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.
Over the last few months and perhaps more smartphones have been the talk of the day when it comes to safety with our kids, Internet access is available on many cheap phones today but this Nokia 106 keeps it simple and would be an ideal way to keep in touch with family or your younger kids and it has no internet access at all.
Some might find this a bit cruel but lets be honest its safe and simple and there is a radio built in too and has some games, its plenty for those younger children who insist on having a mobile without the frills.
This is our second item from the folks at Sudio Sweden and the previous cans we checked out are still going strong and popular here with family and friends testing them out they are really comfortable and have agreat punch from them.
Next up is the Sudio Tre earphones which come in an array of colours and offer 9 hours playback with 10 days standby time and has a 15 metre range so all in all enough for the average user,not only that you get a leather carry pouch to keep the goods intact which is a nice extra along with the wing tips.
Presentation again is great here as was before which comes in a nice neat box with detailed information on the back,a magnetic lock on the box and presented well on opening,this I like, Presentation for me is a kep factor on a product and mostly works for potential buyers,the pass on this with flying colours.
Fit and comfort – Not being a huge fans of earphones have come to like them more over the last year these fit rather well and stay put with the correct wing tips installed which is a simple process to swap out if they don’t suit your ears, They stayed in whilst walking or jogging and out and about and after a few minutes they felt like they were not there which was good, they can rest around your neck when not in use and are counterbalanced by a block of plastic matching the one with all the controls.
Controls – These are simple and effective and good looking with their gold accent. Given the buttons are flush with the unit itself they are easy to find after a few minutes use and work well though those with big fingers may take a bit longer to navigate blindly but overall they are responsive and do what they are supposed to do which is what you would expect like skipping tracks play,pause and pairing,on/off. Also we have the micro usb charge port here which allows a quick charge or full charge which takes some 120 minutes.
Pairing – It is simple as expected the centre button on the control panel is what you use to pair to your chosen device. There is no indicator on the earphones themselves but a little indicator light which turns blue when connected and red when powered on. Again there is no charge level indicator here but when connected to a device you do get your charge status.
Sound – Sound is actually better than I would have thought for earphones with thin wing tips due to noise but the is actually great overall knocking out all lows,mids and highs quite well with a decent bass level which can also adjust from your phone if you are not happy,at the standard setting alone from my phone the sound was near perfect and loud which is something I prefer,by no means are these low sounding earphones but great quality overall I was impressed.
Build Quality – These are built well and are ideal for the active person be it any sport with nice rubber texture throughout and will last some time and easily take plenty of knocks,the main cable is also flat which takes away the worries of getting knots which is traditional with rounded cable and overall the package is small and not to forget they come with a leather pouch to boot for travel and storage purposes. The gold buttons complement the cappings at the end of earphone too and give them a nice clean look which is similar to the Regent and all complements each other well.
Overall Thoughts – I was expecting something good here from Sudio having really liked their Regent headphones and I got what i expected overall,with the great sound build quality and looks they are ideal for most people but ideal for active folk.
Many Irish companies are unaware of the potential new revenue stream that old IT equipment represents. AMI is working with clients to help them to uncover the value of their old PCs and process them securely to avoid the risk of data leaks. The company resold 23,324 PCs and laptops in 2017, and securely processed 371,639 data-bearing items in total.
AMI, Ireland’s leading secure IT retirement company, today announces that it returned €2 million to its clients in 2017. The funds were generated through the recycling, refurbishment and resale of data-bearing items, including 23,324 PCs and laptops, collected from AMI’s clients as part of their IT retirement process.
Pictured at the announcement that AMI has returned €2 million to its clients in 2017 are Philip McMichael; managing director and Faye Thomas; business manager.
Prior to reselling equipment to its global network of 350 bulk buyers, AMI uses advanced equipment and processes to ensure that data-bearing equipment is erased to the most stringent global standards. Last year the company data sanitised 371,639 data-bearing items, destroying data from equipment using its Blancco data erasure software.
AMI’s client-base includes one quarter of Ireland’s 200 largest IT user organisations, including data centres, banks, blue-chip corporations and government departments. The company specialises in providing secure IT retirement services that can help its customers to generate revenue back from the safe disposal of their old IT assets. However, it has noted that many organisations are unaware of the potential revenue stream that used IT equipment represents.
Pictured at the announcement that AMI has returned €2 million to its clients in 2017 is Philip McMichael; managing director, AMI.
Philip McMichael, managing director, AMI, said: “We’re delighted to have been able to return €2 million to our clients in 2017, and we hope to improve on this figure again in 2018. Irish companies are gradually awakening to the importance of ensuring that their old IT equipment is correctly retired at the end-of-life stage, to minimise the risk of a potentially serious and harmful data breach.
