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 – The Airpods Pro V1 and V2 from MGET. #TrueWireless #AirpodsPro #Tech

There is an increasing amount of cloned products now on the market and this is no different in the True Wireless scene as I have said before and especially when it comes to Apple. I really do feel so sorry for them …. Insert sarcasm detector… But the fact of the matter it is true and these products are just as good for less than half the price of the real thing.

We have tested out this companies Airpods recently and I was impressed with the quality and the looks and for the money it is worth the risk even if you ended up buying several pairs and they lasted a few months before you lose or break one which most people do anyway. So are these any different to the past pair we tried or even the one they are out to copy??

Yes.. There is one difference here but that is it really and this is testing on my Android device and the company does say controls are different to iOS on their site so they are not hiding the fact, There is a force sensor on the original Airpod pro and one visible on these but it is just purely an aesthetic look and does not work, instead you need to use these the old fashioned way and tap the top of the earbud and choose your command but after that the commands worked fine for me over and over again and there was no problems.

You have your usual single tap,double tap and triple tap to execute the music and voice assistants which worked fine as mentioned and when it comes to using individually you cant they do however have auto detect too and once either side is removed the music stops and when reinserted it will continue from obviously where you stopped. There have some bass which is good and pretty much similar to the TWS500 overall and I cant complain about the sound at the price,there is no app to fine tune which is fine and the call quality is fine. Lag latency is minimal here perhaps half a second here and there from my usual Nextlfix and You Tube binge.

Battery life is again on par with their claim and the bluetooth distance is around 35 feet when I started to notice break up. Only gripe is here that there no extra buds in the box but most folk may have some old one lying around to get the secure fit,they do fit much better than the previous pair and give a better seal for noise isolation.

Fun fact, When both are put back in the case they play all by themselves,take a listen if you get them.

VERSION 1

VERSION 2

i500 Pro Wireless Headphones – The Best You Can Find In The Market

Powered by the best Qualcomm Headphones Chip, i500 Pro Wireless Headphones deliver an unparalleled wireless headphone experience. Simply take them out and they’re ready to use with all your devices. Put them in your ears and they connect immediately, immersing you in rich, high-quality sound.

▶ Pop-up Window only for iOS 13.2

i500 Pro has a pop-up window animation only for i0S 13.2, below which can only connect via Bluetooth.

▶ The Power of 15-hour Battery Life

i500 Pro delivers a 4-hour of listening time-all on one charge. And they’re made to keep up with you, thanks to a charging case that holds multiple charges for more than 15 hours of listening time. Need a quick charge? Just put AirPods back in the case for 45 minutes to get up to 4 hours of listening time and 2 hours of talk time.

▶ In-Ear Optical Sensors

i500 Pro TWS Headphones have similar features with the original one such as Optical Sensors, they sense when they’re in your ears and pause when you take them out.

▶ Wireless Charging Case

i500 Pro comes with a Wireless Charging Case, which is used for both charging and storage purposes so it won’t get lost. The Charging Case is about the size of a container of dental floss, so it’s easily pocketable. A Lightning port at the bottom lets the i500 Pro and the case be charged with the Lightning cables you already have on hand, and the Wireless Charging Case lets you charge with a Qi wireless charger.

15% OFF DISCOUNT for the upcoming Christmas, starts on 4th Dec, ends on 15th Dec, and what is more, 2 units in one purchase will be shipped by DHL so you can get the item before Christmas, DON’T MISS OUT!

Discount Code – ALL15%OFF (*Only 2 units or more in ONE PURCHASE is shipped by DHL, delivery time 7 business days.

BUY HERE

CELLO 22” Smart Full HD Traveller TV with Satellite Tuner announced. #Motorhome #CELLO #TV

British TV manufacturer Cello has announced a world first for campers, motorhome owners and lorry drivers across the UK – the Cello Traveller TV, a 22” portable Smart television. Weighing just 2.4kg, this 12v power cable TV is perfect for users wanting a versatile viewing experience outside the home. 
 
With a 22-inch screen and built-in Wi-Fi connections, watching your favourite programme or film couldn’t be easier. Cello customers can now stream from over 1000 apps, including Netflix, Amazon and BBC iPlayer, using various hotspots. 
 
