Category: #Reviews

#FixMeStick – #Review External virus removal device – #Virus #Trojans #Spyware

This little package arrived the other day and its an external virus removal tool, Most of us would be familiar with using downloadable software to clean up our PC but this just plugs in to an existing USB port and does the rest for you..

FixMeStick does not need any additional software to install on your PC so it will not slow it down or interfere with any work you might be doing,This is a hardware based and detects and removes spyware,trojans,rootkits and malware just to name a few.. FixMeStick is also Linux based.

 

 

 

The package comes in a box,One that is in my opinion a waste of packaging which could probably fit around 50 of the same product if not more,but this is common with packaging. The piece itself is nice though,well built looks good and has a red light atop when its running. The process took me about 45 minutes but with a brutal internet connection I blame my ISP which is eir that took the updates so long to download. The process is simple its just plug and follow instructions…

 

 

 

The FixMeStick is a hardware device that runs before your PC or Mac starts to remove the infections that got past your anti-virus protection. Once malicious software gets into your computer, it can be impossible to remove it while your computer is on. This product IS NOT A REPLACEMENT for anti-virus programmes….

 

 

How does the FixMeStick virus removal device remove infections that antivirus programs often cannot?

Antivirus programs are software tools that run while your Windows operating system is running to protect Windows from malicious software like viruses, trojans, spyware, and malware. Protection from these malicious threats is important and running antivirus protection is highly recommended.

The FixMeStick virus removal device is a hardware tool that runs before Windows to remove malicious software that got past your antivirus protection. Once malicious software gets into Windows, it can be impossible to remove while Windows is running. Independent security experts and government security agencies recommend cleaning an infected PC with a hardware tool like the FixMeStick virus removal device that runs before Windows starts.

 

Keep your current PC!
• Gives you a practical and cost-effective way to clean your own PC of virus infections.
• Automatically connects to wired and wireless networks to stay up to date.
• A physical virus removal solution that you can hold in your hand and take charge of your PC.

Features:
• Removes viruses, spyware, trojans, rootkits, malware and more.
• Complete system on a stick that plugs into any USB slot.
• No software installation, conflicts, passwords, or slow down to your work and play.

What You Get:
• FixMeStick virus removal USB device
• Manufacturer’s lifetime limited warranty with active subscription.
• Free and amazing North American based service and support.

Overall it was easy to use and set up and did remove some junk from my Laptop,this can be used with up to three PCs, This product always stays up to date and will update when you insert it whenever you use it..

Overall the package did what it said on the tin but took time to set up and download updates,however this is most likely down to my brutal internet connection and perhaps would run better for everyone else its a nice little product and useful and it works. What more can I say.

 

 

Buy on Amazon

Review –  Urbanista Berlin Bluetooth Wireless headphones. #urbanistalife #Headphones 

Up next is the Urbanista Berlin headphones.. We have been trying these out about a week now and overall they have been quite nice and comfortable, Preferably I wear cans but do like to dabble with these type too, however I prefer the pod type design over those buds which do not get on with me at all but having said that the inclusion of extra buds in some recent earphones I have tried have kind of fixed that issue for me and there is some really nice offerings out there and we will have some reviews coming up soon on our other earbuds that have arrived.

 

Packaging is pretty neat and one thing I like is good presentation they get a thumbs up here from me in that department. Contents is as expected,we have some information which is handy and we also get a cable for charging alongside the product itself.

 

 

They are good but I have seen better for less but nonetheless they are nice and work well and for the most as I have mentioned comfortable which is for me important,the only thing though is that when using at full volume for example you can get quite a bit of distortion depending on the music you are listening too and also not much bass, For me though I am the type of person that does listen at full volume which is probably not the smartest thing to do but I like my music that way and listen to it that way for a reason……………. So I cant hear anyone else.. The only time to do so would be when I got calls using these and for the most these where fine and nothing to disclose there, Calls where clear though I am on a network with HD calling which is pretty good quality…

 

 

