Jim O Brien/CEO - techbuzzireland.com - Page 999

Super VFX for Realtime Animation – PopcornFX Plug-in for Reallusion iClone.

Reallusion partners with Persistant Studios, PopcornFX, the multi-platform & cross-engine real-time particle effects industry leader for real-time visual effects. iClone 7 adds particle realism with the PopcornFX runtime integration, particles library, and extensive VFX creation through PopcornFX’s powerful editor.

The PopcornFX engine now tightly integrates with iClone’s lighting, physics and timeline animation systems, while retaining full custom import and attribute adjustment capabilities. Achieve top level quality VFX with PopcornFX, currently in use in a wide variety of game productions, from indies to AAA.

“The integrated result of iClone and PopcornFX is phenomenal due to the invaluable teamwork with Persistant Studios. Now iClone users can design brand new VFX using the powerful PopcornFX Editor. Reallusion has dedicated lots of effort to building five VFX Tools that allow users to create custom particle effects without the need to write a single line of code. Additionally, we have produced a substantial amount of learning samples and training materials to get anyone started with this amazing technology.” – Charles Chen / Reallusion CEO

Super PopcornFX Tools – Five Essential Particle Builders for iClone

To make professional VFX generation easy to master without coding, Reallusion has made a special investment to design five exclusive Emitter Tools. Each of the 5 Super Tools are dedicated to one specific emitter type with all the crucial attributes, blend modes, and abilities to replace a custom mesh along with sound or sprite resources in order generate unique visual effects. These tools are integrated with iClone physics, global illumination and self-cast shadows, as well as textures, sprites, and mesh import for maximum flexibility.

Texture Tool

The classic Texture Tool emits image billboards, which can either be selected from a sprite sheet or from a single image. It is frequently used to create effects like fog, rain, smoke, bubbles, fire and explosions

Text Tool

The Text Tools are designed for creating text animations like: Titling, Teleprompting, and Scrolling Descriptions, or to work as Text Labeling in any 3D stage. Users can sequentially display multiple lines of text for TV subtitle effects.

Ribbon Tool

This Ribbon Emitter connects particles or sprites into a seamless stripe to create swirling, twirling or trailing animations in 3D space. It is widely used for casting magic spells, simulating a swimming school of fish, wiggling snakes or hovering insects.

Distortion Tool

This Distortion Emitter generates transparent particles to simulate water, heat or ripples. The visual illusion is caused by the refraction of normal images. Realistic visual effects can be achieved by using animated image sprites, or transforming them during their lifetime.

PopcornFX Learning Samples 50

Self-learning resources to quickly demystify VFX production

This Learning Sample Library includes more than 50 application samples, functional projects, and quick video tutorials which are designed to demonstrate how to utilize the PopcornFX Super Tools for real-life applications. Users can easily inspect the included resource files and attribute settings, or learn to modify them for unique innovations.

About Reallusion: http://www.reallusion.com – Reallusion Inc. is a 2D and 3D animation software and content developer. Reallusion specializes in the development of realtime 2D and 3D cinematic animation tools for consumers, students and professionals. The company provides users with easy to use avatar animation, facial morphing and voice lipsync solutions for real-time 3D filmmaking, and previsualization for professional post production. Reallusion’s core technologies are widely used by trainers, educators, game developers and filmmakers.

About Persistant Studios: https://www.popcornfx.com/ – Created in 2005, PopcornFX is your realtime particle effects solution for games, films, AR/VR/MR & live shows. PopcornFX is the leading FX editor and used in a wide variety of game productions, targeted platforms and engines (Unity, Unreal & in-house), Realtime Applications and employed on-set previsualization and full body tracking adding RealtimeFX.

ENDOALPHA VR – Step inside operating theatres and more. #VR #Medical

For those who are into all things medicine and more there is a new app called ENDOALPHA VR which is free to download on Android and iOS and its pretty cool with interactive VR scenes to boot and lots more. The app is really interesting and offers an insight into Operating Rooms in 360 degrees. It would not be an app for all but its worth checking out what things are like in such environments and its pretty neat and detailed and excellent graphics which make it visually pleasing to check out..

