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.

Review – Simplisafe home security system. #Simplisafe #Security #Tech

I have multiple security setups here,probably too many but this system is a one stop shop for your needs which can be built upon with more products as you go, In fairness many systems are the same but any I have tried all missed one important thing which is exit/entry point sensors alongside the camera. Also this has probably the best base station I have used as it is full of life with audio cues and it even lights up and the system as a whole is so easy to set up and requires NO DRILLING as they are all set with adhesive pads which is great and does not require an expensive installation bill from a professional.

Disclaimer… The monitoring service does not work here in Ireland yet not will it in the near future as we got in touch with them upon setup and they responded which also put their support team to the test and they were quick to help out . So my review is based on the system itself and how it worked without the service plan.

Setting up is simple but I would plan out out where you are going to place the equipment then it will take you no longer than ten minutes to have it up and running it is that easy,OK it might be easier for me as I am custom to setting up the likes on a regular basis but it really simple.

The package we tested can be seen below.

The control panel is easy to use yet a bit on the big side but it can be either fixed to the wall with its included bracket,again adhesive backed and the controller can be taken anywhere in the house for your convenience. I would go through the settings first before moving on you can see this in the video below.

Set up your camera next which again is an easy process like most these days,the app is quite good here and helpful too should you get lost on the way,then I would add my entry/exit sensors to the system, again seen in video then add your motion sensor and you are good to go,once all this is set up you can name the points on the system and check they are all operational via the control panel or by simply doing a system test once all this is done you are good to go.

You can add other products to this if you like and this one was almost complete for me as one camera is not enough i would rather one system complete than several running at once which is what I have now and its taxing to say the least but my house is secure but the simplicity behind this product is what sells it for me especially with the installation process. Check out the video below for more and you should check it out too but keep in mind you need to check the availability of monitoring asides that I think this is a great product.

Ready-made kits range from The Starter – designed for small homes and flats at £279 – to the larger Windsor and Bamburgh kits (£454 – £504). Custom systems can also be created to fit more unique homes using the Build My System tool. SimpliSafe’s Pro Premium interactive monitoring plan is £19.99 per month, whilst the Pro level plan, which solely provides 24/7 monitoring services, costs £12.99 per month. EXCEPT ROI….

Looking for a job in IT or Tech check out IrishJobs.ie by clicking the image below..

Overall this is a one stop shop to protect your home

BUY HERE

New Bank of Ireland SMS scam seems rampant. #Scams @bankofireland

Recently there was a scam which involved AIB,GMAIL and Primark and over the weekend one has been doing the rounds via sms or what is known as Smishing/Phishing where you will get a link and be directed another to a site similar to the official site the scammer tries to portray. This is purely an attempt to steal your information and that is it. As usual just ignore ,delete and block then report to your bank.

I got the sms this morning and several people have contacted me with the same yesterday so pass it on to your family and friends. You have been warned. Back in Feb this year a similar scam was doing the rounds where people where getting calls and emails to this time however it seems to be just the sms for now anyway.

Numbers to look out for are 086-1801444 – 086-1801445 – 0861801466

Banks will never send sms requesting the above.

Is it over for Instagram influencers? #Instagram #Influencers

According to Influencer Marketing Hub, 86% of marketers intend to dedicate a portion of their budget to influencer marketing this year.

On the 17th of July, the industry was caught by surprise with the announcement that Instagram will start hiding the Likes public counter in an international test to remove pressure on users seeking Likes.  The stated goal is to support better mental health amongst users.

Influencers and agencies see this as a threat to future growth but Connector, an Irish Open Innovation Studio, believes that it is only a start for better measurement. Twitter and Instagram have a very funny verification process and non transparent and will not tell us how but you have genuine people that are known household names and then you have unknowns verified and many knowns NOT verified, However if like me and many others the term itself is bandied around too much and people are labelled as influencers and the metrics do not add up and perhaps this is a good thing to clamp down on the term and the SELF APPOINTED

“Likes were always a false metric, from people buying fake engagements to research showing no correlation between Likes and sales.  We believe this is a positive development to lead marketers to look beyond vanity metrics and measure influencers strategically” says Ivan Adriel, Head of Digital at Connector.

In their latest infographic, Connector explores the best practices to find and measure influencer efforts looking beyond the Likes.

Review – The @Ergotron WorkFit-T, Sit-Stand Desktop Workstation. #Tech #Office #Home

If you are working from home or indeed your office most of us tend to sit down all the time and for me especially of late it is a bit cumbersome as I am based at home more so than before, One thing I have noticed though when out at meetings there is a huge increase in what we call standstations here in many office environments and they are a great idea for active for and indeed non active people who sometimes are stood up at their normal dest bend over typing away, I am guilty of that situation but now I can sit or stand at my own leisure with this Desk convertor which comes set up out of the box and it is a godsend.. It will save your back in the long run.

