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.
There is several similar products like this around but this is the first for me to check out and it is something new and a new take on the use of tech which is good to see, We can get bluetooth speakers in any size shape or form today that do a good job but this is something different and over the time I have used this it has grown on me.
You will not be wearing this jogging in the park so lets get that out of the way as it will bounce on your shoulder and you might want to wear it in public but keep the volume low but it is not super loud but still something you will not be wearing in a crowded area like a bus or a train as others will have to put up with what you listen too..
What I do find it great for though is if you have an empty house or room connect what you like and stick it on full blast and be immersed in sound in a different way that we are custom to like surround sound in your home or cinema,this brings you that much closer, A personal setting like no other you really need to try it to understand what I mean. Controls are easy to use too with a volume rocker, a power on/off switch,play and pause button and voice assistant button it is simple and executes the ease of use quite well.
Given it has limitations in one area it has more in other and that is on connecting to other external devices like your TV games console or laptop and feel the sound surround you in a different way. When it comes to the sound it is good,clear and sharp and well balanced all round but not much bass noticed but the sound is decent and punchy and great direction with movies as an example if a plane or car was to fly by you get the same effect on the speaker as you would a good pair of earphones and its not all central and boring.
I did notice the sound is better from your smarpthone perhaps due to the distance but you cant complain either if you are to use for gaming and more as you feel part of the picture in a weird kind of way and you get over it rather quickly too and there is a notable difference between say two bluetooth speakers placed either side of you in the house, that said the speakers would be louder but these are right up at your ears more or less and suck you in and it is a new way to sit back and enjoy something on your own when you have the chance to do so, it is a niche product now but I can see this morph into other and bigger ideas going forward its just the case if you are willing to spend the money and give it a go.
Juice have recently just launched a new line of eco friendly (compostable) cases for iPhone and something we will see more of in the coming years which of course is good for the environment and so much talk about climate change of late in the news and Juice is one of these companies that have got the ball rolling in this department.
The range of cases is pretty nice with a variety of cases and colours to chose from without the loss of protection on your expensive mobile phone and they look well,give you some additional grip and feel good to hold, Not only that the keys work fine with good travel and also all the ports and cuts outs remain the same not loosing any functionality. The device can be placed either face or back down too giving you protection on both sides of the device yet making your phone stand out especially when it is face down. Check out the video below for more.
The cases are available in grey, blue, pink, white and black and the dyes used to achieve these five colourways are produced from natural and abundant sources such as bamboo, mai and tea.
With an RRP of £19.99, the compostable cases are available in iPhone 6, 7, 8, 11 and 11 Pro and can be purchased from: www.juice.co.uk & www.urbanoutfitters.com
Avaya Holdings Corp. a global leader in solutions to enhance and simplify communications and collaboration, today announced that it will provide its Avaya Spaces collaboration software for free to education institutions, including colleges and universities, along with qualified non-profit organisations worldwide. Avaya Spaces is recognised for its ease of implementation and the significant impact it can have on organisational resilience and continuity. Since January, Avaya has seen a 200 percent increase in video collaboration traffic on this platform.
“Coronavirus (COVID-19) is impacting the lives of people around the globe and every day we hear new sobering stories about the very real health and safety implications of the spread of this virus,” said Jim Chirico, CEO of Avaya. “There is an especially immediate need in the education sector as school and university administrators consider the safety of their students while ensuring continuity of their classes, engagement with their students and delivering on their educational objectives. Avaya has four million UC and contact centre seats in the state, local government and education market worldwide – so we understand the demands of that sector and targeted our Avaya Spaces offer accordingly.”
Avaya Spaces provides a cloud meeting and team collaboration solution that enables people and organisations to connect and collaborate remotely – and goes beyond integrating chat, voice, video, online meetings and content sharing. It gives users an extensive set of meeting and team collaboration features, including voice and video conferencing for up to 200 participants. As a mobile-enabled solution, it gives users a simple, secure and effective way to track communications and manage tasks when travel and connectivity are limited.