As for functionality they have everything you need with an average battery life a quite good control unit with tactile buttons that you can easily navigate blindly and are on the money for sensitivity they all worked well, They are also easy to pair and there us a built in LED light to tell you when you are connected or if the headset is awaiting a connection, Also the grip is quite good and it feels good to hold and not slippy Here is also where the charging port is built in so for me it was all nicely placed and easy to use. Check out the video for more…

 

SPECS

  • Bluetooth 4.1
  • Speaker size: φ13.2mm
  • Sensitivity: 100dB ±3dB SPL @1KHz
  • Impedance: 50ohms
  • Frequency: 20-20.000Hz
  • Handsfree with microphone with volume control, distance: 0,5m

  • Battery time: Stand-by time 300h. Talking time 4h
  • Charging: Micro USB, about 1,5 hours charging time
  • Works with Android, iOS and Windows
  • Weight: 12g (without package)
  • Weight including package: 98g
  • Package size: 100x31x120mm

 

You can BUY HERE and check out the other products available, These will cost you €39.99, They are stylish and look well so check em out,.

 

Review – #WRAPS – Limited Edition BERRY wristband headphones. #wearyoursound #fashion #tech

This is now our 4th pair of Wraps wristband headphones and you can see all the other reviews right HERE  

These have been launched for the festive season and are more or less similar to Wraps of old with some aesthetic changes with colours and design so we will leave you with an image gallery and unboxing and show you a comparison of what they have to offer, When fashion and tech combine these have it all offering you a piece of tech you can wear and also blending in with fashion to boot. Plus another benefit here that is a caveat for many is knots,these are anti-tangle so there is nothing to worry about here and after trying out several pairs they do what they say on the tin for that department…

 

 

The Wraps Limited Edition Berry feature a built-in headset microphone and 3.5mm gold plated jack and a light, spherical ABS housing helps control the sound. With a choice of small, medium and large silicon tips it provides a comfortable and secure fit whilst worn in the ear or on a wrist. A large 10MM dynamic speaker, tuned by world-renowned British Audio sound engineers, delivers exceptional sound quality.

 

Using Wraps earphones has fast become as much about how good you look wearing them as it is how good they sound. Not only do the earphones look and sound great, they also solve the daily frustration of those that are easily broken, tangled or lost. Wraps solve 3 inherent problems all earphones have: storage, anti- tangle and style simply by enabling you to wear them on your wrist whilst you’re not using them. #WearYourSound with pride and bring your outfit to life while also having your favourite music ‘on hand’ whenever you want it.

 

#iT7Audio – Review – Mini bluetooth speaker, Packs a punch. #Bluetooth #Speaker

We have a couple of pairs of headphones from the iT7 Audio range and to date myself and my daughter still use them and enjoy them thoroughly and they still work perfectly fine and look like new after months of heavy usage from both of use which is good to see that they are a durable product.. Also look and sound good…

Bluetooth speakers are popular and owning some amount of them now and more on the way today we are going to look at the mini Bluetooth speaker from iT7 Audio.

Presentation is good and its something I like to see,Presented in a nice box and packed well given the speaker is on the small side its well protected in its packing and looks good with plenty of information and visuals on the outside to give you a good idea of what the product does. Inside you then are presented with the speaker ,cable and some info and a warranty card..

 

 

The speaker itself feels solid as a block and its really square and looks great, The first thing you will notice is the handle atop which is a good idea,this can be removed but for me it would be a pointless action and I think it looks well and its rubber texture feels good and also its robust. The speaker has a nice design with a front firing speaker that has metal housing with a design that flows right around the unit and looks nice.

 

Top

On top of the speaker is where all the controls are place with easy to read icons and text and a light touch is all you need to use all of the functions they do not require a “hard press” so to speak… From the top we have NFC -PAIRING – INPUT – PLAY/PAUSE/SKIP – VOLUME UP AND DOWN – CALLS and a MIC, Yes you can take calls on the speaker which is great and no need to touch your phone..Also on the front is a small LED light to the right and iT7 branding on the left which are subtle.

 

 

On the back of the unit is where the ports are housed and here we even got a Micro SD slot, The regulars we tend to find on such a speaker are also present, We have a power on/off switch,3.5mm aux Micro USB port and an LED to let us know about the charge status..

