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.
Wireless charging is not for all but for me at home it is an in my vehicles and plus the fact they save your charge port and cables they are an option you should consider, Qi charging however is not the fastest in the world in most instances but does the job and to bring it to the car is a good idea, Yes we do have some vehicles now that have wireless charging pads built in but the same theory still applies.
This charger can offer several levels of charging device dependent and works on several devices I have test and is one of the faster ones,this one two also sports some lights not that you will see them when there is a phone in the holder but looks nice, I am not a huge fan of vented phone holders yet this one seems robust and clips on with a clip on the rear, many I have used in the past have just broke the vent or broke full stop,this one also offers you a good deal of movement to get it fixed in the right position that suits you best or even your passenger can place their compatible phone in it, the unit holds the device quite well and secure and yet has to loose my phone going over bumps, It will also charge with most cases on your device so be sure to check out the thickness level and materials used if you sport a case on your mobile phone,check out the video below for more..
BUY HERE get a 10% discount with the code GL15WVideo
Serve as a car phone holder as well as wireless charger. Once the phone is placed on the mount, the charging station automatically holds the weight. The anti-scratch and anti-slip rubber material base design allows for a secure and safe grip, allowing for a worry-free travel. Integrated smart chip resists this wireless car phone holder from overheating, over-voltage and short circuit, ensure ultimate safety for your car and device.
【360°Adjustable Rotation 】Unlike other fast car chargers, this wireless car charger mount can be rotated 360 degrees. Thanks to the flexible ball joint, you can choose vertical or horizontal or the tilt mode for a more comfortable view. Even on the bumpy roads there will be no power failure and it will be very stable.
【Easy Operation & Gravity Sensor】Our wireless Qi car holder is super easy to use. Simply slide your phone into the holder where it uses gravity to securely lock. Protects phone from sliding off dash or seat onto the floor. On pressing sides button the clamps retract, you can easily take your phone out. One hand operation, very convenient and safe for driving.
【3 Charging Modes 】10W fast wireless Qi car charger for Samsung Galaxy Note 9/8, Note 5, S6 Edge+, S7 and S7 Edge; Speedy 7.5W charging for iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, XR, X, 8 Plus. 5W charging in standard mode for most other Qi enabled phones. Note: It doesn’t work with too thick (≤ 5mm) and includes magnetic or metal phone case.
The Yubikey 5 NFC and Yubikey 5Ci are designed to protect your online accounts from phishing and account takeovers they use Two Factor Authentication which can be used to protect online accounts with more than a password. The Yubikey is physically strong and solid with the option to connect to your keys with the no battery or network connectivity required The quality is reinforced in the liquid and crush resistant made from reinforced fibreglass material hermetically sealed and injection moulded. The hardware keys can fit on your car keys, company swipe card to ensure your presence as required.
I had the opportunity to review the YubiKey 4 Nano, in 2017 and subsequently found many of the corporate companies in Ireland were using these hardware keys. The use of Two Factor Authentication allows access when a user can present two pieces of evidence to authentication mechanism e.g. Something you know and something you have.
Perspective:
To put this into perspective Techuzz Ireland have regularly posted scams from revenue rebates, shopping vouchers free etc. In 2019, a collection of 2.7 billion identity records, consisting of 774 million unique email addresses and 21 million unique passwords, was posted on the web for sale. If a user has not changed their password in the last few months or reuse the same password on multiple sites, they are leaving their private life open to hacking and their company. A quick check to see if your details have been hacked in recent times can be found on https://haveibeenpwned.com/
We would normally recommend from any site/email not to click on a link rather search on the web. ( If you do nothing from this review – Change your password today ! )
Specifications
USB TypeUSB-A
NFC-enabledYes
Authentication MethodsPasswordless, Strong Two Factor, Strong Multi-Factor
Identity & Access ManagementAWS Identity and Access Management (IAM), Centrify, Duo Security, Google Cloud Identity, Idaptive, Microsoft Active Directory, Microsoft Azure AD, Okta, Ping Identity
Productivity & Communication Google Account, Microsoft account, Salesforce.com
When deciding on Security option, the determination is required to establish what is required to protect, whether due regulatory requirements, good practise, quality standard etc. If a hardware key will fit these requirements then a referral to the yubico.com site to determine the recommended technology is recommended. The Yubico has a list of hundreds of services but doesn’t come with instructions included in the packaging but instructions are available from their site.