As early as January, Avaya teams and partners were on the frontline in Wuhan, China to help in the initial stages of this epidemic. The company donated audio and video equipment and dispatched resources for speedy installation and deployment for hospitals in the region to help medical personnel perform remote consultation and video diagnostics as well as to enable patients to visit virtually with loved ones. Avaya continues to explore opportunities to help during this global challenge.
To learn how to sign-up for the free Avaya Spaces offer, eligible organisations are asked to visit this web page.
Twelve South, today adds to its family of luxury leather cases by introducing the Journal for MacBook and Journal for iPad Pro. Crafted from impeccable full-grain cognac leather, the Journal cases are designed to make a statement and have that luxury luggage feel. Features including dual zippers, micro-suede lining and reinforced corners keep precious Apple devices safe and secure while hidden internal pockets are perfect for storing important documents or accessories.
The Journal family includes cases for iPad Pro, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro as well as the Journal CaddySack, a travel tote for chargers, cables and adaptors.
Journal for iPad Pro
This stylish case – created exclusively for iPad Pro – doubles as a viewing stand and typing + sketching wedge. The built-in kickstand positions the iPad at the most comfortable angle for working in Pages, responding to emails or illustrating with the Apple Pencil. Lift the shell up into display mode and users can share a presentation or recent holiday photos. In any mode, a protective snap-in-shell holds the iPad Pro securely without compromising the edge-to-edge Liquid Retina display.
The Journal for iPad Pro makes working on the go easy thanks to a convenient interior pocket that provides storage for documents or a slim compact keyboard. There’s also room to safely charge the Apple pencil beside the iPad magnetic charger. Dual zippers keep the case closed but allow it to be unzipped just enough for the charging cord or another cable to slip through. Additionally, the back- cover window makes it easy to capture beautiful photos and 4k video with the iPad Pro.
The Journal for iPad Pro is available now for both 11” and 12.9” iPad Pro (3rd gen) with prices starting from £99 from www.amazon.co.uk.
Journal for MacBook
Fashioned out of elegant, top quality leather which is water and UV resistant and dressed up with smart details including leather zipper pulls, embossed elements and contemporary back stitching, users no longer have to compromise on style in order to protect their MacBook.
The slim form of the Journal which has been exclusively designed for the MacBook Air and Pro, means users can comfortably type, adjust the screen angle and access the USB-C ports without removing the case. A small tab located on the interior bottom of the Journal reveals a hidden document compartment that’s perfect for carrying important paperwork.
The Journal for MacBook is available now with prices starting from £119.99 from www.amazon.co.uk.
Journal CaddySack
The other popular product in the Journal range is the CaddySack, a luxury leather tote designed to neatly house those essential Apple accessories. Open up the CaddySack to find a collection of elastic bands, Velcro straps and a pocket designed to neatly hold tools like power adapters, charging cables and an Apple Pencil. A soft tweed fabric keeps Apple accessories looking like new.
The Journal CaddySack is available now for £69.99 from www.amazon.co.uk.
Microsoft and Enable Ireland have joined forces today to announce a new commitment to embed AI into the Assistive Technology Passport which is being developed to empower people with disabilities to have an independent life. The announcement marks the 20th anniversary of Microsoft’s partnership with Enable Ireland.
Microsoft and Enable Ireland have been collaborating on the role of Assistive Technology for twenty years. The partnership has been built on a shared vision of enabling technology to transform the lives of people with disabilities and to empower them to achieve more. The idea for the AT Passport came from a discussion paper published by Enable Ireland in 2016 with the support of Microsoft and Disability Federation of Ireland. The focus of this paper was about bringing the idea of the AT Passport to life in Ireland and today’s announcement marks the next phase in this process and will see Microsoft and Enable Ireland work with Maynooth University to make this idea a reality.
