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.
48, Ireland’s first digital-only youth mobile network, is changing up mobile once again as it unveils Ireland’s best priced and most generous ever mobile plan at just €7.99per month.
The new membership plan, which is available to all new customers who sign up, includes 100GB OF DATA, ALL CALLS and ALL TEXTS as well as 10GB of roaming data, making it the most generous mobile offer currently on the market.
What’s more, there is no limit on the number of new customers who can avail of the new membership plan who sign up before 10th November 2020.
As well as the lowest ever monthly price, new customers can also enjoy a host of market-leading flexi-data features that are a first for any mobile network in Ireland. 48 customers can CARRY, SAVE, SHARE, SWAP AND DONATE their data each month meaning they can continue to do all of the things they love like talk, text, internet without having to worry about cost.
From the get-go, 48 has been a brand that seeks to change up mobile and encourage its customers to question things! Since its launch earlier this year, 48 has been listening to its customers and is committed to co-creating a mobile network that works them.
Speaking about the new membership plan, Eilis Fitzgerald, Marketing Manager, 48 said; “We revamped our plans earlier this year with the intention of changing up mobile. We wanted to co-create a mobile network alongside our customers that truly works for them. We listened, listened again and then listened some more! We believe that we have created a membership plan that delivers the goods; loads of data, unlimited minutes and text with the flexibility to use it how they want to. All for only €7.99!”
For customers wanting to change up their mobile experience, it’s simple to join; new customers can visit 48.ie or download the My48 app, fill in their details to receive their new SIM through An Post to any address in Ireland.
QDOS, a leader in screen and smartphone protection, today reveals the latest product in its award-winning range: The UV Sanitiser, a handy 2-in-1 UV sanitiser and Qi wireless charger. Not only does the QDOS UV Sanitiser eliminate up to 99.99% of common surface bacteria from smartphones, tech devices and accessories, Qi functionality means users can also charge their smartphone simultaneously.
With the current situation, it has become increasingly important to sanitise regularly. As summer draws to a close and we head into the autumn/winter season, it’s inevitable that we’ll see an increase of cold and flu viruses. With devices such as smartphones being a notorious carrier for germs consumers are now, more than ever, looking for solutions to conveniently keep their gear bacteria free.
The QDOS UV Sanitiser makes disinfecting tech and accessories effortless. Devices such as iPhones, smartphones (up to 6.7”) earbuds, fitness trackers and much more will fit easily into its spacious compartment. Simply close the lid and choose from a rapid three-minute clean or a more intense ten-minute sterilisation. At the click of a button, UV-C light safely eliminates up to 99.99% of common surface bacteria.
What’s more this clever 2-in-1 device also allows users to quickly charge their wireless enabled gadgets with fast and secure wireless charging. Users simply place their smartphone on top of the device to charge while disinfecting their most used possessions simultaneously. Additionally, a USB-A output port means multiple devices can be charged using standard cables. A handy LED indicator lets users know when sterilising and charging are complete.
Susan Lazareff, Managing Director, QDOS, said: “Our heritage at QDOS has always been in providing consumers with the best solutions for what they need right now. The UV Sanitiser is our next extension of this. We know for many consumers that keeping devices clean and charged is now more important than ever and we are thrilled to offer a convenient, seamless and affordable solution.”
Specifications
UV-C light sterilisation (245nm&185mn) eliminates up to 99.99% of common surface bacteria
Offers two sterilisation modes: 3-minute rapid clean to eliminate up to 99.9% of common surface bacteria or 10-minute intensive sterilisation
An automatic safety features switches off UV light when opened
Fast and secure Qi wireless charging (5W, 7,5W, Max 10W)
Includes 1xUSB-C port for charging the UV sanitiser from mains power and 1xUSB-A to port charge additional devices
QDOS UV Sanitiser is available now from QDOS for £59.99.
The Edifier TWS6 are the latest on offer from the company and a nice slim sleek pair of true wireless at that, these come with extra wing tips for the sport minded individual and I would suggest using those for a stable comfortable fit,you can wear them without but overall using the wings is a better road to travel, The controls are minimal here though work well with the touch sensitive area given the size these come in at compared to others from the company as you will see in the video below. Everyone has a feature set they prefer so I am basing this review on how I like my sound which is bass driven.
The lack of being able to skip tracks is an odd one to leave out here yet alone volume control but they do a good job with sound but not their best when I say that they are more bright compared to the deeper bass tone I usually expect from edifier but overall they do a good job with good balance and direction and no lag latency so ideal for music,movies and more.