Setup:
The setup for each service or site can vary, Yubikey has provided clear instruction on their web site how the setup is carried out. (Some basic networking knowledge would be an advantage)
Using Chrome, Firefox or Opera, log in to Facebook.
Click the Settings and Account icon, and then select Settings.
In the left pane, select Security and Login.
Next to Use two-factor authentication, click Edit.
If two-factor authentication is not configured yet, click Get Started. Or if two-factor authentication is on, then skip to Step 7.
Select the most convenient method of one-time password authentication.
To the right of Security Key, click Setup.
Plug a YubiKey into a USB port, when the YubiKey starts to blink, tap the button or golden edge on the YubiKey.
Enter a name for the security key, then click Continue, and then click Done.
If you need to register additional YubiKeys, click Add New Security Key, and follow steps 7-8
Facebook setup
The instructions are very detailed but would require some technical knowledge to set up. Once set up, the user has to tap the gold contact on the Yubikey to touch contact. (This is not a fingerprint action rather mechanical action) as requested by the site.
Note: Many sites/ services do not support hardware authenticator rather via sending of SMS (text) messages with the code or via an authenticator app, e.g. LinkedIn has not the option for hardware authenticator but this can be achieved via a password manager e.g. LastPass Premium
Note: if purchased by an individual for a work Laptop on their sites, many IT departments lock the USB drives preventing its use. (IT admin can resolve)
Conclusion:
Many recent articles suggest password are dead been replaced by Software or hardware authentication methods due the complexity of the characters that are required to prevent brute force attacks by automated software. Where strong passwords are used again these may be compromised if used on several sites or not changed regularly.
The Yubikey 5 NFC and Yubikey 5Ci are stronger options as compared to a text message which can be bypassed by cybercriminals. (but are better than a password alone) The Yubikey are used in many corporate environments (and can be used as a standalone for individuals) as the reduce the password related calls to IT helpdesk. The 2FA is faster than SMS code and more secure, they have the option of using one device for hundreds of sites. The Yubico is only one form of security, IT security should constantly monitor the network. anti-virus up to date etc with no one solutions fits all.
Note: No system can give 100% security to prevent hacking (some Air gap network do a good job but impractical for most companies). Each security system used reduces the chance of the hacking to a level where only a very determined hacker, can access. The future may use
AI technology to identify abnormalities within a corporate network to pass to a human to intervene to diminish the risks.
Today The question is not to use 2FA, it’s what methodology, hardware, software etc to minimize the risk, Yubico is a trusted brand ( which is an important consideration) using global authentication standards to ensure the individual key can ensure secure access to your computer, website, networks and phones. A brand we have used in the past and confident (as anyone can be) related to Cybersecurity the risks of a compromised account has been diminished.
Apple recently launched the iPhone SE and One Plus Nord which are affordable phones to give a nice twist to the market, I have been saying it a while now there is no need for 1000 euro phones and the pixel 4a is a new device to throw a spanner in the works for Android and iOS smartphones falling into that price category. I have been using the device for two days and so far impressed.
Having used pixel devices as main device since they came to fruition this years model model will certainly be following that trend given it is a smaller device for my liking it will take a day or two to adjust but I typically carry two mobile phones with me all times which is a pain but it is what it is. The Pixel 4a has a small footprint yet almost bezelless top and chin this time with its sides too, The device goes on sale for €389 which really puts it up to Apple and chinese manufacturers especially One Plus which we see nothing but praise for oddly enough I have yet to test one to give my honest opinion on the device.
Image taken with pixel 4a portrait mode
The device comes with a squared camera hump on the back like and not a silly array of camera lenses which for me now is getting silly looking as to whom has the most on the rear of their smartphone,having said that some look well and some look stupid. Google have a clean simple design here which for me is fine and keeping the design language the same as before.