Picture shows from left John O’Sullivan, CEO, Enable Ireland; Imelda Delemere, Enable Ireland Adult Services in Sandyford and Cathriona Hallahan, Managing Director, Microsoft Ireland
Research has shown that the provision of AT services is often fragmented, difficult to navigate and not user centric. The AT Passport is a personal record of all of the relevant information about an individual’s requirement for AT including the necessary referrals, eligibility and training requirements and can support users to access the training and supports they need. Once developed it will be a tool that will help to streamline the way in which people gain access to Assistive Technology – equipment, training and funding and has the potential to ensure that those who need Assistive Technology can get it and, as a result, experience greater autonomy in their own lives.
Speaking today Cathriona Hallahan, Managing Director, Microsoft Ireland said: “At Microsoft we believe that technology can play a key role in driving positive and progressive change across every aspect of our lives, unlocking new and exciting opportunities for everyone in society. Assistive technology can transform the lives of people with disabilities ensuring they have the tools, skills and support to be independent and live a life with no limits. That is why we have been supporting Enable Ireland’s life-changing work for over 20 years and why today we are announcing a collaboration with them to develop the Assistive Technology Passport.”
“Technology empowers us all to achieve more everyday but for a person living with a disability it can be the difference of being able to engage with the world and not. The idea of an AT passport was something we really wanted to help bring to life with Enable Ireland and the funding we’re providing will do this while also ensuring that we embed AI into the functionality of the passport. We’re really excited to see this project brought to life.”
Today just 1 in 10 people with a disability who require AT have access to it. In order to ensure that technology can deliver real progress and change for everyone in society we must equip those with disabilities with the technology they need and ensure that their families, carers, employers and educators have the necessary training. Scaling the AT Passport internationally has the potential to achieve a truly global impact.
John O’Sullivan, CEO of Enable Ireland said: “I am thrilled to be part of the announcement today of a deepening of our collaboration with Microsoft Ireland. We have enjoyed a great relationship with Microsoft over the last 20 years, which has allowed us to provide Ireland’s only accredited course in AT and for their continued commitment which will help us to develop an AT passport. I believe that an AT passport will help to ensures that those who need AT have access to it. Technology is able to provide truly life changing assistance to people with disabilities by enabling them to live and achieve independence. Research has shown that the provision of AT services is sometimes disjointed, unclear and not designed around the end user. By developing an AT passport, we believe it will be less ambiguous for users to access the support and training they require.”
Nokia has today announced successful deployment of the Irish Aviation Authority’s (IAA) next-generation air traffic control network at its new West Ireland disaster recovery center. As part of the deal, Nokia supplied its IP/MPLS networking products, which have been specifically designed for this level of mission-critical application.
The new, high-bandwidth IP/MPLS network will increase capacity and ensure smooth operation of new, more demanding air traffic control (ATC) applications. It will also provide support for legacy, non-IP applications, including end-to-end communications between radar stations. The IAA also benefited from Nokia’s professional services offering for network design, architecture, integration and deployment. Following successful deployment of the network, Nokia will continue to provide IAA with long-term support and maintenance services.
The network was deployed in early 2019 and is currently in service. It has successfully carried out a number of live trials across multiple airspace sectors in the key North Atlantic region, delivering critical voice and radar services to controllers over the new Nokia IP/MPLS platform.
The successful deployment of the network precedes the expected doubling of global air traffic by 2030. The North Atlantic airspace is one of the most crowded airspaces in the world and the IAA will need more capacity as traffic grows. Modern ATC management applications can scale to meet the demand but require a different kind of network connectivity based on IP, such as Nokia’s IP/MPLS.
Nokia has a long history building mission-critical networks for critical infrastructure such as air traffic control. Its IP/MPLS networking products are designed from the start to support legacy applications, as well as the latest capabilities for high-availability, mission-critical connectivity.
The Nokia-IAA deal is critical to the IAA’s roadmap to seamlessly migrate critical services to a fully operational next-gen network. The IAA plans to continue its work with Nokia, from design to deployment and into the future.
Billy Hann, Director of ATM Operations and Strategy for the IAA, said:“Given our responsibility to ensure the smooth operation of the North Atlantic airspace, it has been crucial that Nokia earn our trust. The quality and reliability of its technology and the thoroughness and collaborative approach of its teams has been first class throughout the entire migration process. We are very pleased and confident in the performance of the new network.”
