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.
Bluetooth speakers come in many shapes and sizes offering all you need for a portable sound experience but none quite like this but what is most important how good is the sound and does this speaker deliver on the format they give it to us in as this is the first of its kind they are pitching a product in a saturated market when it comes to choice and then you’ve the price to consider too and what you get for your money.
I will get straight to it rather than talk about speakers in general, This is great with sound,design and its something new and not the industry standard which is boring and its build quality is excellent too. How its executed is also great with a decent weight to the product which does not make it feel cheap its simple to use and the sound it delivers is quality and for the bass lovers you will not be disappointed at all.
The product though really shines if you have two of them which enables you to get stereo sound which for a speaker of its size is quite remarkable you will see in the video below tested with one on its own and then two paired together. The product also comes with a built in wallet which you do not have to use but the speaker can be placed anywhere so it is portable beyond your needs and can be used either with magnets and the adhesive covered backing so you can also be adventurous as to where you want to put it.
This packs better sound when placed on a solid surface and gives you extra punch very similar to how a speaker i covered two years the polk boom swimmer which amplifies the sound when attached to a hard surface,the speaker can be laid anywhere but will tend to move at max volume due to vibration,again you will see in the video.
The speaker uses waveboom which enhances the sound compared to other speakers on the market and for its size it does pack the loudest punch for a speaker of its size compared to others I have here or have tested. Portable and affordable with great sound it is an easy recommend from me.. You can also get a case to match some mobile phones but as its aimed at sticking it onto your phone or anywhere, the additional case option is up to the user. With being water resistant and up to 8 hours of battery life it will be ideal for camping,festivals travel alongside personal use.
Oslo-headquartered Poio (www.poio.com), the app providing a compelling, gamified alternative to traditional learning methods, has today announced the UK and Ireland launch of its English language platform, empowering millions of British children to learn to read through play.
Poio, launched in 2017 and acquired by Norwegian game-based learning platform Kahoot! in May 2019, has to date helped over 100,000 Scandinavian children obtain the fundamental skills necessary to achieve reading proficiency. The Poio app (and accompanying physical storybook) provides an immersive learning experience for children, typically aged between 3 and 8. Through playing in the app they explore a magical universe inhabited by the eponymous troll and discover reading through linking the sounds of letters to actual words.
The app-based world of Poio, available for £19 in App Store and Google Play, differs from other digital learning tools through its overall focus on play and encouragement, in a safe and secure environment, enabling children to ‘crack the reading code’ and enjoy the reading process. Poio’s goal is to raise literacy proficiency through the utilisation of phonics – the repetitive practice of letter sounds, which can then be blended together to form complete words – introducing children to the fundamental principles of reading.
Poio’s unique learning solution was devised by CEO, educator and Founder, Daniel Senn, out of necessity. Daniel’s son, Leon, had been born with a hearing impairment which meant that traditional learning methods were inadequate. With school curriculums designed for the majority, Daniel felt that children who struggle to learn to read ran the risk of becoming demotivated as they watched their friends and classmates progress.
As such, Daniel set out to find a solution, working in close collaboration with fellow educators to devise a tool that encourages self-motivated learning and makes the process of learning to read easier and more enriching for children, irrespective of their circumstances or ability. Consequently, Poio has fast-become a much-loved game for many children, from curious, eager learners, to those that require a different way of thinking in order to achieve their goals.
In launching an English-language version of the app, Poio aims to help address alarming statistics from the Department for Education, which revealed that in 2018, 1 in 5 children left primary school unable to read or write properly, as well as the fact that currently, the UK ranks 17th for literacy among 34 OECD countries.
Daniel Senn, CEO and Founder comments: “At Poio, we know firsthand that school systems around the world are designed for the majority of students that develop at the same pace and do not facilitate for those who might take longer to grasp the principles of reading, or those who learn in different ways. We have seen the efficacy of a gamified learning solution with our son Leon, as well as with hundreds of thousands of students across Scandinavia, and are excited to bring the method to the UK and the wider English-speaking world. Reading is one of life’s most fundamental and essential skills, and we want to make sure that children everywhere have access to a solution that works for them, while also raising literacy levels and increasing children’s enjoyment of the school curriculum and reading list”.