Key features include: 

·         Full HD screen 

·         2.4kg weight for light portability 

·         12v power cable 

·         Wi-Fi and mobile hotspot capabilities  

·         Headphone jack 

·         An interactive recording system, so you never miss a programme 

·         Additional accessories – remote control with batteries, satellite tuner and 12/240V DC adapters 

 
Brian Palmer, CEO at Cello Electronics, commented: “Cello is unquestionably the market leader in creating specialised viewing experiences for niche audiences. And the Traveller TV was created in response to an increase in customer demand. A true world first at only 2.4kg, this TV is extremely light, and its Full HD screen means motorhome owners, glampers and lorry drivers can now enjoy their screen time outside of the home, without having to compromise on quality.”  
 
Priced affordably at £199.99 the new Cello Traveller TV is available from the first week of February 2019 from a range of retailers including Amazon, eBay, CPC, TV Village and HB Products.

Review – Torch 2.0 the portable heater for your jacket. #tech #torch #heating

It is not often you get technology in forms you might not expect but this idea is great. I hate big jackets despite owning some expensive ones and they spend more time in the wardrobe than anything when I say that i might wear them 3/4 times a year.I prefer the sporty light jacket due to my work and travel detail and obviously they are not something to keep you warm in the cold weather. This product however changes this and is something for those who like me should look into not limiting it to that but you can get extra heat on your heavy winter coats too.

 

Not only that this is powered by a portable 6000 mAh powerbank and has 3 modes of heat for you to pick from which is great and not only this the unit can also charge your mobile phone or headphones should you run out of juice so it is a clever idea all round. Check out the video below and if you have any questions feel free to ask below or on our social channels.

Torch 2.0 is a series of 3 very thin heat pads that stick in your coat and provide heat for up to 4 hours on a single charge (4 hours on low and 2.5 hours on high), and with 3 heat settings you can adjust the temperature and perfectly control your body temperature. Torch is also very compact and extremely versatile making it great for outdoor enthusiasts and anyone that just doesn’t like being cold.

*Added safety features protect from short circuits and hot spots.

*Durable and lightweight construction weighs only 4oz and can withstand all your winter activities

Includes

*One Super-Slim Rechargeable 5 Volt, 6,000 mah Lithium Polymer battery

*Included Charger has USB to micro USB cord with a USB wall charger adapter (US standard).

*Charges in 3-4 hours and lasts for up to 500 charges.

*Has proper CE and FCC certifications.

*Installs in seconds- Velcro Brand Peel and stick adhesive pads designed for a permanent hold on fabrics

*Includes 2 installation kits. Each installation kit consists of 3 adhesive backed Velcro patches that install in seconds and fit discreetly in your coat. With 2 installation kits, that means you are able to transfer the Torch Coat Heater between 2 of your favorite coats.

*Durable, thin, lightweight construction weighs only 4 oz.

*Heat Setting Temperatures (Degrees in Fahrenheit)

-High 120°-135° – 2.5 Hours of Use

-Med 110°-120° – 3 Hours of Use

-Low 100°-110° – 4 Hours of Use

*Torch 2.0 is recommended to be hand washed, and Velcro installation kits are machine washable in jackets.

BUY HERE 

 

 

Review – Aegis Secure Key 3NX Flash Drive and Fortress L3 Padlock. #Apricorn #Data #GDPR #Security

With GDPR being a talkative subject it is now up to us to safely keep our data under control however this does not seem to work with the likes of Facebook whom now face huge fines and alongside this much of this information we freely share is down to us what we sign up to and NOT IGNORING the banners that come up on web pages which lets us decide what is share albeit some still require some opt ins to continue within the websites.

Even recently I was at a hotel and to use Wi-Fi I had to opt in to continue using it which I kindly declined and this also goes for many public Wi-Fi hotspots out there in eateries and shopping centres and so on and I would advise to steer clear as they just suck up information. Whatever about being on your mobile phone using such but imagine using your laptop…

I have tried several such items we are looking at today before and these two items from Apricorn are unique in their own right when it comes to security standards and size being portable and easy to use,robust and most importantly secure. The Aegis padlock fortress and Hardware encrypted thumb drive are two valuable pieces of tech you should have in your arson to protect and limit whom has access to the data stored on them. They come in a range of storage formats to suit pockets and as we know storage is expensive these days and capacity is an issue for some and both these have you covered.