On the underside of the speaker if 4 rubber feet which keep it in place and even with trying high volumes it did not budge but the weight of the speaker is a contributing factor here and its not a bad thing being heavy which makes it more robust…

 

Bottom
Back

Dimensions – Height: 8.4CM | Width: 7.9CM | Depth: 8.8CM | Weight: 526G

Overall the speaker performed well though on max volumes you can get some distortion like any other and this all depends on what your are listening too,there is also good bass here and overall with low,mids and highs it performed good for me,even phone calls took on the unit whilst testing where clear both ends.. It can be prone to fingerprints which is not really uncommon given its colour and material but this is not something that would put me off they can be easily cleaned with a cloth. I like the blocky design however some might find the corners a tad sharp,this is something we have seen with smartphones before and again its not a major concern as its got a handle to carry it and once placed down you presumably would have no need to be constantly picking it up anyway unless you where showing it off.

 

 

You can buy from iT7 Audio UK  

 

 

 

 

 

Review- The Skullcandy Wireless Crusher Headphones with haptic bass.. #Skullcandy

Skullcandy headphones/earphones is something I remember well from my teenage years and they where popular too but never interested me for some reason, From my memory it was seeing big colours and big plastic packaging and back then it was a brand to be considered. I never though actually had or bought a pair and still looked at them every week,Back then I was a Sennheiser fan and today still sport a few pairs and actually are in mint condition. I did try other brands over time and have a large collection of cans today and I like to option to chop and change for my needs which is nice and again to compare to what is out there now. Recent earphones and headphones such as Jabra, Motorolla and the iT7 X1/X2 are my daily drivers and i like to keep up with the time and this new instalment from Skullcandy is a piece of kit that has literally blown my mind, I am by no means a professional audiophile but I do know good sound and the difference from owning countless pairs or cans and earbuds. These are mind blowing and its not a statement just because they have been sent for me to review they actually surprised me on how good they are and how things have changed from the Skullcandy I remember..I have seemed to skipped a few years..

 

The packaging..

The packaging is premium not the plastic moulds I remember and presented in a nice box with some information on the back. Inside you are presented with the kit and this included the headphones,instructions and some cables which is all we need and a nice carry bag to keep them safe and sound when not in use or when travelling..When you open the box you will see BASS YOU CAN FEEL” facing you and let me tell you,You can feel it,Bass lovers these are the headphones you need to test out now…..

 

 

 

Build quality 

Build quality is good as a whole, with Plastic cups in Black Matte they are solid only to be topped off with metal and leather elsewhere. The Cups given the colour they are are not super fingerprint magnets but with greasy fingers prints will show,I only found this happen though after I had my paws in a greasy bag of chips, but any other time in my usage I have hardly had to clean them at all and they are not like what you would see on smartphones today for example and require regular cleaning thus having to carry a cloth with you..There is a good level of comfort here too on the cups with a soft leather surrounding the outside and then soft cushioning on the inside which makes way for long periods of use with no discomfort and no sweaty ears.  The headband itself is very comfortable finished off on the outer side with leather and feels quite nice,overall the experience was great and for using for long periods over the last few days which consisted of 30/60/120 and longer sessions I was well impressed. The band does not apply much pressure on the ears but yet its firm and solid blocking out external noise quite well.. Also on the underside of the band which has a soft rubber layer has a groove cut out and this is for VR HMD users so any that have a strap this leaves way again for a smooth felling which is a clever idea.

 

Cup
Band,underside
Cup
Band from top

 

There is a bit of play all round on the headset with a slight swivel on the extension arm and some play (Inward/Outward) on the cup itself and a sturdy extension too which is not too loose nor tight and remain at the desired setting you set it too,There is though an exposed wire both sides which I would be careful with and some care would be some advice on how you store these and where you drop them in your house and to avoid catching it in anything  but this is the only caveat overall..

 

 

 

Pairing the headphones is a simple process,just like any other item you would pair your device with such as a bluetooth speaker or smartwatch for example you will see the name appear in your list and jsut pair,it takes no time at all..