The case comes with wireless charging which is not often seen at this price point and come with USB-C charging too which is nice and they have a decent battery life and are IPX5 water, sweat and dust resistance so ideal for the sports minded as mentioned above. The charge case has a gloss finish and is a fingerprint magnet and will get marked easy however offering wireless charging and protecting the earbuds I would let them off here. See the video below for more and images..
Built-in Knowles balanced armature drivers feature, reacting to weak signals, enriching each sound and producing exceptional sound quality. 98dB sensitivity.
Bluetooth 5.0 with Qualcomm aptX audio and Laser Direct Structuring antenna offering fast transmission and ultra-low latency.
Up to 32 Hours of Playback; with one charge providing eight hours of battery life and the slimline, wireless case providing three additional charges. USB Type-C charging also available.
IPX5 water, sweat and dust resistance, perfect for intense workouts and sport activity.
Lightweight, ergonomic design including a variety of earplugs and wings to ensure a comfortable fit.
Edifier kindly sent us this product to review and did not compensate us nor influence my findings,they are seeing this review the same time as you.
Back in April we checked out the PAMU SLIDE and these for me where a really great affordable pair of True Wireless earbuds and still work fine today a few months on and I really like them.. Today we have the mini version in for review and look forward to checking these out.. Today is just a quick unboxing and first look so if you have any questions feel free to ask during our test period and we will gladly answer, See more on the product HERE
TCL, one of the world’s best-selling consumer electronics brands and leading technology companies, is today introducing the company’s newest display technology – NXTPAPER – along with two all-new TCL tablets. The company’s innovative NXTPAPER display technology is paired with a reflective screen to repurpose natural light, making it the world’s first “zero eye strain” display that can be used for larger screen surfaces such as tablets. This creates a one of a kind user experience optimized for learning and reading. Additionally, TCL is introducing a pair of 10 Series tablets with the TCL 10 TABMAX and the TCL 10 TABMID, which are productivity powerhouses designed to help unleash your creative side and enable you to get work done from anywhere.
“TCL continues to build upon our deep experience in display technology as well as its vertically integrated consumer electronics ecosystem to develop innovative technologies like NXTPAPER to offer something more to our customers,” said Jefferson Li, General Manager of the TCL Tablet Product Line. “This, combined with our first TCL-branded 10 Series tablets, shows how our company continues to provide innovative tablets that meet modern-day demands at a variety of price points. This is even more true now given the current pandemic sweeping the globe and with so many individuals being displaced from traditional office or classroom environments needing powerful, adaptable tablets that allow them to stay productive from anywhere.”
TCL NXTPAPER Technology
The company’s proprietary NXTPAPER display technology is the artistic combination of screen and paper and the culmination of two years of product research and design as well as 11 patents for eye protection. This display technology provides Full-HD definition that offers a paper-like visual experience in full color with no flicker and no harmful blue light. TCL achieves this by combining a highly reflective screen that uses TCL display technology to reuse natural light and has received eye protection certifications from the German Rhine laboratory as well SGS laboratory and German VDE.
When compared to traditional e-ink, TCL NXTPAPER has 25 percent higher contrast for better viewing and when compared to a typical LCD panel, TCL NXTPAPER is up to 36 percent thinner creating a device that can be much slimmer and lighter. NXTPAPER display technology is also more than 65 percent more power efficient than a typical LCD, allowing for much better battery efficiency and overall longer device battery life. Designed specifically for larger format devices, such as tablets, TCL NXTPAPER technology is ideal for learning and reading, but also allows for smooth video playback which creates a better work and learning experience.
TCL 10 TABMAX: Unleash the Power of Creativity
Featuring a best-in-class viewing experience, the TCL 10 TABMAX offers a whole new scale of innovative display technology with NXTVISION, revealing the most vibrant colors and rich details. The 10.36-inch FHD+ display, 8.3mm narrow bezels and widescreen layout allows you to unleash your creative work without restrictions. You can use the TCL Stylus to draw, write or doodle casually, just like a pencil on paper. With ultra-low latency, a natural in-hand feel and an elegant design, the TCL Stylus is the perfect companion to this tablet.
Built to get things done, the TCL 10 TABMAX can handle high-definition video calls, using an advanced dual-microphone system that picks up your voice and uses a noise reduction feature to ensure smooth exchanges. Furthermore, the dual-speaker setup provides a more natural meeting experience, while the 8-megapixel front camera provides more engaging and efficient group communications. Typecover and 4G connectivity ensures you have the freedom to stay connected while on-the-go, and software solutions from Google and Microsoft, allow you to stay productive from anywhere.