Small compact and robust this has all the bells and whistles required with a simple set up as seen in the video above with storage options from 2GB up to 128GB you are covered here.

What to look for on your PC /Laptop

 

FIPS 140-2 level 3 Validation pending | Ultra Compact | On-the-Fly 100% Hardware-Based Encryption | Software-Free Setup and Operation | Cross-Platform Compatible | Host-Free Onboard Keypad Authentication | Rugged Extruded Aluminum Enclosure.

Software-Free, 100% hardware-based 256-bit AES XTS encrypted, onboard keypad PIN authenticated, and ultra-fast USB 3.1 (3.0) data transfer speeds. All Data is encrypted on the fly and the device’s PINs and Data remain encrypted while the drive is at rest. Completely cross-platform compatible and OS agnostic; thrives in Windows, Linux, Mac, Android, Chrome, embedded systems, and equipment possessing a powered USB port and storage file system. All internal componentry is protected from physical tampering with a layer of hardened epoxy, and locked-down firmware brings immunity to malware attacks such as BadUSB.

DATA TRANSFER RATE Up to 77MB/s Read / 72MB/s Write
POWER SUPPLY USB Port / Internal Battery
INTERFACE Super Speed USB 3.1 (Backwards compatible with USB 3.0, 2.0 and 1.1)
DIMENSIONS 81mm x 18.4mm x 9.5mm | 22 g
WARRANTY 3-year Limited Warranty
APPROVALS FIPS 140-2 Level 3 pending 4Q 2018, IP-67, FCC, CE, VCCI, WEE, C-TICK
CERTIFICATION POLICIES click here for certification policy
ECCN   /  HTS  /  CAGE CODE 5A992.c  /  8473.50.3000  /  3VYK8
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Windows®, Mac®, Linux, Android and Symbian systems, or any powered USB OS with a storage file system

BUY HERE 

The Aegis Fortress L3 

The bigger brother of the above given it’s not big compared to some I have tried in the past this is pocketable which is handy or will fit fine in you laptop bag and comes with two cables for connectivity which is standard USB and a USB-C connection cable which is great forward thinking as now we are seeing laptops coming with USB-C ports as well as mobile phones and that includes Apple products. This will also work with USB-C mobile phones.

Again robust, portable and easy to set up this is also a must have in you tech bag be it for personal or business use and again you can limit access to this via admin mode which keeps data under control should you need to move it or transfer to someone else.. Once again this comes in several storage options from 500GB up to 5 TB or SSD from 512GB up to 16TB which the latter will cost you 10 grand.

FIPS 140-2 level 3 Validated (pending Q1 2019)

Delivering all of the same next level security features as our Aegis line of secure drives, in an extremely rugged enclosure, and with a new, ultra fast encryption chipset, the L3 is the fastest, most robust, highest capacity drive we’ve ever made. Tough on the outside, the Fortress L3 is designed to meet NIST’s highest level of FIPS validation attainable for portable devices: 140-2 level 3. Small enough to go in a pocket or briefcase, large enough to carry up to 16TB of data, the Fortress L3 allows you to securely and easily carry large amounts of sensitive data everywhere you go. Available in a wide variety of storage capacities in both HDD and high speed SSD models.

The Aegis Fortress is Software-Free, 100% hardware-based 256-bit AES XTS encrypted, and onboard keypad PIN authenticated with ultra-fast USB 3.1 (3.0) data transfer speeds. All Data is encrypted on the fly and all PINs and Data remain encrypted while the drive is at rest. Completely cross-platform compatible and OS agnostic; the Aegis Fortress thrives with Windows, Linux, Mac, Android, Symbian and Chrome. It also thrives where software-authenticated encrypted devices can’t function, such as embedded systems and equipment in possession of a powered USB port and storage file system but no keyboard.

