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.

@ThePeakyBlinder: Mastermind to hit PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC this August.#PeakyBlinders

Curve Digital is excited to reveal that the very first game based on the award-winning Peaky Blinders TV series – Peaky Blinders: Mastermind – will launch across PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC on 20th August.

Peaky Blinders: Mastermind – which can be pre-ordered on Xbox One and Steam for PC from today – is a puzzle-adventure game based on the multi-award-winning TV show, developed by celebrated independent studio FuturLab, in collaboration with the creative and production teams behind Peaky Blinders, the independent production company Caryn Mandabach Productions.

Taking place immediately before the events of the show’s very first season, players will join the Shelby family’s criminal organisation as they discover a sinister plot to put Tommy out of business.

Players must plan and enact strategies by taking direct control of key members of the Shelby family simultaneously over the same timeline, moving characters into position at exactly the right moment in order to navigate challenging scenarios.

To celebrate the announcement, developer FuturLab has produced a brand new trailer featuring the vocal talents of Cillian Murphy, who plays the show’s lead, Tommy Shelby. You can check out that trailer here –

According to James Marsden, Game Director at FuturLab, the game is a creative interpretation of the world the TV show has created.

“It’s been an honour to be trusted with the Peaky Blinders license,” says Marsden. “our team has created a game that reflects the heart of what makes the show compelling: Tommy Shelby’s ability to manipulate friends, family and foes in the pursuit of his master plan.”

In Peaky Blinders: Mastermind, players will be able to freely set and rewind each character’s path in order to tune all of their actions for perfect coordination, tactically utilising characters and stealth to solve increasingly complex puzzles. It’s a bold take on the series that suitably impressed the show’s distributor Endemol Shine.

Anil Mistry, Director of Gaming & ECommerce, ESG said “We are thrilled to be partnering with Curve and FuturLab in making the first official Peaky Blinders game. Futurlab has faithfully re-created the Peaky Blinders’ universe and having Cillian provide the voiceover adds a real sense of authenticity to this game. Hopefully, fans of the show and gamers alike will be excited to get their thinking caps on and enjoy this compelling puzzle adventure like no other.”

In Peaky Blinders: Mastermind players will: –

  • Witness the rise of Tommy Shelby as the true leader of the Peaky Blinders in early 20th century Birmingham
  • Utilise Tommy’s prowess for planning to set up complex scenarios
  • Control Tommy, Arthur, Polly and more on the ground as they pull off mission after mission

Caryn Mandabach Productions’ Jamie Glazebrook, executive producer of all five series of Peaky Blinders, who was involved in reviewing the creative for the game, said “The trailer dropped in my inbox, and I watched it five times in a row. It blew me away. And it’s Peaky Blinders through and through. I can’t wait for players to experience this incredible game“.

FuturLab has collaborated with Feverist, the U.K. art-rock band who were involved in the soundtrack to Peaky Blinders Season 1, to create an original bespoke soundtrack for the game. The single Reveller, from the game’s upcoming soundtrack album, will be revealed tomorrow as will the track The Secret, which features in the reveal trailer.

Peaky Blinders Seasons 1 to 5 are available on Netflix in the UK. The fifth season launched on BBC One in autumn 2019 to its highest ratings yet.

Created and written by Steven Knight (Dirty Pretty Things, Eastern Promises and Locke), the multi-award-winning BBC One is produced by Peaky Blinders official brand owner Caryn Mandabach Productions and by Endemol Shine Group’s Tiger Aspect Productions.

Endemol Shine Group represents a range of global ancillary rights for Peaky Blinders which is distributed by Endemol Shine International. Peaky Blindershas sold across 189 countries and aird widely on Netflix Internationally including USA.

Peaky Blinders: Mastermind will launch on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Steam for PC on 20th August 2020 for $24.99/€24.99/£19.99. You can pre-order the game on Xbox One and Steam for PC with a 20 percent discount for all formats from today. Those who place a pre-order on PC will receive the game’s official soundtrack by Feverist for free.

Black Desert launches crossover content based on Netflix Original Series, Cursed. #Trailer #Netflix

Pearl Abyss and Kakao Games announced today that they are developing in-game content for Black Desert based on the Netflix Original Series, Cursed. Netflix’s Cursed is a ten-episode medieval high fantasy series that premiered on the popular streaming service on July 17, 2020.