Explore the possibilities of modern operating room design.
You can use this app with all common VR goggles and headsets like Google Cardboard, Samsung Gear and others or just pinch to zoom and pan in 360 degrees.

The app will be updated with new 360 videos, images and even interactive scenarios.

How it Works:
Browse the actual material
Download files for offline viewing
View in 360 degrees
or Enter VR to have the full experience using your VR goggles or headset

We check out the Argos version of the Nokia 3310. The Alba dual sim retro phone.

This new phone has just launched in Argos and by any stretch you cant deny its almost identical to the reborn Nokia 3310, Well ok it is slightly bigger and has dual sim support and it even has its own version of snake built in, there is however many other features on this device you would not normally see on such a phone and this just costs 37.99 and can be bought in Argos UK and Ireland.

MENU GALLERY

The classic retro. Made in that style everyone has come to know and love, this Alba phone is packed with top features. Under the hood, you’ll find everything you need – send text messages, and pop files back and forth to friends and family with Bluetooth 2.1. The 2.4-inch screen is great for games too.

Other features also include phone book, FM radio, MP3 player, alarm, calendar, calculator, torch and a 2G internet-browsing function.

2 dedicated SIM slots allow you to manage two networks at once. Use one for work and one for your social life, or even one LOCAL SIM and the other for local network services abroad.

Supports 3 languages: English, French and Spanish. All Alba mobile phones come with a 2-year manufacturer’s guarantee. Any questions you might have as always feel free to ask below or on social, All our links are on the top right of site. Also we are giving this away so stay tuned for that..

WE ARE HAVING A COMPETITION TO GIVE THIS PHONE AWAY HERE

BUY FROM ARGOS IRELAND

BUY FROM ARGOS UK

Review – Gearvita (KingWear) GV68-IP68 Smartwatch. #tech #reviews #smartwatch

Smartwatch sales have gone stagnant to be fair and main contributor to this is the price that most mainstream manufacturers now command for something to throw on your wrist and something else to charge. A high price for a companion device is something most are not prepared to fork out for and this is why activity trackers are winning when it comes to sales but all is not lost and there is a few manufacturers out there that make decent cheap smart watches that are now getting popular because of the price, the price being under 99 euro or less is more appealing and just like smarthphones we are now seeing trends going both ways when it comes to price and the standard of cheap models are getting better just like mobile phones..

Gearvita have sent us over one of their smartwatches to check out and I have been using it a while now and think its great,especially for the money and that large clear display and robust build quality with the choice of colours and interchangeable straps its got enough for someone looking to try a companion device without hurting you bank account..

UNBOXING

The packaging is nothing to write home about but the box itself is robust and its enough and again this keeps the cost down which is the intention here as a whole but some folk like to see presentation at top-notch but this time around it’s not and not really an issue but I do like good presentation but taking into account the cost element here its a small caveat.

Build quality is excellent here I must add. The body of the watch is tough made with plastic and metal and with metal prongs to hold on the straps which just clip into place and can be changed easily which adds to personalization something many of us enjoy. The straps are also tough along with its fastner.

The watch has only ONE button which is nice the rest is all touch and the touch screen is quite responsive which is a good thing I never had the need to tap more than once to get to what I required so I was happy with how this screen works which is important considered you have no other option to get to where you need to go through the menu which again is a simple easy yo use UI and nothing complicatied, The one button also acts as a wake up button to along with power on/off.

The speaker on the watch is actually decent and plenty aloud.This was the first thing people asked when I got this considering its a device on your wrist and if you will hear it. The problem here for me though is the speaker is on the left side I feel it would have been better placed on the right given I wear my watch on left wrist but people could hear me fine and I could hear them.

Nofitications on this are lighting fast and impressive which i really like although there is not much information at hand as a companion device is lets you know you have information,this after all is something you wear and wear it when you tend to leave your phone behind or if you are moving about. Calls,text or any other synced app will come through and more it really is handy here with what it picks up and gives you a snapshot on the screen. You might find it annoying though if you are sat with your phone and you have busy social media accounts or emails for example but you can restrict access but this is just to let you know how good notfications come through.