DATA TRANSFER RATE USB 3.0 – up to 180 MB/sec | *To acheive these data transfer speeds, your computer’s internal drive must be solid state. In the case of your computer having a hard drive, the speed will be limited by your internal HDD
POWER SUPPLY 100% Bus Powered
BUFFERSIZE 8MB
INTERFACE USB 3.0
AVERAGE SEEK TIME 0.1 ms Access Time
SHOCK – OPERATING 1500G/0.5ms | Virtually shock and vibration resistant
WARRANTY 3 Year Limited
APPROVALS FCC, CE | FIPS 140-2 Level 2 Validated (NIST certification # 2835)
CERTIFICATION POLICIES click here for certification policy
ECCN   /  HTS  /  CAGE CODE 5A992.c  /  8473.50.3000  /  3VYK8
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Compatible with all Operating Systems, including Windows, Mac and Linux Requires USB port (for maximum speeds must be used with a USB 3.0 port) – Backwards compatible with USB 2.0 and 1.1 One gigabyte (GB) = one billion bytes; accessible capacity will be less and actual capacity depends on the operating environment and formatting.
COMMENTS Drive Type: Solid State Drive
Encryption: 256-bit AES Hardware Encryption
Operating Temperature Range: -40°F to 158°F (-40°C to 70°C)
Operating Humidity Range: 95% humidity at temperatures under 131°F (55°C)
Vibration: 20G/20-2000Hz

 

BUY HERE 

Review and set up – The Amazon Echo Dot 3rd Gen. #Amazon #EchoDot #Tech

The 3rd gen echo dot has mostly addressed issues of old and packs much better sound and also looks better than previous iterations and looks similar to the Google Mini home but the Amazon is more user friendly when it comes to being a smart hub in your house or office.

You will get the same familiar layout on top again given you will not have to use the buttons much aside muting Alexa from snooping in on your conversations there is an option there to activate Alexa just in case it does not pick you up which has not being an issue for me and is quite good even across a big room it has not failed in that department.

The USB charge port is also gone which might be an issue for some but its no huge deal and it comes hard wired so to speak so you just plug and play and leave it sat where you may want it at any given time once a power source is nearby.

Alexa like before is great for local weather,news and lots more including skills which are added I had several updates on my app whilst trying this out however Alexa compared to Google for the smart equipped home is where it wins and for those with multiple smart devices in house this is what you need for a seamless experience as we now have more smart devices at home than ever such as smart bulbs and kettles etc the list is now becoming endless..

 

The 3RD gen version launched at the same price as the older one and is a worthy upgrade and better again you can pair both for a stereo sound effect with music but it is not as good as standalone speakers but not to be sniffed at either and as I mentioned above you dont have to stand beside it either to get commands going due to far field technology inside.. One thing I would say is do not put it near your radio or TV.

Now available widely throughout Ireland…

 

Revealed – The Mystery of Android Mobiles and Gadgets by @Barrack_Diego #Android #Gadgets #Tech

As with the advancement in technology the needs and wants of humans also enhances. So, by keeping the same thing in mind, there’s an establishment of Android Mobile phones takes place. It is the best establishment that makes the life of humans easier than before. Not only is this, in this modern and technical era of the world there are also various gadgets and devices available. These advanced devices and gadgets make our lives easy. With the help of these gadgets or Android mobiles we also able run business and perform various activities by sitting at home.

The invention of these gadgets and Android Mobiles become the best and classic discovery these days. There is hardly any person who doesn’t make the use of these advanced gadgets and Mobiles. Those things or dreams which were only the means of imagination before, have now twisted into reality. The mobile phones transformed the style in which individuals interrelate with each other.  Earlier there are landline phones which the people only able to make use when they are at home, office or any other particular place where the phone is available.

But, after coming of Android mobile phones individuals and people are free to make use of them easily and properly whenever and wherever they are. These gadgets are very handy and far better as compared to the landline phones. With the help of these Android mobile phones, one can easily communicate with their family members, friends, relatives, and any other person. These mobile phones are also able to send private messages, emails, and various other essential activities. People can capture images and videos on these gadgets and also listen to music whenever they want. You can go ahead with the best digital marketing campaigns with the help of androids and gadgets.