 

 

 

Controls and ports

The headphones though wireless does allow you to use a wired connection should you run out of juice but with up to 40 hrs of battery life you will not be reaching for that cable as quick as you any think,with a micro USB port and headphone socket all you need is here when it comes to charging and connectivity, You also get audible notifications when connected wirelessly  and there is an LED to show you when you are connected and disconnecting and again audible. The buttons are easy to navigate,even blind with a big enough size though not excessive they are tactile and allow you to adjust volume, and skips tracks and so on and of course power the headset on and off. The magic though is in the slider which lets you control the haptic bass,this is unbelievable and akin to the sub-woofer in your house full blast with the vibration coming through your couch,this is exactly what it feels like on your ears,but do not overdo it some tracks I played over did it and again with high volume killed it all but you can control both and overall worked great and the sound without the haptic bass was perfectly fine too playing all highs and mids with great clarity.

 

HAPTIC BASS 

 

Overall I was quite pleased as a whole with these headphones and to really get the full experience you would need to try them yourself,Some stores in Ireland do have headphones on display and testing purposes but these are far and few between so hopefully when launched here you can go and try them yourself, With a massive battery life and good build quality these are a must have for the BASS lover and the only niggle as mentioned is the cable on both sides coming from the band into the earcups and its not a deal breaker either, I would like to see other colours later on down the road but not bright standout ones,These will cost you just €149.99 which is quite good considered what you get. You can purchase them right HERE.  Check out the video below and if you have any questions fire away..

 

Review – Samsung V100T MiFi(4G) on T-Mobile US bundle from @CellhireUK #Travel #MiFi

This is Bredans second review here on techbuzzireland and there is plenty more to come, This time around  he reviews the Samsung V100T Mifi 4G.

On this US trip to avoid expensive data usage using the Samsung V100T MiFi(4G), My first comment could have been Why do I need broadband in New York as on Holidays?  This comment is like “Everything that can be invented, has been invented.” Charles Duell, Commissioner of the U.S. Patent Office in 1899. Broadband is now a basic way of life from Picking a restaurant, reading the reviews, navigating to the Restaurants, checking on Google what’s in the dish, the Chef a food genius or food criminal, video calling with WhatsApp uploading pictures to Facebook of exotic food, booking a taxi back, Keeping the streak going on snapchat all utilised Broadband.  Broadband abroad was not option rather a necessity.

 

 

The MiFi Arrived ready to go (with Tracking Link) & a Prepaid return pack included with real efficiently. My initial observation of the MiFi – Its big! Physically bigger than MiFi I have used before. Product Dimensions 6.7 x 4.4 x 2.4 inches    Item Weight 4.8 ounces. This allowed a larger battery in the MiFi at 3100mAh. This came with the US Charger, detachable USB Charger cable, internal battery and a charging cable attached to the MiFi. Usual packing & instructions on use. This MiFi allowed all the advantage out & about to contact home free.  The data limits can be set up the MiFi on the http://192.168.43.1:8080 web portal.  Standard password used.  The Wireless network name and Password is located underneath the back cover.

 

 

The cable charger used, Micro USB Charger as used in most android phone. (some newer phones have the newer USB Type-C) As a frequent traveller less cables are required, not different cables for each device which is a bonus for this device. The attached cable on the MiFi is excellent plugging directly into a Laptop but too short to Plug in a wall socket. If you forget your charger, the television in your hotel USB could be used to charge the MiFi. Another great feature of the Samsung V100T MiFi was the display is seeing how many devices were connected to the unit at any time this help to monitor use.

 

 

 

 

This package came with a 6GB bundle, I have got 4G speed of 3.6Mbps on speed test sites in New York using T mobile. On a recent survey by http://www.opensignal.com   they reported T-Mobile as having the best metrics in New York in terms of Download Speed: 4G, / 3G, Latency: 4G, / 3G, Coverage: 4G.  They reported getting speeds in New York on T-Mobile of 16.6Mbp (The max I got was 3.6Mbps in New York) with good coverage in most areas.