You can manage calls from your watch too, A simple call and reject to swipe are there for call management,to make calls you simply open the dialler and diall away and the call will go as you would use your phone its pretty handy in some instances. In the phone menu you have dialler,phonebook,call history and messaging. You can see all the menus in the unboxing video.

There is a notifier app on the device so if you need to keep in check you can scroll through and dismiss at your leisure whats not important this is a central hub for all notifications which is great. SMS are fully supported and you can create and reply on the fly with the watch.

The remote menu is another option here, On this we have a remote camera BT music and anti-lost. The camera must be open on your device so in short this acts likes a timer if you will or getting yourself set up in a situation so you can manage the photo and be prepared for a shot be it with a crowd or set up you might have and this removes the need for a selfie stick too which is something i personally detest they just annoy me.

For music again you must have your music open and you get a simple remote displayed on the device to control the lot,you can skip,play,pause and also toggle the volume,this is all quite handy.

Anit lost will effectively help you find your phone, Once activated on the watch your device will beep really loud,this is like a keyfinder you might have in house and they simply went down the back of couch or something.

GV68 can monitor your heart rate, step number (as a pedometer), sleeping status (as sleep monitor), sedentary duration, and remind you to drink water. Therefore, it will help you form the good habit of life. It is no doubt that you will get a more healthy life style with the GV68 smartwatch’s working. Check out the app interface below which is useful, I would advise on checking heartrate to check twice as in most instances the first reading does be wrong.

1 / 7

Overall this watch has plenty for the user who is perhaps new to the scene and did not want to fork out the silly money some companies are asking for their offerings,this is a fraction of the price offering plenty and more than just activity information this has much more on offer and the fact it is IP68 certified is a bonus. With a good build quality to boot and big face its not for small wrists but everyone has their preference but it delivers on whats on offer, It is something you will have to charge daily but for the price I would not complain with whats on offer compared to similr devices out there costing 6 or 7 times more.

Gift a #NokiaSteel HR for Valentines and bag a free premium leather wristband. #Valetines

The Nokia Steel HR is a really nice watch and comes now in a really nice Rose Gold or Silver finish options also with a Black or White face, Both are really nice and they stand out, If you have not thought of something nice to buy for your partner this could be for you and you also get to bag a free premium leather wristband.

You can also personalise your watch with a Silver or Rose Gold finish and then select a face colour so you have options and you are not limited to choice..There is a nice range of straps in available to pick from and some really make a difference. This deal runs until the 14th Feb so check it out.. See HERE for more.

Review – Sudio Regent 4.1 bluetooth headphones. #tech #headphones #sudiosweden

As a big headphone/earphone fan I like to test out whats new out there and give them a run for their money and today we have just finished up our thoughts on the Sudio Regent headphones and they are quite nice even if a big on the White side.

They come well presented to start with in a nice package and this conitnues throughout with the package contents, Everything is there thats required from cables to booklets and more…

Sudio Regent – Audio Cable – Charging Cable – Owner’s Manual – Guarantee Card
Quick Start Guide

Regent provides world class sound quality and definition. With an impeccable balance of instrumental tones and noise clarity, the musical elements seamlessly knit together to create an unmatched listening experience. Operating on cutting edge Bluetooth 4.1 technology and 24+ hours of battery life, the Regent transcends the traditional headphone market, becoming the ultimate contemporary accessory.

The build quality is nice they are also light,very light in fact and very comfortable to wear, padding is present on the underside of the headband which makes way for long periods of use a comfortable experience and the same soft leather material follows through on the cups too and both these factors give way to a comfortable experience.

The gold slider and cup holders complement the entire look along with the branded clasps on the left and right these really are nice even though they are White, The slider on the cups is solid and not still and there is seamless adjustments here which stays in place at all times which is nice and I had no need to continuously shift them like you can find sometimes with headphones.