While long work hours can often put strain on the eyes, the TCL 10 TABMAX also offers intelligent eye protection with no flicker, no harmful blue light and better brightness and tonality when in daylight or low light conditions. It will also signal an alarm if the viewer is within 25cm from the screen, encouraging more distance for eye protection. Parents can leverage Kids Mode to set up a kid-friendly UI and parental controls for added protection. The tablet can also be used as a smart home display, showcasing photos, the weather and traffic; it is integrated with Google Assistant, so you can easily manage tasks and play music using only the sound of your voice.
The TCL 10 TABMAX comes with an 8-megapixel front facing camera, a 13-megapixel rear facing camera and a large 8000 mAh battery for all-day use. It will be available across select regions globally in both 4G and Wi-Fi only models beginning in Q4 for €299 EUR and €249 EUR, respectively.
TCL 10 TABMID More Fun with Power and Style
The TCL 10 TABMID offers high-quality features in a lighter, sleeker design weighing in at a mere 325g and measuring only 8.5mm thick, making it easy to take along with you. It has an 8-inch FHD IPS display and a whole new scale of innovative display technology with NXTVISION to ensure this tablet screen won’t lose its brightness, contrast or color at any angle. It also reduces blue light to relieve visual fatigue and has a reading mode that adjusts the screen to black and white, while adjusting brightness and contrast based on the environment.
Entertainment enthusiasts will love its powerful speaker system and deep booming sound for audio and video uses, as well as its Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 665 processor with an octa-core CPU and a high-performance GPU for online gaming. The TCL 10 TABMID is also a great choice for kids; much like the TCL 10 TABMAX, the TABMID 4G offers a Kids Mode that presents a kid-friendly UI and parental controls. It also works with Google Assistant, allowing you to easily manage tasks, get answers and play music using only the sound of your voice.
Powering through movies, games, emails and more, the TCL 10 TABMID comes with a strong 5500 mAh battery for all-day use, a one touch fingerprint sensor for easy log-in and security, as well as a premium, special-edition dark blue back cover. It offers a 5-megapixel front facing camera and an 8-megapixel rear facing camera. This tablet also offers both Wi-Fi and 4G connectivity and will be available beginning in Q4 for €229 EUR.
TCL, one of the world’s best-selling consumer electronics brands and leading technology companies, is introducing the MOVETIME Family Watch MT43A today. This 4G connected watch provides hands-free two way calling, automatic fall detection, heart rate monitoring and medication reminders designed to help seniors maintain their independence.
According to Pew Research, nearly 20 percent of seniors around the world live alone. While older adults may want to age in their homes and retain their independence, their loved ones may have concerns about their safety or their ability to get around and complete daily activities. The MOVETIME Family Watch MT43A is the perfect solution.
This watch provides automatic fall detection, which notes when the wearer falls and sends an immediate alert (within 60 seconds) to assigned emergency contacts with the individual’s precise location. The wearer can also dismiss the alert if necessary. With an embedded heart rate monitor and sensor, the watch will also keep an eye on heart rate and will alert the wearer to irregular activity, such as an accelerated or slower than average heart rate.
“With the announcement of the MOVETIME Family Watch MT43A, TCL is utilizing modern wearable technologies that can help seniors continue living independent lives while providing peace of mind for their families and caregivers,” said Sharon Xiao, GM of the Smart Connected Device Business Group at TCL Communication. “TCL is committed to leveraging its technical expertise for this generation, bringing unique offerings and features that are designed especially for them.”
In addition to medical emergencies, the MOVETIME Family Watch MT43A is also designed to improve daily life for older adults. Seniors stay connected by sending voice or text messages and can also share photos or emojis right from their wrist. The watch also offers smooth two-way calling so seniors can check in with loved ones using a simple hands-free request. The MOVETIME Family Watch also has daily activity tracking and sleep monitoring to help the seniors track their activity and calories, while also measuring their sleep duration, cycle and efficiency. These tools provide them with insights that can help improve their lifestyle habits. Seniors can also leverage the watch’s medication or activity reminders, keeping them active while also making sure that they always take their pills on time.
The MOVETIME Family Watch MT43A comes in Dark Gray and Black with a 41 x 48.5 mm AMOLED touch display and optimized larger icons, watch face and graphics designed for seniors. The device is IP67 water and dust resistant and it is designed to meet CCPA and GDPR compliance to protect user privacy. The MOVETIME Family Watch MT43A will be available in North America and Europe this fall for €229 EUR.