Jochen Apel, Head of Global Transportation, Nokia, said: “From the initial proof-of-concept through to the final deployment and launch of the new network, we have been impressed and pleased to work closely with the IAA on this highly-critical application. Working side-by-side with its team, we ensured that the new IP/MPLS network seamlessly migrated all of its legacy applications and supported the new applications with the highest standards of reliability.”
Nokia has deployed over 1,300 mission-critical networks with leading customers in the transport, energy, large enterprise, manufacturing, webscale and public sector segments around the globe. Leading enterprises across industries are leveraging our decades of experience building some of the biggest and most advanced IP, optical, and wireless networks on the planet. The Nokia Bell Labs Future X for industries architecture provides a framework for enterprises to accelerate their digitalization and automation journey to Industry 4.0. Nokia has also pioneered the private wireless space with many verticals, and now has over 130 large enterprise customers deploying it around the world.
The Tranya B530 Pro true wireless are an affordable pair of earbuds which offer what you would expect for the price they come in at but deliver on sound too which is important. Having tested these for some time now the battery life is excellent just to start with and they have quick charge on board too giving you around an hour in a ten minute charge which is nice and they also have a total of ten or so hours on a single charge and up to 70-80 hours from the case in total which is at the higher end of the market here..
These offer really god balanced sound overall and users will be happy with the experience provided here with simple to use touch controls that can be a little sensitive at first but you will get use to this as you would any other earbud with touch controls over time. In general the controls work well with simple to use commands as you will see in the video review.
These also give good passive noise isolation when fitted with the correct tips which is also good and remain solid in the ears,what I did like is these did not press hard on your ears when using the touch controls as some can that I have tested in the past these are comfortable all over. When it comes to build they are made with plastic and light weight too and do not protrude so much when in the ears,there is bigger ones out there.. Trust me.
Sound is good you can use in mono or stereo and use individually which is nice,there is no app to give you extra enhancement but no need for it unless you are a true audiophile,the do have aptx though which is great, the bass is nice,highs lows and mids good and good separation across all genres of music, On using in my usual test path there was no lag latency on Netflix or You Tube which is nice and voice is crystal clear with good direction too so overall well balanced and a great listening experience and nice and loud too which for me is always a win.
Only things missing is not auto play/pause no wireless charging case and Micro USB charging but at the price you cant complain for the package as whole that delivers good audio.
The perfect Mobile World Congress would focus less on the latest devices and more on the future of the mobile industry; it would be more of a collaborative forum where the entire mobile ecosystem comes together to define the state of the industry and identify what really needs to be done in order to move markets, solutions, and outcomes forward, states the MWC veteran analysts from global tech market advisory firm, ABI Research.
In its new whitepaper, The Perfect Mobile World Congress: 13 Visions for the Ideal Mobile Trade Show, ABI Research highlights that while MWC 2020 was a missed show, it’s not a missed opportunity. The cancellation was unavoidable, but “this pause may prove to be just what the mobile community needs: a chance to reflect, reengage, and, ultimately, reorient to most effectively chart the future of the industry,” explains Stuart Carlaw, Chief Research Officer at ABI Research.
The Perfect Mobile World Congress visions from ABI Research’s analysts:
“Traditionally, most MWC events are inundated by noise-generating, but not revolutionary, announcements. This annual game of one-upmanship largely detracts from the meaningful discussions, dialogs, and negotiations that should be happening at the perfect MWC to build consensus around how to shape the future of the industry,” Carlaw propounds.
AI & Machine Learning: “The perfect MWC would have all telcos presenting at the event fully realize and embrace the importance of 5G and Artificial Intelligence (AI). The deployment of 5G already brings AI to radio access networks and backhaul optimization. Telcos will need to speed up their adoption curve by integrating AI into service-based architecture and utilize AI in various domains, such as customer service, inventory management, and network service orchestration,” offers Lian Jye Su, AI Principal Analyst at ABI Research.