“As well as minimising the risk of a data breach, working with a secure IT retirement provider like AMI has another benefit: it enables us to provide companies with the highest return on their retired assets. Organisations are beginning to realise that correct handling of old IT equipment at the point of retirement can not only help to safeguard their reputation, but it can also generate a lucrative revenue stream for the business.”
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is also set to have a significant impact on how Irish companies approach the IT retirement process.
Philip McMichael said: “Awareness of the scale of potential fines under GDPR is starting to grow among organisations, and board members are asking questions of their IT teams about how they manage the IT retirement process. Once they learn that there is a monetary value in properly managed IT retirement they will make this investment in their future, and uncover the hidden value in their old PCs and laptops.”
On opening these I thought they would not fit in my ears as I am typically anti-ear buds but some do work/fit fine and these did too with their clever design and extra wings,gels and tips to pick from which changed the game for me but they are on the larger side but its more an aesthetic look more so than how they actually fit in your ears.
The packaging also excellent as normally is with Jabra is great and the little charging box is cool and robust to boot. This also gives you additional power on the go which is a bonus for heavy users and its not bulky either and fits nicely in any pocket and will be an ideal companion for those who would use these for long periods of time especially on a long commute. With a heart rate monitor and Hear Through feature this is only a few things they have on offer and they also switch on automatically when you take them out of the box.
UNBOXING
Build quality
These are well-built and IP67 rated which is what many would like to hear,they are solid overall would take plenty of knocks and sealed quite well too. IP67 is dust and waterproof up to One Meter so they can be worn in the rain and you can also get a three-year warranty against sweat which would be more so the worry I would have over the rain this would depend on the person.
The case they come in too is robust and this houses the two ear buds and charges them via induction,they just pop into the box and that’s it,the box will charge via Micro USB and will give you two charges per full charge of the box on top of the 3- 4 hours on the unit itself and these also fast charge too so all is good in this department.
There is wing tips,gels and foam buds and I would suggest the buds for more noise isolation but thats my view they have a better seal than the gel tips but are a bit uncomfortable at first and can hurt your ears when pressing the keys but they do settle down after some usage.
Controls
Once paired to your phone which was simple thanks to the instructions and voice assisted commands as Jabra has in most of its headphones you are good to go, the lady that calls out the voice assisted commands now sounds even better and not so robotic. The raised buttons are small enough on these and as I said can hurt a bit when using fresh foam tips,after a while you will be custom as to where the keys are and will be able to navigate them quickly all features for calls and music you would expect to find are here and simple.
One side is the power on/off and the other skips tracks and pause,the usual array of controls you would expect to find. Also worth noting there is a charge status on your phone to keep you aware of battery life which is excellent to know and keep tabs but don’t forget you have the back up of the storage box which doubles as more power,two more full charges in fact. Another nice thing is you do not need to have both of these in your ears and can use the one for calls if you like which is handy and is great for the office or when driving to give to examples.
Sound quality
Calls and music here are great but from my point of view you would be better off with the foam tips over the gels as they isolate exterior noise much better though they can hurt when pressing the buttons but soften up after some use,calls where crisp and clear as was music in all formats and volumes though not the loudest I have heard from Jabra but that’s just my impression,in a quite room for example you will get the best results for clarity as opposed to outdoors where they have a handy Hear Through feature that allows you to hear whats going on around you which would be useful in certain circumstances be it jogging or walking on dark mornings and evenings for example,its good because you need to keep your wits about you these days.
Sports Life APP
This app is a must have for the fitness gurus, Being unwell during testing I did not use it that much but checked out the features, Setting up was odd as I had to pair the ear buds yet again despite me being already paired to my device which was Nokia 8,this might have been a bug but no app update arrived during testing, Getting set up required me to get my heart rate going and jogging on the spot for 15 seconds to calibrate but this took several attempts but I got there in the end, The app has alot to offer which we covered before but Jabra elite, some extra pieces,here is some app screenshots.
1 / 6
Overall this first attempt at the total wireless experience with ear buds is a great execution with what is on offer though some may find them uncomfortable and they may not stay in,this depends on the person, I thought they would constantly fall out but they did not drop out once,they do fill your ears fully and feel cumbersome to start but you soon get over this feeling and will be able to work your way around the small keys as mentioned before,they are not cheap but considered whats on offer and the build quality they really are a great piece of kit and one I tend to wear more so than others now given I prefer headphones.ie overears. I look forward to their next installment which was announced recently and their other products coming soon.