TCL, one of the world’s best-selling consumer electronics brands and leading technology companies, is introducing a new pair of completely wireless headphones featuring all the advanced technologies that buyers expect, but priced at under €100. While wireless earbuds have historically been a premium offering, TCL continues to level the technology playing field with the new MOVEAUDIO S200 True Wireless headphones in a way that should be music to your ears. The headphones offer an enhanced audio experience, complete comfort and easy connectivity with all your devices, making them a must-have accessory for anyone who wants to take calls or listen to music, wirelessly.
“Like other parts of our TCL consumer technology ecosystem, we’re bringing the expertise we have built in home entertainment to the mobile experience which has influenced the development of our TCL MOVEAUDIO S200 True Wireless headphones,” said Sharon Xiao, GM of the Smart Connected Device Business Group at TCL Communication. “With this latest addition to our mobile audio lineup, we continue to expand our true wireless portfolio with a focus on ergonomic design, audio quality and of course value; which is core to every TCL product we manufacture.”
Offering great value and performance, the TCL MOVEAUDIO S200 True Wireless headphones leverage ENC noise reduction technology to reduce background noise and ensure that you always experience crystal clear calls. Four built-in microphones use beamforming technology to filter out external noise and focus on your voice, ensuring you are easily heard and understood. Each compact earbud is equipped with a highly precise and sensitive coil that brings your music to life, from deep bass to gentle acoustics. The headphones connect using Bluetooth 5.0 with a dual-Bluetooth transmission that ensures low latency while you’re watching movies or playing games. They also fit comfortably and offer an IP54 rating that makes them waterproof, dustproof and sweatproof, with a snug superellipse design that’s easy to wear the entire day.
Music fans will love the smart wearing detection feature, which automatically plays or pauses songs when you put on or take off the headphones, allowing you to pick up right where you left off. Touch gestures allow you to say goodbye to digging your phone out of your back pocket; allowing you to manage calls, music, volume and more with simply a touch. And, the headphones are native voice assistant compatible, quickly alerting Google Assistant or Siri with a long press. These integrations make it easy to switch between activities without having to remove the headphones from your ears.
Pairing the TCL MOVEAUDIO S200 True Wireless headphones with your device is also incredibly easy. Enable fast pairing by simply opening the charging case cover and giving it a single tap. Your mobile device will also provide you with a status update on the headphones’ battery life, so you always know if you need to give them a charge.
The TCL S200 True Wireless headphones provide up to 3.5 hours of battery life on a single use, or up to 23 hours of battery life when used with the charging case. The charging case comes in an ultra slim casing design that fits perfectly in your palm or your pocket, and the classic silver tip on the earbuds is minimalist, yet elegant. The headphones come in three color options that fit your personality: white and black. The TCL MOVEAUDIO S200 True Wireless headphones will be available globally for only €99 EUR starting at the end of the month.
Today, Skullcandy, the original lifestyle audio brand, announced the launch of Crusher® Evo, the newest model in the famous Crusher franchise.
Crusher Evo delivers an unprecedented immersive audio experience — combining two notable audio advancements: an improved version of Skullcandy’s patented Sensory Haptic Bass and Personal Sound from Audiodo™, a progressive audio personalization technology enabled through the Skullcandy App.
The Sensory Haptic Bass feature has long been the defining attribute of the Crusher franchise and is widely recognized as the only audio experience of its kind. New Crusher Evo boasts a further refined version of the hallmark platform with more multi-dimensional haptic vibration patterns across a wider range of bass frequencies.
“Skullcandy fans have always loved Crusher because it truly delivers a one-of-a-kind immersive bass experience. It allows users to not only listen to their music or movies, but actually feel them. Crusher Evo takes that immersion to an even higher level than ever before,” says Jeff Hutchings, Skullcandy Chief Product Officer.
Together with the Sensory Haptic Bass improvements, Skullcandy has partnered with Sweden-based Audiodo to offer Personal Sound: A groundbreaking capability to tune Crusher Evo to users’ unique hearing profiles.
A Crusher Evo user simply connects the headphones to the Skullcandy App, then takes a quick audio test to determine their unique Personal Sound Profile in both left and right ears. The Audiodo technology then automatically adjusts the incoming audio levels to optimize the sound of the headphones to each individual user’s profile. The remarkable result is that users typically hear layers and sounds in their audio that were never perceptible to them before.
“We know that everyone’s hearing is different,” says Hutchings. “So it’s no surprise that what one person may deem as ‘great sound’ may not be great for someone else. The Personal Sound feature enables everyone to find that ideal balance of audio levels that are matched precisely to them and only to them.”
When the two advancements are combined, Skullcandy fans will enjoy an experience unlike anything else available on the market.
