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.
Virgin Mobile is bringing back one of their most popular offers. Both existing Virgin Media customers and new customers can sign up now to get Unlimited Mobile for €5 for 5 months. The offer launches today, June 4th, and runs until July 29th so act quick to snap up this great deal. This new offer includes Unlimited 4G data, calls and texts and our customer-friendly 30 day contracts.
Anne O’Flynn, Head of Commercial Product at Virgin Media said: “Our ‘545’ offer was one of our most popular ever so we decided to bring it back and give everyone the chance to sign up who hasn’t already and get Unlimited Mobile for just €5 for 5 months.
It’s important to us to give customers the best value possible and, with the return of our ‘545’ deal, that’s exactly what we’re trying to do with a saving of €100 over the course of 12 months if you sign up now.”
This new ‘€5 for 5 Months’ Unlimited Mobile offer launches June 4th 2020 and runs until July 29th 2020. The price of the plan will return to just €25 a month thereafter.
The temporary change to Virgin Mobile’s plans to make them unlimited will run until June 30th, 2020. All domestic data use, Irish landline, mobile and non-geographic calls, texts to Irish mobiles are unlimited with no Fair Usage Policy (FUP) for all Virgin Mobile customers until June 30th 2020. Any out of bundle international, premium and non-EU Roaming calls and texts will be charged at the standard rates for your plan. Virgin Mobile’s EU Roaming Data Fair Usage Policy is not affected by this change.
Last November I was the tatget of an elaborate paypal scam which Paypal had to investigate due to the numerous emails I got within the space of a few days which was dealth with eventually by the company, Now there is another one to keep an eye out for only this time comes in Dutch via email claiming there is unpaid fees to be paid and will limit my account Dutch would be a language not used often in phishing scams.
Once again this is a replica page that is trying to get your details and should be avoided and reported to Paypal straight away at spoof@paypal.com. Again these scams are not new but they change tack and can still catch people out so beware. On the opening text you see
Account Service heeft u een betaalverzoek gestuurd
translates to – Account Service has sent you a payment request.
After a review your account has been limited due to unpaid fees, please pay this invoice to cover your unpaid fees and remove this restriction permanently.
It claims I owe them 6.75 USD and then gives you a link to pay it and as mentioned looks genuine as seen above, Of course it is just out to get easy money in small doses but if you fall for it you have just handed over all your login information which is what they aim to do.. Remember to report the mail by forwarding it to spoof@paypal.com. We will see what they have to say about this one..
With Father’s Day coming up this month make sure dad feels appreciated with one of these great gadget gifts. From a retro cassette player and a picture frame/Qi wireless charger in one to a sleek and stylish connected electric bicycle, there’s something for everyone and every budget.
Does your dad have a collection of old cassette tapes? If so then this could be the perfect nostalgic Father’s Day gift for him. Dad can enjoy classic music tapes or listen to the radio with this personal Cassette Player from Groov-e. If he wants to share his music with others, he can even play his favourite tunes loud through the external speaker.
If dad is lucky enough to own a pair of Apple’s AirPods Pro earbuds then the Twelve South AirSnap Pro is the perfect gift. The AirSnap Pro is a premium leather case accessory designed to protect the earbuds wireless charging case from scratches and scuffs. Offering more than just protection it also allows users to charge the earbuds and case wirelessly using their favourite Qi-certified wireless charger or via a Lightning cable. Available in three colours including cognac, black or slate blue.
The sleek and stylish Athena isn’t just an alarm clock, it’s also a wireless charging device and nightlight, meaning dads can have all the essential night time functionality they need in just one handy product. No need to find a charger at the end of the day, simply place a mobile device on top of the Athena for easy, wireless charging whilst asleep.
What’s more, the Athena features a gentle night light with three settings that enable users to choose what level of brightness they require at bedtime, through the night and first thing in the morning. A handy alarm clock and calendar display means that even if users wake up sleepy they can be sure to know what day it is.