Learn about the major advantages of Android Mobiles

There are various advantages, and you can say that the benefits of Android mobiles are present. It is necessary for the users and people to know these advantages properly to make the best and perfect use of these gadgets. So, below are some major advantages of Android phones are given and about which every single individual should know –

  • Multitasking – These android gadgets easily perform various tasks at a single time. Unlike all other mobiles or gadgets, one can perform several activities together. The main and common example of the same advantage is that one can surf the internet as well listening music in the background.
  • Support all types of media – It means that these android gadgets are used to store every type of media file. One can easily capture and record any media file in these android mobiles. These gadgets support HD videos and images to get the best experience of getting entertainment.
  • Easiness of notification – It refers to every single activity is related to your android phone such as email, messages and all other activities easily come to your screen in the form notifications. The android technology of your mobile always alert you or give you the notifications of all types of activities, so you miss nothing with your gadget.
  • Bigger screen – Yes, you heard right. These android gadgets or mobiles are having a big screen so that one can perform every single task easily. So, if the people and individuals want to experience the bigger screen, then Android phones are the best choice to deal with.
  • Cost-saving – It is the major and foremost advantage of dealing with Android gadgets. These android phones are available in fewer amounts as compared to mobiles or gadgets which are supporting IOS. So, if people want to reach everything or want to experience every new or modern technology then making use of android phones is far better. These android gadgets are easily available online and in the market in different ranges. It means that these are available from low to high cost and users are free to choose according to their choice and budget.
  • Having widgets – Well, as compared to IOS operating system Android system provide more widgets to its users. In android based mobiles there are various widgets available on the home screen, and with the help of it you easily go to the setting and set it accordingly. The same feature makes it easy for users to handle the entire system accordingly and easily.

These are some common advantages of Android gadgets. These advantages also play a significant role as the reasons why one has to choose the Android gadgets over others.

Main features of Android gadgets

There are numerous features of android mobile available. All the individuals and people must know each and every single thing about these android mobiles such as their features and functions. So, below are some main features of these android mobiles given, and everybody must know about them properly –

  • Calling – It is the essential feature which makes these Android gadgets more useful. With the help of these phones or you can say gadgets, one can easily communicate or make calls with any other person, family members, relatives and friends who are far away from them. So, these are the best and easier way to interact with each other.
  • Social media apps – These android mobiles are having a good capability to run all types of social media apps in them. So, one can easily make use of any social media app while using these gadgets and also get the best experience of becoming social via these applications.
  • Messaging – With the help of these mobiles people can easily send or receive messages. Individuals accordingly send the text messages to any person anytime and anywhere. The same messages are available in the two forms, and that is MMS and SMS.
  • Camera – These android gadgets have a camera which is used to capture the pictures and videos. The camera which is including in these Android gadgets is of good quality and capture or records HD images and videos.

Conclusive Words

By going through the entire information which is mentioned above, one can easily understand the value of Android gadgets these days. When brands have mobile responsive design things become easy for all.  So, dealing with the android mobiles makes the person’s life easy, simple and stress-free these days.

Social Profiles of Barrack –

Unboxing and first look. The Blackberry Key2. #Blackberry #Key2 #Tech

The Blackberry Key 2 has arrived with many features updated from its last iteration and once again sports the best keyboard in the industry for those who like them.The do take a bit to get use to but once you do you will be flying. The Key 2 we have comes with 6GB RAM and 64GB of storage which is expandable up to 256GB. With a smaller screen than most it is 4.5 inches with an IPS LCD display and 433ppi. The Key 2 also has a dual camera set up series 7000 aluminum chassis and has a snapdragon 660 chipset. Check out the unboxing below and if you have any questions feel free to ask us while we test it out.

BUY HERE

Review – StarTech USB-C 7 PORT and 4 PORT hubs. #tech #USBC #StarTech #Connectivity

StarTech is a company that makes connectivity easy offering over 200 connector types and technologies used in IT solutions which is something that is growing by the day and USB-C is one connectivity option growing but moving faster now than before but many products lack or do not support and for anyone using both such as myself but now USB-C is my main choice these two products we have today are ideal for those on the go or who have multiple devices at hand such as bloggers or vloggers and so on and it makes life much easier and not only that they can also charge your devices too as well as transfer data from one source with no host and in short makes you get the job done easier being a multi device user.