Amazon have tried once with a smart phone and failed badly but here is where I think they could do better second time around considered the products they now offer which are very popular here in Ireland but of course we are left waiting and users having to import the devices but this is not just with Amazon to be fair,their products are good and winning the battle when it comes to voice assistants placed in our homes and they are affordable too, We look at the Echo 2 and share our thoughts but there is not much more on offer compared to their first gen offering.
The presentation is simple here with the product with a simple cardboard box giving you some details of whats in store but users of old will be well in tune on whats on offer and what to expect with the Echo 2nd Gen.
Here is where you can draw a line with what you want to do with it, either a smart hub or use it for information which is what I used it for, currently we are refining our house more IoT style which in time this will be ideal for a smart hub giving you options to do plenty and with the products now available in Ireland it opens doors for developers to give users the options they want in time, Most of us today have little or nothing connected apart from bulbs,light switches and perhaps a few more things.
The Echo is not big and can be placed anywhere in the house so depending on the user and for what they will use it for it will vary,its smaller than the previous model not that it matters that much because its not something that can get in the way really.
Controls and I/Os are simple for anyone new to this, On the top we have lights that surround the lip and change colour when setting up etc,you can see the videos and Instagram clips for more on that,when it starts up you get a good thump and it sounds good too. The buttons on top are simply laid out,You get and action key,plus and minus volume keys and you can turn the mic off when not in use or just plug it out. On the bottom on the back we have our power and aux I/Os.
You then need to download the app this is where I ran into problems setting up with my home wi-fi which I could probably blame as its brutal most of the time but I got there in the end, You will need to put information into the app to get going as Alexa learns as time goes on,the app is simple enough to use and has a nice UI. Tip. The more info you put in the more you will get out.
Alexa is fun though and throwing some random questions is where it’s at other than the normal ones people might ask. My daughter had a great time asking questions and ended up sat there having conversations with her which kept her occupied which was a good thing but the constant calling of Alexa does get annoying and I even feel a bit silly talking to a tube myself but this is the way forward and no different from asking Google something on your phone which I do not really do much anyway.
The things it can do are good and the possibilities will be endless soon enough as this is the direction we are going if we like it or not, The thing I like most on the fly is news and we have RTE and the independent here for that information and we can also check the weather,you will need to enter details for this on setting up the app but with privacy being an issue you do not have to be precise with what you tell Alexa or in the app set up.
THE APP
Best placed in the centre of a room or perhaps a table is the best place for it to be to experience the sound from it,its pretty good and loud but if stuck in a corner you will lose out on quality,This picks up your voice pretty much anywhere in the house which is good and if you have speakers about you can connect via bluetooth which makes it much better overall.
The Echo in my view is an ideal way to get into the whole IoT game and having fun in the process, It may not answer everything you throw at her but I love her voice it’s really cool, There is plenty here to keep you occupied and time will tell all if you like it or not,people to fear privacy with gadgets like this but this is the way forward and perhaps some might think it’s a lazy way of doing things but its the era we are in now and that’s it.
Having the option to voice control things at home speaking to a box might seem far-fetched to some but it’s a reality and its also cool but this product offers easy ways to do things such as make calls and play music and the sound is great.
There is much to do with Alexa and for those with connected gadgets in the house will love it,aside the basic functions like asking questions,setting timers,shopping lists and getting the latest news on the fly I think its a great products being my first, i would like in time to have an ecosystem of Amazon products in the house eventually, For now this is good as a speaker in the house and getting some things done but over time the Echo and future products will be where it’s at and where i intend to be going forward.
Leading stylus manufacturer, Adonit, is today pleased to announce the UK availability of INK Pro – a fine point stylus with a built in microphone to support Cortana voice command, created exclusively for Windows powered tablets and devices with business users in mind. The INK Pro is available for £79.99 from Amazonwith Prime delivery.
Certified by Microsoft, the Adonit INK Pro provides a turnkey stylus solution to any Windows device and is the perfect business accessory with Cortana compatibility. Simply connect to the INK Pro via Bluetooth and write and draw in exquisite detail with the INK Pro’s 1mm fine point tip that is both replaceable and streamlined. Featuring a pressure sensitive tip, the Adonit INK Pro emulates real handwriting with lines appearing thicker or thinner depending on how hard the stylus is pressed whilst drawing or writing. Notes, brainstorms and other designs can be created as naturally as if using pen and paper.