Is it expensive?

Using your normal UK Vodafone Pay as you go This is what you’ll pay to use your Phone in USA for data   http://www.vodafone.co.uk/explore/costs/travelling-abroad/  Data £5 a 25MB then £3 a MB after that, (Remember to Turn off your Roaming data on your phone unless you want to take out a small mortgage, Wi-Fi ok to use)

Wi-Fi in the New York Hotel was $24.96 for 3 days. (I would expect this to vary from Hotel to Hotel) This would have worked but meant only Broadband in the hotel, not out and about.

But in the UK, there is free Wi-Fi in hotels! a recent visit to a Premier Inn in the UK got speeds of 160Kbps with the caveats of Want to stream films, TV shows or download big files? For a connection that’s at least 8x faster, upgrade to our Ultimate Wi-Fi from only £5 for 24 hours (for up to 3 devices).

There is a variety of menus on the MiFi for the experienced user, while a short business stay or pleasure may not use these

Some of the Menus,

Port forwarding

Setting Data limit / Security

What if I have a problem / go over my limit?

You can contact the Cellhire 24/7 hotline for support.

If you exceed the bundle, you get a Text to the MiFi, you are slowed down to e.g. 128Kbps, which you can still get emails etc. (not cut off)

Thanks again to Cellhire mobile solutions  https://www.cellhire.co.uk for The Samsung V100T MiFi(4G) on a T mobile US bundle. I know they were supplying hundreds of MiFi’s, SIM cards and smartphones to UK media covering the election in the US.

Review – The Nextbase 112 Dash Cam. #Motoring #NextBase #Review

I have always said that this technology should be a standard on vehicles and with the ability to mass produce such items it would not be too much an effort to have this equipment installed on our vehicles as now they are now coming with more forms of wireless connectivity options as standard. Lots of cars today come with parking sensors,and with built in camera so what gives here with something like this preinstalled… Ireland has seen a massive hike in insurance premiums again this year and next year is set to rise again and this is certainly one way to deter fraudulent claims and therefore reducing insurance premiums and we are indeed inline with the UK here on this but prevention is better than cure and with a dash cam this is one simple way to decide a case,end of story, The camera never lies.

The Nextbase 112 dashcam is an affordable unit with 720p HD recording sporting a 2.0 LCD screen with a 120 degree wide angle lens. Not only that its got a parking mode feature built in. So lets take a look…

Packaging 

What do we get..

First off no SD card included although NextBase did supply us with one,But on a personal level like any other gadget requiring external storage it would be a nice sweetener to the product but you can understand why they are not included its simply another revenue stream..Another way you could look at it is to keep the cost down..There is the usual instruction manuals and surprisingly a CD ROM. I say surprisingly because its almost 2017 and people still rely on CD ROMS..

 

It comes with all the cables you need including a charger or you can just use the seperate cable for USB charging which is now becoming the norm but I find it slower. It does however use the older USB which I find odd when we are now moving to USB type C this is behind but todays standard Micro USB would have been better but having said that its not the only product I have tested in recent times to come with MINI USB.. Going forward dash cams should become wireless,Less hassle,less wires as most of us have a phone or similar charging already.

You will need to charge the unit first before usage for around two hours, This comes with a 30 min emergency battery should an incident occur so keep that in mind. What I do like about this is that its magnetic attachment is simple,given its holder is a typical suction cup you place on your windscreen the main hardwear is just a magnetic clip which works much better rather than having to remove the whole unit from the window when not in use.This is good because you should never leave it in your car unattended because there is smash and grab thieves out there who will just do exactly that, Smash a window just to rob it..

 

 

Installation is simple there is an instruction manual but for the most its easy and you can compare  it to a mobile phone holder that mounts to your windscreen just slightly wet the suction cup and stick it on and secure with the lock,after that you have a choice of two charging types be it the standalone charger or the extra cable provided for USB. Do note we can today buy USB adapters for charging and some that come with both and you can find these anywhere today mostly visible at our petrol stations here or electrical stores so you have choice..