The perfect Father’s Day gift the PowerPic is a picture frame and Qi wireless charger in one. Modern and stylish and crafted from the finest New Zealand pine, the frame blends seamlessly into any home or office décor, making it perfect to display favorite photos on a desk, bedside table or shelf. Getting rid of ugly cables or docks, the PowerPic doubles up as a Qi wireless charger – just set any Qi-compatible phone inside the frame to start charging. PowerPic holds any 5” x 7” photo and is available in black or white. It enables up to 10 watts for wireless fast charging and will charge through most popular phone cases up to 3mm thick.
The perfect gift for any tech loving dad, the AirFly Pro is a Bluetooth adaptor that allows AirPods or other wireless headphones to be used in situations where only wired headphone jacks are available i.e. at the gym or on the plane. Having incompatible wireless headphones and earbuds is now a thing of the past with AirFly Pro allowing up-to two users to easily connect their wireless headphones via Bluetooth, to the media system while flying or to a running machine. Also handy for anyone with an older car – simply plug in to the car’s AUX IN to make the stereo system Bluetooth compatible.
The Groov-e Zen Active Noise Cancelling headphones are the ideal gift for any music loving dad. Combining 40mm Neodymium drivers for superior sound quality with crystal clear audio supported by Active Noise Cancelling, that reduces unwanted ambient sound, they provide an immersive listening experience. With over 10-hours of wireless playback the Zen headphones are ideal for listening to favourite music when at home, travelling, commuting or in the office when connected to a Bluetooth device.
Dubbed ‘a tiny gym in your pocket’ Activ5 is a portable fitness device ideal for any dad whether he’s a working professional who sits all day, likes to travel, over 60 or simply just finds it challenging to fit in daily activity. Activ5 by Activbody allows anyone with a smartphone or tablet to complete effective five-minute workouts from virtually anywhere.
Ideal for any fitness level, the sleek and portable handheld device guides users through short burst isometric workouts, providing full-body toning from both sitting and standing positions, all while tracking results on the companion Activ5 coaching App. It features more than 100 unique workouts that are calibrated to your individual strength level and uses your own body as resistance so you don’t need any other equipment. Fast, fun, and measuring data such as strength, strength increases, precision and other personal metrics, Activ5 helps motivate you to reach your fitness goals.
With a durable design that registers more than 200 lbs of force, Activ5 can help you increase your strength by as much as 5 percent per week. You can work your whole body or focus on particular areas and muscle groups such as your shoulders, biceps or abs. With Activ5 you can even exercise while playing one of the integrated games in the app that use the device as a controller. Playing games with the Activ5 is fun and challenging whilst still providing a workout.
Small enough to pop in your bag, Activ5 really does allow you to exercise anywhere – there are even specific workouts available on the app including Yoga and Pilates, at work, travelling on a train, plane and much more.
A great option for any music loving day, the Senstroke connected sensors and app allow you to play drums anywhere, anytime. Perfect for anyone from wannabe drummers to pros, adults and children, simply attach the Bluetooth sensors to the included drumsticks and begin playing on any surface – a table, cushion or even on your knees. Senstroke is not only great for experienced drummers it’s also the perfect solution for anyone wanting to give drumming a go but is perhaps worried about space and noise complaints from the neighbours.
The perfect gift for a travel mad dad, Pocketalk S is a multi-sensory, two-way translation device designed for easy naturally flowing conversations, even in noisy environments. With a sleek design encompassing a large touchscreen, two high-quality speakers, noise-cancelling microphones and a text-to-translate camera, Pocketalk S is able to create connections across 74 different languages in over 130 countries and regions. By utilising the best translation engines from around the world, Pocketalk S provides a consistently accurate translation for deciphering public transportation signs, menus, and creates the best experience by picking up localised dialects and slang.