I tend to be working from two laptops or two areas in my new house but will be building an office outside soon where this will lay permanent taking the work and blogging out of the house for good as it is best to keep them apart for many reasons, peace and quiet being one and space is another.

The ease of use in this product is what sells it for me, there is no setup it is ready to go out of the box and requires lifting a handle either side to adjust to your specific height or you can leave it down if you require to do so,some setups I have seen have much more effort to put in and requires adjustments in several places where this is one movement and it is at ease with no noise or interruption to your setup. This is a win..

The unit is in one piece and is heavy so you will need to take that into mind and get your measurements right,this arrived on a small pallet and is heavy so you may need assistance to place it where you plan to finally leave it but once it is down it is going nowhere and has rubber feet each corner to stop it from moving along with its weight.

I also got a mat to enhance the comfort level when standing and this really helps too especially if you are barefooted or in socks for example,even in trainers/shoes it adds to the comfort level when using the desk.

The is a cut out at the rear to let cables fall down behind and there is holes in the middle to drop any other cables you might have to tidy away or if you have a tower stand it can be attached via the holes in the centre,On the front there is a decent cut out too and is comfortable to work on despite the material used and this again makes life easy as you can still rest your arms as normal but be more connected with your equipment at the same time.

Build quality is top notch here and I cant see why this would not last a lifetime unless you had an accident or dropped it when moving I still cant see it breaking this is built to last and it is also built to make life better,give you a choice to sit or stand and not interrupt anything in the process.

Check out ergetron for more and see their full range and tell us if you have one or intend to get one..

 

Irish Cyber Security Start-Up Sets Sights on Protecting Global Businesses from Cyber Attacks

An Irish cyber security start-up has launched its latest offering to the tech industry, which includes a suite of new features which, they say, have the potential to change how companies all over the world respond to cyber-attacks.

Tines is a Security Orchestration Automation and Response (SOAR) platform, that allows information security teams to automate repetitive, manual workloads, making them more effective and more efficient. The Irish software creators say that key to differentiating themselves from marketplace competitors is that their platform allows users with no coding or development experience to automate even the most complex tasks regardless of technology integration.

Speaking of the launch Eoin Hinchy Founder of Tines,

“Although we are only just over a year in the business, the response from security teams worldwide has been strong and we now have huge organisations on our list of customers and the demand for what we have to offer continues to grow as more and more people learn of Tines.

Our latest product release includes many features which were developed on feedback from our early customers telling us what they need but what is currently unavailable on the market, such as improved searching and automation templates for nearly 1,000 security actions commonly performed by security teams.”

Since its launch in early 2018, Tines has already amassed a significant bank of global clients, including Bank of Ireland, McKesson Inc. and DocuSign. Common use-cases for the Tines platform include automating responses to phishing attacks, remediating compromised assets infected with malware, and ensuring that threat alerts are verified before they land on a security analyst’s plate.

Tines say that because it is predicted that there will be 3.5 million unfilled cyber security jobs worldwide by 2021[1], companies are increasingly turning to automation to ensure security teams are working as efficiently and effectively as possible.

Duncan Godfrey, Senior Director of security at Auth0 commented on their experience with the Irish start-up,

“As a company undergoing significant growth, we need to scale our threat detection and response through automation. Human security resources are finite and valuable, so having them working on the right things is critical. We use Tines to consume alerts from both the commercial and bespoke technologies in our detection stack. This allows us to quickly enrich every alert with missing context, auto-close false positives, deduplicate based on Indicators of Compromise and automate response.”

Mr. Hinchy said that Tines customers are “some of the most attacked companies in the world, including: Fortune 10’s, global banks and public and private SaaS companies. What attracts them to us is the fact that our platform allows security analysts with no development or engineering background automate almost any workflow regardless of complexity or technology integration”.

Global spending on cybersecurity products and services is expected to exceed $1 trillion cumulatively over the five-year period from 2017 to 2021.

Tines has set the wheels in motion for its business to leverage off this forecast and it expects to grow considerably over the next 18 months, with plans to double its workforce by the end of 2019.

Google Maps Introduces Real-time DublinBikes Updates. #DublinBikes #Bikesharing #Cycling

Today Google announces that it has fully integrated real-time information from DublinBikes stations into Google Maps, making it easier for the public to not only find DublinBikes stations around the city, but also to know at a tap of the screen how many bikes are available and how many spaces are vacant at each station, all without leaving the Google Maps app. At present the function covers DublinBikes only.

The function is now available on the Google Maps app on Android and iOS.

Bikesharing is booming as this two-wheeled technology transforms how people get from A to B in cities around the planet. With an estimated 1,600 bikeshare systems and more than 18 million shared bikes in urban centers worldwide, bikesharing has gone mainstream. And for good reason–it’s a convenient, affordable, fun and hassle-free way to get around.

