You spent a good deal of money on your laptop and you most likely have some incredibly important information on it, so why would you run the risk of damaging it through sheer carelessness? We review quite many laptop bags here on techbuzz but how else can we protect our expensive laptops?? This infographic from foamfabricators.ie offers a comprehensive guide on how to protect your laptop from spillages and falls plus more.
Ireland’s leading e-hailing app FREE NOW has created a new “Medical” booking option which offers a 50% taxi-fare reduction to help the travel of healthcare heroes and support medical staff in the national fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
The new mechanism allows vital healthcare workers to select the new “Medical” fleet-type option on the app to book their taxi and to get 50% off their fare. These critical staff then just need to show their medical ID to drivers at the start of their trip, with FREE NOW taking no commission from drivers for these trips.
It follows a FREE NOW survey of its drivers across Ireland, that showed an overwhelming 87% expressing their desire to directly support healthcare staff in their vital work.
The new support will be available from mid-morning today to all front-line medical practitioners, supporting healthcare workers as well as those working in primary care services, including porters, cleaners and hospital receptionists.
In a recent survey, FREE NOW drivers have highlighted some of the precautions they are taking to ensure their cars remain clean. These include providing passengers with tissues and keeping the windows slightly open, cleaning their car after every trip, including wiping down door handles and seats as well as only accepting card or app payments to limit the use of cash.
Alan Fox, FREE NOW General Manager, Ireland, said: “The health and safety of passengers, driver partners and staff is our top priority and we are now looking at new ways to adapt the fleet of 14,000 taxis to meet the COVID-19 challenge across Ireland. This new initiative will support the movement of vital healthcare workers performing critical duties, as well as helping drivers to generate income in this incredibly challenging time. We are already working with the HSE as an approved transport supplier to aid its critical work and we are actively guiding drivers and partners on the transport-specific hygiene measures required in line with HSE, Department of Health and government guidance. It is a testament to FREE NOW drivers that they are willing to step up, even when their earnings are taking a hit in these uncertain times to keep Ireland moving.”
Joe Herron, president of the Irish Taxi Drivers’ Federation, said: “Taxi drivers are extremely glad to be able to play their part in the COVID-19 fight. Our services have been badly hit by the virus and our profession is particularly vulnerable, so this FREE NOW initiative is to be welcomed for multiple reasons. Taxi drivers have been deemed an essential service by the government, and this initiative will help vital healthcare workers to get to their critically important jobs as well as supporting struggling drivers in this, the most difficult of times.”
FREE NOW has recommended that drivers and passengers adhere to HSE, Department of Health and government guidance when travelling, with drivers advised to disinfect their cars regularly and to switch to card payment only. The company has temporarily turned off its Match taxi-sharing service.
FREE NOW is offering a similar service in Spain, Poland, Romania and the UK and is looking at how this can be rolled out to the 10 countries it operates in across Europe. The “Healthcare Heroes” booking option is available for all healthcare workers from today and will run in the FREE NOW app for the foreseeable future.
After providing communication support to medical staff on the front lines of the battle against the coronavirus in the US and Japan, Pocketalk, a global leader in connecting conversations and removing language barriers, today announced it will be donating 500 units of its AI-powered translation device, Pocketalk W, to qualifying medical facilities, first aiders, testing sites and those in need of translation services. Pocketalk W devices, including those connected by the smart SIM card, V-Sim which will come with free connectivity donated by Vodafone, will be dispatched on a first come first-served basis, with a maximum of three units per organisation or NHS trust. Those interested can apply by filling out the form on the Pocketalk website.
Pocketalk has been used as an emergency communications tool to break down communication barriers between two people when it matters most. First responders recently aboard the Diamond Princess cruise line quarantined in Yokohama, Japan used Pocketalk as a quick and accurate support to speak with potentially ill passengers in more than 50 languages. What is more, it removed the need for a human translator, preventing even more people being exposed to the virus. Furthermore, in the US, Pocketalk has also been used in healthcare organisations that need translation support.