A luxury present for dad, the sleek and stylish Cowboy is the next generation of connected electric bicycle. With live dashboard, navigation, GPS tracking, removable battery and ride stats, the accompanying app makes your ride more than just a ride. Its impressive features include:
-No gears, it uses intuitive assistance that adapts automatically to the power and speed you need
-Up to 70km battery range with a removable battery so you can recharge anywhere
-Integrated lights/intensifying brake lights to make sure you’re seen
-Hydraulic brakes meaning you can go from 25km/hr to stop in a split second
-Lightweight at only 16kg – lightest electric bike with removable battery on the market
-Built in GPS tracking
-Controlled by the Cowboy app, a live dashboard keeps the rider informed of the status of the ride in terms of speed, duration, distance and battery level.
48, Ireland’s first truly digital-only youth mobile network, is changing up mobile with the introduction of two totally new SIM only plans sure to revolutionise the data experience, giving customers more choice and flexibility than ever before. The new plans, starting from just €9.99 per month also offer a range of incredible new flexi-data features allowing customers to experience a mobile network in a way that truly works for them.
In what is a first for any mobile network in Ireland, customers can CARRY, SAVE, SHARE, SWAP AND DONATE their data each month; this is a good move here which no other networks offer and might swing customers but the overall allowance might not cut it for an extra 3 euro a month from GOMO with 80GB of data. DATA IS KING these days..
CARRY IT
Roll any excess data over to next month before you lose it.
SAVE IT
We get a lot of rainy days in Ireland. Save 5GB for a really wet one or an emergency.
SHARE IT
BFFs share everything. If yours is on 48 and needs some data, share some of yours through the My48 App.
SWOP IT
Turn minutes into gigabytes. Exchange minutes not used for extra data
BORROW IT
Down on data? Mates have nothing for you? Once a month, we’ll spot you 1GB and you can get us back next month – we’re sound like that.
DONATE IT Turn data into donations. Donate up to 1GB of data to 48’s chosen charity, FoodCloud (equivalent of 50 cent).
The new plans not only represent greater flexibility but also allow customers to do all of the things they love like talk, text, internet… without having to worry about cost.
For €9.99 a month, customers get 300 minutes, unlimited texts and 20GB data. 48 has also introduced a second membership plan for €14.99 per month offering customers 300 minutes, unlimited texts and 40GB of data.
Both memberships also offer 4G connectivity as standard and a monthly EU data roaming allowance is included. What’s more, there is no limit on the number of customers who can avail of these new membership plans – they are available to anyone looking to change up their mobile experience!
The new membership plans have been live since April 2020 with existing customers making the most of the flexi-data deals.
Speaking about the new membership plans, Eilis Fitzgerald, Marketing Manager, 48 said; “We’re incredibly excited to unveil our two new membership plans today. Since 2012, 48 is Ireland’s first digital-only youth mobile network and more recently we recognised the need to freshen up our membership plans to better suit our customer’s needs. We listened to our target market and have created a mobile experience that is truly different, offering the flexibility that our customers crave. Finally, Ireland has a mobile network serving the youth market, offering a revolutionary data experience, greater flexibility at an affordable price point.”
For new customers looking to change up their mobile network, it’s simple to join; 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. There’s no need for existing customers to change their SIM, they can simply log on to 48.ie and sign up for one of the new monthly memberships. New customers also have the option to trial the service first by ordering a SIM preloaded with 1GB of data before choosing to activate their account.
Ireland’s first digital only network, 48 customers have the benefit of managing their account exclusively online or by speaking with a member of 48’s dedicated webchat team who are available seven days a week. 48 customers will also benefit from 98% 4G population coverage as standard.
DxO, one of the most innovative companies in the photography and image-editing industry, has announced the immediate release of the Nik Collection 3 by DxO, a major upgrade to the famous plugin suite for Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom Classic, and DxO PhotoLab. The Nik Collection 3 By DxO has become even more powerful and versatile with each new version. It features a newly designed Nik Selective Tool, the suite’s plugin launcher for Adobe Photoshop, and new quick edit tools. Nik Collection 3 By DxO also offers a new non-destructive workflow, a unique feature that is perfect for Adobe Lightroom Classic users, as well as an eighth geometric correction plugin, Perspective Efex. Finally, the Message Centre lets Nik Collection users stay informed about new upcoming features and access new online resources.