“The result of bringing together our patented Crusher haptics with Personal Sound by Audiodo™ is something that’s pretty mind-blowing the first time you experience it. In testing, we found it really enjoyable to see how surprised people are when they hear and feel what they’ve been missing. There’s just nothing like it,” Hutchings concluded.
Of course, Crusher Evo is also designed and engineered with a wide range of features to meet the everyday lifestyle demands of today’s audio consumer, including:
• Long-lasting 40 hours of battery life.
• Rapid Charge technology — delivering 4 hours of play on just a 10-minute charge.
• A full suite of media controls directly from the headphones. Users can take calls, change tracks, adjust volume controls and activate native device assistants (Google, Siri, etc) — without ever touching their phone.
• Built-in Tile™ finding technology that allows Crusher Evo owners to easily “ring their headphones” to locate them if ever lost.
• Flat-folding and collapsible design for easy portability.
• Streetwear-inspired carry case.
• Auxiliary cable for non-Bluetooth connectivity (ex: watching or listening to content on airplane consoles).
Acer today announced its new Spin 7 convertible notebook that offers a bold new take on productivity, with blazing-fast 5G connectivity supporting both mmWave and Sub-6 frequencies. Powered by the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 8cx Gen 2 5G compute platform, the notebook features a 360-degree hinge that allows users to choose a form factor that suits the task at hand, whether that’s typing a document in clamshell mode or taking notes on the device’s touchscreen in tablet mode. Just 1.4 kg light and 15.9 mm thin, the steam blue device sports a luxurious magnesium-aluminium alloy chassis for a sleek, professional look.
“We envision notebooks of the future to provide exceptional productivity and portability with human-centric design, ultra-long battery life, blazing-fast 5G connectivity and beyond,” said Jerry Kao, Co-COO, Acer Inc. “The new Acer Spin 7 is an Always On Always Connected notebook capable of keeping up with the modern work-from-anywhere lifestyle with its sleek form factor supporting multi-day use.”
Always-On, Always Connected
The new Spin 7 features Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8cx 5G Gen 2 compute platform that offers extreme battery life and connectivity. Aside from the immersive visual experience offered by the device’s Full HD IPS[3] display, integrated Qualcomm Aqstic™ audio technology delivers high-fidelity sound for a surround-sound experience. The Windows 10 Pro device boasts up to an incredible 24-hours of battery life1, offering multi-day usage, while a fingerprint sensor supports more secure logins through Windows Hello.
Stay Connected On-the-Go With 5G Connectivity
The new Spin 7 notebooks include a Qualcomm X55 5G modem, supporting both mmWave and sub-6 frequencies. Support for the sub-6 spectrum provides users with a reliable data connection, while the mmWave spectrum technology enables users to take advantage of the fastest 5G speeds possible when the correct infrastructure is available. In more practical terms, the speed, low-latency and independence offered by 5G means that the Spin 7 is capable of keeping up with the demands of modern business. As remote work becomes increasingly prevalent and workforces become spread out, high-speed 5G ensures that users will always be able to stay connected for efficient productivity on-the-go.
Four Distinctive Form Factors
The Spin 7’s design goes beyond its attractive form and seeks to empower users with a variety of form factors: notebook, tablet, tent, and presentation modes. These form factors are made possible by Acer’s 360-degree hinge design, which also slightly elevates the chassis while in notebook mode to offer a more ergonomic typing experience. The notebook’s chassis also houses an Acer Active Stylus, a rechargeable stylus with 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity that employs Wacom AES 1.0 to offer users an authentic sketching or note-taking experience on the device’s touch screen.
Ultraportable for Style-Conscious Professionals
The Spin 7 is a 14-inch convertible notebook designed for style-conscious professionals, featuring a polished-looking steam blue chassis offset by gold accents. A magnesium-aluminium alloy body allows the body to measure in at just 1.4 kg and 15.9 mm thin, making it portable enough to practically disappear into a backpack or briefcase. This attention to detail extends to the notebook’s 14-inch Full HD IPS display, which covers 100% of the sRGB gamut, allowing for vivid and sharp colours.
Antimicrobial Solutions for a Safer Computing Experience
The touch screen is covered by a layer of Corning® Gorilla® Glass. A BPR & EPA-compliant silver-ion antimicrobial agent in the coating on the surface of the top base of the device (keyboard + touchpad) is proven to show a consistently high microbial reduction rate against a broad range of bacteria under the JIS Z 2801 & ISO 22196 test protocol.
Exact specifications, prices, and availability will vary by region. To learn more about availability, product specifications and prices in specific markets, please contact your nearest Acer office via www.acer.com.