More details on the currently in development crossover content will be released soon, but to celebrate the premiere of Cursed and to make sure that everyone can join in the fun once the crossover content is available, Black Desert Online will be free to download starting today from blackdesertonline.com. If Adventurers are able to reach level 50 between July 23rd and August 5th, the game is theirs to keep.

Cursed is a re-imagining of the Arthurian legend, told through the eyes of Nimue, a teenage heroine with a mysterious gift who is destined to become the powerful (and tragic) Lady of the Lake. After her mother’s death, she finds an unexpected partner in Arthur, a young mercenary, in a quest to find Merlin and deliver an ancient sword. Over the course of her journey, Nimue will become a symbol of courage and rebellion against the terrifying Red Paladins, and their complicit King Uther.

The series was adapted by comic book legend Frank Miller and screenwriter Tom Wheeler and stars Katherine Langford (13 Reasons Why), Devon Terrell (Barry) and Gustaf Skarsgård (Vikings).

For more information on Netflix’s Cursed, please visit the official page.

Sony announces ‘Ready for PlayStation5’ for current BRAVIA TVs #Sony #Bravia #TV #Gaming #PS5

Sony Europe today has announced a lineup of its current BRAVIA TVs that are officially ‘Ready for PlayStation5’. The new ‘Ready for PlayStation 5’ tagline has been created in partnership with Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) to make it easier for consumers to select the optimum TV in preparation for the highly anticipated launch of PlayStation 5 (PS5™), the next-generation game console releasing this holiday season.

The first ‘Ready for PlayStation 5’ TVs from Sony include the standout XH90 4K HDR Full Array LED and ZH8 8K HDR Full Array LED models1. The XH90 displays gameplay images of up to 4K resolution at 120 fps2 with a very low input lag of 7.2ms3. The ZH8 is capable of displaying incredibly detailed 8K resolution images4 while also showcasing 4K resolution gameplay images at super-smooth 120 fps2 (supporting spec varies by PS5 game). Both TVs will provide extremely smooth gaming experiences with the PS5 console.

Ready for PlayStation 5’ TV models also boast BRAVIA Game Mode, which allows users to automatically play games on the PS5 console with low latency. Thanks to BRAVIA Game Mode, users can wake both TV and PS5 with the DualSens wireless controller at once and also seamlessly control their PS5 using just the TV remote.

Sony’s TVs deliver beautiful pictures with vibrant colour and stunning contrast, thanks to the best-in-class family of X1 processors. Additionally, powerful sound that comes directly from the TV screen creates a highly realistic and captivating viewing experience. With Sony’s cutting-edge proprietary technologies, users can become fully immersed in the true next-generation level of transformative play offered by PS5.

Sony, together with SIE, will continue to provide the ultimate gaming experience to PlayStation fans around the world with ‘One Sony’, a unique collaboration of creativity and technology across Sony entities.

For more information, please visit:

https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/tvs-made-for-gaming?cpint=2:HOMEPAGE_THELATEST4SPAN_TVBRAVIAGAMING_0619

Google is launching 23 augmented reality (AR) insects on Google Search. #AR #Insects #GoogleSearch

Google is launching 23 augmented reality (AR) insects on Google Search. If you remember collecting insects as a child, then you will enjoy playing with these AR insects in your home or on the move. Afraid of bugs? Look away now…

To see one of the AR insects, users can search for the name of the insect, e.g. “Hercules beetle”, on their smartphone and click [View in 3D]. Users can freely zoom in and out on the AR insect to better understand details of the insect’s form, detail and movements. On Android devices, you can also hear insect sounds. Users can use the feature to see the animals in 3D, as well as being able to capture the insects in photos and videos.

This time, the following 23 insects will appear in AR.

Beetle, Hercules beetle, Atlas stag beetle, Saw beetle, Giant stag beetle, Beetle, Marmara chafer, Bupresitidae, Swallowtail butterfly, Butterfly dragonfly, Swallowtail butterfly, Morphine butterfly, Morpho butterfly, Yonagunisan, Mantis beetle, Larvae, Tobago.

Rhythm FPS “BPM: Bullets Per Minute” Confirms Sept Launch on PC, Console Coming Later. #Gaming #BPM

A fast, frenetic shooter with a rhythm that just won’t quit, BPM: Bullets Per Minute turned heads when developer Awe Interactive lifted the lid on its first project back in the Spring. Now the studio can reveal its finely-tuned rhythm FPS will bring its bang-bang-to-the-beats action to Steam for PC on Tuesday 15th September.