5G and Mobile Network Infrastructure: “The perfect MWC would put the challenges facing the mobile telco domain in a market that is currently experiencing 5G deployments and mass market adoption of this new generation, including geopolitics, a declining economic environment, increased pressure on infrastructure vendors, and a transition to more open networks. An ideal MWC would have a forum to discuss all these aspects and become the central arena to move the industry forward,” advises Dimitris Mavrakis, 5G Research Director at ABI Research.
5G Markets:“The perfect MWC would have the telco market come together to identify and pursue SME requirements and create the platforms, services, and applications to cater to them. This may not mean doing everything alone, but to collaborate with the web domain to address this challenging market segment,” proposes Leo Gergs, 5G Analyst at ABI Research.
5G Devices, Smartphones & Wearables:“The perfect MWC would offer real insight into more collaboration in 5G. Indeed, a welcome prospect, with major vendors (yes, including perennial shunner Apple!) and component suppliers working closely with global carrier partners to create differentiated offerings taking 5G far away from the concept of being just another ‘G’,” advocates David McQueen, 5G Devices Research Director at ABI Research.
Digital Security:“The perfect MWC would have significantly more coverage of more cybersecurity-related issues. This is especially critical for any IoT-adjacent services, and with each IoT vertical holding its own unique security requirements (e.g., industrial, critical infrastructure, smart cities, etc.),” envisions Michela Menting, Cybersecurity Research Director at ABI Research.
“One thing is for certain; the mobile industry is not learning lessons fast enough and is not answering the right questions at the right time. The cancellation of MWC 2020 might seem a disaster, but the future is bleaker if the industry doesn’t pause, take some time to reflect, and radically retool its approach to be a fit-for-purpose entity, Carlaw sums up.
Irish company Marino Software have developed an innovative solution to help an MND-sufferer who will eventually lose her voice. The solution was developed as part of RTÉ One’s ‘Big Life Fix’ programme, which brings together some of Ireland’s ground-breaking designers, engineers, computer programmers and technology experts to create tools that will radically improve people’s lives, and will be aired on RTÉ One at 9.35pm this Wednesday, 11th March 2020.
Marino Software were tasked with helping Róisín, a 32-year-old mother of three from Dublin, who had been diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease (MND) just one month after her 30th birthday in September 2017. Her motor skills are increasingly deteriorating, making everyday tasks very difficult, and MND will eventually make her lose her ability to speak and communicate with her three daughters and family.
The team at Marino Software worked with Róisín to develop the technology that will allow her to communicate after she has lost her voice – in her own voice. They also developed an app which would allow her to record audio and videos in her own voice – recording her thoughts, experiences and feelings and allowing her to choose who to share them with.
Speaking ahead of the airing of Big Life Fix, Garrett Sheridan from Marino Software, said: “Róisín wants to be able to continue interacting with her daughters after her voice goes, but it was very important to her that she would be able to communicate in her own voice, and not in someone else’s.
“Róisín is a very sociable woman, who is not just the mother to her children, but she is also the mammy to all her brothers and sisters – and there are always people coming and going from her house. She told us about interests which she enjoyed until she was diagnosed such as meditation, music, going to gigs, hiking and going to the gym.
“Over the course of six months we worked with Róisín to map out the types of conversations she has most often and is most likely to continue having – from chatting with her children about school, to typical Irish discussions about the weather!
“We used a combination of recordings and AI-generated sentences for Róisín’s digital voice to be as close as possible to her own voice and built a solution she could start using on her tablet.”
In addition to the main soundboard app, Marino Software built a legacy app for Róisín to be able to record audio and videos and choose who she would like to receive these. This app will keep her voice alive, pass on her experience and capture her wisdom for her children and family.
Garrett Sheridan said “Working with Róisín was an inspiration for all involved. We aimed to positively impact her life and hopefully, we’ve done that. There’s a huge opportunity to enable people through design and technology and our team is excited about building awareness about this.”