Fast paced business meetings and note taking can be much neater with the handy palm rejection feature that allows users to write naturally and comfortably without worrying about extra marks on the page or PowerPoint slide. If a mistake in notes is made, the two shortcut buttons on the INK Pro allow for easy right clicking and erasing.
Features
· Compatible with Windows Tablets & 2-in-1 laptops
· Palm rejection
· Pressure sensitivity
· Presentation mode and shortcut buttons
· Cortana voice enabled
· Laser pointer
· 1mm fine point tip
· Charging dock
With 80 hours of battery life or 24 hours of continuous use and chargeable with any micro USB, travelling with INK Pro could not be more convenient. Users can easily take notes, sketch or brainstorm whilst on long plane, train or car journeys and have no concerns about battery life with the INK Pro.
Featuring a built-in microphone and supporting Cortana voice command, it is ideal to use when in a boardroom for seamless business meetings or just for use in the office. Using Cortana with the stylus can allow users to create notes, find out schedule detail, to translate languages and many other actions simply with voice commands. The INK Pro also includes up and down page buttons to easily switch to the next slide during a presentation with the front-end design laser pointer allowing for points to be clear. Ideal for the modern business-person, the stylus will make the perfect partner for pitches, reports and daily business activity.
Versatile apps
Whether in a boardroom meeting, a presentation, in the office or working from home, the INK Pro makes life more convenient for any business person. Using apps such as PowerPoint and OneNote, handwritten notes can be taken as if using pen and paper. If looking for a more creative use, the Ink Pro works with apps including Sketchpad, Autodesk SketchBook and Fresh Paint allowing users to create sketches, illustrations or brainstorm diagrams. A full list of apps available for Windows INK can be found here.
Adonit INK Pro is available in Black and White for £79.99 from Amazon. See more on Facebook @ Adonit Europe.
The Nokia 8110 was quite a surprise announcement at MWC this year and it was the second retro phone to be brought to us by HMD Global and Nokia last year being the 3310 which has several iterations now due to its popularity. Dubbed as the banana phone many tech fans welcomed the move though some say it was another marketing trick by HMD Global and Nokia as they did before with the 3310 but the general public beg to differ on that and sales of the 3310 have been good and proven popular.
The 8810 reboot with 4G which will be in the region of €79 and is to hit the shelves later this year and at that price be it a nostalgic purchase or buying the phone to use as a main device it is cost-effective given its more a feature phone and not a fully fledged smart phone with its striking looks coming in Black and Yellow and there was a hint of a Blue version it surely will sell on its own merits.
I spoke to Kamali Melbourne at TRTWORLD about the Nokia 8810 and what I think of the device and what is happening. Watch their news bulletin or you can Skip to 10.25 for my discussion on the Nokia 8810. Watch out for more soon..
Loomo is a personal mobile robot that “transforms” between a mini personal transporter and robot companion. It responds to voice, gesture, touch and app control and sees the world through Intel’s RealSense ZR300 camera for depth-sensing & motion tracking.
Segway Robotics, a wholly owned subsidiary of Segway-Ninebot Group, is proud to launch Loomo, a smart machine that toggles between a mini personal transporter and mobile robot sidekick. Loomo is now available for pre-order on Indiegogo today, with limited early bird pricing starting at $1299.
Loomo will launch with a core set of foundational features, with more capabilities unlocked over time through over-the-air (OTA) updates. Out of the box, you can ride Loomo as a mini transporter, let it follow you autonomously as a robot sidekick, or show off Loomo’s playful personality to your friends. Loomo also comes with a free Android-based SDK for professional developers and enthusiasts alike to build on top of our mobility + AI platform.
Loomo’s key features include:
Self-Balancing Transporter: Smooth ride experience across most terrain types, with speeds of up to 11 MPH, and the capacity to cover 22 miles in one charge; a voice-based tutorial allows anyone to learn how to ride Loomo in mere minutes
Auto-Follow Expert: With advanced computer vision, Loomo can follow you autonomously, shoot stabilized video, and more
Avatar: Use your smartphone as a remote control to access all of Loomo’s capabilities – see, speak, interact, and explore as if you are Loomo
Friendly & Expressive Personality: Powered by its emotion engine, Loomo’s lovable nature and lighthearted expressions will cheer you up and impress everyone around you
Multiple Control Methods: You can control Loomo via your smartphone app, voice command, gestures and touch sensors
New Skills Unlocked Over-the-Air (OTA): Loomo will continuously update its software and app OTA to include new features
Free Loomo Android SDKfor developers: Directly access Loomo’s mobility and AI capabilities to build a range of playful features or practical solutions
“Segway-Ninebot has already put millions of wheels on the ground that cover 180 million kilometers each year. But what happens if you combine Segway’s proven mobility technology with cutting-edge AI? Well say hello to Loomo,” said Li Pu, President of Segway Robotics. “For many, Loomo is a reflection of our movie fantasies growing up… it embodies our vision of how mobile personal robots can become a part of our everyday lives.”