Quickly Unlock Your Creativity in Adobe Photoshop with the Nik Selective Tool
The Nik Selective Tool is a dedicated palette that gives users direct access to the suite’s various plugins from Adobe Photoshop. The new Nik Selective Tool has been completely redesigned. This latest version revolutionizes how Nik Collection By DxO is used by simplifying the suite and providing faster access to each editing feature. The new version of the Nik Selective Tool features a new design that makes it easier to identify each plugin and clearly display your favourite presets. To optimize the workspace in Adobe Photoshop, the palette can be automatically collapsed with one click. The tool is also fully compatible with HiDPI screens and can be used in dual monitor mode for an even more productive experience.
At the same time, the Nik Selective Tool has been expanded to include lightning-fast retouching options. Its new “Last Edit” feature recreates the last preset applied in a single click so users can quickly edit their images in the plugins of their choice. This feature is especially useful for editing batches of images or when users want to create a preset after editing a photo. Its brand-new “Quick Edit” option even lets users edit their images by applying the last action used without having to launch the plugin interface—all in a single click. Lastly, Silver Efex Pro and HDR Efex Pro now offer direct access to favourite presets, in addition to Color Efex Pro.
“The new Nik Selective Tool is a great way to make my post-processing workflow even more effective,” says Soli Kanani, professional photographer and DxO ambassador. “Just like a real-life assistant, it’s by my side around the clock, which lets me quickly open all the plugins I need at every step in the editing process, all without losing sight of what I’m doing.”
A Revolution for Adobe Lightroom Classic Users: A New Non-Destructive Workflow
To better meet the needs of Adobe Lightroom Classic users, the Nik Collection 3 By DxO now offers a new workflow that lets photographers freely edit their files within the same plugin. This technology is based on the use of the TIFF MULTIPAGE file format, which combines the input image, the saved Nik Collection 3 By DxO editing parameters, and the output file all in the same file. The Nik Collection 3 By DxO is the first suite of creative photo plugins to introduce a non-destructive workflow to Adobe Lightroom Classic, resulting in unparalleled versatility.
“The non-destructive workflow in Nik Collection 3 By DxO adds an incredible amount of flexibility and fluidity to the editing process,” says Jean-Marc Alexia, VP Product Strategy and Marketing at DxO. “It can be used with all host software programs that include a third-party export menu. It’s a huge improvement.”
Perspective Efex: The New Geometric Correction Plugin
Perspective Efex is the new Nik Collection 3 By DxO plugin dedicated to geometric corrections. Drawing from DxO’s unique expertise, it combines a number of exclusive tools to remove defects and add effects to photos.
Perspective Efex automatically corrects unsightly leading lines, no matter how complex, which is a very useful feature in urban photography. It is also the only plugin to offer a feature that automatically corrects shape distortion, providing an easy way to reestablish the natural shapes of subjects located on the edges of wide-angle photos. It is the perfect tool for group wedding photos and family photos! Thanks to the use of DxO’s powerful optical modules, Perspective Efex can even automatically correct fish-eye distortion. Lastly, its automatic horizon correction tool instantly levels out skewed horizon lines in architectural and landscape photos.
Miniature Effect
Perspective Efex can also be used creatively at the end of the editing process to simulate a shallow depth-of-field effect, i.e. miniature effect. Previously, such a result could only be obtained through costly and complex tilt-shift lenses. The plugin offers two blur gradients. Users can adjust placement and intensity and choose whether they would like the effect to be symmetrical or asymmetrical. Users can also change their aperture settings when simulating a bokeh effect.
Message Centre
The Message Centre in Nik Collection 3 By DxO can be accessed through the new Nik Selective Tool. This feature helps Adobe Photoshop users stay up to date on the latest news about the plugin suite and access a number of online resources, including webinars, tutorials, customer support services, and much more!