 

CHECK OUT THE QUALITY TEST WHICH WAS RAN AT MORNING AND EVENING 

 

 

Set-up is easy from here with tactile buttons to select mode it is simple for one touch recording and then to stop it,When mounted to the window you would want to hold the device as it is rather free moving but you can lock it into position with the nut for a fixed position but for myself I was moving it around to get the best position and seeing what angles I could cover from where it was placed.. It never fell off once which was good,at times these can fall off depending on weight and so and and of course road conditions this is small and light and does not obstruct your viewing range nor will it distract you..

CONNECTED TO PC
FILE TRANSFER
MOUNTED TO WINDOW

 

 

When you have finished or used up your card it is a simple process to transfer files to your PC then upload to whatever it is you might be using or the purpose its used for, Presuming its You Tube is like uploading any other file. You will connect your dashcam to laptop with cable provided and see the files but you would want to just view them first before you upload the correct files required.

 

FEATURES OVERVIEW

 

  • Four Element Sharp Lenses made with 4 layers of glass to provide clear images
  • Bright, clear 2” LED screen for easy viewing
  • 120° wide angle view with up to 720p High Definition recording
  • Powered Magnetic Click & Go mount to easily install in the car
  • Instant evidence to support insurance claims in helping prove an incident was not your fault
  • Photo mode allows you to take still images for further evidence
  • Compact design makes this model ideal for mounting behind rear view mirror
  • Easy to install with 4m 12v power cable
  • Inbuilt battery with up to 30 minute backup in the event of an accident
  • SOS data protection prevents the impact/event recording from being deleted
  • Loop recording feature prevents recording from stopping when the SD card is full
  • Dimensions: 5.7 x 5.8 x 3 cm (WxHxD)
  • Supports SDHC and SDXC Micro SD cards up to 32GB (class 10 recommended)

 

Overall I was happy with the product and it worked flawlessly during the time I tested it and quality is good,it perhaps looks a bit better on You Tube than it does on the small screen but you can expect that, Its small,neat,works well and easy to set up and use and a must have today especially with the insurance premiums sky rocketing something like this could safe you a lot of hassle and money in the long run and you should see it as an investment rather than a cost. We would like to thank Nextbase UK for sending this out to us to check out and we have another review coming soon . You can head over to Nextbase UK for more and check out what they have to offer…..This model which is the 112 to will cost you just £49.99 which is cheap bearing in mind the quality..

 

Review – The Kobo Aura One waterproof and a battery that can last a month. #ereader

After spending some time with the Kobo Aura One I will share my thoughts on it,To be transparent here this is my first ereader and I will not be comparing it to others on the market apart from the price and what it has to offer versus its competition…

Firstly the build quality is excellent and for such a big device it is very light even though it packs a battery that can last up to a month with what I would call myself a sporadic reader, Reading is not a first on my list but spending time with this did give me the opportunity to perhaps engage myself some more but compared to what I read on the web the time still differs hugely..

 

 

Having said that what I did like with this is the settings provided which helps you greatly on the eyes,mostly at night when I am in bed I would have done most of my reading as I would with catching up on news on my phone or tablet and this is where the Aura One had a great advantage with its settings to read the device in whats called “Night Mode”

 

 

There is a few settings here to make the choice right but as well as at night and day I would suggest turning off the auto brightness features as at times this seemed to decide to work all by itself and give me a setting that did no suit the surrounding…  The Orange look as you see is a much more comfortable way to read and does not strain the eyes and visually looks good with no loss of detail and with a huge screen estate here viewing is great offering you next best thing to holding that clunky book or newspaper if you will…

 

Handling the unit is good, With having a huge 7.8inch  screen it is comfortable in hand because its light and got this nice texture on the back,not only that its also thin at 6.9mm. You will not believe how light this is for its size but those who use these machines might relate to it better with its competition as I have never owned such and would have a better judgement but for me even comparing it to several tablets I have this is the lightest..You could use it one handed but would find it awkward but with two hands you would be much more comfortable especially with grip..