BPM: Bullets Per Minute brings the kind of gameplay you’d expect from a dungeon-based shooter to the table, but encases it in a world where every action – every shot, every jump, and every dodge – is pulled off to the beat of an epic rock soundtrack.

The game serves up randomly generated dungeons infested with brilliantly preposterous monsters and tasks players with taking on the role of the mighty Valkyrie. The goal? Take out each and every boss to the beat, and look pretty darn cool while doing so.

“There’s no doubt we were inspired by the retro shooters from when we were growing up when putting BPM: Bullets Per Minute together, but we think the game’s unashamed slave-to-the-rhythm ethic gives it a fresh feel and an added edge,” says Awe Interactive founder David Jones.. “It’s that sweet spot between giving gamers a taste of the supreme shooters they loved when they were young, but also offering them something that genuinely pushes the boundaries of the genres the game straddles.”

BPM: Bullets Per Minute delivers a total of seven bosses players have to topple in order to reach the final boss, collecting an assortment of weapons, abilities, and items as they go, ensuring every playthrough has a unique feel.

All the action plays out to the beat of a barnstorming soundtrack, which takes inspiration from the likes of Wagner, Muse and Audioslave. Every pulse is tied to the in-game action, with the structure of BPM: Bullets Per Minute’s audio pulling everything together to make one cohesive world.

In short, if Brian May were to play games, he’d play BPM: Bullets Per Minute.

BPM: Bullets Per Minute features:

  • Shoot, jump and dodge to the beat while battling hordes of enemies.
  • Fight powerful bosses in challenging boss battles that will push you to the edge.
  • Explore randomly generated dungeons.
  • Choose from 5 different characters with unique strengths and weaknesses.
  • Wield a powerful arsenal of weapons, all with different behaviour for firing and reloading to the beat of the soundtrack.
  • Battle a diverse array of enemies, each with unique rhythmic behaviours.
  • Get overpowered and fire shotgun rockets while flying through the air.
  • Utilise abilities that radically alter the way you play the game, from teleport to freezing bolts.
  • Equip over 40 items that buff your character in unique and interesting ways.
  • Experience an epic rock opera soundtrack.
  • Challenge modes for extra gameplay.

BPM: Bullets Per Minute will launch on Steam for PC this September, with Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions following later.

Lighting technology pioneer Audi fields next-generation OLED technology. #AUDI #Motoring #Tech #OLED

In June 2020, the next generation of a lighting technology premiered in the Audi Q5: digital OLED technology. With organic light-emitting diodes (so-called OLEDs), Audi was a pioneer as far back as 2016. Now digitalisation is ringing in a new age. This technology promises to improve road safety and is the first to allow for personalisation of the tail light signature.

Dr. Werner Thomas, OLED technology project manager at Audi, explains: “Headlight technology has seen a rapid evolution at Audi in recent decades. In addition, we have been decisively driving the development of rear-lighting systems.”  In the latest milestone achievement, the brand is now the first car manufacturer to digitise the tail lights.

Why does Audi focus on OLED technology?

OLED light sources are panel radiators – unlike point light sources such as LEDs using semiconductor crystals. There are many benefits of OLEDs including their light being extremely homogeneous. It is infinitely dimmable and achieves very high contrast. It can be split into segments. These segments are individually controllable and can develop diverse levels of brightness, with minimal gaps between the segments. The lighting unit does not require any reflectors, optical fibers or similar optics. This makes OLED units very efficient, lightweight and flat, which considerably increases design freedom.

An OLED lighting element is just one millimetre thin, while conventional LED solutions require much greater installed depths of 20 to 30 millimetres. The energy requirement of an OLED is once again significantly lower than that of LED optics if the latter are to achieve similar homogeneity. Audi’s OLED technology made its production debut in the tail light of the Audi TT RS* in 2016. Up to now, Audi models using OLED lighting technology have had up to four individually controllable, complex lighting segments that could be used for an individual, defined lighting design.

What benefits do Audi’s new digital OLEDs offer?

The larger number of individually controllable segments can now be randomly activated, with continuous variability of brightness. In the Q5, three tiles of six units each, in other words 18 segments per lamp, are currently used. The high precision and great variability offer light designers a wealth of opportunities, using just one type of hardware. Q5 customers opting for digital OLED technology have a choice of three signatures in the tail lights when purchasing their car. In the “dynamic” Audi drive select mode, the lamps additionally switch to another signature. Moreover, animation effects such as coming-home/leaving-home lighting scenarios can be implemented, plus the dynamic flashing light has been integrated in the new lamp units as well.