Medical professionals having to communicate with patients during this global pandemic will benefit from the following features:
“The health and safety of all people, especially first responders putting themselves at risk for others, is our number one priority when connecting the world through conversation,” said Noriyuki Matsuda, Founder and CEO of Pocketalk. “We hope that, through our donation, we are able to provide accessible translation services to those communities who need it most during this global health crisis.”
To apply for a donation of Pocketalk units, applicants must be employed by a healthcare organisation in Europe. Requests will be selected based on a first-come, first served basis for those most in need.
We have an abundance of smartphones to pick from today however when it comes to phones for the older generation there is not so much out there and we have a huge demographic here too with the older population and the market potential is huge here for manufacturers to tap and emporia have a range of mobiles to just do that.
Ok so we have Doro which we do not see much of anymore and Nokia who recently released some detox phones which keeps things simple but emporia have gone about it in a different way which makes like much easier for the older generation who now want access to smartphones but with the current offerings out there they are to complex or be it a sales person will try shove an iPhone down your neck. First look at the walkthrough below and see what we are dealing with.
To start you get everything in the box including really good user guides and you also have tutorials on the device, The phone has a light skin on top with a tiled effect which reminds you of Windows Phone plus you have access to the play store too and here is how it differs from your standard Android experience with no convoluted mess or sub menus or having someone look for a feature buried in a sub menu and simplicity is key here as well as the big tiled visual approach.
Build quality and looks are typical however it is a sturdy device and feels solid in my opinion it does have bezels all round which is a step away from the current trend but it is not a phone to make a statement with and is well balanced and in line with low to mid tier devices on the overall look.
The phone is not a powerhouse but mid tier with a decent camera and video function that will do fine for the target market but is no way near flagship but this is not a flagship device but a device to make life easy, I did try load some heavy apps on this to see if they would buckle the device and they did some would not even open but for the likes of social media,email general browsing and a few apps you will be fine with a full days battery too, Again this would depend on user.
The menu layout is really simple to follow and again you have a really good user guide included in the box should you have issues or check the video above for more, On the top you have a battery status indicator and a settings wheel with a notch effect and your signal bar then you have a big wallpaper box which can be changed and you four shortcuts and of course these can be changed to whatever suits you best.
Swiping to the right gives you four contact spaces again tiled and an option for your own number and to finish off that page you have a voicemail and emergency contact tile which is where you place what number suits you best and this is complemented by a button on the rear of the phone to call someone quickly in an emergency. Swiping to the left gives you a list of apps and again you can change these if needed to suit your personal needs.
Your “all apps tile” will give you access to the apps drawer and here is where you can pick if you need to make one into a shortcut on the previous screen. When it comes to performance I did find the device laggy sometimes but there is updates coming for it so hopefully that might iron that out. Performance overall was fine sometimes the camera was laggy too and I would advise buying an sd card for storage if you plan to take many photos or video. You can see the performance of the camera below and judge for yourself.
Whilst this phone is not flagship and can be laggy at times it does what it is meant to do for its target market and more with all the mods and cons you tend to find on your typical smartphone today but in a simpler format for a generation that is moving to smartphones to stay connected with family and friends around the world without the convoluted mess you find in your average smartphone today. It does the job really well makes life easy with big tiled icons and numbers and a simple menu structure and offers security with a one push button to call an emergency number on the back,decent battery life and camera to boot. It is a job well done and executed.
As people adjust to a new way of life, with social distancing making it difficult for people to connect, Desperados and elrow have come together to ignite the party spirit, virtually, for consumers around the world.
Through live stream DJ sessions and avod partygoers worldwide will be able to share a party together, while they are apart.
The elrow Home Sessions powered by Desperados, create an energetic distraction from the outside world by unleashing 1.5 hours of epic beats and high-tempo entertainment featuring a mix of international elrow DJs.
From elrow favourite and resident DJ Viviana Casanova, to the unique sounds of Technasia, Italian DJ and producer Marco Faraone, British native Yousef, Spanish DJ and producer Dennis Cruz and other talented artists on the line-up. People can expect an eclectic mix of electronic music, like deep house, tech house and techno, right from the DJs’ living rooms to theirs. Because in these uncertain times, together we keep the party going.