For the past year, travellers and commuters in New York City have been using Google Maps to both locate bikesharing stations and see exactly how many bikes are available at a station in real-time. Today, Google is rolling out this feature to a total of 24 cities in 16 countries.

From New Taipei City to Toronto, you can now use Google Maps to locate bikeshare stations and pinpoint how many bikes are available near you. You can also find out whether there’s an empty space at a station near your destination for you to leave your bike. This is all made possible by incorporating a new global bike share data feed directly into Google Maps, thanks to a partnership with Ito World.

Whether you’re travelling in a new city or planning your daily commute, Google Maps is making it easier to weigh all your transportation options with real-time information. Just like how we show you when buses and trains are coming and going in Google Maps, you’ll now know which bikeshare stations have a bike ready for you.

This bird’s eye view into bikesharing is now available in Google Maps on Android and iOS in the following cities globally with more on the way:

Barcelona, Berlin, Brussels, Budapest, Chicago, Dublin, Hamburg, Helsinki, Kaohsiung, London, Los Angeles, Lyon, Madrid, Mexico City, Montreal, New Taipei City, New York City, Rio de Janeiro, San Francisco Bay Area, São Paulo, Toronto, Vienna, Warsaw, Zurich

See more

First look at the Logitech Zone Wireless with ANC and Qi Charging. #Headphones #Logitech

I have tested many headphones before designed specifically for office and in most cases they are simple and lack features but not these. These come with Wireless charging and ANC and are aimed at office folk especially those who work in the open space capacity where you will need your own private space when talking and working and these seem the perfect fit with ANC built in and also being light and comfortable. We will be testing these out over the coming weeks and if you have any questions feel free to ask as usual..

Designed for mobile workers, Zone Wireless provides the versatility to wirelessly connect to your computer, tablet, and smartphone simultaneously and seamlessly switch between connected devices at will. The 30 m wireless range provides freedom to roam while staying connected. Transition between phone chats, video conferencing, music, and general noise reduction throughout your day—all with the same headset and happy-making acoustic performance.

Looking for a job in IT or Tech? Click the image below

BUY HERE 

First look at the Logitech MX Master 2S wireless mouse. #Logitech #Mouse #Wireless #Office

Not one to use a mouse that much til late I have tried a few in the past and they all pretty much do the same for me in my work environment but I have recently changed setups in the house and this mouse fits really good in the hand but has much more to offer than the traditional mouse I would be custom to. I will be testing this guy out so feel free to ask any questions as usual.

Logitech’s flagship mouse is designed for masters of productivity who want to get more done, more efficiently. Amongst a number of advanced features, MX Master 2S offers Logitech Flow for seamless cross-computer control, advanced scrolling, high precision tracking on all surfaces and a stunning design. Optimized for Windows and Mac.

Looking for a tech or IT job? Click the image below..

BUY HERE 

Ditch The Mid-Summer Wardrobe Woes with Speck’s New Line of Vibrant Prints. #Cases #SPECK

With holidays and festivals still on the horizon, it’s time to start thinking about our Midsummer wardrobes. After weeks of wearing your favorite Summer staples, it’s easy to fall into a style slump. Luckily, Speck has the perfect accessory to inject some life into your wardrobe. Make sure you keep your phone stylish and safe this Summer with Presidio Inked.

Speck understand that outfits are of top importance when heading to a festival or on a city break. The right accessories can re-vamp any look – giving them a new lease of life – and a phone case is no exception! Available in a selection of eye-catching and vibrant designs, Presidio Inked is more than just a protective case.

Marble, acid-wash prints like Lilac Ice imitate swirls of soft-serve gelato – a nostalgic yet stylish statement piece, perfect for a Summertime city break or seaside getaway. Tropical, multicolor prints like Sun Dyed Leaves are peak festival chic, standing boldly in line with this season’s neon trend.

Unlike other printed cases, Presidio Ink’s prints are crafted with a 7-step dye sublimation process, meaning that the patterns are permanently embedded into the case’s shell and won’t fade away. An added protective coating protects the case from fading and yellowing, which will keep the case looking Summertime fine, all Summer long.

In addition to adding some flare to your Summer looks, Presidio Inked will keep your phone safe from drops of up to 3 meters.  Speck’s products are lab-tested for real-life situations, so your mind can be at ease when dancing front row at your favorite artist’s show.

Presidio Inked’s dual-layer design features ridges of IMPACTIUM™ material, which absorb and disperse shock for added protection. Its unique design still allows for Qi wireless charging, making it an all-round must-have this Summer.

— Available for iPhone X/ XS/ XS Max/ XR/ 7/ 8/  —