This is not a review as you cant really review a phone in two days and i will have a better summarized review in a week or two but for the last two days of use it has been impressive with speed and in particular its camera as expected,given I am a power user the battery life is again going to be the main talk coming in at 3140 mAh which is considered small in today’s world but given the size of the phone it is to be expected. The device learns from your usage over time however and we will see how this pans out with more usage which again is another reason for not being able to give a real conclusion of the device like any other over a two day use period. See our video and image sample HERE
The camera set up is a 12.2 dual pixel E+OIS with 7X zoom 77 degrees fov and the front camera is 8mp fixed focus with an 84 degree fov. The screen ratio is 5.81 inch 19.5.9 aspect ratio with a 443 ppi count 1080×430 always on display on an OLED display. You get 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage which is a real sweet spot and a Qualcomm snapdragon 730G processor and you get an 18W fast charger in the box and no earbuds or case.. Again we have stereo speakers which I love and overall so far the device has performed well and no issues as yet but as mentioned will have more later as I will put my main sim on board.
So far I have loaded most of my apps on the device connected to smartwatches a dashcam several security cameras, since covid I have been using many more apps than I usually would so it means more loading on the device and all is well but check out the video below for more samples. Any questions hit us up in the meantime. For now once again In short the pixel 4a is a cohesive device that gives great results with the camera giving you the best point and shoot results almost every time.
10 things to know about Pixel 4a
1
The helpful Google phone at a helpful price
Meet Pixel 4a, the helpful Google phone at a helpful price. It comes packed with the things that you want most in a phone. You can take great photos, even if the lighting isn’t right. It can even capture the Milky Way.1 (Yes, that Milky Way.) It has an Adaptive Battery that lasts up to 24 hours. And with the new Google Assistant, you get the help that you need, fast. Pixel 4a comes with all this and more, for a lot less than you’d expect.
2
Beautifully designed. From the inside, out.
Your apps will look great on Pixel 4a’s 5.8″ bezel-less, OLED display. It goes from edge to edge so that you can fully immerse yourself in your videos and apps. The front-facing camera is embedded within the display (take a look at the new wallpaper collection called ‘For fun’). Plus, it has a 3.5 mm headphone jack, 128 GB of storage4 and 6 GB of RAM.
3
Rich photos at a modest price.
Get incredible photos without paying a ridiculous price. The Pixel 4a camera has your favourite features, such as Live HDR+, dual exposure controls, Night Sight with astrophotography, social share, portrait mode and Super Res Zoom.
4
Goes from breakfast to bed.
Pixel 4a’s battery lasts up to 24 hours. It adapts to the way that you use your favourite apps, and reduces power to the ones that you rarely use. So you can swipe and stream to your heart’s content. In addition, the fast-charging battery is designed to get you back to the things that you love quickly.
5
A little help with your daily tasks.
Let your Pixel help out with the little things so that you can do more of what you love. It has the new Google Assistant to help you to control your phone, send texts and even search within apps. It also has the exclusive Recorder app, which automatically transcribes speech and lets you search across your audio recordings.
6
Rest assured.
Get the peace of mind that comes from knowing that your phone is working to keep you and your belongings safe. Pixel 4a is protected by the Titan M security chip and receives guaranteed updates for at least three years.
7
The best of Android accessibility on Pixel
You can find the best of Android accessibility features on Pixel, developed together with the disability community. And now, Live Caption on Pixel has gotten even better and works on phone calls too. Plus, Pixel has all the other Android accessibility features that you know and love, such as Voice Access, Live Transcribe and more.
8
Comes with the best of Google.
With Pixel, you get the best of Google services to try out. This includes
YouTube Premium trial for three months, Google One for three months and Google Play Pass for three months. Plus, unlimited photo and video storage in high quality with Google Photos.
9
Your Pixel just got more helpful.
Your Pixel gets a periodic boost of helpfulness and security with feature drops. They’re automatic software updates that send new features, tricks and apps to your phone, making it better and more helpful as time goes on. Everything happens over the air, so you get the new-phone feeling without needing to get a new phone.
10
Enhance the Pixel experience.