 

There is a service called OVER DRIVE which allows you to borrow books from your local library which is an excellent feature,this is something that brings me back to my childhood when I did read alot on nature and as I got older I took medicine as a subject I was drawn too when I went to college,you will need to set up an account and browse for libraries then enter some information and you will be then sent a confirmation email and you can then make way to collect your library card and store it on the device itself so this means no separate plastic to stuff your wallet up even more which is something I detest..Though years ago I did have a habit of collecting plastic which thankfully wore off over the years.But for now the choice here is minimal but that will change but you can borrow books. You will need a library card to borrow books and you can also find compatible libraries at  https://www.overdrive.com/libraries 

Something to note here also is you need not worry about late fees or returning the book like we did on the old days because they are automatically returned which is great and shows you how much things have changed with the digital age and that will tell you the last time I visited a library which was when I was around 19…

 

 

Reading on this unit is excellent both indoors and outdoors thanks to the Carta E panel. Though mostly indoors is where I read this device can be used outdoors with no issues at all,this means those who travel,go on holidays or sit by the beach or pool can enjoy the experience plus the fact that its waterproof pool and beach goers can rejoice as there is no other ereaders available that offer waterproofing which is IPX8 up to 60 mins in 2 Metres of water…

 

 

 

 

The Kobo Aura one has alot to offer given it is a the higher end of the price scale but its different when comparing towards content such as what is available Amazon might have some more but they are around longer and some books are cheaper and vice versa when it comes to content on the kobo store but there is no need for me to go on about this as this is my first time to use such a device but long time ebook readers will know in the long run what to get and where to find it,However there is plenty of indy books available on the Kobo store which they a cut of the sale which is quite good… Another feature built in here for social fans which they might find useful is the ability to share via Facebook,This might be for some to let others know but the ereader community would welcome it but I think if you are going social dont just tie it to Facebook…

Overall for me this is probably a hard sell to me personally as I do like the UI especially with the tiled homepage which reminds me of Windows Phone, I do like it as an overall product with its outstanding battery life and being waterproof but I do most of my work on a phone or tablet something which this cant offer as a standalone device.. Yes its portable and fits in your travel bag,its light,amazing battery life,waterproof,durable and lots more but personally I cant ever see myself buying a ebook reader anytime soon as its not my thing but for the person who does use these I would say its a good buy given its at the higher end of the price range,You have as solid product….

Pros…

  • Light
  • Waterproof
  • Amazing battery
  • Great display and screen estate
  • Build quality is great
  • Pocket integration
  • Sideload PDFs

Cons

  • Pricey
  • Lags at times with text entry
  • Titles can be found cheaper elsewhere
  • Digital library choice in Ireland – This will improve though

 

 

 

Waterproof from the inside out with HZO Protection™ IPX8 – up to 60 mins in 2 metres of water
Screen: 7.8” HD Carta E Ink touchscreen, 1872 x 1404 resolution 300 dpi
Weight: 230 g
Size: 195.1 x 138.5 x 6.9 mm
Storage: 8 GB on-board memory, holds up to 6,000 eBooks
Front-light: ComfortLight PRO – Reduces blue-light exposure and protects your eyes for the best nighttime reading experience.
Customizability: TypeGenius: 11 different fonts and over 50 font styles
Exclusive font weight and sharpness settings
Supported formats: 14 file formats supported natively (EPUB, EPUB3, PDF, MOBI, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, TIFF, TXT, HTML, RTF, CBZ, CBR)
Read eBooks borrowed from Public Library
Connectivity: Wi Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Micro USB
Battery Life: Up to 1 month*
Languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Dutch, Italian, Brazilian, Portuguese, Japanese, Turkish
Other: No advertising, no interruptions

 

See more at https://www.kobo.com/  

 

#Review – iStorage, Datashur pro Secure USB 3.0 Flash drive. #iStorage #Datashur #Security

This datahub Pro USB flash driver initially looks like something from a Bond movie with a keypad on the device. This would impress at any boardroom presentation pulling out to open a power point presentation. This flash drive uses the USB 3.0 .The good news USB 3.0 (Universal Serial Bus.) is backwards compatible and 10 times faster than USB 2.0, Comes with Quick start guide, and default pin code. I would recommend spending a few minutes reading the Quick start guide set up as you must enter a default pin with the option to add a new user pin 7 to 15 digits. Now how the numbers are presented on the key might entice you to use them in a similar fashion but it does not allow you to use sequential numbers so get creative with a passcode or make one relevant to something perhaps you might use already, A phone number for example would be good..