The knock-on effect of poor literacy is clear; further research by the OECD, conducted in 2015, found that a concerning number of 15-year-olds across the UK lacked a minimum level of literacy proficiency (18% in England and Scotland, 15% in Northern Ireland, and 21% in Wales), and the World Literacy Foundation estimates that the yearly cost of functional illiteracy to the UK economy is £37bn.
Poio – The Game and Learning Method
Poio facilitates learning to read within a safe gaming environment that children want to explore. The goal of the game is to help a troll, named Poio, learn to read the storybook he has stolen from letter bugs (characters known as ‘readlings’) in a magical location called Straw Island. In a troll-like fit of pique, Poio has imprisoned these letter bugs due to his frustration at being unable to read. To help the troll learn to read, children must free the readlings and collect words. These words are broken down into individual phonetic letter sounds voiced by the readlings, helping the child familiarise themselves with the letter and its corresponding sound and the particularly challenging vowel sounds.
The child is then encouraged to spell out the word and then drag it into a virtual book in order to advance the story, with the difficulty of the game adapting to each individual child. As the child proceeds, they can earn coins for completing in-game challenges, with this currency enabling them to decorate houses unlocked by finishing tasks.
Poio focusses on encouragement – rather than lingering on mistakes – to ensure that a point of failure is never reached whereby the player cannot proceed within the game. Constant encouraging feedback helps boost the learner’s self-esteem and ensures that they are motivated to continue, a factor especially important for low ability readers.
In addition, as part of Poio’s offering, parents receive an email with progress report and advice. This helps foster a positive relationship within families, rather than the frustration and isolation often experienced with traditional homework. Once progress has been made and the virtual book has been completed, the physical storybook can be obtained by adults to give to their children as a reward.
Poio is a game-based learning-to-read app, helping children crack the reading code through play. Founded in 2016, Poio has today helped more than 100,000 children to learn to read. Poio has so far been launched in Norway and Sweden, quickly becoming the #1 learn-to-read app in Scandinavia. In June 2019, Poio will be launched globally through a British English version. The company is headquartered in Oslo, Norway.
Consumer finance company, Flexi-Fi has today released the results of a recent survey in time for Father’s Day. Father’s Day takes place this weekend and the survey asked consumers about their planned gifts for their Dad. Socks n Jocks will be still present for many..LOL..I know how you feel…
Over 2,300 people took part in the exercise and of those surveyed:
86% of people surveyed will give their Dad a card on Father’s Day
75% of shoppers will purchase their father’s gift in-store
22% of people will purchase technology gifts as a present
24% of people surveyed will purchase clothes for their Dad
Aftershave maintains its position as a popular gift for Dads!
Over half of those surveyed will spend €60 or less on a gift
Speaking about Flexi-Fi’s Father’s Day survey, CEO PJ Byrne said: “With Father’s Day happening this weekend we were curious to know what was on consumers shopping lists this year. While it isn’t surprising that technology is up there as one of the top gifts that will be purchased for Father’s Day it is great to see traditional gifts, like aftershave still featuring strongly. The ever reliable aftershave remains a firm favourite for shoppers while most Dads are guaranteed to receive a greeting card to mark the occasion”.
Today we check out the SHURE MV 88+ which has just landed and again newish territory for me which I look forward to checking out, this kit is ideal for bloggers,vloggers and more and has some cool specs with great options to boost the typical experience which for me is usually from a smartphone,this simply lets you mount your smartphone you plug and play.
The MV88+ Video Kit, featuring a digital stereo condenser microphone that provides content creators with an all-in-one solution for capturing professional-quality recordings on-the-go. The kit also includes a Manfrotto® PIXI tripod, phone clamp, and mount as well as iOS and USB-C cables for next-level compatibility and connectivity.
Built on the success and classic design of the MV88 iOS Digital Stereo Condenser Microphone, this latest addition to the Company’s MOTIV line of digital microphones and portable recording solutions delivers Shure signature audio quality for extraordinary content creation. Designed for podcasters, videographers, content creators, field recordists, and musicians looking to record immersive, rich, high-quality audio wherever, the MV88+ accentuates the power of flexibility, enabling you to transform your smartphone device into a professional-level mobile audio and video rig.