Get compatible Pixel 4a accessories from Google or choose from over 20 Made for Google brands offering 75+ compatible accessories. Add some colour with Pixel 4a fabric cases, with a soft outer fabric made from over 70% recycled material. The machine-washable fabric is soft to the touch and stays stylish over time. Google Pixel Buds bring you brilliant sound, clear calls and hands-free help from the Google Assistant. Accessories provide personalisation, audio, power and more to your phone.
Expleo, the technology partner for innovative companies, today announces details of its role in the launch of the StopCOVID NI contact tracing app, built to have interoperability with the COVID Tracker app deployed in the Republic of Ireland. Expleo carried out extensive quality testing on the app, the world’s first cross-border tracker device aimed at stopping the spread of COVID-19.
The StopCOVID NI app was built using the same technology and design as the Republic of Ireland’s COVID Tracker app, which Expleo’s quality assurance team was also heavily involved in. For the Northern Ireland app, Expleo’s team carried out more than 1,000 hours of testing and was responsible for ensuring that it was user-friendly, reliable and capable of sending and receiving anonymised data to and from both the Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland versions of the app. As a result, users will be notified if they have had close sustained contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19, regardless of which application they are using.
Expleo’s expert team carried out multiple processes and strategies to ensure that a user’s surroundings did not negatively impact the performance of the app. Testing was also carried out on public transport to ensure that users only received notifications when appropriate.
Quality tests included:
Performance testing – Expleo’s quality assurance and quality engineering teams carried out load testing on the app to ensure that large volumes of people could download it at the same time without causing it to crash.
Exposure Notification Distance Testing – As devices have varying Bluetooth signal strengths, Expleo tested varying attenuation values to maximise compliance with requirements.
Database Validation – Testers ensured that users’ anonymised data, gathered from downloads and registrations, was populated in the database without interfering with the anonymised data of other users.
Graphical user interface (GUI) testing – Expleo tested the look and feel of the app, ensuring user-friendly navigation; the correct and reliable function of buttons; and that all content and text matched requirements.
Dan West, Chief Digital Information Officer for the Department of Health, Northern Ireland said: “The StopCOVID NI app is an essential next step to successfully reopening Northern Ireland. The fact that this application can operate in conjunction with the COVID Tracker app in the Republic of Ireland offers even more protection – particularly for those living in the border regions.
“With consideration for GDPR and privacy concerns, there was obviously a stringent set of requirements for both these apps. Expleo’s knowledge and expertise ensured that both applications were completed in compliance with all regulations.”
Scott Armstrong, Director, Expleo, said: “COVID-19 has caused havoc for people and communities across the island of Ireland. After our involvement in the successful launch of the Republic of Ireland app, we are honoured to have the opportunity to use our extensive experience in software testing and quality assurance to also support Northern Ireland’s fight against coronavirus.”
“We have been very pleased to see such high volumes of people downloading the Republic of Ireland’s version and we hope that the app will be similarly embraced in Northern Ireland so that we can all work together to stem the spread of COVID-19.”
Walking down the street you notice something has changed. You take out your phone hastily, to check the available properties around you. Yes! There they are! New shares and you’re the first one to get them. You don’t think twice, cause you know you must have them! It’s not the first time when on your way to work you come across such valuable finds. We’re all part of this virtual map. With more than 3 billion mobile devices on the planet today, trillions of data trails are left behind unused. Now you can enjoy this mixture of digital and real world in the Landlord GO game.
Landlord Go is a brand new game by Reality – that leverages these digital “footprints” in a fun and exciting way, allowing players to buy, sell, and collect rent on some of the world’s most famous buildings and landmarks. With over 1 million players worldwide, it’s the first real-world augmented reality game that uses real buildings, real people, and real prices to turn your city into an action-packed strategy game. With more than 14 900 players already making deals for virtual ownership of the more than 61 500 in Dublin already, there’s no shortage of fierce competition ready for action.
You walk your neighborhood every day, seeing familiar landscapes and buildings. Now you can view those daily sights in a whole new way by owning a virtual piece of your community. Whether you’re starting small or have grand visions to own the Custom House in Dublin or the Empire State Building in New York City, they’re yours for the taking with Landlord Go.
Do you have unique knowledge of a part of your city that few others know? That local intel can translate into big profits in Landlord Go. If a new coffee shop is opening in your neighborhood and you think it’s poised to become the next Starbucks, put in a bid for it, and start raking in the rent payments from the crowds lined up outside the door.
