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.
Only in 2016 Nokia purchased Withings and now its up for review which some might find either too soon or perhaps a good idea. I own a few of their products myself and use them daily and it would be sad to see them go but business is business.
From what I have seen the Withings Brand was not widely available here and when it changed the Nokia branded health prodcuts did not replace them anywhere,Some pharmacies sold withings scales and again they where not replaced but it is good as a BRAND to see the NOKIA name on shelves in stores so people are aware.
One avenue that could have worked which was seen in the UK was to bundle products with the purchase of a Nokia 8 and they could continue to do so in the future but that remains to be seen and only time will tell. Currently on offer with the Nokia 8 now here is a free printer from another company with Vodafone and if you buy direct you could get the ZEISS VR ONE headset which is also a nice piece of kit we recently reviewed.
In the short press release Nokia said…
Nokia today announces that it has initiated a review of strategic options for its Digital Health business, which is part of Nokia Technologies. Digital Health’s business portfolio includes consumer and enterprise products, and it manufactures and sells an ecosystem of hybrid smart watches, scales and digital health devices to consumers and enterprise partners.
The strategic review of the Digital Health business may or may not result in any transaction or other changes. Any further announcements about the Digital Health business will be made if and when appropriate. The Patent Business, Brand Partnerships and Technology Licensing units in Nokia Technologies are not in the scope of this review.
I love headphones and have a pretty nice collection and today we are here to check out the Jabra Vega headphones with ANC which are really nice and come Dolby.
Presentation is excellent as is always with Jabra products and they come in the typcial yellow and black packaging that is easily identifieable and you know whom the prodcut is from immedialtey. And as always there is lots of information on the exterior of the box to let you know what you are getting.
Inside is padded which is great mainly for protection and transportation but nonetheless its good solid packaging, We also get instructions, cables and a carry case which is good to see for storage purposes be it at home of for when not in use which will keep the dirt at bay.
Build quality here once again is great, they have a robust headband covered in their soft rubber material which is easy to keep clean and is soft to touch and it also feels nice and is comfortable to wear even for long periods of time.
The cups on the Vega are really nice and overears so you are already blocking out most of the exterior noise then you have the ANC factor on top of this to give you crisp clear sound without distration and should you need to know whats going on there is an eavesdrop feature on the right cup which you just tap to turn on and off which is handy especially in an office or open space environment and you need to talk to a colleauge for example.
Given they are not bluetooth it might put some off though for me I use both wired and wireless Jabra prodcuts so its not really an issue for me but some have their own choice method. Having said that it means less to fumble with and keeps controls to a minimn which is a good thing,they are powered by one AAA battery which is included you will be happy to hear. Yeah I know some folk moan about the little things and they are probably right,the last thing you want to do is go searching for that battery.
Controls as I said are minimal yet simple and easy to navigate, There is one toggle thats it, This will light up to let you know you have ANC on but they do switch off when you fold them over which is great they do not however fold inward like many headsets due to their construction and the cups fold sideways instead,not really a big deal anyway.
The sound quality is great as expected from Jabra and the fact these isolate external noise without having ANC on its a good start,the ANC only makes the experince better again. All sounds with mids,highs and lows reproduce very well hear and gives a great audio experience turned up to the max especially in a really quite environment. This can be also said if its a busy environment with ANC active and as I said the eavesdrop button which you just tap can let you into the conversation with ease. You can share your music experience too with a DUAL JACK set up,one on each cup which is need though this would be probably best used be it on a plane or perhaps travelling.
Overall I really like these,they are a not heavy either and can be worn for long periods keeping comfortable on the head,the cups as mentioned are really comfortable which for me is important as I like to keep headphones on for long periods of time at home be it in bed or just having a lazy day and using VR headsets for example. They also stand out and look nice with the big cups and I love the orange audio cable that comes with them which is really nice and different to the norm and has a one button piece on it again keeping things simple.
Want to buy some tech for your loved one or even for yourself? Urbanista a have a special offer with free worldwide shipping until Sunday Feb 19th with 20% off their range, All you need to do is enter VALENTINES in at the checkout. Head to Urbansita and check out their range and watch out for more reviews coming your way from us..