7-Port USB-C Hub – USB-C to 5x USB-A and 2x USB-C – USB 3.0

Turn a USB Type-C port on your laptop into five USB Type-A ports (5Gbps) and two USB Type-C ports

This USB-C hub turns your laptop or desktop USB Type-C or Thunderbolt 3 port into four standard USB-A ports, one USB-A fast-charge port, and two USB-C ports. You can also extend the range of your USB devices by using this hub as a mid-point repeater.

Connect more devices, quickly and easily

The 7-port USB hub provides convenient port access. The extended length of the supplied cable offers the flexibility to position your hub and USB devices as needed, in order to create a comfortable, space-efficient work area. The ports are sufficiently spaced to plug or unplug your USB devices without needing to disconnect other devices from neighboring ports.

With extra USB 3.0 ports, you can increase productivity and connect more devices to your computer, or avoid the hassle of swapping connected devices on your port-limited laptop.

The hub lets you extend the life of your current USB 3.0 devices while also taking advantage of newer USB-C devices.

Charge-and-sync your mobile devices

With the available fast-charge port, the hub helps to ensure that your tablet or smartphone are charged and ready to use when you need them. You can also sync and access your device while it’s charging. The USB-A charge port supports USB Battery Charging Specification 1.2.

The HB30C5A2CSC is backed by a 2-year StarTech.com warranty and free lifetime technical support.

BUY HERE 

4-Port USB-C Hub – 4x USB-A

Expand the connectivity of your USB-C™ laptop with this new-generation USB-C 10G hub. It plugs into your laptop’s USB Type-C™ or Thunderbolt™ 3 port, adding four USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A ports, so you can quickly connect more USB devices. It’s bus-powered, so there’s no external power adapter required.

Connect Your USB Devices to Enhance Productivity

This four-port USB Type-C hub enhances your productivity, giving you the connections you need while you work. Connect the latest USB devices, like flash drives, capture devices and external hard drives, with fast data transfer speeds of up to 10Gbps, to save time when transferring large files.

The USB-C hub also lets you extend the life of your existing USB devices – it’s backward compatible with previous versions of USB devices.

Bus-Powered for Easy Portability

The compact, lightweight USB-Type-C hub is a convenient and portable addition to your laptop. It’s bus-powered, so it draws its power directly from your computer’s USB-C port, with no external power required. That means fewer cables to carry with you when you travel. It also has a built-in cable (9.8 in./25 cm) for convenient travel.

Universally Supported for Easy Installation

The USB 3.1 hub works with a wide range of operating systems, including macOS, Windows® and Linux™. It installs automatically when you connect it to your laptop or desktop, so you can be up and running quickly.

HB31C4AB is backed by a StarTech.com 2-year warranty and free lifetime technical support.

BUY HERE 

 

Review – The Powerstones Trio 5000 mAh powerbanks and dock. #ttec #powerstones #charging

I own a stack of powerbanks and it has to be said most are just a standard flat block type units (not to take it away from their fucntionality) and boring bar a recent review of a Duracell unit which has its own design. This new product from ttec (Genuine Solutions) however is also different with two stone shaped portable stones and also a charging dock which looks really well and current and its also compact and tidy and can be placed anywhere in the home of office. Also to note these are light and portable and both offer you a 5000 mAh back up and can easily fit in a pocket or you can keep in your tech bag for your travels for holidays and tech events.

click to enlarge

Given today we now carry more devices that need power on the go these are ideal for the likes of mobile phones, headphones,earphones,tablets and more and they are something to consider if you are looking for a new powerbank solution.These will work with MICRO USB and USB-C devices as shown and also come with a 3 year warranty Check out the video below and feel free to ask any questions.

  • – 2 Pcs 5.000mAh ultra high capacity battery
  • – Wireless charging station
  • – Fast charging with 2.1A output
  • – LED battery indicator
  • – Current protected for safe charging
  • – Capacity: 10,000 mAh
  • – Battery Type: Li-Polymer
  • – Input: 1 x Micro USB Input
  • – Output: 2 USB Output
  • – Charging Time: 7 Hours

AMAZON