Price & Availability
The Nik Collection 3 by DxO (Windows and macOS) is now available for download on the DxO website (https://shop.dxo.com/en/photo-software/dxo-nikcollection) for a special launch price of £86.99 instead of £125, and £49.99 instead of £69 for the upgrade, until June 30, 2020.
Photographers who already own Nik Collection 2 By DxO or a previous version can upgrade their software by signing into their customer accounts. A fully-functional, one-month trial version of Nik Collection 3 By DxO is available on the DxO website: https://nikcollection.dxo.com/download/.
2020 is likely to be a record-breaking year for high temperatures. April was the sunniest on record for the UK and May continued to bring the sunshine. Long range forecasters have predicted that 2020 will be one of the hottest on record, with the peak coming at the end of July. Meaco has seen an exceptionally high demand for fans this spring, partly due to this weather, and in part caused by the lockdown with more people working and exercising from home. It is therefore timely that Meaco has launched a new pedestal fan, to join its award-winning range of Meaco fans.
The MeacoFan 1056 Pedestal air circulator is the first pedestal fan for Meaco, developed and built following customer demand. According to Chris Michael, MD of Meaco “customers were looking for a floor fan, as they had no spare furniture space to place the current 1056 model on. They can now use their floor space, and also have the fan above the height of objects that might otherwise have obstructed the airflow. This makes it perfect for the bedroom or a home office setup.”
The 1056P has the same features and benefits as the award-winning table-top model, circulating the air within a room efficiently and quietly. The fan head moves side to side, up and down bouncing the air off the walls and ceiling to create a pleasant breeze rather than just blowing the air in one direction.
Low on energy consumption and extremely low on noise levels, the 1056P has been awarded a Quiet Mark. Its low energy DC fan motor ensures the ultra-low noise, making it perfect for use in bedrooms, and home offices. You will hardly know it is on!
The MeacoFan 1056P comes with a magnetic remote control and a display in the base to show the room temperature and selected fan speed. In ECO mode the fan speed automatically changes as the temperature in the room changes; at night the Off Timer will silently turn the fan off and the display light can be turned on or off as required. For help with operating the remote at night, there is a spotter lump on the down speed button to help you work out where you are on the remote in the dark.
Finishing touches include a stylish design with faux “leather” handle.
Some people buy a new smartphone as soon as Apple, Samsung, or other manufacturers release their latest products. However, for most of us, we like to keep our mobile devices running for as long as possible and put our money into other things. Plus, putting off upgrading devices until it’s necessary also means no need to worry yet about transferring data onto a new phone or spending time on the other facets of this process. When days are busy, it’s tricky fitting in all the must-do tasks, let alone adding tech issues to the mix!
However, sooner or later, all phones start to play up and eventually need replacing. You don’t want to be left in the lurch with no smartphone to use for a time, but you also don’t want to jump the gun and buy something new before you have to. If you’re not sure how long you might get out of your current gadget, or whether you could perhaps simply book in for an affordable cell phone repair instead, here are some signs to look out for.
Super Slow Touchscreen Response Time
All smartphones misinterpret or miss taps or swipes at points. However, if your touchscreen is driving you crazy because it’s ridiculously slow to respond or register actions or simply ignores them altogether, it’s likely time to go shopping for a new device. This issue is a sign that the tech is at the end of its life. Plus, you won’t have much luck getting many tasks done on the phone, which renders it pretty obsolete anyhow.
Power Button Doesn’t Work
Another problem is if your phone won’t power on or off. If you leave your phone on all the time, this may not be the biggest deal at first, but over the long-term, this can cause considerable issues if you can’t turn the phone off to reboot it or update software, or can’t turn it back on again after taking such steps. Newer smartphones have only a few buttons on them, but the power switch is critical. When this starts playing up, your phone may be on the out.
The Phone Gets Too Hot
A common issue many users have with their smartphone is that after a while, the tech tools overheat. If this starts to happen with your device, especially when you’re not even using the gadget for calls or other tasks, you should get it checked out by a repair service person or a manufacturer’s rep.