Compatible with iOS and other selected devices, the MV88+ Video Kit equips you with a variety of new and improved accessories, arming you with the tools and versatility needed for recording on-the-go. To ensure real-time audio assessment, a headphone jack lets you record with confidence. A convenient phone clamp and tripod stand multiplies the sort of environments you can record in. Whether jamming in your studio, filming your next YouTube video, or live streaming an interview on a crowded trade show floor, you can easily thread your devices into a mounted platform for uninterrupted and stable recording.
Just dropped the all new FUJIFILM INSTAX Mini LiPlay has arrived and a small disclaimer here this is my first camera as I typically use smartphones for all my shots/videos so I am looking forward to testing this guy out and seeing what it can do. Today is a first look and unboxing of the device and if you have any questions feel free to ask below or on our social channels as always.
INSTAX Mini Li-Play is available now in Fujifilm outlets nationwide, RRP €170.00, prices may vary by retailer. You can see more information from our blog HERE.
Update.. Hands on review. UI App and Instax Mini LI-Play
Strencom, the Irish managed connectivity and cloud computing provider, today announced that its Point ‘N’ Click public cloud service has attained VMware Disaster Recovery as a Service™ (DRaaS) Powered status. Strencom has invested €250,000 in the service – building an advanced technology infrastructure as well as investing in new staff and employee training.
Point ‘N’ Click Disaster Recovery (DR) from Strencom reduces the cost of disaster recovery by up to 80%, enabling organisations to affordably recover files and resume normal operations in as little as five minutes. The cloud-based solution is built specifically for on-premise VMware environments and to be easy for organisations to operate and adopt.
The solution records and documents failover and failback testing, which is critical for compliance requirements, especially in regulated industries, such as healthcare, financial services, and legal. Strencom is predicting strong demand for the service from organisations in these highly regulated sectors.
Tim Murphy, CEO, Strencom commented: “We are already seeing strong interest for the service from our channel partners who have an existing base of VMware deployments that they are managing on behalf of their customers. As well as this, we are also actively looking for new partners for the service.”
Strencoms CEO, Tim Murphy announcing that Strencom has signed cloud and connectivity deals totalling 2 million with 140 credit union branches across Ireland.
As an accredited VMware DRaaS provider, Strencom can now enable greater availability, performance and scalability for its customers. The announcement also aligns well with Strencom’s growth strategy, as the company seeks to double its overall cloud business, in addition to continuing to grow its connectivity and unified communications offerings.
Strencom’s disaster recovery (DR) service offers Irish businesses peace of mind that potential downtime and loss of data resulting from a natural disaster, equipment failure or cybercrime can be minimised. The subscription-based service removes the need for capital expenditure, meaning businesses can put in place a reliable disaster recovery solution for minimum cost.
Tim Murphy said: “Businesses are beginning to understand cloud better and are making more informed decisions about which workloads are best suited to which cloud. Strencom’s cloud offering will make up a growing part of our overall business and evolving our disaster recovery service is an important element of this. As a designated VMware DRaaS service provider, we can now deliver true disaster recovery for our customers to ensure their applications, systems and data are all protected”.
DataSolutions, the specialist IT distributor, will host the seventh annual Secure Computing Forum in partnership with INM Events at the RDS, Dublin, on Thursday, 12th September 2019. With more than 500 delegates expected to attend, it promises to be Ireland’s largest cybersecurity event.
Keynote speaker John P Carlin, former assistant attorney general for the US Department of Justice’s (DOJ) National Security Division (NSD), will speak about national security matters, crisis management practices and espionage threats. The other keynote speaker is Mustafa Al-Bassam, an ex-hacker previously affiliated with Lulzsec and Anonymous, who will discuss the importance of fostering transparency and protecting against malware.
Mary-Jo De Leeuw, “Co-Founder and Vice President of the Women in Cyber Security Foundation and formerDirector ofCybersecurity Advocacy Europe Middle East & Africa (ISC), Other speakers include Jamie Bartlett, technology journalist and author of The Dark Net; Paddy McGuinness,recent Deputy National Security Adviser in the UK’s Cabinet Office responsible for intelligence security and resilience; Jamie Woodruff, Europe’s leading ethical hacker; and Helen Dixon, Data Protection Commissioner for Ireland.
The event – which will be hosted by David Keating, group security sales director at DataSolutions, and Adrian Weckler, technology editor at Independent News & Media – will also cover topics such as the most dangerous new cyber-attack techniques, the impact dark net technology is having on cybercrime and cybersecurity challenges associated with obligations to privacy.
