw-dropping levels of authenticity.
Unlike any former Micro Player released in the range, SPACE INVADERS features a unique design, faithfully reproducing the key features of the full-size SPACE INVADERS cabinet which made it such a revolutionary experience. Featuring an authentic backlit marquee and backlit coin trap, the Micro Player replicates the look and feel of the game in a way emulation never can, including the legendary reflected screen and backlit Moonscape.
“SPACE INVADERS is an iconic title which forever changed the course of interactive entertainment, delivering a quantum leap in terms of graphics, design and addictive gameplay. We’re proud to play a small part in the great legacy of this legendary game, delivering a wholly unique Micro Player which features the authentic touches which made SPACE INVADERS such a memorable experience,” said Amir Navid, Creative Director, My Arcade. “Our SPACE INVADERS Micro Player saluted the creative engineering of the original game cabinet with its reflected Moonscape and layered illuminated backdrops. Authenticity is paramount to collectors and we believe video game fans old and new will love what we’ve delivered.”
Running off four AA batteries, or via a Micro-USB Cable, the SPACE INVADERS Micro Player is shipping now across selected European retailers and is a must for any collector and fan of the original title. Watch out for our review soon.
Prolojik remains at the forefront of harnessing the ubiquitous nature of lighting controls to contribute to the measurement and control of the COVID virus. Building on one of its latest innovations, Proxima allows organisations from commercial workplaces to schools and universities to empower people to manage their own risk and exposure to the COVID virus, through wearable technology in the form of a wristband or lanyard that connects wirelessly to Prolojik’s Proxima sensor network.
The movement and temperature of each wearer can be monitored throughout all areas within the space, vibrating when people are within 2 metres of each other, as well as taking their temperature to alert them of potential illness. Data collected via the Proxima sensor network can be stored on premises for real time analysis or shared with third party systems such as BMS. For example, if someone contracts COVID within an organisation, it is possible to track that person interactions in the preceding days, identify others that have been in close proximity to them, therefore exposed to the virus and potentially at risk. The enormous benefit is that Facility and Building Operators can focus on specific areas, rather than having to close entire buildings down. As with education, this approach allows for a far more targeted approach to infection management, by isolating individuals or specific social bubbles.
The integration with the lighting control system means that all areas of the building are within the trackable zone, including workspaces, circulation areas, back-of-house, plantrooms, car parks, presentation spaces and external spaces.
Each wearable will provide key data on the following aspect of employee care and building management:
Targeted Messaging
People and Asset Tracking
Profile-based control
Lone Worker Monitoring
Building Sanitisation
Physical distancing
Environmental monitoring
Indoor Location – way finding
Revenue Leakage
Asela Rodrigo Managing Director of Prolojik comments:
“At a time when businesses and educational institutions need as much support as possible to be operational, Proxima wearables provide the ultimate reassurance and comfort for employee and students. The unique difference is the stand alone sensor infrastructure which can equally be fully integrated with any lighting control systems to increases the measurable and trackable area.”
