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.

MAGIX releases its first #virtualreality software – Photostory Premium VR creates extraordinary virtual worlds

MAGIX Software announces Photostory Premium VR, its first virtual reality software. Now impressive virtual worlds can be created in just a few steps with conventional photos and videos, and no additional hardware is required.

 The release of Photostory Premium VR complements MAGIX’s successful Photostory product family with a new, innovative way of editing photos and videos. The program includes an extensive set of VR functions, the full functionality of Photostory Deluxe and numerous additional effects.

Photostory Premium VR offers users various options to create interactive VR presentations. 360° photos and videos can be assembled to form professional virtual tours. Additional content such as regular photos and videos or texts can be added and edited with just a few clicks. The software also makes it possible to achieve real surround sound by adding audio files. Users who do not have an extensive collection of 360° or 3D content can also display their conventional photos and videos in one of the 3D worlds provided by the program.

 

No additional hardware is required to run Photostory Premium VR and create impressive interactive VR presentations. Even an ordinary PC or laptop can realize the full potential of this incredible new VR software. It brings a technology, which is increasingly used at trade fairs and in the real estate industry, to a completely new audience of every-day users. Photostory Premium VR also supports advanced VR hardware and fully-featured VR content that can be extensively edited.

For sharing and playing finished VR experiences MAGIX provides the free app MAGIX VR-X Player. This allows viewing on a PC or laptop, with VR glasses or with a VR headset for smartphones.

MAGIX has also announced Photostory Premium VR 365 which is a subscription service that allows users to enjoy all of the professional features of Photostory Premium VR for a low monthly fee.

“Virtual reality is currently one of the most exciting technological developments of our age”, says Stefan Renz, Photostory Premium VR’s product owner. “We have  over 20 years of experience in developing photo and video editing software and are using this knowledge to help shape VR innovation. We truly believe that Photostory Premium VR will greatly expand the circle of users who can take part in this exciting new technology.”

 

MAGIX has already been working on VR projects with Intel (Alloy) and Microsoft (HoloLens). In 2017 the company acquired Dresden software firm, simplitec GmbH in order to tap into the virtual reality market. The simplitec team is now fully focused on VR development under the MAGIX management.

Depending on their requirements VR newcomers and professional producers of VR content can choose between different versions of Photostory Premium VR:

 

  • Photostory Premium VR £109.99  
  • Photostory Premium VR 365 from £7.49 per month

 

  • VR-X Player free of charge

For more information:

https://www.magix.com/gb/photo-graphic/photostory-premium-vr/

Rehegoo to launch new streaming service, Rehegoo Streaming, in April. #streaming #music

Rehegoo will be launching its brand new streaming service, Rehegoo Streaming, in April 2018. The new streaming service is dedicated to playing music, royalty free, to colour the background in retail shops, hotels, spa, restaurants etc.

 

Rehegoo are always looking for the next ‘New Sound’, just as much as we want to spread that new sound. If you are a business looking to find the perfect music for your specific atmosphere, then we are here for you. The service is perfect for all, from cafés to canapés, filling out the ambiance of your passion project.
Rehegoo was founded in 2014 by Italian entrepreneur, Marco Rinaldo. He has always had a great passion for composing and producing music, a passion we pump into all of our projects. Rehegoo boasts 2.5 million albums sold worldwide, over 3 billion annual plays on streaming networks, and our artists regularly occupy the top 100 of their Genres.
Short answer: We know our music.

Get 25% off new earphones and headphones with Urbanista this Easter. #tech #Urbanista

Fancy some new cans or earphones, Urbanista are now offering customers a tidy discount for the Easter period, We have an extensive range of prodcuts reviewed from Urbanista which you can find HERE

 

The offer is valid until Tuesday 3rd April 2018 and you will need to enter the code URBANEASTER at the checkout. Urbanista also offer FREE SHIPPING worldwide,Stay tuned for more reviews coming soon from the great prodcuts Urbanista have to offer.

Head over to their website HERE 

 

 

FBD insurance offer €50 discount for dashcam users #dashcams #motoring #insurance

I have gone on long enough about vehicles not having dashcams as standard but it does not seem to be happening just yet, With the majority of the insurance industry here fleecing us left right and centre many motorists now have turned to using dashcams to protect themselves from fraudulent claims and indeed evidence which can’t be denied should it be used.

Dashcams can help you and others when it comes to accidents and more and all vehicles should have them fitted as a standard be it just a front facing one rear facing or better again both, all motorists should consider investing in dashcams because one day it will reward you and could save you a chunk of money.

FBD are now offering an incentive to dashcam users which is good and other companies should start doing the same perhaps in time they probably will. This is a welcome move and if you do not own a dashcam now go get one and if you are with FBD this is good news, As a long time user of dashcams and having tested multiple units they have proven very beneficial to me and you could also capture more than accidents on them. Search Dashcam in our search box for reviews.

WHY USE A DASHCAM?