The Loomo Indiegogo campaign launches March 6, 2018. Limited early bird pricing will be set at $1299. The basic pack includes 1 Loomo, 1 AC/DC adapter, 1 extended air tap, and 1 USB 3.0 Type-C cable. Loomo will begin shipping to backers in May 2018.
Loomo’s core technologies include:
Mobility and Intelligent Motion Control System: Loomo incorporates Segway Mini Plus’s latest magnesium alloy base, which comprises of more than 400 self-balancing patents. A quick response motion control system and 11-inch anti-slip tires allow for smooth riding on uneven roads and the ability to keep balance in other challenging situations. Powerful motors and a large volume battery enable speeds of up to 11 MPH, up to a distance of 22 miles
Multi-Sensor Perception: Loomo is equipped with an Intel RealSense ZR300 camera for depth sensing and motion tracking, which enables robot mapping and obstacle avoidance. Loomo also has a 1080p HD-camera stabilized by a 3-axis gimbal which enables stable video capture while moving, a 5-microphones array on its head to determine voice/noise direction and recognize voice commands, two infrared-distance sensors and an ultrasonic sensor in the front for obstacle detection and fall warning, and several other touch sensors on its body
Visual Perception and Understanding: Driven by deep learning and computer vision technologies, Loomo owns a powerful visual system consisting of an object Detection and Tracking System (DTS) and a Human Understanding System (HUS). DTS enables the detection and tracking of multiple-objects in real time, and is the foundation for many applications. HUS enables Loomo to recognize faces and understand human properties, e.g. gender, gestures, and other behaviors that are required for human understanding and interaction analysis
Easy-to-use Android Platform: We have developed a customized Android Platform to manage hardware, software and algorithms as a whole. With our free SDK, developers can control the base assembly and robot head at a proper abstraction level. Through the hardware extension bay in the back, mechanical and electrical engineers can design and attach additional components to the robot, enabling even more flexibility and a wide range of creative possibilities
Research from The App Developers has discovered that whilst 58% of the population are worried about mobile Apps stealing personal data, they still went on to download as many as 100 paid apps each, over the course of 12 months.
Surprisingly 73% of respondents said that, despite being worried about their data, they would still only download free apps – which were far more likely to be monetised with targeted advertising or by capturing their data.
When asked about how they preferred to access premium content within free apps, more than a thirdof those worried about their data said they’d prefer to access premium content in exchange for being subjected to “un-skippable” in-app advertising, this compares with just 13% who preferred to pay for the content directly or as an upgrade cost.
Sam Furr, founder of The App Developers said: “Despite the fact that such a large concern exists, the public continue to download free apps in abundance, meaning that companies should make efforts to keep their apps free if they want to reach the largest possible audience”.
He goes on to say “Luckily, only a tiny minority of apps are capturing data with the intent to sell on, most will fall foul of the new GDPR rules, demonetising lots of the less trustworthy apps and allowing those to cut through the noise who genuinely add some value”.
New GDPR legalisation will mean hefty fines for those found in breach of data protection laws. Of those who have only downloaded 1-5 apps in the last 12 months, 67% admitted to being concerned about apps using their data for marketing purposes.
Comparatively, 69% of participants who have downloaded 51-100 apps in the last 12 months revealed they were content with handing over their personal information to apps. This could suggest app-addicts are unsure of the potential consequences of carelessly handing over their personal information, or are comfortable with the way their data could be used.
However, the overall perception of apps asking for personal information is negative, with 60% of participants being against it; meaning apps who request this might be unpopular to download.
About The App Developers
The App Developers are an award-winning mobile led design & development agency, working with corporates and start-ups across multiple sectors. All products are created adopting a user-first methodology, and solutions are designed taking an expert think-tank approach to business pain points and objectives. Everything is built with ROI in mind. The App Developers have worked with brands such as Fujifilm, Exxonmobil, Sainsbury’s, Walkers & many emerging and disruptive start-ups.
Survey Methodology
The App Developers surveyed over 300 men and women within the UK between 07/02/2018 – 12/02/2018 to discover their opinions and thoughts on mobile apps. Respondents were asked 10 questions such as which marketing channels encourage app downloads, how much they spend on downloading apps or in-app purchases and whether they would choose an app over a branded website. The App Developers then analysed the results.