Using a massive pool of data, including detailed information about more than half a billion real world properties, Landlord Go connects the user to their city in an exciting and innovative new way that no other game can offer.
Players can start small and quickly create a vast real estate empire through savvy investing. Put properties on the market, or engage in furious bidding wars with other players, recreating the experience of competing in the thrilling real estate market right from their phone.
Landlord Go is incredibly accurate, reflecting real-world values of properties using details like distance from the city center and building amenities. By using our own data set combined with NASA satellite scans showing nighttime light emissions, we’ve created one of the most realistic and data-driven property dealing games ever conceived.
You can really get the feeling that the level of realism is truly what sets Landlord Go apart. Anytime another player visits your property in real life, they pay you rent in the game. The more visitors your property gets, the higher its value. Using a proprietary AI and data platform called Big Dots, we’re able to add real-world data to any desktop and mobile apps.
The game is exciting as players see their fortunes grow and engage in sky-high value transactions, competing with other players for dominance in the real estate market. There’s nothing quite like it available today, and nothing that even comes close to the level of accuracy and detail found in Landlord Go.
The Smile Jamaica Wireless 2 are the latest on offer from the company that has the environment in mind which is a good thing and not only that you do no shed features due to materials used nor quality either. We have checked out several of the brands earbuds and recently the REDEMPTION ANC which are a fantastic pair of earbuds if you fancy spending some more for a tradional pair of truw wireless without the cables,these do have a cable but still deliver with everthing you would expect from a pair with none, they look great and stand out with the colour scheme too and I am a fan of this.
When it comes to functions they are all present which again is great,many earbuds that come with inline controls lack in this department but not here, we go through the process in the video review below on what you get. Overal the sound is great,crisp and clear with their signature bass tone too,there is no app but it is not needed, There was no lag latency either noted during my testing period and overall the sound is quite good and better than expected for the price commanded here. If you are in the market for this kind of true wireless these should be on the list .
PRODUCT FEATURES
Materials:FSC certified wood and recyclable aluminium
9-hour battery life with USB-C quick charge technology (15 minutes = 2 hours playtime)
IPX4 rating for sweat-proof and weather-resistant design.
Microphone with 3-button control offers remote functionality for calls and music
Tangle-resistant, durable braided cable made of 99% post-consumer plastic fibres.
Bluetooth® 5.0
Two size ear gels (S, M)
Available in three colourways; Copper, Signature Black and Rasta
SKU: EM-JE113
RRP: £29.99
Smile Jamaica Wireless 2 are available now on www.thehouseofmarley.co.uk, Amazon, HMV and select retailers nationwide.
Last year we checked out the MNML case range for the google Pixel 4 and these are simple clean cases with no branding and all the cut outs you would expect to find on your typical phone case not obstructing anything. The same applies again here today with the iPhone 11 case nothing has changed and it is a nice clean case to give you some form of protection for your phone, there is no lip around the front of the device so it is still something to keep in mind.
I like to sport a case on my phones and at times like that naked feel these cases are the closest you will get to it if you are a full time fan of no cases but even to have one on going out may save you an expensive repair. Anything iPhone is expensive to fix and this covers all corners and the back including the lens with a bump to go around the frame.
1 / 13
Protect and show off your investment with the iPhone 11 MNML Case.
. Slim, sleek, non-branded case preserves the beautiful look and feel Apple phones are famous for
. Raised bump around back camera provides camera extra protection from scratches
. Special finish prevents fingerprints on the notorious fingerprint-magnet iPhone glass back
Edifier have sent us out their latest gaming earbuds and True Wireless to check out here at techbuzz, The TWS 6 is their latest true wireless on offer and the GM3SE are for the gamers so we have something for everyone here today, We go through the features on offer and you can ask questions whilst we check them out in the next week or two..
The TWS6
The IPX5 water resistance will protect the earbuds against sweat or rain, making these the perfect partner for a gym workout. The interchangeable earplugs come in three different designs – foam, silica and ear wings – for maximum comfort. Varying sizes of each provide the user with an excellent and stable fit for prolonged and secure wear.