There is plenty of movement for the cups to nestle on the ears,they did not entirely cover mine but covered them well enough and kept much of the external noise out,they are a smaller cup than I would traditionally use but I got use to them quickly and once again the comfort is key here.

Sound is great,better than expected at the price range. Playing all genres and different mixes and volume levels left me with crisp sound and with good bass, Many people like bass and there is no shortage here. Overall these sound really really good,better than expected and pushing at high end priced models but these are super affordable.. Speaking of affordable we have a 15% DISCOUNT OFFER RIGHT HERE

Controls are minimal which is what we want, We have three raised buttons which are easy to navigate and not intrusive you will find your way easily blindly navigating in no time and the buttons have a nice clicky feedback meaning you know you have done something and not left guessing. There is a built-in mic so you can use for phone calls and siri etc… One one cup we have a 3.5 mm audio socket should you run of juice or have a device not compatible and the other cup hosts the micro usb charge port.

Battery life is on par with what they claim and also they charge up pretty quick too. I charged once and got a full week on a single charge listening to them for a few hours each night but if you are one to use on a commute you might want to top up each evening depending on how long your commute is or personal usage but 24HRS is good.

Battery time: 24+ hours (active), 20 days (standby)
Charging time: 10 minutes (quick), 120 minutes (full)

These also fold and make them more portable but there is no carry bag to put them into which something I think they could include later on or with new products but for the price I can’t complain much, They also come with changeable end caps which is a nice touch and will give you a fresh new look to change to when it suits and the White marble caps came with ours but there is several colours to pick from…

Finally they are robust and I feel they will last some time and might be hard to keep clean being so White but they can be easily cleaned and the caps can be removed, The cable that runs from the headband to the cups is something to be careful of and do not be too rough with them here as the cable is exposed but other than that they pack some punch,look premium and are very comfortable to wear.

Get your discount – HERE

See Sudio – HERE

#GDPR – What you should be doing now: Real-World Scenarios – #WardGDPR2018

The seminar will offer a great opportunity for business owners and professionals to get an overview of what needs to be done in the coming months to prepare for GDPR. Ward ran a similar GDPR event last year which was attended by over 100 people.

Dublin City Council’s ICT manager Brian Curtis will highlight some of the steps that the Council has taken towards GDPR compliance, and outline some of their experiences along the way. Other speakers on the day will include Sean O’Donnell, partner with ByrneWallace Solicitors, and Ward Solutions’ CTO Paul Hogan.

Ward Solutions, Ireland’s leading information security provider, will host a seminar on March 7^th in the Mansion House, Dawson Street, Dublin 2, to help Irish organisations to establish where they should be on their GDPR compliance journey. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is set to come into force on 25^th May this year, and companies now have a limited amount of time to implement the necessary steps to protect their interests.

In recent months Ward Solutions has launched a number of services aimed at steering its clients towards GDPR compliance. This event will bring together a number of those customers and provide attendees with the opportunity to hear, first-hand, about the steps they have taken to safeguard their businesses. Speakers on the day will include Brian Curtis, Executive Manager ICT, Dublin City Council who will discuss Dublin City Council’s GDPR journey and the steps that the council has taken to become compliant with the legislation. Sean O’Donnell, Partner, Litigation & Dispute Resolution, ByrneWallace, will also speak at the event and discuss how potential GDPR fines will be levied against organisations found to be non-compliant.

Ward Solutions’ last GDPR seminar was attended by over 100 business owners and professionals

As well as this, industry experts including Ward Solutions’ CTO, Paul Hogan, and Aisling Hennessey, Head of Legal and Compliance for Ward, will provide advice to attendees on how to prioritise their information security and compliance activities to develop strategies that can identify and mitigate risks to personal data. As the replacement for the 1995 Data Protection Directive, GDPR represents one of the most significant regulatory disruptions in recent years. The new legislation will aim to offer the same data protection rights across the EU, regardless of where data is processed. Companies that fail to demonstrate compliance with the legislation after the enforcement date of May 25^th risk exposing themselves to substantial fines of up to €20M or 4% of global turnover, depending on which is greater.