  • Make our roads safer
    We all play a part in road safety. As witness to our driving behaviour, dashcams encourage us to avoid taking risks. Responsible drivers are better drivers.
  • Show when you’re not at fault
    In the event of a dispute, video evidence could be the difference in you keeping your insurance premium down by protecting your No Claim Discount or reclaiming your excess.
  • Help settle your claim
    Dashcams capture unexpected road events and some even record when a car is unattended. This can help with claims investigation, saving you time and hassle.
  • Fight insurance fraud
    Don’t be a victim of “crash-for-cash” scams or dangerous driving. Help tackle fraud head-on and lower insurance costs for safer drivers.

Check out the deal below. Hattip Liam Burke

FBD Dashcam discount

Terms and conditions pdf

 

 

First look and unboxing. The Jabra Elite 65t. #Jabra #Tech #earbuds #Elite65t

The Jabra Elite 65t have just dropped in and these look really nice and we will be checking them out over the next few weeks. Today we unbox them,take a look at these new earbuds and the package contents, Over the next week or two if you have any questions feel free to ask below or on social media.

Engineered for the best true wireless voice and music experience. The Elite 65t is a third generation true wireless earbud aimed at those who want the best voice and music experience without wires. It is engineered to ensure a stable wireless connection and best call and voice quality. The 65t includes one-touch access to Siri, and Google Now, new integration for Amazon Alexa on-the-go and has up to 15 hours of battery life (with cradle). Read more HERE

 

Sophos – Facebook data – the dangers of social media T&C’s #SocialMedia

With it emerging just how much data Facebook has on you, and how it can be exploited, people are starting to consider whether they should have been aware of the privacy implications from the start.

Although there are questions being raised about Facebook’s data practices, there are certainly ways in which users can be more careful with the information they share. Paul Ducklin, Senior Technologist at Sophos, has looked into the issue, and commented on the dangers of social media T&C’s

Paul Ducklin, Senior Technologist at Sophos, comments on the dangers of social media T&Cs….

  1. What are the dangers of not reading the T&C’s when signing up to things like Facebook?
  2. It’s not enough just to read the T&Cs when joining – you need consider the implications of all the security and sharing settings for any social media site long after you’ve signed up. After all, new features and settings might be added, which you’ll need to consider; and anyway you might change your own attitudes to privacy over time.

Just as importantly, you need to keep track of what powers you’ve granted along the way to any plugins, extensions or apps you’ve added to your account, especially apps that can post new content or communicate with your friends in your name. If your account ends up being used by crooks to attack other people, that makes you part of the cybercrime problem, as well as being  a victim of it.

Paul Ducklin – Sophos
  1. What are normally the most privacy-infringing parts of these contracts? e.g. photographs, data on where you live etc.
  2. There’s no universal answer to “what settings put your privacy most at risk,” because different people are willing to share different parts of their lives.

Just remember that by giving away one  tiny piece of information at a time – a holiday destination here, your home address there, your birthday somewhere else – you may be leaving behind a social engineering goldmine for crooks who want to pose as you in the future.

However, if there’s one data-sharing setting I’d suggest to review first, it’s your location. Do you really need to tell anyone who wants to know where you are at every moment? Does everyone need to know every twist and turn of every training run, every bike ride, every car journey you make?

  1. How can people be more careful with their data online in the future?
  2. Stop. Think. And only then connect. Remember: if in doubt, DON’T GIVE IT OUT!

 

PlayStation Now is Available in Ireland. #Playstation #PSNow #Gaming #Streaming

PlayStation Now – a game streaming subscription service is now available in Ireland. With a monthly subscription, available for €14.99, gamers will now be able to track back through a catalogue of more than 500 of their favourite PS3 & PS4 games. PS Now is also compatible for Windows PC users. This will be much welcome news.

Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe (SIEE) today is launching PlayStation™Now (PS Now) game streaming subscription service in Ireland.

With one subscription, players on PlayStation®4 (PS4™) and Windows PC can enjoy more than 500 PlayStation®3 (PS3™) and PS4 games. Windows PC users can play using their DS4 andother compatible controllers.

Games are regularly added and include PlayStation exclusives such as The Last of Us, Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception, and Killzone Shadow Fall; blockbuster hits like Red Dead Redemption, Batman: Arkham City, and WWE 2K16; and family friendly titles including LEGO® Movie Videogame, LEGO® Harry Potter™: Years 1-4, and Tearaway Unfolded.

For a full list of games available on PS Now, please click here.

PS Now enables players to stream games without game downloads, installs, or patches as well as save game progress in the PS Now cloud save storage so that they can seamlessly resume their progress on a PS4 or Windows PC. A subscription also enables players to unlock both PS3 and PS4 trophies, send and receive online multiplayer invites[i], and share gameplay status updates with their friends list.

PS Now offers a seven day free trial. The monthly subscription is available for €14.99.

In addition to Switzerland, Austria and Ireland, PS Now is also available in the U.S., Canada, Japan, U.K., Germany, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg.