The TWS6 provides up to eight hours of playback in a single charge, and the efficiently designed, 22mm charging case is easily portable. The case allows for three extra charges, totalling 32 hours of use between mains charging.
With a detachable omni-direction microphone and in-line microphone the gaming chat and call quality is excellent. The dual moving coils with dual vibration driver units produce immersive and deep bass whilst gaming or streaming video. The earphones also come complete with arc shaped ear wings for added comfort and stability and ear tips in various sizes for optimum fit. The multi-use inline control allows you to adjust the volume, mute microphone function, answer calls and play / pause and skip audio tracks. *Control functions will vary dependant on operating system.
The GM3SE are manufactured from premium materials and feature a CNC machined cover with coloured accents. A generous 1.3m cable provides enough length to allow freedom of movement when in use. Available at £34.99 the GM3SE are an excellent quality in ear gaming headphone.
The founders of Lumonitor have long been present in the audio-visual industry and have contributed to some of the major developments in portable device technology. Now, they’ve come together to launch their own product with the help of backers on the crowdfunding site Kickstarter.
Their new product is called Lumonitor. It’s a portable touchscreen monitor with 4K resolution, hi-fi speakers, and a built-in power source that allows users to operate the monitor much like a stand-alone tablet.
Lumonitor features innovative technology at the cutting-edge of the industry which puts it far and above the options currently on the market.
“Lumonitor stands alone among portable monitors,” commented Annie Lawson, a Lumonitor engineer. “It blurs the lines between monitor and tablet. You can use it with your computer, with your phone, or with nothing but a Fire Stick or USB drive. Lumonitor is packed with premium productivity and entertainment features, and it comes in a smaller package and at a significantly lower price than a tablet.” Lumonitor is accepting backers now on Kickstarter and www.lumonitor.com
Lumonitor hopes to connect with Kickstarter’s base of tech enthusiasts to build a market for their product. While they admit they don’t have the resources to compete with giants like Samsung and Apple, they believe that their superior product will turn enough heads.
Lumonitor is slimmer, lighter, and more powerful than any portable monitor of its kind. The 15-inch screen has 4K Ultra-HD resolution for cinematic visuals. And the built-in hi-fi speakers are louder and clearer than other monitors, making Lumonitor ideal for presentations at work and on-the-go entertainment.
Lumonitor is incredibly easy to use. It is universally compatible with any device or operating system, (including computers, smartphones, and gaming consoles) and it connects instantly without the need for apps or setup.
Users can connect their device by using one of Lumonitor’s many ports: 2x USB, HDMI, Micro-USB, 3.5mm AUX.
The most unique aspect of Lumonitor is its built-in power source, which allows the device to transfer power via HDMI. The company claims that this allows users to unplug and use the monitor like a tablet. By connecting a Chromestick, Fire Stick, Roku, or another digital media player, Lumonitor can be used independently of any other device.
When you choose to use Lumonitor with a phone or laptop, its built-in battery will charge your devices as you work, watch, or play (much like a power bank).
Additional features of Lumonitor include:
– True LED backlighting
– 2x screen brightness compared to other monitors
– PinPoint touchscreen technology for a rapid response rate of <10ms
– Eye protection: anti-glare, anti-blue light, and anti-flicker
Lumonitor is now available for pre-order on Kickstarter. Early backers will have the opportunity to claim perks such as special discounts and bundle offers. Learn more at www.lumonitor.com and become a Lumonitor backer today!
Lumonitor Labs is an audio-visual innovator and product development brand. It was founded by engineers and entrepreneurs in the audio-visual field with a background in OEM/ODM monitor manufacturing. The founders no longer wanted to support the labor practices of giant tech companies. They believe that by taking their innovations directly to the people, they can produce superior technology in a more sustainable way.
One way they envision doing this is by launching products with the help of crowdfunding. This allows for the acquisition of capital before the wide release of a product, providing the means to streamline production and pay fair wages.
Lumonitor Labs’ first product is Lumonitor, a 4K touchscreen monitor with a built-in power source. Lumonitor is hoping that its product will find support among tech lovers on Kickstarter and help to create a new business model of sustainable practices within the tech sector.