Speaking about the conference, Michael O’Hara, Group Managing Director, DataSolutions, said: “When we first thought of the concept for the Secure Computing Forum, we never expected it to reach the heights it has. It’s terrific, after seven consecutive years, that the interest continues to grow and it’s great to partner with INM Events for this year’s conference.
Pictured at the announcement of the 7th Secure Computing Forum that is taking place at The RDS in Dublin on Thursday, 12th September 2019: Roberta McCrossan, Group Marketing Director, DataSolutions and Michael O’Hara, Group Managing Director, DataSolutions
“Cybersecurity is an issue that remains at the top of the agenda for Irish businesses and we are very excited about the line-up of speakers for 2019. We’ll be covering every angle, from company-wide data breaches and individual risks to the dark net and espionage threats. It’s going to be bigger than ever.”
Organised and operated in partnership with INM Events, the event will offer senior business and IT professionals from organisations of all sizes the chance to network with leading providers and cybersecurity experts from across Europe and further afield. For more information and to register for the Secure Computing Forum, visit: www.securecomputingforum.ie. Tickets are priced at €100 (excl. VAT). Refreshments will be provided throughout the day.
The Hedkayse One is a foldable bicycle helmet with Enkayse technology. Using Enkayse makes the helmet much safer than classic polystyrene helmets as it is capable of withstanding multiple drops and impacts unlike the usual one or two before it starts to deteriorate.
So confident were Hedkayse in its new creation, they ran it over in a car (video here), threw it off a cliff (video here), jumped on it (video here) and it remained unscathed, demonstrating how it is virtually impervious to blunt-force trauma, hardly leaving even a scratch.
Easy to fold and carry in a bag and with tests showing that the Hedkayse One is much safer than other helmets on the market, it provides cyclists peace of mind in case of a fall and also prevents repeat purchasing of helmets after damage making it ideal for any bike lover.
WIX, a leading cloud-based web development platform, has added a Customer Support Centre in Dublin, Ireland to further enhance its global support infrastructure and international footprint.
Wix has already recruited and trained a staff of approximately 100 support specialists and office operations personnel ahead of the office’s formal opening. The Dublin support team caters to Wix customers in multiple languages, including English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian, and Russian. Operations in Dublin officially began in September 2018, initially with a staff of nine. Beyond the Dublin location, Wix announced during their latest earnings report an additional growth investment into the next phase of its Customer Solutions organization.
“Our customer support teams are at the frontlines of our product growth and the work they do is invaluable to our company,” said Nir Zohar, President and COO at Wix. “We have significantly increased our global customer support team headcount since 2016, and with the addition of the team in Dublin, we’ll be able to better serve our European customers, and further support our millions of customers around the world. We were delighted to work with IDA Ireland who were wonderful partners in Dublin. Their team provided meaningful connections throughout the city making the process of creating our space there very easy to accomplish.”
Welcoming the announcement, the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Ms. Heather Humphreys T.D., said “I am thrilled by this news and Wix’s decision to establish an office in Dublin. Wix is one of the most popular platforms used by both individuals and businesses to create websites, with over 150 million users worldwide. They will be a great addition to Dublin’s already thriving ICT sector.”
Executive Director of IDA Ireland, Mary Buckley also welcomed the news, stating: “Ireland has the youngest population in Europe with a third of the population under 25 years old and almost half the population under the age of 34. Companies such as Wix benefit from the wealth of multilingual talent, with more than 535,000 non-Irish nationals living in Ireland. Wix will service its European customer base from Dublin due to the multilingual and technological skills available here.”
About Wix
Wix is leading the way with a cloud-based website development platform for over 150 million registered users worldwide today. The Wix website builder was founded on the belief that the Internet should be accessible to everyone to develop, create and contribute. Through free and premium subscriptions, Wix empowers millions of businesses, organizations, artists, and individuals to take their businesses, brands and workflow online. The Wix Editor, Wix ADI, a highly curated App Market, Ascend by Wix and Corvid by Wix enable users to build and manage a fully integrated and dynamic digital presence. Wix’s headquarters are in Tel Aviv with offices in Be’er Sheva, Berlin, Dnipro, Dublin, Kiev, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, São Paulo, Tokyo and Vilnius.