We have featured many products from Urbanista and today we check out the NEW YORK Dark Clown headphones with ANC which has recently hit the market. These will look familiar to some but have new specs and features and surpass the old with really good sound and of course with ANC now built-in it makes things even better.
UNBOXING
New York Bluetooth headphones featuring active noise cancellation (ANC) means you can wear them at the office or in the bustling streets and enjoy your music undisturbed. With the ANC feature on, you get 16 hours of noise-free, pure musical enjoyment on one single charge. With the ANC feature off, you get 25 hours of wireless music and calls. Should you ever run out of power, you can connect them to your device with the complimentary cable.
FEATURES
Bluetooth: 4.1
Speaker size: φ40mm
Sensitivity: 94dB±3dB At 1KHz
Impedance: 32Ω15﹪
Frequency range: 2.4GHz-2.48GHz
Hands-free with microphone and volume control
Stand-by time: 700h
Play time: 16h with ANC, 25h without anc
Charging: Micro USB, <2.5hrs charging time
Compatible with Android, iOS and Windows
Weight: 234g (without packaging)
Weight including packaging: 634g
Package size: 200x200x85mm
These are really comfortable to wear even for long periods and come equipped with all you need, the padding on the cups are really comfortable and isolate much of the exterior noise alone without the need for the new ANC feature which is now becoming a thing with headphones and more popular due to the idea behind it, these cans are not aimed for those at an office environment or anything like that but can be worn anywhere and the added ANC really helps if you are one to look for a particular style, You might have office headphones but you can simply swap if preferred to get the extra features if your own office ones do not have ANC.
Some though prefer not to use this feature so they are semi aware of their surroundings but everyone is different and if you are at home or in a quite environment you will understand more as to the benefits of isolating exterior sound fully.
Control are simple to use and easy to use as they are raised slightly from the cups and even blindly you will be able to simply navigate,the toggle too are perfect and overall you will have no issues finding your way around in no time.
The build quality is as before its solid and robust,they do look plain in this colour but plain is not a bad thing, They are easy to keep clean a damp cloth is all you would need even underneath the headband which has a really nice rubber texture is simple to maintain and also comfortable.
Sound is great,much better than similar models thanks to the ANC mostly all genres I played highs,mids and lows where crisp and clear and had good bass so I was pleased to hear they have improved over past variations and they really pack a punch and are loud which is what I personally prefer.
We have more to come from Urbanista in our review section so stay tuned for those and check these out right HERE or on https://www.urbanista.com/
Xtorm, market leader in mobile charging solutions, starts the year on a high note by taking on your messy charging cables. If your smartphone is suited for wireless charging, a wireless charger by Xtorm will be the perfect addition to your desk or night stand!
Get rid of those loose cables
Loose charging cables in your interior often look messy and always end up disappearing behind the desk or night stand when you need them. A wireless charger by Xtorm is the perfect solution to keep your interior tidy, elegant and clean. Moreover, it is very easy! Simply put your smartphone on the wireless charger and charging starts automatically.
Innovative
All wireless chargers by Xtorm use Qi (derived from the Chinese word qi, which means energy flow), a wireless charging standard used by, amongst others, Apple, Samsung, HTC, Huawei, LG, Motorola, Nokia, BlackBerry, Sony, and many more. The use of the latest technology in our products also ensures that you can simply use wireless charging to charge your smartphone through the phone case.
Always the right solution
Thanks to the broad range of Wireless products by Xtorm, there is always a product in thier selection that perfectly fits your needs. Besides the elegant Charging Stand Angle, Wireless Fast Charging Pad Freedom and a wireless power bank, we also offer integrated wireless charging . These can be built into, for example, a desktop, night stand or other piece of furniture of your choice. Start the year right and clean up your cables with Xtorm!
Price and availability
The recommended sales prices for all our Wireless Chargers is €39. The are available from several (online) stores and at xtorm.eu. Xtorm offers a two-year warranty and unlimited help desk support on all her products.