The sessions will be held live on elrow’s Facebook every Sunday at 4 p.m. CET, starting from Sunday 5th April until 26th April 2020. Partygoers will be able to re-live the sessions following the live stream on elrow’s and Desperados’ social channels.
Diederik Vos, Global Brand Director, Desperados, commented, “Parties provide an unrivalled sense of social connection that we are all craving during this time of social distancing. With partying in our DNA, Desperados wanted to create something that brings the party to people – to be enjoyed from the safety of their homes. Together with elrow, we are redefining how parties can be experienced virtually in living rooms around the world.”
Jo Vidler, Creative Director, elrow, said, “As everyone adjusts to this ‘new normal’, we want to bring the elrow magic directly into the homes of our fans around the world. We’ve been partying with Desperados since 2017, and from the beginning we’ve shared the same passion, which is to create the unexpected for partygoers around the world. By teaming up on these virtual sessions, we’re able to continue to deliver unforgettable experiences to keep the party going for fans as they adjust to their new way of life.”
Having successfully deployed connectivity services for several market leaders in Europe, such as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Jaguar Land Rover, ranging from vehicle manufacturers to service providers Transatel announced today the launch of IoV Connect a global cellular connectivity platform specifically designed for the sector of motorized vehicles.
Available as of today in PaaS mode, the platform is dedicated to solving vehicle manufacturers’ greatest challenges currently not being addressed by the market. The platform’s first key differentiator is ‘MNO selection at network-level’. Any addition, removal, change of host radio network anywhere in the world is programmed at network level and thus implemented instantaneously, not requiring complex Over-The-Air SIM profile update campaigns.
The second key differentiator is end user management, for which most connected car platforms come unequipped. Leveraging on Transatel’s 20+ years’ experience in launching mobile B2C offers around the world, IoV Connect offers the professional tools, insights and expertise to cover all aspects of pricing, marketing, billing, customer experience, customer care and regulatory compliance. Last, IoV Connect offers a fully re-brandable service for onboard Wi-Fi and infotainment, complete with marketing and end-user support services: Ubigi.
Complexity reduced: One integration for global deployment
Requiring but a single integration to cover the world (160+ countries to date), IoV Connect caters to vehicle manufacturers wishing to avoid the cost and/or complexity of multiple integrations with Mobile Network Operators. Most existing IoV platforms are feature-rich but rely on the aggregating of multiple
Mobile Network Operator profiles. As a vehicle manufacturer, you therefore still need a Service Agreement with the MNO in question. In the case of IoV Connect, Transatel is the MNO. Manufacturers no longer need to sign Service Agreements with Mobile Network Operators, simply Access Agreements, which greatly reduces complexity. Moreover, manufacturers benefit out-of-the-box from 160+ Access Agreements already bundled into the IoV Connect platform.
Creativity enabled: Configuration at network level
With most existing connected car platforms, manufacturers deciding on a change in Mobile Network Operator or a feature update must rely on costly (€0,60 to €1/SIM) Over-The-Air campaigns to reconfigure the SIM profiles inside their vehicles. Any inaccessible vehicles, such as garage-parked, or cars in motion, etc., will need to proceed physically to the dealership for a SIM profile update, with all that this entails.
Thanks to a configuration at network level, any switching of underlying host radio networks, or any new ‘connected vehicle’ feature developed, is instantly and seamlessly made available to vehicles across continents. The process, remaining perfectly transparent for the end user, leaves a lot of room for innovation at every turn.
Flexibility at every stage: Productized features, but tailored implementation IoV Connect offers a combination of productized features with full implementation, geographical scope and process flexibility.
Future-proofed: A secured solution for vehicle connectivity
Transatel has long been concerned with Security for the IoT and has developed a system for airtight connectivity. [3] IoV Connect has therefore been modeled considering the critical factor of security for vehicles, and this, at three levels.