For more information on PS Now, please click here.

Infographic – 10 ways on how Amazon is going to control our lives. #Amazon #IoT #tech

Amazon is growing at incredible speed every year, gradually becoming a company capable of providing all products and services imaginable. Recently, the brand shook the earth by announcing that it was going to develop in the banking industry. We notice that society is in constant development, and we will see in this article that they will soon have everything we consume. This detailed infographic has be sent to us by RepairlyUK

 

 

  • Amazon Home Services  – 
  • Amazon home service allows you to order a home service directly from the website. If you want to order a maid, a plumber or an electrician, take advantage of this service more than practical, your credit card that you have registered on Amazon will be charged.

 

  • Smart Home

 

Alexa is Amazon’s voice service and the brain behind millions of devices like the Amazon Echo. Alexa provides capabilities, or skills, that enable customers to create a more personalized experience. Customers can use Alexa to control smart home devices such as cameras, door locks, entertainment systems, lighting, and thermostats.

 

  • Amazon Media Service

 

Amazon provides a wide range of video and music services to its customers :

 

  • Amazon Prime is a paid subscription service offered by Amazon.com that gives users access to free two-day delivery (one-day in select areas), streaming video/music and other benefits for a monthly or yearly fee.
  • Music & Music unlimited : it is a music streaming platform and online music store operated by Amazon.com. At launch, Amazon offered over 29 million songs.

Amazon Music Unlimited is a stand-alone music streaming service is different from Prime Music because it has millions of songs compared to Prime Music’s limited catalog.

  • Amazon Studios is Amazon.com’s division that develops television shows, movies and comics from online submissions and crowd-sourced feedback.

Audible.com is a seller and producer of spoken audio entertainment, information and educational programming on the Internet. Audible sells digital audiobooks, radio and TV programs and audio versions of magazines and newspapers.

 

  • Amazon Health

 

 

Amazon, J.P. Morgan Chase and Berkshire Hathaway were teaming up in a joint venture to do something about the high cost, complexity, and bureaucracy of U.S. health care.

 

  • Amazon Drive

 

Amazon Drive, formerly known as Cloud Drive, is a cloud storage application managed by Amazon. The service offers secure cloud storage, file backup, file sharing, and Photo printing. Using an Amazon account, the files and folders can be transferred and managed from multiple devices including web browsers, desktop applications, mobiles, and tablets.

 

  • Amazon & Food

 

Amazon hasn’t hesitated in making major changes at Whole Foods after acquiring the grocery chain for $13.7 billion.

Changes have included price cuts, selling Amazon tech in grocery stores, and an upcoming switch to Amazon Prime as Whole Foods’ new rewards program.

AmazonFresh has rolled out its services gradually, targeting specific parts of various metropolitan areas and partnering with local speciality stores for delivery of local items.

 

 

  • Amazon Technology

 

  • The Amazon Kindle is a series of e-readers designed and marketed by Amazon. Amazon Kindle devices enable users to browse, buy, download, and read e-books, newspapers, magazines and other digital media via wireless networking to the Kindle Store.
  • The Kindle Fire includes access to the Amazon Appstore, streaming movies and TV shows, and the Kindle Store for e-books.
  • Amazon Fire TV is a digital media player and its microconsole remote developed by Amazon. The player is a small network appliance entertainment device that streams digital audio/video content to a high-definition television from the home network.

 

  • The Everything Store

 

 

  • Jeff Bezos stands out for his relentless pursuit of new markets, leading Amazon into risky new ventures like the Kindle and cloud computing, and transforming retail in the same way that Henry Ford revolutionized manufacturing. Amazon placed one of the first and largest bets on the Internet. Nothing would ever be the same again.

 

 

  • Amazon Parcel Delivery

 

Amazon started using drones in 2016 to deliver small parcels in the English countryside. The first delivery in drone lasted 13 minutes from the order to the delivery.

 

  • Amazon Career

These platforms (Amazon Handmade and Amazon FBA) allow to sell products on a platform of purchase / sale.

 

  • Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA)’s suite of fulfilment and logistics solutions help the customer to grow his business in his home marketplace and abroad. Opt for FBA and send your products to Amazon’s fulfilment centre.

Sources :

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/jan/30/amazon-warren-buffett-jp-morgan-healthcare

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_(company)#Products_and_services

http://uk.businessinsider.com/amazon-changes-whole-foods-2017-9

http://uk.businessinsider.com/amazon-drones-cambridge-to-deliver-parcels-to-uk-customers-2016-12

Apps for home improvement projects- Infographic #tech #home #apps

If you need some apps to help out around the home you are in for a treat,many might not know such apps are out there or simply not think of looking for such but as they say there is an app for everything these days,literally everything. Check out this infographic below broken down into sections for your convenience, with thanks to Jane Crosbie, Marketing Manager with Senator Windows based here in Ireland. Enjoy and let us know if you find any of these apps useful.