FutureScope, Ireland’s only conference that promotes collaboration between the entrepreneurial community and multinationals, will take place in the Convention Centre Dublin on Thursday, 31st May 2018. The event is limited to 1,200 attendees, to enable quality networking, and will feature more than 120 speakers and panellists, with 40 exhibitors.
Now in its fifth year, FutureScope, organised by Dublin BIC, is focused on delivering attendees real value from the day. A special emphasis is placed on purposeful networking and the creation of collaboration opportunities for start-ups, scale-ups, multinational companies, innovative Irish enterprise, SME’s, the research community, investors, academia and state agencies.
Michael Culligan, CEO, Dublin BIC Photo credit: Keith Arkins
The one-day event will be action-packed with highlights including the crowning of the One2Watch 2018 award, where one Irish start-up will be recognised for the most scalable early-stage business idea; panels and workshops on emerging business opportunities such as digital transformation, smart cities and fintech; and structured networking sessions on the Future World.
FutureScope 2018 promises to be the biggest and best year yet with founders, CEOs and leaders from high-profile companies, including Vodafone, Enterprise Ireland, Facebook, IBM, Google, Alltech, Blueface, Circle, Newswhip, Jobbio, Science Foundation Ireland and many more, all looking to collaborate, trade and share views on what they see as the major emerging trends affecting their business.
Key themes to be explored this year include how the Internet of Things (IoT) is increasingly connecting our world, what business applications will arise from VR and AR, and where exactly will data analytics and AI lead us?
Martina Larkin, Head of Europe and Eurasia, World Economic Forum, is one of the big name speakers confirmed. Other speakers on the day include: Jaime Cudden, Smart City programme manager at Dublin City Council and Barry O’ Sullivan, director at Insight Centre, with many more to be announced.
This year’s event is designed around four core pillars which represent each stage of the business innovation lifecycle, from idea to reality to global scale:
– Insights stage: Provide attendees with insightful perspectives on emerging technologies and how they will shape our future world
– Collaboration stage: Showcase great examples of collaboration from around Ireland and identify new opportunities for collaboration, for example between multinationals and indigenous start-ups
– Innovation stage: Showcase and promote the innovations driving a smart economy
– Entrepreneurship stage: share knowledge, insights, tools and techniques to empower entrepreneurs to start and scale
Michael Culligan, CEO, Dublin BIC, said, “FutureScope is the must-attend event of 2018 for businesses and entrepreneurs looking to collaborate and engage with the most exciting start-ups and scale-ups. The central premise of the event is to create a platform for global multinationals, large innovative Irish companies and successful entrepreneurs to explore business opportunities. Through panel discussions, tech demonstrations, innovative showcases, and structured networking, FutureScope offers the perfect setting for collaboration.”
Super-early-bird tickets are now available for €89 until the end of this month (28th February). Early-bird tickets are then available at a cost €125 until 11th May, tickets increase to €145 until 22nd May and €170 in the week leading up to Futurescope. Tickets include access to four stages, ten breakout sessions, innovation showcase, networking, hot lunch and all-day coffee.
Hundreds attended an event in London this weekend, aimed at enticing skilled tech workers to Ireland.
404 London saw leading tech employers showcasing the career opportunities they have on offer in their Irish sites. Participating companies included Cartrawler, HubSpot, Indeed Prime, Workday and Zendesk.
In addition to showcasing career opportunities, the event featured panel discussions, tech installations and talks by industry leaders. John Romero, creator of the popular Doom computer game, was a star attraction, remaining unbeaten in a ‘Doom Deathmatch’ at the event, for which he played Doom against 20 fans.
Pictured at the event in Shoreditch, London, was Jackie Slattery, co-founder of 404, challenging John Romero of Romero Games at ‘Doom’, the legendary computer game he created. Photo: Doruk Yemenici.
404 London was run in partnership with Tech/Life Ireland, a joint initiative of Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation.
Commenting from the event, Jackie Slattery, co-founder of 404, said:
“We’ve had hundreds of skilled tech professionals in attendance at 404 London. These are people interested in moving to Ireland because they know the best tech companies in the world are located there. They’re also attracted by the work/life balance, well-established tech community and the scope for career progression. The feedback from participating companies has been fantastic – they were all hugely impressed with attendees’ experience and skills levels.