First, as a licensed operator without spectrum, Transatel have their own non-geographic MNC (Mobile Network Code). The underlying resources used are therefore inaccessible from the exterior. For example, in the typical case of hacking with a massive brute-force attack via SMS, the only SMS accepted by the vehicle are those from the OEM’s authorized servers. The unwanted SMS can’t even reach the authentication process and therefore drain the vehicle’s battery in the process.
Second, all the software and firmware updates are not conducted via the internet.
Third, IoV Connect SIM profiles are embedded with security keys for authentication purposes, to further shield vehicles from unwanted intrusions. Of course, IoV Connect is compatible with any form of additional security processes and add-ons desired by the manufacturer.
IoV Connect’s security solution protects against threats and cyberattacks with a full set of services:
Getting a share of the value created by connected services
Caught between the GAFAM who control the apps, and the MNOs who control the connectivity, vehicle manufacturers are understandably trying to secure their share of the revenue created with the increasing use of apps within their vehicles.
Acting as an abstraction layer to MNO networks, IoV Connect enables OEMs to reap a share of the value generated from the connectivity services offered within their vehicles (whether from telematics, infotainment, or Wi-Fi on board). Manufacturers can also monetize the data collected and the access/visibility to their end users.
Last, IoV Connect enables manufacturers to retain their independence and bargaining power vis à vis MNOs and thus control their connectivity service and financial equation.
Bertrand Salomon, Transatel Co-CEO: “I’m excited about this launch, because it’s the result of years of observation and exchanges with the industry, and years of hard work from Transatel teams. IoV Connect can turn any complex, global Connected Car project, into a manageable enterprise with clear milestones and beneficial outcomes. By making things simple and global by design, we help manufacturers focus on their core activities and gain global economies of scale. We intend to prove that our platform for the Connected Car, both industry-specific and fully managed, is the safest option, and the most scalable and cost-effective business model for auto manufacturers, right up until they’re ready to become fully licensed telecom operators themselves!”
A global emphasis on working from home combined with advice to minimize COVID-19 transmission from shared surfaces even within a home, will help cement the benefits of smart home voice control for millions of consumers. Last year, 141 million voice control smart home device shipped worldwide and, despite the key China market being impacted during the first quarter of 2020, the value of voice control during the pandemic will ensure that this year, voice control device shipments will grow globally by close to 30% over 2019, states global tech market advisory firm, ABI Research.
“A smarter home can be a safer home,” says Jonathan Collins, Research Director at ABI Research. Key among the recommendations regarding COVID-19 protection in the home is to clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces daily in household common areas (e.g., tables, hard-backed chairs, doorknobs, light switches, remotes, handles, desks, toilets, sinks). “Voice has already made significant inroads into the smart home space and voice control can mean avoiding commonly touched surfaces around the home from smartphones, to TV remotes, light switches, thermostats, door handles and more. Voice can also be leveraged for online shopping and information gathering.”
But it is in conjunction with other smart home devices that voice brings greater benefits. Voice can be leveraged to control and monitor smart locks to enable deliveries to be placed in the home or another secure location directly, or monitored securely on the doorstep until the resident can bring them in. Similarly, and smart doorbells/video cameras can also ensure deliveries are received securely without the need for face-to-face interaction or exposure. “Such delivery capabilities are especially valuable for those already in-home quarantine or for those receiving home testing kits,” explains Collins.
“In the long term, voice control will continue be the Trojan horse of smart home adoption. COVID-19 is part of the additional motivation and incentive for voice control in the home that will help drive awareness and adoption for a range of additional smart home devices and applications,” Collins says. Greater emphasis and understanding, and above all, a change of habit and experience in moving away from physical actuation toward using voice in the home will support greater smart home expansion throughout individual homes. A greater emphasis on online shopping and delivery will also drive smart home device adoption to ensure those deliveries are securely delivered.