How exactly do digital OLEDs differ from established OLED technology?

“Up to now, we have been using OLED segmentation with the Audi TT RS* and A8 for designing signature lighting. This has changed with the Q5,” says OLED technology project manager Dr. Werner Thomas. “Here the tail lights turn into a kind of display on the outer shell, which will provide us with ample opportunities and prospects in terms of design, personalisation, communication and safety going forward.” Thus, the year 2020 marks the threshold of a new age: a pure medium for signal functions is now additionally becoming a medium for displaying diverse types of content.

 

How do digital OLED lamps improve road safety?

In the new Q5, Audi has implemented a proximity detection feature for the versions using digital OLED tail lights. When another road user approaches a stationary Q5 from the rear within less than two metres, all the OLED segments light up. When the Q5 starts to move, it returns to the original light signature. This is just an initial example of the Q5’s car-to-x communication with its surroundings. Subject to legislative approval, predefined warning symbols are conceivable in the future as well. The development and approval of the first dynamic turn signals is a good example of Audi’s effective engagement in collaborating with approval authorities.

The developers present potential technologies and then adapt them as needed – which facilitates the homologation and approval of new ideas and concepts. Audi also shaped the developments around the digital OLEDs in advance in a way that made legislative approval possible for the Q5 in spite of differences in tail light design. Thus, the roads are becoming safer with lighting technology from Audi.

How will the development in this area continue?

Going forward, clearly more segments per tail light are conceivable, allowing for even greater personalisation of signature lighting. For instance, predefined symbols might be displayed to provide other road users with early warnings of hazards such as slippery roads or the tail ends of traffic jams.

Smart 360° camera launches to bring people together when face-to-face can’t happen #MeetingOwlPro

Owl Labs, the leader in immersive and collaborative video conferencing technology and services, today announces the launch of the Meeting Owl Pro in the United Kingdom to bring distributed teams together. The Meeting Owl Pro is a smart video conferencing device featuring a 360° camera, mic, and speaker with 1080p resolution and a radius of over 5 meters, allowing for a seamless and fully immersive group meeting experience.

As part of the Meeting Owl product line, the Meeting Owl Pro is the next generation 360° smart conferencing camera. Powered by its proprietary intelligence technology, the Meeting Owl Pro automatically focuses on who is speaking in a room using audio and visual cues. With a 2X sharper camera with 1080p resolution and 2X louder 360° in-room speaker, the smart device is able to create a fully immersive experience for all remote participants involved. The Meeting Owl Pro is compatible with popular web-based video conferencing systems, such as Zoom, Google Meet, Skype for Business, Microsoft Teams, etc.

The Meeting Owl Pro features Smart Zooming that locates and magnifies the person speaking, as well as Smart Mics that equalize in-room speaker volume so quiet voices can be heard more clearly. Additionally, its IT Analytics Suite, The Nest, features Fleet Management to help teams get more out of their meeting spaces.

Upcoming smart collaborative features include:

  • Q3 2020: New software to bring the whiteboard to remote meeting participants, creatives, and classrooms

  • Q3 2020: New features to support hybrid classrooms, including advanced camera controls and collaboration tools

  • Late 2020: Additional software, in-room and classroom meeting productivity applications

Frank Weishaupt, CEO of Owl Labs states: “Maintaining effective communication, regardless of location, is more crucial than ever. As many employees and students continue to learn and work remotely, whilst others may return to the office or classroom, there’s an increased demand in products and services that help productivity and allow blended teams to communicate effectively. We are excited to launch the Meeting Owl Pro to the UK market where decisions are currently being made on the future of the workplace and how to keep teams connected while physically apart.” 

Owl Labs’ products are used by 40,000+ companies in 156 countries across a wide array of categories, including the likes of Ogilvy, Peakon, Prague College, SoulCycle, Glenlyon Norfolk School, Tebulo Robotics, Lancashire County Council and ClearScore.

The Meeting Owl Pro is available for purchase today at a suggested retail price of £999 / €1,099. Customers in the United Kingdom may purchase the Meeting Owl Pro on Owl Labs’ website, through Amazon or the Owl Labs Authorized Reseller Program. The Meeting Owl Pro is also available to buy in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands via Owl Labs Authorized Reseller Program and Amazon.