Pictured at the event in Shoreditch, London, was Jackie Slattery, co-founder of 404. Photo: Doruk Yemenici.
“There’s a well-documented shortage of skilled tech professionals in Ireland, so we’re delighted there was such a strong turnout. This is the first Irish tech recruitment event of its kind – directly connecting Ireland’s tech employers with the large pool of talent available in the UK.”
McLaren is delighted to announce a multi-faceted, long-term partnership with Dell Technologies, the world’s largest privately-controlled technology company.
Dell Technologies, which consists of seven global brands – Dell, Dell EMC, Pivotal, RSA, Secureworks, Virtustream and VMware – will bring its deep technology expertise to all McLaren Technology Group companies, including McLaren Racing and McLaren Applied Technologies, as well as benefitting McLaren’s esports programme, World’s Fastest Gamer.
The McLaren Technology Group has just completed the first part of its IT transformation journey towards a high-performing hybrid cloud capability. This includes a modern, agile, automated, performant and highly available set of data centre services, using Dell EMC compute, storage, and infrastructure management software.
The partnership will seamlessly integrate Dell Technologies’ wide-ranging platform of solutions into McLaren’s day-to-day operations, including support for design and manufacturing, trackside operations, telemetry, safety-critical ecosystems, storage, esports and simulation, fan engagement and guest experience.
McLaren and Dell Technologies intend to collaborate on future projects in the areas of security, cloud, digital and workplace transformation technologies, with scope for technical innovation not only within the two organisations but also the wider industry.
“McLaren’s agreement with Dell Technologies expands beyond the traditional sponsorship model. We are like-minded organisations led by the key principles of technical innovation and human progress at the cutting-edge of data-driven technology.
“Formula 1 is a relentless environment and partnering with Dell Technologies provides us with class-leading capabilities and support to drive invaluable efficiencies that will enable McLaren to perform at the highest possible level across our entire business operations. We are especially excited about the future possibilities that will arise within McLaren Applied Technologies, an area of our business that is growing fast and offers huge potential.
“This announcement is a further statement that McLaren has strong ambitions as we strive to take an important leap in performance both on-track and off it. Dell Technologies is the perfect partner and our two brands share the same ethos, which will propel us towards our business objectives for 2018 and beyond.”
Jeremy Burton, Chief Marketing Officer, Dell Technologies, commented:
“Dell Technologies’ relationship with McLaren builds upon a shared heritage of innovation, engineering excellence and high performance. Over the past few years, McLaren’s rich history in motorsports has given rise to a more diverse and ambitious organisation that we’re excited to partner with.
“Our partnership is expansive, enabling us to showcase our Dell Technologies portfolio from consumer gaming and esports to the enterprise edge, data centre and cloud.
“We look forward to playing a transformative role within every facet of the McLaren Group, both trackside and at the McLaren Technology Centre. It is the first time we have partnered as Dell Technologies in a global commercial agreement of this nature, and we look forward to a long-term collaboration.
A large land-locked country in West Africa, Mali’s population of 17 million has seen a strong growth in mobile uptake over the years, due to a lack of fixed connectivity services. Alpha Telecom’s long-awaited launch as the third mobile operator in Mali, under the brand Telecel, means that mobile subscriber penetration in Mali is expected to reach 138% in 2022, up from 127% in 2017, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
Previously there have been two mobile operators in Mali: Orange Mali, part of the French Orange Group, and Malitel, part-owned by Marco Telecom and Malian government. At the end of December 2017, Alpha Telecom finally launched Telecel. Despite receiving a mobile license as far back as February 2013, Telecel had not managed to launch services until now. Over the years, it faced financing, infrastructure, and legal delays.
With network equipment built by Huawei, Telecel plans to offer 3G services, first in Bamako, then gradually rolling out across Mali. Telecel will be inserting fresh competition into the current duopoly between Orange Mali and Malitel.
June Sun, Technology Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “A new mobile operator entering a market can potentially lower the prices for consumers, as the new operator competes for subscribers with the incumbents. However, Telecel will have to compete with established products in the market, such as Malitel’s and Orange Mali’s popular mobile money services.”