This problem – when it overheats to a high level, and you’re worried it’s dangerous – can stem from a variety of small and large things going wrong. You don’t want the item to burn or explode on you, so it’s best to investigate the matter ASAP. Some causes can be solved relatively inexpensively, but others will show you it’s more economical to buy a new product instead.
Strange Lines or Other Issues on the Screen
Have you noticed that there are weird happenings on your device’s screen? For instance, there might be strange lines or bands that make it hard to read, or other anomalies such as flickering or jumping lights, or dead pixels on the screen. When this happens, it’s time to have the phone checked out by a qualified technician. It could have damaged components that need repairing, but often these screen occurrences point to more expensive faults that may not be possible to or worth fixing.
Phone Keeps Shutting Itself Down
Another regular problem with smartphones after they’ve been in use for a few years (or earlier, in the case of broken or faulty gadgets) is that they shut themselves down unexpectedly. If this happens as a once-off, don’t stress, but if it is a regular point of annoyance for you, you could face an issue with the phone’s battery.
You may expect that you can quickly and affordably replace the battery if this is the case, but in reality, some phones have easily-accessible batteries while others do not. If your tech tool falls in the latter category, it may cost you too much in labor costs to bother fixing it.
Buying a new smartphone can be a fun task if you love technology and having the latest machines to use. However, upgrading to a new device is also costly and time-consuming. As such, consider the factors mentioned above, along with other common phone issues, to see if you truly need to replace your gadget or can try other fixes first.
Fancy some new true wireless? The recently announced Urbanista London are now available to pre-order and will be shipping in Mid June. The New true wireless offer everything you would expect from Urbanista including looks with several colours and all the features along with ANC.
Urbanista London is packed with style and creativity and our earphones are inspired by the vibrant and busy city. To express your personal style, London is available at launch in Midnight Black (Black), Rose Gold (Pink), White Pearl (White) and Dark Sapphire (Blue) and comes with a sleek and slim colour-matched charging case. London has an IPX4 waterproof rating and is therefore protected from splashing water at any angle.
Designed for Life in Motion
Staying connected is easy with London: the latest in 5.0 Bluetooth connectivity means London is compatible with your iOS, Windows or Android device and allows you to have your voice assistant available at the touch of a button. Whilst on the go, the built-in noise cancelling dual microphone allows you to make or receive stereo phone calls, adjust the volume, play and stop.
London provides a playtime of 5 hours, and with 4 additional full charges from the case, a total playtime of 25 hours. The indicator lights will let you know when you are out of charge and then you can conveniently charge your earphones in under one hour on any Qi-certified pad or via the USB Type-C cable, straight out of the box.
Key Features of Urbanista London
Active noise cancelling (ANC) feature
Built-in ear detection sensors
Ambient Sound Mode
Wireless charging in one hour under any Qi-certified pad
Slim, colour matched charging case carrying 4 full charges
4 indicator lights showing battery capacity
25 hours playtime: each playtime runs up to 5 hours. The pocket-sized charging case is ready for another 4 full charges recharging house
IPX4 protected – protected from splashing water at any angle
Bluetooth 5.0 connection
USB Type-C cable
Silicone earbuds – different sizes available for a more personalised in-ear fit
Four stylish colours: Midnight Black (Black), Rose Gold (Pink), White Pearl (White) and Dark Sapphire (Blue).
Back in March Nokia announced a slew of new phones which are now starting to appear in shops here in Ireland and the revitalised 5310 of yesteryear is now on sale for 39.90 which is a great price for a spare device and another original alongside the 3310 and 8110. The Nokia 5310 2020 edition, ( I still have my own original 5310 and will compare soon)brings with it an MP3 player and FM radio, combined with powerful, dual front-facing speakers letting you carry your favourite tunes with you on the go. The Nokia 5310 remixes classic design with a slick new feel and battery that’s built to last, keeping you connected day after day.