 

Review – Slope phone and tablet holders plus giveaway.#Tech #Wiplabs #Slope #Tabletstand #Sponsored

Having the right accessories at home matter now more than ever before as we now have moved quicker into the idea that we had been moving towards anyway, Since covid the landscape has changed and it has seen that working from home is a solution and viable but having the right tools at your disposal is one thing you need.

Think of two screens or three or add on screens for example to make you more productive,the slope stands can offer this for tablets and mobile phones, As an example I have a tablet and phone on the go all day long and most of the time they are sat flat on the desk beside me,these two products change this and there is no wires or tech know how involved here and you can place them anywhere, I have two set ups at home one is my work desk and one is my tech review table and it is great for having notes and scripts on the fly without having to pick up a device and then you can have another device for your social media and scroll through and reply to emails etc, there is limitless use cases for such as product.

These products however are built to last,look good and will fit anywhere you can have one beside your locker in your bedroom or table beside your couch they are portable,light and look well in any setting. What I like here asides the aesthetics is how your devices just stick on them and dont budge.

Slope is a unique universal table stand with a patented design. Its design allows it to work with virtually any tablet that has a flat metal back (not recommended for tablets with glass back). It has the same brushed and anodized finish as a Macbook and blends in perfectly with the Apple ecosystem.

Not only that they work on other products too including mobiles and other branded tablets as I have tried once they have a clean back surface they are good to go,there is a suction pad to hold the device and one to hold the stand in place and they can be moved and cleaned with the cloth provided. Slope employs a unique suction technology. Its two pads are comprised of a special type of nano-foam with thousands of microscopic air pockets across its surface that act like tiny suction cups.

 

For me these are an ideal must have with a clean expensive looking design and not made with cheap plastic,check out the video below for more and check out the link in the description for a giveaway which slope will manage themselves. Slope has sponsored this video for the product and no financial gain will be made by us we received the product free of charge and our review was not influenced in any way.

Tech Specs: Slope Mini / Slope

  • Material: Anodized and brushed aluminum
  • High Grade Japanese Micro Suction Rubber
  • Height: 5.8inch (14.7cm) / 7.5inch (19cm)
  • Width: 3.5inch (9cm) / 4.2inch (10.6cm)
  • Length: 3.6inch (9.1cm) / 4.3inch (11cm)
  • Weight: 0.34lb (155gr) / 0.55lb (252gr)

New mechanical arm visualizer from AVer Europe. #AVer #Tech

Education technology innovator AVer Europe today announced a new addition to its award-winning line of document cameras, the AVerVision M11-8MV Mechanical Arm Visualizer.  

Designed to capture in self-view or display various types of content from all angles, it is ideal for using as a USB camera for streaming or recording distance learning courses.

The AVerVision M11-8MV offers an upright design and a weighted base. These features make it easy to smoothly adjust the visualizer’s mechanical arm and rotatable camera between showing teaching materials and self-view for lecturing or demonstration without knocking it over. The visualizer’s A3-sized shooting area, 8 megapixels, full HD 1080p resolution, and 20X digital zoom also allow teachers to clearly present large documents and objects for remote learners to examine from every angle.

A built-in microphone enables the AVerVision M11-8MV to clearly deliver audio from up to three meters away to distance learners. This gives teachers the freedom to make bigger movements for better engagement. The pickup range also allows educators to incorporate science experiments and step-by-step demonstrations into eLearning lessons. Furthermore, an efficient playback function ensures that both teachers and students can instantly replay and review content.

“The M11-8MV is one of the most impressive visualisers we’ve launched in our document camera range and is a perfect solution for continued online or in-class education needs”, said Rene Buhay, AVer Europe Vice President of Sales & Marketing. “With a wide shooting area, high quality resolution and impressive zoom, this visualiser provides educators and professionals with the ultimate freedom to be creative, communicate effectively and share content easily.”

Charging the AVerVision M11-8MV is as easy as plugging it into a laptop or PC with a USB cable. That means it will never lose charge in the middle of a distance learning session. Classroom users also have the option of connecting it to displays via HDMI or VGA, and AVerTouch software facilitates interactive teaching with features like annotation, recording, and screen freezing, splitting, grabbing, and snipping. AVerTouch also lets teachers back up content created with the AVerVision M11-8MV to the cloud for use in other classes.

The AVerVision M11-8MV is a timely solution that meets the online and in-class education and training needs of a wide range of organisations.

AVerVision M11-8MV MSRP: £329 exc. VAT