This seminar provides a unique opportunity for Irish business owners and professionals to gain an insight into the steps that they need to take in the coming months.

When: 08.00 – 13.00 Wednesday, 7^th March 2018

Agenda: 08.00 – 090.00 Registrations

09.00 – 11:45 Presentations and Q&A

11:45 – 12:45 Network & Lunch

Where: The Round Room adjacent to The Mansion House, Dawson Street, Dublin 2

Admission: Free

For more information about the event and to register, visit: http://bit.ly/2npd1VJ

Review – The CELLO Traveller 32 Inch LED TV with battery pack and more. #TV #CELLO

The humble TV comes in all shapes and sizes today and for now we may have hit a ceiling on how big a TV can get, Currently I have a selection of TVs in the house and they are all smart with the latest mods available. CELLO offer a huge range of TVs starting from 16 inch heading north to a whopping 85 inches and between that different form factors to boot. In short something for everyone at a reasonable price too..

CELLO ELECTRONICS have kindly sent us their 32″ Battery Operated LED TV with Freeview T2 HD & Satellite Tuner to check out so let’s have a look.

Features listed

32” widescreen LED TV
240v, 12v & Rechargeable LiFe PO4 Battery operation
Charge in 2 hours / Watch for 8 -10 hours
Built-in satellite tuner
Smart Aerial
Two high efficiency LED lamps
Freeview T2 HD channels
USB – record digital TV and play media files from other devices
HDMI inputs for your external devices and consoles
Can be wall mounted (100mm x 100mm bracket not included)

Overall this TV has quite the standard look for what you would typically see in your local store with the black bezels and range of ports on offer and its also very light and portable too being a smaller TV you would expect this but some manufacturers somehow manage to give you really heavy lumps even at this side so this was a good start.

One thing I did not like was it was not smart but that’s just my view from having these here already but the TV is not all that thick either with its array of ports on the back which can effectively turn it smart enough to play media from your phone,tablet or laptop. So I can forgive it for that.

The UI on the TV was clean and simple to use and the remote too so for anyone not up to speed they will find this easy to navigate and set up even with the source buttons placed on the rear should their remote go missing for example.

The TV also comes with two high efficiency LED lamps ( I has no use for these during testing period) that can be powered from the TVs 12v out sockets (x2) and it has 2 additional USB’s to charge mobile phones or similar from the TV. The TV ships with a partly charged battery and high gain aerial providing plug and play from the outset. Everything you need is inside the box including a screwdriver to attach the feet and battery cover. To enjoy free to air satellite channels at home or abroad just add a dish.

Picture quality did seem a bit washed on default but messing around with the settings gave me better results and again this would vary per person our eyes and ears are different which brings me to the sound value. Downward firing speakers is never a good thing, similar to how speakers can be placed on phones, If placed on a surface you will notice this sound is muffled to an extent but if wall mounted the experience is better,its the gap between the speakers and feet that is the problem here but being a traveller orientated person you can see the situation they are in here as its not meant to be fixed in one position for a long period of time like say you wall mounted TV or similar TVs that come with front facing speakers.

Overall I grew to like this TV due to the features on offer and a back up battery should your power go with 10 hours battery life which would probably be reduced quickly if all ports are in use but having the lamps there,the ability to charge your phone and play media files its a nice prodcuts all around and ideal for the outdoors and traveller be it on a camper van or boat its the ideal ticket and will set you back around 350 quid.

http://celloelectronics.com/product/32-battery-operated-led-tv-freeview-t2-hd-satellite-tuner/

Unboxing – Amazon Echo 2nd Gen. First look. #tech #amazon #alexa

This is the way forward and with plenty of new tech products announced at CES with voice assistants built in Amazon is leading the way here given we are a bit behind of having the product natively available in Ireland this has no changed and opened doors to make this product much more attractive to potential buyers and those keen on getting in on this tech revolution.

As its just arrived this is a quick unboxing to give you a quick look at what it does and what it looks like, if you have any quesitons feel free to ask in the interim.

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