Precautions for COVID-19 will bring new routines into many millions of people’s daily lives in and around their homes. “Smart home vendors and system providers can certainly emphasize the role of voice and other smart home implementations to improve the day-to-day routines within a home and the ability to minimize contact with shared surfaces, as well as securing and automating home deliveries. There is role for integrating smart home monitoring and remote health monitoring with a range of features, such as collecting personal health data points (temperature, activity, heart rate) alongside environmental data (air quality or occupancy) to help in the wider response and engagement for smart city health management,” Collins recommends.
For a clearer picture of the current and future ramifications of COVID-19 across technologies and verticals, including Smart Home, download the whitepaper Taking Stock of COVID-19: The Short- and Long-Term Ramifications on Technology and End Markets.
CLCKR, the mobile phone accessory company, reveals its tips to keep entertained, productive, and in contact with colleagues and loved ones during this period of home isolation. CLCKR’s patented phone grips and cases are invaluable and versatile products with numerous uses – both for work and for play.
Be Productive
Working from home is the new normal but very few of us have the ideal setup ready and waiting. Make things a little easier for yourself by placing your phone with CLCKR in portrait mode next to your laptop or desktop computer and use your device as another screen to easily communicate with colleagues via video conference, view documents, or access your calendar.
Stay In Touch With Family
During these unsettling times, we need to be checking in with loved ones virtually rather than visiting them in person. Put your phone with CLCKR in landscape mode to catch up with parents and grandparents through your favourite video call app. It’s easier than ever to show someone you care, even though you can’t be there in person.
Meet Up With Friends
Hanging out in the pub isn’t possible, but happy hour needn’t be cancelled! There’s a burgeoning trend for groups to have dinner together in their respective homes over Facetime and Skype, or clink glasses virtually through Houseparty or Zoom. CLCKR is a handy tool to keep your phone in place in either portrait or landscape orientations, and stop it slipping around while you enjoy catching up with friends.
Try Isolation Dating
If you scheduled a date before the current crisis and are now about to cancel it, why not try the new craze for isolation dating instead? Switch the date’s location from that pub/ bar/ restaurant to your own home and meet your match online instead. Standing your phone up with CLCKR means you can concentrate on the date rather than the angle of the camera. Sparks might still fly as you chat through your phone screens, but if they don’t, it’s much easier to hang up than climb out the bathroom window!
Keep Entertained
Binge-watching your favourite film or TV streaming service will keep you entertained for quite some time while in isolation. Switching CLCKR to landscape mode while lying in bed or on the sofa makes watching YouTube videos, movies, and all sorts of other content, easy and handsfree.
Boost Your Social Media
If you have a little extra time on your hands, why not create some content for your social media accounts? During isolation, many people are filming their home workout regimes for Instagram Stories, posting comedic clips on Facebook, or sharing their musical performances and creative challenges on Twitter and TikTok. CLCKR makes recording and taking selfies a breeze.
Above all, stay safe and stay home!
There are two different CLCKR products available: The Universal CLCKR fits onto any device, is slimmer than any other product on the market and comes in a variety of colours and designs, all while being compatible with most wireless chargers. The CLCKR case with in-built stand is available for various iPhone devices.
Twelve South today introduces the AirBag, a genuine leather micro-mini bag made exclusively to carry and protect AirPods and AirPods Pro. This petite vintage pouch can be worn over a shoulder, around the neck or users can ditch the strap for the little leather handle on top. The AirBag is available now in limited quantities from www.twelvesouth.com for $49.99.
The AirBag is perfect for those who don’t want to dig through their backpack, computer bag or handbag to find that tiny AirPods charging case. The AirBag’s convenient shoulder strap allows AirPods to be kept close to the body and within easy reach so users can listen to their favourite music, books and podcasts whenever they want.
The stylish leather carrier, which will be sure to turn heads, covers all sides of the shiny white AirPods charging case protecting it from scratches and scuffs. The AirBag supports wireless charging and features an opening for Lightning charging. A metal snap button keeps the AirPods Pro charging case safe and secure at all times.
The Twelve South AirBag is available now in limited quantities for $49.99 at www.twelvesouth.com.