 

 

One thing I would take into consideration is always purchase a flash drive from a brand you trust and a reputable supplier.We can pick up some for literally nothing these days and often the case they will fail or data gets corrupted. This datashur SSD Pro has a 3-year warranty, water resistance keypad and a variety of other features not seen on cheaper alternatives.

But is it safe!Very safe – Encrypted to military & government standards, plus its got a variety of industry awards. That is good enough for me but full details are available on https://istorage-uk.com/product/ Attempts to break into the data entering the pin incorrectly 10 times will result in a Self-destruct feature keeping data away from Prying eyes.

 

 

This unit would be great for anyone in the ISO 27000 industry or like myself self-employed taking files to the accountant for example or when I receive NDA (non disclosure agreements) I can transfer the information to the USB key. If my Laptop bag or travel bag  got lost or stolen, my laptop is protected, I would dread the thought of confidential info getting into somebody elses hands via my flash drives, This is  a bit like insurance, I don’t need it until I leave the flash drive in a board room table only to return an hour later and wonder  has anyone copied the data. With this flash, I can sit back with confidence knowing the level of security on board..

 

 

 

My only criticism was using an 8GB to test, but given the cost it is understandable plus I have several flash drives but NONE on the level of security to this one, nowadays this size (8GB) can nearly be given away with purchases in an electronics store where a 32GB may be the way to go,BUT this is no ordinary USB key and not riddled with information that is pointless and trying to sell you more with information pre – installed, In fact a product like this has turned a circle like mobile phones for example where 8GB/16GB on board storage do not cut it anymore unless they offer micro SD expansion which again can be limited but thats changing now offering higher capacity..However on a positive side not all people need this amount of storage and I see this as an opportunity for people to buy something that fits their need and not forcing the consumer to buy one thats gone overboard with the storage on offer so it is a good thing perhaps. Companies that back-up their complete server may look to a datashur 2 /3 /4 TB with the perfect blend of Security, durability and speed.

I would like to thank the guys at datashur  for the personalised USB Flash drive which was a really nice gesture and unexpected its something I will treasure and show off to my colleagues with pride,having said that some have seen it already and are impressed not only with how cool it looks but what it offers when it comes to securing data which is something we all need to take on board these days,Data is now like cash,its worth something to somebody…. The overall build of this product is excellent,as mentioned before its waterproof,tactile keys nice texture on the back and sides and very robust and you cant gain entry in any way at all..

 

Want to change your PIN? Here is a tutorial 

 

 

The new datAshur Pro incorporates all the features of its predecessor, the datAshur, but with a super-speed USB 3.0 interface and higher capacities of up to 64GB. Features include an on-board keypad for authentication, which gives the flash drive ultimate protection against software and hardware-based keyloggers. In addition, the datAshur Pro incorporates a boot delay feature which means users can boot any operating system directly from the drive.means the datAshur Pro secures your data from unauthorised access even when lost or stolen.

The drive incorporates military grade XTS-AES 256-bit hardware encryption, a read-only (write protect) mode, a user configurable timeout lock and brute force hack detection and protection. All of this means the datAshur Pro is ideally positioned to secure data from unauthorised access, even when lost or stolen.

Specs

  • USB 3.0 Flash Drive
  • Capacities up to 64GB*
  • FIPS 140-2 Level3 Certified; Certificate No. 2688
  • FIPS PUB 197 certified
  • IP57 certified – water/dust resistant
  • Bootable drive
  • AES 256- bit hardware encryption – no software required
  • OS & Platform independent
  • CESG CPA / NLNCSA – certifications pending

See more over on their website HERE  

We will be giving one of these away soon and if you have any questions fire away below or get us on social from the links on top right of blog..